Category Archives: 2020
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)
Top 5 Most Anticipated Xbox Series X Games!
Hey, guys. A few days ago Xbox did their presentation for the new upcoming Xbox Series X. This showcase was meant to rival what Sony was doing with their Playstation 5. At the end of the day, Xbox did show off a great number of games to get excited for. Here’s 5 that really grabbed my attention.
(I do not own any pictures used in this blog. All rights to their original owner.)
Watch Microsoft’s full conference here: FULL Xbox Games Showcase – July 2020
#5 EverWild: Admittedly, I haven’t played too many games by the studio Rare. I loved Golden Eye and DK 64 back on the N64. However, since being acquired by Microsoft, I’ve missed most of their Xbox exclusive games. Still, I can recognize the powerhouse that once was Rare even if they are a far cry from their former glory. With all that said, I am excited to see the next chapter of their game making story unfold. This game has the potential to be 1 or 2 on this list by the time it is actually released. The reason it is here at number 5 is the same reason that is holding back so many of these games. There was no gameplay footage. Now, this is something you’ve probably heard if you have watched any of these Xbox Conference reviews, either in written or spoken format. It is not a deal breaker. Trust me, I am excited to see what Rare does with a open world sandbox game. The simple fact is some of the games on this list are just further along and it is easier to get excited for those games.
#4 Grounded: I really thought this game was going to secure the #1 spot a month ago. I had heard some big name franchises tossed around and even some announce trailers for one game. But without a doubt, Grounded was one of the furthest along games in the Xbox’s catalog. Heck, I think Obsidian has been teasing a demo this month. Grounded is developed by the studio Obsidian. An up-and-coming juggernaut in the field. They got their big break working with Bethesda to make Fallout: New Vegas, an absolute gem. Then they secured their reputation with last year’s smash hit, Outer Worlds. They are currently working on their next big blockbuster in Avowed, but they are giving us a hold over in the form of Grounded. A game that looks like Honey I Shrunk the Kids set in a Fallout universe. The player will take control of 1 of 4 kids and try to survive the dangers of the backyard while also discovering plenty of secrets along the way. This game looks like it will be a great addition to Obsidian’s arsenal of titles.
#3 Fable: I may be lying to myself here. in fact, this game has played musical chairs with the top 3 spots. Honestly, if I did this list tomorrow there’s a chance this game could be number 1. Fable was the first Xbox franchise I fell in love with. I played Fable 1 as a kid and then grew up with Fable 2 and 3. It is arguably my favorite Xbox exclusive franchise. It was completely omitted from the Xbox One’s library. Needless to say, I have been craving more Fable in my life. As of right now, I think Fable is the closest thing Microsoft has to a console seller. Why is it number 3? Simple. Numbers 2 and 3 have gameplay footage.
#2 Balan WonderWorld: Looks simply amazing. When the first two years of the Xbox Series X’s life is over, I think Balan has a legitimate shot at being the best game on the console. Created by the same man who created the Nights franchise, you can rest assured that this game will have plenty of charm and character. It’s at number 2 over juggernauts like Rare and Obsidian because it actually had plenty of gameplay and a release date. I got a vibe of what this game wants to do and be. I can visualize myself owning this game and playing it and getting lost in it’s worlds. Something I can only say about a few games shown off earlier this week.
Honorable Mentions-
Halo Infinite- I like Halo but I am not a Halo nut. No one is praising this game even though Microsoft seems to think it will be it’s big hit. It just falls flat compared to Sony’s Spiderman, Horizon Zero Dawn, and even this gen’s The Last Of Us 2.
Tell Me Why- This game actually looks pretty solid. I would definitely check this game out if it came out on Gamepass.
Avowed- A 10 second snip pretty much tells you this game is quite a ways away. Still, should be amazing when it finally comes out.
#1 Psychonauts: I think the clear head and shoulders front runner. As of right now, Halo is pretty much a joke to the internet even if it manages to come out strong. Fable and Avowed are a good bit away from release date. Even Everwild is still probably a ways away too. Leaving the question, what do Xbox players get excited about? I think Psychonauts is that answer. It had plenty of game play footage leading me to believe it is probably one of the closer games to launch. Psychonauts 1 is a cult classic and the sequel will look to expand upon its already established reputation. Today’s age has shriveled up the 3D Platformer well, especially if you aren’t on the Switch. If you like the genre, Psychonauts looks to be a must own. It is the game I am most excited for as of today.
So that’s my thoughts. On the surface, Xbox’s showcase seems quite weak if Halo isn’t up to par. It is important to remember that Xbox has already revealed other games such as Cyberpunk 2077, Scarlett Nexus, Yakuza, and Assassin Creed’s Valhalla.
