Toys R Us memories

The news of ‘Toys R Us’ closing down cut like knife through my heart, but it was also, and rather tragically predictable. Not only was it on the cards for the last few months, since the company's financial problems became public, but in hindsight, with the rise of Amazon and consumers changing their shopping habits, it was only a matter of time.

Without going into detail, I think the destruction of retail shopping and our high streets is a bad thing and one that we won’t see the serious repercussions of until some time in the future, both socially and economically.

But I’m not here to talk about that, I want to talk about why I’ll miss ‘Toys R Us’ and some of the childhood memories it gave me. Growing up in North London, my two local stores were Wood Green (which closed down many years ago), and Enfield.

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Whether it’s old or new, there is something awe inspiring and dare I say, magical about exploring a toy store, especially as child of course. An idealistic toy store in my mind is one that is old, with square windows and darkly lit, like something from a time that has passed by, or from another world entirely. This idealistic image is obviously my own imagination running away with me because I have never been to a toy store like this. However, walking into ‘Toys R Us’ as a child was a bit like walking into a another world from our own.

Yes it was a large open space, typical of any large retail store that stacks every inch of space from top to bottom with their products. But the way they organised the store was really unique, as exploring each of the departments felt like an adventure in itself. Starting from the small sweet section, through the boys section, and through the lego and to the bikes (I skipped on the girls section seeing as I’m a boy).

There is also something different about toys compared with other consumer products, even as an adult, there is an artistry to a toy that I don’t feel the same about with say a pair of trainers or a piece of clothing. A toy is more than just a product, I always imagine a story behind the toy, and the thought that goes into so it can be used to play with a child’s imagination.

**

My fondest memories of ‘Toys R Us’ include buying Ghostbusters slime and half a dozen Red Power Rangers actions figures at various points. Unfortunately I was never able to get a Megazord, like Buzz Lightyear they were always sold out.

And let’s not forget the adverts, that little jingle as the car pulled up and the headlights hit the front of the big store, ‘Toy’s R Us, Toys R Us, Toys R Us!’. Even as I listen to it now on YouTube, it sends shivers down my spine.

And I am going to miss it now that it's gone, like so many things it will live on as a nostalgic memory for some, relegated to YouTube clips and retro forums. With the gradual evaporation of the high street and the homogenisation of popular culture in general, I feel sorry for children growing up now, at some point in the future they will not know what it was like to walk into a toy store and have the choice of what they want, and that saddens me.

Why I love coffee shops

A cynical person would say that coffee shops are pretentious establishments that sell overpriced products, and there is perhaps a slender truth in this. For example, the cost of a large latte in Costa could buy a whole pot of coffee in a supermarket store.

But I love coffee shops, in a bizarre way I treat a trip to the coffee shop the way some people treat going to the gym. I go there to be productive without the need to really socialise with other people, it's a social space in which you have the choice of not being social. There's a comfort in knowing that while you are by yourself, you are not really alone.

I go to coffee shops to mainly write, and on the odd occasion I'll read. I would much rather do these things in a coffee shop than a library or at my desk. While libraries are great places that should be cherished, they are also very lonely, and a bit too quiet. Writing at home can also be lonely, a lot of the time that is fine, it allows me to be more productive, but the loneliness can be a distraction as well. Your mind becomes empty and it's easy to lose your attention by the smallest thing, even the gentle sound of traffic can make my mind wander, and the feeling of being isolated quickly sets in.

There are two other reasons why I like spending my time in coffee shops. The first one is that unlike most retail outlets in town centres and high streets, people go to coffee shops to be social and for the comfort, no doubt this is because a coffee shop is providing you with a service rather than just a product to buy. But this in turn means that coffee shops have to provide a more personable experience, because if they don't then they simply won't get regular customers. So the types of people who spend time in coffee shops are generally not troublesome.

The other reason is a bit more personal, and goes back to my point that while I am by myself in a coffee shop I never feel lonely. Just before I leave I usually just sit back and glance at everyone else and wonder what stories lay behind them, and why they are where they are. One day I'd like to write a multi story novel set in a coffee shop, it's just figuring out what the drama could be?

Monster Hunter World: the good and the bad

Monster Hunter World is the first in the series that I have played, and it was only the extremely positive reviews of the game that nudged me over into buying it, as well as the fact that there's nothing much coming out until March time. So I needed something to play and I decided to dive in.

