Wreck-It Ralph - A Video Game Movie That's Actually Good

In your lifetime, I'm pretty sure that at one point or another you've heard the phrase "all video game movies suck" or some variation thereof. While there are some that have genuinely tried to be a good movie, they have still all fallen under this umbrella term in some fashion. Since I saw the first trailer for Wreck-It Ralph however, it seemed like it would be the one video game-based movie to finally break the mold. Upon viewing it, I feel like this has come true, thanks mainly in part to taking the video game movie in a brand new direction.

Wreck-It Ralph, the bad guy for the video game Fix-It Felix, Jr., has started to grow tired of his job in the video game. Every day for the past 30 years he's had to wreck a single building over and over so that Felix can fix it, only for the tenants to throw him off the roof once he's finished. Despite that it's been his job, he never gets any appreciation for it, since the characters of the game only see him as a villain and nothing else with no regard for his feelings, and is even left out of the party in his game to celebrate the 30 years his cabinet has been in the arcade. Wishing for a change, and some recognition of his hard work, Ralph leaves his game in pursuit of a medal, jumping to the FPS Hero's Duty and the anime-inspired kart racer Sugar Rush in the process. However, he goes through with this plan with blatant disregard for the dire consequences of his actions, including the possible termination of both him and his game.

Leaving the game for another is known as "Going Turbo," which has a spoileriffic explanation that I won't go into (though the capitalization is important), and serves as a constant source of drama in the film. It handles this well and actually makes certain moments, like those much closer to the end, have more tension and add weight to some of the characters' actions, especially when we learn that death outside of your own game means that you can no longer regenerate. While the movie knows how to be dramatic, it should be given equal credit for its humor. There are moments where the movie gets really clever about its arcade setting and uses that to its advantage to get a laugh. I can't really say if there is a character that is particularly funny, since the main cast all get in a few good jokes from time to time to break the otherwise serious tone of some scenes. But the placement of these jokes is precise enough to not get in the way of the true emotions we are supposed to feel (which we do).

What this movie will perhaps be best known for however is the sheer number of references to video games, including a number of cameos from licensed characters. There are way too many to list in one review, but in the opening Bad Anon meeting, where video game villains help each other come to terms with their roles as bad guys in their respective games, alone we have M. Bison, Dr. Robotnik, Kano, Smoke, Bowser, Clyde (the orange ghost from Pac-Man), a House of the Dead zombie and Zangief (he's not really a villain but it still works). I could easily see people flocking to this movie just for the cameos alone, but then they'd be missing out on what is actually a very well-written story. In any case, the cameos and shout outs are numerous to the point where you'd probably have to buy the DVD/Blu-ray so you can pause it and take a good hard look at any scene. Some of these references are also used for humor, including the setting of Tapper/Root Beer Tapper, an exclamation point from Metal Gear Solid and the Konami Code (won't spoil the context of that one). Again these references don't really take anything away from the setting, but rather make it more believable.

Setting the movie inside an arcade to tell the story from the viewpoint of the characters is actually a smart route to go with the genre. It gives us the idea that the denizens of the arcade all lead lives of their own after hours. They are able to leave their games for Game Central Station, which will change how you look at power strips for a while, where they can either hang out or go to other games for different purposes. If they need to go to a Bad Anon meeting, they'll go to Pac-Man. If they wish to unwind, they'll go to Tapper for a drink. In this way it is the video game equivalent of Toy Story, which is likely what influenced how the world was set up (not that it's a bad thing). While Tron and Tron: Legacy also take place inside a virtual world, a computer network or "The Grid" in their case, Wreck-It Ralph actually goes the extra mile to show how these changes in the virtual world affect how the games are seen in the real world, such as the absence of Ralph causing his sprite to not display in Fix-It Felix, Jr. and break the game.

What helps sell the rather unique setting are the visuals. The graphics of each video game are faithful recreations of the different graphical styles of the games, which also translates well to their 3D counterparts. Games that are already in 3D like Hero's Duty are of course more consistent, but games like Fix-It Felix, Jr. will have polygons in their 3D models that still imply the pixels used in the arcade screen. Characters will also move just like their respective games, like the building tenants in Fix-It Felix, Jr. having jerkier movements and Clyde from Pac-Man moving in straight lines even when idle. It is this attention to detail, including scale, that shows that the animators really did their homework.

