DEREK EX MACHINA, created by author and editor Derek L.H., is a blog dedicated to exploring the effect that video games and film have on people.
Tron: Ares provides comfort through its immersion, and the coolness embedded into the very essence of this movie only further drenches the film in style. It’s enough for Tron: Ares to be a cool film above all else, because such an emotion and style is one that we don’t see much of as a primary emotion elicited in blockbuster films such as this.
Cracks of the original game’s shortcomings still manage to reveal themselves in this 2020 update, but Trials of Mana’s remake manages to at least surround those cracks with an armor that’s as pretty as it is promising. Trials of Mana is a promise about the potential of simplicity and how much of a place there is for games that meld simplicity and complexity.
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge’s commitment to being different is an act of creative bravery - the kind of which we deserve to see more of in video games and beyond. Being different is an essential part of making art and we need to reward and celebrate the instances of game developers choosing to embrace making their games different from what’s come before.
Don’t let the gorilla on the box art fool you - Donkey Kong Bananza is one of the most human games in this moment. Bananza is a shining beacon of what the environment of the games industry can and should be: a fun-filled exploration of new ideas packed to the brim with charm, polish, and clear love from the developers.
Weapons is a refreshing reminder that there are still new ways to tell familiar stories and unfamiliar ways. While this is far from the first horror-adjacent film to tackle a mysterious conflict about grade-school children disappearing, the smart use of perspectives and the judicious blend of thrills, mystery, and dark humor makes for an unforgettable viewing experience.
Sorry, Baby is a beautiful case study in the power of telling stories centered on authenticity and a willingness to be grounded. Through its narrative structure showing how one instance of trauma influences different aspects of its protagonist’s life, Sorry, Baby weaves a compelling, believable, funny, and harrowing tale that I strongly believe anyone will enjoy and look fondly upon despite its heavy subject matter.
Making a game work in an open world context isn’t something that can be done by just taking a game and having it take place in a larger, non-linear environment. It takes strong direction to make open worlds work, and even then, there are many instances where an open world is simply incongruous with realizing a game’s greatest potential.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is short and sweet thanks to great pacing, unique mechanics, and fun if unambitious combat, yet it still retains a lot of artifacts that reveal its age - many of which arise from the game’s lacking story, characters, and dungeon design. This game embodies the snappiness and visual splendor that I’d truly like to see more of elsewhere in the JRPG genre.
Illustrating what a game’s entire design looks like in a relatively short amount of time goes a long way at convincing the player of a game’s mechanical depth and diversity. Micro-challenges help accomplish this. Through creating brief snippets of game design that compartmentalize and test different mechanics, players can get introduced and brought up to speed with various facets of a game without ever being bombarded with multiple mechanics at once.
We need to rewrite the narrative about turn-based RPGs. Instead of being a genre often obstructed by the scary possibility (as perceived by some publishers, at least) that turn-based games inherently sell less because they’re perceived as outdated by the gaming masses, we should instead be celebrating and empowering developers for having the courage to make the games they truly want to make.
Through utilizing fantasy elements to illustrate the importance of teaching future generations of their cultural backgrounds, Wolf Children tells a story that feels as deeply moving and informative as it feels entertaining and fun. Wolf Children holds within it a perfect balance of humor, heartbreak, and emotional erudition.
Every creator, regardless of what they make, shares a common goal: make something special; make something deeply meaningful to at least a single person. As a collection of creators, Monolith Soft remarkably succeeded at their goal of creating something that brought a smile to players’ faces because of the imaginative world they’ve created and the fun adventures and gameplay experiences that naturally come about in that world.
Bob Trevino Likes It carries with it an infectious optimism amid its heavy emotion, and that’s what makes the film so satisfying, uplifting, and sometimes heartbreaking to watch. Connection is something that dramatically transforms Lily, allowing her to become a better version of herself, and such a thing can and should happen to all of us.
We’re in the midst of a quiet but powerful revolution in animated filmmaking. Through giving animated movies your time and support, we can turn this quiet revolution into a full-blown renaissance - one where the place of animation greatly expands and becomes a widely respected side of the industry that sees consistent innovation, creativity, and reminders of why movies are so special in the first place.
Weirdness is a vital component to storytelling - one that fuels human creativity in a way that nothing else can. It is for that reason that the conversation around weirdness in media needs to shift.
Collection of Mana is a tough sell, given that two of its three games are disappointing messes in my mind. However, I do find it to be worthwhile peek into the series, especially for new fans introduced through the series’ more modern titles. In light of the frustration that I shouldered throughout my time with Secret and Trials of Mana, the optimist within me sees the potential that his collection occasionally gives players glimpses of.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is a special game. It’s a type of game that inspires newfound hope in the future of JRPGs. While the game stumbles a tad with its unimpressive dungeon and quest design, the incredible narrative, worldbuilding, characters, and gameplay opportunities make for an unforgettable RPG experience that any fan of the genre needs to experience.
2024 was unquestionably a year where indie films dominated my mind for most of the year. Whether it’s through inventive horror or non-verbal animation, 2024 offered some of the best films of the last decade.
Against all odds, this year still managed to bless us with incredible video game experiences, many of which will be sticking with me for decades to come. This is Derek Ex Machina’s definitive list of the top five video games of 2024.
Sonic X Shadow Generations is a remarkable blend of past, present, and future. Sonic Generations reminds us of the legacy of this long-running platformer franchise and the many peaks and valleys its run through over that time. Shadow Generations is an indicator of the progress that Sonic Team has made over the last decade and is a great representation of what polished Sonic gameplay can and should be moving forward.
