#sometimes an amazing design and/or interesting character idea is wasted on a background nobody

[robotwhoscreams]

Sometimes fandom engagement involves looking at a cardboard cutout disguised as a character, one with full on saltine cracker, tissue paper thin levels of depth, and deciding to make them your blorbo.

I fully realize this is a hell of my own making, trying to deeply analyze and characterize a blank piece of printer paper character, but I love their two lines of dialogue and design and you can rip my headcanons for them from my cold, dead hands.

[0poole]

I LOVE No Straight Roads

Honestly it’s hard to keep me away from a game with great visuals and even greater character design. I knew from the INSTANT I saw these characters that I was going to love it. I just finished it because it’s (unfortunately) pretty short, and even though I cheesed the final boss through it’s very lenient death mechanics (Instant respawn at the cost of a good rank) I actually appreciated that it wasn’t a pure cake walk. I’ve yet to rematch all of the bosses, but since I had genuine trouble with the later ones I’ll hold off on that.

But who cares about gameplay, am I right? I sure as hell don’t. I would’ve bought the game no matter what the hell it was. I wanted the characters (and the music, although I realized that second) and that was it. 

First of all, I love any world that is super fantastical but cheesy in its concept, ala a city powered by music, and battles between artists using music. Ideas like this only spawn from a mind that wants to create a fun atmosphere, if nothing else, and it was sure as hell fun. I genuinely love when someone goes so far into a crazy idea and doesn’t waste your time explaining it with real world logic. Wanna know how a city can be powered by music? Shut up and look at the cute virtual mermaid. Lord knows I did. Every once in a while, it does you good to just let the player/reader/viewer just revel in the idea without having to go out of your way to make things seem realistic. It’s not about “turning your brain off” or whatever, it’s picking your battles.

Also, I can seriously love a world with great background characters to it. Any game with the right situation to insert the random nobodies you find onto the streets into the art in the credits really played into the greatness of the world’s less important characters, and that’s always a good thing. It’s technically world building. But, since I always love to pick favorites, I’d have to say my favorite background character is easily Mia, the NSR infodesk assistant. It’s funny, because you can literally search “nsr characters” into Google and she’s the third image result. I love how jumpy she is when you first interact with her, since NSR probably spread the word about B2J suggesting they’re rock thugs who’d beat up anyone, so for all she knows she could die right then and there with a guitar lodged in her skull. She’s probably just some intern trying to pay for college. She don’t want trouble.

Also, I just realized that 90% of the characters in this game have the same body structure that I always love, that being having arms/legs that sort of fan out in width into relatively large hands/feet. It’s a kind of limb structure I fall into so much because it just really hits me right for some reason. I really can’t explain why.

Anyways, I gotta talk about the big boys individually:

Mayday and Zuke are an amazing duo. I’m always a sucker for a cute and crazy girl, but honestly Zuke hit so many of the right notes too. I will say it’s weird to pair the martian Zuke with the humanly-skinned Mayday, but honestly it doesn’t even matter because he looks so cool on his own. I love his weird blocky blue dreadlocks, and his weirdly shaped shirt which bares his chest in the weirdest way... And, oh my god, Mayday’s weird Spongebob background flower eyes? It’s little tidbits like that that really make me jealous. How could I have ever thought of that? It looks so perfect, and I don’t know why. And her little booty jig she does in her idle animation? Adorable. I played as her as much as was reasonable not only because I’m a filthy button masher with little strategy but also because she’s so damn cute. I can also appreciate how she has a tough-as-nails persona while still keeping a semi-girly attitude, like with her falling for 1010 and Sayu. Characters are so much better when they’re a perfect blend of characteristics, instead of being all one-note, like how Zuke is the quiet one but gets heated against DK West, and all. 

Honestly the voice acting for every character is great, but I love when Mayday’s VA’s accent shows through. It’s a perfect twang to accent (consider this the only acknowledgement of a pun in this post) her snarkiness. 

DJ Subatomic Supernova was going to be an easy favorite since he’s all space-themed. Also, I don’t know why I always end up liking the egotistic characters. Not in the sense that I like their egotistic-ness, but in the sense that I like everything else about them and they just so happen to also be egotistic. The same applied with Empoleon (maybe like my 2nd favorite Pokemon) and Rarity from MLP, probably among others. Either way, I’ll never not love space themes. Not to mention he’s got a funky disco theme, and I’m slowly starting to realize that I am in extreme love with techno-funk styles of music. The instant I heard his music he cemented his place into my playlists. 

