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Zero Time Dilemma: Time To Die A Lot

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The end of my journey with Zero Escape is here. An epic conclusion of a phenomenal series is what I wish that I could write. But, the franchise never gets to the heights that 999 was able to garner. While Virtue's Last Reward had more of a bloat and filler issue. Zero Time Dilemma feels painfully short. The game looks worse, has worse versions of half of the returning characters, and has too minimal of interaction from the player. It makes me wish that they would've just done separate Nonary Games for each title with no strings attached.  Even the threads that come from VLR into ZTD aren't the best. Especially when you consider that characters like Alice and Clover were so closely involved with the plot line in VLR, and in some cases with 999, yet they are absent from this game completely. And when you think about the idea that VLR and ZTD were made in conjunction with each other, it starts to become more baffling. So, you have this sequel that picks up almost exactly at th...

Horror Movies: The Slashing Appeal

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 I think a lot about how the Horror genre is vast and expansive. And one of the things that I think gets overlooked, is the Slasher genre. Many of them are sloppy and lack tact, but what makes them click so well for me is the level of effort. It takes a lot to craft an engaging villain and an expendable cast for the audience to grasp onto. Today, I just kind of want to talk about Slasher movies in general, might even slip some Giallo in because of how similar Italian movies can be with their American peers. First, I would like to mention Psycho (1960) [Directed by Alfred Hitchcock] a bit. It's a film that predates our modern rendition, but it is important to note. Psycho delivers us some staples that still permeate today. You have Janet Leigh's Marion Crane isolated at this Motel run by Anthony Perkin's Norman Bates. And unbeknownst to Marion, Norman is watching her. Awaiting the perfect moment to strike. So, Psycho is this really well crafted film that has laid the foundat...

Resident Evil: Fix the Camera Perspective

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 At this point, it's well documented that I love Horror games. And recently I have been playing through some Resident Evil titles. So far on my journey, I have gone through RE1 Remake, RE2 Remake, and RE3 Remake. Those are the completions thus far, with RE: Code Veronica being my current playthrough at the moment. I think that all of these games bring something unique and fun to the table, but what I really want RE to come back around on is the Fixed Camera.  I don't mind if they bring back Tank Controls because I can do with or without them. However, I think that having a classic styled RE game like how Prince of Persia recently came out with a 2D sidescroller or how Mario and Sonic still utilize 2D gameplay alongside their modern 3D stuff can still be fulfilling. So, I think that RE1R makes a powerful case for going back to the Fixed Camera.  There are a number of elements that play into this train of thought for me. The first being that second word, perspective. Perspe...

Perfect Blue: See, I'm Real

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 I want to start this off by saying, RIP to David Lynch. A Master of Horror, who's influence is seen at so many levels of media. Without people like him, we don't get many of the movies, shows, or games that we do. But the reason I am here, is for Perfect Blue.  An incredible and uncomfortable film that was made by Satoshi Kon and the talented team at Madhouse. Prior to my first watch, I really didn't know much about the movie. And I think that is important. Because my only frame of reference was that the main character, Mima, was an idol and being stalked. But what I experienced was much more harrowing.  Perfect Blue goes on the shelf as one of those movies that makes even the most steeled individuals uncomfortable. I say this because I am one of those individuals. I can watch and play most Horror media without being phased. I grew up on stuff like Friday the 13th. Gore is not going to deter me from anything. But there comes a time when even I get tripped up. While there...

2024 Game of the Year: Crow Country

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 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. ...

Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain: Colorful Euphoria

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 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 ...