reviews
The Glass is Broken, An iOS Review of Broken Age: Part Two.
If the first half of Broken Age is a poignant, interactive graphic novel, the second half is a poorly made Mensa puzzle embedded within a Thomas Pynchon novel.
Broken Age is a classic point-and-click style adventure puzzle game born out of the same genre as King’s Quest and Monkey Island. It is the story of two characters who live entirely different lives separated by both metaphorical and literal walls. For those of you who have decided to skip the first review and jump to the end, shame on you; you’re missing out. The first half of Broken Age is a testament to the power of effective storytelling and relaxing gameplay, but for all the victories the first half achieved, the second half is laden with problems that, while making the game harder, fail to bring any real reward.
Broken Age: Part 2 starts off exactly where part 1 ends, right after the characters have switched places. Vella Tartine, the girl who was going to be sacrificed, finds herself inside the monster she killed, which in a weird turn of events, is actually a crashed space ship… well, kind of. Shay Volta, the young space traveler, on the other hand, is thrown into a world of fantasy and adventure. This is not an expansion, this is the continuation of the first half of the game, and if you’re rusty, having not played the first half in some time, you’re going to want to replay it. Jokes, puzzles, characters, and environments are taken directly from the first game, and if you can’t remember them, you’re going to have a hard time relating to the second half.
This is both a blessing a curse. One of the things that Broken Age: Part 2 succeeds in, is bringing life to often stale assumptions. Almost immediately, Shay Volta discovers that the sun and moon from the first half of the game (the two computer systems running the ship) are actually real people. Shay is a teenager and, like most teenagers, he de-humanized his parents for so long, he forgets they are real people. This is a jarring twist, but it is quickly accepted because of the human note it touches. Shay remembers his parents because they’re in danger. With a classic Double Fine Studios line, he explains that he always knew he had parents.
This is the kind of humor that helps the second half. While the jokes from the first half were often clever, they weren’t funny. In the second half the jokes are played through, and I found myself laughing out loud, frequently. For example, in the first half of the game Vella is introduced to a character we assume is a bald Shay from the past. When Shay meets this same character he looks at him as if he were looking through a mirror. Both characters decide they are the same person, but as it turns out, they’re not. This comes as a relief to Shay who doesn’t want to go bald. It’s silly, but it’s also funny. The second half plays with these assumptions and puts enough twists in them to make them interesting.
There are new rooms (such as the main computer terminal of the ship), new mechanics (such as playing the sun/computer from the first half of the game), and new characters populating old areas (Vella’s family has come searching for their lost daughter). Even the good-ole woodworker comes back—millennial as ever—having bought a miniature molding kit to make cat and wizard trinkets (he is by far the best part of either half of the game).
So why is it broken? Maybe it was my ineptitude, but the second half’s puzzles are too archaic. These are the puzzles from King’s Quest 6; puzzles that require pads of paper, constant random clicking, and the observational skills of someone who has picture perfect memory. Without giving any solutions away, many of the puzzles in the second half are downright counter intuitive, having to put your character in prolonged danger to proceed in the right direction. There are clues, yes, but they are often so hidden or obscure that they either don’t make sense or aren’t helpful to begin with. Even if you discover the solution, your character will have to walk to multiple rooms over and over in the correct sequence to implement them; it’s annoying, not tricky. I appreciated that, in order to win, I had to play as both Vella and Shay (which is a total change from the first half of the game), but this was not enjoyable. Switching between characters multiple times to try combination sequences is more taxing than anything else. When I did finally reach the end of the game, I was ready to be done with it. I cheated. I looked up the solution to the last puzzle just so I could put the game down and get on with my life. I know, I know, that’s a fairly negative comment, but it’s true.
At least the ending was heartwarming, even if the villain and the final puzzle were forgettable. By the end, the twists that were once clever had become stale and the story that was once complicated had become riddled with logic problems. To force a dystopian Lovecraft theme into children’s story for the sake of a twist isn’t innovative, it’s lazy. What I will say for Broken Age, however, is that as a total package it’s an enjoyable experience, and I don’t regret my purchase. Unfortunately, since I wrote my first review, the price has gone up to $10. You’ll get your money worth, but I’d wait for it to drop back down to $5 or less.
In closing, I enjoyed having a blast from the past, remembering the games I grew up on, but if I had to choose, I’d play King’s Quest 7 over Broken Age any day.
AuKing Mini Projector Key Details
The Auking is a 1080p Mini Projector with built-in speakers that is compatible with Smartphones and laptops.* (Notice the asterisk) The ports are HDMI, USB, VGA, AV, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. It’s $99.99, but you can usually catch it on sale for cheaper.
This projector is pretty popular online. There are tons of glowing reviews for it on Amazon, but I’m assuming if you’re reading this, you care about what I think. And what I think is that this projector is kinda bad.
Also, keep in mind I believe that this projector is being sold on amazon with different branding and shells, but essentially, they’re all the same projector.
These are just some I’ve found.
ALVAR 8000 Lumens Mini Portable Projector
TMY Projector 7500
Projector with WiFi, 2022 Upgrade 8500L
Mini Projector, Aokang 7500 Lumens HD Portable Projector
These all pretty much the same projector with different housing and branding
It is most certainly not for everyone, and it’s not for everyone who loves projectors. The projector has some issues with only a few positives.
Android smartphones are compatible, but only certain Androids, which they don’t tell you before purchasing.
List of Phones compatible with the projector
I’m guessing it’s “compatible” with all iPhones, but oddly enough, they don’t mention it. But I think it’s a safe bet to say that it is. Because saying the Aukling is compatible with smart devices and mac books is technically true, and it’s somewhat misleading.
