The Top 10 Games To Play To Before You Die

Happy Halloween fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

The day where our world & the world of the beyond mingle, it’s a time for those in costume to prowl the streets for candy, to keep our eyes open for any signs of the supernatural, and to put our favorite horror movie on so we can have the crap scared out of us! However, I wanted to give you all a rather strange treat to enjoy. As you all know, I’ve been doing a look at pieces of media that are needed to be experienced before you get put six feet under. At the beginning of the month I looked at essential movies, and just a few weeks ago I examined essential albums to listen to. Today, it’s time to look at the 10 videos games that are important to play before the medical machine doesn’t read your heartbeat anymore. As with the last 2 lists, I’ve picked out titles from across all genres. Some of this will be familiar to you, while other are gonna be quite the surprise. With that said, here are the top 10 games to play before you die. Boo!

10) Botany Manor (Video)

We begin this list with the Puzzle genre, and a game that has come out fairly recently back in April, and I previously talked about just last month. Out of everything that came out this year, with perhaps the exception of the MTG set Bloomburrow towards the end of the Summer, Botany Manor is perhaps the coziest game of 2024. Visually it looks amazing, what with all of the bright colors, and the realistic layout of the manor & some surrounding areas. The sound quality is amazing as well, with some cozy qualities just as good as the visuals. As for the puzzles themselves, they’re great. Granted, some of the later ones do require the player to pay a little more attention than the ones at the beginning, but in no way are they unfair, and you never feel pressured to complete any of them. Botany Manor got some nice praise upon it’s release, and I hope it continues to do so.

9) Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Video)

I had to have one console release on here, and it’s one that I have a strange connection to.

Back when I was little, I had an uncle you lived a few hours away from where we were at the time, and he had a Sega Genesis. There were a couple games for it (Some of which I remember), but the one I recall the most was Sonic the Hedgehog 2. Say what you will about the franchise’s reputation nowadays, but back in the 90s the Blue Blur & his adorable sidekick Tails were the apple in Sega’s eye and could do no wrong. Anyways, my little mind was absolutely hooked on all of the colors, the interesting worlds, the speed & action, and the absurdity of everything that was going on. I would think of my times with Sonic 2 when I left his house, but I always enjoyed turning the Genesis back on, and putting Sonic back in. Definitely one of the greats of the console world!

8) Re-Volt (Video)

Re-Volt is something of a nostalgic game for me. In addition to it being a fun & quirky Racing game, it was also something that my entire family played together back in the late 90s to early 2000s. Computer connectivity back in that time was incredibly different when you compare it to now, and sometimes you had to force it in certain circumstances, but I digress. I remember when me, my Mom, and my Dad, all sat down at our machines, and loaded right into the game. It was a blast every time: seeing a bunch of RC Cars coming to life, and driving through a variety of locals was just fun, and with the various combative items everybody used, it also made for a frantic time as well. With a re-release a little over 2 years ago on Steam, it was a tidal wave of nostalgia for me, as it felt like a more innocent time came back. Where my eyes still twinkled with wonder, and my mind didn’t carry such heavy thoughts. In any case, Re-Volt is a Racing title that easy to get into and easy to learn, and you’ll be smiling every minute.

7) Dusk (Video)

Boomer Shooters. Say what you will about the first part of the genre’s name, one can’t deny at just how refreshing it is to see FPS titles pay heavy homage to the releases of yore. There were plenty of games in the style I could have easily picked, and they all would have worked fine, but the one that gamers still talk about to this very day.....is Dusk.

It’s hard to believe that this title is almost 6 years old (Exactly 6 years this coming December on the 10th) in 2024. Hell, I found it hard to believe that it was half a decade old last year, but that doesn’t exactly matter. As simplistic as the gameplay is, it also acts as a portal into FPS past: no DLC, no loot boxes or other microtransactions, and no political pandering of any kind regardless of which side. Just pure running & gunning, complete with a graphics engine that evokes the visuals of games like Quake, and a atmospheric soundtrack that stays stuck in your brain. With it’s releases on the Switch & PS4, not to mention a free graphic updates that breaths in a ton of new life, console players can enjoy a modern classic as much as the PC Master Race have been. Definitely one of the greats!

6) Lego Island (Video)

By today’s standards, the very first Lego video game is incredibly primitive. All of the interactivity when it comes to the various activities are regulated to building & driving vehicles (That excludes the non-building activities, and you’re still driving in those), and everything else comes to just changing the various Lego people’s headwear & sounds they make when you click on them (You could also change the sound of the clickable buildings & foliage). The graphics are heavily dated nearly 30 years later, and the sound quality in some aspects feel rough. However, what still keeps this Kids title afloat is the sheer charm of it all. Lego Island has some of the quirkiest characters ever in a game, and they all have something to do & say as you wander the titular island. The music is bright & charming, and despite how simplistic the activities are, they are a bit of fun. There’s personality around every single corner of this release, and even though it’s difficult to get running on modern hardware, it’s genuinely worth it to get up & running. If you need to reunite with your inner kid, then playing Lego Island for even just a few short minutes will help in that regard.

5) One Must Fall: 2097 (Video)

Ages ago, I put out a top 10 list on my favorite games of all time (Might do a 2nd version eventually), and at the no. 1 spot I had this Fighting game from my childhood, and I will still defend that choice. When it comes to the 10 games to play before you die however, I felt I needed to put it up a little higher here. Make no mistake: OMF is a surprisingly deep Fighting title. Sure, there have been hordes of games in the genre that are far deeper & more complex, but it’s amazing that one that just turned 30 years old this year (The 10th of this month was it’s 30th birthday) has a lot going for it. There’s 10 pilots, 10 robots (Technically 11 in Tournament Mode), and there’s a surprising amount of mixing & matching with all of them. Coupled with 5 to 6 arenas that provide their own different qualities, and some special secrets that can be unlocked to expand the base game, and you have a piece of Abadonware that has aged shockingly well. Among PC users of a certain age, it remains a bedrock among the classic 90s landscape, and it’s definitely a game to play for those who are curious.

