Tag: video game

First Blog of Senior year

I think I finally found out what I want my blogs to be about…

VIDEO GAMES!

Either you know or you don’t, I’m a huge video game fanatic. Especially for video games with deep characters and story line. Which is where my love for writing comes from and it’s thanks to my brothers who I hold very close to my heart. 

I was just a little girl who played with barbie dolls and plastic horses and playing pretend, while my brothers played with video game consoles and took up the tv when my favorite cartoons would air. Back then, I just wanted whatever was in front of me, what was tangible. I wasn’t exposed to the idea that so much more could come from a controller that I could barely hold and a screen with moving characters. 

At first, I was resistant. I didn’t WANT to learn anything about the video games my brothers played, I didn’t want to do anything with it.

Until that one game that truly made a difference. 

The game that started it all.

KINGDOM HEARTS II. 

The very first video game I had experienced and now I am currently replaying it! Now I am prone to say, “The very first” or “The first” a lot about many different things but this is the very first STORY BASED game that attracted my little brain. 

Now of course, back then it was more about the Disney aspect and not the deeper-rooted lore behind them, but when I say I love this game, I mean I LOVE this game. Unfortunately, back then on the PlayStation 2, we only had the second games playable disc. I wasn’t already off the rip making stories right after this, of course not, I was a baby still learning English in the 3rd grade, but I was old enough to understand the surface level concept of the story and what the characters were, especially since it was, again, Disney related. Now that I am older, I am 100% about to do a deep dive into this! 

Okay, so the lore goes very deep, so deep it can get confusing. So, let’s start with the basics of what Kingdom hearts actually is as a game. And I mean we’re we’re not even scratching ice off the iceberg with this the lore goes THAT deep. 

So, let’s start with the Disney’s perspective first, because I feel as if we’ll get more interest if I explain this first. There is also a final fantasy perspective but that one is bit more sectioned off and has better moments when it appears in the game but also a huge part of the story. 

And what better way to start it than with: 

King Mickey

The face of Disney and one of the main important characters in Kingdom Hearts. He’s the king of Disney Castle alongside his Queen, Minnie Mouse. With his most trusted and loyal companions, guardsman and wizard.

Donald 

 

And Goofy 

Mickey is a chosen holder of the Key blade, if you scroll back up to the top, you can see a key shaped blade in his hand. That is a keyblade. The lore goes even deeper with Keyblades. Keyblades are weapons that help its wielder cast magic, enhance their strength and unlocks or locks gate ways or barriers to and between worlds. 

Refer to the first image in this blog. Notice how Mickey, Donald, and Goofy all look different compared to the three human-like people? That’s because Mickey, Donald and Goofy are from a different world than those other three and. 

I know this may get pretty confusing to understand, and even as you play through the game you learn just as slowly as you are now through this blog. That’s because each part of the story was released at a different date in time. 

Even if you’re not a video game person, and really just care about the Disney characters (like how little me was at first) then hopefully you’ll get some joy out of that because each world they go to is a Disney movie world (except for a couple) 

Some of those worlds are:

The Little Mermaid World: Atlantis 

 

Lion King World: The Pride Lands 

 

Disney Castle and Steamboat Wallie world: Timeless River

10 Best Kingdom Hearts Worlds That Capture the Magic of the Franchise ...

Mulan’s world: The Land of Dragons

Best Worlds In Kingdom Hearts 2

Beauty and the Beast: Beasts Castle 

Kingdom Hearts 2- #16 - Beasts Castle - The Curse! - YouTube

Hercules: Olympus Coliseum  

Ranking: My Favorite Worlds From “Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix”

Pirates of the Caribbean: Port Royal

Guida Port Royal - seconda visita (Kingdom Hearts 2) | Kingdom Hearts ...

 

Nightmare before Christmas: Halloween Town 

Halloween Town - Reverse/Rebirth - Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories ...

Aladdin: Agrabah 

Guide for KINGDOM HEARTS - HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX - KH2: Agrabah

Tron’s World: Space Paranoids

Kingdom Hearts 2 - Episode 37 | Space Paranoids - YouTube

Winnie the Pooh: 100 Acer Woods 

Guide for KINGDOM HEARTS - HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX - KH2: 100 Acre Wood

And others such as Hallow Bastion, Twilight Town, Destiny Islands and more, but those are the ones I can remember off the top of my head. The worlds listed above are the correlating world in the second game of Kingdom Hearts out of many! Other games like the First Kingdom hearts had worlds like:

Tarzan

Alice in wonderland

Peter pan 

The Third game has worlds like:

Frozen

Tangled 

Toy Story 

Pirates of the Caribbean (But it’s “At worlds end”) and so on so forth! 

