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Backlog: Talking About Indie Games - Flynn: Son of Crimson

Originally I posted this somewhere else early 2022, but I'm trying to consolidate right now.

So Flynn: Son of Crimson was a game I wishlisted on Steam a while back. Could not tell you where I heard of it. Even when I originally wrote this, it was in my wishlist for a while. Turns out, it was also on Game Pass at the time. I reached the 101% achievement in the game. I think overall, the game is good. You can probably get 5 hours out of it in one sitting, but I was taking my time.

In general, the music is calming. You're not gonna see rock songs here. But it gets intense when it needs to. Someone may argue the art is similar to a lot of other indie titles, but idk what to say. The backgrounds are well detailed, the animations are great.

The enemies have unique attacks and more often than not, have more than one attack for variety. I will say the electric ones were kinda annoying, especially the bees in that cave level where you have to platform just right to avoid electric fish. Like, calm down.

The combat system gives you a decent amount of freedom off the bat. Flynn feels good to control. The dodge roll is great. Only thing that held me back was my own impatience. What do I mean? Well I went the whole story without really uppercutting or down smashing anything. Really only ended up doing those to complete the in-game achievements. Would those attacks have helped my playthrough be somewhat smoother? Possibly a little, but not anything crazy.

The game gives you a lot to fight with in hindsight. However, this is also one of those games where backtracking with all the upgrades is kinda pointless. You only go back to get missing relics that are accessible without most upgrades.

Hero Mode's a thing. That wasn't on the Game Pass version though so i couldn't judge that when I wrote this. Maybe in the future I'll look into it.

Getting all the relics isn't exactly worth it. It really seems to exist for the people to casually find every now and then while messing around in the game. I fall into this category. But I just wasn't interested because there are places in the game you'd THINK would have secrets in them and just...don't. Kinda lessens the impulse to collect everything. Maybe that was intentional from the devs, but who knows? To me though, it just makes certain areas feel like ther could've been less empty space.

I don't want to be one of those people talking about "ThE sToRy dOeSn'T mAtTeR" because this has more going on than some games. I would say the story is told as much in the levels as it is in dialogue. It gives the setting some depth. The Scourge idea with everything on lockdown is great.

As a story though, it's pretty straight forward more or less. I think there were missed opportunities.

Examples:

The NPCs don't say anything new as the story goes on.

There probably could've been a Scourge event n the town Flynn starts in. Full circle and all that.

Flynn clearly has friends his age. They probably never experienced the war people talk about. Perhaps the kids have something to say, yet nothing's said.

Plus, just the overall idea that Flynn is literally more god mode than the literal goddess for no reason. But I wouldn't know how to write around that. So it's hard to judge.

Smaller issues are just what features get screen time. The glider's cool, and it was only there for half a level. The Dex segments happen perhaps a little too late in the game. The backtracking thing feels extra weird when you're never allowed to destroy vine spikes or destroy ice with your fire blasts. Aside from that last point, it's the little things like that could've improved the game if tweaked or given a little bit more time to cook.

But beyond that, it hits all the points it needs to. There's a decent amount packed in here. It even has enemy gauntlet areas. Do I think it's worth buying? Yes. Especially at a sale. The game got good reviews. I don't entirely know if I'd give it the same score that ended up on Metacritic, but I see that for an indie game, for the amount of time you spend on this, the quality, amount of content, and price, I understand. I think it is a very solid game.

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"You are not alone..."

Music Credits: Neosylk

Song: 'Do you remember?'

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The Japanese commercial for the end of the SEGA Saturn.

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Son of a beach, finally got this environment done, NEXT!

Relevant link: https://fabiofontes.com/

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Intro ‘Streets Of Rage 2’ SEGA Mega Drive

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Everyone should know the international sign for Help Me. Let’s make this famous!!

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"Putting The Super Super 64 Mario Back Into Mario"

Extremely rare promotional 1996 Super Mario 64 shirt.

Main Blog | Twitter | Patreon | Small Findings | Source

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not pictured: a childrens adjustable step stool

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🦊Discord must have galaxy sized balls to charge more for a PNG than it costs to get *Stardew Valley*

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Part 2 of whatever the hell this meme is

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Winning entry in a 2014 Nintendo Japan contest to make a Yoshi's New Island animation in Flipnote Studio 3D.

Main Blog | Twitter | Patreon | Small Findings | Source

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In 2020, internal Nintendo files have surfaced that included a model of Yoshi to be used with the Super Nintendo's Super FX chip, known for its usage to create 3D graphics in Star Fox.

Above is the Yoshi model inserted into Star Fox to demonstrate how it would have appeared on original hardware.

Main Blog | Twitter | Patreon | Small Findings | Source: twitter.com user "vl_tone"

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Jet is done!

