I haven’t been too impressed with Paramount’s original content, and Wolf Pack did little to change that. This series is a poorly-written supernatural drama about werewolves that won’t leave much of an impression. While it may have moments that keep it from being terrible, it isn’t good enough to recommend.
Wildfires threaten the lives of a generic small town. As the smoke and flames creep ever closer, something sinister lurks in its shadows. Werewolves exist in our world, and while some may be harmless, some use the fires to come for blood. The series focuses on a pair of unremarkable teens who get turned into werewolves. As they struggle to control their powers, they seek answers. But where will they start?
This series isn’t great. The writing is terrible. The actors may be doing their best, but their best is mediocre. The only good thing about this series is its suspense. I loved the scenes where the teens are facing the unknown. There is a real sense of uncertainty about the fate of these teens as they attempt to hide from an unknown hunter. I know they will survive, but it was easy to get lost in the moment as the poorly rendered whatever stalked them from a distance. As bad as the acting got, I am impressed with how well the kids acted in these scenes. It wasn’t enough to earn a recommendation, but I would be curious to see how they do in better horror.
I don’t have much to say about this series because it didn’t leave an impression on me. It wasn’t bad enough to hate, but it isn’t good enough to recommend. Wolf Pack exists as a lazy attempt to rebuild the werewolf mythos. The characters are generic and flat, the story isn’t good, and everything looks ugly. I would be fine if this were some campy fun series about werewolves, but it isn’t. I got so bored that I had to fight the urge to fast forward. New episodes of this series come out weekly, but the first three episodes did little to make me want to finish. I might do so if curiosity strikes, but I doubt it will get any better.
You can stream Wolf Pack on Paramont+, but I wouldn’t bother. There are better shows about werewolves you could be watching instead. Oh and if you are thinking of watching this series for Sarah Michelle Gellar, she’s barely in it.
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Game Review: Risen (2023)
I was sent Risen as a review code. I am very grateful to have gotten this opportunity, but I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be an honest review of the game.
Risen is an action role-playing game from 2009 that has now been ported over to all the major consoles. I got to play it on the Xbox One. This isn’t a remaster of the original. It is the same game. If you are a fan of the original or want to play it for the first time on your modern console, now is the time.
You find yourself shipwrecked on the island of Faranga with only the clothes on your back. Forge your path through the island as you survive its many dangers and claim its treasures. This island is cruel and full of warring factions, dangerous beasts, earthquakes, and storms. How you conquer this island is in your hands. Will you do it with a sword in hand or magic? What secrets will you uncover along the way?
The game does look and feels old, but it hasn’t aged terribly. While it may feel clunky compared to modern standards, it isn’t a terrible experience. Once you get used to the feel, everything else falls into place. The game looks fine for how old it is, but I did find it a bit too dark for my liking. The voice acting is fantastic, and the story hooks are interesting enough to get you going.
I liked the freedom this game gives you. The maps are pretty open, and there is enough choice from the quests you accept to the way you play to keep the game fresh. I however found this freedom limited by its difficulty. You will die a lot in this game, so save frequently. The combat is smooth but hard to master. This is also a game that doesn’t hold your hand, you have to figure everything out on your own. I suggest you keep a guide handy. I found the one published in Mike’s RPG Center to be very helpful, but there are many other great ones to choose from.
If you like these kinds of difficult games, you will have a lot better time with them than I did. I don’t have the time or patience for these kinds of games. I kept having to start over, and I don’t have the time for that It certainly has its niche with those who like Souls-like games. If you are looking for a chill game to play but are limited in the time you can budget for gaming, I suggest you look elsewhere. Otherwise, the game has aged well enough for those interested.
You can grab your copy of the rerelease for Xbox, Nintendo, and PlayStation.
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Movie Review: Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
Somebody I Used To Know isn’t the worst rom-com I’ve sat through this year, but it is hard to recommend. The movie is a modern version of My Best Friend’s Wedding but with less charm. I recommend you watch that movie instead. The acting here is fine, but the story isn’t great. If you like the genre, you might have a deeper appreciation for it, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it.
Allie was an ambitious documentarian who has settled on being a producer for a crappy reality tv show about baking on an island. As hard as she works to make her show successful and captivating, it gets canceled. Now without purpose, Allie flies back to her small hometown to figure out what to do with her life. Her plans are complicated when she meets an old boyfriend. Their spark seems to reignite between the two, making Allie believe that this is her second chance to rekindle a lost love. But there is a problem; he is getting married, and the girl he is getting married to reminds her of how she used to be. Will she find purpose in a wreckage of a relationship she helped create, or will she learn to let things go?
