#there IS a logic to sonic being a chao even if its strange

[gayemeralds]

If Sonic is evolved from a Chao, then what’s up with the other character Chao? (Genuine question)

OKAY. the answer is this: (it gets long sorry)

there are amy, shadow, tails, knuckles, and sonic chao in the games. HOWEVER, sonic, shadow, and tails are the only character chao that are actually in regular copies of sa2/etc. sonic and shadow are very specific types of chao as well- they are GENUINE chao evolutions, as the neutral and dark run/run chao.

i suppose the argument COULD be made that these five are also chao. but the core aspect of this theory is the idea that chaos energy mutated a normal chao into sonic. so:

1. other than sonic and shadow, the other characters don’t have a particularly strong connection to the chaos emeralds

the core theory is that chaos energy creates sonic into a chao. sonic and shadow are the ONLY characters in the series who are able to use the emeralds to achieve a super form REPEATEDLY. knuckles, tails, and silver have also been able to achieve a super form, but knuckles and tails have only done so a handful of times, in an arguably grey area of canon, and silver only does so once. they may be able to transform, but they can not do so REPEATEDLY. there are thousands of times where it would be convenient for them to transform as well and aid sonic in a battle, but they do not, because they can not. my assumption is that chaos energy is just too wild for normal people to handle for long periods of time. sage in sonic frontiers also notes that sonic using the emeralds as he does is remarkably abnormal. super transformations are weird, and rare.

(note: what about sonic heroes? i don’t consider the bubble sonic puts around knuckles and tails as a super form. they don’t even change color. so it looks like chaos energy was around them, not IN them. sonic still seemed to be the one in control instead of it equal like in 06)

this sets up for sonic to have a parallel to perfect chaos, as the only other creature than shadow we’ve seen use the chaos emeralds to transform more than once in a way that is absolutely, one hundred percent canon. the idea behind the theory is that sonic evolved from the chaos energy to replace the rold chaos had left behind when sealed in the master emerald/when he seems to “move on” in sa1. sonic becomes essentially the guardian of the emeralds in a way comparable to blaze, but without the title. sonic actively seeks out the emeralds, tracks them down, and keeps them out of bad people’s hands, like eggman. sonic has an established connection to the chaos emeralds- he’s the one always in the special zones to find them, he’s the one who can do chaos control (with a FAKE emerald), he’s the one who goes into a super state.

none of the other characters have a connection to the emeralds and their energy quite like sonic. tails and amy most certainly don’t.

i suppose you COULD make the argument that knuckles does, and thus could be a chao. however, that completely UNDERMINES HIS ENTIRE CHARACTER. knuckles is the very last echidna alive who grapples with isolation and understanding his heritage. so while you COULD claim he’s actually the next chaos, as a guardian of the master emerald, no parents, and a connection to the energy, it just narratively does not make sense, and would honestly suck lmao.

2. it just wouldn’t particularly make sense?

explained above, knuckles has a pretty solid backstory. he’s literally the last echidna of the knuckles tribe, he’s probably one of the characters with the most fleshed out backstory. narratively, it doesn’t really make sense for him to be a chao.

tails also has a pretty well established backstory- an orphan who was bullied a lot because of his intelligence and his weird two tails. the idea that tails, who’s pretty much a normal kid other than his mutation and prodigy abilities, was actually a chao this entire time, isn’t very satisfying, either. i think it sort of minimizes the idea of him being bullied- that his bullies were right, that he was different from everyone, because he was a chao, not a mobian. i also just think it doesn’t make sense, because as we’ve seen, tails doesn't have much connection to the chaos emeralds or knuckles clan lore or anything of the sort. it just doesn't make sense narrartively.

the same goes for my. while she doesn’t have as much of a backstory as the other characters, it just wouldn’t make sense for her to be a chao when she has NO connection to the chaos emeralds at all. the main theory behind this is the idea that chaos energy mutated a chao into a mobian. amy ahsn’t even gone super or chaos controlled. she doesn’t have a connection to the emeralds, a physical one like sonic or a cultural one like knuckles. it just wouldn’t make sense for her.

sonic, however, has absolutely no backstory in the game canon before sonic 1. sonic has an innate connection with the chaos emeralds, with a repeated super transformation (and even a step further, with the hyper transformation). he even has a cultural connection, given the fact that there’s statues of him in hydrocity and the mural of him in the hidden palace. sonic’s the one who uses the emeralds, sonic’s the one who dives into the special zones, sonic’s the one who defeats and calms perfect chaos, sonic’s the one who saves the emeralds from trouble. sonic’s the one with an undefined backstory and where being a chao wouldn’t be particularly narratively troubling.

3. what about the fucking shadow chao

i didnt talk much about shadow in the above points because there’s actually a pretty easy explanation. we know gerald explored various DNA sources for the ultimate lifeform- black arms, salamanders, etc. is it impossible to believe that he also explored chao dna?

chao have a very VERY very strange connection between life and death. some chao are straight up immortal while others go through reincarnation. gerald, interested in studying an ultimate, immortal lifeform in hopes of a cure, would no doubt be interested in the prospect of chao.

gerald may have seen the murals in the hidden palace and saw a dark run/run chao and made a pretty decent connection. that perhaps chao dna could help him find the ultimate lifeform. so the general idea is that gerald may have intentionally modeled him off of the dark run/run chao instead of just a normal mobian hedgehog, and even shares genes with chao.

anyway tldr: most of the characters have an established backstory that conflicts with them being evolved from chao, they don’t have connection to the emeralds, wheras sonic has a connection and no backstory, and shadow might just be based off a dark run/run chao instead of a normal mobian thanks to gerald.

[powpowchaos]

HelLo OmGg!! I just found you but I'm legit in love w your art!!!

Is there anything you'd like to ramble about ur pirate au??? I wanna listen and eat your content up/pos/nf

Hello hello!!! Thanks sm for being interested~ Ill share some little ideas/things about this universe and AU since I dont want to go too wild with TPATMOS Comic. So ill ramble on little ideas that most likely wont show up~ So be ready for some hot spam text:

World: -The world is mostly fantasy based. If I were to make it 'accurate' to pirate history, and how they live. it wouldnt be all that fun. So the world is made up on DnD fantasy type logic. Magic, Myths, Enchantments, Curses, Gods of all kinds. All of that exist in this AU. -So its just fantasy pirate setting. Shadow's Ship: -Originally Named The Ark ( not sure if it would be renamed or kept the same ) -Shadows ship is unique even in this fantasy setting. His ship is powered by a chaos emerald that is hidden away in his quarters. -The emerald sits in the middle of something similar to an orrery. -The emerald powers his ship heavily. Such as keeping lights on, and fires going. It steers his ship without needing much wind if commanded to do so. But most importantly, the most unique thing the emerald can do is lift hip ship into the air. Air ships are just as common as sea ships, but one that can do both is rare or at least 'expensive' material wise. -Shadows Ship is large, he has his ship full to the brim with loyal crew members, it very much is like a small community. But a pirate community so its still semi rowdy. Shadow: -Hes made quite the name for himself out at sea. -Shadows main target when pirating is army ships and actually anyone brave enough to pick a fight with his ship. If they shot first- its only plight to send a reply back. -Shadow isnt fond of having his ship in the sky. the only reason he leaves the sea are for the following: 1: the ships underside needs to be cleaned. 2: avoiding a fleet of army vessels that could be an overwhelming match / rivals who teamed up and arnt worth his time. 3: secret for now.

-Shadow only ever shows mercy to those he deems worthy of it. children, the sick, and ones in mental distress. those are the ones that often get a pass. The most he does is leave them at the next island that clearly has some kind of civilization. other than that he wont lend anymore. Surprisingly the only reason he allowed sonic to stay was because he has a kid brother. -Rouge absolutely calls bullshit. Claiming shadow 'has a thing for blue' his reply if they were alone would be hinting to her being correct. Shadows ex boyfriend being a darker shade of blue with red eyes and goes by the name metal...

-shadow is 100% gay in this AU.

-Shadow has a cat that wonders the ship. Everyone adores Cathulhu. A calico little thing. Sonic: -Sonic was fished out of a ship wreak along with tails, and if it werent for them being brothers he would probably be tossed back into the wreak he was fished out from.

-Sonic being saved is rare, since shadow would toss enemies overboard and this being a rare occasion. everyone MUST be useful in some way. sonic is assigned to basically be something similar to a maid on the ship. getting the worst jobs.

-Sonic eventually starts to prove himself as useful, and having tails around improving a lot of the strange tech on board also helped sway the crew on letting the two stay.

-In the comic currently sonic has been on board for a little over 3 months. His stay is much longer than anyone else they ever fished out from the ocean. Its very much accepted that blue is here to stay.

-Sonic thinks the captain sure is handsome too bad he can be a buzzkill sometimes. Other characters: -Rouge: She actually has a bar on board. she also is the only one besides shadow who has her own quarters. Shadow says she has the larger room since she enjoys to splurge. -Omega: Hes not a robot but he is a wondering soul bound to a set of armor. I guess the best visual example would be Al from full metal alchemist lol

/// I-- Have more but ill have to keep those ramblings for after i finish drawing out the comic!

[doomedandstoned]

71TONMAN’s New EP Takes Us to the Edge of Dystopia

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

Review by Billy Goate

Artwork by SNDNBCK

This year, 71TONMAN reaches a milestone than few acts ever see, crossing the 10 year mark as a band. The Wrocław rowdies have always embodied the best qualities of doom, starting with their rambunctious self-titled debut 2013. By 2016, the band had a new singer and their music turned a corner, too, becoming entirely more bleak and dismal. The following album Earthwreck on Black Bow Records was among the darkest records of the decade, capturing humanity's insessive bent towards self-destruction so convincingly.

I've been anxious to see where the band would go next, and was pleased to see them on another label with good company: Transcending Obscurity Records. An EP this time which 71TONMAN has named, 'War Is Peace/Peace Is Slavery' (2021). That clever turn of a phrase will be familiar to anyone who has read George Orwell's writings.

Indeed, few novels were revisited more during that pandemic lockdowns than 1984, one of the few classics that look to the future not with hope, but with extraordinary pessimism. In the H.G. Wells novel The Shape of Things To Come, the author posits a world in which science will ultimately conquer every backward religious belief, find cures for disease, and take us into the sky.

Orwell's future is likewise high-tech, minus the social progress. Now an AI-like system called Big Brother monitors one's every movement and mood. Sometimes in an effort to right our own course, humans overcorrect, leading to restrictions on freedom, speech, and expression. Indeed, this is a dystopia in which Thought Police prevent insurrection by guarding carefully against critical thinking and reasoning.

Certain "truisms" are introduced to condition people to be at home with cognitive dissonance, so they will blithely accept totalitarian revisions of fact and history. Among them are the sayings: War is Peace, Peace is Slavery, and Ignorance is Strength. There is no mistaking 71TONMAN's send-back to the Orwellian worldview as each song bears one of these inscriptions as its title.

Beginning with Big Brother's trademark slogan, "War Is Peace," the band takes the logic that has swept millions of young people away into foreign lands to "make the world safe for democracy" and writes its inevitable conclusion.

The song unfurls with the pungent smoke of battle, accompanied by a rumbling underbelly of fuzz, caustic feedback, and hissing amperage. Menacing guitars strum a disquieting theme in the aftermath of mankind's destruction, with the desolation heralded by the brutal drumbeats and the deliberative symbol clashes. An irradiated voice cries out from the ashen ruin:

LIFE'S GONE NOT ONE THING EXISTS EYES CLOSED MOUTH SHUT MANKIND'S EXTERMINATED MANKIND'S DEAD WORLD'S BREATHLESS WORLD'S DEAD CORPSES ON THE STREETS CORPSES IN THE TRASH

The tenor is not merely angry, it is anguished. One picks up on a real sense of loss as riff and rhythm conspire to relate the story.

Enter "Peace Is Slavery", a song that steps away from the battlefield with a fevered sense of urgency, warning with firebreathing shieks:

THE END THE END IS COMING TO THE WORLD THAT'S DYING START THE COUNTDOWN TOMORROW IS NO MORE EVERYTHING TURNS INTO DUST

The song concludes on an ominous and definitive note:

DON'T SEEK FOR COVER IT'S TOO LATE THE JUDGEMENT DAY'S A-COMING...

Now that's what I call doom! Doom in all its raw, nihilistic truth. Doom in its stoic acceptance of our eventual extinction. Doom -- the last defiant fist raised against the tyranny of life. It's surely too much for many to bear, this thought of no tomorrow. We have romanticized the notion of a post-apocalyptic world (one in which humanity always gets a second chance), to the point that the fires of apocalypse have become unbelievable, an orgy of science fiction. Thus we continue to live out this collective deathwish as a society, fingers crossed behind us for good luck.

This brings us to the notion that "Ignorance Is Strength". Our final track is a windswept void, bearing faint echoes of the homosapien's last stand. Our pernicious cycle of greed, violence, and nescience has finally swallowed us whole. Now there is naught but strange, ethereal will-'o-the-wisps to hint at the tragic story. This is the ill-fated end of the "Dark World" Saint Vitus once lyricised.

More than an artistic afterthought (the track clocks almost 10 minutes), these strange sonic moments serve as emphatic punctuation to end the opus. I heartily recommend listening in the dark lonely hours of the night for full effect.

71TONMAN's new record, though brief, is nothing shy of mortifying. KK (vox), TG (guitar), MZ (guitar), JW (bass), and JJ (drums) once again make a fine team, relating this story of the End Times with striking atmosphere and merciless cynicism. Look for the EP to drop on Friday, July 9th via Transcending Obscurity Records (pre-order here). In the meanwhile, you can stream it all right here, right now, as Doomed & Stoned proudly presents the world premiere.

Give ear...

LISTEN: 71TonMan - War is Peace/Peace is Slavery

Some Buzz

As the name suggests, 71TonMan are purveyors of earth-shatteringly heavy music and their brand of doom/sludge metal furthermore is acerbic and crust-scraping.

Bands in this style rarely have this scathing, face-melting sound and it's strangely addictive, particularly the combination of huge, stomping riffs and absolutely vile vocals delivered in an almost grindcore manner.

War Is Peace // Peace Is Slavery (Sludge/Doom Metal) by 71TONMAN (Poland)

The contrast against the backdrop of collapsing buildings and the ensuing chaos and all-round mayhem is gratifying despite this being an EP, a precursor for something even greater to come.

We revel in quality sludge and this pairs well with the mammoth release of the sludgelords Eremit, for that matter even Subterraen and Jupiterian in the past, even though the expression of this one is unparalleled.

For fans of Primitive Man, Subterraen, Eyehategod, Flesh Parade, Soilent Green, and Jupiterian

2021 Label Sampler by Transcending Obscurity Records

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

[another-sonic-blog]

When Disaster Strikes

Part 1 : Before Disaster Strikes

Link: https://another-sonic-blog.tumblr.com/post/617890070494642176/before-disaster-strikes

Situated between Sonic IDW Issue #11 & 12

Synopsis: After the Battle with Metal Sonic, Shadow went back home just to find out that his Chaos Emerald was stolen. This gets Amy's interest and she decides to help the black hedgehog. Will Amy and Shadow's friendship develop?

ShadAmy (Platonic, but can be romantic if you want lol)

6k

When Disaster Strikes

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The Restoration Headquarters was everything but a quiet place. Members of the organization went in and out of the building sometimes running and others screaming. It was a place were world heroes came to meet whenever the world was in danger. The rookies always hoped to see a sneak peek of their idols, maybe Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles. Although it was still unbelievable to them that Amy Rose was with them most of the time.

