Video Game Review #489: Growl

Growl

Arcade

Nostalgia Factor:

I have no nostalgia attached to this game. In fact, I didn't even know of this game's existence until just a few days ago. I saw some screenshots of it and thought "whoa, this looks awesome", so I decided to check it out.

Growl came out in 1990, when I was eight years old. I would have absolutely loved this game when I was eight. How did it manage to fly under my radar for 33 whole years? No idea, but let's go ahead and dive into my full review.

Story:

I'm not sure it ever specifies where this game takes place, but judging by the clothing of some characters I am going to say India? Don't quote me on that. You play as one of four different characters. The main character is an Indiana Jones lookalike. The others look like they could have been wrestlers or extras in a Crocodile Dundee movie. Even though this game came out in 1990, it definitely has a very 80s feel to it.

Your ragtag band of roughnecks is called into action to take down an evil group of poachers who are killing and capturing all the exotic wildlife in your vicinity. Lions, monkeys, birds, elephants, even deer. You have to beat the poachers up and free the animals from their cages. Sometimes they'll even join you in battle after you have freed them.

At the end of the game you defeat the poacher king, a weird Penguin-looking guy with Wolverine claws. After you beat him, he morphs into his final form - a giant snake. Beat the snake and you beat the game. Take that, you rotten poachers and your, um, uh... snake morphing leader guy!

Gameplay:

This is really no different from many other beat 'em ups I've played over the years. You walk left to right. You can move up and down on a 3D plane. You fight through waves of enemies by punching them. You can jump. You can jump and kick. You can string together combos. You can pick up things in the environment like barrels and boxes and throw them. All very basic stuff.

This game is a little bit more weapon-oriented than most beat 'em ups. You can pick up machine guns and rocket launchers that will defeat your enemy in a matter of seconds. There are other, more standard weapons like knives, swords, and baseball bats. My favorite was the whip. It's slow, but it is powerful. And because you swing the rope over your head, it hits enemies behind you as well as in front of you. It's quite OP. If you see a whip, you are going to want to grab one.

Action is pretty much the same from beginning to end. Fight through a level, beat the boss. Fight through another level, beat the boss. There is one stage near the end that functions as a 2D platformer of sorts, but it still has that 3D beat 'em up plane of movement. It's weird. I died a bunch of times on this level. I like that they tried something different, although it didn't really work too well. Not that it wrecked the game for me or anything.

Since this is an arcade game, it is designed to keep you pumping quarters into the machine. I don't think the game was particularly difficult until the end. There was that 2D platform level that I just mentioned. The final boss of the game is a major drag as well. There's almost no strategy or rhyme or reason to it. Just mash the attack button and hope you are hitting the right spot on the snake's head. You are going to die quite often. Luckily, I emulated this game, so I didn't have to worry about putting a ton of quarters into the machine. Although the game is relatively short (20 to 25 minutes), you are going to find yourself running out of lives and having to "put a quarter in" pretty regularly.

Graphics:

This is a very fun-looking game. It's not even that the graphics are too outstanding or anything. They look like your average beat 'em up graphics. It's the theme that makes this game special. The Indiana Jones meets WWF meets Crocodile Dundee characters, the jungle setting, the diverse enemy types, the crazy bosses, the animals that fight alongside you in battle. It's just all so fun to look at. I like the old school Batman-ish text that pops up when there is an explosion or something chaotic happening onscreen. Bam, pow, shbroom!!!!

Sound:

I'm a game reviewer. Every game I play, I know I'm going to have to talk about the game's sound. You'd think I would have learned to pay attention to it by now. But I haven't.

I remember nothing, and I mean nothing about this game's music or sound effects, and I just played through it last night. That's either a good thing, meaning it fit in so well with the gameplay and the graphics that I didn't even notice it, or it is a bad thing, meaning it was so forgettable I don't remember a single thing about it.

I'll let you decide which one is the truth.

Overall:

Growl is a fun beat 'em up. Nothing more, nothing less. If you like this type of game, you'll have a good time with it. If you don't, this game will do nothing to change your mind on the genre.

I think it is worth it, if only for the fun theme, the various weapons, and the overall absurdity of the game's story. I mean, how many games have you joining forces with a stampeding herd of deer as you fight hookers and enemies that look like they walked straight out of the Temple of Doom? Not many. Gameplay wise, Growl doesn't do much to elevate it past other beat 'em ups of this era, like Final Fight, Double Dragon, or the TMNT games. It sure does try, though.

I want to rate the game higher on its wackiness alone, but due to its short length and its "been there, done that" gameplay, I'll have to settle on a B-.

THE GRADE:

B-

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Video Game Review #488: Super Metroid

Super Metroid

Super Nintendo

Nostalgia Factor:

I have only played through Super Metroid once in my life, and that was back in 2013, a few years before I started this blog. I was a Sega Genesis kid, so I never had the chance to play this for the Super Nintendo growing up. I know how well-revered the game is, so I've always wanted to like it as an adult. My 2013 playthrough of the game left me relatively unimpressed, however. It was a good game, but it didn't blow me away like I thought it was going to.

Ten years have passed, and I am ready to revisit this game one more time. Would I change my mind on the game, or would I find it to still be underwhelming? Let's find out!

Story:

This is technically Metroid 3, even though many people consider it the second game in the series. It takes place after the original NES Metroid and Metroid II for the Game Boy. At the end of Metroid II, Samus rescued a baby Metroid from annihilation. The Metroid has now been taken by the Space Pirates down to Zebes, the location of the first Metroid game. Samus is sent to the planet to defeat the pirates and retrieve the stolen Metroid.

At the end of the game, Samus fights Mother Brain, the leader of the Space Pirates. After an intense battle, Mother Brain overpowers Samus and is about to defeat her, when the baby Metroid (all grown up now) swoops in and sacrifices itself in order to defeat Mother Brain and save Samus from certain death. Samus is infused by the power of this young Metroid, and uses her newly found hyper-beam powers to escape the planet before it explodes.

The end.

Gameplay:

This is now the fourth Metroid game I have reviewed. I've reviewed: the NES original, Metroid: Zero Mission, and Metroid Fusion. I've had a pretty good time with all these games, in particular Fusion, which I gave an A+.

I'll probably take a lot of heat for this opinion, but I prefer both Fusion and Zero Mission to this game. I found myself getting lost quite often as I played this. No idea where to go next, no idea which locations on the map were accessible, and no idea which areas were for advancing the story and which ones simply took me to power ups. I felt as if the game lacked focus at times. You almost needed a guide handy in order to advance. Fusion and Zero Mission both mark on the map where you need to go in order to advance the story. Everything else on the map was optional, leading to items or power ups. But you always had a general idea of where to go next. That's not the case here. Super Metroid is just like: here ya go! Figure this out yourself.

I made the argument in my previous reviews that those other games were a little bit too hand-holdy. This game is not hand-holdy enough. I feel as if there is a perfect balance somewhere in the middle that Metroid hasn't quite hit on yet. I know that things were different back in the 90s. If I had a SNES and I received Super Metroid as a gift, I would have played the ever loving crap out of this game. I'd have dedicated weeks, months even to this game. I'd have gotten lost or stuck along the way, sure, but through trial and error I would have figured it out eventually. Unfortunately, I just don't have that kind of time to dedicate to one single game anymore. Whenever I'd get stuck, I'd turn to the Internet to tell me where to go next. As a result, I beat this game in about five hours or so.

