Weird Movies? We Got Em

I've come to the conclusion that I don't really like big name Hollywood movies. Each big action movie seems to only be a few soulless explosions followed by a poor climax. Cheap dramas don't seem to try to make a new plot in fear of scaring off the six million people that go and see every one. The award shows are useless, and the people that mindlessly watch whatever gets nominated. Rarely do movies come along that I truly want to see. Scott Pilgrim was one of them. Ninja Assassin was another. Inception.  I've gone and seen other movies, socially, but I've rarely walked away thinking 'I really enjoyed that.'

Happy 25th Metroid!

Link isn't the only classic Nintendo hero celebrating a birthday this year. On August 6, 1986, a little NES cartridge was released on Japanese store shelves, and much like several other games of the time, its simple beginnings would blossom into generations of fame.

We all know how the Metroid series has been the first thing that comes to mind when someone says "good women game protagonists." I am aware of that, and I would refer you to IGN's latest article about Samus' impact if you want to read more. But I'm gonna talk about some of the other burning questions of Metroid's legacy. Like: What made Metroid so special? Why does Super Metroid live on as the pinnacle of 2D gaming? Who cares about Metroid II? Why am I so annoying about the Metroid Prime trilogy? And why Other M can, in fact, be left as a large stain on this good franchise, a stain that may spell doom for the entire series?

An Excursion Through the Ninth Fantasy

When people give their favorite Final Fantasy game, I usually hear I, VI, VII, or X. Occasionally others, but not really. Now, to be fair, I do fall into the VI-loving category. However, most of these people haven’t played Final Fantasy IX, and will tell you that they know next-to-nothing about it. While the game is certainly popular in its own right, comparatively to other games in the franchise, it is widely ignored for its more techno-savvy compatriots with less jarring art styles. But gamers ignoring Final Fantasy IX are ignoring a carefully crafted game with one of the most consistent themes in all of Final Fantasy. Most of the other games have extremely mixed messages, but to put it bluntly: Final Fantasy IX is a play. Seeing as how it opens and ends with a play, this shouldn’t be too hard for people to believe.