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(01/30/21 7:34pm)
by Conner Tighe
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
In the city of Cartagena, Columbia, Nathan Drake -just kicked out of a museum for attempted theft- scours the city searching for another way in. An older gentleman spots the boy—witnessing his talents for thieving. Fast forward at least a decade, and the two are scouring the Rub’ al Khali desert, jungles of Borneo, and more. Uncharted’s heartfelt and thrilling journey began in 2007 and continues to capture movie-like escapades over a decade later. With three releases on the PlayStation 3 and three on the PlayStation 4 (including The Nathan Drake Collection), there’s more to return to even after several playthroughs. Here are the Uncharted installments ranked.
1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="282"] Image from DeviantArt[/caption]
Drake finds himself in a serious pickle when a simple thief job goes wrong. Uncharted 2 expanded upon our wildest imaginations when Drake travels to Asia to seek Shambhala while on the run from the psychotic war criminal, Zoran Lazarević, who is also seeking the ancient city. Drake’s longtime mentor and friend, Victor Sullivan, returns but is MIA in most of the game, unlike the prequel. Journalist Elena Fisher returns in the sequel running into Drake by chance in Nepal. Introduced to this action-packed sequel is treasure hunter Chloe Frazer. The three intermingle in a comedic love triangle throughout the game.
The game improved its wonky combat system introducing more gun selection, combo selection, and a “very easy” difficulty level, which allows players to enjoy the ride rather than worry about dying over and over. The locations players explore, including Nepal, Tibet, Borneo, and the Himalayas, are breathtaking in their graphics, even 11 years later. Uncharted 2 is by far Drake’s most exciting adventure and includes his most formidable foe to date.
2. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Although as fun as it was, Uncharted's fourth installment didn’t live up to the hype. Overall, the game is excellent as all games in the series are, but I couldn’t ignore plot pieces that seemed thrown in to create or solidify an ending to Drake’s adventures; like Nadine Ross and her military group Shoreline as well as adding Drake’s long-lost brother, Sam, who was never mentioned in previous installments.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="268"] Image from PCMag[/caption]
Now working as a diver in New Orleans for a salvaging company, Drake longs for adventure as his life has slowed down. Like Drake’s luck, trouble always seems to find him when Sam shows up years after believing to be dead after a prison breakout. The brothers travel in search of Henry Avery’s treasure, one of the most notorious pirates of his time, to pay off Sam’s debt to drug lord Hector Alcazar. Sam’s reasoning is later revealed to be a myth.
The combat, graphics, and overall gaming mechanics with jumping, swinging on ropes, and climbing walls were at their peak in this fourth installment. Drake’s family and childhood were not explored as much until this title, so the aftereffect feeling isn’t as powerful when it's delivered here. There are more treasures to collect in Uncharted 4 than all the other titles, and it’s a semi-open world allowing players to remain in one level but with the ability to explore vast amounts of it, collecting treasures and stirring conversation with characters about the environment. The levels are mostly explorable for players to scale walls and drive around in a jeep.
3. Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="260"] Image from DarkStation[/caption]
All the adventure began when Drake and Sullivan stumbled upon a German U-boat in the Amazon, trapped in the jungle. As the search for El-Dorado steers this fun-filled story, the mechanics, like shooting enemies and jumping across cliffs, can create intense agitation as players will find themselves falling to their deaths several times. Drake will grab ledges most of the time, but don’t count on it. This seemingly small issue becomes increasingly more annoying as the game progresses. However, don’t let that steer you away from a fantastic story. Fisher and Drake travel to a mysterious island searching for gold and discovers a curse that inhabits the Spanish colonists who invaded the island centuries earlier. The score, done by Greg Edmonson, is incredible standing in memorability with John Williams’ Indiana Jones score and was expanded upon in later titles. As Sullivan, Fisher, and Drake sail into the sunset, players will find the adventure has only just begun.
4. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="256"] Image from Eurogamer[/caption]
Drake’s third adventure takes players to the Middle East in search of the lost city, Iram of the Pillars. Katherine Marlowe, an old flame and former employer of Sullivan’s, also seeks the lost city competing and butting heads at times. Although the locations and overall story were a bit drab, the villain organization was its most interesting point. There’s a connection between history and the present day with Marlowe and her group of mercenaries representing a secret society Sir Francis Drake was a part of when Queen Elizabeth I sent Drake to find the city. The villain shows how far a group is willing to go to obtain an artifact sought after for centuries using a specialized drug on victims to obtain information and bend their will.
Familiar faces Fisher, Frazier, and Sullivan return, and players are introduced to new ally Charlie Cutter. The game emphasized the combat system to the point where, at times, players had no choice but to fight hand-to-hand with their enemies. The game's beginning has players engage with enemies in a London bar crashing through windows, using bottles, pool sticks, and chairs to knock out foes. All the usual gun fighting and exploring are back in the third entry.
5. Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="242"] Image from PlayStation[/caption]
Taking away the focus on Drake, Uncharted: The Lost Legacy features Frazier, back after last appearing in Uncharted 3, and Nadine Ross, who was one of the antagonists of Uncharted 4. Players will scour the jungles and ancient temples of India in search of the Tusk of Ganesh. The two women, along with Sam who doesn’t show up until toward the end, race to find the Tusk before Indian insurgency leader Asav finds it first.