As for design, I still have no idea what the fuck he is. Clearly AI is at human levels in this world, but if he’s a robot why does he still have hairy legs? But, if he’s a human, is that weird orb his head? Is it just some sort of puppet which he controls from inside his giant jacket? I know I dissed explaining things realistically but I actually want to know with this guy. Even the wiki doesn’t say. Either way, he’s clearly the logical extreme of “being at the center of your own universe.” Even his jacket depicts a solar system, with his hood being the sun. Didn’t see that until I tried to draw him. I really wish this guy wasn’t so tied to his DJ stand so I could reasonably draw him without it. I don’t want to draw his hairy ass legs. It is a great touch for his design though (although I prefer his beta look with pants and long boots, another design trait I tend to gravitate to) since DJs could reasonably not wear pants, since they’re always behind a table.

Sayu is my favorite. It’s so plainly obvious. It’s weird to say that sometimes, because some characters like Sayu are so clearly engineered to be as adorable as possible, to the point where they’re basically a parody of whatever they’re supposed to be emulating, but then they do that so well that they are still likable for what they’re trying to parody. Also, even though I’ve never looked into any vocaloid superstars myself, the fact that they exist and are loved in real life is absolutely perfect to be used as a character design in a world like this. It’s so weird conceptually, but we all know it’s normal and realistic. But yeah, she’s a giga-cutie whom I’ve already drawn and I’ve listened to her theme on loop on many different occasions. Favorite character, favorite track, favorite weapon of choice (What did I say about Empoleon?), which, and I wouldn’t have noticed this myself, looks like the USB symbol you see above USB ports on computers. How crazy perfect is that?

Even apart from my unbridled love for cute monster robot(?) girls, her boss fight is probably the 2nd greatest of them all, at least conceptually. She’s just a hologram, so you can’t touch her, but you CAN disconnect the artists which control her in order to defeat her. It’s the kind of concept for a boss fight that could only work for this type of character. I’m a sucker for the cute girl that provides her voice, but I love how the animator (video editor? the yellow one) actually attacks you with a mouse and lowers the brightness of the setting once he appears. Also, the mocap guy being the deeply-voiced type but still providing the adorable movements of her body. It’s such a great combo of characters, and their little extra art in the credits makes me like them even more. I just wish we could interact with them individually.

DK West was probably one of the most interesting characters visually, especially since I knew of every other NSR member long before the game came out, but I only just heard of him closer to the release. I wasn’t sure where he was placed, but I definitely assumed his gig was the weird shadow demon we saw in the trailers. When I finally saw him in game, I was shocked to hear him speak an entirely different language most of the time, which was really cool. Also, finding out he was tied to Zuke and wasn’t strictly an NSR artist really made him more interesting. You know, if his fucking shadow clone magic didn’t make him crazy cool enough. Even though I suck at his game and am not especially fond of his raps, the visual of him rapping with this giant monster behind him and dozens of weird shadow wingmen by his side hyping him up was probably one of the coolest in the entire game. The dark way they were hyping him up too gave such a bizarre atmosphere, especially since it parallels his seemingly chill and smiley demeanor. 

I definitely hope they’ll introduce new bosses as DLC in the future, and make them sort of in the same vein as DK West, where they aren’t the biggest artists ever, but they want to pick a fight with B2J. I’d kill for any extra content this game can provide.

Yinu is obviously special since she was the subject of the demo they put out for the game. Even though I knew all her bells and whistles, she and her mom still beat me a few times in the full game. Considering she’s semi-tied to story-ish spoilers I kinda want to go more into her in a separate section. It is worth considering playing the game first since it’s not hard (with the easy going deaths) and it’s short length.

1010 seriously grew on me as I learned more about them and interacted with them. I got their shtick when I first looked at them, but after seeing that animation of them touring the city on Youtube I was kinda falling for them. Then, I learned that they’re apparently repurposed navy war robots? I mean, maybe not them specifically, but it seems to heavily point in that direction, with the warship cars and “attention!”s and all. It took me a bit to get into their music too, but once I actually fought them and put their actions to the music I fell in love with it. I swear, Neon J’s weird dancing can has some of the smoothest moves in all of gaming. I don’t know whether they mocapped out those movements or got one of the greatest animators ever, but it looks so impossibly clean his part of the song gets me like 30x more hype than it would normally. 

Also, their little art piece of them looking at fan mail in the credits is probably one of the most adorable things ever. Even if they’re just Neon J’s puppets, that piece of art really makes it seem like they love every one of their fans. I’m not gonna lie, I might swoon a bit too if they picked me out and gave me some special attention.

Oh yeah, and the fact that Mayday was super sad in her showstopper against them was adorable and hilarious at the same time. The little tweaks they made to the showstopper for each fight were great.

