Hey everyone, it’s Kern here with our next fan song. First a little backstory. Kresh and I both really like the Resident Evil series, but when it comes to the third game in the franchise Kresh never played the original… only I did. As someone who played the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, I have some pretty strong opinions about why I think the original game is far and away the better game. Those opinions lead to this fan song. The glam-rock song is meant to be taken “in good fun”, and its not something to take super seriously.
About the Song: “Where’s The Fear? (Nemesis No Show)” is a song that depicts Kern’s two largest complaints of the Resident Evil 3 Remake. First of all, the Nemesis in the remake doesn’t feel nearly as threatening as his original counterpart. The original used arguably clunky tank controls, but the fact that Nemesis moves incredibly fast made him feel much more difficult to get away from, provided that you did choose to run from him. The second reason he feels much less threatening in the remake, and far less scary, is the lack of branching pathways and the overall improved enemy design when it comes to basic zombie encounters… the remake beefs up the usual zombie fodder a fair bit, but that means in context Nemesis feels weaker. While this song is obviously poking fun at the remake, it’s supposed to be “in good fun”, and not something to take too seriously.
There are some reasons why other people may find the remake to be the better of the two Resident Evil 3 games. That opinion has a fair bit of credence, but to me the original will always be better, and that’s why the remake was the one I chose to make the dis-track for. It’s the weakest of the remakes by far in my opinion, but that’s a statement I make in-context…. the “weakest game” is by no means a “bad game”, and please let that distinction stand as the nuanced opinion that it is.
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is my all time favorite Resident Evil game in the franchise. The remake couldn’t have hoped to live up to my personal enjoyment as a player, and that’s not the game’s fault. When the things that make it my favorite were cut entirely, it’s fair to assume I’d find the remake lackluster. Visually, it certainly looks better… overall I just don’t find that it feels better to play.
The Strengths and Weaknesses Both Games Have
The Resident Evil 3 Remake isn’t a bad game, it’s just balanced differently. In an attempt to make the remake linear, they cut out the freedom of choice options that allowed players to interact with Nemesis in a much more organic way. This single action streamlines the remake into a completely solid experience for anyone intending to only play the game once. For those that have never touched the original, it’s a streamlined and simple approach to a very convoluted story. Resident Evil 2 and 3 take place both simultaneously, and separately, depending on timeline and lore.
While Nemesis was heavily scripted in both games (and it would be foolish to think he wasn’t heavily scripted in the original game too), he doesn’t feel as scripted in the original because the player is given distinct options when it comes to dealing with him. Choosing to battle him, incapacitate him briefly, or escape him for the moment are usually the crux of the choices presented. These set pieces offer a special way to enjoy the game during a replay because you can choose other options to begin with. While I will be the first to admit some choices have very little impact compared to others, I will also say that I prefer the attempt that the original game made to expand upon its story telling process.
Furthermore, even though I do believe that Resident Evil 3 Remake contains a weaker showing of Nemesis as a looming threat, let me be clear: both games are worth playing.
I think the story of Resident Evil 3 is much better represented in the original game. However, I think players will find the remake to be a better balance of overall enemy design and combat related immersion. It’s true that Nemesis is a weaker threat in the remake compared to his original counterpart, but, let’s not forget that in the original game he’s about the only real threat that there is. Once you’ve played the game a few times, every other enemy feels predictable. He needs to feel much more organic because to an experienced player he’s about the only element of surprise that we actually need to be careful of… all of the other enemies lack a feeling of real danger once you know the maps and the routes.
That isn’t to say an experienced player won’t find themselves in a thorny situation or two. Unless you’ve perfectly optimized all the runs and possible enemy placements in your head, and plan accordingly, the original game can and will provide its challenges. It’s merely that the difficulty threshold then increases based on player error, rather than the enemies themselves. Using too many bullets early might mean ending up shorthanded when you really need them later. The same would be true of healing items. That’s usually how the original Resident Evil games scale difficulty, so it’s no surprise. While it’s a good idea, it’s an unbalanced idea for anyone who plays the game repetitiously.
Zombies in the original aren’t too bright, and sometimes they will just go after the walls instead of the player. Unless you’ve encountered a large pack of them in a tight space, they’re not a huge problem. Crows are almost non-threatening completely since they show up sparingly, and the poisonous enemy types like spiders become crippled in the face of certain weaponry. The only enemies in the original game that might be just as dangerous as Nemesis are the hunters, and they show up rarely.
Contrasting that difference, in the remake zombies and other enemy types are a much greater threat than they ever were in the original. While I’m a little sad Nemesis felt like he became a little too nurfed in favor of other enemies of the game, all of the enemies in the remake feel at least somewhat formidable. By trading off branching paths and the real power-house threat Nemesis provides in the original game, the Remake was able to offer a linear and cleanly portrayed experience. For some players; the much more balanced combat, lack of tank controls, and on-rails story may prove to be the more entertaining experience for them.
For me personally, the original is just the better game, that’s how I feel. Others may disagree, and that’s completely fine. For Kresh, the remake was her first experience with Nemesis, and for that reason alone I’m glad we were given the remake. Resident Evil 3: Nemesis is an old game, and its age shows. Beyond that, the original Resident Evil 3: Nemesis had its failings within the initial trilogy too. Even though I love it, the original, it was still a step down objectively from its predecessor, Resident Evil 2. That was true of the original trilogy, and we see the remakes following that same pattern. Objectively Resident Evil 2 Remake is far and away better than the Resident Evil 3 remake… but that’s just history repeating. Nothing more than a true testament of what an amazing Game Resident Evil 2 actually was, and the source material that its own remake had to work with in spades.
