Go to page 24 & 40 for more details on Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City!
From the Editor Hello and welcome to the November edition of Gametraders Live! Inside we have three exciting movie giveaways including Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City and Spider Man: No Way Home! We also have two fantastic interviews with Jay Rath and Patricia Whitely, voice actors for the 1980’s Astro Boy TV Series. Plus some reviews of recent games, including Life is Strange: True Colours, Death Stranding Directors Cut and The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes. As well as an interesting article about new games to try when you are sick of replaying the same ones. We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep an eye out for part two coming in December!
Emily Langford Emily Langford, EDITOR
What’s inside
LIFE IS STRANGE: TRUE COLORS
pg. 52
DEATH STRANDING DIRECTORS CUT
PG. 60
THE LIVE TEAM EDITOR & DESIGNER: Emily Langford
WRITERS: Paul Monopoli, Interviews / Retro Editor Issa Maki & Lee Mehr, VGChartz
JAY RATH INTERVIEW
Pg. 8
PATRICIA WHITELY INTERVIEW
Pg. 28
THE DARK PICTURES ANTHOLOGY: HOUSE OF ASHES Pg. 72
SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME GIVEAWAY PG. 30
MOVIES GIVEAWAY’S
INTERVIEW WITH PATRCIA WHITELY
INTERVIEW WITH JAY RATH
ANIME
,tv&
For the first time in the cinematic history of Spider-Man, our friendly neighbourhood hero’s identity is revealed, bringing his Super Hero responsibilities into conflict with his normal life and putting those he cares about most at risk. When he enlists Doctor Strange’s help to restore his secret, the spell tears a hole in their world, releasing the most powerful villains who’ve ever fought a Spider-Man in any universe. Now, Peter will have to overcome his greatest challenge yet, which will not only forever alter his own future but the future of the Multiverse. Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Favreau, Jacob Batalon with Marisa Tomei Directed by Jon Watts Based on the MARVEL Comic Book by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
WIN A DOUBLE PASS! Thanks to Sony Pictures and Gametraders you could win a double pass to see the new Resident Evil: Welcome To Raccoon City! All you have to do is go to the Gametraders Facebook page and like the competition post, tag who you’re going to take and comment why you want to see Spider-Man: No Way Home!
MARVEL and all related character names: © &™ 2021 MARVEL. Spider-Man™: No Way Home, the Movie ©2021 CPII and MARVEL.
Paul Monopoli
INTERVIEW:
JAY RATH The 1980s series of Astroboy debuted on
It recently occurred to me that there has
Australian TV on December 23rd in 1983.
been a lot of coverage over 80s properties
The show was a big success, running on
such as He-Man and the Masters of the
the ABC and Channel 10 throughout the
Universe, The Transformers and Teenage
80s and 90s. It was a show that made a
Mutant Ninja Turtles, but nothing on
big impact on me as a child, and I can
Astroboy. I decided not to wait for
remember many schoolyard discussions
someone else to explore this goldmine of
about various episodes.
80s pop culture, and I have taken it upon
myself to research and plan an upcoming
another one. And on the radio ‘The Great
audio documentary on the series. This
Gilder Sleeve’, one of whose actors sort of
has resulted in me making contact with
mentored me later.
almost all of the cast and crew involved in the show. Jay Rath, the voice of the
I enjoyed comedy on radio and comedy
villain Skunk, joined me for a Zoom call,
on film, including silent film, and I knew I
where we discussed his involvement in the
really wanted to be some sort of comedy
series.
performer at that time. It wasn’t stand up. That was the big thing, and this is way
Paul: When did you decide you wanted to
before Saturday night live. I suppose, it
be an actor?
would have been sketch comedy that I was most interested in, but I didn’t know
Jay: It was one of those fantasy options
what form it would take, but I was very
that I had. I wanted to be either a
interested in it and I wrote it all the time.
forest ranger, like Smokey Bear, or an airplane pilot or the engineer of a steam
I also always wanted to be a cartoonist
locomotive, but I got caught up in film
growing up, and I became one
very early. At that time we had actual film.
subsequently. I didn’t go into animation,
Eight millimetre size film, and some will
though I taught animation through our
know what that means.
university school.
It was an actual strip of plastic that you
Entertainment and the history of
used at home, and you could photograph
entertainment has always fascinated
on that, of course, and splice on it and do
me, and that includes comedy and all
movies. So I enjoyed Chaplin, Hardy and
its forms, where it came from and how it
on TV, WC fields and the Marx brothers,
changed over the years.
as I was primarily interested in the comedy aspect of performing. Will Rogers was
Paul: So at what point did acting not
game show pilot we did that New York.
become the focus and cartooning took
So I remain active in a lot of different
over?
fields but not just one of them. Some people would say I lacked focus.
Jay: Well, none of that ever ended, for me, I continued doing all of it. Acting
Paul: Is this something you were
is not an either/or, it’s always/and, and I
encouraged to do? Pursue a career in
think it is for most performers because it’s
entertainment?
so hard to make a living at it. Jay: Oh, my parents didn’t care what Every actor I know has a day job. Every
I did, but they made it clear that they
cartoonist I know has a day job. They
would support whatever I wanted and
have something else going on. It’s really
yeah, they certainly supported me.
hard to make a living doing just one of these things.
They got me a drawing board when I was very young and allowed me, when I
I calculated once, and I told my
was in high school, to spend the entire
cartooning students this, and it’s true: it’s
summers with a children’s theatre troupe.
easier to get into Congress, to be elected
We did four shows a day. It was double
to the US Congress, than to become a full
cast. So one cast would do two shows in
time professional cartoonist.
the morning and then in the afternoon another cast would do two shows. But I
From time to time I did continue to act
would work both shows. I would act in
more. I have acted in radio drama. I
one, and then I would crew for the other
produced a couple of pilot radio drama
one.
series, for both of the comedy series I worked on with national public radio, on
If you had any stage fright at all, you
an American national public radio, on a
would lose it pretty quick.
I gradually worked my way up. I started
Astroboy I got a phone call, and I don’t
writing some of the scripts for the
think it was from him directly, but it was
company and then my first directing job
it was from somebody attached to the to
was for them. Theatrical directing. That
the show asking if I would audition for it.
was a children’s theatre group. From there, I started directing grown ups in the
And I had no idea what was going on. It
community theatre projects, and then I
was an exciting opportunity. I mean, come
finally split off a semi professional theatre
do voices for a cartoon show… yeah that
company which is still active today. We
sounds pretty fun.
produce presentations on stage and radio. But I had never heard of Del before. I Paul: How did you get involved with
had never heard of Astroboy. I had no
Astroboy?
idea what any of this was, but I was very hopeful, and I thought it was very exciting.
Jay: I had been in a play: Neil Simon’s,
I knew we were dubbing something, and
The Good Doctor, which is based on
I guessed it was Japanese. I didn’t really
several short stories by Anton Chekhov, so
understand the show or what it was about.