Keeping its consistency, all of the recognizable gun fighting and taking cover from enemy fire returns to this installment. One of the differences the game has is the introduction of only a handful of levels. Each level has several tasks and is an open world that allows players to explore their heart’s content. I wasn’t a fan of the makeup, but the game delivered amazingly. Frazier and Ross’ backgrounds are explored more as they were merely side characters in the previous installments. According to Happy Gamer, there’s been talk for the Uncharted franchise to continue with the next release this year on the PS5.
Sources: Entertainment Weekly, Happy Gamer, IMDB, Push Sqaure, Uncharted Wiki
Images: DarkStation, DeviantArt, Eurogamer, PCMag, PlayStation
Featured Image: The New York Times
(01/24/21 8:00pm)
by Mason Kupiainen
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
2021 is ramping up to be a big year for films. Most people are aware of the bigger films like Fast 9, Matrix 4, and Black Widow. However, there are many smaller films coming out that have the potential to be better than the blockbusters. Some of them were pushed over from last year, adding to the stuffed year. While there are many, many films slated to come out this year, here are five films that are looking to be hits.
Cherry
The first film, directed by the Russo Brothers after doing Avengers: Endgame, Cherry stars Tom Holland as an Army medic turned opioid addict. Holland recently proved that he can be an Oscar-caliber actor in The Devil All The Time, showing that he has the ability to pull off this type of role. The Russo Brothers are also a force of nature behind the camera, showing that they can handle action sequences well. The fact that they also chose this film to be their follow-up to Avengers: Endgame, the highest-grossing film of all time, is intriguing. Making the biggest box office film of all time, they had the potential to probably make whatever film they wanted, which interests me as to what drew them to this project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5bH6O0bErk
The Green Knight
The Green Knight was originally scheduled to release in May 2020, but it’s finally being released in July of this year. With incredible talent including Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, and Joel Edgerton, and talent like David Lowery behind the camera, it gives the film confidence in its quality. Along with this, the trailer sets it up to be a much different and darker take on the King Arthur story than we’re familiar with. It also feels as if we are getting a breath of fresh air within the crowded fantasy genre. By being produced by A24, it also gives confidence that the film will turn out to be a hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoJc2tH3WBw
Nobody
From the creators of the John Wick franchise comes a new action hero. Starring Bob Odenkirk as the action hero, the trailer promises white knuckle action sequences, in the same vein as the action handled in John Wick. Although Odenkirk isn’t known as an action star, he looks great in the film and has proven in his previous works like Breaking Bad to be a fantastic actor. The director, Ilya Naishuller, hasn’t directed anything notable besides Hardcore Henry. That film, while not particularly good, was an interesting experiment as it was literally seen from the main character’s eyes, similar to a first-person video game. Jumping from that film to this one seems like an interesting move for the director, but one that piques interest. As an action movie junkie, the John Wick films are some of my favorite films in recent years, it’s exciting to see what the creators will do next.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZti8QKBWPo
Last Night in Soho
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="456"] Image from IndieWire[/caption]
Edgar Wright’s last film, Baby Driver, was an incredible divergence after doing comedies including Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Wright returns to direct another turn in his career with the psychological horror film, Last Night in Soho. Since the film has been kept under wraps, not much is known about the premise beside it dealing with some sort of time travel. Wright has proven himself to be a fantastic director with his own unique voice and style. From how he shoots and edits scenes, to his clever and witty style of dialogue, it’s always invigorating when a new project is released by him. Knowing he can go beyond his comedic roots to explore different genres makes this film all the more compelling as we don’t know what an Edger Wright horror film will be like, but I have faith that he’ll deliver a fun, thrill ride.
Willy’s Wonderland
Nicholas Cage has been making some interesting career choices in the past decade or so. From great films like Color Out of Space and Mandy to last year’s disastrous Jiu-Jitsu, he’s starring in a low budget horror film that seems like a knock-off of Five Nights at Freddy’s. The behind-the-scenes photos and recent trailer have teased that Willy’s Wonderland could be a ridiculously fun, thrilling movie. With the movie being set in a Chuck E Cheese-style of a restaurant, the designs of the animatronics and look of the film give it a unique flavor. It seems to have a dark, gritty look, but also a tone that shows the filmmakers aren't taking it too seriously. With hopefully another great over-the-top performance from Cage, this movie has the potential to quickly turn into a cult hit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v27rfaoB2Y
(01/20/21 6:00am)
By Conner Tighe
Stylistically similar to U.S. artists, Ed Sheeran and Passenger, Icelandic artist Axel Flóvent’s latest album, You Stay by the Sea, takes on a slow, methodic journey of self-discovery and looking back at where one comes from with their roots. Every bit of the 12-track wonder has heart and fulfillment emanating from the artist who spent time traveling Europe pursuing something he believed he needed, his own musical scene. Flóvent wanted to make a name for himself, and after spending time near the sea in Brighton, he returned home. You Stay by the Sea is a beautiful calling to this relatable feeling of loneliness and longing for our home. The artist remembers being alone for much of his journey, and with the scenery he encountered, Flóvent’s expedition inward is a result of what’s happened outward around him.
