My Interests (Part 1)
For my first blog post on this site, I wanted to introduce myself by sharing some things I have an interest in. While I have already met some of the people here on Mastodon, it’s been a while since I actually interacted with them and discussion of my favorite media was kept to a moderate level. The people were so kind, to a point that I felt like I was able to express myself in a way I never thought I could ever do. So now, it’s time for me to gush about some of my favorite pieces of media.
Sonic the Hedgehog: Despite the inconsistent quality of the franchise’s games and the series as a whole being easy to make fun of, there’s no doubt that Sonic the Hedgehog had a massive impact on the gaming industry and those who played it, me included. One of my earliest gaming memories was playing Sonic Advance on a hand-me-down Game Boy Advance which was also my introduction to Sonic. While I absolutely sucked balls at it because I was only 3 when I first played the game, there were so many things about it that caught my attention. The expressive characters, the vibrant graphics, the catchy music, it was unlike anything I ever experienced.
Since then, I have become a massive fan of the franchise and not only played the games, but also read the IDW comics, collected the merch and watched the TV shows and movies. I know that to this day, some people still make fun of the franchise and its fans, but that doesn’t stop me from loving it to death. Whenever I have a crummy day or start feeling anxious, Sonic and pals are there to help me get through it.
And like I said, the actual games themselves are not exactly golden when it comes to quality, but I enjoy a majority of them because of how unique they are. The series’ various gameplay formulas are styles that haven’t been replicated by other games outside of indie titles. Even though I am usually averted to change, Sonic still manages to capture my attention and even in its dark phases, I will always support this amazing franchise.
Super Mario: Another platformer icon I take great interest in is the beloved Super Mario franchise and its countless sub-series. Even though I’m a bigger fan of Sonic than I am of Mario, I definitely agree with many on the later having a greater quantity and quality of games. Even if you aren’t into gaming, there’s a good chance you’ve played at least one of the red plumber’s outings. Take one look into a video game store and you’ll see this man’s face everywhere, and I’m okay with that.
I know that some people in recent years have criticized the Mario series for being oversaturated and formulaic and while I agree to a certain extent, there’s something so damn charming about it. There’s a reason Mario has stuck around for so many years, that being the franchise is universal. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, what your age is or even if you take an interest in gaming because Mario can appeal to almost every demographic under the sun. Even though I personally tend to stay far away from games in the mainstream, there’s something different about Mario.
Just like with Sonic, my first experience with the series was at an early age and my appreciation for it has grown since then. Each game contains something that makes it stand out from other titles, in other words, every game is distinct. I also love the characters; in an era where every game tries to have some gloomy edgelord as a protagonist, it’s great to see characters that are just there to join the ride and have fun. I have many issues with Nintendo, but I’ll always love Mario.
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Whether or not you like Five Nights at Freddy’s, you can’t deny its impact on horror gaming. Ever since the first game released back in 2014, it provided an experience unlike any other at the time. Its gameplay was relatively simple but contained a genuinely tense and unsettling atmosphere. That first game was my introduction to horror, and I would continue to follow the franchise for years to come. Interestingly enough, the gameplay was a very small part of why I enjoyed the series. I loved the games for their atmosphere, complex lore and characters that truly straddle the line between creepy and cute.
Speaking of which, the characters were probably my favorite part of Five Nights at Freddy’s. It might seem crazy to say that considering how their personalities, especially in the first few games, are almost non-existent. Though, I think it has to do with how said characters are designed. They strike a balance between appearing eerily uncanny and being lovable goofballs. The animatronics in Security Breach are probably my favorite, especially Roxanne Wolf.
While I never directly participated with other FNAF fans, it was still awesome to experience the evolution of the series as more and more games were released. I know that FNAF isn’t as popular as it once was a decade ago, but I still love it. Even those who are still in the fandom have created a real sense of community with several fan-created works being prominent in certain online spaces. FNAF isn’t for everyone, but it certainly was and still is an amazing series for me.
South Park: If you follow me on Mastodon, you probably know that South Park is my favorite show, and I don’t just mean in the realm of animation. The writing, characters, and humor are among the best in any piece of media I’ve ever experienced. In addition, South Park has crossed every possible line multiple time to the point it’s a wonder the show hasn’t gone off the air. Though, one of the reasons for that is because it’s a masterpiece.
