I got sent the Timemelters demo as a review code, and although I am grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. Since this is a demo, this will be less of a review and more of my first impressions. You can download the demo on Steam today, and I recommend you try it out.
Timemelters is a first-person tower defense-like game that I had a lot of fun with. It reminds me of the Orcs Must Die! series but with fewer traps. In Timemelters, you control a single character and run around a large map setting traps, killing mobs, and turning back time. There is a bit of strategy involved in this game, but it shouldn’t be a problem for most people. I am not very smart, but I managed to brute force myself through eventually.
All pictures are from screenshots
This game is incredibly polished for being made by such a small team of three developers. It runs smoothly, looks beautiful, and is a lot of fun. The concept is simple, but the range of abilities and the pacing of the mobs kept the game fast-paced and exciting.
I can’t speak on the story because the demo doesn’t explore it too much, nor can I speak on the diversity of the missions. The demo offers a great tutorial and a few missions that provide a fantastic taste of what it has in store. I never felt lost or overwhelmed by the information and was only limited by my skill level,
The game fully launches on Steam on October 12th. This game deserves a lot of love. I am vastly impressed by how much this team of three was able to accomplish. If you like tower defense games with some RTS elements, give this game a try. The demo is free, and it is available on Steam!
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I was excited about the new Hellraiser because I loved the original, but I have since exchanged my excitement for disappointment. It is time to let this series die since it has run its course.
The movie focuses on a recovering drug addict who is struggling to get her life back together. Desperate for money, she breaks into an old warehouse where she finds the sinister puzzle box. After a relapse, she solves the puzzle and sets into motion the gruesome events that will change her life forever. The Cenobites are back and are looking to collect souls. Will she be able to make the sacrifices required to wish for her brother back, or will she be another claimed soul?
This movie is slow and dull, but at least the monster designs were interesting. I recommend skipping through any part without the Cenobites because the rest of this story doesn’t deserve your attention. What kills this movie for me is the pacing; it is unbearably slow. The original also has a pacing problem, but it is more interesting.
This movie is gore porn, designed to gross out its audience with gruesome death scenes and disgusting monsters. It doesn’t go as far as it can, and a bit of the gore is held back by its technology. Most of the kills are fine, and some are even creative, but there are some that are rendered poorly. Don’t watch this movie if you are looking for proper gore.
I take issue with this movie’s narrative style. Most of the time I was waiting around for the next death scene. The last fifteen minutes or so fair a bit better than the rest of the movie because that is when the most action happens. The ending has a few lazy twists, some poorly designed tension, and some interesting lore dumps, but nothing really goes out of your way to watch. I just wished the rest of the movie had the same energy as the last bit, it might have fared a little better.
If this movie existed in a vacuum, it would be fine. The acting is decent, and the deaths are solid. But it doesn’t, and there are better options out there. If you need horror movies to fill your Halloween marathon, watch the original instead. Otherwise, be prepared to skip around. You can stream it on Hulu, but I wouldn’t bother.
I’ve done a lot of research to find an ergonomic setup that fits my lifestyle. I do a lot of typing and gaming on my computer, and I needed a keyboard that could transition from both seamlessly. I was using a cheap mechanical keyboard before that left my hands useless. I love mechanical keyboards and wanted to find an ergonomic version that also had a backlight. The Kinesis Freestyle Edge RGB keyboard was my answer, but it might not be yours.
Before I continue with this review, I would like to take a moment to mention that I am not a doctor. This review is based on my experience. Please consult your doctor for any medical concerns. I will also be using affiliate links for the product. If you decide to purchase the product, I get a small commission, but these will be my honest thoughts on the keyboard.
The Kinesis Freestyle Edge is a split keyboard. The split design allows for more natural hand placement, ideally relieving unnecessary strain from your hands and wrists. I have wide shoulders, and the split design allows for a more ideal placement that better fits my frame.