Purpose of the sound
After a first listen through, there seems to be monotony and sad emphasis on dark undertones, like Taylor Swift’s Folklore and Evermore, but this is ignorant to say as a final verdict. Art requires attention and patience, and only patience will help capture Flóvent’s fantastic sound and ability as a young artist. You Stay by the Sea is the artist’s first album release after four EP releases, the last being released in 2020. Flóvent found fame after releasing his first EP Forest Fires in 2015. In terms of sound, You Stay by the Sea is nearly identical, but in meaning, completely different. Self-discovery is not a new work of art in the music industry, but one that can be spun in unique ways, and Flóvent accomplishes a unique angle on how his home holds something dear to him.
Folk and guitar playing establish their dominance in this album, with the artist’s beautiful vocals echoing melancholy. “Tonight” breaks itself off from the rest of the tracklist as it centers around Flóvent’s message of homesickness and the importance of living by the sea. The song is deep and beautiful in its sound, with the vocals silently echoing the truths Flóvent is feeling in the moment. You Stay by the Sea is more of a personal note to the world about his journey in Europe rather than another pop ballad of love and heartbreak like much of the music today.
"And you stay by the sea/It keeps you calm and quiet/'Cause there's no other way/Your heart still wants this fire"
Haunting aesthetic
The artist’s sound is no doubt an acquired taste. Only those familiar with Flóvent’s work and style will understand how much this album means to him. Tracks “Driving Hours,” “Haunted,” and “Fireworks” give the album this slow, methodical rhythm, but the path is broken up by faster tracks “December Traffic” and “Indefinite.” All the tracks are beautifully poetic, but some cannot take away from the overall leisurely pace that can drag on at times.
"But we should dive into the light/I know it’s right to feel both sides"
Top tracks:
Tonight
Driving Hours
Indefinite
Recommended if you like:
Ed Sheeran
Taylor Swift
Passenger
Feature Image: Genius
Sources: Byte
(01/15/21 11:00pm)
by Conner Tighe
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Although drag can be confidently claimed as an important outlet of gender discovery and understanding, it wasn’t always that way. Drag can be circled back to Shakespeare’s time when theatre was relatively new, and men had limited options for female roles – in their eyes – so it was not uncommon for men to dress in women’s wardrobe for roles. The word “drag” comes from when the men would talk about how their dresses would “drag” across the floor when they acted their roles.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="252"] Image from House of Mirth Photos[/caption]
Europe’s theatre scene spread to America, where it was known as vaudevilles. From the 1880s to the 1920s, vaudevilles were America’s main source of entertainment as comedians, ventriloquists, dancers, musicians, and more performed together on stage. Julian Eltinge is credited for being the first known drag queen. Charlie Chaplin, known for his comedic silent films shown in black and white, was considered one of the highest-paid actors at the time, but Eltinge took over the title of the highest-paid actor.
The 1930s, also known as the Prohibition era, was not only tied to its secretive alcohol consumption, but also to gay culture. Many gays used secret clubs and locations, free for self-expression, and this became the tie to drag. This underground movement was called “the Pansy Craze.” Gay bars became less discriminated against after the Prohibition era. As their presence became more widespread, so did the police raids that attempted to rid bars of gay activity. The city mafias, out of all people, helped gays pursuing their self-expression free of discrimination. Much of the city nightlife was owned by the mafia. Many nightclubs, bars, and inns owned by the mafia shared a dislike for law enforcement, as did many gays. Drag went underground again. Later on, leaders began to rise when events called for it.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="367"] Image from Them[/caption]
Outspoken leaders in the drag community, like Flawless Sabrina, had pageants where drag was celebrated starting in ‘58. She was arrested several times for cross-dressing but persisted. Later in the 70s, drag was out and proud, with many African Americans taking the movement's shape. The Rocky Horror Picture Show demonstrated and celebrated drag with a well-known heterosexual male actor, Tim Curry, in a protagonist role. With this famous musical's popularity, drag was slowly becoming something associated more with fun and good times rather than secretiveness. This process didn’t reach its hype until decades later, and it's still going through its journey with acceptance from society. Drag would also become more relative when the 90s came around.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="440"] Image from Entertainment Weekly[/caption]
In the 90s, RuPaul Charles began his career as a fierce “queen,” staying true to his talent in the drag industry and music industry. He released his first album, Supermodel of the World, and has one of the most well-known drag shows globally, RuPaul’s Drag Race, where men dress in drag and compete in competitions. As popular and famous as Charles has become, it’s not uncommon when interviewing gay men and men in drag that they’ll give praise to women who spoke out for gay rights, decades before the 2000s. These women can be traced back as early as the 70s.