Let me know what games you guys are excited for?
Thanks for reading and have a great day!
Want to see my thoughts on the PS5’s showcase? Read here: Reacting to the PS5 Announcement Stream!
Super Mario 64 Remake Want List! (Super Mario 35th Anniversary Rumor)
Hey guys, The Nintendo Direct may have been a little lackluster if you wanted more Mario. However, on my Youtube channel, I took the time to make a want list for Super Mario 64 Remake. Below are 5 things I want added to the eventual Super Mario 64 Remake!
P.S. Dont have time to read or just prefer a video format? Here’s the link to my video: Super Mario 64 Remake Want List!
#5 Better Mechanics and Controls: Come on. This is almost a no brainer. The only way this isn’t implemented into the game is if we get a basic bare bones port. Anything above that should bring Super Mario 64 into the modern generation including an actually useful camera, tighter controls, and improved movement. Regardless of what artistic approach they take with the remake/port, better mechanics and controls is an absolute must.
#4 Better graphics- duh. Yet, there’s a sliver of a chance the game doesn’t get any graphical oomph. Honestly, I’m not the most technical savvy person so I’m not going to rabble on and on about video outputting and other jargon, I’m just going to say, I hope this is an HD remastering and not just simple porting.
(I do not own this picture)
#3 2 Player Co-OP- Mario hacks have existed for a while now that have enabled a co-op mode, so in 2020, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to enable a co-op mode in a home console release of Super Mario 64. Something Nintendo has been pretty stingy about. Mario 64 and Sunshine have no co-op mode to speak of. Galaxy 1 and 2 have extremely lack luster co-op functions allowing the 2nd player to play a disembodied pointer grabbing star bits using the Wii remote. Odyssey features the best co-op to date if we aren’t including 3D World. The 2nd player assumes the role of Cappy and can greatly help or hinder Mario on his quest for endless moons. As stated, people have pushed the boundaries of Super Mario 64 via rom hacks, meaning I’m sure Nintendo has the tools needed to do the same, but do they have the guts to utilize it?
(I do not own this picture)
#2 New Hat or Mario Powers- Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 gave us plenty of new power ups which would be cool to see here. I think an obvious power up to include would be the fire flower or ice flower. This could introduce new puzzles such as torches, water walking, enemies that can only be killed by fire, burning down bushes, etc. etc. I wouldn’t mind Boo Mario or Bee Mario but the cap power probably would make it redundant. Giant Mario could be another viable option. Giant Mario has been a staple of Mario since the very beginning, however, on the DS Mario was made ginormous. Wario even got in on the giant action in Mario 64 DS.
(Duh)
#1 New Stars in each level – Blame Odyssey if you must, blame not wanting a standard port or even blame the DS remake, but its time to start adding new content to the game. Super Mario DS added 30 new stars (I think). Odyssey allows the player to nearly double the number of moons found in each kingdom. I think implementing some system like this would be genius. These additional stars could be sprinkled in the game after beating Bowser. This way old school players can still enjoy the game the way God intended while players like myself who want a little more oomph in their remakes can get that added content. This could be done by adding some remixes of old stars such creating 5 new secret spots, making the Koopa race harder or a different route altogether, modifying existing stars in the same manner that comets did in Galaxy. The Mario team is normally pretty darn creative so I know if they tried they could come up with something good that also fits Mario 64.
So there you have it. I have a few more items on this want list. If I can come up with five more, I’ll make a follow up to this post. If you want to see what those items are now though, you can check the video in the link above!
Thanks again for reading guys! If you are excited for the remakes, leave a comment down below and let me know what you would add.
Continued Reading:
Somali and the Forest Spirit Episode 1 Review!
Manga Monday: Clay Lord Master of Golems
The Mandalorian Review
Girlish Number- Random Wednesday Number 1
It’s Been Too Long
Ugh.
We came back with a force and put up some of our best post to date. I was energized and passionate. This is not a post saying I’ve lost the spark or the passion. Just the opposite, in fact. I find myself everyday thinking “I wish I could post something.” However, I go through a few thought processes a day.
The major thing that happened was dealing with the family. New dirt and old scars were brought up about crap I thought was long dead and gone. I say it all the time that this blog is kind of like a memory jar for me to go back and view after time has passed. Personally, something huge happened in my family recently that I think will be a complete non-issue in two years. That or my family will be pretty messed up in the long run. So in two years I may revisit this post and see how things are looking. Though, it did completely ruin me for about 3 days and has severally lowered my energy levels. Its one of the reasons I have not bothered streaming at all lately.
Secondly, is on top of that, Jessica’s cousins that we’ve been babysitting since Covid hit are getting worse. They are either getting burned out of Jessica and myself or they are really missing their dad. Either way, my energy levels have been drastically down and they’ve been more of handful recently. It means I just dont have the energy to put on a good stream, yet.
