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Dark Souls 3 DLC Ashes of Ariandel – Cold Comfort

SeanPWallace
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Dark Souls 3 DLC Ashes of Ariandel – Cold Comfort

In my prior review of Dark Souls 3, I criticised the game for mining too heavily the themes and enemies of Dark Souls. Months later, the game still feels a bit like Dark Souls Again, and I’ve certainly not felt the addiction or love for this latest FromSoft title that I have for Dark Souls 2 or Bloodborne. To play Ashes of Ariandel, I practically had to take my copy of the game out of cold storage!

I had hoped this new DLC would help to change that. FromSoft have a very good history with their DLC products, with Artorias of the Abyss, The Lost Crowns, and The Old Hunters providing arguably the most memorable bosses and level designs in their respective games. If they could have gotten away from their slight obsession with fan service, it could have reinvigorated my, and many other people’s, enthusiasm for their latest title. I was really hoping they wouldn’t slip up.

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Sadly, there was snow chance of that.

The hints were there. The announcement trailer and information that followed said that the game would take place in another Painted World, an optional area from Dark Souls. I had hoped that another painting, with its limitless options, could be a jumping-off point for a different tale. Ice should have seen this coming.

Ashes of Ariandel is once again about a world for the lost and forlorn, looked after by a powerful figure, which some random arsehole invades and ruins for no good reason. You run around in the frozen wastes for a while, dig into a mystery, and then {spoilers} kill the people who look after the world. It’s almost exactly the same as the Painted World of Ariamis! It’s almost like FromSoft saw the criticism of Dark Souls 2 and got cold feet over trying something new again.

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More, there is a strong Bloodborne feel to some of the new areas. The Corvian Settlement would almost fit better in Yharnam or the Old Hunters’ Dream, the Corvian Knights match the overall Bloodborne aesthetic, and the final boss’ last stage is practically Lady Maria. There’s just an avalanche of themes from their previous games.

Now, some might tell me to chill out. The DLC isn’t all bad. Which is true: some of the level design is FromSoft at its intricate best. Many of the armour sets look fantastic. And some of the weapons are great and will really work well… for certain builds (Dex or Bleed, for example). But I can’t help but feel disappointed as this represents a second near-miss from FromSoft, when they’re normally hailed for their amazing work.

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Yet Ashes of Ariandel is more a flurry than a storm: the DLC area can be beaten in two to three hours. The final boss is one of the more difficult in the game, echoing The Nameless King with aggression and her hard-hitting nature, but having a three-stage boss somewhat artificially increases the DLC’s length as you have to get used to three different situations and movesets. And the icing on the cake is that the optional boss is little more than an NPC fight!

The addition of the Undead Arena is a great step, though, allowing for more formal dueling and craziness and helping to extend the shelf life of the game for many. Even that has its faults though: winning a match doesn’t provide covenant rewards, meaning that it will pull people away from existing forms of PVP that can be used to level up in the covenants. Not cool, From.

I don’t mean to sleigh FromSoft here. They are my favourite developers by far, but both Dark Souls 3 and its first DLC have left me cold. Thinking of their previous games makes me all slushy inside, but not this latest attempt. However, this is a second misstep as far as I’m concerned, and they’ll need to thaw many fans out to excite them about the next installment.

Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy Review

trekkiemark
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Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy Review

What do you get the Star Wars fan who has everything this holiday season? Fans of the Force Franchise are spoiled for choice when it comes to buying them presents; there is literally merchandise everywhere adorned with Darth Vader, Han Solo or Stormtroopers. Star Wars Propaganda may be the ideal and unique choice for the more design conscious wannabe Jedi Knight/Sith Lord this Winter 2016.

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This collection of “Persuasive Art” is beautifully presented and curated by Star Wars guru Pablo Hidalgo who knows everything there is to know about the far far away Galaxy.  Hidalgo has written or co-written several authoritative Star Wars reference books, including Star Wars: Year by Year, Star Wars: The Essential Reader’s Companion, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary, even appearing on screen as a character in 2005’s Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

This book is more than just a collection of art that will sit well on your coffee table. The book itself is cleverly written from the perspective of people living in that universe giving the reader a unique insight to the Star Wars universe over the span of the whole saga from the fall of the Galactic Republic to the tyranny of the Empire, the Civil War and the rise of the New Order.

The art work itself borrows from various well known propaganda techniques that you may have been familiar with in your history books with styles evoking both Allied and Axis works from World War 2 and Soviet realism works from the 1920’s onward.

What’s more, the book also comes with ten A4 ready to frame poster making it an ideal gift for you or your Star Wars adoring friends who like to display their fandom on the wall.

Here’s a small sample of what’s inside.

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Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy is available from Harper Design from the 3rd November 2016, retailing at £30.