So yeah! Now you understand a little bit of what this game is about and what all is included in it. I want to bestow the honor of picking my first world to cover up to you guys. It can be from the first game second or third if you want to research a little bit I can tell you all about those worlds and what special effects come with it. 

I hope you guys enjoy these last few blogs just as much as I do. I can’t wait to read some of your responses and what you guys think! The most selected world by the majority of you will be covered in the next blog and I’ll do the same for the rest as well (If no one picks, I’ll just go in order) 

Oh yeah, did I mention you can summon a special somebody to help you fight? 

Stitch Summon | Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix - YouTube

 

 

 

 

The Origins of the Mask: A SallyFace Deepdive

Created by game development company Portable Moose and released from 2016 to 2019, SallyFace is a visual novel that follows the life of a young boy named Sal Fisher. The art style is rough, almost-appearing hand drawn. The game is played with a basic movement and fighting style, very similar to 90s video games that inspired the creator. While the gameplay is simple, the story that the game follows is difficult for most players to follow. Each episode goes back and forth between the past and the present, with new information being learned in all timelines. The story of this game can be confusing to understand by someone who has simply played it once. This blog will lay out the story from beginning to end, focused on the actual timeline rather than the game’s retelling.

Our story starts all the way back in 1623 with the establishment of the fictional town of Nockfell. This town was created around Wendigo Lake by a Native American tribe known as the “Greys”. Then, in 1663, Citali Grey had a vision. She was the tribe’s seer and she tells the tribe members an undisclosed prophecy that brings a specific group of tribe members closer together. This faction of the Grey tribe forms the Devourers of God, a cult that will be ever present through the rest of this story. Sometimes in the late 1600s, colonists showed up to the town of Nockfell. Citalali would marry one of the colonists, a man named Wesley Rosenberg, to unite the two groups. By 1681, the Devourers of God had constructed an under-ground temple and, by 1703, the Phelps Ministry was built over the temple to protect its secrecy. From then on, ceremonial marriages between Grey tribe members and Phelps descendants would occur.

The mid-1700s brought Citali Gray’s final prophecy. This prophecy becomes the cult’s doctrine as they fear the doom of their people. This is her final prophecy, transcribed:

“The blue flame, not extinguished, still flickers in the night. He that sees between worlds, Child of The Abomination. Wielding light beyond man, pierces through the endless black. Betrayer of our kind, resurrected by Asintmah. His sword, blood of man, rises to protect the Great Atrocity and prevent the triumph of humankind.”

Citali Gray

From this point on, the cult grows exponentially. By 1887, the Addison apartments were constructed in Nockfell. These apartments, created by the Addison family, would have a son in 1905 named Terrence. His family makes a deal with the Devourers of God so Terrence is “blessed”; they want him to be the vessel for something referred to as The Endless One. Without the public’s knowledge, high members of the cult begin feeding human flesh to Terrence so that he may become a habitable host for The Endless One. From 1917 to 1932, Terrence’s soul was consumed and destroyed by The Endless One. This creature kills Terrence’s parents, leaving him completely in the hands of the cult. The cult locks Terrance up in his room, at the Addison apartments, to keep this secret from the public. They use The Endless One as a source of power. By 1938, the cult was able to summon a shadow; a creature similar to The Endless One that they wished to use when fighting the Child of The Abomination.

Over the next few years, unclear of exact dates, a series of important events occurred. A man named Luke Holmes joins the cults and climbs the ranks until he is one of the high council members. Sometime after that, an alien-planet is consumed by the shadow creatures that the cult has been summoning. While most of the aliens are killed, two siblings are able to escape with their lives. These siblings, Jim and Evelyn Johnson, flee to Earth through unclear means. Evelyn is lost to a world between the Spectral and Physical planes of Earth, while Jim is able to take on a human form. Jim takes residence in the Addison apartments, soon meeting and marrying the janitor that works there- a woman named Lisa. They would go on to have a son named Larry in 1975. A few more important characters were born around this time. Travis Phelps was also born in 1975. Sal Fisher and Ashley Campbell were born in 1976 and, in 1977, Todd Morrison was born.

