I know I am a bit late on covering Alice in Borderlands, but I loved it so much I needed to talk about it. Alice in Borderlands is the live-action isakai series that you didn’t know you needed in your life. If you haven’t seen it, I urge you to add it to your list. It may be a bit cheesy, and the CGI is rough, but it is such an epic narrative that it doesn’t matter.
Irasu and his friends find themselves in a deserted Tokyo. As they travel through the empty streets of the town they once called home, they find themselves trapped in a deadly game. To survive, they must win a series of games where failure isn’t an option. Those who lose or run out of time die. It’s a similar concept to Squid Games, but this series came out first. Can Irasu and his friends find out who is behind the games before it is too late? Will they ever be able to return to their normal lives?
Both seasons are well done, with the second season being a narrative roller coaster that kept me on edge. The suspense in this season is killer despite the overpowered plot armor the main characters seem to carry.
The games are so much fun to watch, each getting more intense than the last. It does get a bit predictable, but I didn’t care because I was having so much fun. This show is graphic, so viewer discretion is advised.
The series uses the violence and stakes of the games to make important criticisms of the stagnation in human life. Each protagonist had moments in their past before the game where they wasted their lives or weren’t living to their potential. It was only when they no longer have control of their lives that they begin to reflect on their lives. For some, it is too late. They die without having the chance to make any real changes. Others, like Arisu, begin to experience personal growth as they begin to see life in a new light.
I loved Irasu as a protagonist. He isn’t a generic stoic that can be common in the genre. Instead, he is a flawed man whose resolve is constantly shaken by events in the game. As he spends more time in the games, Isaru never gets comfortable with the harsh world around him. There are times when the events will break him, and he will struggle to act when necessary. It is very cool to see a hero who is capable, but not perfect. It creates the perfect amount of tension for a series like this to work.
But as much as I love this series, it isn’t perfect. This series has a problem with its pacing. Towards the end of the series, it certainly feels drawn out. There are also times when this series will get a bit preachy about life and humanity, but it never gets so bad that I turned it off. Despite its flaws, I will be returning to this series.
Go watch this series! You might figure out the mystery ahead of time, and the special effects might look cheesy, but the story and action are so good that it won’t matter. The series is in Japanese with multiple dubbing available. While I always recommend watching media in their original language, the English dubbing is great. You can stream Alice in Borderlands on Netflix
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Legend of Vox Machina Season 2 Review
The second season of The Legend of Vox Machina has finally wrapped up, and the adventure is more epic than the last. If you are a fan of fantasy, you’ve already finished this series. For those who aren’t fans of fantasy, go stream it now! Do not be intimidated by its setting, theme, or even the fact that it is based on Dungeons and Dragons. This is a great story regardless of its themes. I am astounded at how a tabletop game became this epic story. I will be here for the whole adventure and recommend you do the same.
Dragons have invaded Iman, bringing death and destruction to its citizens. It is up to Vox Machina to collect the Vestiges and save Tal’Dorei from the Chroma Conclave. Does this band of misfits have what it takes to become the heroes Tal’Dorei needs?
What is left to say about this series? The animation is fantastic and has some of the best-choreographed action I have seen in animation. The voice acting is expectedly amazing. The cast gives their best performances yet, and I recommend you watch this series for the fantastic storytelling that comes from it.
For those who haven’t seen this show, it gets violent and crude, but I couldn’t have it any other way. The best part of this series is how user-friendly it is. You don’t have to know anything about fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons, or Critical Role. Prior knowledge may help you pick up an easter egg or joke, but it isn’t crucial to your enjoyment. I love that this series is so accessible because it brings such a misunderstood genre to a general audience without sacrificing what makes it so good in the first place. I need more people to nerd out with.
These two seasons of The Legend of Vox Machina have cemented this series as a staple in the fantasy genre. It has a terrific adventure with real stakes and character growth. I love that even though I know what is going to happen, I am still on the edge of my seat, fearful of the outcome. I love that Vox Machina starts as this selfish band of misfits without any real purpose or direction. They are even hesitant when they are first called to action because they weren’t hero’s then. I love watching them face their many trials and learn from them, slowly stepping into their roles as heroes. They are still flawed and will constantly encounter situations where that look bleak, making this fantastic storytelling.
If you haven’t started watching The Legend of Vox Machina, now is a great time to start. This is a fantastic story that you shouldn’t miss out on. You can stream both seasons now on Amazon if you have a Prime Membership.
