Top 5 Best Christmas Themed Games For The Holidays

Last post of the year fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

I admit ending the year on a list is a little lame, but like I said in my last review I didn’t know what I was gonna do to end 2023 on, but I knew it was going to be seasonable! However, with Duke Caribbean having been recently reviewed, a spark was lit in my head. We’ve got holiday movies, tv specials, and music, but the world of video games has always been a hit or miss in that department. Sure, there has been a few that genuinely have the Christmas Spirit, but far more were simply shoved out the door to be cheap cash grabs, and obviously aren’t all that great.

However, I wanted to show off the titles that I think are the best Christmas games out there. Sure, a couple have some faults to them, and they’re all PC releases, but they all represent this time of year rather well in my opinion. So, get yourself a cozy blanket, a big cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows, and enjoy my list of the top 5 best Christmas themed games for the holidays. Let’s begin!

5) Prezzie Hunt (Video)

And here is the only game on this list I haven’t played, and in fact I’ve only known about it for just over 9 years, though weirdly enough I’ve known about the graphics engine that powers it for far longer. I had to include Prezzie Hunt on this list due to the incredibly heartwarming story behind it, and it will melt even the most steely hearted among you. In 2005, a gentleman by the name of Robert Hindle created this game for his two young kids to play around Christmastime. Originally just one level, Robert would actually go on to keep making maps for the game, until 2012 when it would be finally completed. To further add to the wholesomeness of the story, in 2007 a publisher has actually contacted Rob with an offer to “Market” the game properly, but Rob would turn them down to keep the game free, and continue to make levels for those that wanted it. If that doesn’t represent the Christmas Spirit, then I don’t know what does!

4) Jazz Jackrabbit: Holiday Hare 1994 (Video)

Nearly 30 years later, the game about a green rabbit with a blaster wandering the galaxy in an effort to save his girlfriend from an egomaniacal turtle wanting to take over his home planet still has plenty of fans. It wouldn’t be until 2009 when I would finally get to play the full game, as I only had access to the 1st episode (Shareware) when I was younger. Another episode I did have access to when I was little was Holiday Hare 1994. A special Christmas themed episode of Jazz Jackrabbit, it sees the titular Jazz roam the planet of Holidaius in the morning, afternoon, and night. Why? There really isn’t a reason! It’s just a fun green bunny whooping all kinds of ass in a genuinely cute holiday environment. From the visuals, to the music, this bite-sized piece of wholesomeness very clearly had a lot of love put into it. It doesn’t take much time to complete, but the warm & fuzzy feelings it makes lasts for much longer.

(Btw, there is also Holiday Hare 1995. If I do a 2nd list, I’ll put it on that.)

3) Quake: Twisted Xmas (Video)

Had to have a little bit of blood & gore on this list!

I’ve got another bloody Christmas game a little further down the list, but I had to talk about this fan-made Quake level from 1998 first. Created by Twisted Matrix, we see Quake Guy up in the North Pole at Santa’s Factory, but all is not as it seems. The snowmen seem angry, the elves seem bloodthirsty, and the Reindeer are packing heat! Not only that, but the factory seems to be a bit worse for wear, and in many places feels like it’s been abandoned for quite some time. That’s a testament to how well Twisted Xmas was designed: from the models, to how the level was made, and the implementation of seasonal imagery, Twisted Matrix did a really good job with creating this level. Even the brief tribute to Quake 2 was a wonderfully nice touch, and felt like a passing-of-the-torch moment as the gaming landscape shifted by the end of the 90s. It’s still got fans over 25 years later, and even after just a minute or so of gameplay, it’s not hard to see why.

2) Jack In The Dark (Video) ***

An incredibly short experience, this spinoff/preview of Alone In The Dark 2 does not take that long to play. About 5 minutes long (Maybe an extra minute or two if you find the lone readable book), this game doesn’t have that much in terms of brain-testing puzzles (AITD2 didn’t have much either), but if I’m being honest it doesn’t need to! We see Grace Sanders, one of the main characters of Alone In The Dark 2, enter a seemingly empty toy store on what appears to be Halloween night, but upon entering is trapped! Not only that, but many of the toys come to life, and little Grace must escape! It’s a really sweet game, and you wander the toy store, and solve the mystery of why some of the trinkets are causing such a ruckus! Not only that, but there’s a familiar man in red you gotta bust out of toy jail, and when you do.....it’s Christmas!

Now, I was going to put Jack In The Dark at my no. 1 spot. I felt that it had the right vibe & energy that showed that Christmas & Video Games can mix together really well. However, there was one game I felt that should take the crown.....and none of you should be surprised by what it is.

1) Duke: Nuclear Winter (Playlist)

None of you should be surprised by this one.

If you recall my review from back in 2021 (Read here), you may remember I gave what was in the minds of many the worst of the Duke Nukem expansions a fair bit of criticism, and I still stand by all of them. That being said.....I just love this release! Yes, it’s got a lot of dents in it’s armor, but it’s obvious that Simply Silly Software knew how to make a game, or at least work with an existing title. The standard Duke formula wasn’t changed for the post part, but the Christmas coat of paint that covered practically the whole package (Save for one level) makes the experience ridiculous. However, every Christmas Eve for just about 15 years at this point I load it up, play through the whole thing, and then go up to bed to sleep. Yes, Nuclear Winter isn’t one of the best. Yes, it could have had more effort put into it. That said, it could have been so much worse, and it is a bit of a guilty pleasure in my opinion. If you want the living embodiment of turn-your-brain-off Christmas entertainment, complete with warts & all, then Duke: Nuclear Winter is for you!

