The limitations of the 8-bit NES – the console Haunted ’86 was designed for – add to its creeps. A tight, restrictive color palette locks Haunted ’86 to using extensive black. That means ledges and background objects appear to just peek out, their edges highlighted. It’s mood where so few games of this ilk even… Continue reading Halloween: Haunted ’86 (Xbox One)
SNK Heroines hyper-sexualizes characters that in many cases, were already sexualized. It finds the skimpiest costumes, most revealing dresses, and barely-there bikinis to ensure skin exposure. It’s parody though. SNK Heroines is about a literal male gaze. A creepy, shadowy fetishist male figure, Kukri, brings these women together. He watches them from a high-tech camera… Continue reading SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy (Switch)
An interactive pantomime of a real world pantomime, Fire Pro Wrestling miniaturizes the sport, down to its movement essentials. In an era of polygons, Fire Pro retains sprites, choppily animated, but with heightened impact. There’s a speed and a grace to Fire Pro, even without the pop of fireworks, lightshows, or entrance music. This is… Continue reading Fire Pro Wrestling World (PS4)
The NBA employs 491 players. That’s it. Reality for most isn’t having the impact of a LeBron James or even that of an unknown, 11th man bencher. Rather, it’s not being any of those things and quitting the dream. To that point, NBA 2K19 gets it. This year’s created star is A.I., entering the draft… Continue reading NBA 2K19 (PS4)
There’s a moment late in Shadow of the Tomb Raider where Lara Croft rises out of the water, silhouetted by flames, a knife brandished at her side. She charges at a faceless mercenary wearing terror on his face before Lara blankly stares and slices the man to death. It’s a scene pulled from any number… Continue reading Shadow of the Tomb Raider (PS4)
J. Jonah Jameson is right. Speaking on his Alex Jones-like radio show as Spider-Man webs through the city, Jameson bemoans the surveillance state of New York Police. He should. Across the city, corporately donated towers track private conversations and ping potential crimes without anyone being aware. Seems questionable. Were Spider-Man mature rather than merely… Continue reading Spider-Man (PS4)
Two percent of college football players make it to the NFL. High school? 0.09%. Google “NFL dreams” and up come a litany of stories of kids and adults refusing to quit. The NFL relies on a dream for recruitment. One day, that dreamer will escape poverty, play for the Dallas Cowboys, make millions in shoe… Continue reading Madden NFL 19 (PS4)
