#only the coat hasn’t been remade along the way

[silverfoxstole]

Believe it or not (and you probably won’t but it’s true), before I got McGann approval for my Eighth Doctor cosplay last month I hadn’t actually put a photo of it side by side with the original. Looking at them together I’m really proud of how well it turned out!

[absoluteyoongit]

Just Dance pt. 1

⇢ pairing: bestfriend!Hoseok x dancer!Reader, more pairings to come

⇢ genre: fluff

⇢ word count: 1.7K

⇢ warnings: just some swearing

⇢ series summary: Jung Hoseok, your best friend since childhood, is one of the best parts of your life. You have always supported him with everything, including his band BTS. Hoseok always kept you a secret from the rest of the group, but now he’s ready to introduce you to everyone. Who knew your presence would improve the members lives, one more than others.

⇢ author’s note: Hey guys! This is the first part of a series I'm concocting. Not much happens in this chapter, it’s just setting the scene, but I hope you all like it. I hopefully will post a new update once a week. So stay tuned!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

You have always been the type of person to let one thing after another pile up and completely ruin your day. Today was just one of those fucking days that wouldn’t let you catch a break.

You looked up just to see heavy dark clouds fill the sky. You frown as the first couple drops hit your forehead, your mood instantly plummeting further down the drain.

“Why does it have to rain right now,” you mumbled aloud as you continued trudging home from work.

The tapping of rain on your head was the last thing you needed right now. The steady tempo lulled you into a stupor and all you could think about was how horrible your day was as you mindlessly walked home.

Your alarm had not woken you up this morning like it usually did, making you rush out of the house without breakfast so you could make it to class. The professor didn’t appreciate your sweaty asthma induced labor walking in 15 minutes late for class. Your sheepish smile hid the actual heat death of the only dignity you had left.

At work, a woman complained three times in a row that her coffee was made incorrectly and you had to remake that very coffee three times in a row. By the third time you remade her drink you could had killed that Karen with the glare that hid behind the sickly sweet smile on your face. That was when your boss told you to go home, no longer able to put up with your attitude.

You huffed remembering how the woman’s nose turned up every time she practically threw her coffee back at you. It wasn’t like you didn’t know what you were doing. You have been working at the same damn coffee shop for three years now and not one person complained about your coffee before.

Now it rained even harder, the cold seeping into your bones. The fuzzy coat you wore today did nothing but capture more rain and your feet squished inside of your sneakers. You were soaked and bitter.

All you wanted right now was to warm up and cheer up. You made it your mission to always have some happiness during the day even if the majority of it sucked. Coming to a stop at an intersection you finally raised your head up seeing the road that would lead you home and the road that would lead you to the dance studio you volunteered part-time at.

You knew that no classes were being held right now and your manager, Joowon, would be just handling desk work. You could have the whole studio to yourself to dance freely.

With new determination you spun on your heels and headed toward the studio. The heaviness of your shoulders immediately lessened. You had a pretty average but busy life, but you would always find time for dancing. It always put you in a good mood.  

By the time you reached the dance studio your face was beaming. Pulling the front door open blasted you with the warmth you knew you would find.

Sliding your feet across the mat at the door you removed the matted fuzzy coat you were wearing. With the jacket gone you felt ten pounds lighter but even with the main culprit gone you were still completely drenched. 

“Joowon-oppa! Where are you! I am in desperate need of a hug.”

“I am in the office! Where else would I be?”

A sly smile crept onto your face as you tiptoed over to your friend, trying to keep the squeaks of your shoes down to a minimum. You knew that the studio was pretty soundproof and Joowon probably has not noticed the heavy amounts of rain falling from the sky.

Opening the office door with a small creek, you saw the back of Joowon. He was a few yes older than you, not that it would matter, but he wasn’t the type to care for honorifics. He was one of your only friends, the older brother type who I could always count on if I needed help, and you were so grateful for him.

Joowon’s shoulders looked tense and his hair was disheveled, like he had ran a mile through his hair. The air around him suggested that he was also not having the greatest day, which made you sad.

Maybe a nice hug would brighten his day.

“Joowon!” You yelled, throwing your arms around his shoulders.

The combination of your damp skin and clothes, along with your sudden outcry had Joowon jump in his seat. 

“Yah! Y/n. Don’t do that,” Joowon huffed, grasping his chest, looking at you with wide eyes.

You shrugged, tucking some wet hair behind your ear, “You knew I was here. Should’ve expected that from me honestly.”

Joowon gave an annoyed look, “You could have scared me and not gotten me wet,” he gestured to his now slightly damp back.

Shrugging again, you went around and plopped down in the chair across from him. “I’m sorry. You looked kinda stressed so I wanted to loosen you up a bit. Did it work?”

You stared at him expectedly wanting an answer to his dejected look.

Joowon sighed looking back down, “I am just working out some money stuff. Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing too bad yet.”

He raised his gaze back to yours as you raised your eyebrows in worry and disbelief. 

“I promise if something was really wrong I would let you know,” he let out with a small chuckle.

You nodded in acceptance. This place was like a second home to you and Joowon knew it. He would let you know if he was in jeopardy. Standing up, you headed towards the door. 

“Okay. I am gonna head to studio one,” glancing back at your friend, “Please let me know though if I can do anything to help.”

“I will.”

--------

You stared at your reflection in the wall to wall mirror of the studio. You wore one of the backup outfits you had stashed in the office for situations like this. It was just a plain black sports bra with blood red biker shorts. While it was one of the simpler looks you usually wore, it was one of the ones that made you feel the most powerful.

Turning to the phone in your hand you scrolled through songs you were planning on creating choreography for to post on your YouTube channel. That was you. y/n: part-time barista, part-time student, part-time dance instructor, part-time youtuber.

You only made dance videos. It wasn’t much deeper than that, even though some fans comment on how they would love if you vlogged or had sit downs with them. You just wanted a space to share your love of dancing.

Nothing was catching your eye as you scrolled through the music. “What am I feeling? What am I feeling, huh?” you mumbled before your eyes landed on a certain song. A small smile graced your face. Content with your decision, you set it to repeat and played the song.

