Jotun: Valhalla Edition Review

Make the gods proud

REVIEWED ON PS4

Jotun: Valhalla Edition is an excellent hand-drawn action/exploration game. Combining a beautiful world with challenging boss battles and Norse mythology, Jotun is an experience well worth your time. You know a game has immersed you in its world when you continually stop playing and simply marvel at your gorgeous surroundings. Finding the forge that made Mjolnir’s hammer was a great moment, even though it was irrelevant to my overall purpose.

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Indie Games and Craft Beer Pairing #15

Into the Stars paired with Devil’s Canyon Full Boar Scotch

After all the backlash and vitriol from angry No Man’s Sky players, I was glad I hadn’t preordered it. However, my need for space exploration was still unsatisfied.  Fortunately, I remembered I had downloaded Into the Stars a month ago and I was instantly relieved. Into the Stars is an enjoyable space exploration game that combines the feel of the excellent FTL (click here if for some sad reason you’re unaware of FTL) with more focus on resource gathering.

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Ray Donovan: Lake Hollywood Review

When will you start putting your family first?

Ray Donovan’s fourth season is wrapping up and the situation is bleak even by Donovan standards. Despite the big score, Mickey barely appears and simply looks lost. Things are so out of hand, even Bunchie agrees that he needs to get away from his family, which may be the first good parenting decision he’s ever made. Ray’s stoicism doesn’t betray the desperation he must be feeling. He has no real plan anymore; all he can do is find some way of staying important enough that Dmitri won’t kill him.

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Indie Games and Craft Beer Pairing #14

Medieval II Total War paired with Matilda Pale Ale

My wife surprised me a few days ago with a fancy chilled bottle titled Matilda. At first, I thought it was a white wine, which was confusing given that’s more her taste than mine. But she went on to explain that it was a beer, and it was by far one of the best I’ve ever had. Goose Island’s Matilda Belgian Style Pale Ale is refreshing, crisp, light, and full of taste. It could only be paired with a game I knew I would enjoy just as much. I’ve enjoyed Creative Assembly’s Medieval II: Total War since I was in my early teens, and while it isn’t a true indie game, it’s as comforting and relaxing as this beer.

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Ray Donovan: The Texan Review

We Don’t Throw Away Family

Ray Donovan returned with another thoughtful episode. I’m still slightly miffed that there’s been no Russian fallout yet from Belikov’s death, but I suppose the Russians haven’t discovered his body. Sadly, there was fallout from Conor’s idiotic and drunken actions a couple episodes was one of the low points of the episode, but Terry finally has some screen time and returns to relevancy. Mickey (again) ruins a chance to be a good father, while Ray tries to be one himself. Also, poor Bunchy.

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Ray Donovan: Fish and Bird Review

The only permanent thing is love

Spoilers

Well, so much for ending the Russian threat. It looked like Ray may finally have been off the hook with the Russians after Mickey’s imprisonment and Belikov’s release. But no, Ray decided he would no longer be used and finally stood up for himself. After watching him be controlled by various powerful and unethical men for the past three seasons, it was cathartic to see Ray finally take a moral stand. Granted, it took a dead Russian hooker and a great deal of guilt for him to finally make that stand, but at least he finally did it.

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Ray Donovan: S04 Ep05 Review

Fatherhood is a riddle

Spoilers

Well that went about as well as expected. Any robbery involving Mickey is sure to end disastrously, no matter who’s involved. Even level-headed and professional Ray, can’t keep the robbery from ending badly. I hoped Ray would have learned from the last time Mickey attempted a robbery, which resulted in Terry’s imprisonment. But desperate times call for desperate measures. The Russians are a real problem and they are not going away. The Russians are the most interesting villains in the show’s history because they’re the first organization to be an actual threat to Ray. All of the past villains have been threats to various members of Ray’s family, such as Mickey or Terry. But Ray always seemed to have a solution, but not this time.

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Indie Games and Craft Beer Pairing #12

Replica paired with Anderson Valley Briney Melon Gose

It’s hard to imagine a game more depressing than the excellent Papers Please, but I somehow managed to find one. Replica begins like every Elder Scrolls game: with the protagonist trapped in prison without much explanation. But unlike Skyrim and Oblivion, you don’t immediately escape to rescue the land and marry an orc or something. Rather, you’re handed another prisoner’s smartphone. Your only instructions are to find terrorist activities on the phone, otherwise you’re trapped in prison indefinitely. Basically, George Orwell’s worst nightmare come to life.

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New Magnificent Seven Trailer Looks Awesome

I seek justice, but I’ll take revenge.

Metro Golden Meyer and Columbia Pictures have released the official trailer for its upcoming western, The Magnificent Seven. A remake of the 1960 Yul Brynner classic, The Magnificent Seven focuses on a seven gun mens’ quest to help a young woman and protect a small town from a savage gang. Bounty hunter Sam Chisholm (Denzel Washington) recruits six unique warriors to his cause. Starting with gambler Josh Farraday (Christ Pratt) and gradually expanding to include a sharpshooter (Ethan Hawke), tracker (Vincent D’Onforio), assassin (Byung-hun Lee), outlaw (Manuel Garcia-Rolfo), and a warrior (Martin Sensmeier). Peter Sarsgaard stars as the villainous gang leader, Bartholomew Bogue.

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Ray Donovan: S04 Ep04 Recap

What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?

Spoilers

The fourth episode of Ray Donovan‘s fourth season reunites our central cast in a desperate attempt to (once again) try and fix Mickey’s mistakes. Abby, who’s acting talents have finally been put to good use this season, has two touching scenes as she deals with her breast cancer diagnosis. Mickey returns to his family, Terry goes back to his boxing roots. Truthfully, this may be one of Ray Donovan’s best episodes because his irritating children are completely ignored. Conor’s stupidity and Bridget’s combination of snark and melodrama are not missed.

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