"Megabyte Punch" Review

Retro thrills abound in "Megabyte Punch," an exciting if simplistic romp through 16-bit style environments.

Eight years after its initial release on PC, the game loses none of its old-school charm. It still feels like a game straight out of the mid-90s -- which I do mean as a compliment.

Taking cues from the likes of "Mega Man" and "Strider," developer Reptile plunges into the past to build a modernization of retro side-scroller principles.

As you progress, you add upgrades and enhancements that extend your range, agility and ability to deal damage.

Set in a digital universe, you play as a robotic warrior depending its village from attack by a marauding empire.

Each level is segmented into three stages that end with a boss fight. As you slay combatants, you snatch up their tech and add it to your arsenal.

Four-player multiplayer ratchets up the intensity level and goofiness, with wall-jumping and brick-shattering punches filling the screen with mayhem.

"Megabyte Punch" fits in squarely into the Switch niche, packing a wallop in throwback charm.

Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: "Spaceship Earth"

For my full review, click here.

"World War Z: Game of the Year Edition" Review

When "World War Z" was released last year, it proved that the oversaturated zombie survival genre still had a heartbeat. Multiplayer online games such as this thrive or shrivel based on their community, and it managed to spark enough of a following to spread to a critical mass.

The four-player co-op shooter follows in the bone-crunching footsteps left by the previous-gen "Left 4 Dead" games, advancing the momentum in several significant ways. A tight and refined experience, the gameplay connects just as well to lone wolves as it does to tight, well-practiced clans.

Rounds are divided into cinematic episodes that borrow liberally from the likes of "Dawn of the Dead" and "Evil Dead." You scrounger for weapons and resources, working as a team to power through the onslaught of the undead.

Originally released in 2019, the game thrives on tone. Steadily building tension ramps up with frantic musical and environmental cues, as well as sudden movements that explode into moments of peril that would be frightening if you weren't so locked in on fire-eyed battle.

For the Game of the Year edition, developer Saber Interactive added in loads of DLC additions, including the three-story "Marseille" PvE episode arc and its four new characters. Also included are weapons skins and the various additions that have come out over the last 13 months.

A game that is far superior now to what it was at its starting point, "World War Z" continues to evolve and mutate. And because its community is so sizable, there is no sign that it will die off any time soon. Now is as good a time as any to join in the bloody fray.

Publisher provided review code.

BOOK REPORT: "Slouching Towards Bethlehem"

Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Joan Didion may be self-obsessed, insular and oblivious to the plight of those outside her upper-crust elitist circles, but she also is a damned impressive writer with a remarkable recall for detail and an ability to capture the zeitgeist of a given time and moment that she lived through.

A collection of some of her finest pre-1968 personal essays, "Slouching Towards Bethlehem" provides a painterly insight about what it was like to live, love and lose in settings such as Las Vegas, New York, Hawaii and Sacramento during a decade of rampant cultural upheaval.

Didion's ability to capture and crystalize a place and time are priceless, and many of her essays are passionate dives into the mindset of Americana in its various iterations of the period.

Her ability to unleash entrancing descriptions is uncanny, and her hypnotic pace is nothing short of dazzling. Still, it's easy to resent her, shaking your head at her oblivious navel-gazing and ludicrous degree of self-importance.

Diane Keaton is the ideal choice to narrate the Audible version, not so much reciting the words as breathing them -- no doubt because she either experienced many of the same things at the same times that Didion did, or because she was so heavily influenced by her words when they were published.

"Slouching Towards Bethlehem" is a priceless artifact of its time that continues to maintain relevance today. I found myself completing a master class, looking up references and reading about historical events I had hardly heard of before. Her wit and irony have proven to be timeless.

Publisher provided review copy.

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MOVIE REVIEW: "Song of the South"

"Song of the South" has a reputation of bigotry and cultural blindness. The 1946 Disney animated/live-action mashup has never been released on home video, and it's easy to see why.

The movie abounds with cultural insensitivity that could be classified as racist. Although it's purportedly set in 1870 Reconstruction-era Georgia, there is no clear mention of the setting, making it easy to confuse the setting with pre-Civil War times of slavery. The joyous singing of characters meant to have been sharecroppers could be viewed as slaves who were content with their treatment.

There is also a brutally indefensible animated fable of a baby constructed of tar and meant to be a decoy of a black child.

The movie's screenplay and songs were written by white people, based on the Uncle Remus stories published by author Joel Chandler Harris, a white man who was known to defended slavery. While the movie's live-action and voice cast gave hard-to-come-by-at-the-time roles to people of color, there was a stark lack of diversity in the film's conception, leading to a tone-deaf, stereotype-plagued product.

Still, I believe the movie should be made available, not only for its artistic merit and historical significance but because it could be used to encourage the racial sensitivity and enlightened perspective that its filmmakers lacked. Disney could release it on home video accompanied by a disclaimer apologizing for the offensive nature of its content, as well as an introduction and commentary track from a historian or cultural authority. To prove it isn't out to make a cash grab on a racist product, Disney could even donate the proceeds to educational or charitable organizations that promote tolerance.

American film history, particularly from the mid-20th century and earlier, is filled with embarrassing examples of prejudice. The same is true, to varying degrees, of literature and music from times past. But it's important not to turn a blind eye to the past, and instead use it as a way to learn about the evolution of society and culture, using it as a prompt to evaluate the current state of things. Making offensive artwork from the past unavailable is tantamount to censorship and revisionist history.

"Song of the South" is no movie to turn on and use as a babysitter for your kids, and is probably best kept from youngsters altogether. I believe a PG-13 or R rating would be appropriate.

That said, it's clear why Disney chooses to continue to keep "Song of the South" hidden, ignoring it as a skeleton in the closet. Releasing the movie, no matter how carefully, could kick a hornet's nest of trouble that might not make sense to the corporate bottom line.

Still, there is a lingering sense that some of the powers that be in the company don't mind if the public sees the film. Unauthorized copies are online, inexplicably spared from the hatchet of the company's copyright lawyers. And then there was the 1989 creation of the Disneyland ride Splash Mountain, which is filled with characters, music and references to the film.

As other attractions have been redone and rebranded, the fact that the ride remains intact gives off a sense that a brain trust within the company has a fondness for the film, and keep the ride there as a reminder for others to seek out the movie on their own.

That's because the story is engaging, the music is good and the performances are strong. The framework is the tale of a white 7-year-old child going through a troubled time in his young life. His father drops him and his mother off with the child's plantation-owning grandmother, and he quickly bonds with a black boy and white girl his age, as well as a wise black storyteller, Uncle Remus (James Baskett).

Remus helps the boy through his troubles with folksy fables, which come alive in the classic Disney animation style. There is lighthearted comedy, emotionally resonant lessons and a jovial, kind-hearted feel. The stereotypes and sloppy cultural messaging are casual and persistent, but the coming-of-age lessons ring powerful and true.

"Song of the South" made me cringe often, but it also made me laugh and had me captivated. I'm glad I finally made my way to the film after all these years, and encourage anyone interested in film history to do the same. It's a complicated and challenging film that deserves discussion rather than burial.

RATING: 3 stars out of 4.

"BlazBlue: Central Fiction" Review

In a year that's lacked fighting game releases -- or many big-name releases at all -- it's just the right time for a "BlazBlue: Central Fiction" reissue.

The stylish fighter, originally released in 2016, was rereleased in late April to support a GlobalGiving charity tournament.

