Gaming & Culture
Animal Crossing: New Horizon
By: Sabrina Stroman (April 28,2020)
When people think of popular childhood video game franchises a few names might pop up such as “Pokemon” or even “Cooking Mama”. One of the most notable of these franchises is Animal Crossing, which is a series of social simulation games with a cute aesthetic. The newest edition in this franchise is called “Animal Crossing: New Horizons,” which was released on March 20, 2020 for Nintendo Switch. In this fifth installment the player is set on a deserted island which was bought from one of the main characters Tom Nook. The player decides what they want to do whether that be collect fruit, go fishing, or crafting items in real-time. Although it is open-ended one of the goals of the game is to create a community of animals that live on your island and visitors who you can conduct trade with. In the first month of its release New Horizons had sold over 5 million copies breaking previous records held by critically acclaimed games. With its mass appeal of escape in a time of crisis Animal Crossing: New Horizons is sure to bring joy and hope into a chaotic new decade.
Sports Via Minecraft
By: Victoria Franco (April 28, 2020)
With social distancing and a stay at home order, many student-athletes are thinking about their season. Athletes are crushed at the fact that they will not be able to continue their sports as usual. For the Outdoor Track & Field Team, this meant missing Penn Relays. Penn Relays is one of the biggest races of the season for runners, and missing it puts many in a sad place. In a chance to uplift spirits, Penn Relays partnered up with the United States Marine Corps and held the first-ever digital Penn Relays via Minecraft. Runners and gamers alike were put on different race courses that consisted of lava, ice, water, and boats. While this is not the same as running a real race, the connection to the familiar event helps raise the moods of many student-athletes.
As Above, So Below Review
By: Nora Bouayad (April 28, 2020)
Since we are all stuck in quarantine we might as well catch up with some good movies! We have all this time at home and watching movies is an amazing way to pass time productively. As Above, So Below is perfect for horror movie lovers. It’s not your typical zombie and ghost movie. Archeologist Scarlett Marlow is determined to finish her Dad’s life work. By chasing this goal she ends up in the Catacombs of Paris. With help from others, they quickly enter their own personal Hell. From claustrophobic tunnels to solving history’s greatest mystery this movie will keep you on the edge of your seat. Knowing background information about Hell will be useful while watching this movie. It’s all about admitting your sins and realizing what you did wrong. This movie isn’t scary in the aspect that there might be jump scares but in a deeply personal way. This movie will definitely get you thinking about actions that make you feel guilty. I have watched this movie 4 times to fully understand the plot and it gets better every time. I would rate this movie a 10/10 because it's different from any type of horror movie I‘ve watched.
Another Little Nightmare
By: Sabrina Stroman (Febuary 11, 2020)
Little Nightmares (2017) is a puzzle-platformer horror game that centers around a little girl in a bright yellow raincoat named Six who wakes up in a strange ship called the Maw with a mission to escape. Along the way she discovers terrifying beings and mysterious secrets with no explanations. The game has been critically acclaimed for multiple reasons which include its eerie music and atmosphere as well as it’s design, so it’s no wonder the game would get a sequal. Little Nightmares 2 is expected to be released in 2020 and will feature a new playable character named Mono who is guided by a computer-controlled Six. The game will be available on PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Playstation 4. Based on the trailer this sequal is sure to give you just the smallest of nightmares.
The Clown Prince of Crime
By: Emilio Heras (October 23, 2019)
2019 has seen through some stunningly visual achievements. Aladdin, The Lion King, Toy Story 4, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Captain Marvel, Shazam, Godzilla, and of course, Avengers: Endgame, to name a few . . .
None has had a greater influence this fall than Joker. The Clown Prince of Crime is an iconic figure of insanity and the product of a criminally objective society. The film received the highest honor at the 2019 Venice International FIlm Festival and an 8-minute standing ovation from critics and viewers. The film was released on October 5th, and grossed the largest box office number for any October movie release making nearly $97 million and $243 million in the world-wide box office.
The film is a psychoanalytical journey across the mind of Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill Arkham Asylum patient who struggles to maintain sanity in a depressive Gotham city. Although based off a DC comic book character, the movie does not set up further installations or leave intentional opportunities for sequels. Rated-R, the movie is not a film to watch with younger siblings, but surely a work of art, that needs to be viewed more than once, to experience further themes.
Nevertheless, Joker is a must-see 2019 addition to the growing list of essential films.
The End of a Long Story
By: Patrick Przybylski (October 1, 2019)
In 2008, the Treyarch game Call of Duty:World at War came out to stores. It is a very basic Call of Duty game. However, along with the multiplayer and the campaign, there was a special surprise. At the end of the campaign, the player was thrown into a small building. The objective, survive against an unlimited wave of zombies. This was the start of the 11 year story known as the Aether story.
With the surprising popularity of the game mode Treyarch went full throttle. With each new DLC (Downloadable Content) a new zombies map was released. With each release the story got deeper and deeper. With each new Treyarch game, even more zombies maps were being released. From Black ops 1, 2, and 3, which brings us to Black ops 4. On September 23rd, the last chapter of the Aether story was released. “Tag der Untoten” meaning Day of the Dead in German was the name of that chapter. In just a record of 6 hours, the full easter egg was solved leaving people with a heart squeezing end cutscene, that left many on the verge of tears. As for the cutscene itself, you’re going to have to see it yourself.