u/FaceTimePolice

I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but I usually skip through dialogue and the story in games…

Not this one. 🥲👍

In Hades 2 (and the first game too!), I actually want to hear what every character has to say, whether it pertains to the main story or not. I actually care about the overall plot, which feels strange to me. I usually don’t pay attention to the main objective or even what the main character is setting out to do. It doesn’t matter if it’s an indie game or a big AAA title. Gameplay is king for me. I usually could not care less about world-building and the like.

Anyway, unlike other games, Supergiant actually made me care about the characters and story in Hades 2. That’s all. As you were. 😅

I recently covered the Nu Metal Sucks Tour (2026) for The Chicago Music Guide (photos and write-up).

I also filmed a performance on my phone; “Bartender” by (HED) P.E. So, here it is. Enjoy. 🤘😎🤘

They’re such a different band these days. Their energy is so… positive? I love it!

Would anyone know who’s handling the management for the U.S. tour? Wasn’t there someone connected to the band in this sub?

Anyway, I do concert photography for a publication in Chicago and would like to inquire about obtaining a photo pass for the 6/30 show at Reggie’s in Chicago. Can anyone here help me out with that? I filled out the contact form on the official sites for both the band and the venue just in case, but I couldn’t find a specific tour manager contact.

Discussion time…

This has been bugging me for the longest time.

So, Housemarque (developers of Returnal, Saros) were once the king of twin stick shmups. Arcade style games like Resogun and Nex Machina were their forte… until they infamously declared that “Arcade Is Dead,” and had to completely reinvent themselves.

Years later, they release Returnal, a 3D bullet hell shooter, and despite the fact that it’s inaccessible to the average casual gamer due to its difficulty, it becomes a massive success. Fast forward to 2026 and the hype for their next game which follows the same format/gameplay is through the roof and getting rave reviews.

So, obviously, shmups don’t see this type of success. But why? If there is an audience for difficult games in which you’re expected to survive a screen full of bullets and enemies, why haven’t these gamers gravitated towards shmups?

Any theories? Is it the visuals/presentation? The presence of an engaging story? What gives these games a pass? 🤷‍♂️🤔