Choosing from among 33 anime and fantasy-inspired fighters, you step into the 2D arena to face off against opponents in best-of-three-round battles.

Backgrounds are as impressive and pulsing with life as its characters, adding depth to the characterizations, backstories and stakes at play. The booming announcer voice grants the showdowns some cinematic depth.

Fast-paced play, well-balanced characters and inventive attacks make the game stand out from the pack. The willingness to take bold chances and embrace quirks gives the game a sense of boundary-breaking exuberance.

Four years after initial release, "BlazBlue: Central Fiction" continues to carve out its niche in the corner of arena battlers. With a flashy personality all its own, it continues to let its freak flag fly high.

Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: 5 Shows to Binge in May 2020

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"Sega Ages: G-LOC Air Battle" Review

One of the best aspects about the "Sega Ages" series is the way it not only sheds a new spotlight on the established classics, but also occasionally veers into more obscure realms. The publisher acts as a careful creator, introducing new audiences to some of the building blocks on which gaming was constructed.

"G-LOC Air Battle" is yet another welcome resurrection that follows the trend, delivering a pixel-perfect yet subtly enhanced version of a game even the hardcore may not have ever heard of and almost certainly haven't played.

Released in 1990, the dogfighting sim paved the way for the likes of "Ace Combat" that would later follow. As you weave your way through bogeys in pursuit of bogeys, you feel a steady sense of speed and power.

The controls may be a bit janky, but that lends to the authenticity and sense of danger. You feel as though you're at the helm of a rickety aircraft that prizes speed and stealth attack ability over sensibility and safety, and the threat that you will plow into a rock wall or enemy combatant at any point is threateningly present.

While there are more than a few rough edges, and the difficulty level is trying even on the easiest setting, there is plenty to appreciate in the finer and subtler points that the game has to offer. It may not soar quite as high as it did 30 years ago, but does a heck of an effective job as a time machine.

Publisher provided review code.

Book Report: "Remembrance of Things Past"

Remembrance of Things Past: Volume I - Swann's Way & Within a Budding Grove by Marcel Proust
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Marcel Proust is not the most accessible of the great writers, but he makes up for his distant aloofness with a raw, relatable passion that seeps through his obtuse prose.

"Remembrance of Things Past" is known as one of his most personal projects, delving into themes such as memory, character formation and love gained and lost. Above all hangs a shroud of punishing and festering regret.

It's rarely easy or intuitive to navigate through the gauntlet of psychological barriers that he conjures, but rewards await if you keep your head down and keep things moving. There are moments of deep thought and compelling beauty. There are also times that you need to just stop in order to ruminate, or simply survive to proceed another day.

In the Audible version, narrator John Rowe spins the tale with the appropriate whimsy and aching sense of nostalgia.

Reading often with the intimacy of a hidden diary, "Remembrance of Things Past" is a hard look at a hard life. It's worth your time, but it exacts its price on you.

Publisher provided review access.

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PHIL ON FILM: Shows Leaving Netflix in May 2020

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PHIL ON FILM: "The Scheme"

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"HyperParasite" Review

"HyperParasite" lives up to the "hyper" portion of its name.

The twin-stick, top-down shooter has you rampage between rooms, possessing passers-by and assuming their abilities to take down enemies, open passageways and maneuver through foreboding terrain.

As a bitter alien life form who seeks to upend humanity, you work your way from street lowlifes, all the way up to the upper echelons of government hierarchy.

The endgame is nothing short of sparking the apocalypse.

"HyperParasite" makes being evil and destructive feel oh-so-good.

Developer Troglobytes Games delivers an energetic, lightning-paced romp that never lets up on its momentum.

There's often so much going on in each single-screen zone that it's tough to keep tabs on what's happening, but the chaotic feel only adds to the pulsing energy of the affair.

While many of the challenges presented by "HyperParasite" can be dispatched with the same formula, there's enough fun and inventiveness in the routine to keep it feeling fresh more often than not. "HyperParasite" counts on its appeal thriving as things get out of control.

Publisher provided review code.

"Gigantosaurus" Review

Switching from among four colorful prehistoric lizards, you scamper through linear levels in "Gigantosaurus" in pursuit of a slew of flashy trinkets. The gameplay is as basic as you can get, but the fundamentals are solid, if unspectacular.

Based on the animated Disney Junior series and Johnny Duddle book, "Gigantosaurus" follows the "Crash Bandicoot" and "Banjo-Kazooie" template for sprinting, collecting and bashing action that never lets up.

The downside is that there's little challenge to the affair. The dev team at Cyber Group Studios understandably prizes accessibility above all else, playing to the show's base while minimizing overtures to parents and older siblings who find themselves pulled along for the ride.

As many as four players can join in the mayhem, taking control of one of the bumbling, stumbling protagonists. There are mild educational themes at play, encouraging qualities such as bravery, inquisitiveness and honor. The endgame is to solve the mystery of the colossal Gigantosaurus, but the joy comes from the ebb and flow of the journey.

Parents may find that "Gigantosaurus" comes at just the right time. Working equally well as a skill-builder and time-killer, the title is a suitable way to blow off some steam and break up the quarantine-spawned malaise. Playing the game beats watching episodes of the show over and over again.

inquisitive Mazu, playful Tiny, timid Bill, and courageous Rocky 

Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: 5 Shows to Binge in April 2020

For my full post, click here.

Book Report: "A Passage to India"

A Passage to India by E.M. Forster
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

No single book did more to spark the tide that would turn into Indian independence than "A Passage to India." Its importance as an incisive critique of British imperialism and systematic racism can't be dismissed.

That still doesn't make E.M. Forster's book an easy read.

Choppy and dull while spiced up by occasional dollops of intrigue, the story is a largely shapeless and aimless meandering that stumbles along its stilted path of a morality play that serves as an excuse for a plot.

The best way to appreciate the book is anecdotally, cherishing E.M. Swift's poetic ways of painting scenes of a far off time and land, as well as the characters' distinct tones and cultural backgrounds. If only the book succeeded as much as a captivating tale as it did an anthropological case study.

In the Audible version, Sam Dastor gives a heroic effort to inject some life into the book's many slow moments, but there's only so much a narrator can do to make something so dry palatable.

I'm glad I plowed through "A Passage to India." It made me feel more worldly and expanded my appreciation of the way things were on the other side of the world a century ago. But this is a case in which the destination is more valuable than the journey.

Publisher provided review copy.

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"Bubble Bobble 4 Friends" Review

"Bubble Bobble 4 Friends" gives the "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" treatment to the 1980s and 90s platformer.

With co-op available for up to four players, ININ Games brings back the classic series in chaotic form, with the players aiding and messing with each other in equal measures.

Giggles and elbows abound as you trek through the 100 levels with friends. Collectibles and hidden crannies abound.

There's also a side game at play, tasking you to discover letter bubbles that spell out the word "EXTEND." Find them all, and you'll unlock more facets of the design.

Colorful visuals meld with a catchy, chiptune-style soundtrack to conjure a retro-friendly feel that brings the older games to mind while also pushing the series forward in significant ways.

A satisfying way to bring back a blast from gaming's past, "Bubble Bobble 4 Friends" is a lovingly crafted and invigoratingly breezy way to revisit the adventures of Bub and Bob. 

Publisher provided review code.

"Granblue Fantasy: Versus" Review

Set in a steampunk-influenced world, "Granblue Fantasy: Versus" packs 2D-fighter and side-scrolling brawler aesthetics into one hack-and-slash package.

