Video Games Live - London 2006

By Le Chupacabra

The feverish shouting and incessant babbling hushed down synchronously with the dimming lights until darkness bathed the theatre. Only the softly glowing screen up at the very front and muted spotlights kept the stage in sharp relief. The conductor, Jake Wall, leapt onto the platform, did a quick turn and offered a flourishing bow to the audience. He lightly tapped the holder for the sheets with his baton and all the musicians assumed their positions born of relentless practice and rehearsal. Every pair of eyes, performers and audience alike, followed the tip of the baton as it gracefully rose into the air. The screen faded and bold white lines appeared; it was image instantly recognisable by those present. A furious game of Pong was being played as the orchestra performed a series of blips and bleeps in harmony with the video. This was not going to be your average classical music concert…

Welcome to Video Games Live 2006 in London!

The crowd couldn’t help but titter as the performers turned a simple game of Pong into a musical medley; the minimal sounds became much more than the creators had ever intended. Suddenly the music change tempo again – a distinct Russian influence permeated through: it was Tetris! As the falling bricks came crashing down faster, the tune grew more frantic. It was then, holding onto the theme of freneticism, that the images shifted to yet another classic. Space Invaders had transformed from an arcade game into an important piece in the history of music at that point! As the music became more frenzied, other classic arcade games came into focus. There was Ghosts ‘n’ Goblins of NES fame, followed by the Disney-esque Dragon’s Lair and similarly animated Space Ace, Donkey Kong, Frogger, Gauntlet and finally Outrun… each accompanied with a composition that was far more grandiose than their humble origins. Like the early beginnings of gaming itself, this was but an appetiser teasing us of greater and more majestic events to follow.

Veteran composer and master of ceremonies Tommy Tallarico then bounced on to the stage to give everyone a short yet passionate introduction to Video Games Live. Is gaming just for kids? Hell no! It is for the geeks and nerds? Overwhelming affirmative shouts from the audience on that question... Without further ado, he presented to the audience one of the greatest game developers around, Hideo Kojima. Sadly, he couldn’t be there in person so we got a short video clip of him offering his gratitude and a request to enjoy the orchestrated version of the music from Metal Gear Solid. Being an ardent MGS fan, that was just an amazing moment for me and I wasn’t expecting them to play it so early on! Moving on from the simplistic compositions a few minutes back, a stirring, nostalgic melody resonated throughout the theatre as images of Solid Snake appeared on screen. The famous MGS theme grew in timbre as the audience was treated to a video timeline of Snake from the original MGS game to the upcoming MGS 4. Suddenly the main portion of the theme began as the music kicked into overdrive and the video portrayed likewise. We were offered famous scenes from throughout the MGS series – introductions of favourite (and not-so-favourite) characters, unforgettable fight scenes, et al. As the composition neared its conclusion, the focus was on the supposed last entry of the Metal Gear saga. As the melody started to evanesce, we received a fitting end as old Snake smartly saluted before entering what will probably be his last fight. During this, Tommy Tallarico sneaked on stage in the infamous MGS Box costume and was followed around by a mercenary guard replete with an exclamation mark above his head – great bit of humour there for MGS fans!

Moving on, Tommy called onto stage the French game creator Michael Ancel, famous for Rayman, Beyond Good & Evil and the interactive adaptation of Peter Jackson’s King Kong. After a short introduction, the screen exploded into colour as scenes of Beyond Good & Evil played in rapid succession accompanied by a very grand yet soothing orchestration that reminded me of the Jak and Daxter series. I’ve always wanted to play BG&E but not enough to actively search for it (you can’t find it in Dhaka that easily). However, the intoxicating combination of video and live (and beautifully composed) music gave me glimpses to a game with depth and much substance so here’s a small recommendation from me: get this one if you can find it!

There was also an extraordinary piece to honour none other than Lara Craft, Tomb Raider and gaming legend. The music slowly built up, offering grand allusions of adventure and discovery (that being the point of a TR game…) while the video footage showed Lara Croft giving Indiana Jones a run for his money. I only started playing Tomb Raider from the latest iteration so I can’t say I found this portion particularly nostalgic seeing that it was trying to evoke such (although, my friend would have loved it!) but that didn’t stop it from being a damn good piece! A scene of Lady Croft in a cocktail dress earned a catcall and subsequent roar of laughter from everyone making it a bit of a true highlight.

