Green Room Movie Review

“Nazi Punks, Fuck Off!”, indeed. At the end of the day, it’s the DIY aesthetics of Punk that resonate the most with me. It’s not about having paid for years of private instrument tutoring, it’s about you learning what you can learn and then sharing it. Amazingly personal, in-your-face; it’s impossible for Punk, real Punk, to be mass produced, because each song is intrinsically about a small group of people agreeing to scream about one particular thing together, at the top of their lungs. All of this is to say that “Green Room” is easily the best thriller I’ve seen in years.

 

“Green Room” follows a punk rock band as they tour through the Pacific Northwest. The band, Ain’t Right, aren’t necessarily very good, nor are they making much money, but that’s the point. Their gigs run low, and, looking for gas money to make it home, they find themselves pointed towards a gig in rural Oregon. Their crowd, a group of skinheads, doesn’t love their opening song, “Nazi Punks, Fuck Off!”, but get into it as the band plays. However, when Ain’t Right happens to stumble across a murder taking place in the titular green room, shit proceeds to get real.

 

The atmosphere in “Green Room” is perfect. Very grungy, the locales are generally gross or claustrophobic, and the music inspires the setting excellently. Anton Yelchin gives an amazing performance as Pat, the bassist, in one of his final roles, and the entire cast completely exemplifies their characters. I want to draw special attention to Big Justin, the actor for whom strikes me as the perfect guy in the perfect scenario. His hostage scene is, for me, the highlight of the movie in terms of writing and tension.

 

Musically, the movie never forgets its roots, setting a lot of its scenes to live Punk acts as the main plot takes place in the surrounding environs. This is a clever move, not least of which because the presence of live music means for the audience that the protagonists are temporarily safe from any drastic actions from the Nazis. When the band is dismissed and the crowd told to head home due to a power outage, we know that Ain’t Right is in trouble now. It’s clever plotting, and a great way to subtly associate Punk music with the protagonists’ safety, which I appreciate. Really, I as a writer draw a lot of my influence from music (I think the best stories I write are set around a particular song or composer), and seeing this film made me realize the heights that such writing can achieve.

 

“Green Room” is a tense, tight thriller, with a very unique atmosphere and excellent acting. There’s nothing bad I have to say about it; it’s the quintessential thriller.

 

5/5

It (2017) Movie Review

It’s odd that Stephen King’s works have so consistently defied interpolation into the big screen. Sure, there have been some successes, but for every “Carrie” or “The Shining” you have a “Christine” or (sadly) “The Dark Tower”. Something about his longer works has resisted decent screen presence for quite some time now. Luckily, the new “It” movie avoids this problem entirely and delivers a hell of a good time.

 

A horrible, shape-shifting clown is terrorizing a small town, specifically the children of said town. What it does is lure them in under the anglerfish pretense of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, and then devour them completely. Stephen King’s book is probably one of his best (and the one that had the most effect on me; when I was young, I would check under bridges to make sure that a balloon-wielding hobo wasn’t down there waiting for me), with almost 1,000 pages of spooks. I have to say that the Loser’s Club is my third favorite set of characters in King’s oeuvre (behind only “The Dark Tower”’s Ka-Tet and Duma Key’s residents). The original 1990 TV adaptation didn’t capture the sense of camaraderie and friendship the book had, and the characters were muted. Here, they shine. Each of them is excellently cast, and each has a killer set of lines to work with. Eddie Kaspbrak turned out to be my favorite of the lot, with his adorable little-kid hypochondriac nature and his eventual stand against his mother.

 

But let’s talk about spooks. It delivers spooks to spare. At least the first 35 minutes are all various scares where the clown takes various forms. Not only does this allow the writers’ and special effects guys’ creativity to show (as each incarnation is totally unique and usually only appears once), but it plays into the beating philosophical heart of the film, which is that Pennywise feeds off of fear. I initially disliked the approach because of the sheer volume of jumpscares, but I came around when I remembered that this is literally Its thing. It scares people, feeds off it, then retreats to return later. The movie doesn’t touch on this aspect much, but I’m fairly certain it’ll be explored more in the sequel (and this is one of the rare times I’m legitimately excited for a sequel). Not only that, but the spooks are fun. The audience I was sitting in was so dynamic. They screamed with each jumpscare, then laughed nervously together when the scene changed. They laughed hysterically at all of Richie’s jokes. To the writers’ credit, Richie’s jokes were actually funny. In the book, he’s an endless funnyman who misses more than he hits, but that would have been annoying on-screen. I was on the edge of my seat, giggling to myself from the sheer exhilaration of sharing an experience with so many people.

