Ralph Breaks the Internet will be available for home release later this month, and to celebrate, we want to give our readers a chance to win a Blu-ray combo pack for free!

To enter, all you have to do is send your name and mailing address (in the U.S. only please, and we cannot guarantee delivery to PO Boxes) in an email with RALPH in the subject line to ADAM@BIGSHINYROBOT.COM, and that’s it! If you share this contest on Facebook and/or Twitter, you’ll get an extra entry for each one; just be sure to let me know in the email that you did.

The contest will run until Saturday, February 16, and the one (1) winner will be contacted shortly thereafter.

Ralph Breaks the Internet is available on Digital 4K Ultra HD on Movies Anywhere February 12 and on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray February 26!

Best of luck to everyone who enters!

A friend of mine (and writer on this site) once asked me why don’t I review newer games.  I brushed the question off for quite some time but I thought now was a good time to really go into this; why DON’T I play or review new games?  It’s not that I have a problem with new games, in fact, I have been known to pick up a switch game every once in a while. However, it’s not what I spend most of my time on.

I am a YouTuber (super small as of now) and the best way to get views is to play the latest and greatest.  People are starving for content about Spiderman or Kingdom Hearts and yet, I am absent at the party. Instead I play old favourites like Lunar or Golden Sun.  The chances of someone looking up a lets play of Lunar for the Sega CD is pretty rare and if they do, they will likely find dozens of channels that have already played through it.  

I gotta be honest, I’ve written the next few paragraphs three times and I still can’t really figure out why it is that I don’t play new games.  I recently put 40+ hours into a more modern game like Persona 4 for the PS Vita but that’s a game that came out years ago. If I want to be successful, I need to get hip with the times and play what everyone else is playing.  

I just realized that it’s not just video games that I do this with.  As I am writing this, I am listening to Gordon Lightfoot’s greatest hits full of songs that came out decades ago.  I’ve listened to this album probably a hundred times (This isn’t an exaggeration, I really love Gordon Lightfoot) and yet, I go to this album versus something new from a band like The Mountain Goats.  Once again, like video games, I do listen to new albums here and there. I recently picked up some albums by Mega Ran and I’ve been loving it. When I want to relax or kick my feet up on a road trip it’s albums like Led Zeppelin or Tom Petty that gets played first.  

The one reason I keep coming back to is comfort.  Old video games and old albums are like a broken in sweater.  They are comforting and you know exactly what you’re getting into.  A new album or video game could turn out to be awful and now you’ve wasted time and money on something you didn’t enjoy.  I know what to expect when I pick up Golden Sun. It’s a game I know I love and will enjoy playing.

That’s not entirely it though.  I do pick up games I haven’t played before, but they are still games that most would consider “old school”.  Just recently I am playing Final Fantasy IX for the first time and im having a blast. Why, though, do I enjoy Final Fantasy IX and not XV?  You could say nostalgia and you’d probably be right, but I don’t think that’s entirely the reason. Yes, old school games carry this weight of better times but nostalgia specifically looks at something you’ve enjoyed in the past and goes back to so you can feel the same feelings over again.  I’ve never played Final Fantasy IX so there isn’t a connection to it from my youth.

Is it that old school video games are better?  Not at all! There are so many great games coming out that is hard to pick what to play.  A fairly modern game that I’ve put tons of hours into is Civilization 6. In fact, a new expansion is coming out in a few weeks and I am hyped about it.  That being said, its an exception to the rule I have and not the rule itself.

Another reason I think I gravitate to old school games is the charm they have.  Games today are so polished and so realistic that you can forget you’re playing a video game.  Now I haven’t played it, but when watching videos of the new Spiderman I am stunned by how great it looks!  It’s not just looks that have advanced over the years; controls of modern video games have gotten better too.  An interesting example is from the Pokemon games. For over a decade you could only walk in four directions. Now though, on games like Pokemon X or Pokemon Sun, you can walk in any direction.  It’s a small thing but it makes the gaming experience so much more enjoyable.

Something I just thought about!  My nephew has been coming over recently to hang out with me and my wife and one of the things we love to do is play video games together.  In fact on my Youtube channel there are a few videos of games we played together (check it out, he’s adorable!). Now, something I’ve tried to do while he is over is get him to play some of the retro games I love.  I haven’t been forcing him to play old RPGs (I’ll be honest, I doubt he has the attention span for those yet) but I have tried other games like Pocky and Rocky. Some of them he loves and some of them he gets tired of quickly.  This tells me though that it’s not just about nostalgia. He has no connection to the games and is definitely born past the era they were made but he still enjoys them. This tells me there’s gotta be something about the games beyond enjoying them when you were a kid.  

Maybe it’s the simplicity of the games.  Many games nowadays are complex and have a steep learning curve (I’m looking at you Persona!) but because games from the past had technological constraints, they had to be simple.  No matter how long its been, I can pick up Gradius for an hour or two and play it. I don’t need to relearn the controls or figure out where I left off in the story; it’s a game about a ship shooting other ships.  

As always there is an exception to the rule.  There are games from eras gone by that are complex and story driven.  One that comes to mind is Fire Emblem of Shining Force. That said, they are still easier to hop back into than a game like Kingdom Hearts.