Speaking of which, clearly this concert was about the high points in video gaming history and therefore, it was appropriate to introduce the one and only Legend of Zelda at this point! Immediately rising to the grand theme of the series, there was yet again a montage chronicling the journey through time for Link. From the original on the NES to the current Twilight Princess on the Wii, one can appreciate how much has changed in the gaming world but one thing remained constant: this is a memorable series that has, is and will stand the test of time. Like with MGS, hearing a well-known theme on such a magnificent scale was quite the experience!

More classics were obviously to follow and the next game in question is obviously as classic and timeless as it will ever, ever get. That’s right… Mario! While the original theme is quite generic and repetitive it’s also addictive and wonderfully playful. Taking it up to the big stage there were subtle permutations that turned the flippant Mario theme into something a lot more majestic. And like the game itself, the montage of Mario games past and present just drew you in and held you. To end it, the orchestra went into the infamous Bowser theme while the videos showed how Mario had thwarted the evil reptile time and time again!

Before the intermission, we were treated to a composition that once heard you’ll never forget: One-Winged Angel from Final Fantasy VII. While there wasn’t any video for this one, it was just magnificently performed. The deep Latin choruses and sombre cello chords were a fantastic combination which goes to show what an incredible track this one was to begin with. I can just imagine the number of FF fans that would have killed to be present for this one!

After a twenty-minute break (accompanied by a cheeky loading screen for “Video Games Live Part II” on-screen) we entered the second and final portion of the performance.

There were other games shown including Advent Rising, Headhunter, Civilisation IV and World of Warcraft. The former two were present since Tommy Tallarico and Jake Wall were responsible, respectively, for the music behind those games. The games were nothing brilliant but the music tipped the scale towards (but not quite reaching) epic. Civ IV had an awesome video spanning the ages and started brilliantly with African tribal music and chants (kudos to the amazing choir) reminiscent of the opening song to the Lion King. World of Warcraft was mostly generic fantasy ministrations accompanied by a finale that sounded a bit too similar to the main Zelda theme. Overall, these ones were actually good but took a backseat to everything else shown.

The final gaming classic portrayed here was the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The upbeat, brisk Sonic theme was performed with a few bells and whistles added to it. Once again, there was a tableau of videos looking through the ages of Sonic from the early days to the most recent title. One thing I didn’t like about this one was how the original theme got somewhat buried under the rest of the composition and it was only near the end that a slower version could be clearly recognized and more importantly, hummed to.

However, the best composition in my opinion was that for Kingdom Hearts. This was the only one not to use game footage – instead it dived right into the source of its inspiration and did something unforgettable. Accompanied by an outstanding and inspiring orchestration of the main theme, the videos showed some of the most memorable moments from Disney history. That was quite a special moment and as someone who’s grown up with Disney films – it was just something that I won’t forget for a very long time. The scenes and the music segued together beautifully and did so more than any other composition I had seen all night!

Since MGS began the main portion of the event, there’s only one other game that has the appeal and lineage to end it. That’s right; it was none other than Halo. The choir started first with the main vocalised theme as the Pillar of Autumn drifted across the screen. Hints of the instrumental theme were slowly heard and then as the camera panned around and found Master Chief, the beginning of the end commenced. The footage was from both Halo and Halo 2 and the music was absolutely amazing. The drums and the heavier instruments kicked in to create an aural experience of legendary proportions. The piece continued and ended aptly with the destruction of the Halo in the first game. Just as the screen faded and the applause began, we were in for a big surprise. Tommy Tallarico raced onto stage and announced that they were going to perform the music from the hugely anticipated Halo 3! The crowd absolutely exploded! The E3 trailer for Halo 3 was augmented by what is probably the grandest rendition of the Halo theme. As the music moved away from the theme and quietened down, the last words of the Halo 3 trailer appeared on screen. Like MGS, Halo will also be finishing the fight in 2007 – the best time to be a gamer, ever!

Surprisingly the true highlight of the night was an impromptu live performance from one Martin Leung – also known on YouTube.com as the one and only ‘Video Game Pianist’. To say that he stole the show would be a severe understatement. He performed some beautiful renditions of ten FF pieces with a great version of One-Winged Angel in particular. However, when he started with the Mario theme – the crowd went ballistic. He performed with a dexterity, speed and passion like no other and clapping in beat with his version of it was certainly a fantastic experience. He certainly got a rousing send-off replete with a standing ovation!