As far as mechanical keyboards go, the Edge is on the quieter side. I did opt for the quieter brown switches because I wanted softer key presses, but you can get one with the louder and more tactile blue switches if that fits your style better. The brown switches aren’t completely quiet, and you do get some sound, but it isn’t as loud as some of the cheaper mechanical keyboards out there.
This keyboard comes with nine programable macro keys that can be easily adjusted on the keyboard or through the official software. You can save two different profiles, which is nice if you share a computer with someone else or if you need nine extra macro keys. I don’t have much use for the macros except for media keys at the moment, but setting them up was very simple. The RGB profile can also be adjusted easily through the software. Any changes you make to this keyboard whether it be macros, profiles, or RGB is saved to the keyboard directly. If you switch to a different computer, all your profiles and macros transfer with the keyboard. It’s nice to not have to have another account to access your preferences or lose them if your computer wipes.
I love this keyboard and have been daily driving it for nearly three years without any issues. My only complaint with this keyboard is that it doesn’t come with the lift kit. Kineses offers a separate kit which isn’t necessary, but I do recommend it getting one. I used the keyboard without the kit for about a week before giving in and buying one. There was nothing wrong with the flat setup of the keyboard, but I use my computer too much and needed the additional ergonomics. The lift kit offers a more natural position for your hands, and I honestly can’t go back to using anything else.
The keycaps are nice. They are very soft to the touch, but you can customize your keyboard with third-party caps if they fit MX switches. Be mindful of the measurements. You might have trouble finding spacebars that fit this board. If you have a mac, Kinesis offers a separate kit to change your command keys. Unfortunately, the kit is an additional $28, and you have to install it yourself. The installation is very easy, even if you have no prior experience.
The Freestyle Edge is an adequate keyboard for gaming. The keys are responsive and easy to press, but the function keys are a bit out of reach for me. I often had to stretch to hit these keys, and my performance suffered. Games where I needed to press these keys more often would also tire my hands out more quickly. This is possibly a personal problem for my short stubby fingers, but it is something to keep in mind. Games that don’t require the function keys are fine. I could play for a lot longer before feeling any discomfort. I still recommend taking regular breaks and doing stretches keyboard this won’t fix the issues completely. For people who play and work a healthy amount, the Freestyle Edge is a fantastic solution.
So is it worth it? Honestly, this keyboard is a bit pricey for what you get. I bought it because I liked the style and the RGB and didn’t mind the tax for both options. But if you are on a budget and only need the ergonomics, there are better options. The Kenisis Freestyle Edge has made a huge difference in my setup, and I do not regret my purchase. I understand that this keyboard isn’t for everyone, but for those interested, you can buy it on Amazon.
The Midnight Club is a huge waste of time. Even if you enjoy horror anthologies and mysteries, this is a very weak entry into either genre. I wouldn’t bother with this series even for the morbid curiosity.
The Midnight Club is a collection of poorly written and acted ghost stories that exist within a mystery. In a hospice designed for teens with terminal diseases, a club was formed to help cope with the ever-looming death around them. The teens gather every night to tell ghost stories and blow off steam. But there is something sinister is afoot. The teens see ghosts and hear voices that aren’t there. There is something about a cult, but I honestly stopped caring pretty early on.
The acting is bad, and somehow the writing is worse. Scenes that exist outside of the ghost stories fair a little better, but barely. The biggest issue I have with this series is with the ghost stories. The stories are generic, and often parodies of better horror stories or movies. This would be fine if the intention was to parody, but it isn’t. This is a serious attempt at horror with very little value. Each story comes with an overbearing and poorly read narration that kills any tension the story could have. Some of the stories recap events that have occurred in the series, making this a redundant and uninteresting mess.
I wouldn’t mind if this show was a horror anthology if there wasn’t so much narration. I wouldn’t mind the stories if they didn’t take away from the overarching mystery. This series feels like several different shows, and none of it is cohesive. I often forgot there was a mystery tying the series together. I can’t tell you how many times I almost gave up on this series because nothing of note ever happens. This series has ghosts, tragic backstories, cults, death, and none of it matters.