So, here’s what we’ve covered so far:  New games are great but I still prefer to pop in something from the early 2000s or earlier.  When we try to analyze why I love older games, we get nowhere. What’s the point of this article then?  I think what I am trying to say here is that it’s okay to love new games and it’s okay to love old games.  Either one is an awesome experience and worth getting into. I might not know why I enjoy older games but I am going to keep playing them and having a great time doing so.

So what about you?  Do you love new games or older games and why is it you love them?

PAX West is nearly upon us. If you have been a Bigshinyrobot.com reader for a hot minute, you might have seen our coverage over the years. PAX is one of the largest annual gaming events in the world. A mega-video game convention that fills Seattle’s Washington State Convention Center with crowds, cosplay and a dizzying assortment of games. The enthusiasm is always palpable. We are really excited to be able to get our hands on all the titles that have been on our radar for 2018 and beyond.

While we do appreciate the Cyberpunk 2077’s, Anthem’s, the Fallout 76’s and other Triple A blockbusters … our focus is always on indie games. They don’t typically have long lines and you can often have a good conversation with the dev(s) that actually made the game. We plan to spend the better part of the weekend in the Indie Megabooth/Minibooth just playing and talking to creators. However, even within the indie game scene at PAX, there are some things that we won’t be able to play. There just is not enough time

First, let me address some of the outdated trends and uninspired gimmicks that I would like to see downgraded, not upgraded as we move into the future.

Real Gameplay

Quantity or quality? On one hand, would you rather have a company that shows off 50 titles, a list that includes 15 exclusives OR one that sticks to a handful, but presents them in much greater depth? Ultimately, I have to say I prefer the latter. Real game play footage feels like an extremely finite resource at these kinds of events. At PAX, you DO actually get to play the games. Raise one up for real gameplay and not just cutscenes in real time.

VR still waiting

The last few years of PAX, gaming felt like an industry on the cusp of a VR breakthrough. In 2018, however, it doesn’t feel any closer. There are a handful of compelling new VR experiences at each event, but it feels like many of the peripheral and other experiences are sitting on the fringes — both literally and metaphorically — waiting for a crack at the big show.

Space Marines

I get that gaming constitutes a 21^st century location for what Swiss psychologist Carl G. Jung called “compensation.” That is, a place where individuals can engage with symbolic alternatives to their work-a-day experiences, a place to wrestle with the unconscious manifestations of their sometimes problematic habitual attitudes. When did we start celebrating these generic, poor man C.O.D. simulators and mediocrity?

Now, here is a short list of some of the sure shots that I plan on spending a lot of quality time with:

Control– I know I shouldn’t let myself get too excited about a Remedy Entertainment game after the MEH that was Quantum Break, but Control looks like it might be the game Remedy should have made in the first place. Control might also not have been possible without Quantum Break, as it appears to take the supernatural elements of the studio’s last game and amplify them tenfold. You play as the newly appointed director of a government agency that tackles otherworldly threats, and based on the trailer, you have access to telekinetic powers for combat and puzzle-solving. This one speaks to me.

Untitled Goose Game– This is a stealth action game about being a asshole Goose. From what I can gather, It looks to be a clever mix of stealthy heist shenanigans and player-created slapstick humor. Maybe like a Metal Gear element with a Splinter Cell bent. Metal Goose Solid? The gameplay that I have checked online had me in tears. I can’t wait to “Honk” my way through that Farmers garden and cause gander chaos.

UFO 50– I’m not sure “50 in 1” is a genre of game any more than “mix tape” is a genre of music. UFO 50 is clearly winking at those old (and awful) collections of retro-tanged games. The concept seems to be “Hey, what would it be like if one of those crappy combo cartridges was actually… good?”. I have heard that you’ll probably need a hundred hours to beat them all. All 50 GAMES! Count me in.

Black Future ’88– This side-scrolling 2D roguelike cyberpunk shooter is set in an alternate post-apocalyptic version of 1988, Black Future ’88 follows players as they attempt to scale a giant, evil corporate tower and put an end to a malicious AI that threatens the entire world. It’s not complex, it doesn’t have to be. I’m hoping that It has an same addictive “one more run” feel. I’m really looking to play the hell out of it.

Fork Parker’s Crunch Out– A title made exclusively for the SNES. In Fork Parker’s Crunch Out, you play as the executive of a video game company pushing employees and developers to their limits in order to meet the deadlines. Sounds like fun, right? but it also sounds like a good allegory for the types of pressures that play out in real workplaces. Working 80 hour weeks for over a year to bring us this important lesson in self-care. Ok, it DOES sound like work. I’ll check it.

Valfaris– A heavy metal infused 2D action-platformer and the next game from the team behind, Slain: Back From Hell. Brutal combat. Deadly enemies. Stunning pixel art. Savage soundtrack. It checks all of the boxes. I have a feeling it will have that extreme pick-up-and-play potential, with runs lasting anywhere from a minute to an hour. If so, I’ll be there for an hour.

PAX West has the staples like freeplay areas, cosplay lounges, and tabletop gaming rooms. PLUS, Geek creators and influencers will host panels talking about new initiatives and issues facing the gaming community. AND…Concerts, tournaments and PARTIES fill out the evening for the enjoyment of the night owls present. Since we always make this trip on our ‘Rock N Roll Tour’, besides performing, busking and pop-ups we plan on attending the following events and you should too! If you see the Big Shiny Robot posse be sure and say ‘WHAT UP’ …

Predator Gaming After Party– This one is at The Showbox on Friday, August 31th starting at 9 pm PDT. Get your hands-on the latest Predator gaming hardware powered by Intel, watch an epic musical performance by A-Trak, pick up exclusive swag, play games and well, DRINK.

