Author Archives: dahubbz
What to make of UW Wizards in Modern (A Magic the Gathering Post)
Hey everybody. Let me start by saying that it’s been about a year since I played Modern. I love watching Magic the Gathering, but actually playing the game is different. I often fall in and out of love with it. Well, I decided to throw together one of my pet decks, UW Wizard, and take it to Modern. Now, I need two disclaimers.
Since I fall in and out of love with MTG, I rarely buy expensive cards. Namely, lands. I’m sure running 8 fetch lands or so would help the consistency of the deck. (I run 3)
And secondly, I’ve only played a few games, so who knows. But I have noticed a trend.
I am just going to put my thoughts out here and maybe some of you will get some use out of it.
I started brewing this deck back when Dominaria first released because of Naban
His ability to double triggers just screams value. These support cards jumped out to me.
I’ve found myself wanting an aggressive 1 and 2 drop and more Merfolks.
Maybe these two?
I got excited when Benthic Biomancer launched but honestly I never bothered buying him. He is a 1CMC Merfolk. In theory, he helps play on curve, discount Wizard’s Retort, and is another merfolk to reveal to Silvergill. Also is a semi Silvergill in that turn two he can draw us a card. I think he is a card where it is easy to talk yourself into him. May have to pick some up later.
Cursecatcher on its surface seems worse because they can simply pay one to bolt or path Naban. However maybe we want to run both? or maybe we just need more merfolks and the slight disruption is just a plus? I’m not really sure honestly.
Wizard’s also needs more stack or hand disruption. We don’t get very solid interaction in either phase. We can mess with creatures all day. We need a 2CMC card like Kitesail Freebooter that would let us view their hand. This would let us set up our Meddling Mages better and then use Deputy and Reflector to better effects. Not to mention, a freebooter like effect in wizards getting a double trigger would be great. Other cards I’ve considered would be Spell Queller and Thalia just to get some more controlling effects. We lose out on some synergies because they are neither merfolk nor wizards but they are pound for pound good cards.
Interestingly enough, since Naban, Reflector, and Meddling Mage are all humans, you could cut out the merfolk package and use cards like Cavern of Souls and Aether Vial and Unclaimed Territory naming humans and still cast half your wizards. Then your playing Naban, Kitesail, Thalia, Meddling Mage, Reflector Mage, still playing Deputy, and maybe Champion of the Parish
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If Naban and Champion see a human entering the battlefield like Meddling Mage, then Champion gets double +1/+1 if I am not mistaken. This strategy ultimately makes Wizard’s Retort worse but I’m sure other counters such as Unified Will could work.
You could also cut the human package and play mostly merfolk.
I run Harbinger in my paper deck. I did not have him online so I cut him. That felt like a big mistake. I never had enough Merfolk for Silvergill and the curve was wonky. I also wanted more bounce effects against Infect. So, whether its Harbinger or not, I do think the deck wants more 2 mana interaction. The draw back to the lords is that none of them are wizards except Harbinger and Master of the Waves. I think that might be okay if we had more interactive merfolk. So, I’m not sure how deep I want to go on Merfolk at the moment. I think Wizard’s wants a more reliable 2 mana draw card. Like a Silvergill or Elvish Visionary but less dependent on our hand.
Lastly, a good 3 mana lord.
I’ve just been underwhelmed with Naru any time I wasnt playing casually (Casually, it is amazing). She almost makes me want to splash red for 4 lightning bolts. As ETB and copying Lightning Bolt and then having Naban trigger allowing Naru to trigger again on the bolt almost seems like a reasonable way to close the game with just 5 mana. Let me know if that sounds just crazy.
I suppose a parting question will always be why not play Humans, Merfolk or Spirits? I suppose there’s a brewer in all of us who wants to create a new archetype. Wizards seems to work fine in fair creature metas and good draws with Naban into Deputy should help manage almost any board, but I feel like wizards needs more hand and stack interaction to solidify itself. I guess there’s a chance we just cut Naban and try to play UW Good Wizards.
I’m not going to submit a decklist because I’m not sure what the correct build or numbers are. Here are other Wizard’s that could be great SB or meta dependent calls.
In testing, Phastasmal Image worked to great effect but it was bounced or walking ballistaed every chance someone got. Unsettled Mariner could fix some problems with Wizard’s Retort, Silvergill, and Champion of the Perish, but it doesn’t interact with the stack or hand and it doesn’t effect the board. I’m undecided on if I want to buy some and test it out.
Have you played with UW or UWB or UWR wizards? If so, let me know. And if this inspires you to brew it, let me know how that goes.
Just A Small Update: First Day of the Semester (August 11th, 2020)
Good news: I don’t have any crazy updates like in the past. Simply put, I feel like it is good to pump out content on a regular basis. When I have nothing to really blog about or I am super busy, I like to do these updates. We’ve gained a handful of new followers, so I don’t know how much you guys know about me, actually. So, I figured I would just do a life update today instead of trying to come up with something to review or report on.
Today was my first day back to my college. Technically, my semester started yesterday with 4 online classes. Today, my two in person classes began. It’s a weird time world wide, but definitely here in the States. I have no illusions of colleges staying in person all year. Especially, mine and my state here in the south. Plenty of elementary schools have started and then contracted cases of Covid within 3 days. Wild. With some elementary schools, a student gets it and the class moves online for 2 weeks. Sometimes 10 plus cases in a single school occur and they move online for 2 weeks. My belief is that pressure will mount through August, and if by some miracle we are still going in September, we wont make it through September.
