Pop Culture Den: Coffee Talk
with Stacy & Elizabeth
In today's episode of Pop Culture Den, Aurora Public Library librarians Stacy and Elizabeth discuss the game Coffee Talk. They think it's a "comfort food game," but what are comfort food games? What needs do they address, and, most importantly -- is this one fun? Tune in to find out!
Referenced article: "Slouching toward relevant video games" by Brie Code
Want to check out "Coffee Talk" for yourself? Check it out on Nintendo and Steam!
Aurora Public Library's Pop Culture Den series focuses on all things pop culture. Literacy and stories go beyond books: they're in games, movies, and more! Once a month, we'll analyze our favorite works of media and talk tropes, genres, and the bits and pieces that make stories so successful. Be sure to tune in!
Game Reviews by Brandon, Elizabeth, Kristin & Stacy
Hello everyone! We hope you’ll enjoy these reviews for free games to amuse you during this time. These are a mix of browser and smartphone games - none of them will cost you anything to play.
Relaxing games to help you de-stress.
Alto’s Adventure
A game available on your app store for iPhone, Android and Windows
Plug in your headphones, because this game will deserve all of your attention. For my fellow Coloradans out there, we have been missing our sweet, sweet mountain time. Bring the serenity and beauty of the mountains with you, everywhere you go. Your goal is simple, last as long as you can shredding through the slopes. Pits and rocks are scattered about, but a simple tap or click will result in your character jumping and flipping over any peril that may come their way. Upgrades are unlockable such as a wingsuit and characters with unique skill-sets are available as you progress through the game with no microtransactions required. I would highly recommend the Zen Mode where your progress does not reset after making a mistake. You can endlessly continue on your adventure. It should be noted that you can compare how far you’ve made it with other players on the online leaderboards, but that will not be what brings you back to this game. The captivating visuals and soothing music will put the worries of your world on hold as you fall into the trance that is "Alto’s Adventure". - Brandon
Winter Bells
A browser-based game available here
A soothing game where you play as a bunny who jumps on bells to climb into the sky. You get more points the higher you jump, but with the calming music and the cute design, it's hard to feel punished for falling. Click initially to move, but after that you can control the bunny just based on mouse movements. Pro tip: Birds double your current score, so they're definitely worth going for. - Kristin
Lieve Oma
Available free through itch.io here
It’s mushroom season, and your grandmother has asked you to help her pick penny buns. Except, of course, this isn’t about mushrooms: it’s about walking through the woods in the early autumn with your grandmother, who loves you whether you find one penny bun or a hundred. Unlike the other games in this blog post, Lieve Oma doesn’t have a high score chart or a leaderboard. You don’t have to jump or climb, just walk using the arrow keys or WASD. Soft piano music plays as you trundle along in your grandmother’s footsteps: you’ve been lonely and sad, you see, but she’s here to listen and promise that everything is going to be okay. Nothing bad happens in this game. I walked and found a few mushrooms, and then my character went home to have hot cocoa and mushroom risotto. This game's pure comfort food. - Elizabeth
Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector
A game available on your app store for either iPhone or Android.
A passive game where you collect photos of as many different neighbor cats as you can! It’s simple: you buy new cat toys and food with in-game money given to you by your friendly kitties, place them in your house and/or yard, close the app and when you check in later you’ll find a many variety of kitties enjoying your snacks and toys! With 60+ cats to collect, there are so many different personalities to meet and collect – starting with your first visitor, a cute white cat named Snowball, to my personal favorite, a cardboard train-conducting, hat-wearing, whistle-blowing cat name Conductor Whiskers. - Stacy
What are your comfort food games? Did you net a high score playing Winter Bells or enjoy a few hours of Zen Mode in Alto’s Adventure? Let us know in the comments!
"Animal Crossing: New Horizons" Review
by Justine
Around the beginning of March (and perhaps long before), if you logged in to any of your social media accounts, there is a good chance you saw a meme or article relating to a game called "Animal Crossing". On March 20, 2020, Nintendo welcomed the fifth game in the franchise, "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" for the Nintendo Switch, much to the delight of longtime fans who indeed waited a very long time for this installment.