Life is Strange 2 Fan Meet Up Party with What’s Good Games– The Unicorn is the place from 6pm-9pm on Friday, 8/31. Last year, there was a line around the block so this time they booked the entire venue. Entry is free for all but the first 100 people in line will get free drink tickets. It’s open to anyone 21+ in the Seattle area, no PAX badge required.

Screenwave Media’s GIANT PAX West party– This one has the musical stylings of The Minibosses, Kirby Krackle and Professor ShyGuy live at the Rebar. 7PM-2AM. Also, on Friday, 8/31.

Red Bennies – The Lo-Fi performance gallery is one of my very favorite spots in Seattle. A night out in Eastlake like no other. Red Bennies will be opening for Bad Saint, Kid Leather and Claire Michelle. More info: http://thelofi.net/ . Friday, 8/31.

The Mix Seattle 2018– The Media Indie Exchange (MIX) is all about the games created by indies and indie game enthusiasts. Guests will have opportunities to play unreleased amazing indie titles, vibe with the teams creating them and get involved with prize package opportunities. This one runs from 2pm-11pm basically all day on Saturday, 9/1.

Pink Party Prime X– It’s back, and it’s bigger and better than ever. 10 years in the making, it’s Pink Party X! Neumos is the spot on Saturday night (9/1). If you go, try either the Mana or Power drinks and level up.

Poropalooza: Poros in Wakanda– Dance it off at the club that doesn’t quit with some of your favorite ESports players, Influencers and with geeks from every fandom. Q Nightclub, 9pm-2AM. Sunday, 9/2.

NPC Collective presents: Nerdcore Night at The Lo Fi– Some of the best doing it: Shubzilla, Kadesh Flow, 1-Up, MC-Ohm-I, Lex the Lexicon Artist & More! Free with a Pax West badge. Show starts at 7:30PM. Sunday, 9/2.

PAX West 2018, will take place in and around the Washington State Convention Center between August 31st and September 3^rd.

–Dagobot



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I honestly don’t know if there was a time when I didn’t deal with depression.  When I was a kid, my family nicknamed me Eeyore as I was always so down in the dumps.  As I got older, I still battled with this monkey on my back and life didn’t make things easier.  My parents got divorced and it was an ugly situation, I wasn’t very popular in school and was often made fun of, and I never really connected with people so making friends was a struggle.  

Even as an adult, the battle raged on. There were some legitimate situations that popped up in my life which anyone would get depressed by; My mother passed away when I was twenty and a week later the family dog was run over by a car.  Don’t you love how bad things can never just happen on their own? They always need to bring a friend! Anyone would battle with depression during times like this, but for me, it was a battle that I had been dealing with long before these terrible events.

Through all of this tragedy and woe, there was something that managed to keep my head afloat. Something that allowed me to escape into another world for a while and get outside my own head. This thing, of course, was video games.

It’s those moments where the only thing that can keep me from falling down the dark well is Mario or Sonic. I like to imagine their hands reaching out to catch me as I’m falling, and without hesitation I grab on.

Video games often get discredited as being a form of escapism for a generation who just can’t deal with growing up, people suffering from arrested development who turn to their Marios and Sonics to get away from the reality of things in front of them. I would say though, that many of us need exactly that. My depression isn’t a constant beast. Oh no, it bursts like a volcano without a moment’s notice. It strikes without warning to cloud over my sunny day.  

It’s those moments where the only thing that can keep me from falling down the dark well is Mario or Sonic. I like to imagine their hands reaching out to catch me as I’m falling, and without hesitation I grab on.  When what you’re facing is irrational and dark, having that escapist light to lift you up can be exactly what you need. 

I’d like to talk about two games that have recently saved me from myself (roll credits).  Those games are Nier Automata and I Am Setsuna. I’ve done reviews on both of them already so feel free to check those out (I swear this isn’t a plug).  These two games are very different from one another but both managed to calm the beast and lull it back to sleep. I’d like to start with Nier Automata as it had the largest impact on me.  

Nier Automata captured me in a way that other games during that time failed to do.  I was hooked by the first 10 minutes of the game. The music, atmosphere, and the sort of dull grays all enchanted me.  The first time I played the game I probably sat up for four or five hours on a work night (what sin!) just plugging away at the story. I was so bewitched by the game that I managed to beat the entire thing in just a week.  I wish I could say that was the only thing going on during that time, but I was struggling with a good deal of mania. I would have really high highs (which is weird to write but the only way to put it) and low lows. I would spend all day struggling to stay stable or as I like to say, on the level (a reference to the band The Raconteurs) and nothing seemed to solve the problem.  However, when I started playing Nier, all the pieces just fell into place. I was no longer worried about my mental state but instead what was going to happen to 2B and 9S. Their world became my own for a few hours each night and it allowed me to take a break from myself.

I have since gone back and played the game three times all the way through just to spend more time in that world.  It only lasted for a short while, but during that time I found peace.

The next game I want to talk about is I am Setsuna.  To set the stage a little, I started playing this game in winter, which is classically a difficult season for those with depression.  It’s like the whole world feels just a little bit more bleak and is pushing you towards the dark side of the pendulum. I don’t know why, and likely there isn’t a reason, but this particular winter was a tough one.  Everyday I felt like I struggled just to stay afloat in my own mind.

