With the debut of The Legend of Vox Machina’s second season, I can’t help but remain excited for the fantastic adventure it will be. The season is off to a great start as it sets up the new villains and tells a narrative so captivating, I am impatient for next week. If you haven’t watched the first season, now is a great time to start.
An enclave of dragons has attacked Emon, destroying the newly found home for our group of misfits. Now it is up to Vox Machina to care for the refugees and find a way to save the world from dragons. Can this band of ne’er-do-wells step up and become the heroes the world needs, or will they be another blood stain on dragon scales?
I have said this before, The Legend of Vox Machina is a great series for those who know nothing about fantasy or dungeons and dragons. While the series is heavy with easter eggs for fans of Critical Role and Dungeons and Dragons, knowledge of either isn’t required to enjoy the story. Even if you aren’t a fan of fantasy, I dare you not to like this story.
The voice acting is as amazing as you’d expect from a cast of this caliber, the art is beautiful, and the story will keep you on the edge of your seat. I have seen the campaign that this series is based on, and despite knowing how everything ends, my heart still races when Vox Machina faces danger. This is just a testament to the scale of how epic this series can get. The action is well-choreographed, the stakes are well-established, and the heroes are imperfect enough that the danger is still palpable. The series does a fantastic job at making you fall in love with a group of assholes that begin to find their call to heroism, and they reluctantly take the call.
If you haven’t seen this series, it is a great time to start. I must warn you, this series is graphic. It is full of nudity, profanity, and gore. Viewer discursion is advised. That aside, it tells a fantastic story for an adventure that I am sure will be amazing. I am excited for what is to come, and you should be too. You can stream it on Amazon if you have a Prime membership.
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The Last of Us – Initial Thoughts
I never got to play The Last of Us because I never had a PlayStation. I might play it when it comes out for Steam, but we will see how stable I am on March 3rd. I have heard great things about the game, and everyone I know who played it loved it, but I have also been lucky enough to not encounter any spoilers. I went into this series as blindly as possible and loved every minute. The Last of Us has gotten its strong start. It effectively introduces its world and problems and shows off how effective it can be with its storytelling. If you have been cautious about getting into the series, don’t be. At the very least, you will love the first episode.
The world has been thrown into chaos as a mysterious disease runs rampant across the world. People are turning into zombies, and the remaining survivors struggle to create a new life from the burning remains of the old one. Warring factions fight over resources, and every day seems to be more hopeless. The series focuses on Joel and his story of survival as he escorts a young girl into the unknown. Can they survive with the limited resources left behind after the fall, or will their end be tragic like so many before them?
There is only one episode of this series out at the moment, with a new one released every Sunday. Usually, I complain about a show going on a weekly schedule, but The Last of Us takes full advantage of it. By the end of the episode, I was left wanting more and saddened that I will have to wait another week to learn what happens next. Yes, I could easily look up what happens next, but I don’t want to. I want to enjoy the ride as it happens and remain hopeful that they don’t mess it up.
The acting is fantastic, the pacing is great, and the action is intense. I haven’t felt this much anxiety in a while, especially from a zombie series. If you haven’t played the game or know anything about it, this series does a fantastic job of existing on its own. You will be caught up by the end of the episode, but frustrated that there isn’t more. I hope the series can keep this momentum because I have been burned by shows before.
I will admit that I was afraid that they were going to mess this up because recent video game adaptations haven’t been great. I am relieved that The Last of Us got its strong start. It has a great cast and competent storytellers. I will continue tuning in, and I recommend you do the same. Check out the first episode on HBO max if you have a subscription.
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Tales of Symphonia Remastered
Come February, Bandai is remastering Tales of Symphonia and bringing it to the Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, and Xbox One. I am loving this trend of bringing these classic games to a modern audience because I missed out on a lot of them growing up. Now that I have money but no time, I will try to squeeze in as much as possible.