The gameplay itself is great. Samus is easy to control. The controls are intuitive and get the job done, although I did wish there was  better way to cycle through your weapons. Some enemies can only be damaged by certain weapons, and it was always a pain in the butt having to cycle through so many different weapon types in the heat of battle. That's about my only complaint with the gameplay, though. Well, that and the fact that I got lost so often.

If you've played the other Metroid games, you should be familiar with how this works. You start out with minimal powers and abilities. You explore the big world you've landed in, grabbing power ups, special abilities, new weapons, and new suits. There is a heavy amount of backtracking and exploring involved. Using your newfound powers and abilities, you return to old areas you've already explored, accessing new locations and bosses using your new powers. For example, there might be an area early in the game you can't access because you don't have the ability to swing from the ceiling yet. You have to mentally remember that area and then come back later once you get your grapple beam.

The goal of the game is to explore this giant map and defeat the game's four major bosses. Doing so will unlock a secret passage underneath a room that has statues of these four bosses (similar to the original Metroid game). This new area is the final area of the game, where you battle Metroids, square off against Mother Brain, and witness the game's ending.

The fun of Metroid for a lot of people is the exploration. Gaining new powers and abilities and discovering everything hidden there is in this world. I understand why this game is so popular. Like I said, if I had played this back in the 90s, I'd be one of those people screaming "A++++" to the rafters. But playing it in present times, and in my present circumstances (working a full time job in addition to raising a three year old), I just didn't have time to focus on all that extra stuff. It's like, just point me where I need to go so I can finish this game.

So my opinion here is a little skewed. I liked the game, absolutely. But am I ready to instantly label it an all-time classic and slap an A+ on it? Not quite.

Graphics:

This has to be one of the best looking 16-bit games I have played. The graphics are so colorful and vibrant. The sprite detail with the characters and the backgrounds are fantastic. Each area of the game has its own distinct feel and personality. The special effects are cool, too, such as the the lava, the water, the blue-Samus effect when you use the hyper-dash. The hyper gun is visually pretty awesome too, with its rainbow colored effects.

Despite being so colorful and vibrant, the game also manages to set a dark and mysterious atmospheric tone. You really feel like you are exploring this hostile alien world, and uncovering its deep mysteries. The music plays a big part in that too. We'll be getting to that next.

Sound:

This game has always been critically acclaimed for its sound, and I wholeheartedly agree with that acclaim. The music is fantastic. Can be moody and atmospheric at times, while upbeat and adventurous at other times. It always seems to fit what is happening on screen and in the environment. Lots of catchy tunes to be found here, whether or upbeat or more low-key. I'll definitely be adding some of this game's music to my gaming music playlist.

I'm so glad I like this game's music. I remember playing Super Castlevania IV back in 2021, and I thought its music would be great because of all the hype I'd read about it. Instead I just kind of ended up laughing and saying to myself: what the hell is this? Luckily the music of Super Metroid actually lives up to the hype.

Overall:

I was starting to feel like a hater. As an adult, I've come back to play all the classic SNES games I missed out on as a kid, and most of them I haven't liked - or only mildly liked. Final Fantasy VI, Chrono Trigger, A Link to the Past, Super Castlevania IV, etc. I haven't exactly been gaga for any of those games. But Super Metroid? Now this game I can get behind.

I know I'll probably take heat because I like Zero Mission and Fusion better. I like the more direct approach as to where you are supposed to go next, as opposed to just figuring everything out on your own. That's just a personal preference. A "me" thing, if you will. I still think this is a very good game.

I can easily see myself coming back to Super Metroid in a couple of years, armed with the knowledge of the game that I possess today, and finding that I actually like how the game makes you struggle a bit with what you are supposed to do next. Even though I may have enjoyed those other games more than this one, I am wondering if this one will hold up better long term. I can't wait for that day to come when I play this again. 

Is Super Metroid as good as the hype? Almost. I think if I had grown up with this game, like I said before, this would be an easy A+ for me. Instead it'll have to get a B+. Still a very good game, but not something I would put among my top favorites. 

THE GRADE:

B+

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Video Game Review #487: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

PlayStation

Nostalgia Factor:

I've always been aware of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. I know how it is so universally beloved. Not being a big skateboarding fan, the game has never really interested me, though, even armed with the knowledge that it is supposedly such a great game.

What made me finally reverse my stance and give the game a try? Almost every gaming podcast I listen to has done a Tony Hawk episode, and in every single podcast they praise the game. After about the fifth time of hearing how good this game was, I finally decided all right, all right. I'll give it a try. I am always trying to broaden my gaming horizons, after all. I didn't think I'd like Jet Set Radio, and it ended up getting an A+ when I played through it. Maybe I'd love Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, too.

Time to find out. My dear readers: after 24 years, I am finally playing Tony Hawk's Pro Skater for the first time...

Story:

As far as I know, the game doesn't have any kind of story. I guess you can make one up in your mind where you're role playing as one of these skaters and working your way up the ranks. 

Gameplay:

This game is laid out in a series of stages. Each stage contains five "tape challenges." These challenges usually follow a predictable formula:

1 Earn a fairly attainable high score for the stage

2 Pick up 5 collectibles

3 Pick up all the letters that spell "skate" that are scattered throughout the stage

4 Find a secret tape that is well-hidden somewhere in the stage

5 Earn a fairly difficult high score for the stage

You usually have about two or three minutes to play through the stage. You don't have to get all the tapes in one go. You can earn them one at a time if you want. I usually focused on the collectibles and the easy high score first.

Aside from the normal stages, there are also competitions where you are solely looking for high scores. You compete in a series of three heats against all the other skaters in the game. Basically, you have to rack up as high a score as possible so that you can rank in the top three skaters. If you do this, you earn a medal and pass the stage.

I hated these stages. The worst part about the game, for me, was doing tricks and earning a high score. Some of those challenges were just too ridiculously hard for me. I was doing the absolute best I could do, and couldn't crack the top three to save my life. I was able to "save scum" my way through one of these challenges, but I didn't even bother trying to complete Roswell. Way too dang tough.

Part of my problem is that the game doesn't come with a tutorial mode of any kind. Maybe the controls are explained a little better in the instruction manual (which I don't have). I had no idea how to do any of the tricks, and the game doesn't help you out one tiny bit. I had to kind of fumble my way through this part of the game, teaching myself as I went.

I feel that if I had a better understanding of how to do tricks and earn high scores (rather than just me jumping into the air and wildly jamming a bunch of buttons), I would have had a much better time playing this game.

Instead, this became a game that I sort of just tolerated. I didn't dislike the game or anything, but I wasn't ecstatic about it either. Whenever I'd fire this game up, I'd just be like "okay I guess I need to finish this" rather than coming into it for fun's sake.

I can see why people like this game, but I think the hype was a little too big for me, here. I came into this expecting it to be a transcendent experience, and instead it ended up being just sort of okay. Is this game going to go into my all-time favorite PS1 game list? Not a prayer.

