#I have my few trusty little favorites and yet I could spend HOURS in art supply shops..............

[risto-licious]

What are your favorite art supplies? :3

for traditional media nothing beats my beloved 2B pencil and black ink pens, they're my all time favorites I happily filled many sketchbooks with! I also adore working with markers and colored pencils likewise, my favorites for colors! on some days when I'm feeling it gouache and colored inks as well! for digital media my favorite supply and trusty old companion for over 13 years is my wacom intuos! it's almost in daily use and still working like a champ!

[yoongi-sugaglider]

Starry Nights and Hot Cocoa Delights

Based off of this request.

An artist struggling with the opening of his new art gallery seeks the solace of his favorite cafe in order to relieve a little but of stress.

Artist Taehyung x cafe owner Reader

Warnings: Fluffy fluff, lots of soft Tae blushing. More fluff...also fluff.

Word count : 2175

It never failed. When the chaos of everyday life got to be too much and he couldn’t find the peace he so desperately craved, he would come here.

A quiet coffee shop far removed from the busy main streets of Seoul and so infrequently visited that he always knew he’d be able to pick any seat in the place that he so desired.

Despite this he would make his way to the same table each time, a solitary seat by the window overlooking the street beyond. Though there wasn’t ever much to see besides the pigeons strutting their stuff as they looked for tasty morsels to snack on and the occasional cat looking to chase off said scavengers, he still preferred it.

 It granted him the sunlight and peace he craved, along with an open view of his favorite regular employee.

A soft jingle echoed through the shop as he made his entrance, a pencil case covered in the Van Gogh painting Starry Night Over the Rhone and his trusty sketchbook in hand.

A soft voice drew his attention to the register, the cheery smile that greeted him lifting his spirits almost instantly as he moved to take his place at the counter.

“Hello Mr. Kim. The usual today I take it?” Her soft eyed smile melted the ball of anxiety that’d sat at his core since he’d signed the lease that would allow him to finally open his own art gallery.

He nodded, wiping a finger at the bags that’d formed beneath his eyes from one too many sleepless nights.

“Yes please. And a blueberry scone to go with it if you would?” His low vocal tone sounded far gruffer to his own ears than he would have liked and so he shuffled hastily to his seat, hoping that she wouldn’t notice the bedraggled state he’d fallen into over the last few weeks.

After settling in at the window, he finally allowed himself the chance to observe his surroundings, noting that the slight change in decoration they’d applied didn’t take away from the homey feeling he’d grown to love and almost crave.

A few small paintings hung on the walls, surrounded by knicknacks situated on small wooden shelves painted a light white that seemed to have been sponged on to simulate clouds that contrasted well with the soft blue paint of the walls. The effect did leaps and bounds to open up the space, along with pastel yellow tables covered in various floral print table clothes and seated with matching tall backed chairs.

Taehyung hummed, leafing through his sketchbook to find a blank page among the chaos as he shifted the flower shaped salt and pepper shakers aside and placed his pencil case down. Pausing for a moment he glanced over to the cafe’s counter, noting with a smile the way the young woman attending it danced along to the music playing in a whispered murmur in the background. He watched her hips sway back and forth as she handed a drink to another customer with a to go order, only just realizing that the place was slightly more crowded than normal.

It seemed that every other table had one or another customer sat at it, enjoying their drinks while reading from their phones or participating in conversation with their fellow table mate. He thought it odd, though it didn’t seem to bother him nearly as much as he thought it would considering this had been his quiet respite in the chaos of city life.

Turning back to the blank page he sighed, taking out a pencil and tucking the tip between the moistened creases of his lips as he leaned back in his chair to stare blankly out of the window.

“One triple chocolate hot chocolate with nutella whipped cream and a blueberry scone.” The rasp of her voice drew him from his revelry and he turned his gaze from the pigeons fluttering across the sidewalk to meet the warmth of her eyes.

“Ah, yeah sorry.” He blushed, scratching the back of his neck as he pushed the sketchbook off to the side to make way for his order.

“It’s alright. I’m used to it from you Mr.Kim” She giggled, the sound brushing against his ears and sending a warmth through him that glowed forth in the apples of his cheeks.

After placing the large mug and plate on the table she slid into the seat across from him, catching him fully off guard as she untied her apron and hung it on the chair behind her.

“Um…” His blush only served to brighten as he glanced down at his plate, hoping to hide the hopeful glisten in his eyes.

“Ah, sorry, I hope this is okay? We’ve been so busy today and I haven’t had lunch. I’m honestly starving and I figured...well” Her voice trailed off and he dared glance up at her, only just realizing she’d had a plate of her own adorned with what looked to be the most delicious sandwich he’d ever seen in his life.

“It’s alright, I mean I don’t mind...it’s just well…” The ding of the bell hanging over the door interrupted him and he waved to the door before tucking his hands in his lap to hide the trembling of his fingers.

“Oh? The customers.” She giggled, the sound sending the fire in his cheeks running towards the tips of his ears and threatening to smother him.

“Well, thankfully I’ve got Seokjin covering me from the kitchen. If he weren’t here I swear I’d die from hunger most days.” She smiled, though it seemed to turn more shy the longer he stared at his plate.

“If...if you’re uncomfortable I can lea…”

“No!” He jolted at the volume of his voice, reaching out as if to stop her. “I mean, it’s alright. I don’t mind, really.”

Her laugh of relief calmed him and he chuckled in return, trying to cover the butterflies fluttering in the pit of his stomach by taking a drink from the whipped cream covered chocolate delight she’d served him.

The whipped cream itself was a rich chocolate and hazelnut flavor, melting on his tongue instantly and serving to chase away some of the exhaustion he’d been feeling. He sighed, closing his eyes and inhaling the aroma with a quiet hum of appreciation.

A gentle chuckle tore him from his revery and he blinked owlishly at the woman across from him, realizing with a jolt that his appreciation of the drink she’d made for him had caused her presence to be erased from his mind, if only for a moment.

“Oh, sorry. It’s just…” He scratched at the delicate patch of skin just beneath his ear as his cheeks burned. “Your hot cocoas are the best in the city and with all the stress I’ve been under I guess I really needed it…”

Her smile brightened as she watched him stutter over his words. “You know, we were supposed to take that item off the menu once spring arrived. The only reason why I keep the ingredients in stock is for you Mr. Kim.”