Tales of Symphonia Remastered is a JRPG that seems to have a decent story and an interesting combat system. Aside from the visual upgrades, the remastered edition is promising co-op modes, 3D animated cut scenes, and a fantastic adventure to set out on. If you are a fan of the original or are looking for a classic JRPG to get into, check out Tales of Symphonia. The game is set to come out on February 17th, 2023. You can preorder your physical copy today, otherwise you will need to wait till launch for digital. For those interested in physical copies, please consider preordering through my affiliate links: Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch.
Bandai also offers a chosen edition that includes the game, a steelcase, and stickers if you would like to spend the extra $10.
Game Review: Dragon Quest Treasures
Dragon Quest Treasures was an impulsive buy for me. I liked the art and was familiar enough with the title to risk sinking some time into it. I knew nothing about this game going into it except for having a vague memory of playing the first Dragon Quest on the original Gameboy. I didn’t know what to expect, but I was ready for an adventure. I was relieved to find this game a comforting and casual experience that I can recommend to those interested in this title.
Dragon Quest Treasures is an RPG adventure game where you play as a young protagonist in search of buried treasure. With the help of monsters you befriend along the way, you aim to form the mightiest crew of Treasure hunters in all the land. But with so much competition doing the same, this task will not be easy.
The game is geared toward a younger audience, as reflected in language, art, and humor. Treasures have a simple story that is very linear and easy to follow. The story requires very little attention. It is almost negligible against the gameplay, but it was nice to hit the cut scenes, and I even laughed at a few of the puns, but there isn’t anything deep to sink into.
Treasure hunting makes up most of the gameplay. I found this to be an interesting mechanic until it wasn’t. Collecting treasure comes in the form of scavenger hunts, random dungeons, and story quests. I liked that treasure hunting becomes an alternate way to level up your characters, but it gets repetitive. That said, it was neat to see your base fill with treasure as you progressed. I became obsessed with filling the treasure not only to unlock helpful boosts, but also to see my base get nicer.
Combat is where it gets a bit tricky to recommend this game. On the surface, it appears simple, but there is an unexpected layer of complexity to it. It is not so complex that it loses its casual standing, but complex enough where putting thought into your builds makes a difference in how quickly you can progress through the story. I was able to do well enough with picking monsters I thought were cool, but I could see areas where min-maxing is a deal. I recommend playing whatever you find fun. The types of monsters you use, the food you give them, and the gear you hand them make a difference. Aside from how you build your crew and what ammo you carry, combat isn’t too varied. You can either beat an enemy with your knife until it dies or shoot it with your slingshot. There are instances where you don’t even need to fight if you have a strong enough crew to fight for you.
If you haven’t guessed by now, my only complaint with this game is that it gets repetitive. The combat, the quests, and treasure hunting never changes. Sure the types of monsters you fight get tougher the deeper you get into the story, and you get access to different abilities, but there was nothing new to keep me hooked for longer. Treasure hunting also loses appeal after a while, and it began feeling like a chore if I played too long. It never got so bad that I quit the game entirely, but it meant I was only playing this game in short bursts.
In the end, I liked the game enough to not regret spending the $60. I like that it is a casual experience that I can pick up and not become too invested in. The art was cute, and I liked how different it felt from the games that I was used to. However, I believe $60 is a bit much to ask for. If you are getting this for kids, it’s a cute enough title that will keep them entertained. If you are looking for a casual title to relax to as you take a break from your busy schedule, I think you can find $60 of value in this game. For everyone else, however, I would wait for a used copy or a sale to justify what you are getting. If you don’t mind the nearly mindless repetition and lack of story, this is a solid game worth your attention. You can get this game for the Nintendo Switch.
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Movie Review: Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
With the craziness of the holidays behind me, I finally got around to watching Avatar: The Way of Water in theaters. I watched this movie in 3D, and if you are thinking of watching this movie, I suggest you do the same. The 3D in The Way of Water is not a silly gimmick to sell tickets but is successfully used to create a truly breathtaking experience.