Graphics:

I suppose this looks decent for a 90s era PS1 game. The menus and the cutscenes of the skaters get you in the mood to skate. The actual character models in-game are nothing to get too excited about, but they do the trick.

Where the game shines visually is the stage design. The stages are generally pretty big, and full of detail. There are lots of places to explore, and plenty of surfaces where you can perform tricks. I won't say this game is beautiful or looks amazing or anything, because it doesn't. Aside from the occasional camera lapse, I don't think the game's visuals hinder it either.

Sound:

I've heard so much about this game's soundtrack. Like the game itself, I found it to be a bit overhyped. There are some good songs in this game, sure. My favorite has to be "Superman" by Goldfinger. There are a few others I enjoyed as well.

But on the whole, I found the soundtrack to be very unremarkable. There is almost nothing here I would listen to outside of this game. It's just not my kind of music. It fits the tone and theme of the game perfectly, so I can't knock it too much. Like I said, it is just not for me. If this game's music was a radio station in Grand Theft Auto, I would only listen to it when my favorite stations were on commercial break.

Overall:

I wanted to like this game more than I actually did. It's a fine game if you like this kind of thing. The problem is, I don't. I had high hopes for this game after loving Jet Set Radio, but this game is nowhere near as fun as that one.

I am not going to hate on this game too much. I understand that it is a very influential game and that people love it. I can see how this game can be fun if you're a fan of skateboarding. Even not being a fan of the genre, I still found myself getting caught up in the game, looking for the hidden tapes and letters and collectibles. That was the best part of the game for me, and the most fulfilling.

The high score challenges? Not so much.

I'm glad I played this game and satisfied my curiosity. I may not have liked it much, but at least now I've seen what all the fuss is about. Unfortunately, I just had an average time here. I didn't like it, but I didn't necessarily hate it either. Everything about it was just average to me. Hence, the final score you are about to read.

THE GRADE:

C

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Video Game Review #486: Candy Crush Jelly Saga

Candy Crush Jelly Saga

Mobile

Nostalgia Factor:

This is a game that's been sitting ignored on my phone for years and years now. I used to be obsessed with Candy Crush and its spinoff, Candy Crush Soda Saga. When I saw they were coming out with a new game called Jelly Saga, I downloaded it right away. I probably played the game for a good half a year or so before I returned to the other Candy Crush games. I turned my back on this one and have only played it sparingly since.

According to Wikipedia, Jelly Saga was released in 2015. If I downloaded this right when it first came out, that means it has been on my phone for, jeez, eight years now. I've probably turned it on and played it only ten times or so in the last five years. Since it is sitting on my phone taking up space, I figured I'd give the game one last chance before deleting it from my phone forever. There's a reason I haven't been playing it, though. I didn't enjoy it as much as the other Candy Crushes.

Would my memories indeed be correct, and this is a Candy Crush game to forget? Or would I find that it is not as bad as I remember it? Let's find out.

Story:

There is no story for this game. You simply swipe your way through a series of puzzles where you move candy shapes around on a board. Your goal is to complete whatever the task is for the stage and move onto the next one. As I mentioned before, this game came out in 2015. It's possible they tried to shoehorn in some hokey storyline when the game first started. It was a long time ago so I don't remember. They do often have little between-stages conversations in these types of games. I can't remember. Never fear: if there was a story, it was absolutely nothing of consequence.

Gameplay:

If you've played the other Candy Crush games, you should have at least a basic understanding of how this game works. I've already reviewed two Candy Crush games in the series, so I am not going to break down the details. Instead, I'll explain what sets this game apart from the others.

This game is focused around its jelly mechanic, as you can probably tell by the name. Most stages, the goal is to spread the jelly to every square on the board. All you have to do is make a matching piece over a jelly tile, and it spreads the jelly to every square the piece you made was touching. If you use a striped candy or a bomb, it spreads across every piece on the board that the explosion or beam touches. There are many variant stages in the game, though, such as stages where you have to break apart the ice to free the worms below it. Other stages have you line up rows of orange candies, which fills a meter that drops monkeys on your screen. You have to lower these monkeys below a certain line on the bottom of the screen. I can only imagine how much sense this makes to someone who has never played this game before. Probably sounds like a bunch of gibberish.

Unlike Soda Saga and regular Candy Crush, the game doesn't seem to do a lot of the "fun events" where you can win power ups and boosters. As a result, I often found my interest in the game straying because I'd get stuck on a difficult stage and then not have any items to help me.

Speaking of difficult stages, this brings me to my main gripe with this game: its head-to-head battles. These are stages where you have to square off against a computer controlled opponent. You have to try and spread your purple jelly across the whole board, and your opponent has to try to spread their green. Whoever spreads it across the whole board first wins.

I quickly grew to detest these stages. The fact that you have to sit there and wait for someone else to make a turn is very annoying. To make matters worse, when you create a special candy with your move, you get to go again. The computer is very good at making these combos, and can often string together multiple turns in a row. I didn't download this game so I could sit there and watch someone else play.

These stages can often be very challenging. It often seems like the computer starts with an unfair advantage of some kind. And they seem to get all the best of luck. These stages drove me away from this game. I hated them.

Somewhere in the gap between when I stopped playing and now, they did improve the game's speed. I remember this being one of the slower Candy Crush titles, which was another reason I didn't like it. It seems to be a bit faster moving now. The overall gameplay feels more like the original Candy Crush or Soda Saga than it ever did before. I think they are doing more special events now, too. I'm glad they didn't give up on this game, like I did. They kept improving on it and making it faster and better. Good job, King.

I totally thought this game would suck when I picked it back up again, but I found myself playing it more than I expected to. I even enjoyed the Jelly Queen stages more than I remembered in the past. Now I am questioning whether I want to delete it from my phone or not.

Graphics:

It's a good looking game, everything you'd expect from a Candy Crush title. Bright colors, fun shapes and designs. Imaginative characters. There is always something fun and eye catching to look at. The candy shapes are perfect. I like the color of the jelly.

This whole game is like you were playing Tetris, and Candy Land puked all over it.

Sound:

I mainly play with the sound muted, but this game has some fun, catchy music. The sound effects are quality, too. Really, you can't knock the music or the sound effects for any Candy Crush game. They set the tone of the game and help present it in the exact way King wants it to be presented.

Overall:

There is no denying that this is the weakest Candy Crush title. Well, at least of the ones that I've played. Its painful "versus" battles and its slower pace really made me stay away from the game for a very, very long time. I'm a little conflicted because now that I come back to the game, I find much that I didn't enjoy before has been fixed. Everything feels so much more up to pace with the other Candy Crush games now. Last time I played it, however long ago that was, it seemed like they didn't really care about this game anymore. If King didn't care about it, why should I?

I'm going to grade this game based on my overall experience of it. It started out okay. It got old quick. I didn't like it for a very long time. And now I like it again. But will I stick with it? I don't know. The days of me being obsessed with mobile games and playing them constantly has been over for a while now. I still dabble, but nowhere near like I used to. This is a decent game, sure, but when I am in the mood to play mobile games, I'll probably continue to pick something else over this.

