Jimmy Kimmel and the YouTube Gaming Conundrum

In light of the recent backlash towards Jimmy Kimmel, I have to admit, what he said did make me sit down and think. Why, as a gamer, do I enjoy watching others play games also? I could just be playing the game myself? I think the fact that this has been going on for years though is an important piece that was overlooked. Although YouTube Gaming is a live streaming service, people have been watching pre-recorded YouTube videos...well for as long as it’s been around. I’ll break down here a few reasons I think gamers...well watch fellow gamers.

We watch them to get a flavour of the game. To be honest it’s much better than watching a 4 minute trailer made by the people who are selling you the game. Gamers will give you their take. You can see how the game handles. This is in the case of playthroughs and lets-plays. 

Some people may watch a video for maybe just the first episode to get a taste of the game and get a feel if it’s for them. 

How about watching tutorials? Ever get stuck at a certain point in a game and the wiki page is too much hassle to read? Well there’s probably a video tutorial showing how to beat the problem out there somewhere.

Honestly it may sound a bit strange, but learning is another reason I myself watch other gamers. For competitive games like CS:GO, DOTA 2, hell any game really. There are a whole host of gamers who share tips and tricks to help you out. I suppose this could also be linked to tutorials.

The main reason I watch gaming videos though has to be the most obvious. I watch them for entertainment. Why watch Storage Wars if you can just go and bid for a container yourself? Why watch Hoarders if you could...well hoard yourself? There are so many shows that bring this into question especially holiday review shows, cooking shows. They not only provide information, but they provide entertainment also. 

I think one of the biggest issues with what was said by Jimmy Kimmel is that he didn’t view it as an entertainment medium and some people don’t. I don’t find sports entertaining so I don’t watch them. I think his biggest point was that, in his eyes, gaming isn’t reality. You’re watching something that’s disconnected. So we’re disconnected whilst watching something that’s disconnected. But in total honesty, is there anything wrong with this? People watched Mr Kimmel discuss this. So they’re disconnected whilst watching a man discuss something that he views as disconnected also. Isn’t this the aim of entertainment though? It’s quite obvious, to entertain and I think that’s the point that was missed.

I think YouTube Gaming is a great idea. If put on the right track it could possibly bring some competition to Twitch. Competition can breed innovation. 

As I’ve said before, I watch gamers. I enjoy it and isn’t that all that matters. Sometimes I even game whilst a video is playing on my phone. Heck even Jimmy Kimmel’s videos are put on YouTube.

I think a big reason there was such a big backlash against Mr Kimmel was the fact that the gaming community is so...well dedicated to gaming really. It’s an entertainment medium, if he put out a piece about how stupid it was to watch sports rather than play them themselves, I’m certain there would be a backlash just the same.

I think a lot of comment got out of control, but I also think a lot more needs to be looked at before you can just say that Stream watching is silly. Yes it may seem weird considering we could just play ourselves. But it’s enjoyable, it creates a community and that’s the beehive that was poked with that video. 

I can’t quite explain why I find watching other gamers enjoyable so as Mr Kimmel stated, he’s more than welcome to come all the way to Ireland to watch a Steam with me. Heck he can even watch me as I watch a Stream and try to figure out why it’s so entertaining.

Avengers Age of Continuing Storylines

Avengers Age of Continuing Storylines

by Tom Garavan

Marvels latest tease, Avengers Age of Ultron, left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth…and no it wasn’t the sour jellies.

Yes it’s got everything we were looking for; action, car chases, Chris Hemsworth, explosions, suspense and oh yeah, Chris Hemsworth.

Let’s start with the main plot. Yes it’s all fun and games until Tony Stark creates a homicidal robot with artificial intelligence, enter Ultron. Main antagonist and voiced by James Spader I have to admit, he was a fantastic character. And yes…that’s basically the story, killer robot wants to kill the Avengers and in so doing wipe out humanity, but much, much more theatrical.

If you’re looking for a superhero fix whilst we eagerly await the Batman V Superman mash-up next year…well this is for you. It’s honestly got everything you need…except any major character development. Yes I know there’s this big thing looking into the secret life of Hawkeye, Black Widow’s next attempt at wooing Banner…look going just by her name I can understand where he’s coming from…then you factor in the assassin…cold hearted killer…yeah.

All these things just felt like filler…we even had the now signature pep talk by Nick Fury…this time in a farmhouse.

