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Red Dead Redemption II (2018)
One of the best video games ever
I waited over a year from its release to buy the video game. By that time, there were some mixed reviews. I had really enjoyed the prior Red Dead Redemption and decided to give this a try.
This is one of my favorite video games of all time. The story is absolutely fantastic. There are elements of lightheartedness, romance, friendship, and betrayal. The characters and their development are very well done, beyond what you typically see in a video game. The main character, Arthur Morgan, is multi-faceted and the side missions especially help define who he is as a character.
The graphics are unparalleled in their beauty of the Western landscape. I found myself at many points just looking around and admiring house spectacular the artists captured the undeveloped landscapes. The music and how it synchronizes with the story is also very well done.
This game is refreshing as compared to the mindless point and shoot games that have overtaken several video game consoles. In many ways, when you play red Dead Redemption 2, you feel as if you are watching a movie and following the stories of several characters. I genuinely don't know how the plot and story could be made better.
From a video game standpoint, the game is challenging and offer several side missions to help build the characters and keep things lively. It is not too difficult to upgrade weapons and acquire objects. I actually found this refreshing as other video games typically require annoying and time-consuming objectives just to be able to buy objects necessary to complete the main missions. The side missions were as fun as the main mission.
I completely recommend Red Dead Redemption 2. It may be the best video game I've ever played. red Dead Redemption 2. It may be the best video game I've ever played. Take your time with the story and don't rush through it. At the end, you'll be glad you did.
What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)
Just Enjoy The Story
This is not your standard game composed of many challenges in order to get to the end.
I went into this game with no idea of what to expect. You begin by exploring the Finch household. The graphics are great and the color palettes intentionally chosen in each scene to portray the mood of the mini-story. Initially, I was looking around trying to collect various objects thinking this would be one large puzzle. However, the game is fairly linear and directs you through several mini challenges. The "game" is not meant to be a game in the classic sense where something you do earlier will have repercussions later (i.e., save items to buy or open something later).
All I will say is that spend the time to explore the house and go slow as you proceed through the challenges. Do not view this as a regular game, rather one large story that is giving you insight into the characters without explicitly telling you their personalities and relationships with others. It is remarkably well done. You gain insight of the family's dynamics through the most unexpected ways. Take the time to look at the photos in the house and see the true dynamic of the family.
Like many others, this is a masterpiece of storytelling. It is not your standard PlayStation (or Windows) game. Even spending the time to look around, the game play averages about four hours. Think of it like an interactive movie.
After I completed the game for the first time, I went back and played it again just explore more. It is a great story. Yes, it is very sad but when you play it again, you will better see how Edith (main character) has always seen the world.
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)
Overall, excellent well-rounded game to end the trilogy
Not sure why there are so many haters to this game.
There are several facets of this game which make it thoroughly enjoyable. For all those who criticize that the game does not have a novel concept, it's the 15th+ game in the Tomb Raider franchise. In many ways, you shouldn't be expecting for a completely brand new game (in fact most of us enjoy the running around, combat sequences, and puzzles aspect that we came to love).
The storyline is excellent in this game. There are several side missions where you can explore the world and build up points and collect items to make the main mission easier. However, there isn't an excess of side missions to distract from the main mission either.
The puzzles are great. They take some thinking but are solvable with a little persistence.
The graphics and gameplay are well balanced. The Peruvian jungle and small towns are beautiful. The scenery is green, bright, and well-lit in contrast to the Siberian grey and dismal prequel (not a critique but rather just descriptive of the setting).
The combat sequences are well balanced. This isn't a game with excess shooting and non stop fighting. In fact, stealth and use of the bow with strategy is paramount. It makes for a slightly more realistic game (although as a 20 year old girl, she still has quite a few hundred murders under her belt). There are weapons you can buy but each has pluses and minuses without a clear cut winner. There's not an excess of weapons which simplifies the combat portion of the game. This is similar to the prior 2 games.
All and all, it is a very enjoyable game. The videos and storyline are excellent and incorporate well into a well done cinematic experience. The only critique is that the game play is a little short (but there are DLC that you can also get).
The House with a Clock in Its Walls (2018)
The scariest part of this is the casting choice for Lewis.
I grew up reading the John Bellairs' books. With the Edward Gorey illustrations, it appealed to the gothic/macabre genre. The themes were dark and the plot was suspenseful. I had high expectations for the movie rendition of House with a Clock in Its Walls.
As many have mentioned, the movie falls flat. There is significant deviation from the book. The themes of a struggling boy trying to fit into a new environment, coping with the loss of his parents, and trying to find security in a new environment are totally gone. The movie tries for a fantasy and comedic undertone which departs from what Bellairs' pursued in all his books (Bellairs would be turning over in his grave if he knew they put a farting lion garden shrub in his story). I'm not quite sure why they went for this approach as today's audience would have welcomed the original gothic/darker themes.
I won't belabor the point as numerous others have commented on it. The actor for portrays Lewis is atrocious. Every time he tries to show any emotion (i.e., show fear or cry), it is awful.
If you watch this movie, not knowing the book, you may be able to get through it. If you have read the book and are expecting it to follow the same themes, you will be highly let down.