Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi, despite near universal critical acclaim and insane box office results, has still had its share of detractors. The conversation on social media over the weekend pointed out quite a few issues fans had with the series: Why didn't Laura Dern just tell Poe her plan? What was the point of Finn's story line? Why didn't Luke actually train Rey? How in the world did Leia float through space like Mary Poppins? I could go on. And while several of these complaints are valid, I found TLJ to be an engrossing Star Wars film that actually had something new to say, a feat that The Force Awakens and Rogue One did not accomplish. There were still the callbacks and nostalgia that comes with the territory of a Star Wars movie in 2017, but I felt that the twists and turns as well as the new additions to the Star Wars mythos elevated my interest level. This time it wasn't like poetry- it did not rhyme (as much anyway).
Some of the new additions to the force mythology included: Leia's ability to return to the ship while being suspended in space, the location of the original Jedi temple, the fact that the Jedi had ancient texts that they self-describe as religious, the ability to project an apparition of yourself, Rey and Kylo's ability to commune using the force, the expansion on the concept of having evil and good at the same time, and more. Here's a list of what The Force Awakens added: umm nothing? Pretty much everything in it regarding the force has been established in previous films. Which was fine for that movie, but if its follow up offered nothing new, the grace we gave the reboot would not have been as kind.
Poe and Finn's story line was kind of stupid, I'll give you that. A lot of their motivations and actions could have been resolved with a quick scene of dialogue between them and Laura Dern. But I applaud director/writer Rian Johnson for where he took these characters as far as their story arcs. Poe was introduced (and to a lesser extent Finn) as the "new Han Solo". Cocky, funny, and quick to make rash decisions. Finn and Poe fail several times in this film, and miserably. It didn't feel good in the moment to learn that Finn and Rose's mission was a failure, or that Poe's decision to attack the ship in the (amazing) opening sequence led to some unnecessary loss of life (quick note on the criticism that you can't drop bombs in space because there's no gravity- there's no fiery explosions in space either because of the lack of oxygen, but Star Wars has had those since the beginning. Star Wars has always been much more fantasy than science fiction). However difficult these moments of failure are, Finn and Poe learn more about their place in the rebellion and why being the "handsome hero" is not always the path that leads to victory. This a different arc than we've really ever had in Star Wars, which is why I think people are initially hesitant to it.
Continued criticism was lobbied at the revealed backstory of two Jedi characters- or in one case, the lack thereof. Rey was revealed to not have any important heritage. Snoke didn't get much of an explanation at all. Director Rian Johnson has explained why he made this choice, and I see his point. Having Snoke and Kylo Ren work together just echoes Return of the Jedi, which is a movie all of us have already seen countless times. Kylo is the much more interesting character and having him kill Snoke but retain his "evil" intentions retains some mystery for his character in Episode IX. We may never know where he came from or who he is, but this trilogy is about Rey and Kylo Ren, not Snoke. In RotJ I didn't necessarily need to know how the emperor rose to power. I just knew he was pure evil and a great villain. The prequels expounded upon this and gave the emperor a backstory but that was pretty extraneous. I didn't walk out wanting to know more about Snoke, but couldn't wait to learn more about Kylo and Rey.
There were some plot holes (see above), cheesy moments (shoe-horning in some class warfare/animal cruelty stuff on the casino world), and awkward dialogue. But my biggest fears were not realized. With Force Awakens being essentially a remake of A New Hope, I was terrified that TLJ would just mirror The Empire Strikes Back. Not the case. Time will tell, but I believe this film will age better than both The Force Awakens and Rogue One because it took some risks. "Epic" and "classic" films achieve that status based upon audience feeling, and reliance upon nostalgia cannot create these feelings- at least the ones that last.