Now, despite Citlali having her last prophecy in the mid-1700s, another prophecy is had in 1906 by another seer. This prophecy stated that a ‘man from the sky’ would aid in the Devourers efforts to summon a demon in the physical plane. Given the fact that Jim Johnson is an alien, the cult believes he is the prophesied ‘man from the sky’. While Jim’s wife and son are unaware of his true identity, the cult seems to know immediately and begin attempting to persuade him to join them. Eventually, following the stillbirth of his second child, Jim agrees to join the cult in 1983. He disappears without telling his family. 

Despite this, Jim Johnson is still adamantly against the cult and their beliefs. He is the one to document most of their actions, timeline, and members. Around the same time Jim joins the cult, he writes:

“Now they’re planning a mass murder of children across the globe! They think these kids are a threat to them. I have to stop this from happening. This damn cult is dealing with powerful forces they don’t understand. I’ve been secretly sabotaging their efforts where I can but I’m going to need to take greater action to stop the killings.”

Jim Johnson

(It should be noted, the cult is planning this mass execution of children due to the prophecy and belief that one of these children will be the Child of The Abomination.)

New Jersey, 1984. Sal Fisher goes on a picnic with his family. At this time, Sal is 8 years old. While on their picnic, young Sal sees a dog off in the distance and begs his mom to go pet it. Sal’ mother, Diane Fisher, agrees and she takes Sal over to see the dog. When they reach it, it becomes apparent that it isn’t a dog at all. Wearing a dog mask is the pastor of Phelps Ministry and Archbishop of the Devourers of God, Kenneth Phelps. He had been sent on a mission to kill Sal Fisher and was armed with a shotgun. He shoots at Sal and his mother, possibly intending to kill them both, but he only managed to kill Diance. Sal is protected by his mother, but the proximity of the bullet to his head leaves him with  one eye and severe facial scars. From this point on, Sal would wear a prosthetic face mask. This mask would result in relentless teasing and bullying at school, including the nickname ‘Sally Face’. 

Given how long this blog already is, I’m going to call it here. The next post will dive more into the story that most people are familiar with. Again, I encourage you to play through the game yourself, or even watch a gaming youtuber play. There are many play throughs on youtube (I recommend Jacksepticeye). That’s all for now. I’ll see you in the next part. 

Undertale’s 10-Year Anniversary and Growing Up

September 15th, 2025 marked 10 years since Undertale’s official release. And over September 20-21, Fangamer hosted (not one but) two special streams replaying the game with new additions and development insight from Toby Fox, the creator. 

I want to be clear about how there’s not a lot I can say that hasn’t been said before in a high quality video essay or lengthily written forum post. So I’ve decided to discuss my personal experience with Undertale. But I’m worried I won’t even have enough to say since I barely remember my time in the prime Undertale fandom. And now I’ve had an entire month to move on from all of my feelings I had writing my last blog. 

“Steph, you seriously don’t have anything to say about the 10-year anniversary or the Fangamer stream?” I theoretically ask myself for the sake of transition.

It’s hard to say that… I didn’t feel much. And maybe, that means whatever I’m feeling is too much for me to process right now so I’m indifferent to it. Or maybe there’s so much else going on that I don’t even have time to process 10 years since the most influential game to my existence was released. I’ll probably feel it in a couple of months.

I’ve always had an extreme fear of growing up. And facing Undertale’s 10-year anniversary is like facing that fear directly. Of all of my fears, because of course there’s a lot, I’m always able to avoid them. I get my dad to kill spiders, I sit out on tall rollercoasters, and I stay far away from the deep parts of the ocean. But growing up is the one thing I can avoid. And, obviously death because I’m scared of that too. I’m growing up a little bit everyday. No matter how long I watch kids shows, color with crayons, or pray to God to let me be a kid for at least a little longer, I’m almost 18 already.

I’m not original by saying I don’t want to grow up, quite the opposite actually. I think everyone, especially my peers in my class, has felt this way. But I want to dive into this feeling in relation to Undertale’s 10-year anniversary. 

When I was 7, I had just moved to America, I struggled to interact with kids my age, and second graders are mean! When nothing else was consistent in my life, the internet was, surprisingly. I think I’ve mentioned before that I got my first laptop when I was 4, so I was familiar with the internet at a young age.

That’s where I was first introduced to Undertale through Jackcepticeye’s Let’s Play. Not sure when I found it exactly, but I know it couldn’t have been long after the series first started in October. I have a memory of talking to a friend about how I couldn’t wait for the next episode and she had no clue what I was talking about. After I dove into the Undertale fandom, I was able to find some comfort at the end of the day. It was like this for years, long enough for me to have a physical reaction when I hear the soundtrack. 