To look at this movie honestly, it’s a stop-gap, more-so than any of the others. It’s obvious we’re leading up to a much bigger storyline and this is just clogging that gap with spectacular fights and witty dialogue. It’s plain to see that we’re being lead towards a big finale with Thanos and the Eternity Stones .

However, you’re not going to see this movie for its gripping story…it’s not The Green Mile for plum’s sake! No we’re all going to see this because…let’s be honest, we all know it’s going to be cool. There’s a great feeling when you’re sitting in the cinema and the film gets a laugh out of the entire audience, well this happened on more than one occasion.

For me I’d have to give this film a 7.5/10. It falls short of being spectacular because of its filler-esque-ness…yes I may have made that up, but you know what I mean! It feels overshadowed by something we haven’t even seen yet! By that I mean the ever impending storyline that has been so overarching throughout any Marvel release it currently resembles a pretzel...that's fallen into some sort of folding machine.

I have to say though the character interaction was great. There's a funny scene where Thor and Stark are comparing their other halves. The film is filled with these quirky little moments that give the audience a chuckle! 

I’m actually quite glad that Disney can just throw money at Marvel movies now. Basically they hide all the abominations that were the Spiderman and Fantastic Four movies under massive stacks of cash and concrete.

We all saw how well these movies can turn out in Guardians of the Galaxy and I have high hopes for their future ventures….just hurry up and show us where this story ark is leading! Oh and Star Wars…drown that in money until it makes the 7 year old in me weep with nostalgia…and forget completely about Jar-Jar Binks.

Metal Mondays: A Brief Look at Codex Skitarii:Ruststalkers

As part of Metal Mondays…I thought I’d throw in a little twist. Instead of a music review I thought I’d take a brief peak at the latest release by Games Workshop. The Skitarii! (Technically they’re partly metal so I’m staying on track somewhat)

Now anyone who is involved in the 40k hobby has heard the never-ending churning of the rumour mill that the Adeptus Mechanicus will soon be getting their very own Codex. That may still be somewhere on the horizon but right now we’ve got a nice little taster in the form of the Skitarii.

Released on April 11^th the latest Codex has some fantastic additions not only from a hobby perspective, but also a gaming one. Did I mention that the codex is only €26? At last, a Codex that is a relatively decent price!

Starting from a fluff perspective…I have to say there’s one part that’s stuck in my head ever since I got through the book…giant treadmills. Yes for those of those that have not got a chance to look at the book, or heard of this weird little bit of fluff. The Sydonian Dragoons, (the big bipedal walkers) have an ironstrider engine that allows perpetual motion. The Codex mentions that they “are guided onto industrial treadmills and cog-steps where they pound away in their hundreds”. The fear is that their machine spirit may fade away should they stop in their relentless advance. Let’s just say…for Ironstriders…every day is leg-day.

The book also gives a great insight into the way the Skitarii work. How they thrive to be ever closer to the Machine God. There’s also a nice little map of Mars and the different locations found on it. It has to be said actually that the current artwork Games Workshop’s current codices has to be given a good bit of credit. One thing I really don’t like about the codex however is the complete wave of eavy metal paintjobs featured from….pages 39-54, the majority of which depict the same paint scheme. Now don’t get me wrong, it’s all better than anything I’ll ever paint…but seriously, you could have crept in a few more units of a bit more fluff into this rather than all that. I don’t care if they’re in cool poses, about 5 pages would have done me to be honest.

Now onto the actual gaming perspective. I have to say right now…I literally need a couple of units of Ruststalkers…not only do they look awesome (kind of like a Deadpool-esque vibe) but their rules and stats are pretty sweet. These are going to be the main dudes that I take a peek at today, perhaps more in the future, but I digress. 

We’re looking at 160 points for a 5 man unit with 4/4/4/3/2/4/2/8/4+. Swap out their Transonic Razor and Chordclaw for two Transonic Blades for free. On the turn they charge a unit of 5 will be getting 21 S6 attacks at AP5. However, the Transonic rule states that any Wound rolls of 6 in the first combat are resolved at AP2…it gets better…In any subsequent round of the close combat, all the wounds are resolved at AP2. This is a unit that’s going to hit hard and just keep getting better.

Did I mention there’s a Codex-wide Feel no Pain?

