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  • Double Fine PsychOdyssey – The Documentary That Changed My Life…

    Here’s my thoughts on the documentary that deserves lots of attention.

    2 Player Productions went on quite the journey being the independent film crew being tasked on documenting the video game development of Psychonauts 2 (2021), a long awaited sequel to the cult classic Psychonauts (2005) from the indie game studio Double Fine.

    The documentary covers the development of Psychonauts 2 spanning multiple years filmed over the course of 7 years. You see lots of changes to both the studio and people at Double Fine, with likes of both Publisher changes and changes within management.

    I do not want to give lots away, but what really engrossed me when watching the documentary is the sincerity, in which it shows both how beautiful and ugly making video games can be. I love to learn about game design and have no experience within the industry, nonetheless the documentary was really captivating. It is really enjoyable seeing passionate and creative people trying to tackle solutions and learning from each other, despite how much frustration there is in trying to make things work the first time round. But making video games does have levels of constant re-iteration, to establish the right feel from both a narrative, audio and gameplay standpoint.

    However, it is far from sunshine and rainbows as you see just how hard it is for an indie studio to remain afloat and secure funding for both this sequel and the next line-up of games to support the hard working team at Double Fine. The want to create art but also deal with the financial realities of having to keep everything in check, is both very eye opening and tension filled.

    The amount of blood, sweat and tears to ship a video game, let alone make a video game is something that I deeply value and respect as video games are an art-form. There is much to be discussed about the sort of pitfalls Pschonauts 2 had in its development cycle that in some ways was a repeat on what the studio had faced prior.

    It cannot be taken for granted the level of exposure the documentary gives in showcasing how much the development of Psychonauts 2 had changed over time and to see many employees at Double Fine (past and present) contribute to the game. There was much anxiety and questions of whether there is a ‘good’ game with this sequel, that can also remain faithful to the original game.

    To conclude, I would recommend Double Fine PsychOdyssey to anyone as it details what the creative process entails and getting to grips with the human cost and experiences to make art. This documentary really is ground-breaking and changed my life in making me have further appreciation to the people that make vidoe games.

    All the episodes are available for free on YouTube on Double Fine’s YouTube channel.

  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has a certain ‘look’ that divides opinions

    How exactly does one approach remaking one of the greatest games of all time.

    Nintendo have recently announced the release date for the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake, scheduled for November 5, 2026 (exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2).

    There was a dedicated Nintendo Direct that celebrates the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda franchise with some extended look on the announced remake of the widely beloved 1998 classic- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

    Now to give some context, I have not played the original game but understand the influence and charm that the game had in 1998, of what was possible in 3d game design and video games as a medium. There is a certain level of timelessness to the game and this remake will not have the same impact the original had back in 1998.

    But that is not necessarily a bad thing as this new remake seems to add much better quality of life features in terms of gameplay, being much more snappy and precise, and a better camera that you can adjust (thanks to having two sticks) with manual jumps and swimming being added. These features all add up, as now the gameplay is not so restricted to 1980s game design and with much better polish creating less frustration in how the game feels to play for modern audiences.

    The main takeaway I get from the gameplay showcase, is that the remake seems to not do a complete re-imagining of what was originally established in terms of how you proceed from point A to B. The gameplay systems seem to be refined rather than added upon.

    What looks to be a point of contention is the art direction and visuals of the remake, going for a somewhat realistic look with higher fidelity and detailed textures. I guess the divide in opinions on the visual style and aesthetic, comes with the territory of redesigning an old but classic game that had lower textures and resolution being rather distinct. The newer model of young Link for example has that added gloss between his face, which I can understand may look jarring when you look at his previous design of the original game.

    Despite, the differing opinions on the new visual choices the remake has chosen. I generally like the new updated look being somewhat of a picturesque fairy tale, and see The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake as an entry for newer fans to experience the magic of one of the greatest games ever made.

    The original I would say should be played, and in no way is the remake trying to replace the 1998 classic that revolutionised what we see in the 3d space and what was accomplished with the hardware limitations of the time.

  • The Podcast Wars and everyone vying for your attention

    So many options, so little time.

