Summary for July 2025

Space zombies

I suppose I can see why people consider Metroid Prime 2: Echoes to be weaker than the first game. It’s a classic sequel problem: what to improve and leave alone, what to add and remove.

The room is futuristic, with metal walls and panels with blinking lights, as well as a metal grate on the floor. Samus, wearing her classic red and gold Power Suit, walks toward the screen. She points her arm cannon at someone off-screen to the left.

I wouldn’t say that, though. I think it’s not better, but worse? Nah. All my complaints are still there, which some would argue is part of the genre. But whatever the reason, I’ll remember the annoying parts, not the difficult parts. And the annoying parts should be improved.

Samus, again in her classic red and gold Power Suit, surrounded by black, alien, prawn-like creatures. They stand on five legs, have short tails, multiple antennae growing back from their heads, and many glowing, eye-like lights on their faces.
[It’s a horror]

However, I don’t want it to seem like I’m just complaining. While no part of it is amazing, I think it’s a good game overall. And, in a genre dominated by 2D games, a rare one.

White Zombie is an influential horror film that, as one might guess, is pretty problematic. Sadly, a theme I would be comfortable discussing – zombies as unpaid, tireless laborers, – is barely in the movie. And kinda absent from the modern movies, huh.

Intense eyes stare at the viewer over a shot of a horse-drawn carriage driving through the woods at night. The image is dark, blurry, and grainy with few details.

I called it problematic, but as I, a white dude, can judge, I don’t think it’s awful. It’s simple but not boring, despite being slow like old movies tend to be, and still interesting, at least from a historic perspective.