Seven months out, I'm thinking about Death Stranding again. I assumed after the initial discussion surrounding the game died down it would fade for me. The final taste left in my mouth was complicated. I struggled through many portions of the game and took one or two long breaks. So much time in the game is … Continue reading More Than Fun →

Author's note: I would definitely have included Outer Wilds and Disco Elysium on this list if I had played them. Outer Wilds represents innovation in the kinds of experiences video games can deliver. Disco represents innovation toward raising the bar on storytelling and writing in the classic sense -- expansion of quality in the medium … Continue reading The Best Video Games of the 2010s →

Fire Emblem: Awakening (FE13) was supposed to be the last chance development studio Intelligent Systems would have to make an entry in their trademark franchise. Even if the game sold well, it would take miraculous numbers to make Nintendo consider keeping the franchise alive. And chances are it was your first Fire Emblem game. It … Continue reading Fire Emblem 13: Your First Fire Emblem →

"It will be seen that this mere painstaking burrower and grub-worm of a poor devil of a Sub-Sub [librarian] appears to have gone through the long Vaticans and street-stalls of the earth, picking up whatever random allusions to whales he could anyways find in any book whatsoever, sacred or profane. Therefore you must not, in … Continue reading Moby Dick: A 21st Century Reader’s Guide →

Introduction I read a lot more science fiction growing up than I did fantasy. Of course my parents weren't cruel and made sure I heard The Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit each night before bed, and little extras like the The Tale of Desperaux managed to weasel their way into storytime too. But the first 'big boy' book I read … Continue reading Fabulae Prima →

Author's Note: I came back to work on this piece after some time away from it. I came back with what I learned and -- hopefully -- made it better. I'm keeping this one here for posterity/self-reflection, but you can find the updated (better) version here. There are a few works of art that have … Continue reading Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain →

***This article contains minor spoilers for bosses, unlockables, and world details*** "A fitting fang for a one-armed wolf." -- The Sculptor, Sekrio: Shadows Die Twice Sekiro was always going to come carrying a lot of baggage. I remember the initial reveal teaser showing a device that had no significance to anyone in the audience. If the trailer … Continue reading A Fitting Fang — Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice →

Every time I revisit Thomas Pynchon I read Ian Rankin's article published in The Guardian before the release of Against the Day -- aptly titled "Reader Beware." It gets me in the right mindset to read the next one from my favorite American author. In case you're not a Pynchon acolyte yet it's also the article … Continue reading Pynchon’s Joyful Paranoia →

I'm drawn to the Romance of a far future society cradled in the remains of humanity's proudest moment. The first thing to stick out is the contrast. Like the cover of Horizon: Zero Dawn: a girl with a bow fighting a giant robo-T-Rex. Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun is a fantastic paradigm. All the grand … Continue reading The Wisdom of Regressive Sci-Fi →

I finally got around to watching the trailer for the upcoming James Gunn production Brightburn. The concept is by no means new, having been done in many comics throughout the years: overpowered superhero snaps and starts killing people and nobody can stop him. I can't think of one where the super is still a kid but … Continue reading How James Gunn Broke my Heart →