Do you know how I spent my child-free day yesterday? I could’ve done anything I wanted. Anything. I could’ve tackled the unfinished projects around my house (which I call my piles of broken dreams), I could’ve taken a nap or even started Forza Horizon 6. 

But that’s boring adult shit, so instead I spent hours (and I mean hours) combing through every second of every Stranger than Heaven trailer I could find. Multiple times. I read every article. I took notes. Compared outfits. In-game locations. Every hair style is imprinted in my brain. 

And now I’m officially ready for today’s Stranger than Heaven special look. ::puffs out chest:: While I may not have a clean house after yesterday, I do have a brain full of predictions and theories! And if you know me, you know I love me a good prediction or two. Or 20. And there’s nothing better than memorializing them so you can forever remember just how wrong you were! 

So here’s what we know: The story follows protagonist Mako Daito over the span of 50 years, during five time periods across five separate cities. The time periods are:

• 1915 probably in Kokura. The location is named in an image file lol.
• 1929 possibly in Sapporo? This was the snowy location in Yakuza 5.
• 1943 in Sotenbori. I cannot WAIT to see this. What a vibe.
• 1951 probably in Atami Onsen. Folks smarter than me figured this out.
• 1965 in Kamurocho. I don’t think we’ve seen any footage of Mako Daito in Kamurocho. In theory he’ll be at his oldest here – if he’s still alive? DUDE what if we don’t play as him for the Kamurocho segment? What if we, like…play as Kiryu’s DAD. Or Shintaro Kazama! I’m reaching baby but I don’t care, this is the best part about making predictions.

I wanna put my tinfoil hat on for a sec: Remember the codename for Stranger Than Heaven? It was Project Century. A century is 100 years. But the dates we’ve been given for this game span only 50 years. 1915-1965. WHICH *math* is half a century. I’m looking at that yellow half circle we see in the title a little sideways. Maybe it’s symbolic? Could this be part 1 of 2? Or is it simply referring to the 20th century? HMMM.

Now putting away the tinfoil hat: considering the time periods we’re given, my guess is Stranger than Heaven will finally give us a long awaited look at the founding and early days of the Omi Alliance and Tojo Clan. Check out these dates:

• The Yamaguchi-gumi (Japan’s biggest IRL Yakuza organization) was founded in 1915. Know what year we visit in Stranger Than Heaven? 1915.
• The Tojo Clan was created around the 60s/70s, and Kamurocho’s segment just so HAPPENS to take place in 1965. C’mooon!  
• Not sure how this plays out, but it’s worth mentioning: the founder of the Tojo Clan’s name is Makoto Tojo. Our dude’s name is Mako Daito. Makoto. Mako. SIMILAR ASS NAMES. RGG coulda picked a million others but they went with Mako. *rubs beard* 

I also think there’s room for the Daidoji Faction to share the spotlight. Those secretive, puppeteering asshats came to be thanks to King Asshat Minoru Daidoji in the mid-1940s after World War II. Again, considering the timelines, Stranger Than Heaven could absolutely touch on them – the question is, will that touch be akin to a gentle caress you barely feel or a violent face punch? I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a violent face punch because DAMN there have been some significant narrative shifts in the Like a Dragon universe lately, and it’s all thanks to the Daidoji. 

And if we wanna get poetic, the Daidoji – an organization known to recruit those who could/should be dead – is its own twisted version of an afterlife. You could even say living within the Daidoji while you’re supposed to be dead is a fate…stranger than heaven. *BA DUM TSSSS*

Alright. This is the protagonist, Mako Daito, specifically in the 1943 Sotenbori era. Calling it now, this dude will play a significant role in setting up the Like a Dragon universe as we know it. Like, he’s either the freakin’ founder of Tojo Clan, or the founder of SOME clan that has a major impact in the Tojo’s history, or tragically, he gets offed in the end which, somehow, leads to the Tojo coming out on top. …Maybe he’s an undercover agent? Pffft I have no fucking idea. 

But there’s something that’s bothering me: like I said before, we haven’t seen him in Kamurocho yet. Hell, we haven’t even seen Kamurocho for more than a second. And logically I knooow RGG is probably waiting until today’s showcase to give us a look at Kamurocho – it certainly deserves its own spotlight – but I dunno, my gut is telling me something major is gonna go down with Mako Daito in Kamurocho. I’m talking about an earth-shattering narrative revelation. I can feel it in my loins. SOMETHING BIG IS GONNA HAPPEN.

On the topic of characters, it’s curious that SEGA’s website describes Stranger Than Heaven as “An epic saga of men battling through five eras and five cities.” I read this two different ways: Either we’ll have multiple playable characters or— WAIT.  OH my GOD. What if Snoop Dogg is playable. (Yeah he’s in the game!!!)