There are a couple of issues to keep in mind before you decide on which format to watch. If you are someone who easily gets motion sickness, watch this movie in 2D instead. I got motion sickness towards the beginning, and although I eventually got used to it, it made the first few minutes of this movie unpleasant. It will be impossible to sit through three hours of motion sickness. If you are someone who suffers from frequent migraines, watch this movie in 2D instead. My wife got one of the worst she has ever experienced, and while she enjoyed most of the film, the migraine ruined her experience. She won’t be watching any 3D movies in the future.
The Way of Water deals with the aftermath of the initial conflict between the Navi and the Sky people. Jack has since become the leader of his tribe and has started a family on Pandora. For the years that follow the conflict, he and the Navi enjoy their peaceful lives on Pandora. But this peace is short-lived when Sky People return, this time with more advanced technology. Earth is dying, and its people look to Pandora as their potential new home. But for Pandora to replace Earth, the Sky People must eliminate the defiant Navi. Will Jack and the Navi ever find peace on Pandora, or will the sky people claim the planet as their own?
The Way of Water is a beautiful movie. You should watch this movie just to experience the beautiful alien planet. The creatures, the cultures, and the ecosystems have all come together to create a fantastical narrative. Every scene of nature is vivid, and I appreciate the work put into the movie to make it all so realistic. The acting was fantastic, and the story is solid, but I will admit that this movie could have been shorter. There are a lot of scenes in this movie where Cameron shows off the technology he used for this movie. There are a lot of beautiful shots of swimming, for example, that look cool but only pad the film. I am glad I watched it, but I needed an intermission.
The conflict in this movie is what made this movie for me. Cameron does a fantastic job at making the battles and action feel epic. Despite knowing the outcome, I was so invested in the plot and characters that I was still anxious. I was consistently at the edge of my recliner with my nails digging deep into the pleather. I won’t deny that there are slow parts, and the story isn’t perfect, but I never felt the need to leave the theater. If you find yourself getting bored, I am here to assure you that it gets better. Use the boring bits as your intermission.
If you haven’t watched the original, you don’t have to. I don’t remember what happened in the original, but I never felt lost by the events in this one. The movie does a great job of summarizing the crucial events from the first one to keep everyone up to date. If you are on the fence, don’t be. Go watch this movie in theaters. Avatar: The Way of Water is worth the theater experience, even if you watch it in 2D. As of writing this review, you can still watch this movie in theaters.
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Fire Emblem Engage
I just watched the Fire Emblem Engage trailer and it has me pretty excited. I haven’t played any of the previous games in the series, but it seems to exist as its own independent story based on the trailers. The art looks great, the animation is cool, the voice acting is fantastic, and the story seems interesting. I am not sure how I feel about the gameplay, but I have been slowly coming around to the RTS-style gameplay since I started reviewing games. I could always use another JRPG to fill my time.
The game comes out for the Nintendo Switch later this month on January 20. You can preorder your copy today. I am not sure if I will preorder, but I will be playing this game. Stay tunned for the full review.
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
Lost Ark – Impressions
I have been on a search for the next MMO that will fill the void Phantasy Star Online 2 has left behind. I need a laid-back experience that I can pick up on the little spare time I have left that doesn’t feel like it is another job. As part of this search, I decided to give Lost Ark another chance.
I tried Lost Ark when it first came out and quickly gave up on it. At the time, I thought the grind was too slow and boring. I tried different classes but couldn’t find a combination that stuck. It’s been a while since I last played the game, and I believed that enough time had passed where the experience would be different this time around. I was surprised by how different the experience was, but I’ve also learned this game isn’t from me.
For those who don’t know, Lost Ark is an MMO action RPG that is similar to Diablo, but different enough to not be considered a clone. It promises an engaging story, an open world, and fun combat. Unfortunately, I kept skipping the story, so I can’t speak on that part of the game. I didn’t like that it was only partially voice-acted, and none of what I read hooked me enough to keep reading.