I came upon I am Setsuna almost by accident.  I was sitting there on my Playstation 4, not really knowing what to play (and I’ll be honest, not really interested in anything I had) when I saw it pop up on the PS plus menu, on discount.  I checked it out and the references to Chrono Trigger or other classic RPGs raised my eyebrows in the best possible way. I bought it thinking, “I’ll probably play this for an hour or two, get bored and never play it again.”  

This turned out to be one of the biggest lies of the winter as I was quickly drawn in to the game. I’ll be the first to admit the game isn’t revolutionary. It doesn’t push the boundaries of RPGs. It isn’t the second coming of Chrono Trigger that I think many people were hoping for.  What it does have though, is Setsuna. Possibly one of my favorite video game characters ever.

Now, to express why she is so amazing, I need to spoil some of the story, so just be ready for that. The basic premise is that Setsuna is going to sacrifice herself in a far away land so her people will be safe.  This alone isn’t very mesmerizing but it’s the way the character carries herself through the whole experience that is so compelling. Even though she has this bleak ending always looming overhead, she’s willing to help others and even stays positive. Right until the end of the game Setsuna is a beacon that inspires the rest of the party to move forward.  

It’s this positivity in darkness that really inspired me. It lifted me up out of the depression I was going through and just like Nier Automata, kept me afloat. I am Setsuna may not have been the best game I’ve ever played, but it played a significant role in my life and that’s why it is so important to me.

I think it’s because of how helpful video games have been for me that I cherish them so much.  I’ll always have fond memories of playing through Crash Bandicoot late into the night, ignoring the man in black behind me.  It’s a special relationship that I would consider to be a deep friendship. When I was lonely, it was video games that helped make me feel connected to something.  I would dream that the characters I created in Dragon Warrior 3 would come to my aid and help fight back the darkness that was trying to impede upon my mind. Sometimes they were successful and the light once again shined through, and other times they were not.  That’s okay though, because even if I did fall into the void, there was always another game later on that could pull me back out again.

Writers note:  I don’t want this to come across that video games are a solution to mental issues.  If you’re struggling with something you should definitely seek assistance. Whether that be from doctors, friends, pets, etc you should never have to fight such battles alone.

Second writers note: If you were looking for a video game review, don’t worry!  I’ll be back to writing those out next week. Be excited as lately I have been playing and prepping to review a lot of dating sims!  So, if that’s not your thing, um, still read them anyways?

Third writers note: You’re beautiful!

Hollywood has a rather notorious and infamous history with video games. Ever since their earliest existence video games as a construct have captured the imagination of popular culture in a way that is hard to explain. It was, for the first time, allowing audience members who had spent their lives watching events unfold on a screen actually take part in the choices and effects of those events.

It was revolutionary in every way, and of course, the games only grew more advanced from there. What once required trips to the local arcade became consoles that could be played at home, with the creation of Pong in 1972. This made the experience even more intimate and personal. The game was now taking place on the exact same screen that viewers were watching their professionally made entertainment on. With the press of a button, they could switch over from watching their favorite television program to controlling what was happening on their own television. Its earliest form may have been the now seemingly crudely simple design of two paddles and a single ball, it changed the way audiences viewed their entertainment.

In the following years, the games only grew more and more advanced. They developed their own characters and mascots, such as Mario or Sonic. They evolved into their own stories, comprised of conflict, character, and heart. Players could effectively become the characters of the stories and make the choices for them, resulting in a far more personal connection to them than ever possible before.

As the stories and complexities of video games as an art evolved, Hollywood began to take notice. What was once an interesting experiment had now become a bona fide art form unto itself and studio executives saw the potential of cashing in on such a medium. Thus, when Roland Joffe initially pitched the idea of turning Nintendo’s cash cow of a franchise, Super Mario Bros. into a film, movie studios fawned all over themselves at the mere thought of the idea.

The film that would eventually be released theatrically in 1993 was the first-ever film adaptation of a video game. It tanked at the box office, was dragged through the mud by critics, and enraged the video game franchise’s fans. All of which has essentially become the norm for video game films ever since.

Super Mario Bros., the movie, had a litany of problems, the most basic of which was that it had very little to do with the video game on which it was based. The nineties were a strange time, in which producers seemed to all feel that adapting any other art form to film meant they had to make everything completely different, rather than just translating it from one medium to another. But that wasn’t the reason the film failed.

In more recent years, incredibly faithful attempts at film adaptations have been released, from Duncan Jones’ love-letter of a Warcraft film to the newly released Tomb Raider reboot. These are films that are quite literally taking the stories of the games and turning them into films, practically verbatim.

And yet, they are suffering the exact same fate as prior attempts. These faithful adaptations of incredibly popular gaming franchises are still failing as films on every front and that comes down to the simple fact that Hollywood’s thought process on this matter has been backward from the very beginning.

Take the new Tomb Raider film for example. It takes the story of the latest Tomb Raider game, which was a reboot of the franchise itself, and puts it on the big screen. This includes some scenes in the film being exact, shot-for-shot recreations of cut scenes from the game, lines being said verbatim, and following most of the same story beats to the T. But it’s lacking the main ingredient; freedom of choice.

