Czech developer KO.DLL channels its adoration of 8-bit gaming into "BZZZT," a passionate love letter to the glory days of 1980s gaming.
Proudly wearing its influences, including the likes of "Mega Man," "Jackal," "Strider" and "Blaster Master," the Switch exclusive is a challenging, quick-hitting platformer that dares you replay its wares time after time in order to perfect your speed and technique.
Charm oozes out of every pixel. Set in the year 4096, you play as tiny robot ZX8000, leaping through treacherous, bite-sized levels crawling with enemies and spiked walls. The ultimate goal is to take down robotic megalomaniacal mad scientist Badbert and his horde of nefarious, mechanical lackeys, making the world safe for your creators, Doctor Emily and Professor Norbert.
Level design, musical cues and a deceptively high rchallenge ramp-up give "BZZZT" dollops of charm. Those who want a more palatable experience can opt for casual difficulty, and masochists can work their way up to the brutal hardcore setting. Leaderboards allow you to compare your best runs with friends and the worlkd at large, and an array of time challenges awaits for you to test your limits.
The retro soundtrack, orchestrated by Rytmik Ultimate/Studio's Martin Linda, serves as the backdrop for your misadventures. Expect to fail miserably time after time, only to hone your strategy and break through in glorious fashion. The old-school sense of achievement is largely lacking in games of today, but present in ample portions in "BZZZT."
Publisher Czech Cinemax Games flexes its considerable muscles with this release, which will undoubtedly pop up on many top 10 lists. A sweet-hearted, hard-edged charmer, "BZZZT" gives you a healthy dose of Vitamin 8-Bit.
Merging the technique and savvy of a seasoned veteran player with the spark and daring of an up-and-coming star, "EA Sports FC 25" tears up the pitch with a vigorous soccer sim ready to capture players imaginations as the MLS heads to the playoff and international club leagues get into the swing of their new seasons.
Due out Friday, the game dazzles with its motion-captured play styles, astounding attention to visual detail and herculean effort to capture hundreds of real-life players, stadiums and uniforms. Serving as an ambassador for the beautiful game, the sim soaks up the nuances that make up the cultural tapestry of the global passion, crafting a fitting tribute to the sport that captivates the globe.
Like its cover star, 21-year-old British dynamo Jude Bellingham, "EA Sports FC 25" bursts with energy, pep and creativity. Fresh menus and musical backgrounds infuse a sense of urgency into every game mode, giving the game a refreshed feel that drives home the point that the reinvented franchise has firmly entrenched itself as a post-FIFA icon.
The onfield action gets a major upgrade in the form of FC IQ, an AI upgrade that allows players to adapt to tactics and evolving game situations on the fly. The change emulates the real game in the ways opposing managers act and react to opposing strategies, and how player leadership manages to shut down holes in execution that emerge as the game unfolds.
The upshot: You can't stick with go-to strategies and expect them to work the same way every time. If you fail to keep up with the way the opposition adapts and deploys counter-strategies, you'll be left in the dust.
Also new is the 5-on-5 Rush Mode, which takes on the easygoing yet hypercompetitive feel of pickup matches. Gathering with friends and strangers, you take part in a mini-MMO experience that feels ripe for esports adaptation. It will be fun to see the ways this mode evolves as the community begins to embrace it.
Goalkeeping has also gotten a refresh. Gone are the cookie-cutter animations and behavioral tendencies from years' past, replaced with a suite of dynamic styles that replicate some of the most notable players on the scene.
EA's second year without the FIA license shows some holes in its mosaic of real-life teams. A few Italian Serie A clubs, including Inter Milan and AC Milan, are swapped out for dummy squads with goofy names, and you won't find the Belgian national team or Canadian women's team in this game. To level things off, there are some returning squads and first-ever appearances, including Azerbaijan's Qarabag and the Finnish women's team.
Ultimate Team continues to stake its claim as one of the more entrancing card-based fantasy squad builders around. Chemistry-altering Hero and Icon cards are fresh new touches that allow you to spice up your roster as you build toward international domination.
Manager and Player Career modes benefit from all-around improvements. In a nod to gender equity, in which the franchise has been leading the way in the sports realm since its FIFA days, you can now embark on a career as a female player.
Whether you're a dabbler who likes to get a sense of the way teams look and play around the world, or a die-hard who wants to replicate your favorite team's successes and make up for its failures in the virtual realm, "EA Sports FC" gives you the toolbox to live out your dreams to the fullest extent. The anthems have been sung, the whistle has blown and it's time to get set for kickoff.
A foldable device that stretches out to the size of a plus-size smartphone when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip6 folds up into something minute enough to get lost in your front pocket. Geared toward travelers, fitness enthusiasts and minimalists who are looking to lighten their loads without sacrificing smartphone power or capabilities, the lithe, speedy Z Flip6 emits an intelligent, cosmopolitan air.
Testing the device on T-Mobile's standard-setting 5G network, I appreciated the way the Z Flip6 managed to ease its way into my life. Its slim form function encouraged me to pick it up to knock out quick tasks, such as checking a game score or tapping out an email. I also found it particularly useful for streaming and photo viewing, with the screen crimped at a 9-degree angle to make for hands-free, stand-free watching.
Said to be a minor upgrade over the well-regarded Z Flip5, the Z Flip6, which is my first experience with the product line, wowed me with its size-defying capabilities.
A certain novelty always accompanies foldable phones, and the Z Flip6 is always a joy to pop open and experience its 6.7-inch, 1080p AMOLED display. Its as engaging to spot the small, mid-screen crease as it is to forget it's there as you get lost in your social media, gaming or streaming exploits.
On the go, I enjoyed snapping photos and capturing video with the upgraded-from-last-year 50Mp main camera and 12MP ultra-wide lens. T-Mobile's 5G helped it download and upload content at eye-popping speeds.
The battery life was impressive, lasting full days of work and play. That's because the battery has been powered up to 4000mAh from last year's 2700Ah. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor is also a model of efficiency, helping the phone do more with less. While charging, as is typical with Samsung devices, takes its fair share, it won't be much of a burden to those who pop it on an induction charger overnight.
Originally priced above $1,100, the device is generally available south of the $900 mark, and could be even more of a bargain as it seeks to compete with other new devices in the sprint for the holiday dollar.
The range of AI integration is impressive. You have, of course, the standard photo and video touch-ups, but it goes deeper when you infuse the implications with the tight little package. A popular Samsung ad, embedded at the top of this review, shows off its capabilities as a translator.
Samsung, here is selling the dream of the jet-setter who doesn't have time to waste with Duolingo and wants to be able to walk into any bar and speak with anyone after whipping out a tiny foldable phone. While audacious, the vision isn't all that absurd when it comes to the Z Flip6. Samsung is selling a fleeting dream, here, and the phone makes it one you'd rather not wake up from.