Monday, December 18, 2017
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Top 20 Video Games of All Time
I am an unashamed Nintendo fanboy. I grew up on Mario, Kirby, and Smash Brothers, and my current interests still look like much of the same. It's not that I didn't "evolve" with the times, or that I didn't give the new wave of high definition popular games a chance. I played more than my fair share of Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Halo, and NCAA Football in college. The issue was that despite the technical achievements, none of these games could match the accessibility and simplicity of a quality Nintendo title. "Easy to learn and difficult to master" should describe every single video game made. The hyper-realistic, hyper-violent, bloated games that are so popular on next generation consoles do not appeal to me all that much.
So take this list with a mountain of salt. Only 3 of these games were not published by Nintendo. But I can guarantee you that every single one of them is a blast to play:
1. Metroid Prime (GCN)
It sounds strange that the addition of a green dinosaur for Mario to ride would make a game that much better. But it does. This game is simply a joy to play. Mario games are just the best.
My best Christmas ever was when I received the double pack of The World is Not Enough on VHS, and GoldenEye. GoldenEye was different because of the missions during the single player campaign. It combined traditional first person shooter action with actual spy elements, all made better with the James Bond license. The multiplayer was incredibly fun. Using a grenade launcher became art, bouncing grenades off the walls to kill Oddjob in his hiding spot.
Dunkey's review of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 perfectly encapsulates why this game is great. Simple, quick to learn, difficult to master, pure fun.
The amount of hours I've sunk into these games is staggering. I'm not a fan of traditional fighting games, but Smash Bros doesn't function like one. This game is why local multiplayer will always beat online multiplayer. There is nothing better than trash talking your friends in person. Or in my case, letting my friends pressure me into choking a victory away. I'll never really buy in to online gaming because it pales in comparison to local multiplayer.
The graphics in this game are nothing short of stunning, and I am glad they went with the cel shaded style. I think there's a few unfair judgments against this game. Some say that the sailing was mundane and the islands were too stretched out. I found the sailing to be relaxing, and there was plenty to discover along the way. The other main complaint is the "fetch quest" at the end of the game. I never understood this. Collecting pieces of the triforce came with a different challenge at each location. It was just a part of the game that let you explore the games overworld, something that Zelda is all about.
14. Super Metroid (SNES)
I distinctly remember being in college and playing this for the first time. There would be social obligations that I would actively avoid in order to play this game. Super Metroid is probably the best Alien video game, complete with the eerie mood and female protagonist.
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15. Banjo Kazooie (N64)
This game is just straight up platforming goodness. Super Mario 64 never got a sequel on the N64, but Banjo Kazooie is the closest thing there was. The sequel suffered a bit from being expansive. The worlds were too big, and the objectives too remote. But Banjo Kazooie had worlds that were fun to explore, but not too big. Oh, and the music is insanely good too.
The first Animal Crossing game was the first gaming experience that I played mostly for relaxation. Finding fossils, fishing, and decorating a home doesn't sound like fun, but it absolutely is.
The GoldenEye sequel we never got, this game is everything GoldenEye was but better. The laptop gun is one of the best video game weapons ever conceived, and was a major part of every multiplayer battle. Plus with bots, my friends and I would frequently battle the four of us vs. four bots, and it was amazing.
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This is another Mario game that is just pure fun. Nintendo totally nailed the 3D platformer on their first try, and games still struggle with doing it right to this day.
19. Metroid Fusion (GBA)
Metroid knows how to do great science fiction. Metroid Fusion is an extension of Super Metroid, and is another incredible adventure.
20. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
The final star in Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of my greatest video game achievements. It's an incredibly hard level that took me close to 50 tries. But once I finally beat it, I felt a level of elation rarely reached in my video game history.
