Whether your Country topped the list or not... we want to wish you a peaceful & joyous holiday that spills over into 2024 and floods the entire year in awesomeness worldwide. There are enough amazing people in the world to make it even better, some of whom we game with on a daily basis. So press play, raise your glass, rep with other viewers... and grab a free game (just don't attempt to fist pump with your drink in hand)!
Before I even jump into this article, take a look at this video which reveals some of the awesomeness I've been waiting to see for quite some time (some of you may have seen it at the Video Game Awards 2023):
If you didn't know, now you know that SEGA is going back to the future... by way of diving into its legacy to bring new games to the forefront from familiar franchises. Crazy Taxi & Jet Set Radio were IP's served up to us on the Dreamcast, and were great titles worth being added to a collector's library (I still have these games for my system). It was great to see the games being brought back on the scene because... there's a place for them. Sega should have peeped game awhile ago (I mean... look at Capcom).
Crazy Taxi on the Dreamcast + Arcade focused on picking up people... and getting to their locations in time by any means necessary, while racking up bonuses for drifting, etc. The game was buttery smooth, wacky, and fun and I hope to see the locations expand in the pending game along with the various challenges that take advantage of the online multiplayer. Back then, SEGA took a bold step to make the console capable of connecting to the internet, but... it wasn't there yet. So I'm curious what modes are going to be available today, now that online multiplayer is a major staple in games now.
Jet Set Radio was so fun and also ran buttery smooth. The art style was undeniable, and... the music kept you rocking as you tagged the various locations (with graffiti) and took on rival crews. The fun factor was through the roof, and I had to force myself to put the controller down for various titles on the console.
Those titles included Crazy Taxi + Jet Set Radio, so Christmas came early for me with these two reveals, not to mention the Streets of Rage reveal.
Granted there was an awesome 2D Streets of Rage 4 game released in 2020, but It's great to see that Sega is keeping the party going by bringing it back in a new way. This adds to the multiplayer fun that each of the mentioned games is going to bring... and this actually takes me back even further because we played the crap out of these Streets of Rage games on Sega Genesis and Sega CD (via Final Fight CD). My cousin and I played Final Fight CD's survival mode for hours. I can hear the music now, good times.
I'm going to keep the focus on multiplayer for now... with Golden Axe. I remember playing the 1989 game in the laundry mat. It was a fun multiplayer game and did things that were quite impressive to me for a 2D game. Not only could you mount various animals, but you could arm yourself with melee weapons at the same time + use magic and all that good stuff. The victories were rewarding because it truly felt like a battle from stage to stage, so I'm curious to see what the results will be in the upcoming installment.
Last but not least... the Shinobi reveal looks fantastic as well and appears to have 2D comic-style art (which may contain some 3D cel-shade elements... which appears to ). It seemingly has a depth served up at a nice scale, including various platforming challenges to put fans and newcomers to the test. I can't predict what any of these games will play like, but if they serve up new experiences with great controls and fun factors that make us come back for more... it's safe to call these a win.
This could be a move that Sega is making to have the resources to develop even better Sonic games as well. Remember... they want to take on Mario to a serious degree, so we shall see where all this goes. Either way... I'm excited, and what made it even better... is the fact that it wasn't a rerelease of old games. The classics are saluted, but it's great to get something new by way of the classics (remakes are a beautiful thing) and I can't wait to see the trajectory of Sega over the next decade.
If you haven't seen The Video Game Awards 2023... grab some popcorn, click play, and... enjoy!
I thought this was going to come in January, but it arrived before Christmas. So... here's my review.
This keyless keypad doesn't require a key, but... is it worth the money? Let's jump in!
Quality:The Keypad Entry Lever's quality can be felt as soon as you hold the parts in your hand. The parts are a nice polished metal with solid zinc diecast levers and weighs in at 4.52lbs. The parts don't wiggle, there's nothing loose or feels cheap, it's a commercial product, and... represents that classification well.
Security:Security-wise, this lever has an ANSI Grade 2... meaning the lock can withhold a certain level of force in terms of someone attempting to strike it and gain entry. This product requires at least 5 strikes from 75ft.-lbf to gain entry.
The foot-pound force is a unit of energy while lbf is a pound of force. Think of a ram striking the lever from a distance of one foot.
Outside of the security that prevents unwanted entry through the build quality, and traditional lock, but you also have the keypad that doesn't just keep the door unlocked after one of (up to) 99 codes has been entered. Give it a few seconds and it locks back unless you unlock it on the inside for reentry without a pincode or a key.
To increase the security, you can even set it to vacation mode and disable all codes for those times when you're away. So no one can fidget with the lock while you're enjoying yourself in the States or abroad. I'd even set it to vacation mode after hours because that increases the security, but these are also used for spaces utilized around the clock (laundry rooms, gyms, PC rooms in hotels, etc).
Installation:Installation is a bit of a challenge, but if you follow the manual... you can do it.
Price:Pricewise... you can get the Brinks Commercial Keypad Entry Lever for $129. Is it worth it? Yes, this can be used for several needs for you and your team, tenants, employees, family members, AirBnB customers, and all that good stuff. You don't have to jump up out of your bed and go let someone into a room, unit, or home... all they need is a 6-digit code and they're in. These codes can be changed as well, just in case you want to deny access after a certain time. So it's worth it, it provides access without your constant need to be there but it also protects the people and property behind the door. Did I forget to mention that it comes with a 10-year limited warranty? Yeah... that part too.
Story:Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is a film about Greg Heffley's holiday adventure involving him and his best friend Rowley doing a bad bad thing and fearing that this will bring Christmas crashing down on him as others get closer and closer to the truth of finding out who the actual culprits were who damaged a snow plowing truck. This set off a crazy chain of events as Greg went on a mission to cover up what he did and still walk away with a win on Christmas. What's the win? Well, it's a new game system, unless he's exposed for being naughty. This film is rated PG, so basically if you're familiar with the franchise and you let your children watch Home Alone films, you might not find an issue with this installment either.
Visuals:Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is visually appealing, and I enjoyed the animated action from beginning to end. They took the traditional diary of a wimpy kid art style and maintained it in 3D without making the characters look weird. You're going to see various angles in this 4K Ultra HD film, from the worm's eye view looking up at the top of the basement stairs, to the bird's eye view of Rowley looking down at Greg wondering what the heck he was doing outside of his window. There were some pretty cool angles mixed in during this adventure.
Audio:Audio-wise, this film features Dolby Atmos in 5.1... so crank up the surround sound to a tolerable level to immerse yourself and enjoy this family-focused Christmas comedy. The sound is clean, and they deliver the music and sound effects at the right times to boost the immersive experience. Revealing Alfrendo is a great example. There was background music, but it amps up a bit for effect.
Price: Pricewise, you aren't paying a thing for this film outside of your Disney Plus subscription. That includes this movie + other shows and movies, so that's a win-win.
Overall, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good holiday adventure. It's a heartwarming film that will leave you feeling happy and satisfied. So, grab a bowl of popcorn, snuggle up on the couch, and get ready for a fun-filled ride!
