News

NIDHOGG II: Intense Stabby Joy

Published

7 years ago

August 21, 2017

Messhof studio’s NIDHOGG II has somehow made a connection to feelings of pure joy. Yea, it reached in and found some part of a long-hidden id, that had been paved over by multilayers of jaded titles. I almost forgot it existed, but the simple and exhilarating nature of this game makes for a kinda enjoyment that verges on well-to-do lunacy.

NIDHOGG II brings back the intense tug-of-war gameplay, and replaces its predecessor’s minimalistic aesthetic with a vibrant cartoon color palette. The goal of the game is simple enough, run as fast as your little feet can take you to the left or right of the screen, (depending what side you are on) while stabbing, stomping and letting loose arrows at your opponent. All in order to reach the final screen which sacrifices you to the Nidhogg, a wormlike flying creature, who swoops in to eat you like a fun sized Snicker.

Weapons alternate between broadsword, rapier, knife, bow and your own footsies of fury. It’s based entirely in the realm of simplicity on its surface, but once you take your fight to another human player, rather it be on line or locally, you begin to learn the intricacies in your approach to the gameplay. Using your D-pad will raise your sword or knife to different height levels either high, mid or low. You can use those varying stances as a way to foresee your opponents offensive and defensive approach. This gives you the chance to block a sword throw, or address an arrow back to its sender.

The most alluring part of the whole experience, is how easily it is to turn the tables on your opponent. Just because you are racing through and making quick work of your adversary initially, it doesn’t mean they won’t stop you in the last screen and make a comeback. The variation of attacks and learning your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses usually dictates the direction of the game. Quick decisions and fancy swashbuckling can turn the tide relatively fast.

All these elements make for a good time, but it isn’t until you go head-to-head with a friend that laughter takes hold of you. The laughter is reminiscent to that feeling yo had climbing monkey bars when you were six-years-old. It’s becomes Prozac in video game form. Stabbing someone in the face with a rapier and watching them run as fast as they can to avoid fighting completely. Watching a match that could take 2 minutes, instead take 15 minutes due to the insane back and forth. These NIDHOGG games are uniquely their own, and a straight up blast. Hearing a friend result to repeating “I just wanna win” over and over again during particularly long matches, only adds to the levels of fun that this game administers in large doses.

Even though multiplayer is where the beef is, the single player campaign is no slouch either. This takes you across 10 different maps, each with their own unique cartoonish characteristics. The AI can be a tricky mistress here; making for unexpected amounts of hair-pulling tension. I gotta hand it to Messhoff for creating an increasingly savvy opponent. The AI learns from your moves, and will act accordingly to 100% piss you off with its ability to accurately assumptions what your next attack will be. It can get challenging and heated, but in my book that is always a good thing.

Use single-player mode as a tutorial and then jump online to take on some real challenges against NIDHOGG II elite. Or, take on your buddies in knock-out tournaments. The real magic lies in this games ability to create such a gameplay rich expericnce out of the pieces of such a simple game. Play it however you want, bottom line is NIDHOGG II is a real glutton for all that is great and fun and right with the universe.

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Movies

Trailer for ‘The Exorcism’ Has Russell Crowe Possessed

Published

14 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The latest exorcism movie is about to drop this summer. It’s aptly titled The Exorcism and it stars Academy Award winner turned B-movie savant Russell Crowe. The trailer dropped today and by the looks of it, we are getting a possession movie that takes place on a movie set.

Just like this year’s recent demon-in-media-space film Late Night With the Devil, The Exorcism happens during a production. Although the former takes place on a live network talk show, the latter is on an active sound stage. Hopefully, it won’t be entirely serious and we’ll get some meta chuckles out of it.

The film will open in theaters on June 7, but since Shudder also acquired it, it probably won’t be long after that until it finds a home on the streaming service.

Crowe plays, “Anthony Miller, a troubled actor who begins to unravel while shooting a supernatural horror film. His estranged daughter, Lee (Ryan Simpkins), wonders if he’s slipping back into his past addictions or if there’s something more sinister at play. The film also stars Sam Worthington, Chloe Bailey, Adam Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce.”

Crowe did see some success in last year’s The Pope’s Exorcist mostly because his character was so over-the-top and infused with such comical hubris it bordered on parody. We will see if that is the route actor-turned-director Joshua John Miller takes with The Exorcism.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

News

Win a Stay at The Lizzie Borden House From Spirit Halloween

Published

16 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Spirit Halloween has declared that this week marks the start of spooky season and to celebrate they are offering fans a chance to stay at the Lizzie Borden House with so many perks Lizzie herself would approve.

The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, MA is claimed to be one of the most haunted houses in America. Of course one lucky winner and up to 12 of their friends will find out if the rumors are true if they win the grand prize: A private stay in the notorious house.

“We are delighted to work with Spirit Halloween to roll out the red carpet and offer the public a chance to win a one-of-a-kind experience at the infamous Lizzie Borden House, which also includes additional haunted experiences and merchandise,” said Lance Zaal, President & Founder of US Ghost Adventures.

Fans can enter to win by following Spirit Halloween‘s Instagram and leaving a comment on the contest post from now through April 28.

The prize also includes:

An exclusive guided house tour, including insider insight around the murder, the trial, and commonly reported hauntings

A late-night ghost tour, complete with professional ghost-hunting gear

A private breakfast in the Borden family dining room

A ghost hunting starter kit with two pieces of Ghost Daddy Ghost Hunting Gear and a lesson for two at US Ghost Adventures Ghost Hunting Course

The ultimate Lizzie Borden gift package, featuring an official hatchet, the Lizzie Borden board game, Lily the Haunted Doll, and America’s Most Haunted Volume II

Winner’s choice of a Ghost Tour experience in Salem or a True Crime experience in Boston for two

“Our Halfway to Halloween celebration provides fans an exhilarating taste of what’s to come this fall and empowers them to start planning for their favorite season as early as they please,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We have cultivated an incredible following of enthusiasts who embody the Halloween lifestyle, and we’re thrilled to bring the fun back to life.”

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Spirit Halloween is also preparing for their retail haunted houses. On Thursday, August 1 their flagship store in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. will officially open to start off the season. That event usually draws in hordes of people eager to see what new merch, animatronics, and exclusive IP goods will be trending this year.

'Civil War' Review: Is It Worth Watching?

Movies

’28 Years Later’ Trilogy Taking Shape With Serious Star Power

Published

18 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Danny Boyle is revisiting his 28 Days Later universe with three new films. He will direct the first, 28 Years Later, with two more to follow. Deadline is reporting that sources say Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have been cast for the first entry, a sequel to the original. Details are being kept under wraps so we don’t know how or if the first original sequel 28 Weeks Later fits into the project.

**Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes**

Boyle will direct the first movie but it’s unclear which role he will take on in the subsequent films. What is known is Candyman (2021) director Nia DaCosta is scheduled to direct the second film in this trilogy and that the third will be filmed immediately afterward. Whether DaCosta will direct both is still unclear.

Alex Garland is writing the scripts. Garland is having a successful time at the box office right now. He wrote and directed the current action/thriller Civil War which was just knocked out of the theatrical top spot by Radio Silence’s Abigail.

There is no word yet on when, or where, 28 Years Later will start production.