 

Even that fact that it wasn’t actually all that scary isn’t a bad thing. Sure, a horror movie is meant to scare you, and yes, it does get a few good licks in. But what “It” does is make the horror more about bad things happening to characters you like, rather than have something assault the cameraman. I didn’t flinch with fright once, but I relished each scare as the appearance of a creative new monster and feared instead for my little Loser’s Club’s safety. This is the kind of horror movie that can make it big, and deserves to, because it’s a good movie independent of genre. Admittedly, it won’t draw in the hardcore fans, who might complain because Pennywise isn’t all that scary or there are too few deaths for the stakes to be high. I was spoiled by having read the novel, so I knew what was going to happen, and even then I enjoyed it.

 

“It” is the kind of horror movie that only comes along once in a while; a scary movie that isn’t so deeply rooted in the genre that it takes someone willing to see it for its true beauty to shine (“The Witch”, “Wolf Creek”) or a throwback that foregoes innovation for intense understanding of its subject matter (“The Void”, which is still a good movie). You can take anybody to see this movie, and they will enjoy it. “It” finally captures that most rare Stephen King balance of loveable characters, slightly cheesy hijinks, and an overcoat of horror. The box office is recording a record high for this bad boy, and my only advice to you is this; if you want to see more quality horror films aimed at everybody, help contribute to this and go see the movie in a theater ASAP. We may be on the cusp of a horror renaissance on the big screen (foretold by “Stranger Things” and “American Horror Story”), and I really want to see it come to pass.

 

5/5

The Void Movie Review

A lot of recent horror films tend to forego practical effects in favor of CGI. This has many advantages; it’s cheaper, you don’t need to be as creative, and you can make things as inhuman as you please. However, at the end of the day, it’s going to look fake. I for one miss the days of practical effects in horror, especially in body horror. Well, I didn’t need to look much further than the front page of Netflix to satisfy that hunger. Thanks, “The Void”!

 

When you’re a bored cop in a slow-moving town and a bloodied young guy stumbles out of the woods right in front of your cop car, what’s there to do but to escort him to the nearest hospital? Daniel the cop follows this line of reasoning, but the only hospital nearby is understaffed and half burned to a crisp thanks to a recent fire. Oh well! When Daniel and his charge arrive at the hospital (where his ex-wife is employed, oopsie), it turns out that the young man, James, was actually the victim of a horrible, triangle-obsessed cult, and the cult is surrounding the hospital. What’s the cult trying to do? Daniel and a father-and-mute-son duo must find out.

 

This is a fun movie, not least because it actually takes itself seriously. Whereas a lot of 80s throwback films have a tongue-in-cheek kind of attitude that is often used to excuse poor writing and cinematography, here it’s clear that the directors are actually making a good movie. The main character is, honestly, perfectly cast, and some shots are beautiful. The film’s obsession with the triangle gives it a strong visual identity, while also providing it with a convenient segue into the more Lovecraftian elements, as the vagueness of the triangle’s meaning translates well to monster and world design. Anything even closely related to the triangle connotes a connection to the cult, and thus becomes instantly ominous.

 

I’ve gone for long enough without talking about the special effects, so I’ll go ahead and gush here really quick. God, it’s so nice to have practical effects. The monster design is inspired, and the sheer variety of creepy-crawlies on display is admirable. The fact that they are actual, physical presences in the scene helps immensely, and although there are a few goofy moments (one monster’s little jiggly toesies) and one boring design choice (the final monster mastermind), the pros vastly outweigh the cons. The first monster to appear in particular is one of the most memorable and horrible things I’ve seen since John Carpenter’s “The Thing”. Speaking of, it’s really no secret that this film is a huge tribute to Carpenter’s films, but they made a visual identity all their own, and Carpenter deserves even more tributes.

 

If you’re going to watch “The Void”, you will be amazed by the special effects, how much better they look than most of the crap you see in more mainstream horror films. The serious tone (a rarity in low budget horror) really helps, and despite a few missteps (seriously, the final monster mastermind is really dull), I would highly recommend this film.

