Laboratory of Mathematics and Writing

Another Average RPG I reviewed Evolution: The World Sacred Device is a charming but average RPG. The sequel, Evolution 2: Far Off Promise, can described in exacty the same light. It's got pretty much the same set of characters with only a few additions. The story is different and, frankly, less interesting. The combat is almost identical. The only difference is that the enemy grid now has a fourth column. So, it's 4x3 instead of 3x3. The biggest change is that the dungeons themselves are no longer randomly generated. All except the practice tower contain fixed floor plans. That's it. Less Personality There is really not much to talk about. Only the story and setting is different. It takes place after the events of the first. Mag is traveling with the same friends from before. The addition of the pirate adds a little bit of extra charm as he turns over a new leaf once you face and defeat him in his hide out and becomes a...

Video Game Perfection I make it no secret that the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) is my favorite video game console ever. I really only enjoyed four consoles growing up: the SNES, the Nintendo 64, the Sega Dreamcast, and the original Xbox. I was going to get an Xbox 360, but I became a guitar player just before it was released and blew whatever money I saved on super sweet Jackson Warrior along with a 100 watt amp. The SNES is easily my favorite console and Terranigma is my favorite game on that console. So, Terranigma is my favorite game of all time. Yes, I'm putting it ahead of Chrono Trigger and Super Metroid. I'm even putting it ahead of my child and teenagehood favorites such as Contra III, Donkey Kong Country, Perfect Dark, Shadow of the Colossus, Metal Gear Solid 3, Morrowind, Half-Life 2, and Jet Set Radio. It's even better than latter day exploits such as Fallout: New Vegas and Witcher III. Every game I mentioned previous...

Elemental Gimmick Gear This game was released right in the middle of peak Y2K: 1999. However, upon first look, you could have mistaken the release year to be 1995 or 1996; at most 1997. You probably wouldn't guess that it was released on the Sega Dreamcast. It definitely has that Moebius inspired visuals akin to Panzer Dragoon. So, you could make another easy mistake and conjecture that Elemental Gimmick Gear was released on the Sega Saturn. It wasn't. It was released on the Dreamcast anno 1999. This game is incidentally a demonstration of how fast technology was evolving at the time. In just a few short years E.G.G. felt outdated. In fact, it began as a Saturn project that ended up being completed for the Dreamcast. Aside from being a solid game in it's own right, E.G.G. functions as a unique time capsule that bridges the fifth to the sixth generation of console gaming. Moebius Art E.G.G. is a top-down, 2D action...

MDK This is one of those games that is just simply outdated. The most obvious cue of that is the graphics, naturally. However, I don't think it's only because the game was released nearly thirty years ago - the art style itself didn't exactly age well, either. More accurately, it's both of these attributes in conjuction that makes the MDK look like a game that was made in, well, the mid-90s. It's also got some control issues, but they're not big and can be managed easily. Despite these setbacks, it is still fun to play. It has a certain charm to it that keeps you amused through its short but entertaining run. Outdated Visuals The graphical fidelity is definitely from three decades ago. It's low resolution, jagged, and very much limited by the hardware that was available at the time. Ultimately, I couldn't admire the art style. There’s a lot of dark, heavy color: greys, blacks, deep oranges, browns, an...

Stellar Blade I was actually hyped about playing this game. The influence of this game is absolutely obvious: Nier: Automata. I actually haven't played the game in a good seven years or so. I certainly remember enjoying it quite a lot, however. Perhaps it's time to give it another playthrough. But I gotta get through this backlog.... Anyways, I was hyped because of this influence and I am a total sucker for post-apocalyptic cyberpunk. I also enjoy mutated monstrosities for enemies to hack through. Any gamer loves a big, bad boss battle, too. Finally, Eve is a highly attractive female that's pleasing to the eyes. Call me a backwards neanderthal, but I prefer sexy women. Despite being hyped, my expectations wheren't exactly high. I expected a shallower version of Nier: Automata and that's definitely what I got. However, I must elaborate on just how much fun this game is. Story Premise The setting is about as typi...

Early Y2K Movies I already established that early Y2K, or even pre-Y2K if you prefer, is from 1995 to the end of 1997. I'm not making a rigid case. I'm selecting this timeframe as early Y2K because we can see the obsession with tech, edgy attitudes, and future consciousness began its escalation. I already discussed this when it comes to 3D graphics and video games. It's time to review a few movies that where also tech, edgy, and future obssessed. The list is practically endless. So, I'm only going to focus on movies I have seen, even if I viewed them long after Y2K. Some of these I did grow up with, though. Bear in mind that I am focusing on a very narrow subset of movies in this window of time. So, something like Independence Day or Men in Black are out because they are more about an alien invasion than they are about technology. I will definitely be discussing those in another article. Tech Obsessed Tech...