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Destiny 2’s Guardian Games are Here!

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If you’ve been away from Destiny 2 for a while, it might be a good time to make your return, especially if you enjoyed its PVP. If you’ve never played Destiny 2, the base game is free-to-play, and the event is free to everyone. The Guardian Games pits its different classes against each other in a fun and limited event that runs for three weeks. The event will end on May 23rd, which should be plenty of time to grind out its unique cosmetics made available through the exclusive event card. The event card is available to all players, but there is a paid track for those who want to earn a bit more bling.

Players who participate in the games will have the opportunity to exchange their medallions for two exclusive weapons.

This year’s weapon is the Taraxippos, the game’s first legendary strand scout rifle.

Who wouldn’t want this colorful rifle?

Players can also earn last year’s The Title, a void machine gun with the unique perk, Repulsor Brace.

If you didn’t get a chance to win it last year, it’s a great time to start working towards it now.

You can also earn some other cool cosmetics like:

Armor

Ships and Sparrows

Ghost Shells

Emotes and Finishers

And Stuff from the Event Card

There is a lot to earn, so make sure you hop in today! The breakdown for earning medallions are as follows:

Activities that award you low-tier (Bronze or Silver) Medallions include Gambit and Quickplay Crucible matches, anything from the Vanguard playlists, as well as most Neptune activities and Defiant Battlegrounds. For high-tier (Gold and Platinum) Medallions, play Nightfalls, raids, dungeons, Competitive Crucible, Trials of Osiris, or Legend Defiant Battlegrounds.

You do not need the latest DLCs to participate in the event. While you might be at a disadvantage gear-wise, I never found it an issue as a free-to-play player. If it’s been a while or you’ve never played before, now is a great time to log in and start blinging out your guardian. Who knows? You might like the experience enough to stay.

To get started, talk to Eva Levante for access to the Guardian Games quest and your class item. I hope to see you there!

This year for the games, Bunjie has partnered with Direct Relief and the International Rescue Committee to host the Guardian Games Cup. All money raised will go to some great causes, so make sure you go to the official site to find out how to participate.

video game reviews

Game Review: Everspace 2

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I was sent Everspace 2 as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions.

Everspace 2 is a space-themed looter shooter available now for the Xbox and PC. You play as a clone pilot looking for his place in the universe. Explore the universe as you take on odd jobs, evade capture, and fight for survival. If you are looking for a sci-fi game with a large open world and lots of content, get Everspace 2. 

The biggest draw for Everspace 2 is its streamlined flight mechanics. While there is enough skill and challenge involved to keep flight and combat engaging, there isn’t the high skill ceiling you would get from a flight simulator like Elite Dangerous. Everspace 2 gives you the feeling of being an ace pilot without much of the commitment. The combat in this game is incredibly satisfying. While there may be a grind, it won’t feel like it. 

I love the RPG flavor this game has. You have an expansive skill tree, loot drops, a leveling system, and an open world full of quests. If you like RPGs, you will enjoy the refreshing take this game brings to the genre.

As you progress through the game, you will unlock new ships and weapons. I was pleased by how unique each ship and weapon loadout made combat. I never felt like this game grew stale because there was always something new to try. I enjoyed the bulky ships the best, but I recommend you try every flavor till you find something that fits your playstyle best. There is some RNG when it comes to the loot, but I felt it was very fair. 

This game has so much to do that I found myself constantly sidetracked. The story is interesting, and the cut scenes are very well done. I am a huge fan of how the cut scenes are drawn, and I love that they play like comic book pages. This game has some fantastic voice acting, so sitting through the story became a real treat. I haven’t played the first game, but I didn’t feel it was necessary. The story is pretty self-contained, and I never felt lost by what was going on..

If you are looking for a unique RPG, you need to give Everspace 2 a try. This game looks great, performs well, and is a lot of fun. I’d say it is worth buying at full price. You can pick up Everspace 2 for $49.99 on Xbox and Steam. You can play it free if you have game pass. Everspace 2 will be coming to the PlayStation 5 this summer.

Series Reviews

Final Space Ends Announcement

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Today I got some fantastic news about one of my favorite animated series. I can’t express how overjoyed I am to know that Final Space is finally getting a proper ending. The series follows a quirky and delightful astronaut as he and his friends try to save the universe. If you haven’t seen the series, you need to. It is an epic story full of humor, friendship, and heroism. Make sure you check out my full review of the series.

Unfortunately, the series got canceled before it could end because TBS wanted to write it off for tax reasons. The creator, Olan Rogers, was rightfully devastated because he didn’t own the rights to finish a series he created. For two years, Rogers has continued his fight to finish his story. Five days ago, Rogers announced that Final Space will end in a self-published graphic novel. This makes me incredibly happy because Rogers deserves this. The announcement is up on his official YouTube channel. I recommend you watch it so that you can appreciate the passion and love this man has for his story. 

