Episode Guide
Welcome to the Playground, where we review games with a 4/5 rating. Some mysteries are better left unsolved, with a 3.5/5 review score. The base violence necessary for change is rated at 5/5, and we have a happy progress day! With a 3.5/5 review score, Everybody Wants to Be My Enemy is another game that is sure to please fans of the genre. When These Walls Come Tumbling Down has players taking control of different characters in order to save their city from destruction, and it earns its 4/5 rating thanks to its engaging story and exciting gameplay. The Boy Savior tells the story of a young boy who must save his village from an evil monster, and it earns its 4/5 rating thanks to its well-crafted graphics and exciting gameplay. Finally, Oil and Water features two different factions vying for control of an oil field, and it earns its 4/5 rating thanks to its well-designed mechanics and exciting battles. ..
The new Resident Evil film is one of the best adaptations I’ve seen in a long time. It’s well-made, well-acted and it has a great story. The only downside is that it’s not really a videogame adaptation.
Arcane is a great adaptation of League of Legends that manages to capture the nuances and traits fans have come to expect from the game. However, even those unfamiliar with the games will find a lot to like in this show. This is both visually stunning and narratively impressive.
The world is on the brink of a war. The people of Piltover are prospering, with food left out nonchalantly on rooftops and endless rays of sunshine. In essence, these guys have wealth in abundance. But down below, it’s a very different story.
Powder and Vi are two sisters who have been struggling in Zaun for years. They are resentful of Piltover’s advancements and their city is a hotbed of resentment. The show does a great job showing their individual journeys as they try to become the League of Legends champions.
The contrasting fates of these two sisters is one of triumph and tragedy; split across the 9 episodes to devastating effect. However, the two sisters are just one cog in this well-oiled machine, as we’re introduced to several other characters who form a larger whole. ..
The sister, believing that her brother is just trying to help her, agrees to help him. However, when they get to Piltover, they realize that the Hex stone is actually in the hands of a rival organization. They are able to steal it and return it to Silco, but at a high price. The sister is now forced into a relationship with Silco and must do whatever he wants in order to keep the orb safe.
Jayce and Victor, two young scientists in Piltover, decide to use their new power to further the development of their city. They use their knowledge of electricity to create a new type of power source that can be used by all citizens for energy. This new source of power is more reliable and efficient than the old ones, and it helps to improve the quality of life for everyone in Piltover.
The political and social issues at work here are beautifully balanced with the drama and thriller elements, managing to both develop the worldbuilding for this fantasy land and also perfectly contrast our own capitalist world. There’s a rich/poor divide, substance abuse and even mental health disorders explored, combined into a heady cocktail that’s as thematically relevant at the end as it is at the start.
The pacing is outstanding here too, and it’s helped that Arcane has a pulsating score and soundtrack to boot. Every montage serves a greater purpose, and the show has the strength and clever wherewithal to cut out some of the exposition dumps to allow the show to visually portray what’s going on. And what a visual treat this show is.
Arcane is a unique show that uses a unique style of animation that’s not quite cell-shaded and not-quite CGI. The backgrounds are digitally hand-painted while all the effects are completely 2D. The show has a real matte painting feel to it, and it makes the world all the more immersive because of it.
Arcane is a great game adaptation that is easily one of the best in its genre. The right intentions and a few quirks make this game an incredible success, and it’s a great example of how videogames can be adapted and brought to life for both fans and newcomers alike. Arcane is an incredible series, and without any jinxing it, it’s a great leap forward for the medium.
