Block Blast is an extremely fun and addicting game. It starts by adding pieces to a board similar to Tetris except pieces can float and cannot be rotated. In my opinion, this game is super addictive due to its low energy and satisfying style. It is also addictive because even as you progress further in the game, it doesn’t speed up neither do the pieces change making it extremely addicting. In my opinion this game is 4 stars as it is a little repetitive and will keep you stuck on a device for a while as you try to beat your high score.
Smile 2, a psychological horror film directed by Parker Finn, is a sequel to the 2022 film Smile. The movie starts with a man ambushing a group of Russian gangsters and passing on the ‘smile demon’ to a character named Lewis Fregoli. Then, it introduces the main character, Skye, who is a returning star after a tragic car accident that threw her into mental turmoil for a year. During her return, she witnessed Lewis’ suicide, which caused the demon to latch onto her. Then, the ‘smile demon’ consumes her sanity before the movie ends with her dying in front of an audience.
This movie had amazing horror aspects, such as jumpscares and special effects. However, it relies too much on those aspects, which causes the movie to lose much of its psychological and suspenseful effect. Additionally, the movie was confusing, introducing characters that played absolutely no role in the mystery surrounding the demon and leaving us with more questions at the end. Without developing a greater mystery to keep the movie suspenseful, the distasteful main character and predictable jump scares make this movie boring. Smile 2 did not develop anything about the demon/parasite; the majority of the movie mostly focuses on the mental deterioration of Skye. There were scenes where she crashed out at an event, where she killed her mother, and tried to stop her heart to end the demon, but all of that was apparently hallucinations as she appeared on stage at the end totally fine, her mother alive and cheering, the man who offered to help ‘cure’ her nowhere to be seen.
If Smile 2 wasn’t a sequel to Smile (2022) and was a movie on its own, it would’ve been a little bit better. People who watch Smile 2 without watching the first movie would not miss out on anything. However, on the bright side, Smile 2 does open up a new mystery for a possible Smile 3, which would be more exciting. Smile 2 introduced something to us that the previous movie hasn’t touched on: a group of people witnessing the demon in action. Would they all be cursed, or would it just be one person? Would the world finally take the case seriously? Despite Smile 2 being a disappointing attempt to follow up Smile (2022), it does open up more possibilities and angles for the Smile franchise to continue.
Wuthering Waves, released by Kurogames on May 22, 2024, is an open-world game that allows players to use multiple characters in free combat. One major factor that contributed to this game’s debut success was the amazing graphics in the trailer. In fact, the game does indeed have outstanding graphics and visuals, ranging from detailed sea shores to a beautiful night sky. The game also has visually appealing character designs and unique combat mechanisms to make each character unique and desirable. Additionally, the original soundtracks of the game are all high-quality, each with unique instruments and themes that fit the location’s inspiration. For example, Jinzhou, an in-game area inspired by China, has soundtracks that include traditional Chinese instruments. Along with the music, the voice acting in this game has a variety of 4 different languages: English, Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean. However, one downside of the English voice acting is how emotionless they sound, which left many fans disappointed. While bad voice acting can decrease the quality of a game, Kurogames overcame this obstacle with a great storyline, along with smooth animations for cutscenes. Compared to other games similar to Wuthering Waves such as Genshin Impact, this game gives many generous rewards for new players and has a combat mechanic easy enough for them to enjoy. Despite the many bugs and errors that may occur during the gameplay, Wuthering Waves is still a game under development and has a lot of time to improve. Overall, Wuthering Waves is an enjoyable game for people who like exploration and character collection.
The Mitchells vs The Machines (2021) Rated PG, 1 hour 54 minutes
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is an animated sci-fi comedy movie that delivers a refreshing take on the family road-trip movie genre, infused with vibrant visuals, inventive humor, and heartfelt moments. The film follows the Mitchell family, an eccentric group led by the aspiring filmmaker Katie, as they embark on a cross-country trip that unexpectedly turns into a battle against a robot apocalypse. What makes the movie stand out is its unique, hyper-stylized animation, which combines hand-drawn elements and 3D to create a dynamic and eye-catching visual experience. The story deftly blends slapstick comedy, clever pop culture references, and genuine emotional depth, exploring themes of family bonds, understanding, and the importance of embracing one’s individuality.The Mitchells vs. The Machines is not only a fun and fast-paced adventure but also a heartfelt tale that resonates with audiences of all ages, proving that being a little weird is what makes a family truly special. I give this movie a 10/10 because of all the funny scenes and how the Mitchells overcame the challenges by the machines.
