Hugh Likes Video Games: Rogue Legacy
Cellar Door Games
Available for Steam and the Playstation Network
“Rogue Legacy” is one of those indie games that feels both nostalgically familiar and refreshingly novel at the same time. A platform game set in a randomly generated castle, “Rogue Legacy” put me equally in the mind of the old school turn-based dungeon explorers and punishingly difficult 8-bit platformers like “Castlevania” and “Ninja Gaiden.”
The player controls not just one character, but a family of adventurers. You navigate the castle in one of eight classes, fighting monsters and collecting treasure. When you lose a life, you choose an heir, who inherits your gear and spoils. You can use them to improve your stats, buy new gear, or equip magical runes. These give the player special abilities such as air dashes, double jumps, or steal health from monsters. Each heir has their own class and physical characteristics which subtly change gameplay. Barbarians have better health but weaker attacks while Shinobi are fast but can’t land critical hits. Individual characteristics such as an Eidetic Memory or Dwarfism affect gameplay while baldness or colorblindness change the graphics. There are a variety of different effects that change up the game without being too distracting.
Each castle is randomly generated, but the gameplay and layout will seem very familiar to players of games like “Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.” The player explores rooms in 2-D, fighting a vast horde of enemies and leaping over traps.
While you can improve your abilities, players will still die quite often, because the game is quite difficult. Enemies fill the screen with projectiles and attacks, which can be extremely difficult to avoid. I’ve had enough generations go through this castle that they should have jetpacks and phasers instead of swords and armor by the end.
In spite of the extreme difficulty of some of the layouts, the game rarely feels frustrating, and the generation mechanic ensures that each run-through feels different. It’s an easy game to pick up intending to play for only a few minutes, and find that hours have passed, saying ‘I’ll just do one more run.’
“Rogue Legacy” is a charming game for old-school platforming fans looking for a modern twist, with gameplay that can be picked up on the go. It is available for Mac, PC, and Playstation consoles.
Hugh Likes Video Games: Rogue Legacy
April 10, 2015
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Hugh Likes Podcasts: Ditch Diggers
March 30, 2015
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Ditch Diggers
Hosted by Mur Lafferty and Matt F. Wallace
www.matt-wallace.com/tag/ditchdiggers
“Ditch Diggers” is a different kind of writing podcast. Hosted by Mur Lafferty and Matt Wallace, with special guests from throughout the SF writing community, this is less a writing podcast and more a writing-adjacent business advice show.
The Campbell award-winning Lafferty is perhaps best known as the host of “I Should Be Writing,” an also excellent podcast featuring encouragement and practical advice for aspiring writers. This is the other show, where she gets more down to earth with business advice for writers who know how to put one word in front of the other. Co-host Matt Wallacer contributes his own expertise as a novelist and screenwriter. The podcast actually springs from a segment on ISBW called “Good Cop, Bad Cop,” in which the pair answered letters, with Mur offering encouragement, and Matt giving over the top criticism.
While they aren’t in character on this podcast, “Ditch Diggers” has the same energy as those old segments, and the banter between the two is a delight. They’ve also featured guest authors, including Kameron Hurley and Chuck Wendig, to talk about their career successes and failures.
While “Ditch Diggers” is geared towards writers looking for career advice, it is still an entertaining listen if you aren’t looking for an agent or an editor. It’s a peek behind the the curtain into the real world of how books get from manuscript to bookstore shelf, with a pair of wry, witty hosts who work well together. “Ditch Diggers” can be found at their website, via Mur Lafferty’s site, or in your favorite podcatcher. It’s all the fun of going to a writer’s convention, without the bar tab.
Hugh Likes Podcasts: Welcome To Night Vale
March 10, 2015
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Welcome to Night Vale
Hosted by Cecil Baldwin, and others
Produced by Commonplace books
“Welcome to Night Vale” a podcast that almost needs no introduction at this point. This wildly popular program is a podcast drama formatted as bulletins from a community radio station in a small desert town. It features notices from the town’s active secret police, a kid’s fun-fact science corner, updates on the mysterious lights in the sky and the war-like subterranean culture located beneath the local bowling alley. And of course, the weather. Night Vale is a weird place, but these are just the everyday foibles you might find in any isolated community, as far as W2NV is concerned. And that is what makes this podcast brilliant.