His eyes widened at her statement and he swallowed thickly before setting his mug delicately back in its saucer. “R...really? I mean, if it’s going to get you in trouble I would hate for you too have to…”

“Aish, I doubt the owner is going to mind. She’s pretty chill. And besides, you’ve basically become a regular. I would hate to lose you to somebody else’s hot chocolate.” She continued to smile as she picked up her sandwich, giving out a hum of appreciation as she took her first bite.

A companionable silence settled over them as they began to eat, each lost in their own little world as they stared at separate points beyond the glass of the window beside them. The silent murmur of conversation in the cafe served as a soothing backdrop, setting Taehyung at ease and allowing him to pick up the pencil with a confidence he hadn’t had in a long while and begin sketching mindlessly as he watched the birds beyond the window play.

“So, you’re an artist?” The melodic whisper floated to his ears, gaining his attention as he turned to his table mate.

“Mmm, I am. Though, I’ve been second guessing my career lately. Who knew opening up your own gallery would be so taxing?” He chuckled, brushing a crumb from the paper of his sketchbook as he watched her chocolate brown eyes search his face.

“Your own gallery huh? That does seem like quite the undertaking. It’s a wonder you’ve been coming in here looking so stressed lately.” She crumpled up the napkin that’d been wrapped around her sandwich, folding her arms before her on the table and watching as his fingers glided elegantly over the stark white paper.

“Yeah? Sorry about that...I mean I didn’t mean to.. Ah...aish!” He could feel that blush creeping up again as he reached up and brushed the hair away from his eyes.

“No no it’s alright.” Her giggle served to increase his blush as he laughed along awkwardly with her. “It’s just something I do. Noticing things about my regulars. Especially the cute ones.”

“The..c...you think I’m cute?” He practically choked on the words. Mentally he groaned at himself, knowing for a fact he was making a fool of himself and yet seeming wholly unable to prevent the drivel that continued to spew forth from some deep dark teenager with a first crush depth within himself.

She nodded, the faintest hint of a blush spreading to her own cheeks. It took everything in him not to coo at how adorable she looked in the rosy color.

“So uh...t...tell me about your gallery? What’s got you so bothered about it?” She tilted her head at the faint sigh that heaved forth from deep within him.

“Where do I even start?” He muttered to himself as he turned back to stare out the window.

“How’s about starting at the beginning, work your way through it. Maybe talking to someone who’s not in the middle of the drama will help. Heck if anything it’ll be good to get the worst of it off your chest.”

And so he did, spending the next almost half hour unloading on the sweet barista that sat across from him.

And he’d have gone on if it weren’t for the elder man that came sauntering up to their table, looking very much on the verge of being put out to pasture with the amount of stress he seemed to be under.

“Hey boss...we uh...we got a problem with Wednesday’s delivery and they’re not taking please as an answer.” He huffed, shoving his round rimmed glasses up his nose as he nodded to Taehyung in acknowledgment. “Think we need your particular brand of bargaining Ms. Ln.”

“Wait...L/n? As in L/n’s Bakery and boutique?” Taehyung stuttered, shock coursing through him as he realized he’d been talking to his favorite cafe’s owner this entire time.

“Ah, yeah that would be me.” She giggled, pushing away from the table and making to stand. “And as acting owner of this grand establishment, I think it’s about time I get back to work.”

Her smile served to brighten the blush that’d seemed to have made a permanent home on his cheeks in her presence.

“If you’ll excuse me Mr. Kim, it has been an absolute pleasure speaking with you. And don’t forget, give that contractor hell if you need to but don’t let them take you for your money.”

And in a flourish she vanished, disappearing into the kitchen area of the cafe before Taehyung could even think to bid her goodbye. He huffed out a chuckle, eyes finally glancing down to the sketchbook he’d been busy with this whole time.

An almost exact image of the woman he’d found himself infatuated with stared back at him, a singular beauty captured on paper in carbon smears from his pencil.

She was a beauty worth being the muse of any master artist. And he just so happened to have the pleasure of finally sitting down to a conversation with her.

By the time she returned from the back room Taehyung was gone, along with a good portion of the lunch rush customers, leaving the main dining area for her to clean up in preparation for the end of her shift.

By the time she’d made her way over to the table she’d shared with the attractive artist her arms were sore and her fingers smelled of dishwater. But that didn’t seem to matter as she picked up the intricate drawing that perfectly captured her smiling face.

A thrill rushed through her at the image, and a gasp left her lips as she spotted the message written in sprawling script at the bottom.

Xxx-xxx-xxxx call me sometime, maybe I can treat you to dinner as thanks for your excellent advice. Signed Kim Taehyung.

[pamphletstoinspire]

What a Dog Taught Me about God

Dogs are mentioned more than a dozen times in the Bible. Saint Francis of Assisi talked to the animals and even tamed a wolf because he believed they were creatures of God, like us.

And of course dog is God spelled backward. What do we mean when we say that? It’s just a cute saying—something we direct toward other dog lovers. Even the most fanatical dog lovers, however, would probably not confuse their canines with the Almighty. But I did have a spiritual enlightening once that was inspired by my dog.

Never mind cats, now. That’s another story.

God made dogs for us to have as companions and helpers, and for the immeasurable pleasure and happiness they give us. Perhaps it’s a stretch to think that dogs were also meant to teach us about God’s love. With all that dogs mean to us, is that too much to consider?

There are over 74 million owned dogs in the United States. Thirty-nine percent of American households own at least one dog. Over $45 billion will be spent on pets this year in the United States alone. That’s double the amount of 10 years ago. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 74 percent of dog owners consider their pet as a child or family member.

Obviously, there is something very human about dogs. Is there something very Godlike about us? With all that God created, would it be unreasonable to think that God also made dogs to teach us about his love for us? It seems to me like something God would do.

Smiling Heavenward

I was cozying up in bed with Rick Warren’s latest book at the time—The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? He might not be happy to know that I wasn’t so much inspired by his words as I was by the dog sitting there watching me. I can only hope that Warren doesn’t misconstrue this to be unflattering. Actually, his words did get through to me, but not without the help of my dog, Ashley, a Chow-Saint Bernard mix.

I happened to be reading that our purpose is to make God smile. I had been taught by the classic Baltimore Catechism that God made us “to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.” Not a word about smiling. So I stopped and glanced over at my dog, who was on the end of the bed, watching me read as though it were the most fascinating thing she had ever seen.