In a nearly three-minute interview from 1979, Jane Fonda spoke about gay rights saying gays are oppressed, and those that are for gay rights are “on the side of the angels.” “It’s just, and it’s right,” she says. Nile Rodgers, who was Diana Ross’ songwriter, told Today that radio personality Frankie Crocker informed Ross her ‘80’s hit “I’m Coming Out” would “ruin her career.” As we know today, it did quite the opposite for her career. “I’m Coming Out” celebrated pride in the LGBTQ+ community. With the ongoing drag movement came another well-known member who changed the lives of gay men and transgender individuals everywhere.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="382"] Image from Reuters Graphics[/caption]
Malcolm Michaels Jr., known famously as Marsha P. Johnson, sadly passed away in ’92 but was considered one of the most well-known drag queens in recent history after having spoken out for gay rights during the Stonewall Riots in ’69. But what was once oppression and bitter injustice has turned into meme-worthy posts on Instagram and fun for people no matter what sexuality. Drag queen, Jasmine Masters, stage name of Martell Robinson, has appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race, but was more widely known from her “And I Oop” clip which circulated on meme pages and social media. Although drag has had its own culture, it has evolved with the times and has developed its own language. The culture has evolved with society in its own way, sporting wigs, eyeshadow, heels, and other beauty necessities. No longer are drag queens in-hiding from ridicule, but are now celebrated for their individuality and uniqueness within the entertainment industry.
Sources: All That's Interesting, Artforum, Biography, California State University Stanislaus, Capetown Magazine, History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, Out, PBS, Them, The Guardian, Today, Vice, Vogue, YouTube
Images: Entertainment Weekly, House of Mirth Photos, Reuters Graphics, Them
Featured Image: All That's Interesting
(01/13/21 4:11pm)
by Conner Tighe
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Talented at the age of four, AJ Mitchell grew up in Belleville, Illinois, where he learned his piano skills from his father, a pianist. At six years old, Mitchell wrote his first song and, in high school, he was a member of the choir group. He performed at local coffee shops and bars until finding fame in 2016 on social media. His debut single “Used to Be” was released in 2017, which Mitchell claims it's his favorite song of his to perform.
With inspiration from Coldplay, Lil Wayne, The Beatles, and Bruno Mars, Mitchell writes creatively and has done so even more since quarantine began. The singer takes experiences in his life and crafts +them into pop tracks like his 2019 single “Down in Flames.” “I wrote that song about communication. A big lesson I learned was communicating. I saw two of my close friends get into a bad argument, and from my perspective, I saw how the situation could’ve been a lot different, a lot better if they communicated,” said Mitchell in a YouTube clip.
Mitchell is seemingly vulnerable with his fans. With posts from his childhood featured on his social media and many in-depth interviews with mostly entertainment publications, the artist appears genuine and wants the world to know he’s here for the craft and not the fame. His realistic approach when interacting with fans and social media gives Mitchell credibility with his music. His mannerisms, body language, and overall temperament shown in interviews linked above display what kind of person Mitchell is. Although the artist’s fame came quickly, he explains how his mom encouraged him to keep performing.
YouTube star Jake Paul sought out the young artist to be a part of his social media group called Team 10. During his time in the group, he met his future manager, who secured him a record deal after Mitchell left the group to pursue music. Mitchell released his six-track album Hopeful in 2018 that spoke about your average dabbles in angsty teenage romance with beautiful vocals and a range comparable to boy bands that capture hearts. Mitchell is the prime example of a newcomer musician on the verge of something greater, like Shawn Mendes in his 2014 era.
MTV’s Push highlights new and breakout artists where artists Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Eminem, and Future, among many others, have been nominated in the past for Video of the Year Awards, although Push awards artists in other areas like Artist of the Year, Best New Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Collaboration. Mitchell was featured on MTV’s website in 2019, where exclusive interviews about his life and music career lie, and in 2020 MTV featured Mitchell as a nominee for Best New Artist. The singer has collaborated with artists like DJs Frank Walker and Steve Aoki and rapper Rich the Kid. Recently for the holidays, he released “Blame It on the Mistletoe” with Ella Henderson. It will be exciting to see who else Mitchell strikes a collaboration with in the future.
Since late 2019, Mitchell has been talking about releasing his second soon to be album, Skyview. Heading into 2021, there’s no Skyview in sight, although on Instagram, Mitchell has been teasing the album's arrival with images of him recording in the studio. “If only could hear this…” he says on a Dec. 29 post.
The artist may introduce 2021 with Skyview as a good luck charm for a better year. Since the album wasn’t released in 2020, he may drop the album by surprise. Keeping an eye on his social media will provide excitement for his fans.
Sources: AllMusic, Instagram, MTV, Seventeen, YouTube
Images: Instagram
Featured Image: Euphoria. Magazine
(01/01/21 6:30pm)
(12/23/20 3:30pm)
by Lia Weisbecker-Lotz
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
Growing up, punk music always had a special place in my heart. It offered me a way to let out all of my built-up emotions and frustrations. If I was angry at the world or my parents or my sisters, I had punk music to help me yell it out and face it. If I was scared, it hyped me up with its snarky attitude and raw power. Recently; however, I noticed that all the punk music I had been listening to growing up consisted of all-male bands. Which disappointed me, because I knew that there must be bands full of women who are also furious at the world and at how they’re treated. Women who also had an attitude and humor that was so commonly a part of punk. Here are some female bands I found that shared even more viewpoints on music, the world, and what punk really means to them.