Now for a shameless plug, check out Canva. If you need a quick and easy photo or video editor that works in your browser, try Canva. It is free, easy to use, and you get access to a wide selection of templates for those who are like me and aren’t that creative. Check out my affiliate link today!
Series Review: Red Rose (2022)
I wanted to like Red Rose. It had a strong start with its terrific soundtrack, decent actors, and interesting concept. Unfortunately, the novelty wears off, and the series overstays its welcome. If you were interested in watching this series, I would hold off. It’s not as good and deep as it pretends to be.
After finishing High School, Roche, and her friends are excited for what should be the best summer of their lives. It was supposed to be a summer of partying, sex, and fun before they all split up for university. But fate has other plans for these teens. Roch’s life gets turned upside down when she downloads the mysterious app, Red Rose. At first, it seems like a benevolent force that promises Roch a better life. But the app has ulterior motives, and Roch finds that her life is out of her hands. Red Rose isolates her from her friends, stalks her, and terrorizes her relentlessly. There is no escape from Red Rose, and the virus is spreading. Will the teens be able to put an end to this sinister app?
The acting is fine for the most part, but I felt like some of the leads didn’t have the charisma to make the series work. The story was fine, but it gets more and more convoluted the deeper you get into the series. This series wastes too much time on filler, pointless plot hooks, and painfully obvious red herrings instead of getting to the point. This series wastes so much time on filler that I honestly forgot what it was supposed to be about. This could have been a better series if they didn’t drag it out so long.
The first few episodes had so much promise. The soundtrack was fantastic, the lead was great, and the story was solid. They still had issues with the pacing, but I was willing to forgive it because the rest was good enough. It was a decent thriller until the tonal shifts. Unfortunately, this series turns into a generic action thriller with no real direction.
I can’t recommend this series because it just becomes a generic jumbled mess of a series. It becomes so bland that I struggle to find more to say about this series. I would say hold off, but if you can’t, you can stream it on Netflix.
Image By Eleven Film & British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) – Screenshot of a frame in an episode, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72846422
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
Series Review: Poker Face (2023)
Poker Face is Peacock’s new quirky crime detective drama that you should be watching if you are a fan of the genre. This creative and fun take on the genre is sure to put a smile on your face. If you have Peacock, Poker Face should be on your watch list.
Charlie starts as a waitress at a Las Vegas Casino with no prospects, but she is content with where her life is. Charlie has the superhuman ability to sense when people are lying to her. Unfortunately, her gift gets her in a lot of trouble. Despite trying to lay low, her caring nature won’t let her leave things alone. Her life changes when her abilities help her uncover the casino’s dark secret. Follow Charlie as she runs for her life and solves more mysteries along the way.
Charlie is an amazing character, and I recommend this series just to experience Natasha Lyonn’e delightful performance. She is quirky, funny, and smart despite her looks. I dare you to hate Charlie after the first episode. I have no doubts that Lyonne has the charisma to make this series work.
What sets this series apart is its structure. Each episode starts by showing you the murder. The audience knows what happened, but the fun comes from watching Charlie put the pieces together. What makes Charlie such a great character is that she isn’t perfect. She fumbles and makes mistakes, but her instincts will eventually get her the answers she needs. It makes for a refreshing take on this classic genre that I have been enjoying thoroughly.
The series only has four episodes out at the moment, with a new episode releasing Thursdays. If you don’t have Peacock, I recommend you wait for the whole series to release so that you can binge it on the trial. So far, this series is worth the trial. The acting is solid, and the mysteries are well done. If you are looking for a fun, quirky crime drama that will make you laugh and keep you on the edge of your seat, go stream Poker Face on Peacock!
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Movie Review: You People (2023)
I wasn’t a fan of You People because it is a lazy movie at its core. It has good actors who give fantastic performances, but this is a movie that sacrifices narrative in order to make its pretentious points about racism. If you are interested in watching this movie, you won’t hate it, but keep in mind that it isn’t the quirky rom-com that you think it is.
The story is about an interatrial couple and the struggles they face as their cultures clash. There is also a subplot about a podcast, but there really isn’t much more to this movie.
The acting is fine, but the leads share no chemistry. It feels as if the only reason the two are together is to create the uncomfortable situations the movie is brimming with. The white family will constantly make tone-deaf statements as they desperately attempt to not appear racist. The African-American family seems to be equally one note as they become the foils to the Jewish family. This back-and-forth gets old almost instantly, but I can’t deny that the performances were excellent.
