‘Deltarune: Chapter 2’ – Review

Warning: potential spoilers Toby Fox may have dug himself into a hole. After Undertale, a game whose success came from its uniqueness and subversions of typical video game tropes, he may have made it impossible for his future projects to live up to his own success. With that said, Deltarune: Chapter 1 was a pretty strong contender. It kept UndertaleÔÇÖs signature style and complexity, but … Continue reading ‘Deltarune: Chapter 2’ – Review

Declan McKenna @ The Great Hall, Cardiff Student Union – Live review (10/09/21)

Words and Images by Rubie Barker It has been a whole 18 months since I last attended a gig, at this very same venue and I couldnÔÇÖt be more excited that this was my first concert back. Unsurprisingly to some, I am running late but as I run up the stairs I can hear the roar of the crowd as McKenna takes to the stage.  … Continue reading Declan McKenna @ The Great Hall, Cardiff Student Union – Live review (10/09/21)

Two women - one dressed in traditional Indian clothing, second one posing in a checked dress - neither smiles

How Our Cultural Backgrounds Shape Our Perception of Love

Written by Niladri Singh Rajput Graphic* by Maja Metera If there is a common thread that holds most living beings together, then that thread is this feeling we call love. It has for generations governed the world, our believes and all of the people. The ways in which we show love is different for each one of us. We are great lovers, all of us, … Continue reading How Our Cultural Backgrounds Shape Our Perception of Love

Battlefield is back – now how will it dethrone a reinvigorated COD?

ItÔÇÖs been a while, but this year will see the return of the Battlefield franchise. Remember it? Most recently, developers DICE went old school with Battlefield 1 and Battlefield V, both set in the World Wars. While the historical settings didnÔÇÖt prevent excitement from the massive maps and set pieces the series is known for, it did feel like DICE were falling behind. Behind who? … Continue reading Battlefield is back – now how will it dethrone a reinvigorated COD?

Is Returnal the start of the PS5 Era?

ItÔÇÖs been 7 months since the PlayStation 5 released, and itÔÇÖs safe to say that thereÔÇÖs not been an avalanche of exclusives just yet. But thatÔÇÖs nothing to worry about – the PS4 only launched with a few big titles, though itÔÇÖs understandable fans will have been getting a bit impatient waiting for some games that really push the boundaries of the system. WeÔÇÖve had … Continue reading Is Returnal the start of the PS5 Era?

Mask Off?

Words by: Clarissa Boon Covid-19 introduced many unfamiliar new practices into our daily lives, such as wiping down groceries and wearing masks out and about. To an OCD sufferer like myself, the governmentÔÇÖs repeated emphasis on hand-washing heightened my fears of becoming unwell. Armed with some gloves and Dettol antibacterial wipes, I became obsessed with trying to hunt down and slay the invisible enemy. I … Continue reading Mask Off?

Casuals vs Completionists – Where do you stand?

By Lewis Empson and Marcus Yeatman-Crouch Two words that will often crop up in the gaming lexicon are ‘casuals’ and ‘completionists’. Pretty obvious terms, and total opposites: the casuals who will play through a game, finish the story then put it down; the completionists who will vampirically drain a game for all its worth before they move on to the next. We all know someone … Continue reading Casuals vs Completionists – Where do you stand?

Back to Basics: How MMOs are Rebooting their Fanbases

Some of the biggest MMOs (massively multiplayer online games) have been around for a while. World of Warcraft has entered its 17th year, while RuneScape is clocking in at the grand old age of 20. MMOs are a bit different to regular games, of course. TheyÔÇÖve got ÔÇÿlive serviceÔÇÖ, continuous updates and maintenance to the world so you can always expect more when you log … Continue reading Back to Basics: How MMOs are Rebooting their Fanbases

Celebrity Beauty Brands: quality products or shameless cash grab?