Eve just has to be Lady Gaga, right? Like, an even crazier Lady Gaga. DJSS is Daft Punk (or any artist with a helmet persona, you know what I’m talking about), Sayu is Hatsune Miku, DK West is Kanye West, Yinu is a generic child protege, 1010 is a KPop boyband (just pick one) and Eve is Lady Gaga. That’s just how things are. But, again, this is the kind of boss fight that only this type of character could provide. It’s not just surreal imagery, it’s ARTISTIC surreal imagery. The fight is so mesmerizing in every way, especially by how it starts off so slow and calm and progresses to insanity, as well as the increased emotional investment in the fight making you feel so much more into it than just “That’s the boy band. Let’s fight.” Not only does it get you more invested, but it makes her artistic persona go deeper than just “she looks weird.” She is genuinely conflicted about her relationship with Zuke, and naturally that leads her to literally split him and Mayday apart. That mechanic specifically was the coolest, although I do wish they made it more obvious when you needed to switch over to a different side. I was getting pulverized by her fight too, since there were so many things to pay attention to. Her fight was definitely the best one. 

Tatiana and Spoilers:

Let’s be real with ourselves, the twist was so obvious. I do also think, though, that obvious twists aren’t bad if they’re just good reveals. At some point, a person just has experienced so many stories that “only pretty good” twists are easy to spot. It doesn’t mean that the twists are bad, it just means you yourself experienced.

I feel like her transition from rock to EDM was pretty understandable, even as a non-musician. She was so caught up in what she assumed was popular that it basically consumed her. It’s easy as an artist to want to forgo what you truly want to make in favor of what makes you popular, and clearly since her transition to EDM made her the CEO of the biggest company in the city (world?) that probably made her think she truly needed to change her outlook. Then, when she saw B2J try to bring it back, she sort of coined them as being as misguided as she was and knocked them down a peg. Plus, they were kinda being jerks about it.

It’s kinda like the Trolls sequel, where everyone pegs rock music fanatics as being too stuck up in their own heads to appreciate other types of music, which honestly seems more like the case than the alternative. When I first heard of the story of the game, I was seriously hoping they did put an asterisk on B2J’s ambitions because they were a bit sketchy from the start. 

That’s kinda where I want to talk about Yinu, because she was the true turning point in what they were doing. She’s literally 9 and yet she’s getting dragged into all this BS. When she said “I hate you all” at the end of her fight, and played a somber tune on her broken piano after the fight destroyed it, you kinda got a kick in the face to realize you’re kinda being an asshole to some of them. Sure, they fight back, but they wouldn’t fight in the first place if they didn’t have to. They are just people who play music under a joint name that B2J just so happened to get in hot water with. 

Then, of course, there’s Kliff, who also reeked of surprise villain, and who’s basically the embodiment of the bad side of B2J, where he just wanted to destroy for his own sake and not for the actual greater good. Once B2J realized their mistake, they backed off, but Kliff was so hard pressed to do what he planned on in the first place he wouldn’t stop. I kinda wish he got a bigger fight to his own since he’s clearly a big enough tech genius to divert a whole satellite into one specific building. Maybe the Elliecopter chase bit was his thing, but I do kind of wish he was there to fight against them too.

Even though Tatiana did kind of reform a bit quick, It’s still not too crazy to assume she could see that B2J was just misguided and the fact that they worked to revert their wrongdoings for her sake would make a pretty strong impressions. They clearly can hold their own, so it’s not like she wouldn’t want them to join NSR too. 

Oh yeah, and her boss fight was clock/time themed. If there’s a theme under space that I love, it’s clocks/time. 

And If I am to be respected by the internet, I must provide a negative opinion to balance out my positive one. I will say that the character model physics (like Mayday’s braids, DK West’s vest thing, Neon J’s fluffy neck thing, etc) got kinda funky at times. Especially DK West’s vest, which was completely messed up for every scene he was in... Also, even though the voices are mostly great, some lines felt a bit off. Just a bit. That good enough? Good.

But yeah anyway that’s another favorite game to add to the pile. Eventually I’m gonna have to compile a true list of my all-time favorite games/movies because I do kind of want to have a solid idea of what my all-time favorites are.

[rchanscandy]

rchanscandy’s webcomic recomendations!

I don’t normally do this but I’ve been reading a lot of really awesome webcomics and I wanted to tell y’all about them and stuff because damn I found some real gems this past month. I also need people to scream about them with so heres my list in no particular order under the cut! (the comics are hosted on either smackjeeves or tapastic or both)

Lazy Snow Leopard

An utterly lazy god, an anthropomorphic personification of the Snow Leopard, rests upon his favourite tree, when suddenly woken up by a thrown stone. The thrower turns out to be a young admirer of his former self. The youngster persuades the lazy god to begin a quest for fame, glory and world salvation. While the one concerned would have preferred to just lie down and go back to sleep.