So those were the top 5 best Christmas themed games for the holidays. Again, it’s a little silly to end my posts this year on a list, but it was within the season, and it was easy to make. If any of these caught your interest in any way, please check these out! And with that, I close the chapter known as 2023 here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog. This was a rough year in a lot of places, but we all managed to survive until the end. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas (Or Chanukah, Kwanzaa, or Robotica), and I’ll see you in 2024!



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If you want to get your hands on this, buy either Alone In The Dark 1 or the Alone in the Dark Anthology. It is included within the 1st game at the startup.

Game Review: Duke Caribbean - Life's A Beach

I think a trip to the Caribbean is in order fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

As much as I love snow and the colder months, sometimes it’s nice to get some sun. Every once in a while, it’s wonderful to be in a place that’s nice & toasty! Even within the world of Video Games, the more warm environments can make us feel at ease, and that can oddly apply to the realm of the FPS genre surprisingly well. Normally I’d get out a seasonal themed review out of the way after my lists, but I’m delaying it somewhat as I take all of you on a trip to a place of sand & surf. Where the drinks are in coconuts, and the fun never ends! So, grab your swimwear & suntan lotion, make sure you’ve had a bikini wax, and get ready for my review of Duke Carribean: Life’s A Beach. Let’s begin!

Story
According to the Duke Nukem Wiki/Manual:

“Duke Nukem is on vacation in the Caribbean to take a break from killing aliens. However, the aliens have decided that the Caribbean offers the perfect climate for a new breeding ground, so they begin laying eggs and terrorizing the local tourists. Angered that his rest and relaxation is being delayed, Duke Nukem sets out on a mission for retribution against the aliens who are interrupting his vacation.”

As bare bones as most FPS titles were in the 90s!

Setting
Like the title of this review says, this new adventure with Duke Nukem takes places in the Caribbean, and it is a beautiful venue to blast aliens in! In comparison to most of the base game & most of D.C. and Nuclear Winter, Life’s A Beach is surprisingly vibrant. There’s a greater emphasis on brightness and color, with only a few places that scale those aspects back. Secondly, most of the levels share that odd sense of fantastical reality with some of the levels from the 1st & 3rd episode of DN3D (Not realistic, yet has elements that might be real).  You have a beachside hotel, local market, a casino (The secret level), a water park, a cruise ship, and two cave/lagoon levels. They’re all packed with so much personality, and there’s little Easter Eggs to find that make you smile.

If any of the levels would be even remotely bad, it would be the final one. Titled “The Alien Remains”, we see Duke make his way to where the aliens have their underwater base, and if I’m being honest, it feels like a lost episode from the 2nd episode of the original game. Granted, there are some neat little parts, like descending into the base on a slow elevator that shows how far underwater the place is & the main boss’s arena is designed to look like a beach party, but there’s much more in common with levels like Occupied Territory or Tiberius Station. Still, I find it funny that in this fortress of alien terror, they all continue to wear their outfits from the surface, and there’s still an odd party vibe you’d find in the earlier levels.

Characters
As per usual, Duke is the star of the show. He’s as manly & badass as normal, yet being in the Caribbean has changed him somewhat. His one-liners make him come across like a fun surfer dude, and curiously enough he almost never swears (Except for the word “Ass”). In a fun little twist to his model (More on that in a bit), he no longer has on his signature jeans & boots, as he traded them in for some jean shorts and sandals. All of these changes makes Duke a somewhat new character, yet at the same time stays very familiar to fans. Also, Jon St. John came back for this!

Gameplay ***
As with Duke It Out In D.C. and Nuclear Winter, Life’s A Beach’s gameplay isn’t really all that different from DN3D. Run, gun, look for keys & secrets, etc. Unlike Nuclear Winter, there aren’t any presents that drop from enemies that give you stuff, but it does have it’s own quirks.

For starters, there are 2 new enemies. There’s seagulls that’ll poo on you, and the Pig Cops bouncing around on animal floaties (Called the Inflatable Sea Monster). The seagulls will go down in just a shot or two, as do the floating pigs. Yet the cops are a bit more dangerous, as they’ll shoot explosive coconuts as you! There was also supposed to be humanoid Iguana enemies (Which would have replaced the Enforcers), but they never got put in, and what little physical evidence there was of their existence was lost when Sunstorm Interactive updated their website.....and eventually got sold off. There are also random Beach Babes in certain levels that are walking around, but they’re more of an annoying obstacle than anything else.....but they will hit on you.

Next up are the “New” weapons & items Life’s A Beach brings to the table. I put quotes around “New” because they’re just the base weapons and items given a Caribbean coat of paint, but at the same time feel new-ish to a certain extent. The Mighty Boot became the Mighty Sandal, the pistol and shotgun became squirt guns, the Chaingun became the Triple Poison Shooter, Pipebombs are now Pineapples, the RPG turns into the Coconut Launcher, the Shrink Ray becomes a Voodoo ring, the Devastator was retooled into the Conchanator, Laser Trip Bombs became possessed by the spirit of Voodoo, and the Freezethrower was fixed up as the Ice Maker. The medkit became a crate of bananas, the nightvision goggles became a pair of sunglasses (Weird), the boots that protected you from hostile surfaces are now sandals (Also weird), the scuba gear is now a snorkle, and the steroids is now a bottle of hot sauce. The Holoduke is still functionally the same, but it looks like Caribbean Duke, and the Jetpack is no different than before.

Even the standard pickups became Caribbean-ized! The various health picks are now bananas, Atomic Health is now a pearl, and the armor has become suntan lotion. The Pig Cops you come across have the chance to drop suntan lotion, and like in the main game has a chance to be at a varied amount you gain. Possibly the funniest item that was given the tropical makeover were the keycards. No longer do you pick them up, but instead they’re now Vista Credit Cards as a parody of Visa. It’s a funny little touch, but oddly prophetic given what would come out a little under a decade later.