For more reviews stick with Geek-Pride.

Breaks coming to Soaring Penguin Press in 2017

Cristina Bogdan
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Breaks coming to Soaring Penguin Press in 2017

Good news for the fans of web comic Breaks by Emma Vieceli and Malin Rydén. The first volume is going to be published by Soaring Penguin Press in the latter part of 2017. The popular comic, that has been running as a weekly segment from 2014 to 2016 tells the coming of age story of Cortland, whose life gets turned upside-down after he accidentally kills someone.

“On the eve of the boxing match that would confirm his place in the under-18s commonwealth boxing team, Cortland caused the death of another teenager in a street brawl. After escaping a murder conviction with the help of his brother, Cortland is relocated to Queen Anne’s school, in the sixth form college with his best friend, Polish immigrant Irena Chrona.

At times violent, Breaks is a story of two young adults discovering who they were, who they are, and who they will become. It’s a love story…but a little broken.”

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For those unfamiliar with Breaks, here’s a little sample of what you should expect in terms of art. I think it looks stunning, don’t you? The two authors, though their names might feel unfamiliar, are not new to the business.

Emma Vieceli has worked on Doctor Who for Titan comics, the New York Times-bestselling Vampire Academy graphic novel series for Penguin Random House, Avalon Chronicles for Oni Press and the critically acclaimed independent web series, BREAKS with co-creator Malin Ryden . More recently she  worked on the Alex Rider series for Walker books, The Adventures of Supergirl for DC comics, and Back to the Future for IDW. Alongside comics, she worked on the A&E television series, Bates Motel, providing the sketchbook found by Norman Bates.

Malin Rydén is a published freelance fiction writer, currently working on projects that include a collection of horror shorts dealing with what lurks beneath the idyllic Swedish surface, a time-travel novel about the worst dad ever, a paranormal crime drama as well as several collaborative projects with other authors.

Are you impressed yet? I sure know I am.

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While there is still quite a bit of a wait for the trade union and limited prestige publication, Breaks can be read online at http://www.breakscomic.com/  If you’re already familiar with the source material, feel free to let us know what you loved or hated about it and, if you are a newcomer, as a lot of people are, why you would read it.

Hand of Glory, by Susan Boulton

Peter Ray Allison
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Hand of Glory, by Susan Boulton

It is difficult to classify Hand of Glory, as it crosses so many genres.  It would be easy to consider it as historical-fiction, were it not for the supernatural elements.  Similarly, Hand of Glory could easily be a war novel, were it not for the murder-mystery.

The novel opens in the trenches of Flanders, but soon shifts to rural Staffordshire.  It is here where the mystery kicks in as the characters investigate a horrific murder that took place during an almost impossible burglary.  Boulton uses this dramatic change in locations to great effect to reinforce the extremes faced by the soldiers when they return home.  Boulton similarly captures the sense of dislocation experienced by people suffering from trauma

The story follows a variety of characters, principally the former soldier Captain Harding.  However, the most entertaining characters were Detective Parker and the pawnbroker Taffy, who expand the world the and story.  These shifting viewpoints can be disconcerting at first, for readers who are initially unaware of the change in perspective

Boulton creates a diverse series of characters that she brings to life through their interactions with the different strata of 1920s society.  She uses them to explore the shared-brotherhood that forms between people who have served in the armed forces; a bond which transgresses the conventional boundaries of 1920s society.

Through the texture in her descriptions and the diverse characters, Boulton brings to life 1920’s rural Britain, one which is suffering from a rapacious post-war economy.  Her writing captures the differing speech patterns between the upper, middle and lower classes at that time, without confusing reader with obsolete mannerisms.

There is little mystery to the murder, as from the outset we can easily discern who the killer is.  Nonetheless, it was fascinating to read as the characters discover the truth for themselves.  However, it would have been far more satisfying if the identity and ability of the killer was obfuscated, but this would have dramatically changed the novel.

As alluded to earlier, there is a significant supernatural element, along with a undertone of horror.  However, these are used to great effect to add texture and substance to the story and underscore the consequences of war, and the brutality of murder.

It was refreshing to find that the soldiers in Boulton’s novel are neither heroes or villains, but utterly human.  Boulton uses her portrayal of their shattered humanity to capture the grim despair that saturated World War One and the subsequent peace.  Ultimately, for all the supernatural elements, Hand of Glory is a tale about the true cost of our humanity and how we should remember those who have died.

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Nerd Block Classic: October 2016

xdustineflx
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Nerd Block Classic: October 2016

Time again for the monthly Nerd Block Classic review. With it being October, these are all horror/monster-themed, so let’s take a look.

First up, we have an exclusive art print.