Also the Ruststalkers, Infiltrators, Dragoons and  Ballistarii all have the special rule Dunestrider. This allows a further 3’’ to the maximum move distance for the movement phase, running and yes…charge moves.

The Mindscrambler Grenades they all come with also stop them receiving an initiative penalty for charging through difficult terrain.

They also have access to the Doctrina Imperatives which are army affecting rules that you can use during the movement phase. You can only use each one once, unless otherwise stated but they’re all pretty awesome. They range from giving you +1BS, all the way to +3BS with a -2 to WS until your next turn. These will seriously benefit your shooting. However, they also have assaulting equivalents, with a +1 to WS, a +2WS,-1BS and a +3WS,-2BS. If you can time all these right you’re looking at some pretty cool synergies you can work with. Seriously these dudes are going to unleash hell.

I have to say though what you’ll want to focus on is MEQ. I highly recommend leaving TEQ to your shooting. Yes that have AP2 and S5 after the first round, but TH/SS Terminators are still going to smash these guys apart.

There’s also a formation you can take comprised of 3 units of Ruststalkers and a single unit of Infiltrators. This formation is free and extends the Neurostatic Aura special rule of the Infiltrators to 12’’. This means any enemy unit within that distance subtracts 1 from its WS, BS and Initiative.

Also the formations second special rule allows them to run and charge in the same turn…now do you see why I need a few of these units?! They’re going to add some much needed punch to an Astra Militarum force. However you are looking at a serious points sink at about 680-800 points depending on upgrades for the formation.

Okay I know I primarily focussed on Ruststalkers here but what’s not to love? They’re Deadpool meets the terminator…what’s not to like? On a side not…images of Deadpool film shooting have been popped up online! Check them out if you love a foul mouthed, attention seeking superhero! Otherwise check out the lasts metallic monstrosities that are the Skitarii! For many they’ll be a nice little bolster as an allied detachment (they’re classified under the armies of the Imperium).

However, I see a full force on the horizon one day…I’m just looking for an excuse to buy the Forge World Thanatar Seige-Automata to be honest!

If you’d like more of an insight into the Codex if this waffle filled post has got your interests peaked, fire me a message on Twitter @TGaravan!

PSA: Themes, Themes and even more themes!

So I thought I’d try and get this blog on track…finally! So I’m going to attempt to give each day a theme and post up regular content…hopefully.

So without further ado my proposed themes for the week!

Mondays: Metal Mondays (A look at new/upcoming metal artists…or something along those lines)

Tuesdays: Creature Feature Tuesdays (Horror Reviews! Gaming and or Films!)

Wednesdays: Whiplash Wednesdays (I’ll take a look at stuff that’s out of my comfort zone…yeah)

Thursdays: Tasty Thursdays (Food, food and more food)

Fridays: Forget-Me Not Fridays (A look back at the past and comparing it to the present…umm like seeing how horror films…like The Devils Rejects have weathered over the last 10 years….spoiler)

Saturdays and Sundays: Washout Weekends (My picks and stuff that is current and may have been missed during the week)

So yeah, I’ll try and keep this all on track over the next coming weeks. If I write any articles that are out of sync with the theme but are of dire need of distribution I’ll pop them up anyway.

Hopefully there’s a little something there for everyone!

Want to keep up to date with what's been posted and when? Watch out on Twitter @TGaravan

Later!

Movie Review: Clown

Clown Review

By Tom Garavan

Adding just a little to the coulrophobia in the world is Clown. And yes, coulrophobia is the fear of clowns…well I’m not quite sure but apparently consecotaleophobia is a fear of chopsticks, the more you know…but I digress.

Now I must admit, I’ve been looking forward to this flick…well since I heard about it a few months back. The horror scene has been a bit dry these last few months and seriously…I can only watch The Evil Dead so many times…actually I have no limit…I’m doing it again aren’t I? I must say though, Clown satisfied my horror taste buds…for now.

Directed by Jon Watts and written by Watts alongside Christopher D. Ford. Clown stars a nice little cast including; Andy Powers (Oz, In Her Shoes), Laura Allen (Hysteria, Mona Lisa Smile) and Peter Stormare (22 Jump Street, Prison Break). It’s actually a hard toss-up between Powers and Stormare for who did the best job. They really only feature in a long scene once or twice together in the film and the rest it’s either one or the other…they both did a fantastic job.

It also has to be popped in that Eli Roth also worked on the production of this movie, which has to say something about it's standing. As a rising director, Watts must be commended for this addition to the horror scene.