The sound of gunshot echoing in the room got you riled up as UGH! by BTS started playing over the speakers.

Relaxing, you let your body move to the music, feeling it out. Your process to create choreography was to do what felt right with the music and refining it from there.

You loved BTS. Not just because they were talented and made great music but because your best friend since childhood, Jung Hoseok, was one of the members.

As the song ended for the tenth time, you felt like you made enough progress for the day. You were sure that you would have a fully-fledged out dance by the end of the week.

As you packed up, your mind wandered to Hoseok. You missed him so much. He was your only friend growing up and dancing was something you both shared.

All the days and nights practicing, the breakdowns when either of you thought you were not good enough, all the times Hoseok cried to you when his father would belittle him. Those memories and experiences forged an unbreakable bond that is still strong, even with him traveling the world.

You were always his number one supported and he never forgot that.

When BTS first debuted, he had called you first, basically screaming at you over the phone in excitement. You obviously matched his excitement tenfold, jumping and yelling with him. That was one of your happiest memories.

You have been with Hoseok every step of the way; comforting him when haters said he was ugly and untalented, facetiming each other to create choreography for their songs and even helping him write lyrics.

You were his secret weapon. Literally a secret because he hasn’t told the other boys about you. He wanted you to be his best friend. He didn’t want to share and he knew he would have to if the others knew about you. You were just that special to him. A piece of home.

You didn’t mind keeping your existence a secret, knowing how much it meant to him. You just wanted to have a happy and supported Hoseok, no matter what you had to do. Even if that meant pretending to be his mother when another member would interrupt your call, or hiding from view when Jimin would make an appearance during one of your studio facetimes sessions.

It was all worth it. Even if it meant seeing him in person less when he was home or losing sleep to talk to him when there was a large time difference. You would do anything to not lose him. He was one of the best things in your life.

Hoseok supported and loved you as much as you loved him. He would express it as often and in as many ways as he could. Sometimes he would mobile order your favorite coffee when he was on the other side of the world.

You finished packing and started your trek back home. Thankfully it had stopped raining but that didn’t stop you from splashing in puddles on the way.  You smiled at the thought of Hoseok; It had been a week since you last talked to him and to you that was unacceptable.

You’ll have to call him when you get home and ask how he’s doing.

[aaetherius]

@lucisflos​

The princess smiled and joined him on the deck as the other crew members were exchanging gifts she placed his old sword that was remade to be stronger and sharper so he can use it in battle."I had it reforged so it can it be stronger I hope you like it and also Merry Christmas Lucifer."

Unprompted || Always Accepting (feel free to turn into threads)!

                                                           ★ ☆ ✮ ✯ ―☼ ― ★ ☆ ✮ ✯

     The buzz of idle chatter lingering in the frigid air where much of the crew was gathered about the deck of the ship - exchanging gifts with one another and reminiscing about the year that has passed them by. From where he sits upon the rail, gaze shifting from group to group to the stars that shimmer well above the translucent sails of the Grandcypher. The first traces of frost can be seen clinging to the masts, and his breath is visible in the air when he exhales into the night chill - a gloved hand extended out before him, fingers exposed despite the weather - as he watches delicate flakes of snow collect upon his palm and then melt against the slick fabric. A gentle smile is painted upon his immaculate features as he watches them flutter in the soft breeze, and counts the growing number that collect within his own hand to the cacophony of joyful and excited voices that ring out in the background. Talk of the holiday, and of the gifts that have exchanged hands, and he’s hardly without taking part himself. He had read about Christmas in several books over the countless years he’s watched over the skies and observed mortals from afar - one of many holidays he had learned about, though had never had the chance to take part in before now. And, so, he had eagerly offered up a handful of gifts to various crew members he had gotten close to over the years, and to Sandalphon and the four Primarchs as well. Choosing what to give everyone had been rather difficult, but the girl in blue and the crimson dragon had been rather helpful on his various trips to the market as he tried to pick out suitable presents for everyone.    

       He found the overall atmosphere of the holiday to be rather pleasant - the crew was in a good mood as they rambled about this and that. The aroma of sweets ranging from cookies to brownies to tart candies mixed with the far more down-to-earth scent of coffee and hot cocoa and tea. The soft glow from the colorful lights that had been strung up all around the ship cast countless rainbows upon polished wood and the delighted faces of the crew. And, though it was cold, the thick coats and scarves the others wore kept them from shivering against the faint snowfall that dotted the frame of the ship. His free hand, the one not busy collecting snow for himself, was wrapped about a mug of coffee - steam rolling from the murky depths of the creamy blend as he took sips of it to keep the cold at bay. His attention only shifts from the mug and snow when he hears the sound of footfalls upon the wood of the deck, and his mystified gaze rolls upwards from his palm to fall upon Lucina when he spots her. A smile of greeting dancing along his lips as he sets his cup down in a safe spot before the soles of his boots gracefully land upon the deck once more. Snow tumbling from where it had collected upon his head, shoulders, and hand, and falling about his feet. 

      His head tilts slightly to the side at her words - the remaining swords at his back feel a tad bit strange without the final member of the matching set that he had lent her some days ago upon her asking. And, ah, now he sees why she had wished to borrow it from him. That had been damaged during one of his fights with the otherworldly creatures, and though he had repaired it, there were still scratches along its blade, and he had yet to address them following his own revival given that he no longer harbored the power he once had. But it puts his core at ease to see it whole and shimmering beneath the stars once more. These swords, after all, have been at his side for thousands of years - they were a part of him, in their own way, and it pained him to see one of them in such poor condition, but troubling the crew over such a thing seemed unreasonable to him. So, hands reach out to accept the blade from her once more - fingers running over the intricate design upon the sheath before his fingers wrap about the hilt, and he draws the blade seamlessly. Its silver glittering in the night air as it leaves the safety of its cover, and he admires the job that’s been done on it in awed silence for a moment before he realizes he hasn’t said anything yet, and quickly sheathes it once more.  

