The hell? It’s already Christmas?!
… Oops! I mean… Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everybody! I hope your day is filled with love and joy! You deserve a big smooch!
Before we begin the festivities, I’d like to wish everyone a very happy holiday!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah!
Happy Kwanzaa!
Happy Festivus!
Happy everybody!
Whatever holiday(s) you celebrate, I hope you have a great one, you sly fox, you! And here’s to a happy 2024! May the new year bring you happiness, and may it make me more consistent with writing my reviews and whatnot.
Speaking of my writing, Christmas Day also marks the anniversary of this site! Yeah, Christmas Day 2014, to be exact! Geez, we’ve hit the ninth anniversary already… I’m really going to have to try and go big for next year’s big one-oh.
So Happy Holidays, Happy Wizard Dojo, and Good Moleman to you!
Now then, let’s not dillydally any longer. Let us begin this Christmas special!
My Top 10 Movies of 2023
2023 has proven to be a stacked year for cinema. Whether big budget, small budget, mainstream, artsy, indie, foreign, or some other category, 2023 was like a treasure trove of movies in a lot of ways.
While I normally like to write my favorite film(s) of the year list as its own post here, this time I figured I’d add it to my annual Christmas Special and see how it goes. Besides, for various reasons I rarely end up making my best films of the year post until well into the next year, long after most people would care to read it. At least this time I’m timely.
Again, there was no shortage of great movies in 2023, but I feel my list of the year’s best may differ somewhat from most peoples. Sure, I’ve mostly selected some popular choices, but popular in that they were popular with general audience as well as some for the more artsy crowd. Though some of those same artsy folk would surely form an angry mob at the sight of my list, as there’s no Killers of the Flower Moon (lord knows as much as they hate fans of popular movies, the “cinema crowd” are also basically fanboys for Martin Scorsese). Flower Moon is a great film in many respects. Just not one of my best of the year (it loses some additional points for Scorsese’s shoehorned cameo in the end, which is presented in such a way it feels like the movie expects us to be in awe at the director’s on-screen presence). Also of note, there’s no Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse on my list. Again, mostly great, but it feels like it’s its own biggest fan. And there are still a handful of 2023 movies I still need to see (I can always revise the list later, if need be).
My list contains films which I think are either A) artful but lacking in the self-indulgence of the above mentioned films, and B) movies that were pure fun. Because I’m a human being and not a robot, I like fun.
Chances are you may disagree with my list, either through some of the entries or their placements. But what are you gonna do about it? It’s my list! Here I am all powerful! Mwahahahaha!
*Ahem!*
Maybe… Maybe we should just get to the list now…
10: Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is not what it once was. While the crossover mega-franchise may have once guaranteed a good time (of varying degrees), it seemed like once everything up to that point had been wrapped up with Avengers: Endgame, the MCU lost all sense of direction. Even the aspects we used to like about the individual films no longer worked in the post-Endgame MCU. The MCU movies now feel more contrived as they go through the motions, desperately trying to setup the next big crossover event (which still hasn’t even happened yet).
Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 felt like a fun return to form. If even just a one-time return to form. It has all the usual trappings that used to make the MCU so consistently entertaining, but importantly (and uniquely, in the MCU), Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3 actually had something to say.
Surprisingly, Guardians 3 shifted the focus from Peter Quill to Rocket, and with a good reason: the movie is all about the beauty of animals, and the empathy we should have for them. As an animal lover myself, I definitely had to appreciate that. It’s the only Marvel movie to ever make me teary-eyed.
9: John Wick: Chapter 4
The John Wick series has long-since elevated fight-oriented action films, and the fourth (final?) entry takes things to all new, ludicrous heights. At nearly three hours long, it may sound bloated on paper, but because the spectacular action the series is known for is on full display – and just never lets up – it’s three hours in which there’s never a dull moment.
Perhaps the “chapter 4” in the title does the film a disservice. Yes, it is the fourth John Wick movie, but it’s on such a grander scale than those that came before it (and not just because of the runtime), and so much happens throughout the movie, that it’s more of its own saga than a mere “chapter” in the series.
It takes a truly competent film to feature so much non-stop action (in the most literal sense. It doesn’t let up!) for nearly three hours and never feel exhausting. But John Wick: Chapter 4 more than lives up to the challenge. I’m sure the franchise will continue in various different guises and forms. But if Chapter 4 is the sendoff of John Wick proper, it’s a hell of a way to go out.