Then there's the voice acting, which is not only pretty faithful for some existing characters, but also good picks for the main cast. John C. Reilly matches the appearance of Wreck-It Ralph and brings out the best emotions in him. Jack McBrayer, who some may recognize as Kenneth from NBC's 30 Rock, voices Fix-It Felix, Jr. in a way that his voice doesn't get tiring and brings a certain excitement to the role of the hero. Jane Lynch is also good as Sergeant Calhoun from Hero's Duty, letting us believe her programmed tragic back story. The most surprising voice though would have to be Sarah Silverman as Vanellope von Schweetz from Sugar Rush, thanks to her career as a shock comedian. She sells a tragic character very well and helps us feel sympathetic, but her other work will definitely be too much for young children should they discover it (and that's all I have to say about that).

As a video game movie, Wreck-It Ralph really goes above and beyond the norm and becomes a movie of this genre that is actually good. Attention to detail, believable characters and a really good plot twist near the end are what helps this one stand apart from the rest. I can't really think of anything wrong with it (not just because it's Disney) and found myself having a really good time. Knowing the video game references certainly helps the entertainment value, but you don't have to know a lot of them in order to really enjoy the story. I'd recommend it, but if you're concerned about dark imagery, as this movie contains closer to the end, then weigh your options depending on how young your child is (unless you know they can handle it).

Ralph Breaks the Internet

When I saw the original Wreck-It Ralph film, I’ll admit that I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it at first, but I was surprised by the final product and how it turned out to be basically the best video game movie ever made (though notably not based on any one property). Pretty much the same phenomenon occurred with the sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet. The initial trailers gave me mixed feelings that watching the film helped me sort out. While Ralph Breaks the Internet is a worthy follow-up to the original, I thought it wasn’t quite as good as it could’ve been; I’ll admit however that watching it in an audience full of obnoxious children took me out of the movie a little and somewhat affected my feelings about it.

Six years after the events of Wreck-It Ralph, Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) are still best friends who hang out after work every night in Litwak's Family Fun Center and Arcade. After Vanellope expresses that she knows the ins and outs of her game, Sugar Rush, Ralph tries to help give her a new track. However, the new addition unintentionally leads to a player breaking the game’s steering wheel and, due to the rarity and cost of a replacement wheel, Litwak (Ed O'Neill) unplugs the game. To help save Sugar Rush from being permanently scrapped, Ralph and Vanellope travel to the internet in search of the replacement part on eBay. During their quest, however, the two of them also go through a journey of self-discovery and test the limits of their friendship.

On paper, the premise sounds vaguely like the infamous The Emoji Movie, though with the world of the internet instead of just the confines of a smartphone. In practice, Ralph Breaks the Internet does its best to take full advantage of its new setting and, for the most part, it succeeds. Various websites are referenced, including eBay, Google, Amazon, Purple and Pinterest, though other sites are generic stand-ins for other big sites or concepts, mainly “Buzzztube” instead of YouTube and Slaughter Race as a representation of online games. In spite of the references, however, Ralph and Vanellope only visit the sites that are relevant to the plot so the movie doesn’t come off as obnoxiously advertising anything.

That said, there is an extended sequence within the Oh My Disney! website that comes off as a bit of self-indulgence on the part of Disney. When Vanellope visits the site, the audience is reminded of not only the various original Disney properties, but also the fact that they own both Marvel and Star Wars. Vanellope’s interactions with the other Disney Princesses, however, take up a lot of the time spent here in what’s admittedly a pretty clever way of not only taking a jab at people who don’t give the princesses enough credit, but also advancing Vanellope’s own character development.

The visit to Oh My Disney! feels a bit self-indulgent.

Since this film mostly takes place within the internet, I’d say that its representation of the space, visualized as a more or less nebulous cloud, is mostly accurate. People do spend a lot of their time online nowadays, there are plenty annoying clickbaity ads and the dark net is not only real, but very shady. However, there are some minor things it gets wrong seemingly for the sake of the plot.

To begin with, eBay’s bidding system is fudged a little. Without spoiling too much, when you win a real eBay auction, you only pay a little bit more than the second-highest bid, even if your bid was thousands of dollars higher. As for Buzzztube, the site presents more or less an idealized version of viral fame and monetization. In real life, it’s more difficult to achieve a large online following, much less have one or more videos go viral within a single day. Monetization on Buzzztube is also based on the number of Hearts a video gets, a system that, while somewhat balanced by the need to have millions of Hearts before any money gets made, is a far cry from what it takes to monetize a YouTube video nowadays.

Naturally, there are pop culture references within Ralph Breaks the Internet, though thankfully specific ones are kept to a minimum while others are more within the realm of universal concepts, including the idea of memes and the kinds of videos that are popular on YouTube, such as makeup tutorials and unboxing videos. There is a point where Ralph performs a Fortnite dance, something that makes sense within the context of the movie and when it came out, but something that I’m not sure will stand the test of time and a move that, unfortunately, helps to date the movie, as does a reference to Chewbacca Mom.