This was so amusing to me that I involuntarily, unconsciously smiled. Ashley made me smile. Is that how God feels when we turn our eyes and hearts toward him? We wait to hear God’s silent words to us, watching for a sign that he’s there, that he listens, that he cares. Skeptics might say that the dog was hoping for a treat, but I know better. In that instant I knew something very important: We make God smile.

Dogs depend on us for everything. They yearn to bring us pleasure and to feel that we love them. Is that not how God wants us to be toward him? Can we say we love God as much as our dogs love us?

With the love I feel for God—and my dog—as well as the love and companionship they give me, I couldn’t help but dig deeper into this new insight.

1) Being Close to God

Dogs want to be close to us. They will curl up at our feet even if the bare, hard floor is not as comfortable as their favorite cushion. They jump up when they see us because they want to be as close to our faces as they can get.

Is that not how it is when we kneel to pray? We can pray while seated or even lying down, but sometimes it seems better on bended knee. We do this to make us feel closer to God. Does this make God smile? I think so.

2) Understanding God’s Word

Dogs try so hard with head-twisting, ear-twitching effort to understand words we speak to them in a language that is not their own. Their faces are so amusing when they are trying to understand what we are saying. We are creatures of a totally different species, as we are to God.

If God’s words were easy to understand, there wouldn’t be 38,000 different denominations all based on the Bible (World Christian Encyclopedia, 2001). Yet dogs do learn to recognize some of our words out of sheer desire to understand us. They learn commands first, then they recognize when it’s time for a walk or where the snacks are kept.

Do we try to listen to God telling us what he wants us to do? Do we learn God’s commands first and then long to go deeper in our understanding? When we try to hear God, does God smile? I think so.

3) Comprehending God’s Ways

Our motives and values are beyond a dog’s ability to understand. They are puzzled that we are upset over a chewed shoe or a hole dug in the yard. To a dog, these are good things.

Neither can we really understand God—whether it’s the challenges we face, the trials God allows us to endure or our seemingly unanswered prayers. There are mysteries we contemplate but may never grasp, like the Trinity or the Eucharist.

Our dogs seem to accept our greater wisdom even if they can’t understand our ways. Do we do that with God? And does it make God smile when we try to understand what cannot be understood? I think so.

4) Testing God

Dogs test their boundaries. They escape from their safe backyard to run wild for a while—not because they don’t love us, but just to have some fun. Isn’t that how we are sometimes with God? And after a while, after the fun is over and the cold sets in and we’re hungry, do we not long for God? Do we not come limping and weak, filthy and tearful, to scratch at the door, asking for readmittance to the warmth of God’s love?

Scripture assures us that God will always forgive us and welcome us home. And does God smile when the prodigal comes home? I think so.

5) Remembering God

Dogs are overjoyed to see us whether we have been away for a few days or only a few hours. We may leave something of ourselves to comfort our dogs to let them know we will be back in time—a concept they cannot fathom. Jesus said to partake in the Last Supper in remembrance of him. It is God’s way of being with us still until he comes again.

Does God smile when we receive Holy Communion and hold him in our hearts while we wait to be with him forever? I think so.

6) Belonging to God

Dogs belong to us. We own them. We call them “our” dogs. And we belong to God because he has made us his own. We are told that God cares for us so much as to number the hairs on our heads. God has our names in his book. God knew us before we were born. He has watched over and guided us throughout the history of time.

We belong to God and we did nothing to deserve this. Does God smile on us just because we’re his? I think so.

7) Heeding God’s Call

Dogs come when we call them. It is the most important command we teach our pets—for their own good, to protect them from harm. Do we respond when God calls? Are we ready to do God’s will—whatever he asks, whenever he asks? Are we ready to be with God in heaven whenever that call may come?

God told us to be ready. Would it not make God smile if we come willingly when he calls? I think so.

8) Made in God’s Likeness

According to The New York Times, researchers in San Diego found that subjects were able to match pictures of dog owners with their pets more often than not. We dress them up in silly clothes and fix their hair to please our taste and mimic our appearance—at least, a great number of us do. But most of us tend to choose a dog breed that is of a nature and personality most like our own.

Is this what God meant when he said we are made in his image and likeness? Is this why so often our depiction of God in art resembles what we consider the best in human form, with a halo over our head and eyes turned upward to heaven? Does it make God smile to see us trying to be like him? I think so.

9) Being Unafraid in God’s Care

Dogs freak out over silly things. We know that their fears are unfounded—that they are perfectly safe—but dogs don’t seem to know that. Bring something big, new and strange into the house and you will have something to laugh at for quite a while.

When there is a storm, our dog may cry and cower under the bed or try to climb onto our lap, regardless of whether he can actually fit there. God has told us not to fear because he is with us always. God expected the apostles to know this, and he expects that of us, too. When we freak out over things, does God smile? I think so.

10) Coming Home

Dogs notoriously find their way home when lost. Books have been written and movies have been made of near-miraculous treks these animals have made over treacherous miles. Sporadically, such events in real life appear in the news.

No matter how far we stray, we can always find our way back to God. He made us that way. And when we find our way home, does God smile? I think so.

11) God’s Generosity

As a nation, we spend a fortune on our pets. We shower them with gifts and loving care, feeding them special foods and rewarding them with treats and toys. We give to our dogs because we love them and want them to be happy.

God gives things to us, too, often much more than we really need. God blesses us in ways we may not know, understand or appreciate. Do we thank God or do we whimper for the next toy? He may say yes, no, later or maybe. But does God smile when he blesses us? I think so.

12) Making Sacrifices

Dogs are famous for giving their lives to protect us. Whether it is the trusty Saint Bernard in the snowy Alps, the sleek and speedy Dalmatian fearlessly charging into a burning building or the brave police dogs who aid our officers in keeping our streets safe: It is the nature of the dog to give his own life, if need be, for us.

It could be required that we become martyrs for God’s sake, and we hope to have the courage to honor God this way. On a more regular basis, we find ourselves asked to make little sacrifices for the glory of God. Whether it is giving scarcely available money to the poor or volunteering at a homeless shelter, food pantry or hospital—we make sacrifices.

It might only be giving up a favorite TV show to pray a Rosary for world peace or for the souls in purgatory. Does God smile at our sacrifices?

Oh, yes, I think so.

Phyllis Schomaker is a retired freelance writer who has coauthored and edited books for Publications International, mostly on self-help and little-known facts about the government. A mother of four and grandmother of nine, she lives in Barnett, Missouri.