As for any faults with the gameplay, there really isn’t. It’s just a small smattering of things that don’t damage the experience, but they do make my head scratch. You can harmlessly break the end of the 1st level, and the Assault Commander will not teleport back in once it goes away for a moment like it normally does. I know there’s some more, but the previously mentioned 2 are the only ones I directly know of.

Graphics & Sounds
Underneath it all, Life’s A Beach’s graphics are still powered by the Build Engine. All of it’s quirks, all of it’s faults, you name it. What makes this expansion special when it comes to graphics is the usage of color. In comparison to DN3D, things are warmer, as Sunstorm Interactive opted to use a brighter color pallet. There’s a variety of blues, reds, green, oranges, pinks, and other lighter colors in certain places. Because of that, there’s a more inviting atmosphere in this expansion, and this is also helped by the music. A completely new soundtrack was made to match with the Caribbean atmosphere, as you can hear steel drums, saxaphones, and a few other instruments you didn’t hear in the normal Duke soundtrack. The intro track was particularly interesting, as it was a mix of the Grabbag theme & theme song to Hawaii Five-O, and you can here the influences of both pretty easily!  

Another obvious change is how the enemies look! The Assault Troopers look like they’re wearing the suit from Fantasy Island, the Pigcops are all wearing sunglasses & Hawaiian shirts with shorts, the Octobrains all have on flowers & sunglasses that cover their 3 eyes, The Assault Commanders have on snorkles & floaties, and the final boss? Well, I can’t spoil him, as it’s a genuinely funny surprise. The only enemies to not be changed are the drones, the sharks, and the ooze monsters that hatch from the eggs, and the only enemies to not be in the game at all were the Assault Captain & Assault Commander, as their coding was used for the Beach Babes and Inflatable Sea Monsters respectively.

Overall & Rating
Duke Caribbean: Life’s A Beach was the best of the expansions upon it’s release, and still managed to be amazing today. There’s definitely an incredible amount of effort that was put into each & every aspect of the gameplay and it’s looks & sounds, and even with the tiny few glitches it does have, they in no way ruin the experience. It’s a testament to it’s overall quality that nearly 30 years later Duke Nukem fans still talk about it, and that proof enough that Life’s A Beach is worth your time.

Duke Caribbean: Life’s A Beach gets a 9.5 out of 10.

And that was my look at Life’s A Beach. It’s bright, it’s tropical, and it’s a great counterbalance to what it’s like outside right now. Whether you’re a full blown Duke fan, or you just like FPS games in general, Duke Caribbean is for you! And with that said, I got the final post of 2023 incoming this Friday. I don’t know what it’s going to be, but I’m sure to make it Christmas-ey. See you soon!



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If you like to see a walkthrough, then click on the link below:

Duke Caribbean: Life’s A Beach

Also, if you would like to listen to the soundtrack, the OST is below:

Duke Caribbean: Life's a Beach OST (1997, Sunstorm Interactive)

The Top 5 Movies Of 2023

Top 5 movies of 2023 fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

This year treated me very well in the cinema. I don’t think I saw as many features this year as opposed to 2022, but 2023 was a revival for me, my friends, and my family when it came to going to the movies. I certainly saw a variety of films this year, but not enough to bring back the honorable mentions section. It makes things a little bit easier, which is ironic when you look at my games & albums lists. So with that said, here are my top 5 movies of 2023. Let’s begin!

5) Cocaine Bear (Trailer)

I think anyone that went into this film thinking it would be something deep is absolutely hilarious to me. From the first time I watched the trailer, I knew this was going to be one of the most idiotic movies I have ever seen, and for it’s entire run time my brain was just melting into creamy ooze. Even if it didn’t, the alternate history take on the bear that did 75 kilos of Cocaine will leave your head permanently tilted to the side, and wonder what the hell you watched by the time it’s done. However, if you watch it in the right way, Cocaine Bear is actually a blast! It’s absolutely hilarious, and surprisingly tense & scary in places. Not only that, but it marks the last time that Ray Liotta would ever appear in film after his death in May of 2022, and while it’s not an amazing role, he still does a pretty nice job. Cocaine Bear is definitely not for everybody, but if you are a fan of over-the-top & idiotic films, then you’ll love this!

4) Sisu (Trailer)

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the Nazis get their asses handed to in such a fun manner!

If I was to describe Sisu to anyone who asks me, I would say it’s one part John Wick (Minus the dog dying.....and that’s not a spoiler), one part WW2 movie, and one part Tarentino style revenge flick complete with the gore. Perhaps what makes the film stand out to me is the balance it maintains in it’s entire run time: from the action, to the humor, to the seriousness, and even the more quiet moments, there’s not a single aspect that overwhelms all of the others. I also appreciate the fact that the movie took place in an area of World War 2 you don’t see very often (Finland). Each aspect of the film walks a tightrope, and not at any single point in it’s hour & a half running time do they tip to one side or the other. Kinda like Cocaine Bear, if you’re in the mood for a film that’s not complex and is just fun, you won’t be disappointed by Sisu.

3) Guardians Of The Galaxy: Vol. 3 (Trailer)

It’s been quite a while since I enjoyed a Marvel movie as much as this one. Like I said last year, Multiverse Of Madness was a visual masterpiece, but as a superhero film it could have been better. This one, on the other hand, was faaaaar greater: it didn’t take itself too seriously (Outside of the serious moments), the story was great, the characters were great, and it ended on a bittersweet yet happy ending. When most Marvel movies these days are either Mediocre or Bad, it’s nice to see one that’s good (Bordering on great) most of the time! Outside of some small hiccups, the final outing with the Guardians might be their best......and marks only the 2nd time that a superhero movie moved me to tears.   

