13 Properties We Would Like Telltale To Adapt Into Episodic Games
Here's a really fun article we put together at GoombaStomp (I wrote on Thunderbirds) about the television, movie and book properties we would like to see Telltale develop into episodic series.
Five Upcoming PS4 Exclusives You Might Have Forgotten About
Sony always seems to sign the weird and interesting platform exclusives -- whether they are actually good or not is another matter -- and some of them (like No Man's Sky) get much more press coverage than others. Here are some that haven't had as much time in the spotlight.
Friday, August 12, 2016
Thursday, August 11, 2016
Mini Review: The Shadow of the Torturer (The Book of the New Sun #1)
In the past I've made no secret of my appreciation of the wilted beauty of Dark Souls: a video game portrait of high fantasy that has come to ruin; regal, majestic worlds that have met with slow, inevitable decay.
It seems grim -- to want to see magical kingdoms hurtling through their end times -- but ultimately the death of an imaginary realm fits into the greater story that we like to hear: the promise of rebirth. We like to anticipate something wonderful beyond the spectre of destruction. I will be writing more on that topic later on, but for now understand that this is the context in which I approached Gene Wolfe's The Book of the New Sun (which I discovered during my search for more fiction like Dark Souls).
Taking place on "Urth", a world under a dying sun, the series tells of Severian. He is taken in as a baby by the Guild of Torturers, in an alternative version of Buenos Aires known as Nessus. Throughout the first book, there are hints that there will be a "New Sun", signifying the end of Urth and the beginning of something else. I will leave the rest of the details of the plot, as -- much like Dark Souls -- part of the fun for many fans is figuring out what is actually going on. Reading the setup for the rest of the series spoiled me on several big plot reveals to come, and I don't wish to propagate that.
As to this book, The Shadow of the Torturer is an intriguing first step into the greater journey Severian undertakes, written in a lyrical style that is (believe me) far too difficult to replicate. Gene Wolfe must be commended for presenting just the right amount of information about the world, the events of the plot, the backstory, and even the apparent intelligence of the protagonist in tantalisingly vague terms. Each discovery only grows the mystery as you learn more about the world, with the reader's mind filling in the blanks.
Unfortunately, this vagueness also makes the book a difficult read at best. With only the promise of further ornate mystery to come, there isn't much to hook the reader except for Wolfe's style of prose. Fans of Dark Souls are probably the best prepared for this solemn doling out of story breadcrumbs, especially as the characters also act and think in a very alien manner. Readers seeking high-octane action or quality drama will be disappointed.
I enjoyed The Shadow of the Torturer as literary example of wilted beauty, and will be continuing through the series. However, I am wary that the narrative's opacity might begin to drag, because just like in movies, I come to a story for the characters and the plot, not just aesthetics and feelings.
I listened to the book on audio. The performance was good enough to elevate the book from 3 / 5 up to 4 / 5 stars.
Monday, August 8, 2016
Harmony of Heroes: The Legend of Zelda
You can download this massive album here. As it is fan work and therefore free, I have no problem recommending that you search the track names on YouTube if you can't download them.
Previous post: the Donkey Kong tracks
The Legend of Zelda series introduced me to high fantasy, steampunk, and 3D adventure games all at the same time -- so as you might guess, I have a lot to say about the music of Zelda. This had better be good!
17. High Roller's Castle (Georg-Christoph Schlee)
For me, at least, having the hiss and pop of vinyl opening this track sets a distinctive (and very good) mood. From then on we enjoy an improvisational, high-class lounge interpretation of the original Hyrule theme for piano and xylophone. Just like Sunset at Mushroom Castle, I like how this style pays homage to Nintendo's jazzy roots while also sounding rather unlike most of the video games.
18. El Pájaro es la Palabra (Laura Intravia feat. Davey Patterson)
Spanish name, snappy flamenco guitar, seductive colours? Surely this must be Gerudo Valley, right? Nope.
For the second time in a row, we hear it first through a vinyl filter (probably to establish a certain prestige or maturity) but it isn't Gerudo Valley at all, it's Dragon Roost Island!
