When Marvel Rivals was first announced, I thought it was going to be a mindless cash-grab using a popular IP to try and take a piece of Blizzard’s team-based PVP shooter pie (which Team Fortress 2 walked, so these other games could run!). On the surface, it very much looks like Overwatch with a Marvel coat of paint, but upon getting access to the Closed Beta and having played it myself for many hours, this game may feel familiar but more than stands on its own.

Currently, Marvel Rivals has 23 heroes versus Overwatch 2’s 40 character roster, but unconfirmed data leaks are stating that the game will release with 39 heroes, with NetEase Games already promising to add more over time. Among the available heroes within the Closed Beta are fan favorites such as Spider-Man, Venom, Scarlet Witch, Black Panther, Iron-Man and more, an obscure but welcome pick of Jeff the Land Shark, and an original character made for Marvel Rivals – Luna Snow.

Those already familiar with this genre of video games will feel right at home, while still being easily accessible to those who have never played this style of game before. Convey and Capture are you current flavors of matches, with gorgeous maps to run around in, with destructible environments that can cause a shift in strategy in an instant.

In terms of balance, NetEase took the unique approach of making every character overpowered in their own little way, so when everyone is a super power, it still manages to feel like a fairly even playing field. Not sure how much characters will be rebalanced upon the game’s full release, but many have praised this unique approach to handling the situation.

I will say that the game suffers from the same issue that many other online PVP games do, which is matchmaking still not knowing how to properly assign players to teams. I’ve had more than enough matches where it felt like the dodgeball scene in a movie, where the “popular kids” were all picked for one team, while the “losers” were all picked for another, making things feel one-sided either in favor of your team, or against it. Being that this is Closed Beta, and that other fully-released games still have this problem, I’m not too worried about it at this time.

Although Marvel Rivals sticks to the tried-and-true method of having three categories of heroes – Vanguards (Tanks), Duelists (DPS), and Strategists (Support) – each has their own playstyle that can be fun to master. I spent the majority of my time playing as my favorite comic character, Venom, and thankfully found my groove, learning the ins and outs of the character to be as much use to my team as possible, while also being a viable threat on my own.

I really wanted to be good at using Jeff the Land Shark, but sadly I just couldn’t sync with his playstyle. This may change over time, but it goes to show that not all characters will fit each player, at least not right away. Instead, anytime someone was quicker at the draw to snag Venom out from under me, I’d play as Luna Snow, who I had a much easier time playing as, keeping fellow teammates healed, while also taking out a surprising amount of enemies on my own.

One of the things that sticks out to me, and has captured my hear, is the artstyle and animation of characters. Everything feels a lot more dynamic and detailed, compared to similar games, such as the transition from character selection to the match itself, or its conclusion. In terms of character design, most remain fairly true to the concept or typical style of a character, or have taken welcome liberties to their comic appearance. Cosmetics (which can be unlocked naturally through challenges that are completed from standard play) bring forth interesting variants to characters, such as a Steampunk Iron-Man, Spider-Punk 2099, or Outlaw Rocket Racoon. Even the recolors have slight detail changes that are a nice subtle touch to the heroes.

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed my time with Marvel Rivals, more so than I honestly though I would, and eagerly await the full release (which, at the time of writing this, has not been announced) so that I can play it with friends. Hopefully we’ll see more maps, even some more match modes, to go along with the additional heroes we know are already on their way. For fans of Team-Based PVP Shooters, fans of Marvel comic and the MCU, or anyone interested in diving head-first into the genre for the first time, I would highly recommend keeping an eye on Marvel Rivals!

Belial gets a call questioning whether or not Slashers are racist. Caught off-guard by the question, Belial does his best to list off famous Slashers that are black, but falls short. Determined to prove that Slasher Support and the Slasher community are more than open and accepting of new members, from all walks of life, Belial offers to personally handle anyone that tells the caller and potential Slasher otherwise…

Chucky calls Slasher Support after finding out that his temporary vessel may be a little more permanent than he realized. Unfortunately for everyone’s favorite Good Guy, Belial delivers that bad news that only the sister call center, Supernatural Support, might be able to assist him, while also being chastised for messing with forces beyond his control…

Belial gets a call on the Slasher Support line from a Slasher seeking revenge out at Camp Crystal Lake. Jason’s current choice in face cover isn’t panning out as well as he’d hope, so he turns to Belial for advice on a better mask…

If you were to take Twilight Zone, Twin Peaks, and various Stephen King novels and toss them all into a blender, you’d get Alan Wake. The first game is one of my favorite survival horror games of all time, only trailing behind the original Dead Space and Silent Hill 2 ever so slightly. It was such a unique take on the genre, and more of a psychological thriller than outright horror. I was delighted to hear that Remedy planned on ramping up the horror for Alan Wake 2, while still staying true to the core concepts of what made the original game and story so great.