I have played about twenty five hours, and although I have not completed it I have a fair grasp of what I like and what I really don't like.

The Good

Character Customisation

At the beginning of the game you get to create your own character as well as your palico (cat creature that assists you throughout), and it is surprisingly magnificent. The toolbox of options you have is astoundingly detailed, and it puts games like Destiny 2 to shame. Your character will look slightly different in-game but not to the point where they are unrecognisable.

Weapon Variety:

Right from the get go you have a choice of 12 weapon types to choose from, ranging from a sword and shield, a Bow, and to a Katana, amongst others. They all feel different to one another, and every gamer will have one that suits the way they want to play. The weapons are easy to learn but bloody hard to master, and you can switch weapons at any time during the game (not while on a quest of course).

Craftsmanship:

As a loot and grind game, the rewards are fair and worthwhile. With these rewards you can then craft items that are useful for your hunts and exploring, most importantly, you can craft your own armour and weapons from the workshop in the main hub of the game. And believe me there is a vast array of ways you can create your character in the specific way that you want to play, and how you want to approach a particular hunt that you are embarking on.

The equipment you craft also makes for some splendid cosmetics, you can really suit up your character in different ways.

Visuals and Monsters

The game is utterly gorgeous, the colours really ooze off of the screen. The five worlds you explore are all different to one another, with varying eco- systems. While they are all taken from your usual tropes of forest and desert landscapes, etc, they are all distinctive enough to look like places you have never seen before.

The monsters are incredible, most of them are tweaked designs of dinosaurs and real wildlife, but they have their own nuances that give them a little depth. In combat, each of them have their own attack patterns that you have to learn, and be prepared to have plenty of challenge when you are hunting them.

A heap of content:

I have not reached the end game yet, but from what I have played so far and from what I have read, there is a lot to do in the game. There is the main story quests, as well as what you might call the side quests that are linked with the main hub area. Many of these are repeat missions or fetch quests, but if you love grinding there is plenty here for you.

I have to mention the online multiplayer, which can be confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, there are plenty of ways you can party up with other people. And playing with your friends does give the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop an extra dynamism and strategic depth. Overall, the game is more enjoyable playing it this way.


The bad:

Monotonousness combat

While you can upgrade your weapons a lot, the actual combat when you're fighting the monsters becomes tedious and lethargic (certain weapons can mitigate this better than others). It really is bare-bones stuff, it does the job and nothing more. This would be less noticeable if the monsters weren't hit sponges.

Uninteresting story:

The main plot is nothing more than a McGuffin for the characters to hunt monsters, and the story progression does nothing much else. This is perhaps what one expects from this type of game, but with such a beautiful world, it's just a shame that it is nothing more than serviceable.

Animation locks and cheap gameplay mechanics

This issue is linked with the combat, because I had a lot of problems playing with a bow weapon, for instance you can't run while drinking a potion, and when you do run you have to put away your weapon. This can be a nightmare when you're fighting a monster with an extremely big hit box, this is also an issue with the environment as well, as some monsters with large hit boxes are hard to escape in certain environments that are contained.. This is a minor gripe, but it is one that will become a frustration at some point with certain monsters you have to hunt.


So is the game worth buying?

Despite my negatives, Monster Hunter World is still a good game, but one I can only enjoy in small doses, after two hours of solid gameplay the enjoyment begins to sap away and I just feel like I need to play something that's little more cathartic. In my humblest opinion this game has not deserved the near flawless praise it has had, for me it's a solid seven out of ten, and I could just about understand why someone would give it an eight.

If you enjoy looting and grinding for rewards, and doing so with your friends, then Monster Hunter World is probably for you. But be warned, this game requires a lot of your attention, and not all of it is going to be enjoyable.
 

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle review

Director: Jake Kasdan
Running time: 119 minutes


Surprisingly funny and witty

The 1995 Jumanji, starring the late Robin Williams, is an odd movie because while it's fondly remembered, its not quite achieved much of a mark on popular culture. Perhaps it was too dark, but the concept of a board game coming to life was and still is unique. The new Jumanji is more of a reboot than a sequel, although it does exist in the same universe as the original, none of the characters return.

