Silo is a fantastic sci-fi mystery full of suspense, action, and conspiracy. If you have an Apple TV subscription or need a reason to start one, check out this series.
Earth has become a toxic and uninhabitable wasteland. The few remaining survivors live now live in an underground silo where life, for the most part, is peaceful. Everyone in the silo serves their purpose, settling into a routine that is decided for them. Most don’t questions the silo’s designs or the founders’ motives. Some get curious and ask the questions that peel at the veil of this carefully crafted façade, but they don’t last long. There is something wrong with the silo. A secret too big to keep hidden forever.
Juliet is a gifted mechanic who spends her days keeping the silo running. She does her job passionately and has never been curious about anything that isn’t mechanical. This all changes when she finds herself wrapped in the silo’s biggest conspiracy. Now Juliet finds herself searching for answers that will destabilize the peace in the silo. Will Juliet finally be the one to uncover the truth, or will she be silenced like all the rest?
Silo is a fantastic thriller with a well-crafted mystery, terrific acting, and a beautiful rustic aesthetic. Some actors aren’t great, and there is a bit of filler I would skip next time around, but the series left me wanting more. I started reading Wool, the book the series is based on, because I couldn’t wait a week for the answers. Once you binge this series in one sitting, I recommend you read the book or at least listen to it on Audible. It is a fantastic piece of science fiction. I’ll link some free copies of the audiobook below for those interested.
I enjoyed both versions almost equally. I loved the TV series because the actors did a great job portraying their characters, I enjoyed the attention to detail in the world and mannerisms, and I liked that the series felt more like a thriller. There are some suspenseful moments in the series that kept me at the edge of my seat even though I knew what was going to happen. I enjoyed the book because it felt more like a mystery. I felt like Juliet got more answers in the book. There are also details in the book that were left out that I felt were done better. I can’t tell you which version I enjoyed more, but I do recommend you dive into them both.
If you haven’t seen this series yet, it is a great time to start it. It is a fantastic mystery set in a fascinating world led by a great protagonist. My only complaint is that I’ll have to wait for season 2 for more answers, but I guess I can read the books in the mean time.
this version of the audiobook isn’t finished, but it does cover everything that happens in the series. It is also the better of the free version
This version isn’t as good, but you have both parts:
This week in the Digimon TCG: July 3rd
I know I am a little late on this update but it is a holiday weekend for me. This week’s update will heavily feature Premium Bandai collections that might be worth getting if you enjoy the exclusive promos they offer. Premium Bandai is where you go to get the official high-quality collectibles of your favorite IP’s that fall under the Bandai umbrella. It is more expensive than the traditional Bandai merch, but they are worthwhile additions to any collection. Check out the official website and say goodbye to your money.
Royal Knights Binder Set [PB13]
The Royal Knights Binder and promos shipped. I didn’t order this piece of merch and kind of regret it. The Binder is $50, which is pricey for a binder. It comes with 10 9 slot pages and eight alt art promos. The promos are all so pretty! My complaint is that you only get one copy of each of these promos. If you wanted to play with copies of these cards in your deck, you would have to buy additional binders, but I guess you wouldn’t want to play with pieces this nice. It is still a pretty binder, and worth it if you just collect the game.
I love the art on the binder and how it gathers all of the royal knights together in a pretty epic pose. The gold boarder makes it pop. It really looks like a premium product, at least based on the picture.
I’m starting off with my favorite of the promos from this set. Gabumon looks so cool here! I love the colors and the Omnimon in the background. The foiling for this is going to look so pretty in a binder, but it has a solid search ability if you want to play with it as well. Too bad you only get one copy.
I love the Agumon is mid Pepper Breath. The shading also reminds me of the retro art from the old cards and it really makes Agumon pop.
This Dracomon is so cute! I love the expression on its face and the dragons that swirl around it. It has such a great color scheme and the foiling is going to look so good.
Beezlemon Deck Box Set
The Beelzemon Deck box and the Brown Digimon Card game deck box sets have also started shipping out if you pre-ordered these back in November. The boxes are $40 each, which is a lot more reasonable when you consider you get a nice looking deck box and 12 full art cards. This set comes with six different cards, but you get two copies of each. You could have either bought both deck boxes for the playset, or been fine with just one. These would look so sick in a deck, but you there’s nothing wrong with keeping them safe in a binder. The deck box design is fine, but the card art is sick!
