Screenshot: Duskfade For the last week or so I’ve been spending a lot of time with Duskfade, a retro-inspired 3D platformer that has a bit of Ratchet and Clank, Jak and Daxter and Kingdom Hearts rolled into a stylistic clockpunk world. That is: a world that is a little bit steampunk, with an emphasis on clocks and clock parts. Hell, even protagonist Zirian is using a sword that is not only clockwork, but is itself part of a clock. They really went hard with the theme. In Duskfade you play as Zirian, accompanied by your mechanical bird companion named Cuckoo. And while I get the whole clock thing, that name is a bit uninspired. A mysterious accident has plunged the massive central Clock Tower into eternal night. You have to travel to multiple different regions to undo the calamity. Screenshot: Duskfade Duskfade is a 3D action platformer in the vein of early 2000s games. That means exploration, jumping puzzles, and some combat. It also means each level is packed full of items to collect–which are handily tracked for you so you know when you have to go back because you missed something. If you grew up as a millennial or even an older Gen Z, I’m sure you played a few of these games growing up. That’s not to say that Duskfade is bad, or that I don't appreciate what it set out to do. In fact, Duskfade is a very capable game that has a few clever design and story elements that definitely make it worth playing. But I have to break the bad news up front: I don’t think Duskfade is destined for any long term success or latent explosion in popularity. And that’s because it really is just okay. Screenshot: Duskfade Most of your time in Duskfade will be spent exploring new and doing lots of platforming. I would like to say that the platforming is superb, but it’s really just okay. I’m not saying the level design is bad, or the game doesn’t control well. But it’s just nothing that I haven’t played in a dozen or more games already. There aren’t any stand out moments or sections that made me think, “man, this is special.” Part of the reason why is because Duskfade is a surprisingly easy game. If I think of a 2000s style platformer, they usually start out pretty easily, but then the difficulty often ramps up quickly. Not so in Duskfade. I kept waiting for that difficulty spike–or any sort of challenge–but it never came. But I do have to say that the platforming is tight, and responsive. It doesn’t feel bad to play Duskfade–it’s just not something I want to sink hours into just because it’s fun to move around the world. Screenshot: Duskfade Combat isn’t the best part of Duskfade, but it’s serviceable. I think titles like Dark Souls have spoiled me a bit when it comes to good feeling combat. No, I'm not expecting weightiness and difficulty spikes like I would in those games, but the combat in Duskfade is always just okay. As you progress through Duskfade, you’ll organically acquire new items and abilities. These abilities not only allow you to continue the game, but they also often open up the ability for you to backtrack and retrieve secrets and items in areas you previously visited but couldn’t access. This gives the game a metroidvania-lite sort of feeling. And I only say “lite” because backtracking isn’t necessary to complete the story (as far as I remember). Screenshot: Duskfade Visually, Duskfade is fantastic. It nails the 2000s platformer aesthetic while having some modern graphical flair and fidelity. While I’m not a huge steampunk fan, I really like the use of the clock aesthetic, especially for in-game items. Like I mentioned before, the protagonist’s sword is an especially fun design, and despite the uncreative name I dig Cuckoo’s appearance, too. But again, everything is really just “okay” and never spectacular. I think the part of Duskfade that worked the most for me was the story. Not necessarily the presentation, but the ideas that it was trying to convey. The game is about processing grief. The game’s narrative designer actually based the story on his own loss of his grandfather, who was a guide and role model. I actually spent most of my time playing this on my Steam Machine. It’s a great couch co-op game, and it would be a great game to play on my Steam Deck on the go, too. It just never excels at any of the things it sets out to do. It’s an interesting world, with interesting characters, weapons, and other mechanics. But it’s not outstanding enough to make a huge splash–which is too bad. Developer Weird Beluga definitely accomplished their stated goal of making a retro-like platformer that hearkens back to early 2000s games, but it just ends up feeling like an imitation.

Screenshot: Blood Dungeon I’m not a huge fan of the survivors style autoshooter/bullet heaven games. Before Blood Dungeon, I probably had the most fun playing Deep Rock Galactic Survivors–and that was just as much because of the theme as the gameplay. Blood Dungeon takes the survivors-type formula and adds a genre twist: sidescrolling. On its face it doesn’t seem a significant swap from top-down to sidescroller, but it completely reinvigorates the genre. In fact, Blood Dungeon is easily the most fun I’ve had playing a survivors-style game ever. First off, I need to address Blood Dungeon’s art style. Developer Messhof has never been known for its hi-fidelity graphics. They’re best known for Nidhogg and its sequel Nidhogg 2, both of those games had stylized low-res graphics. The art style for Blood Dungeon is somewhat unique–with graphics that look like they were crafted in MS Paint, and look more like they belong on Slay the Spire cards as placeholder art. Not only that, but there is also gratuitous nudity and even helicoptering penises–but it’s all so low-res it comes off as more charming than lascivious. The animation also has a jittery almost Squigglevision look to it, adding to the absurdity. Screenshot: Blood Dungeon Since you’re sidescrolling in Blood Dungeon, there’s more to consider when it comes to traversal. There’s gravity, and falling–sometimes making it much more difficult to get around groups of enemies. There’s also water, so swimming and drowning is a consideration–and plays a significant part in some levels. You can get around pretty easily, however. Characters can run and jump, obviously–but they can also climb on every surface. They’re even able to cling to the ceiling when needed. Each level is a little bit different, and has its own layout. While I appreciate a handcrafted level, I think Blood Dungeon really missed out by not having procedurally generated levels. Still, there is something satisfying about mastering a level’s layout. Some levels will require you to swim, or dig, some are laid out vertically and others completely horizontally. Levels have unique enemies, but enemies and bosses tend to overlap with other levels quite often. Screenshot: Blood Dungeon Enemies have different behaviors, though most of them will go right towards you, with some having ranged attacks that can quickly fill up the screen with projectiles. There are some that swarm, and others that come out and attack one by one, etc. They’re also visually unique, though there’s a lot of “the same enemy but bigger” variations. What I’m saying is: you’ll be seeing a lot of the same enemy types, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing in this case. There are several different characters you can play as, and each one of them has their own passive ability, health pool, and movement speed. Each also starts out with a weapon that isn’t unique to that character, so if you like a character’s main weapon but hate everything else, you’re likely able to play who you want and find your preferred weapon as you play, though that’s not guaranteed. Screenshot: Blood Dungeon The biggest draw of Blood Dungeon is just how chaotically hectic and frenetic the gameplay is. No two runs are exactly the same as you collect different combinations of weapons, spells, and charms. Eventually you can unlock the ability to carry four weapons and four spells, but you can always carry as many charms as you can pick up. There are synergies to be had, though Blood Dungeon isn't reliant on them. I’ve had runs that were chaotic and great without gear that really specifically synergized with each other. There’s a bit of freedom in that. And the game definitely rewards you as you try different combinations and weapons, since that’s a major way to unlock challenges–and therefore new weapons, charms, spells and sometimes characters. There’s also the Bone Shop to spend your meta progression currency: bones. These help you unlock permanent upgrades like faster movement speed, higher jumps, more health, more weapon slots, and a bunch more. Screenshot: Blood Dungeon Blood Dungeon is great for short play sessions, but it’s addictive enough that I often find myself playing for hours. It has a strong “just one more run” appeal to it. And with lots of unlocks and challenges to complete, it’s a game you could be going back to for a long time. I think developer Messhof has something special on their hands with Blood Dungeon. It’s easily my favorite survivors-style game, despite its unconventional art style. It’s not exactly pretty to look at, but it’s fast and fun as hell.

