2.5 out of 5 Hoagies
Published 2025-12-27
tag(s): #books #gaming #film-tv #reviews
I was in a pickle because I wanted to write down my thoughts on these things, but I didn't
have that much to say, just some superficial thoughts.
I guess putting them all in one post makes sense.
A 2D platformer with some puzzle and exploration elements. I don't know if I would call it a
metroidvania. I guess?
This game is beautiful. The animation and drawings are excellent. The story
and the setting are awesome too, very unique. I finished it! In about 30 hs, as per Steam. The
combat is relatively simplistic and maybe even repetitive, but I as
stated in some other
review, I don't mind that. But...
The game doesn't explain anything. When it does, it is in the most cryptic way possible. Early on I found something that didn't make sense, and I figured I would check online, trying to avoid spoilers. Which luckily I did! But I also found out some quests can be missed, and part of the pleasure of the game (at least, as per people online) is to replay it and get all the content.
Maybe I am too old to replay the same game over and over. [1] Maybe I
don't like not having clear instructions. [2] Maybe I was in a bad
mood.[3]
I honestly think it was the fact that everything was very obtuse so instead of
feeling I was "uncovering a mysterious world little by little" I was expected to
"try shit until something works". But whatever it was, I got annoyed. I found a guide
with the recommended order for areas and completed the game 95% of the way.
There's three optional bosses, added in some DLC content, and only killed one of them. And
didn't bother finding the others, nor trying to get alternate endings.
Do I recommend it? Ehhhh. Maybe?
2.5 out of 5 Hoagies
Watched this one in streaming like a month ago (so it has simmered a bit). I went in blind,
only knowing that it was about Demi Moore turning in Margaret Qualley, and it was about aging
in Hollywood, and that my wife loved it in cinemas.[4]
After watching it, I can say there's more to the movie that only that. Also that it was really
good, until it wasn't.
First the yays: Yay to the lead actresses. The overall direction. The concept. Really, mostly
everything.
The single nay: There's a tonal shift in the movie that caught me totally by surprise, and
despite loving bizarre comedic things, it didn't quite land for me.
At some point, I was getting somewhat uncomfortable with some of the hypersexualized
"young" scenes, and started wondering "would people have complained if this was
directed by a man, instead of a woman". I don't know, but!
I felt the point of those scenes was exactly that, to make the audience feel awkward. I saw
them as mirrors of other scenes of close ups: both grotesque, in very different ways.
While the movie isn't perfect, I think everyone should watch it because it has many interesting themes other than just living in the public eye, including self perception and acceptance (of aging, of love from others), the recklessness of youth, and finding purpose at different stages of your life.
4.5 out of 5 Hoagies
A few weeks ago, the kiddo was sick and I finally headed to the Secaucus Library to get my
card, and get him a book. I figured I would take the chance to get a book for myself. Yes,
even if I was still reading Cien Años de Soledad[5]. Yes, even if I had
just gotten delivered Cosmos, which I was really looking forward to reading in the original
language for the first time.
Not only that, in the end I got myself TWO books. 👀
I can't help it. Library, or Barnes and Nobles, I end up walking out with at least
two books.
So I was in the kids section and a spine caught my attention. I read the text in the back and figured it wasn't really the kiddo's thing...but it made me really curious.
Eclectic, I know.
So, it is a teen book, I guess? Early chapter book? I don't know. The story is of course,
relatively simple. But it is SO GOOD.
I wish I read this when I was 13 and very socially awkward. I am elated to have read it at 42,
when I am...eh, nevermind.
If you are reading this, and you are a parent, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Doubly so
if your child if very fearful. Or anxious. Both themes are touched on in the book, but in a
very natural way, as part of the story. No Saturday Morning Cartoon lecturing or anything like
that.
I am happy that I know my child well enough that even with me recommendation, he gave one look at the book and was not interested at all. Sad he is missing out, but oh well.
5 out of 5 Hoagies
A pure Metroidvania, that was kickstarted a while ago. By the designer of the beloved
Castlevania games in the GBA and DS (and a few others that I haven't played).
With this game, I followed my usual Metroidvania cycle:
With Bloodstained, #3 was a very short period. If you really want to unlock everything, you
need to do a lot of crafting, and I found that part extremely boring. Collecting weapons also
got old relatively quickly, as I settled into swords and axes.
The gear you can equip has some elemental attributes, but it never matters enough to justify
changing it for a boss battle or section of the levels.
I found the story almost non sensisical. About halfway through the game there's a cutscene in
some deep part of the castle where more or less every single character shows up to talk to you
and I found it really jarring.
A bit after that I started skipping every dialogue and just kept going. I knew who the final
boss was going to be for a while anyway. 🤷
Basically, the game's good parts are the ones that can be found in previous games, the bad parts are everything that is new/different, and the characters are super bland. Oh and I wasn't that much into the graphic style either. The music was...serviceable.
2.5 out of 5 Hoagies
I don't regret playing the game, but I could have replayed any of the older games and it would have been better. (But, I only know that now, I guess)
There you have it. 5 mini reviews that put together might be the longest thing I
published.
Ooops.