Alex Reviews All

Author: Alex

  • Fragpunk

    Fragpunk

    Fragpunk is a free to play 5v5 bomb planting hero shooter with a twist that’s actually unique. At the start of every round the two teams can use shards to unlock cards. These cards give your team advantages for that round such as bullets ricocheting, cutting off certain pathways, equipping a turtle on your back to stop bullets, or having the ability to revive teammates.

    Really cool concept. Another interesting aspect is the sudden death dueling concept. The two teams set a lineup and do 1vs1’s on a small map until only one team is left standing. During my playtime I encountered this 3 times and all 3 times I wiped out the opposing team. I used the marksman rifle and the range and accuracy was too much for the other teams that mostly chose smgs and assault rifles. These moments were my favorite parts playing as there was a strategy to changing lanes and vantage points after each duel to make the next challenger guess what I’d do.

    Unfortunately, the standard gameplay just isn’t enjoyable enough to have staying power. It feels basic and nothing about the gunplay sticks out to me. I felt similarly about Valorent, so I don’t think these style of games are for me. I usually have limited gaming time and modes like search and destroy just don’t appeal to me like they used to. I would also be annoyed when my teammates wouldn’t vote on cards and leave us with minuscule advantages throughout the rounds. The saving grace is that there is a deathmatch mode that’s much quicker pace and lets you choose your own personal cards.

    The game has a store similar to Fortnite to buy gun and character skins. They have to make money and I respect it, but right now the featured character skins are all instrument playing anime girls. I guess that’s the vibe they’re going for.

    Rating: 435/1000

  • Arc of a Scythe Book Series

    Arc of a Scythe Book Series

    I started the first book in this series on 12/5/2022. The world has advanced far enough medically and technologically that humans can’t die. If someone does die, a drone picks up their body and brings them to a revival center. So how do you handle overpopulation when people are brought into the world, but no one ever leaves? Have people called scythes whose only job is to meet a killing quota. These scythes are the only beings who can cause permanent death.

    Scythes handle their jobs in different ways. Some are honorable while others are malicious and do mass gleanings (killings). The only consolation of being gleaned is that the rest of your family gets to kiss the scythe ring, which guarantees you safety for a year.

    The first book focuses mostly on the scythedom and the politics within. It’s an easy read and if you like it then you’ll enjoy the rest of the series as it only gets better. The followup shifts to the Thunderhead which is basically an AI that governs the whole world. It has the capacity to be everywhere at once and a lot of people see it as their friend and therapist. The one thing it can’t do is interfere with scythe matters. If a scythe is going to glean someone, the thunderhead can’t directly stop it from happening like it could with any other event.

    Major spoilers ahead….

    Citra and Rowan were solid characters, but Greyson quickly became my favorite. He was a questioning kid that didn’t take things at face value. The conclusion of Goddard organizing the sinking of Endura which killed all inhabitants including the Grandslayers was insane. It made me not want to wait another two years between books and I started The Toll several months later.

    The Toll is a little slower than the previous novels, but the buildup to the climax was worth it. Surprise surprise, Greyson is the toll. Watching him navigate being the prophet and the confident way he’d handle himself was fun. The world building of the first two books really paid off with this one. I didn’t mind the leisured pacing because of how invested and eager to learn more I was.

    My favorite twist of the series was that the Thunderhead originally planned a nearly flawless expedition to colonize on a new planet in order to solve the overpopulation crisis and thus prevent gleanings. Goddard was aboard this expedition and made a deal to sabotage and kaboom everything in order to keep scythes necessary and powerful. The Thunderhead of course could not make this known as it was now a scythe matter, so Citra had to puzzle out this information herself before revealing it to the world.

    The conclusion had a lot going on in a short period of time. The activated failsafe destroyed all the scythe rings and released nanites that would kill 5% of the population every 20 years, thus eliminating scythes and their duties. Rocket ships to escape and colonize new planets were released and after Goddard blew up a few, Rand killed him and then returned Tyger into his old body. Citra was deadish and couldn’t be revived till their ship landed to its destination planet, so Rowan had to wait 117 years to be reunited once again with her. The rest of the tonists that were gleaned would be supplanted with memories of carefully chosen individuals to help acclimate to the new planets after they were revived there.

    Rating: 769/1000

  • Bacon Wrangler Double from Whataburger

    Bacon Wrangler Double from Whataburger

    Having an anime night with the boys and you know we gotta get the din din in. We decided on Whataburger because they have a limited release beast named the Bacon Wrangler Double. This features two patties, Monterey Jack and American cheese, bacon, pickles, crispy onion strings and chipotle aioli. I went crazy and added grilled onions on top of all that.