Written by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor, Welcome To Night Vale is not only a delightful satire of horror and weird fiction tropes, it is a clever and often heartbreaking look at tolerance and what it means to be a community. From the bourgeoning romance between radio host Cecil and mysterious and well-coifed scientist Carlos, to the struggles of a young girl trying to fit in despite the fact that she is in fact an adult man’s detached hand, the plots of the show revolve not just around the inexplicable and the fantastic, but real human interaction, even if it is presented in completely silly ways.
At its heart, “Welcome to Night Vale” is about The Other, The Weird, amorphous Unknown that kept H. P. Lovecraft up at night. But what the Mythos never addresses, and part of what makes it problematic today, is that one person’s incomprehensible horror is someone else’s Tuesday. Cecil Baldwin, who plays coincidentally-named station host Cecil Palmer, recently contributed an excellent short essay about his experiences working on the project to the Queers Destroy Science Fiction Kickstarter. The thing he really loves about the podcast, and I agree, is that in all of Night Vale’s strangeness and paranoia, the same-sex relationship between Cecil and Carlos is never even considered unusual or different from a straight one. That’s the subtext for Welcome to Night Vale. The things that we do not understand or find inexplicable are just life seen from a different angle. It’s an unexpected direction, almost stealth schmaltz, but it’s the most original thing in Podcasting, and it brings a delightful little bit of weirdness and joy to my feed twice a month. Find Welcome to Night Vale in your preferred podcatcher, or visit Commonplacebooks.com.
Hugh Likes Comics: Superman Birthright
February 11, 2015
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Superman Brithright
Written by Mark Waid
Drawn by Lenil Francis Yu
Published by DC Comics
The retelling of a superhero’s origin story really only works if the writer and artist truly ‘get’ the character. Extraneous details can weigh the character down, and updated elements can seem forced. Fortunately, that isn’t the case with “Superman Birthright,” Mark Waid and Lenil Francis Yu’s take on the origin of the Man of Steel.
Originally published in 2003, this graphic novel served as an inspiration for 2013’s “Man of Steel” film, but don’t hold that against it. This comic soars where the movie feels heavy and grim.
The comic starts out much like the film, with Clark Kent traveling around the world looking for a sense of identity. Clark feels that his powers separate him from humanity, and he looks for a way to both live among humans and use his powers to do good. With the help of his parents, he prepares his alter-ego and takes a job at the Daily Planet in Metropolis. As he struggles to establish himself both as a journalist and a superhero, he quickly comes into conflict with the brilliant but twisted Lex Luthor. This is the heart of the story, and it is handled masterfully. This version of Lex is an astro-biologist exhaustedly hunting for intelligent alien life. Clark briefly knew Lex when they were teenagers. Clark was his only friend when Lex’s prodigious intellect, and accompanying ego, separated him from his classmates.
The two meet again, and their meeting as adults goes just as poorly. Lex is an exceptional man looking for an equal among the stars, but Superman is disgusted by his actions. This is a great modernization of the basic plot of a Superman comic, and is typical of Waid’s treatment of the characters and their motivations.
Motivation is the key to “Birthright.” The reader knows what Superman does. This retelling cements why he does it, and how the people of Metropolis react to it. Fear of the unknown, both ‘out there’ and inside ourselves is a central theme. How the characters each react to it is what makes them special.
Yu’s designs are also great, and the comic does a great job of making these seventy year old icons breathe in a modern context.
“Superman Birthright” is available as a graphic novel from Amazon, Comixology, or your local comics shop.
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Hugh Likes Podcasts: The Adventure Zone
January 30, 2015
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The Adventure Zone
Hosted by The McElroy Brothers & Clint McElroy
Maximum Fun Network
The Adventure Zone is a very recent podcast from Griffin, Travis and Justin McElroy, the hosts of the longer-running “My Brother, My Brother and Me” advice podcast. They are joined by their father, comedian and radio personality Clint McElroy in this new podcast, in which they play 5th edition Dungeons and Dragons.