Outside of the specifics about the internet, I did have one issue with the plot, namely that it required Ralph to be outside of his game twice for an extended period of time, once while the arcade is open and another during the trip to the internet, which is implied to take at least 24 hours. This bothered me when I noticed, since characters leaving their game too long was a major plot point in the original Wreck-It Ralph, yet the consequences are largely ignored or brushed off here.

Overall, Ralph Breaks the Internet, while a good movie, doesn’t quite reach the same heights as its predecessor. The execution of the film is hampered a bit by the lack of any real consequences for Ralph leaving his own game, as well as the small but noticeable inaccuracies with the otherwise clever depiction of the internet. If you can easily ignore these things, however, then you’ll definitely be in for an enjoyable movie filled with clever writing and smart humor, including a nice meta moment during a mid-credits scene. Also, be sure to stay after the credits for a nice preview of Frozen 2, slated for release next year.

2012 - The Highlights (Tetris_King)

As the year 2012 wraps up, it's sometimes good to look back at what was good or bad about the year. Below is what I thought were the best and worst things this year on the blog, with links provided to each review. As with before, these items are not in any set order.

Top Films of 2012

The Avengers
This has everything you could ever want from a superhero movie. The plot is easy to follow, the characters are well-balanced, motives are clear, and it has just the right mix of action, humor, and tension to make it all worthwhile. Though it's a better movie after seeing Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger beforehand, that does not stop this movie from being made entirely of awesome.

The Expendables 2
Another movie made of awesome, The Expendables 2 takes everything that made the first movie enjoyable and ramps it up even higher. Admittedly, this is a movie where I actually think the plot, or what little of it there is, actually gets in the way of all the action, although it at least justifies what happens on camera. Even then, this film is practically made entirely of testosterone and contains some of the most badass footage you will ever see in your life.

Wreck-It Ralph
Wreck-It Ralph proves that a video game movie can not only be good, it can also be very creative. Instead of adapting a single game or series of games, it instead focuses on the video game characters themselves in an arcade as the primary character, Ralph, questions his role as a video game villain. The plot can easily be understood by casual and non-gamers alike, and there's plenty of subtle references thrown in that more experienced game players will appreciate. Whether it's the story, gaming references, or the nostalgia of the dying arcade, Wreck-It Ralph is a Disney movie that has plenty to offer for everyone.

Top Games of 2012

Asura's Wrath
If you thought you have seen the pinnacle of scale in a video game (God of War III, Bayonetta, etc.), you haven't seen anything yet. Over the course of the game, you fight one boss that's bigger than a planet and one whose sword can reach the moon and beyond when unsheathed (and with the DLC, that's only the beginning). The anime-style plot is a good setting for this sort of action, which by itself is very intriguing to see unfold. Asura's Wrath not only features a sympathetic protagonist, it also features some of the most concentrated rage you will ever see in fiction.

Journey
With an industry full of big-budget titles with intricate plotlines and deep gameplay, it's nice to take a break from all that with something more simple. Journey features controls that are easy to pick up and its desert setting gives the player a true feeling of isolation as they reach their destination. Though the game has no dialogue (and for good reason), you can still get a good grasp on the happenings of the world around you and what emotions it makes you feel. This is, put simply, a game that's required playing for any PS3 owner and an experience that you will remember for quite some time.

Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3
I am a big fan of the Penny Arcade webcomic, and like many others I was happy to see news of the long-awaited third installment of the On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness series of games. Though the gameplay and developer are different, it does not stop this game from embodying the true essence of Penny Arcade. What's more, you can get a good story, great gameplay, absolutely hilarious humor, and a time-worthy experience, all for the low price of $5. It may not be the best game I've played this year, but it's definitely the funniest.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
High Moon Studios has topped themselves in regards to delivering a solid Transformers experience, which I appreciated as a major fan. The game delivers some high-quality graphics and story presentation, as well as some really great gameplay and characterization. For the Transformers fan, there's references abound, some of which may make you chuckle a bit. It's clear that the developers love Transformers, especially with the multitude of Generation 1 references and terminology, although it's best to look at this game as a tie-in to the amazing Transformers: Prime cartoon, since the events of the game are integral to the current continuity.