    The vibe inside is chill and it’s nice how they bring the food out to our table after ordering. Out of the four of us eating, we all got the same burger. To be up front, I’m not a burger guy. I’m also pickle picky, as in I despise them. I didn’t realize at the time of order that these were included and hand removed them. The meal also came with fries and a drink.

    The burger was pretty solid for it being fast food. The crispy and grilled onion combo with the chipotle aioli was the star of the show. The smokiness and texture of the bacon was excellent. Usually I expect a sloppy, floppy, soft piece of bacon when they’re advertised at a place like this. The meat and cheese were pretty standard and I wish it had a fresher component like lettuce. Can only blame myself on that with the pickle move.

    The fries were just ok. They have a small bit of crisp, but lack flavor. They’re really meant to be conduits for the ketchup. Preferably with the spicy version that adds a small amount of heat.

    As a non-burger guy I probably wouldn’t order it again, but I’m not mad that I had it. Overall, the meal left me full and satisfied. Hard to ask much more of a fast food joint.

    Rating: 712/1000

  • Stanley 40oz Tumbler

    Stanley 40oz Tumbler

    I remember when these were all the rage. People would flock to target to get the coveted pink stanley release for valentines day. As a massive water drinker myself, I was gifted one for my birthday years ago and instantly took a liking to it.

    40oz of water that fits in my vehicles cup holder is a huge win. The reusable straw is easy to drink out of and has good mouthfeel. My cup and straw are still in perfect condition after all this time. The handle is also natural to hold and carry the bottle with. I have switched water cups frequently throughout the years, but bringing it back lately has been a treat.

    The downside of a good treat is that you shouldn’t have one everyday, and similarly this tumbler isn’t good enough for daily use. There is one thing stopping this from being the perfect water receptacle… not having spill proof protection. Throughout its life it has fallen over and gotten my apartment carpet, desk at work, and car wet. It’s not something that happens frequently, but it’s enough of a problem to stay on my mind. I don’t want to have to be cautious and use headspace on protecting my water bottle every time I put it down after a hydrating swig. Thus, I believe the best place to use the stanley is at home, but not worth the hassle to bring while traveling.

    Rating: 658/1000

  • Weapons Movie (spoilers)

    Weapons Movie (spoilers)

    2025 makes two horror movies starring Julia Garner that I’ve seen with the first being wolf man. While wolf man didn’t hit the mark for most people, Weapons fell even flatter for me. It felt like it could have been a hour-long black mirror type episode, but instead was dragged out into a movie.

    Weapons started out strong with the mystery of 17 kids all running out of their homes at 2:17am and disappearing. All 17 of these kids were in Julia’s class and we get to see the fallout and blame that is put on her because of this. The portrayal of confusion and anger from the parents felt realistic and Benedict Wong played the part of the principal doing damage control extremely well.

    So great start. Then the film starts changing viewpoints and interlacing different scenes that end on cliffhangers. It got old fast and instead of a tight controlled story, it became convoluted and slow. I was also disappointed on the aunt being a voodoo witch. I’m not sure what I was expecting and I’m not a movie buff by any means, but it just felt typical.

    The conclusion with the aunt being chased by the kids was comical and felt like a skit. That said, I was engaged and enjoyed it. It was interesting how Archer regained his consciousness after the aunt died. I’m assuming that was because he didn’t spend much time under her influence. I also appreciated how the rest of the kids didn’t just snap back to reality and give us a pretty ending.

    Rating: 408/1000

  • Houston Horror Film Fest

    Houston Horror Film Fest

    As a member of weiny hut jr. this is admittedly not something I would normally attend. However, my sister needed someone to go with and I accompanied her as the amazing sibling that I am. This is a 3-day convention full of celebrity meet and greets, vendors, and horror films.

    The event took place at a Mariott hotel and parking was a breeze. Check in was quick and with our wristbands tightened, we headed into the expo. There were tons of vendors selling everything from posters, figurines, comics, knick knacks, everything that can be sold really. What really stood out to me were the people getting tattoos at a random booth. They had a gumball machine you’d get to spin twice for $100. It spit out different designs and then you choose one to put on your body for the rest of your life.

    The crowd was also fun. A good amount of people dressed up and my non-horror self recognized a few characters such as Chucky and a Five Nights at Freddie’s animatronic. Everyone was friendly and willing to take a pic with my sister when she asked. You also got some classic expo body odor, but overall the dankness was controlled.

    Another cool part of the event was the “celebs” who sat at different booths throughout the floor. Characters from Terrorizer, Goosebumps, and other movies were there this year. I felt bad for some of them at first when I saw no one visiting them. Then I noticed prices! People charging $40-$60 for a selfie. To me it seems a little ridiculous to charge that much for a picture or autograph. Sorry, you’re not that cool (I say as a noob).