2) Indiana Jones & The Dial Of Destiny (Trailer)

Let me get this out of the way: The Dial Of Destiny has flaws. Major flaws in places.

From story segments that don’t go anywhere, to characters that were underutilized, put in for a cheap bit of fan service (That’s ironic coming from me), or grating for a portion of the movie, and a premise that seemingly makes all of the other movies in this series look normal, DOD definitely has it’s issues. That being said, the film charmed me quite a bit. Despite being a little over 80 years old at this point, Harrison Ford still has the chops when it comes to the world’s most famous archaeologist, and actually plays the grizzled old man who’s seen it all incredibly well. The practical effects are still great, the CGI isn’t too bad (A de-aged Harrison Ford is a little odd at first glance), and the final musical score by John Williams is one of the best he’s ever done. Hell, even the overly ridiculous story still has plenty of charm, and fits into Indy’s world quite nicely. Yeah it’s got some issues, but as a way to send off Doctor Jones, there were way worse options to pick!

(Also.....nice to see Indiana beat the crap out of a couple Nazis again!)

1) The Super Mario Bros. Movie (Trailer)

This movie did something to me. Something that has never, ever happened to me in my entire life of being a devout PC Gamer. Something that I never ever expected to happen to me.....it made me feel nostalgic for something I have never played.

Sure, I handled a couple of the various Mario Party games, and drove a little bit in some of the Mario Kart titles, and even briefly handled some of the older Mario releases, but for the first time ever I felt my heart strings tugged so hard over a game franchise I never truly sat down & tried. My heart strings were tugged so hard, that I almost cried in the theater (You know the part). But putting that aside, The Super Mario Bros. Movie is one of the most sincere video game movies that has ever been made. Whereas as 90 percent of them are soulless cashgrabs, this was one that was honest & heartfelt. Not only did Illumination respect the source material, but they added their own small spins to the characters that made seemingly complete sense in the film’s realm. On top of that, there were so many references not only to the Mario games, but to so many of Nintendo’s older franchises as well. If this quality can be carried over to any future Nintendo based film, you can be that my ass will be in a seat!   

And those were my top 5 movies of 2023. Again, I saw a few more movies this year than in 2022, and in a strange they were a little bit better. Not knocking what I saw last year, but I thought that there was some more consistency & quality this year as we’re getting out of the plage-ridden time that was 2020. So, stayed tuned for some seasonal goodies this coming Monday, and take care!

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If you’d like to see what I thought of last year’s movies, click on the link below:

Top 5 Movies Of 2022

The Top 5 Albums Of 2023

Up for some music fellow Otaku & Metalheads?

I took a slightly different approach when it came to selecting albums to place here. All throughout this year as I was listening to music, I would write down the album’s names that interested me. From there, I would listen to those albums again, and then place them at the spots where I thought it was the most appropriate. The end result this time around is.....interesting. If any of you like this approach for this year, then I’ll use it for future end of the year lists. In any case, here are the top 5 albums of 2023. Enjoy!

5) Shadows - Out For Blood (Song)

So this was a surprise!

I found this band in my Youtube suggestions back in May completely by accident. Hailing from Santiago (Chile), this brand new group brings to the table a lot of that 1980s Heavy Metal vibe, alongside a dash of King Diamond style scares, and just a pinch of Ghost flavored groove. We already got a sampling of the band’s potential back in 2021 with their EP release Into The Nightmare (Which I ironically found not long after OFB), but it’s Out For Blood that shows off not just how good they are, but how quickly recording & production improve once you get a record deal. Though the album is a bit on the short side in terms of length (30 minutes & 9 seconds), it is counterbalanced by highly atmospheric songs with a decent creep factor behind them. If you don’t mind a record that’s on the smaller side, and want to support a new band, then Out For Blood is for you!

4) Lordi - Screem Writers Guild (Song) & Turmion Kätilöt - Omen X (Song)

FINLAND!!!!!!!

Every year I talk about that wintry nation & it’s metallic offerings to the rest of the world, they always put out quality releases. Case in point, Lordi! All of the times that they’ve appeared on my lists, I have done nothing but give them complements, and Screem Writers Guild will be no exception. An exceptionally cheesy affair, their newest release is dedicated to the black-and-white days of the monsters of Universal Studios. Even the costume change wasn’t unaffected by the theme, as everybody in the band all became some kind of creature that leapt from the silver screen, and they look fantastic! Though the lyrics are still distinctively Lordi, they’re very self aware in the gimmick that they’ve embraced on this record, and the instrumentation also manages to carry the monster movie gimmick in spades. So if you are looking for a fun but creepy album that’s relatively easy to listen to, then Screem Writers Guild is for you!

And then we have a staple of some of these lists in Turmion Kätilöt! Though they’ve never managed to obtain the no. 1 spot on one of these lists (Outside of 2018), they still manage to be a great alternative to the more mainstream Industrial Metal acts, and manage to be a wonderful band in their own right. Omen X continues this tradition: punchy Industrial Metal with a slice of BDSM cheese placed right on top. From brutal & slow tunes, to fast & hard hitting tracks, and to anything else in between, the band’s 2023 offering has something for just about everyone. Until the day comes when Turmion Kätilöt finally puts out a bad album, you can bet beyond a shadow of a doubt that this group will stay on these lists.

3) Avaland - The Legend Of The Storyteller (Song) & Anthem - Crimson & Jet Black (Song)

Talk about an upgrade!