After Metal Sonic was defeated, Amy didn't doubt on going back to work.  

It was a bit stressful but the need to help others was greater than the need to rest.

The day was lively just like any other summer day and the members were running around doing errands, carrying papers and boxes. Some of them even had to do solo missions and help a village in need. Amy was up and down giving, planning, and executing orders.

Our pink hedgehog was looking down at a map, trying to plant out their next move. The Restoration wanted to provide food supplies to a nearby village but it was getting complicated due that this village was remotely placed on a mountain. Thus, making it complicated to transport supplies.

"Ms.Rose, you have a call coming from Floral Forest Village,"

Suddenly, Lanolin stood in front of Amy holding a phone on her right hand as her left hand covered the speaker. Amy's mind immediately went to Cream and Vanilla as she knew that they lived there. She didn't even think about it for a second, she extended her hand as Lanolin handed her the phone. Praying to Chaos that it wasn't bad news, the pink hedgehog answered the call.

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.

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Floral Forest Village was known for its beautiful and extensive categories of flowers and wild animals. Scientists from all over Mobius came to this village to experience the natural scenery of the place. With only 1500 Mobians living in the village, it was a perfect place to live for someone who wanted a quiet life.

Until now.

Amy rarely went outside the Restoration because she always thought she was needed there to keep order. However, she allowed herself to go out once in a while on a special occasion. Today, it was one of those occasions because Shadow the Hedgehog decided to keep everyone locked in the village's town hall.

The pink one wanted to give the black one the benefit of the doubt. Last time she saw Shadow they ended in good terms. He even said that he would visit her at the Restoration but he never did. It must have been because he was busy doing his own thing, besides she saw him when she called everyone due to Metal Sonic's attack. She was busy and couldn't say her greetings, Amy wanted to talk to him after the battle with Metal Sonic but to her no-surprise, he left without saying goodbyes.

It was strange now, she didn't know in what terms they were but the only thing she was sure about is that she needed to talk to Shadow before jumping to any conclusions.

When she arrived she wasn't surprised to see no one in Floral Forest Village. She ran as fast as she could to the town-hall. The biggest building in the village.

It was a three-story building, navy blue painted on the outside walls and windows decorated the outside. Amy tried to open the double door entrance but it was locked. Not like it surprised her and it wasn't like this was a difficulty. She snapped her fingers and her hammer appeared in her hands, it took only one hit for the doors to smack open.

Finally, she was in. Her eyes landed on the scared villagers who were all quietly sitting down on the floor, in rows. They were terrified but hope-filled their eyes as soon as she walked in. It didn't take long for the guy who was behind this to appear. Using Chaos Control, Shadow appeared at the back of Amy. She had to admit that she would be just as scared as the villagers if it wasn't because she actually knew Shadow ... to an extent.

"In the name of Chaos, what do you think you are doing?"

Her eyes encountered vermillion ones, the ones she liked deeply and even admired. She wasn't backing down, opposite from it actually. The pink one got closer to Shadow, her chest almost touching his but the black one didn't even flinch at the act.

"I need to keep these people here,"

After a few seconds of intense stares, Shadow decided to speak in the most serious tone she has ever heard so far. "Someone in here stole the Chaos Emerald I was hiding and no one is getting out until they return it."

There were a lot of questions that popped in Amy's head. However, logic was triumphant on her mind. Amy backed away slowly and looked at the villagers who were intensely looking at their brawl.

"You can't keep them here, whatever the reason is ..." Amy looked back at Shadow who stood quiet. She knew that his stubbornness was one of his main traits and it was going to be hard to go against that. "The only thing you are accomplishing is to scare them ... They won't tell you anything unless they trust you."

"I need that Chaos Emerald, it can be dangerous if it falls in the wrong hands," Shadow replied.

"I understand that, but you are not thinking logically ... Do you really think you can keep 1500 people in here? What if they start to get hungry? How are you going to feed them all?"

If Shadow was being honest, he didn't think about that. Since eating wasn't a necessity for him. He had forgotten that food was a necessary element for the survival of the regular Mobian. Shadow let out a sigh as he placed a hand to his forehead, showing his frustration. After a few seconds passed without a word being shared, Amy spoke once again.

"I'll help you find the person who stole your Chaos Emerald ... I promise, just let them out of here, please."

As if Amy had done a spell on him. Shadow only nodded and Amy gave him a reassuring smile.

"Alright, everyone out!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, the Villagers stood up from the floor and began to exist the town-hall. There was not a single one who didn't thank Amy on their way out. As well that every single one of them gave Shadow either a judging or scared look. He felt the stares of them pierce through him. Even when he tried to not think about it, a part of him did.

Amy just couldn't stop the feeling in her heart that told her that she needed to protect the black hedgehog. There was just something about him ... his eyes, his stance ... He just looks as lost as the moment she first met him.

"Miss Amy!"

A young voice, which the pink one recognized, happily made her way through to meet her pink friend. It was Cream and Vanilla, her mother, follow closely.

"Thank you for coming, Miss Amy!" without thinking the soft orange rabbit hugged her and although the action took Amy by surprise, it didn't take her long to return the gesture.

"It's nothing, taking you for calling me," Amy said as she bent down to look at Cream at an eye level.

"Now, that you are here, would you like to stay for dinner?" Cream asked as she twirled around happy to see her friend. She got closer to Amy and in her ear, she whispered, "You can even bring Mr. Shadow."

Amy let out a giggle as she nodded and patted her head. The pink one stood up and looked at Cream's beautiful mother. "I hope I am not intruding."

"Of course not, we love to have you over," Vanilla said.

"I'll be there, I just need to finish somethings first with Shads right here,"

At the mention of his nickname, Shadow felt a shiver run down his spine. He had been watching the pink one interact with the rabbit from afar. Shadow did not take any interest until Amy mentioned him.

"We will wait for you then,"

With that said, Vanilla and Cream exit the building. Happy that their day could continue without any more interruptions.

"Thank you for letting us out Mr. Shadow!"

The black hedgehog snapped his head at the orange rabbit. He watched her smile and wave her small hand at him. No show of remorse nor hatred on her face. Shadow looked away immediately, not knowing how to react as Cream and Vanilla disappeared out of sight.

Teasingly, Amy approached him, a smile decorated her face. There were many sides of Shadow that Amy found amusing. He was a bit awkward and didn't know how to properly communicate with others. Sometimes his actions may be seen as aggressions, but in all honesty, it was just his way to show that he cared.

"I am surprised you managed to get every single villager in here," Amy said. "Even the mayor and village officials."

"It was easy, they just look at me and they run away," Shadow said. He rolled his eyes still a bit annoyed that he let Amy get through him. "It would have been easier if I had questioned everyone ... Someone must know what happened to my Chaos Emerald."

"No, you were going to scare them and they wouldn't tell you anything."

The red stripped hedgehog rolled his eyes. Mentally, he knew that she was right but was he ever going to admit that out loud? No.

A few seconds passed where there was just silence. An awkward atmosphere overtook the place and it was something that Amy couldn't stand.

"Why are you here?" Shadow asked.

"Cream called me-"

"I mean, why didn't you send Rouge, Omega, or someone else? Why did you personally come?"

Amy wasn't expecting that question. How was she possed to respond? A part of her was telling her that Shadow was expecting a good answer. Like a deep, emotional answer.

"I didn't think it was necessary."

Damn it, Amy, that's not a good answer.

"I mean, they were busy ... Everyone is and I just didn't want to bother them ... So, that's why I came."

Mentally cursing, Amy found herself to be struggling to find the correct words. There was something about Shadow that just made her nervous. Maybe it was his vermillion eyes that pierced to every part of her soul. Amy should have been used to Shadow's intense stare by now but for some reason, the rosette one felt that she was trapped.

"Then leave now, I'll find the Chaos Emerald by myself-"

"Yeah, that's not going to happen, I'll help you."

Finally, Amy felt herself go back to normal. Her preppy and happy go lucky personality shone the moment she felt Shadow's eyes soften on her. She began to walk towards the exit, ready to start an adventure with the black hedgehog.

Shadow sighed in annoyance, it wasn't like he didn't appreciate the help of the pink one. However, he always worked better alone ... or so he thought. "No, you will just make it worse, I don't need your help."

"Are you sure about that?"

Amy looked back at the black hedgehog and it was this time that Shadow was lost at words. The sunlight coming from the outside and inside the door landed on Amy. Her entire body was outlined with a golden aura, a few string of her quills were placed all over her head creating a small halo above her. A little bit of the sunlight entered on her pupils, making her green eyes twinkle and Shadow's heart skipped a beat. He realized that the green Chaos Emerald that was stolen from him would never compare to Amy's eyes.

Shadow looked away, trying to forget the unusual, strange thoughts on his mind. He had never seen Amy in that light, nor any other female. The feeling was strange to him and he definitely didn't like it. He tried to erase Amy's picture on his mind and he did, finally getting back to his senses. Mustering the strength to look at the pink hedgehog again, the black one just knew that there was no way to escape from Amy Rose. Just like she convinced him to stay for dinner that day at the village. Even made him eat that soup she made and talk on the rooftop of the village's town-hall ... He just couldn't say no to her.

"Just don't get in my way."

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.

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A small wooden cabin was placed in the middle of the forest where only if you look hard enough, you could find it.

It didn't take long for the pink one to realize that the cabin must be Shadow's home. After all, someone like Shadow would like to live in a place like this. It was quiet, beautiful, and very peaceful. It had a certain level of convenience as well because a few meters away, Floral Forest Village was at his disposition. For someone like Amy, it would have hard to find his place but she was sure that for someone like Shadow it was a piece of cake not getting lost in the vast forest.

"After the battle with Metal Sonic, I came back here," Shadow said. The rosette hedgehog was surprised that Shadow was even starting a conversation. She had thought that she was going to have to squeeze the answers out of him.

"The Chaos Emerald was hidden on a cube locker that only I can open ... It wasn't there when I checked."

"Any clues?" Amy asked as she looked at the wooden cabin in front of her. She had many questions going around her head. The first one was whether Shadow built the cabin himself or not. It looked very cozy and a part of her smile internally when an image of Shadow drinking hot cholate during a cold day popped in her mind. This was his home and she felt honored to an extent to be in such an intimate place fo him.

"Only one thing ... A small pair of glasses" said Shadow. "Everything else is clean ... There was no sign of struggle to get in nor to get out."

"Like teleportation."

"Exactly, so this person can either use a Chaos Emerald's power or something of those likes."

Shadow watched the pink one inspect his house, she walked around it. Her eyes never leaving the structure of it. A certain amusement was placed on her face and to an extent he understood her. After all, it wasn't every day he brought people over to see his house ... Not even Rouge nor Omega had come in.

"I know what to do ..." Amy said, she turned around and gave him one of her classic smiles. "We are going to camp tonight!"

.

.

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There were many things about Amy Rose that intrigued Shadow the Hedgehog. However, it wasn't just her ... It was him as well. He reacted differently to her. At first, he thought that it was the fact that she was a female that he had a soft side for that. Nevertheless, he never treated Rouge like this. It may be the fact that Rouge was like an authority figure and the urge to defy her was strong. He still listed to her and admired her, but that sense of not listening to his 'elder sister' was there.

So, what was about Amy Rose that made Shadow, the Ultimate Life Form, bend the knee in such ways?

He didn't know what it was ... but he couldn't do anything about it at this point.

"Tell me why are we doing this again?"

It was dark already and the only thing illuminating the place was a bonfire that they had done earlier. From time to time the sound of crickets and nocturnal birds could be heard but both hedgehogs were comfortable about it.

"Whoever stole the Chaos Emerald was very careful about everything. No clues, no signs of struggle, not a single mistake was made ... but the small round glasses they forgot," Amy was sitting next to Shadow, not too close nor too far. They were nearby Shadow's house. The two hedgehogs were careful about not making too much noise nor the flame of the bonfire too big. The vast density of the trees around them made them almost invisible to the normal eye. Not only that but thanks to Shadow's good hearing abilities, he was able to tell if anyone approached his house.

"This person is very meticulous, obsessive even ... They will come back for the glasses and we will be here when they do."

Maybe this was why Shadow couldn't say no to the rosette hedgehog. She wasn't only taking time out of her busy schedule to help him but she genuinely seemed intrigued and concerned about the matter at hand. It was on Amy's nature to help anyone in need, out of the kindness of her heart. Maybe that was why Shadow is so attracted to her and complied with her requests and accepted her ideas even when they seemed a bit radical.

And she was trying her best to help him out.

"And that's why you should help them out! Helping them is a good thing!"

A strong pain came revolting through Shadow's head. Again, it was that sweet voice he wanted to remember but it pained him whenever he tried. He placed both of his hands on his forehead as if that would help with the immense pain he was feeling at the moment. Different images began to cross his mind ... The ARK, Sonic, Eggman, Rouge-

"Shadow are you alright?"

Amy

Shadow's head stopped hurting the moment his vermillion eyes met Amy's emerald ones. There was such concern on her face that Shadow even thought about apologizing for making her feel like that. However, the thought went away as soon as he realized that Amy was too close to him for his comfort. He looked away trying to hide the mixed feelings he was having. Shadow couldn't describe the feeling but he didn't like it ... but he didn't hate it either.

A few more seconds passed where Shadow mustered the strength to ask the question that has been floating around in his head.

"Rose ... Were you at the ARK?"

It was Amy's moment to be confused. More than that, Amy was panicking because she had sworn she had never talked to Shadow about it. About her making Shadow remember his promise to Maria. About her being the one to witness him cry and being vulnerable. About how she was one of the reasons he saved the world that day.

It was a secret she never wanted to share and she had her reasons.

"Why do you ask?" the pink one mentally thanked Chaos for not stumbling on her words. She didn't know that even if she were to stutter, Shadow wouldn't even notice. He was too concentrated at her being so close, her shoulder almost touching his.

"I just remembered ... I think I saw you that day at the ARK," Shadow said, getting the strength to look at her in the eyes. "Were you there?"

"I ... No, I-"

"Please ... Don't lie to me."

Amy gulped a little but still, her mouth felt dry. Shadow's red eyes shone even more brightly as the flames of the bonfire reflected light upon them. Almost too mesmerizing to get lost in them forever. However, a certain sadness was predominant in them. Regret, pain, betrayal ... Lies ... Amy could tell that Shadow was tired of all of that.

"Yes, I was there," Amy said.

"Did we ever ... talk?"

She just couldn't do it. Amy had only interacted with Shadow a few times but she could already tell so much about him.

If Shadow knows that she was the one that made him remember his promise and because of that he saved the world ... Would he feel less? As far as Amy knows, Shadow believes that he saved the world out of the kindness of his heart. Because he wanted, not because of a promise he remembered.

Shadow wasn't one to give himself enough credit. Yes, he would say he was The Ultimate Lifeform whenever he could but that was just a facade. Shadow felt the judging stares of others on him, the hate glances, the scared looks.

The black hedgehog never did anything to clean up his name because even after saving the world multiple times ... He still believes he is the monster people make him to be.

"No, we didn't talk," the rosette replied. She just couldn't take away one of Shadow's greatest relief. If Shadow ever finds out that Amy made him remember Maria's promise, then he would credit her. Amy didn't want that, she wanted all credit to go to Shadow. The world was saved because of his sacrifice and only that and Amy was going to make sure he believes that till the end.