Anyway the story! Clown is basically a movie about not putting on other people’s clothes…especially when you find them in a musty old basement…in an ominous box…and it’s a freakin clown costume! The story focuses around Kent McCoy, a doting father who wants to give his son the best birthday possible, so fills the role of the missing clown himself by becoming the clown himself with a costume he stumbles upon. It is soon revealed that the costume is much more than it seems and Kent’s life is thrown into chaos when the true legend of the clown is revealed. 

Its all fun and games until the suit doesn't come off

We’ll keep this short and just say…unless you want to get possessed by some clown skin and have Peter Stormare attempt to decapitate you at any opportunity…do not put on random clown suits.

Now from a horror perspective…the story was an ace. Seriously, Watts has done a fantastic job creating a creepy lore behind clowns. The costume was put on at least 20 minutes into the film and I was wondering how they’re going to fill it out and to be honest my mind wandered a tad in the middle but the majority had me hooked. I guess I was just craving a little more Stormare and Powers.

Clowns carry a creepy vibe with them as it is enough but the whole idea of this film was fantastic. Stuck in a costume, slowly becoming a demon…me likey.  There’s a particular scene in a kids funhouse where the now fiendish McCoy is skulking around…seriously…The Wacky Warehouse will never be the same.

Ouch incoming

The squeams and gore glisten in when McCoy starts trying to remove the suit from himself. Rather having pain administered to victim, he’s doing it to himself (this time) and its squeamishly good at times…specifically the removal of the nose…seriously, ouch.

Powers and Stormare were probably my favourite parts to this film. Powers did a fantastic job as a man being torn apart, mentally and physically. His performance really added a psychological horror aspect to the movie. Whilst Stormare, the crazy cook who for some reason knows about creepy clown lore. He just has that sort of gritty voice that makes you think…my god this dude may be crazy…but damn he has a point. 

I also have to say Laura Allen does a fantastic job too. She’s torn between being the devoted wife, but also the protective mother. A particular scene in the woods really emphasises this…you’ll know it when you see it.

My biggest qualm with the movie has to be the ending. It was just a sort of anti-climax and rather typical. Come on Watts, shake it up just that little bit more, please.

Overall I have to say I enjoyed Clown. Watts did a great service to the horror scene so far this year. Aside from the ending the film is a must-see for anyone craving a horror fix. It’s a great new take at an old theme…all I have to say is that with all the fresh ideas and creativity…I would have liked to see a more unique ending.

On that note….seriously…do not put on random clown suits. I’m not clowning around here…yup mandatory bad pun, I’m done!

If you’d like to stay in the loop with news and reviews, follow me on Twitter @TGaravan or just stay tuned here!

Movie Review: The Atticus Institute

The Atticus Institute Review


By Tom Garavan

The Atticus Institute is a 2015 mockumentary style psychological thriller. Through the use of interviews, photography and found-footage we are given a glimpse into the strange occurrences that took place in an institute, one dedicated to the study of clairvoyance and telekinesis. 

Written and directed by Chris Sparling, also screenplay writer for the cult-hit ‘Buried’, The Atticus Institute is a good start to this year’s psychological-thriller scene. 

It doesn’t rely on cheap thrills to unnerve an audience, this is something that has been far too prominent in horror and thriller films of late. TAI really works in a fluid motion that really gels well with the mockumentary style. We are introduced to the characters and the eerie Judith, who comes to the facility and soon appears to have very unique and terrifying powers. If Carrie and The Quiet Ones had a one-night stand, this would be the demonic offspring. 

A qualm about the film is that it ‘stars’ William Mapother (Another Earth), however, although the foreshadowing of the story’s sub-plot is about what later incidents happened to him. Most of his actual performance is minor line found footage scenes and photography shots. 

The true star of this movie is Rya Khilstedt, who played the female antagonist; Alice, in Home Alone 3. Her performance was quite unsettling and detached. Even from the beginning you thought there was something wrong with her and this progressed further as the story played out. 

As mentioned. This film doesn’t require the infamous jump-scare, which so many popular films have come to rely on. It focuses on suspense, you know something is going to happen, but you’re not quite sure what. When a film makes you hold your breath in anticipation, you know it’s doing its job right. 

I definitely recommend giving this one a look!

