Random Access Memories Album Review

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The world seems to go through Daft Punk phases. While their songs are always popular amongst electronica fans, the general population seems to enjoy their work for few-year stretches at a time, indulging in their hits for a while before removing them from their playlists. And that’s not a bad thing necessarily. It’s just…a thing. While some acts can release an album every few years and keep their fans happy, with their hits lasting for many, many years after their initial release, Daft Punk just can’t. I mean, how many times have you gone to put Technologic or Around the World back on your iPod? In spite of this, however, the duo has enjoyed continued success, releasing albums in spurts… Read More →

Cut the Rope: Time Travel Game Review

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It’s always a treat to see a new ZeptoLab game available on the App Store. Amongst the cheap knock-offs and micro-transaction hounds, the Cut the Rope series and its new brother Pudding Monsters have always felt classier and more polished than most other iOS titles, thanks in no small part to how well-crafted the games are. Their work is designed to a high standard and it shows, especially in the older titles in the series that still hold up fantastically well. And as such, unlike most of the disposable hash constantly cluttering up the Top Downloaded section of the App Store, the work of ZeptoLabs have always been a digital breath of fresh air. And now, after nearly two years… Read More →

Sonic Dash Game Review

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Ever since Canabalt pioneered it, the modern endless runner has been a huge staple of the iOS App Store and Android Marketplace. The easy-to-grasp concept, short-session gameplay, and simple controls lend the genre perfectly to mobile devices and, with the massive success of titles like Temple Run, it’s easy to see why so many runners have made their way to the pocket devices of people everywhere. The latest game hoping to capitalize on the runner phenomenon is Sonic Dash, a title from Sega that, while initially released at a premium, recently went free-to-play in a move directly mimicking Temple Run. And, like Temple Run, it’s a head-on 3D runner, this time swapping out temples for Green Hill Zones and explorers… Read More →

Wolf Album Review

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I’ve always liked Tyler, The Creator and, ever since hearing about him through his Video Music Awards win for his single Yonkers, he’s always held my interest. Despite not always making the best musical choices in the world, he’s an insanely fascinating character with a lot going on in his work despite the fact that he’ll certainly deny that it has any nuance whatsoever. This intrigue has led me through his first two albums, the simply titled Bastard and Goblin, which both feature outstanding intros that sadly taper off later on, with songs getting less interesting as each album progresses. This isn’t enough to kill the intrigue of Tyler as a character, however, and still paint the story of his… Read More →

I Am Not a Human Being II Album Review

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Why are we still putting up with Lil Wayne? I mean, even with as much disdain as I have for rappers like 2 Chainz and Nicki Minaj, I can at least understand their appeal, both in general sound, marketing, and style. But why Lil Wayne? I’m seriously asking here. With all the artists doing exactly what Lil Wayne is doing only better, why has he stayed so consistently supported by the general public? Is it his recognizable style? The fact that he’s been around for a long time? A mixture of image and nostalgia? Regardless, however, he has officially released his latest album, entitled I Am Not a Human Being II, to what already appears to be commercial success. Is… Read More →

Oz The Great And Powerful Movie Review

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I’ll admit it: I went into Oz the Great and Powerful with a bad attitude. After the terror that was Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland I didn’t want to go near anything similar that Disney did. That feeling was only solidified after seeing the film’s debut trailer and, once marketing materials came out showing the Wicked Witch with cleavage, I was certain there would be nothing redeemable to this film. However,  I did my best to go into the movie with a clean mind, ready to be fully supportive of the film if it turned out to be something enjoyable. Was director Sam Raimi able to create an awesome film out of the Oz legacy? Well, it was at least… Read More →

Warm Bodies Movie Review

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Zombies have officially worn out their welcome. Just like so many “gimmick” creatures before them, the zombie fad has become increasingly tired with every passing year thanks to the bevy of new zombie-based action movies, TV shows, and video games being released feeling like they’re doing little more than kicking a dead corpse. It’s quite sad that zombies have reached this point as the creatures really have a lot of storytelling potential left to unearth – certainly more than Call of Duty likes to show – and it would be great to see more intriguing zombie tales told, perhaps with a little more philosophy or symbolism behind them. Warm Bodies holds itself up to be just that, even though it’s… Read More →

Lincoln Movie Review

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In contrast to the popular opinion, I’m not a very big fan of Steven Spielberg. Though he has directed some of the best, most memorable films of all time, his filmography has undeniably been peppered with plenty of rotten apples which prevents me from getting too excited about any new Spielberg production. Nonetheless, however, I was more than a little curious about Lincoln, a drama about the final portion of Lincoln’s life as he works to get the 13th Amendment through Congress and the latest in Spielberg’s directorial resume. And most other people were as well, it seems, as Lincoln amassed both critical and public success, granting Spielberg not only a huge box-office return but also a whopping 12 Oscar… Read More →

Paper Mario: Sticker Star Game Review

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Even though it has only spawned a few games, the Paper Mario franchise is one of the most widely praised, inventive, and fun RPG series in history. From the  series’ very first installment in 2001, the paperized, battle-heavy games have never failed to create outrageously interesting worlds, side-splittingly hilarious stories, and incredibly strong gameplay. And now, in its fourth installment, the series has decided to make the jump to portable. Paper Mario: Sticker Star seemed like a blessing when it was first announced. “A Paper Mario game you can take with you on the go? Awesome!” However, as buzz began building for the title, it was slowly revealed that the game would disregard many of the franchise’s staple mechanics in… Read More →

Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice Movie Review

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The Pokemon anime is easily one of the most odorless and unexciting video game-based cartoons of all time. From stale characters to boring storylines, it simply lacks the bite of other animes or even other Pokemon properties. Every once in a while, however, a feature film based off the show is released that tweaks the formula in such a way that the subject matter actually becomes enjoyable to watch. Though not every Pokemon movie gets it right, many do and each new release warrants excitement. The latest of these is Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice, a fresh take on the tired formula of “follow Ash and his stupid friends” that shows just what Pokemon movies should be: about Pokemon…. Read More →