Well, later today Ill upload the Manga Haul #2. Then Ill upload my thoughts on Pokemon Snap getting new life and finally at some point this week, I’ll talk about my history as a collector. So stay tune.
For now, that is all. With any luck, these post will be funneling out through the week.
As always, thanks for reading!
Reacting to the PS5 Announcement Stream!
If you’re like me, you recently watched the latest PS5 announcement stream. Admitted, I was busy editing and babysitting among other things to focus on every single game. However, if a game caught my interest I tried to pause what I was doing to check it out. Today, I am going to be discussing the 5 PS5 games revealed today or June 11th, not sure when Ill actually get this out. This means while Last of Us 2 is in my top 5 most anticipated PS5 games, it wont make this list in particular.
Haven’t seen the video in question? Check it here!
Let’s go ahead and get the honorable mentions out of the way. There’s plenty and plenty of honorable mentions. In fact of the 26 or so games, well over 20 of them interested me. However, I am going to take a minute just to discuss a few. I’ll lead off with Horizon Zero Dawn West. What, PS5’s big system seller is only an honorable mention? Well, that’s mostly because I did not play the first one. I’m one of those people who tries to play the first one when available even if you dont have too. This is one reason I am not far into the Mass Effect or Dragon Age trilogies. I understand this game is going to be groundbreaking. I am sure I’ll get around to it. But for today, it is a spectacle I marvel at in the distance.
Next, Kena: Bridge of Spirits. This one did not catch my attention during the stream. Honestly, I mostly only learned about it recently. However, what I learned about it and from the few seconds I actually saw of it, it has me interested enough to keep up with it.
Lastly for mentions is Sackboy: A Big Adventure. This game from what I saw looks similar to New Super Lucky Tales. It looks like it might switch between 3D and 2D levels. Honestly, I am fan. Not sure its a 60 dollar title for me, but we will see.
Let’s get started with #5
#5 Astro’s Playroom. I don’t have a great bit to say. People are going to see this game made my top 5 and then they will see what games didn’t and they will be confused. But, simply put, this is my style of game. A nice, colorful 3D platformer. If it controls well, I will certainly be picking this up. If I get it day 1 or not depends entirely on price vs length of the game. It didn’t look like a 60 dollar game to me. Still, something I cannot wait to play.
#4 Death Loop
The set up is fine. As indicated by the name, you play a man stuck in a time loop. I’m not going to delve much into any one thing here with this top five, but its the gameplay not the story that really has me. This looks like Bioshock meets Dishonored. I am here for it.
#3 Resident Evill 8
Really, the only survival horror I even care about. I missed 7. So, I am not sure how dependent this one’s story will be on 7. Even though it looks like a prequel, the text leads me to believe it is set in the present. I could be wrong there. It also looks like it is building on the atmosphere and game play style of 7 from what I could tell.
#2 Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Considering the only PS4 game I’ve played is Spider-man, you can bet I am hyped for the sequel. Personally, I really loved the first one and I am big collector of comics, so this game is a no brainer for me. Insomniac is one of my favorite video game studios so this is a must pick up for me.
#1 Ratchet and Clank
Duh. This was easily the best looking game. Maybe not as epic in scale as Horizon Zero Dawn, but again, Insomniac are professionals. They have mastered the Ratchet and Clank games and I expect this to be a total return to form from the PS2 days. I have big hopes for this game. If I could only preorder one title, this would be it. I hope this is a launch title. I dont have much more too add. I think this game will be a slam dunk and easily be remembered as one of the better PS5 early games.
Well that’s it for me. Let me know what games you enjoyed discovering here recently. As always thanks for watching. Have a great day!
Reacting to my very first post “To all Potential Readers,”
I’m going to just copy and paste my very first post here so we can talk about it.
This is my very first post so this will be a run down of what content I will be putting out!
I am going to be blogging on mostly what anime I am watching, what comic books I am reading, what video games I am playing. Every now and again I will post about movies music or sports too!
Here is a list of what anime’s I am watching and how far I am into them: Naruto(415), One Piece(170), Attack on Titan(Episode 27),Parasyte-The Maxim(24) Assassination Classroom(17), Death Parade(12) Is it Wrong to Try and Pick up Girls In A Dungeon(10),
Ones i plan to start watching: Akame Ga Kill, Punch Line, Kill La Kill, Fairy Tale, Reborn, etc.
Games I currently Playing: Madden 15, Fallout New Vegas, Pokemon, Super Smash Bros, Majora Mask 3DS, Borderlands Pre-Sequel, Fable, Wind Waker(wiiU)
Comics in 2015 I am reading: Aquaman and the Others(1-7) Lobo(1-5), Secret Wars(0-1), Convergence(0-5) Suicide Squad(3,5). I am mostly a 60’s-80’s kinda guy.
