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    Things and Ideas: The Twilight Zone

    I began writing this a long time ago in the heat of the moment. I had just heard that there would be another unnecessary remake, this one of a much beloved series that helped to define who I am as a person. Irreplaceable. I heard it would be lead by someone I respected, but that did little to cool the fire at the time. Even now, fast approaching the premiere, I am not sure how to feel or what to think. I find it difficult to actively root against just about anything and I do hope that Jordan Peele and crew get to flex their creative muscles and continue to add to the beautiful world of clever, decisive social commentary in media, but I am apprehensive.
     
    We have better technology and more ways of measuring people’s wants and reactions, which has lead to amazing shows. The existing comparisons will exist no matter what, but I personally have the feeling of witnessing uncanny valley. Digitally rendered faces are flawless, without scars or asymmetry, but there is still something off. I still prefer my imperfect crew. Maybe people would have preferred new Cola if they weren’t already used to the flavor of Coke, but that doesn’t erase the existence or deep-seeded memories of enjoying one on a hot amalgamation of a childhood summer day. So while there will be a comparison, how could it compare? I feel like that is a fair mindset to go into this process with.
     
    Identity theft is not a joke, Jim.
     
    Remake Culture
    We’re at a point in time where having disgust towards remakes, reboots, and adaptations is getting its own remake, but it just doesn’t stop. Most of them are innocuous, either verging on annoying (News Flash: Charmed doesn’t need to tell me it’s feminist every five seconds. It never did, because it always was. The intelligence of the audience just used to be trusted to see that in the first incarnation.) or vaguely amusing (Pikachu is being voiced by… Deadpool?), and there are even a few that could be exciting- how great would it be if Ryan Gosling reprises one of his first guest star roles in the feature film version of Are You Afraid of the Dark? However, this third reincarnation of The Twilight Zone was really getting under my skin.
    Culture, Commentary, and the Human Condition
    For those of you who somehow are unaware, The Twilight Zone is a cultural landmark and to call it “influential” would be the understatement of the century in this dimension and the rest. It was an incredibly popular show that took risks and played with formats, each episode having its own meaning, yet fitting in to the overarching theme of the show. It was an expansive universe, sprawling between half-hour and hour long episodes, that extended into other mediums. I even found a few Twilight Zone books that I absolutely cherish. So much of modern entertainment has been influenced by it that naming just a few titles would be an injustice, as the range goes far beyond Sci Fi shows. Replaying episodes and creative ways of escaping censorship have origins with The Twilight Zone. Even mainstream comedies and dramas give their regards to the phenomenon, so why does anybody feel the need to dredge it through the mud in yet another completely unnecessary and, moreso, insulting remake?
     
    Given the general consensus of “meh” towards the second remake to give some extra push to the writers along with the renaissance of SciFi/Horror in recent years, I actually don’t doubt that this version won’t suck, to put it bluntly. I have faith in Jordan Peele and I was glad to hear that he is trying to find his own voice in the Narrator role. Get Out, despite having plot holes that you could sail a ship through, was a good, strong movie and Us is absolutely blowing up right now, which does make this the perfect time for this premiere, as I’m sure was preplanned. The choice of host was clever and suitable, as The Twilight Zone was smart, often tinged with humor, and hit upon both universal themes as well as modern issues. It looked to the past and to the future, being critical of the now and the always. We have been able to glimpse the ability to take on these views in Peele’s work. There is a decent chance some of his works were in some way inspired by The Twilight Zone and made his own, as is the best way to get into the psyche of Sci Fi/ Horror- building. Serling even had a humor to him, which doesn’t seem to be too well known, but it’s a necessary part of truly being able to flesh out the human experience.
     
    There is even a decent sized list of known actors playing parts in this anthological redeux, which is similar in many ways to the original, but I fear they are forgetting about how many of those actors did not become famous until after. I know, it’s hard looking back and trying to get into the actual mindset of how things were when the original was on air, but to miss that is to miss the point. The original guest stars really do read like a Who’s Who of ‘60s stars, though. Another key piece of the puzzle in the legacy of the original is the chances it took on then-unknowns, because that helped to pave its ability to last this long in some more minor ways.
     
    I understand that studios compete and known names are bankable, as they come with built in fan bases. The Twilight Zone is definitely very well known. I’m sure I’m missing some, but there are many other SciFi/Horror shows that either recently came out or are in production right now, so I get why everyone is trying to one up each other with new releases. For a small sampling, mostly of reboots and adaptations, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is getting a movie directed by the Guillermo del Toro, a The Lost Boys television series, a Buffy remake that by the grace of TV God has Joss Whedon on board, to join the recent hits such as The Quiet Place and it’s own sensory-deprived fraternal twin The Bird Box (hear no evil, see no evil, am I right?), The New Adventures of Old Sabrina, which was paced in a way that never would have lasted on a week-to-week basis, the latest Halloween, the slew of Neil Gaimen’s fantastical works that have finally made it onto the screen to varying degrees of success, and the blend of stereotypical feel and original content that formed Stranger Things and Black Mirror.
     
    Speaking of which, I’m not even too concerned about quality. Black Mirror is a cultural hit all on it’s own. It has been called a Twilight Zone rip-off enough times, but managed to maintain its own identity and fan-base. We are experiencing a great time for originality in this field and I AM IN LOVE WITH IT. I love it. I really, really love it and I’m so excited, so I’m insulted by the laziness that others are getting away with.
     
    I’m mostly afraid that this new version will make The Twilight Zone a rip-off of itself.
     
    There is no other Rod Serling.
    He was not perfect, but he didn’t need to be to be an effective and wonderful Host. Many of my idols are from that era and, as a result, have factors that are questionable to modern palates. I have relatively little problem separating the genius from the man when discussing the legacy of art, because it transcends individuals. Rod Serling was a very smart, creative individual, with a unique background, but you can find nuances from many other sources throughout the series. It’s beautiful, really. That is not something you recreate by trying to recreate it. That is something you are inspired by and move on to make something of your own; that’s how it was created itself! The Twilight Zone is a moment in time, a reflection. It manages to be so firmly stood in its era while free to roam around time and space. Leave it be. It doesn’t need anyone’s help to make itself continuously relevant.
     
    The Serling estate has not had control of The Twilight Zone since long before Rod’s death, but Carol Serling will be involved in this remake. This is honestly a relief to an extent, because she should have the best intent for the legacies at heart. I hope there will be more press statements and interviews involving her.
     
    Rod eventually invested himself in another anthological series, this one more macabre, The Night Gallery. It didn’t gain the traction that The Twilight Zone did, rearing in the birth of popular television and stunning audiences in black-and-white scenery that begat shades of grey, but it was considered a natural continuation. The ruddy bastardization that is the “Syfy” moniker is using the reboot artists behind Teen Wolf to capitalize upon that, as well. Teen Wolf had approximately nothing to do with the original movie and was a teen drom-com. Add this information to the few titles that came out that are being repurposed from the original and there are no clear inferences to be gained from this.
     
    On a Positive Note, Finally...
    It is rare to find a time so naturally inclined towards the use of the term “Twilight Zone” in real life as this moment in time. This feels true regardless of race, sex, age, political alignment, or morals. This realization is what I finally found comfort in regarding this reboot. We are looking at the world through collectively confused eyes and to have a global awareness that this is both weird and a shared experience can be kind of amazing.
     
    Furthermore, it excites me that there is still interest, though sometimes you have to feel protective about what you love. There is no way to untangle TTZ from my being; it has been a part of me since I was born, but I get it. We don’t need it right now, but it makes sense. I just hope that it’s more than a hoggy money grab (CBS All Access, really?) and I have found faith in the little and unimportant notion that is is more.
     
    The Value
    The Twilight Zone didn’t survive because it was The Twilight Zone. It survived due to its pervasiveness, it’s singular understanding of the human psyche, it’s vulnerable moments, it’s humorous moments, and it’s grasp of how the current relates to the total. The Twilight Zone makes you think about life and your place in it. It helps you to see possibilities, both good and bad. It expands the mind and person. It’s hopeful and teaches lessons, so many lessons. It was fearless. You don’t need to steal a name or format to do any of those things. A Twilight Zone by any other name could cut so deep, but maybe it’s okay to stop pretending that we are starting a conversation in favor of being aware and involved in the ones that are going on, the ones that have been happening way before “woke” needed a cute, monosyllabic term to describe a state of being that college freshman in Philosophy 101 have been getting high off of for years unknown. This can be a good thing. This can be fun and entertaining, but also informational. This can be a high quality show, but also an unfortunate example of greed and resting on laurels. It can even try to be as complex and giving as The Twilight Zone is.
     
    Let’s just leave it at this...
    Shatner better be involved.
     
    Wait, that’s not what I meant. I mean, he should be, but what I meant to say is...
     
    I have seen more shadow than substance, which does a disservice to the great legacy of The Twilight Zone, but the picture is starting to clarify and come into the light. Judgements can be saved and opinions will vary, but anything that helps to increase our ability to be human to each other and helps the legacy of the original to thrive has good in it.
     
    Sometimes you have The Howling Man, but I will prefer Night of the Meek here- positivity for the sake of itself, for the sake of each other, and that is another lesson
     
    from
     
    The Twilight Zone.
     

    The Umbrella Academy (2019)

    Will Put a Smile on Your Face and a Twist in Your Heart

    Superhumans with daddy issues, an apocalyptic prediction, a mysterious Monocle, a talking chimp and the best soundtrack of the year, which I’m confident enough to declare a month and a half into the year. You’ll have fun with this one or you’re not watching it in the right mindset, but it will probably pull you into it, regardless of where your brain was starting out.
     
    From the weird and wonderful mind that brought us the most influential alternative bands of recent times comes The Umbrella Academy, a thoughtfully adapted ten hour film that managed to keep the spirit of a very interesting comic book series alive.
     
    The basis of this story is that the estranged adult versions of a child superhero family gather for their adopted father’s funeral and find out that the world is about to end. I don’t know how your family reunions tend to go, but it does manage to get more interesting from there. You’ll be rooting for them to save the world just as hard as you’ll want to shake some sense into them- again, just like most family reunions.
     
    For those who are expecting outright dark and morbid scenes when the name Gerard Way gets thrown around, you'll have to rely on the particularly peculiar undertones and deep storylines to get your fix. The Umbrella Academy doesn’t rely on steady footing or letting you get comfortable with a genre, rather jumping into the fun with a variety of excellent music juxtaposed against strained family drama. The music plays a character almost as real as the actual cast, while the heaviness of the actual storyline plays out practically clandestinely, as though it were normal.
     
    Slow to start, but expertly paced, once the backstory is set, The Umbrella Academy quickly grabs your attention with stunning scenes and clever dialogue. Consequential actions and feelings are always well thought out, making this world a full experience. This show does not feel the need to spoon feed information to you; the audience is trusted to figure out what is going on at the rate information is being given. Only occasionally is a piece of inferable information spelled out, such as the fact that Sir Reginald Hargreeves never bothered to give his adopted children actual names, instead giving them the monikers of Number One through Seven, being stated flat out as a point of contention during a funeral scene.
     
    Thoughtfully crafted in many small ways, this complex family shows realistic relationships in an unreal setting. From the minor alterations in the CGI effects to show how their powers advance as they gain increased control to the overall character arcs making natural flows from their unusual youths to adulthood. It would be too easy to compare these superhuman children in their masks and school uniforms to the mutants at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, but for anyone who remembers and misses Pushing Daisies, you will get delightfully reminiscent vibes to that type of fantastical world.
     
    The characters come to life in ways that make you genuinely care for them. You can easily feel the results of their unusual upbringings, full of expectations, but lacking in childhood comfort and normalcy, and the years they spent apart, becoming themselves. There are a few flat performances littered throughout, but the acting is mostly strong. Robert Sheehan’s performance is particularly well suited for this production- a video game character of a superpowered derelict who happens to pull off a skirt better than your girlfriend does, he’s the guy Tyler Durden would be apprehensive of. His over the top personality makes up for the accent that slips every now and again as he acts as a reflection for how normal most of the other characters learned how to appear. Playing dangerous rival siblings, Tom Hopper and David Castañeda bring some classic fight scene energy to the screen. The beautiful, telekinetic Emmy Raver-Lampman, Ellen Page, as the often underappreciated Vanya, and Aidan Gallagher, who does reasonably well as a character who basically plays two roles, unencumbered by spatial or
    , filling the older and younger mental versions of himself in a consistently 13-year old appearance, round out the main cast. It is often difficult to take younger actors serious as mentally older and his method has an odd reminiscence of another aged-beyond-appearances character, Bernard the Elf from The Santa Clause. Even when the age isn’t believable, the stark snarkiness makes the character too likeable to actively notice it. Nothing is out of balance in this series that doesn’t seem to have an intent to its displacement, which results in a wonderful and beautiful level of absurdity and levity this creation makes the audience accept, even while they are trying to ward off the end of the world. 
    Lest you forget this is an adaptation of a comic book, there are villains with absurd mascot heads, a robot mom in early stage hardware dementia (Trigger Alert), and Dr. Pogo, a highly intelligent chimp, the later often ushering the story along and adding key pieces of information.
     
    It’s weird and fun; it might not be for everyone, but I would advise you to give it a chance. Give this show a real chance, get into it, and just have a blast enjoying the ride and the superb music choices that go along with it. I bloody love it and you might just, too!
     
    Easter Egg Theory: Don’t Stop Me Now
    I promise.