Image from https://ec.nintendo.com/AU/en/titles/70010000027620
"Animal Crossing: New Leaf" for the 3DS family of systems came out a whopping eight years ago and fans of the series like myself have been chomping at the bit ever since, waiting for our next foray into the village. I myself was in college then, playing between studying sessions and essay writing, and as I entered the workforce I kept checking every day to see if a new game was in the works. Would we be getting a new "Animal Crossing" for Nintendo’s new console the Switch? Imagine my excitement when it was finally announced! But the wait... The wait was grueling.
A question I get a lot, and the question on your mind right now, is why this game in particular is so popular. Why was there such anticipation surrounding its release, why is everyone and their mom playing it, and what is the point? Picture this. You’re invited to be a founding member of a brand new (deserted) island. With nothing but the clothes on your back you begin your life anew, no career, no friends or family. You strike out into this new world with a tent gifted to you... by a raccoon. Yes, a raccoon. His name is Tom Nook, thank you for asking. And right now he’s the internet’s favorite mascot and the memes are endless surrounding him and his protégés, Tommy and Timmy, who help you adjust to your new island life.
Along with these three kind raccoons, you also meet and befriend two other animals who come to stay on the island with you. For every player they’re different, but I was lucky enough to have Phoebe the peahen and Kid Cat the kitten join me on my journey to make the island habitable.
You start off owing a large debt to Tom Nook for all the moving fees and the plot of land where you’ll eventually build your house, which probably already sounds boring, but hear me out. For some reason I found it so charming to be thrown into this new world where I had to earn everything myself. I hate paying rent every month in real life, but Tom Nook is the best landlord there is. I was grateful to a virtual raccoon for giving me a chance to meet new animal friends and catch all the butterflies and fish my pockets could carry. Isn’t that the dream? To get back to nature, to nourish the earth with your own two hands, to be responsible for your destiny? "Animal Crossing" lets you do just that. It lets you live your best virtual life the way you want to.
I think one of the main reasons "Animal Crossing" is so appealing is because there’s no one way to play it. You can be an archeologist and spend your time digging up fossils to give to a knowledgeable owl named Blathers to display in the island’s museum. Maybe you love fishing and just want to spend hours on end collecting one of every species. And in case you were worried, yes, you can totally fish for sharks. And when you catch one you can bet everyone will be asking you how, because it takes as much patience as fishing takes in real life. As for me, I personally enjoy gardening in the game (I’m a black thumb in real life; everything I touch dies, even hardy cacti). I plant flowers of all kinds, in specific arrangements, so new ones will blossom in beautiful new colors they don’t normally come in. I was ecstatic when my black roses began to bloom and I told all my friends about it (and my grandpa, but he didn’t seem that impressed). There aren’t many games out there that give you the chance to be whatever you want to be with the lowest stakes possible. Usually you’re a hero trying to save the world, a detective trying to solve crimes, a plumber trying to save Princess Peach for the eightieth time. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with those games, but my point is that Animal Crossing doesn’t have a linear storyline and doesn’t shoehorn you into a specific role like games you may have played before. It is incredibly freeing to play at your own pace with nothing dictating how you play or what you do in the game. Your only limits are those you impose on yourself.
My friends and I usually vary pretty greatly in the types of games we play. Some like fighting and sports games while I’ll sink 90 hours into Japanese RPGs. But I can’t name one friend on my list who hasn’t bought "Animal Crossing". Every single one has it and with the online feature to visit one another’s islands, during this government-mandated quarantine, I’ve been able to play with them. We visit each other’s homes, compliment one another’s gardens, fish together, dig for clams on the beach, and share fruit that the other doesn’t have yet. I’ve finally got all the peaches and oranges I can handle when I started out my game with only pears. I love seeing all my friends living their best island lives, decorating their homes in such creative ways and gushing about how their favorite animal villager (there are over 400 for reference) just agreed to move in. The communal aspect of the game is a huge pull for many gamers, and I think that’s just another reason people from 8 to 80 love it and keep coming back for more 19 years later. The first "Animal Crossing" game was released only in Japan back in 2001, but when it was localized for North America I’m not sure they knew how much it would resonate with fans of all ages, genders, and races not just here, but globally.