4) Starcraft (Video) 

I admit that I’ve never had the strongest connection to the RTS genre. I never hated it, as there were a few titles I played (Dungeon Keeper 1 & 2, Warcraft 3, Starcraft 2 & it’s expansions), but it was never a genre I actively invested my time in. Then the OG Starcraft came into my life in 1998, and things changed.

The 2nd youngest franchise that the once beloved Blizzard Entertainment made, Starcraft was & still is a ton of fun to play! Sure, the RTS elements are on the simplistic side these days, but it’s easy to pick up by just about anybody. You have 3 different races to pick (Humans, Zerg, Protoss), each with their own strengths & weaknesses that complement all the others. The levels & missions are all designed very well, and though some do skew towards the A.I.’s favor at times towards the end of the Protoss campaign, nothing is ever completely impossible to beat. Blizzard showed some love for Starcraft back in 2018 for it’s 20th anniversary, so maybe they’ll do something for when it turns 30 in 2028 as long as the world isn’t in flames. In any case, Starcraft shows that at one point Blizzard Entertainment was the gaming empire that could do no wrong. That they once has some of the most amazing developers on the planet, who put passion into everything they made. The original Starcraft, despite it’s age & simplicity, still stands tall as an RTS titan, and it’s one that everybody should try.

3) Alone In The Dark (Video)

Every Survival Horror game that has been released since 1992 all own their existence to Alone In The Dark. From the good ones, to the bad ones, and even the mediocre ones, all have a piece of AITD within them. I was pretty young when it came out in the United States, but that didn’t stop me from going through one of the scariest games that was ever made. Sure, by today’s standards the scares are quaint, but in 1992 the various monsters & atmosphere of the game were something that nobody had ever saw at the time. An abandoned mansion in the wetlands of 1920s Louisiana was an original place to be stuck at for some scares, and boy did it deliver. Playing as either a detective (Edward Carnby, who'd go on to define the rest of the series), or the niece of the owner of the mansion, you’re trapped inside it’s now haunted ruins, with little in the way of keeping you alive. Limited ammo & melee weapons, limited health pickups, and combat encounters that could set you back quite a bit, it was obvious that Alone In The Dark encouraged the player to use more of their brain rather than their brawn. While the graphics & sound effects are incredibly dated, they still manage to provide some great atmosphere 30+ years later, and the visuals are still chilling in certain places. AITD most definitely is left in the dust by games that would ultimately come to define the Survivor Horror genre (Even AITD 2 & 3), only the most narrow-minded gamers out there would try to deny the lasting legacy of this title.

2) Skyrim (Video)

I was torn with what to put here. At one point, I wanted to put Diablo at this spot, since it was a childhood classic for me (Like OMF). At another point, I was tempted to place Dark Souls 3 here as well, as that was an example of a piece of media I took a chance on & fell right in love with. However, I think that honor has to go to one of the most legendary RPGs in the new millennium, and said legend is the iconic Skyrim.

I may have mentioned this ages ago, but it was in 2014 when I finally decided to put some money down, as it was on sale alongside all of it’s DLC on Steam ($14.37 for everything if I recall correctly). Upon my first few minutes, I regretted ever waiting to get into one of the most incredible world ever created for a roleplaying game. It’s most definitely massive, and at time there may be too many things to do, but even some of it’s most ardent haters can’t deny to obvious love & care that was put into everything. From the world design, to the game mechanics, and to the amazing music score (Which still holds up to this day without fault), it was obvious that Bethesda knew what they were doing. Even with the issues that were there at launch, Skyrim established itself as a title that raised the bar to massive heights, and I don’t think that the company will ever do that again.

1) Duke Nukem 3d (Video)

Okay, I had to end at least one of these lists on an upbeat note, and if you all know me personally....you won’t be surprised by this pick.

The Boomer Shooter genre definitely brings that old-school vibe to the modern age, but it’s hard not to beat the titles that came before it. Now, much like Dusk above, I could have picked just about any of the classic FPS titles from the 90s, and it would have worked well here. However, it’s hard not to deny the decade’s biggest wisecracker & womanizer, and so Duke Nukem 3d was the pick! For almost 30 years, the Duke has traversed Los Angeles, Outer Space, Washington D.C., the Caribbean, Santa’s Workshop, and a tour of the world, leaving a horde of alien bodies in his wake (And an equal horde of babes that want him). Duke Nukem 3d has aged exceedingly well in the near 3 decades of being on this planet, with only a small few aspects showing some dirt on the armor. The action & gameplay is fantastic, the one-liners are classics, and even the pop culture references have aged like surprisingly fine wine. There’s a little bit of tastelessness for sure, but by today’s standards they’re tame, with only the most obnoxious of Bullshit Justice Warriors using it for a grift. Regardless of that, Duke Nukem 3d gave the 90s FPS movement fuel to continue through the rest of the decade, and was able to stand apart from that movement as well due to sheer personality & character. I will only say one last thing.....and that’s to play this!

And those were the top 10 games to play before you die. Given what’s coming in just a couple days it might seem a little grim to talk about something like this, but as we go further into this decade, sometimes it’s necessary. In any case, I hope you all have a haunt & candy filled rest of the day, and come back tomorrow for a rant.....I feel is incredibly necessary. Until then, have a nice 31st!

