Reading science fiction, fantasy and mystery books aren’t the only way that I learn about stories and inspire my writing. Films and television programmes play a major part in my fiction writing too. That’s why I love to offer up recommendations to readers and watchers so I can share movies and TV programmes that I love and seriously passionate about. Therefore, I hope you enjoy these various mystery, fantasy, science fiction and occasionally romance films and TV recommendations. The recommendations in this post are the ones I made in May 2023.
Instead this month focuses on video game recommendations because some of them have great stories too.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
Whilst this isn't really about a TV or movie recommendation, the true purpose of these Friday recommendations is all about entertainment and because video games are a form of entertainment I want to recommend the only four of them on my list this month. And I really liked Horizon Zero Dawn by PlayStation because of the gameplay and the storytelling itself. The game follows a young outcast in a post-apocalyptic world that has devolved into primitive tribes that fear ancient technology so when she finds some and her village gets attacked. She sets out on an epic journey across the world to find out what happened, why the machine animals are turning evil and how to stop it. The main character is kind, loveable and really relatable so you as the player want to follow her journey across the world in an effort to find out what happened and how she's going to save her people. And as things get worse, the tension rises to a nail-biting conclusion. Yet the thing that really made this game great was the secondary plot line about who the main character was and what her connection was to someone that's been dead over a very, very long time. And like all good stories do, the game has a perfect ending that is perfect for the characters, the story and the genre itself. I couldn't have for a better game when it had out and I was more than pleased to find out that there was a sequel. If you're a gamer who loves science fiction then definitely check it out.
Jedi: Fallen Order
May is the month of video game recommendations. Then TV and Film recommendations will return in June onwards. As I’ve gotten older, went to university and no longer have time to play video games, something I love to do in the last week of the year in the run-up to New Year (during the daytime) is watching Video Game movies (but ONLY the legal ones where the gaming companies have been a YouTube channel permission to do it). This is where a YouTube channel takes all the Cutscenes and some gameplay of a video game and puts it all together to create a movie. Those are great to watch, very entertaining and you get a great idea about the story of the video game. Therefore, I really like Jedi: Fallen Order because the storytelling is brilliant and it is seriously entertaining. Since it follows the journey of Cal, a surviving Jedi, as he hides from the Empire who is constantly hunting down the remaining Jedi in the galaxy. Then after his discovery you follow his journey as he tries to rebuild the Jedi order. This is an amazing game for Star Wars fans because there are a lot of throwbacks and hints to the other films set about the same time as it, it includes a lot of familiar faces and the team about Cal is very funny and very well done. Not a lot of gamewriters can pull off a team that well so quickly. And come on, what Star Wars fan wouldn’t want to be a Jedi? So if you’re a gamer then definitely check out Jedi: Fallen Order.
Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
Continuing our look this month at my Video Game Recommendations, I want to recommend a rather controversial choice that is “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” because I easily think it is the best one that the franchise has ever made. Especially considering how bad Valhalla was. Anyway I really enjoyed this game because as you know I love ancient Greece, its history and I really liked meeting all the historical figures and historical references in the game. For a person who loves ancient history that was a very, very special treat. The game follows the story of whoever the character you pick (a man or woman) as they travel across the ancient Greek world following the trial of a mysterious cult that works in the shadows to control ancient Greece as you have to uncover what happened to your lost long brother (or sister. Basically the character you didn’t pick to play the game as). The story I thought it was brilliant because unlike Valhalla (the most reason Assassin’s Creed game) there’s a very linear story that’s tense, action-packed and you really can throw yourself into the ancient Greek world. For example, join the power struggle between Athens and Sparta, fight the mythical creatures from ancient Greek myth and sail the Aegean sea like the ancients used to do themselves. Also, I really liked it because of the different dialogue choices, actions you can choose and other small details that changed the outcome of the story. I made sure to always try and save the siblings and make them turn good in the end so I got the positive ending. Those choices really had a large(ish) impact in Odyssey that I didn’t think you could with Origins or Valhalla. Granted I did give up on Origins in the end because I was stuck on one past and I felt like they had missed the natural ending of the story. Overall, if you’re looking for a great action-adventure historical video game to enjoy then definitely check out Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Or watch a legal Game Movie on YouTube or something similar.
Horizon: Forbidden West
Finishing off this month of video game recommendations before we return to TV and Film recommendations next month, I really want to finish off by recommending “Horizon Forbidden West”. Since towards the end of 2022, I wanted a legal game movie featuring all the cutscenes and a few pieces of gameplay and I have to say it is brilliant. Similar to the first Horizon game, this continues the journey of Alloy as she tries to save the world because the environmental systems that keep the post-apocalyptic earth and machines functioning are failing badly. But as old enemies return, allies become enemies and new enemies make themselves known, Alloy quickly realises nothing is as it seems and if she’s going to people everyone she loves she needs to think quicker than the people hunting her. Something that isn’t going to be easy at all. So not only is the story itself excellent making a gripping and very tense plot, but I really liked the ending. It was so good and perfect for a science fiction video game, the characters themselves and I think there has to be another Horizon game coming along at some point. The ending wasn’t quite a cliffhanger but there was a strong, strong hint that Alloy and her team are going to be in even more trouble sooner rather than later. Also, “Horizon Forbidden West” is a great game because it deepens Alloy’s character even more because the first game was all about discovering who she was and how she became the biological daughter of the woman responsible for saving humanity even though there are hundreds or thousands of years between them. And this game focuses on the relationships she makes, how Alloy deals with her connection to the past and more. It makes the game even better. So if you’re looking for a good video game to enjoy at some point definitely check out “Horizon Forbidden West”.
I hope you enjoyed these movie and film recommendations and if you want to see some of my own fantasy, science fiction, mystery and romance books. Then please click the hyperlink on the genre you want to explore. You won’t regret exploring these great books.
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