REVIEW - "POKEMON SUN AND MOON"

A reinvigorated adventure for the franchise's 20th anniversary. 

20 years is a long time. It's especially so for a media franchise that's still actively creating new installments. Few franchises in gaming are as enduring as Pokemon, and even fewer still have had the impact that Pokemon has. The problem is, when a franchise has been going on for as long as Pokemon has, it starts to fall into a bit of a formula. Even when the formula's as winning as Pokemon's is, it starts to feel a bit samey. Get your starter Pokemon, battle your rival, collect the eight Gym badges, battle your rival some more, face the Elite Four and ultimately the champion, and then ultimately become the champion yourself. It's not a bad formula (I mean it's been going on for 20 years), but a little refresh is what Pokemon desperately needed. Pokemon Sun and Moon aren't a complete overhaul of the franchise, nor should it have been, but it's made enough worthwhile changes that will attract newcomers and veterans alike.

There's a variety of new species for you to discover (and capture)

The most noteworthy change in Sun and Moon are the complete abandonment of the standard Pokemon gym challenge. In previous entries in the series, most towns would house a gym dedicated to a single type (Grass, Fire, Water, etc.) that houses a gym leader, whom you would fight for a badge. The Island Challenge doesn't necessarily deviate completely from this system, but it's certainly a big change for the series. There are seven trials scattered around the four islands of Alola, and each trial has a captain running it, still specializing in a single type, though you do not need to fight them as part of your journey. Each trial culminates in a battle with a so-called "Totem Pokemon" of the type corresponding with the captain. At the end of each island you will face the "Kahuna" in that island's "Grand Trial," who also specializes in a certain type. So while combat is still an integral part of the experience, it's not the focus of these trials, rather, the focus is on deepening your connection with the world.

The world is honestly what struck me the most about Sun and Moon. Unlike previous regions, which merely felt like settings for your journey, Alola feels like a lived-in world; a world that's alive, one with its own defined culture, which is no more apparent than in the Island Challenge. Each trial is different, and the fact that I didn't know exactly what it would be helped keep the excitement going. As the captains and kahunas are more than merely obstacles in your way to being champion, but rather supervisors of your journey, they feel more like fully-formed characters than gym leaders of yore. That's not to say all of them receive compelling development, but its certainly a step in the right direction. The fact that each trial ends with you receive a Z Crystal (more on those later), rather than just a shiny decoration helped build the world out even more.

The world has never felt more alive than in these games

 More than any game prior, the world is dynamic and living. The ground isn't flat; the elevation changes constantly, and paths are winding. X and Y definitely innovated in terms of the visuals of Pokemon, though they were really nothing more than the 2D games with added depth. Towns still had the same layout, the world was relatively flat, and despite being able to move diagonally, your movement was still stuck to a grid. Sun and Moon finally break free from the grid, allowing to move freely in this world, making it even more dynamic.

Sun and Moon also streamline the Pokemon experience in numerous ways, the biggest being the elimination of HMs. This has been a long time coming, and the new Poke-Ride system is a vast improvement. Instead of forcing you to fill up a moveslot with an unforgettable (literally) HM move, you now can call a specific Pokemon to help you traverse the various obstacles in the field. It's a great system, and one I'm sure (I hope) will become a mainstay. The other is that once you've faced a Pokemon, the UI will tell you how effective a specific move is on it. Now, some may find this to be "too easy", but with eighteen types now on the board, and all the matchups that come with it, that can be a lot for some. Hell, it even lead me to discover a weakness that I didn't even know existed!

Now, like I said, Z Crystals and Z moves are a thing. Basically, there is a Z Crystal for each type (and some for specific Pokemon as well), and if you know a move of that type (or specific move if it's for a specific Pokemon), and have that crystal equipped, you can unleash a super-powered move. It's not a game-changing feature in a way Mega Evolution may have been, but it can definitely help if you're in a pinch.

The culture of Alola is a central theme in this game

So while I'm heaping praise to these games, they aren't perfect, either. One minor complaint is that your character smiles, all of the time. Even when something potentially cataclysmic is happening, you're still smiling. Nothing game-breaking, sure, but it definitely took me out of the experience from time to time.

 But the bigger issue is the game's pacing. The first island is slow, and almost feels like a slog to get through, which is especially noteworthy compared to the previous generation, X and Y and Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, which pretty much dropped you into the adventure and let you go. Sun and Moon have hours of tutorial for you to get through, but once you get off that first island, it picks up immediately. It's just a shame that those first few hours are so slow, because the story is the most compelling in any Pokemon game yet.

That's not to say the narrative is mind-blowing, but in terms of Pokemon games, only Black and White really have a claim to the best Pokemon story. Now, I know none of us play these games for the plot, but having a compelling plot definitely helps getting through the game that much more worthwhile. The story gets dark and pretty weird at times, though it can also be lighthearted as well. Not anything award-winning, but a step in the right direction for sure.

Sun and Moon aren't a complete reinvention of the series, but they were never supposed to be. What it is however, is enough a refresh that will not only attract newcomers and those who may have have fallen out of the series, but also those who have played every entry prior. Smart design choices make this the most streamlined Pokemon game yet, and it's story, setting, and character development is the best this series has seen. The game has some pacing issues, but outside of that, this is game anyone can pick up and enjoy. I can't think of a better way to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary, and dare I say, it's the best entry yet. Not a bad way to celebrate, is it?

-----

Are you as much of a Pokefanatic as me? Then follow me on Twitter! Even if you're not, still follow me on Twitter! And keep checking the blog out! Thanks!

REVIEW - "OXENFREE"

Of all the games I've played recently, Oxenfree has been one of the best when it comes to atmosphere. Wandering around Edwards Island was extremely engaging and unsettling. It also has some of the best character work and interactions I've seen in a game, which while not exactly realistic, worked for the world of the game. The biggest issue holding this game back is its pacing, but despite this, Oxenfree is something special.

The game is often very creepy and unssettling

Oxenfree casts you as Alex, a girl who is approaching a crossroads at her life. We've all been there; approaching graduation, unsure of what do to do with our lives. Alex has also recently had tragedy in her life, which has also had an impact on other people in her life. The game begins with Alex, her friend Ren, and new stepbrother Jonas going to Edwards Island, an abandoned island, where they plan to meet some others to have a party. Turns out the only other people there are fellow students Nona and Clarissa, who doesn't like Alex especially. You later find out why, and that adds another layer to the relationships between these characters.

Dialogue choices affect your relationships with the characters

The characters and their relationships are what help make this game stand out. As the game progresses, more and more layers of these characters are revealed, deepening your connection to them. The dialogue isn't the most fluid and realistic, but the voice performances are so good that it fit perfectly in this world. Early in the story, I found Ren to be quite irritating, and I tended to side with other characters during the game, and that came back to haunt me. The character I connected with the most was Jonas, who was my first companion during the game. Because of this, I decided to go on my whole journey with Jonas, and two people who were almost strangers slowly became siblings.

One of the best mechanics of the game is that there are no true cut scenes. Conversations and dialogue choices are made while walking from one location to another, which helped keep the game's flow going. And I'm glad I never lost control, as I was completely enthralled with the world of this game. The game slowly became more and more unsettling, and by the end of the game it became a full-on horror game. I just wish the pacing of the game were better.

