PHIL ON FILM: 5 Shows to Binge in October.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Dear Evan Hansen"

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Book Report: "Grant"

 

Grant by Ron Chernow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wish Ron Chernow had enough time and energy to write biographies of every significant historical figure. With a storyteller's flair and a historian's conscience, he sifts through mountains of research and conflicting narratives to suss out the closest thing imaginable to the true story.

His gift is one of empathy. He inhabits and takes in the world in the way that he imagines his subjects might have, probing the records and media accounts to synthesize the feelings and inner mental workings of the time.

In the same superb way he deconstructed Lincoln, Washington and Hamilton, he takes on the stoic icon Grant, transforming him from a poker-faced general and president into a man teeming with insecurities and inner demons. Chernow takes a hard look at his alcoholism, which Grant shielded with intense ferocity.

Orchestrating the myriad forces that Grant navigated as he floated to the upper echelons of Guilded Age celebrity, Chernow explores the complicated relationships Grant had with the likes of Sherman, Twain and Garfield, making the giants of history seem as familiar as drinking buddies.

Throughout the exquisite prose, Grant emerges as a figure of tender ambition, deep care of his family, as well as humanity as a whole, and his careful stewardship of the legacy he built. It wouldn't surprise me if Grant -- for all his flaws and gullability -- was Chernow's favorite subject of all to date.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Lady of the Manor"

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"NBA 2K22" Review

There is no true offseason when it comes to the life of a pro basketball player. "NBA 2K22" embraces the lifestyle aspects of the league 

A more robust MyPlayer mode is more story-oriented and RPG-like than in years' past, emerging you into the rhythms, challenges and benefits that come with the pro baller livelihood. 

Unlike in previous years, your first choice as a high school phenom is whether to commit to college or avoid that route in favor of trying out for the G League. Either way, your endgame is to become a lottery pick and get those endorsement deals rolling in. The selfish aspect could influence your play style in showcase games as you prep for your future.

On-court action has been tweaked to allow for a less arcadey feel. The camera seems to be closer to the action, providing an immediate feel that seems closer to instant replay than broadcast perspective. Changes to the stamina formula force you to be stingy with your fast breaks and flashy moves, which can lead to diminishing returns if you overuse them.

Both MYPlayer and MyTeam modes are beset with long-game rewards that require a measure of grinding, but both are more rewarding than the instant gratification aspect of years' past.

Continuing the trend of previous editions of the game, there is an ever-increasing emphasis on microtransactions for consumables, including in-game boosts and cosmetics. While options abound to tweak your style and look without shelling out extra money, the temptation to fork out dough to cut out the grind is everpresent. That's par for the course in the modern sports landscape, though. At least failing to play in the money-hungry metagame won't reduce the thrills you get on the court.

Once you're ready to embrace the next NBA season, "NBA 2K22" will sate all the needs that aren't fulfilled by highlights or fantasy leagues. A silk-smooth anf flashy product much like its cover athlete, Luca Donkic, it's a comprehensive package that fuels your hoop dreams.

Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: Movies Leaving Netflix in October 2021

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PHIL ON FILM: "The Voyeurs"

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"DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+" Review

Side-scrolling space shooters were made for the Switch, and Taito has been crafting some of the best in the bunch for decades. 

While "DariusBurst: Another Chronicle EX+" may not add much to the recipe, the bones of what have long made games of this ilk so addictive remains in place.

The goal is to replicate a credit-chomping arcade experience, and "DariusBurst" accomplishes that to a harrowing degree. The difficulty level ramps up quickly then continues to pour on the pain, challenging you to hone your skillset as you power through the bullet hell. 

The array of power-ups and upgrades is satisfying, injecting momentum-shifting jolts into the flow of the game that can jolt you out of certain death.

The feeling of constantly skating by in a mix of luck and skill is intoxicating, challenging you to overcome your near-misses and celebrate your fleeting successes.

While there may not be much new in the offing for series veterans, there is plenty to enjoy for even the most devoted fans. The 1980s and 90s continue to live on on the Switch.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Cinderella" and "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"

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PHIL ON FILM: 5 Shows to Binge in September 2021

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PHIL ON FILM: Movies Leaving Netflix in September 2021

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PHIL ON FILM: "Free Guy"

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"Wingspan" Review

An ultra-complicated, often confounding and ultimately rewarding card game, "Wingspan" is set among the world of birds.

Sounds boring, right? Not so fast. Every bit as intense and nail-biting as a game with spells, crafting and summons.

Aiming to establish the most gorgeous, diverse and thriving wildlife preserve, you gather eggs, deploy bird species and strategize ways to edge out rivals.

The dev squad at Monster Couch deploys a labyrinthine swirl of rules, guidelines and subsets that are as difficult to grasp as it is to catch a feathered friend in your hands.

Once you get the hang of it -- an extended tutorial and frequent referrals to walkthroughs don't hurt -- you'll find yourself obsessing over the permutations of diets, eggs, habitats and subspecies.