I spoke about the premier French Power Metal band Avaland twice so far. Once back in 2021 on my top 5 albums list of that year (Read here), and last November when I reviewed their debut record. Come to 2023, and the band have definitely improved! The presentation is more epic, the sound is more grand, and the story, setting, and characters feel more fleshed than what they were before (Even though they weren’t bad in any way in 2021). Despite the copious usage of guest vocalists once again, Avaland definitely showed that they were capable of improvement, and The Legend Of The Storyteller is proof of this. If you’re curious about the further peek into the kingdom of Avaland, then give this legend a go!

And then there are the Japanese titans Anthem! The last time we hear from these guys was back in 2019, when they released their 2nd English sung compilation Nucleus. It allowed them to regain a foothold here in the United States, and managed to get them another foothold in Europe. Now we’re in 2023, and we got the first record of all-original material from these guys in nearly 7 years with Crimson & Jet Black. This release is simply wonderful: from the guitar, to the bass, to the drumming, and to Yukio Morikawa’s vocal work (Which includes greatly improved English implementation), it’s obvious that Anthem still have a lot of intensity and energy for almost 40 years at this point, and it’s possible that they’ll carry this intensity & energy until the very day they all collectively croak. It’s wonderful that they’re still making music, and if anyone outside of Japan finds these guys.....you won’t regret it.

2) Iron Savior - Firestar (Song) & U.D.O. - Touchdown (Song)

Ah, Iron Savior. It’s good to hear from you again!

The last time these Germanic masters of Power Metal appeared on one of these lists, it was back in the plague ridden year of 2020 with their December release Skycrest. Despite being released at the end of that year, the overwhelming epicness & positivity of that album was massive blast of fresh air! Now, they’ve returned once again to deliver another upbeat helping of metal that only they can provide. Firestar has all of the intensity of the previously mentioned album, but without the specter of The Plague looming over it’s release. The only reason that it doesn’t make it to number one, is that it doesn’t have the typical Iron Savior style ballad near it’s end (Though the Japanese Edition weirdly has one). It doesn’t disrupt how incredibly good the album as a whole is, but it does bump it up the list ever so slightly. Even with that, I recommend Firestar to anyone who’s feeling down!

Also, we got U.D.O. making a return! I’ve spoken about them twice in recent years: once back in 2020 with the colossus known as We Are One, and again in 2021 with the excellent yet mildly lacking in punch Game Over, and here we are in 2023 with Touchdown. Taking the odd football connection aside, this release has gotten some of that drive from 2020 back in the music. Not completely, as Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr is not with them again, but Dirkschneider and the boys definitely grabbed some of that force back. Though there aren’t any U.D.O. grade ballads to be found, there’s still fantastic songs across Touchdown’s near 54-minute runtime. So, do yourself a favor, and score this touchdown of an album!

So before we get to my no. 1 of 2023, I just wanted to take a moment to talk about some honorable mentions. Much like when I was forming the main list, I had albums I listened to/was going to listen to for these spots. That being said, the releases I did pick for here are.....interesting to say the least. With that said, here are the honorable mentions of 2023!

HM1) Lumnos/Abstract Void - A Glitching Reality (Song)

I don’t think I’ve ever looked at a Split EP in the almost decade that this hobby blog of mine has been up, but it’s a first for everything. Like so many pieces of music I come across, it was through pure accident in my Youtube suggestions that I found (Almost a month after I discovered Out For Blood if you can believe it). At first, the idea of 1980s style synthwave/electronica & Black Metal mixing together sounds like a recipe for disaster, but the end product is nothing but a weirdly satisfying experience. The whole thing comes across almost what I like to call Blackened Cyberpunk: like a city with all of that genre’s usual trappings, but there’s this obvious dash of the supernatural thrown in there to shake things up. If this was more widely available (AKA having a physical release), I would have easily put it somewhere on the main list. Even so, it’s still a beautiful bite-sized EP, and if it happens to come your way, just take close to a half-hour to give it a listen to!

HM2) Devin Townsend - Infinity (Remaster)(Song) ***

It feels like an absolute crime to put anything from Devin Townsend in the honorable mentions section. Outside of some incredibly rare circumstances, HevyDevy has never put out anything bad, and Infinity back in 1998 was an absolute masterpiece! However, with the album turning 25 just last month, perhaps it was time for it to come back into the spotlight, and Devin himself seems to agree. With him pursuing a new project that is going to take 2-something years to complete according to Devy, he’s gone on to say that the process has him reflecting back on previous musical experiences, with Infinity coming to mind practically immediately. Not only did we get the original tracklisting, but we also have the 4 demo tracks from the Christeen + 4 Demos EP, 2 acoustic versions of songs from Ocean Machine, and 1 demo track from 1996. That is a considerably beefy package, as the total amount of music oddly equals that of the Kreator compilation Voices Of Transgression. In any case, it’s definitely a welcome sight to see Infinity make an incredibly welcome re-appearance.....even if I’ve heard most of it before.

1) Host - IX (Song) & Waldgeflüster - Unter Bronzenen Kronen (Song) & Alice Cooper - Road (Song)

My number 1 spot this year was a challenge to decide on. Back in 2020 I concluded that year with Power Metal, 2021 marked a political & emotional shift, and 2022 was an embodiment of Yin & Yang. For 2023, I was thinking that maybe a more serious tone was in order, and there were 3 albums that came to mind.

For starter, there was the Paradise Lost side-project Host, and this one was a given! Formed in 2022 by lead guitarist Greg Mackintosh & vocalist Nick Holmes, IX was an attempt to take the concept of what PL was trying to accomplish on the album Host, but filter it through a modern context, and the end result is nothing more than exquisite. A considerably more darker approach than what the previously mentioned record took, it none the less manages to combine that darkness with Host’s speed, pacing, and tone. It also isn’t as electronic as Host, but it does keep some in to remind listeners as to what inspired Greg & Nick to pursue this project. If you enjoyed the bleaker atmosphere of Obsidian from 2020, but in a slightly more peppier package, then IX will be a perfect pick.