Starting off with my favorite, this MagnaKidmon is just amazing. I love the charging shot effect, the cool expression on its face, and the pose is fantastic. I wanted to get these boxes just for this card.
This Magidramon is beautiful. I love the paint brush style its drawn in. I like how it looks like its about to breath fire and cause more destruction. Look at how the world just burns into ash. The Gallantmon in the foreground and the Omnimon in its hand are such a nice touch. They emphasize Magidramon’s scale and power, and both are terrifying.
Beelzemon Premium Binder Set
The Beelzemon/Beelstarmon Binder set is available for pre-order until August 1st, or until supply runs out. The binder is $100, which again is kind of pricey for a binder, but it might be worth it for the promos. The binder comes with two copies of four new alt cards that you are going to need if you are running a Beelzemon deck. I love that there is two copies of these, but I wish it were a playset for $100. Whether you play with them or keep them in the binder, these cards are beautiful.
Tamer Goods Set: Angewoman & LadyDevimon
Here is something I wish I’d preorder back when it was live. The Angewoman & LadyDevimon playmat set have shipped. The set is $40 which is fine considering you also get a playset of the exclusive alt art cards. Its a beautiful set, and I regret not getting it.
![May be an image of card and text that says 'Cost play 6 DIGIMON 6000 DP napp அகி Cost pu 3 Lv.4 Lv.4 3 INJAPAN AD When Digivolving You may trash card in your hand to reveal the top cards of your deck. Add yellow and 1 purple card with [Angel], Archangel], or [Fallen Angel] in their traits among them to your hand. Place the remaining cards at the bottom of your deck in any order. Teet Lv.5 ST10-12R R 01 LadyDevimon Ultimate Virus Fallen Effect Your Turn All of your yellow Digimon gain Retaliation (When this Digimon is deleted after losing battle, delete the Digimon it was battling.)'](https://scontent-sjc3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/347585590_699489382189005_3395572686392949268_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=zt3XNFern-IAX9lrfSg&_nc_ht=scontent-sjc3-1.xx&oh=00_AfAKYnJK_SankaI_A8_pKFv9n89QDTHmWn7IVEYFnCID7w&oe=64A81559)
That’s it for this weeks update. There were a lot of cool alt cards that I would love in my collection, but I unfortunately missed out on them. Maybe one day. If you’ve been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends. See you next week!
Digimon Seekers: Chapter 2-2
Since Bandai isn’t going to give us a good translation of this story, I’ve taken it upon myself to give it a proper revision. Make sure you always check out the original release, but come check out my version the following Monday. If you’ve been enjoying this project, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends.
The GriMM network was home to a myriad of chatrooms and message boards. You can find just about anything on GriMM if you dig deep enough.
The Sons of Chaos host a special channel on Grimm for current, new, and prospective members. Their front page is dedicated to the recruitment of new members. The page is full of propaganda and information about the Digital world designed to attract prominent code crackers to their ranks. It also hosts an active marketplace for all kinds of Digimon tools.
Active members of the Sons of Chaos have access to a special virtual lounge where their avatars can hang out and chat. The room is rather plain-looking, especially if you compare it to modern VR Chat games, but it serves its purpose. It’s a small room with a dirty cyberpunk aesthetic. It looks like a factor city with rows of pipes that wrap around the room in different directions, rusted metal plates, and vents that occasionally let off steam.
Eiji logs into the room for the first time.
YO! Eiji’s here!
That’s the dude who took out the squad of DigiPolice!
What a legend.
The chat quickly filled with voice memos. Soon, the whole room is talking about Eiji and his bout with the DigiPolice. Eiji walks through the chatroom with every set of eyes looking over him. The sudden popularity shocks him, but if he is going to get close to Tartarus, it is a necessary evil. Eiji needed to raise the ranks quickly. He needed to own his popularity.
