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While we’re all locked up in our homes during the pandemic, we are scrambling for things to do. Luckily, there were some highly-anticipated games that came out just in time for us all to be stuck inside. One of these games, however, has exploded into popularity, and that game is Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The popularity of this game was entirely expected, as the build-up to it was long and there was a lot of anticipation. And the next best thing to playing the game is viewing the reactions of the public. Twitter is a great place to do so.
One of the overwhelming reactions on Twitter that has really caught my eye is the amount of people who are complaining about “ugly villagers.” I played the previous installment of Animal Crossing (New Leaf) for years, and never came across a villager I considered to be ugly. There are several new villagers that were added in to New Horizons, but all of the new ones are relatively cute. In fact, it has become common practice for players to find any and all ways to get the “ugly villagers” to leave their islands.
Another reaction I’ve seen is an anti-Tom Nook sentiment. This is because Tom Nook is the character who your character is always in debt to, as he gives you bells to build your house and make improvements on it. So naturally, because you are his debtor, there is going to be some aversion there. However, the thing about Tom Nook’s loans is that they’re interest-free and have no specific due date. He’s an entirely merciful investor, and players should be grateful for his kindness.
Overall though, the reaction to the new game seems to be overwhelmingly positive, though the Easter event within the game definitely drew a lot of frustration from players just trying to catch every fish but being bombarded with eggs. I think, overall, this game is a huge success, and the timing of its release couldn’t have been better.
Video game franchises have always been searching for ways to break new ground and enter new markets. Many of the time, the easiest markets to enter are those similar to one’s own, so a logical step for video game companies is to produce movies centered around their games, remaining in the same entertainment vein. And this is lucky for the avid video game consumer, as the more content centered around our favorite characters and plotlines, the better! In the past year, two particular movies, which have broken into the world of 3D animation, have really caught my attention.
Detective Pikachu – There are A LOT of Pokemon movies, some of which date back to the 90s and early 2000s. In fact, Pokemon has got a special hold on the video game movie market. But Detective Pikachu is the most recent flick from the franchise. And, it has got the most sophisticated animation style of any Pokemon movie yet. I saw this film in theaters when it came out, and I found myself falling in love with Pokemon all over again. In fact, I cried actual tears at the sight of 3D-animated Bulbasaur. The storyline was adorable, the human characters were very likeable, and seeing all of the Pokemon animated and integrated into the “real world” was insanely cool.
I actually developed a really strong liking to the human character, Lucy. She is an aspiring journalist, which I, of course, relate to. And her companion Pokemon is a Psyduck, who is very important to the plot. Lucy and her Psyduck were definitely a bright spot in the film for me.
Another stand-out factor of this movie was Ryan Reynolds’ role. He voiced Detective Pikachu, and he did an incredible job. Reynolds is always a fantastically hilarious voice actor, and this role was no exception.
I definitely recommend checking out this movie. It’s currently on Amazon Prime Video for free.
Sonic the Hedgehog – The Sonic movie, produced by SEGA, came out on Valentine’s Day of this year, and it was surprisingly great. I saw this movie in theaters as well, and didn’t really know what to expect. I don’t think I expected much. But that’s probably why I’m so impressed!
The Sonic movie was extremely enjoyable to watch. Sonic’s character was animated beautifully. When the movie first put out its trailer, Sonic looked horrendous, and everyone knew this and made countless memes. I can’t tell if this was a marketing scheme or not, but apparently, the team who made the movie saw the negative response and then went immediately back to the drawing board, pushing back the movie’s release date. This was definitely worth it, as Sonic ended up looking great and authentic.
The story of the film wasn’t one that I totally expected either. My favorite part of the movie, hands down, was Jim Carrey’s performance as Dr. Robotnik. Carrey was absolute perfection in the role. For any Sonic nerds, this movie is a must-see. The blatant Olive Garden product placement also totally worked, I’m ashamed to say, as I had to visit and get some pasta afterwards.
There’s currently nowhere you can watch Sonic for free, sadly. However, it is available on Amazon Prime Video for $20, if you’re willing to shell out the cash. I’d do it.
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A Video Game Radio Show
The logo that I designed for my weekly radio show. 
A graphic of Pac-Man that I made. 
A graphic of a Nintendo Switch that I made.
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Hi. I’m Jordyn.
Welcome to my website, The Gamer Zone.
Thanks for coming.
I’m a 20 year old college student. Two of my biggest interests in life are journalism and video games. This is where those two things meet.
I’m mostly a Nintendo fan, but I’m also interested in other companies, games and systems.
My favorite games are Super Smash Bros., Kirby games and Animal Crossing games.
My boyfriend and I game together. His games of choice are far more expansive.
I hope you enjoy my content.
Gamer Zone 