Geared toward the visual thinker, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra embraces the art of tactile writing, allowing you to scribble down notes, diagrams and doodles. As its foldable brethren has established itself, the standard smartphone embraces classical thinking as it continues to build on past successes and stretch toward the pinnacle of the smartphone hierarchy.
A supersized, amped-up version of its smaller, less-capable brethren, the standard S24 and S24 Plus, the Ultra enthuses the spirit of its maximized moniker to deliver the best and brightest of its generation, as well as fire an annual warning shot at its Apple-born rival.
The device, which started around an MSRP above $1,299 when it was first released, is now available for $800 or much less with a trade-in or carrier deal. It should approach bargain status as the holiday season approaches and the market braces itself for the inevitable release of the S25 generation.
Until the new crew arrives, though, the S24 Ultra remains king. I was floored by the way the phone seamlessly thrives on WiFi, or especially, the T-Mobile 5G network, to find infinite ways to make your life more fun, engaging and informed as you go about your day.
To start, the S24 Ultra just feels right. Designed with ergonomic precision to feel fluid and natural in one hand or two, the smartphone excels at day-to-day use. Samsung may have reached a certain comfort zone in its Galaxy S line of products, but it's still hellbent on shaking up the formula to cram in new features that pay dividends.
The S Pen stylus is ideal for jotting down notes, which the S24 Ultra's AI quickly translates to letters, or drawings. The new AI integration fabulously handles photo improvements, note-taking, summarizing and other writing and meeting-digestion aids. Circle-to-search and QuickShare, in particular, comes in particularly handy during research material gathering and file compilation, making the phone excellent for reporters, instructors or students.
Boasting what seems to be the brightest, most vivid AMOLED 2120 x 1440 pixel display among this generation of smartphones, the phone stays durable due to Gorilla Armor coating, which, I can ashamedly confirm, manages to survive my standard gauntlet of fumbles, bumps and scrapes I inadvertently put smartphones I test through.
The camera suite, as expected, rocks your socks, with a 200MP rear camera with 100x optical zoom that seems like something out of a Bond movie. The 3.39 GHz processor handled streaming, gaming and file demands with awe-inspiring speed and precision.
Whether wired or by induction, charging took its fair share of time, but it was worth the lengthy effort because of the way the battery managed to power the device through day after day of heavy use without even hinting at the need for a recharge until bedtime.
During rest, there isn't much need to dream of your smartphone future if you manage to secure the stunning Galaxy S24 Ultra as your present.
If your taste in the smartphone game is for the best, biggest and brightest, option No. 1 is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, a foldable marvel that's an instant attention-grabber at a social gathering. When its 7.6-inch, 2,160 x 1,856 pixel inner screen is unfolded and on display, it makes girthy competitors such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max look up in awe the way Rocky did to Ivan Drago.
There are substantial positives, as well as passing drawbacks, to a phone of this size. That's why the Samsung engineering team channeled its effort into making this year's model lighter and slimmer. It melds nicely on T-Mobile's incredibly fast 5G network, working with the real estate of a tablet that folds up nicely to fit in your pocket.
A substantial, if incremental, improvement on last year's impressive Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Fold 6 is something of a butterfly with bruising capabilities. There is an unmistakable, hardly matchable sense of awe that ensues when you pull out the phone in public, watching Thursday Night Football or tapping through Wordle at a scale that makes others crane their necks.
Because the Z Fold 6 is so massive and powerful, it takes a lot of juice to power its escapades. That means relatively long charging times and short battery life. Still, the device fared impressively during my testing, taking on a whirlwind of gaming, streaming and app multitasking with vigorous aplomb, enduring more than 11 hours of nonstop, heavy use.
I was thoroughly impressed with the 6.04-inch display cover screen, which handles quick-hitting, day-to-day duties with ease, as well as the sturdier hinges that don't make you as wary of the wear and tear of the standard grind. The promise of seven years of software support assures you that you're buying a device that will stick with you for the long haul, rather than a one-year investment that amounts to a rental.
The Galaxy wizards infused the new device with Armor Aluminum, which is said to be 10% stronger than the variety used on last year's model, and the new version is dust resistant to boot.
Whether you are knocking off work tasks, watching videos or creating social media content, the Z Fold 6 manages to adapt to your needs. Functioning in a laptop-style manner, the hinge holds its angle anywhere from 45 to 135 degrees. This allows you to set it up for smooth image capturing without the need of a tripod or other stabilizing prop.
Galaxy AI features are well-integrated into the stunning package, helping you touch up crisp, gorgeous photos taken with its camera suite to erase background noise, combine the best aspects of several images taken in succession and rounding out flubs such as blurring or poor lighting.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy system ona chip works in concert with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM to keep your workflow humming. Thanks to T-Mobile's everpresent 5G, I was able to keep up with my streaming on the go without a hiccup.
The device weighs in at an MSRP of more than $2,000, but there are trade-in and carrier-switching deals out there that can hack into that price considerably. The new iPhone release and the approach of the holiday season will no doubt draw the Z Fold 6 closer to the realm of affordability.
If you are a Fold fanatic who has skipped a generation or two, the Z Fold 6 is an enticing overture for an upgrade. If you are a holdout who is looking for the right time to splurge, your wait will be well rewarded with a glistening, head-turning spectacle that folds up nicely into your pocket.
Jason Tatum's determined visage on the cover of "NBA 2K25" — due out Friday — seems to set a grim tone for NBA teams not named "Boston Celtics." Elevated to superstardom after seizing his first NBA title, as well as a gold medal in a bizarrely muted role on the national team, Taco Jay looks to assert himself as the usurper to King James' throne.
At the outset of the new game, you're tasked to choose a team and created player to slug it out with Tatum and the Celtics in overtime of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The setting serves as a sparkplug to your entryway into the world the new entry in the annual series casts. This is Tatum's domain, and you need to do all you can to dethrone him.
It's clear that developer Visual Concepts put in the work during the offseason grind in order to polish its new product to an impressive sheen. The cost of doing business is still there -- expect to be bombarded at the outset with Virtual Currency-building offers -- but the on-court product is as swift and flawless as Tatum and the Celtics' dominating 2024 NBA Playoffs effort.
I appreciated the nods to past glory, with uniform sets dating back decades with which to deck out your squad. The upcoming addition of 2024-25 City Edition jerseys will round things out nicely.
Bolstered by a new in-game physics suite dubbed ProPLAY, players mimic their real-life counterparts in not just movement, but exuberance and spirit. With more than 9,000 motion-captured and footage-synthesized animations added to the repertoire, dribble-drives, step-back shots, layups and dunks all flash distinct personality rather than slipping into pre-defined tracks. You are left to feel like an artist on the court, free to impose your personality and vivacity on the opponent.
