Author: Trafficblast

Matt Espineli’s Most Anticipated Game of 2019: Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

I’ve been a bit of a slow convert to From Software’s work throughout the years. While I’m still learning to love Dark Souls, Bloodborne remains an all-time favorite of mine and the first (and only) game from the studio that I ever beat. Its moody gothic setting and speedy tactical combat resonated with me more than the slower, more defensive Dark Souls. But it seems the studio’s latest, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, just might dethrone Bloodborne for me in 2019.

I won’t lie to you, I’m a big fan of feudal Japan as a setting, so you can imagine why the mere sight of Sekiro has me excited. I can’t wait to experience From Software’s fantastical interpretation of Sengoku-era Japan, as well as see how it chooses to reimagine both history and myth. In addition, the premise of playing as a nameless shinobi with a weaponized prosthetic arm seeking to save his lord and get revenge appeals to me in its resemblance to ancient Japanese myths and legends.

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Similar to Dark Souls and Bloodborne, Sekiro challenges you to make repeated runs through dungeons packed with fierce enemies and hidden traps. But what I find alluring about Sekiro is how it appears familiar but totally reevaluates all the mechanics you generally associate with From Software games. Absent are many of the RPG elements you’d expect, such as character creation, classes, and equipment upgrades. Instead, Sekiro is an entirely new experience set apart from the studio’s previous work that emphasizes action, stealth, and platforming.

It’s thrilling to see your progotanist use a grappling hook to string together acrobatic jumps from one ledge to the next. The emphasis on split-second attack deflection and hit-and-run assaults in combat is refreshing and exciting. Sneaking around and stabbing foes while their guard is down provides variety to your modes of attack. And then there’s the new resurrection mechanic where you can purposefully die to trick enemies, and return when their backs are turned to inflict a lethal surprise strike. There’s a bold confidence in the new mechanics From Software introduces in Sekiro, displaying a willingness from the studio to step away from its near-decade-old Soulsborne formula.

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Not much more has been revealed about Sekiro since its most recent showcase at Tokyo Game Show 2018. One of the most notable news stories to come out about the project was the fact that it started life as a Tenchu game, From Software’s long-dormant stealth-action ninja series. This fact alone was more than enough to seal my interest in Sekiro, as I have many fond memories playing Tenchu in the early 2000s. Regardless, more news is bound to come in the new year–likely once we get closer to the game’s March 22 launch.

For a brief rundown on everything there is to know about Sekiro, be sure to read our feature highlighting all the essential details.

On the Basis of Sex Review

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an unquestionably inspiring figure. She’s the second woman to ever sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, a lifelong crusader for women’s rights, and the reason that we in America have laws protecting the right to live and work without discrimination based on your gender. In Mimi Leder’s film she’s presented as just that. However, despite the movie showcasing her brilliance and tenacity, at times it’s sanitized and schmaltzy, which takes away from the overall impact of the story.

The time-hopping narrative follows Felicity Jones’ Ginsburg from her first day at Harvard Law until the groundbreaking case Moritz vs. The Commissioner, which defined her career and changed America forever. Jones is a charming lead, though both her and her co-star Armie Hammer–as Ginsburg’s husband Martin–look so clean cut and handsome it’s almost disarming, as they look more like models in a catalog than a pair of law students.

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DC’s Superheroes Should Be the Greek Gods of the Movies

DC Comics has some of the most iconic and celebrated heroes in the history of storytelling. Wonder Woman, Batman and Superman are just a few of the most notable staples in the pantheon of popular culture, and have left an enduring legacy for so many of us. They fit a role not unlike what the Greek gods did in Ancient Greece; we look up to them, we admire them, and when we tell stories, we put some of the finest aspects of our culture and ourselves into them. In essence, we hold them to the highest of standards.

However, they are not infallible. (And neither were the Greek gods, by the way. Zeus had more dalliances than James Bond, and he was married!). And the manner in which DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. have handled these titans of popular culture on the silver screen in recent years hasn’t been perfect either. Sure, Aquaman is a step in the right direction, as was Wonder Woman before it, but for many fans like myself, it feels like these films should be creating big-screen versions of the characters that are akin to the Greek gods of the 21st century.

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