My Favorite Things in 2022

Happy Non-specific Holidays, dear readers! It has been a hot minute since this blog has seen some action. Boy, have we missed you. Since the New Year is right around the corner, I thought I would share with all of you my favorite media form the last year. Bear in mind, this is media that I enjoyed this year, but not all of it was released this year. so without futher ado, let's kick this off!

MUSIC

Angel or Alien by Born of Osiris puts on display the destructive ferocity of the Chicago quintet in their sophomore album released in 2021. This album just hits all the parts of your brain that make you wanna fight God, and lose in the most metal way possible as the angels surround you from all sides. But as all else seems lost to the winds of creation, you stand up defiantly against the pantheon of angels and deities. Arrows blocking out the sun, you rip your shirt up, spit the name of the few that got those sucker punches in and bring forth the carnage. All to stand at the top of creation and ponder in a somber stance upon the corpses of your foes and say to yourself: "What have I done? My true purpose was never this". As the dust settles you walk away to  claim existence in another realm...and that is what it feels like to listen to this album from beginning to end in one sitting. A sin I am guilty of more than once this year.

Favorite Tracks: Shadowmourne, White Nile

Eternal Blue by Spiritbox is a hauntingly cathartic and beautiful listening experience. To say that the intro track has made me want to witness the end of the solar life cycle is appropriate due to it having the most metal name that would make Jack Black cream his pants in joy, Sun Killer. I mean come on, with a start that feels like you are fighting off some deep destructive thoughts only to scream at your trauma and suplexx it out of the Earths gravitational pull straight to the Sun. Every single time I sat down and listened to this album goosebumps took over me from beginning to end. Fair warning though, this album will make you shed a tear and leave you destroyed in the best way possible.

Favorite Tracks: Sun Killer, Yellow Jacket, Circle With Me.

I mean c'mon, being Puerto Rican this was just as necessary as having a plate of mofongo relleno de carne frita, la medalla bien friiiia y mucho mayoketchup on the side. Un Verano Sin Ti by Bad Bunny just destroyed spotify to the point that the app crashed when this latest beast was unleashed. Further expanding the artists reach across the world and just making one feel prouder each day to be boricua. Though not hitting as hard personally like X100mpre did, this was still a fun ride with new hits that became instant classics in his repertoire. This dude could make a banger of a song with a damn kazzoo and suffering through a cold. I really enjoyed his more experimental songs on this one for sure. And as always, this album is meant to be blasted in the car alone or with friends while driving through Puerto Rico.

Favorite Tracks: Despues de la Playa, Neverita, and Enseñame a Bailar. 

New Moon by Kill Bill and Rav is a deep cut for me. One of my favorite underground hip hop albums this year. Nothing beats the feeling of driving down the street as the streetlights start to flicker on and you have this just baller album getting you in a relaxed mindscape. This album just oozes good vibes. Though some of the songs weaken the album, overall it's a dope ride more people should get on.

Favorite tracks: Passionfruit, Lovedrug (Off  That)

Fervor by Cat Bamboo is a musical delight that will have you grinning from ear to ear. The fast paced, frenetic and infectious beats on this album will have you feeling like the main character of a quirky indie game about to undertake some sidequests before departing the first town. However, as you depart the town, a threat arises far to the south. As you and your animal best friend gather your strength to adventure out to see to what's up; you are immediately ambushed by goblins and must fight your way to saftey. So begins your adventure in this untamed land to the south... I mean that's what this album feels like to me. 

Favorite Tracks: Jelly, Swindle, Interlude.

The Stuff of Legends by Challenger Deep...man, you guys remeber Atlantis? Well, this album makes me wish we got a sequel with more adventure and subnautical horror elements. This feels like whatever gave Lovecraft the idea for his Cthulu mythos was both beautiful and dangerous. Imagine that you are on a submarine searching for lost treasures with a grizzled group of mariners. Only to be constantly reminded every waking moment of your voyage...that the sea only lets you live because it wills it. With aggresive guitars and explosive riffs that make you wanna fist fight some mer-people only to realize the Kraken rising from the sea floor to level your ship. I mean I am telling you that this album both slaps and hits hard when it wants to with its atmosphere.