    "Anthem of the Peaceful Army" Track Reviews (Greta Van Fleet)

    Greta Van Fleet’s new album Anthem of the Peaceful Army attempts to establish them as individuals with an album they wrote
    We recently posted an article of an interview with Greta Van Fleet [that got shoved in the Vault for a while last year] in long awaited anticipation of the new GVF album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army. (What happened to that summer release? Doesn't matter- it's here now!) In light of the album's debut on October 19th, 2018, here is our honest and sometimes weird review of the album where we DON’T attempt to answer the question of whether or not these lads have done enough to differentiate themselves from one of the biggest bands in the world on their premier album after stirring up more buzz than you could shake a stick at, but we do make mild references to that.
    Torn between my love of Cheerios and common sense... Led Zeppelin. There you have it. They are not them, okay? The similarities are there, but it doesn’t need to be in every passing thought about them. Also, don’t shake sticks at things that buzz. Sage advice.
    On to the Review!
    Age of Man
    Flowery flutes and straining vocals make this track an interesting introduction. Then, the guitars. I know there are many (Led Zeppelin) comparisons, but this has a bit of a Heart vibe when those strings kick in. This is a good jam. It’s solid. You’ll nod your head along, entrapped in the beat, and feel somehow inspired. Also, the vocals, backing as well as Josh’s amazing ones, need to be noted. If you’re unsure at this point, the vocals should be enough to keep you in for the ride.
    The Cold Wind
    A tonal twin of Black Smoke Rising, this is the song that makes you feel like driving. Can we get this on cassette? Play it in something with either a vinyl roof or wood paneling while cruising into a dusky evening full of colors in the fading light? I’m not asking for much. If I was, a Firebird or ‘Stang would be involved.
    This is the epitome of what a song with a classic rock feeling should be. It doesn’t make you scratch your head thinking of something else, but it fits right in as though it belonged there all along.
    A+
    When the Curtain Falls
    Funky… funky! Sprinkles of “babes” and “darlings” among lyrics that would usually invoke a bit of that condescending Cat Steven’s Wild World vibe come too soon here, considering a band of recent high school graduates sing “in and out of fashion” completely unironically about this unnamed darling while being considered the next throwback band.
    I can appreciate that, I just feel it needs to be noted.
    Watching Over
    Slowing things down. I’m really enjoying the psychedelic dichotomy between the circular riffs and the steady vocals. I feel it. Yes, the water is rising, but it doesn’t drift too far out to sea. Another solid song with some depth to it. There are multiple tonal changes crammed into these four and a half minutes, but it’s a smooth ride. Fairly well done.
    Lover, Leaver
    This is the one I was waiting to hear the recorded version of. I rarely find studio songs that hold up to live for the bands that really bring it live, because great energy can fix mediocre talent and send awesome talent into the stratosphere, but this brings the energy with it and the talent. The head nod now moves and infects the torso. I’ll be dancing soon at this rate.
    Not to get repetitive, but this is solid. You need to get the intonation right, because intonation can make a vocabulary out of one word. I apologize for the occasional limitations of the written word. I was almost disappointed this title wasn’t all four words, but I was ahead of myself. Instead, we get ten minutes of this great (Greta? Great? Greata? This band is ruining my ability to type… like, more than it is.) tune. Thank you!
    You’re the One
    This song is so sweet. In the way that has a purity and simplicity to it that is refreshing and nice. This would sound immature from most other bands, but the intricacy of the instrumentals backs it well and the result is more one of those purposefully, cut back sounds that many artists only get too after playing with too much for too long and trying to re-find themselves. The overall sound really has it.
    I’m saying it’s good.
    Plus, I didn’t think of Zeppelin once during the whole song and that seems to count for something, according to the other reviews I’ve read so far. Some Jeff Lynne, but his name only kind of s
    New Day
    Alright, I’m dancing now. I know, we shouldn’t have let this happen, but here we are. Why aren’t you listening yet? Then you’d get it. No, then you'll get it. The guitar is happy on this song. The backing vocals are a bit overdone, but if this song isn’t the sun smiling on a bunch of flowers, I don’t know what is. The end is a bit abrupt, but just let it lead in to the next
    I’m starting to wonder how severe the editing will be, but this music invokes feelings that are best described in motion and other senses. My mild synesthesia might also be coming out, but I’d like to think good music just evokes this in everyone.
    Mountain of the Sun
    Open in a quintessential diner in a midwestern town, the kind that turns into a friendly dive bar at night, you know the kind. You’ve seen them on TV. This is the song those fellas in the back are playing while everyone chats and dances off the remains of their long day. I don’t get the title, but this song could have been closer to the beginning. It’s inviting and comfortable. That breakdown, nice.
    Sugar, is that a harmonica? I’m telling you, that dive on the edge of town where everyone seems to know each other, but don’t make you feel unwelcome? This song is that place. It doesn’t need to exist, it just is. I think this just pushed me over the edge to buying the vinyl of the album.
    Brave New World
    Lyrically, yes, this does sound like it could be about the book. It’s another good song, but the pattern is too similar to others on the record for it to really stand out. The chorus sucks you in. They don’t over rely on choruses, which is nice in itself, but that does help to establish this song.
    Anthem
    I heard this on the radio last week and was very excited to get to hear it again. There is some Dylan-vibe on this track and a touch of Magical Mystery, but the percussion gets a standout and it feels like flower petals dropping. Fields and forests; this song is a happy midday pause.
    Solid choice in a title song. It also sounds like another thing the ‘60s and ‘70s were renowned for. I mean Woodstock, of course.
    Lover, Leaver (Taker, Believer)
    Yeeeeesssssssssssss. This is heavy. This is heavy, man.
    Final Thoughts
    This album is definitely worth a listen and a buy. I think these guys are going to be fine, but some support is always nice, right? Oh, look, the link to the Greta Van Fleet shop is right, well, there. This album shows the variety of what guitars can do and I'll always love that in music. Guitars aren't really an underappreciated or underestimated instrument, but they can be underutilized. This album did not. I am so appreciative of that.
    Also, a recent article on Billboard (Yeah, go you guys! Billboard!) revealed that Sam managed to ignore a passing tornado. Add that to the sock thing that was previously mentioned here on DF and you have one of those untryingly interesting individuals. While all of these multi-talented youths are ones to watch, that is some next level, bad sitcom unawareness. Amazing.
    Buy the album. This post was not sponsored in any way or even asked for. It just is.
    Post-post Script: On my first listen through, I heard an instrument that I couldn't identify on one of the songs. I don't know if it disappeared (unlikely), but I haven't been able to find it since. I can't wait for more videos of live performances to come forth, because I'd like to see how they pull these off. Maybe even get to see them headlining. Anyone out in the interworlds going?
    Awesome.
      • Post Type: Review, Editorial

    "Trench" Track Reviews (Twenty One Pilots)

    The long awaited album, Trench, from Twenty One Pilots was released today and you should give it a listen. Catchy tunes, deep lyrics, and more songs that are reminiscent of something I can’t quite place, because TØP makes everything they do uniquely their own, are on this album. The answers to mysteries have been revealed and more have found themselves being questioned. We find out who Blurryface is and delve into the where of his existence, a world that is contained in Tyler Joseph’s mind and now ours, too. Sadness and hope mingle once again in a way that finds a firm foothold while nearing the band’s decadeversary. You’re in for a ride with this one, so let’s take a trip through the Trench and see if we can make our ways out.
    Jumpsuit
    They picked the perfect song to start the album with. Jumpsuit really sets the whole tone. It’s increased in familiarity since I first discussed Jumpsuit and Nico and the Niners, which definitely helped, because by knowing the words, it became an open door that I could walk through into the rest of the album. Where it departs from the Blurryface album sonically, opening with such a distinct and punchy song, it dives deeper into the powerful lyrics.
    Levitate
    Tyler Joseph rapping about things that I can’t quite be sure I understand is a part of life at this point. This track continues to lay intellectual groundwork and has some interesting fluctuations and flourishes, but the best is yet to come.
    Chlorine
    Great beat and the vocals are beautiful in this song, particularly towards the end. This song moves through genres and metaphors in the way only they can pull off. You can almost hear the difference between the points of reality and dreams he’s not sure he can meet without even deciphering a single word. For an album that explored the world of a character that embodies self-doubt and fear, it’s oddly grounded. This song is exemplary of that.
    Morph
    NICHOLAS BOURBAKI! I feel like Hermoine when she finally figured out how she knew Nicholas Flamel’s name. Is that Harry Potter reference okay? You know, because we’re about to get even [delightfully] nerdier here. Great. So, Nico’s full name is Nicholas Bourbaki. “He” is actually a group of mathematicians that worked together to unify theories and such. I have so many thoughts about this song. I went down an absolute rabbit hole starting at the Bourbaik reference all the way to the creepy voice singing “Josh Dun” at the end.
    This song references an “if” to death.
    What could that mean? Are we discussing scientific advancements or the idea that the difference between life and death is merely a comma? Then what does that mean for Dema? It seems as though the trench is escapable, but to escape, one must become camouflaged. Is Dema Earth?
    Ones and zeroes, ergo this symphony.
    There is an old philosophical place where math and music meet in the Musica Universalis. With the mention of binary leading into a symphony, that is what came to mind. You should look it up. It’s pretty interesting, even if it doesn’t actually apply to this song. Also, fractals. Look those up. Okay, I’m done talking about cool math stuff now. I probably ran through all of it, anyway, am I right?
    Then, after covering these vast and universal themes of mortality and mathematics, the song ends by cryptically reperepeating “nighttime” followed by “Josh Dun” and “I’ll morph into someone else.” Woah.
    My Blood
    This track was released ahead of the album and I knew it would be one of my favorites as soon as I heard it. After listening to the rest of the album, I’m not sure if anything beats it, but it’s definitely a close call. Tyler brings back his HeavyDirty falsetto vocals and takes them to the next level, with Dun's drums setting a perfect backdrop to this masterpiece of a top song. This is the one that I find myself singing under my breath. It’s a hit, for sure.
    Man, I love this song.
    Smithereens
    Smithereens is a love song with an experimentation of sounds and instruments, utilizing some sort of cartoon-y tropical sounds to accentuate the love-y lyrics that precede them. Let's face it- it's pretty. This is clearly another ode to Jenna, which is super sweet. Another deceptively negative sounding song that's actually about love among all the other conspiratorial lyrics. Tyler makes his love fit into a world he created, he even sidesteps the overall thematic road of this song, but makes it work, for her. Lucky ducks to have found something so strong.
    Fun Fact: Jenna is also in the Jumpsuit music video, so keep an eye out for her next time you watch!
    Neon Gravestones
    I have to say, I was nervous about this one going in. I expect TØP’s work to make me sad or question existence, life, and everything, but with Neon Gravestones, I was more worried that it was about to get really emo. Like 2004 levels of emo. We lucked out with a song that could have fit in with their 2009 album, but also fits perfectly here. I guess that’s how timelessness works. The last verse hits me like a speeding bullet.
    “Find your grandparents or someone of age.
    Pay some respects for the path that they paved;
    For life, they were dedicated.
    Now that should be celebrated.”
    Fun Factoid: I knew that the title of this song existed, but it didn’t occur to me until writing this that the other day, after decorating for Halloween, that my mom suggested painting some of the decorations with a neon border, so that they stand out. The decorations she was mentioning in particular were cardboard tombstones. Life.
    The Hype
    You’ll be just fine!
    Bringing back the uke! This song is like drinking cola out of a glass bottle while wearing well-worn jeans with reflecting lights pulsing serenely around, you know? Maybe at a bowling alley. This song reminds me of ska; there’s a happy beat and then lyrics with deeper meanings of maybe things suck, they often do, but it will be alright, even sans a horns section. We will dance and sing and it will be alright. Thank you, Twenty One Pilots. It will be. That’s what a lot of life is like: telling yourself that things will be alright and sometimes believing it. This song reminds us of how good it can be when you genuinely, really believe it, which is something you can’t force, but can come about at unexpected times. This song is an unexpected gift.
    Gosh, it’s just so happy sounding that you want to use words like “gosh”!
    Nico and the Niners
    Ridiculously catchy and cryptic, this song helps to really define the world of Trench.
    Cut My Lip
    I understand why people don’t understand where I’m coming from sometimes and that they can’t relate; I’m a bit weird. That being said, there were multiple things on this album that spoke to me beyond the usual “Tyler Joseph is brilliant at bringing those feeling that you feel to words” [see: Neon Gravestones]. I have this vague joke that I like to take any song that uses the word “pride” and pretend that the lyrics intend to mean a group of lions.
    I find this most amusing with songs like “These Days” and “She Loves You,” but there are some songs that it just doesn’t work with, such as Pride & Joy or  Pride In The Name of Love, because the meaning is just to serious (I still think of lions, though). To stick with TØP, it works pretty well with Johnny Boy, but not so much with Truce. Picturing lions works really, really well with My Blood. I am so proud of them for this particular pun. So. Proud.
    Plus, I always like the undertone of hope. It’s so beautiful and beautifully done.
    Bandito
    Very soundscapey. This is the one I can really feel will be a hit to dance to at the concerts; it has that live feeling down. The build up, everything is brilliant. I almost wondered why they didn’t end with this, then I heard Leave the City. TØP constantly levels up. Statements like that are probably why Blurryface became so problematic, because complements have underlying high expectations, but that ended up great. They continue to meet and exceed expectations.  
    Pet Cheetah
    Sounds like what futuristic music from ‘90s movies sounds like mixed with a haunted houses backing track. My pet cheetah’s name is Diana Prince, maybe  she can be friends with Turkish? (Boom, a comic book and a movie reference. Now Deadicated will continue to let me write on here.)
    Legend
    This is funky! Where did that come from? You never know what to expect with TØP. This is the next step in the evolution of modern musicians trying to take on something soulful and maybe I’m just a sucker for the horns, but I dig it.
    As a whole, it twists your heart strings and leaves you coming back for more. This song is a story in itself.
    Leave the City
    Piano heavy and classic. This is the kid of hope we need sometimes. In time, I will leave the city. For now, I will stay alive. 
    It’s okay if you can’t do it today, just make sure you’ll be here for tomorrow, okay? There’s a hypnotizing quality to the piano and vocals that delves right into your brain and you’ll let them. They say it will be okay. It will.
    They know that it's almost over.
    This song just feels like Twenty One Pilots and nothing more needs to be said.
    BONUS ROUND
    My Blood was also released today and it has ALL of the feelings. Sadness, elation, gaining strength from weird places, and, of course, confusion and more sadness. Tyler, what are you doing to us? The boy’s gonna be changing his last name to Durden any day now with the twists and turns he’s giving us.
      This video is very unique compared to their others, which probably means... something that only they know. It is a good video, though. They almost even let it make sense!   I don’t want to be heard, I want to be listened to. Plus, there’s a bit of Halloween fun in there, which is timely right now and that works perfectly. I got pumped up for Twenty One Pilots WHILE getting pumped up for Halloween: the dream. 
    They know what I mean.
      • Post Type: Review

    Twenty Øne Pilots album "Trench" releases October 5, 2018

    ...and we learned about this in an email on a Wednesday morning, just days after the Are You Still Sleeping? email that had us all worked up, along with a forthcoming multinational tour and the release of TWO new songs with a music video for one. *Checks the betting pool.* Did anyone call this? 
    One thing is for sure: We’re awake now.
    Twenty Øne Pilots Drops Two New Songs
    Psycho-trance reggae alternative progressive rock-rap? What are you? Limitless and undeniable. We have so much to be thankful for with the drop of 2 new songs, but also so many more questions.
    What is the significance of the jumpsuit, which shows up in both a song of it’s own as well as referenced in Nico and the Niners? Speaking of, who are Nico and the Niners? Friends or Foe? Where's Clancy? Why if you go to http://nicoandtheniners.com, you just get the same yellow background as the rest of the album announcements, even though it was blinking just days ago? Furthermore, why have we changed colors again, guys? I just got used the the red and blue, then the red with black and white… It’s fine, I will adapt.
    Let's jump in!
    Jumpsuit

