Game Review: 'Lost Records: Bloom Tape 1'

 

Developer Dont Nod, the maestros behind the likes of "Life is Strange," "Jusant" ad "Tell Me Why," heads back to its adventure game roots with "Lost Records," a two-part episodic release that drips with 1990s nostalgia. 

The first part, "Bloom" was released Feb. 18, and the follow-up, "Rage," is due out April 15.

You play as a woman who agrees to reunite with friends from the 1990s to make good on a pact. The events of that area are interspersed with modern-day goings-on in a time-skipping narrative that manages to build up suspense for thunderous payoffs. 

The game has a thrillingly jarring way of shifting between the feeling of a slow burn and a tense thriller.

The Don't Nod proves to be well-schooled in 1990s minutiae, with touches that, as a teen of the era, brought a smile to my face.

Rich dialogue, fascinating storytelling twists and an immersive narrative are the game's strengths, helping it make up for a methodical pace and uninspired visual look.

Overall, "Bloom" is a promising and fascinating start to the "Lost Records" duology, setting the stage for what looks to be a rewarding payoff when "Rage" releases in April. An under-the-radar the release that hasn't yet earned the adulation of Don't Nod's flashier efforts, these "Lost Records" are well worth the search.

Publisher provided review code.

Hot on Home Video: 'A Complete Unknown'

A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

Director James Mangold's Bob Dylan biopic, which hauled in eight Oscar nominations, catalogs the early-career highs and lows of the legendary folk singer. Timothy Chalamet thrives in the lead role, vaulting to the top of the Best Actor Oscar odds with a tremendous performance, echoing the legendary singer's mannerisms, instrumentals and vocals. Edward Norton earns a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod as mentor Pete Seeger, and Elle Fanning is strong as Dylan's girlfriend at the time, a composite character named Sylvie Russo. Monica Barbaro slays as Joan Baez and Boyd Holbrook leaves a stark impression as Johnny Cash.

The film focuses on Dylan's emergence as a popular artist, as well as the personal foibles that made him a difficult romantic and professional partner. At the root of his persona is an iconoclastic determination that makes him leery of exploiting his popularity as an artist for financial gain at the expense of his integrity. A fascinating look into Dylan's life, the film succeeds on its chosen level and earns its Best Picture nomination.

Studio sent review screener.

Game Review: 'Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered'

 

"Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered" marks the end of one Lara Croft era and the transition to the next one. Like some old social media posts, the anthology delivers equal shares of laughs and winces, showing flashes of what made the games popular at the turn of the 21st century, as well as why the franchise has moved on.

The effort from Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics delivers three solid Lara Croft games for below $30. The titles include "Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation," "Tomb Raider: Chronicles" and "Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness." Each of the remastered titles gets a fresh coat of paint, with better graphics, control options that make Lara fare easier to maneuver, trophies and achievements and a photo mode. In a wink and nod to gamedom's past, the old cheat codes still work.

This set of remastered "Tomb Raider" games follows last year's remaster of the original trilogy, which I found tough to play. The second trilogy is far more user-friendly, and while still stiff and awkward in the manner of many 3D games from the era, has much more going for it than the original releases.

Loads of improvements over the originals are present, including the ability to skip cutscenes, an onscreen ammo counter, Flyby Camera Maker and the ability to toggle back and forth between modern controls and the original interface. Bosses now have health bars, new animations abound and you Lara can now shift her view 180 degrees with the tap of a button.

Some of the gameplay is still stiff, and the awkward, era-specific characterization of Lara can be a little unnerving. 

Still, there is plenty to appreciate, especially in the pacing and sense of adventure that would inspire the "Uncharted" games and set the foundation for the fuller-featured "Tomb Raider" entries of recent years. The dual-wielding, shorts-wearing feminist icon had to start somewhere, and replaying this trilogy is the best way to re-experience her awkward adolesence.

Publisher provided review code.

Box Break: 2025 Topps Series 1 Hobby Box 3

Was hoping to go three for three in autograph pulls.

Box Break: 2025 Topps Series 1 Jumbo Hobby Box

See what I pulled from the massively expensive box.

Box Break: 2025 Topps Series 1 Hobby Box

 Breaking my first hobby box!

Early Game Review: 'PGA Tour 2K25'

Big swings are the theme in "PGA Tour 2K25," a thoroughly impressive golf sim that manages to capitalize on much of the momentum the series has gained in the last entry, from two years back. The game is due out Feb. 28.