But crucially, the board game has gone and this time the world of Jumanji is inside of a video game. An idea that's been done many times before, and this Jumanji movie doesn't really do anything to change the formula much, but its saved by some witty dialogue and character performances.

The story is not much to write about, it begins with four high school students in detention, as part of their punishment they have to clean out an old store room, where they discover a video game console with a Jumanji cartridge inside. After switching it on they are transported into the game, and the only way they can escape is by completing different levels of the map, all with their own dangers and traps.

Once they are inside they appear as the avatars they chose, all of them are the inverse of their real selves. You have Spencer's avatar, Dr. Smolder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson), an all out action hero archetype. There's the vein, selfie obsessed Bethany, who becomes the middle aged Professor Sheldon Oberon (Jack Black). Martha, the outcast becomes the femme fatale, Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillian), and the sporty member, 'Fridge' who is Franklin Finbar (Kevin Hart), the zoologist and weapon carrier.

The performances and character chemistry are the movies saving grace, each take their teenage personas into the dangerous world of Jumanji and give it a certain levity that carries through from beginning to end. For me the standout was Jack Black, whose turn as a stereotypical, self obsessed teenage girl is genuinely funny. It helps that his character changes the most by the end.

While the world of Jumanji is shot on real sets and locales, it's visually bland when you consider that this is meant to be the inside of a video game. But the movie does use old tropes that are familiar to video gamers, for example each of the characters have three lives to use (which results in some funny moments), and each of them have their own strengths and weakness which is a running gag throughout.

Most of the jokes are innocent in nature, except for an out of place joke involving male genitalia, that was really funny at first but is unnecessary referred to on a few more occasions. Other negatives include the slightly overlong running time, the final third of the movie drags a little bit, and the villain is a complete waste space, and only serves as a plot device, a bit like a bad video game character.

And for an action/adventure blockbuster, the set-pieces are decent but a little flat, this is a bit of a problem towards the end of the movie when it just feels like nothing much is really happening, and the premise kind of runs out of ideas.

Overall, the movie is far better than I expected, and despite some obvious flaws, it's good family fun and I'd recommend it for fans of the original and anyone who has a spare afternoon over a weekend.

Verdict: 3.5/5

Assassin's Creed origins disappointed me

(sorry if the first paragraph is a different colour, my google docs wouldn't change it after copying and pasting)

I bought the first Assassin’s Creed game the day it came out, although I liked the concept I think the game was probably too complex for me at the time, and the repetitive missions deterred me from getting too far into the experience. So it wasn’t until 2015's Assassin’s Creed Syndicate that I really became a fan of the series. It’s generally regarded as a decent if unspectacular entry into the series, but I loved it, the setting was great, the stealth and combat mechanics were basic but extremely fun, and the level progression was rewarding.

As soon as I completed it, I went and played every previous main game in series except for the third one. Some were better than others, unlike most fans, Black Flag is not one of my favourites, while Unity in its final form is one of the least appreciated In my opinion. My favourite would be Brotherhood, it encapsulates the best features of the series, and for me it had the most engaging story, where the stakes were always high.

But it was obvious that the series needed to take a break and reinvigorate itself after Syndicate’s release, the core gameplay had not evolved much since AC2, and the central plot had kind of lost focus. So I was ecstatic to hear that they were going to take a gap year and come back with an origins to the lore, which was also set in ancient Egypt. So I couldn’t wait for the day to play it.

But I’m afraid to say that a month after Assassin’s Creed: Origins came out, I still haven’t completed it, in fact I gave up trying to. I might go back to it one day, but for me the game was a big disappointment, it is by no means a bad game, in fact it’s a very good one in many ways, but overall it’s one with wasted potential.

It’s more of a refinement of the series than an evolution that many expected and some would say it needed. The fundamentals of the game-play are more or less the same as those of the previous entries, although the eagle vision has been replaced with a bird’s eye drone mechanic, the character progression has more of a role-playing aspect to it (something Syndicate had as well, but to a lesser degree), and the combat system has been overhauled.

And it is the combat that has had the most drastic alteration. At first I hated it, the lock on system is useless against multiple opponents, and it lacks any kind of intuition. But it does improve once you begin to upgrade your abilities (there’s a skill tree in which you can choose abilities that you want to upgrade each time you level up), it’s quite gratifying to pull off certain combos to kill a difficult opponent. But the combat is a chore rather than a thrill, this was not too much of a game breaking problem for me as I like to play Assassin’s Creed games as stealthily as possible.