Notes: This one has me dying of laughter, I love everything about it; the art, characters, just all of the yes

Helix

A street rat is given a second chance when he is dragged from the gutter and into a new life. Will he accept his position at the side of royalty, or fight every step of the way? -Rated M for sex (M/M, consensual), violence, nudity, language and dark themes.- Warnings: -References to child abuse and sexual abuse.-

Notes: The art and story is absolutely mesmerizing, I couldn’t stop thinking about this one after reading it for a long while. Can’t wait for more updates!

Novae

Novae is a historical romance with a touch of the paranormal and a dash of astronomy. It chronicles the adventures of Sulvain, a sweet tempered necromancer and Raziol, a passionate 17th century astronomer. A connection forms between them and their relationship blooms, but when the body of a fellow astronomer is found on the steps of the Academy of Sciences, their lives are entangled in ways they could never foresee.

Notes: There are not a lot of pages so far but I’m already in this for the long run. I’m a sucker for historical romances, especially gay ones and this is just beautifully executed. 

Boned

A story about being nice to birds and having safe gay sex.

Notes: The description pretty much sums it up xD. Such a good read and really intriguing characters, I enjoyed this a lot. (NSFW)

Mismatch

Mismatch tells of the bond between two rivals who slowly discover they have more in common than they think.

Notes: Only 5 pages in and I was immediately hooked. The art style is so cute and I absolutely love the premise! I can’t wait for more!

Grey Eyes

Mike Lawson finds himself on the strange world of Dwal. But now the ancient Gate won't let him back through. Mike must try to find his place in this strange new world, and perhaps find it to be better than the world he came from. A fantasy/romance with a touch of mystery. 18+ for adult language and situations.

Notes: The character designs and the art are so cool, hell everything about this is freaking cool and I need more!

Almost Touching

Wyatt's got a huge secret and Aiden is a nosy bitch who becomes intertwined in it. Though he doesn't seem to mind much... boyxboy

Notes: I got sucked in by the pretty art style and stuck around for the interesting story and lovely characters. (NSFW)

Avialae

Avialae is a webcomic about a gross bird boy and his nerdy wannabe ornithologist boyfriend--I mean neighbor who helps him out during the painful and bloody process of growing wings. 

Notes: I just absolutely adore this one, it has really interesting characters, a unique premise, and just...birds man. (NSFW)

Rainbow Mansion

Watch the drama unfold as 14 contestants come together at the Rainbow Mansion in hopes of becoming the Rainbow Champion! Hearts will break, the tension will sizzle, and only one will have a chance at eternal glory. Or, like, at least a quip in the tabloids and a book deal? (M/M)

Notes: This is one of the best and most hilarious fucking comics I’ve read in a long time. I love the way it’s set up (a cheesy bad reality tv show) and the characters (all of them) are fucking fantastic not to mention the art is on point. (NSFW)

Handcuffs

Yrkki sold drugs to a stranger guy. That wouldn't be nothing new for him, but this guy was a cop.

Notes: Beautiful art, beautiful men, and a story that keeps you on your toes, whats not to love? (NSFW)

Demon House

Tula is a student just trying to get through her senior year of college. Little does she know that her new rental is inhabited by demons. Juggling her social life and these new roommates should be no problem.

Notes: This comic is a blessing. I absolutely love all the characters and the art is so well done, not to mention the hilarity that ensues. Definitely one of those must-reads!

Demon of the Underground

Pogo is a big-mouthed but small-framed young thief who falls through a hole in the ground and finds himself in a brutal underground world where survival is based on strength and intimidation. His only hope for escape is his telekinetic ability - and the help of a stray ferret named Annie. Urban fantasy/paranormal/LGBTQ

Notes: I’ve been following this one for awhile. First off, the art is fantastic, and I’m in love with that in itself. Second the characters and story are so interesting and unique...I’m dying to know what happens next and discover more!

Aimatos

Boy meet boy and together search their origins

Notes: This story is so cute and the art is beautiful and I’m gonna cry I need more. (NSFW)

Thistlewine

Markus is a reclusive witch living in the woods. He stumbles across a surprise one morning that changes his entire life. It's gay.

Notes: I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love this comic. It’s so fucking cute, the characters are adorable, the art is adorable and well drawn, and every time it updates I get so freakin excited you have no idea ahhh just go read it!

No Way

NO WAY is a web comic, a story about fantasy world and Academy, where many creatures study together. But first and foremost this is a story about a vampire and an elf who were betrothed to each other and who now have to live and learn together. Yes, this is a story about the relationship between two guys, basically, although the other characters are there too. Also in the future in the comic are planned explicit scenes of a sexual nature, so there is a limit 18 + But, basically, it's still a romantic Comedy and fairy tale.