"I went there to follow Sonic, you must have seen me with him."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Shadow was faced with another question.

"You always follow him don't you?"

A few seconds passed in which the cracking of the wood of the bonfire could only be heard. Shadow mentally cursed as he didn't plan to ask that question out loud.

"Well, I used to. Not so much now ... But, I still love him a lot!.."

To his surprise, Amy wasn't angry. All the contrary, there was a certain sparkle in her eyes indicating that she was happy.

"Why?"

"Sonic is free to do whatever he wants and so do I ... He values his freedom and I appreciate that."

"Doesn't that make you sad?"

Shadow didn't have the slightest idea as to why he was asking her these questions or why he was concerned about her love life. Maybe it wasn't her love life at all, but her feelings that intrigued him.

"No, I love everything about Sonic," Amy said as a warm smile decorated her eyes. "I love the way he is free as the wind, his confidence, his flaws, his quirks. I even love the way he runs away from me from time to time ... I love him regardless of everything. Even if he ever loves another, it doesn't matter. I love him unconditionally."

There was something about Amy that Shadow just couldn't get enough of. The way her eyes sparkle, the way her face shone and the soft blush that landed on her face. He was never one to care about love, he didn't think about it either ... until now.

Maybe this was the thing that attracted him to her. Amy knew something and did something he never could. To love.

Shadow didn't believe he is capable of loving someone as Amy does. The subject was a mystery to him, an unknown topic ... It did intrigue him.

And Amy was the one who knew about it all.

"I wonder what that it's like ... to love and be loved unconditionally." One again, Shadow said that without thinking. Nonetheless, he felt safe with Amy. He knew that no matter how stupid the question is, or how pathetic he looks, Amy won't judge him. She won't tease him either. Amy made him feel like he could be vulnerable in front of her once in a while.

"I love you unconditionally too Shadow!"

Her words came to Shadow like lighting. What surprised him the most was Amy's confident face. Not even for a second, she doubted herself.

Without having anything to say and watching that Shadow was at a loss of words, Amy proceeded.

"There are different types of love not only romantic and all of them are equally important," she said. "You can be rude at times, arrogant, and insecure ... But you are also loyal, determined, selfless, you put others before you and I love all of that about you. You are my friend even if you don't consider me as one ... I'll keep loving you regardless and I'll do anything for you. My love for you it's unconditional too!"

There were no words to describe what Shadow was feeling at the moment. He hasn't felt like this in a very ... A very long time. His heartbeat raised, adrenaline going through his veins and his fur shriveled. Was this happiness? A part of his heart shrieked when he remembered past thoughts. The thoughts that told him that Amy was annoying and childish. He regretted ever thinking like that about such a kind-hearted girl. Shadow knew he didn't deserve her in his life but from now on he would do anything to keep her by his side.

A peaceful moment was shared between the two where they didn't say anything but only stared at each other with fondness.

Amy smiled at her companion, once again breaking the sweet silence between the two.

"Maybe, one day you will love me unconditionally too."

There was no question about it. Nor it was hard to understand for the black hedgehog. If he could choose who to love then it would be Amy. Maybe, if his heart ever desired he could love Amy the way she loves Sonic. There won't be any protest, no contradiction, he will follow his heart and let the rosette hedgehog take over it.

But it wasn't that type of love now. At this moment, he only wanted to appreciate her person, her being. To enjoy the unconditional friendship she was offering and accept it.

And that type of love, he could give back.

"Yes ... I would like that very much."

.

.

.

It has been a while since Shadow got a night of proper sleep. After all, he didn't need it to survive, the black hedgehog could go for three weeks without sleep and then we would start to feel the after-effects. The scenario was strange for him as well because he just doesn't remember when he fell asleep.

And he definitely didn't remember Amy falling asleep on his shoulder. Heck, he doesn't even remember until what time they stopped talking nor when they stopped caring about the issue at hand.

The bonfire they had started last night was reduced to ashes, the black hedgehog felt Amy trembling from time to time once again a feeling of guilt overtook him. He had forgotten that Amy was a normal Mobian and like such, it was easy for her to get cold. A thought of wrapping his arm around her and bring her closer to him crossed Shadow's mind. However, the thought quickly went away. It would be better for her health to wake up and get her body moving.

Shadow tapped on her shoulder delicately and it didn't take long for Amy's green eyes to outshine the morning's sun. Vermillion and emerald eyes stared at each other, lost in each other's colorful pools. Nonetheless, it took a few seconds for Amy to realized what happened.

"Shadow ... we fell asleep!"

"Yeah, no joke."

Amy stood up from the cold grass, patting the dust away from her red dress. She regrets wearing this dress in such cold weather but to be honest she didn't have any idea she was going to stay. "We didn't even check if the guy who stole the Chaos Emerald came back!"

Another thought crossed Amy's mind. She had been so engrossed in helping Shadow that she had forgotten that yesterday she was going to go to Cream's house for dinner.

"Chaos, I forgot yesterday I was going to have dinner at Cream's house! You must be worried about me." The rosette hedgehog walked around in circles to keep her warm and to release a bit of anxiety due to the situation at hand.

"I am going to go to Cream's home and then I'll come back! I promise we will find that Chaos Emerald! Have you checked if the person picked up the glasses we left at your house-"

Shadow sighed at Amy's reaction. She was getting very worked up and it was comical even to see her determination in helping him. He stopped her midtrack as he placed his right hand on her shoulder, even the gesture was surprising to him. The black hedgehog was being very delicate with the pink one.

"It doesn't matter,"

Amy saw a change in Shadow's voice. It was soft and fragile as if he wanted to reassure her. She listened carefully not wanting to forget his words.

"Yesterday, you taught me there are more important things than a Chaos Emerald."

.

.

.

It was an extremely busy day at the Restoration HQ. With the recent outbreak of the Zombot Virus, many cities were on the verge of collapsing if they weren't already. It was even worse because the hero of Mobius, Sonic the Hedgehog was also infected with the virus.

Amy noticed that her blue love was indeed tired and she was scared that he might make a mistake that can cost him his life.

"Rose?"

The pink hedgehog turned around to face the red striped one. They were currently at the Restoration's Main Room, planing on the rescue of Sunset City.

Shadow walked towards Amy. He was concerned about her lack of self-care. He had noticed that Amy was getting tired and even looked sick. She wasn't eating, nor sleeping, always working. Of course, he knew that this wasn't healthy for the regular Mobian.

"Do you need my help?"

Amy and Shadow had grown closer after that night at Floral Forest Village. They were good friends and Shadow wasn't shy to visit her at the Restoration HQ. It warmed the pink one's heart to see that her friend was trying his best to keep a relationship with her.

"Yes ..." Amy made a pause. "Sunset City has been attacked by the Zombot virus ... Sonic is there helping uninfected civilians get out of the city safely ... Will you and Team Dark help him?"

If there was one thing Shadow couldn't do was to say no to his pink friend. He still wanted to help regardless but what he didn't want was to encounter the blue blur. It was because of Sonic that Amy was looking like this ... Like she was ready to faint at any second now. Maybe he could take this opportunity to punch him or make him apologize to her and to everyone but knowing the blue one, that was far from happening.

"I am sorry,"

The words caught Amy by surprise. She was expecting anything but that. Speechless, Shadow continued.

"If I hadn't let Sonic convince me to let the Doctor live ... We wouldn't be in this situation ... You wouldn't be so tired," Shadow looked down to the floor.

The dark hedgehog knew that part of the current situation was his fault as well. He felt that his hands were equally tainted as Sonic's. Although anger was the only way he could show that he felt guilty at the moment, Shadow was unable to show that side to Amy.

"It's not your fault, nor Sonic's,"

Amy placed a hand on Shadow's chin and picked up his head, making him look up to her eyes. "This is just a bad dream ... I know you and Sonic won't let us down and you will resolve everything ... Just like you always do."

Instantly, Shadow grabbed Amy's hand. Softly holding it with both of his. Although the action caught the pink hedgehog by surprise, she didn't pull away. Shadow was more and more open to her now and she appreciated it.

"I only have a favor to ask in return," Shadow said. "When I come back ... You have to tell me everything that happened in the ARK."

"But, I already told you everything-"

"No, I know you haven't told me everything ... You are a horrible liar."

Amy was caught red-handed but the pink one now knew that there was no way to escape. Although she had tried to keep what happened between them at the ARK a secret as long as she could, she should have known that Shadow was very perceptive.

As well as that the black hedgehog had learned Amy's small little details. Her ears would lower and she would look around the room nervously whenever she lied.

There was no way to escape Shadow and if he was the one who wanted the truth, who was Amy to prevent him from getting it?

But it wasn't only the truth. It was the unintended promise that was made between the two without realizing it.

"I promise to tell you everything when you come back," Amy said.

Shadow smirked, letting go of the rosette's hand already missing her touch. "I'll be on my way then, I'll tell Rouge and Omega."

Amy nodded, a sort of reminiscent feeling overtook her. As she felt that she had live through this already, she almost did not want to let him go. The pink hedgehog watched Shadow walk away and almost like an instinct, she raised her voice.

"Don't you dare do something reckless and get infected," Amy's voice almost cracked at the thought of her new and dear friend being at the mercy of the virus. "Sonic got infected ... If you were to get infected too ... I don't think I will be able to handle it."

"I am the Ultimate Life Form, I won't get infected," Shadow said. His voice was monotone but in all honesty, everything he wanted to do was to reassure her.

"This could be different ... Sonic runs to keep the virus from fully infecting him, do that in case you get infected." Amy said. "Be careful, if things get difficult, run."

"In case the situation becomes difficult, I should prioritize the civilians over me and you should know that." Shadow turned around, appreciating Amy's green eyes. Something inside of him was telling him to take his time in appreciating her features, everything. Because it would be a long time for him to see her again.

Amy let out a defeated sigh and then she smiled again at her friend.

"You know what is one of the things I like about you?"

Shadow shook his head, curiosity getting the best of him.

"That even when things get hard, you don't run away from your problems."  

They just didn't want to let go of each other. They had been friends for a short amount of time, but their bond was special and they just didn't want the moment to end just yet. Their heartbeats at the same rhythm and looking at Amy's face, Shadow doubted himself for the first time. There were many things he was insecure about but for Amy, he was willing to put that aside.

Appreciating her face one last time, Shadow smiled at her. He mentally promised to do the thing Amy liked about him.

"You know I don't run."

.

.

.

.

.

.

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A/N: Finally, the second part of this short story. This wasn't meant to be romantic ShadAmy but just them trying to figure out each other and how they start to become friends and such. However, if you want to see it as romantic, feel free to do so. Until next time!

[fire-toolz]

Infinity and “I”: An interview with Fire-Toolz

Sometimes you encounter music that opens your ears to new possibilities in such a way that your subconscious burns the moment of impact into your memory. For me, the most potent of these include an early adolescent exposure to the cyclic, minimalist bliss of Miles Davis’ In a Silent Way as in-between-set music at a neighborhood basement show, doubling over laughing with my sister on our drive to school at the vocal-sourced percussion of Björk’s “Where is the Line?”, and having my 19-year-old shit permanently rocked amid my (still) daily breakfast of eggs and oatmeal by the opening few tracks of Fire-Toolz’ Drip Mental.

At least to my ears at that time, the breakneck transitions between Mego-style avant-pop glitches, digitized metal skree, snapshots of vapor memories and scream-led dance pop offered up a vision of shape-shifting music that felt wholly new, almost sacred in its profane blend of styles and sound. “To me, that constantly shifting atmosphere and mood is the ebb and flow you perceive,” says Angel Marcloid, the face behind the Fire-Toolz moniker. “Lots of waves and conditions to pass through, but they all make sense to me … Ideas flow out of me with absolutely no effort made, my body records as many of them as it can and the song gets built in little bits at a time.” The idea of musical “sense” might seem at-odds with the free-wheeling, genre-agnostic sounds of a Fire-Toolz album, but sustained exposure breeds familiarity: By the time I rolled around to my third or fourth listen through Drip Mental, the chaos began to cohere into a logical world of its own.

If my ears grown more accustomed to the utter uniqueness of Marcloid’s art, so too does it seem that “Fire-Toolz” is becoming a musical language of its own. Every new release brings the euphoria of Marcloid’s music toward higher and more mind-bending plans, and nowhere is this more true than on Rainbow Bridge, Marcloid’s new album for Hausu Mountain. The music is distinctly Marcloid, taking the same hallmarks I found on Drip Mental and refining them into sharp gems. A monophonic hymn drives “⌈Mego⌉ ≜ Maitrī,” making for one of the most patient and profound Fire-Toolz composition to date. At the other end, “Rainbow ∞ Bridge” hurls in with synthesized black metal fervor before it combusts into a grooving, tuneful section of electronics. A soaring electronic guitar solo dominates the middle third, and the track eventually loops around on itself into the ear-splitting pulses and crashes of the opening. “It’s less stitching sounds together, and more like inventing gigantic puzzles made of both large and tiny pieces dancing around and overlapping each other, interacting with each other,” Marcloid says of this segmented composition process.

A standout sonic quality of Fire-Toolz’ music—on Rainbow Bridge and all its older siblings—is its embrace of the sounds, chord structures of new age, jazz fusion, prog and a host of other styles based around extreme musicianship, and exacting production. Born in 1984, Marcloid finds that many of these sounds are inseparable from the nostalgia of her childhood. “I wasn’t raised on jazz or electro-pop or adult contemporary or electronic music, but in the distance, there it all was—in waiting rooms, in the background of movies, at the mall, in TV shows, in educational films, in video games, in my friends’ parents’ vans,” she says. These musical encounters all share a sense of accidents. From muzak to soundtracks to chance encounters, Marcloid never supposed to take this stuff in.


Though that’s precisely the path she took, and Fire-Toolz takes a magnifying glass to these background sounds and exposes their inherent beauty and strangeness. “Because of the internet, and having the privilege of being able to access those sounds and use them creatively, I am living out my second childhood in a heartfelt, authentic way,” she says. This “second childhood” is an apt analogy for the giddiness that Fire-Toolz music exudes. These sounds and harmonies are familiar—some would argue overused and tired—but Marcloid approaches them with a renewed sense of optimism. At their core, these styles hunt for religious ecstasy and otherworldly piece, cosmic qualities that Marcloid’s art exudes with boundless glee.

These ideals of grandiosity that run rampant through Marcloid’s music also appear in the conceptual and philisophical framework surrounding the Fire-Toolz project. The track titles alone convey this sense of out-of-body msyticism. Through a combination of between cheeky, internet-based puns, dense transcendental philosophy and creative linguistic construction through the use of atypical spellings, punctuation and word structuring, Marcloid constructs a verbal world inside which her singular music lives. “Infinity and wholeness is a constant theme, but it is by default. It is a framework from which I operate,” she says. “I’m on a journey; steadily growing every day, until my body no longer works. I’m not even saying I’m getting better and better, but I’m always changing. I’m constantly falling, and there is no ground.”

Stand out examples of these constructions from the past include the warm, nostalgic hum of Skinless X-1‘s “In The Computer Room @ Dusk ☕” or the scattered sonic metamorphosis of “Fluids Come Together & The ‘I Am’ Appears.” On Rainbow Bridge, one of the most stunning realizations comes on “dEcRePiT φ PhOeNiX,” a track which Marcloid says  “is a direct reference to myself and evolution. A decrepit phoenix is kind of how I see my body-mind and personality. Always escaping from the ashes, sore and tired … But, a phoenix nonetheless.” With its wobbling chromatic synthesizer melodies and arena-ready drum slaps, the music presents a colorful foundation atop which Marcloid’s screamed vocals delve head first into this beautiful crisis of change: “Melted and melded and molding crashes / Illusion of self reduced to ashes,” she sings, highlighting the twin agents of destruction and rebirth that accompany any process of change.