    Jumpsuit, both recollective of… something… and completely new for TØP is a melodic journey that does not disappoint. Wrought with the intricate, altering melodies and lyrics that are deceptively simple at times, leading to deeper truths, Jumpsuit is as much of a departure from the sound we are used to as the introduction of heavier hip hop/ pop beats of Blurryface were at the time. The reference to grabbing his throat and breaking his hands also hits close to home for those who followed the Blurryface lore. Are we going to get another rock opera-esque album of the journey Twenty Øne Pilots continues to take?
    Only time will tell. The classic Tyler Joseph scream towards the end brings you back. This is TØP after all: always original, but always distinguishable as themselves. This is personal, but shared. If you need anyone...
    Nico and the Niners

    The even catchier Nico and the Niners has a reverberating tune that sounds almost expectant of further challenges. It isn’t so much a fight song as it is a call for continued strength for the battles ahead. The title of the song had a minor leak when fans decided to forgo the given clues in favor of scouring the Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) licensing database for newly registered songs, but this unique track could not have been predicted by name alone.
    This is a work song, pulling modern beats into an idea as old as time, but it also reveals the struggle and a refusal to face fear when there are more important tasks to accomplish. If you don’t have the resounding phrase of “East is Up” wormed into your ears by the time you finish your first listen, you probably need to get your humanity checked.
    Also, does anyone else feel vaguely initiated by this song? I’m not sure into what, but if there is a fight, we are now on the same side. You can’t deny the battle calls exclaimed in Nico and the Niners.
    We won’t stay in our lanes and Dema won’t make us forget.
    Then There’s the Video for Jumpsuit
    “We’ve been here the whole time. You were asleep. Time to wake up."
    We open on a now familiar scene of a burnt up car in what is either twilight or early morning. The self-referential video to the heavy song, Jumpsuit, might be an origin story for Blurryface. We see the infamous car on fire, but now we have new details, including a mysterious cloaked figure and menacing figures that rain yellow flower petals on our bewildered hero. They were there the whole time. I can’t make it any less confusing than that, so just go watch it.
    A white horse. The single rebel (Josh Dun?) left when Tyler goes down into the river? The end that is the beginning?
    Cover me.
    Oh, and the Twenty Øne Pilots Bandito World Tour 2018-2019

    Important Information: According to the Twenty Øne Pilots website and Ticketmaster’s Verified Account program, all of us in the clique only have until Sunday, July 15 @ 11:59PM ET, when registration closes, to sign up for the pre-sale, so get there early and be ready.
    Presales begin on Tuesday, July 17 and general on sale begins Friday, July 20.
    Brimming with Symbolism
    The email ends with this little message that appears to be on the album’s cover.

    We’re ready for this.
    New Twenty Øne Pilots Song Lyrics
    Jumpsuit Lyrics
    I can’t believe how much I hate,
    Pressures of a new place roll my way,
    Jumpsuit, Jumpsuit cover me,
    Jumpsuit, Jumpsuit cover me.
    I crumble underneath the weight,
    Pressures of a new place roll my way,
    Jumpsuit, Jumpsuit cover me.
    Jumpsuit, Jumpsuit cover me.
    Spirits in my room, friend or foe?
    Felt it in my youth, feel it when I’m old,
    Jumpsuit, Jumpsuit cover me,
    Dusting off my Jumpsuit.
    I’ll be right there,
    But you’ll have to grab my throat and lift me in the air,
    If you need anyone,
    I’ll stop my plans,
    but you’ll have to tie me down and then break both my hands,
    If you need anyone.
    Nico and the Niners Lyrics
    East is up,
    I’m fearless when I hear this on the low,
    East is up,
    I’m careless when I wear my rebel clothes,
    East is up,
    When Bishops come together they will know that,
    Dema don’t control us, Dema don’t control,
    East is up.
    They want to make you forget,
    They want to make you forget,
    Save your razorblades now, not yet,
    Save your razorblades now, not yet.
    I’m heavy, my Jumpsuit is on steady,
    I’m lighter when I’m lower, I’m higher when I’m heavy,
    I’m so high, my Jumpsuit takes me so high,
    I’m flying from a fire, from Nico and the Niners.
    What I say when I want to be enough,
    What a beautiful day for making a break for it,
    We’ll find a way to pay for it,
    Maybe from all the money we made razorblade stores,
    Rent a race horse and force a sponsor,
    And start a concert, a complete diversion,
    Start a mob and you can be quite certain,
    We’ll win but not everyone will get out.
    So... What Happened with the Friday Clue?
    Honestly, I am kind of glad they didn’t go too cliche with a Friday the 13th release. I have a date with Jason that day and the timing just wouldn’t have worked out at all. I can't say for sure which song is my favorite so far, but what do you think?
      • Post Type: News, Editorial

    TØP: Are You Still Sleeping?

    ...and we are all really curious what it actually means!
    This morning, during the 8AM hour EST, another cryptic message, probably a new clue, was delivered to the inboxes of Twenty Øne Pilots' fans that had signed up for e-mail alerts. though this is admittedly more direct than many of the other clues, it is no less mysterious.
    (Update: An even more significant Twenty Øne Pilots' fan club e-mail hits and blows the doors WIDE OPEN!)
    All we have to go on is the headline of "ARE YOU STILL SLEEPING" and the below image of a yellow eye that almost looks like it could be part of the sky. It's strange, beautiful, and leaving us all to wonder how this fits in with the rest of their clues.
    We're hopeful for an answer and new music very, very soon.

    The Theories
    Over the last year, rampant theorizing about the end of Twenty One Pilots’ musical hiatus have been circulating the internet. Gathered in message boards and social media platforms, such as reddit’s r/twentyonepilots thread, fans have uncovered many clues (some of which have disappeared already) leading us to believe the forthcoming album would be dropped sometime around, well, now.
    The hiatus itself was announced in a cryptic fashion, using near mirror images, where the slash in the “ø” remained in the proper direction while everything else was flipped and every “E” had an elongated slash, of their song lyrics and an overarching message of “You have to come and find me” inside of an eye that appears to be closing. This all concluded on July 6th of last year with a final message referencing “Car Radio” that said, “Now we just sit in silence.”
    We’re right at the anniversary of that date! What could it mean?
    Back in January, Josh Dunn explained in his acceptance speech at the APMA Awards that Joseph Tyler’s absence was due to his “cutting ties with Dema.” Dema is a Tower of Silence. Twenty One Pilots has always had a relationship with the idea of silence versus noise and polarity in general, so this could have been meant to signify TØP, Joseph himself, or the Blurryface era. This sparked a resurgence in the search for clues.
    Since then, all we had on the official front was silence...
    ...but fans worked hard to find meaning in it.
    If you follow down the rabbit hole, certain words and phrases have become singled out, including Dema, Clancy, 43, East is Up, and Friday, along with images of a single eye.
    Which Friday, Twenty One Pilots?
    Though some theorized that the album would drop on May 1st, due to a series of dashes and dot, that day has come and passed and new theories have come to light. Trying to decipher when the silence will end, some super sleuths in the online fan community have come up with violation messages and error messages that spelled out the Friday clue only recently, which many take to mean that the album will drop on a Friday. Warring theories go between either Friday, July 6th (Today!!!) or possibly Friday the 13th of July.
    The new clue dropped to the fans that are on the email list this morning could signify today, but until we hear something more, it’s still only theoretical.
    Twenty One Pilots Sits in Silence
    So… is today the day we will be awakened to new Twenty One Pilots’ music? Can we open our eyes? Is the silence over? I know we hope so, but we won’t know until more clues are released or until the album drops. TØP clearly has some of the most clever fans around that will be ready and willing to figure out any clues that happen next, so even if it’s not today, we’ll be okay with this waiting. Only Twenty One Pilots’ could leave us on the edge like this, but we are happy to be here and ready to hear.
    My only message to the clique- stay aware and keep listening.
      • Post Type: Editorial

    The Misfits Ride Again

    Saturday, May 19th, 2018 is incredibly memorable for being the date of a royal wedding when The Misfits reunited! (Full disclosure: The version of Stand By Me at said wedding was remarkable and deserves to be noted.)
    The original lineup of The Misfits, including Glenn Danzig, Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, and Jerry Only, reunited for their much anticipated, sold-out homecoming show The Misfits Ride Again and brought their classic blend of thrashing music and horror imagery to the stage for one night only.
    The mood was set as soon as fans arrived at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey- relatively close to their home of Lodi, NJ. Unfortunately, the mood was polarized. The energy was high and it was awesome to see some particularly deadicated fans in full Fiend regalia with skull makeup and devilocks, along with the fans that had novelty shirts (one of my personal favorites would have to be a shirt featuring Hank Hill that read “I ain’t no gaddang son of a b***h!”), but as cell phones were locked away for the show, many people seemed confused on how to enjoy the show and became absolutely irked. It was an inconvenience to not have that access, but at the same time there were cell phone checking stations and it was really nice to get to see the whole show without a sea of phone screens blocking the way, so I personally support the decision.
    This mix of “Yes! The original Misfits are BACK!” and minor issues being blown out of proportion followed through the whole show, even after the opening acts, including Murphy’s Law and Suicidal Tendencies, bled into our legendary headliners.
    Death did come ripping in as they opened with Death Comes Ripping and the boys took the stage. An impressive aesthetic, with their football player muscles, hints of classic horror movies in both dress and scenery, and a bleeding backdrop announcing their arrival. The stage was flanked by two larger than life jack o'lanterns and the microphone stands were green skeletons. It was quite a display.
    The “woahs” began to intensify by the second song, I Turned into a Martian, which pumped the audience up significantly. Despite some feedback issues, they killed it on their songs, which included the popular Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight?, Hybrid Moments, Green Hell, Halloween, and Last Caress.
    The audience did seem to get into the show, circle pits forming on the floor and almost everyone standing and even dancing in the seated sections, but complaints included poor sound quality, too many speech interludes between songs, and poor performances.

    People. It’s the Misfits.
    The band formed in 1977 and the members of the original lineup are still alive (maybe undead?), which is enough to be thankful for, but they are famous for those raw and hardcore sounds.
    We got to see Jerry Only slide across stage in full regalia and Doyle in his stark contrast of shirtless wrestler body combined with the black and white face paint uniting with Danzig in all of his Danziggy glory. Sure, making out what Danzig was saying during the conversational parts was near impossible, but they, the original lineup, played a song that was allegedly banned from Texas. It was horror punk in it’s finest. Sometimes spotty, sometimes brutal, but it definitely had that energy that gives you something more to live for.
    Also, Danzig is almost always difficult to understand. You just have to get used to it. It was made worse by the unfortunate feedback, but these things happen.  
    We were promised that if we were good little fiends (and we were, singing and screaming and woooooahhhh-ing our hearts out) that they would come back out for a song or two.
    They played six! Including their first hit, She, and the wildly momentive Some Kinda Hate, their encore really brought down the house. Ending on Attitude, a song that probably sums up how the Misfits feel about the people who couldn’t just enjoy the show for what it was, the show ended on a high note.
    Walking back to our car through the dark crowd of punks and horror enthusiasts felt like we were all peers on that journey. I was still too overwhelmed with how awesome people looked to notice any negative comments being found around at that point and the process of getting our phones back was a breeze.
    Exiting the arena into the foggy night, lit up by streetlights and newly re-acquired phones, was ethereal. Plus, almost all of the merch had the date on it without being upcharged from the rest of the merch, so a great big THANK YOU for that. I wanted a one-night-only souvenir to be reflective of that and appreciate that it is.
    They called it The Misfits Ride Again. That they did, and we rode with them.
    Setlist
    Death Comes Ripping I Turned Into a Martian 20 Eyes Mommy, Can I Go Out and Kill Tonight? Vampira Devilock Where Eagles Dare London Dungeon Hybrid Moments Teenagers From Mars Earth A.D. Horror Business Hollywood Babylon Bullet Who Killed Marilyn Green Hell Halloween Skulls Die, Die My Darling Astro Zombies Last Caress Encore:
    Night of the Living Dead Some Kinda Hate She Violent World All Hell Breaks Loose Attitude
      • Post Type: Editorial

    When Two Worlds Meet: 7 Iconic Crossover Episodes in TV Shows

    Watching one TV show? Great! Watching two at the same time? It’s twice the fun! Here are 7 times we’ve been glued to our screens as our favorite characters from different shows come together:

    1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer / Angel

    The Yoko Factor
    [embed]
    [/embed] 
    Commando Riley was a nice guy and all, but even in spite of the whole Initiative deal, he was a bit too much on the straight and narrow for our favorite vampire slayer. Things hadn’t been the same in the Buffy universe since Angel left for Los Angeles, so we were all happy when he came to sort things out in The Yoko Factor. But what really made this an iconic crossover episode was the incredible fight scene (and subsequent fight scene!) between Buffy’s two boys, with Angel, of course, taking the victory.

    2. Friends / Mad About You

    The One with Two Parts
    [embed]
    [/embed] 
    In The Friends episode The One with Two Parts, we’re introduced to Phoebe’s identical twin sister, Ursula, who’s possibly even kookier than Phoebe herself. What some viewers didn’t know, however, is that Ursula, played by Lisa Kudrow, was already an established character on the hit sitcom Mad About You. Helen Hunt and Leila Kenzie make guest appearances in this episode as their Mad About You characters Jamie and Fran who mistake Phoebe for Ursula resulting in comedy and confusion all in one. 

    3. Grey’s Anatomy / Private Practice

    Before and After
    [embed]
    [/embed] 
    After Meredith’s totally embarrassing ‘pick me’ speech in Grey’s Anatomy, Derek should definitely have run back into Addison’s arms. But it wasn’t to be and Addison up and left Seattle for Los Angeles, reuniting with old friends at their ‘Private Practice’. She didn’t stay gone long, however, returning to the hallways of Seattle Grace where the red-headed doctor was joined by Private Practice stars Audra McDonald (Naomi) and Taye Diggs (Sam Bennett) as they attempt to save the life of Addison’s brother.

    4. Family Guy / The Simpsons

    The Simpsons Guy
    [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eecsja7KvEA[/embed]
     
    Finding themselves stranded a long way from Quahog, Rhode Island, the Griffin family end up in Springfield, home of The Simpsons. Initially bonding over a taste for Apu’s donuts, Peter and Homer eventually end up in a squabble about beer, and both families begin to notice quirks in each other which make them think twice about maintaining their friendship. Iconic? Definitely. This crossover episode highlights the evolution of animation, comparing classic family comedies to their modern counterparts.