Notes: Everything about this, the characters and the art and the story are fucking phenomenal. It’s got some of my favorite character designs ever by far. Highly recommend this one, such a good read and a feast for the eyes! 

The God in the Field

The age-old story of Hades, Persephone, and a love that causes the seasons (with a yaoi twist.) Disclaimer/Content Warning: Anyone familiar with greek mythology will know that they are in for a ride. This comic will contain kidnapping, a coercive relationship with unequal power dynamics, and various other scenes from the underworld that Hades presides over. It will contain NSFW scenes and scenes rated 18+. Please be forewarned!

Notes: One of the most friggin beautiful art styles I’ve come across in a long time. I actually caved in and bought hard copies of this one it was so beautiful. I love everything about this gosh I can’t even put it into words.

Les Normaux

Les Normaux follows the lives of a bunch of supernatural beings living in Paris after a human wizard named Sebastien moved to the city. 

Notes: The premise and characters in this one are so unique and the art style is so cute. Actually everything in this is cute, and funny, and just a good time in general. Highly recommend this one.

Indigents

Dakota and Kennedy are thrown together in a world ravaged by a single disease. Fast spreading and corrupting sanity, civilization was razed to the ground. For those fortunate to have immunity, life isn't easy. Avoiding the diseased is one thing, but without law and order those left take complete advantage of a world they can now build for themselves. Stranded together in the ghost of the country they once knew, Dakota and Kennedy fight through whatever obstacles lay in their path, seeking peace and quiet and maybe something to eat.

Notes: I really like the way the story is going, not to mention the art is hella nice. Highly recommend this one, especially if you like apocalyptic themes and such.

Wham, Bam!

Harvey is nothing. He's a nobody. Trapped in a small Texas town where nothing ever changes, doomed to waste away in the scrub brush and withering sun, he figures the best he can do is keep his head down and stay out of everyone else's way. After all, who would be crazy enough care about a deadbeat redneck like him? Then one day an old Dodge rumbles into the parking lot of the gas station where he works, and Harvey learns that some folks wear their crazy like it'll never go out of style. It's amazing how much your life can change in just four days. [WARNINGS: explicit content, strong language, depictions of violence, TW for homophobic attitudes/language (later on). 18+ only please.]

Notes: I am in love with this art and storyline. It’s so unique, I don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it. Not to mention that the title itself grabbed me in for the hook before anything else.  I can’t wait to see more!

Moonflower

Sometimes, home can be a person. A sheltered young mutant meets a soldier who's seen far too much for his short life. A process of learning and healing begins.

Notes: The art is so pretty, reminds me a lot of avatar the last airbender in terms of style. I’m super excited to see where this story goes as well, the characters are super interesting and really cute!

Hendrix and Julian

Hendrix and Julian are natural enemies- a cocky jock and the school's gay punching bag, but will all that change after one cold night alone in the gym cupboard? (NSFW)

Notes: I’m usually not a fan of the whole bullied falling for bully plot but I really really love how this story goes. Not to mention the nsfw scenes are really good and the art is just yesssss.  I highly recommend this one!

Aspera

Nine young adults with different backgrounds all end up in the same area in Paris. What started off as another semester at art school takes a turn when the differences of the group's lives finally meet. A story of lgbt love, friendship and finding yourself. Warning for blood, violence, sexual content and drug use in the upcoming chapters.

Notes: The art style is cute, the characters are cute, the comic feels super relatable and down to earth and I just really love the whole thing overall. I always get so excited when it updates!

Countdown to Countdown

Iris is a young man with the gift to bring pieces of artwork into reality. 5 years into an apocalyptic outbreak, he's holed up in a lab that shelters "problem" children. Between his failed experiments, deteriorating mental stability, and being ridiculed by other members of the lab, he doesn't think life could get any worse. Life agrees to disagree.

Notes: This comic is so friggin beautiful. The story is hella interesting and the setup is like that of a video game which I think is really super creative and interesting to experience. The characters and the world they are in are really fun and interesting and just overall this is a really well done comic, I’m always excited for when it updates!

Heartstopper

Charlie, a highly-strung, openly gay over-thinker, and Nick, a cheerful, soft-hearted rugby player, meet at a British all-boys grammar school. Friendship blooms quickly, but could there be something more...?

Notes: The title of this comic is the most accurate thing.  This comic has my heart stopping because of how dang cute this is. Seriously, there are parts of this that have me screaming on the floor.  The art style is so cute and airy and totally fits the mood of this comic and the characters are so adorkable and just...aughhh go read it seriously!

