Blog, Blog, Bloq

 This is actually a tough thing to write. Not because I have nothing else to say, but because I already wrote something on Crow Country. I had a really great time when I was playing it, and out of the new releases that I got a hold of, it was simply the best. A well-made game that was paced properly. There is never a time in Crow Country where I felt like it dragged, or I was wasting my time. I especially appreciate games, like Crow Country, that know how long the player will be engaged with the game, and when it starts to overstay it's welcome.  Not to mention, the old-school PS1 style was nailed extremely well. From the atmosphere to the overall sound design. This is more noticeable when you go back and play older titles from this era. Like the Resident Evils, Silent Hill, Parasite Eves, and so on. And then you factor in games that try to emulate that experience. Realistically, there aren't many other games that can do this. I mean, the only one that comes to mind is Alisa. ...

 There are many things that I enjoy in this world. And one of those things is when art breaks the boundaries of their conventions. Something middling can drown out these faults because of how the presentation is handled. It's that creativity and willingness to try that makes me love something. An example of this for me is the game, Killer is Dead. An action game from Grasshopper Manufacture that outperforms because of how beautiful the art style is, along with the over-the-top nature of the gameplay and storytelling. It makes this impression that lasts amongst a sea of other titles.  While this example is more about my love for silly, and sometimes creepy action titles. The reason for the season is Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain. A movie that I have been waiting for since it was announced years ago. The original anime captured my love for Japanese Folklore stories along with an art style that I had not seen used much in animation. Mononoke was not only able to convey ...

I'm a tad bit late on the write-up this time around because of some life stuff. But in that time, I was able to kind of mull over some things that I wanted to do. The main reason for that is my indecisiveness on this post. So, I kind of just went with this topic. The Parental Figure and Child dynamic. And I am going to focus on positive examples. I don't need to delve into the myriad of people that weren't lucky enough to get loving parents. That's not me, or my place. But the main reason for this, is because I miss my Dad.  I've been reading books and comics, watching television and movies, and playing games for so many years. But, one of the events that made me reflect heavier, think more on the media I engage with, was when my Dad died. It happened slowly, for months that felt like years. Even though I went through it with my family. It felt like I was fighting on my own.  Dealing with the pressure of going through my Senior year in College was immense. Any bump ...

 I'm not gonna lie, I was kinda stumped on what to write about this time around. A lot of bullshit is really hampering the processes. So, I was thinking about doing something with TV and Movies again. Initially, I was going to go in a much different direction focusing on media literacy, but I have decided to talk about the Sonic OVA instead, or Sonic the Hedgehog: The Movie for US people and others who had this cut. One of the big reasons I have decided to go in this direction is the appreciation for this early take on the Blue Blur. There is so much personality and characterization that I feel many adaptations of Sonic seem to lack.  It's a version of Sonic that is absolutely indicative of the time and culture. So, I find it funny that the OVA was produced at Studio Pierrot, known for Naruto and Bleach, and not Toei Animation, known for Dragon Ball and One Piece. Given the obvious relation to Dragon Ball in general and how the OVA is reminiscent of the Sonic CD animations tha...

 The time has finally come for fans of 1995s Clock Tower. As the release for Clock Tower: Rewind is finally upon us. And it gives everything needed in order to show that it still has it. I have been anticipating this release since the announcement was made. Clock Tower was a series that died before its time, and now it's in the hands of everyone worldwide for the first time legitimately. No more emulators for Jennifer needed. So, I implore anyone reading this to go and buy this game. The amount of love packed into it is more than worth the price.  But what makes this game worth it? The simple answer is everything, yet that doesn't sell many people on why they should care. And I don't blame them because the era of Horror in Video Games and Movies is booming. There are so many projects coming and going that it's overwhelming. However, what Clock Tower brings to the genre is ingenuity, beauty, and that love for Horror and the movies that it takes inspiration from.  To star...