Top Disappointments of 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man
After some creative differences with Sam Raimi's run after the third movie, it was decided that a reboot was in order, primarily so that Sony could keep the Spider-Man license. (Note: Despite what you may think, this movie is not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, nor can it ever be.) While this movie attempts to recreate the same experience, its webs actually snap in midair, followed by it falling flat on its face. Several plot threads go nowhere, events are either too contrived or convenient, and apparently "spider powers" now means "heightened awareness and mastery of parkour" instead of "heightened awareness and special powers akin to a spider". Though I did not think it was a good Spider-Man film, I will respect the opinions of anyone who thought differently, as long as they didn't just like it for deciding Spider-Man should be Batman. Of course, there's the chance of a sequel, so hopefully that is able to redeem this pile of spider guts.

Brave
As my fellow contributors can tell you, while this is a step back in the right direction for Pixar, it's certainly not the best. This is a story you have definitely seen before, and while Pixar has shown the ability to make that sort of thing interesting, this attempt at a mother-daughter bonding tale feels more generic at best, which I actually compared unfavorably to Finding Nemo, an earlier father-son bonding tale of theirs. Pixar isn't as innovative as they used to be, but it's still a good film for children and die-hard fans of the studio. I would suggest seeing this movie once, and even if you don't like it, at least it isn't Cars 2.

The Darkness II
I really enjoyed my experience with the first The Darkness game, based on one of Top Cow's flagship comic book titles, so I was hoping for an equal, if not better, experience with the sequel. In the end, while I thought the gameplay was really, really good (quad-wielding!), the story is really, really horrible. Jackie Estacado saw some great character development in the original game, but his character here felt like it had taken a major step backwards, having failed to come to terms with the death of a loved one from two years ago (I think hallucinations of your dead girlfriend warrant seeing a therapist). Still, this game is worth at least one play-through, if only for the feeling you get from being able to use four weapons at once against your enemies.

Quantum Conundrum
This game showed some promise when preview material got discussed, to where I even pre-ordered it on Steam for future DLC (and a few Team Fortress 2 items). In all the excitement, the game eventually begins to unravel by the end, its final levels failing to live up to the rest of the game and the ending feeling rather anti-climactic. Hopefully the eventual DLC will salvage my experience with this game, and while I do like John de Lancie as a voice actor, I don't think he was able to fully save this title.

2012 - The Highlights (EHeroFlareNeos)

With 2012 coming to a close, this is the time to look back at what came out this year and reflect on how we felt. While not all of it was great, there are still some things that deserve mention. Below, in no particular order, is my personal list of the top games, movies and disappointments of the year, plus a special new category (that hopefully I will never feel the need to use again).

Top Movies of 2012

The Avengers
As the culmination of Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers combines humor with action and well-written characters to create the ultimate comic book movie. While Joss Whedon isn't reason enough to fall in love with this movie, his hand in it cannot be denied, for he shares both writing and directing credits. The Avengers is one of those movies that I would be willing to watch over and over again, having seen it three times already, and this small space cannot do it enough justice. This is simply a movie to see without question.

Wreck-It Ralph
Video game movies have always been the butt of jokes across industries, with complaints that aren't that unfounded. However, Wreck-It Ralph has managed to prove that not only can they not suck, they can be worth repeat viewings. Though it can be compared with Toy Story in some aspects, the different spin it has on its genre is rather unique and sends its message across in a way that doesn't talk down to anyone or appeal to a single niche audience. Although there is some fan service of sorts for avid video game players, there is enough to satisfy even complete outsiders.

The Expendables 2
Let me be honest here, The Expendables 2 isn't the greatest movie ever made, nor is it something I'm going to immediately watch again on DVD. However, I placed it on this list for its ability to not only advertise exactly what it was going to do, but also sticking with it and staying true to itself. It establishes early on that there will be badass moments of awesome and it delivers badass moments of awesome. It's a true action movie through and through and I have no regrets watching it.

Top Video Games of 2012

Asura's Wrath
In a realm of gaming where God of War and Devil May Cry clones (and Bayonetta) run rampant, it's nice to see a game that manages to stand apart and take everyone else by storm. Asura's Wrath operates like an interactive anime, but it weaves an epic tale of a Deity named Asura, betrayed by his own kind and ripped away from his daughter. His resulting feats reach a status that exceeds its ilk and reaches beyond the heavens to deliver a very memorable experience.

Journey
Sometimes what doesn't really matter is the destination, but rather the journey. This is the tenet that Journey is built upon, drawing out the player's sense of isolation in a way that firmly establishes that video games can indeed be works of art. It may only last a couple of hours, but what truly matters is the experience it creates and that you may find yourself wanting to go on that journey again and again.

Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3
It may be better for fans of Penny Arcade like myself, but OTRSPOD 3 is a game that I liked well enough to put on this list. The painful wait and change of developers proved to be well worth it, thanks to the unique approach to gameplay and tidal wave of humorous lines and references to Penny Arcade's entire webcomic run up to that point. Plus, the plot surrounding the Four Below takes a darker turn and knows when to generate genuine suspense. Also, it's only $5 (this cannot be stressed enough).

Assassin's Creed III
As I played the Ezio Trilogy, I was really waiting for a fresh new assassin to join the ranks and give me something new to do. Thankfully, Assassin's Creed III does just that, shifting the focus to the assassin Connor and changing the setting to the American Revolution. Though Brotherhood and Revelations are still required reading, so to speak, this entry is when things really kick into high gear and the framing device actually becomes interesting. As the conclusion to a long build-up, Assassin's Creed III is not a game to miss. Plus, it has some significance to me thanks to some of my ancestors being involved in the American Revolution.

Top Disappointments of 2012

Brave
After Cars 2, I feel that Pixar has really started to let themselves go. Brave is an improvement, but that doesn't change that this seems like the point where Pixar has lost some of their luster; having already achieved their earlier visions, they have now become more of a regular movie studio. The characters in Brave aren't as engaging, the plot has some holes and unusual anachronisms and there just seemed to be an overall lack of effort to make me want to rewatch this mother-daughter bonding tale. But hey, kids and die hard fans seem to like it.

The Amazing Spider-Man
In the wake of the successful Marvel Studios movies, Sony created a reboot of their successful Spider-Man trilogy in order to maintain their grasp on the franchise. Unfortunately the result isn't as great as the Sam Raimi films, with a darker tinge to try and compete with Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, a plot that leaves several threads dangling (pun intended) and the revelation that being bitten by a radioactive spider actually gives you just Spider Sense and the ability to perform spider-based parkour. I wasn't impressed, but I won't challenge anyone for genuinely enjoying it (just don't say "because it was dark like Batman"). Hopefully the inevitable sequel will be better.

I Am Alive
This is an example of a game stuck in development hell and managing to come out, but as a different entity. I Am Alive originally had a very brilliant premise and gameplay ideas, but somewhere along the way it turned into a survival horror with only a few fleeting remnants of the original vision intact, thanks in part to the new setting being deemed "more realistic." I don't entirely regret finally playing I Am Alive after its seeming disappearance from the fabric of space, but in hindsight I'm still waiting to play the game that I got excited for.

Assassin's Creed III
I admit that it's weird to see Assassin's Creed III take up a slot on two contradictory lists, but just hear me out for a minute. The story was handled very well and there are plenty of improvements to the gameplay systems that make Connor one of the best assassins in gaming. However, the game also failed to recapture the addiction I felt when playing Assassin's Creed II for the first time and the mission structure just isn't up to par. While some bugs and annoyances have been fixed in a patch, what I played wasn't enough to keep me occupied for days on end. I'll play the sequel, but I hope Ubisoft actually puts more time into that installment than this.

Worst Video Game of 2012

NeverDead
Ever since the day I decided to play NeverDead, I have spent every day since regretting that awful two days of my life. Bryce Boltzmann is not a hero I can get behind, the gameplay is absolutely abysmal, the story falls flat on its face and the enemies are relentless so as to make the game a possible way to turn into The Hulk. Not even Megadeth's amazing contribution could bring this game up from being nothing more than a plastic container full of urine.

Honorable Mentions of 2012 (Not reviewed, but worth bringing up)

SoulCalibur V
It may be the game I exchanged NeverDead for, but I had a really great time with this game. This installment in the series manages to fix what was wrong with SoulCalibur IV and improve upon such things as story, art style and combat. It's a well-balanced fighting game that I think fighting game fans would appreciate, even if they are fresh to the series. Plus, you get to be Ezio Auditore, so what's not to like?

Actual End of the Decade List (2011-2020)

With so many celebrations of the end of the decade, we at Trophy Unlocked decided we may as well throw our own hat into the ring with a list of our own. However, we noticed that pretty much every list we saw treated 2020 as the start of a new decade instead of the end of one, hence our declaration of the Actual End of the Decade. Unlike our previous Highlights lists, however, we went in with specific criteria in mind for each category:

• Only one film per year per category (divided between live-action and animated)
• Up to two games per year per category (based on different experiences)
• Can only choose from films and games actually released in each year
• Films and games are only eligible for their original release year

From this, we discussed our choices until we collectively created a final list we felt satisfied with. As with every list, our choices are based on films and games we actually watched or played, so take this into consideration if your personal favorite(s) didn't make the final cut. The lockdown induced by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic also greatly affected how many movies we were able to watch from that year, but we didn't let that stop us from representing 2020 material.