I had to do several different characters in
We discovered it almost as viewers do:
the show and I matched voices to them.
one episode, at a time, and no one told
For one character I was an old man, and
us about a series arc. Nobody told us
another I was a very nervous young clerk
about the continuing storyline with Atlas.
and so on, so I had to do several distinct
It was always a surprise to us, interesting
characters within a single show.
to us. It’s like, oh Atlas is back. Oh my, he’s growing older. Why doesn’t Astro grow
And I guess Del (Lewis) was in one of
older?
the audiences. The run of the show was in October and it must have hung in his
We did it as we discovered it and maybe
mind, because when he started casting
that helped our performances. So, you
know, it came out of the blue, and I
strange, but to make eye contact, to be
loved it!
in the same room, to see each other’s physicality as you do, it counts a lot, and
Paul: Could you explain the process
otherwise you’re acting, you know, inside
of dubbing the show in the English
of a pipe. You don’t really feel it, you
because, from what I understand it’s very
don’t really sense it. You’re very much
different to how it’s done today where
divorced from it, but to do it sort of
it’s one person in the sound soundproof
with your family as you go and then you
studio. That person goes out, the next
know read through it scene by scene,
person comes in and does their lines,
comparing notes as we went, planning
and then they put it all together that way,
as we wanted, how we would approach
but this was different, this was the cast in
the characters and the next the next
the studio. Often three or four people at
scene and so on, I think that adds a lot.
a time, sometimes more.
You don’t get that sort of opportunity for continuity when you’re recording alone in
Jay: Yeah these days they like to isolate
a studio.
everything. So you isolate the actors, you isolate the sound effects, you isolate
Paul: What was the atmosphere, like in
everything, and then you mix it together
the studio having all of those people in
later, and that way you have maximum
the one booth?
control. Jay: Only those who were necessary to a We did it sort of the old fashioned
show were there. Not everybody was in
way, which was do it with everybody in
every show, obviously. Patty (Astro) was,
the same room at once, and I think, in
obviously. Maybe a few others, maybe
my own radio work subsequently, we
Brian (Dr Elefun) or Bob (Daddy Walrus)
almost always did it that way. It leads
or yeah. But a lot of people, of course,
to much better performances. You can
wanted time off. It was kind of a grind. I
actually see each other, and it sounds
always wanted to be in it. Give me any
part. I’ll come over and be in it.
Grad students versus undergraduate
But at first, we were all strangers, and
students.
the cast was much smaller when we did what I had termed “the pilot”, which
So we were strangers. We got to know
wasn’t really a pilot, but it was certainly
each other and, of course, some of
a tryout for us. It was a tryout for casting
us came to be friends. I did a lot with
purposes and was also try out, I believe,
Greg (Zerkle). We hung out a lot, and
for Nippon Television to make sure we
with Dave. Debby (Holmes), I knew
could do the job and in a quality way. So
by reputation, because she had been,
I always thought of it as the pilot. At that
I think, one of the founders of this
time the cast was tiny and not that many
children’s group that I’d been in. So I’d
characters were called for in that initial
heard her name around, and I was sort
program, but later on the full cast was
of flabbergasted that she was involved at
assembled.
all. She was, you know, like a giant in the area theatre scene.
We met for the first time and started doing table readings, which is where
And Patty (Whitely)… I just adored Patty
all the actors get together and we read
early on. She could have been a snob.
through a script. Some people already
She could have been ‘you know, I’m
knew each other, but a lot of us didn’t.
the star’, but no. She was she was like
Dave (Miller) was new to this too. He
my pal. We were great pals, and we’ve
was also very young. So we were sort of
stayed in touch. We went to parties. We
connected as the youngest. We hung
didn’t date, I mean, she was married
out, we did things, and you know, there
and pregnant, but I think we certainly
were the older people who might be,
developed a bond that lasted all these
you know, three or four years older
years. Of all the other cast members.
than us. But we were conscious of age,
Patty and I certainly kept in touch the
because of the academic setting that
most, continued to work together and
many of them were university students.
knew each other socially.
Photos taken by Jay Rath
Paul: You played multiple roles, but you
got caught on tape. I don’t like it and I’ve
are probably best known for the recurring
always been embarrassed that that went
character of Skunk. What was your approach
out.
to him? it was being a big guy, visually, on the Jay: I’m not a big guy, but Skunk’s a big
screen, and doing a deep voice was
guy, and I only found out later, much later,
problematic as a performer because I
that the character was based on Richard
lowered my voice as much as I could, and so
Widmark, and I was completely free to
I was speaking at the bottom of my register
invent whatever voice I had in mind. To
to portray emotion, I had nowhere to go
me, he was a great big guy, so he would
but up. Right now, my voice is going up and
have a great deep voice, and of course the
it’s going down, and I can… when you’re a
laugh wouldn’t be, you know, sort of the
radio actor you only have so many things
snickering wheezy Richard Widmark laugh.
to work with that often stage performers
It would be a deep oily evil laugh, a cartoon
don’t even think about that rhythm pitch
sort of laugh, like from a Warner brothers
tambor. If you lose pitch then you’re sort of
cartoon or something, and so that’s what I
hamstrung right at the start. So, there’s a
did. I’ve mentioned before, that Del wanted
lot going on with volume and Skunk and, of
me to be hootier. This is maybe about the
course, the laugh was great to do.
third episode in. Paul: Since discovering Astroboy’s success, Number one I didn’t like changing the
how have you found the fans?
voice that we already had established but Del really wanted it and he’s the director. I
Jay: The funny thing, is the fans get me
never did quite figure out what “hootier”
excited. A number of years ago, and on one
meant. It wound up very much… you know
of the boards, I thought of doing a special
I don’t know how to describe it locally, but
show. An audio show, like one of the Big
speaking through your nose letting a lot of
Finish productions, and we would avoid all
hair go through your mouth and your throat,
the trademark and copyright problems. So
at the same time, and I know some of that
we wouldn’t call it Astroboy. We’d call it,
you know, Little Boy Robot or something
exactly what the voice was. It’s a trick voice,
like that.
obviously. It’s not her natural speaking voice.
We’d do the same characters and do the
Paul: If you listen to the actual introduction
voices, and my idea was to do a show where
song, her voice is quite pronounced in
Astro finally ages and grows old, and I
certain parts of it.
thought it was a great idea, and I talked to a couple of cast members about it. I think
Jay: Well, there certainly was more than
Brian and Bob… and they were excited
one microphone, and they had all sorts of
because they were critical to it. Because you
channels running, and Patty may have been
would need their characters especially, and
louder on the particular mic that she was
I talked to Patty, and she was concerned,
on. I don’t remember how many mics there
because she didn’t know if she could do
were. There certainly must have been three
the voice anymore. She couldn’t remember
and maybe even four mics, and so it wasn’t
like real clustered around one mic.
But page turns could ruin a take, the sound of the page turning. So some
And I imagine they played with it in in
people did take the staples out, but they
post production to bring Patty out. That
didn’t drop them on the floor after the
would have been an engineering choice
first two shows or so. They just kept them
I think. But they were always fussing with
loose on the stand.
the mics and how close we were. We could turn to fuss with it afterward and
Obviously, dependent on the show, if
bring it down or put it up, but they were
you had a small part of the script why
very specific about where they wanted us
bother to take the staple out? Just go
to stand, how far away and everything.
read your line and then sit down, but if you were in a lot, yeah, you’d want to
The scripts were a problem, and page
manipulate it.
rattling was a big problem. Some people got the idea that you would take the
Paul: How was your approach to voice
staple out of the script, and, as you
acting?
read, you would drop that page to the floor. I think that came from the movie
Jay: Everybody would mark their parts
version of Annie, the Broadway musical
in the script. You’d read through it and
because they recreate a radio drama in
mark your parts and scan the script and
that movie, and it shows them dropping
look the key point of drama for your
the pages to the floor as they proceed,
character, if there were any. You get a
which is probably the last thing you
sense of the script, where it was going,
ever want to do. They make sound as
and then sometimes you negotiate with
they fall. We had stands for the scripts,
each other if you were doing characters
but sometimes you read from the same
that were one shot characters.
script even though you had your own just because you had to be so close together.