So now, 10 years later, as a 17-year-old, I’m under completely different circumstances. I’m somewhat comfortable where I live, I have some of the best friends I could ever ask for, and art school kids are actually a lot nicer than you would think. So why does it physically hurt me to listen to the soundtrack or play the game again? I think it’s because my life has completely switched over the past 10 years. 

I’m not looking for comfort at the end of a hard day of being a confused and lost kid anymore. I’m almost a teenager who already has comfort and support. It’s like I’m actively looking to be confused and lost again. Maybe that’s why I’ve been making some brash decisions recently.

In all honesty, watching the Fangamer stream felt weird. For one, I watched a reaction stream of the original so there was a layer of separation that I didn’t even realize until the whole thing was over. Secondly, I was really overstimulated with the mix of an extremely emotional game, Fangamer’s elaborate set, props, and commentary, and the new content they mixed into the game. I almost lost my mind. But I enjoyed the stream and it ended on a beautiful note:

“The world

is as big as you

want it to be.

Where will you go next?”

That quote actually hit me harder than anything else. Recently, I’ve been rethinking my plans for my adulthood. Through my journey to heal my inner child, I’ve rediscovered my distaste for monotony, staying in a box, doing what is expected of me. I was always told: go to college, get a job, get married, have kids. That order, every single day. Going to art school halfway through high school was my first step outside of the pre-established path. 

I want to make decisions that were never options to me before. I want to find what makes me happy rather than follow what people think makes me happy. I want to disappoint people because I’ve never done that before.

“So Steph, how big is your world?” I theoretically ask myself to lighten the mood.

Right now, it’s small. It’s almost completely limited to the state of Mississippi. I do not want my world to be that way, especially coming all the way from Indonesia. Big decisions are being made currently and I certainly wouldn’t have the courage to make them if not for Undertale. 

I didn’t expect this blog to be so sad. I knew it would be emotional for me, but I wasn’t expecting to just be flat out sad. I think this rainy weather is getting to me. I wasn’t expecting to be able to discuss my current feelings in this either, I just thought I would be celebrating Undertale’s 10th birthday. Glad I’m able to find a way to make everything about me I guess??? On a lighter, dorkier note, I recently submitted my senior quote. Just like I said I would, like, 5 years ago, I made it, “Despite everything, it’s still you.” I felt silly submitting it, especially after having to explain it to someone who had never even heard of Undertale before, but 7-year-old me would think I am so cool so that’s literally all that matters. Yes, I did include that “not one but two” bit in the beginning just so I could insert both stream links thanks for noticing. And thanks for reading if you did.

The Path, Wicther Lore part 1. The life of a Witcher.

 

If you remember in my first blog that I said I was currently collecting all the books, well I still am. So since the books slowly ease into the Witcher Three, the best “lore” I can give you is background knowledge on who he is, what he is, what he does, and all other characters related to him. 

Who and What is Geralt of Rivia? 

As you have heard me explain time and time again, Geralt is a hunter monster/humans. Taking on various contracts from his travels or also known as The Path. Where young witchers graduate from their selected schools and finally fly solo after gruesome years of rigorous and very deadly training. Often  times a lot of people ask how they first become a Witcher or how they arrive to the schools in the first place. 

Geralt, like many other young boys, were either taken or GIVEN to the passing Witchers masters who had graduated their latest trained Witchers to find the new generation train. Before Geralt’s time, the Witcher recruitment was not ideal. On many occasions it wasn’t up to the families whether or not they get to keep their son, they simply would take him and if the boys parents got in the way they’d not hesitate homicide and take the boy. 

This is what lead to the ruining of the Witcher brand. Anyone who was  Witcher was seen as an immediate killer and shunned by the populace of city’s and small towns but are smiled upon if they’re really doing their jobs and not lying for coin..sadly there were some who did this…. What’s even worse, is that those families who were murdered, and if their son became a Witcher, it was more likely for that boy to do the same to another family.

How Geralt became a Witcher starts as a boy. Actually, he wasn’t taken as boy but given to the Witchers within the mountain fortress Kaer Morhen (care-more-hen) The witchers home to the School of the Wolf where he would train along side many other boys under the teachings of the great Witcher Vesemir. Vesemir wasn’t the typical, stoic Witcher, but a more humorous one at that. He had his moments though. 

Vesemir taught these boys traditionally and in his own way. The two “brothers” Geralt trained beside were Lambert and Eskel. (I’d put pictures but my laptops acting up rn-)

Vesemir would become a well respected father figure to those who’ve read the Witcher books and definitely played the games. The relationship he has with these three boys was as deep as it emotionally could get. And I mean that literally. 