5 Greatest Anime Chests (For Breast Cancer Awareness) No. 8

Another Halloween treat fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

The subject of today’s post is no stranger in these parts. In fact, today’s list is number 8 so far! As it always is around this time of the year, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and as such it’s time to show off some of anime & the Vtuber world’s greatest chests. It’s a testament to those that have survived the disease, whether man or woman, that they continue their life to the fullest, and aren’t afraid to tell their tale. As usual, I did the best I could to find 5 of the biggest & bounciest breasts I could find, and I think you’ll enjoy who I picked for 2024. With that said, here are the top 5 greatest anime chests for breast cancer awareness.......number 8!

5) Cimrai (Video)

Sometimes, a demoness deserves some time in the spotlight!

Compared to pretty much everybody else on this list (With maybe one exception right below), the Mistress of the Dark Maze’s figure is quite humble. That’s not to say she isn’t curvy, as from her head to her toes she is quite shapely. Her chest, while restrained in terms of size, none the less is still quite full & well-sized. As dominating as her character is, all it takes me make her afraid is the JAWS theme (Long story), and whenever she goes over to the Weary 101, she becomes a lot more like us. Curvy, sexy, and with just a bit of dry humor from time to time, Mistress Cimrai is definitely one of the best in the vtuber business.

4) Sinder (Video)

From a demoness to a hellhound, Sinder is quite the looker. Not only is her vtuber model curvy & bouncy, but her real life body doesn’t look that much different. When she’s in her cosplay of her character’s model, it’s actually kinda hard to tell the difference between the two outside of the obvious. She’s even talked about “The Girls” on numerous occasions, and how they’ve caused trouble in a lot of funny ways, and how sometimes cosplaying can be a little tricky because her boobies have gotten in the way. That’s not me being crude: according to some of her humor, she’s got plenty of “Tiddy Booby Haha Jokes” as The Hellhound Council (An in universe character) calls them. Sinder can be dirty, but she can also be really sweet most of the time.....and the bounciness is there all the same.

3) Radia (Video)

Radiation can do a lot of things. Mutate animals. Make people sick. Ruin the environment, and in the case of Radia.....make a sexy scorpion woman with an impressive chest. The funny thing about the gorgeous scorpion is that the picture above is her second model that she premiered fairly recently. Her first model is more tame than this one is. Make no mistake: her first figure is gorgeous, but this new one is more.....realistic. Outside of the giant scorpion claws & tail, Radia has a figure you’d definitely see in real life. From the bottom to the top, every bit of curve she has is fine.....and the jiggle will make you feel tingly.

2) Chonky Lotus (Video)

And here is an oddball of a choice. This lovely trans latina vtuber has an absolutely gorgeous figure. From the color of her eyes, skin, and hair, to the exceptionally curvy body and absolutely bouncy & bountiful breasts, it’s not hard to see why people love this gorgeous Dragon Cat. However, what sets Chonky apart from also everybody else on this list is the sheer niceness of her character. From her oddly wholesome Giantess content (Which I’m not fond of but respect those that like it), to the sheer coziness of her typical streams on Twitch and Youtube, it’s her mission to create a comfortable environment for her viewers. A slice of heaven in a sea of hell, as I like to say. The wholesomeness of her material easily balances out just how bouncy she can be, which makes every video of hers all the better.

1) Vexoria The Sun Eater (Video)

Yes, this marks the second time that our lovely snake goddess is at the no. 1 spot! No, I don’t care!

Even after she whooped Breast Cancer’s ass late last year, Vexoria was still going through some medical issues from the after effects of the cancer & the radiation treatments, and just a few weeks back got the port in her arm taken. She’s actually been on break for a bit, spending time with her husband & her two kids, and branching out into other things like voice acting & singing in order to further her career. Vexxy is the living embodiment of being down at the bottom of the barrel due to a horrid disease, and through the power of will & stubbornness, came out said barrel stronger than she was before. Whether she’s being sexy & dommy mommy, or sweet/silly & insightful, Vexoria The Sun Eater is one of the brightest beacons of hope that is out there right now.

And those were the top 5 greatest anime chests for Breast Cancer Awareness, number 8. Sure, these lists might not actually do anything big for Breast Cancer research & whatnot, but I like to think they bring some slight attention to the disease. If you know anyone (Including yourself) that may have it, please get them help as soon as possible! Now, the day of Halloween is near, so join me on the 31st for the top 10 games to play before you die. Until then, save the ta-tas!


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If you’d like to see who I talked about last year, then click on the link below:

5 Greatest Anime Chests (For Breast Cancer Awareness) No. 7

Also, the letter below is from Vexoria herself a few days back.

The Top 10 Albums To Listen To Before You Die

The Grim Reaper watches over us this October fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

On the 1st of this month, I took a look at the top 10 movies you need to watch before you die, and as I alluded, I’m not just making lists about film. Today’s list is about the 10 albums you gotta listen to before you croak & leave this planet. Much like the first one of these, I’ve decided to focus on a variety of music styles, rather than just concentrate on one. As much of a die hard Heavy Metal disciple as I am, for perhaps a decade now other styles have been creeping in I once enjoyed, and thus there’s quite a selection here. With that out of the way, here are the top 10 albums to listen to before you die. Let’s begin.

10) Laibach - Opus Dei (Song)

Industrial has always been a music style that’s more European than American. Apart from a few home-grown exceptions here in the states, it never caught on as strongly as other musical genres. One group that definitely had some presence in America (Despite not having concerts in the U.S. if I recall correctly) was the legendary Laibach. For nearly 4 decades, they have crafted some of the most interesting albums not just in the Industrial genre, but in music period. Perhaps one of their most iconic was 1987's Opus Dei, or Work Of God translated from Latin. Opus Dei contains perhaps some of their most iconic tracks, which includes a German cover of the Queen song “One Vision” & a reworking of Austrian band Opus' sole international hit single “Life Is Life”. While it wasn’t a colossal smash in my home country, it definitely acquired a sizable cult of fans (One that’s gotten stronger overtime, btw), and remains a staple if many places throughout Europe. If you’re in the mood for some artistic Industrial music with political undertones (That doesn’t come across as too pretentious), then I suggest that you give Opus Dei a try.