Eiji sits in his room looking down at the virtual monitor transmitting from his Digimon Linker. His eyes move over the virtual chatroom as he studies the details. The voice chat bounces off the walls of his small loft. Next to Eiji’s avatar, Loogamon sits and scans the lounge for danger.
“Looks like you’re a popular guy Eiji,” Loogamon says flatly.
“That’s the plan,” Eiji responds cooly. Eiji and Loogamon are in a private chat room. No one else can hear them speak.
“It’s a little offensive that they think you beat the DigiPolice all on your own. They think you’re some kind of hotshot code cracker.”
“Well,” Eiji says, getting cocky, ” I kind of am. Only top-rated code can use mindlink.”
Mindlink is inaccessible to most code crackers. Mind Link requires special equipment like Eiji’s DigiLinker and compatibility with a Digimon. Most code crackers lacked the skill and resources to even attempt such a procedure. In this way, Eiji wasn’t lying.
Loogamon scoffs at the response. The pair continue their stroll through their lounge as strangers watch them closely.
Loogamon starts sniffing at the air. The fur down its back begins to lift. “Someone’s running a search on me,” it whispers. “We’re being watched.”
Eiji keeps walking, doing his best to look inconspicuous. “Should we be worried?” Eiji whispers back.
Loogamon shakes his head. “I don’t like it.” He turns his gaze towards a Digimon with large ripped wings, a dragon skull for a head, and a snake’s body.
Below the Airdroman stands an avatar with thick long dreds. It walks towards Eiji and Loogamon. “My name is Marvin. It’s a pleasure to meet you Eiji,” it says with a warm and friendly tone.
In the heat of the moment, Eiji forgot to use an alias. Eiji is a common enough name that shouldn’t be a problem, but it was jarring to hear his real name used on GriMM.
“The pleasure is all mine Marvin. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“So, you’ve read my messages then?”
“Yep! And this is my partner, Loogamon.”
Loogamon appears to say something to Marvin, but his chat is muted. Airdramon lets out a sharp cry.
“Your partner? Ok. I see how it is.” Marvin responds, looking impressed.
“So? What’s up?” Eiji asks.
“According to my records, you applied to join the Sons of Chaos only a couple of days ago.”
“That’s right.”
“Have you ever applied under a different name or belonged to another code cracking team?”
“Nope. I freelance a bit, but nothing serious like this.”
“You sure about that?”
“Are you always this suspicious of people?”
“Only under certain circumstances. A rookie joining the ranks after beating the DigiPolice single-handedly is a bit sus. It’s either a lie, or there’s more to it.” Marvin goes quiet for a moment.
Eiji’s heart pounds against his chest. He keeps quiet. Maybe Marvin’s suspicion was standard procedure.
“I uh..” Eiji starts to stutter. He feels compelled to break the silence.
“But a code cracker who can mind link can’t be that stupid. Follow me, we need to talk somewhere more private.
As they walk away from the crowd, Eiji gets an invite to Marvin’s private room. Eiji finds himself in a smaller version of the lounge he was just in.
“This is my place,” Marvin says as he sits on a chair.
“So you’re a big deal in the SoC?” Eiji asks.
“I’ve got a few extra permissions in the channel, but I’m no more important than anyone else here.”
“I’ve heard you’re the guy who built GriMM. Is that true?”
“I was one of the first core members of the project, but it was a pretty big team. I did a bit of the code and suddenly everyone thinks I’m the creator,” Marvin says with a smirk.
“So you make all the Digimon tools then?”
“I do. Let me know what you need. First one’s free”
Eiji glances at the Airdramon above them. It curls its tail around a catwalk. Loogamon sits near Eiji, sniffing at the air.
“Anyways,” Marvin starts. “Down to business. The Sons of Chaos are planning something big, but we don’t have the numbers to pull it off.”
“Don’t have the numbers? Aren’t there a ton of people in the SoC?” Eiji starts to pry for information.
“Oh, we have more members than we need, but not enough skilled code crackers who can mindlink. Not many of them can hold their own against the DigiPolice.” Marvin smiles at Eiji. “But then here you are.”
“I’m in,” Eiji says bluntly.
Marven is taken aback. “That was quick. This is going to be dangerous, I hope you know that.”