Dave and I have similar voices and would
discuss, you know, ”are you going to go up
In my later radio drama work I’ve always
on this or you’re going to go down? I will
found that the best audio actors have at
go up. Okay, then I’ll go down”, discussing
least had some music training, because
our pitch beforehand, so that listeners
I think in those terms already, and that’s
could differentiate between the voices. So,
what it really is. It’s an audio performance.
then you would mark the script and as I
A narrative performance is music. Thinking,
performed it I would mark the script further
the same way, is… again it’s pitch it’s tambor
with inflection notes of where I wanted lines
and rhythm. That’s all you have to work with.
to go up and where I wanted lines to be staccato.
Paul: And I believe you kept all the
the first thing I thought was, “It must have
Astroboy scripts?
aired.”
Jay: Yes, a lot of people just toss the scripts,
It was that simple. Because people have
you know, just throw them out, and they
seen it. Good. Anything you did that was
thought I was kind of crazy for putting
valued so much that people really feel
the pages back in order and saving them.
affection for it… It just amazes me that we
Sometimes, if somebody had a script they
had an impact on people’s lives. I mean,
didn’t want I’d take that one too, so I have a
some people chose careers that they are
couple sets of duplicates.
now successful in based on the show.
I thought it was special. I wanted to save everything and I did save everything. They thought it was, you know, “okay Jay wants it, fine, he’s a little peculiar about this. He really thinks it’s going to be that big a deal. Well, we’ll see. We all hope so, but…”
Paul: The show was a hit in Australia, but from what I understand it bombed in the US. Were you aware of any international success from the English version of the show?
Jay: No, no, not until the Internet. I did a Google search and I discovered the Astroboy Bulletin Board. But yeah, I found that and, of course, I was amazed. I registered as a user using my own name. I was just reading their comments, and
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WIN A DOUBLE PASS! Thanks to Sony Pictures and Gametraders you could win a double pass to see the new Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City! All you have to do is go to the Gametraders Facebook page and like the competition post, tag who you’re going to take and comment why you want to see Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City!
© 2021 CTMG. All Rights Reserved.
Paul Monopoli
INTERVIEW WITH:
Patricia Whitely Of course, a magazine cannot have an
Kugler Whitely. I was lucky enough to find
Astroboy feature without a few words from
Patricia, and she was kind enough to spend
the boy robot himself. In the 1980s series,
some time chatting about the recording
Astro was voiced by stage actress, Patricia
sessions.
Paul: Astroboy was such an iconic show
and I went, “oh no, this is not for me”.
for Australian children, but we know so
So, then I put it together that what I was
little about the people behind the show.
really interested in were the props and the
What made you decide to become an
costumes. I left the university for a year
actor?
and then, when I went back on my own dime I thought “well I’m going to be a
Patricia: You know, I was always
theatre major”. So what if I never have an
interested. Going way back in
income?
kindergarten I always gravitated to the costume box, and I’d barter with someone
Paul: So what were some of the
if they took the costume I wanted. In
production’s you were involved in before
grade school I wrote a play and gave
Astro boy?
myself the leading part. Then, when I got to college, in those days they said
Patricia: University plays and high school
to women, ‘do you want to be a teacher
plays. When I was way younger, I did
or a nurse’ because they thought those
a lot of commercial work. I mean radio
were the only professions that women
voiceover. And we also lived in Chicago
could do. These are noble professions,
for a while. I’m originally from Wisconsin,
but I was suited for either. I tried both of
but in those five years I found some acting
them, and when I was getting into the
to do, and I was going to try to become a
education courses, I realised that I was
professional voiceover actor, but just when
bored by it, and the only thing I liked
I was trying to pull together a demo tape
was writing on the chalkboard. And the
we left Chicago, which is a very large city
nursing courses, I just saw myself walking
for Madison Wisconsin. I had a nice little
around in a crisp, white uniform with a
career in advertising voice over work here
lovely cap with a clipboard taking notes.
in Madison.
I worked at a nursing home for one night
Paul: How did you get cast in Astro boy?
Paul: Greg Zerkle, another actor in Astroboy, mentioned to me that one of the
Patricia: The Director, Del Lewis, was a
hardest things was when a character wasn’t
teaching assistant on staff at in the theatre
on the screen or had its back to the screen
department at the University of Wisconsin.
and then it turned to face the screen while it
Because we worked together, he was aware
was still speaking.
of my acting skills and my voice range. He said, “we’re dubbing this series called Astro
Patricia: Yeah, that was the hardest!
boy from Japanese into English, and I would like you to play Astro boy”, and I said “oh!
Paul: What we have what were your first
Yes, I’d love to.”
impressions when you saw the show?
Paul: Had you heard of Astro boy before
Patricia: You know, we would just see the
you got the role?
sections we were working on. We never sat back and watched a whole episode that
Patricia: No. Not a thing. It was just
I remember. It was clever and cute, and
when he approached me and said it was
there were some segments that were more
a Japanese cartoon, and we are going to
fun than others, like, I think they went into
dub it into English. It was difficult because
outer space in a rocket and because of
of that dubbing challenge. We’d watch a
the zero gravity food was, floating around,
section, and then we’d read it, and try to
that’s when the dialogue with something
match the characters mouth movements,
like “there goes my pork sandwich” and we
and it was okay if they were talking with
could see that it was a hamburger so we just
their head to the film you know, then you
changed it. Yeah, it was it was a lot of fun. I
can easily get it in. But I know in the early
mean, it was a lot of work too. I was thinking
days, I think we hung on with words like
it’s like college: you look back on it and
‘nooooo’ because the lips hadn’t stopped
think “oh God, didn’t I have the best time
moving yet, but we were out of words, so
of my life? forget about all the papers and
that was a little bit of cheating.
the reading and the tests”, so now I look
back on it very fondly. Even though there
Patricia: Well, it was all in Vilas Hall, which
were times when we were just fried! And
is our communications building (at the
with my one and a half year old at home,
University of Wisconsin). The pilot was
sometimes I would just say to Del... I’d
in a different place. For some reason I
start crying and saying “I’m fried! I have
feel like it was in a basement or in a main
to go home and see my baby” and he was
level, and then, then we moved to the
always so accommodating. He’s a great
regular studio. I think it was called ‘Filo
guy, and he had two little kids of his own.
Best block’ for some somebody at the university, and that was more fun. We had
Paul: Where was the original pilot
Carl Battaglia in the booth with Del and
recorded? I believe it was in a different
they’d talk to us, and we’d rehearse it
place to the main show.
and do it, and do it, and do it until finally someone approved of it.
Paul: So how long did the pilot take to
Paul: Did you get the role?
record? Patricia: I didn’t get that one, but I got the Patricia: I don’t think it took that long. It
next one that I auditioned for.
was all strange to us. It’s like “we’re doing what?” I don’t remember that took more
Paul: When the show was approved and you
than an hour, maybe two. It was just one
were bought back to record the series, more
episode. We were just reading. We didn’t
actors were bought in to the cast. What was
have to do the lip flap thing. It was just a
it like with the expanded cost now you had
small group of us. It was just an audition to
all of these new people playing all these
see if Nippon Broadcasting would like us.
varied roles?
Paul: Did you get to listen to any of the
Patricia: It was just great. I mean, it was
playback after you’d recorded that pilot?
mutual admiration society.