       “You have my thanks, Lucina.” He gingerly adds the sword to the belt the remaining two are hitched to before he dusts the snow from his palm, and looks over at her. “It’s wonderful, and I am grateful you would think to do such a thing for me. I will make certain it is well taken care of going forward.” He can only pray the gift he had gotten her brings her as much joy as this act of kindness has given him. His own stance feeling gar more natural now that all three blades are as they should be, even if they will no longer see much use. He supposes, though, that they’ve earned this time of peace for all the battles he’s fought with them, for as long as it may remain, and he prays that it will be one that stretches out for some time. “Merry Christmas, Lucina, I pray this day and the following year finds you in good health, and treats you kindly.”   

[jasonfry]

With baseball quickly approaching (for who knows how long), time for a pandemic installment of Classic Movies Everyone’s Seen But Me!

Summertime (1955) 

David Lean works small (for him) in terms of both running time and vistas. He does a wonderful job with Venice, making the city practically a character in its own right -- and as someone who knows Venice well and loves it, I only caught Lean cheating on the geography a couple of times.

The real star isn’t the setting but Katherine Hepburn. Hepburn plays Jane Hudson, a middle-aged secretary from Akron, Ohio, who claims to have given up on romance. She hasn’t, of course, but it appears as if romance has given up on her -- Jane is a third wheel for the movie’s other couples and feels left out of even men on the make’s appraisals, spending the early part of the movie bonding with a street kid and the widow who runs her pensione. I’d write that it’s the kind of part that wasn’t written for actresses in the 1950s, but it’s the kind of part that isn’t written for actresses today. Hepburn inhabits the character beautifully, letting you see Jane’s hesitation and heartbreak in piercing scenes that sometimes rely entirely on body language, and Lean gives her the space to work, even when it’s an uncomfortable experience. A near-flawless performance.

The love story feels a little slight at first, but the ambiguity about what you should feel is intriguing. (Apparently this was even more the case in The Time of the Cuckoo, the play upon which Summertime was based.) Extra points for the Code-evading shot that tells us two characters have consummated their relationship. It’s only slightly subtler than the famous conclusion of North by Northwest.

Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941)

Claude Rains has a marvelous time as the title character, an unruffled bureaucrat in charge of the afterlife who has to fix the case of a boxer taken up to Heaven a bit too soon. (The film was remade in the 70s with Warren Beatty and called Heaven Can Wait, the name used in its first incarnation as a play.) Rains is terrific, but the rest of the movie is pretty forgettable: Robert Montgomery is genial but not particularly memorable as prizefighter Joe Pendleton, and the plot logic breaks down completely in the endgame. 

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Another Rains vehicle, in he stars as the evil Prince John, scheming brother of Richard the Lionhearted and foe of Robin Hood, played (of course) by Errol Flynn. Rains somehow retains his dignity despite a horrific wig and some astonishing costumes -- there’s one black and silver getup whose shoes have to be seen to be believed.

But all the characters are wearing ridiculous things all the time, shown off via the movie’s thoroughly saturated palette. There are men-at-arms in purple and pink motley, the merry men’s green tights, Flynn’s honest-to-goodness bedazzled emerald top, a lady-in-waiting’s Fancy Shriner fez, and we haven’t even discussed the get-ups Olivia de Havilland sports. The costume designer whizzes past All Too Much before the first reel’s over and just keeps going. And the dialogue keeps up with the costumes. Robin Hood may be the campiest movie I’ve ever seen -- it makes The Birdcage look like Shoah. 

Flynn is capable with a sword and performs his stunts with swashes properly buckling, but man oh man could he not act. He has two basic expressions: fighting and making merry, and looks a little lost when the story requires him to investigate whether a situation requires choosing between the two.

Fortunately that doesn’t happen too often, and you’ll have fun anyway. This is the template for about a billion adventure stories made since then, and it’s entertaining even when you’re not elbowing the other person on the couch to point out what was waiting in Claude Rains’s dressing room this time. Think of it as a live-action cartoon and enjoy the ride.   

Love in the Afternoon (1957)

Audrey Hepburn is the innocent, cello-playing daughter of a Paris private investigator (Maurice Chevalier) who interferes with her father’s work by preventing an American playboy (Gary Cooper) from getting shot by a jealous husband, then pretends to outdo the playboy at his own no-consequences game.

The story is light and amusing, with Chevalier ably serving as the fulcrum who helps it turn into something poignant and more interesting at the end. (The voiceover as coda, by the way, was added for Code reasons.) And Billy Wilder (co-writing and directing) guides the ship with a light, skilled hand -- the scenes between Cooper’s Frank Flanagan and his hired band are particularly fun.

There’s a fatal flaw, though: While Hepburn has never been more luminous, Cooper is too old to be the leading man. Wilder knew this, using soft focus and dim lighting in an effort to be kind that just calls attention to the movie’s fatal flaw. Moreover, Flanagan’s neither particularly interesting nor pleasant, so you never believe Hepburn’s Ariane would actually be interested in him. (He’s rich, granted, but she doesn’t seem to care about that.)

Directors kept doing this to Audrey Hepburn in the 1950s: Three years earlier, Wilder stuck her with a half-rotted Humphrey Bogart in Sabrina; in 1957 she also had to put up with a mummified Fred Astaire in Funny Face. Beyond the fact that it’s creepy, it doesn’t work for those stories. 

I’m going to look on the bright side: Hepburn deserves even more adulation than she gets, since she rises above her AARP romantic leads to carry all three pictures.

The 39 Steps (1935)

A clever early Hitchcock I found intriguing because you can see the visible language of film evolving before your eyes. Some scenes look utterly modern, with intriguing camera angles and blocking, but they’re right next to oddly static compositions, or scenes filled with cuts that cross the line for no apparent reason. But there’s also a justifiably famous transition shot from a cleaning woman’s horrified discovery to a train whistle, a tricky perspective change from inside a car, and some other nice surprises.

The movie is a prototype Hitchcock thriller, with a plot that carries you along provided you don’t ask too many questions. (Or any questions, really.) But the movie hits its stride surprisingly late, coming into focus once Robert Donat’s Richard Hannay winds up manacled to Madeleine Carroll’s Pamela. Hang around that long and you’ll be well entertained.

McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971)

This one made my list because it was an inspiration for Solo, a Star Wars spinoff movie I think deserved a better reception and suspect will be viewed more fondly in time. Yep, that’s Warren Beatty’s fur coat that Alden Ehrenreich wears, and the bar Beatty visits in the town of Presbyterian Church is a dead ringer for the one where Han and Lando Calrissian meet over cards.

So that was fun. As for the rest, after my usual post-movie reading, I get what Robert Altman was going for. This is an anti-Western that relentlessly inverts the genre’s tropes, with the climactic gunfight happening not in the center of town before all eyes, but scarcely noticed as the townspeople rush to put out a fire.

But I found that more interesting to read about than to watch. I was never invested in Beatty’s McCabe or Julie Christie’s Mrs. Miller, finding them less memorable than a young visitor who runs afoul of trouble (Keith Carradine) or the lead bounty hunter sent after McCabe (Hugh Millais, exuding genial menace).

Still, the movie has a powerful sense of place, I keep finding myself thinking about it, and lots of people whose opinions I respect consider it a classic. So perhaps I’ll revisit this one someday. But for now, my conclusion is that I’m missing whatever gene you need to appreciate chilly, airless Hollywood art-house movies of the 1970s -- a movement, ironically, that screeched to a halt when Jaws and Star Wars introduced the era of the summer blockbuster.

[metalgearkong]

MediEvil 2019 - Review (PS4)

10/28/19

Developed by Other Ocean Emeryville / Sony Computer Entertainment, released October 2019

It has risen again! The original MediEvil from 1998 is one of my favorite games of all time, and one of the games I have completed the most. Like other games from the PS1 era, I discovered MediEvil on a demo disc and replayed it constantly. I loved the Nightmare Before Christmas aesthetics and music, and liked that it stared a cowardly bumbling skeleton. The late 90′s was a time of experimentation for 3D action/adventure games, and while some people hold Ocarina of Time or Super Mario 64 as their favorites of the genre, MediEvil has always been my personal favorite. MediEvil II released two years later, but lost a lot of its appeal for me because it took place in Victorian London instead of the graveyards and spooky locations of the original. MediEvil: Resurrection was made in 2005 for the PSP, but was more of a re-imagining of the original game, and not a true remake.

I had heard about MediEvil being remade yet again a couple years ago, but tried to have tempered expectations, and not buy into what could amount to be rumors. I imagined it would be akin to a big screen version of MediEvil: Resurrection, or at least the developers would butcher the original game. Last year was when I saw the trailer for this MediEvil remake, and I felt more confident in it. While most people were anticipating big triple-A or franchise games for 2019, my sights and hopes were dead set on this. Finally, after all this time of waiting, MediEvil 2019 has released exclusively for the PS4, and I couldn’t be happier with the final product. Other Ocean Emeryville has created a deeply loyal and extremely faithful remake of the original game I cherish so much, but I feel like only true fans will be able to truly appreciate it for the accomplishment it is.

Before I talk about the game proper, I have to elaborate on the unexpected odyssey it took to actually get the game going. Not only do I have to make a three hour round trip to the nearest Gamestop to get a copy, the game had to immediately download a day one patch: version 1.01. This update was a massive 16GB, and with my super slow mountainous wi-fi speed, my PS4 predicted it would take at least 50 hours. There was no option to begin the game without this update. I was floored. It put me in a state of blue-balled depression and denial. So I took my TV, PS4, and all the necessary cords, and physically hooked in my PS4 to my work’s ethernet cable in a public building, hoping no one would disturb it. The estimated time dropped to a meager four hours, and it made me feel a lot better. Ironically, my PS4 only realized I didn’t have enough storage space to download the update, and somewhere along the line it quit. Thankfully, it let me play after giving up.

Expectations mean a lot, and leading up to this MediEvil releasing, I intentionally did not do a lot of research on the game in order to discover it in person as I was playing. I didn’t realize this was a fully committed remake of the original. MediEvil: Resurrection disappointed me because it changed a bunch about the game and left out a lot of my favorite levels. 2019′s MediEvil recreates every inch of the original game with modern graphics. I was so thrilled I can’t even describe how cool it was to see one of my favorite games of all time with a new coat of skin, especially because I never thought THIS game would be chosen to be remade. Not only that, but the game uses the same exact audio for most of the dialog; each and every gargoyle head and character Dan meets plays the same audio as I’ve had engraved in my skull for over twenty years, only with new character models and more elaborate animations.

The developers even used the same music for each level, only re-recorded it with only small differences or flourishes. Even insignificant things like textures on a doorway or on the ground were recreated in 3D to look just like they did. I would have been perfectly okay with the developers simply using modern graphics and textures to remake certain pieces of architecture or focal points in this game, but no, every corner of Gallowmere represented the original locations, and I constantly had to pick my jaw off the floor (no offense Dan). Cinematics also play out exactly the same, with the same camera angles and movements. Part of me thinks about how maybe Other Ocean Emeryville could have taken these short cinematics sprinkled throughout the game and elaborated slightly on lore, but that would veer dangerously close to a “re-imagining” territory, and I’m just thankful everything is kept so faithful in the end.

The banished necromancer Zarok has raised an army of the dead to conquer the realm of Gallowmere. Unwittingly, Zarok also brought back to life Sir Daniel Fortesque, King Peregrine's captain of the militia, who perished embarrassingly years prior in an earlier battle against Zarok and his armies. After Fortesque’s death, fables, songs, and legends told of his false bravery and battlefield accomplishments, but now he has the opportunity to live up to his own mythical status as the hero of Gallowmere. I’ve always loved this story, wherein the bad guy accidentally raises the very hero who would thwart him. I’ve always loved Dan because he’s so unlike most knights and heroes. He has to live up to his own reputation, and prove those wrong who know what truly happened. We play as Dan and travel from the hum drum graveyards of Gallowmere all the way through more exotic levels such as a pumpkin gorge filled with demonic pumpkins, crystal caverns filled with Minotaur-like monsters, an enchanted forest containing a demonic prison, and much more.