Leo Moracchioli-Making Pop Sound Good

The man himself (From his Patreon Page)

Rocking right into this review is someone I recently stumbled upon during a recent YouTube adventure. Leo Moracchioli can only be described as a magician when it comes to all things musical. I mean….he made Anaconda sound amazing.

Based in Norway, Leo does equipment reviews and operates his own studio. However, his music covers will be the topic of this post!

Bringing a seriously epic (and yes the talents of this man are deserving of that word) metal twist to popular songs.  Writing this review is somewhat cumbersome as I’m currently listening to his cover of Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’ and my sweet potato, is it hard to stop moving to.

It has to be said that Leo really brings a great vibe and atmosphere to his work. Primarily using YouTube to post his music video covers, you can honestly see the energy he puts into it all. Playing all of the instruments himself. Leo operates from his own studio, Leap Frog Studios, where he produces his high quality video and audio content.

He truly draws in an audience by bridging the gap between popular music (Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor, Sia etc.) and some truly great metal. To be honest, I’m usually out of the loop with the current trends of music…but Leo is dragging me back in. He’s sort of like the Pied Piper lulling us along with a Jackson King V…towards an unknown world…and you know what? I don’t care, he’s freaking addictive to listen to.

His vocal range is fantastic, hitting some seriously fast beats with clean and hard vocals. You can tell he has a good voice for metal through the way you can literally hear how much fun he is having. His voice is truly just another instrument that he has mastered. I say this about a guy who’s video cover for ‘Can’t Touch This’…begins on a toilet. But hey! He also does acoustic covers too, thankfully his ‘Toxic’ one…was not performed in any facilities other than his studio!

Fare freaking dues to the dude too. You know, he’s created some fantastic music covers and you can tell the quality of his studio and skills through the audio that he produces.

Feel like listening to some Taylor Swift with a seriously good metal twist? How about…yes…some Justin Bieber? Leo Moracchioli has got you covered. His style is truly fun and something people should try out! He also operates his studio for band recordings, video and also live music.

This review is sort of like trying to explain a Zero Punctuation review. You have to kind of see and hear it to experience it.

So without further ado here is a link to his YouTube: Linky

His Patreon Page: Linky

And Website: Linky

Hope this gave you a flavor of what Leo is up to. Check him out!

To finish off this review is the single qualm I have with what Leo has produced...he hasn't tackled 'Blank Space' or any One Direction songs yet!

Anyone who wants to be kept in the loop with any other work I'm working on feel free to follow me on Twitter @TGaravan or just stay tuned here!

American Vampire Volume 3 Ghost War Review

American Vampire Volume 3 Ghost War Review

By Tom Garavan

Skinner Sweet (Taken from American Vampire: Ghost War, Part 3, Artist: R. Albuquerque)

Vampires, guts, guns and gore are just a few things dotting the pages of Scott Snyder’s American Vampire: Ghost War. Part of a Vertigo Series, written by Snyder and the artwork created by the devil to detail, Rafael Albuquerque, Ghost War, is a fantastic addition to the American Vampire series.

Told over a total of 6 parts (including the conclusion), readers will get a taste of the madness and mayhem that follows in the wake of Skinner Sweet. For any readers unfamiliar with the series, Skinner Sweet is a hybrid vampire, who’s only real weakness is gold.  His sociopathic tendencies lead him on ventures of violence and debauchery. His main aim in the later stories seems to be to rekindle a relationship with his only protégé, Pearl Jones.

In Ghost War, the main plot is set during WWII. In an attempt to stop a vampire infestation on the island of Taipan, a crack team of vampire hunter is deployed. One of the members is Pearl’s current flame, Henry Preston. Let’s just say a chance encounter on the island puts Bill Pike into the group. A man bearing a striking resemblance to Sweet, and he may or may not have some devious intentions towards poor Mr. Preston.

Pearl v Sweet (Artist: R. Albuquerque)

As any ‘crack team’ on a mysterious island, infested with blood-sucking horrors would soon find themselves, this is not going to be a walk in the park. We soon find the team fighting for their lives from a feral hybrid that even Skinner has a hard time putting a fight up against. It was nice seeing a new species of vampire thrown into the mix. Snyder has really created a luscious lore and world for a new take on the vampire genre. The only thing these guys tend to be glistening with is the entrails of their recently disemboweled victims. No glitter here, thank you very much.