Halloween panel @ Fan Expo Chicago 2026. John Carpenter, Nick Castle, PJ Soles, Dean Cundey, Tommy Lee Wallace. Photo: Julian Ramirez Halloween season is nearly upon us and what better way to usher it in than with a Halloween panel featuring John Carpenter, Nick Castle, P.J. Soles, Tommy Lee Wallace, and Dean Cundey! The cast and crew of the original, ground breaking horror film got together for a fun panel at Fan Expo's main hall, delighting the crowd with the best tidbits like Robert Englund helping collect and spread leaves on the set or the pumpkins being South American gourds painted orange. Of course the topic of the The Shape's (not Michael Myers, something the panel consistently corrected the crowd on) mask came up. Legendarily a painted and cut up mask of William Shatner, the lore of the mask feels unending ,like an Emmet Kelly mask being tested well before shooting taking place - something Carpenter seemed a little iffy on. And with Shatner on the Fan Expo lineup Wallace made sure to joke "the box said Captain Kirk not William Shatner". When asked what the horror genre means to them , the panel fell a bit silent. " We're just filmmakers, not philosophers" remarked Castle, but Dean Cundey provided an in-depth answer, really delving into cinema's ability to let viewers experience emotions they never dreamed up safely. Soles spoke about the how she was in two of the most famous horror films of all time: Carrie and Halloween, She spoke of the differences between the sets. "De Palma was very technical and had the entire film completely storyboarded" while "John made actors feel more a part of the whole filmmaking process." She preferred the more relaxed atmosphere that Carpenter and crew provided. It just doesn't get much better than John Carpenter on a panel. While the man is infamous for his amazing films and just as fantastic film scores and albums, he is just as well known for his candor when answering questions. There isn't a remark he won't brush off if he feels it deserves it, and he'll be as unfiltered as possible it if warrants it . An avid NBA fan, Carpenter was asked about his feelings about the Knicks winning the Championship this year. "It sucked. Not my team" followed quickly by waving off the followup about the amazing Game 3. Question about remakes filled the panel Q&A portion, which Carpenter was ready to go toe to toe on. He didn't really want to direct the The Thing since he was such a fan of the original. And if given the chance to improve on his version of Halloween, he steadfastly declined. New tools and and techniques come around but Carpenter feels it's how the visuals and sounds move you that matters. He hopes that regardless of all the new equipment if they were to remake the original Halloween the would make the same thing because it's just that good. Speaking of being just that good, the entire panel had nothing but delightful things to say about Donald Pleasence. "He was always ready to go" recalled Carpenter. So ready to go that Cundey, very early in his career thought Pleasence was speaking to himself throughout the shoot, only to realize he was running his lines. And that iconic response to seeing The Shape no longer being in the yard after that big fall? Carpenter asked Pleasence to play it two ways: one as surprise to The Shape's disappearance, and one knowing it was going to happen. And of course, Carpenter and the crowd knew the only correct take was knowing The Shape was always going to get away. You could tell Carpenter got really excited to talk about videogames. Castle worked on the Halloween game, providing motion capture for the Shape, and Carpenter played a bit of it and is excited for the release. He even teased the release of a game for The Thing, something the crowd immediately became enamored with. When asked if Dario Argento was an inspiration for him he noted that while Argento may be one of his favorite directors, he did not take a lot from him visually. Instead Carpenter pointed more to Claudio Simonetti inspiring the score to Halloween, although noting it was "the cheese end of the stick" compared to Simonetti's genius. While the end of the panel thanked everyone for keeping the spirit of Halloween alive and bringing joy to all the members of panel, I think Tommy Lee Wallace recalling a joke was the best way to cap off the whole affair: "[The Shape] is the best performance William Shatner has ever given!"

The Halloween season just seems to be coming earlier and earlier with every passing year and honestly you won't hear me complaining. That was certainly the vibe for everyone at the Hocus Pocus panel at this year's Fan Expo when the packed crowd asked the panel of Thora Birch, Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, and Jason Marsden what they though of the Summerween phenomena and if they were all spookygirlies. "Well I think we kinda started it." they responded as the crowd cheered their approval, although they were unsure of the definition of spookygirlies. Hocus Pocus was released way back in July 1993 and its staying power has been amazing, even if the initial box office response wasn't as big as the studio expected. But as is the case for many 90s releases, home video can take a disappointing showing at the theaters and make it into a decades long sensation. The four cast members all seemed very appreciative of that, and seeing as how the hall was in standing room only, Hocus Pocus isn't going anywhere. The panel was filled with fun stories of on set shenanigans, which most remembered but flew over Birch's head in a few spots. She was only 10 or11 when the filming was taking place, so a lot of the memory sharing came through the rest of the cast. When panels have such a devoted crowd, it's easy for fun stories to have legs and become running jokes throughout the short time we have with the cast. Shaw shared a story about how she almost had to wear the gown featured in one scene in the film for the entire runtime before a rewrite happened. "It would have been yabbos everywhere" she exclaimed, much to the delight of her costars and crowd. She mention how she would see the dress in other films over the years, quietly thinking to her self "return of the yabbos". The topic of troublesome cats came up, and James Marsden, voice of Binx, wished that someone, anyone would name their cat "James Marsden." "Not just James, but James Marsden, the whole thing! " And boy did his eyes light up when one crowd member said they had gotten a black cat specifically because of him, thinking the cat was actually named "James Marsden, " but alas, it was another Binx. While most of the question focused on the movie at hand, I was delited to hear someone bring up Eerie, Indiana a surreal/way ahead of its time TV show featuring Omri and Jason. Both actors praised the series finally as their favorite due to the layers of meta narrative. The panel ended on a wonderful note as one of the final questions landed on the musical numbers of the Hocus Pocus films and asking IF there were a third movie, what would the song performed be? Omri immediately, without a whiff of hesitation responded: "Sir Mix a Lot, 'Baby Got Back," followed by Shaw rapping "L.A. face with an Oakland booty". Now it'll be a travesty if we don't get another sequel .

All photos by Marielle Bokor & Julian Ramirez Fan Expo Chicago 2026 has come and gone, and while we're still missing the fun and freedom of being in our fandoms with other fans, and more than a little exhausted, we've got lots of great memories to hold onto until next year. And? Some great cosplay photos. You guys killed it, and we're glad we got the chance to meet and photograph all of your hard work.

