My Recency Bias

  Part 1: Blind Enjoyment The main difference between Final Fantasy VII Remake and other remakes of classic titles is what the developers at Square Enix sought to do with the story. Sure, the game is graphically superior to the polygonal PS1 original, as well as sporting a fresh and fun new combat system, but these are updates and modernizations rather than wholesale changes. The game’s plot, which covers the opening Midgar section of the original Final Fantasy VII , acts as a set up for future installments in this remake saga, while still introducing our core cast of heroes in the same way. This setup has all to do with fate, the idea that fate has somehow manifested itself to these characters, and that by destroying fate, our character’s future journey is now uncharted territory. This premise is very exciting for those returning to Midgar, because even after knowing the original game by heart, there is an equal chance of being surprised by what happens in the story. The problem ...

Breakthrough is how I would describe The Last of Us , the 2013 semi-survival shooter from Naughty Dog that initially came out for the PlayStation 3. It’s a breakthrough not only because of its evident quality in the performances and the writing, but because these vast elements fit into the very narrow scope of the PS3’s technical ability. The game fought hard to barely maintain a stable 30 frames, and these limitations meant that the facial animations and character models were “good enough”, but never on the same level as the performances underneath.  One of the most interesting aspects of The Last of Us Part I , the remake of the original PS3 game, is what the updated character models add to the already great performances given by the games mocap actors. Take Joel as an example. His PS3 model looks like Gerard Butler is trying to play Hugh Jackman in a movie. His appearance gives off the persona of an action hero, and only once the player begins to see the world through his eyes, ...