Favorite Tracks:  100 Years, Hollow Bastion

VIDEO GAMES

Olli Olli World had no rights being as good as it was this year! Now I'm not gonna go too in-depth, since there is a whole post on this blog dedicated to this rad game. But the breakneck speed, the dope tricks, cartoony aesthetic and head bumpin' lofi had me smiling the entire time I turned on my Switch. I loved playing a track and trying my best to beat the high scores and unlock new customizable goodies. This game made me feel like a kid again. Picture this: You just got home from school on a Friday afternoon, your parents tell you that they are getting take out for dinner and are gonna swing by Blockbuster and are letting you pick out any movie or game and one candy. You come back and it starts to rain, everything is cozy. You sit down in your room and smile because at that moment, life can't possibly get any better...that's what playing this game made me feel like. Do yourself a favor and play this game, and I promise that once you boot it up, you're gonna be smiling all the way to the end.

Digimon Survive is fucking dark, my guy.  What really caught me off guard was the tone for this entry in the long line of Digimon games. Never did I expect a childhood franchise of mine to not only mature alongside me, but deliver one of the darkest tales in recent memory of the franchise. This game really said: "Yeah that whole digi-destined trope let's make it sad, depressing and damn near nerve-wracking for these kids who just arrived in this familiar yet horrifying world". Digimon has tip toed with spooks before, but this time around they focused on what makes these creatures so threatening if met in real life. All in all, if you want spooky yet serious tone with your Digimon fix, don't skip out on this one!

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt was not my cup of tea when I first played it this year in mid-January. I hated how it felt control-scheme wise, the system was overly complicated and the lore didn't really hook me at first. However, one late night that very same month, something clicked in me while I gave it another shot. Everything made sense and I was hooked! When I say that this game had in a strangle hold, I am grossly understating how many hours I sank into it. For about half the year, all I did was want to sit down and play this game from sunup to sundown. Every side quest, DLC missions, armor hunt and monster contract made me feel like I was Geralt (as corny as that sounds) yet once those credit rolled a chapter of my life was added to the "Dope experiences" folder. Plus, having binged the Netflix series, read the first two books during the aftermath of a hurricane and heard the announcement for a new project on the horizon...I personally cannot wait to delve back into this wonderfully macabre world.

My fellow millennials, do you remember the first time you played Pokémon Red, Blue or Yellow on the Gameboy Color? The happiness and innocence that came from exploring the world we saw only on the TV. The excitement of picking your starter and building your team from the ground up. Well, what if I told you that Game Freak gave me that feeling all over again with Pokémon Legends: Arceus. The story made me feel like an integral part of an ever growing community. The mystery of every area made my palms sweat at the mere thought of there being either a normal little dude waiting to be caught or an Alpha ready to just rock my shit! I mean they gave this game a dodge roll for fucks sake! They knew that we wanted a more visceral experience and boy oh boy did they deliver! Every step I took in this world felt riddled with purpose, the  way progression legitimately felt like taking a step in the right direction. Just everything about this game made me wish they gave the same time and attention to Scarlet and Violet. To this day I look back on my playthrough of this beast of a game and just hope we get more in this spinoff series. 

Fuck Blasphemous is really hard! If ever I wanted to torture myself in the best way possible, this game was the equivalent of getting my eye gouged and spit on, just to get back up and ask for more...this better not awaken something in me. The visuals in this game blended bot h grotesque body horror and just jaw-dropping set pieces that made just put the controller down and appreciate the madness on display. Speaking of controllers being put down, this game follows the philosophy of the Souls series, which means die, die and die again until you get the right loadout or the perfect strategy to take the down the fucking heavens in this game. Just remember Penitent One, Glory to the Miracle and break down everything and anyone that stands in your way.  

Ok, ok I talked shit about this game for years. But recently thanks to a friend of mine, I gotta say Fortnite is actually kinda fun? Alright, ya got me! I'm hooked. It has been a staple these holidays for late night sessions with my friends and even playing solo whenever a little downtime creeps my way. Chances are that if you have friends or little cousins who play this, then you pretty much get the gist of it. A looter shooter with battle royale mechanics to determine the best out of 100 randomly selected players in an island with various biomes and terrains. And best of all, this shit is free! The only money you would eventually have to put down is for some skins that you would like to own for late night sessions with your friends. but other than that, its Fortnite...shit's fun. Now get out there, shoot shit up and hopefully we might meet each other on the battlefield. 

