Mamoru Oshii v. The Brotherhood

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via Kotaku:

The filmmaker and genius behind the 1995 sci-fi anime classic has been documenting his eight year journey through Fallout 4’s post-nuclear (h/t Automaton), and it doesn’t involve following the main story which sees the player-made protagonist on a search for their child after they were abducted. Instead, Oshii plays by a self-inforced code of conduct, restricting who he interacts with while also seeing him collect a ton of power armor.

For Oshii, Dogmeat is his only companion. He allies with no one. He ignores the main story. And the Brotherhood of Steel are in for a really bad time when he comes across them. In his many articles on Automaton documenting his experiences with the game, he said:

Whenever I spot [the Brotherhood’s] reconnaissance units in the ruins, I stalk them from behind and take them out with my trusty .50 caliber rifle. I kill them all and leave no evidence. I’ve decided to strip them naked and leave them lying there in their underwear. They’re invaders, so mercy is unnecessary.

CASTLEVANIA: NOCTURNE, s1 (2023)

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Loath to compare NOCTURNE to its predecessor, the Warren Ellis-scripted CASTLEVANIA, but I can't help it: while I enjoyed much of that run, everyone sounded like Warren Ellis doing his standard, world-weary and wearying schtick (as is the way in much of Ellis's work – though I will freely admit to loving some of it, FELL and MOON KNIGHT and, as I said, much of the original CASTLEVANIA series and his JUSTICE LEAGUE/UNLIMITED episodes, specifically, are utterly brilliant; when he's on, he's on); NOCTURNE, on the other hand, shows what CASTLEVANIA could have - should have – been from the start.

Guided by a fantastic cast of characters (including THE WOMAN KING's amazing Thuso Mbedu and LONGMIRE, WESTWORLD, and RESERVATION DOGS's Zahn McClarnon) – all of whom feel real –, their hopes and hurts and wants and desires and fears and loves and weaknesses and strengths and spirits colliding with the reality of a seemingly hopeless situation for which they are, one and all, woefully underprepared – but damn if they don't give it everything they've got (and then some).

As for that ending? One of the rare deus ex machinas that had me cheering. Sign me up for season two – I can't wait to see where this goes.

CYBERPUNK EDGERUNNERS (2022)

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Bar none, the finest world expansion and exploration in recent memory.

Added an emotional depth to the world of Night City that was lacking in my playthrough – maybe I was going too fast? – through a deeply-felt exploration of the pain and agony of cyberpsychosis (a mini-game within the game itself) and the lengths one will go to to save a found family.

When I load up and replay 2077 for the 2.0 upgrade and PHANTOM LIBERTY expansion, I'll – thanks to these ten episodes, to these characters, to their story – be playing a wholly different game. Powerful, powerful stuff; recommended even if you haven't played the game.