Top 10... let's go:
3. π¬π§ United Kingdom
4. π―π΅ Japan
5. π³π± Netherlands
6. π¨π¦ Canada
7. ππ° Hong Kong
8. π¦πΊ Australia
9. π©πͺ Germany
10. π΅π Philippines
Thailand, South Korea, and... South Africa came close!
Shout out to Warner Bros for providing a copy of this show for review. My opinions are my own!
Rick and Morty: The Complete Seventh Season is here... serving up all types of adventure that's out of this world, but is it worth the money? Let's jump in and find out.
Story: Season 7 revolves around Rick for the most part. You will see it unfold with various episodes, and he even goes to therapy (we're getting deeper). Episode 1 kicks off with the family sitting at the dinner table complaining about Mr. Poopy overstaying his welcome.
Let the credits roll though... let the credits roll, there's a nice addition at the end of this episode. If you pay attention to the episode, you will get the connection.
Episode 2 is a twist on the relationship between Rick & Jerry... literally. I didn't see this coming. Rick & Jerry get closer than ever (not exactly Captain Planet close, but... almost). Not sure which episode I like more... between episodes 1 or 2, but the season is off to a great start.
Episode 3 is action-packed and is almost similar to Invasion of the Body Snatcher (vs... invasion of President body snatcher). You'll see what I mean. I would've dialed up the final battle between both sides a bit more, but I'm not mad at it because it unfolded in a comedic way.
Episode 4 is the theme you see on the cover art, just make sure you don't watch it on spaghetti night. My daughter saw the box and asked me what it was... and it's indeed spaghetti, but she isn't old enough to know how it's made in this episode. Now that's... Amorte! The way this episode was rounded out... it ended in a strategic way. It was cool to see how a certain simulation played out, and then they brought you back into the realm of Rick & Morty to wrap things up. Let the credits roll.
Episode 5 gets you back in the game with Rick taking on Rick Prime, but... I'll leave this one alone. It's a kickass episode, but I'd rather you watch it yourself to get the scope. By the way, Rise of the Numericons: The Movie is... sweet, and features Ice-T (as the father of Ice-T) who is better known as... Water-T. It's basically letters vs numbers, and if it wasn't heavy on the ridiculousness I'd be tempted to let my daughter see this episode (you gotta see it). Let the credits roll! Episodes 5 & 8 are my faves.
Episode 6 is quite comical, it's full of clips presented by an Observer and objections on top of objections... challenged by solid points that... also get objections. I thought this episode was clever. There were other episodes in this category, but I thought this was more clever than action-packed. If you think I'm wrong, I'll object to that!
Overall, you get the idea, lots of action, explosions, movie references, comedy, more explosions, a Pokeball, commendable trash talk, plenty of booze + a dash of uncertainty. You can't go wrong with season 7, the episodes keep the good times rolling for the most part (and the story progresses forward in a meaningful way). There is a twist that you won't see coming, but you'll appreciate it for the most part. You might find yourself binge-watching with ease.
Visuals: Visually speaking, the art style remains tried and true to what we're accustomed. Certain episodes give you not-so-familiar art styles, like Rise of the Numericons: The Movie (although this is technically a return from season 2, "Get Schwifty") & Fear No Mort (the ghoulish spirits), but they fit right in.
Audio: Audio in season 7 is what you'd expect, nice and clean, and enjoyable explosions. For the most part I found myself trying to follow what was going on and what was being said... but I appreciate the sound effects. Rick and Morty: Season 7 features DTS HD Master Audio 5.1 & Dolby Audio.
Price + Extras: You can get Rick and Morty: The Complete Seventh Season in a Steelbook for $34.99, Blu-ray for $24.99, and on DVD for $19.99.
Extras:
Story 5
Visuals 5
Audio 5
Price + Extras 5
5 out of 5 Cool Points
The Weird Dream, seems to offer an intriguing blend of classic Metroidvania elements with its own unique twists. Featuring a chainsaw-wielding bunny protagonist adding a bizarre yet captivating charm to the game, which reminds me of F.I.S.T.: Forged In Shadow Torch. As the narrative unfurls through fragmented storytelling and defeating over 40 bosses, players can expect a deep sense of achievement. With flexibility in character building and a focus on skillful play, the game encourages players to master the controls and develop their own approach to victory — a nod to the finely-tuned mechanics revered in games like Hollow Knight and Dead Cells.