[operationrainfall]

Title Luigi’s Mansion 3 Developer Next Level Games Publisher Nintendo Release Date October 31st, 2019 Genre Ghost Hunting Platform Nintendo Switch Age Rating E for Everyone – Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence Official Website

Although Luigi’s Mansion 3 isn’t my first outing with the constantly terrified brother of Mario, it’s the first time I reviewed this series for the oprainfall site. Add on top of that the fact this is the first of Luigi’s ghost hunting adventures on Switch, then the bar for this review was set pretty high. However, as someone who enjoyed the first Luigi’s Mansion way back on Gamecube, as well as the updated spookiness in Dark Moon, I wasn’t too worried about enjoying the game. So long as it brought with it tight controls and substantial content, I was pretty certain I would have a good time. And while that ended up being true, there were a few annoying quibbles that kept this one from a perfect score.

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Luigi’s Mansion 3 starts with Luigi, Mario, Peach and the Toads heading to relax at a new luxury hotel, the Last Resort. They were invited by the proprietor, Hellen Gravely, and after spending most of their time stopping Bowser related crimes, I’m sure it seemed like a nice offer. Our Mushroom Kingdom residents get pleasantly settled, Luigi and Polterpup head to their room, and quickly fall into a calm sleep. Suddenly, that sleep is broken by Peach’s terror stricken scream. Luigi goes to investigate, and can’t find her, Mario or the Toads. Suddenly the golden hued hotel reveals its hidden murky nature. Confused and alarmed, it all clicks into place for Luigi when the elevator dings and reveals Hellen. Turns out, she’s not the proprietor of the hotel at all. In fact, she’s not even alive, she’s a mischievous ghost in disguise! Worse yet, fan girl that she is, Hellen already helped free King Boo, and he managed to quickly capture everyone in magical paintings, and Luigi’s next. The only thing these villains didn’t count on (somehow) was Luigi’s spinelessness, as he runs screaming into the laundry chute, barely avoiding being turned into a piece of art himself.

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It all seems dire, especially since Luigi isn’t initially equipped with his trusty Poltergust. Luckily, thanks to the keen nose of his Polterpup, Luigi quickly comes upon an upgraded model in the basement, and soon finds the Dark-Light attachment. Led by his canine champion, Luigi manages to discover and free a trapped E. Gadd, who instantly wants to flee the hotel. Somehow Luigi manages to fight his own fear, and they instead head back downstairs where the mad professor activates his portable lab, your safe haven and operating base. Turns out, Hellen went after E. Gadd first, and lured him in with the offer of rare ghosts (of course). E. Gadd may be brilliant, but he’s also more than a bit twisted and strange, and rarely sees past his own self interest. And while Luigi may well be a coward, he’s still imbued with the heroic spark to want to save his friends. Together, these two very different men work out a strategy to recover those companions and defeat King Boo again in the process.

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The first step is finding all the elevator’s missing buttons. Those sneaky ghosts have stolen all but one of them, and you have to find and beat ghosts to recover each one. Considering there’s a total of 15 floors, plus two basement areas, that’s a lot of ground to cover. Thankfully, the game is structured in such a way that you’re constantly being led towards the next goal, and you really can’t get lost. Worst case scenario, the path forward may not always be clear, but E. Gadd will generally yell the solution at you if you’re stuck long enough. But if you’re not ready to progress, E. Gadd will instead direct you towards a handy upgrade first, such as the Suction Shot, the Gooigi module and Super Suction. Each item does a good job of opening up exploration possibilities, and I felt they all had their proper place. My main complaint was with Luigi’s Burst move, which has him jump upwards with a gust of air which can occasionally destroy items or open barriers. I never felt using this Burst was intuitive at all, and constantly forgot about it. In a game involving ethereal ghosts you can’t physically touch, it just didn’t seem that relevant to give him an awkward jumping move that could never let you surmount vertical distances. Also, I kind of wish there were a couple more upgrades for your Poltergust G-00. You get most of them relatively early on, and then very late you get the Super Suction, and I only ended up using it once, which felt like a missed opportunity. To be fair though, it’s quite possible there’s other hidden areas where you can also use it, because I didn’t even get close to finding all the optional items in the game during my time reviewing it.

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While each floor doesn’t have a boss, there’s a bunch of them spread throughout the hotel. Each and every one is a delight, looking entirely unique from the others and armed with distinct attack patterns. These were easily a highlight of Luigi’s Mansion 3, and even when I was irritated by some, I still enjoyed fighting them. Though I will suggest you purchase a Gold Bone before each boss fight, since that will let Polterpup revive you if you’re defeated, which happened to me plenty. A few examples of my favorite boss fights were Captain Fishook, a pirate shark that possesses a galleon to try and devour you; King MacFrights, who rushes about a stadium forcing you to stun him and rip his armor away; and Dr. Potter, a twisted gardener who fights you with a ghostly Venus flytrap. Even some of the more annoying fights, such as Clem, a hillbilly water maintenance ghost who fights you atop rubber duckies in a spike lined pool, was worth my time, despite how difficult that battle was. There’s just a ton of personality and creativity on display here, and I’m very happy the usual action was punctuated by these challenging battles.

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When you aren’t fighting bosses in Luigi’s Mansion 3, you’ll spend a lot of time wandering, sucking up ghosts and solving several puzzles. I liked the general flow of things, except when I got totally flummoxed by the occasional head scratcher. Most aren’t that tough, but the first truly difficult one takes place on a movie set. Solving it requires using a bunch of TVs that teleport you to different sets and grabbing items from each. What wasn’t clear to me was that I could hold onto items while teleporting, which was key to getting past the puzzle. Thankfully, I found a solution thanks to the fine folks at Gamers Heroes, but sadly that wasn’t the only time I got stuck. I also got very stuck in the trap-filled pyramid, as well as in a dance hall filled with a ghostly dance troupe. Each of these areas were doubly frustrating since the hints from E. Gadd I received didn’t do enough to dispel my confusion. Thankfully, I wouldn’t say this sort of roadblock was the norm, and generally I got through the Last Resort at a pretty quick clip. My favorite puzzles generally involved clever uses of Gooigi to explore in areas Luigi couldn’t reach, traveling via grates to hidden areas and squishing through spikes. And there’s even a series of cool puzzles in the boiler room that involves water pipes, Luigi, Gooigi and a rubber ducky float.