The process in which takes place from boy to Witcher is an extremely dangerous one if not done correctly or if the boy is too weak enough. The brutal and very life threatening training these boys go through is not for nothing. The mutation completely alters the anatomy and biology of the young kids as well as emotionally. 

Witchers loose their emotions almost entirely. Or so some thought. Geralt’s really a compassionate guy, he is a step-father after all. (That’s for part 2 tho.)

Witchers are also STERILE meaning they cant have biological children and uhm…for Geralt’s case that’s a good thing…

Geralt’s overall past is pretty well hidden behind closed doors for me right now because I am DYING to read the books so bad but I don’t have them all yet!!!!

Its sad times ladies and gentlemen…sad times…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Deltarune Chapters Sent Me 10 Years Back

It’s only like me to start my senior year off with a Deltarune/Undertale blog. I have those two games to thank for my personality, passion for art, and my love for storytelling – and on a deeper note: for keeping me here and encouraging me to push through the toughest times in my life.

Deltarune chapters three and four were released on June 5th. I wasn’t able to play them for about two weeks since I had a writer’s workshop, vacation, and my first Comic-Con all in a row. But when I did finally play them, I went through something really strange.

As I was fully submerged in a self-established “Deltarune summer”, I felt something very familiar in my soul. I remember: I was listening to the new music, looking at and making fan art, reading people’s theories, and talking about it to friends. Suddenly, I felt like I was seven years old again in my Undertale phase. It was so strange. I had to check the date, look in the mirror, anything to make sure I hadn’t somehow slipped into 2015. Then I was so overwhelmed I threw up.

Yeah, not my best moment at all. But this feeling hit me like nothing else had in ten years. I’m not seven years old anymore watching Undertale animations, reading fan comics, or listening to the music preparing to enter middle school. I’m seventeen, graduating high school soon. Except I’m still doing everything I did with Undertale, just with Deltarune.

Everything is so different but at the same time, it’s not at all.

I’m aware most of my peers aren’t familiar with Deltarune or Undertale, I can only advise whoever hasn’t played either to play them. It’s just like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. And I’m no outlier, there’s an entire fanbase of at least one-hundred-thousand people that would say the same thing. 

So why does Deltarune mean so much to me? Well the same reasons that Undertale does – but that’ll be covered in September’s blog since Undertale’s ten-year anniversary will be September 15th. Deltarune has incredible characters, one-of-a-kind music, and- …I’m realizing I’ve already written about this. It’s so interesting re-reading that blog – chapters three and four didn’t even have a release date and I had no idea what was coming. 

I like Deltarune for all the reasons everyone else does, and October 2024 Stephanie did. But now, I’ve attached my entire being to that game. This is a pretty common thing I do when I really like something. Not only does it help me express myself, since all the media I love is a reflection of myself, but it also helps me feel like I’m appreciating the media for all of its worth. I’m actually really possessive in this way: my favorite color is pink, my favorite bug is a ladybug, my favorite show (that I even refer to as “my show”) is Common Side Effects, and my favorite game is Deltarune. I’m known for all of these things because I tie them so closely to my being. I may be possessive over Deltarune but I’m certainly not selfish over it. I’m constantly trying to get my friends to play it so I’m probably really annoying.

I’ve also been on a mission to heal my inner child before I graduate high school. So, like an extremely normal and mentally well seventeen-year-old does, I’ve been watching My Little Pony. And, in a really funny way, Deltarune shares a lot of similarities to My Little Pony. It’s kind of like my own teenage version of My Little Pony. Deltarune has huge themes of friendship, redemption, and conflict resolution through communication. Things also happen really quickly in the same way they do in the episodic form of My Little Pony. Kris and Susie, the two main characters, went from being enemies (?) to best friends in, at most, two days. Over the span of chapter one, Susie became open to talking problems out rather than immediately resorting to violence. And Ralsei, another one of the main characters, went from wanting to resolve everything through kindness to understanding when fighting is necessary over the span of four chapters, which was three in-game days. These are some extreme character developments over really short periods of time, kind of like how My Little Pony characters change so drastically in one episode while learning a sweet little message. And finally, the biggest reason I love Deltarune so much: Deltarune just has a lot of elements that I genuinely really enjoy. 