Ahem. As I was saying, there will either be a handful of playable characters, or, what’s more likely, Daito will be the only playable character and the word “men” refers to his ~*friends he makes along the way*~ like Snoop (I’ll never recover from this lololol) and maybe…this blonde dude below? The screen grab is blurry, but you can’t deny that the hair is yellow AF. I spotted him twice. Again, I know I’m doing a LOT with a little, but I feel like if you’re gonna show this guy more than once he’s gotta be of some importance. 

Could this be the same guy Daito is chatting with in the Title Reveal Teaser Trailer? – FUCK. What if it’s Bryce Fairchild?! He was born in the late 1800s…there’s no way it’s him. Right? Hmmm. “Stranger Than Heaven” – what is potentially stranger than going to Heaven? Immortality? Ambergris. Whale excrement. Oh god. I have to stop. I’m going to break my brain. OH NO BRYCE WEARS YELLOW THE HALF CIRCLE IS YELLOW AND SNOOP WEARS YELLOW WHAT DOES IT MEAN /brainbroken

Since I’m already going batshit crazy, now’s probably a good time to throw my Hail Mary for character cameos. The potential has me giddier than Majima waiting for Kiryu in a manhole. Think about it – 1965 Kamurocho is PRIME territory! It would be like a yakuza safari!

In a VERY particular order:

• Immediately the Yakuza 0 lieutenants: Give me young Kuze, Awano and Shibusawa. They would be around 18-19 years old, and I never thought I would say this, but I miss those assholes. No other Like a Dragon antagonists in ALL of the subsequent games have ever made me feel as weak, small and pathetic as they did. I would give all of my Tauriners and pocket tissues to duke it out with a young Kuze. 
• Shintaro Kazama: Kiryu’s “father.” Kazama was born in 1945, so *math* he would be 20 in 1965, which HAPPENS to be around the age he joined the Tojo Clan as a hitman. Duuude, what if Mako Daito bites it at the end of Stranger Than Heaven and the one who gets him is…Kazama? Fjdakfjalk OH MY GOD what if Mako Daito is starting his own clan but Kazama is like “NO SIR I have to stop you before you make something bigger and better than us!” and omg what if the order comes from DOJIMA. NOOO.
• Futoshi Shimano: I wanna hate this bastard so much for what he did to my husband Majima, but he’s a damn good antagonist. He’d be about 17/18. I doubt we’d see him by himself, but if we DO see a glimpse of Kazama, there’s a chance Shimano could be nearby. 
• Jin Goda: This cameo COULD make sense, but ehhh. We meet him in Yakuza 2 as the 5th Chairman of the Omi Alliance in the mid-2000s. So I dunno if that would slot in. 
• Sohei Dojima: …Y’know what, nevermind. I don’t wanna see this bastard again.

AND I’M JUST GONNA PUT THIS HERE: Majima would be ONE YEAR OLD. HE COULD APPEAR AS A BABY IN 1965 KAMUROCHO. 

I’m so beyond excited to see what RGG is cooking with Stranger Than Heaven. It’s rad to see RGG spreading their wings and trying their hand at something a bit different, you know?

Only a few more hours to go! AHHHH! 

The post My Stranger Than Heaven Predictions first appeared on A video game blog and other shenanigans | Blondenerd.com.

South of Midnight has lots to love: southern gothic vibes, bizarre creatures, charming characters & THE SOUNDTRACK (omg!). I LOVE that we have Hazel, but wish the narrative focused more on her rather than the trauma of those around her.

The post South of Midnight Review first appeared on A video game blog and other shenanigans | Blondenerd.com.

Split Fiction is a constant dopamine rush that had me grinning from start to finish. Hazelight’s gameplay curveballs are genius and glorious, making this easily among the most fun video games I’ve played in years, co-op or otherwise. Grab a friend/partner/pet and enjoy this incredible co-op experience. Just make sure you can, uh, healthily communicate.

Thank you EA for the review code!

The post Split Fiction Review: Hazelight’s Co-op Magic Strikes Again first appeared on A video game blog and other shenanigans | Blondenerd.com.

Hope you enjoy my review, and thank you RGG for the review copy!

The post [VIDEO] Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Review first appeared on A video game blog and other shenanigans | Blondenerd.com.

South of Midnight makes you feel like you’re in the most glorious southern gothic fever dream of your life. Compulsion Games has crafted a modern folktale that draws you in, and I can’t WAIT to see more.

Thank you Xbox and Compulsion for the opportunity to preview!

The post [VIDEO] South of Midnight Preview: A Southern Gothic Fever Dream first appeared on A video game blog and other shenanigans | Blondenerd.com.