9) John Denver And The Muppets - A Christmas Together (Song)

Okay, it seems a little goofy to say that one record to listen to before you die is a Christmas album, but I’m being genuine with this. Taken from the sadly obscure special of the same name (Click Here), the music that came from it has remained far more popular, and for good reasons. The songs, are warm, cozy, full of laughter & heart, and there’s a hint of history as well. I reviewed this release years ago (Click Here), and in that review I spoke very highly of the music, as it was something that was incredibly sacred in my house, and still is to this day. The fact that it still has it’s oldest fans says something to it’s quality, as is the fact that it’s got fans among younger generations also. If you’re looking for Christmas/Holiday music that’s as warm as a fireplace, make it this one.

8) Devin Townsend - Devlab (Song)

Only an album as weird as this could only have come from the mad Canadian knows as Devin Townsend!

In recent years, I’ve gotten pulled into the realm of Ambient music. Cyberpunk & Fantasy Ambient, to be more specific. Anyways, leave it up to HevyDevy to create an Ambient record that’s seemingly nonsensical, yet forms an oddly cohesive whole. Each track on their own feel like a bite-sized tornado of insanity, full of audio nonsense that makes it come across like a pretentious art project. However, if you listen to the whole thing from beginning to end, you’ll find that it’s actually one genius story. Sure, it doesn’t make a lick of sense 90% of the time, but the fact that each songs bleeds into one another without any trouble does give you some kind of clue as to what’s going on. It’s really hard to describe, so I suggest you go out & listen to it right away. You may come back confused, but you’ll be entertained at the same time!

7) N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton (Song)

Funny story. I actually didn’t listen to this album, along with Devlab, until a few months ago for the very first time when I was beginning to pick the records for this list. Anyone who’s known me for a very long time knows I am not a fan of Rap & Hip-Hop, and outside of some very specific exceptions, I’m still not a fan.....and then comes Straight Outta Compton. Released on the 8th of August in 1988, the debut album of the N.W.A (Niggaz With Attitude) would go on to be one of the most important & infamous Rap albums ever released. Important because it helped add further to the Gangsta element that was moving more & more into the genre, and infamous because they got a warning letter from an FBI agent for their song Fuck Tha Police. That last aspect would eventually call themselves “The World's Most Dangerous Group”, which actually just helped their career. While Straight Outta Compton doesn’t pull me into the fold like how certain Death Metal & Black Metal albums did, I none the less respect it’s legacy, and acknowledge it’s place in music history. If you are ever in the mood for Gangsta Rap that doesn’t insult your intelligence, then the first outing of the N.W.A. is for you.

6) Queen - Innuendo (Song)

I will forever punch myself in the face for waiting so long to get into Queen. From the early 1970s to 1991, Queen and their iconic frontman Freedy Mercury took the world by storm, and assaulted all of their fans with some of the best Rock And Roll in the history of the style.....and I waited until the mid/late 2010s to get my foot in the door. One of the ways I got into said door was the second to last album of their career, Innuendo. For the first time ever in their career, everybody in Queen was united like never before. Even Freddy himself, who was supposed to die about 3 years prior, has never sounded so amazing as he does on Innuendo. From Gospel, to Rock And Roll, to AOR, and even a little bit of Heavy Metal, there’s something for everyone on this record. It’s a shame that Freddy’s health was so bad by that point, as even a small world tour to promote this album would have been very appreciated by the fans. Even so, Innuendo is a testament to Queen’s legacy as one of the most iconic bands of the world, and those that still continue to praise their work are nothing short of important to the preservation of the band’s history. Take my advice: listen to Innuendo just one at least.

5) New Radicals - Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too (Song)

Sometimes we listen to an album because of the genre. Other times it’s because of how it makes us feel, and not to dissimilar to that, we listen to a record because of nostalgia. The lone release from the New Radicals, Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too, is an example of that for me. I spoke about it a few times back in 2022, so I’ll keep things a little brief here. Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed is, in my opinion, the single best record that perfectly embodies the 1990s. Yes, it came out in 1998, but the album manages to encompass the entire decade with ease. All of the positives, negatives, hopes, dreams, and fears of the 1990s are found within each song. I don’t think any other release from that decade was even remotely capable of doing that feat, nor manage to be quite varied in track styles as well. It’s sadly a little difficult to find these days, as there’s never been a remaster or simple re-release as far as I know, and it’s over 25 years old, but Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too is just such an essential record from the last great decade, that it wouldn’t be right to leave off this list.

4) Queen Of The Damned Soundtrack (Song)

If Maybe You’ve Been Brainwashed Too encapsulated the 1990s, then this soundtrack to one of the most iconic vampire movies is to the 2000s. To be more specific, it had a hold on the early 2000s. Originally the music was written & sung by Johnathan Davis of Korn fame and Richard Gibbs, but Davis was taken off of the project due to contract issues if I recall correctly, and any trace of his vocal work on the songs he did was taken off & replaced with a different singer. Even with that factored out, the Queen Of The Damned Soundtrack was on the button of the music buzzer of some highly popular genres at the time. Nu Metal, Gothic Metal, and Industrial Metal are all found aplenty on this release, & they’re all absolute bangers in one way or another. I remember loving this back when I first listened to it in the mid 2000s, and there’s just something incredibly nostalgic about it almost 20 years later. If you’re looking for music that makes your fangs grow out, then the Queen Of The Damned Soundtrack is for you!