And then there is Waldgeflüster. Back in 2019, I spoke about these guys in my top 5 album list that year (Read here), and praised them for being the kind of Black Metal I enjoy most of the time, while being a great act in their own right. Since then, they’ve put out an album back in 2021 (That I’ve only listened to just a song or two), and their most recent output towards the end of September titled Unter Bronzenen Kronen (Under Bronze Crowns). A 4-song EP, it’s only 28 something minutes long, but that runtime gives you access to some of the most beautiful Heavy Metal so far of this decade (Considering what Devin Townsend put out last year, and some of the stuff from 2021 & 2020, that’s saying something)! Nature & Heathendom were always the source of inspiration for these guys, which is refreshing to me when compared the more Satanic/Atheist based Black Metal groups that still populate the scene in many places (Fuck NSBM, btw). If you have almost a half-hour to kill before you need to go somewhere, and want some metal that will just blow your mind, then give this a try!

Finally, we have Alice Cooper. Despite one political fo-pa a few months ago, the iconic king of Shock Rock continues to be a musical wrecking ball! Last time we heard from Alice, it was his ode to the musical history of Detroit, and that was an awesome time. With Road, we’re treated to a more personal experience from him, and it definitely shows. Showcasing his touring band & wanting them to be the foundation of all of the tracks, they do just as good as any studio group if not better at times. Alice spoke of Road being a “Concept Album” about “Things that happen on the road. There's a lot of humor in it. There's a couple of heartbreakers, but it's very guitar-driven because that's what I look for in an album”. I can’t say much else.....other than good gob Alice!

And those were my top 5 albums of 2023. Certainly a wild selection of releases, but releases that show off this year’s personality and character. With music behind us, that means only one thing. Join me this Friday when you see what I thought were the best movies of 2023 were. See you soon!



***
If you’d like to look at what I thought the best albums were of last year, check out the link below:

Top 5 Albums of 2022

Also, the link below will explain Devin’s decision to bring Infinity back:

DEVIN TOWNSEND Announces Infinity Reissue, Stays Nude On The Cover (Metal Injection)

Also Also, if you want to know what I meant by political fo-pa:

Alice Cooper Understands There Are Cases of Transgender, But Feels ‘It’s Also a Fad’

The Top 5 Games Of 2023

We’ve made it to December fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

We’ve gone through quite the year, haven’t we? From remnants of COVID still lurking around, to strikes in the automotive & film industries, and what’s still going on in Gaza, 2023 has been rather eventful. I’m still here, and I still have my little corner of the internet to pursue this near decade-old hobby of mine. And now that it’s the final month of the year, it means that my top 5 lists have arrived! I’m starting things off with the top 5 games this year, and outside of an exception here and there, 2023 was dominated by the FPS genre for me. Make no mistake: there were plenty of titles in other genres that kicked all kinds of but, but I gravitated mostly towards shooters this year, with only 2019 & 2021 coming even remotely close. So with that out of the way, here are my top 5 games of 2023. Enjoy!

5) Rise Of The Triad: Ludicrous Edition (Trailer) & Quake 2: Remaster (Trailer)

Talk about a nostalgia blast!

For nearly 30 years, one of the most iconic FPS titles of the 1990s has managed to charm both old-school gamers & new gamers alike with it’s quirky yet well-developed gameplay, not to mention it’s weird personality. As per their reputation, famed re-master studio Nightdive Studios got a hold of the game, and coupled with help from Apogee & New Blood Interactive, re-released Rise Of The Triad for a newer generation. In addition to the original game, it also came with the shareware episode, Extreme Rise Of The Triad, and a all new episode created by various developers from other studios, and even the Return Of The Triad mod for Doom. Not only that, but there’s also restored content, updated graphics, interface & gameplay tweaks, and even included the original & 2013 soundtracks. For gamers from way back who need a nostalgic pick-me-up, or for newer gamers who’ve never played titles like this before, then Rise Of The Triad: Ludicrous Edition is for you!

Speaking of Old-School titles, Quake 2 came back this year! Back in 2021, I had the remaster for the first Quake on the main list. I loved the familiar gameplay, the reworked graphics, and the extra little bits added on just made for a great experience. The remaster for Q2? More or less the same, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing in this case! It’s got improved graphics and little extra bits added on (Including a twist or two I didn’t see coming), but the core run & gun gameplay has stayed the same. I do find that the new episode’s structure is a little too similar to that of Dimension Of The Machine (Known as Call Of The Machine in this) from the Q1 remake, but the overall quality of it & everything else offsets this somewhat. If you’ve played Quake 2 back in the day, then this will be a huge nostalgia blast. For those who’ve never touched it, you will experience what the FPS genre was like in it’s prime. It’s a free release (On PC) that I welcome very much, and I hope that any of you that come across it enjoy as much as I did!

4) HROT (Trailer)

The spirits of Quake & Chasm: The Rift are alive & well here in 2023!

Developed over the course of years since all the way back in 2017 by just one guy, this little treat of an FPS title brings back the spirit of those two previously mentioned games, but with a more modern coat of paint thanks to the custom made engine that none-the-less conjures up the visuals of shooter games from decades past. With many of the levels being modeled after very real places in the developer’s homeland of Czechoslovakia, there is an air of believability & authenticity to the locales you go to. On top of all of the visuals & gameplay, HROT also happens to be a commentary on the Soviet era of Czech history & love letter to Czech culture. It may be subtle at times, but it is definitely there if you know what to look for. So, if you’re in the mood for some old-school throwback goodness with a dose of political satire in it’s veins, then HROT will be something to look for!

3) Warhammer 40K: Boltgun (Trailer) & Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer (Trailer) ***

Purge the Heretics!