At the end, it made me realise what made this entire event so special were the memories of playing many of these games with others and I wish everyone I knew was there to enjoy this fantastic event.

This is dedicated to all my friends back in Bangladesh, my brother Faiyaz and Arif Dulabhai and all ‘deshi gamers!

Anime Review - Azumanga Daioh

Azumanga Daioh

Anime Review
By Le Chupacabra

GENCO
26 episodes
Ages 8+

Chiyo is just a ten-year old kid but she also happens to be a genius who’s been promoted… all the way to high school! There she meets her new classmates and peers: a wacky bunch of colourful personalities. There’s the hyperactive Tomo (think of a female version of Adnan Fakir who’s just been injected with Tang) and her best friend, the calm and collected Yomi. Sakaki is the athlete of the class whereas Osaka always gets lost in her bizarre daydreams. And then there’s Chiyo herself who’s just absolutely adorable. High school will never be the same again for this bunch!

It’s pretty unconceivable that an anime with no plot whatsoever can be so entertaining… but here lies indisputable proof of that: Azumanga Daioh is easily one of the cutest, quirkiest yet cleanest comedies you’ll find!

Unlike other school anime (like School Rumble or Kare Kano), Azumanga doesn’t rely on an ongoing story or complex character relationships to drive itself. Rather it does something unorthodox by chronicling mundane school events like exams and lunch breaks… and then injecting a large dose of hilarity into the proceedings. It’s quite possible to relate with a fair few of these anecdotes! Each episode is split into five small vignettes that are somewhat independent of each other. It’s a weird format, but it really helps in keeping events contained and in retaining a crispy freshness to the anime.

The comedy in Azumanga is quite brilliant as well! It’s a winning combination of absolute randomness and perfect timing with the jokes. The dialogue is also really funny and humour that’s derived at the expense of the characters is even more so. Regardless of the fact that these jokes are reused throughout the run of the anime, they somehow never get stale; rather they seem funnier the second time around! Another feature I appreciate is that Azumanga has very little in the way of toilet humour or crude jokes making it suitable for younger viewers as well.

The characters play a crucial role here since all the wackiness is credit to them. Particularly brilliant is Yukari-sensei; I’ve yet to see a teacher so utterly selfish, arrogant and immature! Then there’s Kimura-sensei who’ll make you smile even if he just stares blankly into open space. (NB – he’s always staring… you’ll get the point once you’ve started watching). The constant sparring between the characters is really entertaining and isn’t too far removed from real life. With that said, their interactions, thoughts and dreams are all quite believable and despite a lack of characterisation, they come across as real people. In fact, it’s possible to see many of your own classmates among this group!

There’s also this discreet, almost latent genius to the events and people in Azumanga and that’s something that hit me after some time. I can’t explain it but whatever magic is woven makes Azumanga feel remarkably genuine and closer to the heart. That’s probably why – beyond the comedy – this anime is truly wonderful.

The last episode of Azumanga Daioh is a beautiful testament to school life everywhere around the world! When it (school and this anime) ends, it does so with emotion. If you’ve graduated school, you’ll really be able to empathise with the characters and there’s this strong sense of lump-throated, teary-eyed nostalgia that the ending of Azumanga will evoke.

The intro song “Goodbye Sadness!” is really catchy and does well in setting the tone for the anime. Equally brilliant is the voice acting, particularly Chiyo’s – she sounds every bit as utterly lovable as she looks!

Despite such a wonderful premise, Azumanga isn’t for everyone. The jokes are of a pretty unique nature and they will not segue with some people. If you don’t find yourself laughing early on… you will fall asleep during the later episodes, trust me! Some portions also rely on knowledge of the Japanese school culture but it’s still possible to enjoy the rest of it.

Azumanga Daioh is a pretty niche comedy with its unique brand of humour and unusual format. However, it manages to be effortlessly entertaining and it’s one anime that you can watch over and over again!