Kurt Russell, John Carpenter, and Keith David @ Fan Expo Chicago 2026. Photo: Marielle Bokor Chicago's conventions have grown exponentially even in just the past 5 years, to say nothing of what was some humble beginnings. They draw star power it's hard to conceive of these days, and even bigger crowds. This year's Fan Expo Chicago was packed to the brim with exciting reunions and big names. We had Jared Padalecki, Karl Urban, William Shatner, Christopher Lloyd, ALL the Hobbits (and even a second breakfast!) and much of the Goonies cast. Sam Raimi and John Carpenter were here. Mr. T, John Rhys Davies, Keith David. Kurt Russell, John Carpenter, and Keith David @ Fan Expo Chicago 2026. Photo: Marielle Bokor But one weird thing - despite having Keith David, John Carpenter, and Kurt Russell on the list of celeb guests, there was no The Thing panel. For horror fans (and movie fans in general) this was pretty glaring. It's not like Fan Expo hates a reunion. We had almost the entire cast of The Boys and The Goonies AND The Hobbits, so ...what gives? Furthermore, Kurt Russell was all the way on the final day. And, you know, maybe that was why. I can tell you I checked the schedule over at least 5 times to see if I was missing something. Still, you can't look a gift horse in the mouth, and it's amazing to see all these people from so many fandoms we've been a part of growing up and through now. And honestly? As someone who's worked the last decade of conventions, putting a huge panel like Kurt Russell at the end of the day Sunday was a little bit of a relief, since it potentially cuts down on crowds. Sometimes. Kurt Russell @ Fan Expo Chicago 2026. Photo: Marielle Bokor Kurt Russell's panel was the talk of the convention all day on Sunday, and the line was immense. During a convention where we hadn't filled the main stage room at any point, it was full to the brim. Kurt Russell was amazing, and we'll have tons more on his panel later on. But about halfway through, when the conversation turned to The Thing, something magical happened. Keith David and John Carpenter walked out, and thus we had our very own, unexpected and very highly anticipated and requested "The Thing" panel. And it. was. amazing. Don't take our word for it though - see what we saw !

Screenshot: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition I can tell I’m getting old because the games that are getting the remastered treatment don’t seem so old to me anymore. This might be retro for some, but I was nearly 30 when Lord of the Rings: War in the North released. And it had two things going against it: Skyrim and Dark Souls, both games that would go on to redefine the 3D action role-playing game as it was known at the time. War in the North, despite being the first Lord of the Rings game with an M rating didn’t really have a lasting impact. Screenshot: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition It’s too bad that War in the North wasn’t more well known. It was a competent action roleplaying game with co-op baked in, which is exactly the type of thing I’d be down to play at the time. Despite this, I don’t know if I played through War in the North when it originally released. And while it's definitely a game of its time, it manages to be a pretty solid action RPG–but nostalgia and friends would probably help this title out significantly. The Lord of the Rings: War in the North - Legacy Edition features three playable characters, each with their own skill tree, items, abilities, etc. All three characters are capable of ranged and melee attacks, but the dwarf is best for melee, the ranger is best for ranged, and the elf works as a bit of a support class. Even so, characters can all stay alive through anything through the power of team work. That is: holding A to get up downed members. Screenshot: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition You can play War in the North with friends or with bots. I ended up playing completely solo, and while it was serviceable, I feel like War in the North would be best with friends, and all characters working at their full potential. But now that you can hot-swap characters, you can even tweak the bots to be their best selves. This is just one of many improvements Aspyr made to War in the North. While it looks barely upgraded from its original version. Looks are indeed deceiving, because there has been significant changes to War in the North with this Legacy Edition. Screenshot: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition The Aforementioned Character Hot-Swapping: A massive quality-of-life fix. Players can now seamlessly swap between Eradan, Andriel, and Farin on the fly during gameplay rather than being locked in at the start of a level. You can also finally manage the equipment and skill trees of your AI companions. Engine Modernization: The game was upgraded from 32-bit to 64-bit architecture and shifted from the D3D9 renderer to D3D12, which should eliminate the RAM bottlenecks and crashes that plagued the original. Performance & Visuals: Full 60 FPS support. Cinematics have been re-encoded at 4K using modern Bink video compression (v2024/2025)—which is why the install size is roughly twice as large as the original. Modern QoL Adjustments: Added enemy target locking, visible health/mana/EXP bars for your party members, and autosaves. They also implemented "Triggering Secrets," allowing you to see hidden caches specific to other classes regardless of who you are actively controlling. Networking: Online multiplayer is now routed through Epic Online Services. Screenshot: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North Legacy Edition So why is this getting released now? Nostalgia, surely. But also because Aspyr parent company Embracer now owns the rights thanks to their acquisition of Middle-earth Enterprises in 2022. That means there’s a possibility that more WB Lord of the Rings games will be rereleased by Aspyr, so this could be the first of many.

Screenshot: Anomaly President I haven’t played a sidescrolling beat ‘em up meets roguelike since Absolum. And while that has to be a peak example of the genre, I can certainly learn to love again with Anomaly President. Released in Early Access a couple of weeks ago, I knew right away that Anomaly President had the potential to be something great. Saying Anomaly President is a hack-and-slash or beat ‘em up with roguelike stuff thrown in isn’t entirely correct. While Anomaly President is a great, fun action game with interesting roguelike abilities and the potential for some fun synergistic combos–it also has a management system and base building. Oh yeah, and you’re also running for president. It’s a whole thing. Screenshot: Anomaly President Before creating the roguelike meets management hybrid that is Anomaly President, Phew Phew games initially introduced the “Anomaly Universe” with Anomaly Agent. Much more linear and more narratively driven, the hack-and-slash action foundation was already laid before Phew Phew games got to Anomaly President. Anomaly President released in Early Access, and that means there is some game development time standing in the way of “complete.” According to the game’s Early Access information box on the Steam Store page Anomaly President will be in Early Access for at least a year–maybe more, depending on community feedback. The first month should see some quick updates, with the roadmap (so far) extending through September and the promise of new weapons and new enemies–which seems to be a roadmap staple. If you want to get Anomaly President at its lowest base price, developer Phew Phew games does plan on increasing the price as new content and features are added. Screenshot: Anomaly President But is it fun? I would say so. At least so far. The character movement feels like a retro Sega arcade game, which is to say: slightly weighty, but tight and responsive. True to its roguelike nature, deploying from the overworld kicks off a fresh run, handing you a clean slate of abilities and power-ups to experiment with. This structure naturally lends itself to high replayability, and discovering broken synergies to secure your place in democracy is a blast. However, the current build does suffer from early balance issues—most notably, Ice elemental damage feels vastly overpowered compared to its Fire and Electric counterparts. Screenshot: Anomaly President The action doesn't exist in a vacuum. A successful presidential campaign requires a softer touch than a katana can provide–which translates to a surprisingly charming series of daytime minigames. Rather than dominating your playtime, these segments serve as excellent palate cleansers between your high-octane roguelike runs. Furthermore, a campaign requires staffers. Instead of hiring traditional political operatives, you recruit from the local "Fluffy" population. These rescued creatures are put to work staffing the various modules of your expanding campaign bus—which serves as your mobile hub—effectively tying your combat victories directly into your campaign's meta-progression Screenshot: Anomaly President I’m rooting for Anomaly President. It’s a fun indie title that is unabashedly itself, while also being fun.

