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The Internet: Judge and Jury of Entertainment

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With the recent release of EA’s Star Wars: Battlefront II trailer, the internet has found its new favorite meme about Darth Maul and some scared Clone Troopers. Because of that meme, many are becoming much more open to this new entry in the Battlefront franchise. This demonstrates the internet’s power to dominate the entertainment industry. The last Battlefront was panned for its huge DLC price tag and now, with a simple meme, the internet has completely turned around the potential for success in this franchise.

The internet holds the greatest amount of power in the industry when it comes to how a product does. Whether it be a game, movie, TV show, you name it, the internet controls its level of success. If it loves something, even for a really specific reason like with Battlefront II, that product is here to stay. However, the opposite is also true.

As I mentioned previously, the 2015 Battlefront did very poorly, at least where EA was concerned. The internet similarly banded together on this one but achieved the opposite effect. There were various rallying cries against the previous entry such as the huge price tag, the lack of content, etc. As a result, it didn’t do very well. EA even referenced all its Twitter feedback on the last Battlefront during their E3 presentation of the new game.

Another example includes the Mass Effect series. Once one of the most respected series in gaming history, the internet annihilated it over the past 5 years or so. Starting with the poorly received ending, Mass Effect 3 received unheard of amounts of critical backlash. It was so bad that BioWare even thought it was necessary to edit their own ending, which they were initially very steadfast about, as damage control. Then Mass Effect: Andromeda came out with subpar facial animations and the internet had a field day.

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The harsh backlash Andromeda got from the various memes about it led to very poor sales and a hiatus of the series as no one wanted to get a game that had become the laughingstock of the internet. Another example of this is the recent Berserk anime. Fans of the manga were incredibly excited until they saw the poor CGI used in the show. From there, a similar but less noteworthy series of events occurred. By that I mean, at the very least I still hear people talk about Mass Effect but I haven’t heard one word about Berserk since the new anime started and it’s still ongoing.

As mentioned with Battlefront II, the internet has the power to save a franchise as well. The DC Extended Universe of films was saved by internet backlash against Rotten Tomatoes. The first three films got poor reviews while Marvel movies were getting great reviews, leading to a very vocal outcry against film critics. Now, Wonder Woman has reviews that are (in my opinion) higher than they should be. Despite it’s obvious quality as a film, it came across as more damage control to satiate the internet and managed to breathe new life and potential into the DCEU.

The internet is a very powerful beast that has largely taken over the entertainment industry in the modern day. It’s honestly scary how much of an influence it has over how well certain products do, let alone ending up with an opinion it disagrees with.

I spend most of my days working towards my Writing and Rhetoric degree at the University of Central Florida, but I spend a lot of my down time keeping up to date on the best TV, movies, and video games the industry has to offer. Here I put all of that extended time to use discussing each of them in-depth.

Gaming

Documentary Explores the Making of the Highly Praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for PS5

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Square Enix has launched a captivating documentary series that explores the intricate process behind the creation of the highly praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. In the first episode, titled “Shaping the World,” the developer delves into the process of reimagining the expansive PS1 map of the original game into a vast sandbox for the PS5. The film includes personal stories shared by directors Naoki Hamaguchi and Tetsuya Nomura, as well as other important members of the team.

This reimagining of the all-time PlayStation classic was truly enjoyable. In our review, we praised Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth for its ability to enhance the already impressive combat system of Remake. The game truly shines in its portrayal of an iconic RPG setting. If you have a deep appreciation for the original PS1 game and found enjoyment in Remake, then Rebirth’s character-focused adventure will surely captivate you from start to finish.

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Gaming

Gran Turismo 7 for the PS5 and PS4 shows continuous improvement

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While Sony may not classify Gran Turismo 7 as a live-service game, the team at Polyphony Digital certainly approaches it with a similar mindset. The game continues to impress with every new update, and although v1.44 may be smaller compared to previous versions, it still manages to enhance the already extensive content of this simulation racer.

The update, now available worldwide, introduces three new cars: the Audi R8 Coupé V10 Plus ’16, the Lamborghini Urus ’18, and the Toyota GT-One (TS020) ’99. Furthermore, it introduces three fresh events to World Circuits, an extra menu to conquer in the GT Café single-player campaign, and a collection of livery stickers inspired by the upcoming Highspeed Étoile anime, set to debut next week in Japan.

If you’re not already acquainted with Highspeed Étoile, you can watch a trailer right here. “Sony has announced that a collection of 26 stickers, consisting of 8 title logos and 18 main character stickers, will be made available for a limited time,” stated Sony on the PS Blog. In addition, Fukushima will be included as a backdrop in the title’s beloved photography mode.

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Gaming

TopSpin 2K25 appears to be a standout title in the recent PS5 and PS4 gameplay showcase

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This author has consistently praised the realistic portrayal of tennis in TopSpin 4. After more than a decade, we are thrilled to witness the release of TopSpin 2K25, which expands upon the success of its renowned predecessor. This gameplay video provides a comprehensive overview of the features discussed in our recent preview while also incorporating relevant footage to enhance understanding.

The series’ swing system sets it apart from arcade-style games like Virtua Tennis, as it requires players to charge up their shots in a different way. In order to succeed, timing is crucial, and fortunately, a new meter above your player will assist you in achieving that. Surfaces have their own distinct characteristics, such as clay, where you’ll experience a noticeable amount of sliding.

The game ensures that every player has a distinct set of animations, adding a touch of individuality to each competitor. The courts, found in all Grand Slams, possess a remarkable amount of individuality and charm. It is mentioned in the video that with each in-game season, players can expect a plethora of additional content, such as animation packs. This indicates that there will be plenty to anticipate even after the game’s initial release.

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