G rog Strongjaw, a hulking barbarian warrior who once helped save the realm by splitting a terrible dragon’s skull in twain with a mighty cleave of his axe, did not expect to find himself dancing, doing the worm for the amusement of a fiendish emcee. As he writhed his body …
Read More »Woodkid Says Hideo Kojima Changed 'Death Stranding 2' Because It Wasn't 'Polarizing'
Over the course of his more than 20-year career, Woodkid (real name Yoann Lemoine) has worked in just about every medium. The French singer-songwriter started his career in as a CGI artist in video games before becoming a prolific music video director, helming videos like Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” Taylor …
Read More »'I'm a Delicate Guy': Chris Evans on Sharing His Sensitive Side in 'Materialists'
Once you’ve entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s pretty tough to dip back out into the world of a struggling actor. But that’s exactly what Chris Evans is doing in Materialists. The new romantic dramedy from writer-director Celine Song — the follow-up to her soulful 2023 debut Past Lives, which …
Read More »An Ode to the Nintendo DS
I do not have a clear memory of the first time I opened my Nintendo DS. Like all of the new toys, electronics, and game consoles that I received as a child, my DS must have been a gift. My Nintendo DS was the Lite version, coral pink, with a …
Read More »With 'Wu-Tang: Rise of the Deceiver,' Hip-Hop Gets a Love Letter in Video Game Form
The expansive universe of legendary rap group Wu-Tang Clan, who are currently on a historic final tour, is ripe for the type of rich mythology present in video games. Founded in 1992 in New York City and consisting of members RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, …
Read More »'Mario Kart World' Is a Chaotic Peak for Nintendo's Classic Racing Franchise
There’s something special about a game of Mario Kart. Even with 30-plus years of iteration, the basic conceit hasn’t changed much, and doesn’t need to. Whether it’s piled up on the bedroom floor in front of an old tube TV or, now, live chatting via an in-game Zoom, the joy …
Read More »'Switch 2' Is Nintendo (Mostly) All Grown Up
After an eight-year gaming journey encompassing the longest console cycle Nintendo’s ever had, it’s finally time to turn the page with the launch of Switch 2. The new hybrid console, which works both as a handheld and home system just like its predecessor, has a lot to live up to. …
Read More »The Making of 'Mario Kart World': 'We Have to Think About the Chaos'
It’s been eight years since the last time a Mario Kart game was released for a Nintendo console, but the wait is nearly over. And while 2017’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may have missed the exact launch of the original Nintendo Switch, fans worldwide can rev their engine’s right at …
Read More »'Elden Ring Nightreign' Is a Co-Op Spin-Off for Hardcore Fans and Casuals Alike
It takes a special kind of conviction to truly master 2022’s Elden Ring. For some, FromSoftware’s open-world action RPG is the pinnacle of hardcore gaming — an endless gauntlet of death and discovery that rewards heavy stat crunching and min-maxing on specific character builds to bend the game to a …
Read More »How Season 3 of 'The Last of Us' Could Save the Show — Or Kill It Entirely
This post contains spoilers for Season Two of The Last of Us and The Last of Us Part II PlayStation game. With another wave of shocking twists, Season Two of HBO’s The Last of Us has come to an end. Over the course of seven episodes, the adaptation of the …
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