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More Haunting Fun on Page 2 ->

If you’ve played any previous games in the series, you’re probably wondering about how the controls fare. I would say they work pretty well, with some provisos. It’s easy enough to use one Joy-Con to move my flashlight around and move Luigi with the other. It’s also easy to use the shoulder buttons to suck things up or blow them out. The problems come with how many moves are mapped to a single Joy-Con. To use the Dark-Light, you have to hold X while also using that stick to move it around. If that sounds difficult, that’s because it really was. The same problem happens when I needed to hold the Strobulb with A to unleash a massive flash of light. Neither of these would be as problematic if it didn’t require holding a button and then moving the stick on the same Joy-Con simultaneously. This is also exacerbated by accidentally summoning Gooigi, which is done with a single press of the right stick, and often happened when I was just trying to aim. While I did eventually find a Dark-Light workaround, which was moving Luigi side to side while training the Dark-Light in front of me in a crab-like manner, it was far from comfortable. Only much later did I discover there’s an alternate setup, which is holding L and R and then moving the right stick around to maneuver the beam. Problem was, the game never told me this, and I only found out due to a fellow gamer informing me. I really, really think Luigi’s Mansion 3 should have allowed the remapping of buttons to the other Joy-Con, which would have easily solved many of these problems. Cause while these weren’t enough to make me hate the game, it did turn what could have been a perfect experience into a one that was less enthralling.

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Though I managed to beat the game in a little over 12 hours, there’s a ton of replay value here if you want it. Each floor of the Last Resort has 6 deviously well-hidden Gems, and there’s also tons of vindictive Boos hidden in dark corners. The latter are always tricky to find, though I liked how the vibration feature of the Switch was cleverly used to indicate how close you are to them. There’s also something called Rare Ghosts, which can only be found in the multiplayer mode, though I was unable to find a single one. Because the game kept pushing me forward, I didn’t focus on many of these optional searches, which is probably why I got rewarded with a measly C when I beat the game. I’m glad optional items are there to offer incentive to play longer, though I don’t believe they gate anything truly important behind them. I was under the misconception that after beating the game you couldn’t return to that file and keep hunting, since when you go up to fight King Boo, the game indicated I had reached the point of no return. Considering the game only autosaves, I worried that meant I had to start a new file first, which I did. Thankfully, my friend pointed out that even though Luigi’s Mansion 3 autosaves, it uses multiple autosaves, so you’ll always have the option to go back and play from a different slot, even after you’ve beaten the game. Having said that, I’m still confused by E. Gadd’s Gallery having an empty spot where a boss ghost should be somewhere in the middle.

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I rarely cover multiplayer when I review a game, but given how much Nintendo pushed it for Luigi’s Mansion 3, I felt obligated. Me and a friend tackled the Scare Scraper, since it allowed us to play without both using the same system, unlike Scream Park. Quite frankly, I was very disappointed by the multiplayer. In theory, it sounded fun to wander about, teaming up with a buddy and hunting ghosts. In execution, it was a garbled mess. For one thing, multiplayer doesn’t actually encourage you to play cooperatively. Every time I wandered into a room, the door instantly shut on my partner, forcing me to stop the ghosts solo. You’re also encouraged to split up so you can solve each floor’s mission in the small amount of time allotted. Even though you can grab some more time, you’ll never have enough to lounge around for more than a few seconds, and even with my partner constantly grabbing clocks, we ran out the timer more than once. Each floor seems to have a different mission. The first one was a simple clear all the ghosts in time, whereas the second involved finding and bringing a group of Toads to a safe haven. That mission was royally screwed up because I didn’t realize where to take the Toad, and thought I had safely deposited him, only to have him follow me into another room and get captured by those bastard purple ghosts. When you throw in other features like carpet traps that wrap you up and prevent you from leaving for up to half a minute, and which can oddly only be freed by your partner, you start to see why we didn’t much enjoy Scare Scraper. Thankfully, I almost never play a game focused on the multiplayer, so while I didn’t enjoy it, the experience also didn’t lower my final score any.

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Besides the multiplayer, there were other aspects of the game I didn’t feel were as polished as they could have been. One is that sometimes, the controls are more than a bit finicky. I would occasionally try and suck up a drape, and try getting far enough to rip it off, and not have the right angle to do so. Other times, aiming and firing either plungers or grabbed items with precision was a serious hurdle, especially during tense battles. I also didn’t like how the camera would go farther away from you whenever you summoned Gooigi, making it harder to make out precise details on screen. And while this last one isn’t a serious problem per se, it is worth noting. Despite how much larger the Last Resort is than previous locales in the series, it felt both too short and too long simultaneously. Maybe that was due to the linear focus of the game, but even Dark Moon somehow felt more substantial to me. Perhaps I was just hoping for more freedom to explore like in the original Luigi’s Mansion, but I feel fellow fans should be aware of the issue.

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Visually, I have zero complaints with the game. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is beautiful, haunting and bursting at the seams with goofy humor. Luigi makes the absolute best faces of terror, and even the ghosts show a wide range of personality. I liked how most every floor had a different style and flavor from any other, even when they made absolutely zero sense, such as a pirate ship or pyramid inside a hotel. There’s some really cool environments on display, though one of my all time favorites is the Garden Suites, which involves a giant stalk growing out of control at the hands of a demented gardener. The game also uses color really well, despite the general dark hues the game utilizes, and I never was bored stylistically. And as I stated earlier, the bosses are all great, and have wonderful designs that distinguish them all. Musically, the game is also top notch. There’s not a lot of music tracks, but they all do a good job of keeping you invested and setting the sinister and playful mood. Special shout out to Luigi’s many yells of terror, the startled shrieks of captured ghosts as well as the indescribable noise that Gooigi makes every time he’s summoned, including his trademark “bye bye” when you retrieve him into your tank. And perhaps best of all is the gibberish sounds each character makes while talking, from the chipmunk ramblings of E. Gadd to the screeching metal laughter of King Boo. As far as design goes, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is of the highest caliber.

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In the end, I did still have a great time with Luigi’s Mansion 3, despite the quirks I ran into. Sure it’s not perfect, but fans of the series should be happy, and you still get a lot of game for $59.99. I’m happy this is a Switch exclusive, since it has that trademark Nintendo magic. While I would like it if the overall experience was a bit more polished, I still had a lot of fun exploring the Last Resort. Also, Polterpup and E. Gadd are now some of my favorite Nintendo characters. The puppy is easily the MVP of the entire game, an adorable rescue animal to help the constantly flustered plumber. And E. Gadd is delightfully strange and just twisted enough that I kind of want him to become a villain in the next game. Overall, I’d say this one is worth the price of admission. Here’s hoping it’s not the last haunted adventure of Luigi and company.