Kris, the character we play as and/or (depending on who you ask) the protagonist, fits the description of my favorite kind of protagonists perfectly. Back in 2015, Frisk from Undertale was my favorite protagonist and they use they/them pronouns. Later in 2016, Sal Fisher from Sally Face was my favorite protagonist, mostly known for his bright blue hair. Kris fits both of these descriptions as they canonically use they/them pronouns and in the dark worlds, they have blue hair.

Deltarune also has huge themes of escapism, darkness (yes, the state of lighting), and alternate/parallel universes. As someone who used to chronically daydream, was deathly afraid of the dark, and is extremely interested in the idea of other universes, all of these are right up my alley.

And, finally, Deltarune uses the plot device of prophecies. This is my favorite thing ever, I’m so surprised I haven’t used prophecies in every single piece of my writing. For one, a prophecy can be used in so many different ways. It can be a simple statement that starts the story or even a title (for example, the book They Both Die at the End). It can be an actual fantastical prophecy (such as in the book The Song of Achilles). It can even be told in the way of generational trauma. It is so much fun to know how something will happen or end. The optimistic, hopeful side of you tries to believe it won’t happen, if it’s something terrible, or it will happen in a different way and then the truly human side of you just wants to see how it will happen. 

(This paragraph will contain spoilers for Deltarune’s fourth chapter.) The way Deltarune uses prophecies as a plot device is, by far, my favorite. In chapter one, Ralsei, a fantastical mage-like character that only resides in the magical dark worlds, establishes a prophecy that him, Kris, and Susie will save the world from “The Roaring” – a catastrophe similar to the Rapture in the Bible. Specifically, he states the prophecy needs a human (Kris), a monster (Susie), and a prince from the dark (Ralsei). But in chapter four, released six real-life years later (!!!), the true prophecy is revealed straight from the source, which is the church since the prophecy is part of the religion of the town Deltarune takes place in. The prophecy needs a “cage with human soul and parts”, a “girl with hope crossed on her heart”, a “prince alone in deepest dark”, and a girl that “love finds its way to”. This version is, very clearly, a lot broader than the original we were introduced to in chapter one and it adds a completely new character (in my opinion)! And the final part of the prophecy that’s been tearing me apart since chapter four came out in June: the mysterious “final tragedy” that the main characters know about but us as players do not. This is such a unique way to use prophecies as a plot device and it inspires me so much in my own work. 

There’s plenty of other smaller reasons I love Deltarune (like Noelle, who is a Christmas themed reindeer – I love Christmas themed anything) but those are the biggest ones and what truly keeps Deltarune so close to my heart. I really enjoyed writing this blog and dissecting my favorite parts of my favorite game. It helped me realize a lot of new things about myself and it helped me understand the writing of Deltarune on a higher level.

Thanks so much for reading if you did. Last year, my blogs were really fun and spilling with my own personality. I want to take a different approach now – you know, since I’m old and that means I’m a pretentious art student now and I have to be dramatic about all of my pieces. I’m kidding. Kind of. 

Don’t read the old Deltarune blog too closely, there’s at least one typo that I somehow missed that’s eating me alive. Also paragraph three of this blog is a little dramatized, I knew I didn’t slip into 2015 but it absolutely felt that way. And I did unfortunately vomit… And when I briefly explained what “The Roaring” is (“a catastrophe similar to the Rapture in the Bible”), it reminded me of that one part from Snapcube’s Shadow the Hedgehog fandub with “the Devil from the Bible” and it made me giggle. Does my nicheness (that’s not even that niche) make you want to read more of my blogs? I hope so. Also do you like all of my links? I spent a lot of time on them.

Anyway, this blog was actually really emotional for me. I love Deltarune and I think I made that pretty clear. Remember to play or replay Undertale for its ten-year anniversary next month.

Why Viva Pinata was Revolutionary

Viva Piñata. You don’t know em, but you’ll probably love em! Viva Piñata is a video game (and a TV franchise, fun fact!) that was created by Microsoft and Rare. Its universe is full of living piñata animals, with various personalities, that you can collect and care for! They interact with each other, some getting into fights and even eating each other in a hunter-prey dynamic. You grow different plants to attract different pinatas, and even build houses for them!  