This movie seems to be shamelessly made to make white people uncomfortable. While I appreciate some of the commentary it makes, the tone is directed toward a particular audience. I find it problematic to exclude a group of people from a conversation about racism. This movie also boils down such a complex issue into something too simple for cheap laughs. I felt like this movie doesn’t do anything other than try to make its audience uncomfortable.
These uncomfortable moments and discussions are tied together by its poorly and barely existent plot. This relationship exists outside of various clashes and unintended racism which would be fine if this wasn’t a rom-com. If you take away these moments, you get a couple of montages and a crappy podcast. I was not a fan of the fact that I had to sit through a fake podcast full of bad takes because there wasn’t enough plot for a movie. I am very upset that this movie forgot it was a rom-com, but remembered the main character’s rise to a successful podcaster.
I can’t recommend this movie because there really isn’t much to it. While there are some great performances and some valid humor, it doesn’t do enough to earn a recommendation. There are older rom-coms that deal with the same subject but do it better, I recommend you watch those instead. I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch this movie, nor do intend on rewatching it, but you can stream it on Netflix if you have nothing better to do.
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Movie Review: The Old Way (2023)
The Old Way is a mediocre attempt at a western that is better left forgotten. This movie is boring and a complete waste of time. Even if you are desperate for something to watch, you have better options available.
The movie is about a generic infamous gunman with an impressive reputation but no personality. He has set his violent ways behind him and has settled for a quiet life in a new town where he runs a general store and has started a family. But his past has come to haunt him. A mysterious villain and his crew have moved through town and killed his wife. Now it is up to Nick Cage and his daughter to hunt down his wife’s murder and get his revenge.
This movie is made unremarkable by its terrible acting, lack of interesting story, and dull action sequences. This film lacks everything that makes westerns fun and instead replaces them with a lot of walking and pointless conversations. The script is bad, and the conversations make this movie feel longer than it is. There wasn’t even enough action in this movie to save me from boredom. The available action lacks the excitement to make me interested.
It seems as if I was as disinterested in this movie as the actors. The movie features a very tired and unimpressive performance from Cage and most of the actors supporting him. The child actor is the only one that seemed to show any passion for the project, but I doubt more passion from the rest of the cast would save this movie.
There isn’t much more to say about this movie because it left no impression on me. I was so bored that I needed multiple breaks to power through to the end. This movie is so unremarkable that I have already forgotten that I watched it. It isn’t worth your time or the trouble of looking it up. Even if you like making fun of bad movies, there isn’t anything for you here. Do not watch this movie. It is a waste of time.
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Game Review: The Legends of Heroes: Trails from Zero
I played The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero on Luna for a bit when it was free, but the game quickly become unplayable. When Amazon finally came around to fixing their copy, I had already purchased it on the Nintendo Switch. This review will be based on the Switch version.
Trials from Zero is a 2D turn-based strategy game. You play as a team of misfit detectives brought together to form the SSS. The SSS is a special unit of the police force created to try to repair the relationship between the police and the citizens of Cabell. The game has you fighting monsters as you run errands and solve mysteries.
I thought this game was cute. I loved the art, the voice acting is fantastic, and the story is fine. This game certainly has its niche. Unfortunately, I am not part of this niche. While I did enjoy sitting through the dialogue, I just couldn’t get into the combat.
Combat in this game is like most turn-based strategy games. The gimmick in this game is that you have to collect gems that give your character stat boosts and magical abilities. The grind involves finding the perfect combination of gems to optimize your team. The problem I had with the combat is that I found it boring. Most of the time I found it easier to keep bashing my way through combat rather than attempting to think tactically. I admit I am terrible at these games, but I can usually force myself through the grind to enjoy the story.
In the end, the grind proved too much for me. I am sure someone smarter who enjoys the genre will have a greater appreciation for this game’s mechanics, but I just couldn’t. A neat feature about this game is that it does have 2x speed mode. I recommend keeping this on because it makes movement through the overworld and combat that much quicker. This setting helps make the grind feel a little better so that you can enjoy the story, but I still found it too dull.
This game isn’t terrible, the bits of the story I got through were fine, but I just couldn’t justify grinding through combat just to get the next bit of story. This is a niche game. If you are looking for a turn-based strategy game and don’t mind the anime tropes it exists within, give it a try. For the rest of you, I would hold off.
You can play this game on Amazon Luna, Steam, Playstation, and the Nintendo Switch.
Image By Nihon Falcom / NIS America – https://image.api.playstation.com/vulcan/ap/rnd/202208/1119/mf0k9jlnC3mMwggEjz3sfkGp.jpg, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=72088799