3) Led Zeppelin - In Through The Out Door (Song)

It took my Dad decades to get me into Led Zeppelin. It took him forever to get me into one of the bands that are practically responsible for laying down the foundation for Heavy Metal to eventually be born, despite being a Blues & Folk Rock band. Then, on Christmas of 2017, I finally got my first album from these legends in the form of what would be their last release together as a band, and that was In Through The Out Door. I reviewed this almost 5 years ago for it’s belated 40th birthday, and you can read the review here (Link), but I spoke pretty highly of it, and even said it was the only Led Zeppelin I truly like. Hell, even before getting it close to 7 years ago, I was always a fan of one song off of it, but upon listening to it, I realized that the whole thing is great. Even though it was torn apart by many people when it first released, it none the less managed to become a favorite among Led Zeppelin fans in the years afterwards, and in one circumstance.....they got me hooked.

2) Nirvana - Nevermind (Song)

Grunge. Often reviled by hardcore metalheads from the 1980s as being the main culprit of classic metal getting “Killed” in the 90s (Even though there were more business & social factors at work), it was unfairly maligned by many, and some still to this day have a brain aneurysm over it. What they all fail to realize is that Grunge was far more Metal than they knew, and even a lot of the Grunge bands kinda had that mentality as well (Whether they admit it or not). None perhaps were more iconic to the Grunge movement that Nirvana, as well as it’s troubled frontman, Kurt Cobain. Though they had an album released beforehand, it was 1991's Nevermind that established themselves as legends until the end of time. Singing about things that were more real than something like most of the Hair Metal bands from the prior decade would have in their music, Nevermind would help a burgeoning new generation find someway to make sense of the new decade, which made it all the more tragic when on the 5th of April, 1994....he took his own life by a self-inflicted shotgun blast.

1) Type-O Negative - World Coming Down (Song)

Another soul-crusher to end one of these lists.

Yet another album I reviewed 5 years ago, it might be surprising to some of you that I enjoy this record. In fact, it’ll definitely surprise you to know that it’s one of my absolute favorites coming from the Brooklyn powerhouse Type-O Negative, especially considering how bleak the music on this release is. Everything from graphic drug addition, to suicidal analogies, and to sexual fascination with fire can be found on World Coming Down. The whole experience is absolutely dark, tragic, and for almost all of the time, strangely hopeless. Yet, as I said in the review, it was also cleansing for Pete Steele. Whether he knew it or not, he was releasing just about all of his personal demons with every track, and maybe some of the other band members were doing the same thing as well. World Coming Down is most definitely a miserable experience, but it’s a well-made miserable experience, and I can’t fault it for that.

And those were the top 10 albums to listen to before you die. Records taken from across musical time & space, they’re a testament to their legacy that they’re all remembered fondly even in these dark times. So, I will see you all on Halloween Day, when I’ll talk about the top 10 games to play before you die. Before that, I believe a certain October tradition is in order. Until then, take care.

Game Review: MegaMan's Battle Network

October moves on fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

The days are getting shorter. The nights are getting colder. The leaves are falling more, and the spirits of Halloween are creeping closer & closer. On the first of this month, I showed off the top 10 movies to watch before you die, but I didn’t want everything I published this month to crush the soul. I gotta treat you all once in a while this October, and I got something fun for today! The subject of today’s review is from a game series I got into earlier this year, and it’s one I’m glad I did. An alternate take on one of the most iconic console characters of all time, it spawned it’s own little series of games, but for today’s purposes I’m looking at the first title of this franchise. So, get yourself onto the Net, make sure you have the most up to date virus protection, and take a look at my review for MegaMan: Battle Network. Let’s begin!

Story
Taken from Wikipedia:

“Mega Man Battle Network is set in an ambiguous year in the 21st century ("20XX AD") in an alternate reality to the original Mega Man series. Within the world of Battle Network, the Net has become humanity's primary means of communication, commerce, and even crime. Users are able to "jack in" to the Net and other computerized devices and explore their various aspects using (or "operating") program avatars called "NetNavis (Network Navigators)" as if they were physical locations. The Net and the inner workings of computers are displayed as a virtual world within which users (through their NetNavis) and computer programs can interact. Users often do so by communicating through a "PET (PErsonal information Terminal)" device. The plot of Mega Man Battle Network follows one such pair, Lan Hikari and his NetNavi MegaMan.EXE. Lan is a fifth grader in the town of ACDC. His father, Dr. Yuichiro Hikari, is one of the world's top scientists and NetNavi researchers. Throughout the story, Lan and MegaMan solve various criminal cases around ACDC involving other Navis and their operators. Some of the confrontations with the various criminals involve desperate, life-threatening situations including school students being re-educated as mindless slaves, the city's waterworks freezing over, oxygen being cut off at a large party, and a bus rigged to explode. The duo continuously crosses paths with Eugene Chaud, an official "NetBattler" commissioned by the government to investigate crimes on the Net. Chaud and his NetNavi ProtoMan.EXE act as rivals to Lan and MegaMan.EXE.”

On the initial surface, Battle Network’s story comes across as rather anime cliched (Good & Bad), and as things progress a lot of said cliches stick around. However, the genius of this game’s story is that for every cliche, there’s a twist or surprise that catches you off guard! Much like when I talked about Everfrost’s 2019 release Winterider almost 5 years ago, there’s a giant degree of deception going on, but the kind of deception that works really well. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say there’s a few moments in the story that will come right out of left field......and I only knew one of them before I came into the game.