This theme from The Wind Waker was so good that they included it without changes in Brawl. With such expectations, you expect a certain level of quality from a new version, and this track does not disappoint. Jumping from wind to strings to wind again, with plenty of scene-setting percussion (I particularly enjoy the maracas) El Pájaro es la Palabra makes you want to get up and dance, without getting too energetic and ruining the melody.
Oh and don't forget the bass guitar -- priceless.
19. Behind Pillars of Marble (Chris Hunter)
Now, the polar opposite, this epic track takes some of the series' least celebrated music (Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link is still an outlier and wasn't scored by Koji Kondo) in one of its most exciting forms (the Melee track was my first exposure to it) and plays around for over six minutes. Not much more to say except that they are fantastic melodies shown off in an excellent fashion.
20. Wind in the Sail (Soleviio)
I have to admit that, at first, I wasn't a fan of this very synthy version of The Great Sea from The Wind Waker, but it definitely grew on me. The original is a fun, adventurous piece, so the decisions to go first in a more relaxed, sparkly direction, and then secondly add in an electric guitar, are strange ones. On the whole, it works, but it isn't my favourite interpretation.
21. Mirror of Twilight (Sean Haeberman)
Another great fantasy piece, this time using the extremely fertile ground of Twilight Princess's main theme. Each component of the melodic identity in the theme is given its own style, meaning that rather than just a ride across Hyrule Field, we are treated with royalty, danger, adventure and eventually a very heroic rendition of the original Hyrule theme. It isn't perfect, but it captures the game it's referencing much better than the more experimental Wind in the Sail did.
22. Cucco Revenge Squad (Jonathan Peros)
For a track called Cucco Revenge Squad, you might be surprised to hear the harp-like-guitar sounds often associated with Lake Hylia at the start. However, very soon we get the Dark Mountain theme from A Link to the Past, combined with little filigrees that acknowledge the flamenco and country/Western feel that is always bubbling below the surface of Zelda.
I can't get enough of the Dark World music in A Link to the Past, so combining that with Westerns is a win for me.
23. Saria's Fairy-Go-Round (ZipZipper)
Most of the themes from Ocarina of Time were designed to fit together, so it's interesting to hear one performed inside the wheelhouse of another. Here we have Saria's Song, but at first you might think you're listening to the Song of Storms, given the carnival atmosphere. Your ears don't deceive you; it's just yet another ascending, three-four time melody played in a music box. I think it's pretty fun, if ultimately not as memorable as the pieces that flank it.
24. Beyond the Chasm (Erik Sceri)
With deep colours and several core themes of Zelda tossing around at the start, it's another bait-and-switch with regard to which track is being adapted here. Then, soon enough, we are offered an incredibly cinematic rendition of the Gerudo Valley theme.
Like with Dragon Roost Island, the melody is so good that any adaptation of the original needs to work hard to stand out. And this track certainly works hard -- if it weren't for the slightly awkward time signature change in the middle, I'd award this piece top marks.
My personal highlights are the jaunty, piratical strings that end the A section, the airy pipes in the B section and the subtle but strong brass around the three quarter mark.
25. Tal Tal Ranger (Mesmonium)
What if Zelda were a really, really good Sonic level? Or perhaps this is just what you hear when you're at the Hyrule racetrack. No matter, this track is over in a flash but it leaves a big impression as an argument for why adapting 8-bit music can absolutely rock (or jive, or roll).
26. Tune of Tempests (Stephan Wells feat. Christopher Woo)
Queen Rutela's theme, itself an adaptation of the Serenade of Water, sets a melancholy stage for what is ultimately more action packed than you might expect. It's like something Andrew Lloyd Webber might write for A Midsummer Night's Dream, if it was also an action movie.
Um ... can someone please make that, like, now?
27. Mechanical Steed (Steampianist)
I was always going to be harsh on a track that starts with what might be my favourite Zelda piece ever, the Morricone-inspired The Hidden Village, so let's start with the positives.
The steampunk/weird-West angle works, mostly, since Zelda has always been a little off-kilter, and I always wished that they used trains in a core series title (rather than just Spirit Tracks). I love that the melody itself still gets to shine, and the twangy guitar walks the line of serious and silly quite well.