Video games are an art form whose success relies entirely on the player’s ability to choose. Sure, the story as a basic framework exists to guide the player, but the player is the one who chooses the pace and events that unfold on-screen.

In film it is the exact opposite.

Film is a medium in which the audience is being shown a story that unfolds before their eyes, in which every choice, every decision, is made without them. Where a video game is fluid in practically every way, film is solid. The purpose of film is to make us feel for the characters on-screen and gain a larger understanding of the world around us but we as a viewer are never in control of the characters or their actions, they are their own separate beings who act separately from our wishes.

So when a fan of the new Tomb Raider game goes and sees the new film, they will inevitably leave the cinema feeling that it was missing something, because they have been removed from the equation.  Where they were once a being of omniscient power, able to control the actions of those on-screen, they have now been reduced to the role of a bystander or an onlooker.

Which is why, in actuality, the line of thought is much more effective the other way around. As much as video-game adaptations of films have been rubbished, they have so much more potential to please. And while the majority of them were both poorly made and poorly received, one need look no further than a case such as X-Men Origins: Wolverine to see that it can and has worked wonders. That was a film that was largely met with dismay, yet it had a video game tie-in that was widely loved and hailed as being better than the film itself.

There are certainly a great many aspects that went into this success; the game was made with genuine care and love for the material, it wasn’t rushed out as a cheap cash-grab, they got actors such as Hugh Jackman to reprise their film roles. But it gave viewers the chance to step into Wolverine’s shoes and become a film-accurate version of one of their favorite X-men, which gave them a thrill that a film never could.

As we move forward, Hollywood has countless more film adaptations of video games lined up for release, while the production of video game adaptations of films has all but died off. Which is truly a shame, because where the latter gives audiences a chance to experience their favorite stories in an entirely different, more immersive fashion, the former continues to take away one of the key aspects that made those stories and characters so enduring in the first place.

I don’t know what draws me to RPGs.  I think there’s something about a large sweeping story that just calls to me.  It’s this idea of going on a grand adventure to save the world that makes me wanna grab my own backpack and go!  It could also be that desire to save everyone. I too want to help people and how can you help people more than by saving the entire world?  No matter the reason, I have been playing RPGs since I was a kid and have always loved them.

I remember playing Final Fantasy IV at my cousin’s house over the summer late into the evening.  I have a particular memory of my cousin and I staying up for 2 days straight to beat Secret of Mana. It was a long process but the victory was just so sweet.

That leads us to our game today; Lost Sphear.  Its goal is to harken back to those classic RPGs and reinvigorate the feelings we had staying up late playing Chrono Trigger or Dragon Warrior (I know its Dragon Quest now but I’ll always think of it as Dragon Warrior; sue me!) Does it live up to those lofty expectations?  Well, fueled by Nightcore music and Arizona Iced Teas I intend to find out!

Story:

Lost Sphear tells the story of 3 orphans, Kanata, Locke, and Lumina all living in the town of Elgarthe.  After your usual RPG antics with monsters and fish, you find that something terrible has happened. The town gets “lost.”  That is to say, the whole area turns white and cannot be touched. The three orphans search for a way to save their town when they meet a mysterious character by the name of Van.  Van plays the role of your quiet, mysterious stranger. He doesn’t offer a lot to the party but decides to tag along for, reasons (honestly at 8 hours in I still don’t quite know why he’s around).  After resting, the leader of the group, Kanata, finds that he has a special power to restore what has been lost. The group heads back to home and sure enough, Kanata is able to save their town.  

From here you go on an adventure to save the rest of the world from becoming lost.  Along the way you meet a variety of characters including Galdra who I will talk about more in a moment.  The story isn’t a complex existentialist conundrum but I don’t think that’s what the creators were going for.  When you think of classic RPGs you don’t remember them for their deep plots. Final Fantasy IV had a fairly straightforward, “these people are evil and you need to defeat them to save the world” story. What I’m getting at is, you don’t really play this type of RPG for a Christopher Nolan type story. You play these games for the characters. This leads me to Galdra.

Galdra is a boss!  

He is a medium ranked leader of the empire’s military and he is genuinely interesting.  He comes to care for the 3 orphans but needs to balance that with his duty of protecting the empire.  Occasionally he even joins the party in battle and that is just sweet.

The rest of the characters fall into pretty standard categories but they are fun to watch interact with one another.  Kanata is probably the least interesting of the group as the “can’t do anything wrong,” hero. Personally, Locke stands out to me as the most delightful character.  His main goal, initially, is to eat and be merry but you learn over time that he has higher aspirations and goals.

The thing about the characters is, you learn more about them and who they are over the course of the game.  Initially, they all seem like stock RPG characters but as you progress, their interactions with one another really help to flesh them out.  This may have been the highlight of the game for me.

Gameplay:

The gameplay is your classic turn-based RPG.  Your characters wait for their turn using an active battle system (very similar to Chrono Trigger) and monsters do the same.  The twist is, when you go to attack, you can choose where your character moves to. This actually adds a great level of depth to how you go about attacking as you need to think strategically and plan.  It combines the strategy of a tactical RPG with a normal turn-based RPG.

One area that gets Lost Sphear a lot of criticism is how many mechanics it introduces over the course of your adventure.  I disagree. I feel the game slowly adds new mechanics over time that keep things interesting. One feature I really dug was the artifact system.  These are world affecting status changes that can have passive effects like faster run speed on the map or battle effects like increased crit chance after an evasion.

