Mad Max: Fury Road Review

     There are a couple legendary franchises that are having all new movies coming out this year, and I'm very conflicted how I feel about them. "Jurassic World" next month looks like it could be promising but I'm still unsure about it, and I'd bet "Terminator Genisys" the following month will be pretty bad. But there was one franchise whose new movie I was looking forward to, Mad Max. While its not the best franchise ever, it is certainly memorable. The first film "Mad Max" was a unique revenge thriller, and helped launch Mel Gibson's career. The third movie "Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome" was weird, but still a lot of fun. But the pinnacle of the series would have to be the second movie in the franchise, "Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior." The second movie can be listed alongside some of the greatest action movies of all time; it is a masterpiece of the genre. While the first and third movies are good, the entire legacy of the franchise rests on the shoulders of "The Road Warrior;" until now anyway.

     Some years in the future, a lack of gasoline and fresh water pushed society to the absolute brink; and when they were gone, full out nuclear war ended society all together. Many years after that we meet Max, a former cop haunted by his past and the loss of his family, who is only trying to survive. One day Max is captured by the War Boys, members of a cult run by a man named Immortal Joe. He is taken back to their base of operations, an Oasis called the Citadel. Max is labeled a universal donor of blood, and held captive. Immortal Joe is an old, sickly man who runs the Citadel with an iron fist. He's set up an operation to have fresh water pumped up from underground, so with the help of his War Boys defending his power, everybody nearby worships him. One day Joe sends his most trusted warrior, a woman named Furiosa, on a supply run. She is set to go to a nearby oil refinery called Gas Town; along with a not to far ammo processing plant called Bullet Farm, the two and the Citadel have a deal set up to trade supplies they need. Shortly after Furiosa leaves, she veers off course into the dessert. Joe realizes that Furiosa has stolen his most valuable property, his young wives who he has kept captive for years to produce offspring. Joe gathers his entire fleet and goes after Furiosa; Max is dragged along by a sickly War Boy named Nux who needs a blood transfusion. They chase her into a sand storm where all but Furiosa, the wives, Nux and Max survive. Max meets up with the runaways and reluctantly agrees to help them escape, afraid of what will happen when Joe catches up with then. From then on out they are a team, and they run for their lives. 

     Let's not pussyfoot around the subject and cut to the chase; this movie is truly something special, there is no other way to put it other than that. This is the most insane, over-the-top and thoroughly enjoyable movie I have ever seen; I absolutely loved every minute of it, now let me tell you why. It's been thirty years since director George Miller directed a "Mad Max" movie, and he hasn't missed a beat. He does an amazing job with this movie; he brings a unique style to the movie that I haven't ever seen before. One thing that was rather worrisome about the movie was who was going to play the character of Max. Tom Hardy was cast and he had some pretty big shoes to fill. Mel Gibson might be most well known for his portrayal of the character, but Hardy does a fantastic job in the role. Max is the only character from the original movies that is in "Fury Road," but this new cast of characters might be the best the series has ever seen. It is filled with interesting characters and each one has an actor giving a great performance playing them. I especially have to give props to Charlize Theron for her portrayal of Furiosa; she might actually be the stand out of the entire movie. I also want to take a moment to appreciate the actor who plays Immortal Joe, Hugh Keays-Byrne, who actually played the lead antagonist in the first Mad Max movie. While the characters were certainly memorable, they present the biggest problem with the movie. Other than one or two characters, no one really has any development. How they start the movie is how they finish; and considering the ordeal they have to go through that should not happen. One thing that surprised me most about this movie would be the writing and the dialog, they are actually very good. Not a lot is said in this movie, but whenever there is something to be said it is usually important. It really helps bring this interesting story to life. Another surprise would have to be the humor; like the dialog there isn't a lot of it, but it is on point when it comes out to play. The movie also has a few scenes that actually get kind of emotional, and you truly feel for the characters. While the story is one worth telling, "Fury Road" is first and foremost an action movie, and that is where it shines. This movie will go down as one of the greatest the genre has ever seen. The action sequences are huge, over-the-top, and truly amazing. The stunt choreography for the action is truly something to behold in some scenes. Helped by top notch special effects, a fitting soundtrack and great production design, you feel it in your gut every time a car explodes. "Fury Road" feels like an homage to the over-the-top action movies of the 80s, I feel this is how all action movies in the 80s would have been like if they had a budget of $150 million. This movie is non-stop entertainment, and is just a whole lot of fun. Unfortunately for some, this might actually turn a lot of people off. This movie is totally insane and weird, I feel that whoever drew the story boards were on a lot of drugs. I have talked to some people who didn't like the movie because of that; while I feel the majority of movie goers will have a lot of fun with it, there will be many who just can't get into it. But you know what? I don't care about those people. From Max's opening monologue to the incredibly satisfying ending, I loved this movie. I want to see it in the theater again already. This is a movie for film lovers and for fans of the series, and if you fall into either of those categories this is the movie for year. I'd recommend watching just for the experience. "Mad Max: Fury Road" had a lot to live up to, but it didn't just do its predecessors proud, it might have actually surpassed them, 