Up next is Wave! This also marks the end of porting to Godot, only new stuff from here.

Song is Funky Dealer from the Jet Set Radio Future OST

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You dropped this

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Backlog: Talking About Movies - TSS (2021)

Originally I posted this somewhere else May 2023, but I'm trying to consolidate right now. Furthermore, when I originally posted to Tumblr, it's system didn't realize I'm talking about a MOVIE and not about anything personal. Because I don't need 4 private messages about mental health, I'm just posting the title screen and calling it "TSS". Moving on.

So I watched TSS 2021. That is the sequel to the 2016 movie, for clarity. I wasn’t motivated to watch it because of GotG 3’s release. I forgot that the Guardians movie was close to coming out when watching this one.

Preamble:

After Batman V. Superman, didn’t care much to see anything DC Comics movies outside of some online summaries. But after Endgame, there were a handful of movies from that brand coming out that seemed decent so I would eventually check them out. Such as TSS 2021.

“You can’t use summaries as a substitute for watching-” I don’t care.

Some think the 2016 movie’s whatever, but the only person I directly knew going to bat for that movie, was a major asshole. To me, the sequel stands or falls on it’s own merits.

When I heard James Gunn was making this, I was interested. Ultimately though, I guess it worked out for him since he now runs DC Comics media from this point forward. I didn’t see that coming. Don't expect much in terms of how I feel he's doing in that role. I don't feel the need to judge until about 2-3 movies into his reboot.

But where do I start with TSS? Overall, entertaining movie. Would rewatch.

Now…back in May, I said this:

"You want a point in DC Comics’ favor when it comes to movies? Well when it comes to their CGI, from what I’ve seen, it’s been consistently great. TSS is no exception. Everything blends together with the real world stuff very well. They did a good job there."

And while I stand by TSS having great CGI…The Flash has now come out. I have seen clips of that. That doesn't erase what good the DCEU has done in the past concerning CGI. But damn, being worried about future CGI from them is not unwarranted.

Obviously comparing TSS to Marvel stuff would make sense. TSS feels like it has a different tone. Maybe that’s just because of one company being more hands off, but idk how WB really operates. Kinda felt fresh to just have more varying and modern music playing in one of these superhero things.

What set it apart from the MCU was the R rating which…yeah it took advantage of that. TSS 2021 is violent, detailed, uncensored. Offset by it’s comedy. Frankly, it’s a funny movie. A lot of the comedy is the villains oblivious to common courtesies, or just uncaring in general. It works.

Think I saw some complaints about comic book accuracy. A complaint with all these superhero type movies. Look to be frank, most of the comics people are referencing for accuracy aren’t exactly Nobel Prize winning literature here. Even when they are notably well written, movies are only 2-3 hours while a comic story can span multiple issues.

That's what I wrote in May. Since then, all of twitter is nothing BUT complaining that these products not being comic accurate means that they're inherently bastardized, worthless, a crime against humanity, and will lead to their downfall. This line of thinking is just begging for someone to make a 110% comic accurate superhero movie that ultimately flops because people deem it too fuckin goofy, nonsensical, or just not that interesting as the hype suggested. I'm not saying all of comic history is bad or the comics didn't do some things better. And I'm not ignoring the MCU's storytelling flaws. But damn, The Spider-Verse movies aren't 1 to 1 accurate with the Spider-Verse comics and no one is complaining about that because they are well written. The Guardians trilogy took SEVERAL liberties, but is called peak despite them.

Comic accurate does not automatically equal well writen and never will. Hell, one of the most popular comic youtubers, Comics Explained, is a person who goes on for hours about entire comic arcs. And he outright criticized "X-Men: Days of Future Past". Saying something like "Yeah people like Days of Future Past , but that's just because they copy/pasted the story from the comics" and was hoping for something more original in future movies. And I don't agree with all of his takes, but if someone who dedicates this much time to comics is saying these things, I feel it's more valid than people on twitter who I can't confirm if they read the comics they're praising.

Back to what I said in May, TSS is good without being exactly like the comic. I don’t understand how Starro being mustache-twirly evil would improve the film short of nerds checking off a list of comic accuracy. And him being Death Battle fuckin "He can blink the universe out of existence" powerful is outright nonsensical. Starro was good for what it was.

Interpretation needs to happen sometimes. That said, actors.

This is the first time I’ve seen Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn. It’s not entirely like TV versions, but she made it her own and it works. She was in the role for 6 years, it’s probably expected she knows what she’s doing.

Idris Elba, he’s always been a cool actor. Not entirely something I've publicly talked much about on the internet short of him playing Knuckles and I think Heimdall, but he has good performances. Him being the main character was a good choice. Replacing Will Smith? Yeah, but unlike Smith, Elba is more willing to add more grit to his villain character and it's greatly appreciated.