Should that have a shorter title or... Oh well. Every time I’m packing up my camera and backpack, tossing them in the car and hanging the badge around the rearview at the end of a con, I think, “I’m gonna plan so far in advance for the next convention.” And then it’s Wednesday of the week before Fan Expo Chicago and I’m in panic mode. Where will I get my backpack snacks? Where are my comfy shoes? Where’s my cool lanyard for the badge? Am I ready to cram myself into the Donald E Stephens convention center for three days straight? Will I get any sleep? I should be great at this. I’ve been doing these previews and bringing wall to wall convention coverage to Chicago with the same fantastic team of folks for the last decade because yes, I’m an old. And while I give great advice like “Pack snacks, wear comfy shoes, and get there early” I rarely take my own advice. See to it that you do, though, whippersnappers. Because Fan Expo is a behemoth of a con, with a multitude of guests, a ton of great cosplay and usually some sort of complicating weather (heat, humidity, rain, etc). There is TONS to do, and even more in the surrounding area, and Rosemont’s a whole ‘nother world with its own set of rules. Here’s what it boils down to: Give yourself lots of time. Get places early. Eat, drink and be merry, but also: Be kind. Everyone has a better time when we all look out for each other. And here’s how I look out for you - the 2026 Fan Expo Chicago Choose Your Own Adventure Preview. As per usual, this is NOT a FULL SCHEDULE. It’s a curated list of things that your flavor of nerd might consider a must-see. There’s so much more to a convention than autographs and big name celebrity panels though, so we encourage you to check out the full schedule and make some time in your weekend for something new. Maybe a story hour, a crafting experience, or a cosplay meetup. It’s what makes conventions go from samey to unforgettable. Now let’s get this show on the road, so I can get some sleep before I hit the con floor. FRIDAY August 14th 4:00 pm COSPLAY PORTFOLIO REVIEW 4:00 pm in RM 46 - COSPLAY HQ If you’re into cosplay, chances are you’ve thought about taking that next step and getting competitive. And if that’s you, you’re not alone. There are plenty of people who’ve walked that path and can give you solid advice to take your cosplay game to the next level – and they’ll be here, in this panel to help you figure out what your next steps will look like. Take the opportunity to network, learn from others, and gain the courage to take your cosplay to an even bigger stage. IN THE LOOP: A SURVEY OF INDEPENDENT GAMES 4:00 pm in RM 54 LEVEL UP LOUNGE We’re really psyched to see that Fan Expo’s paying more attention to the gamers this year, and it’s happening right from the get-go, with this panel full of indie game devs from the Chicago area ready to tell you all about their games and get you hands on with them. There’s some breakout sessions with the devs and lots of chances to play in the Level Up Lounge, but this kickoff panel will get you face to face with the devs in a way you might not get to be the rest of the weekend, so pencil it in. ANIME MUSIC VIDEOS: COMEDY BLOCK 4:30 pm in RM 1 ANIME HQ I loves me some conventions, don’t get me wrong, but after battling traffic, finding parking, and walking from the outer edges of the universe to the actual con floor (and getting badges), I’m usually a little bit cranky. What might take the edge off, you ask? Well, if you’re into anime, how about a curated showcase of comedy-focused Anime Music Videos? Catching a hard core case of the giggles is a great way to start out your time here. 5:00 pm CLUBBER VS DRAGO: LEGENDARY HEAVYWEIGHTS OF ROCKY WITH MR. T & DOLPH LUNDGREN 5:00 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE If I had a montage I’d put it here, but what I lack in retrospectives I make up for with enthusiasm for this panel. Yeah, you heard me. The thing is, the Rocky movies are classics for a reason, and getting two of the “big bads” from the franchise in one place to talk tea is pretty amazing. That’s Mr T. to you, if you’re paying attention. This is a rare chance to get behind the scenes info and anecdotes from the people who were actually in the movies - movies that not only made their mark in cinemas on release day, but have been an influence on so many major movies and TV shows after them it’s hard to even count. So, go a few rounds with them. Rounds of questions, that is. TWILIGHT WITH ASHLEY GREENE & PETER FACINELLI 5:00 pm in RM 5-10 STAGE From shiny with sweat and covered in blood to sparkling in the sunlight and coveting blood, people aching for vampire nostalgia need to hang out with Ashley Greene and Peter Facinelli and talk Twilight. 6:00pm FROM KYOSHI ISLAND TO THE FIRE NATION: AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER VOICE ACTOR Q&A 6:00 pm in RM 34 STAGE I could be biased, but Avatar the Last Airbender is one of my favorite shows on earth, and there’s never been an Airbender panel I haven’t absolutely adored. There. I said it. Get over there. JAIME PRESSLY LIVE 6:00 pm in RM 33 STAGE There’s a lot of reasons to love Jaime Pressly, and a lot of shows you could possibly love her from. If that’s the case, you’ll want to get to this panel for all sorts of snort laughs and behind the scenes situations to discuss. YOUNG SHELDON: LANCE BARBER, ZOE PERRY, RAEGAN REVORD 6:00 pm in RM 5-10 STAGE If Big Bang wasn’t enough for you, and you were all aboard for Young Sheldon, then you’re going to want to hit the Young Sheldon Panel at 6, which features Lance Barber, Zoe Perry, and Raegan Revord. You know, or not. Your choice. Galloping Ghost Productions 6:00 pm in RM 43 GAMING ZONE If you’re a local and you love retro games, then you know. Galloping Ghost is no ordinary arcade. It’s the biggest in the world, in fact. This ain’t no barcade, and these aren’t no casual folks running the show. Doc Mack and his crew value history and preservation and they bring games you can literally play nowhere else to the show floor at Rosemont for more people to experience. They’re also producing their own game, Dark Presence, and this panel’s gonna give you the details on everything they’ve got brewing out in Brookfield. STAR TREK: GENERATIONS - GATES MCFADDEN & BRENT SPINER 6:15 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE Let me tell you something about Gates McFadden and Brent Spiner: They’re amazing. They’re funny, talented, and FUNNY. I know I said that twice and it’s worth saying. In fact, I’ll say talented again too, between McFadden’s prowess in choreography, fencing, puppetry and beyond, and Spiner’s wit, charm and penchant for impressions. Trek panels are never boring, and this will be no exception. Engage. PUNISHER LEGENDS: JIMMY PALMIOTTI, TIM BRADSTREET 6:15 pm in RM 21-22 STAGE Punisher’s getting all kinds of attention with Brand New Day in theaters, but let me remind you, “cons” were once almost exclusively COMIC cons. Comics are art, comics are literature, and we’re not going to change our minds on that. As such, comic fans know that getting this chance to talk with Punisher writer Jimmy Palmiotti and illustrator Tim Bradstreet is a privilege. 