You can pre-order the graphic novel on the Final Space Ends official website. Over 16,000 copies of the graphic novel have sold since the announcement, and the number continues to climb. Keep checking the site if it sells out. I got my copy before it sold out, but more have been available since. The book is $125 plus shipping and is expected to release sometime in 2024. Make sure you follow Olen Rogers on YouTube to stay on top of future announcements. 

I know this seems like a lot, but the book is going to be huge and epic. I have faith that this final chapter is going to be the epic conclusion we have all been waiting for. 

I wanted to share this announcement because I believe it deserves attention, but also because of the timing. I have been feeling a bit of burnout lately and have debated quitting WordPress. This morning I was on the verge of deleting my blog until I saw this announcement. I was happy that my favorite show was getting its ending, but Roger’s perseverance and passion inspired me to keep going. In his video, he tells his viewers not to give up on their passions, even when things seem hopeless.

“You have to dare to dare to fail”

You don’t understand how badly I needed to hear those words when I did. I know that the algorithm played a huge part in showing me the announcement, but I am superstitious enough to believe in fate. I’ve been consistently on YouTube since it was published, but it was only recommended when I needed it most. As silly as it sounds, too many events in my life have lined up so perfectly that I have to believe that fate exists. I am taking his words to heart and will continue pursuing my passions. 

With that, I’ll sign off. I have a backlog of games I’ve sent to review, the Digimon Seekers project I need to finish, and some movie reviews to sprinkle in between. Until then, go watch Final Space, go pre-order the graphic novel, and if you are still reading, thank you for your support. Love you all!

Art by Daz Tibbles @daztibbles

gaming news, video game reviews

United 1994 – Closed Beta May 19

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United 1944 is a WW2 FPS with survival and strategy elements coming to PC via Steam. You and your team must work together to gain control of your war-torn village. You can craft weapons, build and defend bases, and fight over territory. There aren’t any classes in United 1944. Instead, players will have access to a seemingly extensive skill tree that they can customize to fit their play style. Teamwork is crucial for victory in United 1944. You and your team must scavenge, build an arsenal, defend a base, and gain more territory to win the match. The dev released a fantastic and short video with a better breakdown of the game if you need further convincing.

The closed beta will run from May 19 – May 21. The featured game mode will be a 16 v 16 base conquest on a North African map. More maps like France and Russia will be available in a future release. The beta will only be playable for 4 hours each day. Make sure you follow the socials to know when to log in. The biggest draw to this game is its survival mechanics. Players will start with nothing and scavenge around the city for materials to craft weapons and gear. I assume the 4-hour run time is to ensure all players have the same advantages.  

If you are looking for a new FPS and don’t mind the survival elements, go sign up for the closed beta on Steam. Signing up for the beta does not guarantee access, but it doesn’t hurt to sign up. I’ve signed up for the beta because I love the aesthetic, and the concept seems pretty cool.  

Make sure you also follow the socials to stay up to date on all the news: Discord, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  

gaming news, video game reviews

Destiny 2’s Annual Guardian Games Return May 2nd

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The Guardian Games are returning to Destiny 2, and now might be a great time to come back if you’ve been away. The event will pit guardians against each other as they compete to earn bragging rights and some pretty cool cosmetics. You won’t need the latest expansion to participate, so if you’ve been away for a while or are new to the title, it is completely free to play. Who knows, you might like the game enough to stay.  

The Guardian Games begin on May 2nd and will run until the end of the Season of Defiance on May 23rd. To get started, speak with Eva Levante to unlock the Guardian Games quest and get your class item.  

Participants will earn medals across the game or through PvP which they can exchange for exclusive cosmetics. More specifically: 

Activities that award you low-tier (Bronze or Silver) Medallions include Gambit and Quickplay Crucible matches, anything from the Vanguard playlists, as well as most Neptune activities and Defiant Battlegrounds. For high-tier (Gold and Platinum) Medallions, play Nightfalls, raids, dungeons, Competitive Crucible, Trials of Osiris, or Legend Defiant Battlegrounds. 

Use these medallions to unlock these year’s Guardian Games weapons: 

The Traxippos  – The first Legendary Strand Scout Rifle in the game

The Title – The Void Submachine Gun is back with updates, including the fan-favorite perk, Repulsor Brace

Players will also have access to the Guardian Games event card for additional cosmetics. There is a paid tier available for 1000 silver that might be worth it if you want the additional cosmetics.  