The first advantage to the modernization of this game was being able to see the Hilltop Mausoleum (the 2nd level) from The Cemetery (the 1st level). It would make sense if you had an expansive cemetery, and the very next level, adjacent to that level, had a massive building on top of a hill, and you could see it from far away. As a PS1 game I’d never expect to see something like that, but with this remake, they had the care to include things such as this, which only helps the world feel that much more real and connected. The controls and mechanics are nearly the same as the original as well, only made slightly more convenient. Dan can still equip a one-handed weapon and a shield, and switch between weapons in a menu. He can block attacks, but only as long as the shield’s HP holds out, until you need to find a new one. Dan has all the same moves as the original, but the more free-form camera makes the game a bit more convenient to play by making platforming and seeing things easier.

As you slay enemies in each level, you fill a chalice, and bringing back a full chalice to the end of each respective level grants you a visit to the Hall of Heores before the next level begins; this world’s version of Valhalla, where the most accomplished heroes of history drink, feast, and arm wrestle for eternity. A side goal of this game is to collect the chalice from every level so Dan can also become a member of this ethereal warrior’s afterlife (twenty in all). This is something I struggled with as a kid, but in the past many years I’ve always gone out of my way to make sure Sir Fortesque gets into the Hall of Heroes where he rightfully deserves to be. Sometimes items can be found in a level which are to be used in entirely different levels, something the game only hints at. Case in point are the Ant Caves, which is a maze-like level hidden within a level that is completely optional to complete (but not if you want all twenty chalices). 

Some of the original game’s drawbacks could be regarded as similar drawbacks for this remake. Criticisms like haphazard combat and imprecise platforming are somewhat the same case here, but I would argue that’s half the point playing as a gangling hero who hasn’t yet earned his stripes. I honestly can’t take an unbiased position on some of the game’s more objective problems, not only because I’m such a fanatic and have played the original so many times, but also because it’s impossible for me to have a fresh perspective on the game. I can’t tell you how hard the puzzles are or how tough the game is simply because I’ve played the original so many times, I’ve gotten used to any perceived problems and solved all the puzzles so long ago. Reviews for this game seem to be lukewarm, and it’s an opinion I can’t share because I’m so impressed by how faithful one of my all time obscure favorites has been recreated.

In fact the very few changes the developers did make I could count on one hand. Mostly these changes have been made to a few of the game’s boss fights. Most of the bosses have always been very easy, especially compared to today’s obsession where bosses are meant to be extremely punishing. I can honestly say the changes are for the better and improve on these boss fights. For example the fight with the captain of the ghost ship has been improved, allowing you to manual aim a canon before firing it at him, rather than running back and forth between two fixed canons, hoping one of your shots hit the captain as he paces back and forth. Another addition are the “Lost Souls” which are hidden collectibles, one in each level that can be found by Sir Dan. This basically makes you replay every level to find the Lost Souls, as they only appear once you’re already near the end of the game. I can’t say I was motivated to find them, at least not right now, since it appears to be a shallow fetch-quest.

Besides getting the game booted in the first place, I did a have a few technical problems while playing the game. These are probably because the version 1.01 patch never actually downloaded and installed, and I may have been experiencing what the developers were trying to fix. One example was a door not opening once I had defeated all the enemies in the room, effectively trapping me there forever, forcing me to restart the level. The problems were mainly things such as this, and I bet I’m the only person in the world who had to complete the game from beginning to end raw without the day one patch. Otherwise the game ran great, and looks good as Hell.

I’m so glad Other Ocean Emeryville didn’t try to subvert expectations or put a clever twist on certain things, leaving it as is. MediEvil 2019 constantly impressed me, and I don’t think I’ve felt this much fan service and satisfaction since the Shadow Moses chapter of Metal Gear Solid 4 from 2008. The music, dialog, weapons, level design, aesthetics, enemies and controls have been painstakingly remade, giving this cult classic an impressive new look. Its the restrictive nature of the developer’s design philosophy I appreciate the most; this is simply a game for the fans, and very obviously by the fans. MediEvil was my most anticipated game of 2019 and I am deeply satisfied and surprised about how well it turned out. Annoying day one patch download aside, I had an incredible time experiencing this remake. While some gameplay flaws might still exist, and those who don’t already love the original may not see it in the same level of reverence, this was a big payoff for me and I’m sure other dedicated fans feel the same. Thank you Other Ocean Emeryville, this has been a wonderful gift.

9/10

[faegal04]

It’s Always Been You

PAIRING: Dean Winchester x Reader, (past mention) Sam x Reader

WORD COUNT: 2451

WARNING: Angst, mention of attempted suicide attempt (it’s kind of detailed, so if this is a trigger, please be warned)

A/N: This was written for @nichelle-my-belle and her 4K angst celebration. I picked the prompt “It’s like when I've spotted you in a crowded room, only to see you searching for someone else.” I didn’t use the quote as written, I played with it, hope that is okay! Feedback is much appreciated!

Tagging: @ellen-reincarnated1967 @demondean-for-kingofhell @winchesterprincessbride @jotink78 @winchestersnco @iamdeanfknwinchester @skybinx-blog @16wiishes @s4m-w1nch3st3r5287 @chaoticevilanddowntofuck @pizzarollpatrol @14readwritedraw96 @anokhi07 @mrswhozeewhatsis @kittenofdoomage @bigdaddymongoose

Beta’d by: @damn-it-now-im-obsessed thank you sooo much for helping me out! Anytime you need anything let me know!!!!!

One Year Ago

“Dean, I need you to do something for me,” Sam said quietly. He looked over his shoulder to the backseat, smiling softly at your sleeping form. The interior of the car silent, the only sound that could be heard was the wheels riding along the asphalt, it’s rhythmic cadence the one sound all of you found soothing. Sam licked his lips tentatively, “After I triple Lindy into the pit with Lucifer, you have to promise me that neither you or Y/N will find a way to get me back. No deals, no spells, nothing.”