But story aside, this game is beautiful. The settings, the special effects, and the aesthetic are breathtaking. Lost Ark has an impressive character creation that should satisfy anyone ready to dive into this game. I lack creativity and usually just played around with whatever templates were available.
Combat was a lot of fun when I finally found the class that worked for me. I loved tinkering with the abilities and trying to find a build that worked best for me. I love it even more that there are build guides baked into the game. You no longer need to worry about going to third-party sites when all the builds are just a press of a button away. The grind was still slow, but boss fights and dungeons bring a much-needed disruption to the monotony.
My biggest issue with the game is that the grind is too much for my schedule. It is still slow, and it can grow stale. I won’t ever be able to get to the point where the game gets fun, and I’ve made peace with that. The grind may not be as bad as other MMOs I’ve played in the past, but it is bad enough for a warning. Sure I could pay money to boost my character to the end game, but that would defeat the purpose. My favorite part of any MMO is building a character from scratch and finally getting to an endgame.
I liked this game and would play it if I had more time. I understand that my expectations for an MMO are unrealistic, but I can still cling to my hope. If you are curious about this game and like the genre, there is no harm in trying it. It looks great, it is easy to pick up, and it’s free. You can download and play Lost Ark on steam!
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Movie Review: Strange World (2022)
I finished off my year by watching Strange World on Disney+. There was a lot of negative press surrounding this movie when it was in theaters. The general consensus was this movie was bad, and no one should watch it. Well, I watch everything, and I needed to see how badly Disney dropped the ball with this movie. My consensus is that it is not as bad as people made it out to be.
Strange World is a movie about a society made utopia by a mysterious bean. The power cultivated from this bean gives this society the ability to power their homes and vehicles. The people in this society lived in this perfect utopia of unlimited energy until sickness began destroying their crops. With the foundation of their society quickly crumbling, a new team of explorers must venture into the unknown and find a cure. Will they be able to conquer the unknown and bring back a solution, or is a society doomed to fall back into the dark ages?
Strange World is fine for what it is, a generic adventure movie made for kids. The voice acting is great and the art is beautiful. I loved the colors and creatures that make up the new world. It may be a concept that has been done before, but at least it is nice to look at. This is a decent movie to watch with your kids. As an added bonus, you might even be able to convince them to watch the films this one draws inspiration from.
In recent years, Disney has made an effort to diversify its casting. Sure there are times when the attempt is a shameless money grab, but I can’t deny that I appreciate how colorful the stories have been recently. Strange World has a diverse cast with a gay lead, and although it isn’t a great story, it is nice to see the representation in the stories we show our kids. As someone who grew up watching Disney where no one looked like me, it makes me happy that Ethan looks like someone out there now.
This movie may not have been worth watching in theaters, but it is fine to stream at home. This movie wasn’t made for me, so I won’t be as harsh as I usually am. If you are looking for a decent movie to throw on during family night, Strange World is a solid option. Check it out on Disney+.
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Gravity Circuit
If you are a fan of the old-school Megaman games, Gravity Circuit should already be on your radar. The game promises an intense 2D platformer experience where you take control of Kai as he makes his way through a post-apocalyptic world full of bloodthirsty robots.
For those curious, you can download a demo on the steam store. I played a bit of the demo, and although I am terrible at platformers, I enjoyed the experience. It reminded me of the frustration I felt when trying to beat the original Megaman games. This game will carry a level of difficulty that will frustrate most players, but the feeling of achievement at the end will be all the sweater. If you are a fan of these types of games, this game is probably already on your wishlist. For those who aren’t familiar with the genre, I recommend you try the demo before making your decision. I had a hard time with this game on normal. I can only imagine the challenge involved in higher difficulties. If you have never played these games before, prepare to die a lot.
Gravity Circuit has great art with fun gameplay. It has been announced to release on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC. Check it out today!
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Trailer
Gameplay
Images and gifs taken from the steam store. I don’t own these pictures