Setting
Battle Network is of two worlds: ours, and the Internet. In the real world, you got Lan’s hometown of AC/DC, and it a simple place where the player’s friends are, the school he goes to, and one of the local businesses. There’s also DenTown, a nearby city filled with commerce & frantic activity. Finally, there is the Government Complex, where some of the most important political & internet related decisions are made. There are a few other places, but they’re more for quests, and as such they don’t stick with you as much as the bigger locales. Regardless, there’s a surprising amount of detail for a game from the Game Boy Advance days. There’s a lot of color in every locale, and the more realistic places feel believable to an extent. The Internet, however.....is where the real imagination kicks in.

The Internet (and by extent, the dark & mirrored Undernet) is one of the most varied world’s I’ve ever seen in a game. Due to the fact that practically everything appliance, computer, everyday object, and more curious things have connections to the Net, there are so many micro worlds with their own personality. Since it’s a virtual world, you can have funky patters, bright colors, and paths that are designed in ways that makes sense in a computer. The parts of the Internet that are involved in main quests definitely have more room, and more detail because of their importance. That being said, sometimes things are too maze like and/or gimmicky in some locales, and you can get lost rather easily. The PowerPlant is infamous in this regard: in addition to being on a timer to get to the end, many of the pathways are invisible, and you have to know EXACTLY where they go once you’re somehow on them.

Characters
Battle Network’s cast of characters is bright & colorful, and they all have their own personalities that help them stand out. Lan, the character you play as, is bright & plucky, but perhaps a little dense at times. MegaMan is just as bright and plucky, but is incredibly more observant than his partner. Lan’s also got a bunch of friend by his side: the adorable Mayl (Who has a crush on Lan, btw) and her cute Navi, Roll. The spoiled but oddly caring Yai, and her butler Glide. You also have Dex, who starts out as kind of a bully, but ends up becoming the lovable oaf of a friend along with the equally tough Gutsman. Finally, there is Chaud. Though he’s not friends with the gang per se given his cold & distant personality, he none the less knows that sometimes going at it as a group is better than going in alone. His Navi, Protoman, pretty much thinks the same way.

However, it’s not just Lan & his friends that take center stage. There’s plenty of other characters as well! There’s Yuichiro Hikari & Haruka Hikari, who are Lan loving parents. Yuichiro isn’t home all the time, but he still cares for his son, and absolutely loves his wife. Meanwhile, Haruka is a kind housewife & mother, who has a passion for baking bread & is on a quest to make the perfect cheesecake. There is also Mr. Famous, who’s known for challenging young Netbattlers that are going down his path. Using a variety of Navis, he teaches these Netbattlers various techniques & information so that they might do well in the future. You also got the pair of Baryl & his Navi, Colonel. The two are practically inseparable, and have been together throughout numerous battles. Finally, there is the highly mysterious Bass. A Navi that is within the Internet’s depths, he’s constantly seeking out strong opponents to fight in his pursuit of more power, and has stood in the way of MegaMan on numerous occasions. There are also numerous other NPCs all over the game, each with their own quirky personalities, and they all add further personality to the world

And then we have the WWW, or World 3 as they’re known. These guys are.....conflicting for me. On the one hand, they genuinely do some awful stuff, and most of them are equally awful people. On the other hand, they seem unintentionally comical. Some of their actions kind of come across like the classic dastardly villain that ties the girl to the train tracks, and just taunts the hero to come to them. When it was revealed that Dr. Wily was the one leading the group, I was kinda surprised. Compared to his appearances in the original MegaMan games, he’s not quite as threatening. He’s still a chicken shit, but there’s a lack of menace from him this time around, despite still having a sliver of a threatening aura. Still, WWW could have been so much worse, and are more than appropriate for this first outing in the Battle Network series.

Gameplay
And here’s where we get to a conflicting area of this game for me. For an RPG, it goes through a lot of typical motions of the genre. You go around the world, doing quests, finding items, fighting enemies, and leveling up your character. It’s actually done very well, but what makes it special in Battle Network are the twists it does. For example, since you’re fighting in the cyberworld, you have to find various CHIPS that’ll give you attacks & abilities. Some you can find on the internet, while others you get from completing quests, merchants, finding in the net, and fighting the various viruses & Navi. That last part is a bit annoying sometimes, as you have to have certain circumstances met in order to get their special CHIPS. The Boss Navi in particular can be incredibly frustrating if you want their special CHIPS, as you really need to have certain conditions happening in order to get them. As for leveling up your stats (Attack, Rapid, Charge, Health), you find PowerUp.exe & HealthUp.exe items in pretty much the same manner as the CHIPS. These are perhaps more important than CHIPS at times, and are practically vital when it comes to boss encounters. Maybe not so much when it comes to the ones in the beginning, but after them you better level up your stats!

Apart from that, there’s a couple other issues I have with the gameplay at times. For starters, some of the quests involve a lot of backtracking, and that gets old real quick. Secondly, some of the fights you get into feel incredibly rigged. Maybe not so much with the average viruses, but when it comes to the boss Navi......ooooooh boy did a couple of them feel rigged. Even with my stats at a fairly high level, it still felt like they had an advantage somehow (Looking at you MagicMan). Finally, it can be really confusing when it comes to where you have to go to complete a quest. There’s a few times where you’re told where you gotta go next, but more often than not it can actually be hair-pulling, and since there isn’t a map, it’ll feel like you’re just running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off.

Graphics & Sounds
Despite being over 20 years old, the graphics for Battle Network are nostalgically delightful. Something about the pixilated looks & feel of everything is just charming. From the various NPCs & Navi, to all of the locales you wander through, there’s just something about the various settings that brings a smile to my face. Even the various attacks coming from you & your enemies look grace, as there’s a surprising amount of fluidity to them. The remaster from last year, however, looks so much better. Things are expanded from the original Game Boy Advance edition, and looks really well on bigger screens. I played it on the PC, and it looked fantastic! It wasn’t too expanded, as there is a border around the gameplay to help take up space. Still, it managed to keep the nostalgic vibes of the GBA version, while at the same time looking really fresh.