Patricia: No, just what we were doing at
Paul: What were some of the challenges
the time. I don’t recall that we listened to it
with the recording process?
again. Patricia: Well, the aforementioned, that Paul: There was a long break between
matching the lip flap. That can be really
recording that pilot and the main series.
hard, but we got better at it. Of course, as
What did you do during that time?
the week’s wore on, we got much, much better at getting that voice in before the
Patricia: Well, I was mostly home, taking
little characters shut the mouth.
care of my little baby. Maybe I did one play a year, or maybe two, or what the heck, it
Paul: What was it like recording your Atlas
was three plays a year (especially when I had
scenes with Paul Nelson? Because there
two kids!) I auditioned when she was two
were eight or nine episodes with Atlas in
weeks old. What am I saying? (laughs).
them.
Patricia: He was great, and Doctor Elefun
was available. I got her on the phone and
too. That was Brian Parry. They were they
she came in and relieved the pressure, and
were great to interact with. They were so
then she ordered some painkillers for me, but
intense into their characters, and their
you couldn’t just get them at that time. No
voices were so melodic and yeah… it was
pharmacies were open all night or anything. I
great. I had a different rapport with almost
had to go to the hospital pharmacy, and they
everyone in a different way (with the) different
had to call her to make sure the prescription
relationships of our characters.
was legitimate and to get permission from her voice. That’s how restricted opiate drugs
Paul: Were there any concerns that you had
were, but I did get them.
playing the main character of the series?
Patricia: No. I was young enough to be very
Paul: I’m thinking that wouldn’t have been
proud. I had this role of Astro boy, you know,
a cheap dentist bill for you at 10 o’clock at
and I didn’t have a moment off except maybe
night!
when you Uran was singing. And one night… this is so strange. It was a Saturday night,
Patricia: Oh no, I don’t recall it was like that.
and I started to have a toothache, and it got
She was just happy to help me out. It was
worse and worse as we went. We had a short
just the hassle of getting narcotics, because
dinner break, and we want to McDonald’s,
they were so verboten at that time. I felt like a
and the other cast members were like, “you
crazy person. I was just like walking in circles
are so good, you’re not eating anything”. I
waiting for her.
was maybe sipping something. I didn’t tell them, ‘because my tooth is throbbing in my
Paul: You mentioned the Uran songs before.
head!’ and it turned out to be, eventually, it
I understand that Becke (Wilenski) recorded
was a root canal. The nerve was dying in my
them, but they were never broadcast. Were
tooth, and that is tremendous pain. It really
you there for those recording sessions and
is. It’s like, boom, boom, boom! Luckily, after
what were your memories of them if you
we recorded at 10 o’clock at night, my dentist
were?
Patricia: I was there when she recorded them
Patricia: Well, I guess at first, I thought he
and I just marvelled at it. Her voice was so
looked kind of odd. We all loved the guns
darn cute. I can sing a little, but I would never
in his butt. That was one of our faves and
solo, and it was just so easy for her, and they
yeah… As time went on, very shortly, I grew
were such cute songs. It was nice to have a
to love him. We were told that the writer
little sister.
(Osamu Tezuka) wanted to put a positive spin on nuclear weapons because they had been
Paul: Did you keep in touch with Becke?
so devastated by it, so he turned and made this little character who had nuclear powers,
Patricia: No, I have not. You know, everybody
but was for the greater good, as opposed to
just scattered to the winds, because they were
evil.
in different years in school, but everybody was in college... except me... So, when you
Paul: The recording sessions started in
get out of that, you’re probably going to go
the late afternoon, and you (as the main
elsewhere. Some people stay in Madison
character) had to be there from the start to
because it’s such a nice college town. I mean
the end. What times did you find yourself
Jay and Dave (Miller), we palled around for a
leaving the studio some nights?
while afterwards. The Three Musketeers. And they’d come out to my house sometimes and
Patricia: 10, 11, 12, and Saturdays and
visit. I used to pick up Becke. I gave her a ride
Sundays we worked during the day, but they
down to the university, so I got to know her a
were long days.
little bit, but really after that... And Richard. Richard and I stayed in touch. We’ve been in
Paul: What are some of the memories, you
a couple plays together. So no. Everybody
have of the recording sessions?
just went off in their world. Patricia: We would just burst into laughter Paul: What were your impressions of Astro,
a lot. I know I told you the story of Debby
the character?
(Holmes). We had an island episode, and she was very, very dramatic. She said to Del, “I
want to play this character Del, like Medea”,
Patricia: We all stood around a microphone,
and he said, “not quite, no. Don’t go there”.
and we all sang together with lyrics in our hand, and I remember that Kahlei Slick, who
When Carl (Battaglia) was making the coffee,
played various roles, she said, “who’s singing
he really didn’t know how much to put in. It
like a child?”, and I said “that’s probably me”,
was delicious but after a couple of cups we
and she said “that’s so cute. Now when I sing,
were just talking so fast, you know, giggling
I sound like an old lady in the church choir”. I
and just kind of jittery, and I don’t usually get
can’t sing like an adult.
that affected by coffee. Then we realised he was putting in like two, three times as much
Paul: What were you told as far as distribution
as he was supposed to.
of the show would be concerned?
Richard Ganoung always wore a hat at every recording. I loved it when he did Alvin,
Patricia: Well, we were told that a man
because he was just so dumb. It was hilarious.
named Al Korn was going to handle the
He’s such a good actor.
American distribution and he did meet us, and he was complimentary to our voices, and
And it was just fun to be with the whole
then I don’t know what the heck happened.
group. In a perfect world, I would love to
I don’t know what he did with (the master
have been a soap opera... I mean, a radio
tapes). I remember that he wanted the
actress in the day, in the 40s when they had
masters and Carl tried to talk them out of it.
so many (radio shows). There was no TV,
He said “you know if you take the masters, we
and they had all these great stories on the
have no control. We don’t have a backup. Do
radio. That would have been my ideal world
you really want to do that?”, and they did, so
because no one can see you, so you can play
that’s when we lost control of it.
anything. Paul: Did the Masters go to Al, or Nippon Paul: The theme songs were the final parts recorded for the show. What are your memories of recording those songs?
Broadcasting?
Patricia: I think they went to a Nippon
opportunity, the 15 minutes of fame.
Broadcasting. That’s why we never had
We wanted our friends to enjoy it and
any distribution.
we wanted to be famous to be perfectly honest. (laughs)
Paul: What were your thoughts when the show failed the air in the US?
Paul: Oh, I don’t blame you for that one. I mean if you’re getting into acting I guess
Patricia: We were disappointed. You
that is the goal. When did you find out it
know, you always think this is your big
was a success in other parts of the world?
Patricia: Oh, not for a long, long, long time.
age bracket. I have to work so much harder
I’d say like, 20 years ago, maybe. Jay said,
to remember lines. I used to be able to learn
“well you know we’re hitting Malaysia”. I
a page of dialogue while riding the train to
didn’t know about Australia until very recently.
work in Chicago. Now it’ll take me two days
We recently communicated with some friends
to get a paragraph.
from Australia and they said, “oh yeah. Our grandkids still watch it”.
Paul: Any final thoughts on the show?
Paul: Had you done any TV work, or have you
Patricia: It’s really nice to hear after all these
done any TV work over the years?
years that it’s been enjoyed by a big audience of children and adults.