HONORABLE MENTION
Resident Evil (GCN)
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Donkey Kong Country 2-3 (SNES)
Techmo Super Bowl (NES)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Dreamcast)
NBA Jam (Wii)
So take this list with a mountain of salt. Only 3 of these games were not published by Nintendo. But I can guarantee you that every single one of them is a blast to play:
1. Metroid Prime (GCN)
Metroid Prime is the ultimate example of how to innovate and also stick to what makes a franchise great. I will never forget entering Phendrana Drifts for the first time. The music, the graphics, it was a transcendent experience. This is one of the few games that I have gone back to and beat on every difficulty and completed it 100%. To make matters better, the Metroid Prime collection allowed you to play the game with the great Wii controls.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)
Superlatives do not do Ocarina of Time justice. Upon release, this was hailed as the greatest game of all time, garnering countless perfect reviews. I dare you to not love this game. Just thinking about playing through and exploring the sprawling Hyrule gives me chills. One thing that Zelda gets right is the size of the world it inhabits. There are diminishing returns when it comes to an open world game. Ocarina of Time has plenty to explore, but never feels overwhelming. Meanwhile, a game like GTA: IV just seems exhausting. It's way too big and way too complicated. Give me the sheer joy of Kakariko Village and Lon Lon Ranch any day.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (N64)
Majora's Mask is the Pinkerton of video games. It was a wildly anticipated follow up to a massively successful product (The Blue Album/Ocarina), that was misunderstood upon release. Now, Majora is considered a bonafide classic. I was sucked in by the mood and the overworld almost immediately. I loved how dark and strange it was. But what is odd about Majora is that it's not really the main story that sets it apart, although that is amazing. It's the side quests that center upon various residents of Termina. I love all of them. This is a game that makes collecting fun and worthwhile.
4. R.B.I. Baseball (NES)
Vince Coleman. Dave Righetti. Burt Blylevyn. These are marginal players in the footnotes of baseball history, but absolute titans to anyone that has played RBI. This game is so simple, and yet so challenging when playing against another skilled player. The amount of 1-0 games that I have lost to my dad is utterly infuriating. He will throw a 1 hit shutout with 20 k's, dancing the baseball across the plate. And all it takes is one mistake to him and it's over. These are my absolute best video game memories. Working so hard to beat my dad, and loving every single second of it. RBI 3 comes close, but there's not really any other baseball games that got it as right as this one.
5. Kirby's Adventure (NES)
I love challenge in games, but if you're looking for that, Kirby is not really your game. It's an effortless game that is just plain fun. The mechanics, the controls, the graphics, the world. Just fun. You can probably beat the game in an hour, but who cares? You'll beat it over and over again only to get the UFO power up one more time.
6. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Take everything I said about Kirby and add in challenge, and that's Super Mario 3. 2D platforming is a bit of a lost art- I'm not sure that even Nintendo is all that great these days. But man, if you were a kid during any point in the 90's SMB3 was one of the most mind blowing experiences in your life.
7. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii)
Resident Evil 4 on GameCube and PS2 was insanely good. Great action, great atmosphere, and a successful reinvention of what was the a stake franchise. But man oh man did the Wii version completely blow off the roof. The pinpoint control of the Wii remote was perfect for this game. Looking back it's pretty sad how few games utilized its functionality so well. I played through this one over and over and didn't really get tired of it.
8. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
This was another mind blowing experience for every 90's kid. I had never seen graphics that looked remotely that good. The soundtrack is absolutely stunning as well, but it's the fluid controls and level design that elevates this game from a mere technical achievement.
4. R.B.I. Baseball (NES)
Vince Coleman. Dave Righetti. Burt Blylevyn. These are marginal players in the footnotes of baseball history, but absolute titans to anyone that has played RBI. This game is so simple, and yet so challenging when playing against another skilled player. The amount of 1-0 games that I have lost to my dad is utterly infuriating. He will throw a 1 hit shutout with 20 k's, dancing the baseball across the plate. And all it takes is one mistake to him and it's over. These are my absolute best video game memories. Working so hard to beat my dad, and loving every single second of it. RBI 3 comes close, but there's not really any other baseball games that got it as right as this one.
5. Kirby's Adventure (NES)
I love challenge in games, but if you're looking for that, Kirby is not really your game. It's an effortless game that is just plain fun. The mechanics, the controls, the graphics, the world. Just fun. You can probably beat the game in an hour, but who cares? You'll beat it over and over again only to get the UFO power up one more time.