 

So what’s so special about this game? Well, it’s an XBOX 360 classic from 2006, meaning it was competing with titles like the Spyro the Dragon franchise and the first LEGO Star Wars games. Big and exciting things were coming out in 2006 for the 360, and Viva Piñata was no different. It contained over 60 different animals, each with unique models, with some even having variants. You also have several systems, like hatching eggs and watering, and fertilizing plants. You can interact with multiple different townsfolk with different shops and dialogue. Now, in the big age of 2025, with games like GTA and Monster Hunter, and Minecraft, these don’t seem impressive. But when we look at how this game was only 10 years after the shift to 3d graphics, it is absolutely beautiful. Many of the models still hold up today. Take the Preztail, while made of paper, you still see the fox-like shape and a soft look to the animal. Or the Horstachio, a horse piñata that is colorful and looks very charismatic. Each piñata has so much love and character put behind it. Having 60 diverse models for the pinatas alone is a huge feat for 2006 3D games. 

 

Left: Horstachio

Right: Preztail

Viva Piñata is so relaxing and has so many elements that inspired the game genre of “cozy games”, like Slime Rancher or Stardew Valley. While the graphics might be outdated and dialogue a bit janky, we have to admit that, for it being made in 4 years (concept was 2002, and release was 2006), this is a wonderful feat. They even had sequel games, a TV show, and (my favorite game), Viva Piñata: Party Animals. It has so many mini-games, each having unique mechanics and advantages for some animals! The game also has races like Mario Kart. For 2007, a game with such a diverse animal cast and franchise is amazing. Party Animals is amazing if you want some XBOX 360 nostalgia, and a fun game that still holds up amazingly today. What’s also great is they both have backwards compatibility, meaning the newer XBOX consoles still run them beautifully! 

 

If there’s anything I want you to truly take away from this rambling, Viva Piñata and its franchise is a feat for its time, and I would highly recommend trying them out. They’re classics that have been in my heart for over a decade, and I want more people to experience the classic, nostalgic feel of these games. I wish there were a larger community for it, and I really hope that at least this gave you some inspiration to seek out this game, or even games from your childhood that are now dusty relics of the past.  

Some of my own art of Viva Piñata!

Marvel Rival Characters I want in the game

Wiccan

I feel like Wiccan as a support would be top tier especially with his portals and his healing zones. Like he could be a mix of Wanda and Dr. Strange and what would be really good is if he can change his attacks between different elements. If he does come to Marvel Rivals, I will be using only him Religiously. though he would be a 5 star.

 

 

Deadpool

he would be the best dps I don’t care what anyone says about him being a strategist that doesn’t even make sense since he can’t heal others, and he uses swords. he would be a great anti heal though and a passive where he heals himself would be chiefs kiss. Also there need to be a team up with him and Spidey maybe one with him and jeff.

Night Crawler

to be completely honest I don’t know much about him except the fact he can teleport (want to buy comics of him but don’t know where to start). He would be a crazy DPS as well especially if he can share his teleporting with black panther or Wanda (they dated) plus I think he looks super cool.

 

Rouge

there are some debates on rather or not she should be a tank or support, and, in my opinion, she is a tank but only because she has high durability in the comics because of captain marvel. she has to fly though because it wouldn’t be rogue if she couldn’t fly and one of her abilities has to be if she can copy someone Elses even if it’s just for a few seconds. She should have a team up with wolverine and Gambit if he comes.

Luke Cage

we desperately need more Black people in the game and Luke cage is the goat. He should be able to go bulletproof like Emma frost diamond form and he should be able to throw huge rock at people. I felt like he should be a tank, but I think he is going to feel like a dps as well like reed but reverse it. I wouldve3 suggested a team up between spiderman and Ironfist but that’s not the iron fist everyone knows and loves plus he doesn’t need any more damage.

Richie Rambles: The Best Video Game You’ve Never Played

Yes, the title is presumptuous of me, but I’m 99.9% sure you haven’t played this game. Unlike my other deep-dives on video games that interest me, this will simply be a ramble about why I love this game so much. If it’s interesting to anyone, I will gladly do a deep-dive! Regardless of what you think by the end of this blog, this game is cheap on Steam and you should play it. 

The day is June 14th, 2011. I am simply a baby, I have no idea the importance of this day. For on this day the game Alice: Madness Returns is released. This game follows the main character, Alice Liddell, and her adventures through Wonderland. In this game, Alice lost her parents and sister in a house fire. This fire severely burnt Alice and, after being accused of starting the fire, Alice was forced to live in an asylum. She is watched by a doctor (who only traumatizes her more), until being transferred to a home for wayward children. She is treated horribly by the staff and other children who live there, as many believe her to be a murder (at worst) or simply a weirdo (at best). 