Marvin takes a breath. An uncomfortable silence hangs in the air. All Eiji can think about is completing his mission. He needs to get close to Tartarus.
“It can’t be more dangerous than facing off against the DigiPolice,” Eiji says, breaking the silence.
Marvin snickers. “Look I get it, you beat a bunch of Commandramon and the deputy squad leader, but now you’ve got a huge target on your back. If you get caught, their locking you up.”
“And?”
Marvin relaxes a bit. “As long as you know the risks. I mean you’re good Eiji, we wouldn’t be having this conversation if you couldn’t hold your own. I just want you to understand what’s at stake.”
Eiji nods. “So what’s the mission? Is Tartarus involved?”
“You want to know about Tartarus?”
“Well.. Yeah? He’s a legend! Right Loogamon?”
“Woof!” Loogamon wags its tail excitedly.
Marvin looks down at Loogamon. “You’ve got a good dog here.”
“He’s a wolf,” Eiji responds.
Marvin bends over to pet Loogamon. It happily accepts the affection. “It sure acts like a dog.”
Eiji is at a loss. “He’s never done that kind of stuff with me!” Eiji can’t help but feel a bit jealous.
Marvin stands up and turns to Eiji. “Tartarus seldom comes around. The higher-ups don’t know much about him either. We just have the orders they give us.” Marvin sends Eiji an invitation to the private channel: Mission Infinity.
“That’s where we discuss the mission. I’ll share the files with you. It’s going down tomorrow at…” Marvin catches himself. “You’ll get the rest of the details once we’re all assembled here. You’ll need to mindlinked obviously. I’ll get you money for whatever you need.”
“Cool, I’ll see you then.” Eiji starts to log out.
“Wait, there’s one more thing,” Marvin’s words stop Eiji and Loogamon in their tracks. They stare at Marvin nervously. “You know anything about Black Agumon?”
“All I know is people are looking for it.”
“We’re looking for it,” Marvin corrects Eiji.
“You’re the ones offering the Million DC reward?!” The news stuns Eiji.
Marvin nods his head. “Tartarus wants this Agumon. It’s become his obsession…”
Pokemon Ultimate Journeys marks the end of the era of Ash and Pikachu, but what a great ending it is!
Pokémon Ultimate Journeys marks the end of Ash and Pikachu’s long journey running journey toward being a Pokemon Master. This ending has left me with an overwhelming mix of emotions. While I am happy with how the series ended, it is sad to say goodbye to a pair that has been in most of my life. I know it is silly to care this much about cartoon characters, but I’ve been there since the beginning. I remember rushing home from school every day to see Ash and Pikachu make their way through Kato. Over the years, I’ve consistently binged Pokemon as comforting background noise but have remained invested in their narrative.
The Pokémon anime has always been good enough. I’ve seen people dismiss the Pokemon anime because it is for kids, but it consistently provides comforting entertainment. While there is a bit of filler and general cheesiness carried throughout, the story isn’t bad. Pokemon usually has fun and memorable characters, solid clean humor, solid adventure, and some fun battles. At the very least, Pokemon makes for solid background noise.
I avoided watching Pokemon Journeys for as long as I could because I wasn’t ready for the journey to be over. I also didn’t want to risk a disappointing ending. Pokemon Journeys is the perfect conclusion to this long-running adventure, full of suspense, action, and closure. It does feel a bit rushed as it scrambles across the different regions revisiting old friends, but it takes its time when it counts.
What Journeys does well is showing how much Ash and Pikachu have grown over the years by shifting the focus to all the people they have inspired. It was nice to see characters from older shows return not only for nostalgia but to see how much they’ve grown since they parted with Ash. Seeing old characters still working hard towards their own goals and cheering on Ash was a touching way to conclude such a big adventure.
Journeys ends with the Master’s Eight Tournament where trainers from across the regions come together to prove themselves. It is a tournament full of fun and exciting battles that build up to one of the most epic battles in Pokemon. Even though I knew how the series would end, I still found myself at the edge of my seat as I waited for a winner. What this tournament does well is that it shifts between the contestants. The Master’s Eight Tournament isn’t something for Ash to win, it is something he has to earn because everyone in it wants to be the bests. Some general hijinks are always present in Pokemon battles, but they are a lot of fun to watch regardless.