Pros: Phenomenal directing from George Miller, great performances from the actors, Tom Hardy does a fantastic job as Max, good writing and dialog, interesting story, filled with memorable characters, non-stop entertainment, amazing action sequences and stunt choreography, top notch production design, unique in style, great special effects, very emotional at times, humor is on point, soundtrack fits perfectly, throwback to 80s action movies, a whole lot of fun.

Cons: Not a lot of character development, may be too over the top for some.

5/5 Stars

5 Most Underrated Shows on TV

Note: This list is comprised of my personal opinions regarding what I believe are the some of the most underrated shows currently airing episodes. While these shows may have received acclaim from critics, they may not pull in the ratings they deserve. It is also worth remembering that I do not watch every show on TV, so this list may be missing some shows that deserve a spot.

Runner-Up: China, Il
If there was an award for the weirdest show on TV show of all time, "China, Il" would certainly be in the running. Premiering in 2011 with 15 minute episodes, the show quickly gained a following for it's over the top and off the wall humor. During the second season the show started airing full half hour episodes, and a third season was quickly announced. The show revolves around several teachers and students at the worst school in America. And as for any show that airs on adult swim, it is completely insane. The show is not for everyone, it's weird and idiotic brand of humor will turn people off; and the animation style can be somewhat jarring to look at for some. But if given the chance, "China, Il" is one of the most enjoyable shows to watch on TV. While the future of the show is in question, my hopes is that Adult Swim will continue their tradition of supporting great content that may not pull great numbers.

5. Mozart in the Jungle
"Mozart in the Jungle" premiered in 2014, and was so overlooked by critics and audiences it is a shame. An Amazon Prime original series, I think the problem is that it came out so close to the release of another Amazon Prime show that received overwhelming critical acclaim, "Transparent." To be honest I haven't seen "Transparent" yet, but all I know is that it received all the glory while "Mozart in the Jungle" was left out in the cold. The show revolves around a genius musician and conductor who has been hired to lead a prestigious orchestra in New York. I got Amazon Prime earlier this year for the free two day shipping, but watching this show was the first thing I did. From the first episode to the satisfying finale, this was one of the best new shows of the year. With a second season on its way, hopefully it will soon receive the recognition it deserves. 

4. Gravity Falls
Never in a million years would I have thought that a show from the Disney Channel would be one of the best on TV. "Gravity Falls" is a very unique animated show that debuted back in 2012. The show revolves around two siblings (Dipper and Mabel) as who are visiting their great uncle Stan in a little backwoods town, but things are not as they seem in the small town that seems to be constantly plagued by the paranormal. So Dipper sets out to find out what is really happening in the town of Gravity Falls. This show is certainly one of the strangest on TV, and while it may be a Disney show this is not something I would let a young child to watch. Seriously, at one point a guy is straight up killed when he is disintegrated with some sort of death ray. "Gravity Falls" was not a show I expected to like, it was recommended by a friend and after I started watching it I fell in love. It is a smart, funny, and mysterious show that has a surprising amount of depth and emotion for an animated series. 