The pacing is terrible. There is a lot of filler in this series. Most of it comes from the ghost stories, but there is a fair amount of self-service. The ghost stories are often interrupted by snide remarks or criticism from the other characters, and it kills any suspense the stories have. There are minutes dedicated after the stories to remark on how great the story and storyteller are. The main character won’t go an episode without talking about how smart and talented she is. It is infuriating how pretentious these characters can be.
The series does have a few interesting moments. I liked how the kids dealt with their mortality and talked about their illnesses. There are some interesting conversations about the social struggles they face due to their illness, but there isn’t enough to make it worth your time. Other than their illnesses, the characters have no depth to them.
Don’t watch this show because it is bad. The characters are flat, the plot doesn’t matter, and the acting isn’t even good. But if you don’t believe me, check it out on Netflix.
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I used to watch the original Shaman King when it first came out long ago. It has been a while since then, and I don’t remember too much of the show, but I remember liking it and playing the game on the Gameboy. I was very excited when I saw that Netflix was remaking the anime, and while it may not be the best, I did enjoy it.
Yoh is a young shaman destined to save the world. Yoh wants to have an easy and carefree life, but his destiny won’t allow it. When Yoh turns 13, the tournament that will determine who the next Shaman king begins. Yoh joins the competition, making many valuable friends along the way. Yoh and his friends must use this competition to beat an ancient shaman who wants to destroy the world. Will they be strong enough to save the world?
This is a cheesy anime, but I believe that it is part of its charm. If you enjoy early 2000s anime, it is very reminiscent of the era. That said, this series isn’t for everyone.
The art has improved from the original series, with better-animated fight scenes. The pacing has some overall improvement, but I felt like the ending was rushed. I was very disappointed by how the series ended, but I still enjoyed it. I read somewhere that this reboot is more true to the manga, but I haven’t read the manga to know for sure. The voice acting was solid for the most part with a few of the original actors reprising their roles. The writing is a bit generic, and it feels like it was written with a younger audience in mind.
What I love most about this show is how they treat death. I was too young to appreciate the amount of work that went into writing this narrative the first time around. This time I was able to catch a lot of the references and I appreciate all the different cultural beliefs about death. Death and the afterlife are heavily featured in this series, and the series explores as many different ideas as they can fit in a season. I like that it never suggests one belief is better than others as they all seem to stem from the great spirit. It was cool to see how each belief and practice manifested as an ability. A lot of this information comes in the form of exposition dumps. I had no problem with these dumps since usually they were very informative.
This anime has its audience. It can be cringey and cheesy at times because a lot of the conflict is solved through the power of friendship. If you are a fan of the original, check it out for nostalgia. If you aren’t and are on the fence, maybe hold off because there are better anime. If you can stomach the overall cheesiness of this show, check it out on Netflix.
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I need to mention that this game was sent to me as a review code. While I am extremely grateful for the opportunity, this will be an honest review of the game.
Flashout 3 is a combat racing game similar to the F Zero games. This game is available for PC and VR. This review will be based on the PC version.
All images are from screenshots I took in game
I had a blast Flashout 3. The colors, the mechanics, and the music make for a fantastic experience. If you like arcade racing games, you should consider buying this game
The game has a story mode, but it only involves you completing the different circuits. There aren’t any cutscenes except the ones introducing the tracks. You choose from two racers and start with one car and a basic weapon loadout. You unlock more vehicles as you play the game and collect points. You collect points by damaging or destroying the other racers. There are four different types of races: elimination, time trial, destruction, and elimination. Each cup consists of a combination of the four types. The difficulty can be adjusted in the settings. I played on normal and believe it offered enough of a challenge for my skill set. Your mileage will vary.
The game is beautiful and very colorful. The tracks will wind and loop over a breathtaking futuristic landscape. Each track provides its own challenge, making some cars betters suited than others. I did encounter some visual bugs, but none of them were game-breaking. My favorite aspect of this game, however, is the soundtrack. Flashout 3’s collection of electronic is the perfect accompaniment for your race to the top. I am very tempted to buy the soundtrack.
