Fūnk-é Joseph

Fūnk-é Joseph Oct 8, 2021. 6 minute read

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles Wields Vintage Fashion as a Narrative Tool

Ace Attorney is a visual novel series about legal disputes and the judicial system, and over the past 20 years it’s carved a space for itself by transforming historically dull, monotonous court processes into some of the most dramatic reveals in games. It’s a series full of endless spectacle, and…

Fūnk-é Joseph Sep 27, 2021. 5 minute read

Eastward is a Tender, Fulfilling Family Roadtrip

The first time I saw a glimpse of Eastward was in a trailer from 2018, and its grungy pixel art aesthetic sent me off into a daze like no other. I’ve never seen a game paint such scuffed yet simultaneously sweet environments, making busted up caves and rundown towns look…

Fūnk-é Joseph Sep 7, 2021. 3 minute read

SPOOKWARE is a Microgame RPG for the Ages

Straightforward puzzles and tight timers are essential in microgames, forming a minimalist game design that captures attention spans with a nonchalant ease. These unmatched and intuitive party games offer an even playing field, and it’s a foundation that SPOOKWARE understands intimately. SPOOKWARE – Episode 1 creatively carries those ideas into…

Fūnk-é Joseph Aug 26, 2021. 2 minute read

Fortnite Isn’t the Platform for a Martin Luther King Jr. Event

Over the past few years, Fortnite has transcended the traditional confines of a video game. It has simultaneously become a lucrative event venue raking in millions of dollars for performers like Ariana Grande and Travis Scott, while also dominating the battle royale scene as a metaverse with purchasable outfits and…

Fūnk-é Joseph Aug 18, 2021. 3 minute read

12 Minutes is a Convoluted and Ultimately Foul Puzzle Game

Within my first hour of Luis Antonio’s 12 Minutes, I was quickly invested in this time loop thriller’s many mysteries. The bold top-down perspective pairs well with the Hollywood voice cast of Daisy Ridley, James McAvoy, and Willem Dafoe. And it’s fun to see how you, as a player, can…

Fūnk-é Joseph Aug 11, 2021. 3 minute read

Everything You Need to Know About League of Legends’ Preseason 2022

As days and cycles blend together, it may feel like the passage of time has lost all meaning. But worry not, League of Legends pushes on into the future with Preseason 2022, a decent sized, lower key update that signals a more concentrated and polished era of Summoner’s Rift. The…

Fūnk-é Joseph Jul 29, 2021. 1 minute read

Samurai Gunn 2 is Rapid, Multiplayer Fun You Shouldn’t Miss

It feels like same-screen arena fighters — those local multiplayer “party game” staples — have slowly faded into the mist. They had their time in the mid 2010s with bangers like Towerfall, Duck Game, and the original Samurai Gunn. Since then there hasn’t been a tight space battler focused on high-speed reactions…

Fūnk-é Joseph Jul 26, 2021. 3 minute read

Pokémon Unite’s Zapdos Turns Players Into Unstoppable Gods

When playing Pokémon Unite, TiMi Studio Group and The Pokemon Company’s new joint collab MOBA, there’s a moment when the tide of battle becomes intense.  The air shifts as the 10-minute match nears its end. Zapdos spawns in the central pit, and everything changes as players brace for a final…

Fūnk-é Joseph Jul 21, 2021. 3 minute read

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is a Boring, Toothless Co-Op Shooter

Aliens (1986) is an extraordinary science fiction movie about motherhood and revenge. Ellen Ripley has already been through hell and back in the original, single-handedly taking down the first known Xenomorph with sharp wits and loose equipment; in the sequel she’s visibly over the cyclical Alien format. She’s done the…

Fūnk-é Joseph Jul 20, 2021. 4 minute read

Death’s Door Tells a Tragic Tale of Limitless Life

I don’t think I can do this. In one of the final battles, I’m forced to use every piece of equipment in my pockets in a desperate attempt to match the pace of this boss, and I’m failing. It’s a lot to manage at once!  He’s summoned up an arsenal…

Fūnk-é Joseph Jul 13, 2021. Less than a minute

Goomba from Super Mario Bros. (1993): A Review

From the beginning of time, Mario and his friends have faced off against the fearsome Goomba. These iconic, mushroom-like bad guys were given new life in the Super Mario Bros. movie, where they took the form of buff, small headed dinosaurs. This particular Goomba is actually Toad after he underwent…

Fūnk-é Joseph Jul 9, 2021. 2 minute read

The Big Con is a Radically 90s Scammer Fantasy

From the original confidence man’s early ruses in the 1800s, to Soulja Boy selling janky game consoles in recent years, scamming is a cruel yet integral part of the North American ethos. After just a 30-minute demo with The Big Con, it’s already strikingly clear the game understands this —…

Fūnk-é Joseph Jun 25, 2021. 4 minute read

Mythic Quest Season 2 Finds Comedy in Game Dev Chaos

From the outside, video games are a functional, multi-billion dollar industry that excites both investors and consumers of all ages. It’s a young behemoth that boasts an underdog persona while bringing in more revenue than North American legacy media and sports, with an added boost from people scrambling for in-home…

Fūnk-é Joseph Jun 17, 2021. 4 minute read

Guilty Gear -Strive- Mashes the Practice Button in My Brain

From its opening moments, Guilty Gear -Strive- sweeps you up with complex battle systems, vibrantly smooth animations, and a cast of absurd, memorable combatants that make every match an unpredictable pageant of extraordinary abilities. Even when my first online opponents sauced on me with fancy combo-extending Roman Cancels and no…

Fūnk-é Joseph May 19, 2021. 5 minute read

Returnal is a Frustrating Sci-Fi Fireworks Show

I’m underwater, diving towards the next boss fight when two electric blue orbs appear in the distance. They immediately teleport beside me and start emitting a constant volley of bright crimson red lasers that cut through the deep sea depths to kill me. They’re shooting rapidly, both horizontally and vertically,…

Fūnk-é Joseph May 6, 2021. 4 minute read

Yasuke is a Groovy, Gory, Unapologetically Black Anime

Yasuke‘s first moments thrust you into a chaotic battlefield engulfed in flames. Samurai are stabbing dudes in the back causing explosions of blood, 30 foot tall sword-and-gun wielding mechs are swooping down on their foes like starving hawks, and magicians are summoning legions of energy-based arrows in a hail mary…

Fūnk-é Joseph May 4, 2021. 2 minute read

Returnal Phrike Guide: How to Beat the Overgrown Ruins Boss

Returnal is a very fun game that is caked in difficulty, so here’s a guide on how to beat Phrike — the first boss you encounter in the Overgrown Ruins area. First things first, you should explore all of the overgrown ruins because there are a lot of helpful health,…

Fūnk-é Joseph May 4, 2021. Less than a minute

Jar Jar Binks Tongue Sucker: A Review

A promotional Jar Jar Binks themed lollipop for the 1999 cult classic Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.

Fūnk-é Joseph Apr 28, 2021. 5 minute read

League of Legends’ Gwen Slices the Competition in Style

My brain still hasn’t registered that a new League of Legends character drops once every other month. That time has come again, however, and Gwen the Hallowed Seamstress is cutting it up on Summoner’s Rift. Gwen is a fighter that hails from the Shadow Isles: a fallen kingdom of despair…

Fūnk-é Joseph Apr 26, 2021. Less than a minute

Kirby Jammin’ Out: A Review