The history of the arcade fighting game is just as rough and tumble as the games themselves, and few examples of this are more impactful than the rivalry between Capcom and SNK. Most are probably familiar with Capcom's legacy, but for those who don't know, SNK is beloved by fans of classic arcade and fighting games alike for their amazing string of…

What defines a summer blockbuster? Is it the heart-pounding action, stunning special effects, or an exhilarating story? Twisters answers this question by delivering a truly memorable example. This standalone sequel offers more than just thrills and tornadoes; it injects a thrilling disaster element missing from recent films.…

I’ll admit I’m not the biggest Louis C.K.By popzara

Ever since music-based game classics such as Dance Dance Revolution, Bust A Groove, Frequency, and it’s follow up Amplitude came along, I’ve been a huge fan of the genre. There’s just something about that classic, hand and eye coordination gameplay that once you get in the groove (pun intended), it’s hard to stop playing.…

The original A Quiet Place was an excellent bottled low-budget horror film that impressed us with its intriguing premise and Christopher Nolon-esque high-concept worldbuilding. Its 2020 sequel was a solid continuation of the Abbot family story, only with Cillian Murphy replacing director/actor/writer John Krasinski as co-lead with Elizabeth Blunt, …

The A Quiet Place series has carved a niche in horror by exploring the chilling reality of a world where sound itself is deadly. Grief, a raw and primal human emotion, becomes a terrifying burden in this silence-obsessed existence.By popzara

Optoma is back with a new series of new and updated projectors and I've been lucky to spend some time with one of the most interesting, the UHZ55 4K Smart Laser DLP Projector, which is intended to be a full featured cinema/entertainment TV replacement that goes big at home, or anywhere else you can enjoy a big screen experience. The highlight, of c…

It’s nearly impossible to discuss Eddie Murphy’s prowess in ‘80s cinema without starting the conversation with his role as Axel Foley in 1984’s Beverly Hills Cop. While his film debut in 1982’s 48 Hrs.By popzara

In the 80s, there were so many talented and awesome musicians out there that also had that certain mystique about them. Michael Jackson and Prince are two that immediately come to mind, and it’s no surprise Hollywood tried to capitalize on them whenever they could.By popzara

It’s Popzara’s Movie Time! Podcast, where our in-house movie nerds Ethan Brehm and Nate Evans take you on an unscripted journey yakking and chatting about some of their favorite movie moments and cinematic scenes, from past and present, presented without snark and snobbery for your listening pleasure. On deck for this episode are two mid-century mo…

It’s The State of Gaming Podcast, Popzara’s in-depth look at what’s shaking up the gaming landscape delivered on a monthly basis. Listen as hosts Cory Galliher and Nate Evans guide you through the best, worst, and everything else making headlines and headway in the world of interactive entertainment. The Biggest Games of June 2024 The biggest games…

Rugged biker gangs, wearing patched-up greaser jackets, convening in derelict, smokey bars aptly named “The Bad Part of Town” have been cultural staples and synonymous with classic Americana since the 1950s. Unfortunately, this group has seen much of its original roots forgotten within the greater cultural zeitgeist, only showing up in modern times…

How do you go about adding to a game that a sizable number of people would call one of the best ever made? Could you toss another few time periods into Chrono Trigger and still have the same game, just more of it? How about a new chunk of the Super Metroid map? Can a pinnacle of perfection like Balan Wonderworld really be improved? No Man's Sky cer…

Inspired by the energy bottled up in George Lucas’ American Graffiti and playing off the rambunctious stage set by Amy Heckerling’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High, the ‘80s teen movie scene is one of the rare categories that gets talked about like an actual genre in its own right. Led by major players such as John Hughes, Cameron Crowe, Joel Schumach…

If I were a more indulgent writer, I'd introduce this game by going on, at length, about how the mainstreaming of the internet has had its ups and downs, and one of those downsides might be the way that culture is becoming increasingly sterile over time. Pockets of weird are becoming a bit harder to find, and I'm talking real weird, the kind of wei…

Nintendo's Switch is powered by a fantastic concept - take the same games you play at home on the go without having to compromise in terms of performance or gameplay. By and large, the Switch kept this promise, but it does so in a "corrupted wish" fashion worthy of the most sinister genie: as the years have ground on since the Switch's release, you…

