Friday, December 19, 2014
"Hunger" (Short screenplay)
This wrote itself out of nowhere. I just wanted to fire up the old screenwriting software and see if I still got it. After a round or two of editing, I think I wound up with a pretty tight little story. Good characters, good conflict, good structure, good dialogue... Good ending? I'll let you be the judge.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Review - Wolfenstein: The New Order
I was among the crowd of skeptics in the gamer community
every time new screenshots or details emerged prior to the release of Machine
Games’ “Wolfenstein: The New Order.” Like so many others, I felt that the 2001
release of “Return to Castle Wolfenstein” was the high point of the venerated
series and that every release since simply failed to capture the same great
experience. Despite this feeling, The New Order started to gain some critical
and commercial momentum, so I decided to give it a try. It has definitely left
a fantastic impression on me, and I am looking forward to seeing it all
continue in some form after the revitalization The New Order has bestowed on
the Wolfenstein series.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Review - Transistor
I hesitate to label what Supergiant Games does with their
work as a “formula.” Both of their releases (Bastion a few years ago and now
Transistor) share the same “groove.” The ingredients that form the experiences
of both games are relatively identical. Whereas Bastion had a narrator to
describe the onscreen action, Transistor has a commentator to provide more
emotional weight.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Review - The Banner Saga
Much has already been written about the unique art style of
The Banner Saga, so I will simply say, “It is breathtaking.” I did not even
notice that the character portraits were not animated (besides their shifting
eyes) until I was halfway through the game. I realized that the hand-drawn art
served to activate my imagination and fill in the action. In my mind’s eye, I
saw their struggles on the road and their battles in the field. Despite the
lack of voice-overs, I heard them speak. Despite the lack of animation, I saw
them march and fight, suffer and starve, smile and rejoice. The storytelling in
The Banner Saga is so strong that these characters were truly drawn to life.
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Review - Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
After the mind-bending closing cinematic of the first LoS, I
waited years for details about Gabriel Belmont’s second coming, imagining what
it would be like to stomp around Mercury Steam’s gloriously reinvigorated
Castlevania world in the legendary vampire’s boots. His prowess is certainly
felt in the challenging combat, but the addition of unneeded stealth gameplay
really detracts from the enjoyment.
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