 

4.5/5

Pyre Game Review

When I think of 3v3 basketball, my mind doesn’t immediately jump to a gorgeously drawn fantasy universe in which exiles must compete in religious rites to regain their freedom from the society they eventually hope to overthrow. Somehow, the folks at Supergiant Games managed to make this cognitive leap, and as a result, we have “Pyre” here today.

 

The plot of “Pyre” is actually fairly straightforward. You are the reader, exiled from the Commonwealth to the Downside for the crime of literacy. Those who are exiled are traditionally doomed to remain exiled forever, but your arrival triggers the return of the Rites, religious ceremonies used to determine who may be worthy for redemption and a return to the Commonwealth. You’re picked up by a group called the Nightwings, and it is your job to guide them through these rites against other teams, who are also competing for their freedom. If you’ve followed Supergiant Games up until this point, you will realize that their prior projects, “Bastion” and “Transistor”, have had amazing stories. “Pyre” is no different. The whole thing is set up as a strange cross between an NBA season, a kid’s storybook, and an interactive novel, and it works.

 

The reason it works is the characters. These characters are crucial to the game’s success, and they are some of the more loveable scamps I’ve met in gaming. My particular favorite was a cur (basically, talking dog) named Rukey Greentail. He was consistently funny, and he developed perhaps the most adorable little crush on a party member that unfolded beautifully in the afterwards.

 

There are tons of different endings to obtain, most of which depend on how often you win in the rites and who you chose to send back to the Commonwealth. The party members that you send early on have story beats that you will end up missing, and these story beats change depending on how many folks are still in the Downside, who those people are, and what teams they end up fighting. Interesting dialogue seems to spring unending from this game, and it’s all variable; it’s highly unlikely that your playthrough will look exactly like anybody else’s, and the endings reflect this.

 

All of this to say that the story is amazing. But the 3v3 basketball ain’t no slouch either. Essentially, each team must grab the orb that spawns in the center of the field and plunge it into their opponent’s pyre, dousing it and dealing a set amount of damage until one or the other is extinguished. Action is fast and frantic, and since each exile has a different set of moves (much like a MOBA), team composition is extremely important. One character possesses the ability to double jump, but they only score 10 points with each goal, whereas the large bulky character has a tough time even approaching the pyre but will net a whopping 30 points. What’s more, when it comes time to decide who can return to the Commonwealth, the player can only choose one of the three characters in the party with the most experience. If you rely on a single team setup, then by virtue of regular progression through the game, you will be forced out of your comfort zone and try new combinations.

 

“Pyre” is a great game, make no mistake about it. Story and gameplay mesh together exquisitely, and lest I forget to mention, the music is stunning. If I were to lodge a complaint, I would say that it’s difficult to convince yourself to delete the sole save file to replay the game, as you get so attached to your “canon ending”. I wish there were multiple save slots, but hey, what can you do. Fantasy sports has never been such an applicable term, nor so engrossing.

 

4.5/5

My Best Friend’s Exorcism Book Review

When the featured review for your book touts it as “The Exorcist as authored by Tina Fey”, you know you’ve written something special. When I found “My Best Friend’s Eorcism” on the shelves of Barnes and Noble, shoved ignominiously in the vague category of “Fiction” (almost visibly throwing up its arms in confusion as to how to label it), I immediately knew I wanted to read it. Just from the cover, a shout-out to the goofy, cheesy movie posters that plagued wannabe Blockbusters, it was obvious that the book just wanted to have fun, and Grady Hendrix, the author, was going to let it. Once I got into its rhythm, I plowed through it in one massive sitting and didn’t look back.

 

Abigail Rivers is a lonely girl whose classmates didn’t even come to her ice rink birthday party, choosing instead to ride ponies with the popular girl. So when Gretchen Lang, the strange new kid, is the only one to show for Abby’s party, a lifelong friendship is born. As you may have already guessed from the title, Gretchen eventually becomes possessed, and it’s up to Abby to figure out how to exorcize her.

 

The backbone of the entire book is Abby and Gretchen’s relationship, and it’s one of the strongest parts. I’ve cultivated a similarly long-lasting friendship, even longer if I’m bragging, and a lot of what happens hit me pretty close, imagining my best friend and me in their place. It helps that Abby and Gretchen are legitimately likeable characters; they’re just real teenagers, dealing with something that nobody else can admit is happening. All of the side characters are equally engrossing, from the protein and workout junkie exorcist to the prep squad smart jerk classmate, and they’re all a lot of fun.