Without further ado, here are the best and worst films and games from the 2011-2020 decade.

2018 - The Highlights (EHeroFlareNeos)

With 2019 approaching, now’s the perfect time to reflect back on the highs and lows in 2018 entertainment, in no particular order. I didn’t play as many new games this year, but the movie category has more than enough to make up for it, plus the return of the Worst Movie and Worst Game categories, reserved only for the particularly horrible.

Top Movies of 2018

Avengers: Infinity War

After ten years of commitment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Infinity War made the journey feel worth it. Thanos was fleshed out to a greater extent than his previous appearances and the story is surprisingly tragic in its development and conclusion, all while teasing the true finale, now known as Avengers: Endgame. Perhaps the only thing holding this movie back, however, is the fact that, for better or worse, a complete understanding of the events in Infinity War requires knowledge of all 18 previous MCU movies.

Deadpool 2

Deadpool 2 is an R-Rated superhero film, and sequel, done right. It’s hilarious like the original, but is also able to couple that with a story that explores more of the tragic aspect of Deadpool. Two recuts would follow, Deadpool 2 Super Duper Cut and Once Upon a Deadpool, and while they are enjoyable in their own right, neither of them can quite top the original theatrical cut.

Game Night

Despite releasing in February, Game Night was the comedic gem the trailers made it out to be. The premise of a game night gone wrong went a long way thanks to clever writing and smart, well-timed humor backed by talented actors. Definitely worth watching more than once.

Christopher Robin

Though lumped in with all of the live-action Disney remakes, Christopher Robin is actually more of a continuation of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh that explores how Christopher Robin’s life turned out after going off to boarding school and serving in the war. While not perfect, Christopher Robin is a welcome, optimistic change of pace.

Bumblebee

Given the dwindling reception of the previous live-action Transformers films, Bumblebee managed to finally do the property justice. Thanks largely to a change in director, Travis Knight instead of Michael Bay, as well as a tighter script and relatively conservative use of special effects, it’s now possible to wholly enjoy a Transformers movie as a movie rather than a guilty pleasure at best.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Considering the reception to Sony’s take on Spider-Man after Sam Raimi’s trilogy and the poor reputation of their animation studio, it’s amazing that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse turned out as well as it did. Into the Spider-Verse offers a refreshing take on the property with stellar animation and a well-written story, as well as featuring Miles Morales as the main character. Whether you’re familiar with Spider-Man films or not, this is a movie you don’t want to miss.

Top Games of 2018

Dragon Ball FighterZ

After decades of attempts at perfecting a Dragon Ball fighting game, FighterZ feels like the one that finally got it right, courtesy of Arc System Works. The attention to detail, including individual character animations and an art style that looks exactly like the anime, is what helps sell the presentation, which is fortunately coupled with gameplay mechanics that are focused more on competitive viability rather than fanservice. Playing Dragon Ball FighterZ is a worthwhile experience, especially if you’re a Dragon Ball fan.

God of War (2018)

While the God of War series is an all-time classic, the games went on long enough that the formula was getting stale. Enter God of War (2018), which managed to find a way to breathe new life into the franchise. Though there are legitimate criticisms, this game’s take on an older Kratos, the new approach to combat and the exploration of Norse mythology, as opposed to Greek mythology, are nonetheless captivating and the sequel hook at the end felt very much earned. Simply put, it’s a must-play game for PS4 owners.

Deltarune Chapter 1

After the sleeper hit that was Undertale, TobyFox has proven that he is capable of even more with the surprise release of Deltarune Chapter 1. While the story is sort of a compressed version of Undertale, the party-style combat system is a natural expansion of the unique TPS/Bullet Hell hybrid of its predecessor, the combat sprites are colorful and more detailed and the new characters are written so well that they leave a lasting impression even months after you finish your first playthrough. Hopefully, TobyFox finds the resources necessary to deliver on additional chapters of Deltarune in the future.

