Spoiler Free Section In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter Parker learns that he is more than just his spider-suit. In Far From Home, Peter comes to terms with Tony’s legacy, and that he can’t (and shouldn’t) try to live up to it. …

(Spoiler Review) I need to talk about Naomi. I was not enthused when it became clear that this season was going to be about Filip, particularly because Filip turns out to be a mass murderer with abandonment issues. …

In the bitter mid-winter In search of a secret summer Hope did splinter And all lay asunder Waters rage and thrash Promises wither and shatter Hearts part without a clash All is matter; no matter The sun grows paler Storm clouds gain speed To the pleas of the lone sailor The winds pay…

(This article contains spoilers for The West Wing Season 2 Finale) In the stories I’m most fond of, characters overcome external conflicts by conquering their internal struggles, empowering them to face the world with renewed resolve. The greatest challenges faced by The West Wing protagonists aren’t political ones. It’s their…

(This article has spoilers from Final Fantasy VII games and movies) Final Fantasy VII Remake is a sequel masquerading as a remake. Early on, the subterfuge is executed with subtlety; small hints tantalize this truth throughout the game. It is only in the last act that the game raises the…

The secret of being a bore is to tell everything — Voltaire The iceberg theory, coined by Hemingway, is a powerful and influential idea in literature. A writer should deeply understand the characters and underlying themes of a story, but they shouldn’t spell them out for the reader. Only the…

(This article contains spoilers from God of War) Leveling up your character is one of the great pleasures of gaming. I’ve unconsciously developed a certain habit for leveling up. I tend to accumulate the ‘leveling currency’ (points, money, parts, etc.) until I find myself struggling against enemies, or perhaps a…

Time is the most valuable resource a player entrusts to a video game. It is a blank cheque handed over to the game; some games use it judiciously, others, irresponsibly. This is reflected in world design and narrative at a macro level. But choices at the micro level can often…

When done well, a boss battle is not unlike a souvenir you carry away after the game is over — it anchors the game in your psyche. A boss battle is not easy to make. It demands creativity and effort across the gamut of game development — character design, location…