The game offers keyboard, controller, and wheel support. I was partial to the controller because it fit my playstyle. Your mileage will vary. The concept is simple, but the load-outs, tracks, and AI are what make this game unique. It is your job to survive the chaos, but it is also your job to make sure you finish on top. The trick is to find the perfect balance of speed, weapons, and durability for each cup. There was enough variation in load-outs and maps to keep the gameplay from growing stale.
My only complaint is that there is no online multiplayer. It does offer local split-screen races, but I didn’t have anyone to play with, so I can’t speak on how well it runs. This game is worth the $20 bucks, especially if you enjoy battle racers. Check this game out on Steam!
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Most people are already done with this IP, but Illumination seems to be determined to milk it for all its worth. While it might not be the best addition to the franchise, The Rise of Gru is certainly one of the better ones. If you have kids, you’ve probably already seen this movie. If you haven’t, you can stream it on Peacock.
The plot is a simple origin story. It focuses on the mentorship of Gru as he comes to his own as a villain, while also establishing him as a sympathetic character. I didn’t feel like it added much to the lore or did anything worthwhile, but I didn’t hate it.
This movie doesn’t do anything special, and I would only recommend it if you have kids. The voice acting is mostly solid and I enjoy the art style. It is hard to write too much about this movie because you’ve seen this type of origin story done many times. There were some cute moments in this movie that help The Rise of Gru stand out among the rest of these movies, but nothing I would rush to see.
If you are looking for something to throw on for a family movie night, this is a solid option. If you are looking for something to throw on in the background, why not. Otherwise, you can probably live without it. You can stream it on Peacock.
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The Logitech M570 was the first mouse I purchased on my first attempt to make my setup more ergonomic. I have since upgraded to the Logitech MX Ergo, but the Logitech M570 is a valuable contender in your search for better ergonomics.
Please note that I am not a doctor, and any advice I give here is strictly based on my experience. Always consult your doctor with any ailments. Please note that I will be using affiliate links for this product. If you do choose to buy this mouse, I get some money as compensation. Regardless, these will be my honest thoughts on the product.
The Logitech M570 is a wireless rollerball mouse. This mouse is not rechargeable and requires AAA batteries. A set of these is included in the box, and I got about a year of continuous use before having to change them out. This mouse is not Bluetooth compatible and requires an included dongle to connect to your device.
Out of the box, the cursor speed is slow, but this can be easily adjusted in your computer settings. A third-party application is not required to use this mouse.
One thing to keep in mind with Roller balls is that they do get dirty over time. To avoid a drop in sensitivity, clean regularly. Cleaning the Logitech M570 is incredibly simple. To clean the mouse, simply remove the ball from the socket and clean the inside of any debris.
This mouse is good for gaming. You don’t get any extra keybinds, nor will be ideal for high-end competitive play, but it will allow for a more comfortable gaming session. I didn’t notice any negative effects to my gameplay when I made the switch.
I used this mouse for about a year before making the change. It took me a couple of days to get used to the movement and find a sensitivity that met my needs. I had been struggling with repetitive stress disorder in my hands and wrists up to this point, and the pain made work difficult. Switching to this mouse helped tremendously with this issue, and I keep this mouse at the office for work.
I love this mouse and recommend it if you are looking to upgrade your mouse. The only reason I made the switch to the Logitech MX Ergo is because I spend too much time in front of a computer. While the M570 did address a lot of the issues I was having before, I found that the pain would return after a certain amount of hours. This shouldn’t be a problem for most people who use their computers a healthy amount. The M570 will be a fantastic upgrade to your ergonomic setup.
I wasn’t impressed by this sequel. As of writing this, I struggle to remember what I just watched. If you are a fan of the original, you have already been disappointed. For the rest of you, watch the original instead.