    5. Special Agent Oso / Handy Manny

    The Manny with the Golden Bear
    [embed]
    [/embed] 
    As anyone with young kids knows, Special Agent Oso and Handy Manny are some of the best shows on the Disney Channel, but what happened when the two world’s collided? An iconic crossover was born! In The Manny with the Golden Bear, Oso is tasked with teaching a young boy to ride his bike, but uh-oh — the bike is broken! So a very special guest star is called in to save the day: Handy Manny and his tools. This episode is truly a kid’s favourite, teaching them the importance of working together as a team.

    6. Community / Cougar Town

    Critical Film Studies
    [embed]
    [/embed] 
    Although he’s one of the best characters in Community, Abed certainly has his quirks! With somewhat of an obsessive personality, Abed clings onto people, ideas, and even TV shows, with Courtney Cox’s Cougar Town his favorite. Cougar Town is mentioned throughout the series, but it wasn’t until the Critical Film Studies episode that Abed mentions he recently had a bit-part on the show. And he’s right! Carefully watch the Cougar Town episode Something Good Coming, and you can spot him in the background!

     7. Mork & Mindy / Happy Days

    Pilot
    [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6EKSD5xM7M[/embed]
     
    As a Happy Days spin-off, it was only natural that we’d see a Mork & Mindy/Happy Days crossover episode at some point… we just didn’t think it would be so soon! The crossover occurred during the Mork & Mindy pilot episode, with alien Mork explaining to earth-dwelling Mindy that this was not his first time on the planet. In fact, during his previous visit, Mork had not only met The Fonz, but actually dated Laverne! Henry Winkler and Penny Marshall both make appearances through flashbacks. 

    Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders Retrospective

    Welcome back to the Nostagia Train – the series that brings you back in time to enjoy the beloved or not-so-beloved games of our past.  This time, we are headed back to 1994 when FPS shooters involved tricky mazes, creatures from another world, and mild motion-sickness. Following the success of Doom and Wolfenstein 3D, Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders was a dark, medieval take on the first-person shooter.
     
    A twisted atmosphere of ambient noise and uncertainty around every corner, Heretic is more than just a Doom clone. While most of the game takes cues from its predecessor, Heretic manages to stand on its own as a pretty solid game. There are a few functional changes and a different theme bundled with a little online multi-player option that makes this game worth checking out.
     


    Heretic: War of the Serpent Riders
    Three devious Serpent Riders with powerful magic have sought to control the kings of the world and wage war. However, the Sidhe elves resisted the riders. They sacrificed their own power to stop the kings from tearing each other a part at the cost of their own magic. Thus, the elves were rendered helpless before the Serpent Riders and forced to go into hiding. One remaining warrior, Corvus, seeks vengeance against the Serpent Riders and sets out to defeat the weakest first – D’Sparil. Will his vengeance be realized and can he make it home alive?
     

     

     


    Navigating the City of the Damned
    Heretic is your basic first-person shooter, but with a few perks. Unlike previous games, you can actually look up and down in this game! It’s a little change, but it really helps when you’re trying to find out what’s shooting you.  A less helpful tidbit is the introduction of gibs – that way you are pleasantly reminded of the fact that you died a horrible, skin-melting lava death.  Oh yes! And you can fly. So, there’s that.
     
    Aside from these small changes, game play is very similar to other FP shooters of the era. Players must navigate through a level-based structure with varying degrees of difficulty. Find weapons, find keys, find treasure and murder the bad guys.  Part of the fun of these games is figuring out the puzzles and unlocking the door forward to the next, more difficult level of the dungeon. That, and the abusive cheat codes.
     


    Trying to cheat, eh? Now you die!
    One of the best parts of Heretic and games like it is throwing on the cheat codes and slaughtering your foes. There are several codes for “god mode” or “all weapons” – but don’t go typing in IDKFA of IDDQD just yet. The game actually punishes players that try to use the secret codes from Doom. If you don’t believe me, give it a try!  You can download the game on steam!
     
    Overall, Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders is one of those games that slipped through the cracks. While the story isn't much to write home about, the actual game play is where Heretic shines. It was released at a time where Doom was king, and the release date had it competing with the next level of gaming. It had missed its mark, but it really is a solid game. If you are into old school first-person shooters, Heretic is really worth spending the time and money on. If you end up liking it, there are two sequels!
     
    So, what do you think? Want to head back into the past? Where should we go next? Let us know in the comments below!
     

      • Post Type: Editorial

    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 2 Review

    Finally! August 8th has come (and gone) and The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 2 manga series has arrived! I anxiously awaited the UPS delivery notification and couldn't wait to dive into the next part. I had high expectations following the strong start of Vol. 1 from Viz Media - and the second didn't disappoint. The story continues with the base story line from the video game, but with slight changes to translate the action and give our hero, Link, a voice.
    While the first was an introduction to Link and the whirlwind of twilight that had ripped through Hyrule, this second entry tackles his awakening as the hero. Let's take an in-depth look at the second part of the four-part series. Before reading further, be sure to check out our review of Volume 1.

    Caged in Twilight
    In the second installment in the series, Link awakens chained and in the form of a majestic wolf. A twilight imp by the name of Midna appears and offers him freedom, but only if he agrees to assist her on her quest. During their escape, Link discovers that he is being kept in Hyrule Castle and that the world has been flooded in Twilight. Before he can meet with destiny, Midna returns him to Ordon Village where the monkeys of the Faron Woods have become violent. What foul demons wait in the depths of the forest? Can Link trust Midna and will he ever return to his human form?

    The Light of Hyrule
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 2 keeps with the overall tone of Vol. 1. There are a few interesting twists to the original story involving Princess Zelda's backstory and a glimpse of Link's grizzly rival, King Bulbin. I appreciate the various perspectives presented, and it's those little details that round out the narrative. Link and Midna have met, and their dynamic is perfect. While their relationship is born out of a mutual need for one another to start, the foundation for their partnership is well established.
    Link, however, is conflicted with his duty as a hero. Though he is a reluctant champion, he manages to navigate the Twilight in his new wolf form and rises to the occasion in order to protect his home.  The darker images and violence can prove to be a bit much for very young readers, but it stays true to the original game. The stakes are raising, and it displays how the most noble creatures can be corrupted by the darkness. At the end, we are once again left with a defiant Link and an uncertain future for Hyrule. (Unless, of course, you've played the game.) While Vol. 2 did a decent job capturing the important points by weaving in some extra backstory, there is just so much to cover in four volumes. I'm concerned about how much might be left out as the series continues.
    The artistry for Twilight Princess, Vol. 2 brings out the dark theme of the Twilight realm. There is a distinct difference between the World of Light and the Twilight, and it makes the experience more immersive. The panels contain stunning images that really push the story forward, almost too quickly. However, it's a little disappointing at the end- simply because Vol. 3 is too far away. Is it March 13th yet?

    Twi light Princess, Vol. 2: Final Thoughts
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 2 is a great continuation of the darker video game in the franchise. The tone keeps the mature feel and has a good balance between the World of Light and Twilight artwork. The story is more character driven and provides some intriguing new details. It is a fitting continuation, and I cannot wait for the next one.
    You May Also Be Interested In:
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Volume 1 - Review Order the Twilight Princess Volume 2 on Amazon
      • Post Type: Review