The story picks up 13 years after the events of the first game, which is humorous to me, given that is exactly how much time it took to develop and release Alan Wake 2. Players are provided with a recap, to remind those who haven’t played Alan Wake in a while or are new to the franchise as to what’s going on. Alan is unfortunately still stuck in the “Dark Place” and we are introduced to a new character in this twisted tale.

You start out by assuming the role of Saga Anderson, an FBI agent drawn to Bright Falls with her partner, Alex Casey, to investigate the disappearance of a former agent, Robert Nightingale, and a series of grisly murders by a mysterious group known as the “Cult of the Tree”. What follows feels a lot like playing out a true crime documentary, as you actively survey the crime scene and gather evidence. This leads to a fun new mechanic known as the “Mind Place” where Saga can piece together information to draw conclusions and discover more about what really going on.

The situation swiftly turns dark and dabbles more into the supernatural as Saga travels into a parallel version of her current location, fighting shadowy creatures far more aggressive and unsettling than the first game. Movement controls and combat feel more refined, fluid, as well, but didn’t help me from getting destroyed the first few encounters before I shook off the rust. Enemies definitely felt like they were a bigger threat in Alan Wake 2, even on the standard difficulty (I’m getting too old and have too little time for harder difficulties). By the end of it, we are reunited with our second protagonist and favorite writer, Alan Wake.

From there, the game allows you to switch between Saga and Alan whenever you want, experiencing the story at your own pace and in whatever order feels right to you. While Saga relies more on the investigative aspect and gameplay mechanics, Alan progresses the story through puzzles, in the form of writing prompts and using a supernatural lamp to shift reality, altering parts of his surroundings.

Light is still your greatest ally when facing off against the Taken, the corrupted shadow beings throughout Alan Wake and Alan Wake 2, but you’ll also have a little more firepower this time around. Keep in mind that some weapons are missable, so it’s a great idea to explore, which is also how you can find helpful charms and other resources, as health and ammo are much more scarce than before. Finding lunchboxes (Saga) and “Words of Power” (Alan) also provide potential upgrades to your weapons, helping to even the odds.

Alan Wake 2 does an incredible job of expanding on the series’ mythos, and even ties into other Remedy games, such as Control (which I still need to play, and have heard great things about). The atmosphere always keeps you at the edge of your seat, with chilling ambient sounds and haunting musical score, but relies a little too much on jump scares at times. Speaking of music, the game is an auditory masterpiece, with catchy song after song playing at the end of each chapter, along with quite the musical number early in the game that sees Alan and friends dancing in a Broadway-like production. I am not kidding about this.

Taking everything into consideration, I personally feel that Alan Wake 2 was well worth the wait, and excels in nearly every way. The graphics are incredible, sound design is impeccable, gameplay and controls are solid, and the story had my full attention every step of the way. My only gripe is that the game felt a little short, same as the first, and the jump scares became more of a nuisance than a source of fright.

If you enjoy survival horror games, even more so if you enjoyed the original Alan Wake game, Alan Wake 2 is well worth adding to your collection. As of writing this (late) review, the game is only available for digital download, but a Collector’s Edition, with a physical copy of the game, will be available December 2024.

– Anthony

REVIEW SCORE: 9/10

It’s Halloween time and a Slasher calls Slasher Support, having a hard time with work-life balance, especially when also being a single father. Belial does his best to help him find a fool-proof plan for finding his next victim, but also warns that the Slasher won’t be the only one out hunting that night…

I’ll be honest, I almost completely forgot that Longlegs was coming out until the more recent string of social media posts and commercials that have been flooding the internet, hyping it up to be one of the most terrifying Horror films in decades. I was intrigued by the initial teasers, using brief, vague, sometimes disorienting images that were followed by a coded message, truly clever marketing that drew me in, beyond the claims. Discovering that Maika Monroe, who plays FBI Agent Lee Harker, and Nicholas Cage, who plays the enigmatic antagonist known as Longlegs, were both involved was more than enough to sit me down in the nearest theater to see it.

The story follows Lee, a gifted FBI agent whose intuition borderlines the supernatural in the eyes of her peers. She becomes assigned to a chilling serial murder case that has been open for decades, with very few leads. Things slowly take a darker turn, as the deeper that Lee dives into the case the more it strangely becomes tied to her past.