While these ideas might traverse the breadth of Fire-Toolz’ discography, the new album places the themes in a more specific context. “For Rainbow Bridge, I felt like I had an enormous amount I needed to say and express; so many questions to ask, and expressions of energy I needed to release. I just make music with that in mind,” says Marcloid. Specifically, “the title references the pathway that our pets take when they leave us. My cat Breakfast, who passed away in December of 2018, is the talking point of the album. A lot of it is about her, or speaking to her.” Breakfast also appears on the album (as she has on a number of previous Fire-Toolz releases), creating a sort of living/lasting artistic tribute to the lost friend. In this light, the epic constructions feel even more special, as if the explosions of colorful sounds on Rainbow Bridge are paeans to Breakfast. The songs build towers that stretch toward the bridge in search of communication.


“Fire-Toolz has always been sincere,” Marcloid says. “Melodramatically sincere.” It’s this sincerity that’s kept me coming back time and time again after that fateful February morning encounter. Especially at its most bombastic and indulgent (see: the sing-along chorus of Rainbow Bridge‘s “It’s Now Safe to Turn Off Your Computer,” the neon, fusion-drenched guitar outro “Clear Light” off 2019’s Field Whispers (Into the Crystal Palace)), Marcloid’s music teethes with a sense of purpose and meaning. What might illicit chuckles of disbelief upon first encounter transforms into a beautiful sonic odyssey that offers more intruige and magic over time.

Like each and every Fire-Toolz album, Rainbow Bridge is a mind-bending excursion that blows up music into a cosmic, surreal land, and it’s only the tip of the iceberg: In the last year or so alone, Marcloid has put out equally incredible music through her Mindspring Memories, Angelwings Marmalade, Nonlocal Forecast and Path to Lobster Believers projects, as well as a number of mastering jobs (some personal favorites include The Car? and w i n t e r q u i l t 愛が止ま). A number of these projects (including Fire-Toolz) have future releases already in progress, and there’s a high chance I’ve even left of a name or two in this list. If this seems like this stretches the limits of what one entity can perform and produce, Marcloid suggests that there’s other energy at play: “Something tells me it’s not me doing it. ‘Me’ in the individuated sense,” she says. “It feels more like something I am a part of is doing it through me.” What form this ancillary force might take is unbeknownst to anyone save Marcloid, but let’s hope their fruitful collaborations continue for years into the future. We’ll always need more rapturous shock; we’ll always need more Fire-Toolz, ad infinitum.

-Audrey Lockie/Slug Mag

https://www.slugmag.com/music/interviews/music-interviews/infinity-and-i-an-interview-with-fire-toolz/

[mobius-prime]

147. Sonic the Hedgehog #82

Night of Chaos!

Writer: Bollers Pencils: Ribeiro Colors: Gagliardo

Those of you who've played the first Sonic Adventure will know exactly what's coming up and how it plays out. Sonic is hopping from rooftop to rooftop at night in Station Square when he spots police cars zooming around a corner and decides to follow them to see what's up. Of course, it's Chaos, against whom the cops' weapons are useless, as they so helpfully shout at us. The dialogue here is almost word for word taken from the English translation of the game, with the occasional thought bubble to expand Sonic's mental take on things. Luckily, the extraordinarily cheesy dialogue from the game fits in perfectly with Archie Sonic's already incredibly-cheesy-to-begin-with personality.

The fight plays out much like how the boss fight in the game does, with Chaos hopping from light pole to light pole and eventually melting back into a puddle of water and going down the drain, with Robotnik laughing at Sonic's efforts from above to defeat "Chaos, the god of destruction." Good thing the Freedom Fighters were here in the city to defend it from this thing, huh? Since it's so isolated, if they'd had no help, Station Square would have kind of been screwed against Chaos from the start.

Door to the Past

Writer: Bollers Pencils: Ribeiro Colors: Gagliardo

This story is where the adaption takes a sharp departure from the game. Knuckles, still wandering the ruins, suddenly finds a ball of light approaching him, and as it touches his forehead, he is swept into a vision by an echidna who introduces herself as Tikal, but definitely does not look like the Tikal we know (for some reason, throughout the arc, her appearance and even the spelling of her name is wildly inconsistent). Unlike in the game, where it takes the entire cast multiple days to coordinate with one another and decipher the strange visions they've all been receiving, Tikal just lays it all out on the table to Knuckles immediately.

Of course, the Mysterious Cat Country was named as such because, well, there were cats already living there, cats who weren't inclined to share their space. The Knuckles clan, the warrior caste for whom Knuckles is named (it has nothing to do with his pointy mutant knuckles, no, not at all) chose to stay and fight, while the scientists departed back for Albion. Tikal, the young daughter of their warchief "Pachamac" (a misspelling, they corrected it to Pachacamac in future issues), chanced upon the Mystic Ruins , meeting the peaceful chao who protected the "seven emeralds" (it's not elaborated on what kind of emeralds these were, since in this universe, the Master Emerald didn't exist yet, and there are more than seven Chaos Emeralds in the world), along with the mutated chao made of water called… Chao. Yeah, I guess he started being called Chaos later or something? Tikal quickly befriended the chao, understanding that they were peaceful and didn’t want to be disturbed by conflict, but in the midst of their war with the native cats, the members of her clan tried to invade the chao's land to seize the power of the seven emeralds for themselves, despite Tikal's pleas.

While Knuckles chases after the ball of light, we move over to Eggman, whose robots have all returned with various frogs for inspection. At first, like in the game, he's pissed that none of them have the right frog, but then gets to Gamma and becomes pleased as he sees the correct frog (though, again, how he knew that the piece of Chaos got into that one specific frog completely eludes me). After extracting the missing piece from Froggy…

…Chaos is whole once more, which means that this story took place before the first one. Man, why do all these issues have the various stories out of order like this? I mean, I guess they wanted to keep the general order of Sonic story first, then Knuckles, then the backup at the end, but still. While Eggman sends Chaos off to wreak some havoc, we head back to the Mysterious Cat Country, where the cat queen continues to try to interrogate her captives, certain they're planning an attack on her people. Instead of reassuring her that they are not, in fact, trying to invade her land, Vector decides to just start mouthing off for no reason.

First of all, "crap" is not a swear word. Second of all, that's cannibalism. And third of all, Locke has arrived to demand the release of the Chaotix and Julie-Su, or else he's willing to restart the war that he claims the cats started all those years ago! Wait, Locke, what the hell? The cats hardly started the war - if anything, it was the echidnas arriving and trying to colonize an already-inhabited land that started the war. But then again, we already knew the echidnas were pompous colonialists who only care about themselves.

Double-Crossed Circuits

Writer: Bollers Pencils: Ribeiro Colors: Gagliardo

In keeping with the theme of not putting these stories in any logical order, this story takes place both before, during, and after the previous one. It's also narrated very bizarrely, with most dialogue avoided and replaced instead with textboxes that simply inform us, in second person no less, what's going on at any given time. This isn't the first time Karl has opted for this style of storytelling, but I maintain that it just doesn't work as well as simply showing what's happening, and clashes especially hard with comics as a form of media, given that they're all about showing instead of telling.

Anyway, it's time to properly meet E-102 Gamma! It was built by Eggman along with several other similar robots also named after Greek letters, and trained for battle against robotic copies of Eggman's various enemies, including, of course, Sonic. Gamma completes the obstacle course with ease, and is then sent out with its fellows on the quest to get! that! frog!

Of course, we know it returned with the correct one, and Eggman, angry at the rest of the robots for failing, disintegrates them all before Gamma's eyes. He then orders Gamma, who is feeling the beginnings of emotion at witnessing its fellow robots' "deaths," to go to the prison block and get the bird from Amy, who's been imprisoned there since her capture last issue.

You see what I mean about this weird style of narration? I mean, I guess you could say Karl is trying to avoid just lifting all the dialogue wholesale from the game, but this is objectively worse, as well as being weirdly confusing to anyone who isn't already familiar with the original scene. Anyway, Gamma straight up rips the door off its hinges to allow Amy and the bird to escape, and then walks away, with the narration informing us that Gamma is now sentient due to this decision. Uh… okay then, I guess? Next up we have a Super Special, which contains the bulk of the adaption, so strap in for that.

[thesunlounge]

Reviews 277: LSW

One of my favorite collectives and labels descending from Düsseldorf’s Salon des amateurs is candomblé, the slightly mysterious group of artists and producers based loosely around those Phaserboys Aki Aki and Rasputin. Across a pair of various artist 10”s called Check Your Reality and To Style One Into, the duo and friends Kaschiel, Schaik Mitz, and DJ Normal 4 explored psychedelic breakbeat stylings with touches of cosmic chill-out, prog house, and trance. And most recently, Aki Aki himself released collection of low-slung, dubbed out, and downbeat acidbass rave outs through the label called Dishjockey. But in between those first 10” releases and Aki Aki’s leftfield drug experiments came a curious collection of mutant krautrock and shadowy NDW-leaning pop called Life Style West, which was written and produced by that Phaserboy Gregor Darman, Sebastian Welicki, and vocalist/lyricist Leonard Horres under the name LSW. The music here aligns with the recent work of Niklas Wandt and Joshua Gottmans as Neuzeitliche Bodenbeläge as well elements of Stabil Elites’ sound, though LSW head even further into realms of dark Kraftwerk-ian body music militance, with monotone vocals at once pleading and apathetic hovering above retro-futurist hardware jam-outs. Mechanized drums stomp through the night, squelching basslines pulsate narcotically, and synths morph between kosmische crystals and Goan energy fields, with things occasionally ascending towards realms of lounge exotica, jazz fusion, and Napoli-style future funk. And through it all, Horres weaves lyrical spells, dark humorisms, and post-punk poems concerning modern anxiety, urban decay, and themes of rage, fear, and surreality.

LSW - Life Style West (candomblé, 2019) Blaring brass and tribal drums intercut at the start of “Trendalarmstufe Rot,” before giving way to a ritualistic groove, where machine kicks stomp, beachside bongos roll, claps crack,, and gated reverb snares smack against cavern walls. Synths drone into the void, Horres’ monotone voice speaks expressively, and mystical electronics smear into ether, with synthesizers gliding like steel drum sunbeams. At certain points, dissonant fusion solos swirl around squelching bassline madness while elsewhere, apathetic chants of "trendalarm stufe rot” lead to thrilling passages that mix jacking EBM and Italo funk, as the percussion slams and flamboyant basslines slap and slither alongside zooming acid psychedelics. Nearing the end, rave squiggles work around anthemic leads, mermaid breaths fade into space vapor, and chords of crystal disperse, with everything locking into a hypnotic side-to-side swagger. Then in “Deutsche Bahn,” bulbous basslines and cyborg surf melodies are shrouded in mist while sci-fi motorik magic builds in, all white noise cymbals, kraut pulsations, and wobbly basslines morphing through sequential syncopations. Horres chatters over top before locking into shamanic repetitions of “gute reise mit der Deutsche bahn”…the vibe like soaring down a futurescape railway on pulsing energy waves as neon tracers and psychosonic patterns swirl. The hypnotic glide is periodically disturbed by electro-tom panoramas, stuttering robo-rhythms, and double tracked vocalisms and at some point, the kick drums cut away for a passage of sequential reso-filter chaos, wherein basslines evolve into alien liquids. Later, as the cymbals return, they no longer lead a kosmische float and now guide a futuristic doom dirge, with stoner sub-bass swinging and searing layers of static frying the mind.

At the start of “Tenor Ist Terror,” looping electronics lead to irresistible breakbeat funk, with everything low slung, loose, and free. Subsonic pulses erupt from earthen depths and Horres leads a call and response between smooth voices and creepy whispers before working into a delirious combination of early 80s proto-rapping and soft schlager lullaby. It’s a world of hands-in-the-air west coast magic and booty shaking beat science, with mystical Arabian melodics constructed from cycling oscillations, textures of plucked gemstone and galactic diamond merging, and eerie synthesis droning into a golden haze. The electronics surrounding the hip-hop jam out sometimes recall textures of Goa trance and at certain moments, Horres’ voice is double tracked while moving through rapid fire repetitions of “doch egal wer dich weiter durch die nacho begleitet / das her int nicht bearbeitet.” During a breakdown, everything sounds distorted and ring modulated while claps fire through strange echo layers and wierdo siren patterns modulate. And after the breaky rhythms build back up and Horres returns, his voice is backed by triumphant waves of ambient fog…these blaring chords and bending arcs of sonic darkness leading to a brief yet emotional climax. “Altbier,” the final track on the A-side, is a fantasy dub interlude as seen through a drunken mirage. Jazzy drums sway through downbeat rhythms and basslines walk through bebop futureworlds, with everything embellished by wiggling electronics and wavering FM synthesis. It’s lounge exotica on a faraway plant, like early Sun Ra meeting a strange NDW berceuse, with sexual whispers raising the hair on the back of the neck and evoking Walter Wegmüller, star menschen Rosi Müller, and the vocal erotica of The Pilotwings.

The centerpiece of the B-side is “Goldketten Aus Fett,” which sees the title and the phrase “geld wie dreck” repeated under gentle multitracking while alternating with cold delirium whispers. Hand drums mutate through strange electronics and snare splashes build anticipation, with everything setting the stage for another Kraftwerk-infused electro rhythm, only as if written in the era of acid house. Sketchy shakers join simplistic subkick and snare militance, with everything smashing through layers of 80s verb. Square wave basslines generate an infectious future dance and trance arps fly all around, as “goldketten aus fett / geld wie dreck” is endlessly repeated. During a flashy bass passage, tubular subsynth melodies flow beneath haunted chord swells, riffing funk liquids, and Horres’ whispering voice, all while cowbells ping and sweltering sequences dance in counterpoint. The drums continuously build up and reduce according to a hyperactive dream logic and satellite transmissions are transformed into melodic phrases while virtual saxophones skronk through wild fusion solos beneath a heatwave sky. Beats hit in isolation during a smashing percussion passage before being joined by video game bass sequencing and virtual seagull cries. Then, a majestic theme rains down from the heavens, with Horres crooning in joyous wonderment and chords calling out to the sunset as they move through heart-wrenching themes. Returning to the technoid future jam and its dark industrial hypnotics, plucked bass synths morph into progressive trance runs as birds of the sea suffuse the air. And eventually, as the pleading voices fade away, we arrive at an outro of rhythmic computer noise, blasting mirage chords, and futuristic drum funk.