The characters are diverse and distinguished while also balanced. The lore is engaging and well-conceived. And the visuals tie it all together with verve and panache, luring you into the realm of might, magic and exotic contraptions.

There are three modes in which to test your might. The main RPG mode lets you level your character and advance the story. Versus mode allows you to square off in one-and-done matches against a friend or the PC. And Arcade is a traditional match tree that puts you through the paces against all comers until you either emerge triumphantly or wither away from the challenge and give in.

The game makes the transition from mobile platforms to console with confidence and ease, with developer Arc System Works taking advantage of the additional power and visual fidelity to make the game feel as though it were built from the ground up for the PS4.

Those familiar with Arc's contributions to the likes of "BlazBlue" and "Guilty Gear" will feel right at home in the frenzied yet fair strike-parry-block metagame of mental wrestling.

"Granblue Fantasy: Versus" may not have the name recognition of its predecessors or competitors, but its fresh take on the genre is a welcome departure from the norm. In a time when escapism and empowerment fantasies are more needed than ever, the game came along just when it was needed most.

Publisher provided review code.

"Wunderling" Review

Sick of their kind being stomped on all their lives, one member of the tribe has finally learned to jump. The skill becomes a game-changer in the squad's eternal clash with their arch-villain, Carrot Man.

Out for sweet vengeance, the Wunderlings run amok over the colorful, polygonal platformer landscape, dumping the usual routine on its head.

Developer Retroid has loads of satire-minded fun with the concept, twisting accepted gaming cliches. A goofy and satisfying romp, the game goes beyond its story gimmick by infusing the platforming with solid design and clever twists.

Light puzzle-solving keeps the action from becoming monotonous. Clever writing in the story segments is another incentive to keep hopping.

Wunderlings are sort of the ugly cousin of the Minions or the Little Goombas that Mario has stomped for the last 35 years, and the protagonist's angst-ridden resentment makes them charming antiheroes to get behind.

A winning underdog much like its subject, "Wunderling" is retro-tinged fun for Switch and Steam players alike.

Publisher provided review code.

"Yakuza 0" Xbox One Review

There are worse ways to introduce yourself to the "Yakuza" series than its prequel.

Conceived by developer Ryo ga Gotoku Studios as an entry point into the series, the game does away with the muddled morass of a plot built up over the series and cuts to the origins of the saga.

Set in 1988 Tokyo, the plot follows Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima as they work their way through the gangland underworld, hinting at wild times to come.

Three years after its PS4 release, the game makes its way to the Xbox One, which is unusual territory for the traditionally Sony-exclusive series. The game is also part of the Xbox Game Pass, making for a low-risk barrier to entry for those who are heading into the franchise with hesitance.

A coming of age story packed with emotion, grand plot developments and more than a little silliness, the combat-heavy action-adventure moves through the traditional "Yakuza" light RPG elements while building up its story elements.

"Yakuza 0" may not be the most polished of the series' titles, but it's a well-crafted sampler platter that shows off some of the highlights that the "Yakuza" games have to offer.

Publisher provided review code.

"Persona 5 Royal" Review

Just as developer P Studio gave "Persona 4" a grand victory lap with its "Persona 4: Golden" rerelease, the paradigm-shifting success that was "Persona 5" gets a second go-round with "Persona 5 Royal."

The reboot of the universally-respected masterpiece shines every bit as bright as the first entry, giving veteran players ample reason to revisit the classic while beckoning new players to see how the buzz is justified.

More adventurous, action-packed and somewhat lighter in tone than previous entries, the JRPG tasks you to explore the Tokyo underworld, navigating psychological dramas that sweep through the streets.

You play as a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, a band of iconoclast do-gooders that pull off elaborate crimes in order to shame the wealthy and powerful into reformation.

Juggling your secret identity along with your daily school and social life, you tangle with and recruit summonable Personas that can tip the balance of power in battle.

The follow-up to the 2017 game makes for a surprisingly refreshing experience. New characters and story beats add considerable depth and breadth to the story.

You can also sink plenty of hours into the Thieves' Den, which serves as your base of operations and allows you to customize it to your tastes, shaping it into your ever-shifting trophy of your mounting achievements.

Robust and sprawling while never losing its laser forcus on the feverishly written tale, "Persona 5 Royal" is nothing short of a crowning achievement that's well worthy of taking its spot on the throne.

Publisher provided review code.

"Sega Ages: Sonic the Hedgehog 2" Review

One of the best assets of the Switch is its tendency to inspire developers to churn out the great games of the past. The "Sonic Ages" banner is at the forefront of this archaeological benefit, mining the pillars on which the Blast Processing brand was built.

"Sonic the Hedgehog 2" is among the most glittery of those rediscovered gems. The fast-moving, inventively designed multi-path levels continue to stand out as examples of riveting design.

The catch music, entertaining boss battles and consistently daunting challenge make for loads of replayability with charm to spare.

The 1992 Sega Genesis classic shook up the formula by adding a competitive two-player mode, letting Sonic and Tails face off in frenzied matches that caused many a couch-set slugfest between siblings.

New features include a time trial with online rankings, as well as new modes that let you start off the game as the yellow-colored alternate form of the hero, as well as Knuckles.

Carrying the momentum from the incomparable original, "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" high-stepped its way into the race with Mario for platformer mascot supremity in days of yore. Future games may have caused the Blue Blur to lose his way, but if you want to see Sonic in his prime, you can't do much better than this one.



Publisher provided review code.

"Sega Ages: Puyo Puyo 2" Review

The once-obscure "Puyo Puyo" series has been granted a renaissance thanks to the Switch. After the 2017 port of "Puyo Puyo Tetris" comes the latest in the conga line of revamped 1990s Sega originals in the "Sega Ages" lineage.

A quarter-century after release, the simple-yet-satisfying block puzzles retain their charm and appeal. A surprisingly stressful experience, the increasingly frantic frenzy of tile placement inflicts you with the Tetris effect after your close your eyes following long, intense sessions.

A simple reissue of the original game might have been enough to hook you once again, but Sega took welcome measures to plus it up to modern standards.

With two-player online matchups, an online leaderboard and offline quick rewinds, the old standby gets the equivalent of a fresh coat of paint and a new transmission as it hits the road once again.

The years have been kind to the rock-solid structure of the puzzle dynamics in "Puyo Puyo 2," which will probably still be in puzzle gamers' rotations 25 years from now. That's par for the course for the brand, which may as well be renamed "Sega Ageless."

Publisher provided review code.

"3000th Duel" Review

A sleek and penetrating takeoff on the Metroidvania dynamic, "3000th Duel" places exploration and dynamic backtracking at the forefront. Combining smart, suspenseful storytelling with inventive combat and puzzle-solving, the game is a treat for Switch owners looking for a rich and powerful new obsession.

Placing a fresh twist on the insomniac hero setup, "3000th Duel" tells a stylish story with urgency and a deepening sense of mystery. As your mask-wearing character explores the oblique world, he learns haunting facts about his past that shifts his motives and endgame into question.

Developer Neopopcorn Corp crafts a visually bold tale that tugs you along by the shirt collar.

Battles, in particular, make for a rewarding sense of accomplishment. Timing and strategy are key, with enemies testing your sense of adaptability as you scrap for survival. Action rises to the forefront, and your character's rising sense of power and control is intoxicating.

If you find yourself more cooped up than usual in these days of social distancing, "3000th Duel" can be a welcome part of your entertainment rotation. It's well-crafted enough to cleanse your memory of your other Metroidvania successes.

