Preface Considering the limits to the aesthetic of a particular era named for a specific country’s queen, FromSoftware has done wonders to invoke the vibe of a wider world in Bloodborne. Perhaps that shouldn’t come as too surprising when the country of said era was a global empire, with legends like Lawrence of Arabia to […]
Preface I have seen far too much attention placed on Godwyn. While it is a shame when a major character is dead before we are able to meet, we don’t need any more of this one. As is, the character has an invasive presence felt throughout the game. If you know where to look, you […]
Preface The march of time is kind to no one, but do I enjoy learning about the rise and fall of nations long past. We often treat the history of our day as set in stone, yet every year proves such accounts to be more narrative than fact. And as our understanding of the generations […]
Preface Whether or not it is deliberate, Rykard twists the moral of many a fairy tale. Hansel and Gretel best captures the life lesson: beware of greedily indulging in motherly affection, lest you end up devoured. Sound advocacy for moderation from the best-intentioned mother hens, but what if you flip it on its head? Let […]
Preface I am no fan of the Shattering. For a war, it is remarkably straightforward, with fewer epic battles born of the twists and turns of competing egos than you would expect. As grand as the narrative makes it sound, laying out this all-encompassing civil war all out leaves me with a bit of letdown. […]
Preface Near as I can tell, I have been somewhat of a contrarian when it comes to Marika. Where others see a master manipulator calculating every step with prophetic precision, I see a woman bumbling through her almost every situation, constantly forced to adapt to unexpected complications. Where others see a heartless tyrant born from […]
Preface One of the three pillars to my methodology is psychoanalysis, because a story is, ultimately, defined by its characters as much as its world or plot. It is not just about knowing what the characters do or when, but why that merits any discussion. In this respect, Elden Ring has the most effort put […]
Preface What does it mean to have freedom or slavery? Bloodborne‘s director, Hidetaka Miyazaki, has admitted that the game was influenced in part by declining birthrates in developed countries, and would experience the birth of his own child in the years since launch. Bringing a new life into the world with another shackles couples in […]
Preface While all the focus is rightfully placed on the demigods, Elden Ring has a rich history which began only after their epic had more or less concluded. Liurnia is unique in how it brings that part of the tale to the forefront, which goes a long way to justify the sheer scale of the […]
Preface While the Dark Souls narratives are designed for player choice, Director Hidetaka Miyazaki makes no stranger his bias. The theme of stagnation pervasive throughout Dark Souls III is perhaps his most overt criticism of the subject. As I am often asked about the “best” ending, I feel obliged to point out that the series’ […]
Lokey Lore 