I still love doing anime, video games and manga reviews, so expect more as the semester goes on. However, there are a couple of me projects, as in real life projects not associated with the blog, I want to prioritize along with school that could cut into regularly scheduled content. When I was majoring in education and student teaching/job shadowing/subbing, I tried to blog more about that. Since switching over to accounting, I have not had the same drive to integrate that aspect of my life to the blog. However, with Covid messing up aspects of my life such as attending college and watching sports just to name a few, I could see myself blogging more about my personal life. I have a Twitter. I never use it for its intended use. I put most of my thoughts here.
So there you have it. A very short update. Hopefully you guys read this and compare it to your situation. I’d love to hear down below how your school/work life is holding up now that Fall is in full swing.
Have a great day and thanks for reading! I am off to do homework…
In Defense of Nintendo Switch Ports
As many of you know, the Nintendo Switch has been a port machine, sometimes it seems like Nintendo is relying on those ports. Perhaps that has never been more noticeable than this year, 2020. Nintendo fans have seemingly rioted in droves by the lack of stellar Triple A titles barely trickling out this year, you can kind of see why the Switch owners have not been happy. For me, 2020 has been solid. Sure, it’s nothing spectacular, but with Spongebob Battle For Bikini Bottom and Paper Mario Origami King, I’ve been enjoying my Switch over the summer. I still have Ary and the Secret of Seasons and Pikmin 3 Deluxe to look forward. That’s to say nothing of games I did not pick up such as Animal Crossing. Yet, when you look at Nintendo’s big holiday season, all we have is a port of Pikmin 3. Not great but not bad on it’s own. However, nothing is in a vacuum. Nintendo fans ran with every rumor and leak to come over the last 12 months. That means fans are still anxiously waiting for the BOTW 2 release date and official announcements for the Mario 3D games. You can see how fans view a $60 port of an existing game as just underwhelming. However, ports are not this big evil concept many consumers are trying to make them out to be.
Let’s start by saying that if Nintendo’s big holiday title is Pikmin 3, I will feel underwhelmed but completely okay. I mean many gamers do not have endless amounts of income to just throw at video games. Nintendo does not need three Triple A titles in November and December to have a good holiday season. By the end of the year, I’ll most likely have bought the four aforementioned games. That’s a good year in my opinion. However, I think for the general public to count Nintendo’s holiday season as a success, Nintendo needs one Triple A title that is not a port. Realistically, I think all Nintendo might have in the chamber would be a port of Super Mario 3D World. Which brings us back to Wii U ports. There’s two reasons this is okay. The first one, and you’ve all heard this, no one bought the Wii U. Remember the Wii U sold like 13 million units world wide. The Switch has already sold over 50 million units. Meaning virtually no one played Pikmin 3. The second reason is a bit more controversial. Nintendo always ports games over with bonus features. DK Tropical Freeze released with a new Funky Kong mode. Xenoblade Chronicles released on Switch with more story content. Even Pikmin 3 Deluxe is releasing with all DLC and bonus Olimar missions. Not to mention every game getting re-released on Switch has an added feature. It is mobile. That cannot be understated. You’ll now be able to play Pikmin 3 on the go. Jessica and I can play Pikmin Bingo while we are waiting on our next class to start. That is huge.
Now, why did I mention controversy? I saw a video ripping Nintendo for taking down the Wii U digital versions of DK Tropical Freeze and Pikmin 3 from the Wii U eShop, then selling the Switch versions for $60 dollars. Personally, I’m not sure how I feel about it. I don’t feel like Tropical Freeze added enough content to upgrade for the full $60, so I skipped it. I could see people taking issue with it. Now, with Pikmin 3. Jessica loved Pikmin 3 on Wii U. She never got to beat it because I was glued to my Wii U during it’s lifespan. However, she loves portable gaming. She loves the Switch, the 3DS, and the Vita. So, if she gets it on the Switch, she probably wont ever stop playing it. $60 probably doesn’t seem that bad for the game, the bonus content, and portability in her eyes when Pimin 3 Deluxe launches in October. So, if you already own the game on their former systems, it is really up to you how much the bonus content adds in your eyes.
Ports often carry a console when it first launches. PS4 coasted it’s first year with remasters of GTA V and The Last of Us while Xbox One’s big title was the Halo: Master Chief edition. That is nothing uncommon. However, the Switch is in it’s 3rd year. Having your big holiday title, remember as of right now, being a port is just so flat when Sony and Microsoft are pitching the next gen of gaming. But the theory is that Nintendo was just not prepared for Covid and the restrictions thereafter. Now, it is a little jarring that the biggest video game company in the world could be so blindsided by this but it might just be a product of old man philosophy we know Nintendo clings to. So, I look at these ports as a necessary evil. Nintendo clearly has a robust lineup coming down the pipeline if you believe all the leaks and rumors. My thought then becomes, “Wow, 2021 is going to be a crazy year.” 2021 could host 3D Mario remakes, BOTW2, the next mainline Kirby game, F-Zero returning, Mario Kart 9, Pikmin 4 and those are just the ones that have a shot. So, if Nintendo needs to use ports as a buffer while the world begins to fix itself, I’m okay with that. If you aren’t, that’s fine too. However, I would say don’t jump ship yet. Breath of the Wild 2 will be the biggest thing in 2021 if it is able to squeeze into the calendar year.