The artstyle of the game is my favorite part. With this grim twist on Alice in Wonderland, playing around with character designs and the settings is the most vital part- and this game does an excellent job. The dark and dingy normal world, the steampunk land where the Mad Hatter lives, the colorful and dangerous forest where you first meet the Cheshire cat- Everything is detailed perfectly. Every character is throughout in design, personality, and storyline. Despite the dark twist, the familiar characters of Alice in Wonderland still have many of their recognizable traits. The Chesire cat is playful and mysterious, the Queen of Hearts is power hungry and fueled by rage, and the Caterpillar is a wise oracle. 

My favorite part is that, to go along with these new environments, Alice gets a new outfit! It’s a minor detail, but it’s vital in keeping everything cohesive. 

While the story is very dark, and I definatly encourage people to be careful before playing (not only to watch out for gore, but also for the dark topics), I still highly encourage anyone interested to do more research and play this game! The gameplay is difficult, but fun, and the graphics are a bit outdated, but it adds to the charm. This game is one of the best examples of a story told through the video game medium (in my opinion) and more people should know about it!!

Life is Strange: True Colors (Part 2 of Blog Post “Life is Strange”)

Continuing on my post from last week, this post is about the fourth installment in the Life is Strange series, True Colors.  WARNING: THIS POST WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE STORY!!!!!

In True Colors, players control Alexandra “Alex” Chen, a child previously stuck in the foster care system who has the gift of psychic empathy. Alex’s powers allow her to see and feel the emotions of other people, with those emotions presenting to Alex as an aura of colors in the air around a person. These abilities are viewed as a curse to Alex, as she gets lost in them, and feels the emotions as if they are her own. This has led her to view her powers as a curse. In the start of the game, Alex is fresh off a bus to Haven Springs, Colorado, where her brother, Gabe, lives. Gabe shows Alex around the town, introducing her to many residents. They town is mostly employed by a mining company, Typhon. Typhon is a prolific company, present in the entirety of the story and even before Gabe and Alex are even born. In the style of all the Life is Strange games, True Colors is set up in episodic style, though unlike other games it was released altogether on September 10th, 2021. Back to the game, Gabe leads Alex back to his apartment, which he gifts to her. They then meet Mac, an angry citizen who believes Gabe is in a relationship with Mac’s girlfriend, Riley. This is not true, as Riley is applying for a college, which Gabe is assisting her with. Mac attacks Gabe with Alex in the same room. Alex is soon “infected” by Mac’s anger and attacks Mac in animalistic fashion, driving him off. Afterwards, Alex explains to Gabe the nature of her powers. 

Later that night, Gabe, Alex, and another citizen, Ryan, search for a missing boy. The boy is found in an old Typhon mining facility, stuck on a rotting tree over a chasm. The boy believes that there is a monster hiding under the log, waiting to grab him. His fear makes him immovable. Alex climbs across the log slowly and attempts to coax the boy back to safety, but is unable to do so. She tunes into his fear, unlocking another facet of her powers, the ability to gently influence these emotions and use them to assist people through their trauma. When Alex taps into the boy’s fear, she begins to see through his eyes and views the “monster” in the chasm. She knows that the monster isn’t real, but the boy’s fear makes it seem tangible. Braving the boy’s fear, Alex leads him to safety. Gabe tries to rappel down to retrieve something, but blasts sound off. Earlier that night, they had told Typhon to stop blasting, but Typhon didn’t listen. They began blasting, causing the chasm to deteriorate and crush Gabe.

This is only a short summary of the first episode, so I implore you to play the full game, as it is a masterpiece.

 

Much love,
Jude ♡

Life is Strange

Over the summer, I did not have much to do. Being a teenager with no car and parents who work all day does not offer a thriving summer social life. So, like any teenager, I spent my time playing video games and watching TV. Two of my favorite games to play over the summer were Life is Strange, and Life is Strange: True Colors.

Life is Strange

Life is Strange began in January 2015, when Dontnod Entertainment released the first part of the game. Life is Strange was released in episodic form, spanning five releases. The story follows a girl named Max Caulfield who, during an altercation between two other characters, finds that she has gained the ability to rewind time. She goes on to use these powers to keep a girl from being shot via a fire alarm pressed at just the right time. Max realizes that the girl is her childhood best friend, Chloe, who she left behind when she moved to Seattle. In the following days, many irregular environmental phenomena and the recent disappearance of a local girl lead Max and Chloe to begin investigating both. I won’t spoil too much about the game though so that you will be able to play it through on your own! This game had so many good twists and turns that I just couldn’t get enough. My next blog will be about the fourth game in this series, Life is Strange: True Colors.

 

Much love!
Jude ♡