Patricia: Not TV per se, except for maybe interviews when we’re doing a play. I’ve been in an independent film called ‘Red Betsy’, and that one had some pretty good distribution. Then I was also an extra in Johnny Depp’s movie ‘Public Enemies’. I’m in a courtroom scene, and I have a purple hat. Wait for the courtroom scene and then look very intensely because I’m in the second row. Interesting day, but it was a long, long day.
Paul: So what have you done since playing Astro?
Patricia: I’ve done lots and lots of theatre. I used to do three (plays) per year, but now I’m slowing down because I’m in a different
Tom Hardy returns to the big screen as the lethal protector Venom, one of MARVEL’s greatest and most complex characters. Directed by Andy Serkis, the film also stars Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris and Woody Harrelson, in the role of the villain Cletus Kasady/ Carnage. Watch the trailer on YouTube: https://bit.ly/2ViOXsi Only in Cinemas, from November 25 #Venom
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gameS
LIFE IS STRANG TRUE COLORS
DEATH STRANDING DIRECTORS CUT
TIRED OF PLAYING THE SAME GAME OVER & OVER AGAIN?
S
GE:
REVIEWS
Craig Snow
Tired of Playing the Same Game Over & Over Again? Try These Underplayed Games Instead Playing video games is one of the best ways
they are, can become a bit exhausting. If
for people to escape reality and relax a little
you’re looking to mix things up a little bit
bit. This is especially true today, when we
then check out these underplayed gems
live in such uncertain and unusual times.
from 2021. STS betting might also have
However, playing the same video games
what you need.
over and over again, no matter how good
Chicory: A Colorful Tale (PC, PS4, PS4) Chicory: A Colorful Tale is one of those
world. After a challenging and gloomy year
games that leaves you smiling after you
and a half for most people, this game is just
finish playing, so if you’re looking for
what the doctor ordered. It includes a lot of
something more cheerful for a change then
fun quests and interesting characters, but
this is a great option. The gameplay is pretty
the main selling point of Chicory: A Colorful
simple, yet also inventive, and the story is
Tale is its creative painting mechanic.
incredibly cute. Chicory is actually one of the most You play as an adorable anthropomorphic
acclaimed titles of the year so far, even
dog who has a very strange but important
though it flew in under the radar, and the
mission - to restore color to a colorless
critics were absolutely smitten with it.
Everhood (PC, NS)
A favourite of our own Issa Maki, who
imitators like Undertale. And it mixes a
gave it an 8.5, Everhood is another
number of different genres together, most
incredibly inventive indie offering that
notably the music & rhythm genre with
mixes and matches genres while telling a
the RPG one.
deceptively engaging storyline. “This level of quality, love, and genuine Everhood features an art style inspired
dedication is the exact thing that the
by the classics, as well as more modern
gaming industry should be supporting.”
Guilty Gear -Strive- (PC, PS4, PS5) Another review staff favourite, Guilty
some of its complexity.
Gear -Strive- is the latest entry in the acclaimed Japanese fighting game series
That’s not done at the expense of the
Guilty Gear, from renowned fighting
core gameplay, however, and as our own
game experts Arc System Works. While
Lee Mehr put it, -Strive- is “mechanically
Japanese fighters can often seem
rewarding, visually sumptuous, & aurally
intimidating and complex from the
satisfying to an insane degree; plus it’s
outside, -Strive- takes great steps to make
supported by one of the sturdiest online
this particular series more approachable
systems I’ve seen for a fighter.”
to series newcomers, trimming down
Wildermyth (PC)
Switching gears to the strategy genre,
It mixes excellent story-telling with
Wildermyth is a tactical RPG inspired
procedural generation, making for a
by tabletop classics. You’re tasked with
highly replayable title that also has a lot of
leading a band of heroes as they grow
heart and soul. It also means the decisions
from reluctant farmers into unique and
you make in gameplay are truly impactful.
legendary fighters, combating unexpected
If you like strategy games or tabletop
threats and strange monsters across
RPGs then this one is for you.
interactive battlefields.
Cozy Grove (PC, PS4, Xbox, NS) Let’s end on a delightful note, shall we?
to do so like other games of this nature.
If you’ve ever played games like Stardew
Your objective is to help the spirits on
Valley or Animal Crossing then you should
the titular island with various tasks, while
definitely like this life-sim game about
getting to know and care about them. But
camping on a haunted island. Cozy Grove
above all it’s a very charming and relaxing
operates in real-time, which means its
adventure.
features and beautifully hand-drawn landscape both change as the day turns to night, much like in Don’t Starve.
So there we have it, five of the year’s best ‘under-the-radar’ games, to help freshen
While the game invites you to check in
your gaming palette and perhaps expand
each day, it doesn’t put pressure on you
your gaming horizons.
Lee Mehr
REVIEW XS:
Life is Strange: True Colors Reviewer’s Note: Due to how important
misguided. But the increased stakes also
ahead, especially for the first episode. I
Deck Nine’s True Colors. How does it pan
some story details are, there are SPOILERS personally liked going in totally ignorant
of all major plot points, so feel free to take
made me wonder if adversity could show out?
heed of my warning. On with the review!
Alex Chen has spent the last eight years
Despite ditching the number, the latest Life
at age 21, she’s left the foster care system
is Strange (LiS) is the first mainline entry not
handled by Dontnod Entertainment; instead, Deck Nine Games advances from more
modest upbringings to new heights. The
team’s increased creative aspirations come
melded with Square Enix’s greater financial
backing as well. Speaking as someone who
really disliked the Before The Storm prequel, I thought this big-budget level of trust was
in the Helping Hands Group Home. Now, and reunites with her brother, Gabe. This reunion brings her to Haven Springs,
Colorado. Think a little slice of Portlandia set upon a mountainous Midwest. The quaint trip to this quaint town meets
disaster once Gabe is killed in an accident. With her supernatural power of Empathy, Alex begins to dig into the suspicious
circumstances surrounding this event.
If you read that last part, you’re likely
intimately knowing someone in detail;
looks like in this universe. Hell, the
the integral side characters who don’t
wondering what “Empathy,” as a power, facetious side of me pondered that before playing too: “so... being a typical person
who intuits another’s emotional state is a
superpower now? After time manipulation and telekinesis, why is Deck Nine Games’
further, you’ll grow more suspicious of trigger these powers as often. Sure, the original allowed you to rewind time and
fix mistakes, but that still enabled you to explore Max’s suspicions.
imagination so constrained?” My snarky
Beyond the cheapened gameplay
She’s less emotional translator and more
the potential implications for Alex’s
side subsided the more I saw it in action. walking reflection, if that makes sense.
Empathy goes beyond seeing a colored outline of someone and gleaning their
thoughts; Alex essentially gets infected by that intense emotional state as well.
Theoretically, no one can dissemble their “true colors” from her.
This ability cuts both ways for me. If
you’ve tried any of the previous titles, the gameplay remains mostly unchanged: walking around specific environs,
navigating dialogue opportunities with
functions, I’m also not comfortable with powers. To avoid spoiling (as much
as I can), think of Alex’s special ability
extending to artificially “course-correcting” someone’s attitude. Would you do that with such a power? The consequences
of those choices are brought up towards
the final act, of course. The problem is it’s presented in both a good and bad light,
depending on who was affected. So, the implicit lesson is… be prudent about the target you’re emotionally manipulating? That’s kinda fucked up.
NPCs, and a light smattering of puzzles.