Anime Review - FullMetal Alchemist

FullMetal Alchemist

Anime Review
By Le Chupacabra

Studio BONES/Square-Enix
51 Episodes
Age Rating: 10+

FullMetal Alchemist is the shocking, emotional journey of the two Elric brothers who broke forbidden ground when attempting to revive their dead mother through the powers of Alchemy. As a result, Ed loses his arm and his leg, while Al's soul is bound to a suit of armour. Now the brothers begin their search for the Legendary Philosopher's Stone whose power will allow them to set things right…

Now, I know Lancer has already reviewed this but since they’re showing it on Animax, I thought I’d leave my review as a tribute to anime fans all over Bangladesh before I fly off abroad.

I started watching FMA without knowing what I was getting into – no hype, no rants, no recommendation, nothing. And I was suitably blown away…

The true beauty of FMA lies in its character cast. Each individual is utterly compelling and truly gives off an aura of being; they’re such real people. It’s quite easy to connect to them on an emotional level and relate to their thoughts, comments and aspirations. Their interactions are genuine in the way they confide in, spar with and avoid each other in the appropriate situations. In fact, these characters are no different from you or me: they can be selfish; they live for their dreams and stop at nothing to achieve them. All of them are developed beautifully and in the end, you will feel like you were travelling alongside the Elric brothers on their journey of retribution.

The story itself is deep, poignant and dark; it’s a poetic tale of loss, consequence, and life. FMA truly appreciates the melding of the blacks and whites of the world into numerous shades of grey. There are no heroes or villains here – only real people. There are subtle messages in every facet and mesmeric twists that’ll leave you spellbound. FMA gains momentum with every chapter and the last ten episodes will leave you breathless due to the brutal rapidity with which the events unfold; it’s simply brilliance incarnate. Alchemy itself is portrayed in a way that gives it depth and character. And lastly, FMA is a fantastic perspective of life from the eyes of two children.

The dialogue is extremely well-written and there is nary a plot-hole in sight. Everything is explained beautifully within the limits of the world that FMA has created and that only heightens the sense of realism. The comedy is also good stuff that warms the heart. Even the few fight scenes are great because of the way they are presented.

The artwork is a beautiful thing to behold; the use of bright, vibrant imagery contrasts marvellously with the darker scenarios. The animation flows lusciously, making FMA a true visual treat. CGI is used with every subtlety and enhances the scenarios without making one realise it’s being used at all.

The voice acting in FMA is quality stuff, both the English and Japanese versions. The respective voice actors really give life to their characters and the way they play off each other is amusing to watch (or hear). The music is truly memorable. It’s soul stirring and sombre yet light-hearted and flippant when it needs to be. The intro themes (four of them) are fantastically catchy J-pop themes whose exclusion in the English version is a severe oversight on Animax’s part. The outro songs are also great. Truly unforgettable is the way that the second one (‘Tobira no Mukou he’) segues from the ending scene into the song itself. In my opinion, it’s the definitive ending theme!

There are things that people will nitpick about, but I am not they. For the sake of parity, the story can threaten to confuse casual viewers and some comedic moments don’t gel. That’s all, folks.

In the end, I love FMA. It’s definitely my favourite anime and you could accuse me of bias because of that. However, put your scepticism aside and you’ll find an unforgettable, engrossing and emotional viewing experience like no other.

PS2 Game Review - Kingdom Hearts II

Kingdom Hearts II

A PS2 Game Review
By Le Chupacabra

Kingdom Hearts started as a chance collaboration between the Japanese offices of SquareSoft (now Square-Enix) and Disney. Flitting between various ideas, Square finally handed the reins to a concept artist named Tetsuya Nomura. It was an unusual choice for a game director and it was certainly an unusual premise: the cutesy, iconic world of Disney colliding with the sombre realms of the Final Fantasy series. However, the game went beyond expectation: it was an imaginative, epic adventure that was a whole lot more than the sum of its parts.

Kingdom Hearts II continues a year after the ending of the original and directly after the Gameboy Advance title, Chain of Memories. Since it does so, it is strongly advised that you peruse www.gamefaqs.com and check out the game script for Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Otherwise, many interesting plot points will be lost on you.

One of the first things this game does as a sequel is break away from the confines of the first game and take steps into its own unique territory. As a result, we have a far more original narrative that happens to be more immersive than the first; it’s a little darker, a little more mature and it’s all very good stuff. There’s an initial MGS2-esque character twist (it’s the other way around here) that builds up the story from a different yet equally entertaining perspective. One key flaw of the plot is that after the first bit you’re essentially revisiting Disney worlds to play out their tales and their tales only. As a result, questions regarding the fierce Nobodies and enigmatic Organisation XIII are put on hold for a very long (read: around 10-12 hours!) time; as a result one’s desire to keep going starts dwindling after a while. However, once you plough through the plot-drought you are rewarded with a tale that’s quite brilliant.