7:00 pm IS YOUR NAME IN THE NOTEBOOK? DEATH NOTE 20TH ANNIVERSARY Q&A 7:00 pm in RM 2-4 STAGE Now I’m not going to pretend I know a ton about Death Note, but I know a ton of you know. And if you know, you know getting to see Alessandro Juliani, Brian Drummond, Shannon Chan-Kent and Brad Swaile is a big deal. So like, be there. You know? TMNT: BRIAN TOCHI, ERNIE REYES JR., KENN SCOTT, ROBBIE RIST, JUDITH HOAG 7:00 pm in RM 5-10 STAGE Pizza. Rats. Big Apple, 3 am. Heroes in a half shell. If you were ever into the Turtles, you have these folks to thank. And thanks to Fan Expo, you CAN thank them. In person. Who, exactly? Well, Brian Tochi, Kenn Scott, Robbie Rist, Judith Hoag, AND Ernie Reyes Jr. It feels like the right thing to do. PAULY SHORE LIVE 7:15 pm in RM 21-22 STAGE Biodome. Encino Man. Son In Law. A Goofy Movie. Weezin’ the ju-uice. You love him or you hate him, or maybe the relationship is more complex than that. I don’t care. I’m gonna be there, BUD-DY! 8:00 pm GIANT JENGA TOURNAMENT 8:00 pm in RM 22 Friendiverse Listen, if you stay late in Rosemont, you should totally make it worth your while. And when I tell you Giant Jenga will be fun, I mean it. So, go play Giant Jenga. Do the thing. AN EVENING WITH THE HOBBITS: IN CELEBRATION OF 25 YEARS 8:00 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE I try to not feature ticketed events in these roundups, and it’s because cons are expensive enough, and they’re not equal access. The thing is, lately there’s been a lot of important anniversaries that are creating important opportunities and ok, it’s ALL THE HOBBITS TOGETHERSES. Billy Boyd, Sean Astin, Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan. I wantses to attend. I MUST. SATURDAY, August 15th Ok, so here’s where I admit that the last thing I want to do is get up early on Saturday to haul my butt and all my gear out to Rosemont for what is always the longest day on the con floor. HOWEVER, sometimes they really frontload the biggest day with early goodies. We’ll see if that gets me out of my pjs and into my walkin’ shoes in time. 10:45 am SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS - VOICE ACTORS: FRANK WELKER (TRANSFORMERS), MICHAEL BELL (G.I. JOE), MELENDY BRITT (SHE-RA) 10:45 am in RM 5-10 STAGE If I embraced the true spirit of this panel, I’d show up in some footie pajamas with a big bowl of cereal. Alas, I’m a “professional journalist” and “should probably act like a grownup.” Or something. Still, I know this panel will hit me in the sunshine filled living room with feels for days of yore, when the cartoon lineup was absolutely unmatched. This panel’s got Frank Welker, Michael Bell, and Melendy Britt and covers it all, from Transformers to She-Ra, so let that inner child out to play, and maybe i’ll bust out some pjs after all. WILLIAM SHATNER LIVE 11:00 am in RM 23 MAIN STAGE Here’s the thing. Shatner’s a living legend. Will he talk about Star Trek? Maybe. Maybe he’ll talk about space. Or Tom Cruise’s head exploding if a stunt goes awry. Or sushi. Or…well, you can never tell. But you will NEVER have another panel experience like the one you have with the Shat. Denny Crane. WELCOME LEON: A RESIDENT EVIL Q&A WITH NICK APOSTOLIDES 11:00 am in RM 21-22 STAGE Gamers, no one forgot you. Especially no one like Nick Apostolides, aka Leon himself. Resident Evil is iconic for a reason, and going into spooky season is the perfect time to get all the interesting trivia on the series from the Leon’s mouth. Go do that. TOTAL CONCENTRATION BREATHING! THE DEMON SLAYER VOICE ACTOR Q&A 11:45 am in RM 5-10 STAGE Anime fans, we know you know Demon Slayer. So why not stop in for a moderated Q&A with Zach Aguilar, Brandon McInnis, and Abby Trott and talk about it. 12:00 pm SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS - THE CREATORS: TOM COOK (HE-MAN, SHE-RA), SCOTT SHAW! (MUPPET BABIES), FRANK PAUR (G.I. JOE), LARRY HOUSTON (G.I. JOE, HEATHCLIFF) 12:00 pm in RM 21-22 STAGE I don’t know if you know this, and maybe you don’t if you weren’t a blessed 90s kid, but Saturday morning cartoons weren’t for just an hour or two. Oh no. You could start with Hanna Barbera classics as early as 6 am and not be done by noon, and lucky for us it’s t he same here at Fan Expo. This round of Saturday Morning Cartoon favorites features Tom Cook, Scott Shaw, Frank Paur and Larry F Houston and we’ve thrown Muppet Babies in the mix. Do what you will with that info. And pass the Cinnamon Toast Crunch to that weird photographer lurking in the corner. LEGENDS OF HOLLYWOOD: MEL GIBSON 12:15 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE It’s a panel with Mel Gibson. You know. Mel. Flippin’. Gibson. Is there much more I need to say? I don’t think so. If you’re trying to go to this? YOU NEED TO BE IN LINE BY 10. No, I am not making this up. Kthxbai. HOCUS POCUS RETURNS: THORA BIRCH, OMRI KATZ, VINESSA SHAW, JASON MARSDEN 12:15 pm in RM 2-4 STAGE Hocus FOCUS, congoers. Cuz this is not a drill. It’s Mel or the witches, and Iunno, I feel like a LOT of you are going to be chomping at the bit to see Thora Birch, Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw and Jason Marsden. If you’re trying to go to this? YOU NEED TO BE IN LINE BY 10. Again, not making this up. I’m just trying to help. 1:00 pm HALLOWEEN: BEHIND THE HORROR WITH NICK CASTLE, P.J. SOLES, TOMMY LEE WALLACE, DEAN CUNDEY 1:00 pm in RM 21-22 STAGE Horror fans, you haven’t been left behind. Not even a little bit. In fact, there’s more than one opportunity to talk Halloween. This one’s got Nick Castle, PJ Soles, Tommy Lee Wallace and Dean Cundey. So… go to there. PETER FACINELLI LIVE 1:15 pm in RM 34 STAGE Hey, it’s Peter Facinelli. On his own. For you to ask questions to, and listen to. And if you’re a fan, then this is your time. SMALLVILLE:MICHAEL ROSENBAUM, TOM WELLING, ERICA DURANCE 1:30 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE Good Superman stuff is back on the table, and it’s something to celebrate. But old good Superman stuff like Smallville is equally important to go back and discuss, and this Smallville panel’s got the man himself, Tom Welling, with Michael Rosenbaum and Erica Durance. 2:00 pm SUPERNATURAL WITH JIM BEAVER & MARK SHEPPARD 2:00 pm in RM 21-22 STAGE Sixteen seasons (17? 18?) and I get a tear in my eye every time I hear Carry On My Wayward Son. Supernatural was something special for me, and honestly, I know I’m not the only one. If you’re only here Saturday you’ll be treated to Mark Sheppard and Jim Beaver. Sheppard takes no prisoners but is simultaneously as nice as they come, and Jim Beaver is a true delight. Make your way here. Come hell or high water. PEGGY THE DOG 2:15 pm in RM 34 STAGE It’s Peggy the Dog. AKA Krypto. AKA an adorable pup with her very own panel. Actually, with her very own TWO panels. One today and one tomorrow. I’ve never attended a panel featuring a dog before, so I don’t really know what to expect other than adorableness. But that, my friends, is enough. COLIN O'DONOGHUE LIVE 2:15 pm in RM 2-4 STAGE Once Upon a Time fans, we know you’re out there. We know you’ll be in Rm 2-4’s stage at 2:15 for this. And we’ll all live happily ever after. THE BOYS CAST | TOMER CAPONE, VALORIE CURRY, COLBY MINIFIE, CAMERON CROVETTI, ERIN MORIARTY, KAREN FUKUHARA, LAZ ALONSO 2:45 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE I can’t believe so much of The Boys cast has made it to Chicago. I do believe it’s going to be a good time. Tomer Capone, Valorie Curry, Colby Minifie, Cameron Crovetti, Erin Moriarty, Karen Fukuhara, and Laz Alonso? Come on. 3:00 PM BATMAN ARKHAM WITH ASHLEY GREEN, JOHN NOBLE, TROY BAKER 3:15 pm in RM 2-4 STAGE When the Arkham series of Batman games hit, the only place you’d find me is on my couch in my apartment, fully goblined out. Empty pizza boxes and takeout containers? Check. Delirious muttering about being “The Batman, Bitch” while I hung yet another bad guy from the ceiling? Check. So, there’s a more than 100 percent chance my butt’s in the chair to see Ashley Greene, John Noble and Troy Baker discuss one of my favorite iterations of Batman of all time. And that’s a hard title to achieve. SAM RAIMI LIVE 3:45 pm in RM 5-10 STAGE Horror fans, I TOLD YOU you weren’t being left out. Sam Raimi’s here. Yeah. I said Sam Raimi. Discussing a masterful career, being hilarious and giving you tidbits you’re gonna want to share across every other horror convention you go to from here on out. Trust me. 4:00 pm STAR WARS: MAUL WITH MATTHEW WOOD, VANESSA MARSHALL, SAM WITWER, DAVID W. COLLINS 4:00 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE The force has always been strong in Rosemont. It’s where we saw Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, and it’s gonna be where we sit down and shut up to hear more about Darth Maul with Matthew Wood, Vanessa Marshall, Sam Witwer and David W. Collins. Periodt. BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES AND BEYOND 4:00 pm in RM 21-22 STAGE If you weren’t watching The Animated Series, you’re missing out on superior Batman. FIX