Top Disappointments of 2018

Solo: A Star Wars Story

I wasn’t that enthusiastic about Solo based on the initial trailers and the reports of a troubled production and actually watching it didn’t do much to change my mind. It’s by no means a bad movie, but the story is weakened by its use of Expanded Universe lore, something that maybe only a fraction of fans would’ve been invested in from the get-go, plus the fact that the actors seem more like they’re playing dress up. Add in a hook for a sequel that’s never going to happen and you’re left walking away with a feeling of emptiness.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

I wasn’t the biggest fan of Jurassic Park going in, since the premise is pretty dumb when you think about it, but I still enjoyed certain aspects of Jurassic Park and Jurassic World and hoped Fallen Kingdom would be an improvement. Unfortunately, it’s anything but, largely due to poor logic and terrible decisions on part of the characters. I don’t know why they ever thought keeping the dinosaurs alive was a good idea, but if the teased sequel ever comes to pass, then hopefully, by some miracle, the characters finally come to their senses.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

For a movie as good as the original Wreck-It Ralph, I didn’t expect Ralph Breaks the Internet to be so disappointing. Where the original was very well-written and executed, the sequel feels like more of a quick cash grab so that Disney could spend a good chunk of the movie advertising all of their properties. The characters are a little more self-absorbed, the writing relies too much on ignoring the consequences that the original revolved around and film’s interpretation of internet culture will unfortunately date the movie within a few years, in spite of how clever some of the references can get. Unlike the original, this one is more of a take-it-or-leave-it.

Worst Movie of 2018

The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time

I don’t know how it was possible, but the Sharknado franchise somehow got even worse in its final installment. With rocky time travel logic, a number of Z-list cameos, terrible special effects, an abundance of anachronisms and a wholly unsatisfying ending, only Sharknado die-hards will find The Last Sharknado even remotely entertaining.

Worst Game of 2018

The Quiet Man

There’s no way to really sugarcoat this, but The Quiet Man is one of the worst games I’ve ever played. It’s a three-hour movie with some buggy, glitch-ridden brawler segments tacked on so that it can just barely qualify as a game. It fails as a movie because you need to sit through an indecipherable mess to view The Quiet Man -Answered-, a marginal improvement that elevates it to merely an unwatchable mess, and it fails as a game because of tedious and grindy combat sequences with poorly explained mechanics and missing animations that cause both Dane and the enemies to teleport everywhere. Add to that the ugly graphics and terrible soundtrack and you get a “game” that you are honestly better off experiencing through a Let’s Play on YouTube. Even then, however, there are far better things you could do with three to six precious hours of your life.

2018 - The Highlights (Tetris_King)

The end of the year offers a chance to think about the highlights of the year, both good and bad. Not many games were played this year, resulting in a much shorter list, though there was a spike in new movies watched compared to previous years. Due to the number of superhero movies this year that I actually liked, the Top Movies lists are split between superhero and non-superhero films. Each list is presented in no particular order, with links to respective reviews where applicable.

Top Non-Superhero Movies of 2018

Bumblebee

While not exactly masterworks of cinema, the first five live-action Transformers films could (for the most part) be enjoyed as guilty pleasures, with Age of Extinction coming the closest to being a decent movie following the change in lead actor to Mark Wahlberg. Bumblebee is different in that a change of director seemed to be what was needed to make a legitimately good movie on both a storytelling and cinematic level, helped by a much smaller robot cast and fights that are admittedly easier to follow. For those keeping track of lore, although it is designed to be a prequel to the 2007 movie, there are enough retcons (more have been noted than I was able to catch on my first viewing) that make Bumblebee not entirely compatible with the other films. Despite these discrepancies, Bumblebee is also designed such that you do not need prior knowledge to enjoy it and makes for solid family entertainment.

Game Night

I wasn’t sure what to make of this movie when it first came out, though when I finally watched it on home video it turned out to be one of the funniest movies to come out this year. There is a perfect blend of comedy and suspense as it follows the events of a friendly game night gone completely wrong, with enough twists to make even the audience question what’s real and what’s part of someone else’s game, aided by some great acting and cinematography.

Christopher Robin

Christopher Robin tells a genuinely emotional story about an adult Christopher Robin returning to the Hundred-Acre Wood and reconnecting with his inner child. Though labeled as one of Disney’s live-action remakes, it’s more of a continuation from the end of 1977’s The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh that still manages to preserve the general innocence of the source material. Winnie the Pooh fans and children at heart should definitely check this one out.

Top Superhero Movies of 2018

Avengers: Infinity War

Where Age of Ultron and much of Phase 3 went wrong, Infinity War set right. Thanos is made to be one of the most well-rounded villains in the MCU, to the point where the movie is more about him than any of the Avengers. Knowledge of the preceding 18 films is still required to fully enjoy it (sort of like a pop quiz), though the film is still accessible to those with only a passing knowledge of the MCU.

Deadpool 2

With how much success the first Deadpool movie had, not to mention how many box office records were broken, a sequel was inevitable. Though not quite as good due to how much raunchier it felt the need to be, Deadpool 2 manages to still be a very entertaining and funny movie in its own right. Though a little excessive in how they were released in the same year, Deadpool 2 Super Duper Cut (an unrated, extended cut of the movie with more jokes) and Once Upon a Deadpool (a PG-13 cut where Deadpool reads a sanitized version of the story to Fred Savage a la The Princess Bride) are also worth watching at least once.