Oxenfree involves a lot of walking

Now, I know I said that the lack of cut scenes helped keep the flow, but that doesn't mean it didn't mean the game's pacing was consistent. In fact, there were many points where the game started to drag. You see, the only form of transportation in this game is walking, and there are no quick-travel points. So that means you have to walk to every point in this game, and many times it involves walking through many locations before getting to your destination. Now, the conversations mentioned earlier do help, but many times these end before you get there, meaning it's just you walking in silence to your next location.

This criticism also applies to the game's mechanics, or rather, mechanic. There's only one real mechanic in this game, and that's the radio that Alex has on hand. The radio is used in everything, from unlocking doors to closing supernatural rifts. This becomes a bit monotonous, as all you do is reach a location, open your radio, and cycle through it until you reach the one station that happens to be the solution to that specific problem. This problem is amplified when you get an upgrade to your radio later in the game, which has even more stations to choose from. Now, this isn't something that ruins the game, but it is most glaring issue in what is otherwise an amazing game.

Oxenfree isn't perfect, but it's so far my favorite game of the year. The narrative, character development, performances, and environment all come together to create one of the most memorable experiences I've had in a long time. I was engaged and connected with the characters all throughout, and I cared so much that I thought carefully about which dialogue options I chose, lest I run the risk of ruining my relationships with the others. The mystery at the center of the story is something I actively wanted to get to the bottom of, and the atmosphere was effectively unsettling. The game's pacing issues unfortunately bring the game down, and it has the unfortunate problem of monotony, but at the center of it all it's an engaging and heartfelt story about growing up and dealing with all the problems that occurs along with it.

TEN WORLDS THAT WOULD BE TOTALLY AWESOME IN KINGDOM HEARTS III

Kingdom Hearts III is coming. It's probably not coming for a very long time, but it's coming. One of the most exciting things about the release of a new Kingdom Hearts game is speculation on what worlds will be in it, and since the release of Kingdom Hearts II, the last major console game in the series, partner Disney has grown a lot. Since 2006, Disney has acquired Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm. So, worlds based off of Star Wars, The Avengers, and Finding Nemo could all theoretically be in KH3. We've already got three confirmed worlds so far, returning standby Olympus Coliseum (based off of Hercules), and two new worlds based on some of Disney's newest animated features, Big Hero 6 and Tangled. Here I'm going to list ten worlds I would like to see in this coming game.

-----

Frozen

I'm gonna start with the obvious here. Frozen's gonna be in this game. You know it, I know it, everyone knows it. How could it not? Frozen is not only the ninth highest-grossing film, it's also the highest-grossing animated film. While the hype may have died somewhat, Frozen was a phenomenon. How kids of certain generation see The Lion King as their film, many will see Frozen as their's. It's just too obvious. But I also think it has the potentially to work gameplay-wise as well. Not only are the snowy environments something we haven't really seen in a Kingdom Hearts game, but Elsa would also make a great party member, with her awesome ice powers. Plus, since Rapunzel's going to be a party member in this game, it would be really awesome to be able to get more than one female companion this time!

Wall-E

No, I'm not talking about the garbage-filled world that Wall-E starts off in (though that would be a cool concept). What I want to see is the Axiom, the ship that most of Wall-E's narrative takes place on. It could be flying around the world map, as the world they had previously inhabited become inhabitable. I just think the Axiom would be a cool setting to explore, it's so vast and many areas are distinct from each other. Plus, it could all culminate in a boss battle with Auto, the rogue robot piloting the ship.

Indiana Jones

So this isn't the Lucasfilm property that everyone else is talking about wanting to see in this game. While I think including Star Wars in the Kingdom Hearts universe would be awesome, and while it wouldn't surprise me to see it show up, I just think introducing Star Wars presents its own set of problems. But something I think could work is Indiana Jones. Being able to explore the jungles, find treasures, and fight Nazis with Indy (young Indy, obviously) is just too good for me to pass up. Plus just imagine the weird shit you can fight as bosses.

The Rocketeer

This is kind of a weird choice, admittedly. The Rocketeer was not a box-office success, and would have faded into obscurity if not for the fact that it had developed a cult following. This has led Disney to begin plans for a sequel/reboot coming out sometime, so the film will definitely be back in people's heads soon. So why not get the ball rolling here, and have The Rocketeer show up in Kingdom Hearts III?  The period setting would be unlike anything we've seen in a Kingdom Hearts game before, and having the Rocketeer join your party could lead to some awesome aerial battles.

The Princess and the Frog

This is another film that I feel is likely to show up. If not, it would be a huge missed opportunity. The setting of the film, 1920's New Orleans and its surrounding bayou, would just be something that would be so awesome to explore. This would probably necessitate the party's transformation into frogs (because of course), and battles with Dr. Facilier (and his voodoo spirits) could be some of the coolest in the series. 

Brave

First off, this film is beautiful. Running through the Scotland woods and mountains would be breathtaking. Plus, Merida and her bow are badass. And you could fight a bear.  Also, now I'm picturing Sora fighting while on horseback and now I don't want anything else.

Wreck-It Ralph

Oh, come on. This one's obvious. It's a freakin movie about video games. Honestly, my idea would be for this level to be exclusively set in the Sugar Rush video game, since that's where the bulk of the film takes place. Plus, it would take potential licensing issues out of this, since it would only be inhabited by original characters. The bright, candy-colored (no pun intended) visuals would look incredible on current-gen hardware. And Vanellope's glitching ability would just be cool gameplay-wise.

Gravity Fals

So this is new. A television show, not a film. But if you've seen Gravity Falls, you know that it would be perfect in this game. Set in Oregon, this beloved (and now sadly over) Disney Channel show involves two twins, Dipper and Mabel, who spend the summer with their "Grunkle" in the town of Gravity Falls. To call this town weird would be an understatement, so much strange, supernatural shit happens in this town, and much of it borders on creepy, which is something that we really haven't seen in a Kingdom Hearts game. Plus, using this property could lead to some crazy boss battles.

Kim Possible

Look, another TV show! Who said these games could only have movies anyway?  I think Kim Possible (another dearly departed Disney Channel show) could work great as a world in KH3. Kim would be a great party member, and her rogues gallery could mean we could have a lot of really cool villains in this level. 

Cars???

Listen, I'm not really sure I want to see Sora & co. turned into cars. I just feel like this world would work well as a minigame-focused area, similar to 100 Acre Wood. I think Radiator Springs is a compelling enough setting on its own, and minigames involving racing different courses has the potential to be something really fun and different. That's honestly all I've got to say here.

-----

What worlds would you want to see in Kingdom Hearts III? Let me know! Also keep checking out the blog and follow me at @aidansimonds!

Single-Player Games Can Be Bonding Experiences, Too

Note: *Mild* spoilers for Until Dawn follow

-----

A few months ago, I acquired a PlayStation 4. Earlier this month, I decided to do a play through of Sony's horror game Until Dawn, developed by Supermassive Games. I figured since it's October, and I'm a huge fan of horror films, spending my time with what is essentially an interactive horror film would be perfect. What I ended up getting out of it was something more.

