ElectroMaster Review

After the success of Flappy Bird, on the basis of how simple, cute, addictive and DIFFICULT it was, a lot of similar games found their success in the Apple and Google’s stores. One of my favorites is ElectroMaster, an 8-bit retro style game designed by xionchannel studios, although I suspect this is a one-person effort, Yuichi Higuchi, a designer with a few but very effective games mainly for mobile devices.

My favorite thing about ElectroMaster is the protagonist, an hyperactive girl who is relentless in her attacks against her opponents, and she destroys with electricity. It’s your thumb what activates the laser attacks, but it’s SO difficult. I’ve never been able to get past three levels. No problem though, since the second thing I enjoy the most is the music. It’s so boss-like and funny, so HER. So I don’t mind losing just to listen to this funny music that I wonder if Yuichi composed as well.

Taking a look at his Instagram, it’s nice to notice the effort he puts into the design of his characters. He’s a notebook and pencil designer as you can see his sketches here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/bbSNJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=2ca95aed-ce6f-4dd7-bedc-65c3681a61e9

Also check the first sketches of the ElectroMaster girl. She’s not exactly kawaii, neither punk. Just a regular blue-haired with two ponytails girl on a mission: 

https://www.instagram.com/p/entAL/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=3a0adb90-b234-4a43-8884-57222cb7f731

So let’s get into the review:

Graphic Art and Character and Environment Design: As stated, Yuichi is a guy who sketches on notebooks, very old-style, and keeps on building up until the finished product, which is a compact-cute- immediately distinguishable and memorable character. Her redhead opponents are equally well designed and funny (why redheads?). The levels vary with color: from green fields (parks?) to corn-orange ones, and I’ve yet to see a subterranean setting. They’re all detailed 8 bit environments, most probably designed in Photoshop. So cute you’ll want them as wallpapers.

Sound and Music: This is a win-win combo. The music is energetic, “electric” and perfectly enhances the protagonist’s rushy temperament. The sounds of failure get me every time and they’re funny AH. I’ve yet to hear accomplishment sounds from advanced levels. The basic ones are motivating enough to keep you going.

Let’s go to the problematic aspects of the game.

User Experience (UX):

Controls. The thumb as your only weapon makes everything harder. I have small hands, but even my small thumb is too chubby to be precise and that’s one of the reasons I have such a bad aim at destroying the redheads. I keep failing because I have a chubby thumb, and I’ve read reviews from guys with ever bigger hands who really want to get into combat mode, but the thumb is simply not a good tool. I don’t know if this game can be played with an e- pencil.

Gameplay: As stated above, the storytelling is engaging and FUN. But for sure this is for the retro-gaming market, so don’t expect more sophistication. The game delivers.

Progression: Hard to say how easy it feels from level to level as I keep failing. I do think the second level is too hard, with a swarm of opponents everywhere.

Monetization: Big no. The ads are too long and distracting, but that’s what you get for a free game. I’ve yet to try the paid version.

Accessibility: I’ve only played this on a phone. So the size is small and the retro lettering hard to read. Perhaps on a tablet the UX will be enhanced. I’ve yet to try this.

Check out my routine failure at ElectroMaster. BTW, this is the game that made me get into game development! So it’s very dear to me.

https://youtu.be/S0LlzB1p6uA?si=4UIp_o2Nf_brTJP8

Check out more about ElectroMaster:

Designer’s YT channel: 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQQqMBv_OqnQveIn30LXYdA

https://www.instagram.com/xionchannel/

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/electromaster/id374956982

https://github.com/xionchannel

https://twitter.com/ajinotataki

Children of Darkness

Children of Darkness
Ara Chekmayan, Richard Kotuk, 1983

Documentalistas discretos tras las cámaras dejan todo el poder narrativo en pacientes que paradójicamente no se pueden comunicar verbalmente. En YT la gente ve este documental 40 años después de su filmación y se preguntan qué pasó con los pacientes, llamándolos por sus nombres propios, los googlean. La conexión directa entre los sujetos al centro de la historia y quienes miran es un logro total de los directores. Filme vigente más allá del tiempo y del medio, sobre un tema en el que prevalece el tabú, pero también el abuso médico.

Titicut Follies

Titicut Follies 
Frederick Wiseman, 1967 

Los manicomios de antaño caen hoy a pedazos; entre el asbesto cancerígeno quedaron atrapados los fantasmas de la historia de horror que es la historia de la psiquiatría. El arte no cambia la sociedad es una vieja máxima puesta en cuestionamiento por este enorme filme, prohibido por décadas, pero tan poderoso que suscitó el cierre de esas prisiones donde agonizaron los más vulnerables a manos de la medicina sin supervisión, convertida en negocio y práctica de tortura. La discreción de Wiseman no es en ningún momento neutral o pasiva. Las tomas y las entrevistas fueron hechas con cámara al nivel de la mirada de los pacientes, con distancia suficiente para echar por tierra las acusaciones de explotación de la intimidad del enfermo. Volumen también suficiente para escuchar los testimonios de su sufrimiento. Frederick Wiseman: escuela del documental.