[retronator]

I love turn based games. In fact, the reason you’re not reading this mini-review sooner is because after playing Pathway for 40 hours, I was pulled into a Civ 5 multiplayer frenzy (it’s a long story) and I haven’t had a free evening since. I deleted Civ yesterday (because that shit is heroin) and so here we are, finally talking about the game with the most advanced pixel art graphics engine so far.

I mean look at the screenshots. It’s gorgeous. Ever since the game was announced, I meticulously analyzed every screenshot that the german developer Robotality put out. I touched upon the behind-the-scenes stuff in my pre-release post and suffice it to say this is some advanced black pixel magic (much like the game’s supernatural nazi-cultist setting). 

The art is joined in perfect unison with the incredible music score, immersing you into your very-own Indiana Jones turn-based strategy adventure. The game is a casual entry into the tactical genre with fast-paced, easy-to-comprehend combat. Fighting is very predictable with shots always landing when there is a clear line of sight (hit percentages are also always right there in the HUD to indicate otherwise). With good strategy you can often get in and out of a fight in 2 or 3 turns. Great for short, relaxing evening sessions, rather than hardcore strategizing.

The glue that holds the numerous randomized battles together is a board-game-like map of Africa and the Middle East, the home of scorching-hot sand dunes, palm tree-filled oases, brick-built villages, and mysterious underground temples. Each of the five campaigns has an enveloping story that tries to give purpose to your team’s expedition, but due to the procedurally generated nature of adventures, you’ll find the random situations you get yourself into more interesting on their own, rather than supporting a progression of the overall arch.

The lush story vignettes are beautifully illustrated and offer a chance for your characters to lead to extra riches and equipment, the latter of which is the key to progression in the game. The 16 available recruits have unique skillsets and combining them into expedition parties offers plenty of varied playstyles. You’ll replay the campaigns often, but that’s by design as you get to try different team compositions and embark on a whole new set of shenanigans, some of which are available only with specific character perks.

Overall the experience does plateau, especially with as many hours as I put into it. It shines best in short, chill sessions for when you feel like immersing yourself into its pulp pre-world-war-II archeologist setting that the graphical wizardry so perfectly captures. A new campaign and improved story events are still on the way, so there’re plenty of reasons to stay excited for the future. If you live for advanced pixel art like I do, Pathway is an absolute must in your library. Get it from Steam, GOG, and Humble (mac, linux, windows, $16).

[cosmoglaut]

Aziraphale’s ring and cuff links.

Crowley and Aziraphale’s toga pins (and angel’s ring at the time)

Also, Michael’s ring (in first pic) had to be resized at least thrice as apparently he kept getting smaller?

Courtsey Danegold Historic Jewelry

[bigcatslions]

Hercules - is a rescued Lion that lives at the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado, and like other lions there, he sometimes dreams of roaring while he is sleeping

[obeekris]

He sounds like a pull cord lawn mower that won’t start up

[color-head]

Nyané Lebajoa

[yesterdaysprint]

New Castle Herald, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1920

[bruneburg]

THE DESTILLATION OF ALBUS
I was at some cool peeps’ place and they had this gorgeous huge white cat named Albus. He’s like twice as big as usual cats and has this weird long as heck feather duster for a tail like a squirrel. First I drew that sketch at the top there, then things got increasingly out of hand.

[neil-gaiman]

No we are not plotting anything. Why do you think we are plotting something?

View more Neil Gaiman on WhoSay

[neil-gaiman]

For the record, I was lying. We were plotting something.

[neil-gaiman]

And all the things we were plotting are now coming to fruition.

[neil-gaiman]

So, for the record, this was the day we had lunch with the BBC and it became apparent that we really were going to make Good Omens. At that point, we were still looking for a writer. It would be six months before Terry told me that I had to do it and we decided that the writer had been found.

[theothersideofthechair]

I know every salon in the world has an app you can check in on and book your own colours and cuts…. But honestly if you want to book in a colour you need to call the salon and talk to a real person about this.

If you book yourself in for a short colour but you come in asking for a balayage you’re going to stress out your hair stylist who has NOT been booked off for the appropriate amount of time.

Your stylist is going to be forced to do an incredibly fast job on your hair which means your hair isn’t going to turn out at all like you want it.

So you’re both going to end up unhappy because your lazy ass couldn’t be bothered to call the salon and actually book a colour.

Don’t be this person.

Please be the person who remembers that hair appointments take time.

Also…. If you know the traffic is going to be bad……..maaaaaaaaaaaaaybe try leaving 10 minutes early so you’re not late for your appointment and making your stylist late for every appointment AFTER you.

[blessedimagesblog]

blessed_reversal

[veterinaryshitposting]

“Ventilators don’t get emotional when doing CPR.”

-anaesthesiology

[dxmedstudent]

Look, if we’re referring to the time I gave someone the kiss of life, that was just business, I swear.

[tubes-n-needles]

1. I know the phrase, but “kiss of life” still sounds like a d&d spell.

2. Ventilators don’t create fuss or panic. They just deliver air/oxygen under positive pressure with given rate like good boys. Simple.

[meatball-surgeon]

^ you’re right and you should say it. i used to be frightened of them, but ventilators are good boys.