Video games are known to be something to bring people together, but most of the time people are playing multiplayer games. Some of our most fond gaming memories consist of playing with friends, from Goldeneye to Super Smash Bros., and from Wii Sports to League of Legends. But something that isn't talked about as much is the single-player bonding experience. Just because someone isn't actually playing a game, doesn't mean they can't get pulled into it as well. Narrative-focused games, especially those involved with choice, can provide a great social opportunity with friends.

Being Engrossed by the Experience

I was planning on putting a proper review here, but by the time I finished the game I realized I had more to write about than that. I went into the living room of my apartment, turned the lights off, and started my long night in the Canadian wilderness. As I progressed through the first chapter, some of my roommates entered the living room and noticed what was going on the TV screen. By the time the characters were being chased by an unseen force (later revealed to be a carnivorous Wendigo, a poor soul who resorted to cannibalism, which triggers the transformation into the dangerous creature), they were sitting on the couch, completely pulled in to the experience. Soon I decided to let them know when I wanted to play it again, and I realized this was no longer a game I was playing on my own, but instead something I was experiencing with my friends as well.

I always had others assist me in making decisions in instances like this

It was more than just watching me play, however. They were actively involved in the experience, helping me make decisions, assisting me in QTE's, and just overall commenting on the events occurring. It made the experience that much more engaging for everyone; it was more than a group-watching experience.

More Than Just One Instance

Despite Until Dawn being the spark for this piece, it's more than just that, though. In fact, a similar experience actually happened right after one of my Until Dawn playthroughs.

I played the first episode of Batman: The Telltale Series back in August, and only recently played the second one about a week ago, due to other commitments. When one of my roommates realized the game was by the same developer as The Wolf Among Us, he immediately sat down to watch along. Soon he was also helping me make decisions here as well, especially a case where I had to decide to visit Gotham City's mayor as either Batman or Bruce Wayne. He witnessed the birth of Two-Face, among other things.

It's possible to have multiple people be involved in decisions like this with Telltale's crowd play

Speaking of Telltale, this is even something they brought in as a feature, starting with Batman. Crowd play is a new feature that allows "audience members" (aka your friends) to give their input on what decisions should be made online, with the game either showing you what has been suggested, or the game outright choosing the most popular. The developers noted this was created because they noticed how popular it was for spectators to be actively involved in these story-driven games. This just shows you that even developers are realizing that single-player-designed games don't have to be exclusively single-player

Single-Player Doesn't Mean Others Can't Be Invovled

Sure, multiplayer games are an amazing time. Watching friendships deteriorate during a round of Mario Party, shooting your way through the zombie apocalypse in Left 4 Dead,  or laughing at your friend driving off Rainbow Road, only to find yourself in the same exact situation, are all memories I'm sure resonate with most people. But sometimes playing a game with someone else doesn't need to involve a second controller. Sometimes it's just seeing someone else play a game that's catching your eye. For me, it was watching one of my friends play Portal 2. What I was watching was just so compelling; next thing I knew, I was helping him figure out solutions for the puzzles.

So long story short, games created to be single-player don't have to exclusively have one person actively involved in the experience. Just because one person has the controller doesn't mean no one else can participate. Whether it's helping you make story decisions, advising you on which side quest to start, or just helping you find a solution to the puzzle to make it through that tomb/dungeon/temple/etc. Sometimes being a spectator means more than just watching the adventure, it's being a part of the adventure.

-----

I'd love to hear your feedback! And if you want to see more of my rambling, follow me at @aidansimonds on Twitter.  

THE SPOOPIEST FILMS YOU'LL EVER SEE (AKA MY TOP 10 HORROR FILMS)

It's October. The leaves are beginning to change, the temperature is getting ever so colder, and Halloween is right around the corner. And who doesn't love Halloween? You can dress up in a ridiculous costume, and it's the perfect excuse to get purposely scared!

A large number of us love being scared. Whether it be a haunted house, horror novel, or good-old horror films, there's just something so fun about being scared, especially (if you're like me), you're with friends.

So with that said, in celebration of the spookiest month, here are my ten personal favorite horror films.

Halloween (1978)

The film that helped birth a genre. One of the first slasher films, Halloween is a tense ride from start to finish. From the very beginning it's more than clear that Michael Meyers is disturbed, being committed for a murder he did in his youth. Years later, he manages to escape and proceeds to cause terror throughout his hometown. One by one victims fall prey to his acts, all while keeping an eye on Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis, in her film debut). A surprising lack of gore actually helps to increase the suspense and fear.

Scream (1996)

Another slasher film, but one that's actually a satire on horror films in general. Unlike most horror films, these characters are aware of them and their formulas, and frequently comment on them and use them to their advantage. But don't be mistaken, despite it being a satire, this is not a comedic film. It's just as dark and disturbing as the other films on this list, with Ghostface, the film's antagonist, being a menacing and terrifying force.

It Follows (2014)

Some horror films don't rely on jump scares to give the audience their thrills. Sometimes all you need is an underlying feeling of tension. This is what makes It Follows so successful. The main threat isn't someone who waits for the moment to attack, but rather a force that slowly stalks its victims, never charging at its prey. But the catch is that once you're inflicted with this curse, you cannot get rid of it unless you give it to someone else (by having sex), so you either give the curse to someone else, or suffer the consequences. Also, super huge bonus points for this films awesome soundtrack.

The Witch (2015)

What makes The Witch work is its commitment to its setting. Taking place in 17th century New England, the film is extremely accurate, going all the way to the dialogue, which is very era-specific. Strange occurrences plague our protagonist Thomasin and her family, with them beginning to suspect that she may be a witch. The catch is, you know she's not a witch, that's not the main horror; instead, the main horror is seeing her family slowly turn against her, as well as figuring out what actually is behind the horror.

Alien (1979)

"In space, no one can hear you scream." There are few statements more chilling than that. In essence, Alien is really little more than a haunted-house film. But, setting it in space makes changes it substantially, as the characters do not have the option of escape. The Alien is, in my eyes, the most terrifying creature created for film, and its viscous tormenting of the Nostromo crew is what makes this the scariest film I've seen.

Nosferatu (1922)

I'll be honest here, the first time I ever heard of Nosferatu was on that episode of Spongebob Squarepants. You know the one. But after watching it on its own, I really appreciated it for what it is. Yes, it's a silent film from the 20's, and no, it's not exactly scary nowadays, but it's still an important film for any horror film fan. This was one of the first notable horror films, and if you can look past what some may see as its "shortcomings", you'll for sure have an enjoyable time.

The Shining (1983)

Even if you've never seen the film, you know it's most famous line. "Heeeereee's Johnny!", said by Jack Nicholson is one of the most haunting moments in any film. Based on the Stephen King novel of the same name (though there are significant differences between the two), the story of supernatural forces slowly corrupting author Jack Torrence is one of the scariest in any medium. A tense & frightening ending ending caps off one of the most thrilling & suspenseful films out there.

Dawn of the Dead (2004)

Yes, this is the 2004 version, not the 1978 one. Don't get me wrong, I definitely appreciate and enjoy the original version, but something about this update appeals to me more. Maybe it's because I find the newly agile zombies more terrifying than those in the original (ironically in contrast to what I said about It Follows). In all honesty, the 1978 film is probably objectively better than this one, but like I said, this is a list of my favorite films, so that's why this is here.