While all four are experienced improvisers and podcasters, aside from Griffin, they have very limited gaming knowledge. This differentiates T.A.Z. from typical gaming podcasts, which tend to be hosted by passionate players with more limited technical or performing skills. This also makes it a fun and engaging show for listeners of all levels of gaming interest.
As both GM and podcast producer, Griffin does a good job of keeping things moving along and teaching his players, and the audience, what they need to know to keep up. This is a nice feature for listeners who have never played D&D before who would like to see what it’s like. The personality of all four hosts comes through in their characters and choices. This is engaging for experienced gamers who’ve all played with that guy, or been that guy themselves. Clint, playing cleric Merle Highchurch is completely new to roleplaying, and is trying to figure things out and see what he can do. Justin, playing the wizard Taako, pronounced like the food, is there to make funny voices and generally goof around. And Travis, playing fighter Magnus Burnside, cheats like crazy.
The audio quality is great, and at about an hour long, each episode is a fine background for a commute, cleaning, or video game session.
The Adventure Zone is a great podcast for podcast listeners who aren’t sure if D&D is right for them, or gamers looking for a good laugh. You can find in in iTunes, or subscribe via maximumfun.org/shows/adventure-zone.
Hugh Likes Video Games: Velocity 2X
January 26, 2015
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Hugh Likes Video Games
Velocity 2X
Published by FuturLab
Playstation 4/Playstation Vita
“Velocity 2X” is a neat little indie game that defies classification. The sequel to “Velocity Ultra,” it follows the adventures of ace pilot Kai Tana and her prototype teleporting space fighter the Qwarp jet as she fights an evil alien empire and searches for a way home.
Mashing up a traditional shooter with tricky teleportation puzzles, “Velocity Ultra” was a blast to play. The sequel expands on it just about everywhere, with touched-up graphics, a delightful story, more bonus content, and platforming sections. I expected the latter additions to break the flow of gameplay, but they are just as fun and challenging as the flying. The controls and abilities used on foot cleverly echo what you do in the cockpit, and feel very organic. Thanks to excellent level design, these sections feel like an enhancement rather than a disruption.
The other main enhancement in the sequel is a much beefed-up story. Kai’s one-woman assault on a stock empire of war-like aliens feels like both a trope and an inversion. She is hardly the first lone fighter pilot to go up against a fleet of aliens, but having her invade them, backed up by a slowly forming revolt of enslaved pacifist scientists, feels perfect. Kai is an outstanding character of the mold we see too rarely in games. She’s equal parts sass-mouthed and kind-hearted, and she’s a big enough bad-ass to back it up. She’s got Samus Aran and Lara Croft in her DNA, and she is a one-woman army, not a sex object.
The gameplay remains strong overall, and the challenge ramps up at a nice curve for new players. By the end of the game, you’ll be straining both your reflexes and your puzzle-solving skills to complete the labyrinthine mazes of each level.
Velocity 2X is a fun, challenging indie shooter that defies both genre and convention. It is available for PS4 and Vita as a download from the Playstation store.
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Hugh Likes Podcasts: Astronomy Cast
January 13, 2015
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Hosted by Dr. Pamela Gay and Fraser Cain.
astronomycast.com
Astronomy Cast is an astronomy and citizen science podcast that takes listeners on ‘a fact-based journey through the cosmos.’ Neither too simplistic nor overly technical, It is a great peek into the universe for amateur astronomers and science fans alike.
The show is hosted by Universe Today publisher Fraser Cain and Astronomer Dr. Pamela Gay. While it is not always consistently published due to the hosts busy schedules, it does cover a wide range of topics. They discuss science news such as current mission like Rosetta and Cassini, astronomical phenomena such as sun spots and finding water in space, and more! They have recently begun a fascinating series of biographies of modern female astronomers such as Joceylyn Bell Burnell, a discoverer of pulsars!