3. The Knick
The youngest show on this list premiering in late 2014, "The Knick" might also be the most promising. Developed by Cinemax, the show takes place at a New York hospital in the year 1900 and follows Dr. John Thack. A brilliant surgeon recently put in charge of surgical operations at the hospital after his colleague killed himself, Thack suffers from an addiction to liquid cocaine (which was still being used as medicine). At the same time the hospital decided to hire a brilliant black surgeon named Algernon Edwards, who Thack is uninterested in working with because of his race. "The Knick" is like a more serious, R-rated version of the show "House M.D.," except this show might turn out to be better. With the second season set to air late this year, "The Knick" is shaping up to become one of the best shows on TV. 

2. Broadchurch
I only started watching this show recently after I saw the first season on Netflix, and I'm actually a little upset with myself that I had not been watching it since its premier. "Broadchurch" is a British show that follows two detectives investigating a murder of a young child in a fictional sea side town in England. Since its debut in 2013 the show has actually reached a high level of success in England, drawing millions of viewers for each episode; but surprisingly the show has yet to become widely popular here in the US. And considering the success of shows such as "Doctor Who," "Sherlock," and "Luther," it's a bit strange that it hasn't found much mainstream success in the US. "Broadchurch" is an intense, beautiful series that builds a strong emotional bond between the viewers the characters. Season two wrapped up recently with a third on its way, and as a fan of the show I can't wait.

1. The Americans
When I first came up the idea to write this list, there wasn't a doubt in my mind that this show should be at the top of this list. "The Americans" first premiered in 2013 on FX; the series follows Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, two Russian sleeper agents that were tasked with committing covert operation in the United States. Elizabeth and Philip were paired together at a young age, told to set up shop in the US and start a family to help make them seem more normal; the series chronicles their covert operations as well as their personal interactions with each other, their children, and their friends. "The Americans" isn't just the most underrated show on TV; it is simply one of the best. The acting, writing, storytelling and just about everything else are on par with the best shows currently airing. Simply put, if you're not watching "The Americans" you are missing out.

Avengers: Age of Ultron Review

     Since 2008, the Marvel cinematic universe has pretty much taken over the film industry. The 11 movies have made over seven billion dollars, making it the second highest grossing film series only behind the "Harry Potter" franchise. Along with Nolan's "Batman" series, the Marvel movies really helped kick start the superhero movie craze; and of all the superhero movies, Marvel has consistently done it right. "Iron Man," "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," and "Guardians of the Galaxy" are easily among the best comic book movies. But of all the Marvel movies "The Avengers" was the biggest, and arguably best, in the series. Released in 2012, it received surprising critical acclaim and ended up becoming the third highest grossing film of all time. Several Marvel movies have come out since then, many of which were great, but there was something about "The Avengers" that was special. So after three years we finally get a sequel and the question on everybody's mind, "how does it stack up?" 

     Since the fall of S.H.E.I.L.D in "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," the Avengers have been teaming up to take out any Hydra bases that are left in the hopes of finding Loki's lost staff. They track it down to a compound in Easter Europe where the scientists there had been working on human experimentation as well as advanced robotics. After taking the base and retrieving the staff the Avengers had back to New York to celibate, at the same time Tony Stark and Bruce Banner study the staff. Upon further inspection they find something within the jewel on the staff, some sort of intelligence. They can't really explain it, but they decide to use it as a basis for an artificial intelligence called Ultron. In theory Ultron would control several Iron Man suits that would help keep the earth safe from any sort of alien invasion. Stark and Banner decide to keep this project secret believing the other members of the team wouldn't approve; but after days of testing they come up with nothing, and Thor plans on taking the staff back to Asgard the next day. That night they threw a party and invite all of their friends; afterwards they are just hanging out, when all of a sudden they are interrupted. Somehow Ultron has come alive, and believes that to save the world he has to destroy the Avengers. So he attacks the group and steals the staff. Once it’s all over the Avengers assemble and realize what they have to do, destroy Ultron before he can destroy everything they love. 