The characters and stories in Assassin Creed have always been a bit of a mixed bag. The central protagonists (aside from Ezio Auditore) are usually nothing more than cyphers for the story to carry through, the supporting characters were always great however, the likes of Charles Dickens and Napoleon were at the very least, interesting.

The same can’t be said for the supporting characters in Origins, because of this the side missions never feel as important as they ought to, and it doesn’t help that they are pretty dull to begin with. Bayek, the lead protagonist, has clear motivations and agency, but there’s little in the way of personality outside of his own obsession with revenge. I never once felt an attachment to him, and I’d place him in the lower ranks of all the protagonists in the series.

The villains are woefully underdeveloped, most only appear when the story requires them for a gameplay mission. This severely handicaps what is a shallow, character driven plot that is never more than the the sum of its parts. The creation of the Assassin’s Brotherhood is underwhelming to say the least, and surprisingly forgettable.

Egypt is gorgeous, it is without question one of the most visually impressive settings I have seen in a video game, the lighting and water effects are astounding. But, for all its beauty, it lacks the character that made Florence, Rome and London so memorable in the previous titles. To me it just felt like glossy wallpaper, a place to explore but not one to really immerse yourself in, one of the great tricks of the Assassin’s Creed series is that the gameplay mechanics masterfully integrated into the locations they were set in. Origins fails to do this for the most part.

Perhaps I’m being too harsh, and this is to be expected seeing as the game is set in ancient Egypt. But aside from a few good screenshot locations, the setting is a rather forgettable experience to play through.

One day I might go back to Origins and appreciate it more, perhaps when I take a break from open world games. If you are a fan of the series there is plenty here to like, but if you have never liked one before, this will not change your mind.

I wasn’t initially going to score this game seeing as this is more an opinion piece than a full blown, in-depth review. But if I was asked, I’d give it a 7/10. A good game but nothing special, perhaps wait for a sale and then try it.    

Sonic Forces review (PS4 version)

Sonic's recent history is pretty patchy to say the least, much of the little hedgehog's output has been mediocre to down right bad, with a few sprinkles of gold dust in-between. Even I, a huge fan of the series since the early 90s was hesitant about getting Sonic Forces, but I repented and bought the game because it kind of stands out amongst the countless amounts of first person shooters that have been released lately.

So is Forces any good? well, it's decent but ultimately a forgettable gaming experience, at its highs it illustrates the best moments from Sonic Generations, but it's dragged down by boring visuals, short levels, and historical technical problems that have plagued the series since the Dreamcast days.

The game starts with Dr Eggman defeating Sonic with the help of a powerful new ally, Infinite. Sonic is imprisoned and Eggman takes over the world. Fast forward six months and Knuckles has set up a resistance with the help of a new recruit. Sonic eventually gets saved and classic Sonic from Sonic Mania also gets involved via a wormhole.

The story is utter nonsense, but one key feature that is new to the series is a character creation. At the start of the game you get to choose which animal you want your avatar to be, there's a choice of a bear, bird, cat, dog, hedgehog, rabbit or wolf. Each of these have their own special abilities and superpowers that differ from one another.

At the end of each level you complete you'll be rewarded with loot that you can kit out your avatar with. This part of the game works much better than I expected, the variation on offer is pretty extensive, so no two people's avatars should look the same.

**

The gameplay is split into three parts, you have modern Sonic which are the on-rail 3D levels, classic Sonic with the traditional 2D levels, and the avatar levels which are a combination of the two.

All three are enjoyable, but none are without their glaring flaws. Modern Sonic plays just like every 3D Sonic game that we've played before, speed run from point A to B. Boosting through the levels can be exhilarating and a lot of fun, but now more than ever it feels like the game is on automation. There are literally moments when all you have to do is press one button and watch the game play itself. This is not new to modern Sonic games, its always been there to an extent, but in the past these levels were broken up with small but genuine platforming sections that were challenging. Unfortunately there's hardly any of this in Forces.

