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Hot Takes




Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’ is an entertaining mess, but it’s still a mess

‘Reputation’ was supposed to be a total reinvention for Taylor Swift, but all of the least endearing aspects of her old music are still here in droves. “Don’t Blame Me” is fun to sing along to and “Getaway Car” might actually be the best pop song of the year, but the rest of the album does not live up to the standards of a few isolated tracks. Sure, it has a lot of catchy tunes, but it’s much more memorable for its bitter attitude and its laughable implementation of hip-hop and trap influences.



Star Wars Battlefront: can the new game live up to old favorite?

It might even revolutionize the idea of sci-fi multiplayer shooters as more focus is given to gameplay and being player and consumer friendly with a fully fleshed out game. Perhaps it is time for gamers to start demanding finished products with compelling expansions instead of sections of a game being stripped out and resold in season passes.



The worst Justice League members of all time

Over the many years that the Justice League has existed in the comics it has had over one hundred members coming in for varying amounts of time, and honestly some of them probably could have just stayed out.


‘Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus’: Fighting Nazis for American freedom

Overall, Wolfenstein II:The New Colossus is a fantastic single-player first-person shooter with beautifully written characters and spot-on performances. The story greatly expands upon the world of Wolfenstein with B.J. and his friends fighting to save America from the oppressive Nazis, with a memorable villain like Frau Engel being a formidable adversary to B.J. Blazkowicz. Fans of the series and of first-person shooters who want an exciting story will enjoy this game with its approximately 14-hour campaign that gets them to mowing down plenty of Nazis in a colorful grotesque fashion.



The Walking Dead Season 8, Episode 3: “Monsters”

"Monsters" embraces the goofy comic book feel the show has been headed towards for a while at the cost of drama and horror. By far one of the most entertaining watches of the season (or series for that matter), "Monsters" continues the Walking Dead’s tradition of taking two steps backward for every step forward it makes with fantastic consequences.


‘Super Mario Odyssey’: A tip of the hat to the new generation

'Super Mario Odyssey' is a worthy successor to the 3D Mario games and an incredible addition to the Nintendo Switch library. The possession mechanic brings Mario’s adventure into a whole new light that keeps the player’s curiosity going. Despite Odyssey’s few flaws, the ample amount of creative moon challenges and the phenomenal level design make the game feel like an escape, encouraging the player to let out their inner child.


‘Assassin’s Creed Origins’ breathes fresh air into a stale franchise

'Assassin’s Creed Origins' is a refreshing and exciting addition to the Assassin’s Creed franchise. While it is bogged down by the side quests and the in-game store, these are surpassed by its engaging story and characters, its complex and exciting combat system, and its loads of content. It is a revitalization of a stagnant franchise and will hopefully take future Assassin's Creed games in a new direction.