As far as expanding the overall storyline of the series, Ghost War does generate quite a bit of content. We see nice development of both Sweet and Pearl’s relationship, as well as Pearl and Preston’s. Sweet keeps his angst, charm and sociopathic demeanour that we all know and love. In the conclusion there is some fantastic artwork done by Albuquerque as Sweet and Pearl dish out the pain to one another. Snyder has done a great job keeping the anti-hero, Sweet, as fresh and vicious as the day he burst from his watery coffin.

I have to admit, the whole infestation became a bit of a back-burner plot when we found Pearl on her way to rescue Preston from Skinner’s clutches. Readers will be more enticed as to what happens in their final showdown. That’s not saying that the content before is irrelevant. It has its quirks, and sets a nice body for the series. But what I really wanted to see was a little more interaction between Sweet and Pearl.

Taking a greater look at the artwork, Albuquerque has continued a fantastic venture in his artwork for the American Vampire series. I mean there is a certain grit and movement in his artistry that really brings the page to life. Part four has to be my favourite in the series for the artwork. There’s a depiction of Pearl running in vampire form and she is quite literally breaking the boundaries of the page. Albuquerque must be commended on his ability to bring life to his work. Please forgive my malapropos description, but the final page of part four can only be described as ‘bad-ass’. 

Albuquerque truly brings a new spin on the vampire look with American Vampire. Sweet with his elongated jaw, razor-like talons and feral features is something that is ghastly amazing to behold. The cover artwork is amazing also, it is really an attention grabber that would make this series stand out.

For anyone who doesn’t know. Vertigo is the publisher that pushes past the restraints that DC comics doesn’t allow itself. American Vampire is one of those stories that pushes those boundaries. Snyder and Albuquerque have created a rich, horrifyingly enthralling series, with a fantastic mythology that is truly something not to miss out on. Ghost War is a fantastic addition to the storyline and let me say, the ending had me breathless. Let’s just say some things go down that literally had me trawling the internet, needing to know what happens next.

Do you like vampires, rich artwork, story and mythology? How about a WWII setting on a vampire infested island? If that hasn't got you hooked then the sociopathic, wit and charm of Skinner Sweet will, faster than you can say “what nice fangs you ha……”   

We Set Signals-Polaris-Album Review

By Tom Garavan

The upcoming pop-punk band We Set Signals is definitely one to watch out for this year. Hailing from Brisbane, Australia the five man group have a fantastic future ahead of them.

Their second album release ‘Polaris’ burst onto the music scene in August of last year. The 10 track release consists of a post-hardcore/pop-punk style. What I could easily say is that this band really sounds like the American rock band, A Day to Remember. However, when you hit tracks like ‘You Had Your Chance Milhouse’, ‘Homeward Bound’ and ‘Locals Only’ they really stand out from the crowd.

The Guys From We Set Signals
(Photo from their myband page:bandpage.com/WeSetSignals)

Now I’ll admit, I’ve been listening to these guys constantly on my early morning treks into University and I have to say, they really wake you up. All the songs hit a great tempo and rhythm, creating a fantastic energy throughout the album.

The vocal range of the album is what you’d expect of a pop-punk style band. A good mix of clean and hardcore vocals. Vocalist, Nick Wilkinson has a magnificent pop-punk sound to his voice. We’re kind of looking at what would happen if Jeremy McKinnon (ADTR) and Hayley Williams (Paramore) had some sort of punk, Australian child.

Not forgetting all the other members; James, Mark, Lachlan and Corey the entire band works unbelievably well together. Specifically on the opening track, ‘Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost’. This song has a brilliant mix of everything, seriously, listen to it, you’re going to have a good time. About 20 seconds into the third track, ‘No Stairway, Denied’ the guitar hits and it sounds…hair raising. If that moment doesn’t make you want to head-bang discreetly on your way into school/work/whatever, I don’t know what will.

Whoever’s idea to play a ukulele at the beginning of ‘Homeward Bound’, I don’t understand why it’s there, but I like it. It really set the mood for the song and actually the entire album. Actually…these guys are like a fun little ukulele. Just because they’re small and underrated (at the moment) they can still blast out some amazing tunes. Do not underestimate ukuleles.

If I had to pick a specific track on the album which stands out the most, I actually couldn’t pick a specific one. However, what really stood out for me were…the first five tracks, then the final five, wait that’s the lot…yup the entire album is brilliant. But on a more serious note, if I had to pick just one; ‘Not All those Who Wander Are Lost’ because it’s a great song and the placement as the first track was perfect, it really sets the mood for the entire album.