     To be honest I was worried going into this movie, the first film was so great and I had trouble imaging this one topping it. Whether it is better or not will come down to personal opinion, but I can safely say this movie is still awesome. One thing the Marvel movies have done perfectly would be the casting. All of the character cast up to this point have been great, and the same is said about the new charterers who bring a lot to the film. Everyone gives a really solid performance, and the actors have great chemistry together. Like the first film, the writing from Joss Whedon is spot on. It is funny when it needs to be and is emotional when it has to be. The dialog is snappy and smart and always entertaining. Whedon did a great job both writing and directing, and I'm sad to see that he's not going to be directing the next "Avengers" film. One thing that "Age of Ultron" did better than just about every other Marvel film would be the villain. Ultron might just be the best bad guy we've seen in any of the movies. He's menacing, badass, witty, and has surprising depth. And James Spader did an outstanding job voicing him. Like the previous film, this movie does action right. The action sequences are huge and always entertaining. The opening and closing fights are outstanding, and the Hulk facing off against Iron Man in the Hulk Buster suit will put a big smile on your face. It helps that the movie has great CGI, and the CGI characters like Ultron and the Hulk look awesome I think what this movie does best though is that it knows what it is and it does it perfectly. "Age of Ultron" does exactly what a great summer blockbuster should do. While it is a great popcorn flick, it does bring something more to the table. You really care about these characters and want to see them succeed. Simply put, this is some of the most fun you will have at the theater this year. Now let’s be honest, the film is not perfect. One thing it struggles with is its own ambition; it tries to do too much in a short period of time. So much stuff happens in this movie that I feel like I need to see it again to understand everything. There were several parts and characters that were just kind of glossed over because you can only put so much in two hours. The movie also takes a while to really get going. During the opening action scene you are certainly entertained, but you've seen it all before. It takes a while for it to get really exciting and compelling. But of everything the film does suffer from one major flaw, and that is that it's not its predecessor. What made "The Avengers" so great was that it was surprisingly great. Having all the characters in one movie looked like it was going to be a "to many cooks in the kitchen" situation. Yet it somehow pulled it off. With "Age of Ultron" we didn't have that surprise since we had seen it before. The movie just doesn't have the magic the first one had. But even with that being said, it’s still awesome. There are several different types of movies, and I don't mean different genres; you have pleasant surprises like "Kingsman: The Secret Service," independent tour-de-force's like "Ex Machina," and then you have over the top summer blockbusters like "Avengers: Age of Ultron." And that is perfectly fine. Not every movie has to be like "Ex Machina," sometimes you just want a movie you can have fun with; and "Age of Ultron" is that movie. From start to finish I had a blast with this movie, it is exactly what I was hoping it would be. I wouldn't say it's the best Marvel movie, but I'd say it's in the top five. So if you're looking to go see a fun movie with some friends, you can't go wrong with this one. And if "Age of Ultron" does anything right, it's that it will get you excited for the next phase of Marvel movies. 

Pros: Perfect casting, solid performances, great chemistry between characters, well written dialog, very funny, surprisingly emotional at times, new characters bring a lot to the film, one of the best villains in the series, awesome action scenes, great CGI, fantastic directing from Joss Whedon, exactly what a summer blockbuster should be like, gets you excited for the next phase of Marvel movies.

Cons: Almost tries to do too much, takes a while to get really exciting, doesn't have the magic the first film did.

4/5 Stars

Ex Machina Review

     For as long as computers have been around, people have been obsessed with artificial intelligence. Some believe that it will be the downfall of humanity, while some believe it is the next evolutionary step. All I know is that it makes from a great plot point in science fiction movies. The last really great movie involving AI I can think of would be 2013's "Her," which is one of the best movies in recent years. It kind of raised the bar when it comes to humanizing an AI in a movie. While there have been a few films involving AI that have come out since "Her," none are even in the same league; until now anyway. "Ex Machina" is an independent sci-fi movie that has been making the rounds with its limited release. Garnering wide acclaim, it has been called the best movie of the year by many. I had high hopes for this movie, and amazingly it was better than I could have imagined. 

