ARTS & FEATURES
FEATURES
JANUARY 31, 2020 | 11
the ‘10’s
Minecraft (2011)
Evan Lee Editorial Staff You find yourself lost in a grassy, pixelated plain and standing before you is a tall, blocky tree. You punch it. “Minecraft” is unique. Having entered the decade as a small indie project led by a team of one, it left holding the title of the most sold video game of all time. Pretty good for something made entirely out of squares, blocks, and 90-degree angles.
But just as we’re told not to judge a book by its cover, the same applies to video games. While “Minecraft” may look simple compared to last decade’s triple A titles which pushed the boundaries of reality, good graphics don’t make the game - good gameplay does. And “Minecraft” has a lot of it. In fact, there’s an endless amount of gameplay thanks to its procedurally generated worlds. That grassy plain you found yourself in? You were the first person to ever travel it.
Every cave you explore, diamond you find, and pit of lava you unfortunately fall into while mining it are all unique to you. And all experienced based on your own choices. While other games simply tell you what to do and where to go to advance their stories, “Minecraft” lets you decide how that happens. That tree you punched down earlier? Perhaps you’ll build a house from it on the plains, or maybe you’ll craft a boat out of it to sail off to new lands. The choice is entirely up to you.
Microsoft
Victory Lap (2018) Jared Graf Asst. Arts & Features Editor
All Money In No Money Out/Atlantic Records
painting his picture. “Young N***a” features ad-libs from Diddy and an incredibly contagious instrumental that sounds best played at full volume. With a pronunciation and flow so meticulous and clean, it seems as if Nipsey’s words are bouncing off the beat - making it one of the most alluring tracks on the album. My favorite cut on the project is “Right Hand 2 God,” a bonus track Nipsey later confirmed had been recorded in 2013. Almost seven years later, the song sounds like it only
Often, an artist’s first album ends up being regarded as some of their best work. This holds true with Nipsey Hussle’s debut studio album “Victory Lap” - the first and only album he was able to give us. The title track, “Victory Lap,” starts the project off on a high note as Nipsey passionately raps over a triumphant beat tailored to him. Stacy Barthe provides a beautifully sung hook and backing vocals, giving Nipsey the perfect canvas to begin
came out yesterday, attesting to how timeless Nipsey’s music is. With lyrics so moving, motivational, and immaculately polished, it’s not surprising the album received a Grammy nomination in 2019. You can hear the time, effort, and thought put into the project - after all, it was Nipsey’s first commercial release following an impressive 13-year mixtape run. An effort as strong as “Victory Lap” makes it hard not to wonder if we’ll ever get a posthumous Nipsey Hussle album.
Athleisure Wear Lauren Paolini Editorial Staff Picture it: the year is 2009. You have to go home after work to change before your yoga sesh. The horror. Fortunately, as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s, the ball drops in Times Square as well as the knowledge clothing can be simultaneously stylish
and comfortable. Behold the legging: the best thing that’s ever happened to you and your wardrobe. Dress them up with your favorite sweater and pair of booties, then throw on a T-shirt and hit the gym - all in the same day. There were plenty of great fashion moments in the past 10 years, from Lady Gaga arriving at the 2011 Grammys in an egg to JLo bringing back her iconic jungle dress.
For life off the red carpet, yoga pants, and your favorite Adidas sneakers, take the cake as the trend that hopefully carries through to the 2020s.
Killer Instinct (2013)
Robert Johnson Jr. Arts & Features Editor
Iron Galaxy
I don’t know about you, but when I think of the words “high school,” my mind immediately goes to a laughter-filled, hectic after school session of “Killer Instinct” at a Microsoft Store in downtown Boston. This 2013 reboot, originally spearheaded by Amazon-owned Double Helix Studios - now developed
by Iron Galaxy - is one of the finest fighting games, not just of the past decade, but all the way to this very day. With smooth controls, addicting combo mechanics, lots of character variety, and a dedicated scene that wants you to “#PlayKI,” “Killer Instinct” has it all for the modern-day fighting game player. While the game was originally released for an unorthodox console found in the Xbox One, at least for
games of that particular genre, it has also managed to creep its way onto computer storefronts, notably the Windows Store and Steam, with crossplay functionality across all three platforms. If you ever find “Killer Instinct” on sale and you have $10 itching to COMBO BREAK out your pocket, you need to join everyone else and #PlayKI.
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