Uncle Chaws – Gaming and Culture

Playing Games Without PS Plus

I recently read an article in The Atlantic entitled “This is Peak Subscription.” The author, realizing that she is oversubscribed, asks if we have reached the ceiling of what Americans are willing to subscribe to. I have also thought about my subscriptions and what services I’d be willing to give up. But more importantly, I’ve thought about how these subscriptions have changed my buying habits, especially when it comes to video games.

I own both the Xbox Series X and the PlayStation 5. I subscribe to Game Pass Ultimate, downloading games like I have all the time in the world. For us old-heads, it’s like having Blockbuster in your house. I don’t own games as much as rent them, and for the most part, I’ve learned to be okay with it. I can always buy a game I like from Game Pass, but it’s usually one and done save for a few particular games.
(more…)

March 9, 2022
Mr. X x Us

Mr X caught me slipping, which in turn lead me to make a video about it. Wanted to use the theme song from Us and had the perfect excuse to use it.

February 4, 2022
A Plague Tale x MJ

Does anyone else remember Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker? To this day I don’t know if it was an actual movie or a series of music videos. Anyway, I definitely remember Michael singing about a damn rat and thought it would work in this shot. Was going for a gloomy type of vibe. I think it worked out pretty well.

February 3, 2022
Hades – Roguelike Gateway Drug

Every year I tell myself I’m going to get out of my comfort zone of gaming and try new genres. And every year, I fail miserably. Maybe it’s a side effect of getting older. At a certain age, we know what we like, and we, as TLC once said, stick to the rivers and lakes that we’re used to. In 2021, I wanted to play different genres, and for the most part, the only thing I did was play first-person shooters and role-playing games. Here’s the list thus far:
(more…)

September 21, 2021
Final Fantasy VII Remake Review

Final Fantasy VII Remake is not the OG game with better visuals. It’s a remake, sequel, and spinoff wrapped in one. It’s a chance for Square-Enix to bring a franchise into a new age, except it often feels lost in a ever-evolving design philosophy. It pulls on the heartstrings of nostalgia while frustrating us with half steps. Its existence begs the question – What is a final fantasy game in 2021?
(more…)

August 16, 2021
The Oregon Trail Review (iOS)

It’s not often that I get to assume the role of “old man gamer.” To comfortably sit on my rocking chair on my wide country porch and tell kids about the “good old days.” Back when games were ‘hard’, and the one game that no one could beat in one sitting was The Oregon Trail. Sure, you think you have it tough because you have Dark Souls, but when your school crush has Dysentery and the only thing separating you from death is the durability of your last wagon wheel, you learn something about sacrifice and survival. The Oregon Trail was our first foray into role-playing games. It’s where we learned about the importance of dice rolls and that choosing the right class is critical when forming a party. It’s why I had to play Gameloft’s version to complete a dream deferred.
(more…)

June 23, 2021
Prey (2017) Review

As I sit on the couch, watching Netflix’s screensaver-like announcements, I’m left wondering why we do not give games the same shelf life we do other forms of media. No matter how old a movie might be, it still can find its way to the forefront of the conversation. However, with games, We’ve become accustomed to focusing solely on the next best thing. And our backlog serves more as a monument for pride or shame than an actual space to discover classics. Yet this is where we find ourselves – returning to the games we loved and missed. It is in this space that I discovered Prey.
(more…)

June 12, 2021
God of War Review

As an Outkast fan, I’ve enjoyed just about everything they’ve ever created. Usually, it only takes one listen for me to love one of their songs, except for Bombs of Baghdad. From the bass line to the speed of their delivery, I hated BOB. It sounded nothing like the OutKast I knew. But after repeat listens, I grew to love it, and before long, it was another song in a long line of OutKast songs that I love. God of War, like BOB, was something I grew to love over time.
(more…)

May 17, 2021
Shadow Warrior 2 Review

Game Pass is a treasure trove of slept-on games. There’s always some game you’ve never heard of that gets excellent reviews from the press and the community. Shadow Warrior 2 is one of those games that appears to be a slept-on gem. But after finishing the game, I have some questions about those review scores.
(more…)

April 13, 2021
My PS5 Is Still In the Box Thanks To Game Pass

My PlayStation 5 sits in its original box in the corner of my condo. It’s been that way for two weeks and probably for the foreseeable future. For all the good it’s done in the gaming industry, Sony has yet to release a program similar to Game Pass. And because of this, I often wonder if the console was worth buying.
(more…)

April 6, 2021