Yoko Taro, the enigmatic mind behind Drakengard and Nier, has been known in the industry to be an auteur of sorts. His storytelling being one of his strongest skills when creating games. Which is one of the reasons I gravitated so violently towards his Voice of Cards series, but more specifically the second entry in this anthology: The Forsaken Maiden. Now when I say his writing was one of the things that got me hooked on this new project; it's because the other was the game itself. This is unique due solely to the fact that everything from the story, cutscenes, gameplay and the menus are all portrayed through the medium of cards. Now these games have gotten me through some pretty dark and rough times, but this year few games hit harder than this one did. Every character felt fully fleshed out, the plot beats felt intentional to the point where it felt like i was watching one of the greatest plays ever put on in the world form my own Switch! If there were ever a game I would recommend to anyone off the top of my head with no second thought, it's definitely this series for sure. The soundtrack also builds up the emotions in so many layers that I wish it was on Spotify already top enjoy when writing posts or working on my podcast! Do yourself a favor and play this game as soon as possible, currently there are three entries, yet they are all independent from each other. So enjoy them at your leisure.

MANGA

GACHIAKUTA is one of the most badass series to come out this year! Brief summary of the first chapter: Rudo has made a name for himself as the Trash Bandit, stealing objects that are discarded, fixing them to later sell it on the streets so he can make a living. This sadly gives our dude a bad reputation with the city guard who uphold a strict discriminatory rule over those in the poorer districts. Does he survive another day of persecution or will he be swallowed up by the Abyss? All these questions and more will be answered in the following chapters, roughly running at over 30 chapters, this promises to be a new instant classic. With rude attitude, dope character designs and panels that hit so hard you feel them about to rip the page apart and sock you in the face! If you're looking for a new series to start off your new year right, look no further than this one!

GOKURAKUGAI started off as a oneshot about two problem solvers in a bad part of town helping both human and monster alike. It's readership was so huge and asking for more that they got a series this year roughly around the summertime! The second I read that oneshot, there was something special in the works, and to see it get its first volume roughly around October just filled me with so much excitement for the future of the problem-solving duo! Oozing with a style all its own, what sold me on it was the character design and the slow build on the lore surrounding the town. Though touching on some sensitive topics, it manages to balance it out with moments of levity and cathartic action panels. With about seven chapters translated to English at the time of writing this post. You really have no excuse to not check this one out! 

How far will you go to save the one you love? OTTOMAN is charming, intense, silly and an all out blast to read. Stumbling upon this series while clearing out my backlog one night, I sat down poured myself a drink and some chips and fell in love with the main character and his relationship with his wife. Not wanting to spoil too much, this series brings action scenes worthy of being in the One Punch Man manga. If you ever wondered what the ultimate "golden retriever" boyfriend would do to save his wife, look no further than this series. Though mature in certain aspects, it remains tame at heart to not fully stress out the reader, which honestly is very welcome since some days I just wanna chill out and read manga for enjoyment, not for keeping up with he rest of the world, looking at you One Piece!

Ok, this one feels like I'm cheating. You see JJBA Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable was my favorite in the long history of the Jojo franchise. So when I found out early this year that a prequel manga taking place in Morioh with both Hol Horse and Josuke Higashikata as protagonists, I just had to eat it up. And so far, JOJO'S BIZARRE ADVENTURE: CRAZY DIAMOND'S DEMONIC HEARTBREAK slaps! Still not sure if its a prequel or an alternate reality, but either way every single chapter has been so much fun to read. Sadly it has a bimonthly release schedule so it will take a while to establish major plot points and villains. But it's all worth it to see my favorite dude in all his glory. And Hol Horse was dope in Part 3, so seeing more of his development alongside a new Jojo will be fun to see throughout this run. Definitely check this out if you're a die hard fan of the series, and if not consider starting the series off and if you like it, join me in this dangerous, bizarre, crazy, noisy town!