Is this a good game? It sure is. It didn't used to be, but it is. 

Is it a must-have for your phone? Not really. 

THE GRADE:

B-

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Video Game Review #485: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

PlayStation 2

Nostalgia Factor:

You may find this hard to believe, but once upon a time I used to have friends. The year was 2004. I was 22 years old. I was dating a girl named Jessica. We had a friend named Ben that we would hang out with quite often. I remember he was the "old guy" of our friend group, and he was about 30 years old. Seems funny to think about, in retrospect, that he was the old guy. Anyway, he always had the best and the newest video games. When we went over there, we'd puff puff and play them for hours on end.

One time we went over, he was playing Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. I knew absolutely nothing about this game at the time, but watching it in action immediately piqued my interest. I watched as the Prince jumped, flipped, and wall-climbed all over the place. One thing I will always remember that made me laugh was Ben saying "I want to BE this guy!" when he was showing us the game.

I thought the game looked pretty dope. I don't remember if it was for my birthday or for Christmas, but my girlfriend bought it for me as a present, and I remember being really excited to play it. The game didn't disappoint, and I played through it a couple of times. I've only played it one time since then, however. According to my PlayStation trophy list, it was March of 2012. That's 11 years ago. 

I always have fond memories when I think back on this game. Would it stand up now, in present day? Let's find out, shall we?

Story:

Playing through this game in the past, I don't think I ever truly understood its storyline. Playing it again in present time, I still can't say I quite understand it.

You play as the simply named "Prince." You and your father lead a powerful military force as it invades and conquers a royal Indian palace. The Prince takes the Dagger of Time as a spoil of war. Unfortunately, he is tricked by the Vizier into sticking the dagger into the Hourglass of Time, which unleashes a malevolent force that turns everyone into sand zombies.

The Prince teams up with Farah (the local Maharaja's daughter) as he has to fight his way through the castle, battling evil sand zombies, both human and animal. When he makes a mistake or falls to his death, he can use the Dagger of Time to rewind time.

Spoiler alert: at the end of the game, you are transported back in time to before the incident in an attempt to stop it before it happens. You meet up with Farah and since she hasn't lived through the events of the game yet, she doesn't believe you. Then you fight and defeat the Vizier, and after the ending sequence it is game over from there.

Gameplay:

Historically, I don't think this game gets enough credit. The gameplay in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was a massive game changer, and in a way has laid the groundwork for many modern games as we know them. Uncharted, Assassin's Creed, Horizon Zero Dawn, etc. I'm sure there are a ton of other games out there, too. What I am talking about is how this game created the formula you see in so many of those games. Behind the back camera, being able to jump and climb over things. Being able to hang from ledges and swing across vines and climb ladders, and all that fun parkour stuff, all with the greatest of ease. Everything is so smooth and effortless in this game. Think back to how clunky games used to be in the early days of 3D gaming. You could barely get your character to run in a straight line and jump up on a ledge. And then look at this game, where the Prince is swinging from poles and and running across walls and climbing up on boxes cleanly and effortlessly.

This freedom of movement may seem commonplace nowadays, but Sands of Time is the very first game I remember seeing that behind the back, parkour formula perfected and in action. Seriously, it should get more credit for how influential it was. Tomb Raider even completely overhauled its formula for Tomb Raider Legend in 2006, modeling its gameplay right after Prince of Persia. When Lara Croft is copying your homework, you know you are doing something right.

One of the game's most unique features is the ability to rewind time. Say you mistime a jump, and plummet to your death. Just rewind time to before you fell, and try again. You can only rewind so many times, as your dagger is tied to a sand meter. If you run out of sand, you die and have to restart from the last checkpoint. You can find random piles of glowing sand around the game to refill your dagger. Or you can suck the sand out of enemies with the dagger when you defeat them, kind of like how Raziel drains enemies of their souls in Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.

I used to remember combat in this game being hard, but honestly it didn't challenge me much when I played it this time around. There is one part when you are on an elevator-like thing later on in the game that is pretty tough. I died a handful of times there. But otherwise I was fine. You just have to learn the weaknesses of your enemies. If you can jump over them and attack in mid-air, that's the way to go. Other enemies are more susceptible to wall jump attacks. Other enemies are easier to just stab with your dagger. Doing so slows them down in time, and a strong attack will defeat them and make then burst into a pile of sand. I tried not to do this too often, as it effects how far you can rewind time. It happened too many times where I'd use my dagger attack to slow an enemy, die, and then not be able to rewind time. And then I'd lose and have to start the whole fight over again from the last checkpoint.

The game moves along in a linear fashion. The main challenge of the game is using your environment and finding out where you need to go. When you use a save point, the Prince experiences a brief vision that gives you hints on what to do next. Mainly it involves finding your way through a series of jumping obstacles. Expect to do a lot of swinging from pole to pole, wall jumping, climbing walls and hanging from crumbling ledges, all that fun stuff. As you get deeper into the game, puzzle solving comes into play. Pushing blocks, throwing switches, lining statues up. Nothing is too difficult to figure out, but admittedly there were a few areas that stumped me, and I had to look online for help.

The game is not very long. I think it is about ten to twelve hours. I should look at my old save file. It was likely close to ten. So it is very quick and easy to play. And there is almost no wasted meat on the bones of this game. It is fun pretty much 100% of the way through it. It is very hard to put down. I beat this whole thing in a matter of just a couple days.  

Graphics:

This game's visuals have held up surprisingly well. I know that a lot of people don't like the PS2 era of games, and they think this era of gaming is ugly. But Sands of Time is an exception. The characters in the game look really good, most notably Farah and the Prince himself. Enemies are a little bit repetitive, as there are only about four or five different enemy types in the game. But that is fine.

Where this game really excels is its stage design and its scenery. The Maharaja's palace is large and intricately designed. From the outside, it is beautiful, especially when there is a sunset in the background. A favorite part of the game for me has always been the menagerie area. The palace's interior looks great too. From the hanging wall decorations to the furniture, everything looks very lavish. 

The game is also very atmospheric. I always liked the secret fountains where you level up. Everything is so blue and mystical. Really gets you in the mood to play more and more of the game.

Sound:

This game has very good music. It's a nice infusion of Middle Eastern mixed with heavy metal. It sounds weird, but it works. The music helps add to the atmosphere of the game. It is subdued when you are navigating the quieter areas of the game, but picks up when there is action happening onscreen.

Voice acting is good, too. I like the voices of the Prince and of Farah. They seem to match the character design perfectly. My only complaint is that the voice acting can be very quiet sometimes, and there are no subtitles. I'll be running through an area full of spikes and traps while the characters are talking, and I won't be able to hear anything they are saying. I feel as if I missed out on quite a bit of the banter between the characters as I was playing the game.

Overall:

So does this game hold up after nearly 20 years? The answer is a resounding yes. It's got a solid, if unremarkable story. Good characters. Good graphics. Good sound. Good controls. Good everything, really. I wouldn't say that the game is necessarily great. It's never going to go down in the pantheon of all-time classics. But it at least deserves to be in the conversation, especially considering how influential it was and how it inspired so many copycats.