However -- in the middle section this track takes a left-turn into Kookyville with a theme that I can't place my finger on. It's not poorly done, it just misses the point of the original in my opinion. I don't expect a cool gunslingin' adventure to suddenly turn into vaudeville, but that's kind of what it feels like.
Still, the arranger Steampianist is very talented and clearly had a lot of fun putting this track together, so I'm glad it exists -- it's just like Wind in the Sail, where the style just doesn't do it for me.
28. Dark Horizons (Sam Dillard)
A great way to end the Zelda tracks, with the groundbreaking and epic Dark World theme from A Link to the Past, and a liberal sprinkling of Dark Mountain too. The vocals are a perfect addition, with the other instruments doing their best to elevate what is already excellent material.
The Zelda tracks of Harmony of Heroes are so much fun, whether you're a fan picking up references or just want to listen to some great fan music. Despite some tonal divergences, they do a good job of celebrating the source, as well as being a credit to the musicians who took on such tough work as re-arranging beloved tunes. But there's no stopping, because next time we have a less-well-known series, but with just as beloved music, Metroid.
I can't wait.
The Legend of Zelda series introduced me to high fantasy, steampunk, and 3D adventure games all at the same time -- so as you might guess, I have a lot to say about the music of Zelda. This had better be good!
17. High Roller's Castle (Georg-Christoph Schlee)
For me, at least, having the hiss and pop of vinyl opening this track sets a distinctive (and very good) mood. From then on we enjoy an improvisational, high-class lounge interpretation of the original Hyrule theme for piano and xylophone. Just like Sunset at Mushroom Castle, I like how this style pays homage to Nintendo's jazzy roots while also sounding rather unlike most of the video games.
18. El Pájaro es la Palabra (Laura Intravia feat. Davey Patterson)
Spanish name, snappy flamenco guitar, seductive colours? Surely this must be Gerudo Valley, right? Nope.
For the second time in a row, we hear it first through a vinyl filter (probably to establish a certain prestige or maturity) but it isn't Gerudo Valley at all, it's Dragon Roost Island!
This theme from The Wind Waker was so good that they included it without changes in Brawl. With such expectations, you expect a certain level of quality from a new version, and this track does not disappoint. Jumping from wind to strings to wind again, with plenty of scene-setting percussion (I particularly enjoy the maracas) El Pájaro es la Palabra makes you want to get up and dance, without getting too energetic and ruining the melody.
Oh and don't forget the bass guitar -- priceless.
19. Behind Pillars of Marble (Chris Hunter)
Now, the polar opposite, this epic track takes some of the series' least celebrated music (Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link is still an outlier and wasn't scored by Koji Kondo) in one of its most exciting forms (the Melee track was my first exposure to it) and plays around for over six minutes. Not much more to say except that they are fantastic melodies shown off in an excellent fashion.
20. Wind in the Sail (Soleviio)
I have to admit that, at first, I wasn't a fan of this very synthy version of The Great Sea from The Wind Waker, but it definitely grew on me. The original is a fun, adventurous piece, so the decisions to go first in a more relaxed, sparkly direction, and then secondly add in an electric guitar, are strange ones. On the whole, it works, but it isn't my favourite interpretation.
21. Mirror of Twilight (Sean Haeberman)
Another great fantasy piece, this time using the extremely fertile ground of Twilight Princess's main theme. Each component of the melodic identity in the theme is given its own style, meaning that rather than just a ride across Hyrule Field, we are treated with royalty, danger, adventure and eventually a very heroic rendition of the original Hyrule theme. It isn't perfect, but it captures the game it's referencing much better than the more experimental Wind in the Sail did.
22. Cucco Revenge Squad (Jonathan Peros)
For a track called Cucco Revenge Squad, you might be surprised to hear the harp-like-guitar sounds often associated with Lake Hylia at the start. However, very soon we get the Dark Mountain theme from A Link to the Past, combined with little filigrees that acknowledge the flamenco and country/Western feel that is always bubbling below the surface of Zelda.