     Caleb is a program at a company called Bluebook, which runs the world's most popular search engine. One day he receives an email informing him that he won a contest everyone at the company was entered in. The prize is that he gets to go to the estate of the company's founder; a man named Nathan, and help him with a secret project. Caleb is flown out to Nathan's house which is in the middle of nowhere on a huge plot of land he owns. When Caleb arrives he is greeted by Nathan and told why he is really there. Nathan wants Caleb to partake in a Turning Test, which is a test where you try and determine if you are talking to a machine or a human. Nathan has what he believes to be the first artificial intelligence, a machine called Ava. He wants Caleb to talk to Ava, and determine if she is truly sentient or not. Caleb soon learns though that everything isn't what it appears to be when both Nathan and Ava start saying things about each other. So Caleb wonders who he can trust, as well as what happens to Ava if she fails the test.

     2015 has been a slow year for movies thus far, the only one worth writing home about has probably been "Kingsman: The Secret Service." So going into "Ex Machina" I had my fingers crossed, and to my surprise it was better than I thought it would be. This is one of the best science fiction movies I've seen in the past few years. First and foremost, the performances are fantastic; the three leads do an amazing job. Of the three Alicia Vikander as Ava stood out, I would be surprised if she didn't get an Oscar nomination for best actress. The chemistry between the actors was so good, and that really helped them step into these roles. Their performances were also helped by the script; this is a well written movie with very smart dialog. One thing I loved about this movie was that it respected its audience; it doesn't dumb itself down to appeal to people who might not appreciate it otherwise. It's a thought provoking movie; it asks a lot of the same questions about what it means to be human that the recent movie "Chappie" did, the only difference is that "Ex Machina" is actually a good movie. And to my own surprise, the movie is surprisingly funny, especially the character Nathan who is wonderfully random. He seems to say whatever pops into his head first. The script was written by the director, a man named Alex Garland. He has written for movies like "28 Days Later" and "Sunshine," as well as the critically acclaimed video game "Enslaved: Odyssey to the West." So he certainly has the writing chops; but amazingly, "Ex Machina" is his directorial debut. I was watching this movie thinking to myself, "how is this the first movie he's directed?” He does a truly amazing job; every scene is presented with a confidence that you usually see from a more experienced director. The fact that the movie is shot beautifully only helps; cinematographer Rob Hardy did a great job and I hope he gets credit for his work when award season rolls around. And its use of music to compliment every shot works beautifully. One of my favorite aspects of this movie had to be the special effects. Throughout the movie, CGI is used and the only thing I can say about it is that it looks real. While some movies like "Gravity" or "Avatar" are really in your face with CGI, this movie takes a more subtle approach. It’s used to try and make the movie seem more realistic. While CGI is most obviously used for Ava's body (which is a phenomenal, and interesting take on a robotic body), there are other times that it is used and every time it is used perfectly. If I had to point out a flaw with this movie, it would be that it is very slow. I was never bored, I was never uninterested, but by the final act you start to feel the nearly two hour run time. For some people it will be two slow, but the movie does something interesting with its slow pace; the movie builds tension. From the first time that Caleb meets Nathan until the final scene, the movie feels like a piano wire that is slowly being twisted and you are just waiting for it break. You’re on the edge of your seat for the final scene, and this movie has one of the tensest endings I've seen in quite a while. I have been waiting all year for a great movie, and "Ex Machina" is that movie. It does everything a great sci-fi movie should do; to be honest I would be surprised if this didn't make it onto my best of the year list. While it's certainly not for everyone, it is a movie I loved and one that I haven't been able to get out of my head since I watched it. This is an independent gem, and easily the best movie of the year so far.

Pros: Fantastic performances from the lead actors, beautiful cinematography, great directing, well written script with smart dialog, surprisingly funny at times, thought provoking, great soundtrack, incredibly tense, subtle but well done CGI.