Tacocat
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="389"] Image from Sub Pop[/caption]
Tacocat is a largely female, indie pop-punk band that originated, as many punk bands have, in Seattle, Washington. The band’s songs are coated in humor and sarcasm, describing silly situations and topics. But the band also discusses issues women face every day: catcalling, period-shaming, and mansplaining in their songs “Hey Girl,” “FDP,” and “Men Explain Things to Me,” respectively. And despite Tacocat’s vibrant look, their songs are less high energy and more surf punk. Their latest release was their 2019 album, This Mess Is a Place. The focus of the album is the weird reality of America after the 2016 election.
Glitoris
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="388"] Image from The Rockpit[/caption]
This Australian punk band first formed as a one-off band for a festival, where they performed in nothing but glitter in 2014. However, the audience’s reaction to their music encouraged them to stay together and continue making music. Glitoris is well-known for its incredibly blunt, abrasive, and political songs. Their music has a chaotic, fury-filled energy to which goes well with the lyrics detailing their frustration with society and the obstacles it places in women’s lives. In 2018, they released their most recent album, The Policy, which showcases not only their political message but also their abilities as musicians.
Skinny Girl Diet
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="266"] Image from Louder Than War[/caption]
Skinny Girl Diet is a British sister duo that got their start in London. An indie band, these two have performed at various small venues, DIY spaces, and festivals. Skinny Girl Diet is a part of the Riot Grrrl movement, a subculture combining feminism, punk indie music, and politics. Many of their lyrics are about intersectionality in feminism and the struggles POC continue to face in the world. Their heavy grunge sound and biting lyrics even earned them a spot on Billboard’s 2015 “20 All-Female Bands You Need To Know.” The group was originally a trio consisting of the Holliday sisters and their cousin, but in 2017 their cousin decided to break away from the band. Their latest album, Ideal Woman, was released in 2018 and discusses the expectations placed on women and the lack of representation of marginalized groups.
Fea
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="386"] Image from Blackheart Records[/caption]
This next band is incredibly reminiscent of the origins of punk, with a high-energy, edgy sound. Fea is a Latina rock band that originated in San Antonio, Texas. This all-women band brings intense guitar riffs and strong vocals back into the punk scene, and some of their music has a pinch of country twang that oddly goes well with the rock. That’s not the only thing that makes this band unique. A lot of their songs tend to be bilingual, often using Spanish, but also French, German, and a bit of Japanese. Fea’s most recent album, No Novelties, was released in 2019, and it covers a lot of topics including the negative effects of social media, financial hardships, and toxic relationships.
QUEEN BEE
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="404"] Image from Ziyoou-Vachi[/caption]
This is probably the strangest punk recommendation, but I wouldn’t put it on this list if it weren’t quality. QUEEN BEE is a Japanese rock band that describes itself as “fashion-punk.” Their music style is unparalleled as it’s a mix of j-pop, rock, and disco. This majority female band started in 2009 and has since risen in fame in Japan, with several of their songs being used in popular anime such as Tokyo Ghoul: re and Dororo. QUEEN BEE’s songs often offer commentary about identity and the struggle of trying to be oneself with beautiful imagery. Their lyrics are frequently in reference to being a part of the LGBT+ community and being a person of color. The band has released several EPs and albums, with their last one, BL, releasing in early 2020.
Meet Me @ The Altar
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="377"] Image from The Fader[/caption]
This pop-punk trio met online in 2015 and released its first album in 2017. Although Meet Me @ The Altar’s lyrics detail missing old relationships, mental health issues, and chasing difficult dreams, their music is upbeat and energetic. Unlike the previous bands, the core idea behind Meet Me @ The Altar’s music is their hope for the future. While the group doesn’t have many released songs, in October of 2020 they were signed to Fueled by Ramen, a record label well-known for their punk bands. This means there’s hope for future releases as they continue to pave their way into the punk community. Their latest release was “Garden,” a song about helping a loved one through a rough patch.
Sources: Bandsintown, Billboard, Fueled by Ramen, Gen Rise Media, Grinnell College, HistoryLink, Moshi Moshi, SpeakerTV, Spotify, The Music, Ziyoou-Vachi
Images: Blackheart Records, Sub Pop, Louder Than War, The Fader, The Rockpit, Ziyoou-Vachi
Featured Image: Kellyn Harrison
(12/23/20 3:00pm)
(12/22/20 7:00am)
(12/13/20 3:00pm)
(12/12/20 6:30pm)
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the storyline of 'The Last of Us Part II'
The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the opinion of Byte or Byte’s editorial board.