I also hear people degrading Nintendo fans because all Nintendo fans want are remakes and they get excited about ports such as Pikmin 3 Deluxe. Here’s the thing. We love our Nintendo games. Everyone wants Ocarina of Time on Switch because the game is timeless. We want the younger generation to experience it. We want traditional Xbox or Sony fans who picked up the Switch for casual gaming to experience it. We are just proud and nostalgic about our games and we want everyone to experience them. The Switch is selling like hot cakes with literally no sign of stopping. Nintendo would be wise to keep pumping out ports as long as we keep getting fresh IPs like Splatoon and Astral Chain and new games such as Odyssey and BOTW. The 2nd reason being to get these classic games HDified. Spyro getting the remake trilogy and Battle For Bikini Bottom getting HDified are some of the best games I’ve played. Destroy All Humans got a remake and it is amazing. Simply put, as long as they’re adding new content, updating the game play and controls, and improving the graphics, I am all for it. Quite frankly, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess coming to Switch would excite me to no end. If Nintendo ported over Super Mario Sunshine with more friendly FLUDD controls that would be a dream. I’m not saying they can, but FLUDD has inhibited me from enjoying Sunshine.
So, in defense of Nintendo ports, these ports have not stopped Nintendo from releasing new games. Super Mario Odyssey, Splatoon 2, Breath of the Wild, Kirby, Yoshi, Smash Bros, Astral Chain, Pokemon Snap, and Bayonetta (if you’ll allow me to count it.) all have had sequels or births on the Switch. That’s just to name a few. Nintendo is also adding content, rarely just shoveling out the same game with nothing added. Many of these games were released on systems that sold poorly, meaning no one ever experienced these games in the first place. Ports are normally a win win. Sure, there’s people like us who buy every first party Nintendo game, but remember we are niche. These ports will help Nintendo while also allowing a brand new generation to enjoy these games for the first time. So, I defend Nintendo porting over titles and if those games do not appeal to me, I skip them.
Nintendo’s 2021 will probably be killer assuming they are able to get back to normal and prepare for the future. So, keep an eye on Nintendo and don’t jump ship yet.
What do you guys think about Nintendo Switch ports? I do not work in the game industry nor am I an insider, so I could be completely off base here. These are just my opinions on the public information and perceptions we have.
Thank you guys for reading. Have a great day!
My Personal Spell Book (A Magic the Gathering Post)
Okay, guys. I’ve been seeing this go around. First off, Sam Pardee shared a photo of his own personal spell book. I’ll add the link to the picture here via twitter. Sam’s Spell Book
Then, MTG Streamer Jim Davis made a post about his own personal spell book. You can read that here. People in his comment section were taking the time to post their own. So, I figured why not? Ill make my own!
By the way, this is a post about Magic the Gathering. I guess I should add some context. The spell books are a product of cards centered around specific Planeswalkers. The spell books feature iconic cards and moments involving the Planeswalkers.
Here’s an example of a card from the Jace’s Spell Book.
Okay, so the idea is I will list the 8 cards that would be in my spell book. These aren’t necessarily the best spells in the game. They’re just spells I love or have a fondness for. Okay let’s start the list off
Elvish Mystic
My goodness. This is arguably my favorite card of all time. This was the first card I ever opened in a pack. I had a friend explain to me how a creature could tap for mana. I thought ramping was the most busted thing ever. I immediately started grabbing all the big, dumb green creatures I could find and threw it in a deck. At the same time, I tried watching some Magic the Gathering streams to understand the game better. One of the first matches I watched was a GR Monsters deck. Elvish Mystic was a huge part the deck allowing the deck to play cards earlier than normal. On top of that, he lead to my love of the Elf tribe. He is a pivotal part to the modern version of elves. I jam him in a lot of green ramp/monster decks. I’ll never forget how cool I thought this guy was. And quite frankly, he still is.
Genesis Hydra
Well, we had to ramp into something right? To be fair, I feel in love with a lot of the monsters like Polukranos, World Eater, Hydra Broodmaster, Terra Stomper and Destructor Dragon, but the card I loved the most was Genesis Hydra. I would put so much mana into this guy I would end up hitting Polukranos anyway. They were an unstoppable duo in my play group. Definitely my favorite casual deck.
Mana Leak
In all my time playing magic, this may be the card I have cast the most. It took me forever to realize why this card was so good. I thought this card would just eventually be so bad. Which, I mean, to be fair, after turn 5 or so the card is just bad. However, Modern, a format I was new to, was just too fast to not be interacting with your opponent on turn 2. It’s been a corner stone of most of my UW/UWB modern decks.
Shaman of the Pack
Standard Elves was arguably the first competitive deck I ever built as most of my Monster decks were casual. I could have so many other elves in this spot such as Dwynen’s Elite, Elvish Visionary or Dwynen, Gilt-Leaf Dean which are all strong candidates. I loved them all. However, draining people for a crap ton of damage was just so much fun. This is a deck I am currently trying to rebuild with some strong modern upgrades.
There is almost no other game action I love more than drawing cards, maybe countering spells. The time has come to pick a draw spell. It was tough! There’s Opt, Sphinx’s Revelation, Chemister’s Insight and many more. However, when I built my first Esper Control deck, think twice was an important part of curving out right. Giving you something to do on turns 2 and 3 while keeping mana open to Mana Leak something if needed. I think this card is a staple in “Draw Go” Control.