Dean looked at Sam in shock, “Not happening,” he said, voice gravelly.

“Listen to me! We both know this isn't going to be anything like your tour of Hell-”

“Ex-,” Dean tried to interrupt, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white.

“NO!” Sam all but yelled with a quick glance to the back seat, making sure you were still asleep. “You take Y/N and you run, Dean…Out of this life, both of you, for me,” he continued softly. “I know you love her” he paused as Dean shook his head emphatically.

Sam smiled at his brother, “It's okay Dean. She’s amazing and the fact that you love her makes leaving her hurt less. Because I know she’s safe with you.”

“Sam, ya’ gotta know, I would never, I mean she doesn't know how I feel. I tried not to, you know?”  Dean licked his lips and looked over at his brother with sad eyes.

Sam held his hand up, “I know. You’re the only one I trust with her, with her heart,” he bit down into his lip to keep his tears at bay, exhaling shakily, “Get out of this life, Dean. Take Y/N someplace and heal each other; grab the Apple pie life you’ve always wanted and deserved. Promise me, Dean!”

Present

The minute the alarm sounded, Dean was silencing it. He had been awake for at least an hour already, watching the green digital numbers change slowly. Today was going to suck, he thought dejectedly. He stretched and looked at the wall that separated him from you, the memories of the past year filling his head.

The first couple of weeks had been the hardest. Once Cas had been remade or whatever, he healed Dean, brought Bobby and then you back from the dead. Dean had murmured a thank you, swooped you up in his arms and carried you to the Impala. He looked at Bobby, saying everything he could with just his eyes as he walked quickly around to the driver’s side.

Bobby nodded sadly, raised his hand to both of you, tears sliding down his cheeks. He knew that in that moment, Dean Winchester was done with the family business. Not only had he lost Sam, now he had lost his other surrogate children as well.

Dean slid behind the wheel, his gaze locked onto you. It was tearing his heart out, listening to the gut wrenching sobs fall from your mouth. “C’mere sweetheart,” Dean said, voice wavering. He couldn't break down now, not here, he needed to get you away from this place.

You slid across the seat, clutching his coat, your face burrowed into the space between his jaw and shoulder. Dean wrapped one arm around you pulling you tighter to him, closing his eyes he gently kissed the top of your head. Your whole body shuddered as he murmured, “I’ve got you sweetheart.”

Dean quickly started the car, turned it around and headed out of Stull Cemetery. Once on the road, Dean didn’t have any idea as to where to go with you, he just knew that for both of your sakes it couldn’t be Kansas any longer.

He shook his head, dragging himself back to the present when he had heard you start moving around. Jumping out of bed, he grabbed jeans from his dresser and slid them on not bothering to button them. Dean snagged a t shirt from the folded clothes on top of his dresser and threw it over his shoulder as he headed out of his room and to the kitchen.

After he got the coffee going, he walked into the living room heading for the front door. Dean used the small broom and dust pan by the door to sweep the salt line up, old habits died hard after all. In the year that the two of you had stopped hunting, nothing had come after either of you but he wasn't taking chances with your safety. He opened the door and stepped outside, grabbed the paper and waved to the next door neighbor, who was walking their dog. He shut the door behind him and smiled softly when he heard you in the kitchen.

There had been times over the last year that Dean wasn’t sure if either of you would make it. The guilt so strong in him at failing to keep his little brother safe, it made him want to crawl inside a bottle of whiskey and never come out again. Then he would look at you and know in his heart he wouldn't fail in his promise to Sam. That's not to say he didn't fall off the wagon but it was you that brought him back from the edge, crying and pleading that you couldn't survive losing him too.

He paused in the doorway of the kitchen to look at you. He smirked when he realized you were wearing one of his old AC/DC shirts and then his eyes widened when he noticed you had a pair of his boxers on! He groaned inwardly, jaw clenching as his cock started to take notice as well.

“Mornin’, sweetheart,” he said gruffly.

You jumped, squealing unintentionally at being caught unaware. “Jesus Dean! Are you trying to make me pee my pants?”

He raised an eyebrow cockily, “Your pants? Hate to break it to you, princess but those are my pants you would be peeing in.” He grinned at the blush that filled your cheeks.

You bit down on your lip, “Sorry?” You raised your eyebrows innocently. “You know I sleep better in your shirt and I wasn't having a good night, so instead of bothering you, I just grabbed them hoping it would help,” you finished softly, eyes cast to the floor.

Dean crossed the kitchen quickly to stand before you, he put his finger under your chin and lifted your head, “You should have woke me up. You know I don't mind, hell Y/N I sleep better when we’re together.”

You chuckled softly, “Dean, one of these nights you’ll bring a girl home and will be glad that I swiped some of your clothes instead of climbing in bed with you.”

He shook his head, there were times when he thought you knew how he felt about you, times when he thought he saw desire for him in your eyes. In those moments it took every amount of willpower he possessed to not take you in his arms, because every time you looked at him like that he knew the minute Sam popped in your memory from the way your eyes dimmed and your smile dropped.

He cleared his throat, “Sweetheart, there hasn’t been a girl in my bed for a long time now. I would rather be there for you than picking up a one night stand.”

You stared into his emerald green eyes and froze at what you saw. He loved you. How did you not see it before? How could he love someone as broken as you?  You gently laid a shaking hand against his scruffy cheek, gasping when he rubbed his face in your palm.

Dean’s heart froze when you touched him, his eyes fluttered closed. He turned his face into your palm, and laid a gentle kiss against the scar along your wrist. A scar that he had stitched closed with tears running down his face, the memory dragging him under.

He rubbed at his red, tired eyes as he stared at the bed where you laid. He didn't know what to do, you were slipping away and he couldn't stop it. After two days of non stop crying-an act that he would give anything for at this point, you had entered a near catatonic state.

This was the third day of you laying there, not sleeping just staring. He had to spoon feed you and he was able to get you to drink water but that was it. Dean had called Bobby, yesterday to see if he knew of a way to get you back but Bobby had already been off on a new case. As much as he hated to do it, he knew now what he needed to do. He stood up abruptly, the old dining room chair sliding noisily across the floor. “Sweetheart, I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm going outside for just a minute,” he walked over to the bed, he smoothed you hair back from your face and kissed your forehead gently, “I'm not leaving you, I promise.”