Tweaks to shooting, such as Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting, force you to capture the flow and rhythm of the court action to give your shot a better chance at dropping. The control stick plays a mirrored role on defense, allowing you to shift footwork with a flick in order to cut off an opponent's first step and guide him into help side trouble.
MyPLAYER mode continues to thrive as a go-to suite to simulate your life as a rising star in the league. Tasked with the balancing act of showing off your attributes to your coach while playing your part in the team scheme, the gripping melodrama plays out enticingly.
MyNBA, focused on the Steph Curry dynasty, allows you to alter or replicate history in some of the Chef's finest moments. There is also plenty of energy focused on the WNBA side, welcoming Caitlin Clark to the fray in the league's ever-growing popularity.
The open-world facet of the game is The City, a virtual playground in which you can build up your attributes, rack up rewards in skills and pick-up challenges, deck your avatar out in the latest drip and live the high-rolling lifestyle of a star player at the peak of his or her abilities. MyTEAM, the game's answer to EA's Ultimate Team modes, lets you build up fantasy squads and test their mettle against the best bot and online squads out there.
While it remains to be seen whether the multiplayer mode elevates the rest of the content to fever pitch, it's clear that "NBA 2K25" is off to a roaring start, teasing fans to skip football season altogether and get back to wearing out Jordans on the hardwood. Hope springs eternal for all teams ready to face down Tatum and the Celtics, even for my beleaguered Big 3 in the Valley. The game's release stokes the fires for a fascinating season to come.
Enthusing the mentality and appeal of rogue characters in the "Star Wars" mythos such as Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, Boba Fett and the Mandalorian, "Star Wars Outlaws" — due out Friday — revels in exploring the bountiful riches of the franchise's grey area, where heroism and villainy can be bought and sold in favor of personal gain.
Abounding in rich culture, subtle social commentary and indulgent escapism, the effort from Ubisoft, Lucasfilm Games and Massive Entertainment heaps on fan service in a canonical entry that revisits memorable locations and characters while also heaping on a delightful dollop of realms and creatures previously unknown.
That such a morally ambiguous effort — along with the recently released film "Deadpool and Wolverine: — gets the Disney stamp of approval marks the corporation's willingness to embrace the scummier fringes of its properties as well as its core white knights. This is a game that dares you to challenge perceived norms and stretch moral boundaries in the name of a barrier-free exploration of situational ethics.
The open-world venture has you play as new character Kay Vess, a bitter scoundrel who seeks to scrap together the means to outwit all sides of the military industrial complex and the underworld in order to survive and thrive in a galaxy far, far away. You start off by scrounging for credits in a seedy back alley in order to pay a sketchy repairman to fix a device that will allow you to hack appliances.
How you choose to approach the task varies depending on the amount of exploration, grinding and risk you can stomach. You can gamble your savings -- probably only the right move if you can catch a hot tip on the fixed race on which you'll bet — sell scavenged merchandise or endeavor at odd jobs.
You are then tasked to infiltrate a night club, sneaking your way past security with a combination of sweet talk and false innuendo, with the goal of obtaining a forged security card that seems to be your ticket out of the slums.
I had a blas playing as Kay, and feel that the story would translate well to a miniseries format on Disney+. There were enough familiar locales and icons to satisfy my fanboy side, and enough new content — all of which was seamlessly integrated, rather than forced — to intrigue my yearning to explore.
The freedom of choice of how you choose to navigate this quirky netherworld is captivating, making "Star Wars Outlaws" a first-of-its-kind effort in the franchise's video game oeuvre, and I enjoyed the ride. This is a game that thoroughly understands how much untapped exuberance there is in George Lucas's creation. I’ve never had so much fun in a Star Wars game.
Yeeeeah! Listen, you can stop what you're doing right now. Drop whatever you're holding, because we gotta talk about this Hard Knocks! The boys and I have been locked in, watching every single second, and let me tell you, this ain't your grandpappy's Hard Knocks. This is a whole new animal, a whole new vibe, and it's absolutely electric. What a beautiful thing!
Right off the bat, you can feel it. The energy, the hope, the sheer potential bursting out of that building in Lake Forest. It's not just a football team; it's a movement. You got a quarterback, Caleb Williams, who walks in with the weight of a city on his shoulders, and he's not even flinching. You see him out there, throwing absolute dimes, making plays with his feet, just being an absolute dude. The show does a fantastic job of showing you the human side of it all—the rookie dinners, the jokes, the pressure, the grind. This ain't just a highlight reel; it's a window into a franchise trying to build something special, and it's captivating.
And can we talk about the coaching staff? Matt Eberflus, man. The "H.I.T.S." principle isn't just some slogan on a t-shirt. You see it in action. The intensity, the focus, the attention to detail. It’s contagious. The defensive line is flying around, the secondary is locked in, and the offensive play-calling… they're letting it rip! You see the trust he has in his guys, and more importantly, you see the players buying in. It’s a culture shift right before our eyes, and the cameras are right there to capture every single moment of it.
Then you got guys like D.J. Moore, a veteran who’s leading by example and making sure the young guys are ready for prime time. The running backs, the offensive line, everyone is just putting their head down and working. This show isn't about drama; it's about the pure, uncut passion of football. It's about a city that's been waiting for a winner, and you get the feeling, after watching this, that the wait might just be over.
So, if you're a Bears fan, a football fan, or just someone who loves a good story about a team coming together, you gotta check this out. It's the most honest, raw, and exciting look at a team I've seen in a long, long time. Let's go!
Billed as "Genshin Impact" meets the Metroidvania realm, "Frontier Hunter: Ezra's Wheel of Fortune" packs a bevy of anime hijinks into an expansive, exploration-driven package.
The dev team at IceSitruuna follows the success of "Tower Hunter: Ezra's Trial" with a game that takes bigger swings and packs more dynamic twists and turns into the cleverly written tale.
Often in games of this ilk, combat is a monotonous chore that bottlenecks the storytelling. The throwdowns in "Ezra's Wheel of Fortune" (2019), however, is the opposite. An invigorating mix of tactics, twitch skills and light puzzle dynamics, the conflicts make for invigorating triumphs and, with the challenging boss battles, devastating setbacks.
The sound and graphics designs are top-tier, and there is just enough quirkiness to keep the tone on the whimsical side rather than stumbling into mawkishness.
"Frontier Hunter: Ezra's Wheel of Fortune" may not rewrite the book on 2.5-D Metroidvania escapades, but it does manage to pen its own compelling chapter.
With all the hype surrounding EA Sports College Football 25 this season, Madden NFL 25's release feels almost like an afterthought. However, it doesn't take much time with the new entry to get the stark feeling that this is still THE football sim, and for all the well-deserved love heaped upon NCAA, it's still relegated to the status of Little Bro when it comes to comparisons with the real big dog.
Due out Friday, the game marks the series' continual evolution as it strives to capture the grit, brutality and emergent thrills of the league itself.
