Thursday, May 17, 2018

If they Win- Stormcloacks of Skyrim

Two sides in a civil war: neither is truly good nor truly evil. Both have their strong points and their weaknesses, their heroes and their bastards. In Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, we are presented with a civil war of such magnitude between the Empire of Tamriel and the rebel Stormcloacks. Today though, no analysis of this situation; only a hypothetical look into the implications of a Stormcloack victory.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Act Raiser 2- A Word

When Act Raiser was released in 1990, it gained some minor fame for its blending of simplified Sim style gameplay with some passable and challenging platforming hack and slash. The game was good, but not great; it earned enough to spawn a sequel. That sequel, Act Raiser 2, has been derided as one of the most disappointing sequels in gaming. But was it? Is Act Raiser 2 a disappointment?

Wednesday, May 9, 2018

My Favorite Boss Fights of All Time

You've read the title, you know what this is. These are my top 5 Boss Battles of ALL TIME. Let's do this.

Monday, April 30, 2018

A Quick PSA

Yes, gaming is great fun and all, but here's a few tips from me to you so you can enjoy a healthy gaming life.

Saturday, April 21, 2018

Between the Lines- Stardew Valley's Joja Company

There is no politics involved here; only the cold, hard facts. If you are pro-capitalism, this blog entry will challenge your beliefs and make you wholly uncomfortable. You have been warned.

Stardew Valley is one of the most relaxing games I'v ever played. It's bright, cheery, soothing, and of course, fun. But a bone of contention among the fandom, and gamers as a whole, lays in the game's criticism of capitalism via the Joja Company. The game presents Joja as a soulless, greedy megacorp that has its hands in the pockets of both government as well as local economies. I'm not here to argue that this presentation is fair; I'm here to present the real life inspirations for this company.

Saturday, April 14, 2018

Final Fantasy 8- Five Points of Brilliance

When it came out, Final Fantasy 8 was quickly (and unfairly) unfavorably compared to its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7. Of course following what many hailed as the greatest game of all time is no easy task, and wether FF8 is as good as FF7 is up for debate. There is no question that FF8 is fundamentally flawed, and many of these flaws bring the game down considerably. But I have compiled a short list of five elements that underscore the BRILLIANCE of FF8, and why it deserves to be hailed as one of the finest RPG's of AT LEAST the PS1 era.

Friday, April 6, 2018

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim- A Smoking Gun! Saadia vs the Alik'r

In Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim there is a side quest that, on its surface, seems to employ the old trope of He Said She Said; you don't know who's telling you the truth, and yet you still have to pick a side. Neutrality is no option. I speak of the side quest In My Time of Need, a sidequest that, until recently, had no clear cut answer. But I have found in  game what I believe to be the "smoking gun" that can put to rest this issue once and for all.