I promised myself that following my last blog about Halo way back in August, my next blog wouldn't be about Halo, so here's another blog about Halo. It's no secret that Halo as a whole is in a pretty sorry state. Between divisive recent entries, a poorly received TV show, and seemingly constant studio turmoil, … Continue reading What Could A Halo “Universe” of Games Look Like?
Gotham Knights: A Tale of Wasted Potential
Gotham Knights is not a good game, despite what some corners of the internet claim. But it’s not a bad game, either. It’s not good enough to love, yet it’s not bad enough to stop playing. The most tragic and infuriating part of this game is not that it isn’t good, but that choices intentionally … Continue reading Gotham Knights: A Tale of Wasted Potential
343 Steps in the Wrong Direction: The State of Halo
SPOILER WARNING: This post contains major plot spoilers for Halo 3, 4, 5, the TV show, and Infinite. It's September 2007. You're watching the countdown until your very first match of Halo 3. You're about to experience countless games of Slayer and CTF on High Ground, Guardian, Valhalla, and a slew of other maps, and … Continue reading 343 Steps in the Wrong Direction: The State of Halo
Welcome to Last Bastion Gaming
So, it's been a little while. This for-fun side project of ours, formerly known as Pixel Pricks, has sat as empty as the Anthem servers for over a year now, and it's time to change that. Kevin and I have always loved talking about video games, and this is the perfect place to do it. … Continue reading Welcome to Last Bastion Gaming
Twenty Years Later: What Makes Final Fantasy X So Great
Two decades ago, the PlayStation 2 game library got one of its best additions. Final Fantasy X was the first game in the series on Sony's second console, and promised cutting-edge graphics, a fantastic soundtrack, fully-voiced dialogue, and an unforgettable story. Looking back on it, it hit all of those marks by 2001 standards. Now, … Continue reading Twenty Years Later: What Makes Final Fantasy X So Great
What Makes a Good Achievement?
Few things have changed the landscape of gaming quite as significantly as achievements. Pushed into the mainstream beginning with the Xbox 360, the concept has been adopted by pretty much every major publisher and platform (except for those stubborn blokes at Nintendo). They add replay value to games by challenging the player to complete various … Continue reading What Makes a Good Achievement?
The 10 Best Gaming Easter Eggs
Video games are pretty cool, right? They offer a way to experience epic stories, fun challenges, gorgeous visuals, and plenty more. When you look at a game, you know—or at least have a pretty good idea of—what kind of game it's going to be. The theme. The mood. The art style. You get the picture. … Continue reading The 10 Best Gaming Easter Eggs
The Cutting Room Floor: I’m Still Pissed About Halo 2
Anyone remember when Halo 2 released way back in '04? It received critical praise and people just loved everything about it. It had a great campaign, fantastic multiplayer, a not-at-all-infuriating ending that provided some kind of closure... Okay maybe that last one is more or less the opposite of the truth, but while a lot … Continue reading The Cutting Room Floor: I’m Still Pissed About Halo 2
Res-Erect: Dead Space
Welcome to the first of a series in which I talk about my personal beloved franchises that haven't seen the light of day in quite some time. Chances are most of these series will stay that way, but that's not stopping me from begging. In this entry, I'll be performing this ritual in the middle … Continue reading Res-Erect: Dead Space
Character Creation: The Games That Shaped Me
When I was a wee little guy, maybe two years old, my parents owned a Nintendo Entertainment System. My Dad was playing a game about some plumber who made money pop out of turtles' asses as he sat with a miniature Brett in his lap. For one reason or another, he had to leave the … Continue reading Character Creation: The Games That Shaped Me
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