The Sands of Time is a quick and easy playthrough. I can recommend this to anyone who enjoys third person action/adventure games. I can't think of anyone who would hate this game, to be honest. There's a little something here for everyone.

I'm going to give this a solid B+. It is better than a B, but it is not quite great enough to reach A territory. It's close, though. This game is definitely worth your time.

.

THE GRADE:

B+

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Video Game Review #484: Atlantis

Atlantis

Atari 2600

Nostalgia Factor:

Atlantis is one of the first video games I can ever remember playing. My dad had an Atari 2600 in his basement, and this game was in his collection. I remember being intrigued by Atlantis, with its fun box art and its mysterious underwater science fiction setting. I always felt as if the game had an interesting story it was trying to tell.

Despite my interest in the game, I was never very good at it. Playing sessions would only last a couple minutes before the city was destroyed and I had to start the whole game over again. I played this game quite a bit as a kid, but once I moved on from the 2600 to the NES, I never bothered to play Atlantis again.

I haven't played this game since the 1980s, which means that at least 30 years have passed since I last played it. How would I feel about this game now? Let's find out.

Story:

Nothing is really explained in-game. Perhaps there is something in the instruction manual about what is going on. I've never read it, though.

From what I am able to gather, you play as a gunman who is attempting to defend the city of Atlantis from a hostile aerial bombardment. There is no way to "beat" the game, you're just looking to get the highest score. Eventually your defenses will be breached and the city will be destroyed. 

Gameplay:

Gameplay is as simple as it gets. There are three mounted defense turrets: one in the middle of the screen, one on the left, and one on the right. Press the fire button to fire a shot from the middle turret. Hold left and press the fire button to fire a shot from the left turret. Guess what? You hold right and press the fire button to fire a shot from the right turret.

Enemy ships will make passes across the screen, starting from the top of the screen. On each successive pass, they get closer to the surface - and by association, your home base. The longer you play, the faster these ships get. If you don't destroy them by their fourth pass, they fire a laser beam that will cut through your defenses if it hits one of your power generators. 

Systematically, they will knock out your canons the more they hit you - leaving you with one at the end. When that canon is destroyed, the game is over.

As I said before, there is no end to this game. It just keeps going and going. Your goal is to get the highest score. I played for about 20 minutes and only got hit one time. I think my score was something in the three millions? Or maybe it was three hundred thousands? Or maybe thirty thousands? It was three something. All I know is that I could have kept playing for another 20 minutes, and another 20 more. I was not getting challenged whatsoever. I eventually had to just let myself die on purpose so that the game would end.

There are three different types of enemy ships: a ship that looks like the Starship Enterprise, a ship that looks like a Star Destroyer, and a super fast little ship that looks an X-Wing fighter. Coincidence? Hmmm...

When you hit the small X-Wing looking ship, it blows up with a flash of white, destroying every enemy on screen. So always go for those ships if you have the chance. They are the smallest and the fastest, so hitting them can be difficult. I had that timing down pat when I was playing, though.

That's pretty much all there is to this game. Don't come into this expecting a deep, lasting experience. After I put in my 20 minutes, I turned the game off. I'd seen everything there was to see here.

Graphics:

Obviously, this is a pretty basic looking game. I mean, this is a 41 year old game for the Atari 2600. It came out in July of 1982, the same month I was born. It's as old as me!

That said, it still looks better than most 2600 games. I always enjoyed the aesthetic of the game as a kid, and how nice and pleasant and advanced Atlantis looks. Well, pleasant if you ignore the attack ships streaking by overhead, of course.

It's bright and colorful. It's an easy game to look at. I mentioned this before, but I love how the attack ships seem to be inspired by Star Wars and Star Trek. I also enjoy how you can see the city take damage the more you get hit - which I always thought was a nice touch. So yeah, for such an old 2600 game this ain't half bad looking.

Sound:

This game doesn't have any music, which is fine. Sound effects are supplied through the standard Atari bleeps and bloops. I swear I've heard half these sound effects in other old 2600 games!

It works, though. Helps add to the mysterious, yet tense atmosphere of the game. There's really nothing remarkable here, but if you put a gun to my head and asked me if I thought the game's sound was good or bad, I'd definitely say good.

Overall:

Despite this game's simplicity and its easy level of difficulty, I still had a good time with it. This is a game, though, that is only good for short bursts at a time. I played it for 20 minutes and got sick of it and had to let myself lose. I wish it got so insanely fast that I was able to lose on my own merits. And maybe it does if you play for something like 40 or 50 minutes. I just don't have time for that, though. Things get boring and repetitive long, long before that.

But I still liked it. And now that I've reintroduced myself to the game, I can totally see myself coming back to it every once in a while when I have a little time to kill. Is it a great game? No. But it is not a trainwreck, either. It's fun! But like I said, only fun for short bursts.

Atlantis is easily one of the best 2600 games I've ever played. The 2600 is extremely outdated and kind of sucks, so I wouldn't exactly consider that glowing praise. But hey, it's something! Definitely check it out if you have the means to do so.

THE GRADE:

C+

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15 things that brought me joy in 2023

This is a new kind of post from me. I'll be looking back at the year 2023 and posting a list of the top 15 things that brought me joy this year. I understand that the year is not over yet, but I am hoping to turn this into a December tradition, similar to my January movie ranking and my March podcast ranking. A disclaimer: this isn't a ranking. These things are posted in random order. Just thought you should know that. Without further ado, let's kick things off!

The Challenge

TV Show

The Challenge debuted a long, long time ago. It started back on MTV and was originally meant to bring back personalities from Road Rules and Real World to compete in a series of competitions where the players would earn money and a winner (or winners) would be crowned at the end.

I've never seen a single episode of Road Rules or the Real World, so this show never really interested me. It wasn't until I started running out of reality shows to watch that I finally decided to give The Challenge a shot. I knew that there was a season on Paramount Plus (The Challenge USA) that was composed entirely of Big Brother and Survivor players (with some Amazing Race and Love Island contestants thrown in as well). Since I didn't know jack about the Real World or Road Rules, I decided this was a good place to start.

Man, I really enjoyed that first season. Great players, interesting personalities, and a series of over the top challenges that just look so, so fun to play. I immediately jumped into season two. And wouldn't you have it: season two, while mainly comprised again of Survivor and Big Brother players, brought back Challenge legends from previous seasons. This was a great way to introduce me to some past Challenge players like Wes and Johnny Bananas. I absolutely loved the season, and immediately went back and started watching previous Challenge seasons. I recently wrapped up Champs vs Stars season 3, which was a ton of fun. 

I had initially planned to go allllll the way back to the beginning and start from season one, but some of the earlier seasons are nearly impossible to find online. So I'm just listening to podcasts and YouTube recaps of those seasons until I get to some that I can actually watch. I am super, super curious to see how this show began, and how it has led us to this point in the series' evolution.

For a series I had absolutely no faith in when I first started watching it, it has brought me a ton of joy so far this year. And I can't wait to watch more.

Good Mythical Morning

YouTube series

My wife and I have been watching Good Mythical Morning for a very long time. Probably somewhere around six or seven years now. This is a show that absolutely never fails to entertain. Rhett and Link are childhood friends who grew up together, went to college together, and have been in the entertainment industry together since graduating back in 2000/2001. 