As a lover of science fiction, but someone who didn’t do great studying science in school, this is a great podcast. They present astronomy with wit, and grace, and explain clearly without talking down to the listener. This is an engaging and entertaining podcast for the non-scientist who has watched “Cosmos,” but is ready for something more challenging. It’s even a gateway to citizen science projects such as Cosmo Quest, which assists in mapping heavenly bodies!
Astronomy Cast is available from iTunes, astronomycast.com , or your favorite podcatcher.
ICYMI-Doings for the week of January 4, 2015
January 9, 2015
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Here’s to the end of the first full week of 2015! It’s been a busy one around here, and you may have missed something, so here’s the week that was in the world of Hugh:
On Sunday, I announced my Page of Awesome writing and podcasting goals for the year.
On Monday, I launched a new article series, The Gamer’s Guide to Writing. We’re starting off with an in depth look at plotting with Final Fantasy IX. You can check out our introduction HERE.
On Tuesday, I reviewed the podcast Wham Bam Pow with Cameron Esposito!
Wednesday saw the release of The Way of the Buffalo Podcast episode 79! Go and have a listen to the short story “The Pen Was Mightier,” by Rish Outfield!
On Thursday, I reviewed “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl” #1, written by Ryan North and drawn By Erica Henderson!
And of course, there were five new installments of The City: A Story in 140 Characters!
That’s not a bad start to the year, if I do say so myself. Keep this site bookmarked for more free daily content, and if you like what you’re seeing, leave a comment, or support me on Patreon!
Hugh Likes Comics: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl
January 8, 2015
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The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1
Written by Ryan North
Drawn by Erica Henderson
Published by Marvel Comics
Some comics are meant to amaze. They sculpt years of storytelling continuity into jaw-dropping moments of greatness. Some comics are meant to shock, taking familiar tropes or safe concepts and turning them on their head by framing them in the harsh light of gritty realism.
And some comics are just plain fun. I suspect “The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl” falls into the third category. The eponymous S G is Doreen Green, a jokey Z-lister with the a fluffy tail, a prominent overbite, and the proportional strength and speed of a squirrel. She also has no idea how to operate outside of the superhero mode, which is about to make her first day of college very interesting.
Written by Dinosaur Comics creator Ryan North and drawn by indie artist Erica Henderson, this book will feel familiar to anyone familiar with their work. It’s a light, breezy tale filled with misappropriated superhero theme songs, squirrel (fish) out of water humor, and even alt text printed on the bottom of each page. Even the art has a softer, more cartoonish quality that lends itself well to North’s wacky script. This isn’t going to be one of those comics that changes everything, but it was a lot of fun, and I can’t wait to see what kind of trouble Doreen and her pet squirrel/sidekick Tiptoe get into with her cat-obsessed roommate, oh, and it looks like she might have to save the world after all, too.
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl is available from Comixology or your local comics shop.
Hugh Likes Podcasts: Wham Bam Pow!
January 6, 2015
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Hosts: Cameron Esposito, Rhea Butcher, and Ricky Carmona
Presented by the Maximum Fun Network
I really enjoy movie review podcasts. But the podosphere is clogged with them, and most of them, while fine, often boil down to the same thing: White dudes arguing about Star Wars. “Wham, Bam, Pow!” is something a bit different.
Hosted by comedian Cameron Esposito, along with her fiancé Rhea Butcher and Ricky Carmona, it is a movie podcast with nary a dude-bro in sight. The hosts have a different perspective on ‘dick flicks’ like “Interstellar” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” than your typical podcast. In addition to being refreshing, insightful and hilarious, the hosts tackle issues like gender and race representation in Hollywood.
In addition to reviewing a film each episode, the trio discusses movie news and includes segments such as movie snack recommendations and making fictional movie pitches, which are great, although not quite as sharp as Disasterpiece Theatre.
Wham Bam Pow is a smart, funny movie review podcast that will change the way you look at movies. It is a part of the Maximum Fun network, and can be downloaded from iTunes or your preferred podcatcher.
Hugh J. O'Donnell 