By Anthony Herring
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="430"] Image from YouTube[/caption]
With its recent Game of the Year win at the 2020 Game Awards and its six-month anniversary quickly approaching, I figured now would be the perfect time to revisit ‘The Last of Us Part II.’ When the game released on Jun. 19, its thrilling performances, pulse-pounding gameplay, and breathtaking visuals were all acclaimed. However, the same cannot be said for its narrative. Said narrative saw 19-year-old Ellie, one of the protagonists from 2013’s ‘The Last of Us’, go on the warpath in order to avenge the death of Joel, her father figure, and the other protagonist from the original game. The person responsible for Joel’s death was a young woman named Abigail “Abby” Anderson. In a shocking twist, players were made to control her for nearly half the game’s runtime. Such a tactic allowed for her perspective of the game’s storyline to be illustrated.
The double whammy of having to witness Joel die at the hands of Abby and having to play as her for such a long span of time, caused many players to find the narrative worthy of derision. They felt Joel’s death was stupid, meant to be simple shock value and nothing more. Some believed Joel should’ve come out a hero, sacrificing his life to save Ellie from...something. And others felt it was ludicrous they play as “Joel’s killer” and be forced to sympathize with Abby.
Unfortunately, this hatred towards Abby and her actions spilled into the real world. The talented Laura Bailey, who portrayed the character, received numerous death threats over this when the game first released. I don’t need to tell you that the actions committed by these people are heinous and utterly vile. (Mind you, not everyone who disliked the game sent these threats; it was only a select few).
But I digress. Instead, I want to talk more about Abby Anderson, and why I think she doesn’t deserve the hatred many have given her.
Who is Abby Anderson?
Before I give my thoughts, it’s important I give some background on who Abby is. In the world of ‘The Last of Us,’ she is the daughter of Dr. Jerry Anderson, a doctor in league with the Fireflies. This militia group formed after a fungal outbreak decimated 60% of humanity, and they desperately desired to create a cure. This led to Joel and Ellie’s journey in the original game, as Ellie was the only known person immune to the infection.
When they arrived at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, the Fireflies’ headquarters, Ellie was to be prepped for surgery, with Jerry being the head surgeon. While Jerry doubted his abilities, especially considering how Ellie was to die during the operation, Abby reassured him. Unfortunately, Joel was made aware of Ellie’s fate and he subsequently killed many of the Fireflies in Saint Mary’s, Jerry included. This event devastated Abby, causing her to become obsessed with finding Joel for the next four years. Culminating with her and a group of her friends, and finding him near his home in Jackson, Wyoming. It was here where Abby killed him, sending Ellie down her own path of vengeance.
A hole-in-one
Here’s where I’m going to get controversial, so strap yourselves in: I strongly believe Abby is a great character. Do I still have your attention? Good, because I would like to explain why.
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="334"] Image from Den of Geek[/caption]
For starters, I would like to address the elephant in the room. I believe the only reason people hate this character is due to the fact she killed Joel. Now, don’t get me wrong: I hated Abby for this same reason during my first playthrough. In fact, I utterly despised her during the first half of the story. Much like Ellie, Abby was the antagonist in my eyes. She killed Joel, our precious Joel, and both Ellie and I wanted to take her down. What makes Abby think she can get away with such a crime? Well...with a viewpoint like that, it really hampers how Abby’s character is perceived, and it glosses over the ample development her side of the story gives to the overall experience.
As I mentioned earlier, you have no choice but to play as Abby during the second half of the story. During these sections, you play through the same length of in-universe time (which is three days in Seattle, Washington) as Ellie, but from Abby’s perspective. Through this, you discover that even after avenging her father’s death, Abby has found no sense of peace. She still suffers from the nightmares that plagued her since Jerry died, and her relationships with those close to her have been irreversibly fractured. The greatest victim of this was her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Owen.
Although I didn’t see it at first, it took me until my second play through to sympathize with Joel’s killer. I no longer saw her as some inhuman monster that needed to be stopped, but rather as a flawed human being. Although it is something I don’t condone, I found Abby’s drive to kill Joel understandable. He killed her father so he could save Ellie, who was essentially a second daughter to him. However, the decision left Abby as an orphan. Such feelings of anger, rage, and revenge are entirely within reason for anyone who goes through this, especially when you figure out who was responsible.
Moving onward, Abby grows more compassionate upon the arrival of two new characters: Lev and Yara. The brother-sister duo are members of a religious sect called the Seraphites, who are embroiled in a turf war with the Washington Liberation Front, a militia group that Abby herself is a member of. Lev and Yara end up saving Abby’s life when she is captured by the Seraphites. Because of this, she develops a protective attachment to them. Her connection to the siblings allows Abby to feel some semblance of humanity for the first time in years, and it allows her to find closure over her father’s death.
In a way, Abby’s character mirrors Joel’s from the original game. There, Joel was a survivor who had been hardened due to the death of his daughter, Sarah, at the onset of the outbreak. However, Joel regains his humanity through his relationship with Ellie, finding his sense of purpose in protecting someone other than himself. The fact that Abby shares similarities with him is quite interesting, but I feel it highlights something I love so much about her character: no matter how far you fall, you can still find a way to get back up.