Following suit of the wildly successful NBA 2K franchise, the dev team emphasizes customizability. MyCAREER and MyPLAYER modes have you simulate the odds and ends of golf life both on the course and off. You can, say, get texts from your agent, who helps you shape your public persona. Talk a big game and match it on the green and your popularity will soar. On the other hand, you could see opportunities pass you by if you fail to make your mark on either pop culture or the leaderboard.

The game sets you up to succeed from the outset. A helpful tutorial, narrated by a supportive Bubba Watson, gets you cooking from the tee box. You can choose from a variety of swing methods, and as a three-click guy, I was pleased to see my favored mode given high prioritization and seasoning. The hypnotic concentric circles involved with the mode make it far more fascinating and relatable than recent updates to kicking game in this year's football sims.

The roster of pro golfers is impressive, with the likes of Tiger Woods, Max Homa, Matt Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris headlining the squad. While it's nowhere near as stacked a group as the "Tiger Woods" EA games boasted in their heyday, it's a strong enough roundup to make you feel like you're watching the Golf Channel on a between-majors tourney on a Sunday morning.

The 26 official courses included boast some bucket list gems, such as Oakmont Country Club and Royal Portrush Golf Club, with many more planned as DLC.

The commentary and presentation echo trends in golf broadcasts, and pull relevant material into the chatter. I usually switch the volume off in golf games, but I appreciated the sights and sounds that the dev team painstakingly captured, adding to the sense of realism.

While it will take months to see how online modes and community backing support "PGA Tour 2K25," the opening swing nails the green on the par-3. It would be hard to imagine a better start for the latest entry in the franchise that has quickly risen to the forefront of the golf sim realm. I'm looking forward to making the game part of my weekly driving, chipping and putting routine.

Publisher provided review code.

Hot on Home Video: 'Mufasa: The Lion King,' 'Nosferatu'

MUFASA: THE LION KING

Barry Jenkins directs this CGI-fest, which both precedes and follows the story of "The Lion King" to mixed but largely successful effect. The voice cast includes the likes of Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, and John Kani reprise their roles from the remake; new cast members include Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Tiffany Boone and Mads Mikkelsen. Lin-Manuel Miranda also chips in some music, helping the visual dynamo take on a majestic tone. 

While the film won't come close to replacing the original film, or even its remake, in hearts of film lovers, it thrives as a strong companion piece.

NOSFERATU (2024)

Writer/director Robert Eggers reimagines the seminal 1922 horror film with a chilling and captivating take on the material, which was based on the Bram Stoker novel. Exquisite cinematography blends with minimalist performances and psychosexual dynamics to craft an exquisite exploration of themes of mortality, obsession and love. 

Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Bill Skarsgard and Willem Dafoe make up the dynamite cast. While not overtly scary, the film drives home its themes via insinuation, leaving a haunting aftertaste that begs for the film to be rewatched.

Bonus features include an extended cut of the film, the featurette “Nosferatu: A Modern Masterpiece” and in-depth segments on the film’s look, character design and acting.

Studios provided screeners for review.

Broadway in Tucson Review: 'Some Like it Hot'

 

A timeless classic updated with surgical precision to suit modern themes, the touring musical production of "Some Like it Hot" seems built to draw laughs and poke at countercultural taboos for several more decades.

Based on the 1959 Billy Wilder film and the 2022 Broadway musical it inspired, the show is a tap dance fan's delight, bursting at the seams with expertly choreographed numbers, hummable songs and over-the-top comedic performances. 

Subtly dazzling stagecraft, including twinkling stars in the night sky and revolving doors employed for a show-stopping climax tops off a delightful production that oozes sweetness and a sense of shared social progress.

Powered by lead performances from Matt Loehr, as Joe/Josephine, and Tavis Kordell, as Jerry/Daphne, the show tells the story of con artist musicians who witness a gangland murder, then escape retribution by masquerading as women and joining an all-female jazz band.

Chemistry between the leading men is a necessity, and Loehr and Kordell capture an easy sense of friendship with aplomb. Other standouts include Tarra Conner Jones, who impresses as band leader Sweet Sue, and Leandra Ellis-Gaston, who belts out stunning tunes as the lead singer, Sugar.

While many hokey themes and gags from the original film manage to survive, the book benefits from decidedly 21st century touches, including a bold penchant for recasting the homophobic and anti-trans themes from the earlier work in supportive and understanding ways.

"Some Like it Hot" bubbles with fun from curtain to curtain, managing to overcome some filler songs and a severely dated premise in order to revitalize it as something that finds truth to the human condition and social consciousness as its evolved since the mid 1950s. 

This modern take on "Some Like it Hot" manages to exhibit a winning sense of cool.

"Some Like it Hot" plays through Feb. 23 at Centennial Hall. Buy tickets here.