Idol Worship & The Entertainment Industry | A Retrospective Look

As far back as I can remember I have bought into movies, and supported them with my money and time. I amassed collections of VHS, DVDs, and Blu-rays thinking they were worth holding onto, and investing in. Some movies served as good memories of a past long gone while others inspired me with their messages and artistic creativity well beyond release. I even found some favorite actors and actresses while consuming the copious amount of content constantly distributed by Hollywood. Little did I know I'd be looking back in disgust some 30+ years later. Witnessing, in retrospect, the industry veil being removed, and it's underground evil revealing the corrupted state of moral decay that is the very foundation of modern bread & circuses as it relates to today's political movements/agendas. 

QUOTE: Of Fear And Worry

 "All of this fearmongering that we are witnessing in the world around us is meant to control us. Be it the fear of climate change, the pandemic, or whatever. It is meant to keep us in a perpetual state of fear, and limited by that fear. Causing us, in turn, to be reactionary in such a way that it benefits those in control, those who are running these fear campaigns.

The best thing you can do to counter this is not to worry. I know it's hard sometimes, but I personally like to remind myself of the serenity prayer in these instances, especially the parts about recognizing the things you cannot change, and only concerning yourself with those things that you can. Not everything can be fixed by us. We must remember that, and find peace in the fact that we are doing our part in changing the things we can."

- Brad C. (OtakuDante)

Photo by Pixabay

Double Dragon Gaiden: Rise of the Dragons - Making New The Old

The year is 199X, and the world is living the aftermath of nuclear war. New York is now a rubble reduced dystopian nightmare ruled by four gangs. The Okada, Triangle, Royals, and Killers. In the midst of it all Billy and Jimmy Lee, the Double Dragon Duo, get drawn back into the heat of battle after their female partner in arms Marian is beaten in a gang incident while patrolling the streets. Against their leader Uncle Matin's wishes Billy, Jimmy, and Marian choose to take on each gang on their own turf. Racking up coins, and cash as they restore law and order to the city for the new sitting mayor.

Technology, Our Achille's Heel?

For the past 5 days I've been without internet, and cable. My window to the outside world was crippled. Only through my Smartphone was I able to check-in on my usual social media accounts, and that of itself is something I've tried hard to avoid. Dependency upon the smartphone is the last thing I want given where it's headed in relations to tyrannical one world governance. That's a topic for another day though. Today I want to discuss with you how hard it is to live without technology after having become so reliant on it's everyday usage. 

Diversity And Inclusivity In Gaming

Like my previous article discussing the controversy that is degeneracy in gaming this article will also touch base on a hot topic. That hot topic being diversity and inclusivity in gaming. 

As with all of the entertainment offerings these days diversity and inclusivity has seemingly become top priority, and not for the right reasons. It is more important than storytelling, and character building to everyone who champions it. As such a lot of what we get is nothing more than platforms for propaganda, and people turned into billboards for the current narrative. All as means to push divisive identity politics on anyone who dares pay for the experience. Oddly enough former president Barack Obama passed a bill prior to the boom of identity politics to allow propaganda to be used on the US population. This is a crucial piece of information that should be noted as it has had an impact on the diversity and inclusivity movements within the realm of entertainment, and media.

QUOTE: Of Influence And Motivation

"Why do we do the things we do? That's the question. Everything we've ever done was motivated by influences outside of our own state of awareness."

- Brad C. (OtakuDante)

Photo by Ba Tik

Degeneracy In Gaming | A Hot Topic

Since the revealing of Baldur Gate III's in-game bear shenanigans the developer has doubled down on it's included degeneracy. Noting the addition of genitalia customization within the game's character creation menu. Why I bring light to this is that the gaming industry has double standards in what it deems problematic, especially in regards to adult content. Often times we see developers forced to censor or cut out character features that attract the "male gaze". Be it nudity or partial nudity of females. At the same time certain other nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit features that cater to the LGBTQ+ community are let through with no censorship at all. This blatant hypocrisy obviously comes with a political agenda.

Music With A Message - KMFDM

We've all heard stories about older music containing hidden messages, and secretive meaning. Whether it be in reverse tracks, lyrics, or manipulated sound we've all heard tales of such tracks. I've personally grown to respect such things, what I refer to as the music that tells the future. Songs akin to George Orwell's "1984" as it aligns with today's political movements. 