Even at 8 hours in, I still have a blast anytime I go into battle.  Being able to plan out your movements and attacks along with the added mechanics like the momentum system keep things interesting.  

Music:

It might be unfair to compare Lost Sphear to I Am Setsuna but damn there is a world of difference when it comes to the music. Say what you will about the game but the soundtrack for I Am Setsuna is top notch. The soft piano fits so well with the environment and atmosphere.  It’s a soundtrack I enjoy so much that I often listen to it on my drives to work or while I am trying to concentrate on something.

The soundtrack for Lost Sphear isn’t bad, it just feels generic.  Like someone took stock RPG music and plugged it into the game. They ditched the single piano and instead have a full suite of instruments playing the songs.  This does add a bit of depth to the soundtrack but overall, every song sort of feels the same. It lacks the personality I Am Setsuna’s soundtrack had. In preparing for this review I tried to listen to a few songs but I just couldn’t get into it.  Again, it’s not bad but definitely doesn’t stand out either.

Overall:

Lost Sphear is definitely not for everyone.  This game doesn’t have the most original story, nor does it have the deepest combat system.  For the amount of game you get, it’s a bit overpriced at $50. What it does have is a charm that was lost long ago. There was a time when RPGs had simple characters that went on a lofty adventure. You had a world to explore and as you progressed through that world, you felt like you had really accomplished something.  Lost Sphear tries to reclaim the feeling you got from playing those old RPGs and I think, for the most part, it does. If it’s ever on sale, definitely check it out and see what you think!

Video games can mean a lot of things to us.  They can be a fun pass time, a bonding experience between friends, or even a place to escape to when things get rocky.  I Am Setsuna holds a special place in my heart.  When I first started playing this gem I was in a pretty dark place and the melancholy atmosphere of this game really resonated with me.  This game definitely isn’t for everyone but for a depressed young adult it was the right medicine at the right time.

Setsuna is likely derived from the Japanese word Setsunasa.  Setsunasa is a feeling of hopeful sadness.  This game really lives this emotion and you can feel it throughout the world.  Every character has something missing that they are trying to gain back.  Every town feels like it was once so much grander than it is today.  

I Am Setsuna starts off with a pretty grim story.  You play as the character Endir and its your job to kill a girl named Setsuna.  You ultimately ignore this mission and decide to help her with her quest to faraway lands.  The quest is a bleak one because you are escorting Setsuna to her death.  Setsuna is a sacrifice to the world, in the hopes of calming the monsters that have been attacking the towns.

This game is your standard JRPG.  You play as up to 3 characters at a time, battling monsters, leveling up, and snagging new equipment wherever you can.  Nothing really innovative here but why fix what isn’t broken?  I Am Setsuna wants you to feel like you’re playing an RPG from the SNES era.  

The combat may be the best part of this game.  It’s a very engaging and pleasing experience.  The creators of the game were obviously going for a Chrono Trigger feel and it works very well.  I never found myself avoiding battles when they came up because the combat was so delightful.

The game’s atmosphere definitely gets a lot of complaints.  It’s almost entirely snowy landscapes with very little variation.  I, however, would argue that the landscape helps convey the sadness of the story better.  The world that you’re playing in is bleak and it’s your job to make things better.  I never felt bored by the aesthetic of the game but if you’re the type of person that needs tons of variety, it might not quite hit home for you.

One criticism I have about the game is the main character is pretty bland.  Back in the day this would have been okay as you, the player, were supposed to fill in the main character’s personality.  Nowadays though, games tend to have stronger and more fleshed out main characters so by comparison this game’s lead is a little stale.  The supporting characters however are great!  Some of them are a little cheesy and again remind me of RPGs from yesteryear but its still a treat to learn more about them.  I definitely felt a connection to the characters Setsuna and Julienne.

Maybe the best part of this game is the soundtrack.  I am definitely not a snob when it comes to video game scores and generally enjoy video game music but this game takes it to a whole ‘nother level.  A single quiet piano track makes up the music and it does a perfect job of building this atmosphere that’s calm, sorrowful, and beautiful.  Even after the game was over I still put on the soundtrack to relax.   

If you’re in a slump and need a game to get you through these cold winter months, I might suggest I Am Setsuna.  It’s not a terribly long game (can be easily completed in a dozen hours or so) but you’re going to enjoy the experience all the way through.

Get I Am Setsuna now on PS4, PC and even the Nintendo Switch. 

JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE (8 out of 10) Directed by Jake Kasdan; Written by Jake Kasdan and Chris McKenna; Starring Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Bobby Cannavale; Rated PG-13 for  adventure action, suggestive content and some language; Running time 119 minutes; In wide release December 20.

Whenever Hollywood trots out a seemingly unnecessary sequel or reboot to a beloved classic, the first question to come to many people’s minds is, “why?” Too often, they turn out to be soulless and hollow films that exist merely to cash in on nostalgia with no understanding or respect of the original. So when Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was announced, that was the first thing to pop into my head. Then, the trailer came out and it actually looked interesting and funny. So, it was with a mild hope that I headed into the theater to see what they had put together. And wouldn’t you know it, the film ended up being heartfelt, relentlessly funny and also one of the best video game movies ever.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle begins in 1996 with someone again finding the treacherous board game and bringing it home for his son who initially shows no interest in it. The game senses this and transforms into a video game in the middle of the night, and when the teenager discovers and plays it, sucks him into the world of Jumanji much the same as it did to Robin Williams character in the original. Fast forward 20 years, and a motley crew of school kids – the jock, the nerd, the outcast and the self-absorbed popular girl – are given detention and find the game system while cleaning out the basement at school. They play it and also get sucked into the dangerous jungle world and are transformed into new alter-egos – the powerful adventurer (Dwayne Johnson), the diminutive sidekick (Kevin Hart), the sexy man-killer (Karen Gillan) and the portly cartographer (Jack Black) – and are tasked with saving Jumanji from an evil overlord (Bobby Cannavale) or die trying.