Cons: Very slow pace.

4.5/5 Stars

Bloodborne Review

     In early 2009, Japanese developers From Software released a new game called "Demon's Souls." When the game was originally tested by Sony, they were unimpressed with the game and decided to only release it in Asia. After very positive reviews from Japanese game critics, the game was eventually released in the US. It was quickly met with wide critical acclaim, and was named one of the best games of the years by many publications. Noted for its unforgiving difficulty and fantastic sword and shield combat, it garnered a dedicated following that passed on to future games in the series. Two years later, From Software released a spiritual successor to "Demon's Souls" entitled "Dark Souls." Improving on its predecessor in just about every way, the game was met with near universal critical acclaim and managed to garner many game of the year awards in one of the more competitive years in recent times. In 2014 the sequel "Dark Souls 2" was released, and like the games that came before it, was met acclaim from critics and audiences. After "Dark Souls 2" many fans were left wondering what would be next; another "Dark Souls" game, the sequel to "Demon's Souls," or a new game in the franchise. It turns out that From Software wanted to start something new. Announced at E3 2014, "Bloodborne" acts as a spiritual success to the other games in the series; having similar gameplay and mechanics, but in a new atmosphere with some new toys (most notably guns). Fans of the series have been excited since the announcement of the game, clamoring to get their hands on a PS4 controller; some were skeptical though. Fans were afraid that changes to the combat (like an emphasis on offense over defense and being able to recover health after losing it by quickly attacking enemies) as well as the addition of guns would compromise the series’ integrity and alter the difficulty. Fortunately though, after playing it, I can confirm that "Bloodborne" is just as unforgiving as the rest of the game in the series.

     The story of "Bloodborne" takes place in the Gothic city of Yharnam, a once great city of medicine where people would travel to in the hopes of a cure for whatever ails them. You play a nameless traveler heading to the city, only to arrive and find out that some sort of disease has infected most of the inhabitants; either turning them into gratuitous monsters, or warping their minds and compelling them to kill whatever they see. After arriving you find yourself receiving a blood transfusion of tainted blood, transforming you; you keep your mind unlike the residents of the series, but you become something more than humans. You then set out to discover the origins of the disease and what happened to this city, while simultaneously killing any monster you come upon. 