    The last thing we did was watch a short film titled Blue Eyes: Going Dark. This took place in a mini ballroom that was pitch black when we first entered. Finding seats was a challenge and it was funny how many seats we noticed were open after our eyes adjusted. The premise of the film was about a man going to the dentist. He acts all weird about a different dentist working on him that day as if he’s a regular, but then he says he’s new to town when asked why he doesn’t have an emergency contact? The new dentist and her assistant duct tape the man to his chair and aggressively pull out his tooth. Then they say he has to return the favor and proceed to cut off both his hands, cut him open and rip out his intestines, and even take out his eyeballs to hang on their car mirror like dice. To be honest it wasn’t very good and it seemed like the actors weren’t trying hard.

    After watching the movie everyone clapped and I thought it was done. However, the creator of the film came up after and took some questions. We learned that it was shot in 5 days last year and won an award in effects. They were pretty solid for how amateurish the vibe was. It was neat getting to hear from him and get that background even if I wasn’t a fan of the project overall.

    Ultimately, the event wasn’t tailored for me. You pay to go look at more things to spend money on. If I was a horror fan I probably wouldn’t mind, but to me it was meh. My sister loved it though and it was pretty well run which I respect for an event of this size.

    Rating: 552/1000

    Ewoks
    Question for the ages
    Ferris wheel that spun around
  • Arches National Park

    Arches National Park

    When I first left to my girlfriend’s week long family reunion in Colorado, I would have never guessed I’d be writing a review for an Utah National park. If you teleported me there I’d probably have guessed I was in Mars. All of the arches, balanced rocks that appeared to defy gravity, and orange heavy color palate created a beautiful view to behold.

    Getting in the park was easy on this 100 degree afternoon. We were on a time crunch and drove to popular spots within the park to see as much as possible. These factors left me feeling like I didn’t get to see as much of the park as a review deserves, but it’s also hard to know if I’ll ever go back. However, the bonus points from the phallic rock help make up for this.

    One huge plus of Arches was how easy it felt to drive around it. You pay the entry fee, stop or go past the visitors center, and then start driving the winding climb upward before exploring. There’s a plethora of turn off spots to admire the vistas in addition to hiking trails. They looked like a great way to get close up to the rock formations. Our final stop had a bunch of benches meant to sit at and view all the stars at night. What a bummer to miss that.

    Again, it’s probably unfair to review this without getting the full experience. but hey, it’s my blog.

    Rating: 812/1000

  • Christmas Rocks!

    Christmas Rocks!

    July ends and August rolls in. First thing to do… go to the Christmas store! Driving by you wouldn’t know it was there. There’s a tiny little flag planted on the driveway that declares festiveness hidden inside this normal looking house. One step in and you’re instantly transported to a wonderland overflowed with ornaments, knick knacks, and displays. If there’s any unused space in there, I was hard pressed to find it.

    It’s a damn shame it’s only August cause I couldn’t justify any purchases outside of my misson that day. I am taking a road trip to Colorado for my girlfriends family reunion and they do a mid-summer ornament exchange. Objective: find the coolest (yet economical) ornament there. Funnily enough, one of the first ones my girlfriend hands me spoke instantly. Introducing Librarian Mouse:

    He reminds me of a mouse Harry Potter with those glasses. With that image in my brain all the other ornaments are disqualified before they even get to cross the starting line.

    Exploring there is a lot of unique items and it was cute how they were organized in this converted house. For example, the kitchen had a bunch of food/drink related ornaments ranging from pineapples, hohos, icees, and tequila. There was unique ones as well such as a wordle puzzle or a stack of harry potter books. My absolute favorite find were televisions with displays inside that lit up and moved. If they weren’t so pricey I might have instant bought, so we’ll see if they stay on my mind.

    Overall a very “cool” store. I’m not much of a shopper, so I was ready to go a little earlier than my partner, but that doesn’t detract from the store. It’s a true hidden gem in Houston that flew under my radar.

    Rating: 804/1000

  • Banana Bundt Cake Candle

    Banana Bundt Cake Candle

    Picture this. It’s December 2022. I’m single with a cozy apartment and get invited to go to Bath & Body Works for something called Candle Day. What the hey, why not? Little did I know how shook and consumed by the idea of large candles retailing for $30 going for $10 would hit me. 

    Yes, I bought a handful of candles that day, but that wasn’t enough. I proceeded to purchase 18 MORE candles online. The idea of having a candle always burning, my vinyl player spinning, and a book in my recliner chair was too enticing. What proceeded was me giving out candles like candy for the next 3 years. No birthday, Christmas, or work secret santa was safe. As of today I’ve burned out 3 or so candles with six left in my collection. The rest of these candles are going to help me carry out my original vision. 