Publisher provided review code.

BOOK REPORT: "1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed"

1177 B.C.: The Year Civilization Collapsed by Eric H. Cline
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An academic treatise with a sexy title and premise, Eric H. Cline's book is more of an extended research paper than a cohesive narrative.

Although packed with intriguing historical detail, Cline is so determined to stay true to proven historical documentation that he is hardly willing to add any opinion or interpretation to fill out his premise. The result is an unfulfilling, footnote-driven rundown of various debates between historians that can never be decisively settled due to lack of supporting evidence.

A better book would have used the research as a jumping off point, then infused some imagination to explain why it was that the first interconnected, globalized economy came to a sudden halt.

Oddly, given our coronavirus-plagued times, disease is never mentioned as a possible catalyst for the fall of the various empires. Instead, Cline speculates that earthquakes or invasions from unidentified "Sea Peoples" -- who could also have been victims of the same globalized cataclysm -- may have sparked the catastrophe.

In the Audible version, narrator Andy Caploe injects a little verve into the otherwise dry read, infusing the words with history-nerd passion that emphasizes some of the more intriguing nuggets that Cline digs up.

Still, the book is worth a read due to its magnificent premise -- an ancient history world that largely echoes our current state in terms of commerce, trade, grudges and interdependence. The chilling lesson, though not without its redemptive Darwinian qualities, is that a global economy is a house of cards prone to rapidly-spreading destruction.

Publisher provided review copy.

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PHIL ON FILM: "I Still Believe"

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"MLB The Show 20" Review

Of all the traditions that launch a new baseball season, booting up the new "MLB The Show" game is maybe the one that induces the most chills. It's a way to peak through the blinders of Spring Training into the season, with freshly stacked rosters beckoning hope to even the lowliest of teams.

If "MLB The Show 20" were an MLB team, it would be the Dodgers -- stacked with a ludicrous amount of talent and ability, albeit with a few questions of whether it will all pull together as a cohesive whole.

Like all annual sports releases, the wear and tear of the long season will be the true test of the title's mettle -- with on-the-fly updates and server integrity needed to prove its worth as an evolving service. It's hard to ask for a more promising leadoff showing, though.

The 15th edition of the game, and final PlayStation exclusive edition before it goes multiplatform next year, continues the franchise's confident dominance on the basepath.

Crisp visuals combine with surprisingly incisive and occasionally cruel commentary to make up a well-rounded presentation that matches the feel you get on broadcast and streaming. Animations are meticulous and convincing, but don't take away from the speed and urgency of the gameplay, which flows at a hectic, no-nonsense speed to which the real-life game can only aspire.

Nearly every legacy mode got a significant upgrade. Road to the Show, in which you play as a Minor Leaguer working your way up through the farm system, has more of an RPG feel.
Diamond Dynasty -- the game's answer to EA's fantasy, card-based team-building "Ultimate Team" obsession -- gets a more exhaustive range of players and a plethora of ways to tweak and upgrade your squad.

The most intriguing addition is March to October, in which you watch your team's progress from afar, stepping in at decisive moments to alter your team's fate.

Whether "MLB The Show 20" goes down as one of the greats or makes a promising start only to fade like so many Arizona Diamondbacks remains to be seen, but hope and excitement loom as large for the new game as it does for the season itself.

Publisher provided review code.

"Nioh 2" Review

Beating the likes of "Dark Souls" at its own game is no easy feat, but the "Nioh" games are more than up to the task. The PS4 exclusives deliver an ethereal though grounded style all their own, finding clever ways to spark excitement, satisfaction and even joy amid the hellish challenge.

"Nioh 2," the follow-up to the revered 2017 Souls-like adventure, gathers much of what the original such a standout, while branching out in refreshing and often daring ways.

The dev squad at Team Ninja delves into the 1555 Sengoku period of Japan, crafting a supernatural-tinged journey into the metaphysical.

As a half-human, half supernatural Yokai warrior, the burden falls on you to combat sinister forces by drawing on an otherworldly summon. By alternating between corporeal and beast form, you adapt to the offensive and defensive needs of the task at hand.

Opportunities to upgrade are numerous, but to thrive you need to take a calculated approach to strive toward the build you desire, adapting your skills and upgrades to a cohesive vision.

Haunting visuals couple with a subtly unnerving soundtrack to pitch a sense of dread over the proceedings. Veterans of Souls-style games, including "Bloodborne," will understand the basics, but will find plenty of surprises and wrinkles that make "Nioh 2" more of a trailblazer in the subgenre than a follower.

Raising its fist to the skies in defiance, "Nioh 2" is a brash and combustive. The game makes you work for every inch of progress, thrilling you all the while. Those who were obsessed with the first "Nioh" have hardly seen anything yet.

Publisher provided review code.

"Bloodroots" Review

Proudly wearing a Haggar the Horrible-like animation style on its ragged sleeves, "Bloodroots" is a wallop-packing action romp that thrives on an "Itchy & Scratchy"-style of exaggerated hyperviolence.

"Bloodroots" takes the Jackie Chan approached to combat. Scrounging for environmental items you can weaponize in combo-loaded melees, you ramble across the map in pursuit of creative implements.

Anything from vegetation to household goods can be picked up and wielded at surrounding opponents.

Playing as the vengeful  Mr. Wolf, you make your way through the Weird West, a dilapidated yet bubbly lawless outpost that serves as a stomping ground for your melees.

Developer Paper Cult infuses attitude and amplitude in its storytelling, crafting a riotous, anything-goes wonderland of fisticuffs.

Peppy writing and the entrancing visuals combine to conjure a captivating feel. Oozing with personality and outrageous humor, "Bloodroots" is an eclectic and energetic romp that never wears out its welcome. It's combustive and creative down to its very roots.

Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: "Onward"

For my full review, click here.

Book Report: The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World

The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World by A.J. Baime
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The tale of the rise of Harry Truman is a uniquely American fable, and wouldn't be believable had it been written as fiction and not come to pass.

Truman's ascent from mediocrity to the role of the most powerful man in the free world is Arthurian in its serendipitous momentum. He was a middle-aged, broke businessman thrust into a lowly county office as a political pawn of a corrupt businessman.

That led to his being hand-picked as a patsy placeholder to run for Senate, where he caught the eye of party power players who maneuvered him into position as an afterthought vice president to FDR. After his sudden passing, Truman found himself in the driver's seat of America's World War II apparatus, which eventually tasked him with the impossible A-bomb decision that would forever define his legacy and set the course for the free world.

A.J. Baime tells Truman's story with a Dickensian spirit, making the reader feel as though they're breathlessly tagging along on an impossibly lucky journey through history.

Along the way, Truman shines as a saintly figure who maintains his relatability through self-deprecation. His calm confidence owes to his moral fortitude rather than any airs of greatness.

Tony Messano's narration in the Audible version strikes the appropriate tone, delivering a relentlessly upbeat and energetic take on the prose.

The book is a shining lesson of the pitfalls of elitism, and the trouble with underestimating someone perceived as common and unexceptional. What a world we live in, that a man like Harry Truman could start from the bottom and ascend to the most dizzying heights. And what a blessing for the Western world it was that he managed to handle the heady burdens which such collected wisdom and grace.

Publisher provided review copy.

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"MathLand" Review

"MathLand" is so earnest and straightforward that you can't help but look at it sideways. Is there something ironic going on here? Where is the twist?