IT. If you were watching, well, we’ll see you in the panel. APPLE TV’S DARK MATTER - ADVANCE SCREENING AND Q&A WITH AUTHOR AND SERIES STARS 4:15 pm in RM 34 STAGE Let’s give Apple TV its flowers. The folks there have been hitting it out of the park with compelling series’ lately. So we’re really excited for Dark Matter, and Fan Expo Chicago brings us the chance to see an advance screening AND chat with Alice Braga and Amanda Brugel. I love a good advance screening, and I have high hopes for this one. THE ONE PIECE IS REAL! Q&A WITH THE ANIME VOICE CAST 4:15 pm in RM 2-4 STAGE Pirate fans. Anime fans. People who like a good time! It’s time for you to get your booties (Ooo, a pirate pun!) to the stage for a Q&A with the voice cast of One Piece. Or walk the plank! FAN FILM FEST 4:15 pm in RM 33 STAGE Did you know that Fan Expo is putting on its very first Fan Film Fest? Five finalists slaved away to make really cool things, and you should come see them, and then see someone get crowned the first ever Fan Film Fest winner! KEITH DAVID LIVE 4:45 pm in RM 5-10 STAGE We’re really getting spoiled this year with stars from all time classic films. This time, we’re treated to Keith David, live on the Fan Expo Chicago stage. For me, it’s about one of the all time best horror movies, The Thing. But this man’s career spans genre and generation, so it might just as well be about The Princess and the Frog or even Hazbin Hotel for you. Note to fans: This is one you want to line up early for. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 5:00 pm LOST REVISITED: JOSH HOLLOWAY, HENRY IAN CUSICK 5:00 pm in RM 21-22 STAGE Ok, at the time of writing, we’ve lost a Lostie. But it’s still gonna be a great time talking all things island and smoke monsters with Josh Holloway, and who doesn’t want that? MASTERS OF COSPLAY WINDY CITY QUALIFIER 5:15 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE There’s a hole in my heart where the Championships of Cosplay was supposed to be this year, but it’s healing now that the Windy City Qualifier’s come to Fan Expo Chicago. What’s that mean? Competitors from 8 cities are here to square off until one’s chosen as the champion. Me and my camera will be waiting in the wings. 7:00 pm RAKS GEEK: BELLYDANCING WOOKIEE + FRIENDS 7:15 pm in RM 34 STAGE I mean, the headline is bellydancing Wookiee, but let me tell you the + Friends means the entire time your jaw’s gonna be on the floor. These are absolutely mega-talented dancers and performers (internationally acclaimed dancers, btdubs) who are also dyed-in-the-wool nerds performing on the Fan Expo stage for you. You will NOT find anything like this anywhere else, and I expect to see you ALL in that room. This is your one job. You have ONE JOB! AFTER DARK ONE PARTY TO RULE THEM ALL 8:30 pm in RM 5-10 STAGE I mentioned Hobbits before right? Lord of the Rings? One of the most epic fantasy series of all time? You know that one, right? Ok, so like, hear me out. Since you likely skipped lunch and your butt’s a little sore from sitting the panel rooms, what if you were to get off that same ass and shake it like a Polaroid picture? It’s not like you’re gonna get much sleep in the first place, right? It’s a Lord of the Rings party. Duh. TWILIGHT AFTER DARK: A BURLESQUE PARODY 18+ 9:15 pm in RM 34 STAGE After Dark is when you let your freak flag fly, and let’s talk about it. Nerdlesque is sexy, silly and absolutely irresistible, and that’s why you’re gonna want to take your 18+ self to see Twilight After Dark. Confess your sins Sunday. Or don’t. I don’t run your life. SUNDAY, August 16th Remember when convention Sundays were the wrap-up? That easygoing day where you might hit one last panel and you DEFINITELY hit the merch floor for discounts? Well, that’s a thing of the past honey, because once you start filling up every convention center with too many fans on Saturday, you’ve gotta spread the love - and believe it or not you’re better off for it. Sunday’s got so much in store for you, it’s hard to believe. I’m just really sorry my first recommendation is a ticketed event that starts at 8 am. Ok, sorry not sorry. 8:00 am SECOND BREAKFAST, AN UNEXPECTED FEAST WITH THE HOBBITS 8:00 am in HILTON ROSEMONT CHICAGO O HARE I fear I let loose my LOTR nerdout way too early, because here’s the thing. This is a ticketed event sure, but like, this is also ACTUAL SECOND BREAKFAST with the ACTUAL HOBBITS. Or you know, the people who played them. (Good job staying cool, me.) If you hit up the Hilton Rosemont, you can nosh on bagels, eat french toast, dive into some eggs, and do it all with Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monagan and Billy Boyd. That’s magnificent, unforgettable, and absolutely the most important meal of the decade. LORD OF THE RINGS: JOHN RHYS-DAVIES, BILLY BOYD, ELIJAH WOOD 10:30 am in RM 23 MAIN STAGE Add a dwarf who’s actually hilarious and very tall, subtract a Hobbit or two and you’re still on the LOTR celebration bus. And so are we. This is for all of you out there who love LOTR but actually need to sleep at least one or two hours. 11:00 am STAR TREK WITH GATES MCFADDEN 11:00 am in RM 2-4 STAGE Trek fans beam in at 11 for Gates McFadden’s solo panel. And we promise she’s even more than meets the eye. Get there. Doctor’s orders. LOST: DOMINIC MONAGHAN, JOSH HOLLOWAY, HENRY IAN CUSICK 11:00 am in RM 5-10 STAGE More LOST? I mean, I’ll take it. And I think a lot of people will too. Sad we won’t see Henry Ian Cusick, but again - there’s so much to go over. PEGGY THE DOG RETURNS 11:15 am in RM 34 STAGE Every dog has its day, but a Super Dog good girl gets two, and Peggy’s back. Again, no idea what to expect, but you bet your buns we’ll be there. THE BOYS LIVE | KARL URBAN, ERIN MORIARTY, KAREN FUKUHARA, CAMERON CROVETTI, COLBY MINIFIE, TOMER CAPONE, LAZ ALONSO, VALORIE CURRY 11:45 am in RM 23 MAIN STAGE You’ve got Karl Urban, Erin Moriarty, Karen Fukuhara, Cameron Crovetti, Colby Minifie, Tomer Capone, Laz Alonso, and Valorie Curry in one place. To talk The Boys. And all you have to do is LINE UP EARLY. You hear? 12:00 pm VOICES OF GAMING: ZACH AGUILAR, KELLEN GOFF, NICK APOSTOLIDES, MICHAEL BELL, TROY BAKER 12:00 pm in RM 5-10 STAGE Gamers. You know Fan Expo knows us and loves us when they don’t put the first gaming panel until noon. Sure, it’s a cliche, but I’m here to tell you, I’d take the W. Anyway, imagine you’ve rolled in at 11 and strolled onto the floor, and now you’ve got the chance to hear from Zach Aguilar, Kellen Goff, Nick Apostolides, Michael Bell and Troy Baker all in one place. Except, this is real, and you can. So do. STRANGER THINGS: JAKE CONNELLY, CARA BUONO 12:00 pm in RM 2-4 STAGE Stranger Things fans bring your Eggos and Gatorades and D20s, because it’s time to dig into all the lore of Stranger things with Jake Connelly and Cara Buono, and you’re gonna have a great time. KIDS COSPLAY RED CARPET 12:30 pm in LEVEL 1 RED CARPET I’m so sorry, but you haven’t done a convention right until you’ve gone to support the smallest of supes, princesses, monsters and more that walk the red carpet in the Kids Cosplay event. Tiny Spidey? Miniscule Moana? Baby Beowulf? Oh yeah. Bring your cameras, and do NOT hold your applause. This is the cutest damn thing you’ll ever see. 1:00 pm HALLOWEEN UNMASKED\r\nJOHN CARPENTER, NICK CASTLE, P.J. SOLES, TOMMY LEE WALLACE, DEAN CUNDEY 1:00 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE Horror fans we’re back in business, and this time, a very significant addition has been made to all the Halloween fun. Yeah, it’s John Carpenter. Yeah. That one. Sit and listen. Get there early. Do not miss out. INVADER ZIM: JHONEN VASQUEZ, ERIC TRUEHEART, RIKKI SIMONS, WALLY WINGERT 1:00 pm in RM 5-10 STAGE I mean, if you’ve ever sung the Doom song or declared your love for a show that isn’t on, you’re probably ready to head to this panel. Jhonen Vasquez, the madman behind Zim and his pals, is there with Eric Trueheart, Rikki Simons, and Wally Wingert, and I feel like we should take advantage of it. 2:00 pm DRAWING THE MUPPETS WITH JIM HENSON'S CARTOONIST GUY GILCHRIST 2:00 pm in LEVEL 1 COMMUNITY