8: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Speaking of a franchise that elevates action, what Jon Wick did for fight choreography, Mission: Impossible has done for stunt work and larger-than-life set pieces. And the seventh installment in the series, Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One raises the bar once again. It’s as entertaining as its title is a mouthful.
Honestly, how many franchises can say they’re still running at full steam by their seventh installment? I’m seriously struggling to think if any other movie series has been as consistent as Mission: Impossible. Sure, the second installment is a bit of a black sheep, but so what when the rest of the series only got better and better after that? The series’ reliability is as impressive as the death-defying situations Ethan Hunt constantly gets swept up in.
With Dead Reckoning Part Two still on the horizon, there’s at least one more globe-trotting espionage adventure for Ethan Hunt and company to partake in. But I have to admit, Dead Reckoning Part One sets the standard for stunts and set pieces so high, it may be difficult even for future Mission: Impossibles to top.
7: Barbie
Barbie may be the weirdest movie phenomenon of the last few decades. A film based on a toyline that has some insightful things to say, with a tongue-in-cheek tone, and a bit of surrealist world-building doesn’t sound like the usual billion-dollar movie. Yet somehow, Barbie worked. And worked well, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year, and being one half of the duel phenomenon of “Barbenheimer” alongside its unlikely “sister film,” Oppenheimer.
Though I greatly enjoyed Barbie, I would like to take a quick moment to point out my one big complaint with the movie (seeing as I’ve been meaning to write a proper review of it, but still haven’t gotten to it yet): I don’t think it’s really a kids’ movie. That’s not to say that it’s inappropriate (aside from the occasional adult joke, but that’s nothing new in children’s media), just that I don’t think it has much in the way for kids to enjoy outside of the bright colors, which seems like an arrogant oversight by the filmmakers. As someone who has seen many children’s films that have more than enough depth and intelligence for adults, it is a shame that one of the most acclaimed “children’s films” in recent memory is essentially a movie made for adults that just happens to be based off a children’s toyline.
Did that sound too negative? Well, Barbie made it onto my list, and at number 7. So obviously I do think highly of it. But I have been meaning to get that complaint off my chest for a while. And it is that one element that prevents me from placing Barbie even higher up on this list.
Even still, Barbie is a fun and intelligent movie that’s all too easy to enjoy. It may even be the start of a whole new type of blockbuster.
6: Oppenheimer
The other half of ‘Barbenheimer.’
Though the biopic is a genre that really ran its course throughout the 2010s, Oppenheimer proves that great filmmaking equals a great film, even in an oversaturated genre. Christopher Nolan is at the top of his game here, making what I think is the director’s best film since The Dark Knight.
The acting, directing and music of Oppenheimer really make the film feel tense throughout. Even in its humbler moments, it still builds that tension so well because you know the horror the film is ultimately leading up to. And appropriately, it dissolves into tragedy once all is said and done.
5: Godzilla Minus One
Godzilla: Minus One puts up a good argument to being the best Godzilla film ever made. It goes back to the roots of the series (Godzilla being a metaphor for atomic devastation, a critique on Japan’s government, etc.), but it adds the theme of finding appreciation and beauty in life itself, even in the face of pure, absolute devastation.
Minus One checks all the boxes for a great Godzilla movie, but perhaps even more impressively, it works wonderfully even if you’re someone who’s not overly familiar with the King of the Monsters. It’s simply a gripping film from start to finish. And amidst all the chaos and destruction seen on-screen, it ultimately proves to be (perhaps surprisingly) one of the most life-affirming films in recent memory. It’s a beautiful film.
It’s also the best Jaws sequel.
4: The Super Mario Bros. Movie
As soon as I saw The Super Mario Bros. Movie, it was always going to appear highly on my year-end list. No, I don’t give a damn that it isn’t a critical darling. We live in a time in which movie critics like movies that are tailor made to pander to movie critics. So critical approval means nothing to me. What the Super Mario Bros. Movie is, however, is fun. Pure, unbridled fun. And that should account for something.
I firmly believe the Super Mario Bros. franchise to be the best franchise in all of popular culture. No other series has so consistently delivered, defined and redefined its medium in the way Super Mario has for video games. And while the franchise’s jump to the big screen may not be as masterful as a film as many of its games are as games, it is still the single most fun video game to movie adaptation I can recall seeing.