I’m happy so many people like the Resident Evil 3 Remake, and I’m profoundly grateful that modern gamers who would never have touched the original, now have their own version of the story. I also genuinely hope one-day far in the future they will recall Resident Evil 3 Remake with the same loving fondness that I have for the original all these years later…
Still though, my personal opinion stands firm. In the Resident Evil 3 Remake, the titular enemy was ripped from not only the title of the game itself, but he was also knocked down a few pegs. Nemesis ultimately lost a little bit of what made him so formidable, and we decided to poke fun at him for it…
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time!
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. Patreon supporters receive access into our official Discord server, and a few other perks depending on the tier. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
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Hey all, It’s Kern here. For those of you who don’t know, I absolutely love the video game Clanfolk, which you can check out and buy on steam if you don’t have it already. No paid promotion here, I just genuinely love the game. In fact, we Demented Ferrets like it so much, we made a fan song about it using Suno. The song was made using AI, since Kresh and I can’t sing very well at all.
Clanfolk takes place in 1300’s Scotland. The central mechanics revolve around family life and cultivating a homestead for your clan to live and thrive. We wanted the song to reflect that with a cheery, upbeat lyrical tone from the perspective of the player’s clan itself.
(Side Note: with all the content that continues to get added to Clanfolk, you can be sure we’re highly inspired to keep making fan songs about the game, so this won’t be the only one.)
If you’re interested in learning more about Clanfolk, the official discord is both very helpful and active. Furthermore, the game can be purchased on Steam for anyone interested in playing it.
At the time of making this post, the game is currently in early access and receives updates with new content often. Clanfolk is made lovingly by Blorf, a solo game dev, and it’s published by Hooded Horse. The intended focus is upon the clan itself, usually a small family under 40 members in size. Although players like myself often build larger homesteads of over a hundred, the game itself truly shines when the focus is kept to a small or middling clan size. The game is cozy, without a heavy emphasis on warfare. You shouldn’t let that deter you. Clanfolk may be cozy, but it’s not overly simple or “too easy”.
The testing branch is available to all players, meaning if you are okay to deal with a couple of bugs here and there you can see what’s in store for the main branch early. All you need to do is opt into the testing branch on Steam once you’ve purchased the game.
I can’t get into an in-depth breakdown of the game here or this post would be far, far too long. What I will say is that there’s a skill tree that allows you to unlock all kinds of things for your clan. You’ll focus on survival in your first year starting in Summer. From there, your job is to prepare your clan to make it through Winter by stocking up on food and water. Ensuring your clan is warm enough not to die to the bitter chill of the cold is another key aspect to focus on during the early game.
A filthy clan is an unhappy clan, so you might want to build a tub for them to wash in, and a water dipper for them to drink from. If that’s too difficult for you to accomplish in time, water jugs for satiating thirst will do to get you through the winter. Just make sure you have enough of them. The water Dipper is far more efficient, though.
The September 2024 update included the “wake and funeral” system, further cementing the “family bonds” aspect of gameplay by including a period of mourning when someone from the clan passes away. This isn’t a colony sim based in raw numbers, but rather in the unity of the clan members and the preservation of those emotional bonds. Taking the time to get to know your clan and optimizing their routine is truly one of the more rewarding aspects of the game.
If you want to see gameplay footage, just ask Kresh and Kern when we’re live on Twitch, and we’ll show off the game… we do that often enough since I’m such a huge fan of it.
More Demented Ferret News:
Okay, so on to some of the typical “ramble-ramble” TDF self-promotion nonsense….
If you want to download the song “Ode to Clanfolk” to listen to it any time, it’s up on our Patreon for free. We have more music in the works too. If you want to support what we do, consider becoming a member of ourPatreon. Music will release as we make it, but be assured there will be plenty more where this came from. We hope to see you there!
Some songs will be Patreon exclusive for paying members of the $1 and above tiers.The first Patreon exclusive release is Dream Team, a song about the game Mass Effect. It’s up for Patrons now.
This has been Kern of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest, and level grinds are par for the course. Don’t forget to follow us on social media.
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. Patreon supporters receive access into our official Discord server, and a few other perks depending on the tier. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
Those who join via Patreon get special perks, such as extra content, quicker updates, and more.
To Our Supporters
Thank you for helping us to enrich our content. Every contribution matters.
Hey everyone, a while back Kresh and I played through the Dark Pictures Anthology series over on our Twitch channel starting with Man of Medan. Those videos are now over on YouTube, and here on the blog for your viewing pleasure. We had a lot of fun playing it, and hopefully you’ll have a lot of fun watching. This is a two part series. Enjoy.
Man of Medan is a survival horror video game that was released in 2019. The game was developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The game contains violence and gore, replete with paranormal horror elements and occasional “jump scares”. This is not a game aimed at young children, and viewer discretion is advised.
Man of Medan: Part 1 of 2
Man of Medan: Part 2 of 2
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Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here. Kreshenne and I decided to do a “Let’s Play”, and hopefully you’ll join us on the journey. Starfield is an action role-playing game with a science fiction flair. The game was developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was announced during Bethesda’s E3 presentation back in 2018, and officially released on September 6, 2023. For the purpose of our “Let’s Play”, we got the game on Steam, and will be playing on a Windows PC.
The playlist of videos can be found on our YouTube channel as we upload and release them, so please consider following us there for more content. As always, we also play games on Twitch, so come by and say hello. We’d love to see you there.
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. Patreon supporters receive access into our official Discord server, and a few other perks depending on the tier. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
Those who join via Patreon get special perks, such as extra content, quicker updates, and more.