    If you do not follow football, there are two rival podcasts with the first image you see being The Overlap co-founded by Gary Neville which has a new majority owner: Global (sports media business) that took control of the channel in January 2026. The Overlap featuring the likes of former professionals Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright, Roy Keane and Jill Scott with many special guests appearing on the show.

    The second image is the The Rest Is Football which was co-founded by Gary Lineker, alongside former television producers Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport (under Goalhanger productions). Within this podcast, Gary Lineker is joined by co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards to discuss all things football.

    The reason I wish to mention both of these podcasts, were on how they both started on YouTube and have taken diverging paths. In this case The Rest Is Football joins Netflix, with The Overlap joining Disney+.

    Normally this would not be so contentious, but I specifically have some gripes with The Rest Is Football in that the Netflix deal as lucrative as that is, has lost the YouTube audience to an extent with it being a regular thing where you would get consistent uploads covering the recent weekend games of Premier League action (primarily).

    The Overlap in this regard has the better draw, in that it preserves the YouTube audience it has cultivated with Disney+ feeling more of an extension as you can still watch the main content on its YouTube channel with certain segments being exclusive to Disney+ for a period of time before dropping on YouTube. This approach I believe is far better and it is a shame, as it seems like I am not the only person in dismay, when you look at the YouTube comments wishing for The Rest Is Football to continue posting its regular podcast episodes on YouTube.

    Now I understand that the recent World Cup Coverage for The Rest Is Football had a special Netflix set in-house (based in New York, Times Square Manhattan) with many special guests. But that was more of a special event with regular episodes now being exclusively tied to Netflix. The recent episodes is really not that different from what you had seen on YouTube, but I guess less in video advertisements.

    It is a sad day as YouTube has become a great home for The Rest Is Football and to see it no longer have regular podcast episodes feels more like a squandered opportunity, regardless of the huge appeal Netflix provides. With many people opting out of pricey subscriptions (Netflix being no stranger to this), continued exposure on YouTube, which many can access for free seemed like a very good move.

    So I guess now many people will be out-priced to watching The Rest Is Football.

  • Spider-Man: Brand New Day Thoughts

    A ‘Soft’ Reset for our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man

    It has been five years since we have since Spider-Man as a solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Lot has happened since then and with Marvel trying to figure out its current phase post Endgame. Spider-Man: Brand New Day offers a brief reprieve from high stakes world ending scenarios to something more grounded and thoughtful. I enjoyed my time with Spider-Man: Brand New Day and it seems I am not the only one with the film hitting $1B worldwide in the box office.

    Although, I may have had some issues, the latest outing of our favourite web crawler is both intimate and endearing. Spider-Man has not lost its worldwide appeal and I would consider it to be Marvel’s crown jewel in delivering a relatable character trying to do good in the world.

    What I enjoyed from the film is that it focuses on Peter Parker who has isolated himself from the world fully investing himself into being Spider-Man and how that has taken a toll on him being rather sad and mopey. Director Destin Daniel Cretton made a film that stands out visually, not looking flat but that there’s clear intention when it comes to making the film colourful with actual lighting involved.

    It seems like a breath of fresh air, not simply tied down solely to green screen and CGI with Tom Holland having an actual suit with clear practical effects displayed. It all adds up to a solid film that tries to strip away all the fanciness of being a superhero and I appreciate the moments of dialogue that help deliver much more strong characterisation. For example, Jon Bernthal as The Punisher (Frank Castle) contrasts so well to Tom Holland whom they bounce off each other. You see what things could be like if Peter decided to become as extreme as The Punisher who suffers in silence.

    There are some really good character moments but as an overall package I just did not completely feel moved. The film has moments that come and go, and you just wish there was more to the film in terms of character exploration that culminate towards more of an epic climax. However, that does not detract the slickness and inventiveness of the fight scenes, although I wish we had some more.

    To conclude, Spider-Man: Brand New Day offers a solid fun and enjoyable movie with some real heart, which is what you want from one of the most beloved characters in all of fiction.

  • A Tribute to ‘Geeks Vs Loneliness’

    Thanks for helping me in more ways than many…

    Now if you don’t know Den Of Geek is an online news media platform that covers entertainment and pop-culture. The writers from Den of Geek had a long running series called ‘Geeks Vs Loneliness’ where they talk about issues and topics that links to mental health and well-being, where the writers offer up some personal stories and anecdotes. The articles were trying to offer some sort of help and it certainly helped me.