This is technically a review, so I’ll get to the point. Why do I love "Animal Crossing: New Horizons"? I think back to one of my favorite poems, “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by William Butler Yeats:
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made;
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
Now I’m sure you weren’t expecting a poem in the middle of a video game review, but humor me here. I promise its relevance will be made clear hastily. As I said above, getting back to nature is something so many of us desire. It’s in our human nature, almost hardwired in our DNA, to want to connect with the natural world and live a simple life with something we’ve cultivated on our own. In these modern times, and especially with the coronavirus forcing us indoors, this want for the outdoors is stronger than ever. I live in a cramped townhouse in Aurora. I don’t hear Yeats’ lake water lapping or cricket song or honeybees. The fact of the matter is, my life is not a pastoral one, and I’ve been robbed of the opportunity to have that right now. As silly as it might sound, "Animal Crossing" lets me live that life virtually until it’s safe again to go into the mountains and enjoy a day of sunshine and the sound of something other than refrigerator buzzing and traffic noise. I can hear the sound of the ocean in the game and the striking visuals make me feel like I really did catch a sea bass and planted a gorgeous rose or tulip. It might pale in comparison to the real thing, but it feels real enough right now. The game encapsulates everything in Yeats’ poem and what so many of us feel and desire for ourselves.
If you’ve stuck it out this long, I want to sincerely thank you. I know this was a lot just to explain why I love a video game so much, but in these uncertain times, I think finding something that you love and keeps your mind off of the state of the world is a rare and beautiful thing. "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" is worth every penny and I hope you’ll consider joining me and millions of others if you’re at all curious what the hype is about. I’d sure love to see what you make of your island adventure, and so many other fans would too.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_Crossing#Animal_Crossing_(2001)
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43281/the-lake-isle-of-innisfree
https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/26/21195022/animal-crossing-switch-sales-japan-famitsu
Classic Videogames to Consider Replaying
By Stacy H.
Recent stay-at-home orders for the state have kicked my spring cleaning into high-drive! However, when I found my childhood Sega Dreamcast stashed away in my closet, I wasn’t prepared to spend the rest of my weekend sucked into a 10-hour playthrough of “Sonic Adventure” - but I am very glad that I did. The vivid worlds and bright characters were a blast from the past, providing me with a much needed nostalgic escapism and a breath of fresh air.
Here’s 11 retro video games you should consider replaying, whether you still own them or repurchase as a digital download , during the stay-at-home orders and safely practice our social and physical distancing!
1. Battletoads
Released/Console: 1991, Nintendo Entertainment System
Game Description: An original beat 'em up game starring three humanoid toads (distinctly reminiscent of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) who must embark on a quest to defeat an evil queen and rescue their friends.
Age Rating: E
Re-released?: Coming TBA to XboxOne
Reviews:
"Toads kicking butt." - Steve H.
"This game is EPIC!!” - Robbie H.
"If you're looking for fun and challenging beat 'em type games, this is the one - crazy fun, yet crazy difficult!" - Stacy H.
2. Final Fantasy X
Released/Console: 2001, PlayStation 2
Game Description: Travel through the land of Spira as you try to return to your home while also challenging the very embodiment of Sin. JRPG.
Age Rating: T
Re-released?: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita
Review:
“Now more than ever, people need a healthy dose of escapism. Final Fantasy X is a 40+ hours adventure consisting of just the main game itself. When you add in side quests and trophies, you are looking at hundreds of hours of content. There is a reason this game has been rereleased so many times along with it's sequel, Final Fantasy X-2. The story of Tidus and Yuna is an infectious one and the land of Spira is a sight to behold. Travel from tropical island locales to caverns long forgotten to time. The time of the traditional turn-based JRPG is no longer here, but Final Fantasy X can bring you back to that glorious time. Summon powerful Aeons and conjure a variety of spells to defeat your enemies. Let me know your thoughts if you play the game or already have! My favorite character easily had to be Auron by the way.” - Brandon F.
