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literacyarc's review
4.75
perfect and beautiful to slowly sift through. i love writers and i love games and this anthology was just for me actually
some new writers for my tbr list!!!!!
some new writers for my tbr list!!!!!
geegee98's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
sabsey's review
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Critical Hits is honestly a one of a kind essay collection - the essays here are far more personal, existential, melancholic and socially prevalent than I had expected - and the talent of all the writers selected is unbelievable.
My individual (quick reviews) of all the essays are below, but if you have even a passing interest in gaming, I would urge you to give this collection a go.
I Struggled A Long Time With Surviving / Elissa Washuta:
Focuses on TLOU, pandemics, chronic illness, survival. A standout & my favourite. I’d say this collection is worth reading just for this essay alone.
This Kind of Animal / Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah:
Focuses on Disco Elysium, grief, bodily autonomy, mourning. Another standout. This essay was the moment I realised this collection is something else, something special.
Thinking like the Knight / Max Delsohn:
Focuses on Undertale and Hollow Knight, on gender, sexuality, and the stories we tell about ourselves. Resonated a little less if only because I haven’t (yet) played Hollow Knight.
Mule Milk / Keith S. Wilson:
Focuses on Final Fantasy VI, race, power dynamics, and their existence (or not) in nature. Knocked it out once more.
Staying with the Trouble / Octavia Bright:
Focuses on Leisure Suit Larry, Stray, and women in video games. Not much to say on this one, personally didn't resonate (surprisingly), but I'm sure with others it would.
Narnia Made of Pixels / Charlie Jane Anders:
Focuses on portal fantasies, game-to-film adaptations, gender politics and exploration in games through player character's & capitalism. Overall this essay felt too short or too simple for the breadth of topics it was covering, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
Cathartic Warfare / Jamil Jan Kochai:
Focuses on Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare & Modern Warfare II, the american military-entertainment complex, and islamophobia / race politics in the modern shooter RPG & co-op. This was something I chewed over for a while, and even went away to discuss with others in my life that are big CoD fans. I'm not sure I agreed with all of the author's points, but it was interesting and important enough that I stewed on this essay for quite some time.
The Cocoon / Ander Monson:
Focuses on the Alien/Predator/Alien vs. Predator video game and film franchises, together and separately, as well as how planned obsolescence is eradicating games merely five or ten years old, let alone twenty or thirty years old, and if the archival of a video game has merit beyond nostalgia. It could've been another standout, but it did at times get so specific that it felt almost self-indulgent, and lost me at certain points - but I would say it's still definitely worth a read.
Video Game Boss / Marinaomi:
A graphic novel essay! HOW COOL! Was not expecting this!! A great way to break up the collection, loved the art style, and a brutal insight into the video game industry as a creative.
In the Shadow of the Wolf / Vanessa Villarreal:
Focuses on Dragon Age: Inquisition, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, the recent popularity of nordic retellings & the general historical development of popular Western high fantasy alongside from viking mythology (thanks, Tolkien), and how this affects the race politics of mainstream gaming, both in-game and out of game. Didn't feel like a whole lot of new things were being said here, but doesn't mean it's not worth reiterating, and I largely enjoyed this essay as well due to my own personal & complex feelings regarding this, especially in the Dragon Age games.
Clash Rules Everything Around Me / Tony Tulathimutte:
Focuses on the Clash of Clans, capitalisation of games and gaming addiction, not just through money but also time. In all honesty, I did skim this one a bit, if only because the topic was too niche and out of my interest to hold me for long.
The Great Indoorsmen / Eleanor Henderson :
Focuses on the release of the PS5, nostalgia and connection through gaming. Short and sweet, not much else to say on it.
I Was a Teenage Transgender Supersoldier / Nat Steele:
Focuses on the Halo franchise, growing up trans, and depersonalisation through video games. Another absolute standout, I actually called my partner and read this whole thing out to them on the phone, and then we discussed it for about half an hour afterwards. So, 100% worth the read.
Ninjas and Foxes / Alexander Chee:
Focuses on Ninja Gaiden Black, Jade Empire, and the asian identity/representation in video games. Worth a read, but I don't have much more to say on it.
No Traces / Stephen Sexton:
Focuses on Metal Gear Solid, friendship, and socialisation through gaming. I haven't personally played this franchise, but the general argument and theme around it was ridiculously heartfelt, and I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would.
Status Effect / Larissa Pham:
Focuses on Genshin Impact, depression, grief and illness. Existential and impactful, and it doesn't land in an easy place, but an important one.
Ruined Ground / J. Robert Lennon:
Focuses on Fallout 76. In all honesty I don’t remember much about this one, except a vague sense of enjoyment.
We're More Ghosts Than People / Hanif Abdurraqib:
Focuses on Red Dead Redemption 2, existentialism, loss, martyrdom, capitalism and surviving in between. My favourite apart from the opening essay - absolutely breathtaking and gut wrenching way to round off this collection.
My individual (quick reviews) of all the essays are below, but if you have even a passing interest in gaming, I would urge you to give this collection a go.
I Struggled A Long Time With Surviving / Elissa Washuta:
Focuses on TLOU, pandemics, chronic illness, survival. A standout & my favourite. I’d say this collection is worth reading just for this essay alone.
This Kind of Animal / Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah:
Focuses on Disco Elysium, grief, bodily autonomy, mourning. Another standout. This essay was the moment I realised this collection is something else, something special.