    Greta Van Fleet Interview and Show Review

    Blood is thicker than water and talent is greater than trend. I arrived in time to hear some of the warm-up and was immediately immersed into the nu-retro sounds, though they weren’t quite happy with the technical aspects just yet. It was clear that the live show was going to be a real experience. So, this is Greta Van Fleet. Touted as the next big name in rock music and (more recently) even familiar to the likes of Robert Plant and Tom Hanks, I see a stage of talented youth who might know what they want more than they know who they are, but with the world willing to wait and see, they have it all the the palm of their blistered hands.
    The instrumentalists left the stage, while Josh stays behind to finalize some details, and I get my first face-to-face with the band members.
    Danny and Sam, these neo-flower children, with a peace sign necklace on the former and hippie-long locks all around, are the first that I meet. A couple of handshakes later, we’re immersed in a conversation about Abbey Road, which is a just delightful conversational topic at any time, but it’s especially nice with musicians. They apologize for the warm-up running late and I assure them that it’s all fine, glad to see their meteoric shoot to rock stardom have left them still as polite as you’d expect some guys from the Polka capital of Michigan to be.
    Jake, guitar in hand, walks over, “This was all Sam’s fault. I don’t know how yet, but it was.” He also apologizes for running late, because we’re working with gentlemen here. Long-haired freaky people need not worry about applying themselves; we’re a lot more accepting these days. Picking up on the Beatles conversation, he begins to strum a bit of Blackbird, stylized. We joke about how I’m going to title the article “It Was All Sam’s Fault” [Editor’s Note: We’re not doing that.] and we get back into our love and respect of the Beatles and other musicians. There’s a greenness to this experience. They still have that enthusiasm of the newness of being interviewed as band members that makes the excitement infectious, even though we’re just shooting the breeze at this point.
    Midconversation with the instrumentalists and I hear someone try to introduce themselves to me with my own name. The lead singer, Josh, joined our little cohort. My sarcastometer was not ready for this. I quickly learned that while every member of Greta Van Fleet has a personality that could fill a room, Josh has something to say about everything and he usually does it in an unexpected way.
    After failing to complete the joke and introduce myself as him, we had a laugh, then were told that we would need to relocate for the interview.
    We chit-chat in an over-full elevator to the basement.  There are worse ways to break the ice as we already establish a humor to the situation at hand. Soon enough, seated in a rough circle, we are ready to begin.
    “It’s like a Breakfast Club,” begins Josh. If you had any doubts about the authenticity of the retro feel this band exudes, you lose it within 10-seconds of being around them. References to years far past are commonplace among them, especially outspoken Josh. At one point, he even refers to me as “Baba Wawa” in a Gilda Radner throwback voice. They come as close to having an understanding of the era that made the music theirs echoes popular as they can for people born years after it ended, but there’s still an edge that reminds you that they are in or barely out of their teenage years in this modern era as the time passes. This edge gives a hope for their future music, it says they will grow into themselves and their sound, even more than how well they own it now.
    The pre-show energy is evident, as they tend to answer questions as a unit. This interview has been edited and condensed in an attempt to provide some sense of order and because there aren’t enough letters in the Latin alphabet for all of the sounds and noises they made.
    As a background, if you are unaware, Greta Van Fleet is made up of twins Jake (lead guitar, 21) & Josh (lead vocals, 21), their brother, Sam (bass & keyboard, 18), and their friend Danny (drums, 18). They’ve all been playing most of their lives. That, along with some natural talent and creativity, accounts for the amazing skill they have at a remarkable age. Their sound is often compared to Led Zeppelin, particularly due to the lead singer’s wailing vocals and penchant for hitting high pitches, so that’s what I start with in...
    The Interview
    Interviewer (to Josh): So how do you feel about the Robert Plant comparisons?
    Josh: I’m alright with that, you know? He’s probably one of the better singers.
    Interviewer: It didn’t get old yet?
    Josh: No, no. I mean, anything can get old, but I get it, because it sounds a lot alike. Probably because when I was listening to Led Zeppelin, I was like, “There’s a lot of power behind that, how does he do that?” and a lot of those soul singers do that, where they can just belt that stuff. So it was like that is the best way to sing to get that power behind it. He’s one of my favorite singers, too, one of my heroes.
    Interviewer (to all): How has your experience been with fans so far?
    They all answered in a jumble of grateful comments, so I asked a more direct question.
    Interviewer: You already have a decent following, is there anything you’d like your fans to know about how to interact at signings or meet-and-greets?
    Jake: I like when they’re not as, you know, overbearing, because it’s easier to connect.
    Josh: Ultimately, it’s like, they love what we do and it’s the appreciation of our art and our work, so it’s kind of a huge compliment- the fact that they appreciate that, so I think that we’re all super grateful for it, we like to talk to them.
    Interviewer: You’ve talked about having a very organic song-writing process. How would things change if a member of the band took over as a dictator of the creative lead?
    Josh: Well, it wouldn’t be art anymore. It would be SHIT!
    Interviewer:  How do you balance shows and being on the road with life and sleep?
    Jake: We don’t. We arrived at our hotel at 4 in the morning. It’s good that we’re young. We have to do all of this while we’re young, when we can kind of bounce back from it.
    Josh: Just get as much sleep as you can and just deal with it.
    Danny: It was hard at first, but it’s so fun. It’s so overwhelming and fun, you don’t even think about the sleep. Until after the tour, that’s when you crash, but during it all, it’s just *clap, clap* you get a momentum going. It’s fun. It’s not as hard as you think.
    Josh: Not when you’re in it. I mean, if you’re thinking about it, the process itself, then it becomes intimidating, or it can be, but then when you’re surrounded by it all the time and it becomes your world, you accept it. If you fought it, you’d burn yourself out.
    Interviewer (to Danny): I’ve read in other interviews that the Kiszca’s father was in the music scene and “gets” the band lifestyle. How have your parents taken to you being on the road?
    Danny: Rather well.
    Josh: Your mother plays the guitar
    Danny: My mom plays the guitar. That’s kind of how I started. I started playing the guitar. She had an old 12-stringer she had since the ‘70s and she took lessons as a kid. Her dad, my grandfather, he got her into lessons. I feel like the music part of me comes from my mom’s side of the family.
    Sam: His dad actually told me one time, he said, “I always thought it would be so cool if Daniel was in a band.”
    Danny: Really?
    Sam: Yeah, and he was like, “and not only a band now, but now it’s really going somewhere.” He always thought that, I always thought that that was funny.
    Danny: I never heard that; that’s cool.
    Interviewer: That’s awesome. Okay, guys, this one is important. Would you rather fight one horse-sized duck or one hundred duck-sized horses?
    Danny: One horse sized duck. Definitely. Then you’d only have one thing to worry about.
    Jake: I’d feel bad. Horses are beautiful. Ducks aren’t as beautiful.
    Jake: Well, what’s our weapon?
    Interviewer: What weapon would you like?
    Jake: If I was fighting a duck the size of a horse, I would want a 12-gauge.
    Danny: How about a fencing sword. I would fence the duck.
    Josh: *funny voice* It would bite your leg off.
    Jake: It would swallow you whole.
    Danny: It could try.
    Josh: *focusing again* That’s the answer we’ve got for ya.
    Interviewer: Do any of you have any secret talents? [i can not account for how much of the following is accurate and how much was sarcastic or joking. You have been warned.]
    Sam: I can play the fiddle… with my feet.
    Interviewer: Can you really?
    Sam: No.
    Jake: I’m accurate with a bottle cap.
    Interviewer: Why don’t you use that to take out the horse-sized duck?
    Danny: I was just thinking about the horse sized duck.
    Josh: Yeah, flaming bottle caps! *machine gun noises*
    Jake: I’m the tortilla tossing champion of Michigan.
    Interviewer: Of all of Michigan?
    Jake: Yeah.
    Josh: Yeah. Digest that!
    Danny: Sam plays the swinette.
    Sam: I do play the swinette. I can also eat 12 hot dogs in a minute.
    Danny: Are you kidding?
    Sam: No. I’m dead serious.
    Josh: I won the first place for the dugout shelter of Michigan … championship. Basically, if there was a fallout, I’d be the one you’d want to go to.
    Interviewer: Does Michigan just have a bunch of random championships as a state?
    Jake: Yeah, I guess. There’s not much… I mean, you can just chop wood up there. You’ve got that.
    They begin talking faster and over each other.
    Danny: Sam can tie the most knots in a minute.
    Sam: That’s true. (pause) I was a boy scout. I know my knots.
    Josh: Danny, were you a boy scout?
    Danny: No.
    Jake: We were all boy scouts.
    Josh: And I was the dugout shelter champion.
    Danny: You guys were cub scouts.
    Josh: The, uh, tri-city regional champion.
    The conversation begins to get weird, which can be fun, but I attempt to get us back on track, due to time constraints.
    Interviewer: What about Weird habits.
    Sam: I bit my toenails.
    Interviewer: That means you can reach your foot to your face.
    Sam: (pause) Yeah.
    Jake: So, that’s a good one.
    Josh: Weird habits, weird habits. Not any strange ones. Like I think too much, that’s a habit, right?
    Interviewer: I think that counts. That’s pretty common among musicians.
    Jake: We all do that. I have a habit of sleepwalking at night, so whoever’s room I’m in, I’ll be standing above them with a bow and arrow stretched out. *laughing* Actually, as a real one, when I’ve been asleep before, I have a habit of playing.
    Josh: Actually, yeah, I’ve seen that, like maybe once or twice, I’ve seen him doing this *air guitar*. He’s playing the guitar in his sleep.
    Dan: Josh, you’ll hum melodies in your sleep.
    Josh: Really? We all make music in our sleep!
    Danny: Remember that one time you walked in and you said I was drumming?
    Josh: Your foot was moving, too. Sam’s the only one I don’t think I ever saw doing it.
    Sam: ‘Cause I’m too focused when I sleep.
    Josh: Sam’s the only one out of all of us that can just lay down on a pillow and be out.
    Interviewer: That is definitely a talent to me.
    Danny: I just fall asleep randomly. *laughs*
    Interviewer: That’s called narcolepsy.
    Josh: You should probably get that checked out.
    Danny: Yeah, before I just fall asleep onstage. *laughs*
    Interviewer (to Sam): What about the not wearing shoes, is that a habit?
    Danny: Yes.
    Sam: It’s not really a habit, it just kind of happens.
    Danny: We probably have 50 pictures of him like that.
    Sam: My feet were really hot.
    Jake: We would have mentioned it earlier, but it’s just so… we're immune to it. We don’t really notice it.
    Josh: Yeah.
    Sam: My feet were really hot, so I just took my shoes off. That’s how that really happens.
    Interviewer: Do you think that learning to play in a more organic setting affected your technique?
    Everyone: Absolutely.
    Sam: When you’re taught something by a music teacher, they’re teaching you, basically, how to play, and I think that when you're given the ability to try to learn something on your own that you basically have a moredirect connection to some of your influences.
    Josh: I think a good analogy is when Orson Welles was asked, “How is it you could make Citizen Kane?” something like that, and he said “Ignorance, sheer ignorance.” Not knowing how to make a movie is the reason he made those choices he made.
    Jake: I think when you learn things by ear, they’re more instilled in your soul, rather than just knowing it in your brain, when somebody shows you how to do something. It wasn’t really a choice, that we said, “Oh, I’m going to learn to play bass, you know, on my own.” My dad had one sitting around and I started playing with it a little bit.
    Sam: Then Daniel started to play drums last week.
    Interviewer: Which is weird, because the tour was longer than that.
    Daniel: Yeah, it’s a weird thing where I just tend to forget and relearn all of it.
    Interviewer: If you had an unlimited budget and resources, what would your dream video be for any of your songs?
    Josh: Anywhere that we would be able to travel outside of the United States.
    Jake: I think going through a Safari in Africa. Thick jungle.
    Josh: Maybe shooting with some of the ancient tribes.
    Danny: Maybe South America, in the rainforest.
    Josh: Discovering ancient societies. Could be f***in’ dangerous.
    Jake: *Nods to me.* We’ll take her, too, she’s a journalist. She knows what she’s doing.
    Interviewer: I’m game. Let’s go, haha.
    Jake: That’s all you need.
    Josh: You just need a journalist and a film crew.
    Jake: I’d like to film a video in space.
    Danny: No one’s ever done that.
    Interviewer: That would be fantastic.
    We get the 5 minute signal, so I move on to my last question.
    Interviewer: What message or advice would you give to young musicians working towards making a career out of music?
    Josh: Don’t do it. Don’t do it! Nah, I think persistence, really. I think if you have great passion and great truth in what you’re doing, if it means that much to you, then persistence and never stopping is probably the most important thing that you can do.
    Danny: Don’t ever let anyone tell you how to do what you do good.
    Jake: Play, play, play, play, and never stop playing.
    Josh: If it feels right, follow it, and never stop. If you do, the whole universe will conspire to your advantage.
    With that hopeful end and overhearing that this was “definitely the most entertaining interview we’ve ever gotten” (*pats self on the back*), we parted ways and I went back upstairs to wait for the show to begin.
    Catch some bonus facts at the end of the article that were discussed apart from the main interview questions.
    The Show
    Opening Acts
    The opening bands were far from what you’d expect to open for a band that is being touted as the next Led Zeppelin. The first opener, Rahway, was like late nineties garage metal trickled into the present.
    The second opener was another complete change in direction. Goodbye June is another band that, while undeniably now, have that heavy, classic, Southern rock sound. I later found out that the lead singer and guitarists are cousins, so they have more in common with GVF than just having a lot of talent and energy playing a throwback sound.
    The Headliner: Greta Van Fleet
    Then our headliner took to the stage. In vintage-style outfits that they looked surprisingly natural in, the four of them were ready to play.
    They began with the energetic “Talk on the Street”, showing off a barrage of guitar and drum beats that almost fight with the vocals for attention. Though the song is not on the EP and not as well known, it got everyone’s attention and set the mood for the rest of the performance. Their EP’s namesake, “Black Smoke Rising”, rose out of that energy. The crowd really got into it then, singing along with every word.
    The subsequent songs, “Edge of Darkness”, where Jake skillfully plays his guitar behind his head, and “When the Cold Wind Blows” kept the energy up, even though being lesser known. The thing is, these songs speak for themselves. You don’t need to know the words, you don’t need to know the melody, you don’t need to have heard them before. They are infectious. They are what live music is supposed to be- youthful, classic, rock. Could they be more refined? Sure. Should they be? No. Not yet. Let these kids be young and play music that possesses the energy of their predecessors. The room to grow is one of the most exciting parts for a new band, but even if this is to be all the music they ever release (knock on wood), it’s amazing for what it is. Skillful, raw rock and roll. I don’t need anything more than that.
    Another EP hit, “Flower Power”, induced a total light and airy feeling in the room. A love ballad may seem premature for such a young band, but you have to remember that they have been playing together for four years (the Kiszca brothers, even longer than that) and grew up on the classics- literally using the classics to learn and hone their craft. Besides, the phrase “out of sight” is used effortlessly and you can not find fault in that. I’ll be openly biased here. I’m a huge proponent for bringing back certain phrases to common vernacular and “outta sight” is fairly high on that list, but Flower Power is amazing even aside from those words.
    They played another lovey song, “You’re the One”, before a rendition of Willie Dixon’s’ “Evil”. The Dixon song choice, considering that he was also a known inspiration of Led Zeppelin, was nicely meta. As Josh’s vocals are far from the only comparable quality to Zep, the next song, Mountain of the Sun, played on some of those classic, transcendental lyrics that they were so known for, which was followed by dreamy “Watching Over”, which has a stop/start quality that goes right through your whole being.
    They played another one of my favorites, Lover Leaver Taker Believer, before ending with the final two songs from their EP, “Highway Tune” and “Safari Song”. “Safari Song” may not have the deepest or most original song, but the way Josh enunciates “your heart” while shrieking the chorus is one of the most head-bangable parts of any song in their line up.
    These guys are born performers.
    Josh, who demands control of the stage, has an innate character quality that he is sure of himself in. Almost snarling between verses and smiling in what must be an almost unconscious reverie at times, exposing enviably nice teeth, he clearly enjoys what he does. His twin, Jake, has an obvious comfort in his practiced playing and has an equally powerful, if not quite as overt, stage presence. He chooses his moments to shine to meld with the music naturally. Their little brother, Sam, has a quiet quality that reminded me of a young George Harrison, which is no minor quality in my book. Watch out for this one, especially if he ever takes a spiritual journey. He might take his effortless exchange from bass to keys (and swinette?) over to the sitar next and I’ll look forward to hearing all of the music that comes out of it. Finally, Danny, their band-brother. This kid makes a drum solo worth paying attention to. His energy adds to the energy that penetrates the performance and is definitely not one to follow the drummer stereotype of just sitting in the background. I can’t speak for the entire room of fans, but the girls next to me were very vocal about their adoration for the drummer.
    Led Zeppelin is the obvious comparison, but there are notes of many other bands here, as well as their own style. You have a replacement drummer, the potential for more complex songwriting skills, and a fabulous number of band members, which is very Beatles.
    At the end of the day, you have to remember that this is GVF’s first foray into rock stardom. So the melodies and lyrics are very reminiscent of bands that could feature easily in Woodstock with a heavier, almost metal, aspect mixed in, but that gives them room to grow from their roots. There has been a lot of noise surrounding these dudes and it is worthwhile, but as we could really use a good rock music renaissance, let’s not let this one burn out. I, for one, am going to keep my eye out for what comes next and I more than hope, I expect that their music and performances will get more intense, more unique, and more themselves as time goes on. They have their whole future ahead of them and they really have every opportunity to grab hold of it and take it for all that it’s worth. It would be easy for them to rest on their laurels and comparisons to an idyllic time past, but if they want to make it or grow as musicians, they wouldn’t do that and I don’t see it happening. That’s exciting. Anything could be coming next.
    Let’s all give them the support and hope that they will take it and run, because we will all be better off for it.
    Rock on, my dreamers, and give these kittens another listen.
    You’ll be glad you did. I am.
    FAST FACTS
    Josh is the older twin, beating Jake out by about 5 minutes. The band has a goal to sell out Madison Square Garden. Jake rewired some of his wrist muscles by continuing to play guitar after a wrestling-related injury Despite the protest of his mother, it ended up being pretty therapeutic. Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin knows who they are and talked about them in a recent Rolling Stones article. Their song writing style is organic and usually happens quickly. Danny is the only band member who isn’t related by blood, but he is essentially a brother to the rest at this point. They have many inspirations for lyrics, including some “nerdy” ones, such as Nietzsche. Sam is most comfortable playing without shoes on. A true hero. Since the initial writing of this article, the band’s music has been featured on Spotify, in various TV shows, from Shameless to Lucifer and even The Tonight Show, played dozens of sold out shows and festivals, including Coachella, where they won the approval of Tom Hanks (what more do you really need in life?), and released their second EP, From the Fires.
    Their highly anticipated first album comes out tomorrow!
    Go and listen. Now, please.
      • Post Type: Review, Editorial

    Chrono Trigger Retrospective

    Our next trip on the Nostalgia Train brings us to a true SNES treasure. While this beloved system had many memorable games, it’s truly an experience to play this classic. Chrono Trigger is regarded as one of the best RPGs of all time. With a rich story, easy-to-grasp gameplay, and an outstanding soundtrack, it’s no wonder this title always seems to end up at the top of any “Greatest Games of All Time” list. What else would you expect from the creators of Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy and the Dragon Ball series? Seriously, all of the stars aligned on this project - complete with the musical genius of Yansunori Mitsuda and Nobuo Uematsu.
     
    While not overly complicated, Chrono Trigger is a masterpiece with outstanding graphics, multiple endings, and a New Game+ option that will keep you playing time and again. Originally released on the SNES in 1995, this JRPG favorite has been re-released on the Playstation, Nintendo DS, and it’s available for mobile download. If you’ve never gotten the chance to play, you are in for a treat.

    Hopping into the Epoch

     
    In 1000 AD, it's time for the Millennial Fair, and our hero, Chrono is enjoying the festival. Lucca, his best friend, shows off her latest invention when things suddenly go awry. Something strange happens to Lucca’s volunteer, Marle, and the three are thrown through time on an epic adventure. What starts as a search and rescue mission turns in something much more as Chrono and friends stumble across a shocking discovery. With the future in imminent peril, Chrono, Marle and Lucca must come up with a plan to save the world!

    Finding the Chrono Trigger

     
    Like most RPGs, Chrono Trigger is a sprawling adventure, but this journey takes us through time. Players guide a three-person party through various dungeons, trials and towns in search of information or treasure. What’s unique about this game is the use of time travel.  The main objective is to ultimately stop the apocalypse, but there are so many intricate plot details that create a wonderfully lighthearted, yet poignant narrative. Most of the mechanics are the same as other RPGS, but with unique designs. You encounter enemies directly in the field, and with minimal transition time, the fight begins. Player position actually effects the battle. Enemies move around and characters can be tossed across the screen. It makes for some interesting strategy changes, especially when trying to hit multiple enemies with one attack.
     
    There’s a total of six playable characters and one secret character. Like most RPGs, you have complete control of your party’s equipment. The party’s stats and abilities increase as they fight battles, which increase in difficulty over time. As characters level, they gain access to new abilities called Techs. While Techs and magic spells are character specific, Chrono Trigger adds a new twist.
     
    Characters can combine their turns to form Dual Techs and Triple Techs. It's important to try out different party combinations in order to discover all of these unique abilities. These special techs pull the efforts of two or more party members to create devastating attacks. It's debatable whether or not the Dual or Triple Techs are worth the cost, but that really depends on how you want to use your party.
     