Thought Erasure
I could not put this card in my Esper control deck in standard fast enough following it’s printing. I destroyed a lot of people curving this into Sinister Sabotage. They took care of problematic threats while each surveiled allowing you to smooth draws, hit lands, or get more counter spells. I loved this start. I had a rule that I would keep most hands that allowed me to cast Thought Erasure on Turn 2 and definitely keep the ones that let me curve into Sabotage.
My first exposure to an alternative win condition. Which is to say, winning without reducing your opponents life to 0. Many people thought this card was broken. It really wasn’t. I did win a lot of games with this card as the win con, but that’s not to say it could not be beaten. It did feel good to only have to run this if you did not want to run creatures. There’s talk of Wizard’s adding Amonkhet to MTG Arena. You best believe we will be tearing up historic with Esper and Bant 2nd Sun!
Nissa entered my life at an interesting time. In my casual group I was the green player. I was also the only one of us to pull a Planeswalker. Naturally she went into every green deck I was building at the time. Nowadays, Nissa the character is still my favorite Planeswalker though this probably isnt my favorite Planeswalker card, I doubt it is even my favorite Nissa PW card. Gideon being a creature PW that dodges boardwipes makes him ideal for my control decks. The new Narset is busted not letting opponents draw additional cards on top of finding more spells. Nissa, Voice of Zendikar is an aggressively costed PW who can be a creature factory to help against sac effects and generate blockers. Though there is no denying the impact this card had on me. It further more convinced me to play green. It made me feel more powerful than my friends without PWs. And fetching up all my forest to run my opponents over was such a great feeling.
So there you have. I left off plenty of great cards like Path to Exile, Savage Knuckleblade, and Disdainful Stroke. But that’s how making a list goes after all. Let me know what spells make your list!
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Pikmin 3 Deluxe Confirmed!
Today, Nintendo confirmed Pikmin 3 will be coming to the Switch. This isn’t just a basic port over to the switch either. The name deluxe might tip you off, but there’s going to be added content. The game features, as stated by Nintendo, “multiple difficulty modes, new side-story missions featuring Olimar and Louie, and all the DLC from the original release.”. Not to mention, every port to Switch adds new portability via the handheld mode. That’s just always an added bonus.
A few months back I made a list of Wii U games I thought could get ported over. Among them was Pikmin 3. Here’s the direct comment I made about the likeliness of it being brought over to Switch
“4. Pikmin 3. The first game on the list I have never played. So I cannot speak to how dependent on the Gamepad this game is. Regardless, I kind of disregarded this port considering all of the talk about Pikmin 4. Also, Ive heard people say they would prefer a Trilogy much in the way Metroid Fans are clamoring for. However, if we dont get the trilogy the more and more I write this the more I think this could be a solid port. Pikmin 4 looks like it is taking longer than expected so giving us Pikmin 3 remastered could solve a lot of issues. A. it would tide over Pikmin fans while finishing up Pikmin 4. B. It would introduce a new generation to Pikmin. Pikmin 1 and 2 came out on the Gamecube and a lot of hardcore players jumped off the Nintendo bandwagon with the Wii meaning plenty of people could have missed the 3rd installment after loving the first 2.”
Here’s a link to the rest of that article: Games that COULD come to the Nintendo Switch this year! (2020)
I feel like this was a pretty good guess. Pikmin 4 doesn’t seem like it is on the horizon yet. With Covid slowing the world down I guess adding Pikmin 3 Deluxe was easier than rebuilding Pikmin 1 and 2 for the Switch. Beats me, that just seems to be what this announcement tells me.
So, there you go. Nintendo quiet year might begin to make an uproar. Only time will tell. What do you guys think about this announcement? What games do you guys want to see added to Switch?
Have a great day and thanks for reading!
Goblin Slayer Anime- A Good Start but Where Do We Go From Here? (Episode #1 Review)
Hey guys. We have an interesting and somewhat divisive anime review today. Episode #1 of Goblin Slayer. I do need to do a small content warning.
Content Warning- Goblin Slayer’s Episode #1, I cannot speak for the whole series, has very graphic scenes of murder, mutilation, and even rape. Personally, I will not be touching on the rape scenes during the overview. We may address it later on in the review because it is one of the factors leading to the divisive nature of reviewers. So, if you are someone who gets triggered, not using the word in a negative manner but in the way the word was intended to be used, I will keep talking about those scenes to a minimum. However, I can already tell you if any of the above factors sound like too much, you will not like this anime. Now let’s get on to the review.
The anime starts off promising enough. The animation production is high quality. The main character is a vibrant and happy lead character. The Adventure Guild is a sprawling hub full of cheery inhabitants bragging about their strengths. From here, Priestess, the main character, is quickly introduced to her team. 3 eager adventurers dead set on stopping a tribe of goblins who kidnapped some girls from a village. The show is littered with foreshadowing and irony from this point on.
The bright undertones are swiftly replaced with the caves dark setting, void of any color except for a single torch frantically flickering, clinging to what little light there is in the world. There are several mentions of them all being rookies, and lackadaisically, almost mockingly, asking “they’re just goblins, what could possibly go wrong?”. Midway through the cave the camera pans showing just darkness, but trained eyes will notice it is a secondary pathway housing several Goblin soldiers. The young boy in the group, like the rookie he is, hits his sword against the top of the cave. In hindsight, for such a dark cave, their doom was clear as day.