This attempt feels heartless and empty. It is a very cheesy and cartoonish movie, clearly written for a younger audience, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that this movie is boring. The acting is great for the Sanderson sisters and Gilbert, but everyone else feels flat. The main characters feel shallow because they are poorly written. I did not care for the main characters or the fact that they were no longer friends because there wasn’t enough to them for me to do so. The conflict between them seemed manufactured to fill the run time. Their only motivations seem to be driven by the script instead of any defining characteristic. I can’t even name you any of the main characters because they only existed to chase after the sisters.
The plot of this movie is clearly a shallow attempt at cashing in on some nostalgia. There isn’t any tension in the movie despite there being a deadline. The villains and heroes were all goofing around so I stopped caring pretty early on. If this movie isn’t wasting time on pointless high school drama, being politically correct, or making references to the original, then nothing is happening. This movie builds up, if you can call this poorly written plot build-up, to a very disappointing conclusion powered by terrible writing and Ex-Machina. It is anti-climactic, and the Sanderson sisters deserved a better conclusion.
This movie was clearly written for kids. Hocus Pocus 2 was a sloppy attempt to reboot the series for a new generation. I expected more. You can stream on Disney+, but I recommend you watch the original instead.
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I’d like to do something different with my reviews. My line of work and hobbies keep me stuck in front of my computer most days. As a result, I do have issues with repetitive stress disorder that has rendered my hands useless from time to time. It had gotten so bad that I had all but lost the function in my hands. Simple tasks like holding a pencil and writing became impossible due to the pain.
I have since done a lot of research and testing to find a setup that would save my hands from chronic pain, and I would like to share some of my findings. Please note that I am not a doctor, and these recommendations are based on my personal experience. Always consult your doctor with any ailments. I will also be linking affiliate links to any items I review which will give me a little bit of money if you choose to buy anything I recommend.
The first accessory I tried to change was the mouse. I tried a few different mice, but Logitech MX Ergo was by far my favorite. It is by far a bit on the expensive side, but it was worth it since I no longer endure that crippling pain.
The Logitech MX Ergo is a roller mouse, and it will come with a slight learning curve. The device is Bluetooth compatible, but it comes with a dongle that will help you pair it with your computer wirelessly. You can pair and switch between two different computers by default. There is a third-party application that you can use, it isn’t required, but I found that it makes configuring the mouse easier.
The software is pretty easy to set up. You download it from the Logitech website and configure the settings to your liking when it’s done. It asks for an account, but it isn’t mandatory. Every button on this mouse can be rebound as button presses, macros, and even gestures. You can create program-specific bindings that will switch automatically when using said program. If you have two different computers you work between, make sure you set up Flow. Flow comes with the software; it allows you to transfer files between two computers that are connected to the same wifi and have Logitech Connect installed.
Out of the box, I thought the sensitivity was too low. I raised it on the app for it to do what I needed. The mouse has a precision mode by default that can be activated by a side button that will slow the cursor speed when you need it. The mouse also has some insane battery life. I charge the mouse every 1-2 months with heavy use and never turn it off.
Ergonomically, this mouse is a godsend. You can adjust the tilt of this mouse by 20 degrees to better match the natural curve of your hands. I prefer having the full tilt for maximum comfort. This curve in combination with the right height will help reduce the strain on your wrist and hand. One thing to note, there is a learning curve to this mouse that you will need to adjust to. It requires a different range of moments that will tire a different set of muscles. It took me about a week to get used to the movement, so plan accordingly.
I have no issues gaming with this mouse. I mainly play MMOs and whatever games I get to review, but I have not seen any negative effect on my performance. I don’t consider myself a competitive gamer, but I can complete end-game content in all the MMOs I play. I’ve also had no problems with PVP content. Your mileage may vary. At the very least, this will make for a more comfortable gaming session.
I have been daily driving this mouse for two years and have noticed the difference. I no longer feel the crippling pain in my hands and wrists. This mouse isn’t a perfect fix, you should take regular breaks and look into stretches, but I don’t see myself going back to any other mouse. Do your hands a favor and start looking into the ergonomics of the tools you use.