It's hard to describe what this show is, to someone who has never seen it before. It's like Wayne's World where the two hosts sit at a desk and usually compete in some kind of game against each other. Many of these games involve food. My wife and I love food shows, so this of course is one of our favorites. Examples of games: they have a taste test of an exotic food item and then throw darts at a map in an attempt to hit where they think the food dish is from. Another game: they play shuffleboard where they try to land on a decade they think a food item is from. Another game involves tasting foods ranging from grocery store frozen foods to fancy restaurant foods in order to determine their perfect meal. Where this show got me hooked originally is the "Will It?" episodes where they make bizarre food creations. An example includes "Will It Taco?" where they experiment with different ingredients to see if it would work as a taco. There are also taste test episodes where they taste all the different flavors of a certain food item - for example Monster Energy flavors, Ben and Jerry flavors, etc. 

There are a number of gross food eating episodes as well. It is always funny when they pull out their little buckets and start puking. Anyone can jump in and watch this show. Every single episode is different. And not everything is food related. I like the ones where they watch things getting destroyed in reverse order, and then they have to guess what the item is before the other one can buzz in. The cornhole game is fun, too. Sometimes there are guest hosts who participate. Kobe Bryant and Post Malone have been on this show.

One of the best things about Good Mythical Morning is the relationship between Rhett and Link. They are about as close of friends as you can possibly get, and they play off of each other comedically quite well. The cast and crew are involved in many of the episodes. You get the feeling that there must be a sense of great camaraderie between all of them. Stevie, Chase, Jordan, Emily, David Hill, etc. They are all so funny and likeable and they seem to be having such a good time. I imagine this show must be quite fun to be a part of.

This is a show that my wife and I watch almost every night before bed. It's quick, it's funny, and it is always a reliable source of entertainment, as you never know what these guys are going to do. Even the episodes that I don't think I'll be interested in are still entertaining. If I had made a list like this last year, and the year before, and the year before - this show would have been on it all those years. Thank you Rhett and Link for being such a reliable source of entertainment for such a prolonged period of time.

 

Days Gone

PlayStation 4

I have always known about the existence of this game, which came out in 2019. But I've never bothered to actually play it due to middling/poor critical reviews. That was a mistake. In fact, those reviews were a mistake. How could you not like this game? I thought it was so damn cool.

The basic premise is that it takes place two years after a zombie apocalypse. Humanity has gathered into small little cluster towns. Outlaws are running wild, and big zombie herds are swarming around, posing a constant threat to the survivors. It's a premise we've seen before, dozens of times. But the way the storyline is executed is just so darn good. It is everything The Walking Dead hoped it could be, and more

You play as Deacon St John - a former member of a motorcycle gang. He and his good friend Boozer operate as a drifters, people who go around from town to town, doing odd jobs for money. Clearing out zombies, gathering supplies, rescuing lost people, bringing back food, etc. 

The survivor camps are terrorized by a group of psychos known as Rippers. Boozer is maimed by a Ripper, leaving Deacon to operate solo.

The gameplay is infused with flashbacks to before the fall of humanity, where Deacon was married to a woman named Sarah, who is believed to have died during the attacks. In between odd jobs and Ripper encounters, Deacon tracks down leads on his wife, who may actually be alive after all.

I'm not going to dive into the entire plot of the game, but I found the whole thing to be very engaging. I love the characters. I love the sense of dread (some of those Ripper blowtorch attacks had me cringing). Everything just feels so high-stakes. The gameplay is a ton of fun as well. Nothing more challenging (but in a good way) than when you have to go into battle against the hordes. And the story really got me involved in a way that many other games have consistently been failing to do so. 

This was one of the best games I've played in a long time. It took me a few hours to really get invested, but once I did, I really fell in love with the game. I couldn't stop playing it or thinking about it for weeks straight. I even took the time to get the game's platinum trophy! To this day I still don't understand why this game was so critically panned. I loved it. It brought me a ton of joy in 2023.

If you are interested in my full review of the game, you can read it here.

Staff Picks

Podcast

I listen to a lot of podcasts, and there are two of them on this list. Staff Picks is the first. I've been listening to this podcast for a little over a year now. In fact, it ranked as the favorite podcast in my rotation back when I ranked them in March.

It is a podcast about movies that don't get enough love or attention. It is hosted by Mario Lanza, who also hosts the Survivor Historians, which is a podcast that I love. Each episode he brings on a new cohost to talk about that week's movie. I've discovered a lot of fun, unique movies through this podcast which I had never even heard about. Some examples: Brigsby Bear, Unfriended, Fortress, The Bad News Bears, My Bodyguard, and The Quick and the Dead. Many episodes cover movies which I have already seen, like The Rock, Spaceballs, and A Knight's Tale. Each and every episode makes me appreciate these movies even more. 

I have been listening to all these episodes in order. If I've seen the movies, if I haven't seen them, even if they didn't sound like something I'd like. Every episode is worth listening to. The cohosts are normally pretty great, too. If you are a Survivor fan, you may recognize Coach, Kass, and Dan Fields (Thunder D) as they help host a few episodes.

Staff Picks is a podcast that is like a delicious comfort food. I can put on any episode and know that it is going to be a great episode. It is my go-to podcast for when I am not really feeling in the mood to listen to anything else. It is definitely one of my faster watched podcasts out there. I'd recommend this to anyone who is into a good movie podcast. It's brought me lots of joy this year, and I'm sure it will continue to bring me much joy into 2024 and beyond.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Milwaukee Bucks forward

I've been a long-suffering Bucks fan my entire life, and I would be crazy not to be in complete awe of this man and the way he's transformed the team from laughingstock to perennial contender. Looking back at the Mo Williams/Toni Kukoc/Charlie Villanueva/Joe Alexander/Charlie Bell years I never thought I'd see the Bucks even come close to winning an NBA title. For almost 20 years they couldn't even win a single playoff series. And now here we are: champions. And someone who is in the hunt year in and year out.

Every time he steps on the court, you know you're going to get a show from this man. The dunks, the big-time defensive plays, the way he just dominates players physically on the court. He does it all. As a human being, he seems like a great guy. He comes from humble beginnings and he always makes sure to handle himself well. He is funny, and has a great and unique sense of humor. The 50 wings after scoring 50 and winning the title is freaking legendary.

Giannis is a national treasure, and as long as he's a Buck he is probably going to keep making it onto this list until I get tired of putting him here. He's single handedly made Bucks basketball watchable again, and I am going to enjoy him every single second he's here.

Squid Game: The Challenge

Netflix Series

Not a single thing I watched this year surprised me more than this show. I watched the original Squid Game Netflix series back in 2020 or whenever it was that it first came out. I had heard in passing that they were doing a "real life" version of the Squid Game, but it was never something I had much of an interest in. In fact, I didn't even know this show was coming out until I started seeing posts about it on social media. I thought: "oh, I should probably check that out." And I did. I put on one episode, thinking I'd watch it for a little bit to see if it caught my attention. And boy, did it catch my attention. I watched the entire thing all the way through in basically two days. I know at the time it was only nine episodes of television, but I work a full-time job and raise a three year old. I don't have much time to watch things. So the fact that I watched it so quickly really shows you how I devoted pretty much every free second of my time to it.