The adventurers inadvertently separate into groups of 2. This makes them easy pickings for the goblins who single out the mage first. Breaking her staff then stabbing her and infecting her with poison. Don’t worry, I will describe bits of the violence but I will not touch on the more graphic details, for those of you who still may be reading but aren’t comfortable with that level of disturbing content. Just know, Goblins 1-Adventurers 0
Of course, Action Lad jumps in and kills a goblin or two just for the foreshadowing to now be in the forefront. His blade hits the top of the cave, dislodging it from his grip. The goblins make haste swarming him. They leave only his corpse behind.
Goblins 2- Adventurers 0
Lastly is Ms. Kick Boxer. She gets a few good kicks in (Papa Roach would be very happy). In the end though, she attempts to kick the big cheese, the Hobgoblin. This does not, in fact, end well. Her face promptly makes contact with the rocky, rough sides of the cave walls. Her body, not quite lifeless, is left for the goblins own devices
Goblins 3- Adventurers 0
All that’s left is Priestess as she tries in vain to carry the dying mage to safety. An arrow emerges from the darkness and breaks skin, penetrating her shoulder. The goblins close in on her in the same menacing manner. The goblin are about to claim the victorious 4-0 sweep. The adventurers are finished. Right? Well, not quite. Not yet.
The titular Goblin Slayer ambles stoically from the bowels of the cave. From here, the anime completely switches gears. The goblins are annihilated one by one. The bonus points part is that they are slain in a multitude of ways. Sure, there is a lot of head cleaving, but we also see spears, traps, setting the hobgoblin on fire and rolling him down a hill. Most are brutal and brutish in nature, but that’s okay too. The story for this episode really wraps up at this point. The Goblin Slayer and the Priestess kill all the known goblins in the cave and rescue the kidnapped girls. The Goblin Slayer and the Priestess reconvene at the guild ready for more days of goblin slaying.
Okay so, that’s your recap. Now, normally I try to avoid just recapping the episode, so why did we spend a lengthy time summarizing the first 10 minutes of the show? For several reasons. Let’s discuss.
Setting the Tone- A lot like with Attack on Titan and Akame Ga Kill, it is important to know that characters just get brutally murdered sometimes. Life is meaningless, to a certain degree anyway. If you don’t respect death and all the critters under your feet, in this instances goblins, you will be utterly and completely destroyed even if you are the hero. The gruesome mutilations and the depiction of rape scenes had many in the Crunchyroll comment section turned completely off of the anime. I understand that.
It Perfectly Tells You How To Feel- It’s a cartoon. Sure. But murder and rape are real life things. So, while I dont glorify these actions, I think this anime uses them to great conviction. What do I mean? Because the first 10 minutes are so brutal, so barbarian, it really paints Goblin Slayer as the most heroic and lifesaving dude in all of anime. You spend 10 minutes watching goblins molest, violate, and butcher a bunch of kids. Its’s grisly and savage, yet so commonplace in this world. When Goblin Slayer slices a goblin’s head open you cheer. Then he sets one on fire and you fist bump. He pierces the heart of a goblin with a spear and you let out a “Get em!”. He finds four baby goblins and bludgeons them to death and you ponder if the only good goblin is a dead one. Then you get flashbacks of Star Wars 3.
It Felt Real- Some people may disagree with this part. That’s fine. Kids today are clueless about a lot of parts of life. When adventure lad felt so sure of himself and that he was a hero just to get slaughtered by a world that felt nothing for his heroism, it just felt real. Kids today aren’t taught how to manage money, how to pay for a house, or how to change a tire. Yet, they still get thrown out in the world (most thinking they are ready for it). A lot of them get mercilessly fed to the beast. So many people I know are buried on financial burdens. The younger ones under student loans while the older ones are crushed under credit card debt or trying to pay off a house or what have you. And all those financial woes are just commonplace. I feel like you could go on and on and on about people just being unprepared for the real world but I think you guys get the point.
Now for the Bad.
Priestess is a Lame Character- Maybe she gets cooler or stronger in later episodes. I just did not relate to her as a character. Sure, I could sympathize with her in that situation. I mean, your crew was just brutally murdered before your eyes. There was an interesting discussion in the CR comment section about how what finally broke her was the baby goblins dying. One person defended her saying it was the weight of everything and that was the first moment she was able to breathe. Personally, I don’t buy it. I think they wanted to create a sense of moral ambiguity about killing baby goblins. Too which there is none. You kill them. They are not like humans which have at least a shred of humanity, even if buried real deep. So, she gets no sympathy from me in that moment. Couple the crying with the fact that she literally needed no time mourning her fallen teammates before she eagerly joined Goblin Slayer again felt disingenuous. There is a way to make it feel more real and earned. Show her grow in the cave. Honestly, I didn’t really see any growth on her part. Sure, she cast Holy Light twice. So what? How about more internal monologues? She gave plenty but yet I never really saw her say anything about a rush of adrenaline from killing goblins or how she wants to avenge her dead members. She just talks about how scarring and common events like these are but she is definitely an adventurer. It just felt like an ending they forced instead of a natural progression of her character. Maybe the novel dives more into it? Even so, we are judging the anime, and this has got to be one of the most unsatisfying endings. I’m not against the product of the outing being a stronger, more brave Priestess, just that they did nothing to make it a believable evolution.