    Now to start things off, I am not in any way affiliated or sponsored by Den of Geek. This piece was made to show appreciation to the good people of Den of Geek as these articles were a great sort of help for my anxiety ridden teenage self.

    These articles felt genuine and came from a good place. The tears and at points relief that some random stranger could articulate into words was very powerful. I felt seen and heard and it just felt like I could sit down and just take a long breath and wind down.

    The articles had levity and heart, not being entirely dismissive on what we feel. But instead I learnt to process all the sorts of emotions we feel. It became a cathartic place where I could take a brief stop and then carry on the day with some renewed sense of hope.

    It taught me the important lesson in talking. As in just talk to people part of your life and that you are not alone.

    For how turbulent the world can feel. These articles provided that glimmer of hope and I would always be thankful for that.

    So to end this piece, I would say that whatever struggles or battles you are dealing with.

    You will be okay.

    Take care of yourselves and be excellent to each other.

  • The Odyssey Review

    Nolan’s take on an Epic Greek Fantasy, but is it a worthwhile journey?

    Christopher Nolan is back again and this time taking on the very challenging material of adapting Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey. Now I am not too familiar with the source material and knowing only bits and pieces of Greek Mythology and some plot points in regards to the original story of The Odyssey from YouTube videos, I had watched a couple of months back before the release of this film.

    It just became a really interesting question to me: how shall Nolan tackle this Epic Greek Fantasy? And to answer that question, I would have to give a long answer. But the short answer is that The Odyssey for me is a technical marvel showcasing why Nolan is such a staunch advocator of filming on IMAX. He is really pushing for a cinematic experience worthy of not only seeing the film in 70MM IMAX (which I was fortunate to do), but really making a film worthy of watching within theatres.

    The Odyssey is filled with a strong cast being very impressed by the lead in Matt Damon playing Odysseus, you see the pain and anguish of his character and Damon delivers a powerful performance of what the cost of war entails (the battle of Troy) and dealing with the consequences of his own actions. Another notable member of the cast was Samantha Morton, playing the powerful witch goddess Circe that is both haunting and tragic.

    There is a lot to really like about this film in terms of its beautiful cinematography, visual effects and score. A big mention to how Nolan depicted Cyclops, where there was this level of scale and terror to witnessing such a creature on the big screen, where you can both empathise and be terrified of such a fictional being. However, my gripes with the film comes with a lack of personal attachment to these characters in that to some degree I wish the character development was more meaningful and to deliver that gut-wrenching emotional punch that you would desire from watching an Epic.

    To me, I just felt like I barely knew the characters well enough even though the film is close to three hours long. The use of fast edits can sometimes not allow the scene to really breathe and coupled with my lack of intimate knowledge regarding Homer’s masterpiece, it just left me more puzzled. As an audience member, I was somewhat lost and the dialogue being very exposition heavy did not help in this instance. The audio mixing from my own personal experience was not too bad even if some dialogue I may not have properly heard. On top of that, the use of colour can somewhat be disappointing as you would perhaps hope, that the film incorporates more vibrant colours than be rather stark and muted in expression. The costume design also felt a bit tacky, where you would imagine the armour and helmets to have an unrefined look of being rough and bruised. The overly clean and polished Hollywood aesthetic in some way held back the film for me as it just felt like the magic and adventure was being sucked out.

    I understand that the film tries to showcase its ideas through moral dilemmas in attempting to make the audience reflect on how The Trojan War was in fact the beginning of the end of the Bronze Age and that Odysseus was not noble in how he and his soldiers pillaged people of their resources exercising potential rape and violence to meet their goals.

    All that being said, the emotional crux just did not land for me and the characters just felt too one note in execution with the big emotional catharsis that you would come to expect in the third act not really hitting the mark for me. The fight choreography was a bit choppy and with all the fast cuts not allowing you to fully digest what is going on.

    To conclude, Christopher Nolan has made a film worthy of watching in the theatre. The Odyssey has this overarching ambition even though sometimes I get the feeling Nolan gets too lost in the sauce of technical wizardry, where the heart of the film can be rather cold than endearing.