You can stop squinting and searching. There is nothing more to "MathLand" than math itself. A purely educational experience, the game is a sneaky way to get kids -- as well as rusty adults, for that matter -- to drill and kill arithmetic until it becomes second nature.

The $6 download is a throwback to such elementary school computer lab classics as "Math Blaster." Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are all there to help you hone your skills as you make your way through isometric levels.

The slate of minigames tasks you to select correct answers, rewarding you for your speed and accuracy. Developer Artax Games could have gotten cute by instituting touch-screen number drawing in the vein of "Brain Age" or "Professor Layton," but the multiple-choice approach is the most clean and effective.

While lazy players can guess their way to success, the only sure path to victory is to memorize and apply number skills. That's life in "MathLand," as straightforward and methodical as can be.

Publisher provided review code.

"Yakuza Remastered Collection" Review

The release of "Yakuza Remastered Collection" is an excuse to dive into the core games of the sprawling Japanese gangland opus.

The anthology contains three previously released games, with a minor visual update and a few quality-of-life upgrades thrown in to freshen things up.

The third, fourth and fifth numbered entries of the franchise -- previously available only on the PS3 -- are included, each spinning a lengthy and sidequest-packed journey into the depths of the underworld. Beneath the hardboiled surface of each game bubbles a decidedly goofy and whimsical interior.

Minigames include rhythm-based button-tapping karaoke, exercise, dance and arcade pastimes. Those flourishes are more than just ways in which to blow off steam. They insinuate you into the characterization and culture of the society, immersing you into the sights and sounds of big city excess.

All the games run in 1080p and 60fps. Even more appealingly, they reduce some of the painful loading times and chugging prevalent in previous-gen games. A touched-up translation and addition of missing story moments from past games also makes the collection the most polished versions of the games to date.

You're best off taking on the games in order, due to the evolution in gameplay and storytelling that continued into the landmark 2016 release of "Yakuza 6."

Now the entire "Yakuza" storyline can be fully consumed on the PS4, completionists can finally put their PS3s to rest. This is the way the "Yakuza" games were meant to be appreciated.



Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: 5 Shows to Binge in March 2020

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"Dreams" Review

The game-making genre has always aspired to the vision that anyone on their couch could bring their idea to life and use it to reach the masses. Drawbacks in technology, interface and scale have always stopped entries short of that ideal.

But now comes the staggeringly innovative "Dreams," a boundary-shattering delight that lives up to its name by venturing closer than anything that's come before to the long-sought ideal.

Developer Media Molecule expands on the Play/Create/Share philosophy it has built over the last 12 years in the "LittleBigPlanet" series, launching its ambition to stratospheric proportions. Using a tutorial thinly disguised as a campaign to roll out its myriad toolsets, the title makes you feel comfortable with manipulating the code it takes to construct just about any category you can envision.

It also takes a crucial step beyond that landmark by managing to make game creation appealing to those who may otherwise be disinterested. Theoretically, the release of "Dreams" could mark as a turning point for game development, demolishing class and social structures that have restrained the field's diversity and opening up the art form to the visions of the masses.

While only time will tell if "Dreams" ascends to such heights, it's already apparent that it's allowed current players to crank out a staggering amount of eye-poppingly brilliant creations. While later "LittleBigPlanet" games did allow the cleverest players to branch out into other fields, the series was always pretty much a platformer builder, with little more reach than "Mario Maker" games.

"Dreams," though, frees players from such shackles, granting and encouraging freedom of creative vision without any apparent impediments. Through ease of use and expertise in design, it achieves the paradigm sought for by the likes of "Project Spark."

When I started the game with my children, I marveled at the way my 13-year-old and 7-year-old jerked the controller out of my hands to indulge the ideas that were bursting out of their minds. There are few games that are capable of engaging all three of us at our varied levels of experiences, and fewer still that can make us feel equally empowered. The fact that "Dreams" accomplished the goal with ease is hardly short of miraculous.

When you play "Dreams," you get more than what you put into it. The power it grants you is intoxicating, and also just a gleeful. It makes children feel as capable of adults, and adults feel as unencumbered as children. To take the controller is to live the dream.

 Publisher provided review code.

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"Bayonetta & Vanquish: 10th Anniversary" Review

With two stunning releases in the span of a few months in late 2009 and early 2019, PlatinumGames redefined the action genre.

The games were the stylized proto-feminist hack-and-slash romp "Bayonetta" and the kinetic shooter "Vanquish." The last-gen gems topped out the pinnacle of what was possible with the Xbox 360/PS3 generation's hardware, and were memorable enough to sporadically cross over into current-gen hardware.

The newly-released bundle that combines both games into a budget-priced $40 price point is not only a welcome leap into yesteryear, but a surprising sign of what many modern games in the genre lacked.

Released in a time before microstransactions and games-as-service trappings became en vogue, both games stand as unadulterated, full-featured experiences that tell a complete tale from the get-go, leaving you satisfied rather than stranded. Both are polished, visually stunning achievements that show few signs of negative aging.

"Bayonetta," in particular, feels ahead of its time. While some of its sexual humor may be dated, its pre-Black Widow and Scarlet Witch heroinism was a harbinger of a brave new world of death-dealing females.

"Vanquish" is a bit of a relic, but its forward momentum-based attack style still rings out as distinctive. Building upon the likes of "Devil May Cry" and "God of War" -- with plenty of "Halo" flavor sprinkled in -- the cyberpunk action still jumps to life.

Both "Bayonetta" and "Vanquish" remain compellingly playable and invigoratingly enchanting. Fire them up if you're looking for fever-pitched combat the way it was done a decade ago.

Publisher provided review code.

Book Report: "Young Al Capone: The Untold Story of Scarface in New York"

Young Al Capone: The Untold Story of Scarface in New York, 1899-1925 by William Balsamo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

William Balsamo takes dime novel-style liberties as he spins a painterly tale of Al Capone rising up the ranks of the New York mob scene. Gathering historical records, newspaper articles and biographies, he infuses his ear for the way tough-talking thugs thought and acted in the early 20th century.

The poetic license Balsamo takes in "Young Al Capone" helps the figures come to life as characters. He imagines the small talk, inner thoughts and negotiations that went on among the gangsters to tell a story that borders on historical fiction.

The approach is a blinding success for the most part, only occasionally backfiring into mawkish silliness. What emerges is the tale of a troubled, tremendously driven boy who was determined not to live a life of working poverty like his father and brothers. Delving into the underworld with gusto, Capone had a knack for sizing up potential allies and rivals, and ruthlessly dealing with both, ever-arranging everyone around him like pawns on a chess board.

"Young Al Capone" changed my perspective on the underworld king. Although his mind was addled by alcohol and illness in later life, sticking him with the reputation of a doltish, ham-fisted thug, this book shows how smart and clever he was to ascend to the dizzying heights to which he ascended before his talents left him and he devolved into a caricature.

The Audible version, narrated with gusto and admirable acting chops by Daniel May, breathes gangster film-style life into the films. May shifts his accents ably between Italian and Irish accents, giving Capone a distinctly understated voice that reflects his calculating confidence and simmering rage simmering beneath a collected facade.

Rapidly paced and elegantly told, "Young Al Capone" is a gem of a find for those who can't get enough true crime and mob history. It would shine as a TV miniseries, no doubt rising to dominance with the hurried force of Capone himself.

Publisher provided review copy.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Brahms: The Boy II"

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Book Report: "Little Women"

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The new movie didn't impress me when I first saw it, and pales even more in comparison to the source material now that I'm familiar with it. Episodes and exchanges that seemed forced and stilted in the movie make more sense and impact with Alcott's eloquent context.

