‘Psychonauts 2’ review: 2021’s first video game-of-the-year contender
The Hindu
From the mind of legendary game designer Tim Schafer, comes the much-awaited action-platformer Psychonauts 2, one of the best games you will play in 2021 that happens to feature actor Jack Black
The first Psychonauts game, launched in 2005, was an under-appreciated gem from the newly-minted Double Fine Productions headed by Tim Schafer of ex-LucasArts elite who was responsible for the golden era of adventure games. Psychonauts achieved cult status in the years that followed its release and gamers got a another taste of this fun universe through Psychonauts In The Rhombus Of Ruin in 2017. But it was not a true sequel, so after a successful crowd-funding movement and a few unfortunate delays, Psychonauts 2 launched on August 25, and we can say 2021 finally has its first ‘game of the year’ contender. (Subscribe to our Today's Cache newsletter for a quick snapshot of top 5 tech stories. Click to subscribe for free.)
A vacuum cleaner haunted by a ghost is the kind of one-liner which can draw in a festival audience looking for a little light-hearted fun to fill the time slots available between the “heavier” films which require much closer attention. A useful ghost, the debut feature of Thai filmmaker Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke being screened in the world cinema category at the 30th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), even appears so in the initial hour. Until, the film becomes something more, with strong undercurrents of Thailand’s contemporary political history.
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Sustainability is not an add-on, but stamped firmly into the process: every piece is biodegradable, waste-free and unembellished, free from glitter or beads. “Products should be sustainable and biodegradable so that our planet is not harmed,” says Anu Elizabeth Alexander, a student of Sishya, Adyar. At a recent exhibition, the stars she made sold the fastest, followed by the small diamonds. “I would like people to know about the process, how it is created, and that it is sustainable,” says Anu. Infanta Leon from Kotturpuram developed an interest in crochet as a teenager. It was a hobbyhorse that evolved into a steed that would help her embark on a journey of identity-shaping creative engagement. She started making Christmas-themed decor two years ago, spurred by a desire to craft safe, eco-friendly toys for children. “With a toddler at home, and my elder child sensitive to synthetic materials, I wanted to create items that were gentle, durable and tactile,” she explains. Her earliest creations were small amigurumi toys which gradually evolved into ornaments that could adorn Christmas trees with warmth and charm.
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