The camera finally settles behind CJ’s shoulders. We’re in an alley with a small bike leaning against a brick wall, maybe somewhere between Dre’s Compton and Snoop’s Long Beach. Samuel L. Jackson cackles as his police car drives off, leaving you in a rival hood. There’s the Los Angeles that …
Read More »Jan. 6 Is Looming Over the 2024 Election. They Made It Into a Board Game
It’s a Friday night in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and six patriots are getting ready to take over the U.S. Capitol. There are no tactical vests or American flag bandanas to be seen, nor are there any tri-corner hats or effigies or black and yellow militia uniforms. These would probably not be …
Read More »'Call of Duty' Is Back. Here's What to Know About 'Black Ops 6'
As another year draws near its end, it’s time yet again for another Call of Duty game. For 2024’s iteration, Activision is taking fans back to a fan-favorite sub-series with Black Ops 6. However, if you’re new to the franchise or a lapsed fan looking to return after years away, …
Read More »How Does the 'Like a Dragon' TV Show Compare to the Game?
There’s a recurring trend in the gaming industry where developers and studios rush to announce alive action adaptation only for it to never materialize. Look no further than Netflix’s fumbling of its Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation, a fan-favorite franchise whose streaming debut was announced and subsequently halted after two years …
Read More »'Fear the Spotlight' Is a Gripping Lo-Fi Throwback to PG-13 Horror Games
Everyone’s likely to remember their first foray into horror. Maybe it was children’s novels like Goosebumps or TV tween fare like Are You Afraid of the Dark? — or the unlucky few with more sadistic family (like me), you might’ve been exposed to adult-tier frights of Freddy Krueger or Jason …
Read More »'Life is Strange: Double Exposure' Is a Cozy Gaming Take on 'Twin Peaks'
While art doesn’t always require an audience, Square Enix’s choice-driven adventure game Life is Strange quickly found a home among young gamers (especially in the queer community) with an affinity for indie music and quirky sci-fi adventures thematically akin to Twin Peaks. Inspirations aside, Life is Strange has found longevity …
Read More »Inside 'District 9' Director Neill Blomkamp's New Game
Director Neill Blomkamp is best known for his gritty, allegorical sci-fi films. There’s the alien apartheid District 9 (2009), working class and immigrant team-up Elysium (2013), and a look into the cyclical nature of crime in Chappie (2015). His movies create worlds that feel real, lived in, and now he’s …
Read More »The Creators of 'Neva' Wanted to Make the Fears of Parenthood Playable
In a year filled with bombastic AAA titles from some of the most famous franchises in video games, small indie studios need to think outside the box in order to stand out from the crowd. Nomada Studio is no stranger to this; back in 2018, it released its first game, …
Read More »'Super Mario Party Jamboree' Is a Rager
What makes a Mario Party worth attending? Sure, it’s great to get some friends together for an evening filled with mini-games, backstabbing, and luck-based turnarounds, but it’s been a while since the series felt relevant. Like a middle school dance, Mario Party games often feel more fun in your memory …
Read More »How Indie Horror Games Are Bringing Back Retro Grime
You don’t have to have ever touched a PlayStation controller to recognize the console’s Nineties-era blocky graphics. Big studios may have been churning out shiny remakes of 20-year-old games like Resident Evil 4 (2023) and, more recently, Silent Hill 2 (2024), but indie gaming has taken a more rustic approach …
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