Yes, the movie is basically fan-service. But you know what? Is that really so bad in this case? It’s an adaptation! When so many video game movies have felt embarrassed by their source material, it’s kind of nice to see The Super Mario Bros. Movie basically serve as a love letter to the game series.
Of all the movies released in 2023, this is the one I see myself going back to and watching the most. Let’s not pretend that fun doesn’t matter.
3: Tetris
From a movie based on a video game to a movie about a video game.
Tetris is the true-but-embellished story about the struggle of getting Alexey Pajitnov’s indelible falling-block puzzle game out of the USSR to be played and appreciated around the world. While video game distribution may not sound too exciting, the true story behind Tetris’ distribution has always been a fascinating tale, and the movie adds a chase sequence or two for good measure.
The story of how political and corporate corruption on both sides of the world made the simple distribution of a video game seem impossible, but the wills and determination of a few select people managed to overcome the odds is truly inspiring. The fact that Tetris has essentially become the most accomplished video game in history makes it all the more so.
It may seem like an odd little tale, but Tetris – even with a few added bells and whistles – tells its story with such enthusiasm, that it becomes one of the most engrossing and entertaining films of the year.
2: Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Between The Super Mario Bros. Movie and Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, 2023 was like the year of redeeming game franchises from past cinematic adaptations. Much like the fun of 2023’s Mario outing helped fans recover from the live-action fever dream from thirty years prior, Honor Among Thieves washed away the horrendous stank of the 2000 D&D movie, and provided a thoroughly entertaining movie for both fans of the franchise and people who wouldn’t have the tiniest shred of interest in it otherwise.
In a weird way, I might call Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves as the best Pixar film of the year. Although it has no association with the great animation studio, it has all the hallmarks of a Pixar movie: it stars a cast of lovable, sometimes quirky characters. It’s set in a fantastical world. It has a good sense of humor, but is never self-deprecating or cynical. And it features some genuinely touching moments. In a year when Pixar released what can be described as its “okay-est” film in Elemental, a Dungeons & Dragons movie (of all things) filled the studio’s usual role quite nicely.
Whether you’re a longtime D&D fan or couldn’t care less for the tabletop RPG, Honor Among Thieves works as a great movie for all audiences.
What an absolute delight.
1: The Boy and the Heron
The legendary Hayao Miyazaki’s latest animated dreamscape, The Boy and the Heron, is nothing short of a masterpiece. And the best film of 2023.
The Boy and the Heron (know in Japan by the much more fitting title ‘How do you Live?’) is Miyazaki’s most personal film to date, playing as a sort of quasi-autobiography and reflection of his filmography. It’s a story of grief and its continued effects, and even a film about creativity itself. It may very well be Miyazaki’s most open-ended movie, leaving many of its elements up for interpretation.
After the death of his mother in a WWII bombing, young Mahito crosses paths with the gray heron that dwells around his new home. But this heron turns out to be an otherworldly figure, who guides Mahito to a world between life and death. It’s difficult to describe the film in more detail, because the film – like much of Miyazaki’s work – is often indescribable.
Beyond the metaphorical artistry of it, The Boy and the Heron is also an astoundingly beautiful parade of hand-drawn images. It’s one of the most stunning animated films ever made. Completed, of course, by the audial wizardry of Joe Hisaishi’s haunting score.
It was ten years ago that Hayao Miyazaki released The Wind Rises which – like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away before it – was supposed to be Miyazaki’s final film. His retirement may have lasted a bit longer this time around, but the wait was more than worth it. The Boy and the Heron is the return of the world’s greatest animator in full force.
The Boy and the Heron is, quite simply, the best film of 2023.
Farewell to E3
Earlier this month, the Entertainment Software Association announced that E3 – the Electronic Entertainment Expo – was officially retired. Though this had been expected, given the dwindling yearly events in the years before the pandemic brought the expo to a complete halt. The ESA attempted to start the event back up as the world began operating again, but to no avail. And so, what was considered the biggest event on the gaming calendar from 1995 to 2019, has come to an end.
Though the official announcement wasn’t all that surprising at this point, it stings all the same now that it’s a reality. For over two decades, E3 was the time when every publisher and developer would bring out all the stops with their major announcements, reveals, trailers, everything! It was like a holiday to those who loved video games, even if it was a trade event. These days, those in the industry wait for those godawful Game Awards to showcase their trailers (which means people wisely just watch the trailers online and skip the actual show, whereas people actively wanted to watch an entire E3 presentation).