  • The Bear Season 5 Review

    The Last Course is a mixed bag

    Christopher Storer creator of The Bear, made some compelling TV when the series released back in 2022. The show gained popularity demonstrating the chaotic and relentless life of working inside a kitchen from the main lens of Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) delving deeper into personal trauma and what it really means to work inside the hospitality/culinary industry. And now we reach the final season and it very much tries to harken back to the earlier 2 seasons and falls short. Admittedly, the show has been on a decline in terms of quality and what the final season delivers is a bit of a meandering mess.

    The jokes don’t land. The episodes can feel dragged out and yet despite this final season clearly lacking any meaningful character/plot development. There is enjoyment to be found with some episodes towards the end feeling very wholesome.

    But when assessing how this final season wraps up. I just sort of wish there was less filler and it kind of unintentionally became funny seeing how characters like Syd (Ayo Edebiri) would put on a scowl expression whenever she has unease or displeasure. You just get the idea that there was not much more to say in terms of actual story. Though everything in terms of cinematography and its tension filled soundtrack gives that dose of adrenaline.


    What made me enjoy the season despite its glaring flaws is how it tries to find some sort of semblance of normalcy against all the heartache and anxiety of keeping a restaurant open. You root for these working class characters and how they try and lift each other up, even though I wish the final dish had more components and more of a final punch.

  • Finally Played The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD

    Sailing the blue seas…

    This has been the first Zelda game I have played from start to finish and was left thoroughly impressed. It took a long time for me to understand the game mechanics in that there is not a traditional jump button.

    Admittedly, some of the puzzles went over my head but I very much got a better understanding on what people associate with Zelda games being puzzles and how you interact with said puzzles within each dungeon you enter. Even if the controls took some time getting used, I was left enthralled by the care and attention to how each dungeon was developed. Although the dungeons can feel linear and not as breakable compared to the solutions people find with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

    What you have is a game that is a sprawling adventure as you sail the seas in trying to save your sister and unearth the story of Hyrule. The gameplay is what kept me coming back alongside the beautiful art direction and soothing soundtrack. I appreciate how each dungeon has some shortcuts you can naturally find, which saves time when it comes to any sort of runbacks or finding any lost treasure.

    At times it did get a bit tedious having to unlock the entire map through giving fish bait to the nearby fish NPC for the selected area. That alongside having to manually adjust the sail of your ship towards the wind direction to sail faster. Now I understood you can get an item from a certain auction house that helps you speed up this whole process, but I wish this was simply added from the very beginning to make the whole experience of sailing on the sea smoother.

    All that being said, each dungeon has its own personality and unique puzzles of which you steadily gain certain items to combat certain dungeons. This really gives a sense of pacing and strong progression as Link is becoming more of a fine tuned warrior with his assortment of different weapons/items.

    Once this game clicks, it really becomes a game where it is both fun and engaging not being overwhelming in difficulty. This game has a lot of charm and even though it can be rather slow paced from the beginning, as you begin to grasp the early sections, the game does offer unique surprises.

    The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is an adventure worth savouring and definitely a game I would look back on fondly sailing the seas ahead.

  • Daredevil: Born Again Season 2- Much Improved, But Still Lots To Gain

    When it swings, it swings hard. (Potential Spoilers)

    Daredevil: Born Again Season 2, is what I would call as a fun, entertaining and overall good improvement contrasted with the scattered mess of season 1’s approach to pacing and narrative structure.

    All that being said, this new season still has some issues with its overall pacing and I have yet to be fully won over by the new supporting cast of characters. The first sort of two episodes felt kind of subdued and was rather bored to an extent of the whole boat being capsized in New York and Matt and Karen having to find new ways to stop Wilson Fisk’s reign as New York Mayor, enforcing Martial Law with the Safer Street Initiative that is designed to keep ‘vigilantes’ specifically in check with special police operatives that can use violence and intimidation, without legal pushback. Must remind you of something akin to real life…

    What really eased me into this new season was more Bullseye screentime, played by the excellent Wilson Bethel. He stole the spotlight and I very much like the approach of his twisted sense of morality and how he leaned more into being insane and unpredictable being both slapstick and unnerving with brutal efficiency. The action scenes are incredibly stylistic, although at some points the fight scenes can be a bit too kinetic at times with a lot of cuts. At times the camerawork felt a little overdone, but what you get is highly engaging action and set-pieces.