Conversely, some strong characters and
TellTale vein is trusting another character.
the end of episode one, I was already
One thing that drives many games in the Alex’s Empathy cheat-codes past that to
scenarios elevate its potential too. By
connecting with minor characters like the
verbose Duckie and seeing the potential
of the core trio: Alex, Ryan, & Steph. Even
if both of Alex’s teammates check off a list
slate shows some improvements in the team’s craft.
of tropes and some cringe-inducing lines,
All this talk about its emotional core could
them. Similarly, Alex’s blossoming
investigations spearheaded by Alex. In my
there’s a genuine comradery between friendship with one of Haven Springs’
youngest members is thoroughly explored in my favorite level: the LARP. His disdain for people cossetting him after Gabe’s
death shifts to an engrossing distraction
with a solid payoff. Considering how Deck Nine’s previous writing rarely elevated
above tawdry for me, I’m glad this clean
suggest I’m disregarding the amateur
defense, so does the story. You can tacitly feel the writers prying ways for the trio to discover all of the guilty parties involved.
The shadiness of the major corporate entity (Typhon Mining) involved in the accident is an obvious suspicion; and yet, it’s odd how little I thought about it. There’s potential
evidence to be handed to authorities, but
don’t do that before the town’s roisterous
two conflicting attitudes across both
encapsulates why this... regnant corporate
logical annoyances versus the sporadic
party! The classic “show, don’t tell” rule
power, whose tendrils supposedly course
through the whole town, has no real bite. Even when the writing falters, the
presentation is typically on point. The list of voice actors may not have the relative star power of other entries, but it’s still a respectable one nonetheless. Erica
Mori’s mellifluous voice for Alex puts her
in the running as one of my favorite lead performances this year, and Jim Hunt
perfectly fits the oddball personality of
cerebral hemispheres: the technical/
emotional highs that stick with me. The uneven, back-loaded pacing relies on a finale’s over-exposition because of
how much fluff is sandwiched into the
beginning and middle; and yet, this series has often reveled in said fluff to capture
some emotionally earnest moments. And I get how that can work for specific fans,
but a proper sort of “story architecture” is
missing. It’s like building up a lavish house but never pouring a good foundation.
“Duckie”. These prominent examples in
With respect to gameplay, some credit
away from Alex’s hemisphere one got
relatively restricted town. Considering
mind, I did tend to notice that the further the shakier the acting quality became.
Some background extras and minor side
characters occasionally tumble into stale line-reading. This doesn’t cancel out
the positives, but it slightly dampens my enthusiasm.
In keeping with the series overall, True Colors’ disparate storytelling results frustrate me no end. I’m managing
is due for expanding player options in a their constrained budgets, most LiS
locales were linear with a smattering of collectibles. That’s still – mostly –
maintained here, but several pleasant
side-stories demand you investigate all the square footage you’re given. It’s one thing to miss discreet collectibles with dialogue snippets, it’s another when those post-
episode flow charts reveal a potentially
missed conversation with a good character.
Tie this in with the LARP’s rudimentary
details across every location, and more
arcade games (like Arkanoid), and several
sound design and healthy amount of
turn-based RPG mechanics, some knockoff basic puzzles, you get the majority of its adventure mechanics. Not vastly
expanded, but improved nonetheless. The increased budget & price point is
most prominently signaled in True Colors’
take the series to the next stage. The licensed songs have been a locked-in
positive since the beginning, so the main
note here is the impressive quantity of the latter. Hell, Angus & Julia Stone basically
made a new EP specifically for this game.
production values over its mechanics.
These upgrades are nice, but is it
improvements. Refracted light filtered
improvements are, does newer tech alone
Any long-time fan can instantly spot the through Alex’s bifocals, the naturalistic ways her eyes dart around, improved
lip syncing in dialogue segments, subtle
“AAA-level” nice? As notable as the
justify a bumped $60 price point (retail), or should Square Enix receive more scrutiny for testing players’ patience? This series
has always emphasized art design over
history spans several console generations:
any suspicious tactics here. I’m less
Playstation, SEGA, and PC titles elsewhere.
raw tech, but it’s tough to wholly disregard divided when considering the value from time spent, however. When considering
my collectible-gathering, I’d ballpark the campaign’s length at 9-10 hours.
Life is Strange has a knack for constructing emotionally earnest moments by any
means necessary. Considering how Deck Nine’s previous work hardly hit even
that expectation, True Colors represents
noteworthy improvement by comparison. But as True Colors trundles towards its
finale, changing from a mechanically-light adventure game to a confined interactive
movie, the ‘means’ of reaching here come with numerous sacrifices: poor pacing,
mismanaged stakes, annoying narrative
conveniences, and so on. It’s a game that elicits a plethora of vivid emotions, both
good & bad, but my overriding true color by the end was beige.
Despite being one of newest writers on VGChartz, Lee has been a part of the
community for over a decade. His gaming
N64 & NES at home while enjoying some
Being an Independent Contractor by trade (electric, plumbing, etc.) affords him more gaming luxuries today though. Reader
warning: each click given to his articles
only helps to inflate his Texas-sized ego. Proceed with caution.
Issa Maki
Death Strandin
REVIEW PS5:
ng Directors Cut
Hideo Kojima is the Nostradamus of my
than we thought. Let’s hope it doesn’t take
generation; his ‘visions’ of our future
two decades for society to catch up again.
have not only come to pass, but are demonstrable. His commentary concerning
Death Stranding relates the story of The
the American government’s influence over
United Cities of America and the collapse
the world, emergence of internet echo
of a once proud nation. Set roughly 30
chambers, increasing prevalence of AI in
years from the present, a metaphysical
human affairs, and what would become
pandemic has resulted in the merger of our
‘fake news’ was 20 years ahead of its time.
physical world with the land of the dead.
When characters in Metal Gear Solid V
Should a departed soul of the deceased (a
undergo medical treatments that only
‘Beached Thing’, or ‘BT’) consume living
existed in theoretical models in our world,
flesh, a ‘Voidout’ occurs - the equivalent of
but which have since become reality, the
a nuclear explosion. If this wasn’t enough,
man knows something. As a tasseographer
a new form of matter called Chiralium
divines tea leaves to tell us about tomorrow,
has contaminated the Troposphere of the
Kojima uses the medium of video games for
planet, resulting in an miasmic rain known
those willing to listen.
as ‘Timefall’ that can significantly age an organism in seconds. Forced underground,
Released in 2019, Death Stranding gave
the vestiges of humanity fester in unseen
mankind another glimpse beyond the
despair, awaiting a fate they can barely
vale of today; one it was hesitant to
hope to comprehend.
examine. Baffling critics and consumers alike with its unique mechanics and bizarre
Into this dying world Sam Bridges is born.
(yet beautifully told) story, the gaming
A ‘Porter’ (deliveryman) by trade, these
community tried everything in its power to
brave men and women risk the safety of
look away from Death Stranding and the
themselves and everything around them
messages held within. But like Metal Gear
by transporting precious supplies to the
Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, its relevance and
remaining pockets of society, in one last
place in the world is farther ahead of us
attempt keep the flames of liberty from
fading into oblivion. If any of that seems
a Metal Gear-like support staff, alongside
to resonate with the world today, keep
an indispensable, lovable ally, the fate of
in mind that Death Stranding came out
existence rests on the tired shoulders of a
the month before ‘coronavirus’ and
broken laborer and his ability to navigate
‘COVID-19’ became household names.
through shady government politics, legions of the dead, and a Porter’s worst
Entreated by an ailing President of the
fear: rival deliverymen out to steal their
United Cities to install the ‘Chiral Network’
work!