The story isn’t great. You sit through fake artsy talk as Alle struggles with selling out. It will try way too hard to be funny, and none of it is interesting. I like that Allie is put in a situation where she has to let things go to grow, but don’t like that she tried to break up a happy couple. I don’t like when these types of movies muddle ethics so that two people are together. I get that sometimes a couple is destined to be together, but destiny in these types of movies means flat characters exist to create easy conflict rather than a meaningful story. The goal here starts off as trying to get rid of a flat foil so Allie can get the life she thinks she wants.
I was surprised to see this movie attempt to divert from the usual formula, but this shift doesn’t do enough to make this movie better. Allie doesn’t find purpose in the guy she wanted, but she will find it in another man. Although Allie was able to move on and follow her dreams, I find her sudden success as a documentarian hard to believe. I didn’t like Allie as the main character and didn’t care about her growth. Don’t get me wrong, Allison Brie gives a great performance, but the movie isn’t good.
The chemistry between the characters is easily the best part of the film. Unfortunately, some characters are terribly wasted in this film and others are just flat and forgettable. I’ve seen worse romcoms so I was able to power through this film without much issue, but it is hard to recommend because this plot has been done a lot better elsewhere. If you are thinking about watching this movie, watch My Best Friend’s Wedding instead.
You can watch it on Amazon if you have a prime subscription, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it.
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Digimon Con 2023 Recap
I recently just got back into the Digimon fandom and even have started collecting the card games because they look so cool. Digimon con just happened, and while most of the announcements and releases target the Japanese audience, there are some cool announcements for those outside Japan to look forward to. There were a few interesting interviews with voice actors and artists that are worth looking into if you are a fan of the anime, but I will be focusing more on the trading card and game news. I will provide links to the videos and pictures where available.
Digimon World: New Order
With Digimon World: New Order releasing on February 22, 2023, we got news about new features coming with this port. We got a bit of the initial gameplay, nothing too exciting, but it did provide insight into the type of game this will be for those of us that never got to play the original. The new port comes with a new “beginner” difficulty setting aimed at newcomers. There is also 1.4x speed to make travel over the world quicker. I always appreciate these types of quality-of-life changes because, for those of us that are too busy for gaming, this allows us to enjoy the game without being bogged down by its mechanics.
New Order’s gameplay places its focus on how you raise your Digimon. They showed different ways to raise your Digimon. You have to feed, train, talk to, and even discipline your Digimon to help it grow. Like any pet management game, it is looking like a very relaxing experience with a solid story behind it. The way you treat your Digimon, how you talk to them, train them or even discipline them affects their Digivolution path. It might be necessary to have a guide handy to make sure that you get the Digimon you want. As long as I get a Wizardmon, I will be okay.
I announced my excitement for this game previously and still plan on playing this game on Launch. Watching the bits of gameplay has only made me more impatient for the 22nd to come around.
Digimon TCG News
What I was most excited about for Digimon Con was news about the Digimon TCG. While I am disappointed that there was no announcement for an online client, there are a fair amount of promos to be had.
The first screening of the Digimon Illustration Competition 2023 was announced, and there are some cool-looking designs to look forward to. From this group, one design from each Digimon will be selected to be made into promo cards.
Which ones are your favorite?
3rd Anniversary Set Announcement
The 3rd Anniversary set has been revealed for Japan. This collection showcases 9 golden promo cards that come in a nice holder with some very cool art. As of writing this, pre-orders are only available for the Japanese market. Those of you fans outside of Japan will either have to pay the premium and get your hands on the Japanese edition or gamble on a global release.
Get Magnamon
The “Get Magnamon” campaign was announced in Japan for March and April 2023 where players of the TCG will be able to compete in Tamer Battles and Tamer Exchange events for a chance to win a new alt version of the BT8 Magnamon. I love the classic style of this card and pray that we get a US release of this promo.
Digimon Card Game Championship 2022 Finals
The Digimon TCG Championship Finals are around the corner, and the promo cards for participating in the event and the prize cards have been announced. These cards look very nice, and I envy those players who were able to make it this far. The Finals will be on February 24 – 26, 2023 at the Los Angeles Conversion Center. Those who qualify will move on to the World Championship finals on March 11, 12, 18, and 19.