Hey guys, it’s time for another review, this time I’m taking a look at Loot River. Coined as a “Souls-like” game with Tetris elements this is one interesting little game.
For starters, Loot River is an action based rogue-like game that was developed by STRAKA.STUDIO. It was also published by STRAKA.STUDIO and SUPERHOT PRESENTS. This game was announced back in 2021 and released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on May 3, 2022.
What you’ll get here is a fusion of puzzle solving and action based gameplay. Loot River kicked me in the behind more than not, and the reason for this is because I found the game to be fairly difficult. The iteration isn’t too bad when you die, thankfully, because whenever you die you’re booted back to the back to square one. If you die, then you’ll have to start all over at the first level. Your desperately collected upgrades will be lost.
The atmosphere casts dark shades and tones throughout the level design. It’s a little gritty, although charming. Generally speaking, the Tetris style comes into play because you have to move the level around to travel through it.
The dark and gritty tones begin literally upon the onset. You’ll play through sections of hovel filled with bloodied discarded waste and what looks to be the remnants of a disaster.
You’ll have to figure your way around these platforms with dark shadowy monsters and this is probably my one gripe about the pixel style art design. Although the world and gameplay flows well and certainly feels dynamic, it can also be difficult to discern what something is.
One might say this adds to the horror tropes just a little. One might also say that the style needs to be this way, and I’d actually agree with that. Loot River has levels that are procedurally generated, so the block-sliding puzzles and deep labyrinth that you traverse are never quite the same way twice.
Occasionally, you’ll come across tiered platforms and traps that almost remind me of Resident Evilwhen it comes to recalling your best escape route. the moment things go down-hill… and I promise you this; sooner or later things will go down hill. Surprise enemies with ranged abilities will knock your block off, and each moment the screen pans, you should be thinking ahead. It’ll keep you on your toes, I’ll say that much.
Honestly, I wish that I could say that the unusual movement mechanics provided for the gameplay pairs nicely with the combat, but I personally don’t think it does. Maybe it works better for those with quicker reflexes. You can use magic spells to go temporarily invisible, and I’m sure you can dart away from opponents if you’re fast enough. I’m often not fast enough, though.
Personally, I often ended up trying to parry and pray that it worked. Yeah, that’s where the majority of my deaths happened, I won’t lie. Trying to get the timing right takes a bit of learning for sure. Either way, at least it feels good to land a solid blow to your attacker.
Loot River to me isn’t as “souls-like” as so many people make nods to. Yeah, it’s hard, sure… but a lot of rogue-like games are hard. That’s kind of the nature of the game style. Clearly, Loot River has a strong foundation in the rouge-like genre. To me that’s where the comparison fits. That’s the best thing about it, you can play it endlessly and you’ll need to if you want to uncover everything.
Unlocking the upgrades, figuring out the tiny secrets, and piecing together the deeper lore of the story takes time. You’re not going to have it all figured out on the first play through, assuming you even survive that long, which I doubt.
The game isn’t perfect, but it is a lot of fun. You’ll be hard pressed to put it down. Die enough to cheap shots like I did, and you’ll be irritated too, I’m sure. That’s honestly why so many people make references to Loot River being a “souls-like” game.
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
I’m going to give it a solid three out of five stars. It’s middle of the road, but it does interesting things. I can’t deny it. Loot River gives a breath of fresh air to the pixel style of the rouge-like genre. If that sounds interesting enough for you then give it a try and see for yourself.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time.
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. Patreon supporters receive access into our official Discord server, and a few other perks depending on the tier. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
Those who join via Patreon get special perks, such as extra content, quicker updates, and more.
Elite: Dangerous is the modern installment in a series of renown space simulation games from Frontier Developments. If you have ever wanted to experience what it would be like to make a living hopping from star to star in the Milky Way galaxy, this is the game for you.
E:D gives you the opportunity to take on many different roles as a space commander, including bounty hunting, trading, mining,exploration, and even xeno-hunting (aliens). Many space enthusiasts alike have flocked to the E:D universe over the years to find their place among the stars.
With Frontier Developments’ latest expansion to the E:D universe, Odyssey, commanders have been given the wonderous opportunity to hop out of their ship at any space port or landable planet and explore on foot! While this expansion has received mixed reviews, it has opened an amazing experience including exobiology, ground combat, and space port exploration.
Commanders in Elite: Dangerous can participate in several different combat environments depending on what kind of trouble they put themselves into. Earlier on, one may find themselves scanning for criminals, picking off pirates and bounties near the navigation beacon of a nearby star. Experienced combat veterans will often find themselves participating in conflict zones to help turn the tides of battle for the faction of their choice. Finally, the bravest and most talented of these commanders can choose to go against the threat of the alleged alien menace, the Thargoids.
As a Trader in the E:D universe, you can go about making credits in a variety of ways. A commander can take a contract from a nearby spaceport and simply deliver some goods from one star system to the other. Sometimes those goods may not be legal in the destination system, requiring the commander to avoid being scanned upon arrival. Commanders may also take advantage of buying and selling commodities from space ports at a profit using the in-game economy system for supply and demand. Finally, if you want some real action in the trade aspect of E:D, you might be interested in getting into mining. Not only can trade commanders make credits mining the surfaces of asteroids, but some of these hunks of rock can be strategically detonated for high priced commodities during core mining operations.
What’s the best part about a space simulation game? Exploring the stars, of course! With over 400-billion star systems generated in the Elite: Dangerous’ Milky Way galaxy, there are hundreds of different types of environments, and practically infinite different configurations of solar systems that can be discovered by each commander in the E:D universe. First time discoveries are recorded and shared with all other commanders in the galaxy, and with only an astonishing 0.05% of the simulated galaxy discovered at the beginning of 2022, there is no doubt that any commander can find themselves a place to put their name among the stars.