It may be the most addicting show I've ever seen in my life. The giant cast, all the people with their interviews and stories. The games. Watching people "get shot" and fall down dramatically. I fell in love with this immediately. Some of the interviews and conversations seemed a little scripted, but I understand that it is edited to feel like the actual Squid Game TV show.

I became completely invested in this show. The games. The "tests." The interpersonal dynamics between the players. Getting attached to one character in one moment only to lose them the next. You never really know whose story this show is telling. The mother and son duo? The guy with the mullet? The other guy with a mullet? The Owen Wilson-looking guy? The bleached blonde? The basketball player? The cocky guy? The old guy? Is it the story of the ganbuu gang? 

Every elimination is so intense. Every decision and every standoff is so intense. The guy who answers the phone and self-eliminates? That is incredible TV. The bridge game? Amazing. Marbles? Wow. The standoff when picking which shapes to cut in the cookie game? Riveting stuff.

This might not sound very interesting if you've never seen the show before. And I understand if this type of show might not be for you. But to me, this may have brought me the most joy in all of 2023. I was riveted to this show like nothing I'd ever seen or experienced before.

Dynasty Fantasy Football

I've been playing fantasy football for several years now. I've never been too good at it, but I've never been too bad at it either. I've won twice in about five or six years of playing. Not a good winning percentage, but hey it is something. 

I joined my first dynasty league a few years ago. In early 2023, we were in the offseason (between the end of the 2022 season and the 2023 NFL draft). It was about to be the third year in this dynasty league. I remember randomly thinking one day: hmmm, I wonder which rookies are predicted to be good? I wanted to do a little research so I could get a leg up on everyone. I read all about Zach Charbonnet and Quentin Johnston, and Anthony Richardson, and Bijan Robinson, and Jahmyrr Gibbs, and Dalton Kincaid, and all the incoming rookie tight ends.

Soon my phone started to blow up with notifications from Yahoo whenever they'd post a dynasty related article or a preview of the incoming rookie draft. Soon I began to get Reddit dynasty notifications, too. I had fallen down the rabbit hole.

I became so invested in planning who I was going to draft, that I began thinking about starting my very own dynasty league full of family and friends. So I did it. I started the Rad Dynasty. And we are in year one of this league, and it is doing great. My team is not doing too well. I think I read too many scouting reports and drafted too young. But the future should be bright for my team!

Just the thought of building a team from the ground up and adding to it over the years and trying to mold it into a contender is something that just really appeals to me. I think about my dynasty team and who I am going to drop and add on a daily basis. I am already thinking about next year's draft. I have been listening to dynasty podcasts now too.

Suffice it to say, it is something that has brought me a lot of joy in 2023. My team might not be good right now, but planning and building is all part of the process, and it is all fun. Win or lose: I love it. I want my league to go on forever.

Star Trek: Picard

Season 3

As a giant Next Generation fan, I was highly disappointed in Picard seasons 1 and 2, which I thought were absolute gutter trash. Since I didn't enjoy them very much, I had low expectations for season 3 when it first started. I decided to give it a chance, hoping the show makers had learned from their mistakes. I thought the first episode was quite mediocre. 

I'm someone who sticks through with things to the end though. Even though the first episode wasn't that great, it brought up a lot of questions that I wanted to see the answers to. Plus, it had brought back Beverly Crusher and Worf. And I'd heard that nearly every major character from TNG was set to return in some form or another. So I kept with it.

Boy, am I glad I did. It must have been the 2nd or 3rd episode when the show clicked, and I started to become heavily invested in it. That whole arc with Vadic relentlessly pursuing the ship, and the cat and mouse game, and everyone thinking they were going to die, etc. was freaking brilliant. I was riveted and on the absolute edge of my seat for every second of it. The show finally felt like there were some real stakes involved.

The questions and mysteries kept coming too. Who was Vadic? Who was her overlord? Was it the Dominion? Species 8472? I'd even heard speculation it was Armus from season one of The Next Generation. Who was Jack Crusher really? Why did he have special powers? Was he a sleeper agent of some kind? A clone? I was having a heck of a fun time looking at all the fan theories online. People were picking apart the closing credits sequence for clues. As a big Lost fan, I was loving every second of it. Speaking of the closing credits, the mashup of the First Contact theme and the Next Generation theme was absolutely beautiful, and I'd listen to it on repeat for hours at a time while doing chores around the house.

Although the twists and turns ended up leading somewhere predictable (spoiler alert: it was yet another Borg scheme) the journey was still super fun. I loved seeing all the cast members again. I loved the space museum. I loved seeing the Enterprise back in action. I loved the cameos, like Tuvok, Shelby, and Ensign Ro. Call it blatant fan service if you want, but to me it was light years better than the first two seasons.

Each week I'd anxiously wait for midnight, preparing for the new episode to drop. That is something I almost never do anymore. This show was as close to event television as I'd seen in quite some time. As a Star Trek fan, the magic had been starting to wear off. And this show invigorated it for me. I couldn't ask for a better send off to Jean Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise. 

Six Feet Under

HBO series

It's hard to believe it was still 2023 when I finished this show, it feels like I watched it so long ago. I had to double check. Yup, I started it in 2022. Finished the final season in 2023. So it counts!

Six Feet Under makes the list because it is one of those shows that will stick with me forever. I'm going to spoil the final season, so be prepared. Ready? If not, I'd advise just moving onto the next entry on this list.

The main character, Nate Fisher, dies with just a few episodes left in the show. The whole entire series, you've known he has this brain condition, but you don't really know the extent of it. It seems like he's gotten better and has moved on with his life, but an unexpected seizure lands him in the hospital.

This show is full of morally ambiguous characters, and Nate is one of them. He's not a good guy, but he's not a bad one either. He's irrational, impulsive, selfish, and is a habitual cheater. But he works in a funeral home and shows tremendous compassion for the people who come into the business on a daily basis. The way he treats people as they are going through pretty much the roughest time of their life is touching, really.

So that is what makes it so difficult to judge him when he does something bad. His pregnant wife is at home when he has his seizure, while he is off cheating on her. This is all exposed in the last few episodes. Nate's condition ends up killing him, leaving all kinds of destruction behind. You see how the family deals with his passing. His wife. His friends. The woman he was having an affair with. It's not often you see a main character in a show die, and the absolute gut-punch that is the final season of this show is something I'll never forget. I'm not someone who cries a lot, but MAN did this show really get to me. But in a good way. Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the excellent ending and final episode. If you're looking for a show that is well acted, has a great story, great characters, and is super impactful, look no further than Six Feet Under. 

I haven't yet ranked my favorite TV shows of all time, but if I did, I can guarantee you it would be high on that list.

The Retrograde

Podcast

Being a dad who spends lots of time going on walks and watching his three year old, I have a lot of "boring" time on my hands. There's only so much you can do while babysitting, so back in 2020 I started listening to podcasts to pass the time. Some podcasts have come and gone, but the Retrograde has been a mainstay in my rotation for a long time. There are SO many episodes. I consider it the "old reliable" of all the podcasts in my rotation. If I am looking through a list of things to listen to, I know I can always put on the Retrograde and have a good time. Just like Staff Picks, which I mentioned earlier.