If you don’t watch this series, at least watch the final battle. It is unmistakably one of the best battles in Pokemon. The art is unique, the music is epic, and it perfectly illustrates how much stronger Ash has become as a trainer. The stakes are high as two trainers who have mutual respect and admiration go all out against each other. You will need to watch it for yourself to appreciate its scale and what it means to the anime.
But beyond the battles, the final goodbye is what hit me the hardest. Ash’s traveling companion, Goh, decides he needs to set off on his own to reach his potential. Goh feels he relies too much on Ash but is afraid to leave on his own. He doesn’t know how to tell Ash, and it creates great turmoil for the character. Ash breaks the news first, leaving Goh heartbroken. Goh is anxious to be alone because he doesn’t know if he can make it on his own. In a very touching moment, Ash assures Goh that he is good enough, and always has been. The two split after a final goodbye, but Goh finds himself unable to move. He is saddened by the goodbye and anxious to go forward on his own. Ash shouts to him from across the way, encouraging go to achieve his goals and to keep in touch. It was a very touching end to the series as both characters set off and continue their adventures.
This was such a powerful moment in the series because it was also Ash’s goodbye to the audience. Goh is meant to echo the emotions of the audience as they say goodbye to a longtime friend, and Ash is there to reassure them the story isn’t over. Ash and Pikachu may not be the focus of the series, but the adventure hasn’t ended.
It’s sad to see something that has been around with me for so long end, but it was time, and it got a proper conclusion. If you haven’t seen it and have been a long time fine, it’s a fun series you can throw in the background. There are episodes you can probably gloss over unless you’ve been watching since the beginning, but it is a solid anime regardless. And with that, I give my teary-eyed goodbye to a long-time friend. Thank you for reading.
High Desert: An unimpressive Apple series you’re okay skipping
Solarpunk: The beautiful survival game that might be worth looking into.
If you enjoy the survivor game genre, you might want to look into Solarpunk. Destroying its Kickstarter goals, this beautiful game is looking like the relaxing experience I am always down for. Players can build and design unique bases, gather resources, craft gadgets, and fly airships! The trailer gave me some serious Stardew Valley vibes, and I can play Stardew Valley for hours.
Solarpunk promises a vast open-world sandbox experience that you can share with your friends, or brave on your own. Although the game looks beautiful and relaxing, there are survival elements you should pay close attention to. Players will have to worry about health, hunger, thirst, and dangers that roam the wilderness. Solarpunk is making a lot of promises without having a finished product. I am sharing this preview because the game looks cool, but I am always weary of Kickstarter promises. Don’t get me wrong, I will keep watching this project closely, but I’ll need to see more of the game before I fomo in. Nevertheless, the devs have laid out a realistic roadmap and made impressive partnerships that ease my doubts a bit. We’ll have to wait and see how the devs deliver.
The game is set to launch sometime next year on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC via Steam. Don’t forget to add it to your Wishlist.
Nimbus Infinity: An unimpressive anime mech sim you are better off not getting
I was sent Nimbus Infinity as a review code, and while I am very grateful for the opportunity, I will not let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review of the game.
Nimbus Infinity is an anime-inspired mech combat simulator available now for PC.
Peace in Japan is threatened when a hostile foreign force invades with an army of mechs, drones, and ships. The world now turns to a high school boy to save the world and achieve world peace. Luckily the hours he’s put into video games have made him an ace pilot for a power unreleased prototype mech. Take to the skies and repel hordes of barely distinguishable enemies and experience that can only be described as disorienting. Do you have what it takes to save the world?
I had fun with this game for the first few minutes until the novelty wore off. The combat could have been interesting if it didn’t get so repetitive and the missions weren’t boring. The game’s lack of polish makes combat feel cumbersome. It was almost impossible to know where I was going, what I was doing, and what I was fighting because everything is poorly rendered. The mech you control will sometimes stutter out of existence, while the enemies around you are nearly indistinguishable. The tutorial and random voice lines will suggest that different enemy types exist, but I can’t confirm if that’s true. This is annoying because each enemy type requires a different strategy, but I could never tell the enemies apart. Was I fighting drones? Spaceships? Other mechs? Who knows? You can customize your mech better fit your playstyle, but I never bothered because it didn’t matter.