Like cover athlete Christian McCaffrey, the gameplay is quick, flashy and energetic.
Chief among additions to this year's roster include a FieldSENSE upgrade that captures the cinematic flair of the game's sights and sounds by giving you control of small touches that add up to big changes. For instance, you can alter the touch on a pass in order to float it past the outstretched hand of a defender, or stutter step to make a defender fall on his face in the open field, allowing you to squeeze a few more yards out of a scamper.
Also new is the physics-based tackling system, dubbed BOOM Tech, which allows defenders to level ball carriers, scrape past blockers, and also lets superstars wriggle their way free of the grip of certain doom.
Many facets of the visuals and presentation have been adjusted, with the concentrated aim of making the on-field product echo the wild battles you experience while watching on TV, as well as synthesizing the sights and sounds in the crowd at games.
I appreciated the array of uniforms available for each team. Even though my beloved Arizona Cardinals aren't rocking official throwbacks this year, they can don uniforms from the Pat Tillman era, the mid-20th century reds, or even the recently replaced Color Rush unis that are now collecting dust in my jersey closet.
Other modes with considerable upgrades include the card-based Ultimate Team, which has been made more accessible and replayable, Franchise Mode, which carries more customization options, and Superstar Mode, which allows you to take the field in a created player of your design and live out your pro football dreams.
The new commentary team of Greg Olson and Mike Tirico make consistently astute observations that help reframe each game's narrative at key junctures, tossing out key stats to underline points and reacting to the ebb and flow of the game. I was justly chastised for my five-interception performance in Buffalo.
With the promise of fresh content set to drop throughout the year, tracing the steps of the way the real-life drama unfolds week to week, "Madden NFL 25" promises to be the go-to watercooler of sorts for NFL obsessives to devour the intricacies of the game, scheme out potential fantasy squad trades or live out virtual echoes of the triumphs and defeats they witness on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays.
Overall, "Madden NFL 25" plasters a grin across the face of even a perennially defeated Cardinals fan like myself. Hope springs eternal in August, and "Madden NFL 25" is stoking the fires of an invigorating season to come.
A remastered version of the fondly remembered 2002 release, "Star Wars: Bounty Hunter" gives the game creaky old game a much-needed reworking.
Armed with an updated camera system, modernized control options, graphical upgrades and deeper, more detailed textures and lighting, the game feels like a wholesale Mandalorian Beskar replacement.
Feeling nearly like a wholesale re-imagining rather than a quick-and-dirty port for a nostalgia grab, the new game shows off the care and passion for the old title held by the team at Aspyr, which worked in tandem with Lucasfilm Games to make sure the upgraded effort matched the spirit of the original.
Perhaps the most welcome, if also the most controversial, addition is a flashlight, which allows you to perk up some of the game's drab, washed-out environments.
Set amid the prequel trilogy, you play as Boba's father, Jango Fett, at the height of his reign as one of the galaxy's most feared mercenaries. You navigate with a jetpack, strafing opponents with elements of verticality.
Fan service abounds. After you complete your first run-through, you unlock the Boba Fett skin, allowing you to redo your run as gravelly-voiced Junior.
The third-person shooter definitely suffers from design flaws of its time, but those are often as charming as they are irritating. There is a certain, pre-Disney/J.J. Abrams purity to the sensibilities offered by "Bounty Hunter." You mangle your way through the enviroments with a whipcord, flamethrower and dual blasters.
Although I was groaning just as often as I was smiling, even my grimaces were joyful ones. Like the recent remasters of the older "Tomb Raider" games, this one is mainly for those who came of age with the game and want to re-experience it, as well as for those who feel they have missed out on a key chapter of "Star Wars" history and want to experience it in its finest form yet. Either way, you are in for a wild, slightly aggravating, good time.
An odd, strangely satisfying lark, "Hairdresser Simulator" sets you up in a shop with a parade of demanding clients. It's on you to use your vision and handcraft skills to send them home happy with their new 'dos.
Developer Petard Games, working with publisher Frozen Way, adds plenty of flourish to what might have been a stale effort. You can experiment with colors, straightening or curling and layering in order to attain your vision.
If you'd like to experiment with your own look, you can upload a photo that the game morphs into an in-game model, letting you try out your wild ideas without having to suffer the actual consequences in the mirror.
While the game challenges you to build your own hairdressing empire by taking on more clients, expanding and upgrading your facilities, products and tools, the game offers the most fun in its sandbox mode. Creations are limited only by your imagination.
A simple and staunch creation, "Hairdresser Simulator" accomplishes its modest goals. You can probably find something similar in the form of a free app, but in the console realm it seems to be a rare breed.
Taking on themes such as grief, despair, regret and loss, Skybound Games produces a daring and captivating narrative in "Closer the Distance."
The dev squad behind the episodic classic "Orwell" ties together a group of family and friends who are coping with an accidental death of a young woman named Angela. Set in the town of Yesterby, you take the role of Angela, using supernatural abilities to explore the town, uncover secrets both dark and innocent, learn the intimate thoughts of everyone and do what you can do ease the pain of everyone that remains.
The characters develop their own relationships over time, and your actions as Angela carry heavy influence. You can stand back and let things take their course, intervene to set people up for unexpected happiness, or cause havoc that hastens the descent into darkness. The game gently pushes you in the direction of helping to inspire hope and catharsis of all you touch.
A game like this lives or dies by its writing, and thankfully, "Closer the Distance" shines in that department. Characters are crafted with dignity, care and elegance, making it a pleasure to get to know each of them and do what you can to ease their lives.
The design encourages multiple playthroughs, because the choices you make can cause the story to branch off in decidedly different directions. This is a game to get a friend to buy along with you, so you can discuss your differing experiences as you move along, sort of in the manner of an interactive book club.
"Closer the Distance" is one of the under-the-radar gems of the 2024 gaming year, and will doubtless end up on many players' top 10 lists while vying for awards contention. The true reward, though, comes in taking the time to enjoy its small, fleeting delights and use them to reflect on your own existence.
A quirky platformer with intriguing characters, snappy storytelling and a signature style, "SteamWorld Heist II" is geared to swipe your attention for hours on end.
The latest from indie outfit Thunderful Games, the long-awaited sequel, due out Thursday, doubles down on the whimsy and absurdity that made its predecessor a cult hit.
The game follows the swashbuckling original, which was released back in 2015 on the 3DS. The game quickly made the leap to consoles and PC, and dazzled audiences with its oddball writing, intriguing mission structure and wild character design.
You tag along with Captain Leeway and his goofball crew as you sail the Great Sea and rack up treasure and resources to tangle with a mysterious threat. Via turn-based, side-scrolling gun battles and real time strategy-flavored combat at sea, you set sail through a steampunk-infused world.
Customization is king, with the ability to upgrade your ship, swap out and enhance robotic crew members and adjust your arsenal often meaning the difference between easy success and stiff challenge.