Cena Peacemaker works here. You really do forget he’s a wrestler and for once in about 20 years, he plays a decent heel. Apparently this is a controversial statement, but I guess I've just not seen Cena all that much in the past decade to really focus on his past during the movie…..

…which is what I said last year.

In 2024, after seeing his lacking comments on Vince McMahon, I don't feel much need to praise him or focus on him in the future. Someone put it aptly.

How his Peacemaker solo series went, I have no idea and now I don't care. If he comes back in the reboot, I can at least see why but I still don't care. Harley and Waller tho? They should be priority to return. Especially those two. They're just THAT great.

The rest of the team are convincing enough as villains.

Although…Ratcatcher 2.

Don’t get me wrong. She is a good actor. It makes sense that she’s in jail for her crimes. But like, remove the rat communicator and isn’t she just a person? Can someone else use the communicator?

I don’t think that’s explained. My attempts to google didn’t answer that. If there’s some TSS interview explaining that the Ratcatcher family can only use the communicator, cool. Otherwise, I question how she’s on the Squad to begin with unless they're (likely) short on villains.

To anyone who may take this out of context, Ratcatcher 2 is a good character, good for stealth, & the payoff in the end is great. Just seems like she wasn’t exactly a nemesis of Green Arrow or something. I feel in another context, the communicator, more than the person, would've been Waller's priority.

Like I said, Amanda Waller is solid. Davis really read that character description and said “Easy”. Her character should show up more in future movies beyond TSS.

Rest of the cast is good. Even if they’re still fucked up for betting on lives, I liked Waller’s people turning on her in order to save a city.

Think only thing left to say is that the story for what it is, comes together nicely. These people are not the Avengers/Justice League, they’re forced to work together and are convicted criminals. The interactions they have feel unique as a result, and not everything works out.

Even some of the dead characters in this movie do have development. They do advance/achieve as characters even if it does cost them their lives. Plus it's a cool movie when it has people both cheering that a monster is defeated, and then has you feeling bad for said monster.

I said this movie should stand on it's own merits and it does. TSS 2021 is a great standalone movie. Usually I would sit here and talk about broader lore, but it's unnecessary. Aside from maybe the Captain Boomerang thing, you can just go into this movie and enjoy.

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Backlog: Talking About Movies - Sonic The Hedgehog 2 (2022)

Originally I posted this somewhere else Dec 2022, but I'm trying to consolidate right now.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2. I actually did hear some spoilers for this one. Plus, it's taking a plot point from the game Sonic 3 & Knuckles. So I knew that going in. Still I can't lie. While the kid movie aspect is still there, I think the movie is good in spite of that.

Simply I think what held Sonic 1 back was its 90 minute run time and lack of...idk character variety? I guess? It was really just Sonic bouncing off of like, 2 actors. One being a normal ass guy. Didn't hate him though.

While here, well we have Tails and Knuckles.

I said the first movie didn't want to get bogged down in explanations and that hurt it. In this one, they don't explain EVERYTHING, but do a decent amount. The Owl thing was probably planned since the first movie to be explained in 2. Doesn't exactly color the first movie in a new light. But the elaboration in this movie is an improvement.

The jokes are also improved. Did I outwardly laugh? No. Still thought they were funnier.

But I just skipped Sonic and Tails dancing. The bar is probably the one part of the movie I just didn't care about because

1) There was already a similar scene in Sonic 1.

2) Cringe. Sorry.

3) SONIC HAS SUPERSPEED.

But I think that's the key here. For the most part, I did care. They set up a goal for Sonic to achieve. It's not just a fuckin car drive to a building in a city for some rings that means nothing to the villains. It is for the Master Emerald and requires multiple steps.

There are multiple callbacks. Not only to official Sonic lore or just game references. But to the previous movie. And I know that sounds simple for a sequel, I'm just saying its a point over Sonic 1 as the elements come together better.

G.U.N. is a thing now.

I think a criticism for this movie was either that the Sonic characters were the focus, or that the human characters were there at all. Its been hard to tell. But I can say right now, I had little issue with either party here. It's better than chainsaw dude from Sonic 1.

Just speaking in 2024 for a sec, there was a push in the 2010s in the Sonic fandom to suggest any human character besides Eggman is terrible to have in the franchise. I could care less about it. Keep the humans, discard them, whatever. The character could be a Koala or a Doorknob, all that matters is that they're well written or have a strong reason to be in the story. Far as I'm concerned with at least G.U.N., it's a plus that they're there. Especially with what the Sonic 3 movie is working on.

Still, the kiddy element is still there. Humans act like it's a kids movie and that means their screentime could've been a little less. And Sonic is a kid. How old is up for debate. The movie seems to think he's anywhere from 7 to 15. That vague window.