6. Super Mario Bros. 3 (NES)
Take everything I said about Kirby and add in challenge, and that's Super Mario 3. 2D platforming is a bit of a lost art- I'm not sure that even Nintendo is all that great these days. But man, if you were a kid during any point in the 90's SMB3 was one of the most mind blowing experiences in your life.
7. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (Wii)
Resident Evil 4 on GameCube and PS2 was insanely good. Great action, great atmosphere, and a successful reinvention of what was the a stake franchise. But man oh man did the Wii version completely blow off the roof. The pinpoint control of the Wii remote was perfect for this game. Looking back it's pretty sad how few games utilized its functionality so well. I played through this one over and over and didn't really get tired of it.
8. Donkey Kong Country (SNES)
This was another mind blowing experience for every 90's kid. I had never seen graphics that looked remotely that good. The soundtrack is absolutely stunning as well, but it's the fluid controls and level design that elevates this game from a mere technical achievement.
It sounds strange that the addition of a green dinosaur for Mario to ride would make a game that much better. But it does. This game is simply a joy to play. Mario games are just the best.
My best Christmas ever was when I received the double pack of The World is Not Enough on VHS, and GoldenEye. GoldenEye was different because of the missions during the single player campaign. It combined traditional first person shooter action with actual spy elements, all made better with the James Bond license. The multiplayer was incredibly fun. Using a grenade launcher became art, bouncing grenades off the walls to kill Oddjob in his hiding spot.
Dunkey's review of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 perfectly encapsulates why this game is great. Simple, quick to learn, difficult to master, pure fun.
The amount of hours I've sunk into these games is staggering. I'm not a fan of traditional fighting games, but Smash Bros doesn't function like one. This game is why local multiplayer will always beat online multiplayer. There is nothing better than trash talking your friends in person. Or in my case, letting my friends pressure me into choking a victory away. I'll never really buy in to online gaming because it pales in comparison to local multiplayer.
The graphics in this game are nothing short of stunning, and I am glad they went with the cel shaded style. I think there's a few unfair judgments against this game. Some say that the sailing was mundane and the islands were too stretched out. I found the sailing to be relaxing, and there was plenty to discover along the way. The other main complaint is the "fetch quest" at the end of the game. I never understood this. Collecting pieces of the triforce came with a different challenge at each location. It was just a part of the game that let you explore the games overworld, something that Zelda is all about.
14. Super Metroid (SNES)
I distinctly remember being in college and playing this for the first time. There would be social obligations that I would actively avoid in order to play this game. Super Metroid is probably the best Alien video game, complete with the eerie mood and female protagonist.
15. Banjo Kazooie (N64)
This game is just straight up platforming goodness. Super Mario 64 never got a sequel on the N64, but Banjo Kazooie is the closest thing there was. The sequel suffered a bit from being expansive. The worlds were too big, and the objectives too remote. But Banjo Kazooie had worlds that were fun to explore, but not too big. Oh, and the music is insanely good too.
The first Animal Crossing game was the first gaming experience that I played mostly for relaxation. Finding fossils, fishing, and decorating a home doesn't sound like fun, but it absolutely is.
The GoldenEye sequel we never got, this game is everything GoldenEye was but better. The laptop gun is one of the best video game weapons ever conceived, and was a major part of every multiplayer battle. Plus with bots, my friends and I would frequently battle the four of us vs. four bots, and it was amazing.
This is another Mario game that is just pure fun. Nintendo totally nailed the 3D platformer on their first try, and games still struggle with doing it right to this day.
19. Metroid Fusion (GBA)
Metroid knows how to do great science fiction. Metroid Fusion is an extension of Super Metroid, and is another incredible adventure.
20. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii)
The final star in Super Mario Galaxy 2 is one of my greatest video game achievements. It's an incredibly hard level that took me close to 50 tries. But once I finally beat it, I felt a level of elation rarely reached in my video game history.
HONORABLE MENTION
Resident Evil (GCN)
Super Mario Bros. (NES)
Donkey Kong Country 2-3 (SNES)
Techmo Super Bowl (NES)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Dreamcast)
NBA Jam (Wii)
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