With Great Abandon

With Great Abandon is a queer romance set over the course of a year in London. It's the story of Harry and Russell's differences, similarities, and relationship. A hopeful and kind story. Also food and comics.

Notes: This comic made me cry (good tears).  The story is so down to earth and realistic, not to mention so cute.  Also the art and colors are just on point and I really appreciate this comic aesthetically. It just completed and I was very satisfied, you should definitely give it a read!

Age of the Grey

When the unseen war between heaven and hell finds itself bound to the plane of humans, several kids discover themselves caught in the middle. The almighty angels of heaven and the wicked demons of hell battle for their kingdoms, a revolution that could mean the end of humanity, and when god and the devil decide to take it into their own hands, only chaos can follow.

Notes: This is such a cool concept executed with such bold and expressive art. I love love love the characters and its so cool to see how the art continues to improve over the course of the story! Definitely recommend this!

Behind these Birchwood Walls

Adrian Pembroke's parents put their foot down after his teenaged mischief turns into a run in with the cops. He finds himself shipped off to Mercier Preparatory Academy, an elite boarding school. Miserable and feeling utterly out of place, Adrian soon lands himself into trouble as usual. He is rescued from his own antics by Acario Ambrose, the resident golden boy of Mercier. Appearances are deceiving, and Adrian learns a great deal more about both himself and his new friend than he ever bargained for.

Notes: I love this so much, it started out a bit slow but as soon as the story got going i was on the edge begging for updates. The art is amazing, I have no idea how this artist is able to be so consistent with their painting style throughout, its amazing! 

Ingress Adventuring Company

Saving the world is a pretty big deal, but what do you do once you’re done saving the world and no one needs you anymore? Do you become a magic professor? Do you study a convoluted thesis that no one understands? Maybe you relive the glory days by starting up a one-man adventuring party to gather mystical artifacts for people who may or may not pay you. Or, if you’re Toivo Kissa, you do all of those things.

Notes: I fell in love with the premise and art at first sight. It’s absolutely adorable and the main character is so precious I love him so much. I cannot wait to see where the shenanigans go. 

Ambrosia

Alphor, a countryside apothecary, comes to the capital city for work, where he has a chance encounter with his estranged childhood friend, the wizard Selfrid. The same childhood friend who confessed his love for him ten years ago, before they separated. They resume their friendship, as though there was no confession, but such feelings can't be forgotten that easily; they are torn between the bitterness of a crushed first love and the comfort of a friendship they don't want to ruin again.

Notes: This comic is so damn pretty i can’t handle it. I love the setting and all the little world elements added into this comic. Definitely a bit of a slow burn if you’re into that but oh man will it be satisfying if the main ship finally sails. 

Sunkissed

When Stephen, a quiet bookworm from Oregon, gets his admission letter from the University of Hawaii at Manoa he was anticipating some life changes. What he didn’t anticipate was meeting Alex, an upbeat and easygoing local who offers to be his guide around the island. After that, it’s love at first sight. Through ups and downs, they’ll bring out the best in each other in this story of love, growth, and self-acceptance.

Notes: If you want a sweet heartwarming story about 2 cinnamon buns falling in love with each other then this is the comic for you! Seriously, every little tiny moment in this comic just makes me scream because its too cute.

Dissent

A cursed prince must rely on a witch to free him from an enchantment. But witchcraft is banned, and the two young men have little in common. As love blossoms between them, can they overcome their own prejudices, save their nation, and find a cure... before it's too late?

Notes: Everything about this comic i just love love love love. The story, the art, the characters, everything! It tugs at your heartstrings in ways you don’t even expect whilst dealing with a suspenseful situation. I’d gush forever about this one but I don’t have enough room.

Guard Dog

BL about people living in the post apocalyptic world where being infected by a zombie won't immediately turn you into one, but it can give you some troubles... and some extras

Notes: By the same creator as Handcuffs, which is also on this list, I knew when this came out I’d love it too. I was not wrong. Cute gay bois in the apocalypse, what more can you ask for? Definitely a must read!

The Sun Prince, the Saint, and the Changeling

When Tomas stumbles into unexpected feelings for his friend Matthias, he dreams about a fun, uncomplicated summer romance. Instead, he discovers that he doesn’t know his friend nearly as well as he thought he did, he knows himself even less, and when your family has connections to the Holy Roman Empire, nothing is ever simple. When summer comes, Tomas finds himself drawn into a mystery spanning two years and three hearts — one of which is his own. 

Notes: This is one of my all time favorite comics. I am a sucker for lgbt historical romances and everything about this comic from the story, to the art, to the world building is just so beautifully done. Cannot gush enough about this one to do it justice, just read it. 

