Bradley University's Art & Culture Magazine

There was a time in my life when I only played games on my then months old Nintendo 64. It sat in my room, attached to a Zenith full screen television. I would start it up and a happy Italian man would exclaim: “It’s-a me! Mario!”

I remember feeling absolutely devastated when I heard that Peach wasn’t actually there to give me cake. She was stolen by an evil creature. I had to play through Super Mario 64 and save her

There was one problem though. Despite clearing several courses and fighting fierce opponents, I couldn’t face the main monster. I was too scared of the one I so dreadfully misnamed “Bopster.” Read more

Those certain nights
when ghosts fill streets
of haunted towns.
When the air, so still
so crisp, my lungs burn.
When the waning of the moon
burns a hole in the night sky’s
maroon expanse of infinite frontier.
When fires of Autumn
cast subdued perfume
across a sleepy village.

We would romp in forgotten places,
while dirty frigid water numbed our hands,
and the glistening spray painted walls
were too wet to be above suspicion.
We basked in shining Krylon canvasses of defiance
for American youth in dark tunnels.

The garage has been so silent
even the mice are beginning to talk.
The old kerosene heater (in comatose)
no longer sings like a lovesick monster
no longer keeps me warm
I’m running out of excuses.

Those certain nights
when once the world lay before us
cowering in fear, quivering at our steps
comfortably slumbers, snores, and drools.
The wind whispers your name
softer than early morning doves,
stronger than limestone on broken glass.

On February 21st, the indie alternative group’s, Cursive, seventh studio LP album “I am Gemini” will release onto the market. However, on February 7th the album was released to fans that pre-ordered on the band’s webpage. I happen to be one. As soon as I heard the first track of 13, “This House Alive,” I was automatically hooked. “I am Gemini” is a lyrically brilliant, instrumentally pleasing, and emotionally intriguing concept album. Read more

The rotting piece of ham you lost under the fridge–

you forgot about it; I didn’t.

Every now and then, that foul odor,

a whiff enters your nose and you twitch.

The rancid odor of decay nauseates you, not me.

Tonight’s gourmet dinner.

I scuttle through the darkened corners of your

suburban American dream,

tracking my putrid filth with every tap of my foot.

Don’t turn on the light.

How would you like it

if someone turned on the sun at midnight?

Read more

     The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is set to come out November 20th and fans are excited. I would know. I’ve already preordered the special edition. But let’s take some time away from this delightful prospect of a game and look back on one of the Zelda’s series darker moments: the Wind Waker.

I know what you’re thinking, Wind Waker? How is that game any bit dark? Some might suggest instead that Majora’s Mask would be the “darkest” Zelda game. True, it has its scary moments. But that Link is a hero who has experienced pain and hardship before. He was prepared for that journey. Wind Waker’s Link is an innocent, young boy. This difference is what defines it as one of the most horrid Zelda games out there.

Wind Waker’s prologue states Hyrule was flooded because a Link of the past, pun not intentional, did not rise to defeat Ganon. It is assumed this Link is the one of Majora’s Mask who did not return to Hyrule to fulfill his duty in Ocarina of Time. For those who may not be familiar with Zelda’s background, Nintendo has suggested there are multiple Links existing in the same timeline across all these different games. For example, Wind Waker’s Link is said to be a reincarnation of the Link from Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask. This theory is a topic I could talk about forever but for now, we’re going to focus on what the flooding of Hyrule meant for the Link of Wind Waker.
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