 

The setting, early 1980s conservative old money town, adds a lot to the story as well. The massive hair, quaint little acts of parental rebellion, and the omnipresent spirituality flavor “My Best Friend’s Exorcism” into a fascinating snapshot of the times, and makes one think on how different eras and areas would respond to a possession. There’s a lot of story potential that Mr. Hendrix has tapped into!

 

Gretchen’s possession is almost secondary to the excellent characters and setting, but I think it’s portrayed adequately, if not in an outstanding manner. The demon in question is somewhat tame in its actions; I was expecting to see some insane over-the-top stuff, but he sticks mainly to manipulation. There aren’t even any human fatalities, which I’m debating whether it’s a good thing or not. On one hand, this allows the scope of the novel to remain focused on the relationship between the two main characters. On the other, a demonic possession needs to be intimidating instead of bitchy and catty for my tastes, which doesn’t come across well at all.

 

“My Best Friend’s Exorcism” is a wonderful novel, if you take out the standard implications of an exorcism plot. At its core is a story about two best friends that is beautifully presented, and it’s one that I really enjoyed reading.

 

4/5

Detention Game Review

Horror games from different cultures are always fascinating. They tell of unique monsters and situations, and in so doing craft a beautiful and unique narrative specific to that culture. In “Year Walk”, which I reviewed a few weeks ago, Sweden made a welcome appearance on my blog, and introduced me to the wonders of such monsters as the Brook Horse and the Church Grim. Today, “Detention” brings a bit of Taiwanese horror to the table, and I’m here to report that I am very satisfied with it.

 

The plot takes place in the 1960s, during Taiwan’s period of martial law. Specifically referencing the February 28, 2017 Massacre, it follows a young girl called Ray who finds herself trapped in a nightmare version of her school, wherein she faces down her past and encounters some spooky Taiwanese ghosts. As you play through the game, you begin to realize that Ray hasn’t exactly had the best couple of days. In order to avoid spoilers, I’m just going to go ahead and say that Ray made more than one mistake.

 

The game itself is relatively simple, a side-scrolling point and click puzzle game presented in stark black and white. The only buttons you’ll need are right click and left click, occasionally spacebar to hold your breath. You aren’t going to be enthralled by minute-to-minute gameplay. Instead, what you’re invested in are the gorgeous graphics and legitimately dreamlike landscapes. Ray begins new chapters by waking up in a chair, often in a weird environment, sometimes surrounded by graffiti, sometimes in an abandoned field, and very occasionally surrounded by a lake of blood in which the bodies of her friends and family slowly decompose.

 

I’m enamored with the insight into Taiwanese folklore and history that “Detention” provides. You encounter horrible hunched-up ghosts who can be distracted by offerings, Lantern wraiths who’ll break your neck in an instant, and the horrible titanic figure of the school’s principal, wielding severed arms from a bloodied sack. The intersection of history and folklore is wonderful to see.

 

This is a short review, but that’s because I can’t really think of much that I didn’t enjoy. The gameplay is pretty simple, but the graphics and the world are both profoundly impactful.

 

4/5

Castlevania Season 1 TV Review

When I first picked up my Nintendo DS, one of the first games I bought was Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. I remember thinking that since I liked Metroid, I’d probably end up enjoying this too. I certainly did. As a matter of fact, I played Dawn of Sorrow to 100% completion on three separate occasions, and to this day it remains one of my all-time favorites. I’m excited for Bloodstained coming out next year, and I’m still pissed at Konami for being raging idiots and killing the franchise. But when I heard about Netflix’s anime adaptation of Castlevania for a 4-part miniseries, I was skeptical. Video game adaptations aren’t known for being too great, and this was a franchise I grew up loving. Upon watching it, I can say that I…wasn’t overly disappointed?

 

Castlevania follows the story of Trevor Belmont, the latest in a long family of vampire hunters, as Dracula’s wrath sweeps across the nation of Wallachia. He must gather a team of experts, from Dracula’s son Alucard (which is Dracula spelled backwards!!!!) to magic-wielding priest Sypha, in order to stop the spread of chaos and death. However, we don’t meet any of them until the second episode; the first is devoted solely to Dracula himself, detailing his backstory, his love and loss, and his ultimate decision to say, “fuck the human race!”. Since we only get four episodes, using the entirety of the first one to present a character who we know will turn evil going through some pretty standard relationship drama is something of a poor pacing decision. It doesn’t help that the man chews the scenery with the determination of a thousand Nicholas Cages. Every line is a grand proclamation, and he clashes with local corrupt priest stereotype #431 when he burns Dracula’s wicca bride at the stake. I’ll be the first to admit that Castlevania’s plot isn’t all that original to begin with, but presenting this as if it’s something we haven’t seen before thousands of times is a little tiresome.