The one thing that I don’t think was changed was the sound effects, and I’m strangely thankful that they didn’t. Much like it’s graphics, the sounds & music are 20+ years old, but in this remaster it sounds nice! They sound just like they did on the GBA release, and I must say that the soundtrack tickles the nostalgia bone for me, even though this year marked the first time I played this.

Overall & Rating
Battle Network No. 1 is just a charming little game. Small dents not withstanding, it is a fun time in this tactical RPG that slathered in virtual MegaMan goodness. Thanks to the release of all 6 games last year (Especially on the PC), those who missed out on them the first time will have a chance to experience them in their full glory today. I salute you Battle Network!......no. 1 that is.

Battle Network No. 1 gets a 8.5 to 9 out of 10.

And that was my review for the first MegaMan Battle Network game. A fun little title from a colorful series of games, it wonderful that they’ve come back onto the gaming market for anyone to enjoy, regardless of the system it’s being played on. With that out of the way, it’s time to come back to my haunting retrospective on media, so join me next week when I’ll show off the top 10 albums you should listen to before you die. Until then, don’t download any weird viruses off the net!

The Top 10 Movies To Watch Before You Die

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads. Welcome to the 1st of October!

I wanted to do something a bit different this year. Don’t worry, I’m okay. As dark as the title says, I’m not in some awful slump or anything. As a way to further vent out how I’ve been feeling since March & make some sense of it, I wanted to think of a list. 3 special lists in fact, on essential media that we all should partake in before we pass on to whatever realm of existence is in the beyond for us. More specifically, the 10 movies to watch, the 10 albums to listen to, and finally the 10 games we should play. I’m starting off the month of spooks and specters with the 10 movies to watch before you die.

As I made this list, I attempted to make sure that it was as varied as possible when it came to genres. One style of film might have been easier to do, but I wanted to cover a variety of styles so as to have a cornucopia to choose from. I may do a second one of these next year, but time will tell. In any case, here are the top 10 movies to watch before you die. Let’s begin!

10) Koyaanisqatsi (Trailer)

Like I’ve probably stated a few times on this blog, I’m not the biggest fan of Arthouse films. More often than not, I think they talk down to their audience, and feel like fluffy pieces that just stroke the director’s ego. That doesn’t mean they’re all like that, as there’s a couple that really make the brain cells ignite. Case in point, we have Koyaanisqatsi. Translated from the Hopi Indian language as “Life Out Of Balance”, it is one of the most stunning features I’ve ever watched. While there is some ego around the beginning, there isn’t much else in that regard during the rest of it’s 86 minute run time. It really is something not just to see, but hear as well, thanks to Philip Glass’s incredible soundtrack that plays across the entire movie. There’s no spoken dialog, and there aren’t any characters, though one could argue that when it focuses on a specific person there could be. Godfrey Reggio never put a story in, as he wanted all of it’s viewers to come up with their own opinion about what they saw. In the 42 years since it was released, older fans & newer fans alike have come to appreciate the wonderful photography & amazingly crafted music, and it’s contributions to motion picture should never be forgotten.

9) A Nightmare On Elm Street (Trailer)

In the past few years, I’ve grown more appreciative of the Horror genre. Like I’ve said for a while on this blog, I’m not a big fan, but like I said I definitely enjoy it far more now than I do maybe a decade ago (Even though I enjoyed it a little back then also). One such Horror film I’m a big fan of is the iconic & infamous A Nightmare On Elm Street. Directed by the late Wes Craven, it has been on this Earth for almost 40 years (Exactly 40 years on the 9th), and in all that time it carved a path through so many teenagers. Though aspects of it haven’t aged well over the nearly 4 decades (Mainly when it comes to certain special effects), much like the feature above the overall experience is awesome! Robert Englund chews up each & every scene he’s in, and was absolutely perfect as the titular Freddy Kruger, and everybody else does a great job as well (It was also Johnny Depp’s first screen role if I recall correctly). From the cinematography to the music, and even the special effects despite the hokiness at times, A Nightmare On Elm Street was a pop culture phenomenon, and did incredibly well at the box office. Even now, it manages to keep viewers’s lights on, and maybe just a little nervous when they go to sleep. If you want to get into Horror, perhaps a trip to Elm Street is in order.

8) Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (Trailer)

Animation has always been a powerful medium, no matter where it comes from. Japan especially has always been a juggernaut when it comes to that, as the titan that is Anime continues to be a powerful force practically everywhere. One of those champions from the Land of the Rising Sun is the iconic Studio Ghibli, where the grumpy yet oddly lovable Hayao Miyazaki & his cohorts have created some classic films. One of the best they’ve ever created was Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. It turned 40 years old this March on the 11th, but even before it turned 4 decades old it was incredible over in Japan, and made U.S. viewers’s jaws drop one it came over here. An environmental piece that’s the exact opposite of something like Avatar, it has wears the typical Ghibli charm on it’s sleeve, and isn’t ashamed of it because of critics. In addition to it’s environmental aspect, it’s also a great fantasy feature as well, filled not just with swordfights, but fantastical creatures, epic scenery, and even technology that counteracts nature. The voice acting is great also, whether it’s the original Streamline Pictures or the Disney re-release, as they’ll stay in your brain for quite some time. Studio Ghibli has released some amazing films since 1984, but it must be said that Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind might be their most essential. Definitely one to watch.

However, Japan is not the only country that wields animation like a sword. The United States is pretty damn good with it as well, and a little over a decade later after Nausicaä, something amazing created with computers was released.