    Multiple Endings and New Game+

     
    Besides battling bosses, there are plenty of side quests, secret missions and puzzles players can tackle across the different time periods. While these objectives are like many other great RPGs, Chrono Trigger created concepts still used in games today.
     
    After playing through the game once, the New Game + option appears. This allows you to retain most of your items, (provided that they are not directly involved with the storyline) levels, and techs to use at the start of a new game. The New Game+ option is pretty incredible, especially if you are a completionist gamer. Of course, this option is very helpful for anyone who wants to experience every single hidden ending that Chrono Trigger has to offer! There are thirteen in total and each is unique to how you defeat the game. The DS version expands upon the New Game+ idea by adding an additional dungeon and an optional final boss.  With so many side quests and secrets, Chrono Trigger keeps giving players  reason to pick up the controller again.

    Chrono Trigger: A Journey Through Time

     
    Chrono Trigger is an innovative RPG that paved the way for future genre classics, but it's very hard to capture the same magic. A truly remarkable tale of friendship, love, and sacrifice, this game has a solid plot that leaves a mark in my heart. It found a way to marry literary genres together into one epic story with heart-pumping action, touching and silly moments, and many surprise endings. Supported by an enchanting soundtrack and amazing graphics, considering the designer and the time period, it is a privilege to play this game.  With so many positive elements, Chrono Trigger certainly does earn a spot on every "Greatest Games of All Time" list.
     
    So what do you think? Have you played Chrono Trigger? What's taking you so long!!! How about Chrono Cross? Or perhaps Final Fantasy? Let us know in the comments below!
     

     
     
      • Post Type: Editorial

    The Surge Review: The Dystopian Future is Now

    The Surge is a new setting for the recent style of  “
    ” pioneered a few years back by Demon’s Souls. While most of the games in the genre have taken a turn to a darker, more macabre world (Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, Bloodborne, et al), The Surge places its brand of action squarely into a dystopian future.
     
    You enter the storyline of the game expecting a new lease on a damaged life but quickly come to realize things are not what they seem. Throughout the game, Deck13 Interactive pioneers a few unique twists to the combat mechanics that feel both new and borrowed from other games and genres, but overall work out quite nicely.
    Preparing for the Apocalypse

     
    The gameplay is very involved. You can target specific parts of your opponent to acquire pieces that can be crafted into new equipment for yourself. The general action elements of the combat system are easy to pick up, but animations adjust in their style, speed, and utility based on the armor, equipment, and weapons you use. The game looks nice, sounds nice, and should be able to keep your attention as a time-killer if you’re waiting for something else to release.
     
    Unfortunately, it’s just not overly engaging on its own. Don’t get me wrong. The game is good. It’s a fun bit of action for an hour or so at a time, but I didn’t find it to be the kind of thing that I got roped into for a completely unintentional binge-gaming session.
    Robots and Grim Future

     
    I think the problems it ran into in that regard were two-fold. The story starts out pretty interesting, but starts to feel off-kilter and failed to hold my interest as things progressed as it was all very predictable. And the “Hardcore” aspect of this “Hardcore Action Game” just didn’t feel right. The game felt more like the difficulty lay in figuring out how to “game” the system instead of adapting to an unexpected opponent. The AI rarely, if ever, changes its approach. Tactics for defeating your enemies quickly become very “rinse and repeat.” The game just doesn’t have that sense of serious tension in combat that it needed to shine on its own.
     
    The game does show us that this formula can work in more than a melancholy, depressive medieval apocalypse. But, then again, do we want it to? Part of the original's appeal was that overbearing sense of dread around every corner. The Surge presented something of a jump factor where the unexpected cyborg may pop out at an unexpected or inopportune time, but it lacked continuous tension.
     
    But, all in all, if all you’re looking for is a cool bit of cyborg bashing, gear grinding and a little bit of maze-exploration, the game is good.
    The Looks and Sounds of The End

     
    Graphically, the game was pretty well done. There wasn’t anything overly spectacular about it, but it didn’t disappoint by any means. The developers did a good job in altering the environment in different areas so that nothing looked overly repetitive or recycled. The shadows were well utilized and sensibly placed – something I feel many games fail badly at, but which The Surge did very well.
     
    The sound is generally pretty good and keeps well with the ambiance of the setting, but could have had a little more variety to it. But the 300th time of hearing the exact same impact noise when you swat a cyborg you start to wonder if they couldn’t have invested a little more time in variety in the “attack noises” department. Well, considering most of what you’ll be doing in the game is beating on things. However, I may be being overly critical. There are plenty of games out there with this exact same issue.
     
    Modular Upgrades, Bullet Time and Exoskeletons

     
     
     
    Gameplay was a good bit of action styled, timed-swing beat-em-up with the unique aforementioned targeting mechanism that the game utilizes to mix things up a bit from the standard mold. Mix in some crafting, gear grinding, and RPG elements related to upgrading your equipment and you've got a game. Once you get into it and understand the core elements, it quickly becomes second nature. It has plenty of replayability in short bursts just for the fun of it, but you might find it hard to get truly engrossed in the storyline.
     
    The game was well developed, all things told, and I can’t say that I ran into any serious bugs during my run through it. If anything, I ran into one instance where an enemy I wanted to kill accidentally glitched through the wall and I couldn’t reach it. But, this game respawns all its enemies each time you run back to the base to modify your gear. So, a quick jaunt back to the lab and back was all it took to fix the fluke.
    The Surge : Final Thoughts

     
    The only real place I have to say the game was disappointing was with the storyline. I felt really excited at first. The game was showing me something in the very beginning with my character that I thought was going to see some serious development- then it just jumped into sci-fi trope land. I would have liked to see the game explore your characters underlying backstory and personal struggle more.
     
    Instead, you run into the action trope: a character who picks something up they’ve never handled before in their life and has somehow suddenly and inexplicably innately mastered it.
    All in all, pick it up if you’re looking for a well-made smash-em-up to fill time between the last thing you beat and your next anticipated release. It will keep you occupied enough to feel like it was worth the investment, but I can’t promise it will end up on your all-time favorites list.
     
      • Post Type: Review

    Final Fantasy XII Retrospective

    We have reached the final chapter of the PS2 era and not a moment too soon. On the eve of its remastered release, the time seems right to reminisce about the next title in the Evolution Series: Final Fantasy XII. Published just shy of 10 years ago, and with Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age coming out on July 11th, this entry took a page from its predecessors and broke the traditional mold of what “Final Fantasy” was.
     
    Praised for its state-of-the-art graphics (for the time), seamless transitions, and exciting new battle system, it was considered a huge step forward for the series for many. A breath of fresh air! On the other hand, following the huge departure from the previous mainstream title, Final Fantasy X, this is also the game that alienated some die-hard fans. With a series this versatile, it’s best to test it out.

    Time to Make a Few Changes

     
    Before we dive into the game itself, let’s see what’s changed!  Unlike the last entry, Final Fantasy XII has an open world experience. There are far fewer ‘narrow hallways’ here, but that is the least complicated of the changes. First and foremost, Gil is no longer a thing – but players can pick up loot to sell at local shops. You must farm materials in order upgrade equipment, purchase new items, or lower the cost of available merchandise -- and you do that by fighting monsters with a fancy new battle system!
     
    Speaking of enemies, this entry does away with any random encounters.  Instead, players are gifted to a Chrono Trigger-esque style of confronting enemies in the field.  Players can also go on “hunts” to kill special monsters for big rewards, which is pretty fun. As for battling, most of the characters are controlled via A.I. using the “Gambit System” where players set up abilities and let their characters charge into battle.  Of course, things or more intricate than that, but we’ll get into the details later.
     
    The final thing that’s really switched up is the growth system. Players gain experience through battles that buffs up their stats, but that’s your everyday RPG. The new addition is the License Board that allows characters to perform actions as the “licenses” are acquired.  This functions a lot like the sphere grid, so it’s not a far cry. While all of these changes seem minor, they do have a major effect on how the game is played.
     

     


    Endless War in Ivalice

     
    Following the wedding of Dalmasca’s Princess Ashe to Prince Rasler of Nabradia, the Archandian Empire invades both countries. With Rasler and the King of Dalmasca murdered, the chief suspect is the Dalmascan Captain, Basch. In the aftermath of Princess Ashe’s suicide, the traitorous Basch is sentenced to death. However, political intrigue is not always as it seems.
     
    Years later, a street rat, Vaan, gets himself and his friend, Penelo, drawn into the underbelly of the Dalmascan resistance as they try to take down the Archadian Empire. A story of blood, royalty, war and sky pirates paints a picture that not all conflicts are black and white.

    War, Pirates and a Little Bland

     
    Though the plot seems like it would be rolling with twists, turns and unexpected surprises, for a war story, it’s a little on the dull side. While the intrigue is there, the story seems to fit more in a MMORPG than an epic JRPG. There is so much going on; however, there is something to be said about a few weak characters.
     
    While I found several characters very well developed, (I loved Balthier and Basch!) some I felt lacked significant draw – mainly, Vaan. I understand that his character was meant to be vanilla in order for players to emulate with him, but I still didn’t feel the connection. It’s not so good when there are other more interesting characters overshadowing your main protagonists.
     
    In addition to the character problems, the soundtrack was a bit lacking. While it was a beautiful soundtrack, it's hard to compare to previous franchise entries. The title track, "Kiss Me Goodbye" stands out, but the rest is a little forgettable. It's really hard to follow Nobuo Uematsu.
     
    The story itself seems to seep in the lore, war, and turmoil of Ivalice itself. Of course, it could be argued that is the nature of this particular story. Stories of war are less focused on particular individuals as the situation surrounding them is far more threatening. It’s understandable why the plot and development play out as they does, but it’s also expected that not everyone would enjoy a less character-focused narrative. Either way, Final Fantasy XII does have a lot of love from its fans, and it’s all a matter of taste.
     


    Setting Up The Gambits and Licensing

     
    Final Fantasy XII's game-play starts off like any other entry in the series. Players control their party while navigating the world map, dungeons and towns, but this time it's possible to rotate the camera for a 360° view. In the field, the party of three is spread out, but while searching towns, players can only control Vaan. The world is mostly navigated on foot, by chocobo or airship - and they can also teleport between gate crystals. Players can explore Ivalice while battling monsters, covering plot points, or searching for treasure. The treasure, however, can be an irritating thing. It's always a gamble opening chests. For instance, you could explore a dungeon hoping to open a chest that could possibly contain a powerful weapon only to open it and discover a potion. It's a matter of chance, which is a little frustrating.
     
    While traveling from place to place, unlike previous franchise entries, players can actually see the monsters they could encounter. Monsters can range in difficulty - but slaying the beasts can earn the party EXP and loot. It could also fill in the game's bestiary, which can prove useful for farming materials. One criticism of Final Fantasy XII that the game requires excessive grinding to get items, level characters, and unlock all potential bazaar items. While some fans are pleased with this, others looking to enjoy the story may find themselves disappointed.

    Battle System

     
    One of the biggest changes in Final Fantasy XII is the battle system. While this isn't the first game in the franchise to change how the game is played, it is one of the first to incorporate a combo of the Active Time System and A.I. You can initiate commands through a battle menu, like usual, but you are given the option to set up actions. The new gambit system allows characters to take care of fights on their own.
     
    Overtime characters acquire gambits that work as one of the following actions: Target, an action, or priority. Targets specify the main focus of a party member at the onset of battle. For example: Vaan can either heal an ally with below 70% health, or attack the weakest target first. After the target is set, the action is carried out. Finally, the priority indicates which gambit should performed first. For many, this was a refreshing take on the battle system. Setting up gambits for battle requires a bit of finesse and it depends on how you develop your characters.
     
    In addition to the gambit system, players can also summon creatures called 'Espers' into combat and use limit breaks. Espers actually act as another party member until the time runs out or the summoner has been KOed.  In order to get them, players must defeat them battle. Limit breaks, or "quickenings" are unique to a character, can be advanced by the licensing system, and can be strung together for an ultimate chain attack.

    Licensing and Building Weapons

     
    Final Fantasy XII's level up system relies on two things: experience points and license points. As with most RPGs, fighting battles earns EXP. Earning EXP leads to stat boosts, but characters cannot grow through strength, magic, and health improvements alone. In order for characters to gain abilities, characters must obtain license points in order to improve on their skills.
     
    License Boards are split up into two sections: upper and lower. The Upper part focuses on Magic, techniques, accessories and augments, while the bottom takes care of weapons and armor. Players can use license points to upgrade available abilities. In order to activate the items ON the licence board, you have to actually have them. This could make the process a little bit daunting. Also - Espers and 'Quickenings' can only be assigned to one character. While all characters can obtain any license on the board, the Espers and Quickenings are character specific. While this does allow for a lot of freedom, it could also be tedious building points, finding the loot, purchasing the item, and then activating on the board. It's a game that requires time and patience.
     


    Final Fantasy XII: Final Thoughts

     
    A fresh step in a new direction, Final Fantasy XII is a cherished fan favorite. While it is one of the more difficult games in the franchise, it dared to shake things up for a new take on the JRPG. Though there were a few character and plot issues, the story is pretty solid. The music, though not as strong, suits the game, and the battle system is an exciting twist on the old franchise. Final Fantasy XII may have caused some controversy, but it is an excellent addition to the legacy and a fitting end to the PS2 era. July 11th can't come soon enough!
     
    So where does Final Fantasy XII sit on your list? Want to learn about Final Fantasy's first MMORPG? Let us know in the comments below - We'll see you on the PS3!
     

     
     
      • Post Type: Editorial

    Wonder Woman Review

    DC Comic's movie track record as of late has been pretty abysmal. With Man of Steel, Batman V Superman and Suicide Squad receiving mixed reviews, it would take a little doing to pull them up before the release of Justice League.  Marvel has been a box office dominator with it's stand alone and ensemble films; Warner Bros. Pictures needed something to give them a boost. Wonder Woman definitely does that.  With a slow build-up and an action-packed payoff, Diana is the DC  character we've been waiting for.  Directed by Patty Jenkins, who brought us Monster,  Wonder Woman gives us a glimpse into a hero origin story that has never seen the
    . It was definitely worth the wait.
    A Trip Back to Themyscira

     
    After present-day Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) receives a memento of her past, we are given a glimpse of how Wonder Woman came to be. Raised on the island of Themyscira, the home of the Amazons, she trained in the art of war to protect the people of the world from Ares, God of War. While initially not allowed to train, Diana spars with her aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright).
     
    During on such session, an airplane carrying Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) arrives and crashes just beyond the island followed a legion of German soldiers.  The world is in great peril, and Diana believes that it is all because of Ares' master plan to destroy the humans. Against her mother, Queen Hippolyta's wishes (Connie Nielson), Diana returns with Steve on a mission to hunt down Ares and stop the killing once and for all. However, there is more to Diana than meets the eye. What will she find when she joins the 'modern' world?