Despite my parents having differing political views from one another, they were both pretty cool with allowing me to watch stuff that I probably shouldn’t have. At the age of 13, I watched my first episode of South Park called ‘Medicinal Fried Chicken’ where Randy intentionally got testicular cancer to smoke marijuana while Cartman got involved in a KFC crime gang (no, I’m not kidding). It was absolutely hysterical which further caused me to watch more episodes and eventually the entire show.
Even though South Park has a reputation for being arguably the most offensive TV show of all time, it’s oddly endearing compared to other adult animations. A lot of animated shows geared towards mature audiences seem to rely on swearing and political incorrectness as a crutch while lacking subtlety and cleverness. South Park is different because it offers commentary and dark humor that’s surprisingly nuanced.
South Park was also something of a comfort show when I was stuck in my home during the COVID Pandemic. Throughout that time, I became depressed and even now, I still feel like crap on most days. However, it was refreshing to discover South Park, a show that made me laugh like a hyena. I was never really emotive and barely let my feelings show, but South Park somehow never fails to make me feel happy, especially when it feels like the world is fucking burning.
DOOM: Just like South Park, I got into DOOM during the pandemic and similarly allowed me to ease my anxiety. It sounds strange considering how the game is basically about slaughtering demons to utter abandon. However, it was cool to unleash my anger without harming any real people. This anger eventually turned into me genuinely enjoying one of the greatest gaming franchises of all time. Before then, I already had an interest in retro games, though DOOM skyrocketed that obsession.
At its core, DOOM is simple; you take a gun, see a demon, shoot a demon, rinse and repeat, right? Well, that’s not entirely the case because DOOM is very intricately designed, even compared to modern shooters. Everything just works, from the level design to the weapon variety to the absolute god-tier soundtrack. It’s impressive how DOOM, despite being one of the first games of its kind, manages to be even more expertly crafted than almost every FPS game that came after.
There are also the sequels which are just as fun as the original, DOOM Eternal being an obvious example. Let’s not forget about the infinite number of unofficial WADs which makes an already re-playable series into something that could last for several lifetimes. While I think other video games are better, well, games, if I was forced to play only one game for the rest of my life, it would be DOOM. Despite what the name might imply, there is a lot of hope to be found in DOOM.
Hazbin Hotel/Helluva Boss: Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss are among the more recent pieces of online animation and have gained quite a fandom, as well as a hatedom for some reason. Despite the divisive nature of both shows, I think they’re breaths of fresh air in this era of adult animation and kind of changed how web series were viewed. Needless to say, these flawed masterpieces showed how internet-created animation could be just as amazing, maybe even surpass what’s seen on television.
Like I mentioned before, both Hazbin Hotel and Helluva Boss are polarizing, but I personally love them to death. The art style is very unique, the soundtracks are awesome, and the characters are probably some of the most empathetic and down-to-earth in animation, which is ironic considering the shows literally take place in hell. They can also be quite emotional and even gave me an entirely new perspective on media.
The characters in particular are very well-written, which is a rarity in the realm of adult animation. My favorite characters are Husk from Hazbin Hotel and Loona from Helluva Boss (I swear I’m not a furry). The two have a deadpan snarky attitude, an archetype I will never not love. The story is additionally very engaging and ambitious, one could argue that it’s too ambitious. I know these shows aren't for everyone and totally get the criticism for it, but I adore it, and I’ll always remember the moments that made me laugh, feel happy, or shed tears.
Resident Evil: Now that we got slaughtering, rehabilitating and empathizing with demons out of the way, it’s time to do that first one with zombies. As of now, Resident Evil is my latest hyper-fixation, and I don’t think it’ll be going away any time soon. Back in December, I played Resident Evil 4 and quickly considered it one of my all-time favorite games. Afterwards, I went straight to the PS1 trilogy and enjoyed those as well, with Resident Evil 2 being the best in my opinion.
I know I’ve stated this plenty of times, but I love retro games, and Resident Evil is no different. The gameplay, the visuals, the story, the characters, the soundtrack, they’re all incredible. I also like how narmy the games can get, especially with the voice acting (Jill Sandwich, anyone?). It adds a ton of charm and honestly feels like something right out of a low-budget B-grade horror flick. There’s also a massive amount of lore, even in the classic games which was pretty rare for gaming in the 90s.
They’re also addicting as hell and have a crap ton of replay value which I really appreciate. Though, even with the often-subpar voice acting and clunky tank controls, RE can be pretty frightening. Something about the dated aspects of PS1 horror games has always unnerved me, speaking of which, I will elaborate on that in a future post.
-Purple