This is without a doubt one of the funniest movies of the year. From the moment the characters get pulled into the world until the credits roll, almost everyone in the theater was laughing uproariously. From sight gags involving a character learning how to pee to figuring out what happens to someone with a “weakness” to cake, the jokes never stop coming, and almost none fall flat. There was also a surprising amount of innuendo here, so that, along with a decent amount of violence and blood, means that this movie proudly wears its PG-13 rating on its sleeve. Parents, be aware.

But what really makes this so much fun is watching these talented, adult actors having to play their characters as insecure or whiny teenagers. Much the same as it was amusing to see Jamie Lee Curtis pretend to be Lindsay Lohan in Freaky Friday, so too is it the same here in Jumanji. Watching Dwayne Johnson having a panic attack about being in a jungle without his allergy medication, or Kevin Hart wondering where the hell the rest of his body went never stops being funny, because as much as it’s a running gag, it never feels overused. And of course, the star of the show is Jack Black playing the self-absorbed teenage girl who just CAN’T EVEN being stuck as a portly middle-aged man without her phone. The scenes where he “learns” about the different uses of the penis got some of the biggest laughs.

Jumanji isn’t without some problems. It’s incredibly predictable, and the plot exists merely to move the players to each stage in the game, and yes, there is a lesson to be learned, but everyone will be having too much fun to care. Throw in a little plot twist with an actor I haven’t mentioned yet, and you’ve got a fun movie that will find its way into the hearts of people just as the original did.

This is the definition of a popcorn movie and one that is surprising to see during the awards and family, holiday season, but it’s completely welcome. Parents should probably keep their youngest ones at home as there are some intense, violent moments and because of the innuendo, but everyone probably 10 and up is going to love this. It’s an engaging two hours at the movies that gives everyone pure escapism, and sometimes that’s exactly what people are looking for.

If you’re in the gaming community, you’re gonna notice some strange things this weekend. Namely, a few of your friends are going to be tweeting words that seem like nonsense into the ether. If you’re not into gaming, it’s going to look even stranger. But, if you’re into sports, it’s important to understand, this weekend is the Street Fighter communities Super Bowl, and it’s going to be amazing.

I’m going to try and break it down for everyone, so if this is something you’ve ever considered watching, you won’t be left in the cold. First of all, the 

SCHEDULE:

Last Chance Qualifiers – December 8th, 2017 11 am PST – twitch.tv/capcomfighters

Now you know when it is, let’s talk about what it is. Since February, professional Street Fighter players have been traveling the globe earning league points for the Capcom Cup. Aside from a few exception qualifications (other qualifiers, and last year’s winner) they have been stacking points hoping to find themselves ranked in the top 31 overall.

Now that the points are locked, today there will be one more spot available. This tournament, open to anyone who wants to enter, gives the winner immediate entry into Capcom Cup in the 32nd spot.

That tournament takes place tomorrow. This qualifier will be the most stacked tournament of the year not counting the top 32 taking place tomorrow. Why? You may ask, well it’s quite simple, there are hundreds of INCREDIBLE Street Fighter players across the world, and only 31 of them have a guaranteed shot at the prize pool right now. So the tournament today is stacked with almost every professional player that just qualified, this means that every match from beginning to end will be nail-biting. I hope you get a chance to watch!

Here are a few names to keep an eye out for, if you’re new to the scene.

EG| NYChrisG

Playing and excelling at both Street Fighter and Marvel Vs. Capcom, Chris G is an intense competitor. His solid execution and good reads make him someone who is fun to watch. Also, if you’re into the whole U.S.A thing, he plays Guile, so you know, go America!

 GRPT| MOV

A loyalist to Chun Li, Mov was a 3rd Strike Legend. Honing his skills, his Chun Li is intensely scary and his knowledge of every matchup is unparalleled. He’s in Top 8 at almost any tournament you’ll see him in, and he is extremely expressive. MOV is fun to watch.

SPLYCE| Fchamp

Filipino Champ is another of the United States’ best. Arguably the best Dhalsim player in the world, and one of the best overall fighting game players in the world. Watching fChamp is watching somebody get taken down through a war of attrition. His knowledge of when to go in vs when to stay back is unrivaled, and, he has some pretty fun pop offs as well.

GRPT| Infiltration

Hailing from Korea, the fact that Infiltration isn’t qualified is actually pretty shocking. He started Street Fighter V Season 1 in a dominating fashion, but being considered almost unbeatable. Through a few balance patches, he’s had to find his way back, but based on what he showed at some local tournaments in Anaheim he’s ready to turn some heads. In my mind, he’s one of the top choices to win this last chance qualifier, and if he does, it could cause a lot of upsets at the finals this weekend. 