I have one last thing to discuss: the resolution of Abby’s arc. At the end of the game, she and Lev have been held captive for months by a group called the Rattlers. Thankfully, they are freed by none other than Ellie, who tracked them to Santa Barbara, California. By this point in the game, Abby is no longer the obsessive, revenge-driven woman she once was. She is now a weakened yet determined older sister to Lev, wanting to protect him as they journey to Catalina Island. At this point, they are searching for the Fireflies, who are revealed to be actively regrouping. After a brutal fight with Ellie, which ends with letting her go, Abby takes a boat she uses to go to the island with Lev. With that, her journey has reached its conclusion.
While it was a turbulent ride, I inevitably found Abby Anderson to be a fascinating and gripping character. Yes, what she did to Joel was unforgivable, but the world of ‘The Last of Us’ is in itself unforgivable. Joel himself has done horrible things in order to survive. Ellie has taken numerous lives in pursuit of Abby. And even in spite of that, these three, along with the many other characters who inhabit this world, have also shown compassion and love for others. Nothing is black and white here, just shades of grey—and Abby Anderson is a great example of that.
Sources: CNET, Forbes, Kotaku, Polygon, TechRadar
Images: Den of Geek, YouTube
Featured Image: Inverse
(12/05/20 5:00pm)
https://soundcloud.com/user-519363288/remixed-s5e9-from-the-eyes-of-a-musician
Welcome back to another episode of Remixed! Tune in as we discuss underground music from more of a musical perspective, music theory, and the life of a musician! What underground artists deserve more limelight? Why is being a musician so hard? Stay tuned as our hosts discuss their personal favorite underground artists and more!
Hosts: Sam Shipe & Grace Marshall
Edited by: Shwetha Sundarrajan
Graphic by: Kellyn Harrison
(11/24/20 3:00pm)
By Blake Chapman
Geoff Keighley announced the nominees for The Game Awards 2020 on Nov. 18 in preparation for the live program next month.
Here are some of the frontrunners, nominees for the biggest awards, and prominent storylines.
Best Performance
(11/23/20 11:00pm)
(11/21/20 5:00pm)
(11/15/20 3:00pm)
by Annie Bastian
For anyone looking for new music, I highly recommend checking out Sammy Rae. Last year when I was getting prepared for a long car ride, I reached out to people asking for new music recommendations and a friend of mine told me about Sammy Rae’s EP, The Good Life. I remember that the first song that came on shuffle from the EP was “Kick It to Me.” I was automatically captivated due to the saxophone during the introduction and her unique voice. I vividly remember that when I stopped for gas after hearing it, the first thing I did was text my friend thanking her for telling me about this EP. I then sent the song to my father who used to play saxophone and therefore has a strong appreciation for any music that features one. While stopped, I also queued the rest of the EP on Spotify. I have been in love with Sammy Rae’s music ever since. I am strongly attached to the EP The Good Life, but Sammy Rae also has some other music that is well worth a listen. Unlike some groups where if you’ve heard one song you have heard them all, Sammy Rae keeps the listener interested by reflecting many genres such as jazz, pop, blues, and rock in her music. With a diverse array of genres in her music, every song has a distinctive sound.
(11/13/20 12:32am)
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/user-519363288/remixed-s5e7-is-billboard-bill-boring[/embed]
Welcome back to another episode of Remixed! Tune in as we discuss the Billboard Music Awards, how the award show works, which artists won, and the hosts' take on the artists!
Hosts: Sam Shipe & Cara Rae
Edited by: Ok Schlatter
Graphic by: Kellyn Harrison
(11/10/20 10:00pm)
by Anthony Herring
(11/05/20 11:09pm)
by Conner Tighe
Role-playing mechanics were never at their peak until 2001’s Final Fantasy X was released. Easily one of Final Fantasy’s best releases, if not the best, the tenth video game entry holds superior gameplay and a story lasting well past a decade that can’t be said for other role-playing games since then. Japanese company Squaresoft, now Square Enix, is known for its work with other popular titles, like the Kingdom Hearts Series. The series, which featured characters and designs inspired from the Final Fantasy Series, unknowingly reached a gold status when 2001 came around.
When Tidus, a young adult who is a well-known Blitzball player from Zanarkand, meets a mysterious man named Auron, all hell breaks loose. After being sucked into a time-lapse, sending him into an unknown world known as Spira, he slowly learns what’s at stake when he meets young summoner Yuna, daughter of High Summoner Braska, who defeated Sin prior years before. Sin is a massive creature of time and darkness shattering cities across Spira whenever it wishes and is considered the main antagonist of the story and Seymour Guado leader of the Guado. This is only the tip of the iceberg that dazzles players as they continue to upgrade their characters and realize each character's background, mainly Tidus, who faces haunting memories of his father Jecht, who disappeared 10 years before the story’s beginning.
Earlier releases of FF were nothing short of groundbreaking with their unique worlds and characters that shared common destinies while battling evil. So, when number 10 was released, new worlds were presented as well as the memorable role-playing mechanics, but the story hugely established itself.
Several relatable tendencies and issues are presented in this media. Daddy issues, the death of a brother, and following in the footsteps of parents are engaging lessons and morals explored in this crazy game of passion and love for diversity. At the same time, characters develop partnerships and connections on their journey to each city where Yuna builds relationships with locals and develops powerful connections with the “fayth,” spirits of the dead that have been killed by Sin.
