Game Review: World of Cyberpunk 2077
A game that in my view gets way more crap than it should and in its own emo, nerdy sexually devout way is art, is the World of Cyberpunk 2077. Set in a dystopian world like Bladerunner, but more aimed at the emo kids of the 90s and early 2000s, this game focuses on the vice and gang wars of a futuristic California set in night city. The world is filled with rival gangs and corporations that control the modern American. The world's use of technology is similar to how magic runs DND as in every human being is somewhat cyborg. The tech has changed every aspect of human life and culture, but not in the perfect Star Trek way; in much more real and dark take. The game really delves into the gang wars and the underworld that run the night city and where the player finds themself as a mercenary. This game's systems and game play really bring back memories of GTA meets games like the Witcher. It's a huge open world that you can do whatever you want, be whatever gender you want to be -- even trans -- but also is filled with a very modern FPS Call of Duty combat system. The game is filled with choices that drive the story and the world. It's up to its ass in modern sexual vice and fun, so only play if you are cool with that sort of thing just like Game of Thrones, but at the same time you don't have to play that way. So please, Mormon moms stop sending hate mail. The game in my view in everything is art. But the game does have a lot of glitches that very from platform to platform and is far more meant for next gen consoles. I think they really need to work on it. But overall, I say get this game but get it for PC or newer consoles.
-- By Grant Nelson
Review: I Jedi novel
A book series that really gets to the heart of Star Wars and the path of the Jedi is the novel I Jedi. This book follows the adventures of a New Republic x wing pilot and just all together bad ass space Marine Corran Horn. The book starts off with him coming back to his home on the Republic Cattail to find out his wife has been taken captive by Imperial Dark Jedi. He sets out with Luke Skywalker and trains in the ways of the Jedi at Luke Academy on Yavin 4. There, he learns the Jedi mythos but soon comes under the sway of a Stih Specter that tempts him. The books follows Corran's adventures as a Jedi soldier and even takes him to a world ruled by the Pirnet as he seeks to save his wife by infiltrating the Imperial faction that took her from him. The book is filled with classic Star Wars action and adventures but delves deep into the the hardships of the Jedi and the mysteries of The Force. The book really shows the struggles of the Jedi path as Corran throughout the book is tempted by the Dark Side. Some points of the story are filled with imagination and the wonder of Star Wars universe while others are dark and foreboding, such as how Corran uses his Jedi powers and wages a one-man war against the Pirnet factions on the base world. Others delve into the dark monsters that the Sith uses to wage war against the Jedi on Yavin 4. Still others have Skywalker and Corran taking on an entire army of Stormtroopers. The book is a classic take on the hero's journey and is very much like the path the Skywalkers are known for. So for anyone who loves the Jedi mythos that Disney tried to destroy, give this book a read.
By Grant Nelson
Review: Star Wars books
So with the recent blow up of Disney's Star Wars, I find myself finding a lot of old school legends content making their way back into the Star Wars cannon in the form of Mara Jade, Luke's son and the focus of a new generation of Jedi. This all reminds me of the new Jedi order era books from the late 90s that deals with Luke rebuilding the Jedi order and marrying a former Sith agent who was sent to kill him. The books deal with the rise of new evils and threats to The Force in the forms of alien invaders from beyond the outer rim that are an even greater threat than the Empire. These books deal with Jedi lore and mythos and the temptations of the dark side and what this war is doing to them and The Force. The books are filled with stories of the Jedi leading new Republic forces against the Vong. Many beloved fan favorite characters die and the idea of the heroes will always win and life gets thrown on its head. The battles ,such as the fall of Coruscant, are filled with Republic forces and fleets fighting off massive armadas of organic ships and monsters as the city world becomes a war zone. There are the classic Star Wars tropes such as stories with x wings fighting off hordes of enemy fighters , massive light saber fights and the deep mythos of the forces and the lure of the Dark Aide. These books have great characters, such as the next gen of Jedi knights along with the Solo kids and older classics like a much older Luke Sky Walker. The books really go all out with their alien worlds, races and creatures and any fan of the monsters from the prequels will be thrilled by the war beats of the Vong. Overall in my view, this is Star Wars at its best when its comes to going to new dark depths. Give it a shot.
