Mister Sinjin Smyth

Amazing replication of the 2005 masterpiece with it's own timeless charm. Just like the 2005 nostalgic gem and game changer, this 2023 remake will also withstand the test of time. While it's narrative is more grounded and serious than the 2005 game, it still retains most of it's quality B-Movie fun. There are still cheesy dialogues and very memorable in their own right. The atmosphere is just as amazing, with greater emphasis on horror and very intense moments, as well as sections that still give you a false sense of security. The audio effects are great in their own right, including that of reloading guns. The 2023 remake adds 2 very nice features to distinguish itself from the 2005 original, and that's stealth and parrying, both of which deliver with amazing fun results. The 3rd person combat is as fluid as ever, Leon's story campaign lasting around the same 8-12 hours, Ada's story section adding another 4-6 hours of content (a big improvement from the original), and the still always fun Mercenaries Mode. All these features easily makes Resident Evil 4 Remake (just like the original) one of the greatest games ever many times over.

The game has a huge open world city setting, but with large sections that have nothing to interact with. I initially found this frustrating at first. However, once I figured out how the case-and-address system worked, it started to make more sense. The story starts off quite slow, but is actually pretty good once it gets going. There are a couple of meaningful choices, of which one or two feel a bit forced, but overall add to the experience.The game's mechanics (combat, sixth sense, etc.) are very simple, but integrated well enough. The game is also a turning point for Frogwares in wanting to make games with action, open world setting, and horror elements, since both Sherlock Holmes Chapter One & The Awakened remake also carried elements from this game. The Sinking City is also getting a SEQUEL, which itself is a pleasant surprise, and it seems this is a series Frogwares will enjoy growing in the coming years.

I enjoyed New Nightmare for what it is, and It was suppose to be the beginning of another trilogy, but those plans got scrapped, which is unfortunate. I feel the series would've been in far better shape had they just proceeded with the New Nightmare reboot trilogy. The 2008 game and 2015 Illumination were so bad, they virtually killed the series. So, it's an amazing miracle that Alone in the Dark 2024 got made which is now possibly the best game in the series thanks to modern gameplay & graphics, and being a faithful & respectful homage to the 1992 original.

Despite it's glaring flaws, I still see Alone in the Dark 2024 a successful and much needed revival to this badly mismanaged series of 30+ years. This new game is already cult status material with solid gameplay, engaging story, characters and creepy atmosphere. It will gain an audience in due time and be an ideal ENTRY point for newcomers to the series, something the series has long lacked. The 1992 original (plus trilogy) is too old for most gamers to get into. New Nightmare is an underrated classic, but is also too old for most new gamers to get into and the 2008 game is a jumbled mess of mixed styles and ideas much worse than RE6.

I'm not very knowledgeable about Napoleonic history, but I read a review of the movie today that I wanted to share. It seemed entirely reasonable, and since I'm reluctant to spend money on Hollyweird productions, it encouraged me to stay away from the theater for this one, too. Here it is: This is my review of the new Napoleon movie. Before I begin, let me say I studied the Napoleonic Era extensively and am very familiar with it. I neither hate Napoleon nor love him, so I judge this film objectively. Let's start with the basics. Many of my initial fears about the film were correct. The rise of Napoleon and his reign encompass far too many events to do justice in a 2 1/2 hour movie. The film 'Waterloo' covers simply the Battle of Waterloo and is 2 hours long - this allows it to fully flesh out the event and characters. Trying to fit 15+ years into one movie is very difficult. 'Napoleon' tries to do too much too fast and is rushed. It jumps through each notable event of Napoleon's life in quick succession, and this doesn't give the proper detail or buildup these moments need. It sucks out their intensity, drama, and weight. Yet still, important aspects of Napoleon's reign like his internal reforms to France and his relationship with Catholicism are left unexplored. 'Napoleon' also does a very bad job displaying the charisma and energy that the real life Napoleon had. Napoleon, for all his faults, was a leader who inspired real devotion from his men. This leadership ability is never given proper representation in the film. Instead, it's the opposite. Napoleon is mostly shown as a low energy weirdo. It leaves you wondering how he even became emperor. The film really goes out of its way to make Napoleon more awkward and... bizarre than he really was. Another drawback of the film is how it puts massively disproportionate emphasis on Napoleon's relationship with his first wife Josephine. While Josephine was a large part of Napoleon's life, the film makes it seem like he was completely obsessed with her. In reality, Napoleon frequently cheated on her and divorced her when he felt like it. I assume that the film's outsized emphasis on Josephine is Hollywood's way of rewriting history to give women more importance in this time period. Then we have historical inaccuracies, which could get their own thread. I'll mention two of the most egregious. Movie Napoleon shoots the Egyptian pyramids with cannons, which never happened. The Battle of Austerlitz has the Austrians and Russians walk into an obvious trap in a giant frozen gulch. In the real battle, they took the high ground on a strategic hill. All in all, 'Napoleon' will be very disappointing to fans of this epic historical period. Like many films today, the creators were just going through the motions rather than trying to create a work of art that will be remembered for generations. Frankly, I'm surprised Hollywood didn't do more to glorify Napoleon. In the long run, Napoleon's reign spread liberal reforms through Europe and weakened the continent's traditional ruling structures (monarchy, aristocracy, Church). Plutocrats like those in Hollywood would've loved Napoleon's rule. I suppose despite this, he was still too 'nationalist' for them. Oh well, I won't interrupt my enemy when they're making a mistake.