DENNIS GAGLIARDOTTO
The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication Review
The Bridge Curse 2: The Extrication makes for a great, well-paced standalone sequel that honors the film while also taking creative liberties to do something fun and inventive within its haunted world from the films of the same name. Following a rotating cast of four characters, Bridge Curse 2 is a fun horror roller coaster that's perfect for a weekend during the Halloween season.
The Substance (2024) | Film Review
The Substance gives the message of societal pressures and what some are willing to do to counteract the downfall of a lack of attention and appreciation, all while touching on unrealistic expectations of beauty standards. Its craftsmanship as a film goes beyond what we typically see in any given year, and it’s absolutely one of the best films of 2024 and, arguably, ever, with outstanding imagery and performances that will forever be remembered.
Flowstone Saga Review
Flowstone Saga has an equal number of pros and cons that balance itself out for better or for worse, so ultimately a game like this, while creative, still leaves a lot to be desired and may leave players yearning for more, but you also won’t find a game quite like Flowstone Saga, and it at the very least set out to do what it wanted to do very well, combining two beloved yet very different types of games in a harmonious way.
Joker: Folie à Deux (2024) | Film Review
Though by now everyone and their mother has heard that Joker: Folie à Deux is a huge disappointment, it's worth noting that, predictably, the internet has exacerbated the nature of its faults, though that's not to say the anticipated sequel to the 2019 DC masterclass is any good. It has its heart in the right place, but actions speak louder than words as we're left with a film that's very little about Joker, and, in some cases, mocks fans of the original film.
DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE Review | What's It Like In 2024?
While a far cry from its successor, XENOVERSE 2, XENOVERSE 1 benefits from its simplicity and its barebones approach to what XENOVERSE 2 would ultimately become, allowing for a more streamlined experience that keeps it concise, tight, and surprisingly therapeutic for those that want a Dragon Ball experience that easy to jump in and out of.
Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit Review
For those that love retro horror, Five Nights at Freddy's: Into the Pit is a must-play, beautifully marrying the genre and art direction of pixels that, when done as well as it is here, gives off such a special experience that it remains memorable, all without sacrificing the actual horror itself.
Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) | Film Review
Deadpool & Wolverine marks a new direction for Deadpool that is surprisingly wholesome and well thought out, and with the return of Hugh Jackman as his iconic Wolverine, not a single frame is wasted as the film brings out what is arguably Marvel Studios' best work since the entire MCU began.
Vanished Into The Night (2024) | Film Review
Vanished Into The Night is a decent premise with good actors that were crippled by poor direction, a mundane script, extremely poor editing, and a production crew that simply didn't care.
LONGLEGS (2024) | Film Review
LONGLEGS certainly isn't "the scariest film ever" but it will undoubtedly be seen as one of the most unsettling. If you're an avid horror film goer, chances are LONGLEGS won't really shock you all that much, but the way it gets into your mind is what make it so special and really puts things into perspective for its main protagonist Agent Lee Harker.
Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Review | What's It Like In 2024?
Admittedly, Hellblade: Senua's Saga is far from perfect and won't be a game for everyone, but now with a multitude of accessibility options it has made itself much more palatable for a wider audience, and with constant sale prices between $2-$4, Hellblade: Senua's Saga is too good to pass up for a unique experience that has stood the test of time and will do so once more with its even more robust and epic sequel.
Loddlenaut Review
For those looking for a calming experience in the deep blue, Loddlenaut is a wonderful way to do so. Being a mix of a collect-a-thon and exploration with little-to-no dangers or frustrations, Loddlenaut is bound to give any and all an incredible time that also won't ask too much even for those with limited time.
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story Review
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story is a fantastic look into a genre that is frequently overlooked, and with a AAA budget and a reputable studio and publisher, I hope that The Centennial Case can help expose the genre's worth and appreciation more to the masses that would otherwise probably consider this "not a real game".
Paper Lily — Chapter 1 Mini Review
Paper Lily is an incredible RPG horror game in which the player experiences a multitude of puzzles and outcomes tailoring the player's adventure. With stunning pixel art graphics, a complementary score to accentuate the atmosphere, and a gripping storyline that's impossible to put down, Paper Lily - Chapter 1 is an exceptional indie darling that deserves the utmost recognition and success.
Mika and The Witch's Mountain Review
It's easy to see with Chibig's latest release, Mika and The Witch's Mountain, how far the studio has come both from a technical and artistic standpoint in providing what might arguably be their most cohesive and wholesome game yet.
Borderlands (2024) | Film Review
Horrendous writing, poor character development, and an uninspired screenplay keep Borderlands from getting its due in what is undoubtedly an unfortunate series of events throughout its 100 minutes, but all in all it's also not the worst thing to come out of Hollywood in the last couple of years, or even this year.
Final Fantasy II – Pixel Remaster Mini Review
Not only is there a package here compiling a series that has held its weight and become globally beloved, but looking at concept art and listening to its original and modern orchestrations in a menu of its own is hugely appreciated when the nostalgia and historian inside us hits hard. Final Fantasy II is definitely an odd duckling in the series but remains great all the same.
Final Fantasy I – Pixel Remaster Mini Review
Final Fantasy [Pixel Remaster] is a great game through and through, and with all the quality-of-life enhancements added to make the game more accessible and approachable for today, it feels like a must-play for fans of the genre, and certainly those devoted to the Final Fantasy franchise that want to see where it all began.
Aliens: Dark Descent Review
Aliens: Dark Descent is without a doubt the best Aliens experience since Alien Isolation. However, just because it's the best experience *since* then, doesn't make it on par with what is undoubtedly one of the greatest horror experiences in all of gaming regardless of your attachment to the Alien IP. Its flaws unfortunately tend to bring the overall quality of the game down, though it’s arguably got some of the best cinematics gaming has seen to date.
The Rumble Fish 2 Review
For avid fans of the fighting genre - especially those that grew up with the arcades - there's a lot about The Rumble Fish 2 that will more or less leave that crowd content with it, especially when being looked at as a piece of history. However, when compared to Switch's other offerings - and the industry as a whole - fighting games are at an all-time high with new, remastered, remade, and enhanced ports of intellectual properties currently, so there's a bit of an oversaturation that has vastly better offerings than what The Rumble Fish 2 can offer for its price of entry.
EDENGATE: The Edge of Life Review
There are a lot of Indie games that do their best to make a grand event out of a small budget. In some cases, it can be an impressive feat, but in other cases, it can be a massive letdown when a bigger budget could have helped the game reach its full potential. EDENGATE: The Edge of Life sits somewhere in the middle, but it has its heart in the right place and makes use of its resources the best it can to present a game that's entertaining and interesting enough to be worth completing all the way through, even if its story lacks a clear-cut vision.