STAGE Ok, so, the Muppets are like the Beatles to me, and if you’re following me on this…Guy Gilchrist is a legend. I want to be in the room with him and watch him do his thing, but I’m also intimidated by his insane amounts of talent, personal knowledge of and friendship with Jim Henson, and I dunno, just like, trust me. Get in that room. Listen to the tales. I know I will. THE GOONIES CAST\r\nSEAN ASTIN, KERRI GREEN, MARTHA PLIMPTON, COREY FELDMAN, JOE PANTOLIANO, ROBERT DAVI 2:15 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE Never say die and never don’t line up early because if there’s a Sunday panel that’s gonna pack out the place, it’s likely to be this one. We’ve got Sean Astin, Kerri Green, Martha Plimpton, Corey Feldman, Joe Pantoliano and Robert Davi all in one place and it’s gonna bring the house down. 3:30 pm SUPERNATURAL: JARED PADALECKI, JIM BEAVER, MARK SHEPPARD, MARK PELLEGRINO 3:30 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE Supernatural fans - you’ve carried on, and this is the part where it gets even better! Jared Padalecki joins Mark Sheppard and Jim Beaver alongside Mark Pellegrino for the big one! Time to reminisce. KURT RUSSELL LIVE 4:45 pm in RM 23 MAIN STAGE Everyone’s always like “once in a lifetime” and “never before seen” but in this case it’s true. Fan Expo Chicago basically drops the mic with its last main panel of the day, as Kurt Russell takes the stage. And if you’re thinking, “I’ll get in. Not everyone will stick around for this” I’ll just show you some pictures of Mark Hamill closing out Fan Expo a few years back. Let’s try it once more with feeling. LINE UP EARLY. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. But - it is the end of our preview. Which is great, cuz now I can change the laundry, charge the camera batteries, and hit the hay. See you out on the floor, fans!

Screenshot: Agent 64: Spies Never Die There was a time when video games were all about the best, latest technology. Back when truly 3D games were new, and developers were trying to figure things out. PCs had shooting games from a first person perspective for years before they were commonplace on consoles, but back then they were known as “Doom clones” before that term gave way to the more generic and contemporary “first-person shooter” moniker. Of course, consoles had their own first-person shooters. But it wasn’t until the fifth console generation that they started to get their most important shooters. And one of the most influential shooters of all time (ironically, a film tie-in) was GoldenEye 007. It was both a solid single-player game and a fun way to spend time with your friend as you shoot each other in split screen PvP chaos. But if you’re reading a review of Agent 64: Spies Never Die then I’m sure you already know most of this. Agent 64's solo developer spent the last five-plus years creating a deliberate homage to not just this early era of video games, but to this very specific type of first-person shooter. In so doing,Developer Replicant D6 made a perfect throwback to GoldenEye 007 (with a little bit of Perfect Dark thrown in). Screenshot: Agent 64: Spies Never Die Agent 64: Spies Never Die replicates that 90s console shooter feel not just from the gunplay, but also the gameplay: missions are about more than just fighting enemies. You have to figure out how to complete the stated objectives without waypoints pointing you where to go. Not only that, enemies even act like they’re from the 90s, with AI made to have them react to bullet hits and path towards players like they were from an earlier time. And if you die in the middle of the level, that means you have to play the entire level over from scratch–something that was much more common with console shooters than the PC games I preferred at the time. And while back then it was due to hardware limitations, preserving that risk-it-all gameplay adds to the tension and sense of accomplishment when you complete a particularly difficult level. But does it succeed at what it sets out to do? I would say yes. Agent 64: Spies Never Die would have gotten lots of playtime if it was released in the era it emulates. And as such, it really should be a game that’s judged within the confines of its own trappings. Which is really what you should be doing if you choose to play a throwback/spiritual successor to one of the most important first-person shooters of all time. Even if I do say that with gritted teeth. Because I was never a fan of GoldenEye 007. Sure, I spent hours and hours playing against my friends in split-screen PvP sections in both GoldenEye and Perfect Dark. But I would have rather been fragging people in Quake 2 at the time. But with my personal feelings aside, I could say that Agent 64 does indeed invoke that Goldeneye feeling, and thus, the requisite nostalgia. And I ended up playing Agent 64 a lot of the same way: with friends, but this time with co-op as well as PvP. In single-player, Agent 64 can be a tense game of memorizing enemy placement and level layout for when you inevitably fail and start back from the start of the level. Co-op eases this a bit by allowing respawns (at the expense of team members’ health.) Just having friends around isn’t only more fun, it also makes the experience a whole lot easier. I spent a few hours getting through the first couple of acts of Agent 64 and less than 30 minutes blowing through those same levels with my friends. Screenshot: Agent 64: Spies Never Die Despite the attention to detail and nostalgia factor, there aren’t as many guns in Agent 64 as there are in GoldenEye 007, but it does away with quantity in favor of quality. Each of the guns in Agent 64 feels like it has its place–for the most part. Sadly, I didn’t find a tank–and the amount of explosives is lacking. But there are a decent variety of guns that feel both fun to shoot and appropriate for the throwback theme. Visually, Agent 64: Spies Never Die really does a good job of recreating the low-poly visuals of GoldenEye. I can’t imagine this is as easy as removing polygons and calling it good enough. Weapons sway, and enemies react in much the same way they would in GoldenEye 007. There are even the strange face textures that were famous in that era. You know the ones that take photorealistic face textures and put them onto low-poly models, creating a look that is uniquely 90s–unsettling, but nostalgic. Especially since the faces are unanimated, and heads bob while delivering their lines. Sadly (or, accurately) there are no voice-overs. Just head bobs and weird faces. While Agent 64 couldn’t steal the James Bond theme, it does a good job of making a throwback soundtrack. There are some anachronisms (like dubstep) and other songs that sound like rip-offs of other 90s electronic hits–like a song that sounds suspiciously close to “Clubbed to Death” from The Matrix soundtrack. But the music works and helps tie it all together. Screenshot: Agent 64: Spies Never Die While everything comes together in a nostalgic sense, it’s possible to get through Agent 64 pretty quickly. Like I said, when I played with friends we got through the entire game (and a few PvP matches) in less than 2 hours. Of course, there are challenge modes and other incentives to keep playing for those who like to chase digital trophies with throwback rewards. I mean, Big Head mode isn’t going to unlock itself. Some of these mods even change how the game is played. If you thought that First Light was this year’s most anticipated spy game, you’d be wrong. I’ve seen people clamoring for Agent 64 for the last few years. Not only that, but N64 nostalgia is having a moment. It makes sense: a lot of the people who grew up playing are now old enough to have kids of their own, and are buying up nostalgia products like the ModRetro M64 and the Analogue 3D. Agent 64: Spies Never Die gave me a hit of nostalgia that throwback hardware and old games can’t. For one fleeting moment, it actually felt like I was a kid again, showing my friends a brand-new N64 cartridge. It’s a rare feeling to chase, but with Agent 64, Replicant D6 managed to catch it like lightning in a bottle.