You ever wake up one day having no recollection of your memories from the last 17 years of your life and confiding in your best friend/guardian the moon? No? Oh right, because that's the first chapter of SEKISEI INKO! From the same creator behind the wildly successful TOKYO REVENGERS, this incredibly imaginative urban fantasy mystery thriller will pull at your heartstrings, make you laugh and experience blinding rage in the same chapter where the biggest worry is getting to school on time. The pacing is spectacular, why? Simple. Every single step the story leads you on brings you closer and closer to the madness at the core of the plot. When I say that I binged this whole series in one day and forgot to have lunch, I gladly took that stomachache like a badge of honor...ok, seriously eat your meals dudes. If you ever wondered what psychedelic rock could look like if interpreted as a manga, well here you go! But beware, this is a trip that will leave you grasping for more of that sweet, sweet release. 

    STREAMING SERIES

Never did I think a crude joke character that was used for gags on Letterkenny, would get his own show set in the same universe following his departure. But from the very trailer SHORESY showed promise to be wild, hockey raged ride through the Canadian league. The laughs are there from the very start, the fights are noteworthy, but as always for me at least, the characters are just so well written in this show, that once the credits roll you immediately set the next episode up. The crude character of Shoresy also gets fleshed out like never before and it helps that he has a wonderful supporting cast who  round out the main cast. Another highlight as with its parent show, the soundtrack is so damn good, my dude! Every. Single. Time a new song creeped in at pivotal moments of the show, my hype levels transcended human understanding. Sadly there is only one season out so far, and that will be my only complaint! If you love Letterkenny, skate on over to Shoresy and enjoy this extended universe even more!

Back in the early 2000's if you were into anime or manga, there were three series that completely dominated the airwaves THE BIG 3: ONE PIECE, NARUTO AND BLEACH. Now the former two enjoyed not only a much beloved anime run, but their manga sales went through the roof for many years to come. The latter, sadly had a tragic anime filled almost to the brim with filler after filler. And once the manga ended, as a fan I thought that was it. A dope ending that will never get animated...until this year that is. BLEACH: THOUSAND YEAR BLOOD WAR came out with its first episode and each one after it came out with damn near movie quality animation, fight scenes and the voice actors were definitely enjoying themselves because it shows. I remember Bleach fondly for being the very first manga to grace my eyes growing up, and it still to this day holds a very dear place in my heart. So imagine my joy when each episode makes me fall in love with the series all over again! With the second part of the final season dropping this summer 2023, I am beyond ecstatic to fall back into the Soul society for the carnage that awaits.

Love it or hate it, CHAINSAW MAN is here to stay! I fell in love when the manga first came out and followed the weekly drops on Shonen Jump like a religion all the way to the end of Part One. So much of my life changed for the better when this work entered my mental pantheon of best shit ever, that when the anime was teased...I wanted to punch a hole in a mountain from pure hype. Following Denji as he hustles his way through life with his dear friend Pochita, this story was meant to be animated by some of the best in the business. Once that first episode ended, I knew this was gonna take the world by storm. Everything about this first season was perfect in my eyes. The intro is a certified hood classic, all the different endings with their visuals cementing the tone of what I just watched made each week a treat come Tuesday. Add to that the continuation of Part 2 of the manga dropping every Tuesday as well, let's just say my needs for more of Denjis adventures is satisfied until further notice.

Guys, guys, guys watch SOLOS!! My girlfriend showed me this series a couple days ago and it just mesmerizing to behold. This is an anthology series set in a not too distant future where each episode focuses on one person and their journey of self-discovery/reflection. From contemplating your life in spaceship to having a fifteen minute conversation with your own robotic clone, this series and its actors deliver an absolute tempest of range and emotions. I laughed, shed a tear and even felt terrified in the more nuanced moments of each episode. If sci-fi short stories dealing with uniquely human perspectives is your jam then do yourself a favor and watch this fantastic show!

Well, that's it! My favorite Things in 2022, I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it. Hopefully in the coming year I can motivate myself to post more frequently on here. But for now, my dear readers, have yourself a fantastic New Year. Take care and may all your goals be met!