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Archive Game Studies

Gamers Should Stop Focusing on Story

There has been a noticeable push in games criticism to evaluate the content of video games based on the narrative they tell. Gamers want to be able to tell others not familiar with the medium of the impactful stories and emotional journeys offered by their hobbies as means of justification. However, this is problematic because […]

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Archive Game Studies

Gamers and Dancers Are One in the Same

Video games are often thought of as a strictly visual media. They are frequently assessed by their ability to create pictorial representations of virtual worlds, and their graphical fidelity is increasingly scrutinized as an important trait. Gamers want their games to look pretty, and art direction and character design are amongst the first aspects of a […]

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Archive Game Review

OlliOlli: Welcome to Olliwood Review

On a Roll OlliOlli, Roll7’s first entry into the skate genre, was every bit creative and intuitive as it was aesthetically pleasing. The unconventional control scheme was a refreshing approach to an established breed of game design, the pixel art created a dirty vibe to match the sport’s street origins, and the music’s high production values took the overall […]

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Archive Game Studies

Quick Time Events: The Enemy of Immersion

The controller is the most under-discussed object in gaming and represents a the major deviation from all other entertainment media. Not since the stereoscope–which required the cranking of a lever to view simulated motion– has such physical repetition been required in order to interact with a medium. Furthermore, It is used differently by each developer, […]

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Archive Game Review

OlliOlli Review

Tight Trucks Don’t Make a Smooth Ride OlliOlli is the definition of a love/hate relationship. One moment I’m destroying every goal it sets in front of me, and the next I’m trying not to destroy my controller. The game approaches the skate genre in a way I’ve never seen before by combining side-scrolling levels with unconventional […]

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Infamous: First Light Review

Pink Killer Some Filler Infamous: First Light tells the origin story of side-character Abigail Walker, also known as Fetch, from Infamous: Second Son. However, this standalone DLC requires no previous knowledge of Second Son in order to be enjoyable; what it does require is a small portion of your time, and a love of solid game mechanics. First Light expertly employs a […]

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Archive Movie Review

The Babadook Review

You can’t get rid of the Babadook The Babadook: a goofy word that gives no hint of meaning. Is it a monster? An emotion? Both? Its definition is what viewers will ultimately be seeking when they sit down to watch this nonconventional horror film. The movie focuses intimately on characters who are struggling through deep, […]

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Archive Game Review

Resogun Review

Can’t Stop Shooting The exponential growth of the video game industry has placed a plethora of options in front of players. Gamers no longer have to rely on massive, triple A titles to keep them busy for the year, as smaller experiences have permeated the release schedule. Resogun is proof that a simple, well-executed concept can not […]

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Archive Movie Review

The Protector 2 Review

From Beaten to Death to Bored to Death The Protector bullied its way into my life one day with a flying knee that landed itself into my top three martial arts movies of all time. It is a movie that can stand strongly as a martial arts masterpiece without the use of stunt doubles, CGI, […]