By Grant Nelson
Book Series Review -- Star Wars Jedi Academy: A book series that I love to reread over and over is the Star Wars Jedi Academy trilogy. These books follow how Luke Skywalker starts rebuilding the jedi in a new jedi temple on Yavin 4 and really divides deep into the jedi mythos and nature of the force. While training in old sith runes they train in the Station where the ancient Sith lord whispers in their ears and seeks to destroy the new jedi before they begin. The books take the readers across Star Wars universe and really delve deep into the lore from the under city of Coruscant to the spice mines of Kessel. The books cover many story arcs and side plots, such as the ongoing war against the remnants of the Empire led by a female imperial admiral with a fleet of star destroyers and a new Death Star. The books are Star Wars adventures at their best, filled with weird aliens, wars in the stars and the battle of light and dark sides of The Force. It trilogy really captures the soul original heroes of Star Wars far more than the new films and really harks back to the classics such as the Empire Strikes Back. I say that if you want old school Star Wars to keep you in the mood, this May the 4th, give it a try.
-- By Grant Nelson
Website Review: Warhammer Fantasy Wiki
A website I spend a lot of my time on is the Warhammer Fantasy Wiki, which is a vast comprehensive database of lore, history, and ongoing world building of the Warhammer world. It has a cast of information on the factions and wars of the world as well as maps of the world. It goes into detail about the faction’s army, customs, religions, and politics. The site really drives home with narrative and sets the atmosphere of the world and its grim dark fantasy. The site is very user friendly and it is easy to navigate to topics that you are trying to find. Warhammer Fantasy Wiki is run by fans, updated by fans, and monitored by fans. They have a very active social media and discussion boards for fans to debate and discuss the franchise. The site runs a dedicated fan base and revolves around multimedia such as the tabletop games, miniatures, and the video games. This site really combines everything in the franchise together. I have spent many an hour learning to world build my D&D games by the wiki and getting lost in the dark twisted minds of the writers and fandom. This world has a lot of meaning, ever since Star Wars was destroyed by Disney, and almost feels like a massive online novel. It draws the reader into the depth of Warhammer and is very true to the nature of the source material. I would highly recommend giving it a shot.
By Grant Nelson
Book Review: Dark Nest Trilogy
A book any fan of classic Star Wars will love is the Dark Nest Trilogy. This series follows the next generation of Jedi, among them the new Sky Walkers, as many of them fall under the control of the hive mind of an alien race. The books take Jedi to the unkown regions of the universe as a war is being waged between two alien empires and they are tested to their limits in how they will fight this war and what they will do for the greater good as dark side force users manipulate the war to spread chaos across the universe. The books are filled with space battles and are action packed. The books also deal the legacy of the Skywalker bloodline and world building linking Anakin to Luke and Lea to their children and the shadow that Darth Vader has over them. The books are filled with Jedi action and deep nerdy imaginitno. The books take Star Wars to very dark levels and show what war can inflict on the soul. You will want to read this if you hate Disney.
-- By Grant Nelson
Review: China Illinois
A show that I really would recommend to fans of adult cartoons is the stoner classic, China Illinois. This show is relevant to college students, as it is based on an inner-city community college filled with DND, man children and trippy animation. The show follows a group of misfits who are trying to get though the worse college in America and its humor is something that only tech school students will get. Filled with nerdy humor, evil demons and lonely freaks trying rise above the crop and getting lost in their nerdy adventures while under the influence. This show is something anyone who grew up in the 90s will enjoy and its animation is surreal. The show really depicts college life in a real but meta way. I would highly recommend this series.
-- By Grant Nelson
Video Game Review: Doom Eternal
A game that I have started to play and love is Doom Eternal. This game is as metal as it gets. Taking place in an apocalyptic war between humanity and demons from hell, this fame is as brutal as it is fun. The game is very much like Halo on steroids and is filled with so many ways to fight your way through demons with a massive array of guns and power combos. The game take you on a platforming warzone across hell and you battle to save Earth and explore the lore and history of hell with great amounts of world building. Doom captures the best aspects of games like Halo and Metroid Prime and is just so alive with action, great multiplayer option, and a very fun story. It just dropped the last story DLC pack and with everything together creates an amazing world so high on metal and creative plot and call backs to the original Doom from 20 years ago. It's worth the money.
-- By Grant Nelson
Review: Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss
A show on YouTube that I think every nerd and goth would love is the Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss series. This adult cartoon is heavily inspired by classics like invader Zim Billy and Mandy, with dark fantasy and humor that is often a call back to older early 2000s goth kids shows. The stories takes place in hell and follow the misadventures of demons in hell going about their immortal lives filled with sex, drugs and guns. The humor is something that makes South Park blush and goes just as far in satires if not more. The shows create a very sin city like world filled with all sorts of creatures and demons and cartoon characters filled with flaws, but also reading quotes even wanting to make things right in their relationships and undead lives. The show really hits home with everything from abuse of sex workers to broken families in hell of all places. The show depicts a very bleak, dark, cruel, funny and even sweet world filled with demons that are still trying find the answers for their faults even in hell. Ironically, the show spreads the Christian message of hope and redemption to the worst of beings that a lot religions could learn.
-- By Grant Nelson