There is a lot to digest here -- too much for the armchair dilettante -- but a rich tapestry in which to delve for those who like to find themselves lost in the clouds. It may be tough to find similarly-minded avian devotees, but should you find your flock, you're experience will no doubt take flight.

Anyone else needs to be content to peck it out with the punishing A.I. That mode is for the birds.

Publisher provided review code.

"Inbento" Review

An inventive, therapeutic puzzler, "Inbento" has you mix, match, flip and remove overlaying titles in order to match a preset image. 

The devs at Afterburn milk their lighthearted concept for all it's worth, conjuring exponential ways to trick and tease your mind whenever it reaches a comfort level with a concept. 

The act of manipulating the tiles is so simplistic that it seems somewhat condescending, but the sheer depth of the permutations in which you can go wrong give the game a sometimes diabolical edge.

While I played, my wife commented that it looked like a game for 2-year-olds. That only accentuated my embarrassment when I got stuck and had to resort to online walkthroughs. I recommend against retreating to that route, because it robs you of the sheer satisfaction of the breakthrough.

The content -- which includes more than 100 bite-size levels -- is a bit thin, especially if you get a feel for the puzzle design and start plowing through each one in seconds. If you start to struggle then your playtime, as well as frustration level, can considerably increase.

"Inbento" does little to evolve past its mobile game roots, but its relaxing, methodical feel is a rare pleasure in a time of hectic shooters and trying RPGs. It takes a special magic to make failure seem fun, and that's what this game manages to achieve.

Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: "The Suicide Squad"

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"Within the Blade" Review

Hack-and-slash ninja combat comes by the bushel in "Within the Blade," a fast-paced beat-em-up with a rapid buildup in difficulty.  

Set in 16th century Japan, you play as part of the Black Lotus ninja clan, which stands as the realm's best chance to fend off an assault from a warlord and his minions.

Hand-to-hand and projectile weapons and power-ups are around for your upgrading and crafting pleasure. A mix of stealth and daring assaults are your best bet for survival.

Speed and stealth are at a premium, with slick moves and continued momentum needed to rip through levels.

The dev team at Ametist Studio prioritized quantity over quality when it came to level design, adding marginal changeups to keep your reflexes and skills honed. There are shades of "Mark of the Ninja" here.

"Within the Blade" rarely lacks in excitement or intrigue, and those who are content with bashing through the repetitive content -- especially in NewGame+ mode, will find a trove of ninja thrills to enjoy.

Publisher provided review code.

"Roundguard" Review

Mixing chance and skill is an enthralling and often frustrating combination. "Roundguard" handles the formula with ease and skill, making average players feel as though they're better than they really are, while sobering better players with the harsh reality of bad bounces.

The Wonderbelly Games team punches up the screen with an entertaining array of sound and color. 

Proudly following the "Plinko"-style path set by "Peggle" in 2007, the game tasks you to defend the kingdom by choosing from a roster of combatants, each bestowed with a special move that lets you manipulate your tumbling ball and its targets.

Strategy comes into play when you decide when to deploy your power-ups and when it's best to keep them in your back pocket. Because instant death always lurks around the corner, it's up to you to weigh your fate and decide when to play boldly or conservatively.

While a medieval reskin of "Peggle" may well have been enough to win me over, the intricacies and story additions wielded "Roundguard" lifted it above my expectations, providing moments of exuberance along with an "I'll get 'em next time" feeling of flustered determination. 

Consider the "Peggle" formula perfected.

Publisher provided review code.

"The Forgotten City" Review

Riding a wave of hype surrounding time loop games such as "Returnal" and "Deathloop," "The Forgotten City" takes the concept and lifts it to a higher level of intellectual profundity.

Since the days of "The Majora's Mask," developers have toyed with the concept of avoiding imminent destruction with the right moves. "The Forgotten City" injects some current-gen pizzazz into the formula, presenting a dizzying array of choices that make failing the loop -- and following the permutations of the strange aberrations the failure can generate -- nearly as satisfying as completing it.

The dev team at Modern Storyteller proves to be profoundly literate, injecting sophisticated moral and ethical philosophizing. This is a deep, robust game in which story matters every bit as much as gameplay.

Set 2,000 years in the past, you find yourself in a doomed Roman city. Negotiating the local political scene and various levels of the social strata, you unravel a mystery strand by strand, gradually working your way to the "Groundhog Day"-style epiphany.

The sense of freedom and permutations of the story are entrancing, making "The Forgotten City" seem like a living, breathing world that is quickly swirling the drain.

In a sense, just about all video games are time loops, in which you can seize a modicum of control that life doesn't give you, letting you use your experience, knowledge and reflexes to right previous wrongs and succeed where you once failed. "The Forgotten City" is a time loop upon the time loop concept itself, shining a light on what can be done with the genre.

Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: 5 Shows to Binge in August 2021

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PHIL ON FILM: "Jungle Cruise" review

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