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[easyreview cat1title=”Overall” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″]

Review Copy Purchased by Author

REVIEW: Luigi’s Mansion 3 Title Luigi's Mansion 3

[connorrenwick]

Where I Work: Rachel Smith of & SMITH

Rachel Smith is partner of London-based creative agency & SMITH, a firm she co-founded with Dan Bernstein in 2007. & SMITH specializes in branding for hotels, food, and drink, working with companies like Liberty London, LUX* Resorts, Yo! Sushi, Dishoom, Shake Shack, and Ikor Resorts, to name a few. The team works out of their Stoke Newington studio, a light-filled space that’s acts as a white canvas for colorful artwork, plants, and creative ideas. For this month’s Where I Work, Rachel takes us inside to see the agency’s workspace while sharing about her work process.

What’s your studio/work environment like?

Our studio used to be a piano factory, so we have amazing light, huge windows, and very high ceilings. It’s in residential Stoke Newington, a pretty peaceful part of the world and we’re close to a beautiful park and the best local shop in London, I’ve just had a great ice lolly from there. After a good Friday tidy the studio can look pretty cool – but most of the time it’s a very ‘lived in’ space.

How is your space organized/arranged?

We have one long bank of desks, where most people sit. My business partner Dan and I used to be there, too, but we got evicted when the studio got a little larger a few years ago. We now hop between ‘the cave’ (our small meeting room), our main table, next to a designer, out and about, or at home.

How long have you been in this space? Where did you work before that?

Around 6 years. When Dan and I set up in 2008 we were in a small shipping container in Shadwell with a walk outside to get to the sink and toilets. This was definitely a step up for us, and we were so happy to get this space. At the time most of our staff lived within walking difference, which was a big plus.

If you could change something about your workspace, what would it be?

Eating lunch together is one of my favourite things, so maybe a slightly larger communal table. We can all squeeze round – but it can get friendly! I’ve come up with a few terrible ideas over the years on how to extend it – but it thankfully never happens. We do need one more meeting room, oh and a sofa to have a nap on would be nice. I used to nap on a sofa in our old studio in my ‘post working from home’ days.

Is there an office pet?

Nope, I’m not an animal person, I think I’m missing a gene, or I have a pebble for a heart. My studio mostly loves animals though – so I have said if anyone wants a dog, they can bring it in – but they don’t think I’m serious. They’re probably right, so they’ve made friends with a few local cats instead.

Do you require music in the background? If so, who are some favorites?

Yes, we love music in the studio. Our Studio Manager Aimee is a DJ, so she’s mainly responsible for our daily listening. She describes it as a mixture of ‘Soul, R&B, Yacht Rock, Disco and 90’s Nostalgia with a peppering of the 6 Music playlist’.

If it’s left to me, it’s 80/90’s pop, a power ballad or two and some 90’s hip hop classics – I’m very content being stuck in time. A studio classic is Private Dancer by Tina Turner for a Friday end of day, get it up nice and loud to finish the week. I also like to kick projects off with a relevant tune to get the team in the mood, although that did result in Christmas tunes on the hottest day of the year recently. Sorry Sam.

How do you record ideas?

I love an iPhone note or photograph. My iPhone and I are very good friends. It’s either that or any random bit of paper on my desk, which I then usually lose. I’m very messy.

Do you have an inspiration board? What’s on it right now?

We have three inspiration places in the studio, one for magazines, one for general inspiration and one place where Aimee puts up which is new and interesting places to eat, drink, or sleep. On it right now… see above!

What is your typical work style?

At the moment, it’s a bit tightly packed. I had a baby last year so I’m still working on the best work/life balance. I used to only work in the office and enjoyed home being a work-free place. In general, I’m always better much later in the day. We have flextime at work so you can be an early bird or a late worker, and the hours can adapt to suit you.

What is your creative process and/or creative workflow like? Does it change every project or do you keep it the same?

The key to starting every project is spending time with a client, experience the brand and carefully listen to what they are trying to do. No project can start without this.

After that it’s flexible depending on the project and team size. Ideally, we’d have full project briefing all together, then we like to physically immerse ourselves in the world (getting as much eating, sleeping, and drinking done as possible). Sometimes we have a focused team on a creative project for 48 hours – with no distractions.

There’s a midway crit and a presentation at the end to rest of the team. This is way before it gets anywhere near the client.

What kind of art/design/objects might you have scattered about the space?

We probably should have a few more. We have a cool Supermundane mural that he painted for us when we moved in. Oh, and I like our lightbulb Disco sign too, and a large female figure cut out of an illustration we did for a recent project.

Are there tools and/or machinery in your space?

There’s a large walk-in cupboard which has all of our cutting/mock-up equipment in, masking tape, spray mount, rulers, scalpels, etc. Our machinery is just our printer.

What tool(s) do you most enjoy using in the design process?

Scissors, paper, and a nice fat pen. Getting early ideas up on the board and getting busy with some scissors, pens, paper always feels good.

Let’s talk about how you’re wired. Tell us about your tech arsenal/devices.

Just lots and lots of Macs, a mammoth server, and a goliath phone system – all technical terms.

What design software do you use, if any, and for what?

We use InDesign mainly, then Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, Sketch, Pages, Numbers, and our trusty steeds Slack and Streamtime. Slack Attack has well and truly hit our studio in the last year.

What’s on your desk right now?

Normally a load of paper, full up A4 Moleskines, and old status reports/quotes plus a few random pens and my 20-year-old calculator that I stole from Pentagram – that calculator and I have seen some good and bad times. But, let’s be honest, I tidied a little for the shoot so you can now see some nice books and a clear desk. Use your imagination to make this look a lot messier.

LUX*

Dishoom

Is there a favorite project/piece you’ve worked on?

Next year’s projects?! If I had to pick a few past projects, I think LUX* Hotels and Resorts work for the sector challenging ideas and our Art Direction work. Then Dishoom for seeing a project start authentically and getting on board with that journey early on with a strong focus on typography. It’s great to have seen Dishoom grow. Nothing is better than being given license to do great work for someone but then seeing the way that comes to life with the rest of the team’s hard work.

Tell us about a current project you’re working on. What was the inspiration behind it?