“Goldketten Aus Fett” is surrounded by “Bist Du Irgendetwas Wert” and “Denkst Du,” with the former co-produced by Kaschiel and seeing double time cymbals and claps rocketing over kicks and snares. Wisps of sickly starlight drift as the track develops into Kraftwerk-ian breakbeat mesmerism, all slamming electro and techno-funk magic. There’s a moment where the rhythms cut away, leaving snares and computer sequences to fly alone until a wobbly brass bassline brings back the narcotic robo-break hypnotics. The singing is like a monotone serenade, with two doped out voices sounding as if in a closed-eye trance while singing “bist du irgendetwas wert / schaffst du es alleine / bist du irgendetwas wert / weißt du was ich meine.” Later, the Kraftwerk vibes are pushed into all out worship as gothic leads pay tribute to “Trans Europa Express” and nearing the end, it all devolves into a crashing cymbals, growling funk bass, and squiggling West Hill synthesis before returning to an airy future dance of proto-technoid breaks and sequential space calculations. Life Style West ends with “Denskt Du” and its ethnological percussion sounding like rattlesnake tails over thudding kicks and laser blasts. Rhythmic voices repeat “denkst du / ich denke nichte” amidst further Middle Eastern melodic mysticisms and distorted synthbass sensualisms while double-time cymbals skip and drums flow playfully through stoner groove outs. Outerspace broadcasts introduce ethereal pad wonderment…these phaser-blasted waves of kosmische magic flowing in then dispersing, leaving voices to hover above smashing beat hypnotics. Elsewhere, Horres moves through longform meditations and apathetic chants of om, creating an anthemic vocal ritual matched by decaying bass squelches. All around move rattling hand drums and atmosphere of desert fantasy and at the climax, phaser chords return and work through ascendent prog rock euphorias, with angel voices and solar synthesis uniting for epic paradise incantations. And after an ending of timbale rhythms, ecstasy raving, and psychoactive android funk, the track closes with coughing sounds and a familiar iPhone sound effect.

(images from my personal copy)

[viewagain]

The True History of the Kelly Gang

I don’t give a fuck about no doughnuts!

Forget everything you know about Ned Kelly. Or don’t. It doesn’t really matter as this film, is not even attempting to be an accurate historical film. “The True History of the Kelly Gang” by Australian director Jeff Kurzel, is based on the 2000 novel of the same name which gives a fictionalized account of the famed 19th century Australian bandit.

Many historical films have the tried and true phrase ‘based on a true story’ and then go on to distort, misrepresent, and fabricate. This film is honest in its dishonesty: the opening text says that nothing you’re about to see is true. As the other words fade, the ‘true’ lingers and becomes part of the title. This itself is a lie, because this this depiction of Ned Kelly is a blend of lie, legend, as well actual true facts about the Kelly gang. There are layers upon layers of subtext and metatext in this film on the topic of posthumous storytelling. Ned Kelly is the perfect subject: he is a man haunted by his past and the lies leveled against him, a man who wrote lengthy letters giving his side of the story, and to this day is still hailed a hero and a villain.

Inner Machinations of the Mind Are an Enigma

Another misdirect by the film, is that this is not about the crime-spree of the Australian outlaws but focuses much more heavily on the life of pre-infamy Ned Kelly. Edward “Ned” Kelly is the eldest son of a poor Irish family. His father is sent to prison when Ned is young and a variety of potential father figures – some law enforcement, some criminals – flow quickly in and out of his life. The constant is his mother with whom he has strange, deep yet toxic relationship.  Ned is shown to mostly be a good person but has pushed him into a life a crime through unjustified (but also justified) persecution. His decision to become an outlaw seems to be done as an act of protest. It seems everyone in his life is tied into the eternal struggle of authoritarian police and anarchist outlaw, which is extrapolated further to be a conflict between the English and the Irish, centuries old rivals.

Despite being the focal point of the film, Ned remains an enigmatic figure throughout. He wordlessly stares for an uncomfortable amount of time, the gears turning in his head, before suddenly acting and the reason for his decision is often left for the viewer to decipher. This also gives the sense that some of the plot lines weren’t fully developed. Perhaps cutting back on certain scenes to focus more on others could have also helped the uneven pacing. The film is a slow burn that doesn’t so much gradually grow into madness, but suddenly lurches headfirst into the depths. George MacKay is captivating as he goes from the wide-eyed nervous staring, to the chaos that is the final act. Kurzel has a great eye and even during the slower segments, there are enough beautiful and intriguing shots to keep viewers engaged; some may find the journey to the brilliant climax to be arduous.

Violent delights have violent ends

And it would be a shame if people gave up before the end. Kurzel’s ‘Macbeth’ is bookmarked by inventive and memorable action scenes and in the same vein, ‘The True History of Ned Kelly’ culminates with one of the most adrenaline pumping action scenes in film. It is bloody; it is brutal; it is grotesque; and most importantly, it feels real. Many blockbuster action films give a sense of being an observe to highly-choreographed, consequence-free twirling. The combination of visuals and sound design in this film make the viewer feel like they are part of the chaotic firefight.

Beyond just the sound design, the score deserves great praise as well. The composer Jed Kurzel (director’s brother) uses string, percussion, and folk instruments to create a rich sonic atmosphere. There are fun, adventures songs where the bass is cheerfully plucking away, but where Kurzel excels is in the intense. Though this core may not be overall as haunting as his masterful work on ‘Macbeth’, there are still pieces where low notes pound away like an oppressive heartbeat as the abrasive, off-key high strings become almost overwhelming.

What does it mean to be a man?

This movie is not without controversy. Despite telling the audience from the first sentence that this is not a factual depiction, you can find numerous angry user reviews and articles from Australians upset at two aspects of the film: the cross-dressing and homoerotic undertones. The Kelly gang is not trying to be women; they adopt dresses as part of their battle dress (pun intended) in a way that can be interpreted to be an act of protest to masculine ideals. The world of cops and robbers is hyper masculine. Men size each other up, posturing to be the tougher man, sticking guns in each other’s faces. The constable’s desire to subdue Ned is like a passionate obsession. Robin Hood is oft joked to be gay, living in the woods with his merry men, and Ned Kelly being the Australian Robin Hood… It seems to me as a logical progression, and a delightful deconstruction of the ultra-masculine.

So, did we learn anything about the Kelly gang at the end of this two-hour journey? With fact so entwined with fiction it’s hard to say. So instead, one can mull over the multitude of ideas and themes and meta-commentary that this film provides long after it’s over. Not that there are any clear answers there either. Or one can just appreciate the moments of great acting, interesting visuals, top-notch score or memorable finale.

8/10

IMDB: 5.9 RT: 79% | N/A

[fluidsf]

Sonic Picks 19 woopheadclrms: vs o.t.O.g.l (2018) Reviewed format: Digital Album on Genot Centre Yes, I'm back already with a new review from a release on Genot Centre in my Sonic Picks review series. Included in the package of the review copy of the cassette tape I reviewed yesterday were again 5 download codes for other releases on the label so I'm obviously checking all these out and giving them a review too. Today's release is this great album by Japanese artist woopheadclrms, titled vs o.t.O.g.l, released in 2018 on Genot Centre. The version I'm reviewing here is the Digital download which features the album cover in good resolution as well as the 15 album tracks in 24-bit/48kHz high resolution files. Indeed at 37 minutes long, the album's music is spread over many short pieces like that but they work rather well playing one after another so the album is a good continous listen. vs o.t.O.g.l is like many contemporary post-digital, online samples inspired Sound Collage / Plunderphonics albums quite an odd, maybe at times "alien" listen. But that is actually exactly the aspect I like so much about this kind of experimental music nowadays. At times it's hard to follow if there is much "rational logic" at all in the music, but this makes it all the more free and associative in nature. With the collages and manipulations of field recordings, voice samples, music element samples and samples of full tracks creating atmospheres and experiences rather than traditionally composed or produced music. The album kicks off with short interlude track I'm which features a Japanese female singer, singing acapella, pretty nice. This flows into Empire of Shopping mall, a track that features hilarious contrasts in dynamics and a quirky and hilarious combination of samples, including Trump randomly. Most shocking for most people who listen to this for the first time will be the sudden screams after the peacefull intro. The piece is filled with cool details, in the stereo panning, peaceful New Age vibes, synth quirks floating all around. Indeed it's really impossible to name all details per track, so I'll showcase some impressions in the way. Fun piece. Then we have Blindness?? which is especially nice for its diffuse sound signature with many mechanical sounds and field recordings as well as constantly warbling synths, and sudden tension at the end. The harpsichord intro is also a great wacky part to start with, as a fever dream the music on this album keeps messing with my mind with all its strange juxtapositions of sound and music but also all the details I can actually distinguish in woopheadclrms' music, it is definitely pleasant music tho, very peaceful in a way. Hane then is a short piece of high pitched tinkling, stuttering and stuttering synths, harp and cymbals, mysterious. Meaning is filled with interesting dissonances, sawtooth synth warbles, ethereal synths, tinkling pianos and crackling sounds. Feels quite like a peaceful place yet there's some kind of strange steile vibe about this place you can't quite place, again, mystery. The "ready or not" sample at the ending is also quite hilarious. Indie juxtaposes mangled drums and electric guitar with samples from a heart monitor in a hospital and wacky synth effects, strange kind of vibe of sonic creatures moving around the space. Then on Killer F we have what sounds like a psychedelic piece of abstract music based around the "cool factor" of some online radio station. Again, the samples "the coolest station online" add quite a comic effect to the whole and with nicely weird pitched vocals the track is quite surreal sounding. Then we have Open it, close it, break it, cry which opens with a primary school alphabet lesson and then moves into quite peaceful Japanese sounding ambient music with traditional instruments, very relaxing and soundtrack like piece, life is good vibes. While we're onto the relaxing vibes, the only slightly weak point of this album is that the tracklist features quite a lot of relaxed pieces and there's few tracks with more extreme dynamics and climaxes. This makes the overall dynamics and progression of the albun feel more like constant ambience, which is definitely pleasant to listen to and all the tracks are great music but it makes the album feel a bit less coherent with the jumps into sudden intensity in some pieces. It's more like a collection of seperate pieces in this way. Fill then, is a musical abstraction of flowing water with jolly synth but also plenty of cool filtered low kick effects, good stuff. The sky is a mirror of endless mind features a lot of high pitches stuttered sounds and squelchy manipulation, quite tense sounding too, the music sounds like futuristic odd industrial processes in action, curious stuff. School is another track being so densely packed with sounds and details I'd say that as an impression it felt as a both comic as well as tense experience with the rising synth tone siren appearing ocassionally but also hinting at the sonic bombardment and chaos that'd happen if all advertisements, stores and anything else in a city would actually make sound. The blend of commercial messages and human sounds often makes our own life sound like semi-artificial already, even if there's still plenty of "real things" in our life that aren't purely there because of good marketing. Calculation & Taste is a more classic styled Sound Collage piece with plenty of looping in the voice samples, creating rhythms out of a woman's and boys voice. Only you brings us to a magical world of safe and carefree life as filtered through the abstracted lens of a Japanese cheesy TV serial drama full of glassy pad sounds, flutes, quite but also dissonant tones and mangled field recordings, sounds good. Selfie is a bit like lo-fi office muzak samples mixed with field recordings of a nice meeting of friends or colleagues, leaning a bit towards Vaporwave aesthetics but more cinematic sounding. Weather channel imagines a world in which the Weather channel is the only TV channel available. It's all you need in fine TV enter and infotainment enjoyment, bringing you metereological goodness 24/7 as well as original weather based dramas full of mood swings due to occasional rain and a kids TV section with the finest jungle exploration TV shows all without ever actually having to face the weather outside. Great ending of this album too. vs o.t.O.g.l. by woopheadclrms is a nicely relaxing album of post-digital Sound Collage / Plunderphonics goodness. While the dynamics / progression in the listening experience by the tracklist might be a bit spotty the music itself is great. I particularly recommend this to listeners interested in both ambient and experimental sound collage music as it's both atmospheric and experimental without being purely abstract. This is also a rather original sounding album in the contemporary digital experimental aesthetics with its many clearly distinguishable details and less club based sound. So a great album to check out definitely. Digital Album is available from the Genot Centre Bandcamp page here: https://genot.bandcamp.com/album/vs-o-t-o-g-i

[furederiko]

Electronic Entertainment Expo 2017 was held on June 13-15 in Los Angeles, USA. Meaning, it has once again come and gone, and now comes the time to talk about some of its biggest news (ones that matters to me, at least). That's right, it's a Video-Game Special Random-News-Digest this time around...

NOTE: In general, the topics below are categorized under the company that released them. But in some cases, they go by their separate franchises instead. And one more thing, this was supposed to go up yesterday, precisely one day after E3 2017 ended. BUT... due to unexpected technical issues (internet connection, and... my health), I had no choice but to postpone it. Better late than never, I guess... *sigh*

Marvel vs Capcom

Let's kick this off with a collaboration of Marvel and CAPCOM. Aside from another "Monster Hunter" title that I honestly couldn't care less, "Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite" was one of CAPCOM's big showcase this year. Remember that leak that arrived earlier this month, the one that spoiled the game's roster? Looks like that report might be true after all. CAPCOM has officially unveiled several more playable characters: the Marvel side has been added by Sorcerer Supreme Doctor Strange, cosmic warrior Nova, assassin Gamora, and the Mad Titan Thanos; while the CAPCOM side was expanded by silver haired Dante of the original "Devil May Cry" (so NOT the latest reboot "DmC"), Zero from "Rockman X" series, cyborg Spence of "Bionic Commando", and goofy knight Arthur from the action comedy franchise "Ghosts 'n Goblins". Considering all eight of these names fit that roster report, I'm pretty sure the credibility of that leak has been confirmed. Everyone was revealed through the new Story trailer, that also announced that a Story Demo has been made available to those who want to experience the game first-hand. You can also check out some of these characters in action, as well as possible in-game pairings (like Gamora-Strider, Strange-Arthur, and so on), through the official gameplay video.

As I've commented on my previous R-N-D, most of the names (with the exception of two) revealed here are 'has been' characters. So while some people were happy about them, many were equally disappointed, which isn't good considering the internet hasn't been kind towards this title. An issue that stemmed from public's disappointments to "Street Fighter V", really. Thankfully, there was one pleasant surprise that came along with this trailer. And it's Black Panther! Those X-Men enthusiasts who cried foul when Wolverine is omitted from the game, can stop whining because the character officially has a replacement now. I'm pretty confident that Panther is going to share a similar 'slash and dice' movesets, if not simply a re-skin version. Panther's inclusion made a lot of sense, considering his first-ever solo movie is arriving in February 2018. The same logic goes to Thanos, as "Avengers: Infinity War" that will put him in the spotlight will arrive a few months after in May. And thanks to Thanos' importance in the story mode, now I understand why Gamora (who shares a famillial link) is necessary to be included in the core cast. Somehow I suspect she's going to be a re-skin of Jill Valentine though, and that might be an issue. Speaking of problem, Panther's not among the core roster. He will be part of the upcoming 6 character DLCs that already includes Ultron and Sigma, though seemingly will be available on launch as part of the 'Deluxe Edition'. And since we already have Gamora, Rocket Raccoon, and also Groot (who has been confirmed to be an official assist of Rocket, as they come in one package), I wouldn't be surprised if Star-Lord will follow suit among this DLC wagon as well.

Story is usually not a fighting game's forte. Even the seamless touch of "Mortal Kombat" couldn't hide the fact that it's... ridiculous at best. And well... this one is no different. Jugding from the trailer, this game seems to rely heavily on the Infinity Stones, or as Captain America suggested, "Infinite Six". Again, it also makes sense, due to the movie based on it happening in less than a year. After all, why would the title even bothered to have 'Infinite' as the sub-title, if that's not the whole point, right? The universe-shattering plot somehow reminded me of "Street Fighter V" all over again, which wasn't that great. So I'm not too sure CAPCOM will be able to pull this 'cinematic experience' off into something significantly better. The CAPCOM characters already felt... what's the word... out of place? And yikes, what happened to Chun-Li?! Subjectively speaking, she's not as 'ugly' as NetherRealm Studios' design for female characters, but I've certainly seen the Chinese Interpol agent in a much better shape before! On the other hand, never thought I'm gonna say this, but Thanos totally kicked-ass with his Infinity Gauntlet. Getting me more and more excited for the "Infinity War" movie, which might be the other primary goal of this game from the very beginning.