    One thing about me, I love bananas. Why wouldn’t I want my apartment smelling like a delicious banana bundt cake? This 3-wick candle actually does a great job of accomplishing just that. Put this smell in my nostrils with no context and I wouldn’t be able to tell it was artificial. Spinning some chill music, having a fireplace visual on the tv, laying on my recliner, and having this burn beside me would make 2022 Alex very happy. It’s probably unfair to all the other candles I review in the future how perfect this current vibe is, but that’s showbiz baby.

    Rating: 836/1000

  • Twotone Coffee Shop

    Twotone Coffee Shop

    In an unassuming shopping strip lies the coffee shop known as twotone. The door looks locked and it’s impossible to see in through the blocked out windows. I’ve never heard of this place till recently, but the google reviews paint a trendy, hip oasis. Upon entering, the vision came to life. It’s a tiny box room with chill hip hop playing, minimal yet trendy design, and a young crowd. There was one guy taking orders and three baristas behind him churning out drinks. 

    I went with the Jade which is an iced pandan foam latte. The total before tip was $8, so on the high end for a coffee. There wasn’t a lot of room and it was a little awkward finding a spot to wait with the little room in there. That said, the wait was only around 5 minutes. I would have liked to enjoy the drink there, but with no seating space I got my drink and left.

    The drink looks amazing with the beautiful light green foam dominating the bottom layer of coffee. To top it off there is a line of brown sugar on the foam. The cup also has an open lid with a straw handed to me, but not just any straws. One of those straws meant for boba with the pointy end. I may have to look over the menu again because I don’t see why a normal straw wouldn’t suffice for these coffee drinks. I assume the main purpose of the straw in this case is to just mix the foam in anyways. 

    To be honest I am not all that familiar with pandan. My first sip was unmixed and therefore completely foam. It tastes very matcha-ie with a small hint of caramel. The flavor is very unique and it’s an interesting compliment to my mixed drink follow up sips. The bitterness of the coffee and sweetness of the foam have a ying and yangness to them. 

    It was a fun drink to order and would look great on the gram. The taste is unique and fun. Does it have me coming back for more sips… not really. To me it’s a novelty drink that’s drinkable and enjoyable for what it is, but I don’t want a full cup of it. For $9 total after tip, not a place I’d frequent simply for the coffee. 

    Rating: 548/1000

  • Invincible Graphic Novel Series

    Invincible Graphic Novel Series

    After finishing the fantastic season 3 of the show, I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. 144 issues and 3,600 pages later I am left depressed leaving behind such nuanced and deep characters. A lot of the ideas behind being a hero, what’s perceived as good and bad, and intentions vs results are explored throughout this epic saga.

    The comics up to season 3 are mostly the same material. There was some differences in the timeline and ways stuff happened, but for the most part it felt like I could have skipped ahead up to that point. Once I got past that, wooo buddy. I haven’t been into a graphic novel series this much since Saga many years ago. This isn’t a story where the good guys always win and everything is black and white. Mark goes from being the hero to questioning what’s really important. Is defeating the “hero of the day” really changing things?

    Mark and Eve’s relationship is a treat to watch develop. How understanding and graceful they are with each other after all the shit they constantly go through is true love. Their issues and reactions felt human and it rarely seemed overreacted just for the plot.

    This series was brutal in the best way. Characters died unexpectedly and no one felt safe. With Eve, she was attacked several times during her pregnancy and the possibility of her losing the baby frightened me. Most authors wouldn’t dare, but I wasn’t so sure with Kirkman. On the flip side, it seemed like people were also being revived enough to where some deaths were losing impact.

    Omni-man ended up being one of my favorite characters by the end. Never would have guessed that after he mass murdered the guardians of the galaxy. Mark going back in time and reliving that event gave a lot of context behind his thinking. I thought he was insane for trying to get back with Debbie as well, but again, over time it just made sense. He ruled the Viltrimites justly, fought with the coalition to protect the galaxy, and handed his empire down to Mark while on his death bed.

    I could have went through another 100 issues of this. The final arc felt a little rushed and I wish we could have had a little more time at the end to explore everything that happened. The solution to finally stopping Rex was smart. I thought there was no way to logically move past him ruling without fucking up all the good he did, but using his brain with The Immortal making the final call was genius. The final fast forward scenes with Terra and Markey were nice and I didn’t mind how short that part was. It leaves a lot to infer with how their grievances came up, while still having a solution to lead into the happy ending.

    Rating: 903/1000