Super Mario 64: Nintendo's Foray into 3D Gaming

    By 1991, Nintendo had ended its brief partnership with Sony in a less-than-professional betrayal, announced on the second day of CES. Following this fallout, Sony began work on their standalone venture, which would ultimately culminate in the creation of the original PlayStation. Meanwhile, it wasn't until roughly 1993 that Nintendo began developing its next-generation video game console, the Nintendo 64 or N64 for short. The N64 was championed as one of the first 64-bit video game consoles, boasting revolutionary 3D graphics that pushed the industry forward. The game that helped usher in this new era of 3D gaming was Super Mario 64. This is the story of how Super Mario 64 not only redefined the platforming genre but reshaped the video game landscape as a whole.

The Nintendo Satellaview: Chasing CD Quality

    We all know that after Nintendo and Sony ended their partnership at CES 1991, Sony took the hardware that they had been working on with Nintendo and created their own console called the Sony PlayStation. Sony was able to do this because of their contract with Nintendo that stated that Sony would have most of the rights to the Super Famicom/SNES Play Station. This contract was the reason why Nintendo decided to part ways with Sony. What is less known is what came after Nintendo ended its partnership with Sony. Nintendo had a very short-lived partnership with Philips that ended in some crappy CD-i Nintendo games. Once that partnership ended, Nintendo went on to create a new add-on for the Super Famicom called the Satellaview. The Satellaview was a satellite modem add-on that was only released in Japan. This is the story of one of Nintendo's most unique and often forgotten add-ons: the Satellaview.

The Life and Legacy of Akira Toriyama

    Akira Toriyama was a manga (Japanese comic books) writer and illustrator (mangaka). His career took off with Dr. Slump, but it was Dragon Ball that cemented his legacy outside of Japan. While anime gained mainstream popularity in the West during the 90s with series like Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Sailor Moon, and Dragon Ball Z, Toriyama’s work played a key role in introducing Japanese animation to a global audience. Toriyama sadly passed away on March 1, 2024, at the age of 68 years old. Akira Toriyama had a passion for creating manga and created a series (Dragon Ball) that helped introduce many people to anime. Toriyama will always be remembered as a manga legend and in this post, I want to talk about his life and legacy.

The Life and Legacy of Gunpei Yokoi

     Gunpei Yokoi was a video game designer and a long-time employee of Nintendo. Yokoi was best known for being the creator of the D-Pad and the Game & Watch along with designing the original Game Boy. Along with hardware, Yokoi was also the producer of some Nintendo games such as Metroid, Donkey Kong, and Super Mario Land. Gunpei Yokoi is an all-time Nintendo legend but sadly passed away on October 4, 1997, at the age of 56 years old. In this post, I want to talk about the life and legacy of Gunpei Yokoi, a Nintendo legend.

Twisters (2024) Movie Review

*Warning this review contains major spoilers!*

Twisters is a reboot of the iconic 1996 disaster film, centering on Kate Carter, a former storm chaser from Oklahoma. Once a promising PhD candidate at Muskogee State University, Kate was on the verge of securing a grant for her groundbreaking research project, "Taming a Tornado." But during a field test with her team—Jeb, her boyfriend; and friends Addy, Praveen, and Javi—things took a tragic turn. Misjudging the strength of a tornado they were tracking, the group encountered a devastating EF5 storm instead of the expected EF1. The tornado claimed the lives of Jeb, Addy, and Praveen, leaving Kate physically and emotionally scarred.

Wes Craven's Scream (1996) Movie Review

*This review contains very minor spoilers*

    "Scream" is a classic film that helped redefine the horror genre. From its gripping intro to its climactic reveal, this movie did things like no other film in its genre, leaving an indelible mark on horror cinema. The first viewing is an unforgettable experience, filled with twists and turns that are best enjoyed without any prior spoilers. Yet, "Scream" offers layers of detail and clever nuances that reward multiple viewings, revealing aspects you might have missed initially.

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008) Movie Review

*This review may contain spoilers*

Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight," released in 2008, is more than just a superhero movie; it's a deep psychological thriller that explores complex themes through its characters. The film, starring Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne/Batman, delves into various psychological concepts that make it a rich subject for analysis.