We’re working on a really exciting vegan ice cream brand at the moment. I can’t talk about the inspiration yet (as I’d have to kill you) but I’ve loved finding out more about that and also how people shop in the frozen aisle. We throw ourselves into each world and learn so much, this can then influence every project that follows in unexpected ways.

Do you have anything in your home that you’ve designed/created?

Look Up Pin badges and cards for my husband’s print company, a screenprint from one of his events, and a chair covered in my mate’s amazing Marwood fabric – but let’s be honest, I hardly designed this one. I bought the fabric, found the chair, and paid someone else to cover it!

I have many hopes for our house, painting ceilings bright yellow, walls in the garden a Yves Klein Blue, a sculptural polystyrene wall above the stairs, or a Sol Le Witt/Emma Kunz inspired coloured pencil wall mural. But alas, I have no time right now – so these things will all have to wait.

via http://design-milk.com/

from WordPress https://connorrenwickblog.wordpress.com/2019/09/24/where-i-work-rachel-smith-of-smith/

[doodlewash]

Hi! I’m Autumn Linde. I’m a writer, an artist and an elementary school teacher, among many things. I believe curiosity is the best guide. Cookies are best served for breakfast (actually, anytime really), and sharing your unique gifts is a must.

I live, work and explore in the beautiful and weird city of Portland, Oregon. I love to write. I love to create. I love to live a life of wonder and curiosity. And, I love to inspire a more reflective life in others. I hope to do this through my writing and through my visual art.

I once read that the key to happiness is remembering what you loved to do when you were a kid and continuing it as an adult. What was that thing that you could and would spend hours doing, losing all track of time? What was that thing you woke up thinking about in the morning and fell asleep thinking about at night?

For me, that thing was creating stories through art and words, and sharing them with others. Now that I’ve grown up to be a much bigger kid, I still find myself returning to those things, coming up with stories and illustrations.

I consider my style to be narrative and whimsical. Through my work, it is my hope to inspire potential stories in the viewer or maybe spark a question to ponder about the subject they see—Now where would a rabbit get such a fancy bowtie? Where could be off to? Who lives in that wonky house? How was that made?

Or, better yet, maybe I inspire a timid artist to give painting or drawing a chance.

As an elementary school teacher, I make a multitude of decisions every hour, every minute and, seemingly, every two seconds. I spend my day reacting and responding, attempting to analyze and judge every decision I make in hopes of an improved outcome.

Needless to say, when the end of the day comes, I’m tapped. I’m exhausted. Even deciding what I want to eat for dinner seems laborious. I don’t want to make any more decisions. I just want to be. My guess is that you don’t need to be a teacher to know this feeling.

When it comes to art, depending on the project, sometimes I don’t always want to dwell in my thinking and judging brain, having to make those multitudes of decisions. I want to create using my intuition and instinct. I think this is an important balance for all creatives.

If I am working on a book or commissioned piece, I tend to work with much more intention and from within that place of thinking and judging. I love this work. I love solving creative problems through the thinking and the judging. But, it is also important to give myself a break from this place.

So, at times, I will pull out my favorite supplies— a Canson XL mix media pad, my Koi travel watercolor set, a water brush, a Micron ink pen, a mechanical pencil, and my trusty kneaded eraser — and just go for it. I don’t think. I work from a flicker of inspiration, a doodle, a squiggle and simply start, allowing myself to not worry about making a mess or creating something that will never be posted on Instagram for others to see.

This starting moment isn’t about that. It’s about play and intuitive creation. This is an excellent way to warm up before tackling a piece that needs more precision.

My favorite way to begin, especially if I am stuck, is by making blobs of watercolor on a piece of paper. Many art instructors that I’ve had the honor to learn from tend to guide their students through this activity, and it is one I continually go back to.

After the blobs of paint are dry, then I take my ink pen and make them into something straight out of my imagination. Usually, these little blobs become whimsical animals or crazy birds. What I love about this exercise is that it frees you from wanting to draw something perfectly or specific, which often paralyzes most of us when staring down a blank page.

And, as a bonus, a lot of my finished pieces come from these exercises because it allows me to work things out on a page in my sketchbook and get inspired by something that I never thought of before. Think of these as the rough draft to a finished piece. I also think it’s a great way to flesh out a style.

Sometimes, I scribble with the ink pen first then add layers of watercolor. I make marks with a pencil. I fling and splash paint, adding shading and more layers until it becomes something. At times, the watercolor I first paint with becomes a base layer for other media such as pastels, colored pencils or even acrylics, which I layer on top. If it’s one thing that I have learned about art, it’s all about the layers!

Working this way is a time to be messy. And, I don’t erase. In fact, I love when I can still see the original pencil marks peeking through a piece. I honestly don’t know how it will turn out, and that can be equally scary but very freeing. Sometimes it’s garbage. Sometimes it’s a piece that shocks me, making me question as to whether I actually did create it.

Working from an intuitive place is not only inspiring and freeing, but also healing. It’s a time I practice trusting my abilities, trusting my inner voice, trusting that my hands and fingers will work in sync with that intuition. It’s a time I learn how to grow as an artist and trust my abilities a little more, which I otherwise question and doubt daily.

In fact, I believe very strongly that in order to be a creative, you must practice trusting your inner voice equally as much as learning how to reflect and analyze your work deeply. Lose the fear, if even only for a few moments. Lose the need to control every decision at every moment. Too much of that attempt to control will zap creativity. At least, it does for me.

How can you practice using your intuition today? And in what way can you make space to rely on your instincts and let go of a perfect outcome?

I hope you make a scribbly, blobby mess today.

Happy creating!

Autumn Linde Website My Shop Instagram Facebook

#WorldWatercolorGroup - GUEST ARTIST: "Stay Curious And Make A Mess!" by Autumn Linde - #doodlewash #watercolor Hi! I’m Autumn Linde. I’m a writer, an artist and an elementary school teacher, among many things.

[operationrainfall]

Title Katana ZERO Developer Askiisoft Publisher Devolver Digital Release Date April 17th, 2019 Genre Action platformer Platform Nintendo Switch Age Rating M for Mature 17+ – Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs, Violence Official Website

It took all of my significant willpower not to litter this review of Katana ZERO with story spoilers. The game was so brooding, engaging and mysterious that I wanted to lay it all on the table and psychoanalyze every juicy detail. But for the sake of those who have yet to play this indie gem, I decided to hold myself back as much as humanly possible. Going into the game, all I really expected was a flashy and violent game, but instead Askiisoft (the team behind Tower of Heaven and OverPowered) brought their A effort. This is a dark, edgy and mysterious game, and one I’m happy I had the chance to cover. To see why I feel that way, just keep on reading.

