I hate coming up with a title for things because I often don't know what to choose. This blog is about nothing in particular, so what better title to have than no title which has now, ironically enough, become itself ... a title.
There isn’t much to say about Novocaine that the trailers haven’t said already. With the likes of Nobody and the John Wick films making an impact on the action genre, Novocaine arrives with its own unlikely hero with a unique ability and tries to run away with it and just have a good time.To be fair, I had a good time with Novocaine overall but I can’t bring myself to say it’s great.
Jack Quaid plays him with a great degree of charm and likeability but there’s also a relatability in the introverted loneliness that living with his condition has created. I like how the opening scenes set out the hindrances of living with the condition and why his blossoming relationship with Amber Midthunder’s Sherry is so important. Enough is done in the early stages to somewhat justify the implausible and unlikely scenario about to unfold, plus there’s an interesting little twist in the set up that the trailers haven’t spoiled and I won’t spoil here.
it has a black sense of humour and I laughed out loud multiple times throughout but at the same time, I felt the humour did compensate for action choreography that didn’t feel hard hitting in the ways I wanted it to. Quaid’s Novocaine takes many comedic hits and sustains gruesome injuries which amuse to no end, but I did feel that the offensive action by the hero himself to be notably lacking. This was especially felt in the final third of the film when the laughs dried up in favour of the serious stakes of the story. But when the end credits rolled, I did find myself feeling satisfied by nearly two hours of solid entertainment.
VERDICT
I do think it could’ve been better with its action choreography, however Jack Quaid is perfectly charming as Novocaine and the film entertains for most of its run.
What an unexpected delight this turned out to be. I went in on a whim and was quickly absorbed into this world of espionage that felt more akin to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy rather than Bond or Bourne. At just 94 minutes, it moves along at a brisk pace yet never feels rushed, it darts between multiple characters and locations but never feels overly complicated. David Holm’s score gives it a lightness in its step while David Koepp’s script and dialogue is delivered with a somewhat playfulness that undercuts the serious stakes at the centre of the story.
There’s practically nothing in terms of action set pieces, instead the action lays in the interactions of these six characters which results in several standout, gripping sequences where all the characters do is talk. The dialogue is so sharp and pointed, the characters so enigmatic that you can’t take your eyes away from them. That there is a traitor among them almost feels irrelevant when you’re having this much fun watching them argue and fight. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett carry such a screen presence with Fassbender’s George in particular, the most distinct with his cold, calculating and seemingly icy demeanour. It’s not necessarily a film that will blow you away or make you feel that you’ve watched a classic, but rather something that will make sit back on your sofa with a glass of wine and allow yourself to get lost in.
VERDICT
This was so much fun to watch from start to finish. Incredibly entertaining with a great cast delivering outstanding dialogue in a film that felt smooth, sharp and witty throughout.
Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite blew me away along with everyone else back in 2019, so when Mickey 17 came along, I couldn’t wait to see it and jumped at the opportunity and in some way, it may be my first disappointing experience of 2025. It’s a film that has a lot of qualities that I really go for and there is much in Mickey 17 that I admired and enjoyed while watching it, especially a terrific performance by Robert Pattinson and a sci-fi concept that feels strangely plausible in its depiction. Pattinson’s ‘Expendable’ Mickey(s) narrates his story while he is subjected, endures and succumbs to all manners of horrific experiments only to be recreated or 'reprinted’ in order to go through it all over again. Through Mickey, who seems strangely at peace with this living nightmare of a reality, we learn that this human printing technology created plenty of ethical and legal issues to the point that it was banned on Earth but, conveniently enough, not in space. Bong Joon Ho has a lot of fun in the first thirty minutes exploring this concept and it’s filled with visual gags, dark humour and an unsubtle Mark Ruffalo performance to bring some levity to what would otherwise be a dark and horrific tale.
Like any great science fiction film, the world and morality of Mickey 17 draws upon our present and Bong Joon Ho is scathing in his satire of the evils of capitalism, new technologies and the way in which we treat those we see as less than human. There is a cold morality and amusing absurdity within the world of Mickey 17 that feels similar to Terry Gilliam’s Brazil while aesthetically, its dystopia wouldn’t feel out of place in other films like Blade Runner or the Hunger Games. But through all the visual effects, creative deaths and reprinting, it’s all grounded by Robert Pattinson’s Mickey who is a character you can’t help feel sorry for as he constantly seems out of his depth with everyone around him.
Visually it is consistently striking with excellent visual effects, set design and even creature effects but unfortunately the story itself isn’t quite as impressive on the whole. While I was never bored by it, it’s not a film that I ever found to be particularly funny or profound and I was consistently wondering where it was all going. The story hit its stride for me once Robert Pattinson was playing 'Multiple’ Mickeys (17 and 18) and where the film introduced some much needed stakes for the character. Pattinson is consistently outstanding, but I found myself growing frustrated with final third of the movie with Ruffalo’s Trump parody rather grating and too timely to be funny for me. It’s a well made film certainly but its one that feels lesser compared to the director’s previous film.