Finally, the Elite: Dangerous universe includes what is called the “Background Simulation” (BGS). All player activity as commanders affects the BGS in a sense where the community, or sometimes even a single commander, can shape the fate of a single star system or cluster. Community Events are announced often regarding major events in the E:D universe, and things have recently gotten very interesting… why not take a look?
This has been a blurb by Drephuzof the Demented Ferrets, a Twitch streamer, a drone pilot, and an all around tech nerd. You can catch him on Twitch playing games and mostly being inappropriate. Stop on by!
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Hello all. I’m Frost, and I would like to welcome you all into our little corner of the internet, here at The Demented Ferrets. First, here’s a little about me. I’m a lifelong gamer, and a general nerd. I’ve played almost every form of game that I have heard of, in some manner or other.
Now, I would like to share my thoughts and experiences with you. Today, I am going to be talking a bit about one of the games I have played: Sentinels of the Multiverse.
Do you like superheroes? Have you always wanted to save the day, rescue the city, and use cheesy catchphrases while doing it?
If so, then I have a great game for you!
Sentinels of the Multiverse, the Definitive edition. It was produced by Greater Than Games as an updated version of the original Sentinels of the Multiverse that was first released in 2011.
I have been a fan of the original game ever since I played it for the first time. It is a fast, fun game that shows what this style of game is capable of. That said, there were a number of issues with the original game that could make the flow of the game a bit more difficult at times. Greater Than Games took a serious look at the game, and listened to the feedback of the player base to create this updated version of a great game.
That is where the Definitive Edition comes in. It streamlined and redefined many of the aspects of the original, while adding in elements that increase the variety of play styles and the levels of challenge.
Unlike some of the other games I have played, the individual, unique decks allow each player to really shine on their own without the limited pools of games such as Marvel Legendary and The Big Book of Madness.
What it is: Sentinels of the Multiverse is a cooperative deck-based game where a group of 1-5 players take control of a group of heroes (3-5 of them, to be exact) to thwart the evil plans of a dastardly mastermind, in locations that span the entirety of the Sentinels universe.
Pros
Each hero, villain, and location possess their own unique decks. There are 12 hero decks, 6 villain decks, and 6 environment decks in the base game. Each deck has listed complexities that define how easy or difficult they are to deal with. All of the core characters have different versions of that character that can change aspects of their gameplay and how they perform, especially early in the game. This makes it possible to tailor your game to whatever sort of challenge you feel like taking on.
The set up and tear down are very straightforward and quick, unlike some other deck-based games.
Once eliminated, a hero flips to the back of their card, and has a set of actions that they can still perform on their turn. This means that even if your character is defeated, the controlling player is still part of the game. It is one of the more innovative mechanics I have seen in a game of this sort.
The play is fast and easy to pick up, while the nuances take time and experience to truly master. It rewards people who focus on a few characters, while not punishing those that want to test out and learn the various other characters.
Cons
Some of the characters have very non-linear play styles that can make them lag behind other quicker and more dynamic heroes.
There are combinations that can break the game, for either the villains or the heroes. That said, there are plenty of ways to disrupt these combos, found in both hero and villain decks.
Many of the characters are very firmly rooted in their roles, and lack impact outside of those roles
My Experiences
I’ve had the opportunity to play a fair number of games with my rather competitive tabletop gaming group, and my overall experience has been good. We have taken on and beaten some of the toughest games that I have in my extensive collection, and overall, we really enjoy the game. The fast and fluid play-style combines with the well-defined action economy. The flow of play makes the game dynamic. The various levels of difficulty help to keep the game challenging for even the most competitive and skilled player groups.
There is nothing quite like coming back from the brink of defeat, and getting to feel like a hero as you surmount what seems like an unbeatable opponent.
Final Thoughts
Sentinels of the Multiverse: The Definitive Edition is a good addition to any gamer’s collection that enjoys a good deck-based cooperative board game such as Marvel Legendary. The base game is a good launching point, with expansions already in the works that will add more heroes, villains, and environments to the ever-expanding game universe. Whether you are a casual player or one of the more competitive types, I think you will find a welcome experience with Sentinels of the Multiverse.
This has been Frost, of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll see you next time! Don’t forget to follow the blog for more content like this. Want to be part of our awesome community? Check out our Patreon and Discord server.
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
Those who join via Patreon get special perks, such as extra content, quicker updates, and more.
Hey everyone, it’s Kern here, and it’s about time I sit down and write out a few thoughts that have been on my mind for a while. I love anime, and I love video games. I wouldn’t be spearheading this blog if I didn’t, but it isn’t all sunshine and roses, either. While I’ll be the first to say a lot of good can come out of blogging, I’ll also be the first to tell you that it is an uphill grind if you’re trying to make that blog profitable.
I’m a big fan of blogging in general, but blogging isn’t for everyone.
I’ve decided I’d highlight the pros and cons of blogging about anime and gaming to help you determine if it is the right fit for you. First though, we should talk about what a blog is, and why you might consider writing one.
What is Blogging?
If you want the “big media marketing” answer, it goes a little something like this: a blog is written media that is used to help people interact and learn, trading information based on real-life experiences and data. Blogs are used to help others make a better purchasing decision, or to simply learn something new. While none of that is entirely wrong, I wouldn’t say that’s the main crux of an anime or gaming blog.
Blogging is more than that when we’re talking about hobbies, games and other types of media. For anime and gaming fans, blogging isn’t always about selling something. Sure, it can be about that. More often though, in fandom related spaces, it is about sharing the love of those mediums.
