Nintendo’s beloved character Mario is one of the most iconic gaming icons since his first appearance in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong; the red hat, white gloves, overalls and mustache are universally recognizable, and the 200+ games that he has been featured in for the last 50 years have undeniably made an impact on our lives in one way or another. So when The Super Mario Bros. Movie was first announced back in 2018, fans were bubbling with excitement — only to be hit with a slight letdown from the first teaser trailer in October 2022. The original voice of Mario, Charles Martinet, had been replaced by Chris Pratt, who revealed an uninspiring Mario voice with a subtle Brooklyn accent, reminiscent of the one by Lou Albano in The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!, an animated series that aired on television in 1989.
Arts & Culture
“Atomic Heart” — Unpolished, But Still A Gem
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When the first teaser of Atomic Heart was dropped back in July 2017, the first impressions of the game appeared to show great potential — a Bioshock-esque, charming role playing game of another apocalyptic world, filled with wacky but cool retro-futuristic technology and hostile killer robots (because who doesn’t love fighting killer robots?) With every trailer that the developer, Mundfish, released, the more the hype around the game grew. From a fairly barebone alternate universe RPG, the trailers began to show a game rich in lore and world building, teasing jaw-dropping sceneries of a futuristic-looking Soviet Union and fascinating, uniquely designed robots. When the game finally released on Feb. 21, the hype was at an all time high. But now, nearly a month later, what happened to Atomic Heart?
Arts & Culture
Immortals Fenyx Rising Offers a Riveting Gaming Experience
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If you are a fan of Breath of the Wild or Greek mythology and are looking for a refreshingly fun gaming experience, Immortals Fenyx Rising is well worth picking up if you can find a good price.
Arts & Culture
The Rise of ‘Among Us’
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Considering the addictive quality and immersive fun of Among Us, it is evident that this game’s popularity may be a reflection of everyone’s need to destress and forget about the world for a few hours.
Arts & Culture
The New Crown of Battle Royale
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Clumsy yet competitive, casual yet intense, Fall Guys is a wonderful new rendition of the battle royale genre.
2020
KUDVA DRISKELL | Animal Crossing, Empathy and Campaign Yard Signs
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I don’t love how Animal Crossing, a game focused around building an aesthetically pleasing home and interacting with snappily dressed animals, is now being considered some sort of political frontier.
Arts & Culture
An ‘Animal Crossing’ Newbie’s Take on ‘New Horizons’
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While it certainly isn’t a “cure” for quarantine, ACNH provides those fortunate enough to play it with much-needed respite from the turmoil in which we are currently embroiled; a blank canvas upon which anyone — young or old, experienced or new — can paint a stress free picture of life, however fleeting it may be.
Arts & Culture
BONO | Partying on Club Penguin is Cool Again
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MMOs provide a middle ground where people can still get dressed, emote and travel with people they know without too much stress.
Alumni
Student Game ‘Family Style’ Finds Success
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The seven alumni started their journey here in Ithaca, but through a social media campaign, a stroke of luck and a motto of “keep fighting,” they created a video game with devoted fans around the world.
Arts & Culture
BONO | Starting Over
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I think returning to Ithaca when it’s once again safe to do so, as an alum of the school, will feel the same as loading that old New Leaf save file — like I’m living a life that’s no longer mine.
Arts & Culture
ART OF THE WEEK | Why You Should Play (or Replay) the Portal Series
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If you’re not convinced yet, here are some reasons why you should return to Aperture and voluntarily risk your health and safety as a human lab experiment.