Popzara Podcast

Percival Everett’s James has been heralded as a retelling or even a complementary version to Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a sequel to Tom Sawyer long considered the definitive Great American Novel since it was first published 140 years ago. It’s a shame that so much attention has been given to the book’s use of a particular word as it remains both one of the most important works of literature from perhaps the most beloved author in American history, but also a rallying cry against the inhumanity of slavery.

Along with the endless array of remakes and remasters that characterize the modern gaming landscape, there's been a curious tendency toward grabbing up old, forgotten titles and making them a little more available to modern players. One such game is Rainbow Cotton, the last official game in the cute 'em up shooter series before it would go dormant for two decades.

The world is a dark, cold and chaotic place, but thankfully there's a point of light in the shadow: remasters! HD remasters of old games! You name it, chances are it's got a remaster! Slap that baby on Steam and we're in the money! The latest game to receive the remaster treatment is The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered, a relatively obscure JRPG on the 3DS whose sequel, The Alliance Alive, also got the remaster treatment a few years back. The island of Avalon was once home to an ancient civilization, and if we know our RPGs, we know that's enough to get adventurers to come a-callin'.

It's a little difficult to determine the value of reviews when it comes to media. I've reviewed games for Popzara for over a decade, and I'll be the first to tell people who ask they shouldn't trust the stuff I put out there - nor should they trust anyone else's.

I remember wanting to see 1994’s The Crow back in my late teens for two reasons, it starred Brandon Lee (son of Bruce Lee) as a cool, goth looking superhero, and for the awesome soundtrack that featured one of my favorite bands at the time, Stone Temple Pilots and their hit single Big Empty. While it’s been released on DVD and Blu-ray numerous times, it had yet to make its way to 4K, until now with The Crow: 30th Anniversary Limited Edition Steelbook release.

We’re now at the very beginning of the next evolution of digital e-Readers, where users love them so much but wish they could do just a little bit more. Blame smartphones, which have evolved so far past their original intended use that we sometimes forget that not every device has to be able to do everything all the time.

We’re now at the very beginning of the next evolution of digital e-Readers, where users love them so much but wish they could do just a little bit more. Blame smartphones, which have evolved so far past their original intended use that we sometimes forget that not every device has to be able to do everything all the time.

Being a fan of the original Planet of the Apes from 1968, and not a big one of 2001’s Tim Burton remake, I didn’t know what to think when 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes came along. Thankfully it turned out to be one of the best films I’d ever seen, sci-fi or otherwise, and had me going ape for what the franchise had in store.

In an age of cross-platform play and a slow but gradual shift to the PC as a ubiquitous gaming device, it's a little weird to still see console exclusives, but they haven't gone anywhere. In 2024, there's still some games that you might or might not be able to play depending on which plastic box you bought, which is both a bit nostalgic and a bit archaic.

Have you ever wondered how the back-and-forth of a tennis match mirrors the intricate dynamics of human relationships? The strategic volleys, the calculated returns, the constant battle for control – it's a fascinating metaphor for the push and pull of love, rivalry, and the unspoken power struggles that define our interactions. Luca Guadagnino's Challengers takes this metaphor and introduces us to three complex characters locked in a passionate, years-long dance across a metaphorical court.

Remember the arcades? Remember all those attempts to make downloadable games the “new” version of arcades? Somewhere between these two worlds exist family fun entertainments like Dave & Busters, Round1, and other amalgamations of food and game (and sometimes beer, for the parents) that are often the last gasps of coin-op thrills in the United States. No longer seen as state-of-the-art, relatively low-budgets and simple gameplay loops meant quarter (sorry, token) munchers would live to see another day.

Who'd have thought we'd still be seeing more of Shelly Harrison this many years after the release of her first game, Bombshell? Did you even know that was her first game? It didn't make much of a splash, after all. Harrison, a she-Duke Nukem polished for the modern age, is likely better known for her later appearance in Ion Maiden, later Ion Fury, an emblematic title for the modern revival of the classic "boomer shooter" FPS formula.

You'd be surprised how many unique uses a single tool might have. Take the hammer, for instance.

Let’s face it, no one enjoys cleaning hard to clean surfaces, especially stovetops and grime covered bathtubs to name a few. I’ve noticed there’s been a rise of electric scrub brushes online for purchase, and I’ve always wanted to check one of them out.

Funny guy Asher Perlman has taken an unconventional path to fame and fortune, from writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, stand-up comedian, indie filmmaker and occasional actor. Regardless, he seems to have found his calling as a cartoonist, and Well, This Is Me makes a strong case this is where he belongs.