While some of the bands I closely follow are niche you might have also heard of them given the time you were born. One such band that continuously produces songs that are meant to stir up the fight in the individual against the military industrial complex, and totalitarianism is none other than KMFDM. One song, in particular, stands out to me above the rest considering the declining state of America, and the Western world. The title of the song is, "New American Century", and in it's lyrics lies a warning. A warning of what complacency will do when facing tyranny. It's a very Orwellian song, and one I highly suggest you listen to if you listen to no others songs from their expansive catalogue. 

QUOTE: Of Power And Influence ...

"If the powerful and influential see you as such a threat that they try to cancel and censor you be proud of your accomplishment. It shows that they fear your power and influence."

- Brad C. (OtakuDante) 

Photo by Chloe

Risky Woods | PS4 Review

QUBytes and PIKO are at it again porting a hardly heard of classic to modern consoles for a new audience. This time around it's the 1992 Electronic Arts side-scrolling platformer, "Risky Woods". Risky Woods is all about a fantasy world in which an evil God named Draxos is challenged by the heroic Rohan. Rohan's mission is to free all the good monks who have been frozen in stone via a curse. Thus releasing wisdom from it's prison. Using an infinite throwing knife, and other useful weapons Rohan must face off against Draxos' minions and his four bosses. With each playthrough spanning four unique areas that in turn harbor two hardcore stages filled with risk and reward style opportunities.

Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde | PS5

Just when you think you've seen all that a genre has to offer a developer like Creature Cauldron shows up to prove otherwise. By now most of you have heard of the latest gaming craze that is "Auto-Shooters". A genre sparked by the creation of Xbox's titular title 'Vampire Survivors'. Ever since the genre got kickstarted with that game's launch several developers have jumped on the bandwagon to give their own take on the given gameplay mechanics. Some creations proving to be simple reskins, and others showing a level of creativity and innovation that builds upon the base formula. 

In "Spirit Hunters" innovation is definitely a key selling point. Along with the traditional accumulation of meter to unlock skill upgrades comes a pet system, bonus challenges, and a skill tree that further unlocks in-game features. It gives the player more to grind for and a reason to continue playing.

Sea Horizon | PS5 Review

Mythology and seafaring adventures of the roguelike deckbuilding sort hits the PS5 with more bang for your buck in mind. Featuring a dice and card based system of combat, 10 classes of characters to play as, and three main modes to play in you'll find enough gameplay features to sink hours of your day into within "Sea Horizon". The replay value is high and the gameplay, equally as addictive. It is an easy to learn, but hard to complete pick up and put down type of experience that takes place in a world of mythological creatures, and deities which spans an entire world. 

With risk being rewarded for the attempt brave this world's wilds those who are willing and worthy will reap all the loot needed to complete the quests laid out before them. Should you fancy more than just lore there are two randomized modes offered after the main adventure that will keep you preoccupied.

Feeble Light | PS5 Review

Panda Indie Studio, and their signature shmup design returns with full-on familiarity. Like a reskinned or revamped version of prior releases "Feeble Light" does little to innovate or deviate from the beaten path. In it you control a living star with a heart. This star that you are barrels through randomly generated space levels, vertically, facing the darkness there. There's everything from undead Lovecraftian horrors, to corrupted stars, and even asteroid fields filled with plenty of telegraphed hazards. 

Your abilities to combat these threats, at base level, includes a slowdown that comes from holding down the fire button, as well as a basic shot, and a three tier bomb that builds up on the left behind stardust collected from fallen enemies. Outside of that it's a roulette wheel of randomized power-up drops that do a good many things. Making the only way to see it all through to it's end, RNGeezus.

Rainbow Snake | PS4 Review

As a gamer we've all, at some point or another, played the mini-game "Snake". Be it on the mobile phone, PC, or console. The game featuring simple yet challenging gameplay centered around an all consuming, and ever-expanding serpent that is contained within the confines of a digital arena. We who know, know that the point of the game is to grow as long in length as possible without hitting the surrounding barrier or running into our own lengthening body. That's "Snake", in a nut shell. 

Well, what if I were to tell you this game of old has made it's debut yet again on modern consoles in the form of a one dollar wonder known as "Rainbow Snake"? A trophy filled, and simplistic serpentine adventure that comes enhanced with rainbow pixels, 3D voxel backgrounds of prismatic color, and a soothing instrumental soundtrack for a zen-like experience ... would you bite?