I don't know what you think, but overall this game doesn't look half bad. The design might need some getting used to, but I think it feels closer and closer to the previous 3 titles the more I see it. Unfortunately, as I've said before, the general sentiment of this game is definitely leaning on the side of negative. Fans who have 'tasted' the Story Demo have expressed a similar pessimistic tone as well. With a release date crawling closer and closer, how would CAPCOM react to this? I guess we'll just have to wait and see when the game is officially launched. "Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite" will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 19.

Sonic the Hedgehog

SEGA released a new trailer for "Sonic Forces", and this time around, they introduced the set of villains that Modern, Classic and Custom Sonic will be teaming up to face. I was already sold by the inclusion of a Custom character, but seeing all those arch-nemesises in one place just turned me into... a pure happy camper. And that's not all, because a new powerful and mysterious enemy will be joining, if not commanding them. Infinite, no relations to the above category, will be teaming up with Doctor Ivo Robotnik/Eggman (from... duh, almost every game?), Metal Sonic (who debuted on "Sonic CD"), Chaos (of "Sonic Adventure"), Shadow the Hedgehog (of "Sonic Adventure 2"), and Zavok (from the recent "Sonic Lost World") to take over the world. Seriously, that new villain looks scary, and he's totally stealing my attention. Dang it, I totally wish I can play this game. There's no release date so far, but "Sonic Forces" will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC this holiday.

Dragon Ball

I actually couldn't care less about any "Dragon Ball"-based games beyond the ones released during the 90s, but this one... "Dragon Ball FighterZ"? This totally got my attention! Indeed, it was that good, that it was stealing many E3 attendee's attention with its high speed action, flashy moves, and colorful anime graphics. For some reason, the "Marvel vs Capcom" style felt strong in this, to the point that many people have come to loving this more than that franchise's upcoming release. Ironic, huh? I guess nostalgia does play a crucial factor...

This title is under Bandai Namco, but developed by Arc System Works, and somehow was leaked a few days ahead of its planned official reveal. The latter is the company that is known for franchises like "BlazBlue", "Guilty Gear", and also the "Naruto" series. But unlike the Naruto ones that went full-on 3D style, this one utilized a 2.5D style, which once again, is the right call! Why? The development is in 3D, which as producer Tomoko Hiroki has confirmed, makes some technical elements much easier to pull off, but the visual is of 2D animation. And I say, not just that. "Dragon Ball" IS and has always been an anime, thus the anime style is definitely the way to go when it comes to adapting Son Goku and other character of the long-running franchise. It also easily reminded me of those classic "Dragon Ball" fighting game I used to play on my SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive with my family. Aaah, the good 'ol times when the world was still kind, and people hasn't been corrupted by the irony called... growing up.

The game's official reveal trailer only included 6 characters so far: Son Goku, Vegeta, (child) Son Gohan, Cell, Frieza, and Majin Buu. But since the game will be based on the whole "Dragon Ball Z" arc, it's obvious we'll be seeing many more characters like the twins Android 17 and Android 18, Krillin, (future and child) Trunks, and even Son Goten. Especially with Bandai Namco stressing out that "famous scenes from the Dragon Ball anime reproduced in 60 frames per second and 1080p resolution.". A closed beta demo will be held on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One before the end of summer, so fans who are intrigued to give this game a shot, just need to wait a bit longer. For the time being, we can indulge ourselves with several gameplay videos taken as direct-feed from the E3 hall. You can visit Gematsu (HERE, and HERE) to view them. "Dragon Ball FighterZ" will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC worldwide in early 2018.

Nintendo

Contrary to previous report, Nintendo did take the stage this year, as they announced numerous exciting titles that made MAAANY people happy. Not a surprise as well, because Nintendo Switch was just released 4 months ago, and there haven't been many softwares to complement the hybrid console.

Let's start with what's probably the biggest signature title for Switch. A game that IGN has even crowned to be the "Game of Show", "Best Platformer", and "Best Nintendo Switch Game" of E3 2017. It's none other than... "Super Mario Oddysey"! In this game, players will take Mario on a globe-trotting 3D adventure to collect Moons, a fuel for the airship 'Oddysey' that is necessary to rescue Prince Peach from Bowser. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. How many effing times do Mario needs to walk through the same scenario, right? But never mind that, because this game looked super fun.

I haven't purchased Switch yet, but even I'm already itching to play this game. For so many reasons. That great and catchy theme song that made me dancing like a child. That white broadway top-hat, or Mexican sombrero? And Mario 'possessing' practically any living beings around him with a cap throw? Dang it, if only I can play it right NOW. This looked a lot like "Super Mario Galaxy" on Wii, but with its own... spin. Get it? Here, just take a look at its reveal trailer, or the gameplay videos (available on Gematsu), and tell me if you're not easily charmed by this game. Because if you're not, then I seriously pity your sad childhood (just kidding, no need for death threat!). "Super Mario Odyssey" will launch on October 27th, 2017... only on Nintendo Switch.

The second Switch game for Mario is "Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle", that combines the world of Mario and his Mushroom Kingdom, with Ubisoft's "Rabbids" franchise. Yep, this worst-kept secret collaboration title has been developed by Ubisoft, hence why I don't give the company their own exclusive category (because its content will be separated in two). In this game, Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and also Yoshi will join forces with their four... Rabbids dopplegangers, to journey four different worlds, in the hope of restoring order to The Mushroom Kingdom. I'm personally NOT a fan of the Rabbids, but even this crossover game looked FUN. And beyond that, according to IGN it has a deep strategic battle system too. But more importantly, this game also proved that Nintendo is becoming more open to allow other developers to use their properties. A fact that inspires great potentials and possibilities in the future. You can watch the official announcement trailer on Youtube, as well as a Development Diary for the game. Gematsu also had 21 minutes of gameplay from the E3 floor, so go ahead and visit the site. "Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle" will be released for Nintendo Switch on August 29th, 2017.

More Mario? Yes... more Mario! Announced during Nintendo's E3 2017 Treehouse live stream, "Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions" is a renewed classic that will arrive on October 6th, 2017 exclusively for Nintendo 3DS. In this game, rather than trying to battle Bowser, the Mario Bros are teaming up WITH Bowser to restore Princess Peach's voice. Visit Youtube for the official trailer, and also Gematsu for 25 minutes of gameplay videos. Wow, Mario is killing it, huh? Nope, not just him, his green dinosaur friend Yoshi is also getting his own Switch game! Conveniently titled as "Yoshi", the 2D side-scrolling adventure will see Yoshi exploring a world of miniature diorama filled with flip-ping surprises. Go ahead and watch the trailer and have your mind... flipped. LOL. "Yoshi" will be released in 2018.

What about other franchises, you wonder? Well, ask and you shall receive! In list form... LOL - The honestly weird-looking "Arms", is getting rave reviews. It's ridiculous fun, even with its lack in the story department as well as... logic. It might look simple, but it has a startling amount of depth that will wow anyone. Many are saying that this will be a hit for families entertainment, and the game is already hitting the market with a DLC already announced. - Fans of the "Metroid" series will also get their share of excitement. "Metroid Prime 4" has been announced for Switch. There's no release date for now, but I'm sure information about that will come in the near future. The same can't be said about "Metroid: Samus Returns" though. A 3D polygon remake of Game Boy classic "Metroid II: The Return of Samus", the title will be officially released for 3DS on September 15th, 2017. - The pink ball Kirby also gets Switch-ed, in the equally conveniently named "Kirby". Kirby will be adventuring in a party of four, which means up to 4 players can play this game together. Don't forget to check out its Hollywood style trailer! "Kirby" doesn't have a release date yet, but is set to be released in 2018. - And "Skyrim" fans? You got it! Complete with amiibo support and Legend of Zelda skins...

As you can see, the library of Switch is expanding like crazy, and it's an exciting turn around especially compared to what happened to Wii U. Those who have purchased this hybrid console since day one, no longer has to worry about not having a game to play. And for those who haven't had a chance to do so... well, the more the reason to get a Nintendo Switch, right? *grins*

Pocket Monsters

Are you among those who are waiting for a core Pokemon title on Switch? And you were disappointed when "Pokemon Ultra Sun & Ultra Moon" was announced for 3DS instead of the rumored "Pokemon Stars"? Well, turns out you only need to wait... a little bit longer. The Pokemon Company president Tsunekazu Ishihara officially announced that Game Freak has begun developing a core RPG title for Nintendo Switch! So it is indeed happening, folks! He added though, that the title "may not release for more than a year, but we hope you will look forward to it all the same", hence why I told you to wait. Then again, more than a year from now can also mean... it MIGHT arrive on November 2018, right? Wow, I'm getting excited for no reason... LOL.

In a way, this announcement has also partially confirmed that the Switch is indeed the officiall replacement of 3DS. Moreso, and this is just a wild guess, but likely the rumor about "Pokemon Stars" was actually referring to this particular development, instead of the recently announced extension of "Pokemon Sun & Moon". Either way, this is a great news, because we're finally getting what many Pokemon fans have been dreaming: a chance to play a Pokemon RPG on the TV screen! How is that possible, you dare ask? DUH, Switch is a hybrid console that enables that! Of course, this also works wonder to Switch itself, because quoting my own words from last week: "The hybrid console is definitely in need of a fan favorite franchise like Pokemon to attract more players". Yes, the E3 announcement for those Mario titles and many others have shut down the public concern of 'Switch is lacking of exclusive game titles'. But having a Pokemon RPG on Switch, will undeniably attract Pokemon fans who are still on the fence to purchase the console and help boost its sales. Want prove? That's easy, because mark my word, I'm TOTALLY getting a Switch (sooner or later) just for this! *geeks out*

By the way, technically speaking, this section should've been part of the Nintendo category. But since it has already established its own category (in various form of medias) for such a long time, I've decided to put it separately.

Assassin's Creed

At long last, Ubisoft officially unveiled "Assassin's Creed: Origins" during Microsoft's E3 2017 stage. It was certainly not a surprise announcement, considering the title was already leaked since May. More than that, a Game Informer coverage was already leaked ahead of E3, officially spilling the beans in a non-official manner. Ouch! Someone at Game Informer is going to get fired...

Confirming the rumor, the new game will take place in Egypt, and as the title suggest, will be telling about the founding of the Assassin's Brotherhood. The main character (but not the only playable one) will be Bayek, a protector of the land whose story will be root of the Creed. Since the game takes place in the ancient Egypt during Cleopatra's reign, we can expect to see Great Pyramids, mythologies, pharaohs, and many other awesome bits from the country's history. Eventhough this game has been in production before the infamous "Assassin's Creed Unity", it will have a new free-form combat system with new A.I., revamped narrative experience and freedom to choose quests, an entire country to full explore, while still retaining and improving the series existing signatures like puzzles, Eagle Vision (through an Eagle named the Senu this time), stealth, that annoying climbing, Naval adventures, and many others. You can check out the official reveal trailer on Youtube, a Gameplay Demo, coverage by Game Informer, as well as a "Mysteries of Ancient Egypt" that gave additional details about the game.

There are several version of the game that fans can purchase. First is the "Deluxe Edition" that contains the game, printed version of the hand-drawn world map, soundtrack, and Digital Deluxe Pack. Second is the "Gold Edition", that adds a Season Pass for upcoming expansions and equipments. There are also the "Collector's Edition", "Dawn of the Creed Collector's Edition", and the special "Dawn of the Creed Legendary Collector's Edition". That last one will add a highly detailed resin statue of Bayek and Senu, The Collector's Certificate of Authenticity, replica of Bayek's eagle skull amulet, two Steelbooks, and four large lithographs signed by the studio artists. This limited edition (only 999 units for worldwide sale) is already available for pre-order exclusively on Ubisoft store for $799,9. As the pricing suggest, this is totally for that devoted fan with plenty of money to spare! *sigh*. Visit Gematsu for further details of these items. "Assassin's Creed: Origins" will be released for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on October 27th, 2017.

Square Enix

The company brought their top franchise to the convention this year. Several new iterations of "Final Fantasy XV" were announced during the event, while new development on the highly anticipated "Kingdom Hearts III" was also revealed elsewhere.

Second DLC episode for "Final Fantasy XV", one that will focus on Prompto Argentum's solo adventure will be launched on June 27th, 2017, alongside the "Regalia Type-D" update (brings greater freedom to drive Regalia off-road). Just like the first that featured Gladioulus as the central character (released back in March), "Episode Prompto" will likely take place in between the infamous Chapter 13 of the main game as well. If Gladioulus was a hack and slash action genre, then apparently Prompto will take on a first-person shooter experience. Makes sense, really, considering his signature weapon of choice. You can check out a six minutes gameplay video of this DLC on Youtube.

Expanding the "FF XV Universe", two more extension games have been announced. The first one was "Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV", that will be available for PlayStation VR. It's a... fishing game, that let players explore oceans, lakes, ponds, and rivers alongside Noctis and his friends. Clearly based on one of the main game's mini-mission, the game will be launched in September. For now, you can view the official trailer to know that I'm not at all kidding. The second was "King's Knight: Wrath of the Dark Dragon", which apparently is an action RPG. This one's an App game, and will be released on iOS and Android later this year. I can't see the relation of this title with the main game, but I'm sure Final Fantasy fans will dig it like crazy anyway, right? Last but not least, the main game will soon have a major update to support Microsoft's new console. One which I will talk about at the end of this post. "Final Fantasy XV" is available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

As for "Kingdom Hearts III", Square Enix debuted a new trailer during the "Kingdom Hearts Orchestra World Tour". Compared to the "Final Fantasy" one, I personally liked this one better. But while the game looked great, the story seemed to have gotten... even more confusing by and by. Apparently, Hades, Maleficent, and Pete are looking for a Black Box or something, while lead character Sora alongside buddies Donald Duck and Goofy want to bring Roxas to reality, with a certain 'dire cost'. I recall only getting to the second game, thus never experienced the Nintendo DS ones to even have a clue of what's going on. Still, the charm of this series is the various Disney/Squaresoft worlds, and at the end of this trailer, Square Enix officially announced that new information will be delivered at the Disney D23 Expo 2017 on July 15th, 2017. That means there will be new worlds to explore, and I bet it will involve recent released titles like "Frozen", "Moana", and/or "Big Hero 6". "Kingdom Hearts III" is still under development, and hasn't gotten a release date, but is likely to arrive in 2018 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

Taiko no Tatsujin

The latest iteration of the "Taiko Drum Master" series, the "Taiko no Tatsujin: Session de Dodon ga Don!" has been announced on Famitsu Magazine. The game will have a special jam session against other player's musical performance data, that can even be achieved when they are not actually available online. This game will include over 70 songs that cover from famous Japanese classic anime songs, classic orchestral musics, recent tunes from the J-Pop circle, up to modern hypes like the "Pen-Pineapple Apple-Pen". A teaser website has been opened by Bandai Namco, that revealed a special feature to play the game alongside popular characters from Japanese shows. Development has reached 80% and the game is set to be released for PlayStation 4 later this year.