Hopefully all my thoughts about Episode #1 are clear and not too confusing. I’ve read some other people’s reviews and everyone tends to have a lot to say about the anime. Personally, I saw some metaphors for life today. maybe I’m off base with those connections. I don’t the anime is completely tasteless or void of substance, but I can see other people not caring for it. I had a lot of thoughts and just wasn’t entirely sure how to structure everything.
Goblin Slayer Episode #1 is good. It certainly is not for everyone. It is important to remember that some people will not be able handle this level of disturbing anime. That’s okay. And if you enjoyed the darker side of this anime, that is okay too. Everyone’s taste is different.
My score for this episode changed a lot over the course of writing this. Episode #1 was an adrenaline trip of mixed emotions. Ultimately, I was ready to watch the next one and rate this one a very solid 9 out of 10. But after bouncing everything in my head a few times, I still really liked the first episode, bad ending aside, I landed on 7.5 out 10. Goblin Slayer more than makes up for how meh Priestess is. The ending didn’t deter how action packed the first episode was. Though I do question where we go from here. Not perfect by any stretch, yet still solid. Here’s a recap for anyone interested.
Action- Some of the best of any anime I have reviewed.
Romance– Not the good kind.
Plot- As of right now it is very grounded. There is no immanent, greater danger. In comics, we call this street level villains. Yet I’m not sure where we go from here.
Characters- Priestess was easily the most boring, so of course she is the one who lived. I loved the goblins as far as villains go. Perfect villains. And Goblin Slayer is the perfect hero.
The World- Most of the episode took place in a cave. Other episodes might follow suit. The world is cool as a whole. I’m just not sure how much of it we will see.
Humor– I’m not sure there was a single funny part in this whole anime. Maybe something chuckle worthy before the cave, but virtually nothing past that. I did laugh a couple times when goblins died, but who didn’t?
What did you guys think about Goblin Slayer? Which side of the coin did you fall under? I’m not really sure where the anime goes from here. It did get a 2nd season so I guess it has to go somewhere, right?
Thanks for reading! Have a great day everybody!
More Continued Readings Below:
The God of High School Episode #1 Review (Anime)
Psychonauts is $1 on Humble Bundle (20 Years of Double Fine Games!)
One of my favorite Original Xbox games is Psychonauts. Now it is available on Humble Bundle for just $1! However, that’s not all. 20 years of Double Fine Games are also available ranging in price from just a dollar up to $9. Not bad. Let’s break down each bundle.
Also, A video breaking down this bundle should be available soon on my Youtube Channel soon!
$1 Bundle:
Psychonauts- A 3D Platformer full of wacky, creative mechanics, levels, and power ups. If you enjoy games like Mario, Ratchet and Clank, or Sly Cooper. I have plenty of gameplay footage of Psychonauts on my Youtube Channel too!
Admitted I don’t know much about the Double Fine Amnesia Fotnite collections on here.
$8.72 Bundle:
Brutal Legends: An open world action adventure game taking heavy influence from the heavy metal music scene. This game has a lot of flair and personality. If you are a fan of Double Fine, heavy metal, or Jack Black you should certainly check it out.
Day of the Tentacle and Broken Age are tried and true click and point adventure games created by the legendary Tim Schafer.
Admitted, I have not played Costume Quest, Massive Chalice, or Psychonauts in Rhombus of Ruin. Though Costume Quest and Massive Chalice have received praise throughout their lifespan.
$9 Bundle:
There’s so many games in this bundle.
RAD, GNOG, 140, THOTH, Mountain, Everything, Escape Goat, Gang Beasts, KIDS, and Headlander.
On top of all of those is Grim Fandango Remastered and Full Throttle Remastered.
Grim Fandango Remastered: A super interesting unique concept. You play as “Manny Calavera, travel agent to the dead” per Humble Bundle. This is more click and point adventure game goodness from the mind of Tim Schafer.
Full Throttle Remaster: Another game I have not played but it does have some legacy behind it’s name.
All of these games were created at a time when Double Fine could do no wrong. They mastered the point and click adventure genre and it shows with how many legendary titles they have. Most of which are included in this 9 dollar bundle. Costume Quest, Psychonauts, and Brutal Legend are bit more modern if that is your style.
This is a great bundle to beef up your PC collection!
Thanks so much for reading and have a great day!
Most Anticipated Nintendo Switch Games (Top 5)
In many people’s eyes, Nintendo has had a quiet year. Not too me. Xenoblade Chronicles, Spongebob Squarepants (A third party game, but still.), Animal Crossing, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon, and now Paper Mario plus a few more games and DLC for Pokemon and Smash Bros. Though between leaks, rumors, and minor announcements, fans have ran with wild ideas of what Nintendo’s 2020 could have been.
So, let’s take a look at what my most anticipated Nintendo Switch games are. A few disclaimers. I want the games to be based in some reality. What do I mean by that? For example, a lot of people are clamoring for Pikmin Trilogy HD collection. As far as I know, I have not heard any official statements of a Pikmin Trilogy (correct me if I am wrong). However, I feel as if I have heard Miyamoto claim to be working on Pikmin 4. So, games like Mario Kart 9, the next Pokemon Let’s Go, and even Mario Odyssey 2 wont make this list. Those the rules.