     "Bloodborne" had a lot to live up to upon its release, being the spiritual successor to one of the best game series of the past few years. The "Souls" series has made a name for itself for its difficult gameplay, and has garnered a devout following. When the first gameplay of "Bloodborne" came out, any were hesitant about the changes, most notably the inclusion of guns and whether or not the game would be as difficult as those who came before it. Well after playing the game extensively I can say with good confidence that the game is absolutely outstanding. It's not just a worthy successor to the "Souls" games, it might actually top them. Like its predecessors "Bloodborne" gets the combat absolutely perfect, it even includes some new elements that work great. The combat of the series always comes down to timing; it is important to study your enemy and learn how they move and attack. You need to be careful about when to attack, when to dodge, when to use items, when to heal yourself, and what type of weapon should be used for what enemy. You also need to take where you are into consideration. If you're fighting several enemies in an open area you might want to a slashing weapon with a long range to hit multiple enemies. If you’re in a narrow corridor facing one enemy, it's better to use a piercing weapon. The main changes that "Bloodborne" introduces to the combat would be the inclusion of guns, unique weapons, and a faster pace of fighting. There are a variety of guns in the game and each is a bit different; some use one bullet while others use multiple, some are short range while others are long range, and some like the shotgun have a wide spread that can hit multiple enemies. The guns don’t do a lot of damage, and are meant more to stun your enemies. While useful they never make the game feel unfair. One problem I had with the previous "Souls" games were the weapons, most felt too similar. One sword was just like another except it did more damage or took longer to swing there wasn't enough variation. "Bloodborne" fixes that problem with the concept of quality over quantity. There aren't as many weapons in "Bloodborne" as there are in the previous games, but each weapon feels completely different; and that is because each weapon has two forms. The first weapon I got when playing the game was called the threaded cane. In its base form it was a just a simple cane that you could use like a club, but when transformed it turns into a whip covered in razor sharp spikes. In its cane form it did a bit more damage and could be swung quicker, as a whip it had a much longer range and was useful at hitting multiple enemies who were standing close to each other. So while there are less weapons than some might have hoped for, each feels unique and varied. Arguably the most notable change to the combat would be that it is much faster paced. There is an emphasis on dodging enemy attacks and quickly attacking yourself. It's much more in your face and personal than what we've seen before. In the previous games, a common play style would be to put on a heavy set of armor, and have a shield in your left hand and a sword in your right. When you come in contact with an enemy you put your shield up and wait, after they attack your shield they are temporarily stunned and that is when you do your damage. After they recover you rinse and repeat. You can't do that in "Bloodborne," you have to be aggressive; fortunately this new style of combat works beautifully. The problem is that with this new fast combat style, the game would have really benefited from being able to run at 60 frames per second. "Bloodborne" is locked at thirty frames per second, and compared to 60 it can look a little sluggish. When a game has a frame rate of around 60fps or higher, the game just looks more fluid; while running at 30fps doesn't ruin “Bloodborne's" combat by any stretch of the imagination, it would have looked and played better running at 60fps. And just like the previous games in the series, "Bloodborne" is still ridiculously difficult; if you play it there will be several moments when you have to stop yourself from throwing your controller against the wall. Unfortunately though, one of the biggest drawbacks of the game would be the long loading times. Whenever you fast travel or getting ready to respawn, the load times are about thirty to forty seconds; this does take you out of the game, but at least it lets you calm down after you just got destroyed. Like the previous games there is a heavy emphasis on cooperative play. Summoning other players to come help you can be mutually beneficial and works even better than in previous ways when summoning a specific person. When you invite other players into your game you can set a password, meaning only the people you want to play with can play with you. The games in "Souls" series has never been known for being graphical powerhouses, to be honest "Dark Souls 2" actually looked somewhat subpar compared to many games that came out in 2014. "Bloodborne" on the other hand is drop dead gorgeous. It is a huge step up in graphical quality, it features beautiful aesthetics and some of the best level design we've seen in quite a while. One thing to note would be the Victorian Gothic style; it may feature some of the most beautiful levels I've ever seen in a game, and they are very creepy and unsettling. This game can be borderline survival horror sometimes. You also see some truly great designs in the enemies you face. There are some many different types of monsters and each one unique. Some of the best creature design I've ever seen in a game is featured in "Bloodborne" it also has some of the most difficult and memorable boss battles ever put into a game. You can tell that the developers really put their all into creating these monsters, and it really shows. One of my biggest problems with the all of the "Souls" games was that I never really cared about the story. It was just the backdrop for what was truly amazing gameplay, but I can't say the same thing about "Bloodborne." The story is rather interesting and engaging, it is also much simpler to follow compared to the complex and lore heavy stories of "Dark Souls" and its sequel. If you ask me the story could have been nonexistent, but the plot of this game just makes it that much better. From the moment I heard about this game I knew it was going to be good, and after playing it "Bloodborne" is even better than I thought it was. It's not just another "Souls" game; it makes a real effort to distinguish itself from the games that came before it. "Bloodborne" is a PS4 exclusive, and it is a must own for anyone who has the system. It might just be the first game for the eighth console generation that can be called "next-gen." As the end of the year begins to roll around, this is a game that will surely be on most every list of the best games of the year; that's because "Bloodborne" isn't just a great game, it's a borderline masterpiece. 

Pros: Phenomenal combat, beautiful aesthetic, huge step up in graphical quality, just as difficult as predecessors, unique and varied weapons, fantastic creature designs, several noteworthy boss battles, great multiplayer, faster gameplay than previous games, phenomenal level design, interesting story, creepy and unsettling.

Cons: Runs at only 30 frames per second, long load times. 

5/5 Stars