Longslegs does a great job, even from the first scene, of establishing itself as a psychological thriller with a little something more crawling beneath the surface. Even the cinematography makes many of the seemingly mundane moments and locations feel off, unnerving. There are quite a few lingering moments that make you feel like a jump scare is imminent, given how often they are utilized in modern Horror films, but they never come, only further adding to the overall tension.

Going into this movie, I was concerned that my love for Nic Cage, and Nic Cage acting like Nic Cage, would undermine the fear and discomfort that this film would otherwise have no problem instilling into its audience. To some extent, my fears were not unfounded, but only during the moments where Nic Cage would Nic Cage (random screaming, sometimes high pitched, but always humorously unhinged). The prosthetic and makeup work, however, was excellent, as was his performance throughout. Maika Monroe also did a phenomenal job as the story’s protagonist, pulling in my interest in her character and history from the start.

The quality of acting, atmosphere, and intricate plot were the standouts of this film for me, but I’m afraid that the pacing of the story, and some of its more complex plot elements may end up losing the interest of some viewers. I wouldn’t go as far as to call this movie “Elevated Horror” but parts of it require that you’re paying attention and also slowly piecing things together to fully understand what’s going on. It’s certainly a slow burn, but I never felt like it really dragged on during it’s 1hr 41 min runtime. I will say that I enjoyed the buildup far more than the movie’s climax. Although this movie may not live up to the hype, in my opinion, and lacks any truly memorable moments, I would still highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of true crime and/or psychological thrillers.

– Anthony

REVIEW SCORE: 7.5/10

A Slasher struggling with both two beings within a single body, and the last Survivor standing, turn to Slasher Support for assistance, only to discover that they’re facing a Final Girl. Belial gives the caller a quick rundown on how to deal with such a rare opportunity, but will it help them in the end?

Belial gets a call from Ghostface, who appears to be threatened by his presence, claiming that Belial is nothing more than a pale imitation of the Halloween-masked Slasher. Ghostface, however, soon learns why Belial is better left alone at Slasher Support, and not one to be messed with…

Sitting down to write this review, I honestly find it difficult to truly wrap my head around Destroy All Neighbors, as it still feels like a fever dream of a film that I still question whether or not truly exists . It’s a cartoonishly gory, mind bending, deranged horror comedy with some really fun practical effects, which I feel a lot of modern horror films take for granted. The story follows a struggling progressive rock musician named William Brown, played Jonah Ray, who finds himself at odds with a new neighbor that moves into his apartment building named Vlad, played by Alex Winter (who I honestly didn’t recognize throughout most of the film, until checking IMDB because he felt oddly familiar).

William is your typical starving artist who has been working on his album for nearly 3 years, while his girlfriend Emily, played by Kiran Deol, supports his dream the best that she can, while still being the responsible one in their loving relationship. When it comes to his dealings with the outside world, however, such as the recording studio he works at and his interactions with fellow neighbors within the complex, he seems generally miserable, apathetic, or actively tries to avoid confrontation.

Unfortunately for William, his new neighbor Vlad turns out to be the neighbor from hell, who keeps William awake with his constant loud music at all hours of the night, loud screaming, and other questionable noises. The lack of sleep ends up affecting the work on his album and other aspects of his life. Rather than handling the situation on his own, or letting Emily intervene, he tries to take the coward’s way out by filing a noise complaint with the police, which only adds fuel to the fire.

After eventually having enough off Vlad’s antics, William does confront Vlad, and it almost seems like the two might actually get along… until William accidentally kills him. From this point on, the movie dials the crazy to 11, as more people within the apartment complex end up dead, each coming back to haunt William. The way each character meets their end is over-the-top to the point where it can sometimes feel comical.

The movie doesn’t relent until the very end, leaving you always questioning what is real and what may just be all in William’s mind, making you feel just as crazy as the main character at times. Some parts even feel Lovecraftian in nature, all in the name of progressive rock.

Destroy All Neighbor‘s greatest strengths are also some of its weaknesses, with only the cast performances, especially Alex Winter, and the gleefully goopy practical effects standing out. For an indie film that is a Shudder original, I was impressed with the creature and character designs. Again, just look at what they did to Alex Winter.

In the end, I feel like the movie may just be one massive metaphor for progressive rock in itself. As… interesting as it was to watch this film, I’m not sure if I could bring myself to watch it again, unless subjecting someone else to its madness. Either way, I’d say I can think of worse ways to spend 85 minutes, and suggest you give this a watch at least once, if you are a fan of practical effects or over-the-top horror comedies with a considerable amount of gore.

– Anthony

REVIEW SCORE: 5/10