#5 No More Heroes- There were two games fighting for this spot. Bayonette 3 and No More Heroes 3 clock in as probably the 2 biggest 3rd Party Games left to come out on the Switch. At the end of the day I’ve barely played any of their 2 previous installments. Since the N64, Nintendo has struggled to sustain major 3rd party support. As a consumer who wants to see Nintendo snag more of these 3rd Party titles, there is a little bit of an incentive to purchase these titles and help them be profitable. If you just buy 1st party titles, 3rd Party Developers will see no point in putting their games on the Switch. The main reason I am picking No More Heroes 3, for now anyway, is I think I like the Hack and Slash genre a bit more than the bullet hell/Shootemup genre of Bayonette. This could change as the games get closer to their releases.
#4 Pokemon Snap- I would say the ceiling of this game is number 3. I just don’t see this game rising above the top 2 spots. Nevertheless, this is a Pokemon title, and I tend to enjoy them no matter what form they take. The game looks beautiful, the environments are breathtaking and finally, the Pokedex has evolved a lot since the OG 151 so it will be nice to see a brand new roster updated with plenty of new Pokemons. However, I feel like the concept of an on rail shooter is a little outdated. I feel like it could be a secondary mode to compliment a small, open-world Pokemon Snap sequel. We aren’t there yet. However, if this Pokemon Snap gets a sequel on maybe a Switch Pro, I think it’s time to bring the Pokemon Snap series into an open-world adventure snapping Pokemons in the wild.
#3 Ary and the Secret of Seasons- A Hat in Time was an indie game I absolutely fell in love with. I hyped that game up out of the gates and it lived up to the hype. I want to be careful saying Ary and the Secret of Seasons will rival Zelda in the same way A Hat in Time almost tops the Mario Franchise. Still, Ary looks gorgeous, the mechanics are fresh, and it just looks fun. I’ve already preordered my copy. I cannot wait. I played an hour or so of the demo on steam when the demo was available. Check it out here
#2 Mario HD Remake- Let’s be real. This could just as easily be number #1. It was for the longest time, but two things. A. I’ve been on a Zelda kick recently (Which youll see in an upcoming post/video). B. There’s still so many question marks. Are these standard ports? Are any features added like Co-Op? Will they there be physical release or digital only? Will some games be packaged together (64 and Sunshine, Galaxy 1 and 2?). I think the hype could lead to disappointment so I want to keep my expectations grounded in reality. But also, that mystery is what makes the anticipations and expectations such a fun part of the spec season. Let’s see how it all plays out.
Here’s a few honorable mentions:
Balan Wonderworld: Considering this game has had more shown off for it then most games on this list, it is easy to see how this game could justifiably be a top 3 on this list. However, this was one of the few games Microsoft announced that I am actually looking forward too, I kinda wanted some diversity on this list. Plus, I am an achievement junkie, so if this comes to Gamepass, I’ll probably play it that way.
Bayonette 3- As discussed, I want to support the 3rd Party developers. This isnt my favorite style of game by any stretch but I have enjoyed the first few levels of Bayonette 1 that I played.
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From here, it would be speculation such as Mario Odyssey 2, a Mario Party Ultimate, or even the Metroid Prime HD Trilogy. So, I’ll go ahead and get to #1
#1 Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2- Oh boy. Nintendo already announced this game what seems like forever ago. Still I don’t think this game will get a 2020 release date. But come on, they announced BOTW in what feels like the Gamecube era, so we can wait a little longer. A lot of people see BOTW as a masterpiece. You have to remember, the Switch is arguably the greatest kids console of all time. So many kids are getting to experience Nintendo franchises for the first time with the Switch. I argue that BOTW has touched and influenced people of all ages in the same way Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past did. However, I personally think BOTW was only scratching the surface. BOTW began it’s life span being developed for the Wii U. BOTW 2 was built entirely for the Switch. Not to mention, Nintendo now has had a few years under their belt programming for the console. I think BOTW2 is going to destroy the epic, instaclassic BOTW, and that should sound groundbreaking.
So yes, Nintendo’s 2020 could have been colossal, but you got to realize Covid probably didn’t help matters. If you are a Switch owner, get excited. Mario Odyssey 2 and the HD remakes, BOTW 2, Metroid Prime 4, and a few other big titles still in the work can go toe to toe with anything Xbox or Playstation are offering.
Want to read my thoughts on the Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X Showcases? Check them out below:
Games I’ve Played Recently Post #1
Hey guys, it does not always come through on here but I love me some video games. Over on the Youtube channel I started a new series called Games I’ve Played Recently. It is a simple series. As you can imagine, I just talk about the games that have been keeping me busy. I also include gameplay footage or trailers or previews of each game so you guys have an idea of what the game is like. I figured I would migrate that idea over to here and maybe we can have some good discussions in the comment section.
If you want to see the video that accompanies this post, check it out here: Games I’ve Played Recently Post #1
Let’s get it started!
Shovel Knight (Wii U)
Shovel Knight was developed by Yacht Club Games. It is a 2D sidescroller reminiscent of yesteryear. The titular Shovel Knight uses his shovel to kill enemies, create pathways, and dig up secrets. There’s plenty of new items as well as ways of upgrading his armor, health, magic, and shovel. Each is mostly fair and balanced, though the later levels have numerous insta-deaths. This makes the final few stages really get the adrenaline pumping. Most of the secrets littering the stages are massive amounts of treasure used to upgrade Shovel Knight. Occasionally, you will stumble upon a music note for the local bard or the next advancing/combat item known as relics like the Propeller Dagger. I have not really played too many 2D Platformers (I can count on 1 hand how many I have enjoyed), but to me Shovel Knight was a total game changer for me.