Logitech’s slimmer, lighter Key-2-Go 2 Keyboard is an exercise in compromises, offering users a versatile and comfortable typing experience..By popzara

Let’s be honest, when you think of Apple products, gaming isn’t one of the words that comes to mind. I have to give them credit though as they’ve been putting in work to change that, starting with last year’s port of Resident Evil Village that looked and ran just as well as its PC and console counterparts, with the exception of a lower framerate an…

Being a lifelong giant monster fan, I was past excited when 2014’s Godzilla hit the states, followed by 2017’s Kong: Skull Island which would set the stage for these two kings to clash in 2021’s Godzilla vs Kong which me, my family and friends loved. So I was more than hyped when I learned another entry was coming with this year’s Godzilla x Kong: …

Unintentionally juxtaposing the grimy filth of an actual dive bar with the gloss of the modern-day streaming palette, the 2024 Road House remake may be doomed from the very start. It never seems to realize that much of the charm of Rowdy Herrington's 1989 original comes from a film grain that matches its smoke-filled sets; you can almost smell the …

Richard Linklater has long been one of the most versatile filmmakers in the industry. While he does prefer a specific lane — hangout comedies like Dazed and Confused, Slacker, and SubUrbia — the writer-director has found an equally strong voice with other types of films as well, regardless of financial success.…

Ah, the cyberpunk future! There's a lot of apocalyptic murmuring about how we're well on our way to techno-dystopia, but I say bring it on! The sooner I can get uploaded into a robot body, the better, and I'm hoping we see some AI bots that are a little more impressive than AIM's SmarterChild was back in 2007 sooner than later. For now, seems like …

Here on Popzara we're all about being open and vulnerable with our readership. That's why I'm going to admit to a secret shame: I was not a GameCube kid.By popzara

Anyone remember retro gaming magazines? I suppose they still exist, but with the advent of the modern connected world it's a little less necessary to pick up the latest issue. Back in the day, though, they were a great way to stay on top of new and upcoming gaming news.By popzara

Turtle Beach is ready to improve your sound game - literally - with two new upgrades to their best-selling gaming headsets: the Stealth 500 and Stealth 600. Both offer a great experience, and while only 20 bucks separate them in price, there are several quality-of-life differences that could make it difficult choosing one over the other, and even m…

Turtle Beach is ready to improve your sound game - literally - with two new upgrades to their best-selling gaming headsets: the Stealth 500 and Stealth 600. Both offer a great experience, and while only 20 bucks separate them in price, there are several quality-of-life differences that could make it difficult choosing one over the other, and even m…

Turtle Beach is widely known for their gaming headsets, and chances are you’ve seen a few of them featured on the site. Along with the updated Stealth 500 and Stealth 600, their flagship headset is the Turtle Beach Atlas Air Wireless Gaming Headset that’s a great sounding, highly versatile device that has all the features you need to keep your head…

Those who follow my tech reviews will know I’m a big fan of Turtle Beach and their PC peripherals such as keyboards and mice. Along with the Vulcan II TKL Pro, I was sent another improved classic device from their Burst gaming mice lineup, the Turtle Beach Burst II Air Wireless Gaming Mouse.By popzara

As with most PC gamers and users, I’m always looking for the best keyboards and mice I can get my hands on, both figuratively and literally. Our friends at Turtle Beach have come through once again to let me check out the new Turtle Beach Vulcan II TKL Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard.By popzara

I can’t tell you how many times I wasn’t able to charge my mobile devices because there wasn’t enough plugs, the ports are the wrong type, and such. Thankfully these kind of problems are being solved by companies such as Hyper with one of their latest chargers, the HyperJuice 100W USB-C GaN Travel Charger, that makes sure you’re covered wherever yo…

Stephen King celebrates 50 years of publishing with You Like It Darker, his first collection of short stories since 2020’s If It Bleeds. The title honors Leonard Cohen’s “You Want It Darker”, the late singer/songwriter’s elegiac acceptance of his mortality as he shuffled off this mortal coil.By popzara

The mark of a great prequel is its ability to walk a narrative tightrope. It must not only deepen beloved characters and mend gaps in the established story but also stand tall as a compelling narrative in its own right.By popzara

It’s The State of Gaming Podcast, Popzara’s in-depth look at what’s shaking up the gaming landscape delivered on a monthly basis. Listen as hosts Cory Galliher and Nate Evans guide you through the best, worst, and everything else making headlines and headway in the world of interactive entertainment. The Biggest Games of May 2024 The biggest games …

