Tanner Rahl

X-Men ‘97 (2024) is great so far. I was worried it would be woke, corny, or something in between. Instead, it’s funny, witty, and each of the characters bring their own, individualized personality that makes you appreciate them all equally. Professor X passes away a year ago and it’s up to the X-Men to create a new hierarchy amongst themselves.. and in a world that is finally starting to have sympathy for the mutant race. To start, it appears Cyclops and Wolverine have two different approaches to leadership and because of it they don’t speak much since the passing of their leader. Jean’s psychic powers are still as powerful as ever and because of her abilities being from a distance, her character is able to easily get away with being pregnant to start the series, even during a world on the brink of collapsing. Storm starts off the fighting and gives us a taste of what’s to come. Beast is still bringing the wisdom and strength. Gambit is the ‘cool’ guy that’s laid back amongst the chaos & Jubilation gives off a very colorful, bubbly, and calming vibe. At the end of the first episode, the X-Men go on their first mission to locate Bolivar Trask and it’s here the show really shines.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a testament to the chaotic beauty of the DC universe, a game that embraces its madness and invites players to do the same. It’s a wild ride through the heart of darkness, lit up by the occasional, explosive flashes of heroism—or perhaps, just the thrill of the fight. When it comes to giving you a verdict: I enjoyed this game. I really was surprised to read the negative reviews about how Suicide Squad didn’t live up to the hype. In a world where nowadays almost every game is trash, it’s nice to play something with some substance. I’m not going to say this is something you need to run out and spend $60-100 on, but it is something to consider when it goes down in price in the coming months. It’s super clunky at launch, with bugs galore. There are times when the servers are down and because of that you’re unable to play. You’ll also be unable to play offline if your own internet were to crash in the middle of battling the Justice League. But it’s not just about the battle between you and the corrupt Justice League; it’s about the stories behind these four characters, the dark humor that permeates their interactions, and the unlikely camaraderie that forms in the face of impossible odds. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is a testament to the power of second chances, a thrilling ride that asks the question: Can villains truly become heroes, even if just for a moment? When you consider all that, and look at the game beyond the clunky mechanics and ongoing grind for better loot.. it’s actually better than most games you’ll come across. It’s not perfect but, after a few updates, I can see this game getting better. For now, I think this game deserves a 5 out of 10. https://rahlreviews.com/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league/

After exhausting through the 10-hour trial, I ended up purchasing NHL 24. It’s not because it’s a great game, but because the changes this year are actually noticeable. I also don’t have any other options when it comes to hockey games. These changes are more in-game focused, but that should be what matters most. I always struggled with the AI in previous titles, the puck always seemed to do the weirdest things, and I never enjoyed the overall mechanics. This year, those things have all been overhauled for the better and you’ll notice these changes almost instantly. The game does still mimic NHL 23 in some ways, but I appreciate the changes.. for the most part. The pressure system is one of my favorite new features, but it’s also breaking the game at the moment. A game can quickly get away from you and the only way to fix this issue may be to tweak the timing of the pressure bar in some way. I fear the next update from the development team will focus more on HUT, but after a few weeks this game could get much better. For now, I’d give NHL 24 a 6 out of 10.

The first episode of That 90’s Show has a nostalgic intro from both Kitty and Red before Eric knocks at their front door. It appears as though he’s been away for quite some time and now works at a university as an adjunct professor teaching a “Religion of Star Wars” course. After his hugs and hellos, Donna walks in with a bunch of their belongings and gives a funny jab at Eric for essentially not helping unload the car, which Eric doesn’t seem to pay much attention to. It’s in this moment you may start to think this show has a chance of being good. You meet the main character Leia, who is the daughter of Eric and Donna. She appears to have the facial features of Donna and the skinny, alien-like bone structure of her father Eric. It’s also hilarious to know Eric managed to talk Donna into naming their first child after a Star Wars character. Speaking of Star Wars, Eric still hasn’t given up his love for it. Aside from teaching Star Wars at a university, he also attempts to use the wisdom of those movies to influence his daughter throughout her entire life, which she obviously can’t stand. Leia finds herself early in the episode walking around outside of her grandparent’s home before hearing the neighbor girl across the street, Gwen Runck. Gwen is listening to music and screaming the lyrics before turning to the window and seeing Leia standing there, looking at her. They have a short interaction that has you wondering if these two are going to be romantic lovers or best friends throughout the series. After a while, I’m to believe they’re just going to be friends, but I’ll let you decide for yourself. The majority of the episode has Leia interacting with different kids from the area, only to find out that some of them have relations to characters from That 70’s Show. I enjoyed every interaction from the new and past characters in this episode and appreciated how all of the new kids on the show resemble those legendary characters in some way. I was a bit confused when seeing Nate, though. He gave off Kelso vibes, but you later find out something important that I won’t spoil. What I’m referencing has me to believe that there are many similarities with the characters, but this show also attempts to be its own thing. Leia enjoys spending time with everyone and even starts to catch feelings for another. This has her wanting to stay in Point Place for the summer, rather than just for a day or two. Eric and Donna allow for her to stay with Kitty and Red and say their goodbyes at the end of the episode. You also get a little idea of what the kids are capable of, as they manage to throw a keg party and even find the old Candyland marijuana “stash” that was hidden away at the end of That 70’s Show. Overall, the episode is entertaining and gives off the proper amount of nostalgia that’ll have you wanting more. The only gripe that I have with the pilot episode of That 90’s Show is how Donna feels like such a secondary character. From the beginning where Eric ignores her as she walks in with all the suit cases, to her lack of input into her daughter’s life over X amount of time, to even how she says goodbye to Leia at the end of the episode. I can’t tell if she’s scripted to be like that, or if Laura Prepon just doesn’t want to be there.