The changes that Greta Gerwig makes to the plot and character outcomes, updated to take a more revisionist, evolved point of view, may be more politically correct but seem contrived and awkward. By comparison, Alcott's story -- while hokey and convenient -- rings with more of a feel of the harsh reality of the times.

From the perspective of time, it's easy to lose sight of how groundbreaking the book was for its time, and how it set the stage for continued progress in feminist literature while still managing to captivate the masses. Alcott walked a fine line with her philosophy, subtle satire and sly witticisms, and her bravery and execution stand the test of time.

The Audible version, narrated with knowing whimsy by Lauran Dern and delivered with a well-produced voice cast worthy of a radio play, hits many of the same lively notes that Gerwig's film went for. This version is a fresh and vital adaptation that captures the essence of Alcott's words in the way a film never could.

The decades may have dulled the book's message of self-determination, and its moralizing about sacrificing personal fame and gain in favor of family needs becomes more wince-inducing as time marches on. But taken on its own merits and given the society from which it sprang, "Little Women" is something of a literary miracle, and still deserves to be revered.

Publisher provided review copy.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Sonic the Hedgehog"

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Broadway in Tucson Review: "The Book of Mormon"

Whether the medium is TV, film, video games or the stage, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are masters of good-natured yet biting satire. They disregard the rules in favor of their own brand of poetic, musical justice, and deliver their voice with a lighthearted yet severe vengeance.

In "The Book of Mormon" musical, the "South Park" duo teams with the incomparable double EGOT-winner Robert Lopez to unleash a mockery of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Although the material is incisive and unforgiving, it never comes close to cruelty. Throbbing behind the riotously ridiculous song-and-dance numbers is an earnest respect for faith and zealotry no matter how misguided it may be perceived by outsiders.

The story follows mismatched Mormon missionaries as they travel to Uganda in order to try to convert a misfit, war-torn, poverty and famine-ravaged village to their One True Faith. The protagonists struggle with their own insecurities and weaknesses as they stumble through their mandate to bring the message to the unwelcoming masses by any means necessary.

Liam Tobin plays cocksure Elder Price with oblivious panache, and scene-swiping Jordan Matthew Brown is an apt complement as his awkward, needy sidekick, Elder Cunningham.

The stagecraft, particularly in the "Spooky Mormon Hell" nightmare interlude, is strikingly outlandish. Bouncy, catchy tunes, pitch-perfect delivery of wickedly funny jokes and dance moves characterize the production. It's easy to catch you and the people next to you laughing so hard that you'll miss the next joke.

The exuberance of the clapping, jubilant crowd in awe of the soaringly hilarious sermon onstage makes for a religious experience.

"The Book of Mormon" plays at Centennial Hall through Sunday. Buy tickets here.

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Book Report: "de Gaulle"

de Gaulle by Julian T. Jackson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Author Julian T. Jackson loses the forest for the trees, spending far too much time obsessing over the mundane details of the minutiae of de Gaulle's movements, speeches and reactions to news of the day.

Charles de Gaulle lived a grand, exciting life, but it seemed droning and dull according to much of this book. It's an exhaustive and exhausting textbook rather than a film-ready biography.

Jackson's writing comes alive when he frees himself from what he deems to be the necessary play-by-play to step out and make grand-scale commentary on de Gaulle's vision and motivations.

A complicated leader who wore the burden of a nation's pride on his sleeve, de Gaulle served as the nation's defiant conscience in exile during the Nazi occupation, and took complex and hotly debated stances over controversial issues such as the beginnings of the Vietnam War, the establishment of Israel and the question of whether or not to grant independence to the people of Algeria.

De Gaulle thrived on his stature as a revered statesman who had a knack of predicting future geopolitical climates, but Jackson convincingly argues that his genius lied in his ability to adapt and alter his perspectives given the political needs of the time. De Gaulle managed to keep his leadership style relevant as time and tide shifted.

James Adams narrates the Audible version with admirable passion, pushing through the slower portions with a forceful urgency, while generating enthusiasm and vigor during the more interesting big-picture moments.

Only in the final pages does Jackson's fill-figured opinion of the majestic leader morph to its fullest life. The book ends with the sort of momentous eloquence that I hoped for and didn't receive through 90 percent of what came before.

If only it were true in this case that all's well that ends well.

Publisher provided review copy.

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PHIL ON FILM: "Birds of Prey"

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"Arc of Alchemist" Review

Guiding the nubile heroine Quinn Bravesford on a quest to secure a paradigm-shifting force that could save humankind from itself, there are no lack of high stakes in "Arc of Alchemist."

You're stuck int he desert in search of the bluntly named Great Power. Armed with orb-controlling alchemic powers, you have the ability to shift the landscape and conjure weapons and defenses that make you an increasingly formidable force.

The action RPG from the dev team at Compile Heart emphasizes style and visuals above all else. With a painterly style and gorgeous dreamscape of a narrative, the saga rises to the occasion.

Taken as a storytelling experience, the game is rich and vibrant. Its gameplay, though, is rote and unfulfilling. The game's heart seems to be an anime rather than an interactive adventure.

The RPG elements and menu interfaces can be complex and daunting, forcing you to adapt to a steep learning curve to keep pace. You crawl along a more-or-less linear journey, with the gameplay amounting to repetitive, mundane tasks that you plow through until you can unlock the next piece of the story arc.

Whether or not the game interests you enough to continue tugging you along the path depends on your level of patience, as well as how entranced you become with the tale. "Arc of Alchemist" has plenty going for it, but to truly hook you it will have to transform you into someone willing to accept stiff elements in order to stay the course.

Publisher provided review code.

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"Edge of Light" Review

Wielding an ancient relic bestowed with technology that grants you the power equivalent to that of a warlock, your goal in "Edge of Light" is to build up your strength to the point of mastery.

The exuberant sense of growing strength while acquiring game-changing abilities is the intoxicating draw of the game, which lets you roam through a world haunted by its looming past.

Set in the aftermath of a sentient planet ravaged by apocalypse, "Edge of Light" challenges you to seek out resources, patch together a survival plan and forge ahead in spite of brutal surroundings.

Developer White Elk orchestrates the single-player saga with a steady, assured precision. The vision is a dark, dilapidated realm that somehow teems with life and possibility.

With a campaign that's calibrated to unfold quickly, "Edge of Light" banks on its ability to draw you back in time and again for replays.

That's an area, unfortunately, in which it struggles. Working well as a tight, polished adventure, the game sometimes plays more like an extended demo than a full-figured campaign. Here's hoping White Elk builds on this foundation to stretch out its horizons in its next project.

Publisher provided review code.

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Broadway in Tucson Review: "The Play That Goes Wrong"

It's hard work to look awful and incompetent. "The Play That Goes Wrong" hones a goofy cavalcade of failure to a fever-pitched edge of incisive humor.

The setup: A low-rung British theater society opens up an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery set within a mansion. The set is falling apart, behind-the-scenes techs are always meddling and screwing things up, actors forget their lines and take a bulldozer to the fourth wall.

A masterwork of set design, impeccably-timed blocking and layered comedic writing that operates on simultaneous levels, "The Play That Goes Wrong" lathers up a firestorm of Vaudeville-style comedy, melding slapstick, corny one-liners and absurd, over-the-top catastrophes in a headlong dive into a funhouse of mirror that mocks the theater world.