Despite the adherence to the preset formula, there is plenty of fresh content to enjoy. The story is filled with wild twists, and the strange characters you encounter always have something interesting to say. There is also plenty of fun to be had in the offbeat combat system, which encourages strategic maneuvering and trial and error.
"SteamWorld Heist II" may not rewrite the manual, but it manages to recapture the elusive charm that the first game so thoroughly nailed. It should bring a smile to veteran gamers that the SteamWorld ship has dropped anchor yet again.
Phil Villarreal: Joey, we have both been testing out the waters in EA Sports NCAA Football 25 for a while now. I've been impressed with what I've seen so far. After a rough pre-launch, servers have been stable. It's always easy to find a game, and the competition is pretty intense. What has stood out to you?
Joey Greaber: This game's greatest achievement, for me, is in its presentation. Its ability to make it feel like Saturday in the fall using realistic crowd noise, passionate commentating, and iconic school band anthems impressed me, even if it was while getting dominated in an online match by someone who is likely half my age.
Phil: I like the way home field advantage dictates so much of your mentality and strategy. I found myself getting ready for a play near the goal line at Autzen Stadium, and couldn't trust my quarterback enough to sling it in the end zone. The conservative approach sometimes backfired, but you take whatever points you can on the road. I have been thoroughly enjoying my time online, but really wish there was online co-op. Anything missing from the experience for you?
Joey: I have found myself going the conservative route too, mostly by running the option or throwing short passes. I think the game needs a better create a coach system in Dynasty mode. Character creators have come a long way, but this one feels like it was carried over from NCAA 2014. Also, the character models that make up the crowd leaves a lot to be desired from a realism standpoint.
Phil: I agree with the crowd thing. I think it's an Uncanny Valley situation, where faceless crowds would have been fine, but because there is so much detail, it makes the repetition and blandness in many of the models stand out. However, I do like the ways the crowds reflect real-life whiteout situations, and the way crowd-fueled traditions made their way into the game. By the way, before we wrap up, we've got to address the most divisive thing in NCAA Football 5 - the kicking game. I still struggle with it, and that deeply affects my tactics, being a conservative player who would rather take three points on a deep drive than floor it on fourth down. Now I find myself nearly always going for it rather thank kicking when I've got the ball outside of the red zone. What about you?
Joey: It makes me feel more sympathy for real life kickers. If I am even the slightest bit offset from the center, I feel immense dread when trying to tilt my analog sticks at the correct angle. When you add in the new accuracy meter and the power meter, it just makes it even more complicated. Some of my kicks have been more wide right or left than I have ever imagined possible in a video game. I too find myself going for it on fourth down more often than not.
Phil: The unreliability factor when it comes to kicking at this level is all too real, and even though it aggravates me at times, I can see why it makes sense in a game about college football. All in all, the kicking struggles make for an interesting wrinkle in a package that is fantastic overall. As a player who gets bored slugging it out against AI, I need excellent multiplayer in any sports game, and that's what NCAA Football 15 delivers. I can only imagine the ways the game will grow throughout the season, as it reflects real-life developments in what is sure to be a wild season. Final thoughts, Joey?
Joey: I too am curious how the game will grow. I hope to see a few new modes added, such as the return of mascot mode or even the ability to replay classic moments as Madden has had over the years. Overall, I applaud EA for focusing on the little details that make college football stand out as a sport and inserting it into this game. The tradition of each program, the pageantry, it's all there.
Marisa Abela of HBO's "Industry" sizzles in a breakout role as Amy Winehouse in this insightful biopic, which tracks the star's meteoric rise to fame as she battled addiction. Abela's performance, bolstered by a dead-on singing impression of Winehouse, powers the film. Eddie Marsan and Lesley Manville fill out the lead cast, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson. The film delves into the influences and inspirations that fed into Winehouse's creative process.
Extras include a look into Abela's transformation into Winehouse, a look at the artist's music and filmmaker commentary.
THE FALL GUY
A crowd-pleasing, critical darling that oddly didn't rake in tons of cash at the box office, this overlooked action flick gets a second chance at finding a mass audience on home video. Ryan Goslking and Emily Blunt star in a remake of the 1980s TV series. The story follows the path of a veteran stuntman who recovers from a devastating injury when a movie star goes missing.
Bonus features include an extended cut of the film that adds 20 minutes of footage, a gag reel, alternate takes, a breakdown of the film's stunts, a slew of making-if featurettes and a look inside the making of "Metalstorm," the film within a film.
ROCKY I-VI COLLECTION
There have been several collections of "Rocky" films -- I'm still waiting for the "Rocky"/"Creed" series combo -- but several have been incomplete to various degrees. This collection rounds up the six mainline "Rocky" films, ranging from the original, 1976 Best Picture Oscar winner to the well-liked 2006 "Rocky Balboa."
Extras include such trifles as the "Rocky Balboa" director's cut, which includes 14 minutes of previously unreleased footage, as well as Sylvester Stallone's recut version of "Rocky IV," dubbed "Rocky IV: Rocky vs. Drago."
Mark Chernow is my favorite historical writer. Just as he did in his biographies of Hamilton, Washington, Lincoln and Grant, he sifts through mountains of historical data, records and accounts and weaves them into a tight, entrancing tapestry.
"The House of Morgan" forces me to view history through a new lens, considering the financial implications and influence wielded over world events by bankers and their whims, needs and mandates.
It's astounding how little national leaders and their armies had to do with the fates of civilization in comparison to the power wielded by the most influential banking entities of their respective times. This three-dimensional glimpse at historical events makes you reconsider a lot of what you thought you knew.
This was Chernow's first book, and he was still developing his authoritative voice. While it may not top his later, greater works, it's a foundational building block for one of our time's greatest authors. Like his other efforts, "The House of Morgan" is a treasure worth experiencing and studying.
Back when it was an annual release in the earlier part of the century, "EA Sports NCAA Football" franchise was taken for granted. NIL disputes drove it into hibernation, and the franchise's absence loomed larger than its presence ever did. Now, with the rebirth of the series as "EA Sports College Football 25" - due out Friday - hype has ratcheted up to a fever pitch, and gamedom thirsts for its release in the manner Texas fans long for a national title.
Built from scratch, with the likenesses of more than 11,000 players and the intricate details of tradition, stadiums and crowds of more than 150 teams, this is the game that fans of "NCAA Football" always dreamed of but never realistically expected. The time is right for the game to capitalize on its moment, and it breaks out of the locker room with the enthusiasm and pomp of a team busting through its banner in front of a fog machine and blasting music as fans hop up and down at fever pitch.