The classic Sonic levels are the best, not just because Sonic works best in 2D but because these are the only levels that have some ounce of challenge and intricacy. They're not perfect though, the jumping physics seem too slow, and to be honest there's nothing here that's new, in comparison to all of the other 2D games in the series, this is pretty average.

The avatar levels switch between 3D and 2D sections, the fun factor is notched up a little because you have certain abilities in your toolbox. But it fails to reach its potential because the levels are way too short and the game's aesthetic is the most boring I have ever seen in the series.

Regardless of their merits, Sonic games have always had interesting worlds to traverse through, but that isn't the case here. You have your lush Green Hill Zone, but outside of that most of the levels are set in bland factories and cities. Absolutely none of it is memorable, which is unforgivable in a Sonic game.

The second biggest gripe with the game is its length, while there are thirty stages, you will complete most within the three minute mark, and many of them in under two minutes. Because of this the game never has much momentum, as soon as you start having fun, the game wants to take the controller away from you. So it never quite hooked me as much as it ought to have, making the whole experience kind of feel like I was going through the motions.

As a staple of the series, the boss battles are back and they are as good as ever, each require a different challenge to overcome.

**

At the end of the day, Forces feels like a missed opportunity, the best example of this is with the newest feature to the series, the avatar creation. I'm surprised that an online component was not included. Competing with other players online with your own avatars could have been a lot of fun.

While the game is enjoyable for the most part, its a step back from the last entry into the series, Sonic Generations, and it's an even bigger step back when you consider the triumphant Sonic Mania which was released only a matter of months ago.

Overall, the game is just above average, but it could have been something better. There is replay value here, most of the levels are worth revisiting, there is also a normal and hard difficulty setting, but in truth, outside of a few levels at the end, the game is not particularly challenging.

Would I recommend this?

With so few family friendly games released these days. this would be a good Christmas present for anyone under the age of twelve. And Sonic fans will find a satisfying entry into the series, but for anyone else there's really not much here, perhaps wait until it's in the sale.

This was a bloody hard game to give a final score on, it splits right down the middle but leans more to the good than the bad.

5.75/10

 

Thor Ragnarok review

Director: Taika Waititi
Running time: 130 minutes



Of all the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, the Thor series has been the weakest in my opinion, despite its fantasy setting that differentiates it from the others. Much of this might have been due to the relatively lacklustre action set-pieces and a love interest that fell flat. But with the love interest gone and superior action scenes, the new Thor movie is a great addition, that works just as well as a standalone.

On this occasion, Hela (Cate Blanchett), the powerful, one time leader of the Armies of Asgard is released from a prison she has been sealed inside. After losing in battle with her and getting his Hammer smashed to pieces, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is sent to the outer reaches of Space, where he lands on a planet called Sakaar, and taken prisoner by the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Leaving Hela to cruelly overthrow Asgard.

While the story is pretty much by the numbers, the villain is an improvement for a Marvel movie, Hela has a clear motivation and a menacing onscreen presence. The performance by Blanchett is subtle but deadly, it isn't the most complex of villains, but it gives the movie an urgency that the others in the series desperately lacked.

As you'd expect, it's visually stunning, the fantastical locations are well realised, the production in general is top class. The costume designs are a real delight, from memory, the last time a movie showed such a great level of detail and imagination was the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

**

The action scenes are decent without ever being exceptional, I often felt like I was watching an elaborate video game being played out, but they do their job well enough. The background soundtrack carries a lot of the heavy lifting as the special effects extravaganza explodes onscreen, sometimes it works and gives the action an extra layer of momentum, other times it's intrusive. It seems to be a new trend in modern blockbusters that I hope is the exception rather than the rule.

**

The movie is also full of laughs, far more than I expected, it works best when the comedy bounces between character interactions. This is particularly the case when Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) makes his appearance, the chemistry between him and Hemsworth gels together really well.

However, the comedy can be a bit too forced sometimes, and the overall tone is a bit jarring because of the sinister violence that hangs over everything. None of it is particularly explicit, but it was far more forceful than any other MCU movie I have seen to date.

**

Thor Ragnarok was an absolute delight that took me a little bit by surprise, it's a long way from being perfect but it's certainly one of the stronger entries in the MCU series. I'd recommend this for just about anyone, even those few people who are not fond of comic book movies. But for those taking your kids, be a little mindful of the violence that surprised even me.

Verdict 4/5