Although the true masterminds of director Matt DiCarlo's production are behind the scenes, all of the antics would fall flat if not executed by a masterful cast. Jason Bowen, Chris Lancely, Chris French and Michael Thatcher make up a geek chorus of goofiness as house staffers, siblings and, yes, theater techs stumble through the mishap-plagued mystery.

Jacqueline Jarrold shines as Sandra, a would-be femme fatale who finds herself in the focal point of the intrigue. Bianca Horn is her apt complement -- as well as her fight partner -- as a tech who fills in as Sandra when the actress is out of commission. The dynamic forms the core of the madcap insanity that radiates throughout the stage, as well as the rest of the theater.

Credit DiCarlo's creative team for being able to adjust on the fly, with the cast calling out audience members at opportune times, as well as a priceless, made-for-Tucson monologue that roasts the city's inferiority complex with Phoenix, as well as the UA's rivalry with ASU.

"The Play That Goes Wrong" thrives by breaking all the rules with a Mack truck, then happily backing up over the wreckage and repeating the process. Overkill is the order of the day, but the smile on your face will last the full two-hour running time, as well as the giddy drive home. The play may go wrong, and that's why everything feels so right.

"The Play That Goes Wrong" plays through Sunday at Centennial Hall. For tickets, click here.

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Book Report: "The Dead Zone"

The key to "The Dead Zone" is the way Stephen King sets up false premises, only to knock them on their side as he takes you in unexpected directions.

With a title like that, as well as King's usual subject material, I expected a horror tale, or at least something heavily involved with the spirit world. Instead, the novel is free of ghosts, hauntings and horror and instead a matter-of-fact rumination about what it would like to be blessed/cursed with psychic powers.

The burden of foresight in the land of the blind is heavy. The protagonist has a superpower that makes him capable of winning big at roulette or tracking down a serial killer, but it shoves him into impossible ethical situations.

The politically-charged latter half of the book focuses on a charismatic Congressional candidate whose potential path to success would spell the doom of millions of people. The quandary that arises is to what degree it's beneficial to derail that candidate's career. As the stakes rise and increasingly drastic methods become visible, the story becomes a drama set nearly almost entirely within the character's mind.

"The Dead Zone" is an unorthodox King book, and allows him to show off his off-brand skills. He proves to be as strong and lively a storyteller as usual, and that's a result it doesn't take a psychic to predict.

"World War Z" Review

It's tough to find a spot to stand out in the saturated zombie genre, but "World War Z" makes an attempt as persistent and fierce as an undead creature hungering for brains.

The co-op focused third-person shooter harkens back to "Left 4 Dead," with the emphasis on communication and complementary skills and roles key to survival.

Diverse mission sets, an elegant menu system that allows players to adjust gameplay parameters and join whatever session fits their mood. You can squad up with buddies, take your chances with strangers or seek out custom games. No matter how you go about the task,

Developer Saber Interactive prioritizes ease of use and speed above all else, and still manages to craft a game with impressive visuals, sound and animation.

The community has responded in kind, creating a thriving support system that means there are always players to link up with. That X factor is key, because without that level of commitment, there would barely be a game here.

"World War Z" continues to grow month after release, with Saber distributing regular content updates to keep things fresh and vibrant. The war against the evil dead will always be a perpetual struggle, and "World War Z" is out to ensure that the fight won't turn monotonous.

Publisher provided review code.

"XenoRaptor" Review

Loaded with frenzied attacks from enemies, high-powered weapons and screen-searing explosions, "XenoRaptor" keeps you hooked with its brand of wild, frenetic energy.

The twin-stick, top-down shooter from developer Peter Cleary is a callback to arcade games of yore.

Although the game brings little new to the table, it manages to fire up the nostalgia factor while sticking on the cutting edge of graphics and sound. The visceral experience into which the game hurls you wouldn't have been possible in the 1980s or 90s.

The main hook is the weapon upgrade system, which lets you scoop up remnants of vanquished enemies that you can assemble on the fly into souped-up means of attack.

A strategic facet that doesn't often show itself in other bullet hell shooters comes into play here. You may find yourself looking for specific paths to upgrades that force you to be judicious about your targets. A studied, pragmatic style will yield rewards when you acquire game-changing weaponry.

"XenoRaptor" may not break much new ground, but it does enough to differentiate itself to keep things fresh.


Publisher provided review code.

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"She Sees Red" Review

Full-motion video games so rarely come along anymore that a new entry that pushes the technological boundaries of the genre is worth a look.

"She Sees Red" is such an example. The effort from developer Rhinotales is closer to a branching-paths Netflix game such as "Black Mirror: Bandersnatch" than it is the crude origins of the game type in "Dragon's Lair."

With game-altering choices placed along the way, leading to four endings to take in, there is plenty of replay value, even though the game falls on the short side, at less than 40 minutes. Subtitles or an English-dubbed track are available,

A strong script, solid performances and professional camerawork and effects give "She Sees Red" a layer of polish that you'd expect on a film released on a streaming app.

Released on Steam earlier this year, and now on iOS and Google Play, the story is a mature dive into the dark recesses of seedy Russian nightclub culture. With choices geared to be subtle and ambiguous rather than clear-cut right and wrong, it's best to go with your gut and see where the story takes you.

While it's hard to imagine going back to "She Sees Red" again and again. it's easy to imagine wanting to show it off to friends time after time. There is a clear, illuminating breakthrough here, and hopefully the game finds enough success to fund a follow-up.


Publisher provided review code.

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"Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition" Review

Some gaming classics are best left to memory.

"Neverwinter Nights," which laid the building blocks in 2002 that inspired countless games to follow, seems like one of the remakes that might have been best left as it was.

A sluggish and often jittery game that struggles to find its flow, "Neverwinter Nights" is saddled with several of the drawbacks of turn-of-the-century gaming, with too few quality-of-life improvements to make it accessible to all but the most dedicated and patient fans.

For those who want to relive one of gaming's seminal achievements, though, there is much here to enjoy. The Dungeons & Dragons"-based gameplay is sprawling and robust, with 10 separate missions challenging your skills as various characters in an array of elaborate scenarios.

The menu system remains largely unchanged from the PC games, which makes for an awkward and cumbersome fit on the Switch. Text size is less than optimal as well. You sometimes feel as though you're playing the game through a blurry pair of glasses.

The area in which "Neverwinter Nights" holds up best is storytelling. The dev team was clearly stacked with talented writers who were steeped in the legend and lore of the source material. The groundwork that eventually led to the likes of "Dragon Age" sometimes shifts into promising, if fleeting, focus, only to slip away like a miscast spell.

Publisher provided review code.

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"Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker"

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Book Report: "It"

It by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"It" is a young Stephen King's sprawling treatise on the connections between youth and middle age, the fragility and power of friendship and sinister monstrosities that lurk in the hearts, minds and imaginations of men.

King shows off his ear for the way the kids of the 1950s spoke, acted, played, hid and fought, as well as the ways yuppies of the 1980s schemed, maneuvered, bonded and bickered. The parallelism he uses to spin the tale is so elegant and rhythmic that it would be just about impossible for a movie to simulate. Maybe a 10-hour miniseries could do it justice, but we'll probably never see a better telling of the tale than in these pages.

The only flaws come in the scattershot nature of the antagonist's methods and origins. Awkward attempts to rationalize and explain the creature's nonsensical modus operandi just cause more confusion. He would have better served the mystery by avoiding the half measures and just leaving It as an unexplained entity.

