Three and Out – ‘Stellaris’
Stellaris is a huge game, taking upwards to three weeks to beat. It plays like a space opera akin to the science fiction epics by Heinlein or Asimov. In the game you’re tasked with...
Category: Features
Three and Out – ‘Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm’
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm introduces a load of new content for players to explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate. The first major change to Civilizations 6 is climate change along with natural disasters....
Three and Out – ‘Far Cry: New Dawn’
If the Far Cry franchise does something uniquely well, it is aesthetics. The most recent addition, New Dawn, is a gorgeous patchwork of neon and flowers, lending to an atmosphere that is downright spunky...
EG Podcast: ‘Capcom is Back, Baby + Our Favorite Video Games’
Epilogue takes on the difficult task of answering: “What are our favorite video games?”. Capcom lands another big hit with Devil May Cry 5 and EA bounces from its E3 press conference.
Three and Out – ‘ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove’
Disclaimer: Thank you to HumaNature studios for being kind enough to provide us with a review copy for this article. When ToeJam & Earl: Back in the Groove was first announced, I was both...
‘Gris’: A Meditation on Parents, Life and Death – Part Two
Grief is not something we can be taught abstractly, but something we must first experience and then, while it surrounds us, figure out. Gris’s main theme, “learning how to grieve,” does this spectacularly. The...
Three and Out – ‘Apex Legends’
I feel 15 again. Six plus hours a day, every day, grinding matchmaking in Halo 3 with Krischiken, Eethman, and Skuzi. Late nights, sporadic food scavenging, and as much Dr. Pepper as I can...
Three and Out – ‘Jump Force’
Jump Force is the biggest disappointment in video games I have had the misfortune of experiencing, seeping with terrible animation work and a severe lack of understanding of fighting mechanics, causing it to be...
Three and Out – ‘Vignettes’
Everything is connected to everything else. Life is a fluid series of reinventing and shifting perspectives. Some video games capture this message in linear, narrative ways. Other games abstractly demonstrate this schema to us,...
‘Gris’: A Meditation on Parents, Life and Death – Part One
Gris wants to remind you that one day your parents will die. Many games already concern parenting, such as the Shelter games, Parenthood, and That Dragon Cancer. These games expose the fears, concerns, and...
LudonarrativeFM: Episode 2.3 – ‘Super Mario Odyssey’
In this month’s episode of LudonarrativeFM, Preston and Blake journey through the many joyful kingdoms in Super Mario Odyssey (2017). This bouncy and boisterous 3D platformer boasts a bunch of boundless fun and movement...
Three and Out – ‘Resident Evil 2’ Remake
It is Ben’s recommendation that you listen to Capcom’s score of Resident Evil 2 while you read the review. While playing Resident Evil 2, I was reminded why I am so motivated to play...
Three and Out – ‘The Messenger’
I went into The Messenger not completely blind and with vague expectations – I knew that time travel was going to happen eventually. Even so, in a fourth-wall break, the game made itself aware...
Roundtable: Explaining the Trend Behind Unfinished, Unpolished Games
Question: Why are we continuing to see unfinished, unpolished games as we move into what seems to be the umpteenth year of this growing trend? Ben: This is a frustrating trend that probably won’t end...
Three and Out – ‘Battle Chasers: Nightwar’
Battle Chasers: Nightwar (BC:N) is a compelling emulation – with additional modern elements – of classic JRPGs. The characters are unique and interesting with backstory that is revealed through a mixture of main story...
The Top 10 Most Absurd Weapons in Video Games
10. Shovel Knight – Shovel Blade Much like the Keyblades in Kingdom Hearts, the Shovel Blade is a weapon that makes the game. The Shovel Knight’s Shovel Blade is the premier multipurpose weapon of...
‘Overcooked 2’: A Tale of Friendship and Interdependence
My first job was dishwashing in a pretentious restaurant that prided itself on its kitchen being run by a victor from the television show “Top Chef.” This was my introduction to both the restaurant...
Three and Out – ‘Psychonauts’
It is Ben’s recommendation that you listen to Peter Mcconnell’s score while you read the review. Playing Psychonauts felt like being sucked through a time portal to the portion of my life where I...
Three and Out: Take Two – ‘Kingdom Hearts III’
Kingdom Hearts 3 is hard to stomach. A game with unrivaled potential falling drastically short of its own legacy. The writing feels slipshod and hamfisted, as if all Sora needs to do is feel...
Three and Out – ‘Kingdom Hearts III’
Thirteen years since Kingdom Hearts II and two years since Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue we have arrived to the day that has constantly been teased and joked about never truly arriving. Kingdom...
How Dynamic Lore Exposes Nuances About Characters
My two favorite game types are RPG’s, like the Witcher series, and turn-based strategy games (TBS’s), like the Divinity: Original Sin series. Both at times require some skill to play. RPG’s require weighing tactics,...
Why ‘Life is Strange 2’ is Struggling to Find its Footing
The original Life is Strange left an indelible impact on me and strengthened my conviction that videogames are perhaps the most powerful storytelling medium. Naturally, I’ve been jitteringly anticipating the sequel: Life is Strange...
‘Cuphead’ and Expert Boss Design
Cuphead is one of those games that seemed to thrive on pure aesthetic alone. The classic cartoon art-style instantly captivated audiences of all ages, while the big band orchestra perfectly encapsulated the bygone era....
What’s Wrong With ‘Shadow of the Colossus’
A Mystery Is a Powerful Storytelling Device, But Not a Story Itself. The story Shadow of the Colossus tells uses a simple plot: Wander wants to revive Mono, and is instructed how to do...