 

Trevor Belmont, though, steals the scene. Something about his voice actor just clicks. He’s world-weary and sarcastic with a hidden heart of gold, and I know that none of that is particularly new, but the verve with which Trevor is presented makes we want to go write fanfiction about him RIGHT NOW. The way he commands the townspeople into gathering holy water and sprinkling their weapons with salt (as this is the only way to kill demons, of course) simply radiates badassery.

 

My biggest complaint comes with how the series ends. The final episode has Trevor meet Alucard, and set off with him and Sypha to finally stand up to Dracula. There’s no actual ending, and if you were to only watch this season, it’d feel as though nothing at all got done by the end. It’s so obviously just setting up for the next season that it disregards being entertaining on its own merits. The heroes get into one five-minute fight with monsters and spend the rest of the episodes in conflict with the boring, BORING evil church with the corrupt priest stereotype #431 at the helm. I came to watch dudes and ladies fighting hydras, not clergymen. It’s an exceedingly action-light show for a series that has been touted primarily for action.

 

All that aside, I’ll be watching the second season whenever it drops. I like Trevor, and I love Castlevania. But as a standalone piece of media, Netflix’s Castlevania season 1 doesn’t deliver much of the series I’ve grown up with. I’m willing to bet that when the second season is out, with its 8 episode run instead of the measly 4 allocated to this one, I’ll reevaluate and look at the series as a whole. Maybe then will Castlevania finally get the adaptation it deserves. For now, I’ll just hang out in my coffin and wait for a more worthy foe.

 

2.5/5

Black Cod, My Dudes

My mouth is legitimately watering just thinking about it.  Earlier today, me and the family went out for dinner after touring UCLA for my little brothers’ upcoming college decision.  We went to Honda-Ya out in Tustin.  And what I had there changed me.

It wasn’t just yakisoba .  It was Black Cod yakisoba.  Black Cod, also known as Sablefish, Beshow, or (most accurately) Butterfish, is surprisingly not really a Cod at all.  Rather, it is the only species its genus, given the name by idiot sailor who didn’t know what it was they pulled out of the great North Pacific Ocean.  After having this dish and immediately doing some research, I discovered that famous Japanese chef Nobu is the pioneer of this fish; it is, in fact, considered one of his signature dishes and perhaps his most famous recipe.  It utilizes only Black Cod, miso paste, sake, mirin, and sugar, and it is revolutionary.

The Black Cod I had came to me on a skewer, having basted for three or four glorious days in the miso/sake/mirin/sugar mix and then languished luxuriantly on a grilltop.  My first thought upon trying it was that I was eating the seafood equivalent of butter; it simply melted down into my mouth in the most beautiful fashion, mixing a faint taste of white fish with the sweetness of miso and subtly caramelized sugar, topped with the natural salty kiss of fish skin.  I sat back, actually stunned.  And then I proceeded to order three more orders.

Pictured above: Me upon smelling Black Cod in the immediate vicinity.

This is why I love seafood.  When done right, it can be both delicate and rich at the same time, mixing crispy skin with tender meat.  This is the best thing I’ve eaten all year thus far.  If you ever see Black Cod on a menu, or find yourself by Honda-Ya, step in and have your world changed.

5/5 new food obsession (last time it was sumac)

Year Walk Game Review

 

Back in college, I took a class called “Monsters and Monstrosities” that was all about different interpretations of monsters from folklore across the world, focused primarily on witches and vampires. That class introduced me to so many different monsters from various countries, and since, I’ve tried to make sure my horror intake is multinational. The next step on this journey, and a convenient $0.99 during the Steam Summer Sale, was the Finnish horror game Year Walk.

 

Year Walk originally came out in 2013 on the iPhone, surprisingly. Luckily, it doesn’t feel like a cheap port of an infinite runner. Rather, they overhauled the UI, reworked all of the puzzles, and added all new endings, so it feels like it was intended for the computer all along. The only drawback to this is that it’s a rather short game; I finished my first playthrough in an hour and a half, and then ran through it again to achievement hunt for another hour. I wish there was more, and I definitely wish there were more Finnish myths present, but what’s there (especially for a dollar) is amazing!