Digimon Fan Meetup 2th Anniversary Echibition
But that isn’t all. The convention will also be home to the Digimon Fan Meetup pop-up event. This museum will exhibit over 140 art pieces from the Digimon IP. It is free to everyone but get there quickly because they are giving away some cool promos. Those who attend will get their hands on a special guidebook that is sure to have some cool art and a pack of the alt cards of last year’s winners of the Digimon Illustration contest. Get there quickly because these promos are only available while supplies last.
Digital Monster 25th Anniversary Project
The biggest focus for the convention seemed to be on the Digimon Vital Bracelets. They announced the Digital Monster 25th anniversary project which seems to be a comic, some live-action shorts, and products centered around the Vital Bracelet game. This came with the announcement of the new Digimon Loogamon and an introduction to his story. This is an attempt to expand on the experience for those who play the game which I hear is fun but lacking. If the story is good enough, I can see it selling more of the toy. I wish this game would come out for the smartwatch. I don’t want to have to wear two watches to have access to this game.
More news of the story is set to be announced closer to its release but at the moment we know that it will be a darker Digimon story where 3 factions fight for dominance. There are the Crackers who work in the shadows, the Digipolice that fight Digimon crime, and the Hackers who work somewhere in the middle. Art for the project has been released, but I am not sure how invested I will be in something that I won’t have access to.
Loobamon’s Vitabracelett has been announced, but preorders are only open for Japan at the moment. This Digimon is cute, and I can’t wait for the card versions.
There are a few other announcements specific to the Digivice games that are cool for any collector:
The Digimon Con Kenji Watanabe Editions
Winners of the Digmion Evolution Results
Voting has begun for the upcoming Bird/Angel Bememory for those fans of the game.
Closing
I thought the event was interesting as a fan of Digimon. Since I am only a fan of the game and the TCG, I found the announcements to be a bit underwhelming. I enjoyed the live performances and even some of the more silly content like the card matches, but I was hoping for news on an online client. I want to be able to play the card game online like I can with Pokemon or even MTG, since locals isn’t really accessible for me. I guess I will keep waiting.
If you play the Vital Bracelet game, there was a lot of cool sounding information for you. I wish they could port this game to smart watches. I would love to play this game, but I don’t see the point of having two watches. Either way, I enjoyed it enough to do this again next year. There was a lot to go over but I tried to condense it to the most important.
**All images and video were taken from the stream or Bandai site. I don’t own these images**
Movie Review: At Midnight (2023)
At Midnight is the cheesiest movie the cheesiest romcom that I have seen this year. The writing is bad, and the story is predictable, but it isn’t the worst movie I’ve seen all year. If you enjoy cheesy bad movies, this one is fun.
The movie is about a generic couple that can’t be together because of their social status. Sophie is a famous movie star stuck in a role she doesn’t want. Her life changes when she finds her boyfriend cheating on her, but because of her fame, Sophie must stay in this relationship. Alejandro is a hotel assistant manager who until he meets Sophie, doesn’t believe in love. A secret fling in paradise quickly turns into something more. It soon becomes impossible to keep their love a secret. But can their love survive the pressures that come with fame and status? Of course, it can! This is a cheesy rom-com.
At Midnight takes every chance it gets to namedrop the title, and it isn’t subtle. This obsession leads to my absolute favorite line of dialogue in this whole movie, and it goes like this:
After a few secret dates, the relationship between Sophie and Alejandro becomes more serious. They sneak away at midnight every chance they get just to share a few moments together. As they sit for a romantic movie date, the Paramount Pictures logo shines brightly against the camera so that the couple appears as simple silhouettes. Sophie turns to Alejandro, the logo still visible, and says “Midnight with you is my favorite hour.” Alejandro looks down at her and responds “Midnight isn’t a time. It is a place we can be together.” This is the best example of what kind of movie it is. It’s not a good one, but it is fun if you like to make fun of bad cheesy movies.
The acting is the best part of this movie. Don’t get me wrong, no one is getting an award here, but I appreciate the energy put into the performances. The leads had decent chemistry, and it certainly has its moments. It doesn’t do enough to earn a recommendation, but I had enough fun with this movie that I didn’t mind watching it.
The movie is bilingual, and I have to say I preferred the Spanish bits. It felt like the cheesy telenovelas I used to watch with my grandma, but this movie required a lot less commitment. They aren’t a great example of Mexican cinema, but I found the plot threads a bit more interesting than the English bits. All the English plot lines involved the life of a fake actress and her struggle with identity, but none of that struggle was interesting. At least in Spanish, I got to hear people argue.