Three and Out – ‘Grim Fandango’
LucasArts was a company well known for its interesting and compelling storytelling, and Grim Fandango is no exception to that reputation. This game is presented in a noir style based on the Aztec version of...
Ludonarrative Harmony in ‘Wandersong’: Bringing the World Together
Wandersong is a refreshingly optimistic tale of a humble bard who is tasked with saving the world, and was one of the best indie games of 2018. The game is both narratively and mechanically...
‘Titanfall 2’: More Than a Shooter
Titanfall 2 might seem like a clone of a Modern Warfare or Call of Duty game that makes itself “different” by including robots, armored suits, and a seriously enjoyable wall running feature, but reducing...
Roundtable: 2018’s Best Moments in Gaming
Question: If you had to highlight the single best moment you had in a 2018 game, what would it be? What made that moment so special? Marcos: Honorable Mention: Getting revenge for Cayde-6 in...
Roundtable: The Best Games of 2018
Question: 2018 has been a flourishing year for video games. What do you consider to be the absolute best games of 2018? What makes your number one game special? Marcos: 5. Kirby Star Allies...
Three and Out – ‘Ashen’
On its surface, Ashen is a collection of inspired mechanics. There will be, and already have been, countless comparisons to Dark Souls – with many of those comparisons being warranted. There is slow, calculated...
Roundtable: Videogames are NOT Art?
Question: Why would anyone believe that games are not art? What is some of the value in or purpose of labeling games as an art form? Blake: I think the reason games are easily...
Exploring Antenarrative in ‘The Stanley Parable’
I began my first playthrough of The Stanley Parable by not following directions. The game’s narrator guides you along through the opening gambit of the level until you are met with two doors. Each...
Three and Out – ‘FAR: Lone Sails’
It is Ben’s recommendation that you listen to Joel Schoch’s score of FAR: Lone Sails while you read the review. FAR: Lone Sails is about triumph in the face of loneliness. Operating a large...
Roundtable: Companion Characters
Question: What role do side characters have in games? Specifically companion characters, not just NPCs. How do character companions influence the story, drive the narrative, and affect the gameplay? Ben: Companions, and the way...
Analysis: Is Bethesda going the way of Telltale?
With the abysmal reception to Bethesda’s recent release, Fallout 76, many gamers including myself found themselves in a state of utter disappointment. Though the company has taken repeated criticisms for buggy games, an outdated...
‘One Hand Clapping’: A Sonorous Sensation
One Hand Clapping combines unexpected gameplay mechanics, lore, and surprisingly silent storytelling. The premise is generally a mystery. You are dropped into a world swirling with atmosphere and intrigue, something deeply reminiscent of how...
Why ‘Chrono Trigger’ Holds Up in 2018: A Fresh Perspective
This past month, I embarked on a journey unlike any other: a blind first playthrough of Chrono Trigger. I had no expectations, no context, and no experience with this game – but I had...
The Ten Worst Tutorials Ever
One of the worst things in video games is the mandatory tutorial. It severs any chance of replaying a game and enjoying it in full (there will always be that part that you have to...
The Nuzlocke Challenge and Emotional Attachments in Video Games
In a Pokemon “Nuzlocke Challenge”, you’re tasked with difficult obstacles like the mortality of your Pokemon (if they faint, they are gone forever) and limited access to which Pokemon you can “own” or use...
What Remains of Ludonarrative in ‘Edith Finch’
It’s easy to accuse narratively driven games of “walking simulator” status, meaning that a game lacks true challenge or “play” in the traditional sense. What Remains of Edith Finch has faced that criticism due...
Three and Out – ‘Mega Man 11’
After an eight-year long hiatus, Mega Man is back with a brand new entry into the classic franchise. The movement, shooting and level design harkens back to the NES-era. The art style and voice...
Three and Out – ‘Fallout: New Vegas’
War never changes. This is the opening line to Fallout: New Vegas, and it rings true throughout the game. It begins with a unique 1950’s aesthetic in its retro-futuristic style and keeps it consistent...
Analysis: What Happened to Telltale?
With the shocking news of developer Telltale Games’ closure last week, a lot of unanswered questions remain in its wake. It isn’t bad enough that one of the most critically revered developers is now...
No Man’s Subway Station
No Man’s Sky started as a flop with broken promises, and what seemed like immense empty space. The last part is the most intriguing though, a game full of empty space with very little...
Three and Out – ‘Life is Strange: Before the Storm’
Prequels tend to serve as a foot in the mouth of a storyline that we already know the conclusion to. I nervously expected our time with Chloe Price and Rachel Amber to reveal too...
Roundtable: Bonding With Characters
Question: How can games develop meaningful relationships between the player and its characters? What kind of mechanics help develop a bond – and what are your favorite instances of those mechanics? Andy: I feel...
Participation versus Witnessing: An Examination of Video Games – Part II
I was at work, dealing with the banality that entails, and fell into a conversation with Art, a co-worker of mine, about film and video games’ similarities and differences concerning audience engagement. Him and...
Three and Out – ‘Night in the Woods’
When my friend Dakota gifted me a copy of Night in the Woods, I had no idea I was stepping into the best game I’ve played all year. The deceptively cartoony sidescrolling adventure...
‘Pony Island’: A Metaphor for Depression
As we discussed in July’s episode of our LudonarrativeFM podcast, Pony Island is a metacognitive game that subverts our storytelling expectations. We left a thread dangling in this discussion that, in editing the episode...
‘Florence’ and Brilliant Visual Storytelling
Unlike most mobile games I’ve played, ‘Florence’ tells its story in subtle and clever ways, indicating that the developers tried to tell this story exclusively for mobile players. Many games often feel patched in,...