The FPS revival has been nothing shot of amazing! Old titles brought back from the dead thanks to remasters, and new releases that channel the spirits of games from the bygone age of the genre. Boltgun is an example of a release that’s it’s own thing, but pays homage & respect to those that came before it. It’s got the run & gun attitude of classics like Doom and Duke Nukem 3d, but it also accurately represents the grimdark nature of the 41st millennium. As an Ultramarine, you’re a behemoth that mows down everything in front of them, and carries enough conviction to even slay some of the nastiest beings to come out of the Warp. There are times where the difficulty does skew a little bit in the enemies’s favor (Especially on higher difficulties), but there’s always something that’ll give you the edge in any big fight. If you’re a fan of Warhammer 40K you will absolutely love Boltgun, and even if you’re just a casual fan of the franchise like myself, there is still plenty to enjoy. FOR THE EMPEROR!

And then, there’s this quirky little shooter. A spinoff of the internet simulator game Hypnospace Outlaw (Something that I’ll have to try out after this), Slayers X sees one of the titular characters from the previously mentioned title (Zane) resurrect an old game that he was working on with a friend, and actually releases it. This is an FPS title that has 2 personalities to it: one of the personalities is the edgy side of Zane. All of the visuals, gameplay elements, characters, and even lines that the various characters say make it feel like something that a edgy mid-teen from the 90s would make. Yet, it’s the other personality that gives Slayers X a surprising amount of life & personality. Whether intentionally or not, the second personality also acts as a portal into Zane’s mind, and it’s surprisingly melancholic. Most of the levels in one way or another are places from his childhood, and to a certain extent from ours as well. Places that are long gone, yet in some way still linger in his mind & our minds. Zane is a guy that’s simultaneously grown up, yet is still stuck in the past somehow. It really tugs at the heartstring oddly enough, and without spoiling anything else, there’s one secret towards the end you find that illuminates the whole situation the game came from. Even a few of the bonus levels you unlock after you beat the main game have this illuminating quality to it as well, and while you won’t cry.....it’ll make your eyes moist. If you’re looking for a First Person Shooter with a surprising amount of insight & introspective into the mind of a fictional character (And maybe even a lot of us to be honest), then Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer is that game.

2) Resident Evil 4 (Trailer)

I am genuinely shocked that this didn’t get the no. 1 spot this year. In 2017 & 2019, Resident Evil 7 & the Resident Evil 2 remake made it to number 1 in those years respectfully, and by an inch or two this remake didn’t make the cut this time. Let’s get this out of the way: Resident Evil 4 is absolutely incredible! Like the RE2 remake from a few years ago, it simultaneously adds new things (and changes some stuff), yet still pays homage & respect to the classic formula from nearly 20 years ago. If anything, the remake actually manages to make certain aspects in this scarier than they were in the original, and even some of the characters have received enhancements to their personalities that are a great improvement over what they used to be. The only reason that this isn’t no. 1 is for whatever reasons I don’t find myself going back to it as often as I did with RE7 & RE2r, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad by any means!

Before we get to my no. 1, I wanna cover the usual honorable mentions. I have some.....interesting picks for 2023's honorable mentions this year. One is a return to Magic The Gathering, the others are pleasant pieces of DLC, and finally a gorgeous demo. All 3 absolutely wonderful in their own right, but the quirks they have stopped them from getting onto the main list. With that out of the way, here are my gaming honorable mentions for 2023!

HM1) Lord Of The Rings: Tales Of Middle Earth (Trailer/Game Knights/Gallery)

Let’s get this out of the way.....making Aragorn a black man was a dumb move. Making Theodin a black man.....was a dumb move. Making Eowyn a black woman.....was a dumb move!

As I’ve said numerous times over the years, I want proper & real racial representation in media (I once again need to state this, but I’m liberal as shit!), but not something that’s was simply done to score brownie points! The stink that was called up by this fiasco was stupid, and the same people who championed this are probably the very same individuals who have a brain aneurysm whenever a person of color is changed to white in film (*Cough* 1st Doctor Strange movie *Cough*). That being said.....I loved this set! The vibe & atmosphere of Tolken’s legendary writings come in perfectly on each and every single card, and the flavor is incredible. Even the design of the cards was great, as the set as a whole came across like Battle For Balder’s Gate with faaaaar more effort put behind it. Yeah, the racial swap politics was completely dumb, but if you can put that aside (I definitely did) you’ll have access to one of the most fun MTG releases of 2023!

HM2) Amid Evil: The Black Labyrinth (Trailer) & Ion Fury: Aftershock (Trailer)

Funny story: I actually had this tied with my no. 5 spot for a little bit. Since around 2020, I was excited to see Amid Evil come back, and I kept that excitement until late August of this year when it finally released. Looking back, I’m somewhat surprised by how underwhelming it was. Make no mistake: The Black Labyrinth was wonderfully crafted! The level design was tight yet pleasantly weird, graphics were beautiful, the music was as good as you could find in the main game, and the new enemies you faced are as challenging as anything in Amid Evil. They problem is the fact that there’s not much added. You only have 2 new weapons, the enemy variety doesn’t change much over the course of the game, and there are only 9 levels in total, but that is offset somewhat by how big they are. The only thing that does change is that once you beat the DLC you have the option to have the 2 new weapons come into the main game, and that oddly changes things ever so slightly. Even with all of that said, I still found The Black Labyrinth to be a fun time. If you were a fan of the original game, then it’s definitely worth a purchase.