Like so many other fans have been doing since the game dropped in early release for preorders, I have lapped up every bit of the pageantry, excitement and intricate attention to detail bestowed on "College Football 25." When I faced off against Ohio State at home, I captured and shared an amazing highlight - of Arizona linebacker Justin Flowe stepping in front of a Kyle McCord pass in the end zone and taking it coast-to-coast for a pick six, then shared it with friends as though it were a triumphant moment from a real game. The upshot: This is a game that allows college football fanatics to dream and virtually live out the most audacious of visions.
Sure, there are some flaws. When you're dealing with 11,000 players, some likenesses will be off, and EA Sports has acknowledged that the initial release is missing a few updated logos. The kicking game is wonky, and the AI often has a preternatural, Madden-like ability to snag midfield interceptions or rubber band to track down runners with open fields. It would also be nice to add in the CFS teams and rosters that fill out the teams' schedules. Instead, those teams are replaced by generic stand-ins.
But those wrinkles fade to the background as I appreciated the larger whole of what's at play here. This is a magnificent accomplishment that will set the stage for must-play annual releases from here on out. It also promises to be a living document of the wild road that awaits in the first year after massive conference realignment and the inaugural 12-team playoff. Content updates promise to buttress real-life developments, breakout stars and magic moments that are sure to flow from the season ahead.
Whether you are taking on all comers in online quickplays, building up your program in Dynasty Mode, pacing out your own walk-on-whimsy in Road to Glory or succumbing to the siren song of card-based, upgradeable, pay-to-win talent in College Ultimate Team, there are countless hours of content in which to lose yourself. Although the old ESPN branding is absent, the presentation feels authentic, and the commentary, led by Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit, give every matchup the impression of a College GameDay atmosphere.
The sheer excitement and execution of a grand, audacious vision makes this game a triumph on nearly every level, and nothing short of a treasure for college football fans of any stripe. Even the lowliest benchwarmer on every roster will always be able to treasure this game's release for their moment in the sun, and fans like me will get to live out our Saturday night light hopes with vigor. It was worth the series' lengthy absence to experience the thrill of such an exuberant renewal.
The bold, wildly successful and well-reviewed psychosexual drama from filmmaker Luca Guadagnino features Zendaya as a tennis coach who engages in psychological manipulation with members of the opposite sex. She pits her husband and ex-boyfriend against one another in a high-stakes game filled with twists and turns. Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist round out the lead cast.
TAROT
Devoured by critics but largely praised by audiences, the jump scare-packed horror film delves into the mysterious realm of the occult. A group of goofy friends accidentally unleashes an evil entity trapped within a Tarot deck, causing figures from the cards to deal out grim fates to those involved. Harriet Slater, Adian Bradley, Avantika and Wolfgang Novogratz lead the cast.
Extras include the "Circle of Friends" featurette, a small making-of documentary and outtakes.
TRUE DETECTIVE: NIGHT COUNTRY
The Max series maintains its reputation for spinning darkly fascinating tales of investigators who face down unspeakable darkness in the obsessive pursuit of solving grisly cries. Jodie Foster and Kalu Reis play detectives who investigate the disappearance of eight scientists who were carrying out experiments deep in the icy wilderness. The investigation turns up unexpected ties, a web of deceit and disturbing revelations.
Extras include a slew of making-of featurettes and social environmental shots that point to significant moments in the series.
If you're in the market for a budget phone that looks, feels and performs like a top-tier device, you will be hard-pressed to find a more satisfying option than the Google Pixel 8A.
Rounding up an impressive package of processing power, visual dynamics, AI integration and a powerful camera suite, Google's reworked Pixel 8 adds form and function while retaining just about everything that makes its latest flagship device a standout.
While testing the phone with a bevy of apps, streaming functions and games, I found it to be a dynamo at multitasking. Working in silk-smooth tandem with T-Mobile's class-leading 5G network, the device marauded any challenge I could toss in front of it.
While the phone was a bit slow to charge, that was a minor setback because each charge lasted so long. In idle mode, it could go days without a recharge, and through constant use, it easily lasted a day and a half before needing to go back to the cord.
The screen's 120Hz refresh rate on its 6.1-inch OLED screen was bright and starkly defined. Weighing in at just 6.8 ounces, it never tired out my hand or wrist as I put it through the paces. The Tensor G3 processor roared on 8GB of RAM, knocking out any task it confronted with ease.
The 64MP rear camera and 13MP front camera captured images and video with aplomb, with Google's AI capabilities touching up the images to look even better.
The fact that such a capable phone is only $500 makes it even sweeter. With the Pixel 8A, you can roll like a power player on a penny-pincher's budget.
I wonder what it says about my youthful development that I spent nearly every morning of my later elementary school years watching the 1988 exploitation flick "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" as it played on HBO.
I was clearly not alone, because the oddball film, about an invasion of aliens who look like circus performers who off unsuspecting teens in comical fashion, has inspired the team at IllFonic Inc. to create a game in its image. The passion and attention to detail in crafting the characters, backgrounds and weaponry shows a deep appreciation for the movie's oddball brand of horror.
While heavily influenced by asymmetrical hunter/killer games such as "Predator" and, especially, "Dead by Daylight," there is plenty to distinguish the title as something unique and vibrant.
Matchmaking assigns you to play as a human or Klown. Each side has its advantages and drawbacks, with the lumbering, powerfully-armed Klowns trying to track down the lithe, quicker victims, who can either escape or take down their bullet-sponge opposition.
Creative, extravagant maps, which boast openable doors, vertical perches and multiple escape routes, make for a strategic, Pac-Man-style game of cat and mouse. Environmental objects can reshape the tone of battle at a moment's notice, shifting the advantage toward those who had been on the run.
The game even manages to pay tribute to the film's sordid humor, which leans on twisting carnival tropes into death traps. The game no doubt takes on an elevated level of entertainment if you're able to squad up with friends, with whom you can coordinate tactics, but even with strangers, it's still wildly entertaining. It's nice to see these Klowns resurrected from the trash heap of 1980s nostalgia.
There will always be a spot for "Beyond Good & Evil" for gamers who came of age in the early 2000s. Its latest rerelease sparks a knowing smile in those who have been looking for an excuse to relive the dizzyingly creative adventure once again.
The action-adventure escapade boasts a twist-filled story, puzzle elements and a lively combat system. There are also elements of racing and photography that play major parts in gameplay. The dizzying potpourri that keeps the game's wheels greased and has made it one of the most highly-praised cult classics of its era.
Orginally released in 2003 on PlayStation 2 and Xbox, the game got a remastered release in 2011 on the Xbox 360 and PS3. The new release seems to be a graphical and gameplay proof of concert meant to whet the appetite for the long-awaited sequel.
Set on a mining planet in the year 2435, the tale follows green-skinned heroine Jade, an avid photographer with a wild boar-like sidekick who faces off against the DomZ, which has launched a propaganda campaign to undermine the peoples' trust as the powers that be exploit and kidnap the populace.