I can't get enough of the Dark World music in A Link to the Past, so combining that with Westerns is a win for me.
23. Saria's Fairy-Go-Round (ZipZipper)
Most of the themes from Ocarina of Time were designed to fit together, so it's interesting to hear one performed inside the wheelhouse of another. Here we have Saria's Song, but at first you might think you're listening to the Song of Storms, given the carnival atmosphere. Your ears don't deceive you; it's just yet another ascending, three-four time melody played in a music box. I think it's pretty fun, if ultimately not as memorable as the pieces that flank it.
24. Beyond the Chasm (Erik Sceri)
With deep colours and several core themes of Zelda tossing around at the start, it's another bait-and-switch with regard to which track is being adapted here. Then, soon enough, we are offered an incredibly cinematic rendition of the Gerudo Valley theme.
Like with Dragon Roost Island, the melody is so good that any adaptation of the original needs to work hard to stand out. And this track certainly works hard -- if it weren't for the slightly awkward time signature change in the middle, I'd award this piece top marks.
My personal highlights are the jaunty, piratical strings that end the A section, the airy pipes in the B section and the subtle but strong brass around the three quarter mark.
25. Tal Tal Ranger (Mesmonium)
What if Zelda were a really, really good Sonic level? Or perhaps this is just what you hear when you're at the Hyrule racetrack. No matter, this track is over in a flash but it leaves a big impression as an argument for why adapting 8-bit music can absolutely rock (or jive, or roll).
26. Tune of Tempests (Stephan Wells feat. Christopher Woo)
Queen Rutela's theme, itself an adaptation of the Serenade of Water, sets a melancholy stage for what is ultimately more action packed than you might expect. It's like something Andrew Lloyd Webber might write for A Midsummer Night's Dream, if it was also an action movie.
Um ... can someone please make that, like, now?
27. Mechanical Steed (Steampianist)
I was always going to be harsh on a track that starts with what might be my favourite Zelda piece ever, the Morricone-inspired The Hidden Village, so let's start with the positives.
The steampunk/weird-West angle works, mostly, since Zelda has always been a little off-kilter, and I always wished that they used trains in a core series title (rather than just Spirit Tracks). I love that the melody itself still gets to shine, and the twangy guitar walks the line of serious and silly quite well.
However -- in the middle section this track takes a left-turn into Kookyville with a theme that I can't place my finger on. It's not poorly done, it just misses the point of the original in my opinion. I don't expect a cool gunslingin' adventure to suddenly turn into vaudeville, but that's kind of what it feels like.
Still, the arranger Steampianist is very talented and clearly had a lot of fun putting this track together, so I'm glad it exists -- it's just like Wind in the Sail, where the style just doesn't do it for me.
28. Dark Horizons (Sam Dillard)
A great way to end the Zelda tracks, with the groundbreaking and epic Dark World theme from A Link to the Past, and a liberal sprinkling of Dark Mountain too. The vocals are a perfect addition, with the other instruments doing their best to elevate what is already excellent material.
The Zelda tracks of Harmony of Heroes are so much fun, whether you're a fan picking up references or just want to listen to some great fan music. Despite some tonal divergences, they do a good job of celebrating the source, as well as being a credit to the musicians who took on such tough work as re-arranging beloved tunes. But there's no stopping, because next time we have a less-well-known series, but with just as beloved music, Metroid.
I can't wait.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Writing Update: Games of August and Games Ignored At E3
Single Player Games in August
Here are five interesting entries into the early beginning of the Season of Too Many Games. There are so many in August in fact, that I had to name some more at the bottom.
Games Ignored at E3 That Shouldn't Have Been
What it sounds like: these are the titles that were showcased at E3 but still managed to slip under the radar. By no means an exhaustive list, there are plenty more where these came from.
Here are five interesting entries into the early beginning of the Season of Too Many Games. There are so many in August in fact, that I had to name some more at the bottom.
Games Ignored at E3 That Shouldn't Have Been
What it sounds like: these are the titles that were showcased at E3 but still managed to slip under the radar. By no means an exhaustive list, there are plenty more where these came from.
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