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As you can see, it’s a mash-up of Ghostface and Sidney Prescott from the Scream movie series. I am not sure what I want to do with this just yet. On one hand, the movies mean absolutely nothing to me. On the other, it’s a cool drawing and would look nice in a frame. I may keep it…for now.

Up next…ugh, stuff from The Walking Dead.

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It’s essentially a coin purse designed to look like a disembodied ear. This is now the second item from the franchise I’ve gotten in one of these boxes made to resemble disembodied ears (the first was in a Loot Crate, and it was soap-on-a-rope. Stupid item, and the soap smelled like mouldy arse). My hatred for this show runs deep, so I probably won’t keep this. A good friend of mine is a fan, however, so maybe I’ll send it to her.

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Now we’re getting somewhere. This is a journal designed to look like the famous book of the same title from the film Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice was one of my favourite movies as a kid, and one I still watch & enjoy nearly 30 years later. I probably won’t use it much for writing (I actually hate writing with my hands at this point), but it’s a nice little collectible and one that will look good on the bookshelf.

Alright, moving on. It’s some goodness from the original Ghostbusters franchise.

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Toys and figures are almost always an automatic win with me in these boxes. I love Ghostbusters so this figure of Ray Stantz covered in slime is a win. I am just slightly bummed, however. For some reason, my Nerd Block came slightly smashed, and this collectible was the sole casualty. You may not be able to see it in the photo, but there is a dent by the “Nerd Block” sticker, so the collector value automatically takes a hit. Now, I had no intention of selling this anyway, but still. I prefer the packaging to be in the best shape it can be, so I’m a little sad. Oh, well. C’est la vie. It’s a cool collectible regardless.

Looks like we’ve got another Alien item this month.

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The front of the box doesn’t tell you what’s inside (the back does, however, but what’s the fun in that?), so let’s open it up and take a closer look.

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This would be a salt and pepper shaker set, and a badass one at that. Much cooking is done in this house (namely by Yours Truly), so I can promise these will get used extremely regularly. They’re nice quality, too, being ceramic instead of plastic or vinyl.

Finally, the monthly t-shirt.

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It’s “Treehouse of Horror” from The Simpsons, which is very fitting for the month. I love The Simpsons (up through around season 12, at least), and this is honestly only the second or third shirt from the series I’ve ever owned. In fact, it might be the only one I have left, the others being lost to time (getting worn into oblivion). I get that black is a good colour for Halloween, and it fits with the design, but I really wish they would have gone with another colour. Like I said in my last Firefly Cargo Crate review, I am really tired of black t-shirts and own way too many of them. Still, a minor complaint. It’s a nice shirt and will find regular rotation in my closet.

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Well, this month was a bit underwhelming. Some good stuff in here for sure, but the overall quantity was disappointing. Maybe it just seems like there have been more items in previous boxes, but I’m pretty sure there were. Regardless, the stuff I do like in here, I like a lot, so I guess that makes it a win. I could go without seeing anymore TWD items, however.

That’s it for this month. Next month, I will be looking at items from Deadpool, Bob’s Burgers, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Lord of the Rings. See you then!

HIM – Episode 1

Andy Haigh
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HIM – Episode 1

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Occasionally something besides a Police or Period drama appears on British TV, a bit like it was somehow smuggled in on the sly when the suits were distracted by tea and biscuits, Being Human and Misfits are two great examples of weird British TV dramas, HIM the new supernatural drama on the other hand is not.

HIM is about a teenage boy (Fionn Whitehead) with divorced parents Hannah (Katherine Kelly) and Edward (James Murray) who are both in new relationships. Beth (Lucy Liemann) is his stepmother whilst Victor (Patrick Robinson) is his step father, whilst Faith Victor’s teenage daughter (Simona Dawson) is his stepsister.  He feels like he doesn’t belong in either family. Whilst struggling with his relationships with his parents and their new partners he is developing a strange new ability.

Writer Paula Milne has said that Stephen King’s Carrie is an influence on the three part drama. Whilst there’s definitely potential in a gender flipped Carrieesque story unfortunately HIM fails in spectacular fashion. For a start it suffers from some genuinely terrible dialogue like “If your life was a cake, only one slice got changed.” but really that’s just one of myriad problems. The major one being at no point are you given any reason to care about anything that’s actually happening. The characters are cyphers at best and the whole sullen teenage boy fights with parental figures he doesn’t get along with gets pretty old fast. Just like Stranger Things (which it shouldn’t need saying is profoundly better in every way) HIM utilises nosebleeds for dramatic effect to indicate the use of telekinetic powers, only it becomes unintentionally amusing as the score ratchets up to try and generate some tension despite having nothing to build from.