    Which leaves my gripes, in that the overall season felt a bit disjointed in terms of how each storyline lacked a smooth transition and through line to the next lacking a real personal investment with the new supporting cast kind of falling flat to me. There is less narrative whiplash compared to the first outing, but towards the end of the season it does begin to really unravel the dynamics between Fisk and Murdock and how these two will evidently be always at odds with each other. So then comes to the question: how do you solve this deadlock?

    I will not go much into spoilers, but I did find it rather amusing at how everything boils down in seeing how Fisk and Murdock engage with their opposing ideals with the final resolution between these two, making me rather intrigued on what happens next.

    To conclude, Daredevil: Born Again Season Two strikes hard leaving many holes you can pick apart, but leaves much on the table of what you come to enjoy and expect, from your blind crime fighting lawyer of Hell’s Kitchen.

  • Industry Season 4- When a series knows itself and knows itself well…

    The fourth season instalment of HBO’s Industry is proof that allowing a show to breathe pays dividends.

    Industry season four is quite an achievement. It never pulls its punches and really makes you seep inside all the messy emotions that can plague the human psyche of its ensemble cast.

    What series creators Mickey Down and Konrad Kay have made with the fourth season of Industry is quite remarkable.

    I say this, as I am glad HBO stuck with this series and did not cancel the show when it first started off back in 2020, how time has flown. I would have never guessed the evolution and trajectory of this series and left both starstruck and reeling with having to contend with the fact that the end is near, with a fifth and final season that is on its eventual way.

    Indulge me for a moment when you look at the first season of Industry, for what I see as a solid but not exemplary start. It can almost feel like a whiplash seeing how much the show has changed from its initial premise of working inside the corporate world to a full blown soap opera that continues to leave me utterly dumbfounded by how Down and Kay not only grew with the show, but definitely left an indelible mark in my personal life in that they created such a raw, intimate and visceral world with characters that are moulded and shaped by both their actions and personal struggles. This is truly great television, but would say one of the greatest accomplishments of Industry, is the way it does not flinch in making a character drama, who take the time to soak inside the puddle of their emotions and left bares the scars you do not wish the world to see.

    Industry season four to put it lightly is incredibly unnerving and goes to more darker and unhinged places, whilst offering the doses of euphoria and adrenaline of seeing the mechanical wheels turn around the mind of its characters. You see Harper Stern played by the wonderful Myha’la, try and both figuratively and metaphorically re-imagine herself and cement herself as the relentless and ruthless entrepreneur she is, or what she likes you to believe.

    It has to be said, Industry has some well written characters and I would say some of the best written fictional characters I’ve come across. The two that really stuck in my mind, is both Harper Stern (Myha’la) and Yasmin Kara-Hanani or now formally addressed as Lady Muck, played by the great Marisa Abela.

    These two characters act like a foil between each other and represent each other’s deepest insecurities and social imbalances. Without giving too much away, I was blown away by the performances of these two leading actresses, with how both characters on-screen give life to each other and when both share the scene, there is boundless soul-searching to be involved.

    Amidst all the chaos and inner turmoil that unfolds this season, there has been that semblance of ‘calm before the storm’, that things are reaching a new boiling point and we have yet to see how everything fully erupts and shatters what you have come to expect.

    Having a fifth and final season to wrap up this banking drama turn slowly into a tightly woven melodrama, is a task I have full trust in its creators. It seems to me, the right time for the series to cap things off and I am glad Mickey Down and Konrad Kay get to end the story on their own terms.

    Industry is one of those shows I do not know, if I can recommend to people, for how it really pokes inside the deepest and darkest parts of the human condition being very freaky and downright disturbing at times. Probably best to describe it as the demented version of Succession, where the characters are more in your face demanding your attention, where apparent subtlety is replaced with abrasiveness and uncompromising cruelty.

    It is a series like no other and I would not have it any other way. It is a show that found its voice and its footing through stumbling at first, but relenting on just like its characters full of anguish and delight for the potential of what could possibly come next.