We do this in several ways, from writing reviews and rants, to simply getting the word out about a series we really care about.
So, who should be a blogger?
Anyone who wants to do it, should do it. The baseline to beginner blogging is incredibly low. All you need is a way to write the blog, a site to write upon (even a free one), and a willingness to learn the craft. Sadly, that also means learning to roll with the punches when you’ve got to learn something new.
So, who shouldn’t be a blogger?
Anyone who isn’t motivated to face just a little bit of a struggle. Anyone who thinks it’ll be easy to just skyrocket to the top of google searches and pump out content will be disappointed. Blogging is more complicated than that. Some people will hit the jackpot sure enough. A small number will luck out and trend quickly… but most of us won’t.
The vast majority of us have to do the grind. While the baseline to entry is low, the learning curve to become a blog that earns an income will actually be fairly steep. It isn’t as easy as it looks. Blogging is pretty straightforward, but that doesn’t mean you can be lazy. There is a lot to learn.
If you’ve made it this far, you probably want to weigh out your options. Maybe you just want to see what you might be up against. Maybe you already have a blog, and you’ve come here looking for advice. Either way, you’ll find something useful.
I’m going to take a look at blogging from a few key points of view:
Early Opportunities and Possible Income
Life Balance and Time Management
Communication and Networking
Other Perspectives
Skills You Need
With that being said, let’s jump into the good things about blogging, there’s a decent number to consider.
Pros of Anime and Gaming Blogs.
Blogging, in general, is a gateway used to share content that we enjoy. Each blogger has their own methods. One great thing about blogging is that as a written craft, it can be very fluid. We all have our own writing style, and cadences that we develop across sentence structure. Readers do learn to identify our brand with our particular style.
At the end of the day, it is a way for us to get our voices out there. There are a few perks for those that write blogs, and someone willing to work for the rewards will end up reaping a few benefits.
1. Earning a Living.
For those that just want to use the blogging format as a hobby, you’re in luck. You don’t have to be perfect to simply enjoy the pure power of the written word. For someone who just loves the craft, there’s just not a lot of downsides. Actually there are more good qualities than bad ones. Provided your content can be considered “workplace friendly” then go ahead and put your hobbyist blog onto your CV or resume. It doesn’t matter if it has nothing to do with your particular line of work, if you’re young, use that to your advantage.
I’ll be blunt. Any business with half a brain knows that blogging, social media and proper networking help to make brands more reputable. It also makes you look more reputable if you have a blog about your hobbies that you’ve cultivated slowly over time. If you aren’t going to university, you need every advantage. Even if you only have a small following, this gives you a social media presence as well. Employers like to do background checks anyway.
Bottom line for hobbyist bloggers; give them a bone to chew and a paper trail to follow. Allow your blog to uplift you as a person and you’ll be ahead of the game.
On the flip side, for those who do want to see an income in this medium, it’ll take time and effort. Building a name that can be trusted and learning the nuances of the blogging sphere isn’t a quick thing to do. With blogging, your income is entirely driven by your ability to promote your content and grow your brand. This is what we call “brand awareness”.
If people know of your brand, you’ll be more likely to build an audience and maintain it.
To make money blogging within fan based mediums, you’ve got to find more than just your niche. You’ve got to find your passion and drive that forward in your written word. Even so, yes, there is money to be made as an anime and gaming blogger.
Monetizing your blog can come in all kinds of forms, from affiliate links to advertising traffic. At the time of this post, we don’t use advertising traffic here on The Demented Ferrets just yet. However, it is something we may look into going forward, when the time is right.
You can work on commission based requests once you get your name out there. Beyond that, you can set up further methods like we do here on The Demented Ferrets using other methods such as PayPal and Patreon.
Early on, you may only see pocket change. In this often difficult economy every little bit helps, and it does add up over time. Put those small earnings into savings and let it build up. If you’re wise about it, playing the monetary long-game isn’t a bad thing.
2. Low Monetary Cost.
The reality is, you can start a blog for free on many platforms. With the rise of Medium, it has never been easier to test out blogging for yourself. Plenty of anime and gaming related bloggers find themselves a nice corner of the internet by starting up on Medium and networking out from there. For those who see blogging as merely a hobby, or those looking to put a blog onto a CV or resume, using free platforms like Medium will suit you just fine.
However, if you’re truly invested in starting your own blog, I’d suggest going the paid route and making your own. This will allow you to start a reputable brand image and begin to build the trust you’ll need to eventually get earnings. If an income is what you’re after, you need a brand to stand by.
Building a reputation is fundamentally important. For some of us, that can be a long road, it behooves you to start early and be consistent.
There is some more good news too, hosting is pretty affordable. If you take your time to look into the right hosting providers and site builders, you’re halfway there. You’ll be able to get yourself a blog without breaking the bank.
Remember, if you’re a beginner, you don’t need to break the bank with all the bells and whistles. You can take your time to learn what you’re doing. In light of this, WordPress.com recently reverted back to their old pricing model after their little experiment went awry. They’ve got some affordable price points again, and other places do too… look around and choose the one best for you.
Remember, as a newbie, slow and steady wins the race.
Check out This Blog post on Readability and “The Reading Ease Ideal”.
I’m not writing this to get your attention, I’m writing this because I’m going to tell you the truth. You’ll follow me of your own volition, or you won’t. If…
3. Blogging is a Platform.
Blogging is your chance to have a voice. You can reach out to the wider world and meet all kinds of people by blogging. With time and the desire to interact with others, you’ll find plenty of other people with like-minded interests. When it comes to fandom related content such as anime and gaming, we’re a wide and diverse community, people of all walks of life find their place to belong.