Abel & a Dead Man

Jim lives an ordinary life until the day he's supposed to die. Abel is a Soul Collector who decides to let Jim live and asks him out instead.

Notes: Such a unique graphic art style combined with one of my favorite grim reaper x supposed to be dead person premises, I highly highly recommend checking this out.

Life Outside the Circle

The heartwarming tale of two men who find love in the Finnish countryside.

Notes: This comic is way too cute I cannot handle how cute it is everything about it just makes me scream because ahhhh it so CUTE!!! Just read it and you’ll understand what I mean.

[gamingnewskotaku]

The Best of March 2018 in Videogames

Say goodbye to another month more loaded with great video games, which have made us enjoy some last weeks also exciting information. In the Best of the Month of March we are talking about Far Cry 5, Sea of Thieves, Ni no Kuni 2 ... and also the announcement of the new Tomb Raider and Call of Duty: Black Ops, by Smash Bros for Nintendo Switch and much more! It is already becoming a habit. In one of the good !, which we like, because one more month, we have to praise the large number and variety of video games that have come to the stores to make us enjoy with epic action adventures, fun strategy games, exciting RPG or frenetic racing games. In the special Best of the Month of March, we will talk about the new episodes of Far Cry and Warhammer: Vermintide, the formidable sequel to Ni no Kuni, the fun Pit - People or the fantastic Ghost -of a Tale. And they are not the only news in a month that has brought us great joys with video games for all tastes and for all platforms. Do you know a little? Also at an informative level, March has been a very interesting month. We have seen the new Call of Duty and Tomb Raider, the release of Smash Bros. has been confirmed on Nintendo Switch, Ubisoft has surprised us with the announcement of the sequel to The Division, and we have had time even to discover the future of graphics in the world of video games with Microsoft and its DirectX Raytracing. With all this hustle and bustle, if any of you have missed any of these issues, in this special Best of the Month we review the big headlines and releases of March, waiting to continue enjoying more and more games in the coming weeks. TOP MARCH NEW RELEASES Pit People Platforms: XOne, PC By The Behemoth

Rating (8.5) A chaotic festival of death and destruction. There is no better way to describe Pit People, an incredibly funny video game that surprises with its crazy sense of humor and its exciting turn-based combats. With a great design of missions and extensive customization options so that we can create the most absurd army there has been and to be, the new creators of Castle Crashers is a work that you can not miss, whether or not you are fans of strategy games by turns. Chuchel Platforms: PC By Amanita Design

Rating (8.0) The Amanita Design team does not fail. The new graphic adventure of the creators of Machinarium and Botanicula is another one of those video games with a special charm that is worth trying. His great sense of humor, the ingenious design of some of his puzzles and, of course, his beautiful artistic section make Chuchel a work worthy of praise for his ability to make you feel like a child. Final Fantasy XV Platforms: PC By Square Enix

Rating (8.5) Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition is a very good PC conversion that not only focuses on optimizing the product well and providing a good handful of options. It has also taken advantage of the unique technologies of the platform to create the most complete edition to date of its classic saga. Burnout Paradise: Remastered Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One By Criterion

Rating (7.5) Although it is fair to recognize that in some aspects Burnout Paradise has aged a little, the truth is that its formula of speed and freneticism is still quite current. The Criterion maintains its status as "life insurance" to ensure a session of laughter and fun with the brain in neutral. However, we talk about a remastering and there the remodeling work is not up to the original. There is more resolution, we have all the DLC and we also find some slight increase in the detail of the textures ... Enough? It's up to you. Warhammer: Vermintide II Platforms: PC By Fatshark

Rating (8,5) The entry into action of the Army of Chaos helps to make Warhammer: Vermintide II a video game more exciting if possible than the original title. His exciting and spectacular pitched battles are the pure addiction, thanks above all to his ability to surprise again and again with tougher and tougher challenges. The five heroes, with their respective variants and special abilities, also provide an interesting RPG style that feels really good. Whether or not you are fond of the bloody Warhammer universe, you will enjoy this frantic cooperative action game. More if you do it accompanied by three more friends. QUBE 2 Platforms: PS4, XOne, PC By Toxic Games

Rating (8.0) Although it keeps intact the playable base of the original, QUBE 2 manages to surprise thanks to the ingenious and intelligent design of some puzzles that, while not particularly difficult, do stand out for their ability to offer increasingly elaborate challenges and spectacular With a great staging and an attractive plot background, if you like puzzles to video games, you should not lose sight of the new work of Toxic Games. Kirby: Star Allies Platforms: Switch By HAL Laboratory