He stepped outside the motel room, leaving the door open just in case and he started praying. He prayed to God, Balthazar, Ezekiel, hell he even tried Gabe, before he called out to Cas. His shoulders started shaking and the tears fell from his eyes again as he felt abandoned. The flutter of wings and the snapping sound of a trench coat sounded behind him and Dean gratefully murmured thank you to whoever.

“Dean. I came as soon as I could. What do you need?” Cas asked.

Dean chuckled cynically, “What do I need? I need my brother back, but since I know that can’t happen, then I need you to go in that room and heal her.”

Cas looked over Dean’s shoulder into the motel. He looked at Dean, bracing himself for the outburst to come, “I have heard Y/N’s pleas over the last several days,” he began, “Unfortunately, there is nothing I can do. I can only heal physical ailments and hers is an ailment of the soul.”

“Bullshit!” Dean growled. “There has to be something you bastards can do. Haven't we done enough? Haven't we lost enough?”

Cas shook his head, “De-”

“No! If you can't help her, get out of my sight! You tell your God and any other angels that we’re done! Get someone else to be the whipping boy!” Dean spat.

He clenched his fists, slamming them down on the trunk of the Impala as with another flutter of wings Cas disappeared. Dean’s chest was heaving and his blood felt like fire as it raced through his body. He had to calm down before he went back inside. He slowed his breathing as he concentrated on what he needed to do to help you.

Only minutes had passed, when Dean thought he heard a noise from inside the room. He spun around with a small smile on his face when he saw the empty bed. He rushed inside, “Y/N!”

He stood at the bathroom door, his happiness turning into concern when you didn’t answer. Knocking on the door, he called out, voice wavering, “Sweetheart, answer me please!”  The only noise coming from the room was that of the shower turning on.

His heart thudded painfully in his chest, paranoia set in when the steam started wafting out from under the door. Terror grabbed him by the throat at the broken sob that rang out. He tried turning the doorknob first but it was locked, adrenaline rushed through his veins as he he threw his shoulder into the door breaking it open on the first hit. The steam and humidity so thick in the small bathroom that sweat broke out on his brow.

Dean looked down into the tub and inhaled sharply. You were sitting under the spray, your pale flesh turning rosier by the hot water. The image that seared into his brain though was one of your blood swirling together with the water turning it a pinkish hue.

“Fuck! Baby, what did you do?” He reached down and turned the water off and picked you up bridal style from the tub. He grabbed one of the cheap white towels from the rack as he carried you out of the room.

Gently he laid you down on the bed, he found the razor blade in your left hand, the palm of which was bloody from the grip you held on it. He blinked back tears as he wrapped your right wrist with the towel. “I need to stitch this up, sweetheart,” he said softly.

He grabbed his duffel from the floor, pulling the first aid kit out. He was laying everything out on the bed when you spoke for the first time in five days.

“D-D-Dean? H-Hurts.” You said, your voice scratchy from non-use.

“I know it does, baby. I'm going to fix it though, I promise,” he said shakily.

 Dean sat down next to you, he took your right arm first, hissing to himself when he poured the whiskey over it, slowly he started sewing the gash closed. He had to stop often as the tears fell from his eyes.

As he laid his lips against that scar, he felt you shudder and breathe out a small sigh and knew the time was right to tell you how he felt.

He opened his eyes to stare at you, “Sweetheart, there’s something I need to tell you. I don't know if you’re ready to hear it, but I can't go another day without telling you.”

You blinked slowly, then nodded, mentally preparing yourself for him to say he was leaving. Your mind convincing you that that was what was about to happen.

Dean licked his lips, “Baby, I know that you still love Sammy and that you always will. I also know that when I spot you in a crowded room, I can see you searching for someone else-for him, but what I really want you to see is me. I'm standing right here in front of you wanting to love you.”

Slowly, he takes his hands and cups your face, “What do you say, Y/N, will you let me love you?”

[jkshasha]

The History of Pokémon

1996

On Feb. 26, 1996, Nintendo releases the first two Pocket Monster, or Pokémon, games in Japan, introducing the classic gameplay and first generation of collectible monsters. (The Green version remains Japan-only.)

1998

Nintendo debuts its Pokémon franchise in the U.S. with the slightly revamped Red and Blue versions. They quickly become a cultural phenomenon as people of all ages team up to try to catch ‘em all.

1998 sees the release of the first in what becomes a long line of Pokémon spinoffs. This original Pokémon Stadium come pretty limited, however, and stays put in Japan.

1999

U.S. gamers get their first look at Pokémon in 3D. The coolest part of this one-of-a-kind Pokémon game is that players can bring in their cartridges to Blockbuster to print out real copies of their Pokémon photos.

Nintendo adds a twist to Pokémon Red and Blue in this “third version” of the mainline RPG series: Trainers travel across the Kanto region with a Pikachu following along behind them on-screen. The popular Pokémon anime is an obvious influence over this game.

2000

Pokémon has established itself among three major pillars: cartoon, games and trading cards. This release combines those latter two categories for a more portable experience of the best-selling card game.

A beefier version of Stadium makes its way stateside and is a commercial hit. Players come for the 3D Pokémon battles — using their own collected monsters — but stay for the party-style minigames.

Nintendo launches the second generation of Pokémon characters with Gold and Silver. These games have an increased color palette, even more collectibles and the most gyms of any other Pokémon game. The original eight gyms are unlocked after clearing Gold and Silver’s set of eight new ones, nearly doubling the playtime.

Pokémonfans get their first chance to talk directly to the popular Pokémon in this console game, which shipped with a microphone. At least, they get to talk to Pikachu when the game recognizes their commands, which it rarely does.

Nintendo releases this Pokémon-style Tetris Attack in the fall of 2000. It launches first in the U.S. and uses characters directly from the popular cartoon.