VERDICT
An outstanding science fiction concept and a terrific Robert Pattinson performance are highlights in an entertaining film that I so wish had a better story.
(The ‘PRE-SHOW’ & 'PRE-MATCH’ segments were written before the PLE aired)
The Royal Rumble is done and dusted with Charlotte Flair and Jey Uso poised to take prime position at WrestleMania 41. Both outcomes have been controversial but for opposite reasons to each other. In the weeks that have followed, the path to WrestleMania is starting to take shape and will look clearer with Elimination Chamber poised to set more things in stone. But there has been a spanner thrown into the works by the unexpected return of the Rock. It will be interesting to see how this late development will affect the outcome of the men’s Chamber match. For me this is set to be one of the most exciting Elimination Chamber PLEs I’ve seen in years.
MATCH 1 -2025 Women’s Elimination Chamber Match
Liv Morgan vs. Bianca Belair vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley vs. Naomi vs. Roxanne Perez
PRE-MATCH -The path to the Women’s Championships at WrestleMania is probably more clear than the men’s following the Rock’s return. But with Charlotte Flair having finally chosen Tiffany Stratton, the Women’s Elimination Chamber match will determine who will face Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania. For me there’s only one outcome I can realistically see happening: Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair. Belair has been out of the World Title and main event scene for about two years now. She’s done a great job with Jade Cargill and an even better one with Naomi to give the Women’s Tag Team Titles a focus and prestige that they haven’t had for a long while. Plus I can see snippets of a heel turn and with things developing in the Who Attacked Jade Cargill storyline, I think this is something Bianca really needs at this stage. Not only do I think that she deserves it but a Ripley and Belair match is an incredible prospect and a clash that we haven’t seen on the main roster yet. So I feel that is the likely way to go. Had Liv Morgan not had the year she has just had with the big feud with Rhea Ripley, or just won the Tag Team Titles with Raquel Rodriguez, she would’ve been the only other contender for me. The surprise omission for me however is the lack of Iyo Sky who I thought would’ve been well positioned for a big WrestleMania spot this year. But with how things stand, if they don’t go with Belair then I can’t really call it.
THE MATCH - It shouldn’t be a surprise that Elimination Chamber once again kicks off with the women’s chamber match, the only real question is who starts the match. Naomi and Liv Morgan looked set to start things off which wasn’t a big surprise given that both had been feuding heavily the last month or so, what is a surprise however, the first of several on this show, is what comes next.
Jade Cargill’s return is in itself not unexpected, but I doubt anyone would’ve predicted it in this moment and the way in which it plays out. Cargill doesn’t go for Morgan, her suspected assailant, but rather lays into Naomi. Cargill’s attack on Naomi is absolutely brutal with hard slams into pod doors and everyone sells the shock perfectly especially Bianca Belair who’s left distraught in her pod. It’s a genuinely shocking moment and gets a great crowd reaction. It also achieves two things; it takes Naomi out of the match and blows this story wide open as it isn’t actually confirmed whether Naomi was the assailant or not. Whatever the case maybe, it’s an incredible start to the show.
The match does return to some normality and finally gets started with Bianca Belair stepping up to face Morgan. When I was watching it live, it seemed to me that the match struggled to settle back into a rhythm following such a dramatic start, but on my re-watch it seemed to work just fine. Maybe it was the shocking nature of that moment that affected my perception of the match rather than the match itself? Either way, it’s testament to the impact of that moment.
What I like about events such as the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber is that it gives opportunities for multiple stars to stand out. Roxanne Perez in particular is the among the latest of NXT’s best to step up to the main roster and here she makes the most of her opportunity and looks incredibly comfortable squaring up to the more experienced stars of Bayley, Belair, Bliss and Morgan. Alexa Bliss meanwhile is a veteran in her own right and while I’m a big fan of her character work, which shone through even here, I haven’t always felt her in-ring abilities compared to the others in the division. However she quickly gets stuck in and doesn’t look out of the place despite being two years out of the ring. I particularly liked a sequence where Morgan hit Perez with a Code Breaker who fell back only to be hit instantly with a perfectly timed Twisted Bliss for the elimination.
If there was a weaker link in this match then that would sadly have to be Bayley solely on the basis that it feels like she was only there to make up the numbers. I get that she’s been involved with a feud with Roxanne Perez for a while now and she’s always solid in the ring, but I didn’t think she brought anything distinct to the match and didn’t live up to some her previous showings. She did take a notable powerbomb to the outside of the ring area which looked pretty painful. But I do think she was overshadowed by the likes of Perez and Bliss who each had something to prove or gain by being in the match. I don’t think Bayley gained much here.