    The Lasso of Truth and a Killer Theme
    At first, Wonder Woman moved slowly. While it was necessary to build-up her story, once the action started, everything started moving very quickly. It was very interesting to see a story based out of the WWI era, and the visuals in this movie were fantastic. I think I have to see it a second time just to take in everything. There is so much attention to detail and nothing brings a character to life better than a decent story, a unique backdrop and a killer theme.
     
    Diana is a wide-eyed idealist who faces a world she doesn't know with the mindset that she can save it. The movie doesn't shy away from the grim side of war, and it isn't afraid to tackle some touchy themes. It has amazing action scenes, but the film doesn't rely on them. While it is, first and foremost, a "super hero" movie, it speaks  about so much more like the duality of mankind, and what truly makes it worth saving. In fact, the more I think about this movie, the more I like it.
     

     


    Diana Prince, Steve Trevor and the Amazons

     
    The casting of this movie was spot on. Gal Gadot crushes it as Diana Prince. She manages to capture a regal and stoic look of an Amazon Princess, but displays an emotional depth that is critical for selling her roll. Without a convincing main actor, this film wouldn't nearly be as good . Gadot captures the heart of Diana and makes us feel with her. Chris Pine is also an excellent addition as Steve Trevor. He plays the cynic very well - but he is also a charming fellow with a heart of gold that is trapped somewhere in that gray area between right and wrong.
     
    Other stand-outs include Robin Wright in her turn as Antiope, (I was having a Princess Bride nerd moment) and David Thewlis as Patrick Morgan (Remus!). While I don't want to risk much in spoilers,  the film will have you guessing who the is villain until the very end. And how about those Amazons? They were some pretty bad-ass ladies! They definitely do not skip ab or leg day...or any other day for that matter.

    Wonder Woman: Final Thoughts

     
    Wonder Woman is a refreshing look at an origin story we've never really got to experience. It was poignant, slow-building and full of amazing visuals. The film was well cast with a killer soundtrack to match, and really - I feel like that is what puts it a step above other superhero films. Music plays a vital role in films; it really does bring the audience along for the ride. When that theme thundered through the theater, we all knew something was about to go down. I can't wait to see what they have in store for Diana Prince in the future.
     
    So what do you all think? Have you seen Wonder Woman? Perhaps you're looking for something a little lighter, like Guardians of The Galaxy 2. Let us know what you think in the comments below!
     

      • Post Type: Review

    Guardians of The Galaxy 2 Review

    It’s time to pop in the
    with Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Following the release of the first Marvel comic sleeper hit, fans were eager to see what direct James Gunn had in store for a sequel. Not only would he have to follow up his last act, Gunn was tasked with making all the characters work in this ensemble film - and make it possible to unite a bigger cast in the next Avengers flick.  Let's face it, Guardians of the Galaxy was a little unexpected. It managed to hold the balance of comedic timing, a good story, a killer soundtrack and it knew how to hit you right in the feels. Did Vol. 2 capture the essence of the first? Well, maybe. 


    Guarding the Galaxy
    We join our galaxy misfits in the midst of a job protecting valuable batteries for Ayesha, the leader of the Sovereign race, in exchange for Gamora's sister, Nebula. Following some crazy shenanigans, the guardians find themselves on the wrong side of the Sovereign's weapons.  Amidst their daring escape, the team is outmatched when they are rescued by an unlikely ally: a man named Ego, claiming to be Peter's father. With this new information, the group must split up, but danger awaits. Ayesha is not about to give up. She hires Yondu and the Ravagers to hunt down Quill and crew. With so many twists and turns, will the Guardians of The Galaxy manage to escape their enemies, and is Ego who he claims to be?
     


    Flip Over To Side B
    I'm going to get this part out of the way - Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is not as good as the first. It's really hard to make the sequel better than the first, especially when most of the story centers on one of the ensemble. I mean, there are intertwining stories that keep everyone involved. While that works, it still makes the story on a whole suffer a little bit. Another thing that suffered was the jokes. While most of jokes did hit, when they missed- they missed hard. Also, a main pain point for me was the soundtrack. The first one was so epic, but this one was a little lacking.
     
    Now, with that all out of the way, let's talk about what's awesome about this movie! The cast works very well together, and that is a must for an ensemble piece. The additional characters added new flair and each actor played their part very well. Baby Groot was equal parts hilarious and adorable, as expected. I loved Rocket - but I'm biased, since he is my favorite. And while the story did have it's weak points, it was still a lot of fun and it will draw you in.
     
    I really enjoyed the addition of Ego, Mantis, Nebula and Yondu. It was interesting to see how other characters fit into the original group and how they handled a new issue. The story wasn't so much about them being hired to save the day. The focus was a personal quest for all of them in the end, and it was really enjoyable.  Though not as good as the first, I really enjoyed where the story went.
     

     
     
     


    Paternal, Eternal, and Trash Bandits

     
    The returning cast in Guardians of the Galaxy 2 was fantastic. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista were great - though Drax was a bit over the top when it came to the 'jokes.' Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper lent their voices for my two favorite characters: Rocket and Baby Groot. I just like the character dynamic. It's hard to beat.
     
    Karen Gillan also reprises her role as Nebula, and she was pretty good despite her constant intense face. I guess it's tough when your father replaces all of your body parts with machinery. However, out of all of the returning cast, Michael Rooker was the most impressive as Yondu. He really played his part well.
     
    On to the newcomers, Pom Klementieff and Kurt Russell were great additions to the MCU. They carry a bit of mystery and the payoff at the end is great. The cast chemistry in general really makes this movie. The Sovereigns play creepy "perfect" beings pretty well, and Taserface is a mix laughable and physically intimidating. It was a film well cast.

    Guardians of the Galaxy 2: Final Thoughts

     
    While it's tough for a sequel to surpass the original, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is a lot of fun. It manages to capture the spirit of the first, and it really focuses on character development. While not all of the jokes hit, it was still hilarious - and the post credit scenes are great, as usual. There may even be some surprise cameos! (There are...trust me.) If you are looking for a good time at the movies, this is one MCU flick you can't miss.
     
    So what do you think? Have you seen Guardians of The Galaxy 2? Or maybe you are looking for something more gritty, like Logan? Perhaps DC is more your speed with Wonder Woman (coming soon!).  Let us know what you thought in the comments below!
     

      • Post Type: Review

    Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Review

    Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 is a first person shooter developed by a relatively small studio (CI Games) whose prior works have pretty much revolved around a series of other Sniper titles and a brief dip into third person fantasy combat with Lords of the Fallen. That said, I went into this game with some pre-conceived notions about what I was expecting to play. So let’s talk first about what it is that the game really “is” and what it does.
    The Lone Sniper

     
    The entire function of the game is built around the idea of the player being a lone sniper out to get the bad guys and provides the player with tools and options to do so sight-unseen. In an attempt to provide the game with some degree of personal immersion, the story puts the player into a position where they are also pursuing a personal mission in the process of doing their job for the military.
     
    The game takes into account aspects of weapons handling that many other games regrettably neglect. It takes into consideration the significant effects of elevation, wind shear, breathing, and distance in scoping out and eliminating your target.
     
    They’ve also created an open world concept for the game that is different from past games in the series and, to an extent, it could be argued that this was an attempt to give the player more freedom in choice of their operations. Players also get to choose between three different skill trees as they gain experience and flesh out their play style.
     
    However…all of this seems pretty irrelevant when you take into consideration that there are other games out there that have done it better and are just more enjoyable.
    Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Brings Back Realism

     
    Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 certainly has some good points. It takes the ridiculously unrealistic and absurd aspects of sniping that are unfortunately a part of so many first person shooters and brings it back to reality. So if there is anything Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 should be admired for, it’s bringing back realism and sanity to a task that’s been made so gamified that it actually ruins the game it’s put in.
     
    So if your thing is that you want realistic sniping, go ahead and give this game a try. You will more than likely be pleased by that aspect of the game. Unfortunately, that’s about the only thing I can say about the game that really made me go “Wow, this is great!” There is a lot left to be desired in the rest of the game.
    The Devil's in the Details (Graphics)

     
    The graphics aren’t bad. They certainly look nice at long distances and they were appealing enough that it didn’t look dated, but with graphics, the devil really is in the details, and there were certain little demons running through the programming as I played the game that really killed the immersion. A few examples may be…
    Everything looks nice until the game deliberately zooms in to a kill-shot while sniping, then the entire animation when the bullet is supposed to strike the enemy looks cheap, poorly articulated, and in some instances even pixelish. This really destroys the immersion and takes a lot of the satisfaction away from what should have been a victorious moment.Hearing a helicopter fly overhead gives you a brief moment of anxiety as you rush to the nearest bushes…until you watch the helicopter fly directly over a series of trees/bushes that should bend and sway with the force of the approaching chopper…and instead they look exactly like they did when the chopper was nowhere in site. The execution is all very wooden and uninspired.A variety of graphical bugs have popped up almost routinely and kill the experience altogether.
    That said, I do feel like I need to say something about the overall programming of the game, which leaves a lot to be desired.
    Glitches, Bugs, and Long Load Times

     
    This game is unbelievably buggy. Everything from minor graphical glitches that phase out instantly to literally falling through the ground and disappearing beneath the map on multiple occasions. That by itself almost kills the game completely for me, not because of the inconvenience of the map glitch, but because that glitch then requires a complete re-load. And loading screens in this game are PAINFULLY long. When I say I’ve sat at a loading screen for a solid five minutes, I am not kidding. I have not seen loading screens this long in several generations of consoles.
     
    Sound in the game isn’t great either. It’s certainly not bad, but there needs to be a lot more “oomph” to certain things that just sounded too dull or under-emphasized and left me feeling a bit under-satisfied.
    Predictable Story & Character Development

     
    The story is pretty predictable and the character development…well. Let’s say they found the most painfully stereotypical writer they could to do the narrative for these characters. The characters don’t particularly have any personally heroic qualities to them that make you want to get attached to them, the acting is undeservedly melodramatic – characters will go from 0 to 100 on the drama scale and back again almost instantaneously – and the overall attitude of the main characters leaves a lot to be desired. I mean, if you were trying to create a genuinely unlikeable and groan-inducing character, that would have been easily achievable here. But, somehow, I don’t think that was the intention.
     
    Replayability isn’t really there either. Once I put it down… I was pretty certain I’d played enough of it and could move on to bigger and better things.
    Leaves a Lot to be Desired

     
    Overall, it’s not a bad game, but it certainly leaves a lot to be desired. If you’re looking for a realistic sniping game that does enough right in that regard to be a unique experience and get away from the complete and utter garbage fire that is “sniping” in most other FPS games, then definitely give it a shot. But if you’re looking for a fun, engaging storyline with a strong attention to immersion that will have you coming back every day eager for more…there are games out there that offer much more of that than Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 can muster.
      • Post Type: Review

    Logan Review

    The
    in Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine story is bittersweet, to say the least. After Deadpool paved the way for “rated R” comic book possibilities, X-Men fans were treated to this character’s swan song in the best way possible.  As we say good-bye to Jackman, we can only wonder if anyone else will be worthy of unleashing the adamantium claws.  While the fanbase knew this was coming, Patrick Stewart took this time to throw his retirement of Professor Xavier into the mix. While this certainly marks the end of a legacy, Logan certainly is a film to go out on. 
    [caption id=attachment_20172" align="aligncenter" width="2400] L1006049 - Hugh Jackman stars as Logan/Wolverine in LOGAN. Photo Credit: James Mangold.[/caption]

    A Dark Time For Mutants
    In the year 2029, mutants are on the brink of extinction. The time of the X-Men has long past and James Howlett, aka Logan, aka Wolverine, is struggling through his illness rattled life working as a chauffeur.  He lives with an ailing Charles Xavier and a mutant tracker, attempting to live a quiet life when a mysterious woman enters his life. Gabriela Lopez pleads with Logan to help escort a young girl named Laura to North Dakota to a place called “Eden."  After an initial refusal, it becomes very apparent that Laura is no normal child when a legion of soldiers known as the Revenant tries to track her down.
     
    Logan is trapped in a crossroads between caring for Charles and protecting this girl, but much more is at stake than he may realize.
     


    Not Your Typical Comic Flick
    While the title would make it seem like this “should” be a comic-bookie flick, I assure you it is not. After the first few scenes, it’s very clear that this movie is rated R for a reason. That being said, it doesn’t try to hit viewers over the head with it. There is swearing, a fair amount of gore, but the movie isn’t rated R just for the heck of it. The film is able to hit the right narrative tone because of it.
     
    We are introduced to a worn and weary Wolverine and it is obvious that he’s a shadow of his former self. The story is heavy with the reality that the world has changed; mutants are no longer a part of it. At the same time, with the introduction of Laura, there is a glimmer of hope. There is a lot of heavy tension throughout the film. It's balanced with some quiet moments and character building. The narrative was very character focused and it really hit all of the feels. The only thing the film seemed to lack was action.
     
    Don’t get me wrong – there was action. However, it was spaced out (probably to allow the audience to catch a collective breath.) When the action scenes did commence, they were worth the wait. There was one scene in particular that really captured that old Wolverine magic, but it was very brief.  I guess that’s part of Logan’s theme: passing the torch to the next generation. I only wish I got to see a little more of that generation.
     

     

     


    The Wolverine Himself
    Actor portrayal: what can I say about it? The actor portrayal is spot on as always. Hugh Jackman is Wolverine – and it’s interesting to see him play this character from a different perspective. Sir Patrick Steward is remarkable as always as Professor Xavier.  The real stand out is Dafne Keen as Laura Kinney. The film rested on a connection with this little girl and she delivered. She played the role with ferocity and quiet rage that could put her co-actors to shame.
     
    Finally, we come to the villains. Boyd Holbrook does a decent job playing a cocky jerk, while Richard E. Grant follows up with a creepy scientist. While the film was great, the villainy wasn't on par with any legendary antagonists by any means. Then again, this really wasn’t what the film was shooting for.
     


    Logan: Final Thoughts
    This is truly the end of an era. While all of the films with Wolverine weren't exactly stellar, Hugh Jackman did the character justice. Logan is a wonderful send-off, and I'll admit it left me feeling a little hollow inside. This may be the last X-Men film starring Jackman and Steward, but their portrayal will always be the one to beat.  One can only hope that we can follow the new generation and that they prove better than the last.
     
     
     
    So what do you all think? Have you seen Logan?  Need more action? Check out John Wick: Chapter 2.  Let us know in the comments below!
     