Other notables: EG| Kbrad, GAM DR Ray, PR Balrog, ImStillDaDaddy, Afii, Zowie| GamerBee You can hit this link: https://smash.gg/tournament/capcom-cup-sfv-last-chance-qualifier/events, click on “attendees” and google a few names, I’d be shocked if there were many that didn’t have a ton of clout heading into today.

Capcom Cup

Top 32 – December 9, 11 am PST – twitch.tv/capcomfighters

Top 8 – December 10, 2 pm PST – twitch.tv/capcomfighters

OK, once the last chance qualifiers are over on Friday, everyone can start preparing for the big show tomorrow. Literally, every player in this tournament is a killer, so instead of giving you notable names to follow, instead, I’ll give you some formatting rules and basic terms to get you up to speed.

Let’s start with the 

RULES:

This is a double elimination tournament. If you’re not familiar with that format, losing when in the “winners bracket” sends you to losers, where another loss eliminates you. It is possible to lose both matches pretty quick, and that happens to 50% of the players entering.

Matches are 2/3 until Top 8. This means each set is 2/3  to win a match, and each match is 2/3.

Really, that’s all you need to know to have a basic understanding, let’s jump into some

Key Terms:

Punish: In fighting games, there are moves that leave you at a disadvantage or “negative” what this means is that you have done something that leaves you exposed and your opponent has a move that is fast enough that it is a guaranteed to hit. If you leave yourself exposed and they hit you for the free damage that’s a punish.

Whiff punish: This type of punish is more technical. Essentially, if you push a button (punch/kick) referred to as a normal, and your opponent positions themselves correctly, they can push a button that will hit yours during recovery (the time it takes for the animation to finish out). This is called whiff punishing.

Combo: a series of moves linked together for more damage.

Damage scaling: In Street Fighter, combos lead to scaling. What this means is that the damage of a move is reduced with each hit in a combination. This helps reduce the chance of one combo kills and the like.

Reset: This is something that happens when a combo can be dropped in a precarious position for your opponent. Maybe its something that forces a side switch and they have to guess which side you are going to land on, maybe they are mashing out a special move during your combo and you drop and block to get a new punish. Whatever it is, a reset is essentially dropping a combo and resetting the scaling to get more damage.

Mashing: This is exactly what it sounds like, your opponent was hitting something either during a block string, or on wakeup, they are “mashing” the buttons to make something happen.

I hope you find this beginners guide mildly helpful. There are a ton of resources you can check out to find more information. And, if you’re a stat junkie like myself you can follow along at Smash.gg to see who’s winning where. They also have a really fun contest going, where you are given a budget and can pick 8 “fantasy players” depending on how far those players make it in the tournament you will get points and the winner gets some swag.

If you’re in Anaheim and have some free time today, I highly recommend getting to the venue and watching the action live.

Notes:

If you want to read the rules in full for the entire tournament go here: https://capcomprotour.com/rules/

In an unprecedented move, EA announced that they have turned off the in-game crystal purchasing system for the rabidly anticipated “Battlefront II.” The announcement came mere hours before the game’s release in response to an internet fervor over what has been perceived as an unfair and unreasonable pay-to-play feature.

A large community of gamers rebelled after EA’s “loot crate” system was unveiled. Players would need to “grind” for many hours to earn playable characters like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, or they could purchase crystals for a loot crate and unlock the character immediately. This system was under fire for several reasons, but most seemed upset that they were paying at minimum $60USD for a game, and then had to spend more money to unlock features they felt should be included. If these players were in a position where they could not purchase loot crates, then they were immediately behind the curve and “whales” could dominate the multiplayer system.

Calculations for grind times to unlock Luke and Vader estimated about 40 hours for each character. One estimate put the grind time to unlock all features at over 4500 hours, or a monetary cost of over $2100. On Monday, EA announced that they were cutting the requirements by about 75%, but it still didn’t stop a reply on a reddit AMA from becoming the single most downvoted comment in the history of the site. Last I checked it was about -700k.

But Good Guy EA listened. Maybe it was the vocal and written protests, largely spearheaded by reddit’s gaming community. Perhaps it was news of international governments looking into the system as a form of gambling. I’d guess it was the ominous number of pre-order cancellations that made them take notice. Whatever the cause, the community is impressed (at the time of this writing) with EA’s ability to step up to the plate and acknowledge that they are hearing concerns. However – it is absolutely worth noting that EA’s announcement says the purchasing system is disabled “for now.” I’m very interested to see how this develops.

Do I mind a grind to unlock a character? Nah. Sure, it can be a pain but when you finally see that little unlocked padlock icon, there truly is a sense of accomplishment. But if I keep getting my ass whomped by a 13 year old because his mom purchased Darth Vader I get a little salty. That’s certainly something I could deal with, but my problem with the microtransaction system is that I fear it will set a standard. By utilizing the system on a beautiful game based on a universally beloved franchise, any executive can say “well the transactions worked on ‘Battlefront!’ Let’s try it out too!” If all games move to a pay to play format, my gaming days are over. It’d be naught but emulators and Kingdom Hearts for the rest of my days.

I had never planned to pre-ordered “Battlefront II.” I rarely buy games immediately because I don’t have a lot of disposable cash. And when news of the microtransaction system came to light, I decided to wait for a significant sale to purchase it. But now? Don’t bother trying to reach me on Black Friday. I’ll be busy blasting bucket-heads.