Thinking like the Knight / Max Delsohn:
Focuses on Undertale and Hollow Knight, on gender, sexuality, and the stories we tell about ourselves. Resonated a little less if only because I haven’t (yet) played Hollow Knight.
Mule Milk / Keith S. Wilson:
Focuses on Final Fantasy VI, race, power dynamics, and their existence (or not) in nature. Knocked it out once more.
Staying with the Trouble / Octavia Bright:
Focuses on Leisure Suit Larry, Stray, and women in video games. Not much to say on this one, personally didn't resonate (surprisingly), but I'm sure with others it would.
Narnia Made of Pixels / Charlie Jane Anders:
Focuses on portal fantasies, game-to-film adaptations, gender politics and exploration in games through player character's & capitalism. Overall this essay felt too short or too simple for the breadth of topics it was covering, but I appreciated it nonetheless.
Cathartic Warfare / Jamil Jan Kochai:
Focuses on Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare & Modern Warfare II, the american military-entertainment complex, and islamophobia / race politics in the modern shooter RPG & co-op. This was something I chewed over for a while, and even went away to discuss with others in my life that are big CoD fans. I'm not sure I agreed with all of the author's points, but it was interesting and important enough that I stewed on this essay for quite some time.
The Cocoon / Ander Monson:
Focuses on the Alien/Predator/Alien vs. Predator video game and film franchises, together and separately, as well as how planned obsolescence is eradicating games merely five or ten years old, let alone twenty or thirty years old, and if the archival of a video game has merit beyond nostalgia. It could've been another standout, but it did at times get so specific that it felt almost self-indulgent, and lost me at certain points - but I would say it's still definitely worth a read.
Video Game Boss / Marinaomi:
A graphic novel essay! HOW COOL! Was not expecting this!! A great way to break up the collection, loved the art style, and a brutal insight into the video game industry as a creative.
In the Shadow of the Wolf / Vanessa Villarreal:
Focuses on Dragon Age: Inquisition, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, the recent popularity of nordic retellings & the general historical development of popular Western high fantasy alongside from viking mythology (thanks, Tolkien), and how this affects the race politics of mainstream gaming, both in-game and out of game. Didn't feel like a whole lot of new things were being said here, but doesn't mean it's not worth reiterating, and I largely enjoyed this essay as well due to my own personal & complex feelings regarding this, especially in the Dragon Age games.
Clash Rules Everything Around Me / Tony Tulathimutte:
Focuses on the Clash of Clans, capitalisation of games and gaming addiction, not just through money but also time. In all honesty, I did skim this one a bit, if only because the topic was too niche and out of my interest to hold me for long.
The Great Indoorsmen / Eleanor Henderson :
Focuses on the release of the PS5, nostalgia and connection through gaming. Short and sweet, not much else to say on it.
I Was a Teenage Transgender Supersoldier / Nat Steele:
Focuses on the Halo franchise, growing up trans, and depersonalisation through video games. Another absolute standout, I actually called my partner and read this whole thing out to them on the phone, and then we discussed it for about half an hour afterwards. So, 100% worth the read.
Ninjas and Foxes / Alexander Chee:
Focuses on Ninja Gaiden Black, Jade Empire, and the asian identity/representation in video games. Worth a read, but I don't have much more to say on it.
No Traces / Stephen Sexton:
Focuses on Metal Gear Solid, friendship, and socialisation through gaming. I haven't personally played this franchise, but the general argument and theme around it was ridiculously heartfelt, and I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would.
Status Effect / Larissa Pham:
Focuses on Genshin Impact, depression, grief and illness. Existential and impactful, and it doesn't land in an easy place, but an important one.
Ruined Ground / J. Robert Lennon:
Focuses on Fallout 76. In all honesty I don’t remember much about this one, except a vague sense of enjoyment.
We're More Ghosts Than People / Hanif Abdurraqib:
Focuses on Red Dead Redemption 2, existentialism, loss, martyrdom, capitalism and surviving in between. My favourite apart from the opening essay - absolutely breathtaking and gut wrenching way to round off this collection.
emmagrahxm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
One of the best Non Fiction anthologies I’ve picked up in a long time.
Carmen Maria Machado continues to stun me with her writing. The intro is brilliant. My favourite essay is probably Thinking like the Knight but Staying with the Trouble is a close second. Each of the essays talk about one or more games and the impact they have had with the author.
Please read both trigger warnings and spoilers for the games mentioned. These essays talk a lot about mental health, gender dysphoria, addiction and more.
Carmen Maria Machado continues to stun me with her writing. The intro is brilliant. My favourite essay is probably Thinking like the Knight but Staying with the Trouble is a close second. Each of the essays talk about one or more games and the impact they have had with the author.
Please read both trigger warnings and spoilers for the games mentioned. These essays talk a lot about mental health, gender dysphoria, addiction and more.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Self harm, Medical trauma, Death, Grief, Addiction, Body shaming, Alcohol, Bullying, and Mental illness
Minor: Sexism, Transphobia, Toxic relationship, and Misogyny
gayforgodzilla's review against another edition
3.25
some of these were very good (“this kind of animal”, “cathartic warfare”, “we’re more ghosts than people”, “mule milk”, etc.) and some of these were very bad/unmemorable. came here to get some actually insightful analyses of games or their role in society and i got that with some of the essays but a lot of those seem to just not have anything interesting to say