Carrie (1976)

High school on its own is almost like a horror movie, let alone going through high school and realizing you have supernatural powers. Carrie White has it hard enough, with a very overbearing mother (and that's understating things), a group of girls bullying her, and getting her first period. She discovers she has telekinetic abilities, and then life seems to begin to look up for her. But then it all goes burning down in flames (pun intended). This is one of the movies that still makes me cringe. Just make sure not to watch the 2013 remake, even though I love Chloe Grace Moretz.

The Conjuring (2013)

Sometimes the best thing to do is go back to basics. This is what makes The Conjuring work, it is an old-fashioned tale, though this isn't your average run-of-the-mill horror film. The story about a pair of paranormal investigators investigating strange occurrences at a Rhode Island home has become a modern-day horror classic, smartly using old-school scares to keep you on the edge of your seat.

-----

If you love horror as much as me, or you just want to follow more people on Twitter, go here! (It's me)

REVIEW - "ABZU"

If you think about it, the ocean is pretty scary. I'm sure you already know that we've only discovered about 5% of the earth's waters. When you think about it, it's amazing that there have been so few games actually taking place underwater and capitalizing on it's mysteries. You've got Flow, Endless Ocean, everybody's favorite Echo the Dolphin (which is amazing just for the absurdity of its story, but I digress), and a few others, but nothing particularly noteworthy (and no, I'm not counting Bioshock here, because even though it does take place underwater, that's hardly the focal point of it). Enter Abzu.

Riding the sea life was one of my favorite features of Abzu

Abzu takes place underwater, but the focus of this game isn't how scary the ocean is, but how much of it is there to discover, and how awe-inspiring it can be. There's no combat, no supplies, and no sort of health or time limit to worry about. The emphasis is on exploring this unknown section of our planet, and the game encourages you to take the time to do so, and discover some hidden objects, like enabling a whole new species of fish to roam around. However, this is not an open world game. It is very much a linearly progressed story, though each level encourages extra exploration.

There are many instances where you'll find yourself surrounded by fish

The most striking thing about Abzu to me was its visuals. The cell-shaded visuals are vibrant and colorful, and immediately make this game stand out.  The only time I really experienced any framerate issues was instances when the screen was filled with fish. Besides that, the game always ran smoothly. The controls are also surprisingly fluid, especially in comparison to other underwater controls. I don't know if I would call them "natural", however, but navigating Abzu's underwater world was some of the best underwater movement I've ever felt.

I've never felted more relaxed while playing a game, at least in recent memory. With no enemies or health to speak of, the game just wants you to explore and appreciate its world, and the ocean truly does feel like its own world. Each section of the game feels distinct from the other, with not only each area looking different, but each area has its own set of life as well. One of the coolest, and most relaxing features of the game, was the meditation feature. Each area includes a shark statue, where you can sit and literally meditate for as long as you want. When you meditate, you follow a certain species as they do their thing in the water, and can switch between the available ones. I spent a good amount of time just sitting and scrolling through the different fish, and seeing what they were up to.

Abzu includes many awe-inspiring moments

My biggest problem with Abzu was its story, or lack thereof one. Now, that's not to say there isn't a story, but it's so abstract that I couldn't follow along with most of it. I'm all for abstract storytelling, though. Case in point: 2013's Journey, which Abzu is very clearly inspired by, (the main force behind this game, Matt Nava, worked on Journey, natch) featured quite the abstract story, but it was told in such a way that it was very easy to follow along with. Abzu does has its moments; I got legitimately emotional during one scene, and it does have some surprises in store, but for me, the story was one of the weakest aspects.

Abzu isn't a perfect game, but it's a damn memorable one. It's probably not for everyone, though, but for those who can appreciate a game with no real objective other than exploration, Abzu highly recommended. If you want a game to just relax with, look no further than here.

-----

I'm as terrified as the ocean as I am completely fascinated by it. If you are too, you should follow me on Twitter!

LET'S REVISIT FINAL FANTASY VII - PART TWO

WARING: Spoilers follow 
For part one, click here

-----

Well, things just got weird. Basically, we learn that Tifa was last seen in the mansion of mafia man Don Corneo, who I think is looking for a bride. Unfortnuately for our heroes, no males (except those who work for Corneo) are allowed in the mansion, which leads Aeris to come up with a plan to dress Cloud up as a girl to get in. What follows is a very, um, strange series of events. After finding a dressmaker at a bar and getting him out of a funk, he makes a very beautiful dress for Cloud. However, that's not enough, so Cloud goes around town looking for accessories (wig, makeup, etc.) to pretty himself up some more. This brings us to the Honeybee Inn, which is pretty much a brothel. Cloud enters one of the rooms, but passes out after seeing a vision of himself? He's woken up by a man, who I'm pretty sure raped Cloud, and this game is suddenly a whole lot different than I remembered.

But we must press on, I guess, and Cloud & Aeris pretty themselves up to enter the mansion. They find Tifa, where we learn that she's here to get information from Don, as he may be involved with Shinra. They eventually confront him, and after threatening his geintalia, he admits he's been working with Shinra; not only that, he also reveals that Shinra plans on destroying Sector 7 (where our heroes reside), as that's where they believe the AVALANCHE headquarters is. Well, that's just not good at all, is it? But before our heroes have a chance to react, Don opens up a trapdoor, sending our heroes into the sewers. They make their way through the sewers, but not before defeating a giant pig monster.

When the group finally reaches Sector 7, it's already under attack, though the AVALANCHE crew is trying is best to defend it. Tifa and Cloud go to help Barret, while Aeris goes off on her own to look for Marlene. Honestly, that doesn't sound like a very good idea. Since all Materia leaves your possession as soon as you leave the party, all the girl's got to defend herself with is a giant stick. But no one seems to think about that, as they all go on their separate ways. Unfortunately, they're too late, to save the sector with Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie among the casualties. We hardly knew ye (literally). To add salt to the wound, they find out Shinra captured Aeris and is taking her to their headquarters. Guess that stick didn't do you much good, did it?

Tifa and Barret take this pretty hard, Barret especially so since he doesn't know where his daughter is. Coupled with the fact that 50% of AVALANCHE is now gone, things aren't looking good for our heroes. But none of that matters to Cloud, of course! No, he is more concerned with what all this "ancient" crap has to do with Aeris. Obviously the best place to start is with her mother, so they go back to Aeris' house, where, SURPRISE; Aeris took Marlene before she was kidnapped.  After a lot of climbing, our group finally makes it to Shinra HQ, and face their next challenge.

I guess I should talk a little more about the game itself, no? Well, after spending more time with the Materia system, I'm starting to warm up to it more, though I'm still not completely sold on it. Call me old fashioned, but I personally like when characters have defined classes and abilities, and you have to work your strategy around how they best fit in your party, a la Final Fantasy IV and IX. Don't ask me why, as I can't really put it into words, but I just find it more fascinating from a character and gameplay perspective. On the other hand, I really did end up loving the Sphere Grid of Final Fantasy X, but that's also a fair bit different than this. While the characters in X can theoretically learn any ability, they each start on a certain section of the grid, with abilities related to that character. So in a sense, the characters are somewhat divided into classes. The characters in VII are similar in that each character has different stats and different ways of attacking, but unless I'm mistaken any character can learn any ability. So while some characters may be better suited to learn magical rather than physical abilities, all characters can learn magic spells. Only three characters can be in your active party, and only X allowed you to switch characters mid-battle, so I'm not really sure what are the real advantages of the Materia system.