This movie is lazy. The plot is very predictable as it follows the same generic plot common in the genre. They even dare to rip off the speech from Say Anything because they probably ran out of ideas. This is a movie riddled with holes and terrible lines, and it will try to distract you with shameless fan service. As much fun as I had with this film, it isn’t good.
I have a soft spot for cheesy movies like this, so I enjoyed it more than I should have. You aren’t watching this movie unless you love this genre or love making fun of the bad ones. It is a lazy generic romcom with a pretty terrific cast. I didn’t mind that I watched it, but can’t recommend it. If you don’t believe me, check it out on Paramount+.
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Nintendo Direct 2/9/2023
I am a bit late to this coverage, but I thought I’d share it anyways. The Nintendo Direct just came out and there is a bit to unpack. It is looking to be a great year for the switch when it comes to not only retro gaming, but a few Nintendo classic titles like Pikmin and Zelda.
Pikmin 4 ($59.99)
Coming in as possibly the cutest entry from the Direct is Pikmin 4. This sequel to the cult classic comes with a new cute protagonist on her own adventure with the help of her little Pikmin friends. This game introduces new companions and abilities. Game releases on July 21,2023. Pre-orders are now open!
Samba de Amigo: Party Central (TBA)
If you are a fan of rhythm games, Samba de Amigo is a cute little title to add to your list. The game seems to take advantage of the Joy Con’s motion controls as you shake them to the groove of a pretty diverse collection of music. You can play by yourself, challenge your friends, and there is even online play if that is something that is important to you. The game is scheduled to release in June 2023.
Disney Illusion Island ($39.99)
For all you Disney fans out there, get ready for this cute little platformed. Take control of Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, and Donald as you travel through a new world in search of some magical books. The game releases on 7/28/23. Pre-orders are now open.
Advance Wars 1+2:Re-Boot Camp ($59.99)
To the fans of the original titles, the wait is finally over. This classic RTS was first announced and then delayed, but we finally got a release date. There are new modes, two playable stories, and online PVP. If you are feeling creative, you can even make your own maps! The game releases April 21, 2023. Pre-orders are now open!
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom ($69.99)
Zelda fans got another glimpse at Tears of The Kingdom and it looks to be another epic adventure over a new open world. They announced a collector’s edition, but good luck getting your hands on one:
and a cool new Link Amiibo ($15.99)
You can preorder yours at Best Buy or Game Stop
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom releases May 12, 2023. Preorders are now open!
Beyonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon ($59.99)
For all you Beyonetta fans out there, we are now getting some back story! Hopefully this ones better than 3. The game comes out March 17, 2023. Preorders are now open!
Metriod Prime Remastered ($39.99)
You can grab a digital copy today! Physical copies are available on February 22, 2023.
Maybe there will be a trilogy in our future.
Octopath Traveler II
I have already talked about this game. I am super excited. The game comes out February 24, 2023. For those of you interested in the title, there is a demo available for download in the Eshop.
Omega Strikers (Free to Play)
For those of you looking for an online battler, Omega Strikers is free to play 3v3 footbrawler coming to the switch April 23, 2023.
Etrian Odyssey Orgins Collection ($79.99)
I am very excited for this remaster of a classic collection I missed growing up. With updated graphics, modes, and gameplay, this collection of dungeon crawlers is sure to take up a nice chunk of my life. The game releases June 1, 2023. Preorders are open today!
Beten Kaitos I & II HD Remastered (TBA)
Another glow up to a classic card battler I missed growing up. The game is set to release in the summer of 2023. Make sure to add it to your wishlist!
Sea of Stars (TBA)
This is a cool looking turn-based RPG that I will be checking out. I love the pixel art and I could always use another RPG in my life. The game is set to release on August 29, 2023. You can download the Demo on the Eshop today!
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective (TBA)
For those who missed it, or want to relive the fun of this cult classic, its coming out in the summer of 2023! You can wishlist it today!
Fashion Dreamer (TBA)
Be the influence you’ve always dreamed of being in this other life simulator game. The game is releasing sometime this year.
DECAPOLICE (TBA)
Level 5 is coming at is with a other cool looking RPG set in the future. It promises an open world as you fight crime in a futuristic city. The game is set to release sometime this year. You can wishlist it today!
Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time (TBA)
I loved the original Fantasy Life on the DS. It was cute and relaxing. This looks like it is promising an updated experience and I am here for it. The game comes out sometime in 2023. You can wishlist it today!
Tron: Identity (TBA)
This title caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect for Tron to come back. This is a puzzle game where your choices matter. The game comes out in April 2023, but you can add it to your wishlist today!