The lack of polish wouldn’t have been a problem if the game was fun. The story is a bad generic anime sewn together by boring missions that feel like they take an eternity to complete. The story hits all the bad anime tropes, and it becomes so predictable that I was able to skip entire scenes and still understand what was going on. I have quit better anime for less. The voice acting is inconstant. There is some decent voice acting sprinkled randomly throughout the campaign, but most of it isn’t good.
The characters are generic and forgettable. The main character is the generic male protagonist that you can find in any poorly written anime. He is naturally gifted, cocky, and everyone will love him because he is so cool. While he isn’t the worst male protagonist, I am struggling to remember him. The rest of the cast exists to fall in love with him and are less distinguishable.
Nimbus Infinity isn’t worth the $14.99 it’s asking for on Steam. The story is boring and the combat isn’t polished enough to be fun. Maybe it will get better as they roll out updates, but I can’t recommend the game in the stage it is in now. The Steam Summer Sale is going on until July 13. I recommend you buy something else instead.
Fort Solis: A spooky sci-fi mystery coming to PS5, PC, and Mac this August.
I just watched the Fort Solis trailer, and it looks like the spooky sci-fi mystery I need in my life. A mining team on Mars has gone missing, and it is up to Jack Leary to find out what happened. Explore an abandoned mining base as sand storms rage and strange things happen around you. What happened here? To the team? Will you be next? You’ll have to play the game to find out.
Based on the trailer, the game looks creepy. The abandoned mining rig is giving me Dead Space vibes, and I didn’t have the courage to finish any of them. Admittedly, I have never finished a horror game, but maybe I’ve never played a good one. I don’t do good with horror, but I am willing to try with Fort Solis.
For the record, I don’t have an issue with horror movies or books, just horror games. Maybe it’s irrational, but something about having control of the horror freaks me out more than passively watching it happen to someone else. That said, I am working on getting a review code for this because the trailer has me interested. I will probably play with all my lights on, but I will power through. I am always down for a good mystery, and the game looks pretty good too. Let’s hope I hear back from them soon.
Fort Solis is a horror mystery sci-fi game coming to PS5, PC, and Mac on August 22nd.
If you’ve been enjoying these updates, don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share this with your friends!
The Last Thing He Told Me: The slowest suspenseful thriller about unconditional motherly love
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie – The beautiful visual novel you should have in your library
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie was sent to me as a review code. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.
Harmony: The Fall of Reverie is a visual novel available now for the Switch, Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam.
Polly discovers that she can travel between her world and a spirit realm ruled by five aspirations: Glory, Bliss, Power, Chaos, Bond, and Truth. The two worlds are on the brink of collapse, and Polly is the only one who can save it. Although Polly can rely on her loved ones and the Asperations for support and guidance, she is the only one with the power to decide. Polly must make the difficult choices that could save the world. What kind of story will your decisions unlock?
The choices players make are what drive the narrative. Players are presented with multiple possibilities, but their path narrows as they make choices. Players will find themselves locked out of certain outcomes because of a previous decision. It is a cool way of making players live with the consequences of their actions, but it also makes the game highly replayable.
The game is beautifully illustrated with terrific voice acting, a fantastic soundtrack, and a compelling narrative. I finished this game in one sitting because of how much I enjoyed the story. I even debated starting a second run to experience a different outcome. I now understand why this game is award-winning. Even though you are essentially just sitting and listening to a story happens, it is a good story to sit through.
My only recommendation is that you go into this game as blind as possible. Your first playthrough should be unaffected by outside influences so that you can get a story of your own choosing. You can look up guides after if you need them, but it’s not difficult to work towards your desired outcome.
I don’t want to say more because I don’t want to spoil the story or influence any decisions. This game is worth your time and money. There are so many choices, paths, and outcomes in this game that it is going to be hard to only beat it once. If you are looking for a new visual novel, or simply trying to get into the genre, Harmony: The Fall of Reverie should be in your collection. It is available now on Switch, Xbox, PS5, and PC via Steam for $24.99.