Faves of the Year 2022
(Note: Some of these 'faves' are spillovers from 2020 and 2021 because, y'know how the pandemic skewed everyone's perception of time? Same here.) 8)
Video games:
- Apex Legends, PS4 - I don't usually do FPS games, because I suck at them. But the thing with Apex, is that it's movement is so well refined, you will want to continue playing it, even if you suck at it. And after that, the gameplay tactics, weapon, map and character design will pull you in and persuade you to stay a little longer. Very addictive and procrastination-friendly, but so well presented, that you almost forget to feel guilty. Wattson is my fave, coz she's just sweet, plus it's fun messin' people's game with fences! Been playing since lockdown in 2020, it was a cheap way to socialise (no payment or subscription is required for online play), but now deleted this game, until my studies are done lol. [Anyway, because it's related; here's me attempting to draw Wattson, Bangalore and Bloodhound (part of a #FanArtFriday Twitch run I was doing).]
- NieR:Automata, PS4 - Gorgeous design & music throughout. I like how the narrative questions reality, humanity and existence. On my 2nd playthrough. I've been told I need to get to the 3rd to really appreciate it? OK.
- Last of Us 2: I ran through LotS 1 during lockdown, and I loved it. A few months later, and this sequel was... different. I get it, it's a break away from what you expect. Visceral. Queer. Challenging. Ugly. Beautiful. But I personally found the game a bit of a downer (although I had stuff going on with me at the time too tbh). But, I get it. It was like looking at humanity right in the face and kicking its ass, on opposite sides of the equation. Still beautifully designed, just not what I was expecting as an experience. So saying that, it was probably superb and I'm still shocked by its effects. I am willing to give it a 2nd playthrough one day, and really try and absorb and understand what Druckmann and his team were going for. Maybe I'm missing something else. [Partly related; Here's me attempting to draw Joel and Ellie from LotS1 during lockdown.]
- Horizon: Zero Dawn, PS4 - Started and played religiously during Xmas period. Well designed gameplay and story set ups.
- Lost Odyssey, Xbox 360 - finally completed this one! I had been playing it off and on since its release way, way back in 2008 (wow, 15 years). Mostly because life got busy. Partly because I didn't want the game to end. It's still gorgeous all over. In my opinion, it's Nobuo Uematsu's best work. [Here's a clip of me geeking out over a somewhat hidden bit of its music. And here's me attempting to draw the main protagonist within a 1 hour time limit.]
- Moonlighter, Xbox One - The dungeoning and shopkeeper combo is innovative, however it's let down slightly by a paltry village of empty characters. But I liked the ending.
- Florence, PC - Interesting use of illustration in this game, as it takes you through the complexities of a couple's relationship using simple game mechanics and visuals.
- Dynamite Headdy, PC - Glad to have revisited this one via Steam! A childhood fave. Graphics still blow my mind. The creativity and effort put into every pixel and sound is still incredible, decades later. [Here's me attempting to draw Headdy alongside other childhood icons, during the pandemic in 2020.]
- NiGHTS into Dreams, PC - Another one happily revisited through Steam, given away free by Sega. This game was a game-changer back in the day. Today, sadly the controls are a little clunky and needs tweaking for 2023 mindsets. But it hasn't lost its charm.
- Power Bomberman - A super unofficial fan version of Bomberman, for SAGE 2020. It is thankfully influenced from what I can see, mostly Saturn Bomberman (which in my op, was the best Bomberman!). It's online and too much fun :)
- Don't Starve Together, PC - Mostly for social reasons. But I'll put it here, because. The Tim Burton influence is strong! Never have I played a game so annoying, addictive and satisfying all at once.
- Guild Wars 2, PC - Also for social reasons. Very old now, but still free to play, plus the group raid things are still fun.
Animation:
- Star Wars Visions, Disney+ - I was appreciative of seeing the scope of a franchise revert back to it's Japanese inspirations, via animation. Exquisite varieties of work.
- Neon Genesis Evangelion, Amazon Prime - a rewatch; entire series, all movies, no regrets.
TV:
- Landscapers, Now TV (great acting, cinematography and atmospheric transitions/lighting)
- Breaking Bad, Netflix (rewatching back-to-back all seasons a second time. No regrets.)
- Jungle, Amazon Prime (interesting take on a grime street rap musical)
- Dragula - I started watching in 2021, just after lockdown. Love every season just for it's horrifically, creatively, glamourous take on drag culture. (Horror movies are one of my fave genres, so...!)
Movies:
- Everything Everywhere All At Once - It had me at the sausage fingers. What a better way to launch a lesbian love story on an unsuspecting, unpredictable audience, than to riddle it with cringe and... sausage fingers :)
- Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings - It was just pleasant to see Asian movie tropes elevated and obliterated, all in one film. Plus, super heroes!
Exhibitions:
- Future Shock at 180 Strand - by far, the most interesting, eye-opening, multi-talented digital art exhibition I have ever attended. I mean, I have never seen gas or ice as art, tbh. Also, the light projections and films were fab. (Note to self: I've got to go deeper into some of these artists here in future.)
Theatre:
- Burnt City, London - I can't even. The less that is explained, the better. Just go, forget the real world even exists, and roll with it. [Here's a pic of me & a friend looking positively drained afterwards (it's 3 hours long).]
- Dear Evan Hansen at Nöel Coward Theatre London - not my fave-est, but worth a mention. I found it's musical take on mental health and family issues interesting, ironic even! Also, the motion design and movable parts on-stage were innovative and creative, esp. during the scenes of Evan and co. navigating social media. Oh and the music; I was honestly, adamant at first. But then I let go of all my inner prejudices about musicals, and recognised it as well beyond Disney cringe, to the point that it is actually tear-jerkingly awesome. Superb.
- Send in the Clowns: Frocky Horror Show, Old Joint Stock Birmingham - a hugely talented, under-rated cast right here. As talented and as queer and as entertaining and brave, as indie theatre can be.
Movements:
- 80000Hours.org - A career campaign focused on "the world's most pressing problems" - apparently started a while a go. If you ever want to make what you do more meaningful, see here.
- Keanu Reeves on TikTok, really! [edit: oh wait, I later learned he was just a very, very good impressionist haha. Ah well. Tomfoolery at it's finest. Here's what I fell in love with: Merry Xmas, lol]
Rest in Peace...
- Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
- Angela Lansbury
- Kim Jung Gi
(Maybe more to come later, as I remember them!)
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