So many games and consoles were first showcased at E3, whether just in seconds-long teaser trailers or through game demos on the show floor. The very nature of games turned what was technically a business expo into something fun and exciting for those watching at home, and even those in the business in attendance. For the event’s final few years starting in 2017, E3 even became available for public attendance!
I personally found myself lucky enough to attend E3 from 2009 to 2014, and again in 2017 and 2018, creating many fun and beautiful memories for myself. Even the less-pleasant memories, like my first time playing what would become one of the worst Nintendo games ever in Metroid: Other M now bring a nostalgic tear to my eye.
As a final salute to “the Big Dance” (press ‘F‘ to pay respects), I’m going to list my favorite game (and a runner-up) I played on the showfloor, and a standout memory for every year I attended the event.
2009
“The year Project Natal (later Microsoft Kinect) was all over the place”
Favorite Game on the Show Floor: Batman: Arkham Asylum
To this day, I remember the setup for the Batman: Arkham Asylum booth at E3 2009. It was designed to look like a grungy (edgelord-y?) jail cell, complete with Joker’s usual “hahahaha” scribblings all over the walls. The game itself was great, of course. Today, it’s often considered one of the best super hero games ever made (though its sequel, Arkham City, usually takes top honors… even if its plot ultimately makes no sense. But that’s a rant for another day). Arkham Asylum really made the player feel like Batman. And well, how can you go wrong with that?
Runner-up: New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Honorary mention goes to Left 4 Dead 2, but there’s no way I couldn’t mention New Super Mario Bros. Wii. It was my most played game at my first E3! Nintendo had so many booths playing it, it was ridiculous! I even said hi to Charles Martinet for the first time! It may seem commonplace now, but back then, four-player sidescrolling Mario was a big deal! And so much fun.
Standout Memory: The Super Mario Galaxy 2 Reveal
2007’s Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii was already one of the best games ever made. Then, in a move that was unprecedented at the time, Nintendo announced a direct sequel to a 3D Mario game at E3 2009. It was never actually playable on the show floor, but I distinctly remember seeing the above image in a small news sheet being handed out at the event. Being only able to attend the show floor (as opposed to the conferences), looking at this image as I entered the hall doors only to be greeted by a big screen with the trailer itself starting up as soon as I reached Nintendo’s booth was simply magical. A perfect first impression for what would be a perfect game.
2010
“The Wii’s best year.”
Favorite Game on the Show Floor: Donkey Kong Country Returns
If you know me, you know I love – I mean like REALLY LOVE – Donkey Kong Country (particularly the second entry). Keeping in mind again that I didn’t attend the conferences ahead of time, what a hell of a surprise it was to walk into the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center and see the words “Donkey Kong Country Returns” decorating the Nintendo booth! The game itself did not disappoint (even if it would be bettered by its sequel. More on that in a moment). DKCR is still a masterclass in level design.
Runner-up: Kirby’s Epic Yarn
If the very concept of “charm” became a video game, it would most likely be Kirby’s Epic Yarn. Setting aside Kirby’s usual copy abilities in favor of a yarn aesthetic that also found its way into gameplay, Kirby’s Epic Yarn remains one of Kirby’s cutest, and best, adventures yet.
Standout Memory: The 3DS
2010 was a great year to be a Nintendo fan. Not only did Super Mario Galaxy 2 release that year (before E3, leaving the game destined to never actually appear on the show floor), and not only did the Wii see the aforementioned Donkey Kong Country Returns and Kirby’s Epic Yarn (alongside other big titles like Monster Hunter 3 Tri and Tatsunoko vs. Capcom), but it was the year the Nintendo 3DS was revealed. The beautiful little gem always had an uphill battle, coming off the heels of the money-printing Nintendo DS and capitalizing on the 3D craze of the late-2000s/early-2010s. But in the end, the 3DS was a wonderful little handheld that ended up lasting nine years on the market before being discontinued (among the longest of any Nintendo system). And I, and many others, got our first play of it here at E3 2010. *Sniff*
2011
“Remember when Wii U was called Project Cafe?”