One of the most memorable moments in the game comes shortly after Yuna and her guardians travel around Spira to Kilika islands. The group finds the town in disarray as Sin had attacked the city shortly before the group’s arrival. Yuna walks across the water with her staff performing “The Sending,” a ritual that sends souls to the Farplane where they can rest in peace. At this moment, players see the love Tidus feels toward the young summoner, a love that would not be explored until long after the two are well into the journey.
Players find the characters butting heads frequently over personal issues, but all remember their mission to bring “The Calm,” a decade lasting time of peace, from Sin until he’s reincarnated.
Like previous titles, each character has unique abilities: magic (white mage/black mage), strength, nimble and agility, or comedic relief. Final Fantasy X brings all the emotions with every character fueled by battles with enemies, the foremost being Guado. The latter will spark every player’s fury when he comes after Yuna and her guardians after she refuses to marry him.
Two years later, a direct sequel was released, Final Fantasy X-2, which explores more of Yuna’s character. In 2013, the two were remastered on newer game systems, and the releases still hold up to being one of the best video games ever released.
(11/04/20 10:00pm)
by Mason Kupiainen
When Disney+ was originally announced, I was excited to see the live-action Star Wars and Marvel Cinematic Universe shows that were more closely tied together with the films. Having access to Disney’s vast vault of original classic movies and series was an added bonus that made the service seem like it would stand out among the rest. Once the streaming service finally launched in November 2019, things started off great in terms of content. They launched with The Mandalorian, one of the most exciting shows in recent years, as well as a large library of content, unlike other streaming services like Apple+ and CBS All Access that launched with smaller amounts. However, once The Mandalorian's first season came to an end, the streaming service quickly began losing steam and soon became one of the more disappointing services out there.
Bland Original Content
With the exception of The Mandalorian, Disney+’s original content has been quite poor. While I haven't seen all of their original content, from the good chunk that I have watched, the content has fallen between mediocre to terrible. Movies like Artemis Fowl, the live-action Lady and the Tramp, and Noelle have turned out to be awful, with movies like The One and Only Ivan being more bland than good. Their original films and television feel like the worst Disney Channel originals from the early 2000s, almost like they were the rejects for theatrical releases.
Promised content getting delayed
Due to the coronavirus pandemic interfering with the scheduling of many projects, Disney wasn’t able to release some of their originals this year as intended. Some of their main series that have been delayed are their Marvel shows, which were originally slated to release this year. However, the pandemic interfered with filming shows like Falcon and Winter Soldier, which ultimately caused them to delay the series into next year. Despite the pandemic interfering with some of Disney’s plans, they didn’t have any noteworthy originals coming to the service after The Mandalorian dropped. The finale season of Clone Wars was a nice addition back in February, but with Falcon and Winter Soldier originally scheduled for this August, that would have been five months without any noteworthy titles coming to the service. Sure, Disney+ has many nostalgic movies and television shows, but that’s basically all they’re relying on. Practically all of their films and television pander to younger viewers, not really making it worth keeping the service around just to stop by every once in a while for a quick nostalgic kick.
Now, I understand that Disney+ will probably never drop anything R rated on the streaming service; the fact that all of their original content focuses on kids and families makes the service feel worthless for those without kids. Being in college, I don’t have a kid I have to entertain, which is what Disney+ feels like it's meant for, and I don’t really spend time rewatching kids' shows and movies from my childhood. The Mandalorian did a great job of being appropriate for younger viewers, while also entertaining older audiences. Their live action Star Wars and Marvel series are truly the only content at the moment appealing to older audiences, making the service feel like it's alienating a large percent of audiences.
Confusing standards
One of the first controversies coming from Disney+ came from Splash. When Splash dropped on Disney+, some viewers were angry that they removed a quick butt shot. This wouldn’t be an odd move since Disney seems to want their service to be kid-friendly, and removing any form of nudity that didn’t fit their code isn’t outrageous. However, Disney has dropped X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men Apocalypse, and left both the nudity and cursing that they’ve removed from other films. So where does Disney hold their standards? They altered scenes from one film claiming it didn’t fall in line with what they considered wholesome for their service, but left it in another movie.
A more recent controversy comes from the release of Mulan. Originally, they dropped this movie on their service with a $30 charge to view it, with the movie eventually being available to all subscribers. Then, only a few weeks later, Disney released the movie to all streaming services, such as iTunes and Google Play, with the same $30 price tag. However, consumers were able to own the film on these services, unlike Disney+ subscribers who can only view the movie as long as they keep their account. Those who purchase the film on other services also get added special features that aren’t available when you get the film through Disney+. Although this feels like a desperate move from Disney to try to make up for lost revenue for not having a theatrical release, it seems like Disney is cheating their subscribers. By not giving subscribers special privileges besides being able to see the movie a few weeks early, it causes the service to feel more pointless, since you aren't getting anything special from being a subscriber. There is still a shred of hope for Disney+ to be one of the better services, but only if they can get over these few hiccups.
Sources: Deadline, MobileSyrup, Vanity Fair
Featured Image: TechHive