3. Legend of Dragoon
Released/Console: 1999, PlayStation 1
Game Description: 10,000 years ago a civilization of flying warriors enslaved the human race. In a final bid for freedom the humans harnessed the spiritual forces of Dragons and eventually triumphed over their captors. For eons, tranquility and harmony have reigned. But the past and the future are about to collide. Now in the land of Endiness, guide a group of warriors as they find themselves in a war between nations and help uncover the Legend of Dragoon.
Age Rating: T
Re-released?: PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3
Review:
“My favorite game of all time is a 4 disc JRPG for the PlayStation called Legend of Dragoon, released in 1999 to compete directly with the Final Fantasy series. It received solid reviews and still has a dedicated cult following today who are continually hoping for a remaster.” - Erik B.
4. Paper Mario
Released/Console: 2001, Nintendo 64
Game Description: To save the Mushroom Kingdom, rescue Peach, get the castle back and defeat Bowser, you as Mario must locate the seven Star Spirits in this role-playing adventure game.
Age Rating: E
Re-released?: Wii, Wii-U
Reviews:
"One of the best Mario games, in my opinion, with a ton of replayability! There's something about the world that's incredibly immersive and draws me in for hours. What I really like about this game is that it's more of a role-playing game, styled with unique puzzles and has a fun turn-based battle system." - Stacy H.
"This easily holds up as one of the games on this list which has aged the most gracefully. Thanks to a sharp sense of humor ahead of it's time and a extremely unique art style, you can enjoy this game as if it came out today. Travel between numerous charming and gorgeous environments with a entourage of entertaining characters. If you can't get enough, move onwards to “Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door” for the GameCube.” - Brandon F.
5. Pokémon Snap
Released/Console: 1999, Nintendo 64
Game Description: You, as Todd Snap, explore Pokémon Island to take pictures of the Pokémon for Professor Oak's scientific research.
Age Rating: E
Rereleased?: Wii, Wii-U
Review:
"Pokémon Snap for the N64 is as close to perfect as you can get in my humble opinion. Who knew that throwing together one’s love of photography and one’s love of Pokémon would be a match made in heaven? You play as a photographer and set off on a Pokémon Safari to snap pictures of the creatures in their natural habitats. Unlike National Geographic though, you interfere with nature to get the best shots… a lot. “Pester” balls can be thrown at Pokémon to annoy them or trigger certain events, like making a Pokémon evolve or explode (looking at you, Electrode) while apples can be thrown to make a Pokémon stay still for a better picture. What else can I say? It’s all in good fun and no Pokémon were harmed in the making. It’s great for all ages and it’s probably the most relaxed you’ll ever be playing a Pokémon game - even when it does get stressful to achieve the perfect shot!" - Justine C.
6. Pokémon Yellow
Released/Console: 1998, Gameboy
Game Description: An enhanced version of Pokémon Red and Blue, Pokémon Yellow focuses on defeating the eight gym leaders, the Elite Four and, ultimately, Team Rocket.
Age Rating: E
Re-released?: Switch as “Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu!” and “Pokémon: Let’s Go Eevee!” – though technically this was not an official rerelease, both games are essentially the same and follow the same formula that Yellow did!
Reviews:
“I really like that Pikachu follows you around; and it’s cuter than the other games.” - Jordan G.
"When I was 10, I received “Pokémon Yellow” as a Christmas present and proceeded to play until the batteries died on my Gameboy Color. Released as an enhanced version of the classic “Blue/Red” games, “Yellow” not only presented the now classic Pokémon journey but also gave the players new twists and challenges to test their wits again. Even after decades of Pokémon game releases and new innovations, “Yellow” stands the most important test of time for a video game, it is still fun to play. The original version on Gameboy and the re-release “Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu” for the Nintendo switch are both excellent ways to spend a quarantine." - Erik B.
7. Sonic Adventure
Released/Console: 1998, Sega Dreamcast
Game Description: The first of the 3D Sonic the Hedgehog videogames. Play through all six of Sonic's character stories (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Big the Cat and E-102 Gamma) to collect the seven Chaos Emeralds before Doctor Robotnik does.