"It" is a beautiful, dark, challenging and occasionally frustrating novel that lets King strut his stuff as a master yarn-spinner. Thought-provoking and resonant, it sticks with you like lingering memories forged in youth and saved to serve you in adulthood.

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"Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection" Switch Review

With the possible exception of Capcom, no publisher has been as gung-ho about getting its back catalogue onboard the Switch gravy train than Ubisoft. Following the likes of "South Park," "Child of Light," "Valiant Hearts: The Great War" and "Trials HD," the monolithic "Assassin's Creed" series is beginning to trickle onto the console.

The games included in "Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection" are rather obscure choices, and seem geared toward getting the franchise's feet wet on the Switch hardware. Rather than go with low-fi classics such as the original game, its follow-ups, the Ezio Collection, or the most recent blockbusters, "Origins" and "Odyssey," we get nearly-forgotten late last-gen entries.

The compilation includes "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag" (2013) and "Assassin's Creed Rogue" (2014). As is usually the case with rereleases, both games are loaded with all previously-released DLC, and with games as microtransaction-happy as these, that means tons of extra levels, skins, weapons and items.

The games in the collection represent a turning point for the franchise, in which it branched off into naval combat in "Black Flag" and the saga through the perspective of the villainous Templars in "Rogue."

The games make an apt fit on the Switch because their guts don't do too much to stretch the hardware capabilities. Unlike the likes of "Wolfenstein" and "Diablo," these games are silk-smooth and polished on the device.

Returning to the middle games in the "Assassin's Creed" legend in 2019 is refreshing, and something of a spiritual reboot for the now grandiose games. Like the overarching storyline itself, the games are welcome jumps back in time to re-experience the sights, sounds, passions, struggles and triumph of eras bygone.

Publisher provided review code.

PHIL ON FILM: "Jumanji: The Next Level"

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Arizona Theatre Company Review: "Cabaret"

A bold and brash rumination on humanity's capacity for freedom, joy, lust and evil, "Cabaret" is a psychosexual explosion of a musical that sets out to disrupt the status quo.

If you'd think it would lose its edge after five decades, you'd be wrong.

Arizona Theatre Company's production reinvigorates playwright Joe Masteroff's artistic voice, joined with Bob Fosse's sense of electric movement. The story set in 1930s Berlin is every bit as relevant and poignant a mirror of 2019 Tucson. Or Moscow. Or Mar-a-Lago.

The tale of a dive sex club's gradual loss of spirit and soul in the backdrop of the Nazi takeover lulls you into a hypnotic flow of garish entertainment, only to sock you in the stomach with twists and revelations brought on by the knocking on the door from the outside world. It's a story of the loss of idealism and humanity's ability to rationalize any indignity as a necessity of day-to-day survival.

As thought-provoking as the show may be, it's never short of an Atomic fireball-flavored fun. Director Sara Bruner keeps every corner of the stage crackling with intoxicating movement and exhilarating sound.

Standouts among the superb cast include Michelle Dawson as the sultry Fraulein Kost, Sean Patrick Doyle as the lithe, naughty emcee, Madison Micucci as falling star Sally Bowles and David Kelly as the dark, subtly domineering Herr Schultz.

An able ensemble, which includes acrobatic performances from Shaun-Avery Williams, Tatumn Zale, Lisa Kuhnen, Spence Ford, Xander Mason and Antonia Raye, share a uniform brilliance and barely-restrained energy that resonates throughout the audience. Jaclyn Miller's seductively vigorous choreography keeps everyone busy.

A phantasmagorical explosion of sultry indulgence, boundary-blurring sexuality and cross-cultural  blending, "Cabaret" is a gasp-inducing rumination of a society's willful descent from freedom to tyranny. It's also a savage indictment against the flaccid defense of ignorance as an excuse not to stand up to the sight of liberty swirling the drain.

"Cabaret" plays in Tucson through Dec. 29, then moves to Phoenix from Jan. 4-Jan. 26. For more information and tickets, click here.

Book Report: "No Better Friend"

No Better Friend: One Man, One Dog, and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in WWII by Robert Weintraub
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Robert Weintraub crafts a story tailor-made for movie adaptation. An inspirational and often devastating tale of survival despite onerous odds, "No Better Friend" is a captivating travelogue about a British sailor and his trusty dog.

Avoiding flowery descriptions and overdramatization in favor of economical, understated storytelling, Weintraub goes beyond his considerable research to place you inside the minds of his human and canine protagonists.

Through captivity in prison camps, long, harrowing voyages via sea and marches and cutthroat combat, the heroes endure, overcoming starvation, exhaustion and flagging hope in order to strive to see the next day.

A workmanlike profile in courageous friendship and sacrifice in the face of looming doom, this is a powerful historical document that doubles as a resounding fable, the novel is a triumphant accomplishment.

View all my reviews

PHIL ON FILM: "Playmobil: The Movie"

For my full review, click here.

Kindle Kids Edition Review

Amazon's Kindle Kids Edition is a superb gateway into the realm of e-books for young readers. Its sturdy design and accompanying case makes it stand up to the rigors of careless youth.

Parental controls help keep a cap on overzealous readers, limiting use to preset parameters. And the most significant addition has nothing to do with traditional reading at all.

Bolstered by a recent update that allows the device to access Audible titles, the device now is a full-fledged audio reader.

The Kindle Kid's Edition, which is actually a standard 10th-gen Kindle, is built to hook kids on books in all their forms, encouraging skill-building via built-in vocabulary builders, pop-up word definitions and achievement badges that celebrate progress.

Adjustable, kid-friendly fonts and text sizes remove the intimidation factor in traditional adult e-reader setups. While battery life and brightness levels may not be ideal, the devices perform well under most conditions.

Built to foster a love of exploring and expanding the horizons of imagination, educational and explorative aspects that reading can grant to developing minds, the Kindle Kids Edition is fuel for bookworms in the making.

Manufacturer provided review sample.

Broadway in Tucson Review: "Jesus Christ Superstar"

You can't go wrong with "Jesus Christ Superstar" during Christmas season.

The creative team could be excused for soft-pedaling and hitting the easy marks, well-established by decades of success.

Director Timothy Sheader, however, isn't content with the status quo, and instead adds a fresh take on the classic, injecting it with fresh, vibrant energy that makes it seem as new as it must have during its initial run.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" is peak Andrew Lloyd Webber. Thumping, rhythmic music pulses through the audience, and the performers expend maximum energy, leaving every ounce of their exertion on the floor with beet-faced abandon.

The latest touring production does away with the 70s rock opera aesthetic for a grungier, 1990s mosh pit-style feel. Drew McOnie's raw, charismatic choreography gives the tone a rustic elegance that blends with the aesthetic.

Above all, the refreshed take on the production makes the story Judas's personal story of anguish, divided loyalty and resentful fatalism. James Delisco Beeks commands the show in the role, belting out his songs with the gusto of Aaron Burr in "Hamilton."

Not to be upstaged, topknot-donning Aaron LaVigne thrives in the given lead role, leveling the audience with a rockstar performance that adds a welcome masculinity to the traditionally milquetoast interpretations.

Jenna Rubaii completes the masterful lead trio as Mary, delivering heartbreaking renditions of "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and "Everything's Alright."

A passion play in both the traditional and emotional senses, the production revitalizes "Jesus Christ Superstar," somehow making the show even better than you remembered with a vigor that could be described as heaven-sent.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" plays through Sunday at Centennial Hall. Buy tickets here.