Everything is a computer these days. Really.By popzara

Those who believe that Sasquatches really exist claim the creature’s main mode of survival is the ability to ingeniously remain undetected by humans indefinitely. Apparently, true believers haven’t met the quartet at the center of Sasquatch Sunset, who may not get spotted by mankind but not for a lack of trying.…

Jim Davis’ Garfield was once a very funny gag comic strip. It would go on to spawn a great Saturday morning cartoon series, and was an omnipresent marketing machine second only to Charles Schulz’s Peanuts at the height of its popularity.By popzara

Percival Everett’s James has been heralded as a retelling or even a complementary version to Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a sequel to Tom Sawyer long considered the definitive Great American Novel since it was first published 140 years ago. It’s a shame that so much attention has been given to the book’s use of a particular word…

Along with the endless array of remakes and remasters that characterize the modern gaming landscape, there's been a curious tendency toward grabbing up old, forgotten titles and making them a little more available to modern players. One such game is Rainbow Cotton, the last official game in the cute 'em up shooter series before it would go dormant …

The world is a dark, cold and chaotic place, but thankfully there's a point of light in the shadow: remasters! HD remasters of old games! You name it, chances are it's got a remaster! Slap that baby on Steam and we're in the money! The latest game to receive the remaster treatment is The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered, a relatively obscure JRPG on …

It's a little difficult to determine the value of reviews when it comes to media. I've reviewed games for Popzara for over a decade, and I'll be the first to tell people who ask they shouldn't trust the stuff I put out there - nor should they trust anyone else's.By popzara

I remember wanting to see 1994’s The Crow back in my late teens for two reasons, it starred Brandon Lee (son of Bruce Lee) as a cool, goth looking superhero, and for the awesome soundtrack that featured one of my favorite bands at the time, Stone Temple Pilots and their hit single Big Empty. While it’s been released on DVD and Blu-ray numerous time…

We’re now at the very beginning of the next evolution of digital e-Readers, where users love them so much but wish they could do just a little bit more. Blame smartphones, which have evolved so far past their original intended use that we sometimes forget that not every device has to be able to do everything all the time.…

We’re now at the very beginning of the next evolution of digital e-Readers, where users love them so much but wish they could do just a little bit more. Blame smartphones, which have evolved so far past their original intended use that we sometimes forget that not every device has to be able to do everything all the time.…

Being a fan of the original Planet of the Apes from 1968, and not a big one of 2001’s Tim Burton remake, I didn’t know what to think when 2011’s Rise of the Planet of the Apes came along. Thankfully it turned out to be one of the best films I’d ever seen, sci-fi or otherwise, and had me going ape for what the franchise had in store.…

In an age of cross-platform play and a slow but gradual shift to the PC as a ubiquitous gaming device, it's a little weird to still see console exclusives, but they haven't gone anywhere. In 2024, there's still some games that you might or might not be able to play depending on which plastic box you bought, which is both a bit nostalgic and a bit a…

Have you ever wondered how the back-and-forth of a tennis match mirrors the intricate dynamics of human relationships? The strategic volleys, the calculated returns, the constant battle for control – it's a fascinating metaphor for the push and pull of love, rivalry, and the unspoken power struggles that define our interactions. Luca Guadagnino's C…

Remember the arcades? Remember all those attempts to make downloadable games the “new” version of arcades? Somewhere between these two worlds exist family fun entertainments like Dave & Busters, Round1, and other amalgamations of food and game (and sometimes beer, for the parents) that are often the last gasps of coin-op thrills in the United State…

Who'd have thought we'd still be seeing more of Shelly Harrison this many years after the release of her first game, Bombshell? Did you even know that was her first game? It didn't make much of a splash, after all. Harrison, a she-Duke Nukem polished for the modern age, is likely better known for her later appearance in Ion Maiden, later Ion Fury, …

You'd be surprised how many unique uses a single tool might have. Take the hammer, for instance.By popzara

Let’s face it, no one enjoys cleaning hard to clean surfaces, especially stovetops and grime covered bathtubs to name a few. I’ve noticed there’s been a rise of electric scrub brushes online for purchase, and I’ve always wanted to check one of them out.By popzara