Oscar Taylor-Kent's Blog

It’s that time of year again — that’s right the END of the year. Before the fire and brimstone falls down to blast away the remains of yet another year, it’s my tradition to look back at the year of video games. Because I like video games I guess. Usually I do this as awards, but this time I wanted to take a little bit of a longer form approach, and do something a bit more contemplative not strictly mired in the 2018 release schedule, though sure enough I will be presenting some games of the...

All right, the literal last article I wrote on my blog was this same exact awards list for the last year. It’s clearly been a productive year for me. It legitimately has, just not with this whole blog thing. Check out my portfolio to like, see some of that stuff. I also wrote some more awards for Rice Digital’s Annual Gaming & Anime Awards, which are a bit different to this one but still worth a read (for my opinions, anyway).

Without further ado, here’s that new stuff.

2016 has been a bit of a funny year. There’s been a lot of surprises for everyone. But really games are the most important thing. This year I’ve changed the rules, because everything about 2016 has been unpredictable. I’m going to be allowing remasters in this list this time, as long as the remaster was the first time I played the game. How does that make you feel? Is this what justice feels like…? I also contributed to Rice Digital’s Annual Gaming & Anime Awards, which are a bit like this on...

This story doesn’t just introduce us to a new Batman run (well, I guess Batman: Rebirth did that) and a new Batman writer in Tom King (Grayson, The Vision). I Am Gotham also introduces two new superpowered superheroes, the flamboyant sounding duo of Gotham and Gotham Girl.

For King this first story is all about setting up how he’s going to run the show, the sort of writing you can expect, and the tone of the book. Starting his run with such a strange seeming pitch from the get-go – Batman’s r...

Yeah, everyone knows that when it comes to films of comics Marvel has had more than just a little bit of an upperhand in recent years. Though it’s interesting to think that 2005’s Batman Begins ushered in perhaps a “new era” of superhero film. It’s also interesting to note that the oft though pinnacle of Nolan’s Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight, released in 2008, the same year Iron Man also kicked off the now mega successful Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the Dark Knight Trilogy finished DC h...

I don’t really like films about space very much. Space, like the sea (a comparison which is also made in this film), is pretty scary. Generally a lot of “space films”, especially recently, like to play up that angle. And, when such a film is rooted in a lot of scientific fact, it makes it all the more chilling. This is how space really is and space is scary. I won’t say that The Martian completely eschews that angle — it doesn’t — but tonally it presents in aunique and somewhat humanist way....

I’m not the biggest fan of DC in the world. Heck, I’m not even sure I’d call myself a big comics fan. Sure, I do love many comic books, but as far as comic “universes” go? I don’t really care. I read runs people recommend me, I pick out specific graphic novels — I love the stories for what they are. DC: Universe Rebirth is the initial issue of DC’s new big crossover event, though it may not be the New 52 style run-wide soft “reboot” it sounds like.

“Rebirth” could mean simply something beginn...

My, my, my, I’ve not updated this blog in a little while, but as you can tell, I’ve been a bit of a busy boy. Or should that be a busy MAN. A busy HITman, that is. My journey with the Hitman series started off with the PlayStation 2 version of Hitman: Blood Money. I made it to the fourth level, Flatline, and ended up stopping due to clunky controls and feeling like I didn’t know what was going on. I then later picked up Hitman: Absolution not that long after it came out. I thought it was okay...

Whoa. Look at that title. Someone’s living on the cusp of video gaming entertainment, and that person is me. Kinda. Well, not at all, but I feel pretty good about experiencing so much new stuff. Well, new for me. And kinda new for everyone. Kinda sorta.

Firewatch is legitimately new. I bought it not long after it came out in February, but only just got around to starting it this week. It’s been very much on my radar since seeing the trailer at E3 last year. It’s got a great visual aesthetic,...

I picked up Forza 5 in a recent sale after being greatly impressed by Forza Horizon 2. I didn’t shell out for the newer Forza 6, because while I like racing games, I don’t like them enough to pony up a large sum of money for them. They’re a smaller scale diversion for me, especially considering the growing issue I’ve had for them since last generation, which is their attachment to annoying DLC and microtransactions. It’s rare to pick up a mainstream racing game without these creeping into the...