Rating (7.5) Kirby Star Allies adds one more adventure of the pink ball to his long career, but ... does he justify his presence? Maybe it does not contribute much, and it is conservative in its proposal, becoming a somewhat flat video game, with no challenges for the lonely user. However, it is a recommendable experience if you play in the company, thanks to a cooperative that gives for a few afternoons of enjoyment, more if you like the character of Kirby and all that it represents. Sea of Thieves Platforms: PC, XOne By Rare

Rating (7.0) The thrill of living great adventures is the engine that drives the action of Sea of Thieves, a video game with great potential that however, right now, does not end up exploding as it should. Rare's video game is one of those works with which it is easy to have fun; the follies that you can do in the company of other players make anybody's day and, at the helm of the ship, the feeling of freedom is extraordinary. Right now it is a good video game that sins of lack of content and a simple combat system in excess but, with time, with the additions that will arrive free of charge during the next years, Sea of Thieves can become a must. I hope it is soon! AOT 2 Platforms: PC, PS4, XOne, Switch By Omega Force

Rating (8.0) Omega Force has created a second very remarkable installment of Attack on Titan, an adventure that shows a development that is totally different from the specialty of that studio, the musou, to host a very diverse gameplay, although quite focused on the action. A title that far from wasting the license on which it is based, offers a good combination of possibilities both to enjoy alone and in the company. A fairly complete and well-done game. Ghost of a Tale Platforms: PC By SeithCG

Rating (8.5) Ghost Of A Tale is a special game. A very personal work with an incredible level and artistic design that immerses you perfectly in the world you propose. He has some technical faults and could be more round in the final stages, but his proposal is so original and well taken that it leaves amazed any player who approaches him knowing what he is looking for. A game full of magic and charm, that flees like its own mouse protagonist of the fast action, to expressly and deeply focus on exploration. Surviving Mars Platforms: PS4 By Fast Travel Games

Rating (8.0) Surviving Mars offers exactly what it promised. An experience that is more like a long learning process where we will suffer some displeasure due to our lack of foresight but, in general, it is a pleasant and pleasant experience. There is work to be done in the game of Haemimont Games, for many hours, and sometimes neither the catastrophes nor some inconveniences of the interface will help us, but nobody said that it would be simple, right? Ni no Kuni 2 Platforms: PC, PS4 By: Leve-5

Rating (8.5) Ni no Kuni 2 is a great work of Level 5, not content to make a worthy sequel to the first video game, has taken the opportunity to add a lot of different extra activities that enrich the experience. There are chiaroscuro in the development of characters and their main story and could have gone deeper into their battle system, but even these points also have their strengths, which is accompanied by an artistic design of the most beautiful we have seen so far. A different JRPG with personality. A Way Out Platforms: PC, XOne, PS4 By Hazelight

Rating (8.0) A Way Out is a joy for those looking for something different in the world of video games, especially for those looking for an experience that can only be enjoyed cooperatively and that brings out the best in the game. The creator of Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons returns to surprise us with another very personal story in which what really matters is that, what we are told. Along the way, there is a gameplay not too deep, but very varied and perfectly capable of maintaining our interest during the six hours that will take us to overcome it. Far Cry 5 Platforms: PC, XOne, PS4 By Ubisoft Montreal

Rating (9.0) Far Cry 5 is a very good example of what the shooter saga wants to achieve and, surely, also of where it wants to go. The new video game of the series becomes strong in all the elements that characterize the brand and, although it does not risk too much in its ideas, it achieves a very good result. Many hours of entertainment, lots of fun and, above all, the most spectacular and explosive action you can find right now. Other featured releases Detention Rating (8.5) - Originally on PC, now on PS4 and Switch TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge Rating (6.5) - PS4, XOne Bravo Team Rating (6.0) - PS4 Frantics Rating (6.0) - PS4 Scribblenauts Showdown Rating (6.0) - PS4, Switch, XOne Pure Farming 2018 Rating (7.0) - PC, PS4, XOne Ash of Gods: Redemption Rating (7.0) - PC Detective Pikachu Rating (7.0) - 3DS The Pillars of the Earth (last episode) Rating (8.0) - PC, PS4, XOne TOP MARCH PRESENT

The Division 2 announced by surprise 

Activision announces Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

The classic Luigi's Mansion of Gamecube will adapt to 3DS

Super Smash Bros. announces its release on Nintendo Switch!

Crash Bandicoot will also be available on PC and Xbox One

Artifact, the new Valve, discards the free to play 

Shadow of the Tomb Raider announced and with a release date

Geralt de Rivia will be a character from Soul Calibur 6

Sonic Mania Plus announced with new characters and physical launch

The Elder Scrolls Online presents Summerset, its new expansion

Microsoft presents DirectX Raytracing: Its great graphics revolution

Follow here, in Gaming News 24.