The two hosts, Andrew and Mikey, are so dang funny and entertaining. I may not always agree with their opinions on some of the retro games they play, but I am never not entertained when I listen to an episode. Some podcasts I have to be in the mood for. Not this one. I can put it on anytime or anyplace and still enjoy it.

Thank you, the Retrograde, for being such a reliable source of entertainment throughout both 2023 and the last few years in general. You've helped me through some challenging times. This podcast definitely brought me so much joy in 2023. In fact, I just listened to their "Ten things I loved about 2020" episode, and it served as direct inspiration for this blog post. Thank you for that!

Survivor

TV show

If you know me, you know Survivor was going to find a way to make this list. I've been a loyal viewer since the show first aired in the year 2000. This is a comfort show for me. I'm not someone who watches things over and over again, but this is an exception. I've rewatched from the beginning multiple times now. It never gets old or tiring. I just love it so much. I notice something new, or change my opinion on a player every single time. I've even expanded into international territory with the show. I've been watching Australian Survivor - and it is so freaking good. Just Heroes vs Villains alone would have made this list as an entry, if the franchise as a whole didn't take that spot instead. King George and his gameplay are freaking legendary. That season has perhaps one of the single best tribal councils I have ever scene.

Not only do I love the show, but Survivor has had an even bigger impact on me than most. I have a ton of friends from the online Survivor community, many of which I've known since about 2006 or 2007. These friendships have outlasted many real life friendships. I listen to Survivor podcasts. I talk about Survivor at family gatherings. "Come on in guys!" has become something we say at almost every family gathering now. Survivor is a mainstay in my life, and I don't think it is going anywhere anytime soon. If I had made a list like this for the past 20 years, it would have made an appearance each and every single year. That's how much it means to me.

The Haunting of Hill House

Netflix series

Admittedly, I am shocked that this show made the list. I watched it back when it first came out in 2018, and I was very unimpressed. I'm not sure why I decided to come back and give it a second chance, but wow am I glad I did. I loved it this time around.

(Actually, I think the RetroGrade inspired me to watch it again when they talked about it on one of their episodes.)

The whole thing is good from beginning to end. It wasn't slow and boring like I had originally thought. It's slow, sure, but far from boring. It's tense, scary, well-acted, and contains just enough "puzzles" and mysteries to keep you watching, wanting to find out what exactly is going on with the family and the house - and what the dad is trying to hide. I wholeheartedly suggest this to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. And if you have seen it and you didn't like it - I'd suggest giving it another shot to see if it'll change your mind. It sure did change mine.

Only Murders in the Building

Hulu series

My wife and I have very, very differing tastes when it comes to TV. She wouldn't be caught dead watching Survivor or the Challenge or half the things I watch. So it is always a real treat when we can find a show that we both enjoy - and Only Murders in the Building is one of these shows.

We'd seen season 1 a few years ago when we had Hulu. But we had to cancel our plan to save money. Well, this year we had a weekend where his grandparents watched the baby - so we had two whole days to ourselves. This was the perfect opportunity to try to binge watch seasons 2 and 3 of this show, something we never get to do anymore. 

Right away, we were sucked right into this show. Its humor, its characters, its legitimately good mysteries. All of it is just so, so binge worthy. We only were able to finish season 2 on that baby-less weekend, but we came back and finished season 3 in the ensuing weeks, watching an episode each night after he'd go to bed. We can't wait for season 4! 

The crossover episode

Strange New Worlds/Lower Decks

Lower Decks is fabulous, and is another one of those shows that both me and my wife enjoy. It could have easily had its own entry on this list,. Instead, I am sneakily using this entry to also include Strange New Worlds.

I've always known they planned to do a live action crossover, but I had no idea it would work as well as it did. The whole introduction is done in the Lower Decks style. Things start off as a cartoon, but then quickly transition to the live action style of SNW. Seeing the characters from this cartoon show brought into the real world was such a treat. None of the comedy is lost in the transition, which I was worried about.

This was the most unique, compelling, and enjoyable episodes of TV I watched this year. In fact, it ranks right up there as one of the single best episodes of Trek I've ever seen. It is everything you ever could have wanted in a crossover, and more! 

Consider this entry an honorary spot for both Lower Decks and Strange New Worlds. These are both terrific shows. Lower Decks is consistently terrific, and SNW really branched out this year with this episode, the musical episode, and a few other standout episodes. Two great shows that you need to check out if you have not already.

Big Brother

TV series

I don't think I've ever been as invested in Big Brother as I was this year. I've always enjoyed the show, but compared to Survivor, it has never been something I'm fanatical about. In fact, I had completely stopped watching the show entirely around 2017- and had to binge all the seasons I'd missed at the end of 2022 and the start of 2023.

Bingeing these seasons got me back into the show in a big way. After finishing them, I then watched 9 seasons of Big Brother Canada, and I loved them all. I listened to a few Big Brother podcasts. I even went back and watched seasons two through six of the Big Brother US - which I had zero intention of doing. These old seasons are so enjoyable, and watching them is a blast from the past. So many old contestants I had either forgotten about or didn't appreciate when I was a kid. Watching BB 3, 4, and 5 was like seeing them for the first time. And they are awesome.

Big Brother easily gets a spot in my top 15. So many great players and great moments I watched this year. Marcellus not using the veto, Bunky and Kent's relationship, Dr. Will's overall game in Big Brother 2, the X-Factor, Alison's actions in Big Brother 4, Dana having the sex appeal of a buzzard's crotch, Nakomis and Cowboy finding out they were brother and sister, the entirety of Big Brother 6 - which is one of my single favorite reality show seasons of all time. There are too many great moments to list just from that season alone. Janelle, Kaysar, and Hurricane Howie were so fun to root for, even though the Friendship ended up winning.

The first episode of Big Brother Reindeer Games actually premiered earlier today, but I haven't watched it yet. Looks like the show is going to continue to bring me joy into 2024 and beyond.

Honorable mentions:

- The White Lotus. Just didn't have enough room for it. Maybe season 2 will make the cut for 2024 when I watch it next year.

- Cartridge Club. It's a game of the month podcast where the panel picks a game each month and then convenes for a podcast about it at the end of the month. I love the community surrounding the Cartridge Club as it is very warm and inviting, and the posters like to uplift each other. I'd like to get more involved with them in 2024 and beyond. Just hard to do when you have a three year old. 

- Immortals: Fenyx Rising. A really fun, colorful game that had me hooked for weeks on end.

- Collateral Gaming/Collateral Cinema. I'm absolutely crushed I just didn't have room for these two podcasts. They are just outside of Staff Picks and Retrograde when it comes to being a "go-to" podcast in my rotation.

- The 7th Rule. This is a Star Trek podcast I'm just starting to get into.

- Legend of Legaia. An RPG for the PlayStation 1 that I recently finished playing. Sunk about 42 hours into it, and now I'm kind of missing playing it, haha.

- Prisoners. The Denis Villeneuve movie. It was gripping from beginning to end. Really wanted to make room for it on this list.