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NIDHOGG II: Intense Stabby Joy

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Nidhogg

Messhof studio’s NIDHOGG II has somehow made a connection to feelings of pure joy. Yea, it reached in and found some part of a long-hidden id, that had been paved over by multilayers of jaded titles. I almost forgot it existed, but the simple and exhilarating nature of this game makes for a kinda enjoyment that verges on well-to-do lunacy.

NIDHOGG II brings back the intense tug-of-war gameplay, and replaces its predecessor’s minimalistic aesthetic with a vibrant cartoon color palette.  The goal of the game is simple enough, run as fast as your little feet can take you to the left or right of the screen, (depending what side you are on) while stabbing, stomping and letting loose arrows at your opponent. All in order to reach the final screen which sacrifices you to the Nidhogg, a wormlike flying creature, who swoops in to eat you like a fun sized Snicker.

Weapons alternate between broadsword, rapier, knife, bow and your own footsies of fury. It’s based entirely in the realm of simplicity on its surface, but once you take your fight to another human player, rather it be on line or locally, you begin to learn the intricacies in your approach to the gameplay. Using your D-pad will raise your sword or knife to different height levels either high, mid or low. You can use those varying stances as a way to foresee your opponents offensive and defensive approach. This gives you the chance to block a sword throw, or address an arrow back to its sender.

The most alluring part of the whole experience, is how easily it is to turn the tables on your opponent. Just because you are racing through and making quick work of your adversary initially, it doesn’t mean they won’t stop you in the last screen and make a comeback. The variation of attacks and learning your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses usually dictates the direction of the game.  Quick decisions and fancy swashbuckling can turn the tide relatively fast.

All these elements make for a good time, but it isn’t until you go head-to-head with a friend that laughter takes hold of you. The laughter is reminiscent to that feeling yo had  climbing monkey bars when you were six-years-old. It’s becomes Prozac in video game form. Stabbing someone in the face with a rapier and watching them run as fast as they can to avoid fighting completely. Watching a match that could take 2 minutes, instead take 15 minutes due to the insane back and forth. These NIDHOGG games are uniquely their own, and a straight up blast. Hearing a friend result to repeating “I just wanna win” over and over again during particularly long matches, only adds to the levels of fun that this game administers in large doses.

Even though multiplayer is where the beef is, the single player campaign is no slouch either. This takes you across 10 different maps, each with their own unique cartoonish characteristics. The AI can be a tricky mistress here; making for unexpected amounts of hair-pulling tension. I gotta hand it to Messhoff for creating an increasingly savvy opponent. The AI learns from your moves, and will act accordingly to 100% piss you off with its ability to accurately assumptions what your next attack will be. It can get challenging and heated, but in my book that is always a good thing.

Use single-player mode as a tutorial and then jump online to take on some real challenges against NIDHOGG II elite. Or, take on your buddies in knock-out tournaments. The real magic lies in this games ability to create such a gameplay rich expericnce out of the pieces of such a simple game.  Play it however you want, bottom line is NIDHOGG II is a real glutton for all that is great and fun and right with the universe.

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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