People who blog about anime and gaming, typically love anime and gaming. We’re passionate about these hobbies, and we like to share that with others.
These days, people use big buzzwords like “influencers”, “Instagram models” and “Tiktok stars”. That’s fine, and people earn a living that way too, sure enough. These are all platforms, right along with YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook and countless others…
It’s easy to forget these days that blogging is a platform too, and that bloggers have our own communities and circles of friends, just like people on other platforms. I’m not always as outspoken in my personal online circle as I should be, but I do the best I can…
Shout-out to Iridium Eye Reviews who is also a variety blogger with anime and movie reviews. Go check them out. Did you know that I once wrote an open letter to him regarding blogging and some of the struggles that bloggers often share in common?
If you’re new to blogging, or just having a hard time as a blogger, go ahead and check out my open letter.
Hey everyone, it’s Kernook here and this is a more serious, introspective post that directly references this one here, written by Ospreyshire. The title? “Top 7 Concerns I Have As a Film…
The key point I want you to know is that blogging is a journey. The communities we join really matter to us. We often lift up fellow bloggers when we can, because back-linking those of like minds and content often share communities and readers. It’s important to network this way, and it usually feels pretty good too.
As bloggers, we often come across some pretty cool anime and games that way too… bloggers tend to be readers of other blogs, so discovering new content is always a blast.
4. Blogging is Fun.
Blogging is a creative medium. If you have something to say, then blogging gives you the ability to say it. Many gaming and anime bloggers are purely in it for the hobby of blogging, no matter how big they get. A lot of us just like to do it, and if it goes somewhere, that’s awesome. If it doesn’t, then for a lot of people, that’s no big deal either… we do it because we love it.
Working on our mastery of the craft, namely the power of the written word, is part of the fun. Talking about the hobbies and interests we have can be fulfilling enough on its own. For many of us, that’s reason enough to do it.
A great example of this can be seen by a great anime reviewer known as Irina Watches Anime, who has stated more than once that her blog is only a hobby. She cares for her blog deeply, but it will always just be a hobby for her… and I really respect that.
Guest bloggers share content too from time to time on her blog too, and that’s just another way bloggers help to support and uplift each other. Collaboration and networking really is a key part of being successful no matter what kind of blogger you happen to be.
The Cons of Anime and Gaming Blogs.
You knew this was coming, blogging isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. For as great as blogging is, no matter how much I do love it, there are some downsides. For every good reason to work hard on your blog, there are some reasons you may decide blogging just isn’t for you.
1. Time and Effort
To have a large blog with lots of readers, it takes time and a fair bit of effort. When it comes to anime and gaming, this is particularly true. No matter what kind of blogger you are, this is a somewhat saturated market to get into. That means you’ll have to devote your time to just being noticed.
While the barrier to entry can be incredibly low, the barrier to long standing success is actually fairly high. It continues to get higher by the day. I don’t say that to intimidate you, I say that as a blogger making the up-hill climb personally.
This particular blog is still working its way up the ladder to something completely sustainable. Here on The Demented Ferrets we’re “middling” bloggers. We’re not super popular, we’re not bottom of the barrel. We have a decent and dedicated reader base, and we’re still growing… but we’re not paying all the bills in our homes with this website… not yet.
To be entirely transparent, at the time of this post, we do pay for the website with our earnings and we have a bit of pocket change thanks to our Patreon supporters and other donations. However, we haven’t put all of our eggs into one basket, and you shouldn’t either… not at first.
We also have plans for forward growth and momentum, but we understand that takes time. We all still have day jobs and stream on Twitch as well. From a purely blogging perspective though, it hcan be a lot of hard work. Here’s just a few things that need to be done on a regular basis:
Keeping abreast of blogging trends within my niche.
Contacting others/networking
Topic and planning and scheduling
Writing posts like this one
Creating new forms of content and collecting the right materials to do that effectively
Managing social media
Routine keyword research
Updating old posts when required
Several other mundane but required tasks.
Keep in mind, The Demented Ferrets has a blog with topics revolving around anime and gaming. If I’m doing an anime or movie review, I have to watch the series. If I do a game review, I have to play the game. That’s time consuming, but it is required. I’m not even the best gamer out there, as our Twitch channel so often proves. It helps very little when my cat, Sabin, decides to complicate matters even further.
In any case, blogging is a time investment. It isn’t a “get rich quick” scheme. It’s not a hard and fast solution to all of your monetary woes. I’d say this goes double in the anime and gaming sphere. You’ve got to get into it because you want to get into it, not for any other reason.
2. Significant Amounts of Patience and Persistence
This ties into point number one, but it needs to be its own separate category. Look, I won’t mince words, blogging can be very emotionally draining. If you don’t love it, you won’t be able to commit to all of the things you need to know. Blogging has its own lingo and skill sets that you need to learn.
As an anime or gaming blogger, that gets just a little bit more difficult. We need to know all about the anime and games we write about, and these are two very diverse mediums. I’m going to be honest, the grind is real, and it can be a very good way to snap your resolve as a blogger.
If you expect too much of yourself too soon, you will burn out… and it’s not just writing the blogs, either.
The games you play have their own barrier of entry too. Thanks to exclusivity deals, another barrier is in front of you by default. Your general ability to play and beat a game will be a barrier too. You’ll have to manage your expectations effectively. You need the proper technology to play the game, and that’s an investment in itself sometimes. Then you need to at least play enough of the game to adequately come to a determination on how to properly review the title.