7) Toy Story (Trailer)

By today’s standards it looks pretty primitive, but back in 1995 when this Pixar classic was released it was nothing short of amazing. Computer work beforehand was regulated mainly to special effects & action scenes, so to see a whole movie made by it was really incredible. I remember seeing Toy Story in theaters, and was completely enchanted by it from beginning to end. I was one of those kids that always wondered what my toys were doing when we weren’t looking, so to see that in front of my pre-teen eyes was really something. While CG since has been overdone in many movies since, back in the mid-90s to see an entire film made of it was incredible. The amount of work that was put in Toy Story is still evident today, and many of Pixar’s features in 2024 show that with the right crew, Computer animation can be a powerful force for film making.
 
6) Enter The Dragon (Trailer)

50 years old. That is how old Bruce Lee’s most iconic Martial Arts film turned in August of 2023 (August the 19th of that year more specifically). For half a century, it has wowed & awed viewers of all ages with it’s spectacular stunts, and blood pumping fights scenes. The acting might not be up to snuff when compared to everything else, and the cinematography is definitely dated by today’s standards, but the overall experience is just wonderful from beginning to end. The Dragon definitely cemented his legacy with other films after this one, but Enter The Dragon is such a landmark film in the Martial Arts genre, that they don’t quite have as much weight to them. If there was one Kung Fu feature that is required to watch, Enter The Dragon is that movie.

5) Rocky Horror Picture Show (Trailer)

More so that Horror & Arthouse films, I’m not a fan of musicals. Whereas I’ve gained some appreciation for the previously mentioned genres, when it comes to musicals not much ground has been gained (Outside of a few exceptions). However, my heart always had a home for the B rated classic Rocky Horror Picture Show. Getting slammed for the first 6 months, it would eventually gain a behemoth of a cult following due to midnight screenings back in the 70s, and eventually takes it’s place as a classic piece of cinema. Even today, the legion of fans it has all over the world shows it’s incredible staying power, what with it’s cast of quirky characters & surprisingly good songs. Not only that, but many in the Queer & Trans communities consider it an important piece of media when it comes to representation and such. Coming in on just under 50 years old last month (Turns exactly 50 years old on the 26th of September in 2025), it is a safe bet to say that nobody with ever forget Rocky.

4) Die Hard (Trailer)

For starters, I am one of those people that think Die Hard is a Christmas Movie! Yes, call me a dork, but this is a Seasonal essential for when December comes around.

Hell, even if it didn’t have anything to do with Christmas (Which it does), I & many others would still hail it as an 80s Action Movie classic! For the first time ever as a lead role, Bruce Willis was highly convincing as the fish that was massively out of water. Up against some highly armed & highly skilled “Terrorists” (If you’ve seen the movie, you know what I mean), he’s gotta do everything he can to rescue his wife & as many people as he can from out of Nakatomi Plaza, all the while avoiding getting shot at. All of the 80s Action Movie cliches are in Die Hard, heightened to a T, yet it all works so well that it somehow doesn’t feel old nearly 40 years after it came out in theaters. It is still an 80s film essential almost 4 decades since it first came out on the silver screen, and whether you watch it around the Holiday season or not, it’s sure to be exciting!

3) Blazing Saddles (Trailer)

Yet another movie that’s celebrating a half-century on this planet (Turned 50 years old back in February of this year on the 7th), Blazing Saddles could only have come from the minds of Richard Prior & Mel Brooks, who himself turned 98 back in June on the 28th. Taking the Western genre & turning it into a comical farce of the best kind, as practically every single joke lands and makes me laugh. Not only that, but Blazing Saddles is also one of the best examples of anti-racist media that’s ever been made. The acting is superb from beginning to end, with greats like Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, and of course Mel Brooks chewing up every single scene they’re in. Given the social & political environment we unfortunately have nowadays (Most if not all critics don’t realize most the jokes are done at the EXPENSE of the racists), we’re likely to never have another movie like Blazing Saddles made, but that’s okay.....because one Blazing Saddles is enough.

2) Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism (Trailer)

In a highly political year like 2024, it seemed only right to talk about this documentary. I remember watching this about 20 years, and while I didn’t understand a lot of the material back then, I comprehend practically all of it nowadays. The story behind the formation of Fox News is equal parts intriguing & terrifying, and it’s existence in then 2004 when the documentary came out. Those who were in the political sphere in the early 2000s were likely aware that Fox was nothing more than a mouthpiece for the Right, but for average joes like myself it was like staring into an abyss that none the less provided an illuminating yet horrifying experience. The inner working of this “News” network has become all the more obvious 20 years later, and it’s a shame that a 3rd version of the film hasn’t been released. Even so, Outfoxed is an important documentary that every one should watch at least once. Speaking of watching at least once.....

1) Schindler’s List (Trailer)

It’s a bit of a downer to end this list on a such a heavy note, but it’s only right.

I’ve known about what is perhaps Steven Spielberg’s biggest film ever (That’s saying something, considering what he released in the years before) for a long time, with my first actual introduction towards the end of 2019 thanks to a movie list I watched (Click Here), and I did view a few scenes afterwards, but it wasn’t until May of 2024 when I finally witnessed the story of one of the most incredible acts of bravery during World War 2. The story of Oscar Schindler, a man who sacrificed everything, saving the lives of 1,100 Jews from the hands of the Nazis. Though it does start further into his life during the war, we still see him turn from quite the prick, into one of the most heroic individuals ever in history. The fact that he is the only Nazi to be buried in Israel is testament to what he did, and screw those who discredit him. If there was ever a movie that you truly needed to watch once before you die.....it is Schindler’s List.

And those were the top 10 movies to watch before you die. More than any other list I’ve ever done, there’s something for pretty much everybody on here. Now, I turn my attention to the realm of music, as I’ll speak of the 10 albums you gotta listen to before you die. See you all around the middle of the month, but see you all next week for a spooky surprise!