I may not be on board with this system quite yet, but I do know it's fairly popular, so I'm wondering if it becomes more complex the further into this adventure we get. But, that's for another time, because for now, our journey is on pause.

REVIEW - "LIGHTS OUT"

Warning: slight spoilers follow

-----

Horror is a very difficult genre to master. Besides comedy, it may be the hardest genre to be successful in. To genuinely scare your audience, and to have it feel natural and in service of the story, isn't easy. The last few years has been fairly interesting with regards to horror; along with the usual sub-par remakes and many films assuming gore = horror,  there have been some great horror films, like The Witch, It Follows, and The Conjuring, among others. Lights Out, from director David F. Sandberg and producer James Wan (The Conjuring, Insidious) is really none of these things. It's probably not going to be going to be remembered as a masterpiece in the horror genre, but it isn't a complete disaster of a film, either. It's a perfectly good horror film, one with many positive elements.

The film, based on a 2013 short film of the same name, centers around Rebecca (Teresa Palmer), a young woman who is estranged from her mother, Sophie (Maria Bello). You find out that Sophie has been previously diagnosed with depression, but that isn't what drove the women apart. Rather, it was something else, something more sinister. Sophie has an "imaginary friend" or sorts named Diana. But instead of it being merely being a product of Sophie's mental illness, it is in fact a malicious entity, one that can only function in darkness. Rebecca's half-brother Martin (Gabriel Bateman) begins encountering Diana, causing him trouble in school, leading Rebecca to re-enter her family's life. You soon discover that Rebecca has had encounters with Diana herself, and that she may in fact be responsible for the disappearance of Rebecca's father. (You see Martin's father, and Sophie's husband being killed by Diana, unnamed at this point, at the beginning of the film.)

The film is a little over an hour and twenty minutes, though it didn't felt like that at all when I watched it. The film just flew by, and the pacing was very good. The film didn't bother to drag on any one detail for too long, and the film just seemed to go from one plot point to the next, though in a way that felt very natural.

Gabriel Bateman, Teresa Palmer, and Alexander DiPersia in Lights Out

The cast in this film were all spot-on, with Bello effectively playing a woman who deeply cares for her family, but also knows she can't fully be there for them. She acts towards Diana as a close friend, though there is always a little bit of tension every time she brings her up. Palmer also shines as Rebecca, a girl who still loves her mother, but is too overwhelmed to be able to fully become close to her again. The relationship between the two is fantastic; the estrangement, but obvious love, between the two adds an extra layer of tension in a film already filled with it. Alexander DiPersia also does his best with the limited role he has, playing the role of an unconventionally supportive boyfriend.

As the main antagonist is something that is only powerful in darkness, the film uses a lot of minimalist horror, which I loved. I'm of the opinion that horror is at it's best when you can't see what the menace is, as that only adds to the tension. For much of the film you don't see Diana, as she is hanging in the dark. I'm not a big fan of the "jump scare-athon" that so many horror films have become, as the the impact of them is lessened the more they happen. The film does not completely avoid them, they are not the main focus of the horror. Rather, especially near the end, the film relies much more on an increasing sense of tension.

Maria Bello in Lights Out

The film does get pretty heavy-handed in its themes, especially towards the end of the film. This culminates in a ending that amounts to what was a very bad metaphor for depression. Many may not find this to be a problem, but many others will, and have, find it to be fairly tasteless, and as was said earlier, heavy-handed. Now, this doesn't detract from the film as a whole, as it's still a very enjoyable horror film, but it is a glaring sore spot.

All in all though, Lights Out is a very enjoyable horror film, and rarely more than that. It won't be remembered as one of the all-time greats, but it is a well-made film, and a surprisingly very good debut from Sandberg. Lights Out may not be a masterpiece, but with a debut as strong as this, one of his next films may very well be.

LET'S TALK ABOUT EARTHBOUND - PART 1

EarthBound (Mother 2 in Japan) is a game that's become somewhat of a cult hit. It was not a success in the states, which lead to the franchise being dead for some time over here, even as Japan got the GameBoy Advance-exclusive Mother 3. However, due to the appearance of main protagonist Ness (and later Mother 3 protagonist Lucas) in the Super Smash Bros. series, the Mother series has always had an air of mystery around it. Soon, a passionate fanbase was created, including those with cherished memories of the game wanting to play it again, and those wanting a chance to experience what many called one of the great series of RPGs. Their wishes were finally granted, as a couple of years ago Nintendo released EarhBound on the Wii U Virtual Console. This has been subsequently followed by the release of Mother (called Earthbound Beginnings here) on Wii U, and releasing EarthBound on the New 3DS Virtual Console. EarthBound is a game I've been sitting on for a long time, and I've finally begun to play it. I decided to give a general summary of what's happening, as well as some commentary. I hope you'll enjoy the ride!

WARNING: Spoilers follow

-----

Mother of the year

First off, this game's not pretty. In fact, the sprites are kind of ugly. But, this is a very colorful game, and it just oozes charm right from the start. The game apparently takes place in the year 199X; okay. It starts off with our hero, Ness (you have the opportunity to name all of the playable characters, plus your dog, at the beginning of the game) snoozing away when he's suddenly woken up by an explosion. After taking a bat from my sister (who I thought was fellow party member Paula for a bit), and getting changed into my normal clothes, I go outside WITH THE PERMISSION OF MY MOTHER to explore what happened. Despite police officers telling me I can't go snooping, I do so anyway. While exploring, I met a guy who eats garlic and works out, which I'm pretty sure is supposed to be a representation of me. I also run into someone who's apparently supposed to be my friend. His name's Pokey (?!), and I don't like him from the start. I'm guessing he's going to turn into an antagonist of something.

This guy is pretty much me

Not finding anything of note, Ness decides to head back to bed, but is rudely awoken by a banging on the door. It's Pokey, who lost sight of his brother, Picky (?!). He basically forces him to join him in looking for Picky, and Ness' is TOTALLY OKAY WITH THIS. Family dog Misty also joins you, which terrifies me because that's almost a guarantee she's going to die. Also, you save the game by find a phone and calling Ness' father, which is ADORABLE; but also makes me wonder, where is his father anyway? Also Ness' sister gives him a cookie (heals you) before you go, which is ALSO ADORABLE.

So, our heroes (and Pokey) go forth towards the meteor, where they are confronted by enemies such as stray dogs and crows. The game is a turn-based RPG, as was standard back in that era. But I'm a huge sucker for good-old turn-based RPG's so this was right up my alley. Ness is pretty much the bulk of the party's forces at this point, Misty occasionally attacks, while Pokey's totally useless. They eventually reach the meteor, at which point Misty LEAVES US AND RUNS AWAY. Not cool, Misty, not cool. Either way, we find Picky, and start to head back.