Like its predecessor, Kingdom Hearts II boasts a voice-cast that rivals most Hollywood feature films. A now-matured Haley Joel Osmont reprises his role as the plucky Sora while all the classic Disney actors are back in full force. A particularly inspired addition was having Christopher Lee (you know, the guy who plays Count Dooku and Saruman… not at once, mind you) lend his authoritative tones to the enigmatic DiZ. The Organisation members get some brilliant actors too, each one matching their avatars personality quite faithfully. Axel is definitely my fave. Besides a few awkward moments, the dialogue is polished and well-written and the actors do it supreme justice.

The music is equally an aural treat with memorable tunes and an epic score that lives up to the grandeur of the game’s premise. If you’ve played the first game, you’ll recognize many of the remixed Disney tracks. There are also fresh tunes for the newly added ‘worlds’ in this game. I also liked the battle theme in this game better than in the first; it’s got a lot more tempo and it’s quite catchy! In this game, the world of the Little Mermaid - Atlantica - becomes a rhythm-based level. The first song is grating and the latter few uninspired. However it’s the second one that’s just bloody brilliant; it’s a cute remix of Under the Sea and the writers did a great job with changing the lyrics but maintaining the nostalgia this one evokes!

Visually, Kingdom Hearts II is quite pleasing. Some locations come off as rather unimaginative while others are truly awe-inspiring. Fortunately the latter holds true more often. The variety of the Heartless has been downgraded but on the other hand the individual designs surpass the artistry of the original. There are plenty of little touches that add to the immersion wonderfully. In the Pride Lands, you take the guise of a lion and have to hold the KeyBlade between your jaws! At the Timeless River, all the characters move with exaggerated motions reminiscent of the black-and-white Mickey Mouse ‘toons of old. The Pirates of the Caribbean themed world (Port Royal) looks stunning with realistic characters and animation that captures the drunken swagger and mannerisms of the Captain Jack Sparrow perfectly. And the world of Tron? Just jaw-dropping.

The gameplay is in many ways hugely improved over its predecessor while some previously great parts have been unnecessarily tinkered with; “ten steps forward and two steps backward” to quote my friend. The fighting is fast and frenetic and the combination of the fantastic graphics leads to some visually mesmerising sequences. New additions include Drive forms that let you merge with various characters, thus imbuing you with enhanced fighting prowess or magical dexterity. The forms not only look awesome but the power they afford you is amazing - you become a badass warrior of the highest degree. Reaction attacks form yet another portion of your repertoire of moves. When prompted, you have to tap Triangle and this initiates a real-time action sequence that would be otherwise impossible with standard attacks. Whether it’s slick dodge-counterattack combo or a an entire chain of flamboyant maneuvers, these scenes look fantastic. Think of God of War’s killing mini-games minus the brutality. Another addition is the Limit Break, with which Final Fantasy fans should be familiar.

However, much of the exploration that gave the first game an adventure-esque feel has been undermined to criminally disappointing proportions. The levels are more linear than Kingdom Hearts (which was also linear, but had some neat bits that rewarded curious players) and the worlds are somewhat smaller. The gameplay is also much easier mainly due to the use of the Reaction commands and Drive forms. Fortunately, playing on the ‘hard’ (called Proud) difficulty setting makes up in spades with the gratifyingly increased challenge. While Drive forms are optional, the way in which the Reaction attacks are presented seems to suggest that you should use them rather than as a possible attack variation. Minor grievances, but they tend to add up.

One thing that really deserves special mention is the Gummi Ship mode. From being a slow, headache-inducing chore (in the first game), it’s become a fast-paced, frantic shooter mini-game that’s actually fun to play. The last Gummi Ship level has a great Star Wars-esque feel and many portions of that segment recall the famous Death Star trench run from the films.

While no longer as novel as the first, Kingdom Hearts II remains a wonderfully charming experience that not only tells a beautiful story but is also chockfull of luscious graphics, evocative music and entertaining gameplay. If you have a PS2, you have no excuse to pass up such an adventure! So go get your copy and make sure you pick up the original Kingdom Hearts if you haven’t already!