Master Detective Archives: RAIN CODE (TBA)
It seems like this is the year of detective games. The art looks cool and the gameplay seems neat. I’ll be keeping this on my radar. The game comes out on June 30, 2023. You can add it to your wishlist!
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie (TBA)
If you like visual novels, the art looks cool and the story seems intense. I just hope it has voice acting. The game comes out in June 2023. Add it to your wishlist!
WBSC eBASEBALL: POWER PROS ($.99)
For you baseball fans out there, this cute little game will sure to delight you. For $.99, it couldn’t hurt to give it a try. It is available now!
The Gameboy is coming to the Switch
It looks like this is a great year for retro gaming. They are porting a number of classic gameboy titles to the switch for those of you who have the Nintendo Online subscription.
DLC: In No Particular Order:
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Expansion Pass – February 15, 2023 ($29.99)
Splatoon 3 1st Wave of the Expansion Pass arrives in spring 2023 (24.99)
Mario Kart 8 Wave 4 Booster course pass ($24.99)
Fire Emblem Engage Expansion Pass ($29.00)
Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania March 6, 2023 ($9.99) Pre-orders open!
I know this was a lot, but I wanted to collect it all in one place. Hopefully the format isn’t aweful and I didn’t miss anything. I know I didn’t talk about everything, but I didn’t want this to be too overwhelming. I wanted this to be a resource so I didn’t add any affiliate links or any other marketing. This was a pretty great direct that has me very excited for my year of gaming. Let me know what you are most excited about.
Image by Sharan Vijayagopal from Pixabay
Game Review: Power Chord
I was sent Power Chord as a review code. While I am very grateful for this opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Power Chord is a rogue-like deck builder available now on Steam similar to games like Slay the Spire or Monster Train, but with a metal-inspired aesthetic.
Demons run the city. It is up to you and the band you assemble to defeat them. As you make your way to the top of the demon tower, you will collect cards that you will use to make a deck worthy of killing the four warlords that guard it. Along the way, you will also find gear or trigger random events that can help or hinder your ascent. This game is very RNG-reliant, and this can make your runs fun or miserable.
For the most part, the gameplay is solid. The animation and art style are neat, the attacks and flavor are fun, and it requires enough strategy to keep me engaged through your first run. The story doesn’t really matter because most of the gameplay exists within the grind. My issue with the game is that it is repetitive. I like card games enough that I didn’t mind the repletion so much, but this isn’t a title you will no life to completion.
The RNG can be an issue in this game. When it is fair, and you get excellent pulls, the game is a lot of fun. Other times, you will pull the worst cards, and your run becomes nearly impossible. While the RNG might give the illusion of variety, it makes the grind feel harsher than it is. Unlocking new cards and champions felt slow because I kept running through the same scenarios. They have been adding new playable characters to the roster. This gives the deck building side of the game a bit more diversity, but you still have the issue of facing the same types of battles.
I liked the game, but I love deck builders and metal. Because of how repetitive this game is, the price is an issue. If you are looking for something you can play in small bursts when you just want to chill and listen to some cool music, the game is fine. If you want a challenging and complex story, wait for the sale. If you are a fan of the genre, you might be disappointed by the game’s lack of diversity. I would probably wait for a sale or for the developers to add more content.
This game is available on Steam.
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Series Review: Chainsaw Man (2022)
I understand that I am a little late on this review, but I enjoyed this anime enough to recommend it. If you are looking for a new anime to get into, go stream Chainsaw Man on Hulu.
Denji was a normal kid, burdened by the crippling debt that he inherited from his father. He works it off by doing all the odd jobs and hunting devils. Denji and Pochita, a chainsaw demon dog he befriends, live on the scraps left after each payment. Denji’s life changes when he is sacrificed by the gang he owes money to. In order to save Denji, Pochita gives Denji his heart. Denji now has the power to turn his body parts into chainsaws. Denji gets recruited to serve with the Public Safety Devil Hunters to keep Japan safe from devils. With his new power and job, Denji can live the life he’s always dreamed of. A life with three meals a day, jelly on toast, and boobs.