Spider-Man

As proven by their smartphones games like "Future Fight" and "Contest of Champions", or the collaboration with CAPCOM that I've talked about above, Marvel is ramping up on their video game divison. And the one I'm going to talk about here, is their collaboration with Insomniac Games, in form of the non-nonsense titled "Marvel's Spider-Man". It is best known as "Spider-Man PS4" though, because as the nickname suggests, it will be exclusively released on PlayStation 4. And well, since SONY is the copyright owner of the Spider-Man franchise, it's not really much of a surprise huh?

A special 9 minutes gameplay video has been released to give players a sense of what to expect from this game. My reaction? If you're eager to see how Spider-Man gets trapped in a Rocksteady's Arkham game, then this is easily your answer. The whole stalking, cinematic quick-time sequences, as well as exciting one-vs-many combat totally reminded me of those Rocksteady titles. But instead of Batman and his vast array of gadgets, we have Spider-Man and his iconic humor, jokes, acrobatic movesets, and... gadgets in his place. Creative director Bryan Intihar also described the footage in details, through PS4's official blog. It seems Spidey will 'cooperate' with Wilson Fisk, to deal with the Inner Demons gang, who works under Martin Li or Mr. Negative. He will be exploring an open-world of New York to deal with super villains as well as personal matters.

Honestly, I'm not too keen on the human character design, as well as the first suit that has too much white. But this certainly caught my attention. Heck, I think every Marvel fans would be amazed by this. In fact, this game has been confirmed to include additional Spidey suits, as well as multiple Spider-Man characters, meaning there's more to it than what we've seen so far. With strong emphasis on story, it's not a joke that IGN has awarded it as "Best PS4 Game" as well as "Best Action Game" of E3 2017. Here's hoping the actual game will be as good as, if not better than this achievement suggested. "Spider-Man" will be released in 2018.

LEGO Games

New characters have been announced for "LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2"! Giant teleportation mutt Lockjaw, and Inhumans Queen Medusa have officially entered the game alongside Agent Venom. As to be expected, the whole roster of Guardians of the Galaxy have also been confirmed to be playable in this second game, because the story will pick up directly where the previous title left off. Not to mention tying in to this year's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" movie. There weren't many details offered for this game, because likely TT Games and Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment is saving more reveals to be delivered on Disney D23. For now, you can watch various gameplays through the official LEGO presentation stream on Youtube. "LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2" will launch for all consoles on November 14th, 2017.

Professor Layton

Following last month's reveal of the first episode of "Layton's Mistery Journey: Katrielle and The Millionaires' Conspiracy", LEVEL-5 celebrated E3 2017 with with details for the second one. Episode 02, entitled "Song of a Certain Love: Riverside Festival" will focus on the town's tradition of confessing love from opposite sides of River Thames. One that is called "Riverside Confession Show". The legend told that the couple who engaged in that would die unnatural death. But this time, contrary to the annual festive that usually went victim-less, two young people actually get killed! An event that shakes the town, for better or worse. I found the premise of this episode to be exciting, because it means Katrielle isn't just a run-of-the-mill detective in this game. She's going to be investigating deaths, and possible murders!

Another two of the "Seven Millionaires of London" have also been revealed. Joining Ridley Fremens and Clerk Gospec are Andrea Quinto and Zach Lyell. Quinto is a young multi-millionaire who inherited a vast sum of money following the death of her parents. While Lyell is a sharp business who is extensively expanding businesses. He's the president of a group enterprise that owns Long Roller Bank. Up to this point, it's still unclear how or in what capacity these Millionaires are involved in the game. Are they part of a secret organization, that is somehow responsible for Professor Layton's disappearance? Or is there other mystery behind that? And how will they affect Katrielle's life?

Several new features have also been announced. Katrielle will be able to change clothes in the game, and they are specially designed by famous stylist Shouhei Kashima. New outfits can be obtained by using "Special Coins" in the 3DS version, or actual money in the smartphones version. Those who purchase the 3DS download version in Japan will receive a Flora Reinhold-style outfit. Player can also decorate the interior of Katrielle's "Layton Detective Agency" through the new "Room Coordinate" feature. New furnitures might be obtained by trading "Interior Tickets". As for the puzzles, this game is said to have the highest number of them, of all Layton titles. Lastly, the game's theme song "Girls" is sung by Kana Nishino, and will be officially released on July 26. "Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and The Millionaires' Conspiracy" will be released worldwide on July 20th, 2017.

Atari

No, you're NOT reading it wrong. Atari, the classic 90s gaming console that even I have never even seen in real life, is getting back into the hardware business. Apparently, CEO Fred Chesnais had publicly stated this news on the E3 2017 floor. He didn't really go into specifics about this, aside from saying that it is based on PC technology. But could he be talking about that "Ataribox" that has been teased on Youtube? The video DOES call it 'a brand new Atari product'. It even has its own website. The current speculation on the internet, that Atari is attempting to replicate Nintendo's accomplishment with their NES Classic. You know, the one that only saw limited release and has been discontinued? Especially because the video hinted at the "Atari 2600" which was the first console ever released by the company. I guess we'll just have to wait for more information about this. But be honest, would you purchase a NES Classic-esque console just to play classic and likely long-forgotten Atari games? Personally, I'm NOT too sure...

Microsoft

Speaking of console... Okay, let's end this R-N-D with a topic that many are calling to be... the 'MOST POWERFUL' reveal of the Expo. Microsoft has officially unveiled the name of its high-tech console Project Scorpio, and it officially goes by name "Xbox One X". That's... so many Xs, huh? LOL. By 'most powerful', I'm obviously talking about the console's technical specifications of course. And not about that over-confident official tagline that's being boasted throughout the event on T-Shirts, as well as flaunted pretty much everywhere. Hold on... HUH?

Really, its technical specs is certainly no joke. True 4K resolution with 12GB GDDR5 graphic memory, that enable games to run smoothly in 8 million plus pixels resolution (that's the highest possible, for current technology at least); 8-core Custom AMD CPU with 6 Teraflops GPU and 326GB/s Memory Bandwidth, for realistic and smoother animations; liquid cooling and supercharger-style centrifugal fan, to ensure it stays cool with less noise, a system that, according to Xbox Software Engineering Kareem Choudhry, is usually implemented for servers; 8GB flash and 1TB internal HDD storage, with faster hard drive speed; 4K UltraHD Bluray Disc Drive; DTS and DOLBY TrueHD Atmos sounds; various connectivities via wires and wireless; and not to mention being the smallest consoler the company has ever released. To be honest, eventhough I might have an IT background, I have NEVER been into hardware. Thus all these gibberish tech-talks almost put me down to sleep. But I don't think it takes a genius to easily tell that this thing is massive. Undeniably a 'First Class' product that offers immersive gaming experience. According to IGN, the CPU is 30% faster than the current Xbox One, with a GPU that's 4.6 times higher. To ensure backward compatibility with it, all of its accessories and games will work on this Xbox One X, and existing games (like "Dragon Ball FighterZ", "Final Fantasy XV", and "Assassin's Creed: Origins" that I've mentioned above) will soon receive major updates to ensure faster loading time, even for a player who isn't utilizing a 4K TV.

Said technical specification is certainly an eye-popping fact. This is basically a super high-end PC set, in form of a standalone console. Unfortunately, that comparison also immediately raised several glaring questions among the public, particularly game enthusiasts. One that ranged from the most simple, like "Who is this intended for?" to the most philosophical like "Why even bother choose this over PC?". Indeed, which gamer market is Microsoft really trying to aim with this product? Because obviously, to make full use of the UltraHD 4K resolution, a gamer needs to eventually own and plug it into a 4K TV as well. Which is... STILL a really pricey technology that NOT everyone can afford. The fact that the console itself will arrive at an equally 'premium price', feels like a hard wake-up slap to every average guy's face.

Will this win over those gamers who have abandoned home consoles and have since moved on towards PC? In an interview with Gamespot, a developer (who's working on exclusive Xbox title... a random FYI to see the bigger picture) sang praises for Xbox One X by calling it as the most developer-friendly due to its super over-powered hardware. He said, "it's like a high-end PC crammed into this tiny little box". Of course, the logic that follows is, why not just... use a PC instead? A PC World writer has even made a possible comparison to the budget necessary to build one with similar specs. With its own valid pros and cons. The point is, PC gamers will likely opt to spend less money to upgrade their existing PC sets. So is this meant for Xbox fanatics who are looking to upgrade from a very recent Xbox One then? Or VR enthusiasts, eventhough it might be a veeeery niche market? Why not go with the cheaper Xbox One S instead? Hmmm...

Sure, technically speaking, Microsoft has created a console that's... uncomparable, and has no competitor in terms of power and performance (that's the words of Head of Xbox Phil Spencer himself). Will that guarantee a win in the console competition? Remember, the hip and popular neighbour PlayStation 4 (and its 4K extension PS4 Pro) proudly carries the advantages of having far richer library of titles and DLC exclusives, one that only continues to add as we speak. While the sweet and seemingly innocent new kid-on-the-block Nintendo Switch, is offering the ease of mobility, family-friendliness, and multiplayer experience both offline and online. Both are already promising long hours of entertainment with a relative 'family-budget' that seems more inline with the current economical climate throughout the world. So can Microsoft really be certain that their luxury product will appeal a much bigger mass than those? Particularly when sales for the current Xbox One isn't even doing... good? Learning from past experience, the answer to that is rather... skeptical.

No offense to the company, but somehow the term 'most powerful' itself feels... exaggerating much? I mean, A for effort, but it's nothing but a temporary bubble with a very limited lifetime. We are talking about technology here, a means that is ever-changing and ever-evolving. This month, perhaps Xbox One X is indeed the strongest there is, but another console will surely swoop in with better specs and surpassed it. Perhaps next year, if not sooner or later. Trust me, this is coming from a proud Xbox360 owner, who still has the fully operational console and plays its numerous game titles every now and then, and who has consciously skipped out Xbox One due to the lack of interesting titles (aside from monetary situation LOL). What I'm trying to say is, I don't really see the point of moving on towards Xbox One X, at least in the near future. Which is ironic, because what seems to be winning over many gamers' heart, was none other than Xbox One's backward compatibilites. Yes, the exact thing that SONY has been failing to deliver for years, has become the big positive difference that Microsoft is generously offering. Said function will not be available until later this year, but it will support up to classic/original Xbox games! That's an era of 15 years ago, so we're talking about valid nostalgia boost here.

In the end, the common sense is the Xbox One X is NOT for everyone. But it's still all up to you to decide whether you want, NEED, or even afford to have one decorating your already-possibly-expensive home. Lest we forget, freedom of choice, is everyone's basic human rights, regardless of their financial ability *sigh*. This 'most powerful console' is set to be released on November 7th, 2017 at the mindblowing price of $499. I guess that's when its accessibility strength to the general public can truly be tested. So as always, we'll see...

[words-by-andy]

April 14, 2017:

Arca, Arca (2017) Best Tracks: “Sin Rumbo,” “Urchin,” “Anoche” Weakest Track: “Reverie” Rating: 8.4/10

On the cover of Arca’s eponymous third LP is an image of Ghersi’s own closed-in face, hyper-realistically animated with translucent cheeks under bruised eyes, mouth open to display teeth as black and glistening as onyx stone. The facial expression reflects docility, yet the condition reeks of violence.

“I’m attracted to the suggestion of violence,” the 27 year old Venezuelan musician recently told I-D, “I’m not interested in making videos or pictures that depict or celebrate violence happening. I’m more interested in what an individual does once it’s happened.”

As Arca, Alejandro Ghersi has made a name for himself by straying from the safety of composition. His music, impossibly malleable and always shifting in style yet still inimitably his own, caters to this beauty of chaos. Baroque strings swoon over arrhythmic, ear-splitting keys; digitally manipulated voices rap to nonexistent tempos, time signatures; waves of elongated bass lines wash under operatic chants. It’s disorganized art.

Over the course of his few years as a renowned and reclusive electronic producer/songwriter, Ghersi has created a fresh lane that has allowed him to unravel his sound as an auteur of emotional absolutism, even landing execution production roles with Kanye West and Bjork. Like the dadaist and intensely human tableaus of Harmony Korine’s Gummo, no Arca release is complete without complete deconstruction, a method that allows logic to fade under the weight of sentient abstraction. The music, often times bare to the point of only dissonant noise, creates a pure, cathartic soundscape. In this space, unconscious emotions are allowed to run free, a sonic plane that Arca correlates with the impassioned susceptibility of his early youth.

“I found this old journal I wrote when I was nine,” he continues in the interview, “And when I was 13 I went back and annotated it. My nine-year-old self would be really excited or emotional, and my 13-year-old self would be really judgmental - like ‘urgh, who is this kid?!’ Now I’m 27 I open the journal and I relate more to my nine-year-old self. I relate to the boy who’s not jaded, the one who had all his nerve endings exposed.”

For most, childhood is defined by this sense of vulnerability. The world is fresh when you are innocent, and as such, very much so ripe with the ability to not simply feel happy nor angry, but simply feel, and feel in the most pure capacity. 

But yet, the world does jade you. Experiences lead to expectations, expectations frequently lead to disappointment. That window of emotional connection slowly closes for those simply “growing up,” with the underlying truth being that we find it easier to dampen our openness in an effort to avoid being hurt. We don’t want to be targets, of course, so we quietly unstitch each heart string from our sleeves.

But even then, there are moments in adulthood where we allow ourselves to open up. It’s rare, it’s always ambivalent, but when it happens, it’s special. Some refer to it as the proverbial “deep talk.”

To begin Arca is to begin anyone of those dangerously sentimental conversations, and that instinctive repellent of unveiling yourself is captured nowhere better than the fitting opener, “Piel” (translated as “Skin”). As the track commences, the sound of Arca’s voice opens humming sweetly and invitingly, like sirens softly in the distance. In seconds, however, the gentle vocalizations are met with the piercing screech of microphone feedback, only growing with intensity as the track progresses. And yet, the vocals continue, and soon both sounds become intertwined in a harsh wavering harmony. At this point, the setting is no longer inviting. It’s sharp, and practically deafening. As a listener, you are left with two choices: either you double down and fully place yourself within the music, or you shut it off.

Truly opening yourself up to someone is much the same. Never is it easy or joyful to dissect the lacerations of the soul. On the contrary, putting your vulnerability on display is always a risky decision. The sweet calls of love are there, but the ability to tap into the pain, well, that takes strength – strength needed to expel that voice of jaded reason persisting in the foreground warning against trust like deafening feedback to the ear. You either double down and fully place yourself within the moment, or you shut yourself off.

As the album moves forward, so does the conversation – along with the tension following suit. The ear-piercing feed is gone, as is the protective shield, but the striking fragility of upper octave keys and a deep rumbling take its place. It’s “Anoche,” a slow-moving ballad dedicated to love lost and the agonizing memory of it. “Last night, I dreamt of our deaths simultaneously. Last night, I cried of happiness, how strange I felt.” It’s sonic atmosphere is sparse, windy and brisk, yet the track often eases towards warmth as the deep baritone section rolls in and out. Arca’s vocals cover much of “Anoche,” singing and stretching his hushed voice like an operatic Gregorian chant.

[Note: Stopped writing here. Didn’t edit. Got tired, couldn’t re-start. Sorry, myself.]

[isakthedragon]

A Dragon Sized Adventure Chapter 23

Chapter 23: The Dark Master's Puppets?

*Cubot and Orbot get off the ship to survey the new land. Orbot had placed the emeralds near the one they use as their power source thinking that no one would find them.*

Cubot: "Our captain would love this place! It lets him look down on the scallywags he can plunder below!"

Orbot: "That, and Sonic would have a tough time getting up here without getting noticed."