With some games being incredibly long, that alone is a time investment. That’s not even considering the blog post you’ll have to prepare after you’ve played it.
For example, for our play through of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time it took Ebby almost 24 hours of gameplay footage to do a 100% run…. and that’s just the footage we edited down. That wasn’t even the blog post or video editing that came along with it.
Check out our gameplay post of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Hey everyone, it’s time for another set of gameplay videos. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time probably doesn’t need an introduction, chances are good that you’ve heard of it. The game was first released on the Nintendo 64 back…
Anime, movies and television shows have a similar issue. With streaming services snapping up exclusive licenses left and right, watching certain titles legally can sometimes be a pain in the behind. When you take into consideration the “Netflix” binge model, you may as well kiss away an entire afternoon just to watch the series when it comes out… that can take away time from other meaningful things.
It’s easy to find yourself sucked into a void as a blogger. I’d say that gaming and anime have their own occasionally insidious practices. Frankly, blogging does too. These issues can, and sometimes do, build up… it can be a stressful situation, and some people just can’t take the heat.
3. Fandom
I love being an anime and gaming fan, I do. It’s great to meet new people and share experiences. It can be a lot of fun, I pointed that out directly in this post a little while ago. However, fandom like all things, has a dark side. There are times that a fandom might argue or turn on each other, and this is the internet.
It is very easy to lose sight of our own personal experiences and thus, lose sight of the power that these mediums hold… but just as those mediums compel us to write about them, they compel others to feel something just as valuable on a personal level. We can’t forget that.
Fans are simply fans because they feel connected to the things they care about. Their reasons are their own, just as our reasons are ourown. Gaming and anime fandom have a distinctive “gate keeping” mentality on occasion, and no matter what your stance on that is, it isn’t going to go away any time soon.
The fact is, when we care deeply about something, it can hurt to feel invalidated by the opinion of another. Readers sometimes lash out and leave nasty comments, that’s a fact. All bloggers that talk about beloved media get a few not-so-nice comments on occasion.
If you blog for long enough, and share your personal opinions about anime or gaming commonly enough, there’s going to be someone out there who will disagree with you. People have bad days, and sometimes they take that out in comment sections.
Occasionally, seeing an opinion that’s harsh upon a thing they’re a fan of, truly is the last straw… and they may not offer constructive criticism in return.
Sometimes, you’ll get a very angry commentator that says some very nasty things… and you will have to deal with that. I’m sorry if this has happened to you, it has happened to me too… and as a blogger, eventually it will happen to all of us. I would say that all bloggers that discuss fandom related topics need to have thick emotional skin, but it isn’t just about that….
It’s about understanding that fandom is a powerful tool, and respecting that tool is part of being an anime or gaming blogger. We are the ones putting ourselves out there, and that’s a hard thing to do sometimes.
My Conclusions About Anime and Gaming Blogs.
Blogging is a journey. You will learn more about yourself, and the content you enjoy. It’ll give you something to really sink your teeth into. It’ll forge your outlook on the things you write about. Creatively, you’ll learn to be a wordsmith, cultivating and creating your own content for the world to see.
Does that mean blogging is for everyone? No, absolutely not.
Gaming and anime blogging requires a rich and diverse set of skills that aren’t exactly inherent to blogging directly. Both of these kinds of media can be a bit exclusionary too, simply by default. Blogging may be cheap, but gaming and anime aren’t always cheap hobbies. Streaming services and exclusivity deals certainly make that just a tad more difficult on occasion.
Anime and gaming fandom have an ebb and flow that can certainly become complicated the moment that a scandal in the industry arises. Crunch times and poor working conditions can cause fandom to run amok. Sometimes they fight among themselves, or aim that frustration outward. Series that are products of a bygone era may be problematic these days, and those are just the surface level concerns to be aware of… does that mean I’m going to discourage you from being a blogger?
No, I’m not… I’m going to do the opposite.
If you’ve read all of that and you still want to be a blogger, then it may be the right choice for you. I think blogging is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have, because it can teach you so much about yourself… if you want to start up a blog, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.
However, I also think blogging is a challenge. There are times when it can be difficult, and times when you’ll need to puzzle out a problem or educate yourself on something you don’t know.
There’s not really anyone to hold your hand. Unless you know a blogger personally, you’ll be doing a lot of research. Even once you get into contact with fellow bloggers, we don’t always have the answers you might need. We all have our own tactics and methods to this madness, with time, you will too…
I hope this has been at least some help to you, and I wish you luck on your blogging endeavors.
This has been Kernook of The Demented Ferrets, where stupidity is at it’s finest and level grinds are par for the course. I’ll catch you next time. Don’t forget to follow the blog for more content.
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. Patreon supporters receive access into our official Discord server, and a few other perks depending on the tier. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
Those who join via Patreon get special perks, such as extra content, quicker updates, and more.
Hey everyone, we’ve got something a little special for you today. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time stands as one of the most memorable games of the 90’sera, and our video editor “Ebby” took a crack at writing his own script about his top five bosses of the game.
The script and the video that resulted from that effort are below. We hope you enjoy it! Be sure to follow the blog for more content like this.
Hello everyone, this is Ebby of The Demented Ferrets. This will be a Top 5 list of my personal favorite Bosses from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. Please note that these are simply my opinions, and I do not speak for anyone else.
#5. Queen Gohma
This armor-plated monstrosity towers above Link as a child. When I first encountered this boss many years ago, I had little-to-no idea what to expect until I saw its eye. I knew its eye was the obvious weak-point, but hitting it didn’t seem to do anything until it climbed to the ceiling. Once I saw its eye turn red, however, it was then I knew when to hit the weak point. I generally prefer to not use consumable items unless absolutely necessary (thank you OCD), so aside from the Slingshot, I didn’t want to use anything other than what I needed to win at the time. The figure, pose, and design of this first boss, along with the surrounding atmosphere has made a lasting impression on many, if not all, who have played this game.