It has no built-in features to make it compatible with other devices, just an HDMI input. This, combined with poor image and audio quality, means you’d be better off saving your money and buying something a little more expensive.
AuKing Mini Projector Full Break Down
The Auking has an HDMI port, which means it’s compatible with any device that can output through HDMI. But unfortunately, it doesn’t have any ports or software that would intrinsically allow smartphones to project video.
To get your iPhone or Android phone to connect to the projector, you have to do it through HDMI. So, you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter for android and Mac Book or a lightning port to HDMI if you’re using an iPhone. The instructions also recommend a wireless dongle so you can connect your laptop or smart device via BlueTooth (more on that later)
Now here’s the thing, the projector only comes with a regular HDMI cord, so you would have to buy the other cords separately. They don’t mention that before you buy it, so it feels very misleading. Regarding the wireless adapter they recommend, you must connect to it via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, most streaming services have copyright features that won’t allow you to stream content via BlueTooth.
You could connect a chrome cast, Apple TV, or a Roku and mirror or cast your phone to that, but if you don’t have those devices on hand, you’re out of luck.
This means the easiest way to use this device would be with your windows laptop unless you have one of the cords they recommend.
But how does it perform once you get it set up and running? It’s ok.
We have to set our expectations for this price range. The project shows saturated color palettes well but struggles with darker colors.
Darker scenes come out looking grainy and blurry.
While brighter colors look ok.
But all things considered, the video quality will be worse than whatever you have connected to the HDMI. To its credit, however, the projector is bright enough to watch it outside with minimal light pollution.
The audio can be pretty loud, but loud doesn’t necessarily mean good. It does sound like it comes from out of a tin can, but it’s clear enough to hear what’s going on in a movie, so you don’t have to only rely on headphones.
Despite its small size, the Auking’s fans can be pretty loud when it’s on. (Imagine starting up your first-gen PS4 and trying to play Cyberpunk).
This projector isn’t for everyone. I wouldn’t recommend it to most people. However, if you’re a person who wants a bigger screen, you can buy a cheap 22′ monitor and connect you your phone or laptop to it, and the image quality would be better.
Verdict
In most cases, I suggest you save money and get something more expensive, like the ANKER Nebula capsule.
If you find yourself in a situation where you need a projector immediately, this will be ok. For instance, a backyard BBQ where it’s more about the people you’re around than what you’re watching or a party where you want to keep the kids distracted while the adults use the TV (shame on you).
Other than that, it’s worth saving your money.
FAQ
How do I connect my phone to my mini AuKing projector?
Through USB-C to HDMI cord or lighting to HDMI cord
Does AuKing projector support Bluetooth?
Rest in peace, watermelon.
The latest episodes in ‘Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid’ were very interesting to watch.
One was definitely a fanservice episode, and heck, even the producers know that! Episode 7’s title contains the phrase ‘The Fanservice Episode, Obviously’, so that cracked me up.
Episode 7 focuses on the elements of anime that will appeal to any nerd out there. By that, of course I mean bathing suits and comic conventions! Cue the beach episode!
Tohru and company decide to go swimming for the day. Kanna’s adorable as always, while Lucoa doesn’t realize just how sexual she is toward a small boy.
Like, really? You think wearing a very sexy swimsuit in front of a lot of kids on a beach is okay? And why do you insist on torturing Shouta with your breasts? It’s obvious that he’s tempted, but stop trying to seduce small children.
Of course, they’re dragons, so hilarious antics ensue. Tohru and Kanna get carried away in a swimming race, making water splash up everywhere. Also, a crab and watermelon are murdered. RIP.
However, one aspect that I thought was a nice touch was the backstory we got for Tohru. It wasn’t much, but Tohru and Kobayashi have a deep and meaningful conversation about their family’s lives, as well as how humans and dragons are different from one another. Fanservice episodes usually focus on that alone, but fortunately that’s not the case here.
The second half of Episode 7 focuses on Comiket. Tohru and Kobayashi help Takiya run a booth, and we learn that Fafnir is also participating by attempting to sell powerful curses. Wow, didn’t see thaaaaat coming at all.
Tohru notices otherworldly creatures in their true forms at Comiket, as they reveal that this is a great way to show their true forms. With Kobayashi’s permission, Tohru exposes her wings and tail, appearing to others as if she’s cosplaying as, well, a dragon maid.
Episode 7 was very nice because there were many heartfelt and adorable moments.
Meanwhile, Episode 8 FINALLY introduced the dragon that I keep on mentioning in my reviews. Her name’s Elma, a dragon who is a rival of Tohru’s. Elma accuses Tohru of disrupting the human’s ways and tries to force her to return to the dragon world. This doesn’t succeed, however, as Tohru sends her to an open field and leaves her there.
Unable to get back home, Elma stays in the human world and begins working at Kobayashi’s company. Kobayashi teaches Elma how to use computers and technology so that she can keep her job. Of course, this prompts Tohru to become jealous, smelling the scent of another dragon off Kobayashi like a dog does with a human. I won’t reveal how the episode ends, but it ends in a positive manner for Tohru.
Overall, I really loved these two episodes because they made me feel warm and fuzzy. They appealed to the emotional senses through a heartfelt conversation between Kobayashi and Tohru. Elma is also an innocent sweetheart who only wants to bring harmony to the human and dragon worlds. And I can’t wait to see more of her in the upcoming episodes.
I feel like in these two episodes alone, we learned so much about Tohru and her feelings for Kobayashi. She really wants to understand the human world and will do anything to stay with Kobayashi.
I’ll up my rating to a 4.7. These episodes were both fun, and we finally got the new dragon! Bless.
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