Jade is a well-written protagonist whose character arc has a decidedly cinematic bent. Just as loveable for her flaws and quirks as she is for her talent and dogged determination, she is a gutsy leader who is just as capable of winning battles with her mind as she is her firepower. Steadfast in the face of crushing adversity, her willingness to take an iconoclastic stand is admirable.
"Beyond Good & Evil" thrives just as much in its quieter moments as it does in its swashbuckling set pieces. It's a classic that has stood the test of time and looks and plays better than ever in its latest iteration. And the prospect of that elusive sequel seems ever more tantalizing now.
Thoroughly hokey yet disarmingly inspiring, this true-life tale of the 1936 University of Washington rowing team, which competed for gold at the infamous Berlin Olympics, manages to hit the right strokes. Joel Edgerton, Callum Turner, Peter Guinness and Jack Mulhern headline the cast int he underdog tale of uknown athletes who banded together and shocked the world. Director George Clooney shows a deft feel for the material, mixing personal moments with training montages and racing action to create a timeless story.
GHOSTBUSTERS: FROZEN EMPIRE
The 80s-spawned franchise shows it's still got plenty of life in it. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Erine Hudson team with Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, McKenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard for a continuation of the story that started in "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" (2021). The Spengler family returns to the New York City firehouse that once served as Ghostbusters HQ. They band together with the OG Ghosbusters squad to fend off an army of evil spirits bent on ushering in a new Ice Age.
Extras include deleted and extended scenes, filmmaker commentary, and featurettes on the movie's equipment and ghosts. There's also an extended look at the film's score, as well as a making-of mini-doc.
MONKEY MAN
Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley, Sobhita Dhulipala and Vipin Sharma star in the kinetic, crowd-pleasing action film, which focuses on a nameless man who makes his living in an underground fighting ring. He faces down the men responsible for pushing him as a boy into a life of poverty and obscurity, channeling his rage in a mission of righteous vengeance.
Special features include deleted scenes, a slew of making-of featurettes and filmmaker commentary.
To watch "Willy Wonka" is to be transported to a land of pure imagination. Anything goes in this candy-fueled wonderland of dreams and delight.
Lurking underneath the idyllic, sugar-rushed indulgences are harsh lessons in morality and moderation, orchestrated by a snarky puppet master who is all too willing to give his bratty visitors and their parents enough licorice rope with which to figuratively hang themselves.
Bolstered by a cast of stunningly talented children and a rock-solid supporting cast of adults, the production thrives under the direction of Drew Humphrey, who crafts a colorful tapestry of sight and sound.
Each of the musical numbers pop with whimsy and crackling humor, led by spirited vocal performances from the likes of Lucy Cable, who plays Charlie Bucket, Raind Gonda as Willy Wonka and Ayla Olivas, who turns in a scene-swiping performance as Veruca Salt.
My 2-year-old and I were captivated at the Friday matinee showing. We adored the way the musical blended aspects of the two Hollywood films, the Roald Dahl source material and a hefty helping of fresh touches. We were particularly floored by the Oompa-loompa overtures, Gonda's captivating "There's No Knowing" soliloquy and the death-defying "Flying-Burping."
Making use of expert stagecraft enhanced by projection highlights, the stage sucks the audience into a realm of flight and fantasy. The show cruises by at a breakneck pace, earning the attention of older and younger viewers alike, who connect to it on different levels.
With the staggeringly entertaining "Willy Wonka," Saguaro City Musical Theatre continues to assert itself as a force to be reckoned with on the Tucson stage scene. The passion and talent on display is nothing short of spellbinding, and the talented collaboration is a sheer joy to behold.
"Willy Wonka" plays through June 23 at Berger Performing Arts Center. Buy tickets here.
Best adapted screenplay Oscar winner Cord Jefferson, who also directs the best picture-nominated film, bursts onto the scene with a biting satire of the media landscape. Jeffrey Wright stars as Monk, a struggling novelist who leans into cultural stereotypes to create a mockery of them in the form of a controversial novel that begins to take on a life of its own and disrupt his career. Funny and poignant, the film was one of the best of 2023. The stellar cast of Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander and Leslie Uggams elevates Jefferson's writing and directing to sublime levels.
THE KARATE KID
The seminal 1984 underdog tale, which has gained new life with the success of the "Cobra Kai" franchise, stands as one of the iconic films of its time. "Rocky" director John G. Avildsen executes his storytelling talents to their finest degree, pairing Ralph Macchio with Pat Morita in a tale of an uprooted, bullied teen who learns the way of the open fist in order to find purpose and fulfillment. Elisabeth Shue and William Zabka round out the underrated cast.
The 4K restoration is loaded with extras, including feature film commentary by the creators of "Cobra Kai" and 30 minutes of previously unreleased deleted scenes.
As big, loud and brainless as its CGI-generated monster stars, the mash-up film leaves its dull human characters off to the wayside as it focuses on a chain of action that rarely hits the pause button. The plot may be laughable and the effects are lackluster, but the film works well enough as a goofy trifle. Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry and Dan Stevens headline the cast.
Extras include a ton of featurettes, including "Into the Hollow Earth," "The Battles Royale" and 'The Intrepid Director." Filmmaker commentary" and a breakdown of the battle scenes.
LA FEMME NIKITA
Director Luc Besson is in top form in this 1990 thriller, which stars Anne Parillaud, Jeanne Moreau Jean Reno. In a plot with a hint of "The Suicide Squad," a killer and drug addict played by Parillaud goes on a vendetta for redemption, taking on deadly missions as a secret agent. Exquisite action scenes and powerful lead performances pepper the cult classic.
Extras in the steelbook edition, but it's nice to see the oft-forgotten film available in a dazzling 4K restoration.
WELCOME BACK, KOTTER: THE COMPLETE SERIES
The seminal 1975-79 high school comedy launched the career of John Travolta. Gabe Kaplan stars as a middle-aged man who heads back to his Brooklyn alma mater to teach a group of goofballs who remind him of himself as a teen. While many of the jokes have dated, Travolta's charisma as Vinnie Barbarino is undeniable. The show packs a heavy nostalgia factor and manages to retain much of its comedic value and pathos.
With graduations aplenty this time of year, as well as Father's Day fast approaching, T-Mobile is offering some intriguing deals on a range of devices.
Building on the momentum of last year's spectacular animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film, as well as the two 2022 release of "Shredder's Revenge" and "The Cowabunga Collection" retro anthology "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Wrath of the Mutants" attacks the beat-em-up genre it once ruled with style and panache.
Adapting an animation style that echoes the modern look of the Nickelodeon series, the game puts you in control of the four heroes in a half shell as they battle the Foot Clan and its diabolical string of jump kick-sponge bosses.
As with most games of its ilk, "Wrath of the Mutants" shines brightest in multiplayer, which is geared to have you help and grief buddies at intervals. While the gameplay is samey and button-mashing heavy, there is sublime satisfaction in mastering its combos and boss attack patterns to fabricate dream runs through replayed levels.
