3/26/23-4/1/23
Blue Fire
I was really charmed by this game when it originally came out, and I’ve been on a platforming kick for a bit, and I wanted to revisit it. I still admire the ambition on display here and while it’s easy to just call it 3D Hollow Knight and call it a day, I think it still has enough differentiating it to warrant a closer look. The real star of the show here is the platforming, which is some of the best 3D platforming I’ve ever encountered. The game really stops being fun when you’re forced into a combat encounter with the boss fights being particularly annoying. Yes, it’s hard, but it’s more frustrating than challenging. Luckily most of the game will be spent doing platforming like the void levels that scale up to being incredibly hard by the end. I don’t know how well this game ever did, but I remember it being featured on the Switch’s news feed so I hope it was successful enough to let Robi Studios work on something new and interesting, even if it’s just a sequel to this game.
Kyle Kinane: Shocks & Struts
Kyle Kinane is, for my money, one of the best stand-up comedians working today, and while I wasn’t bursting out laughing during this, the special was still solid. It’s also on YouTube for free, so you don’t have a reason to not watch it.
SOUNDTRACKS
Sleeping Beauty (Expanded Edition) by Sun Ra
I like Sun Ra enough, but I’m not the biggest fan. Solid.
Preemptive Strike by DJ Shadow
Flesh and Machine by Daniel Lanois
Two Suns by Bat for Lashes
A decent pop album, but not amazing. “Daniel” is the stand out track, and not much comes close.
Third by Portishead
Wandering by Yoshi Horikawa
Life Cycle by Keeno
People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (25th Anniversary Edition) by A Tribe Called Quest
I like the vibe, but there aren’t a lot of individual tracks that are too amazing.
Perpetual Now by rRoxymore
This was real weird and I loved it.
Baby, We’re Ascending by HAAi
A weird, distinct, and confident album. I loved it.
Rare, Forever by Leon Vynehall
LP.8 by Kelly Lee Owens
The Crescent by Various Artists
Wide Eye by Farr
Quite good.
Unearth by Murlo
Sunset Service by Locked Groove
I loved this.
Obscure Languages by Gacha Bakradze
Everything Happens for a Reason by Hidden Element
Lazy by Mr. Mitch
Still Slipping, Vol. 1 by Joy Orbison
Unforgivably British. Still decent.
Unknown Structure by Plant43
EP3 by Ola Szmidt
This was so weird. Pretty good, though.
Dubs: Volume 1 by The Black Dog
Agor by Koreless
Intergalactic Love Affair by 3STRANGE
Amnioverse by Lapalux
The End by Feral
Club Glow, Vol. 3 by Kessler/AK SPORTS
I really adored all the driving AK SPORTS tracks, but I found the Kessler stuff was more hit-and-miss. Sorry, Kessler-heads.