Paper Mario: The Origami King (Switch)
The Paper Mario series is easily one of my favorite Nintendo franchises to date. Origami King is shaping up to be another worthwhile installment. The coloring is fantastic, the exploration is enjoyable, the dialogue is still topnotch, and the combat mostly just has to grow on you. There’s plenty of secrets in each level and tons of toads scouring the landscapes. You’ll stay busy discovering all this game has to offer.
Spongebob Squarepants: Battle For Bikini Bottom (Switch)
This game has been a joy to play. SS:BFBB is an HD overhaul of the Gamecube/PS2/Xbox classic. As such, the game map is a little small, but that’s about where my complaints end. The game is pseudo open world in that, there is a linear path in mind for you to travel, but you will have the freedom to make some detours off the beaten path. There’s a multitude of shiny objects (coins), Golden Spatulas, and dirty socks to occupy your time. The graphics are so bright and pleasant while the combat and platforming get the job done in what might be the surprise hit of 2020.
Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
I honestly do not have enough time nor paper to explain what an absolute and complete gem the Super Mario Galaxy duo is. The worlds are masterfully crafted, the secrets are a blast to locate, the stars are so perfectly places in each level. This game is pretty darn close to gaming perfection. I have not beat it simply because I am trying to play more of new Nintendo Switch games, but this is a game I am eagerly waiting to jump back into to.
Dark Cloud 1 &2 (Playstation 2)
Dark Cloud 1 and 2 were both created by Level 5. I have to admit this is one of the most unique games in my collection. They are a mix of city building simulator with a rogue like dungeon crawling aspect mixed in. Every city in each game has been devastated by the evil genie. Your job as the main character is to conquer each dungeon and find the missing parts of town and slowly rebuild them. It is quirky, it is unique, and it is an experience to behold. If you are a fan of any of those genre, this game is a must to check out.
Resident Evil #2
Resident Evil 2 is a remastering, almost a reimagining of the classic survival horror game that shook us to our cores back on the PS1/N64. I love the Resident Evil series but I have described this game as eerie and that it feels you with dread. I love the setting of Raccoon City, the police department, and all the other locations of the franchise. I also adore all the main characters this series has had over the years including Leon and Claire here. With all that said, I can’t say this game is fun to play. I just don’t like the genre as a whole. So, I play for a solid 30 minutes to an hour and then I have had enough. I can still recognize this game as a masterpiece nonetheless.
So there you have. These, for the most part, are the games I’ve played recently. Hopefully this write up gives you an idea about the games and if you would have any interest in them. Let me know what you’ve been playing.
The God of High School Episode #1 Review (Anime)
The God of High School drew me in with an absurd name and tournament combat scenario akin to the classic animes I grew up watching. Did it disappoint or did it manage to live up to a name like The God of High School?
The God of High School positions itself as an all out brawl of an anime. If you can, imagine Dragon Ball’s Strongest Under the Heaven tournament style. Whoever happens to win the tournament gets their wish granted. Talent scouts have been testing many contestants to gather what they assume to be the strongest fighters. The big day arrives and BOOM, it is go time. The first episode has a fun little mini arc revolving around a petty thief who steals a grandma’s money and how our three main characters team up to stop him. It only takes about half the episode but it is a great introduction. This opening showcases each character’s personality and strengths. It’s fast-paced, action packed, and a fun joyride.
After that sequence, we get right into the heart of the premise. Our three heroic teens from the start: Jin Mori, Han Daewi and Yu Mira, all happen to be entered into the contest. Well, it is mostly action from this moment worth. A lot of cool characters are introduced, but few to none are named.
That’s about it as far as plots go. There’s something going on at the very beginning about running the country or some other babble, but that is lost on me at this point. No other hints of world danger are present, so we just have to wait and see what the dangerous, world threatening organization has in store for us in later chapters.
So, with plot out of the way, let’s dive into characters. We will be talking about 3 in particular.
Jin Mori- Our main character. As of right now, he does not have any super powers. He is just really well trained in taewkondo. He seems to be of pure heart as he drops everything he is doing to help recover the grandma’s money. So far, he is a likable lead character.
Han Daewi- As of right now, he come’s across as another good intentions kind of guy. He works hard and still needs more shifts for more money. I don’t believe the show reveals why he needs the money. However, he is the one who ultimately stops the thief. I don’t think he takes any of the recovered money either, even though it is documented he needs more money for something.
Yu Mira- Admitted, I don’t know what to make of her. She is introduced just going ga ga over some muscular men. With little to no hesitation, she joins Jin on his quest to stop the thief. I don’t quite understand the source of her power but she is very strong, no doubt.
This is normally the time when I address the world. However, the world seems pretty normal outside of the fact that there is a fighting tournament going on.
This show is just 3 or 4 episodes into the anime. My plan is to get caught up over the coming days and then maybe do a review of the show in a few weeks. Maybe after it hits 12 episodes or whatever it calls a season. This was a very strong start to an anime. It gave the lighthearted vibes of One Piece at times while also having that battle royale tournament set up that old school animes perfected in the 90’s and early 2000’s. In other words, as of right, this anime is right up my alley.
Continued Reading
Top 5 Most Anticipated Xbox Series X Games
Super Mario 64 Remake Want List! (Super Mario 35th Anniversary Rumor)
Da_Hubbz 