#4. Volvagia
The end of the second Fire-themed temple of the game thrusts Link into battling the Subterranean Lava Dragon itself. This boss was a lot of fun for me when I fought it for the first time, and every time since. I love dragons, and this one was especially fun, even if it’s a glorified version of Whack-a-mole. It was only after I had read the manga that it really tugged on the heartstrings and I haven’t been able to see an image of the poor dragon, let alone fight it, without hearing it call Link’s name with its dying breath in my head ever since.
#3. Dark Link
While technically a mini-boss, Dark Link can prove more challenging to some than the proper bosses themselves. Personally, I never really had too much trouble with Dark Link over the decades, even when playing for the first time. But now and again, I like to try different ways of defeating him using different weapon and item combinations. The concept is wonderful. Facing and overcoming your dark self is quite interesting, and I don’t think I’ve run across one that actually mirrors your attacks to such a degree. By the time I encounter Dark Link, I usually have the Biggoron’s Sword with me, so a simple forward thrust attack is enough to bypass his defenses and damage him.
#2. Bongo-Bongo
The boss of the Shadow Temple is my second favorite enemy design of the game. The Shadow Temple as a whole enraptured me when I was young and when I got to the boss, I wasn’t prepared for what I faced. I had no idea that arrows damaged him until after my first death. While my OCD tells me not to use items, you kinda have to in order to fight this boss (at least with the clunky controller I have). The tortured design of this creature simultaneously drew me in and repelled me when I first saw it. Since then, I’ve only grown to love the sickeningly beautiful design more.
#1. Ganon
The nearly pitch-black atmosphere with only the illumination from the beast’s eyes and blades were the only real signs of its location, when I first did battle with this hulking creature. With the lightning only occasionally showing this black monster’s features, it was rather difficult at the time to fight this boss back in the day (especially with the old tv we had back in the 1990’s). Nowadays, it’s much easier to see its features, but back then? I might as well have been playing blindfolded. It was only after turning off all the lights (which everyone else always left on…) that I was able to see the screen well enough to fight. For days after I finally beat it for the first time, I replayed this boss again and again to test it out.
I used to be good at this game before my dyspraxia took full effect, but I was once able to fight Ganon using only a bottle while wearing the Iron Boots for the added challenge. Ah, the good ole’ days… I don’t remember if I tried the fishing rod against him or not… oh well. At any rate, the final boss of Ocarina of Time has embedded itself in my memory as not only a worthy adversary, but also as a visual icon (now that I can see him properly, thanks to improved technology). This boss will likely always be my favorite of Ocarina of Time for its design, brute force, hulking frame, and the ability to make children scream in terror.
While you may not agree with this list, nor my reasons (if one can really call these reasons), these are merely my opinions. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of my favorite games and I hope this helps you to check the game out, if you haven’t already.
You can find my play through of Ocarina of Time here, so feel free to watch me fail miserably, with near constant interruptions by my three (very) needy cats.
This has been Ebby of “The Demented Ferrets”, where stupidity is at its finest and level grinds are par for the course. Until next time… if you enjoyed this content, feel free to check out our Patreon page and consider subscribing! We’d all greatly appreciate it.
You can help support us through PayPal or Patreon.
Hey everyone, it’s time for another set of gameplay videos. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time probably doesn’t need an introduction, chances are good that you’ve heard of it. The game was first released on the Nintendo 64 back in November of 1998.
The main protagonist, Link, will be going on an adventure through time to defeat the evil King known as Ganondorf to save the people of the magical land Hyrule. He’ll end up meeting plenty of friends along the way, including his companion fairy Navi.
The titular character of the game, Zelda, only plays a supporting role. This princess is no little wallflower though, that’s for sure. As Link continues on in his quest, Zelda and the annoyance we all know as Navi will continue to aid Link in countless ways. With three spiritual stones to collect as “child Link” and six unique Medallions to collect as “adult Link”, there’s plenty of gameplay content to enjoy.
Our gameplay footage is in long-play format, and it is almost twenty-four hours long. This is a completed 100% play-through, with all items and heart pieces collected.
We’re playing the original game in the above videos, but that’s not all this wonderful franchise has to offer. That’s right, the Nintendo 64 release was not the only version of the game. Later iterations included The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeMaster Quest for the Nintendo Gamecube in 2002, which promised a much more challenging experience for fans of the original.
With enemies that hit harder and altered dungeon designs, the Master Quest version was a very welcome entry to the franchise as a whole. The puzzles were not the same though, and this new game proved to be fairly unforgiving as a result. Even so, any well-practiced Ocarina of Time fan should play “Master Quest” at least once, if they haven’t already.
A complete graphical upgrade known as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D released in June of 2011 for the Nintendo 3DS. While there are some minor gameplay differences (such as the ability to use the touch screen to play the songs) the game stays true to the original, the story wasn’t changed.
The gameplay video content was provided by Ebby, of The Demented Ferrets, and the blog content was provided by Kernook… we hope you enjoyed it! See you next time, don’t forget to follow us on our social media and support our content!
With your contributions, you make our efforts possible. Thank you for supporting our content. Patreon supporters receive access into our official Discord server, and a few other perks depending on the tier. If you don’t care for Patreon, and don’t care about perks, you can always support us through PayPal too… links below.
Those who join via Patreon get special perks, such as extra content, quicker updates, and more.
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