Screenshot: Backpack Boy Starting out as a prototype in the Big Mode Game Jam in 2023, Backpack Boy has had a multi-year journey to make its way to 1.0. The first commercial game of developer Chuck & Niles Games, Backpack Boy isn’t going to redefine the sidescrolling puzzle genre, but it’s a charming game that does a whole lot of things right. Backpack Boy is a 2D puzzle platforming side scrolling that focuses using light to peer into the same location at a different point in time. It’s a relatively simple concept that opens up a whole bunch of different puzzle ideas. Screenshot: Backpack Boy Like most puzzle games, your mileage may vary: it might be a lot easier for you to find the solution to a specific type of puzzle than someone else. It doesn’t indicate whether a puzzle is good, or whether the puzzle solver is slow. I found most puzzles in Backpack Boy to be on the easy side–but not too easy as to not give the appropriate “aha!” feeling when solved. Puzzles in Backpack Boy range from simple block and pressure plate type puzzles to more complicated puzzles that involve thinking a couple of steps ahead. If you do find yourself stuck you can get a hint to help pass any tough puzzles. Or you can choose to skip the puzzle completely and get to the next one. While Backpack Boy is a relatively short game–I was able to get through it in a few hours–there is some replayability in the form of different secrets you can find. If you miss a secret on a particular level you have to start from the beginning to try to get it. While indie games like to rely on the pixel art presentation, there was something nostalgic about Backpack Boy beyond just the pixel art. The game’s screens and character movement brought me back to my days playing DOS sidescrollers like Commander Keen and other games from that era. Backpack Boy is a solid game, and I enjoyed my time with it. However, it’s a little short and mechanically simple, which makes it best to be picked up for cheap or in a bundle. Backpack Boy would be right at home in a compilation like UFO 50, but isn’t quite standout enough to justify buying on its own for full price. It is, however, a solid puzzle game.

Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo Splatoon Raiders isn’t exactly what I expected when the new Splatoon game was announced back in 2025. But when I found out it would be PvE, I was secretly delighted. Despite always being a PVP first franchise, I always preferred the single player components of the Splatoon games. But while Raiders is definitely PvE, it’s very unlike any other Splatoon game I’ve played before. I’ve been reviewing games for almost a decade at this point, but I’ve been playing games a whole lot longer than that. It’s rare for me to find a game that will easily capture my attention for hours. I’m not talking about mandatory play sessions I do for these reviews. That’s me shouldering through games that might even be fun, but aren’t fun because now I’m playing them for work. Splatoon Raiders was the opposite. I sat and played for hours without even glancing at the clock once. It’s rare that a game just clicks for me like that, but Splatoon Raiders already had a lot going for it from my perspective. Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo The single player components of Splatoon games have always been unique to the main game modes, and are always very challenging. I also loved the Salmon Run co-op PvE component of Splatoon, and Splatoon Raiders is basically a mash-up between the traditional single player and Salmon Run with character progression. And while Salmon Run is a multiplayer only mode, I was relieved I could play solo. Which is too bad, because if my whole Salmon Run crew had Switch 2s I would definitely try to get them into playing Splatoon Raiders. But for now, I’ve done all of my raiding by myself. So rest assured, friends aren’t required, but I’m sure they would turn this already addictively fun game into your group’s next Big Thing. Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo Two things kept me playing Splatoon Raiders for long stretches each day: how great the weapons feel, and the character progression system that allows for some fun gadget and ability combinations. As far as weapons go, all of your favorites are here. From buckets to rollers, most of your favorite paint throwing accoutrements are here–for the most part. There are a few weapons from the greater Splatoon repertoire missing, but there is always a suitable alternative. And as far as how they feel to play, they are exactly what you would think a Splatoon weapon would feel like. From semi-automatic sprayers that pump out each shot like a bullet, to rollers that lay ink on thick. There are three types of ink tanks in Splatoon Raiders: speed, power, and tactical. While I started out using the tactical tank, by the end of the game I had all of the tanks maxed out and used them all extensively. The tanks themselves have an inherent ability you can unlock after a while, but what they really do is empower the gadgets you have–and allow you to use different types of salmonid relics. At first, you can equip gadgets from the tank you’re using but once you play enough you can equip gadgets from other tanks. Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo The gadgets themselves can drastically change how you approach the salmonid threat. Some gadgets work as passive abilities–like turrets that will shoot at enemies that pass, or a turbine that will do area of effect damage as long as it’s active. Other gadgets allow for movement abilities, like a ink grapple and leaps that can do damage on ascent or landing. Despite starting out on a tactical tank, i found myself using all three. Sometimes the level would call for a change in strategy, but most of the time I would change it up just for the fun of it. I mentioned this earlier, but Salmon Raiders can feel a bit grind-y. It requires you to play a series of levels that are similar to one another. Some singleplayer Splatoon levels were more puzzle than action, and Splatoon Raiders mixes in cerebral challenges along with other challenges that are based mostly on combat. And while I would have loved to see a bit more variety in terms of objectives, I was too busy having fun to consider that a dealbreaker. In fact, I was happily replaying levels at their “spicy” difficulty to gather materials or just have fun. Splatoon Raiders. Nintendo I think that Splatoon Raiders is a proof of concept in a way. It proves that Splatoon can move away from being multiplayer focused. If Splatoon Raiders was able to tie in the magic of splatfests and throw in a little bit more Grizz (I miss that bear) then it would be my favorite Splatoon game. If they incorporated a PvP side mode in the same way that Salmon Run and the singleplayer were treated in the other Splatoon games, we wouldn't really need a Splatoon 4. But as it is right now, Splatoon Raiders is in my top 5 of the year so far, and probably the most fun I’ve had with a Splatoon game since the original.