Words by Daisy-Mai Pulford It is undeniable that we have become hugely accustomed to seeing celebs promote their newest beauty range on our social media newsfeeds, with a range of celebs cashing in on the beauty industry, from Youtubers to influencers and even singers. However, the rising popularity in celebs creating beauty lines raises concerns as to whether their newest business venture is one that … Continue reading Celebrity Beauty Brands: quality products or shameless cash grab?

From Flop to Film Star: Sonic in the 2010’s

By Marcus Yeatman-Crouch ItÔÇÖs been a rough ten years for Sonic, the legendary SEGA mascot who once went head-to-head with Super Mario. Looking at him now of course, in the wake of a Hollywood film, youÔÇÖd think Sonic was back on the rise. That may be true, but the more recent news of the mascotÔÇÖs English language voice actor Roger Craig Smith leaving the role … Continue reading From Flop to Film Star: Sonic in the 2010’s

Voice Acting: The Gaming Industry Making its Mark

By Lewis Empson and Marcus Yeatman-Crouch A lot goes into making a modern video game. The programmers, graphic designers, writers and creative directors all deal with the gutty works and behind-the-scenes of a game. But, in a story focused game like Uncharted, The Last of Us, or God of War, who are we really hearing from? The character – or, more specifically, the voice actor. … Continue reading Voice Acting: The Gaming Industry Making its Mark

SOPHIE: 1986-2021: The Legacy Left Behind

Written By Phoebe Bowers, Image Courtesy of StayGolden PR Always the same and never the same Day by day, life after life Without my legs or my hair Without my genes or my blood With no name and with no type of story Where do I live?Tell me, where do I exist?We’re just… Im-ma-ma-material, immaterial. If you donÔÇÖt know who SOPHIE was you definitely have … Continue reading SOPHIE: 1986-2021: The Legacy Left Behind

The KFConsole and Other Weird Console Ventures

When asked to think of a ÔÇÿconsoleÔÇÖ, most of us have two easy answers – Xbox and PlayStation. Throw Nintendo into the mix and you have the three biggest consoles on the market, sitting alongside PC as the core platforms for gaming. There is, however, a bit of a market for niche, third party consoles that have been attempted by different parties. HereÔÇÖs just a … Continue reading The KFConsole and Other Weird Console Ventures

The Legacy of Pierre Cardin

words by: Suraya Kazzuz Pierre Cardin is perhaps a less recognisable name for many people, but he has made a large impact on fashion during his 98 years on the planet. His recent death has led many people to go back and look at the way in which Cardin has influenced fashion during his long career.  CardinÔÇÖs career started when he worked as a tailorÔÇÖs … Continue reading The Legacy of Pierre Cardin

Download’s Most Anticipated Games of 2021

By Lewis Empson and Marcus Yeatman-Crouch ItÔÇÖs a big year for gaming. After 2020 saw a massive amount of delays to highly anticipated titles, many of them shifted their release date to 2021. A loss in the short term, but now weÔÇÖve got a whole host of huge games to look forward to this year! WeÔÇÖve picked the ones weÔÇÖre most excited to get to … Continue reading Download’s Most Anticipated Games of 2021

The Culture of Our Christmas Traditions

A Black Christmas, Hazel Ravu ‘Twas the night before Christmas and me and my mother are sweating in the kitchen trying to prepare as much food as we can. WeÔÇÖre hosting this year. That means a bunch of families, including a few expected unexpected guests are due to be arriving. On the day, me and my mother are back in the same positions, putting the … Continue reading The Culture of Our Christmas Traditions

The Worlds Most Wonderful Christmas Markets

Image by Maggie Gannon Frankfurt Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market), Germany – words by Maggie Gannon Germany is certainly well-known for its annual Christmas markets, so much so that English cities across the UK such as Birmingham and Manchester aim to give the same festive experience across the sea year on year. Unfortunately, this year restrictions in Germany meant the wooden stalls would not be able to … Continue reading The Worlds Most Wonderful Christmas Markets