More than anything I was struck by how utterly and completely bland HIM is, so bland it’s completely forgettable. This is an anti-watercooler TV series, you won’t be talking about it because you won’t really remember anything about it. There’s no real spectacle, no interesting character dynamics , no interesting themes being explored and no sense of tension or atmosphere.

Right now there’s more quality TV series being made than ever before but HIM is a reminder that there’s plenty of dross still being made too.

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The Geek Pride Cast #Tribute

Matt Geary
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The Geek Pride Cast #Tribute

On this episode Matt, Mike, Bevan and Sean (for a bit) lament the Podcast that wasn’t to be, recorded the day before. they then go on to have a debate about Starwars : Rogue One being the beginning of the end for geek chic and follow that with a very deep  conversation about creativity and its drawbacks.

Listen here  or on ITUNES

orrrrrrr Youtube

“It Hurts Every Time” in the new trailer for LOGAN.

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“It Hurts Every Time” in the new trailer for LOGAN.

If there is one fact that superhero movie fans can agree on, it’s that we like to disagree about things. Ledger will be a terrible Joker, Gadot isn’t seven foot tall, Stewart is better than McAvoy…

One thing that seems to be almost universally agreed upon is that bad film (I’m looking at YOU, Origins…) or amazing film, Hugh Jackman IS Wolverine.

Maturing well, with more character in his face than ever, it looks as if Jackman will get to sharpen his claws on some more dramatic moments than before. Rumoured to be borrowing story beats from the Old Man Logan run, the shots of a back covered in thick scars and a body ruined in battle promises us a Wolverine who will enter into each skirmish with a slightly more considered approach than before.

Joining Jackman in Logan is X-Men veteran Sir Patrick Stewart and Sienna Novikov, the latter of which is rumoured to be an interpretation of Wolvey clone X-23.

Logan slices into cinemas on March 3rd 2017, and will almost certainly be the last time we see Jackman in the role. Who could possibly replace him?

Check out the trailer below, and let the discussion commence…

 

Stellaris Gets Leviathans DLC & Free Update

Joe McGuinness
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Stellaris Gets Leviathans DLC & Free Update

Paradox Interactive’s labour-of-love space strategy game Stellaris gets its first paid “story pack” DLC today, as well as the latest in a series of slow-but-steady stream of free updates and patches since the game was launched back in May.

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One of the consistent criticisms of the largely solid Stellaris is the lack of content in the mid-late game, and with Leviathans Paradox plans to take the sea serpent by the horns and add a lot of “event” content that otherwise felt lacking:

Space is lovely, dark and deep, but it has secrets it wants to keep. Rich systems defended by fierce creatures, hostile pockets of resistance to your civilization, and the sleeping giants of the universe – the Fallen Empires who may yet be stirred from their centuries long indolence.

In Stellaris: Leviathans, the galaxy will be filled anew with adventure and challenge as your new and naïve space-faring empire comes face-to-face and ship-to-ship with a host of dangers and rewards.

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Included in the DLC (priced at £7.49) are Guardians, large space creatures you can fight or study to unlock technologies; Enclaves, trading groups who market in strategic resources, galactic information and great works of art; and a War in Heaven, where ancient empires resurrect old conflicts and leave you free to join the fray, or take advantage of their weakened state. Leviathans also adds new art and music to Stellaris.

If you don’t fancy forking over for the paid DLC, the Heinlein update also goes live today and is available for free to any current owner of Stellaris. Included in the patch:

  • A convenient Auto-Explore feature.
  • Rally points for your freshly-assembled Navy.
  • The Expansion Planner Interface.
  • An overhaul of Strategic Resources.
  • Clearer specialization/role for ship types.
  • More options for customizing new galaxies.
  • New smarter Sector Governors.

Find out more about Stellaris at the official website, or play and buy on Steam.

Nintendo Switch Unveiled

Hani Fearon
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Nintendo Switch Unveiled

After over a year of mystery and the codename ‘NX’, Nintendo have finally unveiled their new console, Nintendo Switch. Released as soon as March 2017, the console received a brief unveiling via Nintendo’s website this afternoon.

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Nintendo Switch will be a total hybrid of a console, incorporating handheld gaming and a system used at home. The focus of the reveal has definitely been the ability of the console to switch into multiple different modes, enabling gaming at home, on the go and with friends. The system can be connected to the big screen with functions to enable you to take a smaller screen away as a portable console, as well as even detaching mini control pads to split between friends, bringing multi-functionality to a whole new level.

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Another key feature of the console is the movement backwards to games cartridges, which makes complete sense considering the portable nature of the system. Also, was that Skyrim we see being played? Third party involvement could be a huge game changer for Nintendo, which looks pretty darn exciting. After an incredibly short unveiling earlier today, we can expect to hear much more detail over the coming months, perhaps even over the next few days.

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