And then we have the long awaited expansion pack to one of the best retro FPS games of 2019. I spoke highly of Ion Fury in my top 5 games list of that year (Read here), and Aftershock doesn’t disappoint! While it could have been maybe a little longer, the gameplay has remained pleasantly unchained from the base release for the most part. A few new alternate ammo types, one new weapon, some new inventory items, alternate base enemies, new enemies, and even a vehicle in some places are nice addons that switch things up. The levels are filled with nice arenas to blast through, with a few places providing a surprising challenge, and without revealing too much, let’s just say that the final zone is a little.....hot. In any case, if you loved Ion Fury, then it’s aftershocks will be pleasant to feel.

HM3) The Age Of Hell: Demo (Trailer)

It’s always nice to see GZDoom games come out on their own!

Despite being a demo, The Age Of Hell is nothing short of breathtaking. The levels are massive & given so much detail, the music goes between gentle-ish metal guitar & full-blown Heavy Metal, the enemies come in hordes, the weapons look & sound incredibly meaty (With maybe the exception of the pistol), and the simplistic yet varied upgrades for your weapons expand combat in a variety of ways. At the moment, my only complaints are that the hordes sometimes are a bit too big once in a while, and things stutter slightly if there’s too many enemies on screen, but if those are my only issues at this moment in time, then The Age Of Hell is doing something right!

1) Gloomwood: Early Access (Trailer) & Universes Beyond: Doctor Who (Trailer/Game Knights/Gallery) & The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan (Trailer/Game Knights/Gallery) 

Last year, I spoke about this early access release very highly in my honorable mentions section. It was being developed by a highly trusted studio in the 3rd-party scene, has great atmosphere, personality, and gameplay that’s simple yet detailed at the same time. I had released last year’s list on the 1st of December, somewhat knowing that an absolutely phenomenal update was coming just 20 days later. Little did I and so many Gloomwood fans know.....that it was just the start of some incredible updates.

For starters, there was The Tavern right at the end of 2022 that I just previously mentioned. Normally filled with drink & merriment, it has instead become a tomb for the Huntsman that were slain thanks to a beast they decided to bring in. You got no choice but to go inside, grab a shotgun, and slay the creature to steal a key on it’s back to go back outside (Or do you?). Then there was Fire At The Gates back in May of this year, and that was a big one. Not only did it alter & add spots in earlier areas, but it enhanced the gates to the city of Gloomwood to give it some more depth. After that was the Market District in July, and that was a gamechanger. Things definitely picked up in terms of level depth, there were multiple ways to explore the market, you found out that there were more groups & creatures within the city, and the amount of things to discover definitely increased. Finally, there was the All Hallows Eve mini-event towards the end of October, and while it didn’t do anything massive, it did enhance previously added content from the Market District to an incredible degree, added some other little bits here & there, and I thought it was funny to throw carved turnips at enemies. Some of which lit them on fire!

All of these updates have done nothing but enhance an already incredible base game. The level of detail is phenomenal, the gameplay is wonderful, and the transparency & communication from the developers is massively appreciated. It’s nice to see that a 3rd-party developer put in so much effort & talk to the fans, when most Triple A studios don’t do enough of a good job with their product or bitch about other titles being far better than what they made. Given that there are still things to add to complete the game, I’ll definitely have a few more opportunities to talk about it next year, and maybe even in 2025 when I think the game will finally be done. Despite that, Gloomwood continues to be an exquisitely well-made title that satisfies me every time I play it. If you haven’t tried it out, then I highly suggest you do so. You will not be disappointed!

And then there was MTG’s journey into the world of Doctor Who. I spoke about WotC’s first big release in the Universes Beyond series last year in the form of the Warhammer 40k decks. They were a hit, and plenty of fans were interested in what else was coming. From the grimdark future of the 41st millennium, we traveled to Middle Earth (which I talked about above), and then there’s the tales of a Doctor in a little blue police box & the adventures he (And she in 13th’s case) had. If anything, Doctor Who is the outside franchise that had made the most sense to bring into MTG so far: even if Universes Beyond isn’t brought into the cosmology of Magic The Gathering, just the idea of The Doctor wandering planes like Kaladesh or Kamigawa makes me smile. Despite that not happening, the way they translated so much of Doctor Who into these 4 decks is nothing short of incredible! 60 years of classic science fiction is seen & felt in every single card, and many of the new mechanics are fun & quirky. Plus, this marks the second time in 2023 that we have new Planechase cards, and they’re great also! If there was one entry into the Universes Beyond series that is essential to have, make it Doctor Who!

Finally, we have The Lost Caverns Of Ixalan. Though only a few weeks old by the time this is published, it was an incredibly refreshing release when compared to the more serious nature of the storyline that MTG was pushing for a giant majority of 2023. Take the base formula of the original Ixalan (Aztec Empire with dinosaurs, Pirates, Merfolk, and the vampiric Spanish Conquistadors), and throw it all into a Journey To The Center Of The Earth type of scenario. Not only that, but it was interesting to see how the plane had healed a year after a multiverse-wide apocalyptic event. TLCOI is tons of fun to not only play with, but to simply look at & appreciate the visuals that the set has to offer. The original Ixalan simply played with the Mesoamerican themes, but Lost Caverns amps up those themes past 10, and adds it’s own little quirks to the mix as well. Time will tell when it comes to player’s perceptions of the set, but for me it ranks as some of the best that Magic The Gathering offered in 2023.

So those were my top 5 games of 2023. FPS heavy to be sure, but at the same time First Person Shooters are my comfort zone. So see you all in a few days, when I talk about my favorite albums of the year. Until then, take care!



***
If you’d like to see what I thought of last year’s games, then click on the link below:

The Top 5 Games Of 2022

Also, if you’d like to see where I got some of my opinions from on Slayers X, check out the link below:

SLAYERS X - Nitro Rad

Also Also, I thought that the Underport update for Gloomwood was going to come out sometime towards the end of last month, but that was sadly not the case.