Age Rating: E
Re-released?: GameCube as “Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut,” PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Steam for Windows.
Review:
"This was the game that started my love of video games - though the controls can be a little dated at times and graphics are, for lack of better description, super goofy, the nostalgia factor makes this game a great replayable game. Replaying this as an adult, it makes sense to me why I quickly grew so attached to the creative world of Sonic the Hedgehog." - Stacy H.
8. Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Released/Console: 1992, Sega Genesis
Game Description: Defeat Dr. Robotnik and save the creatures of Mobius while zooming through levels at super sonic speed! Platformer
Age Rating: E
Re-released?: GameCube, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii, Wii-U, Sega Genesis Mini
Review:
“Sonic the Hedgehog 2 was the first game I've ever played and is responsible for my love of gaming. Blazing fast speed, catchy music, gorgeous graphics and a character with attitude - what else could have I wanted? If you end up enjoying this one, you can then move onto either Sonic 1, Sonic 3 and Knuckles, Sonic CD or any of the Sonic Advance games for Gameboy Advance.” - Brandon F.
9. Spyro the Dragon
Released/Console: 1998, PlayStation 1
Game Description: In the first of his titular series, players take on the role of Spyro, the small purple dragon with a big attitude. Journey across five distinct home worlds, rescue imprisoned elder dragons and recover your lost dragon gem horde while fighting against the villainous plotting of the despicable Gnasty Gnorc.
Age Rating: E
Re-released?: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as “Spyro Reignited Trilogy.”
Review:
“Very nostalgic. It's calm and peaceful, and there's enough content to last a few days. It's a fun game no matter what the age, and it's a game you can easily pick up and put down whenever you'd like.” - Megan P.
10. Super Mario 64
Released/Console: 1996, Nintendo 64
Game Description: As Mario, the player must explore Bowser's castle to find Princess Peach and rescue her. The first in the Super Mario series to feature 3D graphics and gameplay.
Age Rating: E
Re-released?: Nintendo DS, Wii, Wii-U
Review:
"I was playing Super Mario 64 before my hands were even big enough to properly hold the controller (I mean, we can agree the Nintendo 64 controller was weird, but still). For reference, the game debuted in 1996 and I was born just three years earlier in ‘93, so I was probably five or six by the time I started being able to play it and not just watch. That being said, it was one of the first video games I ever played and it holds some of the fondest memories of my childhood. I loved playing as Mario and returning the baby penguin to its mother, swinging Bowser by the tail and chasing around the yellow rabbit. I wanted a Chain-chomp of my very own because I thought they were “cute puppies” and I warily eyed the grand piano in my grandmother’s living room after a harrowing run-in with a terrifying, presumably man-eating piano in the game. Seriously, look it up. I’m sure that very piano has scarred many a child from those days. Perhaps it’s the nostalgia talking, but Super Mario 64 was a delight and a fresh installment in the franchise because it was one of the first to divert from the side scroller setup Mario is famous for. The 3D models might not have aged well (looking back at pictures I can’t believe that’s what the graphics looked like), but the gameplay more than makes up for it. You can spend hours traversing the castle and unlocking its secrets without even entering a level. If you’re a fan of the Mario series, this is a must-play. Unpopular opinion: Mario Odyssey’s got nothing on this." - Justine C.
11. Typing of the Dead
Released/Console: 2001, Sega Dreamcast
Game Description: A modification of Sega's arcade classic “The House of the Dead 2”, where the weapons are replaced with keyboards and game consoles. Taking the role of a secret agent, you must fight through waves of zombies by quickly typing words, phrases and answering riddles.
Age Rating: M
Re-released?: Although not the original game, there is a Steam download on Windows as “Typing of the Dead: Overkill”
Review:
"This is game is honestly ridiculous and definitely not a typical typing game. My favorite part is that there are no weapons, all the characters wear Sega Dreamcast's strapped to their backs and use keyboards strapped in front of them." - Stacy H.
Special thank you to all my friends, family and coworkers who helped recommend a strong variety of games!
Tell us your favorite vintage video game in the comments below!
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