That means Tails is younger, of course, aaaand Knuckles.

Knuckles is weird to me. Because like, Idris Elba is cool, but I think the implication is that Knuckles is around the age as Sonic with that deep a voice. Possible I guess, but It's still odd to me. But I like his voice better than main Knuckles in Sonic Prime. For all that's worth given that show's reputation upon ending.

People may argue the movie is still too simple. But at the end of the day, there's barely Sonic media really diving into how Sonic, Tails and Knuckles would really initially team up character-wise. Outside of comics. (I was only a couple episodes into Sonic Prime when writing this and once again, reputation.) In most games, they're already friends. Before that, the story of how they met was told through sprites and manuals. So I appreciate this interpretation. Still, I think Tails could've use a little more time. Going from someone who didn't see himself as a hero, to fighting Eggman could've been focused on more.

Eggman works. Probably not in the most optimal way, but he works. Although it's Jim Carrey being himself like always. Got more of an Eggman feel from the last movie at some points. Swear by the credits of Sonic 1, he was attempting some kind of Pollock impression and just didn't follow up on it in 2. Still, I understood Knuckles & Eggman teaming up.

That Emerald absorption was kinda interesting. It plays a part to foreshadow Super Sonic and for a moment when you first see Eggman at the coffee place I genuinely went "Damn. What the fuck is Eggman about to do here?" Idk, it helped Eggman look more like a villain despite the comedy. It works.

...What didn't work were the visuals when he first grabbed the Master Emerald. That was off.

Should probably say something more about G.U.N. here. I did not expect them to be everyone at the wedding. This feels like one of those things that people will call obvious. I guess with that one scene with the groom's boys working out and the groom being played by Criminal Minds. But whatever. I can't predict everything. If that was obvious, flew over my head. The main human character is a damn cop and didn't see that shit coming. Fuck you want from me? I was just focusing on the damn Master Emerald the whole time.

But that does make me wonder. For the record, the G.U.N. shit is smart and it probably improves Sonic 1 as the government isn't just siting idly by. But you'd have to assume they probably didn't expect Sonic to show up where they were. So what was their actual plan there?

I guess the options are

A) They DID expect Sonic to show up eventually because he's that dumb.

B) That was all just a ploy to arrest Tom and Maddie away from Sonic. Or in the long term, infiltrate their family and ease Sonic into a false sense of security down the line to ensure his peaceful surrender. Maybe even taking the ring tech.

I guess it would have to be the long term idea if only Tom got taken in when things went south.

Now that I think about it, ring production just goes unexplained in this movie franchise. Pretty sure Sonic just drops a bunch at least twice in this sequel. When the initial bag of rings was so important, it was THE PLOT of Sonic 1. Like, is he picking them back up? Making new ones? Ultimately, it doesn't matter since Knuckles clearly has his own and Tails could probably build a teleporter or something.

Technically, this movie has the same ending as the first. As in "Sonic fake dies, but the power of love makes him stronger than ever." Same time, this one works better only because like I said, Super Sonic. It ties into the lore, and it was foreshadowed by Eggman absorbing the Emerald. Kinda wish it led to a more interesting fight at the end, but the movie had a good amount of fighting otherwise I'd say.

And, of course, the teaser. THAT I knew about. I've even seen the concept art pointing towards a much darker Sonic 3. Don't think it's gonna reach that level, but this movie convinced me it will do more than just have Sonic characters flossing. Idk how it works tho.

At the time I wrote speculation for what they could do with the movie in terms of making the lore fit that movie universe and what would happen in the 70s. Since then, things have leaked. I don't really remember much of it tbh so it'll still be fresh when I eventually see Sonic 3. So I'll just leave it at what I said without the speculation.

I said Idk how the third movie would work. Not even the fact that the man said G.U.N. was established after Sonic 1 (Then again, it could've been a revived project after 50 years). No, it's just that I don't think the movies established well enough that Sonic showing up on Earth was shocking, but they literally made Shadow.

There's room for this to make sense. It's an abandoned project from the 70s in the movie universe. And hell, it'd add an extra layer to how Robotnik worked with the government. But 50 years of Shadow probably means they wouldn't NEED Robotnik to stop Sonic.

The game lore is a whole different thing. Since Sonic is 100% established as a good guy in that world full of fast animals already. He's fighting Eggman, who the government doesn't side with. But even THEY have deterrents because of Shadow. Come on, Sonic gets jailed twice.

Let's sum this up. Is this what people wanted out of a Sonic movie? It's not perfect, but this is definitely in the right direction.

Would I watch it again? I talked about it this much, so obviously. Could I see a better overall movie out of this? Yeah. But it's good for what it is.

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