But not before A TALKING BEE COMES OUT OF THE METEOR AND TELLS ME I AM THE "CHOSEN ONE". Apparently I, along with the help of three others, am supposed to defeat some evil guy named Giygas? Honestly, more information was probably given, but I got distracted once I saw Buzz-Buzz the talking bee, since my mind immediately went to Bee Movie. While on our way back to the houses, we're confronted by something called Starman, which looks just like the guy on the boxart, so I'm gonna guess they're one and the same. . I thought this game wasn't supposed to get weird until later in the story?? Anyway, group fights Starman, while Pokey is as useless as ever.

Like I said, this game isn't very pretty

After defeating Starman, our heroes return to the Pickey & Pokey home, where their mom KILLS BUZZ-BUZZ. Womp womp. Before he dies, however, Buzz-Buzz tells Ness to go to a place called Giant Step, and so, a new adventure has begun.

-----

Like EarthBound? Feel free to share you thoughts, and don't forget to follow me on Twitter. And don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, where I'll be posting new videos very soon!

LET'S REVISIT FINAL FANTASY VII - PART ONE

There's a little game coming out this year called Final Fantasy XV, maybe you've heard of it? While that game may actually never come out (kidding), there's still an entire backlog's worth of Final Fantasy games to experience. I've been in a Final Fantasy mood lately, so I've been playing quite a few of them actually. However, none happen to be quite as ~ridiculous~ as Final Fantasy VII, probably the most famous and popular game in the series. It's a game I haven't played in the longest time, when I was a child and couldn't comprehend what was going on, so it's pretty much going to be like playing it for the first time. While obviously I remember the big events that everyone knows, since I was so young the first time, it'll be interesting to see how different it really is and how much I really remember. I'm going to give a summary of what's happened as well some general commentary for every few hours I play. Without further ado, let's get started.

Warning: spoilers follow

-----

Final Fantasy VII casts you as Cloud, who is kind of a douchebag; he's the kind of douchebag that knows this quite well, and doesn't mind telling people so. He's the kind of guy that will tell you to your face that he doesn't care about what you're talking about right to your face. He used to be a member of a group called SOLDIER, which from what I can tell is a group of super soldiers (for lack of a better term) working for Shinra, a giant energy company that pretty much rules the world. Apparently they became so powerful by using the planet's lifeforce(?!) as energy. Let me just say, that seems like a pretty short-sighted and terrible plan. But anyway, Cloud also seems to have some sort of PTSD, since he has regular flashbacks. I'm sure this will be elaborated upon later, as well as the assumed "growth arc" turning Cloud from doucebag into slightly less douchey hero.

Cloud quit SOLDIER a while ago, and has now teamed up with AVALANCHE, a group of eco-terrorists created to oppose Shinra. Their grand plan is to destroy Shinra's many reactors, which are the things killing the planet. These reactors are in the city of Midgar, which seems like an awful place all around. There's smog, it's grimy, and the buildings (which seem to be made of trash to begin with) are falling apart. It also looks like Shinra is pretty much controlling the city as a police state, so that's fun.

Looks inviting

Cloud is joined on his mission by Barret, who seems kind of cliche at this point. He's a tough guy who has one thing in his life that gives him a heart of gold; in this case, it's his daughter, Marlene, who is his main motivation for wanting to destroy Schinra. He's also pretty similar to Mr. T, but one of his arms is also a machine gun, so I guess he's cool. AVALANCHE's plan is to destroy Shinra reactors that are what's draining the planet. Again, these plans don't seem all that great; I mean, innoncent people are going to die here, right? They're blowing these giant reactors up. People will get caught in the blast radius. Also, if Shirna is the one source of power for Midgar, wouldn't destorying the reactors lead to Midgar losing all electricity, therefore leading to chaos? AND if Midgar is essentially the government, destroying it would result in anarchy. To be fair I'm not one to hypothesize the implications of destroying the life of the planet, so maybe it balances out. Plus, AVANALCHE is a terrorist organization, so I guess it's not much of a concern. Cloud and Barret are also joined on this mission with fellow members Biggs, Wedge, and Jessie, but they aren't much of a factor here, except Jessie gets stuck during the escape while the detonation countdown is going off, as one does.

So, Cloud and Barret complete their mission, but not before facing off against a robot scorpion thing. I'm fairly certain Cloud is trying to get himself killed during this fight; he tells you to attack the robo scorpion when it's tail is up, but then immediately after tells you that when this happens, scorpiobot will counter with its laster tail. Despite that, they manage to defeat the thing, and destroy the reactor.

Here we meet the third member of our group, Tifa, who's quite..."busty". Not Lara Croft triangle boob level, but her model is a clear indication that this was someone's first time creating a 3D character. She's a bartender at a place that also doubles as AVALANCHE's headquarters. Tifa's apparently Cloud's childhood friend, and I can't for the life of me figure out their relationship. Are they together? Not? Were they? I really have no idea what's going on between them. Tifa's also got some issues of her own, since one of Cloud's flashbacks showed that her father was killed by a (former?) SOLDIER named Sepiroth (I remember him!). She joins the group on their next mission to destroy another reactor. Cloud at first refuses to join, because apparently he doesn't care about the fate of the planet he lives on. Only after getting an offer of even more than before, he joins once again. (Side note: the money for cloud is coming out Marlene's COLLEGE FUND?!? WHAT?!?!).

This is obviously not my first Final Fantasy game, so I'm quite used to the Active Time Battle System, so I won't go into too much detail here. Cliffnotes version, it's still turn based, but instead of going in a sequence, each character has a bar that gradually fills up before you can perform a command, giving the battles a faster pace. I happen like the ATB system a lot. The characters don't have defined classes (you'll see why below), but they each have their own weapon sets and abilities. Cloud uses his big-ass Buster Sword, and is the strongest attacker of the group. Barret uses his gun arm (as he should), and is pretty strong defensively. Tifa...punches things. Gotta give the girl credit for her moxie, but punching doesn't seem all that effective when fighting robots and such, but apparently she must have a super punch or something, because she can kill robots and such with her fists, so what do I know? She' not quite as strong as Barret, but she's pretty damn close, so once again, props to you, girl. Her Limit Break also something has to do with slot machines, so there's that.

So, while I like the basic battle system, I'm not sure how I feel about the materia system just yet. Basically, materia are these objects that you can equip to your weapons and armor, not only giving you special abilities associated with that materia (like magic commands such as Fire and Cure), but also changing your stats as well. This is totally a personal thing, but I like when each character has a specific class and abilties, instead of you molding the character into whatever you want, as is the case here. There's also "special" materia, I guess, that changes the affect of the materia, but I haven't gotten any of those yet. I'm still trying to wrap my head about how materia functionally works in the world of this game, but that's probably overthinking things. (I can't help it! Do they just jam it into their weapons? And how does jamming an orb into the Buster Sword give you the ability to cast magic??)  I also later found out that whenever a member leaves the party, the materia they had equipped reverts back to you? Weird, but nice.

You apparently get magic but shoving *this thing* into the Buster Sword

So, it turns out that our trio has been caught in a trap set up by Shinra. Which, honestly, should have been seen ahead of time. Give yourself a few days before you try to blow up a reactor for a company you attacked very very recenly. Long story short, Cloud gets separated from the group, and falls.