*Unfortunately for them, Spyro and all the others appear out of the rift just a few feet away.*

Sonic: "So this is portal hopping for you guys, huh? Efficient, but not great for us who are grounded." *He notices Orbot and Cubot and the flagship.* "Hey! What the heck are you guys planning?!"

Orbot gets surprised from their entrance. "Ah! It's Sonic, Cubot! What do we do?"

Cubot: "Yar! Pirates and fiends are about! Return to the ship and ready the cannons!"

*But before they can do so, a portal appears behind them and Eggman's arms can be seen grabbing the 2 and taking them with him before it shuts again.*

-----

Crash's Universe, Death Head / Space Egg

Eggman: "Told you I would be back soon... and I can see that you left the emeralds there."

Orbot: "Ah! We're sorry, boss! I didn't-"

Eggman: "Relax. Your incompetence was for good reason, for once. I needed you to leave those Emeralds there for Sonic to find so they can eliminate the threat there. I knew you guys would not take them with you."

Cubot: "You're welcome, Capt!"

Orbot: "I think that was an insult to us."

Cubot: "Eh. Praise is praise."

Eggman: "Now, come on. I have to introduce you to Cortex..."

-----

Sonic: "Darn it! We were too late!"

Tails: "I don't know, Sonic. I don't think they were expecting it either."

Rouge: "Enough about them. You noticed they left their ship here too. We need to investigate it."

*One ship search later and all they find is the logs of what they have done and...*

Vector: "Hey! You guys! Look what I found!"

*The others come his way and see...*

Knuckles: "The other Chaos Emeralds!"

Sonic: "So that's how old Eggface hid them. Too bad he didn't hide them well enough."

*Shadow can't help but notice the flaw in Sonic's thinking, but he knows that Sonic isn't going to care. He decides on being extra vigilant instead.*

*They exit the ship with their findings.*

Spyro: "So, you guys have 7 of them, huh?"

Knuckles: "Yep, and they serve to a larger, controlling emerald, the Master Emerald."

Spyro: "I won't really ask for much of a history lesson, but what do you guys use them for?"

Sonic: "Basically, a transformation to achieve a stronger state of ourselves. It usually means we move faster and are a lot more indestructible. Spikes and running into things won't hurt us."

Spyro looks excited. "That sounds cool! I wonder if I have one!" *But then he looks at the castle ahead of them.* "But first, we must stop Malefor." *Spyro charges into the door and heads into the castle. Shadow hurries ahead to join him.*

-----

The Sorcerer's Castle

Gem Count: 2000

Black Critters: Critters that have pledged their allegiance to Malefor. They gain some horns, are now jet black with lizard-like yellow eyes, and have a dark aura around them. They're still pretty weak though. Dragon Rhynocs: Since he couldn't find any dragons, he decided create some rhynocs that have some dragon qualities, mostly the additions of wings and horns. They're jet black colored too along with those lizard like eyes. They look tough, but they are still weak enough to go down in a few hits. Crazed Demons: Strange beings that seem beyond the realm you're in. It appears they came from wherever Malefor left from. They were tricked by Malefor's corruption into serving him, perhaps explaining his escape, their lizard eyes suggesting the pact made. They chase you around, swinging their pitchforks and spikes at you. They are strong, but I wonder how they can take Shadow's Chaos Spears...

Welcome to Malefor's (originally the Sorcerer's) Domain. The castle is definitely foreboding, with its purple and red color scheme and its black and white checkered floor. It has furniture and items fit for a dragon, the most noticeable things being busts and paintings of the Sorcerer everywhere. The walls are made with gray bricks with purple and red banners all over the place. They all have the symbol of Dark Aether on it.

Your aim is to get to the roof from the use of the staircase, but force fields (With the Dark Aether insignia on them as well) prevent you from getting up the stairs. There is a switch on each floor that will drop the fields when hit, but watch for the enemies patrolling around. Fight your way to the top to come face to face with Malefor...

Achievement Unlocked: A Lesson in Evil Architecture

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*Everyone gets on the roof when the barrier appears again, stopping them from exiting. A dark voice booms as Malefor appears from the shadows of the now dead Shadow Amplifier.*

Malefor: "Well, so the hero of everyone in this pathetic world has returned and has brought his friends to compensate for his weak nature."

Sonic: "Friends aren't a sign of weakness, Malefor! It just means you have more strong hearted heroes to deal with!"

Malefor: "Is that so, Sonic? Yes, I know all your names. Same goes for you too, Spyro. Let me show you just how weak you and your friends truly are!"

Malefor targets Tails. "I'm surprised you made any friends, Tails. Not many people like genetic freaks like you."

Tails: "I-I know my friends like me! They care for me!"

Malefor: "Do they? Or do they just use you as a tool, to either to fly around or to leech of your genius?"

Tails stammers: "I-I-I- AH!" *He is suddenly forced into his Were form, but his eyes are a white color with no pupil.*

Malefor: "Too slow! I know I had you! So weak mind- huh?!"

Sonic: "Tails! No, it's not true! Remember, you look up to me and see me as your hero! And you're my best friend, buddy! You're uniqueness makes you, you."

Tails: "Really?" *The dark energy is forced out of him, returning him back.*

Sonic: "Really."

Malefor gives a low growl. "Hmm, no matter, there's more here." *He turns to Knuckles* "Yes, like you, Knuckles. Protector of the Master Emerald... Tell me, who's watching it now?"

Knuckles is surprised at such a question. "N-n-no one..." *He is forced into his Were form, but...*

Sonic: "Hey, you confided to me that you want to explore the world, but you were worried about leaving the Master Emerald alone. But, remember, I said, 'it's okay to leave it alone'. Barely anyone can reach the island in the first place. And if Eggman takes it, we can easily get it back. I saw you had a nice face of relief on you when I said that."

Knuckles: "Hey, that's right!" *The dark energy leaves, and Knuckles is normal again.*

Malefor decides to move on to Shadow.

Shadow: "Your mind games won't work on me."

Malefor: "Hmph, I'm surprised you trust these weaklings. All they do is fight each other. How is that worth saving for your precious Maria?" *Shadow responds with a punch to Malefor's face. He barely flinches.* "See? You're just like them. Weak, easily angered; just the kind of being you hate and want to kill."

*Shadow is unfortunately thrown off guard long enough to be forced into his Were form, but Rouge saves the day.*

Rouge: "Snap out of it, Shadow! You can't let him insult you like that! I know that's not you. You're a compassionate hedgehog you are worthy of your 'ultimate' status you give yourself." *The others agree.*

Shadow: "I am? No, I am!" *The darkness blast off him*

Malefor moves to Rouge with a frown on his face. "You stupid bat! How can you say that when you would probably dump him for a cache of treasure and jewels?" *He makes some appear behind him.* "I bet you want that."

*Unfortunately, he gets a kick to the face and a Chaos Spear in his side, which he pulls out. So he moves on.*

Malefor: "Omega... Such a weird robot. You're aligned to Eggman, yet you want to kill him? Such a conundrum."

OMEGA: "YOUR LOGICAL FALLACY WILL NOT WORK ON ME. I ADMIT THAT EGGMAN DID  A SUPERB JOB THERE, BUT THATS IT. CONTINUATION OF YOUR QUERIES WILL RESULT IN BLASTING."

Malefor moves on to Amy, but she says: "Don't try it, lest you want a hammer swing. I know I need to reduce my wanting for Sonic a bit to not look crazy. Besides, I think I need a new approach any way."

Vanilla steps in front of Cream. "And don't try my daughter either, unless you want to incur my wrath."

Silver and Blaze show off their powers, making Malefor back off.

Malefor moves to Big. "Such a simple minded cat, all you care about is your Froggy! SO SIMPLE!"

Big retorts: "Looks are deceiving, Malefor. There are a multitude of things you are oblivious of. And hide that fear, it shows. And why do a sense a second entity?"

Malefor gives a loud growl, but calms down and moves on to Espio, Charmy, and Vector. "Ah, Team Chaotix, AKA, the worst band ever."

Espio: "At least we admit we suck. Your jedi mind tricks won't work on us, you clown!"

Charmy: "♪ Yeah! ♫"

Malefor starts getting angry as he moves on to Agent 9. "Oh, here's that action figure of a monkey. Don't you have Rhynocs to chase?"

Agent 9: "Nice try, but I don't care about them any more. I'd rather make you dance."

Bentley: "And I know Bartholomew is safe and can trust he can hold his own defense if need be."

Sgt Byrd: "Living with hummingbirds has been quite beneficial and they taught me the secrets of flight."

Sheila: "They don't call me a boxing kangaroo for nothing! I can kick your butt!"

*Malefor starts showing his fangs*

Elora: "I've dealt with fools like you. I know your tricks."

Blink steps in front of the Professor: "Don't underestimate moles, either. You don't even know what we do underground."

Hunter prepares his bow and arrows. "Do you think you can beat the speed of a cheetah? I wouldn't take your chances with my archery"

Bianca: "The Sorceress was worse than you'll ever be, and we beat her."

Ember: "You'll never break our love for each other." Bandit: "And I know I'm among friends here."

Malefor seethes as he reaches Cynder and Spyro. "You... you little weaklings! Thinking you can hide in front of your friends! I bet-"

Cynder: "Don't even try it. I was never your puppet. It was only fate that brought me and Spyro though everything."

Spyro holds his head up high. "And you'll never be able to take away those that I love and those that I care for. The world isn't meant to be destroyed by Purple Dragons. We are here to make it better! And you know what?! I think you're the weak on here!" *He fires a blast of Light Aether at Malefor, who is unexpectedly thrown back.*

Sonic: "Underestimated us, did you?"

*Malefor, in quite a surprise, collapses to the ground. A pillar of darkness is exorcised out of him and surrounding darkness collects in to a being nearby in the form of a jet black dragon.*

It snarls. "I can't believe it... weak fools like you have exposed me..."

Spyro: "No... it can't be!"

Ignitus: "But it is!" *He appears from behind them along with Volteer, Cyril, Terrador, and a large dragon army.* "It's the Dark Entity!"

The Dark Entity gives a deep, dark growl.

Sonic: "The creator of the dark elements?"

Ignitus: "Yes, but what you don't know is that he is the darkest evil. No one can resist his powers, or at least have lived to tell the tale."

Cyril: "So, does that mean..."

Dark Entity: "Yes... it was all me. You guys exiled an unfortunately named dragon for being too curious. It was easy to invade his mind, promising him a new world for him to be ruling over." *He looks at Spyro* "But you, you pesky dragon, have been my bane. You've never fallen for my corruption... and I think I figured out why! You... were met with Him, the Light Entity! You're too pure not to be blessed by Him!"

Spyro looks at Ignitus: "Is... is that true?"

Ignitus: "Yes, but don't be sad, son. You're were a miracle to me and your mother. She... she died giving birth. You should have been dead too, but it was a miracle. Your egg survived. I'm sure she would be proud of who you are."

Dark Entity: "It was bound to happen, we always have to meet, to battle for supremacy of this world! And I will win!"

*He fires some Dark Aether breath at Spyro, but Spyro's Light Aether dissipates it.*

Dark Entity: "Too bad you're still a child. Even then, you should still be easy to handle."

*The Dark Entity starts trying to barrage Spyro, and he attempts to fight back.*

Sonic ask Ignitus: "Is he right? Is Spyro too weak?"

Ignitus: "When he's in his pure form like this, maybe. He needs help."

Sonic: "Would something like these help?" *They pull out their 7 Chaos Emeralds.*

Ignitus: "Hmmm." *He examines them.* "I think so. Send their energy into Spyro, and let's see what happens."

*Sonic (Dark Blue), Shadow (Purple), Omega (Green), Silver and Blaze (Cyan), Amy (Red), Tails (Silver), and Espio (Yellow) stand near Spyro and direct the Chaos Emeralds' energy his way. Spyro absorbs it, and gains a white aura around him that blocks the Dark Entity's attacks.*

Dark Entity: "What the-?"

Spyro's scales change color from purple to white as his Light Aether power gains strength, matching up with the Dark Entity's power.

Dark Entity: "No! I will not be defeated by you! Prepare yourself!"

(At this point, Shadow jumps in to help, since he has the only energy attack of the group.)

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Final Boss: DARK ENTITY

Dark Entity: "Evil shall triumph!"

Here it is, the darkness that had corrupted Malefor into embracing the Dark Aether. And this being loves using Dark Aether, making it rain from the sky. He does have some other attack too, like shooting rings of Fear at you that need to be dodged or jumped through. If he feels really threatened, he will envelop himself in Shadow breath and disappear to a different part of the roof. And very rarely, he will use Poison grenades to force you away. Finally, if you get close, he will try to swipe at you with his front paws.

Thankfully, Spyro and Shadow don't necessarily have to rely on close combat. Shadow does have his Chaos attacks to hurt the Dark Entity from afar. As for Spyro, he does have his 4 Element attacks (Fire, Ice, Earth, and Electricity), but he does have his new Light Aether breath, which is, in a word, devastating. It will take away chunks of the Dark Entity's health when used on him. But you need rings to be able to use it. Hey, we need to be fair. Just go near Sonic's friends and they will drop rings for you. The Dark Entity won't know what hit him!

Achievement Unlocked: Shining a Light on the Darkness 

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*The Dark Entity collapses and he starts dissipating away.*

Dark Entity: "Don't think you gotten rid of me, you worthless dragons! I'll be back! I am the destructive force of your universe!..." *He disappears entirely, his voice echoing.*

Sonic: "Good riddance!"

Ignitus: "Indeed, he shouldn't be bothering us for a while."

Sonic: "It's funny, he sounds similar to Dark Gaia in our world. Hopefully, you guys can keep handling this."

Ignitus: "I think so... Spyro will at least be older then. I know my son can handle it."

*Spyro has finally returned back from his super state.*

Spyro: "That... was AWESOME!"

Sonic: "Welcome to the club." *He rubs Spyro's head.*

Spyro: "So... what about Malefor? The Dark Entity's gone, but what about him? I don't get the feeling he is dead."

*Malefor stirs slightly, but falls back asleep.*

Ignitus: "Indeed."

Terrador: "I don't get that evil presences around him any more."

Cyril: "That means that it was all the Dark Entity's doing for all his evil acts."

Volteer: "No. Don't you see, it was all our fault. We made Malefor what he is. We stifled his curiosity and then exiled him. We gave him his hatred and the Dark Entity saw an opportunity to latch on to him. He amplified Malefor's negative thoughts, giving him contempt against us. I know it was fate, but we shouldn't have thrown him out like that. Thank goodness we had Spyro to help us."

Ignitus: "My, Volteer, I never thought your fast talk would say something so wise... but you're right. I think... we should allow Malefor back in. I think we can trust him. I hope the world isn't too strange for him."

Shadow: "Now that his threat is gone... can we go now and deal with The Doctor?"

Sonic: "Yeah! Sorry we can't stay, Ignitus, but we got our own villain to deal with."

Ignitus: "Of course, but I hope we can see you guys again sometime."

Tails: "Well, we aren't going to forget this adventure anytime soon. And I'm curious about this place too."

Amy: "Yeah, we will be back."

Espio: "Hopefully not on evil terms."

Ignitus: "Indeed..."

Next Time: "One more Sonic stage for you guys? It's not that expensive you know." -Moneybags

Pay Moneybags 10000 gems to move on to ARK Antics Zone?

        Yes.         No. ----->Fuck you, Moneybags! (Proceeds to attack him like in Spyro 3)