Also, I will be doing weekly Top Fives!
If this sounds like stuff you want to talk about and hear my opinions on be sure to check out often!
Okay, lets break it down.
“I am going to be blogging on mostly what anime I am watching, what comic books I am reading, what video games I am playing.”
I would say I kept this part pretty faithful. Anime and manga reviews make up the bulk of my content. I’ve kept comic books off for the most part. I’ve talked about Pokemon and Zelda a good bit.
“Here is a list of what anime’s I am watching and how far I am into them: Naruto(415), One Piece(170), Attack on Titan(Episode 27),Parasyte-The Maxim(24) Assassination Classroom(17), Death Parade(12) Is it Wrong to Try and Pick up Girls In A Dungeon(10),”
Okay, so I have seen all of Naruto since making this post. One Piece, I am up to 300 and something. Attack on Titan, I am a few episodes into season 2. Parasyte only ran for 24 episodes if I remember right. Death Parade I think only ran for 12. I’m not sure I’ve seen anymore of Assassination Classroom. I think I finished season one of Is it Wrong to Try and Pick up Girls In A Dungeon. However many was that.
Since this post, I’ve watched Season One of My Hero Academia and Food Wars. Im on episode #10 of Tower of God. I’ve seen all of Girlish Number, The Devil is a Part Timer and Amagi Brilliant Park, loved all of them. I’ve seen up to about episode 4 of Dr. Stone. I’d love to revisit this one. I actually finished season 1 of Monster Musume oddly enough. Not sure if it got a 2nd season. Case Closed and Yu Yu Hakusho are two I’ve seen a lot of but I couldnt even tell you where I was on them. I’ve seen a handful of episode 1s that havent been brought up on the blog yet.
“Games I currently Playing: Madden 15, Fallout New Vegas, Pokemon, Super Smash Bros, Majora Mask 3DS, Borderlands Pre-Sequel, Fable, Wind Waker(wiiU)”
So, I actually have restarted playing New Vegas but on PS3. Not with any consistency though. I still play Pokemon of course, but now I am up to Sword.
Here’s the games I am playing now: A Hat in Time, Yo Kai Watch (3DS), Super Mario Odyssey, DOOM (XBOX ONE), The Outer Worlds (XBOX ONE), Pokemon Sword, Shovel Knight (Wii U), Bloons Tower Defense 5 (Steam).
“Comics in 2015 I am reading: Aquaman and the Others(1-7) Lobo(1-5), Secret Wars(0-1), Convergence(0-5) Suicide Squad(3,5). I am mostly a 60’s-80’s kinda guy.”
A few things may jump out to you. A. Nothing really Marvel. I had Secret Wars 0-1. Not super impressive. Truth be told, aside from Daredevil and Ghost Rider, I don’t read a lot of Marvel anymore. One day I may try to read more of the new X-Men titles. B. This was all DC New 52 stuff. I love that era. I actually quickly fell out of New Comics shortly after this past. In fact, at the time, I don’t think I got another new comic until 2018 during DC’s Universe/Rebirth (Their modern iteration). I may go back an update this part with all my new comics later. I don’t have it written down and again, comics have never been a big part of this blog.
Okay, I am going to add a teaser part. Mangas. At the time of this post, I never really owned a manga that I didn’t get from my brother. It didn’t take long into the blogs life for me to rectify this problem. Here’s a list of the major manga’s I collect
Dragon Ball (3-1 editions of Volumes 1-18), Dragon Ball Z (3-1 editions of Volumes 1-6), My Hero Academia (Volume 1-13), Eden Zero (Volumes 1-5), Rave Master (Volumes 1, 3-4, 15-17), Samurai 8 The Tale of Hachimaru (Volumes 1 and 2. Current up to this point). I’ll go more in depth about my manga collection later, but these are the ones I really care about.
Also, I will be doing weekly Top Fives!
If this sounds like stuff you want to talk about and hear my opinions on be sure to check out often!
Top Fives are the longest running topic on the blog! It got started with top 5 Pokemons, than top 5 reasons to own a Wii U, and then 5 things I want from E3. I just put out one like last week or so talking about Mario levels. Later this week, I will be revisiting my original top fives. Safe to say this might be my favorite section but they are thought provoking.
Well, thats it for today. I might revisit this post over the next few days an add more as I reflect on my five years here. That’s if I get the time. I have been surprising busy this week. I might just leave it as it is. Just depends how I feel I suppose.
As always, thanks some much for reading. You can read the original on its original page here.
Da_Hubbz 