My Five Favorite Games of 2018

It's that time of the year again, the period in which I look back at my massive backlog of games that I missed over the past twelve months and feel vaguely disappointed that despite my best efforts there is still a mountain of stuff I haven't even touched yet. Between Return of the Obra Dinn, …

Shoplifters Review | A Compassionate Small-Time Crime Drama

Pairing a crime story with something that resembles the transcendentalist trappings of Ozu isn't the most natural of combinations. However, with Shoplifters Hirokazu Kore-eda pulls off this pairing with such humanistic grace that I can't help but wonder why more stories about criminals don't mirror its empathy. The film presents moral ambiguity and complex characterizations …

The Favourite | Review: Real Politik and Toxic Love

Although Yorgos Lanthimos' ostentatious style has led to a mild case of diminishing returns, The Favourite deviates from his previous films while retaining his critical eye for depicting relationships. The result is his best picture yet, a period piece about political machinations, schemes, and twisted love. It's aesthetically brilliant, a moving Rembrandt painting that uses light …

Why Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s Bad Online Options Are So Disappointing

There are few things that are as frustrating as something being so painfully close to a complete package. As a fan of both Smash and fighting games, I feel as though I can confidently say that Ultimate is extremely close to giving me what I want out of a platform fighter. The movement feels good, …

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of Red Dead Redemption 2

After around 70 or so hours of play, I finally finished the behemoth of a game that is Red Dead Redemption 2. It is a title with harsh contours between its best and worst elements, its highs setting new standards for world design, its lows defined by its lackluster mission design and poor controls. While …

The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs | Review – Highs And Lows Of The Old West

The hotly anticipated Ballad Of Buster Scruggs is finally upon us, and with it we have the Coen's latest foray into a Western setting. However, the film differs from the duo's previous entries in the genre in that it is an anthology, and this format is utilized to deliver a vastly different array of tones and …

Why Its Hard To Get Into Anime, And Three Great Introductory Shows

Look I get it. From an outsider's perspective, anime is nothing but esoteric tropes and fanservice-y nonsense. While I won't deny that both of those accusations are accurate in the case of many shows, to dismiss the entire medium whole cloth is a bit unfair. Many series may cater to niche audiences, but with the …