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

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 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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Have you never finished a game? Why? Was it because it was boring? You didn’t have time for it? Or maybe it was exceedingly hard?

I found myself asking these questions this semester as I approached my Nintendo 64 collection. I was determined to defeat every unfinished game from my childhood as a sort of tribute to the console’s fifteenth anniversary.

I laid out the cartridges. Diddy Kong Racing, Donkey Kong 64, Banjo-Kazooie, and Banjo-Tooie stared at me from my carpeted floor. They weren’t terribly intimidating until I noticed something eerily similar about them.

The logo for Rareware was branded on each one.

For those who don’t know, Rareware (or Rare Ltd. as it is known now) was a company working under Nintendo. It is responsible for most of the Donkey Kong games on home consoles.

In my particular collection, it was accountable for every game I had never beaten. Even Goldeneye 64, a game my father bought for me two years ago that I also had not finished, had the symbol.

I was stunned; Rareware was singlehandedly responsible for my childhood frustration.

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Recently, a close friend of mine suggested I check out a band called ‘Dead Bundy and the Neat Neat Neats. I decided to take a chance and purchased their album on iTunes. Let me tell you, it was one of the best spontaneous purchases I’ve made in a while.
Ever since purchasing the album last Friday, I’ve listen to it at least 1 or two times a day! Dead Bundy and the Neat Neat Neats have a psychobilly style which makes it nearly irresistible to dance along with. Their swingy, yet punky style is reminiscent of old time Rock and Roll, yet remains refreshingly modern. After only a couple of times listening to their first full-length album “Bad Moon Death Trip,” it is easy to catch onto the memorable lyrical style this album has to offer. Read more