Blog, Blog, Bloq

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 Blue Blur is back and I couldn't be happier because this game went above and beyond my expectations. Sonic Team really put a great step forward. While the game is not perfect by any means, it was exactly what I wanted out of a Sonic game. An over the top, speedy whirlwind with a lot of heart. Just the ways that Sonic can be cheeky while also worrying about those around him was pleasant to see. It felt like back in the Adventure days and the narrative really showed that. With the recent announcement of the DLC coming, I felt like it was a good time to gush about the Speed Rat. In my time with the game so far, I have been able to obtain all of the achievements and completely S-Rank all of the Cyberspace levels. As of right now, there is not much for me to do with the game but get faster times on levels or explore more of the finished open zones. So that means when the DLC drops, I'll be diving back in. That genuinely makes me excited because this game was able to capture so ...

 There are many things to enjoy when playing video games, but the one for players like me is finishing everything the game has to offer. This bar can mean different things depending on the console era as achievements or trophies serve as this benchmark for this specific hobby. Letting us know when the time is up on the experience. Even this simple joy does not extend into all the possible genres as we have our comforts and preferred playstyles. Ultimately, it depends on whether or not that game is for you or if the grind is truly worth it. I'll take you through some of my completions and my current fancy to give an idea of how this joy can shift into a chore the more you play it.  One of my favorite completions thus far has been for the original Xbox remaster, Voodoo Vince. A 3D platformer about a Voodoo doll in a New Orleans-esque setting trying to save his owner. The appeal of the game is the setting and the wise-cracking Vince. Nothing too crazy, but I played the game as a ...