But don't worry! He managed to fall through a roof onto a flower bed! Said flower bed is growing in a church for some reason involving the grass I think? There's a girl tending to the flowers, who you actually met earlier in the story. This girl's name is Aeris, which means she's going to die. Aeris is also the nicest person in the world, so screw you Square. Cloud is his normal arrogant self, which leads Aeris to request Cloud be her bodyguard and escort her home. Turns out there's a reason she needs to be guarded; Shinra's after her, for reasons I don't think have been explained yet, other then those after her calling her an "ancient".

I hope nothing bad happens to her

Aeris fights in battle using a giant staff, which I'm convinced re-uses a sound effect from Super Mario RPG. She's not a very good physical attacker, but an excellent spellcaster. After Cloud returns her home, she decides to attach herself to Cloud, and join him on whatever quest he's on at the moment. The pair catch a glimpse of Tifa, who I think became a prostitue?? But that doesn't seem like Tifa at all, so they decide to investigate.

And that's it for now!

-----

What are your opinions on FFVII? Love it? Hate it? Utterly confused by it (like me!)? Let me know! Also don't forget to follow me on Twitter if you want! And don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, which I'm currently working on a few videos for!

REVIEW - "LIMBO"

Limbo's a game that's been out for a while now, on virtually every system, and is one of the most critically-acclaimed games of the last few years. I just finished my first playthough recently, and somehow, have learned almost nothing about the game in the years following its release. Therefore, I decided it would be a perfect game to review, as I had no real pre-conceived notions of the game; just that it's supposed to be very good.

Note: The version played for this review was played on the Playstation 3.

Warning: Spoilers for a game released 6 years ago follow.

-----

Limbo is a deceptively simple game. If you just looked at screenshots and videos of it, it would appear that you would get everything the game has to offer; a platformer with a monochromatic color scheme. However, once you play the game, you realize it's so much more than that.

Limbo doesn't offer much in the story department. Once you start the game, you're just dropped in the middle of this world. You play as a young boy in the middle of the forest. You're not given any instructions or context, and therefore you just continue on. The world slowly becomes more and more hellish, with various obstacles in your path, may of whom are lethal. You have no one to help you in this world, and the brief glimmers of hope are sparse. You're all alone, and you have to rely on your wits to survive.

NOPE

While the game has many platforming elements, Limbo is much more of a puzzle game. This isn't a Mario platformer you'll be playing. Jumps are short and floaty, and most times when crossing a gap you'll just barely make the edge. You have no way of directly killing those that oppose you, so you have to be creative. And the game is creative. The puzzles in this game are all just great. They're quite inventive, and while many in a certain area share similar elements, no puzzles are quite the same. Take a puzzle from relatively early on in the game, for example. While running through the forest, you come across a giant spider, just waiting in the trees. Try to approach it, and it strikes with one of its legs, with the goal of impaling you. Before you reach the spider, you notice a bear trap sitting on a branch. Obviously the trap is necessary to get through, but how do you get the trap in the first place? The answer is quite brilliant, honestly. While avoiding getting struck, walk close enough to the spider to let it slam its leg onto the ground. Do this a few more times, and the trap will fall, where you will have to repeat the same process, this time with the bear trap positioned so the spider's leg will get caught in it.

This game is hauntingly beautiful

This puzzle is pretty indicative of the game as a whole. This ins't a very difficult game, but it's not an easy one, either. It requires a lot of thinking, and many puzzles take some time to get through. This game doesn't spell out how to solve the puzzles, but the elements to solve it will be laid out, and once you figure out how it all comes together, it's a real "a-ha!" moment. I may have gotten a little frustrated a few times while playing it, but it never caused me to quit, and I it consequently ended in a "duh!" from me. I don't know if I would necessarily use the term "trial-and-error" to describe the game, as that generally implicates a negative tone, but I did die a lot. So if you somehow haven't played this game before, be prepared to die a lot.

This game is gorgeous. While the graphics certainly look nice, it's the art direction for me that I remember most. The monochromatic look is just so striking, it is one of the most visually distinct games I've played. The game also makes an amazing use of depth of field. With things in the background and foreground having less focus than your protagonist and the world he interacts with. This game also uses light beautifully. With the (few) shines of light just standing out from everything else. It may not have the best graphics in a video game, but it's certainly one of the prettiest games I've played. And this is a game from 2010!

This game really makes you think

I do have one minor complaint, and though it's noted above, be warned that this paragraph will include mild spoilers. There's these slug-like things that periodically show up in the game, and land on your head. When they do, they control you body, forcing you to move in one direction without your input. The only things you can do is control the speed at which you're moving, and jump. The direction can only be changed only by touching a light source, and only a certain creature can remove them for you. I was alright when it first happened, but it started to irritate me a bit when it happened again, especially at a crucial point in the game. I can get why they included it when they did, but it just felt cheap to me, and a way to just prolong the game.

Besides that, I don't have much other complaints; some minor quibbles, but nothing major enough to note in this review. Limbo's a short game, taking me about a few hours to finish (note: I did not play in one sitting, due to time circumstances), but it's a rewarding one. I thought the ending was very powerful (even though the last puzzle of the game may have been the hardest for me to get through). The fact that this was developer Playdead's first game is mind-boggling. A studio's first outing being this polished is almost unheard of, but they just nailed this game. With only one game, Playdead has established themselves as a studio to watch, and if every game they make is as memorable as Limbo, that I can't wait to see what else they have in store.  

"HAIL HYDRA" AND THE ISSUE OF IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION

WARNING: SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST TWO ISSUES OF STEVE ROGERS, CAPTAIN AMERICA FOLLOW

-----

Despite recently starring in a film grossing over $1 billion, Captain America has been quite the controversial figure lately. In the Marvel comic book universe (not related to the MCU), Steve Rogers was at one point aged rapidly to match his biological age of over 90, leading him to step down from the Captain America mantle and passing it down to Sam Wilson, formerly known as Falcon.

Recent events, however, have had Steve restored to the peak of his physical fitness, and in turn him taking the mantle of Cap back up, along with Sam; new shield and all. As such, he was given his own solo series once again, with Steve Rogers, Captain America #1 being released last month (Just in time for Civil War!). Sounds great, right? One of Marvel's star characters, getting a new series! What could go wrong?

A lot, apparently.

If you've been on the internet at all in the last month or so, there's a good chance you've at least heard of this story. If not, here's what happened. The end of Steve Rogers, Captain America #1 ended with what may be the most controversial comics panel in years.

(Property of Marvel comics)

Yes, that is Captain America saying the words "Hail Hydra". The issue revealed that Cap has supposedly been a double agent for Hydra since his childhood, before World War II, before he ended up in present-day. Of course this was controversial, that's not the problem here. Cap has been battling Hydra for 75 years, so to expect a reveal about him actually working for them to be without controversy would be absurd. However, it is the scope of this controversy that I take issue with.

First off, Cap being Hydra does not, I repeat, does NOT make him a Nazi. While the connection in the films may be a little closer, Marvel has made it very clear that in the comics, while Hydra did work with the Nazis, they were two completely separate organizations. Hydra has a very complicated history, which you can read about here, if you chose to do so. The point is, the claim that this story, and Cap himself, being anti-semitic are just not true, and quite frankly, disrespectful. You may not agree with a story, but to claim that Captain America is now anti-semitic? That's where I find an issue.

