The Ramen Shop

Source: @tempusrob    The Fighting Game Community has always been largely intertwined with local play, especially with the scene being born in the 90s arcades. In-person competition has been a defining aspect for the genre and local venues played an extremely vital role in fostering the player base of fighting games. The FGC has helped people meet others, compete, and grow in both their skill and appreciation for the games that they play.       However, our world has dramatically changed in a way that has forced everyone, including the FGC, to adapt amidst the outbreak of COVID-19. Both major tournaments and local venues have been forced to close their doors, with players having to find ways to keep the scene alive and healthy in an online-only environment. The challenges that the FGC faces in 2020 are inc

Spoilers for the original Final Fantasy VII follow Few games have made as large of an impact on their respective genres and on the gaming industry as a whole as Final Fantasy VII did. Initially released on the Sony PlayStation in 1997, FFVII was a revolutionary title not just for JRPGs but for gaming altogether, creating a cinematic experience that the medium had never seen before. FFVII proved that games can tell emotional narratives unlike any other medium and the game has gone down in history as one of the greatest experiences video games have offered. FFVII’s story covers a wide amount but what ties it all together is an incredible message on the value of life and self-acceptance. The gaming industry has progressed significantly since FFVII’s release and when looking back at it, the game can definitely feel like a product of its time. However, FFVII’s age and shortcomings have not only reinforced why it became such an important landmark for games, but they also strengthen one of

The developers at Arc System Works have proven throughout the last few years that nobody makes anime fighting games quite like they do with their flashy and over the top style and in-depth, rewarding combat. Similar to their attempt to turn Dragon Ball into a 3v3 fighter in Dragon Ball FighterZ, their newest title "Granblue Fantasy Versus" sets out to give the juggernaut of a Japanese mobile game a 1v1 fighting game adaptation. While many in the West may not be deeply familiar with the series in which it's based on, Granblue Fantasy Versus is yet another exciting addition to Arc System Work's lineup of 2D anime fighters. Arguably the three most important aspects of fighting games are its characters, combat, and presentation and Granblue Fantasy Versus manages to go above and beyond with each one. Versus looks stunning with its highly stylized anime aesthetic with a similar 2D/3D animation style that has been honed since Guilty Gear Xrd and Dragon Ball F

Japanese Film Maker Makoto Shinkai captured audiences throughout the world with 2016's Your Name  and he now follows up the film with 2020's Weathering With You. The film focuses on teenage Hodaka who runs away from home to a modern-day Tokyo that has seen nonstop rain for a significant amount of time. Hodaka lives on the streets unable to obtain a place to stay until he finds work as a writer for an urban legend magazine. Rumors spread of a mysterious Sunshine Girl, who can control the weather. Hodaka's life is soon changed when he meets Hina, a girl who possesses the very same power to stop the rain. Weathering With You is an incredible experience that uses beautiful animation to tell a story that is both an endearing tale about young love and an allegory for the struggles that young people face today. One of  Weathering 's greatest accomplishments is the way it beautifully portrays the city of Tokyo both in its animation and in the story. The weather that enve