(imagine the internet combined with Star Trek’s replicator technology) across
After 93 hours of playtime, I finally have
the land, Sam travels in search of those
a consensus about what type of game
willing to connect with each other, while
Death Stranding is: I don’t know! How it
attempting to find his estranged sister
can appear like almost everything that’s
waiting at the other end of the country –
come before on the surface, yet be unlike
the successor to the Presidency. Aided by
anything almost defies explanation.
Compellingly, the answer falls along the
others. This community aspect of Death
lines of: “it is whatever you want it to be”.
Stranding, where the structures fellow players build affect your playthrough and
With body parts to equip, armored
vice-versa, is vital to progression – despite
plating, and upgradable exoskeletons,
there never being direct interaction at any
added to the emphasis on traversing
time. Imagine From Software’s fanbase
terrain and proper navigation, I see more
without the emphasis on trying to ruin
than a few parallels with the mech-genre
someone’s day. It’s strange to ponder
games I’ve encountered over the years.
that ‘contactless-multiplayer’ preceded
Fans of the soothing presence that a good
contactless delivery, but this is the world
farming simulator can provide have more
we live in.
to discover here than they could imagine. Gathering resources to plant generators
Even so, the fingerprints of Metal Gear
and drop boxes evokes similar feelings,
Solid are all over Norman Reedus’ cookie
but with the added benefit of helping
jar, to the point where I thought that Death
Stranding was made using Konami’s FOX
metrics that deliveries are graded on and hefty
engine. The similarities between the two from
amount of menu-based item management
both a gameplay and narrative perspective
give the impression of being unnecessary or
alone are more than enough to keep Kojima
‘fluff’ – and that’s the entire point (which is
acolytes adhering to the faith. Regardless of
why most of it can be ignored). This inflated
whatever Death Stranding exactly ‘is’, by the
sense of accomplishment and the constant
time you’re 3D-printing Akira-inspired bikes
need to be rewarded permeates life so
and roads, while fighting spirit beasts using
strongly today, who among the ‘Like, Share,
weapons laced with Sam’s blood (that also
Subscribe’ generation are even aware of the
injure him in the process), any attempts to
message being conveyed directly to them – at
dismiss the game as a mere ‘walking simulator’
their own expense, no less? I could go on for
hold no water; yet traversing the open land is
the next half hour citing examples about the
the core of the journey! Timefall ensures that
loss of privacy, data collection, or the ersatz
Death Stranding will be different whenever
nature of cloud technology; if this way of life
it’s played, changing with every passing hour,
isn’t already here, it’s not far off. Let’s just
day, week, month, and year. Much like life, you
say receiving an email from a doctor replete
can’t step into the same river twice.
with emoticons doesn’t exactly inspire much confidence in their practice.
Like a good episode of Star Trek, Death Stranding uses the future to comment on
Imperative outburst aside, it’s the additional
contemporary issues relevant in our era. This is
features to Death Stranding that ultimately
a running theme throughout much of Kojima’s
bring us here together. Rather than focusing
work, but it feels especially incisive this time
on a post/side-story that expands the narrative
around for how subtle it is in its directness.
beyond its breadth, the Director’s Cut takes an introverted look at itself, refining the
One thing that comes to mind is the sheer
groundwork established on PlayStation 4.
amount of ‘Likes’ Sam receives for almost any
It’s all great stuff, and barring a couple of
action he performs; down to something as
inclusions that intentionally expedite the
banal as walking. The dozens of superfluous
earlier sections of the game, there’s little
to complain about – especially taking into
Death Stranding as a launch PlayStation 5
consideration the asking price.
title (until you remember the 5 million sales on PS4 and PC). This fluidity simply didn’t
Most immediate of these upgrades are the
exist in 2019, nor did the melee attacks that
enhanced frame rate and haptic feedback
bolster Sam’s arsenal.
for the controller. From scanning the environment with the odradek to weaving
Eyebrows certainly raised when the Impact
through crags of rocks, it’s humorous that the
Thrusters, or ‘jetpack’, were revealed. Trailers
improvements to basic navigation are among
over the summer depicted Sam hovering over
the most significant. The mini-game of
mountain ranges down to lower altitudes
‘balancing’ Sam with the DualSense triggers
in seconds, a journey that previously would
has improved so dramatically, it’s curious that
have taken minutes of careful navigation to
Sony didn’t simply wait a year and release
undertake. Diehards may object, but the
situational utility of this luxury keeps it from
capability comparable to trucks, moving
taking center stage, as do the requirements
large amounts of product to build structures
needed for use. Giving up two extra
or retrieve loot from a MULE camp has
batteries for your exoskeleton is a major
never has been as efficient and enjoyable. A
proposition under any circumstance, but
friend (who played in 2019) balked when he
thrusters can make all the difference out in
saw how much I was able to load onto my
the Rockies. They do take some dedication
ride; as he watched me Matt Hoffman off
to appropriately upgrade, so Mandalorian
a bike ramp (shaving a minute or so off my
enthusiasts should exercise patience.
trip in the process), his eyes were green with envy.
The remaining Quality of Life improvements
Cargo guns are a novel, somewhat cost-
make a considerable difference. The
inefficient tool with good utility (and
‘Reverse Trike: Transporter’ gets my vote for
they’re a joy to operate). Chiral bridges
most valuable contribution. Combining the
are smaller, ethereal versions of their metal
precise movement of cycles with a carrying
counterparts with far more versatility, but
deactivate whenever Timefall occurs, limiting
Roadster can be acquired for use off the
their application. The improved Buddy Bot
course, but it’s best to keep it in the trophy
is also worthy of note. Now able to follow
room until those highways and byways
(and carry) Sam out in the wild, this pair of
get built. As odd as it seems, the Fragile
legs with a shelf on top can be useful within
Circuit can be a surprisingly effective way to
the Chiral Network. It does have problems
squeeze more mileage out of a playthrough.
navigating the landscape, and Sam can easily leave it in the dust if he’s not careful,
Less exciting on the surface, but more
re-routing it to the nearest safehouse. Keep
compelling, is the Firing Range. What comes
its limitations in mind and you won’t be
across as extraneous quickly becomes an
disappointed.
invaluable resource for improving yourself
The most unexpected features of the
against MULEs and BTs without having to
Director’s Cut come in the form of the
put everything on the line in the field. Fans
Fragile Circuit and Firing Range. Both strip
of the VR missions found throughout Metal
down mechanics that already existed, then
Gear Solid will be right at home, testing
essentially step out of the player’s way (with
themselves against the userbase across
the game in tow) so you can appreciate how
leaderboards and ranked missions. The size
solid they actually are.
of these virtual arenas is beyond impressive; should you get bit by the bug, hours can be
Equivalent to the various Time Trial modes
spent mastering the nuances of a game that
found in Mario Kart and other racing titles,
get overlooked unfairly.
the Fragile Circuit is a fully-functional racetrack where players can compete against
The final major piece to the Director’s Cut
their ghosts and the high scores of others,
is the ‘Ruined Factory’ sub-quest. A coda
using the vehicle of your choice. Taking the
of sorts to the original release, long-time
cargo truck for a spin was the last thing I
fans expecting a one-night stand might walk
wanted to do in Death Stranding, but after
away disappointed, but those content with a
learning how to properly drift it became
kiss on the cheek will leave satisfied.
my preferred mode of transportation. The
Tasked with infiltrating a MULE-controlled
looking for something like The Matrix or Metal
research facility that bears more than a
Gear Solid 2 to call their own, a zeitgeist that
few similarities to Metal Gear Solid, Sam
ascends them to the next level beyond what
must gather crucial information to better
they’ve been taught, here it stands. The future
understand the present, as well as the
awaits if you can handle it – and can do so
past. Assisting him in this endeavor is
with care.
the experimental ‘Maser Gun’, the latest acquisition to the Bridges weapon catalog.