Aquaman

I wasn’t sure what to expect after Justice League proved to be kind of a mess. Aquaman turned out to be a close second in terms of quality to Wonder Woman, surpassing my previous expectations. There are some pacing issues that bog it down a little (did it really need to be around two and a half hours?), though despite that it was a pretty enjoyable movie, enough to give me higher hopes for the DCEU’s next follow-up, Shazam!

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

In what is perhaps the best Spider-Man movie since Spider-Man 2, Into the Spider-Verse takes full advantage of its comic book style to deliver a really fun experience. The animation is spectacular and the writing manages to juggle a large ensemble of characters very well such that it doesn’t feel bloated. This is a definite must-see for Spider-Man fans, though the movie makes sure that even the most casual fan can have a good time as well.

Top Games of 2018

God of War (2018)

While the God of War games are generally enjoyable, the Greek mythology setting and gameplay style was getting pretty stale (see: God of War: Ascension), so a change of setting to Norse mythology and an overhauled gameplay style make for a nice change of pace. Kratos goes through some nice character evolution as he goes on a journey with his son Atreus as they explore a beautifully-designed Norse setting while starting to encounter members of the Norse pantheon that are out to get them. The game also hints at a sequel as well as the potential to explore Egyptian mythology sometime in the future, both of which I can’t wait to see play out.

Moss

Though I haven’t played very many games on PlayStation VR as of yet, Moss proves what is possible even when the game is not in first-person. Aside from the player’s presence being justified in-universe, the fact that you can more-or-less get up and freely look around the scenery makes you feel like you are part of Quill’s adventure, sometimes even making you wish you could physically reach out to help her. Though not explicitly spelled out on the box, the game presents itself as being Part 1 of a larger story, something I would gladly invest in seeing continue.

Starlink: Battle for Atlas

In an attempt to breath new life into the toys-to-life genre, developer Ubisoft decided to take a different approach and focus on a play style inspired by model kits, which turned out really well in the long run. Aside from taking full advantage of this unique gameplay (compared to other games in the genre), one of the best features included is the ability to play with or without the toys, making it much more portable and opening up a lot more options to players. The Switch version (which I played) includes special content based on Nintendo’s Star Fox brand, giving newcomers a taste of Star Fox lore and providing existing fans incentive to pick up this game. Based on how well the concept played out, it would be interesting to see where Ubisoft takes it from here, if at all.

Top Disappointments of 2018

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Not the worst Star Wars movie out there, though it certainly doesn’t match up to Rogue One in terms of how well it works as a prequel. Casting aside, it’s not exactly a good sign when the story relies on the audience having knowledge of Expanded Universe material in order to follow it. It also for some reason sets itself up for a sequel that will likely never come to pass due to its failure at the box office.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Though divisive, Jurassic World was at least decently enjoyable thanks to the performance of Chris Pratt, even if its story didn’t make the most sense. However, not even Chris Pratt could save the mess that is Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. To keep it short, I was agreeing with Jeff Goldblum’s character in that they should have just left the dinosaurs to die after what happened in the last movie (or even the original Jurassic Park). The post-credits scene is also one of the weakest I have ever seen, much like the rest of the movie, which doesn’t exactly bode well for the future of the franchise.

The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time

I had low expectations going in and I was still let down. The story doesn’t make much sense even by Sharknado standards, plus the increased abundance of forced jokes and unnecessary cameos don’t help matters. Thankfully the franchise is finally done and (hopefully) we can all move on from this.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Ralph Breaks the Internet has all of the heart and none of the soul that the original Wreck-It Ralph had. Despite having the same director, the movie commits the sin of going against the first movie’s message and internal logic in order to make it work, something which bugged me the entire time. The movie’s depiction of the internet, and especially online gaming, is very clever and well-designed, however there was a point where it felt more like an ad for (while being a self-parody of) Disney. While unnecessary sequels have proven to work at times, this is sadly not one of them.

Honorable Mentions

Spider-Man (2018)

While it didn’t make it onto my Top Games list (as I had not played very many new games this year), it seemed disingenuous not to include the new Spider-Man game on this list. Though I haven’t much experience with this type of game, I found myself invested in the game’s continuity and characters as well as wanting to explore every nook and cranny of New York to see what I could find. This is a must-play for fans of Spider-Man and the gameplay style of the Batman: Arkham series and I’m interested in seeing where/if developer Insomniac can expand on this new universe.