The Game Boy Color companion to Puzzle League takes a more typical approach, using Pokémon and gym leaders from the recent Gold and Silver games.

2001

The sequel to Pokémon Stadium has even more Pokémon to battle, even better minigames to play and even lets you play your Game Boy games on your TV with the N64’s Transfer Pack.

For the first time ever, a Pokémon RPG offers players a choice of selectable character: a boy or a girl. This later becomes a default option in the mainline games.

2003

The Game Boy Advance’s improved graphics makes for a brighter, bolder Pokémon game. Some fans, however, decry these third generation games' insistence on water-related quests, despite all of the other added features.

Pinball and Pokémon make for a great pairing, especially in this third generation take for the GBA. Too bad this is the second and last time the two games mix.

The Pokémon Company realizes that, if fans like watching Pokémon and playing Pokémon, why not combine the two? Thus this TV watching simulator is born, quickly earning its place as one of the stranger games in the canon.

2004

This darkly tinged console RPG introduces Shadow Pokémon, which players can steal from other trainers and restore back to normal. This marks the first game by the studio Genius Sonority, which will go on to develop other Pokémon titles. Many buyers pick up the game to grab the included legendary Pokémon Jirachi download.

The original games are remade for the current generation. Nostalgic players appreciate the return of the original Pokémon while newer ones are into the graphics and new modes, like the Vs. Seeker. These games see the return of a female playable character, too.

2005

The first Pokémon DS game is a top-down racing game starring Pikachu. It’s more of an early showcase for the touchscreen than an in-depth, entertaining game in its own right.

Pokémon Emerald arrives two years after its predecessors. This third generation game adds the Battle Frontier to the game, throwing in tons of extra battles for players to take part in.

Genius Sonority crafts a follow-up to Pokémon Colosseum, bringing back the Shadow Pokémon and snagging mechanic of the earlier game.

2006

Genius Sonority’s next Pokémon release is this stylish puzzler, in which players must match up lines of Pokémon heads to clear the game board. It’s an addicting model that won’t see a sequel for several years.

The Pokémon franchise meets the Japanese Mystery Dungeon series for a pair of dungeon crawlers. This time, the playable characters are a selection of Pokémon themselves. Which Pokémon you’ll play as is decided by an in-game quiz.

In 2006, Pokémon Ranger iterates on the classic Pokémon collecting model: The game employs the DS stylus to capture Pokémon. Instead of Pokeballs, players must draw circles around the monsters to collect them.

2007

The Pokémon Company brings the RPGs to the DS with this fourth generation pair of games. The wait of four years between generations is the longest fans have ever had to sit through.

The Wii receives this battle-centric spinoff in 2007. It’s like Pokémon Stadium without the charming bonus features.

2008

Pokémon Ranger gets an update starring a new cast of characters but keeping the unique gameplay.

New generation of Pokémon, new Mystery Dungeon.

2009

Pokémon Platinum takes trainers back to the world of Pearl and Diamond — and, in a unique twist, to an alternate dimension, too. Certain legendary Pokémon also receive new forms for their Platinum appearance too.

Explorers of Sky is a slight tweak on Explorers of Time and Darkness, bringing the added "third version" concept to the Mystery Dungeon series.

In this WiiWare exclusive, Pokémon are transformed into tiny toy-like characters. It’s a simplistic, button mashing-heavy game that sees later iterations, including a free-to-start version on 3DS.

2010

The Pokémon Company remade its biggest pair of games for the DS and added even more new great stuff, like the option to let any Pokémon follow behind its trainer. The amount of content available in these games is staggering, especially thanks to the DS’ modern online capabilities.

Pikachu goes on one of its lighthearted solo adventures, although there are other Pokémon accompanying it along the way.

The DS gets its last Ranger game — and the latest release of that spinoff series, which hasn't been heard from since.

2011

Generation five adds more Pokémon, of course, but also new battle styles: Rotation and Triple battles. These are quickly abandoned. The Pokémon Global Link, allowing players to interact with their Pokémon on their computers, is an interesting online feature, at least.

Pokémon Rumble brings its toy-like monsters to Nintendo's handheld.

2012

Pikachu returns to the PokéPark, this time with friends from the fifth generation of monsters.

Tecmo Koei develops 2012’s most curious Pokémon release, which is a crossover with historical strategy RPG series Nobunaga’s Ambition.

The Pokémon Company eschews the traditional third version to instead give Black and White full sequels. These games offer a totally new story set in the earlier games’ region.

2013

Mystery Dungeon's 3DS debut.

Wii U eShop gets a downloadable Pokémon game with a new iteration of Rumble.

The 3DS finally receives its mainline games in 2013. Generation six has a deeper online component than ever before, as well as a bevy of trainer customization options from haircut to skin color.

2014

Genius Sonority brings Trozei back after an eight-year break.

Pokémon fanart comes to the 3DS.

Eleven years after their initial release, Ruby and Sapphire get a new coat of paint plus X and Y’s modern amenities.

2015

The Pokémon Company sends the franchise to mobile with this free-to-play take on Pokémon Battle Trozei. It still receives frequent updates in the form of new legendaries to hunt down for a limited time.

The 3DS gets another version of Rumble — this time with microtransactions.

This newest Mystery Dungeon features all 720 currently available Pokémon. Only 20 of them are available to play as, however.

At the tail end of 2015, the franchise gets another free-to-start title with this remixed version of unique puzzle game Picross.

2016

Japan gets the first new Pokémon game of 2016 as a 3DS eShop exclusive. It’s got a talking Pikachu, quick-time events and a lot of quirky charm — but no Western release date as of yet.

Bandai Namco first sends this game out to arcades in 2015, but launches it worldwide this spring. It’s a Tekken-inspired fighting game, the first arcade fighter the franchise has ever starred in.

Niantic, the developers of augmented reality game Ingress, team up with Nintendo for a new take on its popular real world exploration app. This is as close as Pokémon has come to being a reality — for now, anyway.

In its most recent Nintendo Direct, the company announces that the next games in the franchise are Sun and Moon. Are they the first titles in generation seven? More will be revealed before their holiday release.