Favorite Game on the Show Floor: Dark Souls
By now, the impact and influence of Dark Souls is so deeply ingrained in video games that it can be difficult to remember a time before it. Back at E3 2011, the “Demon’s Souls sequel” was showcased. At the time, I hadn’t played Demon’s Souls, but my brother and others I know raved about it, so I made it a point to check out Dark Souls and WHOAMIGOSH DID A GIANT ARMORED BOAR JUST BREAK ME IN HALF?! Thus was my first experience with Dark Souls.
Runner-up: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D
I could go with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword here. After all, it was the big new Zelda game coming out later in 2011 for the Nintendo Wii. And I do have some fond memories of it, and my brief time playing it at E3 (hot take: Skyward Sword started a trend that would continue with the Wii U HD remasters of making cycling through Link’s arsenal much less arduous, all thanks to motion controls!). But I’m going to cheat and go with the 3DS remake of Ocarina of Time. It’s a classic, and it never looked (and maybe even played) better than it did on the 3DS.
On that note, I better give an honorable mention to Star Fox 64 3D. Man, those early days of the 3DS sure were kind to Nintendo 64 remasters.
Standout Memory: Honestly, basically the whole show floor
Since I already referred to my first exposure to Dark Souls, I’m going to cheat here, because the show floor of E3 2011 had so much to offer it all still stands out. From the aforementioned “You Died” of Dark Souls and 3DS N64 remakes, there were also a bunch of indie titles such as Bastion at the show, Batman: Arkham City was on-hand, Kinect was still a thing (pictured above is Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, one of the more fondly remembered Kinect titles), and the Wii U – then known as Project Cafe – was on the horizon. Honestly, 2011 as a whole seems to go underrated as an all-time great year for video games.
2012
“Remake Nintendo Land, you cowards!”
Favorite Game on the Show Floor: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
A Studio Ghibli video game?! Hot damn! Count me in!
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch looked to emulate the world’s greatest animation studio by… actually getting the world’s greatest animation studio to help make the game. An enhanced remake of a Japan-exclusive Nintendo DS game from two years prior, the PS3 upgrade remains one of the most whimsical and heartfelt video game stories out there. And with gameplay that essentially combines Dragon Quest and Pokémon, it was destined to be a surefire winner. Oh, and Namco Bandai actually got Joe Hisaishi himself to do the music! *Drools Homer Simpson style*
Runner-up: Pikmin 3
With all due respect to Dishonored (which may have been the best game actually released in 2012, with my selections here ultimately releasing in 2013), there was no way I’d deny Pikmin 3 a mention here. Like Donkey Kong Country, I LOVE Pikmin. And the wait from Pikmin 2 to Pikmin 3 was nearly a decade, with nine years between them (a trend Nintendo doubled down on with the next installment, as Pikmin 4 was released a full decade after 3). Though Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U gave the Wii U some solid launch titles, Pikmin 3 was the game that proved the Wii U was capable of true greatness. And how could you not love the little Rock Pikmin?
Standout Memory: The Wii U and Nintendo Land
The Wii U may have been an ill-fated console, wedged between the cultural phenomenon of the Wii and Switch and always lacking a proper identity unto itself, but it really did give us a lot to love. Some of my favorite E3 memories (and some of my favorite gaming memories of that time period) was the indefinable wackiness of those early months of the Wii U. At E3, I got to play a slew of games for the console, including The Wonderful 101 (then known as ‘Project P-100’) a game I could never really figure out even then, New Super Mario Bros. U (like the Wii game, but with better level design), the aforementioned Pikmin 3 (Mmm-mmm!), Game & Wario (like WarioWare, but not as good), ZombiU (a zombie game, on Wii U!) and Rayman Legends (a fun game). And then there was Nintendo Land, a collection of mini-games based on Nintendo’s franchises that was looking to be the new Wii Sports. I’ll never forget the simple, pure fun I had with different groups of strangers playing the Luigi’s Mansion and Animal Crossing mini-games. Nor will I forget my confusion trying to figure out the Donkey Kong mini-game. Come on Nintendo, give Nintendo Land another chance!
2013
“The times, they were a-changin’!”