This event also marks the return of the Guardian Games Cup. Anyone can join so make sure you grab your fire team and help raise money for some great causes. This year, Bungie is teaming up with International Rescue and Direct Relief. Participants of the cup will be fighting for the chance to win: 

  • Top team in the Technical category: custom art of your fireteam by PherianArt 
  • Top team in the Charitable category: custom art of your fireteam by Gammatrap 
  • Top two teams in the Technical and Charitable categories: Guardian Games Pendant ($200 MSRP) 
  • Top three teams in the Technical and Charitable categories: Apricot Dawn emblem 
  • Top four teams in the Technical and Charitable categories: Bungie Store discount codes 

The technical category is for the number of medallions earned throughout the event. The charitable category is for the amount of money raised. Make sure you go to the official website to register and start earning.  

Participants who donate more than $25 will earn an exclusive Quantum Relay emblem.  

I am terrible at PvP, but it might be a great time to dust off my old guardian to start earning some cosmetics.  

*images taken from the press kit

video game reviews

Game Review: Strayed Lights

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I was sent Strayed Lights as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but I will be sure to keep my review honest.

Strayed Lights is the most beautiful adventure game you can play on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam, GoG, and Epic Games.

You play as a being of light and darkness as they go on an adventure of self-discovery and personal growth. You must travel across a dream-like landscape and face off against deadly monsters. Do you have what it takes to complete this journey?

This game is by far the prettiest game I have played by far. I spent too long admiring the wildlife, enjoying the colors, and appreciating the composition. And the music? This game has a soundtrack that will be winning awards. I cannot express how perfectly this soundtrack was composed to elevate this already stunning game to the experience that should be mandatory for all gamers. I see the word atmospheric thrown around a lot to describe games, but Strayed Lights has finally given the word its proper definition.

6 / 7

Exploration in this game is fantastic because the world is beautiful, but the combat is what makes this game fun. Battles are fast-paced and engaging. You have your traditional attack and dodge action, but the parry sets this system apart. Your character can swap between two colors, but monsters can swap between three. Matching your color with the monster’s while you complete a successful parry heals your character and fills your energy bar. Combat becomes this elegant dance as you learn when to attack, dodge, change color, and parry till you meet the win condition. This system kept combat feeling fresh, even when I learned a monster’s attack patterns. 

Finally, I need to mention the game’s story. Strayed Lights has a fantastic story. You get to watch your character grow as it makes its way through the world helping others from the darkness. There is no dialogue, but it isn’t necessary. I am blown away by how much narrative exists without the use of words. You aren’t killing monsters, but rather helping other beings of light get rid of their darkness. I loved watching the different ways the main character heals the monsters. Each time you heal a monster, the character will grow from the experience. You will see the main character complete a full life cycle, and how that growth manifests into the world is something you need to see to appreciate.

I can’t stress how much you need to play this game. It is a beautiful and unique adventure game that deserves your attention, even if you aren’t a fan of the genre. It has a great story, beautiful art, fantastic music, and fun gameplay. Strayed Lights is $24.99, which is a great price for what you are getting. You can pick up Strayed Lights on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC via Steam, GoG, and Epic Games.

video game reviews

Game Review: Super Meat Boy Forever

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I was sent Super Meat Boy Forever as a review code. I am very grateful for the opportunity, but this will be my honest review.

Super Meatboy Forever brings the infamously difficult platformer to Android and IOS. DR. Fetus has stolen the meat baby Nugget, and it is up to Meat Boy and Bandage Girl to get him back. But can they survive the deadly traps that wait for them?

I’ve only ever played the unreleased Dr. Fetus’ Mean Machine, so I can’t speak on how it compares with the original platformer. I have never been a fan of platformers, so I’ll admit that I was hesitant to start this title. I quickly learned that as frustrated as this game made me, I couldn’t put it down.

In classic Meat Boy fashion, this game is hard. You will die a lot, but the sense of accomplishment when you finally complete a level remains unrivaled. There were moments when I couldn’t put it down because I just needed to beat the level.

Super Meatboy Forever plays like the Super Mario Run mobile game, but I would argue it is more fun. The characters run automatically, and you tap either side to jump or complete other actions. When you die, you restart at a checkpoint. This game is generous with checkpoints, so you won’t need to replay too much of a level when you die. To clear a world, you must complete a set number of stages before facing off against the world’s boss. Boss fights are creative, but you might break a few phones trying to clear them. This game also has challenges, a leaderboard, and collectibles to help motivate players further.

Super Meat Boy Forever is the cutest platformer to make you angry. I loved this game despite my aversion to platformers. The gameplay loop is addicting, the art is great, the music is fantastic, and the story is adorably dark. If you are looking for a fun phone game and don’t mind the challenge, you need to buy this game. You can pick up Super Meat Boy Forever for $0.99 on Android or IOS, and for that price, it’s worth it.