 

The titular “Year Walk” is an ancient Finnish tradition that has since gone extinct. In order to perform the Year Walk, one must isolate themselves within a dark room and forego food and drink for the entire day. This day must be a day of ceremonial importance, most often New Year’s Eve. On the stroke of midnight, the Year Walker leaves his darkened abode and ventures out into the frigid night, their destination set as the local church. Along the way, it’s said they’ll encounter various spirits and supernatural beings, ready to either help or hinder the walker on their quest. Upon reaching the church, they must circle it in a specific, ritualized fashion. If they do all of this correctly, they will be allowed a glimpse at the future. It’s a fascinating practice and it makes for a great game.

 

The gameplay is pretty much a walking simulator with a few light puzzles. I don’t mean that as a slight, because the atmosphere is spot-on. You play as a young man from like 1894 who Year Walks to find out whether or not he ends up with his girlfriend. Things quickly turn for the creepy as he must bypass a series of Finnish monsters in order to escape the Year Walk and discover the truth. This base story is beautiful, and the monster design is nothing short of masterful (The Brook Horse in particular will be finding his way into one of my later stories, I’m sure). But it’s the added layer that seals the deal for me. After you complete the game the first time around, a cryptic message is delivered to you post-credits. Following that, you uncover another story, bridging the gap from this young man from 1894 to a modern day professor researching the lost tradition of Year Walking. I don’t quite get how it fits together, and honestly this may be the weakest part of the game, but if you just allow the game to craft the mood and try not to logic things out too much, you’ll enjoy it.

 

The puzzles are actually pretty difficult. I had to quit the game twice to go online and search for a solution, and both times I ended up throwing my hands in the air and asking the cruel developer who made the game how I could possibly have known that solution. For instance, the game tells you you can move and click on stuff with your mouse, but it doesn’t tell you you can drag things around or, say, crank a wheel to make a windmill spin, especially when you weren’t allowed to interact with said wheels in an earlier visit. I get that it’s a puzzle game, but the pieces should be made apparent to the player so they can utilize them.

 

All in all, this game is a lot of fun, especially for such a low price. It’s less a game and more of a one-night experience, best played past the midnight hour. But when that experience is so beautifully made and intricately researched, who am I to complain?

 

4.25/5

 

Botanicula Game Review

I don’t know why, but I always think of “Bunnicula” when I read this title. Anybody remember “Bunnicula”? Awesome kid’s book about a vampire rabbit who I think saves his owner from a serial killer or something. With that out of the way and a sensible opening decidedly not established, I’ll go on to say that Botanicula is an amazing game. Absolutely the best investment of $5.00 I’ve ever made, way back in 2015 when I played it for the first time, and it’s still just as amazing for $2.48 now during the Steam Summer Sale.

 

Botanicula is a point-and-click adventure game, but that really hardly describes it. The puzzles are fairly simple, almost classic in true fairy tale fashion that makes them feel elegant and timeless. You play as a group of five vegetal beings, ranging from a mushroom to a seedpod, as they try to stop a parasitic black spider monster thing from taking over their forest. Again, it feels like a fairy tale, a story you’ve heard before and feel comfortable in. There’s definitely something in this game that feels familiar and welcoming, despite the legitimately scary spider monster, and that makes it an adventure that can work for people of any age.

 

Probably the most relevant aspect of this game, and all of Amarita Design’s games, is that it’s absolutely gorgeous. The graphics are simple and slick, with a dreamlike aesthetic that is very difficult to properly communicate in words. Suffice to say that I literally sat on multiple different screens for about a minute, just looking at it and feeling my imagination going wild with how excited it was getting. Puzzles leap organically from the world and generally involve you as a player discovering how it functions. For instance, you come across weird singing flies with mouths bigger than their bodies blocking your path at one point. What you have to do is make them sing together in a certain order, at a certain frequency, so that the biggest one opens his mouth to join in. From there, you enter its mouth and steal a key from a smaller version of the giant fly thing. It’s impossible to contextualize, but it just makes sense in the moment, and it feels beautiful to connect abstractly to a game in that fashion.

 

This is a short review, because this is a short game, and is in my view nearly perfect. The puzzles are simple (good for a doofus like me), the graphics are literally unparalleled, and the atmosphere is perfect. Botanicula is a game everybody should play at least once.

 

4.75/5