The gameplay feels a little stiff at first, but you ultimately shrug it off because you don't get that feeling when it comes to combat. Adding updates could potentially refine the experience even further, so we hope the motivation the team got from games like Dead Cells brings updates over time to enhance the game post-release.
Engaging boss fights, expansive exploration, and a deep world built with hand-drawn comics are core features that provide a bit of substance for the gameplay experience — a combination that can be appealing to both fans of the genre, and anime fans.
The Weird Dream is has a lot of promise, and it's available for 15% off the $13.99 price tag. So grab it for a limited time for $11.89 and game on!
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After a 3 year wait, Unknown 9: Awakening is nearing the finish line for our enjoyment.
Unknown 9: Awakening presents itself as a captivating entry into the adventure game genre, headlined by a protagonist who is a female Quaestor named Haroona. With an intriguing ability to tap into powers from an alternate realm that she explores—a realm aptly dubbed the Fold—players are enticed with the prospect of tailoring their gameplay experience. Mastery of the Fold, it seems, offers a variety of playstyles, potentially catering to a diverse range of gamers' preferences.
Haroon's compelling narrative arc intertwines her thirst for knowledge with the perils of her connection to the Fold. In a plot twist reminiscent of enthralling cinematic narratives, Haroona finds herself thrust into a defensive corner when the Ascendants, a splinter faction, target her in their quest to exploit the Fold's enigmatic powers.
At the outset, the game's aura could easily be mistaken for a fresh chapter in the "Assassin's Creed" saga. However, "Unknown 9: Awakening" promises to carve out its own niche in the action-adventure landscape, teasing a synthesis reminiscent of franchises such as "Tomb Raider" and "Control" + "Assassin's Creed". It's an ambitious blend that piques curiosity about how this title will distinguish itself upon its anticipated release on PC, PS5, and Xbox in 2024.
Cheers to new adventures, and as always, game on, mga ka-tropa!
During Women's History Month, my mind fondly turns to my mother, who played a pivotal role in introducing me to the world of console gaming. While it was a shared interest fostered by both my parents, with the tabletop Pac-Man arcade game as a nostalgic starting point, I credit my mother particularly. She was my steadfast companion in gaming, offering even greater encouragement for the passion we shared. Of course, my experience with my mom isn't just about gaming. It's important to counter the enduring stereotype that questions women’s interest in video games though, because I honestly didn't come from that. My mom, my female siblings, and my female cousins gamed (and still do). There's a certain pride in defying such narrow expectations. Existing in that grey area is a beautiful thing because we had a blast together... and some of you can say the same thing.
Reflecting on this theme, a situation from my past springs to mind. As a project manager for a game development project, I encountered resistance when I appointed a woman to a leading role within a department. The project was already underway, but they needed someone to bring structure... so I was brought in to make sense of it. Despite the urgency of our development timeline, this appointment unexpectedly became a controversial issue due to one team member's inability to accept her leadership. His reaction was so extreme that he shut down altogether. I was honestly like... WTF is this?
Confronted with this obstacle, I engaged in a sincere discussion with the disgruntled team member. His unease, as he revealed, stemmed from the false notion that reporting to a female leader was demeaning. My approach wasn't to embarrass him but to highlight the valuable experience and insight he forfeited by not acknowledging her expertise (which was far greater than he had). I emphasized the importance of being open to female leadership, which is an inevitable reality in any professional landscape (it just boiled down to where he'd end up working). It's irrational to jeopardize one's career because of a woman's leadership role. And it wasn't like she was being mean to him, she went by the book... followed objectives and everything ran smooth outside of that guy. That is... until I got his mind right.
Addressing such bias is crucial, and he had to be challenged on what his experience was (in one of a series of one on one meetings so that he understood that her experience exceeded his and it has nothing to do with her gender) – and not to generalize; this isn’t the mindset of all men which is a good thing but does it exist? Yes! Is it a win? No, undermining or contesting a woman's leadership based on gender can hold back the individual pushing prejudice (in this case sexism)... along with their growth. Don't let this be you.
Anyway, let's acknowledge and celebrate the women whose leadership has shaped some of the incredible games that enliven our leisure time and to the ladies who don't game... pick up a controller and game on! There are varioius options from casual games to the most challenging games that some guys even shy away from... because it's all about what you prefer to play.
By the way... don't miss out on the current Humble Heroines game bundle!