After watching the Nintendo Direct trailer for Katana ZERO, all I really expected was an uber-violent action game. I would have been perfectly fine with that. But what I never could have deduced was how much lore sets the stage for the story. Sure, the violence is there and it’s a lot of fun, but that’s almost just the window dressing. The lasting appeal of this game is the unique story, and the way it is told. You play a silent assassin who lives in New Mecca whom the public knows as The Dragon. Your past is something of a blur, but you have a medal of honor from a bloody war that occurred a few years back. You’re given mission dossiers by a dour therapist who checks your state of mind after missions, and also gives you a handy booster shot. If that all sounds a little sketchy, that’s good. Cause this is a game that constantly made me doubt the trustworthiness of the narrators and characters. It also quickly becomes a game where you can’t even trust your own eyes, as reality becomes twisted and time itself seems to turn against you.

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Speaking of time, that brings us to the game’s unique combat twist. For reasons I won’t get into, your character is able to manipulate time. This is not only handy, it’s necessary for survival, since one hit and you’re toast. Thanks to your time manipulation, you can literally rewind the clock when you die, and you’ll die a lot. More useful is how you can slow things down to an utter crawl. While that does give you a distinct advantage, it’s not an unfair one. For one thing, you also go slower when using this skill. For another, you don’t get any real protection, and if a slow moving bullet hits you, you’ll die all the same. Oh and you have a meter that controls how long you can slow time, and once it’s depleted, it takes a while to cool down until you can use it again. In other words, the time control is a wonderful mechanic, but it is one that forces you to use it sparingly and think strategically. In fact, the entire game encourages careful consideration. Even though it’s full of combat, each room you enter is like a miniature puzzle, and it’s up to you to solve it while ensuring your survival.

I’m more than a little pleased with myself that I managed to take this screenshot.

Having said all that, keep in mind you still have a ton of freedom in how you go about executing your enemies. There’s no wrong way, so if you prefer going full kamikaze, you’re welcome to. If you are more of a stealthy ninja type, that works too. I personally preferred the more violent style, and rarely did much sneaking. Just be flexible, cause the enemies you face are smart and pay attention, and if you alert one of them, they’ll usually bring friends to investigate. But on the plus side, they’re just as fragile as you are, and connecting once with your katana blade will do them in. Thankfully, that’s not the only tool you have at your disposal. You’ll find a variety of them as you prowl each area, and they also do a great job of killing things. Better yet, many items can be thrown at foes, which opens up even more opportunities. Items will range from blunt instruments, like daggers and statue busts, to smoke grenades and much more. Just keep in mind these items are all single use, so you’ll need to get adept at using your trusty katana.

Bet you didn’t know that being an assassin requires good mental health.

My favorite thing about the katana is how fluid and effortless it makes combat. Though you can’t throw it, it has a pretty good range, and you’re able to use it while dodging. Even better is how you can slash upwards and diagonally, and you’ll get a little bit of an aerial lift. You’re like a murderous dolphin, and have a great economy of movement. I took great joy in waiting in stairwells for thugs to patrol, leaping into the air sword-first and dispatching them. But perhaps coolest of all is how your katana can deflect bullets. Yes, you heard that right. It takes precise timing, but by freezing time just after a foe shoots a bullet, you’ll have ample time to swing and deflect it back at them. I took a while before I got good at this technique, but once I did, the combat really opened up. But before you get too cocky, understand that you can only realistically deflect two bullets before your time manipulation meter runs out, and you have almost no chance of deflecting a shotgun blast (though I did miraculously manage to do that once).

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Besides the glorious combat, there’s also a shocking amount of story. There are recurring themes about substance abuse, the horrors of war, and the resilience of humanity. I was deeply surprised by the extent of branching paths in Katana ZERO. The game will remember your conversation responses and will react accordingly. Case in point, when I snuck into a building to murder my mark, the receptionist asked why I was dressed so strangely. I picked the most hilarious option, which was that I was cosplaying as “Pinkachu”. I met that same receptionist more than once, and her belief that I was a Pokémon cosplayer not only led to humorous results, it even let me avoid some trigger happy police. Depending on your dialogue decisions, you’ll also reveal little glimpses of the plot, and open up more options. It’s really satisfying, least of all because the writing for the game is really, really good. I didn’t find any grammatical problems at all in the dense script, and that made me enjoy the experience even more. When you toss a really quirky cast of characters into the mix, you have the makings of something special.

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It would have been enough if everything I said thus far was the extent of it, but the excellence found in the other areas also applies to the visual side of things. Even if you don’t love pixel art, you’d be hard pressed not to find wonder in Katana ZERO. There’s a ton of bloody detail, neon-drenched lighting and wonderful character design. Normally I’d find something negative to say about the sound design, but that impressed me too. I love how they alternate between classical music in the calm moments and hard-rocking club music for the combat sections. The sound effects add to this as well, with the screams of foes, the gush of arterial spray and other elements that add to the grungy noir atmosphere of the game.

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Now, while I loved almost every aspect of Katana ZERO, there were a couple small areas it faltered. One is that, wonderful as the story is, it was a bit hard to decipher at times. For one, I can’t say with certainty I understand the backstory for the main character, nor the motivations of others. That didn’t make things any less enjoyable, but I also have a fuller appreciation of things I fully understand. Also, though the autosave feature worked most of the time, there was one time that it didn’t, and forced me to replay one chapter. Lastly, though the game is a lot of fun, it’s also very short. I couldn’t have spent more than 4-5 hours playing it, and though there is a bit of replay value if you want to choose different branching paths and try for different endings, I still wish I was able to spend more time in this world.

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Having said all that, it’s impossible for me not to recommend Katana ZERO. Not only is it a great game, it’s a perfect example of why I have such faith in indies. For $14.99, you get a fantastic and unique action platformer with some of the most phenomenal boss fights I’ve ever experienced. Sure, it could be longer and the plot could make more sense, but it’s still a wild and satisfying ride. And when you factor in how one ending hints at a sequel, it’s very possible my minor complaints could be cleared up in the near future. I’m really happy Askiisoft and Devolver Digital brought this gem to Switch, and I can’t wait to see the next game they have up their voluminous sleeves.

[easyreview cat1title=”Overall” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″]

Review Copy Provided by Publisher

REVIEW: Katana ZERO Title Katana ZERO