While "Shredder's Revenge" is still the better of the two modern TMNT games, the new entry provides plenty of heft and replayability to fans of both old and new-school adaptations of the fabled heroes.
The writing smacks with a smarmy glee, and there is a genuine throughline of exuberance that shows the developers' love of all things TMNT that shines through.
The often jarring, brutally irreverent satire of the Hollywood trope epitomized by the Will Smith character in "The Legend of Bagger Vance," the film takes a scalpel to embedded pop culture racism. Writer/director Kobi Libu's daring message film is uneven, but worth a look for its moments that hit. The cast includes Justice Smith, David Alan Grier and Michaela Watkins.
Libii's feature film commentary headlines the extras, which also boast a cast conversation, making-of featurette and a look at the film's social mission.
GLORY
The revered 1989 historical drama focuses on the 54th Regiment, which was made up of freed former slaves who fought Confederate forces during the Civil War. The film took home five Oscars, led by Denzel Washington in a career-defining turn as best supporting actor. Cary Elwes, Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman round out the stellar cast of the film, which has only grown in its social impact over the three and a half decades after release.
Extras include filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes with commentary, a documentary entitled "The True Story Continues" and a pair of making-of featurettes.
KUNG FU PANDA 4
Released March 8 in theaters, the continuation of the riotous DreamWorks franchise continues. Jack Black reprises his role as the ursine martial arts stud who leads an array of warriors to defend the Valley of Peace against a new threat. The usual parade of wild antics and clever dialogue are there, but there's a general sense that the series has run its course. If so, this is a specatcular send-off.
Extras include filmmaker commentary, deleted scenes, a cast roundup, drawing lessons, a shadow puppet tutorial and a featurette on Black making dumplings.
The musical adaptation of "Mrs. Doubtfire" tiptoes a fine line that hinges entirely on its lead performance. Because it leans so heavily on the character, Daniel, a struggling, recently divorced voice actor who masquerades as a Scottish nanny in order to spend more time with his kids, the show's entire tone and upside is set by the performer's panache and magnetism. If the performance is cloying and overexerted, the entire show would be an agonizing bore.
Rob McClure, however, is anything but that. A dynamic, astoundingly talented performer and gifted comedian, he serves as the dynamic lynchpin that holds together the wily, impossibly funny parade of whimsy, pop culture satire and subtle, yet effective, sentimentality.
Based on the 1993 movie that starred Robin Williams, the show ran on Broadway in 2022 and 2023, when it launched a national tour. McClure played the role on Broadway, and he manages to elevate Williams' original creation into a bombastic virtuoso turn that's entirely his own. His considerable talents, which reach their peak in the numbers "Easy Peasy" and "About Time," thrive in a role that at times demands rapping, breakdancing, juggling, tap dancing and impressions.
An exquisite bookend to the Broadway in Tucson season, which opened in September with another heavily Williams-influenced production, "Aladdin," "Mrs. Doubtfire" is a spellbinding spectacle that is undoubtedly the funniest musical I have ever seen, topping "The Book of Mormon" by a longshot.
Other standouts in the cast include Maggie Lakis as Dennis' flustered ex-wife, Miranda, and Giselle Gutierrez as their oldest daughter, Lydia, through whose lens the show plays out as a coming-of-age story.
While the plot is crammed with nonsensical non sequiturs that grow even more absurd and outlandish on stage than what the original film offered, every note and flourish stays true to the core impetus of painting Dennis as a troubled, terminally immature parent who will go to any ends to stay in the lives of his children. Even in its wildest moments, the emotional core stays firm, and McClure is always able to shift on a dime from showman to sensitive shrinking violet, making the serious moments register, and even sting a little.
"Mrs. Doubtfire" surprised me with its irrepressibly entertaining fervor. Its instant standing ovation was well-earned and exuberant, rather than the grudgingly polite sort you so often see. The show is a true treat, and if you're a fan of musical comedy, you owe it to yourself to catch McClure's performance while it's near/
"Mrs. Doubtfire" plays through June 2 at Centennial Hall. Buy tickets here.
Originally released in 2008, developer Jonathan Blow's "Braid" set the indie scene on fire. The 2D platformer satirized "Super Mario Bros." and other pop culture icons while also telling a deep, subversive tale that grows more complex the farther you advance.
An unequivocal masterpiece of minimalist game design, the game gets a remastered special edition not so much because it needed a fresh coat of paint, but because it deserves a victory lap in the manner of a Criterion home video release.
Just as with the simplicity of the original game, the additions are minimal and largely unobtrusive. Those who want to re-experience the game with some historical perspective have the opportunity to trigger a running commentary track that provides deep insight into the craft and strategy that went into nearly every pixel of the effort.
The game gets an HD makeover, but those who crave the original art design look can toggle back and forth between the new and former look. The ability to appreciate the game on multiple levels speaks to the depth and strength of the rock-solid, deceptively intricate design factors at play.
"Braid Anniversary Edition" is a jubilant celebration of the game and the indie movement it spawned. No doubt responsible for inspiring a generation of fresh, vivid thinking in game design, the rereleased version stands as the definitive form of one of indie gaming's grandest treasures. I envy those who get to experience it the first time in this impressive form.
A larger, slightly bulkier version of its base-model cousin, the Samsung Galaxy S24+ is geared for those who need a phone with some more durability, screen real estate and battery life.
Boiled down to basics, the phone is a souped-up version of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S24 model.
Like the standard S24, the S24+ comes with a promise of seven years of consistent update support and a slew of AI features.
Just as in the base model, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy CPU deals out a bewildering amount of processing power, working in tandem with T-Mobile's blisteringly fast 5G Magenta network to tame whatever array of multitasking challenges you ca hurl at it.
The 6.7-inch display is an upgrade over the 6.2-inch screen on the standard S24, upping the resolution from FHD+ to QHD+. The difference may at first seem inconsequential, but upon regular use, the colors stand out as richer and the image contrast appears sharper.
The bump from 8GB to 12GB of RAM is considerable, with the S24+ taking advantage of the extra memory to handle games, apps and streaming video with silk-smooth ease.
A larger, more powerful device needs more juice, and the S24+ gets just that in the form of a 4,900mAh battery, which bests the 4,000mAh battery found in the S24. I found the device could handle at least 16 hours of heavy use without needing a charge-up break.
The camera array remains consistent. The main 50MP camera with a 12MP lens and 10MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom capabilities is familiar, with the ability to capture images with as much as 50MP resolution, as well as 8K video.
Object Eraser helps you deploy AI to touch up pictures and delete photobombers, and Circle to Search lets you juggle your web surfing with Google Image scans.
While the S24+ may lack the S-Pen and souped-up features fo the S24 Ultra, it serves its need as an impressive mid-tier option that passes the eye test and turns heads. There's no middle child syndrome here.