Considering this band started out in just 2012, they have yet to be signed to a label and they’re putting out an album of this quality. We Set Signals is really one to watch out for this year, so give ‘Polaris a listen. The ukuleles are rising.

MasakoX Interview at Akumakon 2015-Tom Garavan

Lawrence Simpson (MasakoX) Interview at Akumakon 2015 by Tomgaravan on Mixcloud

Interview with Patrick Seitz Interview at Akumakon 2015-Tom Garavan

Patrick Seitz Interview-Tom Garavan by Tomgaravan on Mixcloud

Interview with Spike and Kimberley Spencer at Akumakon 2015

Tom Garavan Interview with Spike and Kimberley Spencer by Tomgaravan on Mixcloud

5HoursIn-DMC: Devil May Cry

New Dante with mandatory Ebony and Ivory

After far too long a hiatus, I thought I’d jump back into the New Year by having a look at DMC: Devil May Cry. Now for a reboot, it must be said that Ninja Theory (developer) did a fantastic job. Initially there was a fan base backlash because of the restyled Dante (side-note, there is an option to play through the game with the old Dante character model). However, it’s been out for nearly two years now and I must admit, I had to tear myself away to write this review.

Capcom (publisher) has handed the reigns over to Ninja Theory and they have done a great job in my view. I have been playing this on PC and like many hack and slash style games, I would advise using a controller to play…on a side note, there is also a port for Devil May Cry 3 for the PC, don’t touch it with a dirty stick, the control layout is indescribably atrocious. And back to DMC!

Totally no references to the old Dante look

Seriously this game ticked pretty much all the boxes for me. Combat feels fluid, as you progress you get a nice range of weapons. I would like to say that there is a variety in the enemies…but so far there’s been about 7-12 enemies, however there are different styles within that (kind of like a reskinned enemy that can only be damaged by angel weapons or devil weapons). Don’t get me started on the soundtrack…I don’t care what genre of music you are into, Combichrist blaring in the background will send shivers down your back as you  tear into the unholy legions.

Five hours in and the story is there, I’m kind of worried that it could end abruptly but I have to say it has been a thrill ride so far. Story-wise, it’s your typical reunited broken family, going after said fellow who initially broke up the family/ripped out your mother’s heart (as you do…). It’s a hack and slash revenge story with quirky protagonist who is borderline narcissistic. But hey, he grows on you!

The character models are pretty sweet too (Except Lilith....)

The level style is what you’d expect; get from A to B using new toys whilst killing enemy types 1a, 2c and 3a/b. But it’s the delivery that makes this game pretty damn fun….did I mention Combichrist playing in the background?

The game sounds good, looks good and it feels good. If it were cake it would be a sponge cake with jam and cream. Pretty basic but it’s got everything you want…hell throw some chocolate on there if you want.

My only qualms about the game is the lack of a lock-on function and the upgrade settings. When you have to use a particular weapon type against a certain enemy, leaping across the floor to hit said enemy with a useless attack when you meant to use it on his little buddy is a bit of a pain. The lock-on feature in Darksiders 2 is something that could be put to use here. Also I felt that a lot of the upgrades are…well unnecessary. In the middle of a fight I’m not thinking about unleashing the ultimate combo…I’m more along the lines of “gaahh take that! Yeah, now who’s next??” My attention span is more attuned to making things dead quickly than looking pretty whilst doing it (although I will admit I will play through it again and try to get a good score, I’ve been mainly single Ss so far).

DMC is one of those games where you can just kick back and chop some enemies up for an hour or two. The plot is not intensive at all, but it's not boring either. However, I will stay that people should watch all the cut-scenes. The character modelling and animations are fantastic.

This chapter will make you rethink bout buying energy drinks....

After five hours I can definitely see myself playing through this game again at some point to find all the hidden goodies.

I really recommend this game to anyone into action games or hack and slash style things. Seriously if you haven’t already, give it a shot. It’s one of those games you can just pick up, mash away at a controller and listen to some awesome music.

DMC for me is something I’ll stick with to the end. Gameplay is fun, it looks great, although Lilith looks…rather odd (anyone wondering she’s the one whose face is…rather saggy so to say) so give it a shot!

By the way did I mention Combichrist?