Movie Reviews

Movie Review: 65 (2023)

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65 is a solid B movie with sufficient action, story, and cool-looking dinosaurs. It isn’t winning any awards, and it is a bit slow, but it is fine for what it is. If you are curious about watching this movie, throw it on in the background and enjoy the good bits. Adam Driver is transporting groups of people across space to make money for his sickly child. His latest mission is interrupted by an uncharted asteroid system that forces him to make an emergency crash landing on an undiscovered planet. He and a young girl are the ship’s only survivors. Now the two must brave a world full of dinosaurs as they make their way to the only remaining escape pod. Can they make it off this planet? The leads have good enough chemistry to make a movie with very little dialogue work. I do take some issue with the little girls’ problematic representation, but it wasn’t so bad that I had to turn it off. I would have preferred it if they spoke the same language, but the movie handles the language barrier well enough. This movie is dumb. The story is on the generic side, the science is too magical, and there is a fair amount of ex-Machina. There are also some slow bits you could gloss over, but the movie is fine. It’s fun to watch Adam Driver blasting away Dinosaurs, and the relationship the forms between the two leads is cute. It’s not a movie you should be rushing to, but it is an option when you need something in the background that doesn’t require your full attention. I liked it enough to watch it again, and I liked it a whole lot better than After Earth. So throw it on, skip through the slow bits, and enjoy this silly bit of alternate history. 

Movie Reviews

Movie Review: Ghosted (2023)

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I just watch Ghosted, but I wish I didn’t. This has to be one of the laziest and most boring action films I have seen, and I have sat through some terrible movies. This movie is so boring that Anna Del Armas slept through her whole performance. This movie is so boring that the best part is when they played My Sharona, even though the action scene it belongs to is terrible. For those few who were thinking of watching this movie, don’t. It is a huge waste of time.

A farmer meets a girl at a farmers market and falls madly in love with her after one date. She ghosts him. Instead of taking the hint and moving on, the farmer tracks her down without her knowledge to attempt a big romantic gesture. Instead of finding romance, the farmer finds himself in the middle of a covert CIA operation. It turns out that the love is life is a secret agent. Will he be able to find love between the rain of bullets and lies?

Ghosted starts off as one of the most awkward romcoms but quickly turns into an incredibly generic action movie. This movie doesn’t work. There is absolutely no chemistry between the leads, which was essential for this movie’s success. I blame the lack of chemistry and mediocre acting on the terrible writing. The writing for this movie is lazy. You can guess down to specific lines what will happen next. At least they had they lacked the nerve to sequel bait because that would have thrown me over a ledge.

As an action movie, it doesn’t work because the action is boring. I preferred the romcom bits of the plot because at least sometimes it would be funny. For this movie to work, it needed a tangible villain and real stakes, anything to make it less goofy.

The worst part of this movie was the couple. They meet after a very awkward and obnoxious fight and somehow still end up going on a date The guy, who everyone agrees is obsessive, uses a tracking device that only he knows about to track the romantic interest. The movie tries to play it like the male lead is quirky, but it is creepy. It doesn’t make sense when in the end they are in love because there is no reason for them to be.

I knew Ghosted was going to be bad when I saw how hard Apple was pushing it up to its release. They even shamelessly collected name-brand actors for seconds of cameos to trick people into watching this garbage. If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen all the good parts. It even shows you bits of the climax. I avoided using names in this review because the characters are so generic that the names don’t matter. You can watch this movie on Apple TV, but I wouldn’t waste my time. Go watch Killers instead. That movie does this plot a lot better.

video game reviews

Outerplane

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Outerplane is a new turn-based RPG coming to IOS and Android that you should consider if you are in the market for a Gotcha game. The animation and voice acting for the announced characters are fantastic. I recommend you head over to the official YouTube page and check them all out. The art style might lean too heavily into the anime and fan service, but I didn’t think it was an issue. I like the art enough to start collecting.

I have a soft spot for Gotcha games because I love collecting things. I like that the gameplay is casual enough that I don’t have to no-life the game to enjoy the content. I can play on the go without having to take a console with me, and I appreciate the dopamine rush of rolling for a new character. Ever since Nintendo shut down Dragalia Lost, I have been unsuccessful in my search for a replacement. I can only hope that Outerplane is fun enough to fill the void Nintendo left behind.

Outerplane is going to be free-to-play, but you can pay money to gamble for new heroes. First-time players will get a free three-star hero, and another one if they get far enough in the story. The game will launch in the Philippines, Malaysia, and Singapore on Android and IOS on April 18. Preregistration for the global release is coming in May. I’ll be trying Outerplane as soon as it becomes available, and be back with my results when I can. 

If you want to stay up to date on the news for this game, make sure you follow the socials: Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

All the images were taken from the official twitter. Make sure you go follow them!

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