Favorite Game on the Show Floor: Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
There’s a lot to be said about the Wii U, but its 2014 was unquestionably a great year. And pretty much everything that made Wii U’s 2014 so great was introduced at E3 2013 (the first year Nintendo went with their “Digital Event” approach to the show)! We had Super Smash Bros! We had Bayonetta 2! We had Mario Kart 8! We had Wind Waker HD (although that one actually was released in 2013)! And then we had Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze! As great of a return as Donkey Kong Country Returns was for the DKC series, Tropical Freeze was still somehow a vast improvement in every way. The level design is god-tier. It brought back Dixie Kong and introduced Cranky Kong into the playable character fold. And in one of gaming’s quieter most triumphant moments, it brought back series composer David Wise to score the music (after Returns simply remixed most of his tunes from the first game). One of gaming’s all-time best soundtracks (just like the first two entries in the series), one of the best platformers ever made. And yes, the most underrated Nintendo game ever. It’s been almost a decade since it was released. It’s time we acknowledge Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze as the masterpiece it is. We’re also overdue for a new DK game to boot!
Runner-up: Super Mario 3D World
Honorable mention goes to Mario Kart 8 (again, this was the Wii U’s time to shine), which may be the biggest success story to come out of the Wii U (by some margin), but one that I didn’t have the best first impression with (I was using the gamepad while the other players at E3 were using Wii wheels, I wasn’t aware I was supposed to be using motion controls on the Gamepad and, well, I immediately crashed into a wall). But Super Mario 3D World had a much better first impression for me. Although it wasn’t the genre redefining epic like Super Mario Galaxy that we’d hoped for, 3D World was pure Mario fun. It’s like Super Mario Bros. 3 or World but in the third dimension, and up to four players. Given that I’ve rarely had the chance to play the game with others since, these early 3D World memories stand out all the more (including one level I played were some Try Hard was trying to rush through the level and leave his team behind, but I still reached the flag pole first and got the highest score. Serves him right for not being a team player).
Standout Memory: New Stuff! New Stuff everywhere!
I know I’m going on about the Wii U’s great year (let it have that!), but this was also the year Sony unveiled the Playstation 4 (hey, if the name ain’t broke, don’t fix it) and Microsoft revealed the XBox One (fix the name! Fix the name!). So not only did I have a wave of new Nintendo games to try out, but also whole new consoles?! Man, what a time this was! I can distinctly remember playing Octodad: Dadliest Catch on PS4, and laughing out loud at the absurdity of it. I played some of the Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and DuckTales remakes. I played a little Disney Infinity (remember Toys-to-life games?), Batman: Arkham Origins (the “other” Arkham game), Puppeteer, Dark Souls II… What a lovely year this was.
2014
“I won me some t-shirts!”
Favorite Game on the Show Floor: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U
I tried going a different route with my pick for this year, both because I’ve listed a number of Nintendo games here already (and will again in a moment) and because Smash Wii U/3DS and later Smash Ultimate would eventually lead to me losing interest in the series (there’s only so many anime swordfighters I can stands, ’til I can’t stands no more!). But reflecting back on that moment in time, and looking back at what games were present, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U was the only one I could have picked (Bloodborne only had a trailer, it wasn’t on the show floor). The excitement I had for Mega Man’s inclusion (one of the last third-party characters whose inclusion actually made sense), Rosalina being a unique pick from the Mario lineup, the fact that this was a new Super Smash Bros. in a time when the series was still actually about Nintendo… It was a fun moment in time. And best of all, because I kicked so much ass, I won like seven or eight t-shirts (a couple of which I still own, the others I gave away to friends). So that was cool.
Runner-up: Splatoon
I remember when Splatoon was first revealed, it was such a big deal. People couldn’t get over how it was Nintendo’s “first new IP in over a decade,” which was actually a blatantly false narrative, as series like Wii Sports, Wii Fit, Brain Age and others had been released between Animal Crossing and Splatoon. Nonetheless, Splatoon was something of a mini-revelation: a team-based shooter where players shoot ink, and the goal is to cover more of the ground with your team color’s ink than the enemy team. It’s so simple and silly, but very effective. The series is now going strong with three entries and becoming massive in Japan, but I’ll never forget its out of left field introduction at E3 2014.
Standout Memory: Winning those shirts and lugging them around the show floor
Note to self, start wearing a backpack or something to these things (well, not E3 specifically, because… *Sob*). Thankfully I won the shirts between different days, but I still ended up slinging two or three over my shoulder each day of the event. I’d be watching the Metal Gear Solid V trailer or playing Kirby and the Rainbow Curse, Halo: The Master Chief Collection or Sonic Boom (yeah…) all while lugging those Super Smash Bros. t-shirts around. What a strange way for my initial streak of E3s to end.
2017
“The return.”