I liked this anime quite a bit. The art style and animation are interesting, the concept is neat, and the story is fun. There is a bit of shameless fan service, and the tone does get a bit silly, but the story is good enough that it doesn’t matter. What I liked most about this anime is that the protagonist isn’t the traditional hero who is overly good with an unbeatable sense of justice. Denji chooses to join the Public Safety Devil Hunters because he gets to live a better life. He has a warm place to sleep, all the food he can eat, and for the first time in his life, people treat him nicely. There are some very interesting moments where Denji will doubt his humanity or selfishness, but he always does what’s right. Denji is slowly learning to be heroic even if his motives aren’t as righteous as his colleagues. It is also interesting to have the point of view of someone who has never had anything. What he values, his reactions to new experiences, and the way he finds motivation is a refreshing take on the protagonist.
The first season is on Hulu and I believe it does a great job of introducing the series. You get a good sense of the world and what drives it, a taste of the big bad and his powers, the stakes involved, and its cast of interesting characters. It reminds me a lot of suicide squad and I am interested to see where this series will take me. In the meantime, I think I will attempt to catch up with the manga.
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Game Review: Fashion Police Squad
I was sent Fashion Police Squad as a review code. While I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to review this game, I am not letting this sway my opinion. This will be my honest review of the game.
Fashion Police Squad is a retro FPS Doom clone with a silly quirk. It is available on all major platforms and PC. This review will be on the PC version. You play as Sargent Des who suddenly finds himself in a city with an abnormal boom in fashion crimes. It is up to you to fight these crimes and get to the bottom of what is behind this sudden wave.
The writing in this game is fine. It is full of fashion-related puns, and at least some will make you laugh. I got a good chuckle out of this game and appreciate the developers’ commitment to the bit. The plot has a predictable mystery, but you aren’t playing this game for its deep storytelling.
This game is a mostly more polished retro fps full of inventive weapons and hilarious enemies. Each enemy comes with a specific weakness that requires you to constantly switch between your equipment. This mechanic gives the game a welcomed level of difficulty. I played on the normal difficulty and thought the game was challenging enough, but you can always raise it if you find it too easy. I found that even on normal difficulty, I had to plan out my moves and be aware of enemy positioning or else be overwhelmed.
That said, the game isn’t perfect yet. I found instances where I could confuse the NPCs and get them stuck in loops that made them easy to kill. There were also a few performance issues, especially in instances with many enemies, where the game would stutter; or frames would drop after each kill. The performance issues never made the game unplayable, but they are noticeable when it happens.
I had a lot of fun with this game. I love retro FPS games and found this to be a delightful little take on the genre. The humor was a vibe that I was all about, although I will admit some of the slang did go over my head. The art is really cool, and their attention to detail is admirable. Most importantly, this game is fun. It is definitely worth the $20. The game is on sale for $17 until February 16 on the Xbox, PC, and Switch.
You can grab your copy of Fashion Police Squad on the Nintendo Switch, Playstation, Xbox, and Steam.
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For whatever reason, WordPress isn’t letting me post my gameplay video so here is a great one by ContraNetwork
Series Review: Make My Day (2023)
Do not let the awkwardness of the art and animation stop you from enjoying Netflix’s newest survival horror anime, Make My Day. If you are a fan of the genre and enjoyed the Dead Space series, this series should be on your watchlist. Make My Day is a short and manageable series that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Companies have started mining the planet of Coldfoot for a new energy resource. Unfortunately, mining on this planet has awoken an ancient and nearly indestructible creature that is quickly wiping humanity off the planet’s inhospitable surface. Jim is a low-level guard at one of the prisons when disaster strikes. With the help of the survivors he gathers along the way, Jim must find a way off the planet. Can they make it before it is too late?
I loved this series. Although some of the production can be awkward, it does enough to tell an exciting horror story. I haven’t felt so anxious as I watched the survivors face increasingly impossible odds as they tried to leave the planet. The action is well choreographed and exciting, the voice acting is solid, although the quality does waiver with some of the extras, and the story is well done. There is enough buildup and tension to keep the pace moving, and enough character development to keep the story interesting. The ending does get a bit cheesy, but it was still satisfying enough to earn my recommendation.
My favorite part of this series is the main character Jim. Jim starts off the series as this scared kid who isn’t ready for conflict. The series does a great job of setting up Jim as a capable character so that when he has to act, his transformation is believable. When Jim first encounters the aliens, he is paralyzed by fear and can only watch in horror as people die to save him. As the series progresses, he slowly finds his courage and takes more of an active role as the hero. I had a lot of fun watching Jim grow as a character, although I did feel that his development suffers a bit.
This series is a lot of fun and very intense. If you like horror and need something to watch, check out Make My Day on Netflix. The series has English dubbing available but I couldn’t find an English trailer.
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Image by ThankYouFantasyPictures from Pixabay