      • Post Type: Review

    Luigi's Mansion Retrospective

    Back in 2001, Nintendo was on the verge of releasing it's latest console following the N64. This new system would take a step away from the classic cartridges in favor of slim and small discs and come in a lightweight cube-inspired design. That's not all that was planned for the future of Nintendo. The fans had long awaited a video game starring the brother of one of the most famous franchise icons of all time. Yes, 2001 brought the launch of the Nintendo Gamecube and Luigi's Mansion.
     


    The Younger Mario
    Luigi's Mansion, while not the first game to feature our favorite green plumber as the main character, is one of most memorable games for the Gamecube. It's a "ghost" hunting action-adventure game that pits Luigi against an unstoppable horde of ghouls and goblins.
     
    We join Luigi as he arrives at a creepy mansion he and his brother, Mario, won in a contest they never entered. Armed with only a flashlight, the younger brother discovers that something foul is afoot when he is promptly accosted by a legion of shadowy figures. Lucky for Luigi, Professor E. Gadd, a paranormal scientist, is on the scene testing out his newest device: the Poltergust 3000. Fearing something had happened to Mario, Luigi takes up the task of clearing out the house of ghosts and searching for his brother.
     


    Cleaning Luigi's Mansion
    The main goal of this action-platform adventure is to find what happened to Mario. Players guide Luigi through the mansion picking up treasure, sucking up ghosts, and uncovering secrets. In order to conduct a proper search, players must go through every room and clear out all of the enemies. After a room is clear, Luigi can search for money, special items, or keys. The game is broken into four parts: one for each floor of the mansion.
     
    Luigi, as terrified as he is, is armed with a flashlight, the ghost-sucking, element-blasting Poltergust 3000 and the Game Boy Horror communicator. Players can use the Game Boy Horror Communicator to check out a map of the mansion and keep track of the areas they've explored. However, before a room can be marked on the map, it has to be cleared of all the ghosts.
     
    In order to catch a ghost, Luigi must blast them with his flashlight to stun them. While stunned, players can try to suck up the ghost, draining their HP. If Luigi is hit, he will lose some hit points and drop some of his treasure. While some ghosts are fairly easy to catch, others have higher hit points and must be defeated with special items.Players can also encounter Boos, which are a little trickery to deal with than normal ghosts.
     
    Once a player catches all the ghost in an area, they must face the boss ghost. Once defeated, the ghosts are loaded into Professor E. Gadd's portrait machine and they are all available for your viewing pleasure.
     

     

     


    Treasures, Secrets, and Hidden Toads 
    While most of Luigi's Mansion is straight forward, there are few other tidbits that should be noted. While exploring, Luigi can find a few Toads hiding away. These little guys act as the save points of the game. Of course, if there are any creepy crawlies around, you can't use them.
     
    While Luigi makes his way through the mansion ghost-busting, he can make a good buck. Treasure is hidden everywhere in the boards, tapestries and cupboards. Even after a room is cleared, Luigi should be searching everywhere while he feebly cries for his brother. This is the best way to scare out hiding Boos; they could be lurking anywhere, even if the lights have come up.
     
    At the end of the game, the total money is tallied and players are given a score A-H. Depending on the score, a whole new mode can be unlocked - so it's a good idea to horde that moola.
     


    Re-Visiting Luigi's Mansion
    Luigi's Mansion is one of those games that is easy to pick up and just play. It's not very complicated and it comes with a fair amount of challenge. It's very different from other Nintendo titles, but it's incredibly short. I don't necessarily think that being a short game is a bad thing, if the price is right, of course. But the music starts to get repetitive after some time, and I wish Luigi had a bit more to say other than "
    ." Still, it was refreshing to get a game from his perspective that wasn't terrible. (*coughMarioisMissingcough*) 
    That being said, this game is incredibly fun. It's pretty satisfying to suck up all those ghouls and see the lights turn on in the mansion. Considering when the game was made, the graphics hold up pretty well, too! The puzzles are interesting and can be challenging at times, and while the story isn't something we haven't experienced, it does the job.
     
    The only additional criticism I could have for this game concerns the controls. At times, controlling the Poltergust 3000 was a bit of a pain, especially when you had to redirect Luigi while using it. Once you get used to the controls, it's a lot of fun. Overall, this is an excellent title to revisit.
     
    What do you all think? Have you played Luigi's Mansion lately? How about Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon? Let us know in the comments below.
     

      • Post Type: Editorial

    Final Fantasy XI Retrospective

    After the success of Final Fantasy X, the series was about to take a completely different direction. So far, Final Fantasy was pretty much a single player game - if you don't count the few you can somehow split into a 2-player experience, of course. With advancement in technology and such an expansive world, it seemed to be the right direction for Square when they developed Final Fantasy XI into an MMORPG. What it became was a culmination of everything the developers had wanted for previous franchise entries but lacked the technology to do. Final Fantasy XI stepped away from the mold and became the first cross-platform MMORPG.

    Stepping Away From The Formula
    Before Final Fantasy XI, barring a few non-cannon entries, the franchise focused on a sprawling story where a single player controlled several party members throughout the game. With this new design, players could make their own hero by browsing the character creation, which had its limits. However, players could now take on the role of hero and decide how to develop that character throughout the game.
     
    Also, with online cross-platform capability, gamers could reach out across the world to connect with others and form their own party. With automatic language translation, it was quite possible to connect with just about anyone via PC, Xbox 360 or on the PlayStation network.
     
    Of course, with innovation comes a host of issues. This was a huge left turn for the series as the fans knew it. It required a paid subscription to play and there were plenty of problems in both game play and servers. However, those who really enjoyed the game do look on it as a labor of love, from beginning to the very last expansion pack.



     


    Does Our Story Ever Really Begin?
    Our story is set in the mythical land of Vana'diel, once a 'playground' for the gods and their children, all spawned from the mystical Crystal. After the Gods' children became headstrong and wished to become gods themselves, they were destroyed. After seeing this, the Goddess Altana wept - giving life to the main races of the world. The God of Twilight, Promathia, called Altana's actions weak, and poisoned the race with dark attributes. Promathia also created the race of beastmen, which serve as the main antagonists of the game, - and so the spiral of war plagued Vana'diel for all eternity!
     
    Sounds fun, right?
     
    After creating a character, based off of one of these races, the story begins in one of three main countries: San d'Oria, Bastock, or Windurst. These countries are banding together to defeat the evil Shadow Lord.
     
    And that's the long and short of it.
     


    Plot Overview
    The plot of Final Fantasy XI is very basic. Like many other stories in the series, it starts off with one main antagonist and then escalates into something far more crazy. Like most MMORPGs, the story takes a back seat to game play. It establishes the setting, the central focus for the game, and lets players run wild from there.
     
    The game contains several 'quest' and story objectives, and background is really dependant on character development. Through character creation, avatars are given strengths and weaknesses and placed in a particular starting area. Players essentially have to work their way up the ladder of their nation in order to go through the game.
     
    Additional story can be added via expansion packs, but these essentially provide more missions and end game content. Overall, the story is pretty vanilla.
     

     


    Game Play: The Very Basics
    FFXI is your typical MMORPG in a number of ways, but there are many things the set it apart from other games in the genre. Players create and control one character throughout the game, focusing on leveling up stats and completing quests. This can be done by exploring the world, speaking with NPCs, visiting towns and dungeons, and fighting battles. Of course, this isn't meant to be a solo venture. It's a better experience when players team up and tackle missions together, but there is something to be said about solo exploration.
     
    While there is a lot to this game, much of the enjoyment is found in actual game play; I'm merely providing these simple explanations - so let's tackle them piece by piece.

    Character Creation
    While other Final Fantasy titles have the characters pre-created, this game allows players to create, within limits, their own.  Players could choose from five different races: Humes, Tarutaru, Elvaan, Galka, and Mithra. They could also choose the gender (for most races) and alter the appearance of the character, but not by too much.
     
    From there, players choose a class and an allegiance. The 'class' or jobs were modeled after Final Fantasy III. Six come standard, others are gathered by completing quests or through expansion packs. The jobs work like they have in previous games. Jobs provide your character with abilities and stat growth.
     
    Allegiances are more or less the areas where your character can flourish, gain bonuses, and ultimately grow your character. As you climb your social ladder, the bonuses get better - but if you change your 'class,' the process starts all over again. This is part of the fun in creating your characters - it's important to choose wisely.
     
    Choosing a race dictates the bonuses, allegiances and the class type gamers could settle into. While any particular race could be any class, there are better combinations available. For instance, the Tarutaru excels in magic classes, but they make terrible warriors. Regardless of what players choose, everyone has the same basic background - which leads to some of the issues. The character scope is incredibly limited as far as customization is concerned. There isn't much to choose from and it can all seem pretty bland. But once players decide on a character - it's game on.
     


    Character Development
    While your character race usually stays the same, players could mix up their classes and allegiances.  While class changes are easier to switch, swapping your allegiance could be pricey and requires in-game currency. But before doing any of that, it's important to explore each city and really take it for all it's got!
     
    Players can also take advantage of auction houses, transportation, item storage and other exciting things in the cities of Vana'diel. Depending on your character's allegiance, a player can explore different parts of Vana'diel and really benefit from climbing societal ranks. By mixing things up, players could discover specialty armor, stat boosts, better weapons and rare items available to certain allegiances.  In order to get stronger, however, players have to level.
     
    Characters level by class, rather than leveling the character itself. A player's rank can grow by completing quests, but certain quests can only be reached by being a particular level. And that leads to the endless grinding. So, joining a guild or group is a very good idea. It's better not to grind alone - misery loves company.

    Healers, Mages and Tanks: Oh my!
    There is quite a bit of fighting in Final Fantasy XI, but it's very slow. Battles take some time, and unlike other franchise entries up to this point, players can actually run around in real-time. There is no 'separate' battle screen, but instead, monsters will just up an attack would-be adventurers. At the start of encounter, enemies can be 'claimed' by a player or a party, and no other player or party can join.
     
    Of course, if things don't go quite as planned, it is possible to die in battle. This results in losing a level or experience, and puts you back at the drawing board. Sometimes it's better to find a group.
     
    During battle, a player can go solo or have a party of up to six members. A varied group is a good idea: filled with magic users, support characters, a healer, a tank, and damage dealers.  Players can choose different abilities according to their class. The idea is to build up a party with 'skill chains' to constantly beat on the enemy with mages backing everyone up. Also, making use of 'Magic Bursts' or the game's limit break can really move battles along.
     




    Lack of Murdering and Killing Time
    Two of the main complaints with Final Fantasy XI revolve around the battle concept itself. The first main issue is a lack of Player VS Player. While there is a way to do it, it's only allowed in particular events and seasons. This is an MMORPG staple nowadays, and it was an area the game didn't excel.
     
    The second issue? Grinding. Endless hours of grinding. While many mention this as a 'labor of love,'  it took hours to do. While the game itself could be fun, it also sucked up a lot of time doing unnecessary things. At the time of its release it wasn't so bad, but as the years went on...it lost its luster.
     

     


    Final Fantasy XI: Final Thoughts
    It's hard to really consider Final Fantasy XI as part of the main series, but this is a franchise that defines itself by changing the formula. Borrowing from elements of the past, and crossing the console boundaries, this game established itself as worthy of the legacy. Though it lacked a decent story and it was an unforgiving grindfest, there is something to love about this MMORPG - otherwise it wouldn't have been the most profitable game of the series.
     
    There are so many things to explore: crafting, mini-games, different job classes, end-game content, and it's doesn't just end when you defeat the big boss. The game goes on. While it can feel like a job at times, it really does have some fun to it. But...good luck playing it on PS2 or XBOX 360 because those servers shut down in 2016. But this would not be the last MMORPG Square Enix attempted...no...there was a much darker, more sinister game planned...
     
    But before that, there were a couple other franchise entries to enjoy!
     
    So, what do you all think? Still playing Final Fantasy XI for PC? Or are you glad that chapter of your life is done? Let us know in the comments below!
     

      • Post Type: Editorial

    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 1 Review

    The Legend of Zelda is one of the greatest video game series of all time. It also happens to be one of my favorites. When I first discovered that there was manga series based off the franchise I have played since I was a child, I had a bit of a meltdown. The series is by Akira Himekawa and every book is a treasure, including the latest based on final Zelda game on the Gamecube and the first for the Wii. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 1 debuted on February 8th, 2016 - it was translated and released in the States on March 15th, 2017, published by Viz Media.
    At first, it wasn't likely that the book would be published at all due to the game's rating and how it was received. Like the previous entries in this manga series, the Twilight Princess manga is based off the video game of the same name. This graphic novel is the first of four planned for the series.

    There is a Legend...
    Our hero, Link, is doing his best to settle down in the peaceful Ordon Village. Little does he know, his world of light is about to turn dark. Shadows have begun to stir. An ancient evil long forgotten has taken hold of the land of Hyrule. Can Link face the darkness of his former life and rise to meet his destiny? Or will he be swallowed forever by the demons lurking in his past?

    Entering The Shadow Realm
    While Twilight Princess is based off the video game, there are quite a few changes to the story. It goes further into the origins of Zant and Midna and provides Link with a backstory prior to his arrival in Ordon Village. While this added information fills in the narrative, I'm eager to see how they develop it in each volume. Focusing on our main hero, this personification of Link is different than others up to this point. He's a little rough around the edges and less eager to please. He acts like an actual teenager, which is refreshing, but he still has those familiar heroic qualities.
    The theme is much darker, and the visuals complement that vision. Some of the scenes are pretty gruesome, but then again, this was one of the more somber entries in the game franchise. As a starter, Vol. 1 does a good job drawing in the readers, leaving many unanswered questions. It also provides enough change for veterans of the series to be intrigued.  While the novel does captivate its audience, I feel like it ended far too soon. This book only covers the very beginning - and though the creators have always done well adapting the games, I can't help but worry a bit. Or maybe I just want the next volume to be out.
    I can't get over the artistry; the artwork is just outstanding. Hyrule and its inhabitants leap off the page. Each character depiction is very true to the video game. The panels are fluid, easy to follow, and they read quickly. Overall, this is a pretty good start to a series.

    Twilight Princess, Vol. 1: Final Thoughts
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Vol. 1 doesn't shy away from the darker themes explored in its console counterpart.Though the tone is more mature than other franchise adaptations, it is visually inspired and true to the source material. It introduces a fair amount of previously unexplored backstory and sets up its audience for the next dramatic entry; and I am excited for it! 
    You May Also Be Interested In:
    The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Volume 2 - Review Order the Twilight Princess Manga on Amazon
      • Post Type: Review


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