Favorite Game on the Show Floor: Super Mario Odyssey
Now here’s a Nintendo game I definitely don’t second guess placing here, because Super Mario Odyssey is one of the greatest video games ever made. It’s a non-stop cavalcade of ideas gleefully being thrown the player’s way. It’s a game where every moment is a blast. It just doesn’t relent with its inventiveness! In this day and age when it seems most games are more about showing off their extravagant budgets than anything else, Super Mario Odyssey was a beautiful reminder that fun and creativity reign supreme in the medium.
Runner-Up: Sonic Mania
Sega has repeatedly tried to resurrect the magic of the original Sonic the Hedgehog games on the Sega Genesis. In fact, the recent Sonic Superstars is proof that they’re still trying. But Sega (or, more accurately, a talented team of fans officially commissioned by Sega) actually achieved the feat in 2017 with Sonic Mania, which may very well be the best Sonic game ever made. Playing Sonic Mania for the very first time at E3 that year really took me back to my early childhood, when Sonic the Hedgehog was the coolest dude on the planet. Please Sega, more of this!
Standout Memory: Playing Dragon Ball FighterZ with my brother
It’s kind of sad that the final product of Dragon Ball FighterZ didn’t completely win me over, because my first experience with it was lovely. My brother also attended E3 in 2017, and though we went our own way through the show floor, we both met up to partake in Dragon Ball FighterZ. Me and my brother fought each other for a few rounds (rounds which seemed to last notably longer than in the final game). We both loved the look of the game (using the ‘3D anime’ style that had become popular in fighting games, but with Dragon Ball), and loved the way it played even more. It was simply a lot of fun. And a brotherly moment.
2018
“The end.”
Favorite Game on the Show Floor: Marvel’s Spider-Man
Although in retrospect Insomniac’s Spider-Man series of games seem to fall under the same umbrella as 99% of Sony exclusives (that is to say, watch a bunch of cinematics and then button mash during some quicktime events), at the time the game felt like a refreshingly lighthearted riff on the Batman: Arkham series. And it has to be said that Spider-Man controls exactly as he should (when you aren’t watching cinematics or in button-mashing quick time events, that is).
Runner-up: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Again, my enthusiasm for Super Smash Bros. had not completely dried out by this point, as there were still a number of disappointments to be had in the months that followed and after Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was released. But once again, this proved to be a great moment at that point in time. Though they only gave out pins as opposed to t-shirts for victories this time around, I received a few of those pins for my efforts. So the long lines were ultimately worth it.
Standout Memory: Taking a photo with Charles Martinet and attending E3 one final time.
While waiting in line (for I think Super Smash Bros?), the voice of Mario himself happened to be walking by (no, not Chris Pratt… or the new guy). Charles Martinet himself just happened to be passing by, and I got out of line to get a quick photo with him. Nice chap. And someone even held my place in line. How thoughtful.
On top of that, there was a weird sense of finality to E3 2018 for me, even back then. Though I still very much loved being there, I had grown so accustom to attending that the dwindling presence of the big publishers and developers (who were still present, but on a smaller scale) was noticeable. Something about the event just seemed like a good bookend to E3 for me (even if I would have loved to attend again). Super Smash Bros. was back, echoing the 2014 event (which ended my first string of consecutive E3s). And I said hi to Mr. Martinet again, as I did back at my first E3 way back in 2009.
I didn’t know it was my finale E3 at the time (there would only be one more proper E3 in 2019, followed by whatever you want to call the 2021 event), but it was a fitting sendoff to my times attending the show.
Thank you for the memories, E3. From the days I patiently waited to watch the event from home, to the eight wonderful events I was able to attend in person (making said younger self who watched at home do spiritual backflips in my heart). You will be missed!
The Last Part!
And now it’s time we bring things to a close for this year’s Christmas Special. I know, much like my 2023 as a whole, this Christmas post didn’t have as much variety as past years. I’ll just have to be sure to do better next year. I got to writing this in bits and pieces at the last minute. The fact that I have even finished it is something I’m proud of.
At the very least, I hoped you enjoyed reading what I had to write here in the introduction, my Top 10 Films of 2023 list, and my E3 memories. More importantly, I hope you had a happy holiday season, ate lots of gingerbread, said your ho ho hos, all that jazz.
Here’s hoping 2024 will be a productive year for you and me both. I have so many games I still need to review…
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Wizard Dojo 