Shigeru Miyamoto made video games ‘fun’;
By harnessing battery power, Sam can send
Hideo Kojima made them interesting, proving
powerful torrents of electric current into his
they could not only be a diversion, but a
human adversaries, taking them down in
powerful expression that teaches people,
an efficient, non-lethal manner. Completing
bringing us together as an entire species,
these missions grants access to the Support
instead of just the person sitting next to you.
Skeleton, which combines the effects of the
Look at it this way: For $10.00, you could take
three previous exoskeletons into an uber
a discarded copy of the most misunderstood,
hybrid. These two pieces of equipment are
unappreciated AAA game of 2019, elevate it
among the most useful in the entire game.
in virtually every way, and possibly even learn
My only complaint is how early they can be
something. Or you can buy a single weapon
attained.
for Yuffie in Final Fantasy VII Remake for a penny less. Time has already been kind to
Calling a game an ‘experience’ at this point
Death Stranding; I can only imagine how the
goes beyond clichè, but there are no other
future will look back on it. As for the world
words to describe Death Stranding; you
today, we can hope for change but should be
simply haven’t played anything like this
creating it ourselves, for each other’s sake as
before, regardless of how familiar it appears.
much as our own.
In many ways, the best advice is to disregard everyone’s preconceived notions and play it
Dr. Seuss said it best in three words: “This is
for yourself. Should the next generation be
Sam”. Sam, I am.
Issa Maki
The Dark Pic
REVIEW PS5:
ctures Anthology: House of Ashes
Supermassive Games continues to lead
satiate its hunger, bringing death to all
the charge in the medium of interactive
that lives. Any hopes for the future reside
storytelling. This ‘Choose Your Own
between your mind and fingertips.
Adventure’-inspired, consequential gameplay popularized by Until Dawn
Being the third ‘episode’ of an eight-part
has appeared across several titles and
series (which itself is a refinement of an
platforms over the past generation, yet
ongoing formula), the gameplay in House
none rivalled the impact of eight doomed
of Ashes has become standard operating
teenagers trapped upon a lonely mountain.
procedure; players grasp for straws
I’m happy to report that the trend has
while being strong-armed into making
largely been broken, and while House of
horrible decisions that have devastating
Ashes may fall just short of eclipsing Until
consequences from which there is no
Dawn’s brilliance, it’s easily the best entry in
escape. This is more entertaining than it
The Dark Pictures Anthology, representing
sounds, particularly if you have friends to
that significant bump needed to move the
muddy the waters of clarity, complicating
genre forward in a meaningful way.
the proceedings. The future can be seen, but has this habit of changing after
Taking place at the onset of the 2003
catching a glimpse of itself.
American invasion of Iraq, a unit of unsound, headstrong U.S. Marines embarks
Though the majority of improvements in
on a mission to locate Saddam Hussein’s
House of Ashes won’t be able as noticeable
fabled ‘weapons of mass destruction’.
to passers-by, the fanbase will appreciate
Besieged by a group determined to
that all of them are for the better.
overthrow said occupation, the two factions
Performance Mode makes its debut, and
are swallowed by the desert beneath them,
while a high framerate might seem like a
descending into the ruins of an ancient
luxury in these types of games, the overall
Akkadian temple used for ritual sacrifices.
smoothness it brings goes a long way
In the ensuing bloodshed, an ancient evil
towards selling the cinematic presentation;
awakens from the depths of the earth to
there’s no going back now. The improved
responsiveness this brings to the controls
Pictures Anthology are consistently smaller
helps considerably during QTEs and makes
than Until Dawn, offering the possibility for
basic navigation a more pleasant endeavor.
more intimate relationships between them.
A new 3D camera with over-the-shoulder
In this respect, House of Ashes actually
capabilities has been added; it’s not perfect
trumps its spiritual grandmother, bringing
by any means, but it’s a significant step
more volatile dynamics to explore along
above what we’ve had thus far.
with it.
Other additions are more subtle, but
The love triangle/’turf war’ between Eric,
important. The ‘flashlight’ button gives
Nick, and Rachel can go in just about
players command over the visuals, as
any direction, including an unlockable
intractable objects shine brighter to
trophy for bringing the two suitors closer
grab their attention. A difficulty setting
together. Likewise, the friendships or
finally rears its head, adding extra replay
rivalries between Jason, Salim, and Nick
value and accessibility. Interestingly, the
run as far north or south as players care to
trait ‘limiters’ that afflicted Little Hope
take them. The potential of Iowa farm boy
have been removed entirely. These
Jason befriending his Iraqi assailant (and
negative qualities served as shackles
their subsequent journey together) can be
holding characters back and, barring
the highlight of the entire game, and the
their eradication, became virtual death
schisms involving Nick are equally delicate.
sentences. As much as I like this idea, it was
If this isn’t the best cast Supermassive
a detriment to the storytelling. Its exclusion
has assembled, it’s certainly the one
is commendable.
that’s been given the most attention. As a result, multiple playthroughs are not only
Perhaps the greatest stride forward
warranted but are more desirable than in
House of Ashes takes is with its cast. The
previous entries.
ensembles presented throughout The Dark
The final new aspects concerning House
trust than ever. This competitive facet is
of Ashes are the multiplayer options
definitely something to consider exploring
available. Though much hasn’t changed
further.
from a technical perspective (aside from cross-gen functionality that works great),
On a more personal note, I give
the way the story is structured makes
Supermassive and writer Khurrum Rahman
sharing the experience with others an
considerable credit for having the courage
integral one, pitting gamers against each
to set House of Ashes amidst the Iraq War.
other (particularly when playing online) in
While the creators shy from developing
a bid for survival. Whether it’s opposing
any sort of political agenda, there clearly
military forces or the vertices of love,
exist some topical conversation pieces
everyone is in a position to be at their
that desperately need a platform for
most aggressive, while simultaneously
discussion. Every American citizen should
being at their most vulnerable to
be ashamed at the sight of monuments
treachery. Cooperation requires more
that have existed for centuries riddled
with bullet holes, defaced and forever
happen to be Americans, might get a taste
ruined – if not worse. The U.S. military’s
of the atrocities committed worldwide in
use of White Phosphorus continues
their name.
to go unaccounted for on the world stage, and what about the ramifications
If “those that sow the wind, reap the
of unmanned drones causing PTSD in
whirlwind.”, we should all aspire to be the
civilians throughout the Middle East?
tornado leading towards harmony, if not
Were I in charge, I would be learning a
for our sake, then to honor the departed
language like Arabic or Farsi with the
who rightfully deserved it. The truth will
rest of my countrymen in an effort to try
only be revealed to those who seek her,
asking for forgiveness; instead ‘Mission
but justice discovers all enemies of peace
Accomplished’ is censored by our media
and knows a thing or two about culpability.
nationwide.
House of Ashes is the closest Supermassive has come to replicating the success of what made Until Dawn a modern-day favorite. It’ll take another game or two before finally getting there, and when it does Supermassive will be in a unique position to sell high-quality, storybased titles for half the price it charged in 2015. There are still concessions that need to be made concerning game length and online play, but as it stands this is the step needed for progress. Those unimpressed with Man of Medan or Little Hope should take a look at House of Ashes – and if they
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