One of Cap's most famous moments (Property of Marvel comics)

The outcry didn't stop there, though. Some people vowed to boycott Marvel. Petitions to Marvel were created. Some people even had the bring idea to BURN their issues, while filming themselves doing it. Why? I don't know. I guess to make a point? Marvel got your money anyway, so I'm not sure what kind of point that is. Long story short, people weren't happy about this, and demanded Marvel to fix this. Which, they did.

Well, sort of. This is all very recent, so you may not know about it yet. Turns out that Captain America never was a Hydra agent all along. To make full sense of this, let's go back to the aging, and subsequent de-aging, of Steve Rogers. You see, his de-aging was accomplished by an entity known as Kobik, who is the personification of Cosmic Cube fragments in the form of a little girl. If you would like to know more about what this "Cosmic Cube" is, click here. The main thing you need to know, though, is that the Cube has reality-altering powers (if you've seen The Avengers, then you know about the Cosmic Cube, but in that film it's known as the Tessarect). Turns out, when Kobik was reverting Steve back to his prime, she was actually under the control of Red Skull, a high-ranking member of Hydra who is one of Cap's biggest enemies. (Okay, so it wasn't actually Red Skull, but a clone; you get the idea.). So while Cap was in fact reverted back to his prime, due to Red Skull's meddling he was also given new memories. FALSE memories. Memories of him being part of Hydra since childhood. So Cap wasn't an agent of Hydra in the end after all. Problem solved, right? Not so fast.

Kobik, and the Cosmic Cube (property of Marvel Comics)

Obviously, this was also a huge deal. Various news outlets reported on this "twist on a twist". Most famously, Paste Magezine posted an article headlined "Marvel Backtracks on Captain America Revelation After Just One Issue", which can be read here (note: they have since updated the article, and published a response to it). The article seemed to imply that this story decision was made in response to the backlash. While I have no doubt that Paste didn't actually think that was the case, the wording made it appear so. The problem is, some people actually do believe that's what happened. That Marvel saw the response, and subsequently changed their story. Obviously if you know anything about how comics work, you know this couldn't be farther from the truth. There's so many moving parts involved with making a comic, especially one from a company as huge as Marvel. Writing, inking, coloring, etc., there's just so much work involved that it's impossible for Marvel to backtrack and change their plans in that short of a timeframe. The process is so rapid and intricate that the minds behind the storylines have to have their arcs planned out very far in advance, in most cases months.

But that's just part of the problem. I take issue with the whole overreaction with this whole situation. The backlash, petitions, burnings, they all stem from an issue that I've seen become more and more prevalent in pop culture: the issue of immediate gratification. More and more consumers of media are wanting immediate payoff, and not willing to wait for it. We live in an era of binge-watching, leaks, and people looking up spoilers for things they have yet to see. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not condemning these. I'm just saying that the rise of the internet has allowed us to be immediately rewarded in various forms of media. It's now possible to watch an entire 13-episode season over the course of a weekend, when previously the only choice was to wait over a period of months to see how a season would play out. I'm not saying that one is better than the other, just that there's something special about seeing one part of a story, and discussing it with others until the next piece of the puzzle is revealed, with the cycle continuing until the story ultimately reaching its finale. During this period, you have the ability to come up with your own theories, reflect upon what's happened previously, and just wait to see how everything plays out. Obviously binge watching completely eliminates that. Sure, you can discuss the events of the season with your friends once they all finish watching, but watching an entire story play out in one sitting severely limits its discussion possibilities, and in my opinion, lessens the impact of the end. There is just something so gratifying about waiting weeks, months, for a storyline to pay off, and when it finally comes, it feels like an accomplishment. Obviously if the ending is disappointing, or not exactly what you wanted, it can feel like you wasted all that time, but if it turns into something you love, the experience is just that much more rewarding.

One of my favorite part of Game of Thrones is seeing everyone discussing their own thoughts & theories (Property of HBO)

Like I mentioned in the previous paragraph, we also live in an era where leaks and spoilers are readily available to anyone who searches for them. I would be lying if I said if I've never done it myself. Sometimes my curiosity just gets the best of me. But there's also something to be said about going in completely, or at least partially blind, and seeing something fully play out in front of you. Last December's Star Wars: The Force Awakens was famously quiet with its marketing, revealing almost nothing about the film's plot at all prior to the film's release; they didn't even have any of the characters talk until the films third trailer (save for one line from Harrison Ford)! Since it's marketing was so sparse, I decided to follow suit, and avoid all spoilers related to it. I even avoided reading any reviews prior to me seeing it; I didn't want any preconceived notions in my head going in to the film, and let me tell you, it made the experience that much more enjoyable. Now, I am someone who firmly believes that spoilers do not ruin your experience, as I believe it's more about the journey than the destination. However, it does make that journey all the more exciting if you don't know what that journey is. Let's take this year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, a film which I actually didn't like at all. However, that film (in?)famously revealed it's third act in one of its trailers, showcasing that Doomsday (who had never been announced as appearing in the film prior to this) is the threat that unites Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman. To be quite honest, I didn't find the final battle very exciting, save for Wonder Woman's appearance, but still, imagine watching the film, and then seeing Doomsday show up, when you never before knew he would. I feel like that would've added a jolt of excitement to what was otherwise a pretty (in my opinion) underwhelming final battle. It could've helped a lot.

Oh how I wish WB held off on this reveal (Property of Warner Bros.)

Obviously it's too late to change how this Captain America fiasco played out. However, I really wish it played out differently. It just disappoints me that so many people were unwilling to wait and see how this storyline would play out, and wanted a fix to it immediately. Let's all be real here, everyone knew that Captain America wouldn't stay a Hydra agent. That's just not feasible. Someway, somehow, this would be a plot point that would then end, and just be another footnote in Cap's long comics history. The last few years have really been a period of change for Marvel's pillar characters. We've seen a Africa-American Captain America (who can fly!), a female Thor (who's dying of cancer), and a Korean-American Hulk. These are characters who have been around for decades; obviously it's necessary to change things up every now and then to keep things interesting. I see Captain America being part of Hydra as an example of that. When this was revealed, I was willing to wait and see how the story would play out, as I knew that Marvel had a plan. They weren't going to keep one of their star characters evil, but obviously many weren't willing to wait, they wanted answers now, and the fact that so many weren't willing to wait just makes me sad.

There was plenty of outcry when Marvel made huge changes to some of its most iconic characters (Property of Marvel)

I really hope this doesn't come off as angry or dismissive, but this is just something I'm very passionate about. Steve Rogers is super important to me (I plan on getting a tattoo of his famous symbol soon), and I just can't stand to see so many dragging him down. Steve has taught me to always do the right thing, and stick to what I believe in, no matter what. Plus, I'm a huge proponent of long-form storytelling, so people demanding immediate gratification without patience upsets me. Just like cable TV, it's possible to wait and see for the end result of a storyline, we just need to be a little more patient.

Captain America will always be one of my biggest inspirations (Property of Marvel)

Got any opinions of your own on this topic? Leave a comment! All feedback is appreciated. If you want to see me less angry, check out my Twitter. And if you want to see pictures of my life for some reason, I'm also on Instagram too.