Anime Review - School Rumble

School Rumble

Anime Review By
Le Chupacabra

Studio Comet
26 Episodes
Ages 15+

Harima Kenji, former delinquent and all-round street thug, returns to resume his education at school. Why the sudden change of heart? You just named the reason: his heart. Smitten by Tsukamoto Tenma after having saved her from muggers once before, Harima rejoins school so he can try to win Tenma's (incredibly short-spanned) attention. Tenma on the other hand has her eyes set on the equally oblivious top boy (and resident weirdo), Karasuma Ohto... Let's get ready to rummmbbbble!

School Rumble actually starts off somewhat seriously, making you think for a few moments that it's an intrigueing romance series under the veil of comedy. Kare Kano… eat your heart out!

Okay fine, that's a blatant lie.

It's actually the other way around. Whereas Kare Kano is a more sophisticated, thought-provoking romantic-comedy, School Rumble is its polar opposite. It's all about the laughs in a somewhat asinine, Johnny Bravo kind of way. While the love triangle between Tenma, Harima and Karasuma allows quite a lot of mirth at their expense, the individual characters inevitably steal the show. Class 2-C is comprised of a smorgasbord of (superbly exaggerated) classroom personalities. You have everyone from cup-size comparing perverts to mind readers to ultra-strong female wrestlers and all sorts of other zany characters. It's a great recipe for hilarity with any hint of normalcy being hurled out the window.

Of course, while they're not considering inane schemes to get one to notice the other, Harima and Tenma's day-to-day antics will have you splitting your sides. Harima is uncharacteristically serious about his feelings for Tenma but his IQ (or lack thereof) is what has him falling into awkward situations. His daydreams of getting Tenma's attention away from Karasuma are the highlight of the show with pop culture parodies of everything from The Matrix to DragonBall Z being liberally thrown into the mix. In fact, it's Harima that brings in most of the laughter. He usually ends up getting into trouble with many of the characters and as a result you've got some genuinely funny moments; there's the one where he has a mistaken identity crisis with a guy named Harry McKenzie (which sounds a lot like Harima Kenji in Japanese), gets into a brawl with the resident black belt Hanai (cue lots of obscure Street Fighter references; HariKen Uppercut anyone?) and of course, as a budding manga artist Harima manages to confuse the viewer with an entire episode where he essentially makes Karasuma an alien. Surprisingly, that incident actually makes sense given how peculiar Karasuma is.

So where does the romance part come into play? It takes more of a latent role since it's essentially the Harima-Tenma-Karasuma love triangle that is the catalyst for much of the insanity. There is a particular point where Harima almost gets his feelings across to Tenma but unfortunately, Eri Sawachika (one of Tenma's best friends) ends up with the message… and returns the feelings. It's an awkward beginning that leads to a pretty interesting relationship. However, events like that are somewhat rare. The problem is, once you've stopped chortling and started to follow the plot, you'll realise something: there is no real plot. The characters, save very few, also don't get developed all too well. Basically, there's a nagging lack of substance which the show covers up, sometimes barely, with the comedy.

Another issue with School Rumble is that its best attribute can also become its biggest detriment. While there is a lot of generally brilliant slapstick to go around, many of the gags are of a greatly esoteric nature while others rely on some knowledge about Japanese school culture. In the fight between Harima (as part of one of his daydreams) and Karasuma, Harima's hair turns yellow and they have a 'power' battle. If you haven't watched DragonBall Z, that bit is completely wasted. There are plenty of examples like that and it's not encouraging for casual anime viewers. Lastly, School Rumble ends up reusing many of jokes as the show wears on. What may have seemed funny at first may end up tasteless after multiple times.

However, with all that said, School Rumble was still brilliantly entertaining. It doesn't take itself seriously at all and at its best, it's outrageously funny. It's still with a bit of caution that I recommend this anime. If you don't like some of jokes initially, chances are you won't like the latter ones. Plus, this anime is quite skewed towards male viewers. If you're a casual fan of anime, you can try this out but also know that there are finer romantic-comedy anime out there. If you've been watching anime for quite some time and are willing to try something that doesn't require you to think too much, you'll certainly enjoy this one at the very least.