The most impressive performance for me however was not just the eventual winner Bianca Belair but Liv Morgan once again. I don’t have enough positive things to say about Liv Morgan’s rise since the 2024 Royal Rumble and she put n another committed, stand out performance and took a lot of bumps throughout. By the end of the match, the blood and bruises were clear to see on Morgan’s body and while Belair’s win felt the right decision, for me its Morgan who should share equal plaudits for that match. Aside from the Jade Cargill attack, perhaps the most memorable moment is Bianca Belair’s hair whip of Liv Morgan which seemed to be heard across the entire arena. Much like a similar moment at WrestleMania 37, it sounded painful, it looked painful and the crowd responded appropriately.
OVERALL - I thought it was an outstanding Women’s Elimination Chamber match with a strong case for it to be considered among the very best that there’s been. There were some unbelievable sequences and moments with the five women involved a testament to the current quality of the underserved women’s division in WWE. There was a really nice moment between Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky at the ramp for good measure. Right now the picture for the two Women’s Championships at WrestleMania looks to be a very good one indeed.
MATCH 2 - Tiffany Stratton & Trish Stratus vs. Nia Jax & Candice LeRae
PRE-MATCH -Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax had a very entertaining match on Smackdown with a good story supporting it and I wondered whether they might take this to the Elimination Chamber following that DQ finish. What I didn’t expect was this special attraction match instead which I’m very down with. It has the potential to be a lot of fun with the Hall of Famer who did terrific work with Becky Lynch two years ago. It also helps to solidify Stratton as a babyface and it finally gives Candice a spot on a PLE. I can’t see this having any lasting implications for WrestleMania but the match should appeal to and get a good reaction from the Toronto crowd.
THE MATCH - I got the sense while watching this, that they were going through the motions rather quickly. Candice and Trish started off as you’d expect for a tag team match before things quickly descended into a brawl despite there being no trigger. Trish to her credit looked fantastic and more than held her own with the younger full time wrestlers. Nia Jax and Candice LeRae are on point as your typical heel character but it’s clear that they’re here to do a specific job to put over Tiffany Stratton as your baby face champion going into WrestleMania. TTrish hits an incredible bulldog from the top rope on Nia Jax which and it sets up Tiffany Stratton’s spectacular moonsault finisher that ends the match.
OVERALL - It’s a predictable outcome but again is the right result to put this feud to bed and in that sense it gets the job done. But I’d be lying if I said that this was anything special or indeed was as fun as I thought it might’ve be.
MATCH 3 - Unsanctioned Match: Kevin Owens vs. SamiZayn
PRE-MATCH -I think this is a great choice for this event and has the potential to steal the show for me. I really like how smooth the storytelling has been here with the foundations having been laid during Kevin Owen’s feud with Cody Rhodes and all it took was a quick sneak attack and a couple of videos on social media. Their history is well documented and they’ve had matches before, but Kevin Owens’ excellent heel run with the package piledriver has helped make his presentation feel fresh. Whether this will be a full match, I’m not sure, but I feel that Randy Orton will return to set up a match at WrestleMania. But I’m not sure where Sami Zayn goes after this either way.
THE STIPULATION - Unsanctioned matches are silly things when you stop to think about it. WWE won’t officially endorse the match because it is too violent or there’s a high chance of injury? A very principled position until you consider the extent that they’ve promoted the match and even allowed it on one of their biggest PLEs. It’s definitely silly when you think about it too literally because symbolically, it definitely works to enhance the standing of a feud.
THE MATCH - For me this had the potential to be match of the night when you consider all that went into building the match; the Toronto location, two of the biggest Canadian stars in WWE right now, the stipulation as well as the overall quality of the story. Then there’s the other touches on the night itself including the referee’s ring attire and the lighting around the ring. WWE has of course experimented with lighting effects before to very mixed results, but here it worked perfectly.
After a tense standoff and an explosive opening exchange, this surprisingly didn’t develop into a fast and ferocious affair like they’ve done in the past. Much like some of the matches Roman Reigns put on in the early days of the Tribal Chief gimmick, this was a slower paced, story driven clash where every punch and slam felt calculated and had meaning. I really liked that they didn’t beat around the bush and try to have a wrestling match as they wasted no time time retrieving chairs, trash cans, tables (to the delight of the crowd) and even a hockey stick. They took their time building towards one big moment and then to the next all the while things carefully escalated towards the bigger bumps seen later in the match. A brawl into the crowd culminates with Kevin Owens taking successive slams through two tables to the area floor. Back at ringside, Sami goes through two stacked tables from the top rope and follows up soon after with a nasty looking brain buster onto a chair. Sami continues to sell the neck injury and the exchanges lead to a number of effective near falls. This was an excellent story being told here with Sami and the commentators selling the neck injury while Owens, the heel, takes his frustrations out on several referees. I thought the match had reached its peak when they took it to another level (and surprised me) with a chair wrapped in barbed wire! Ultimately however, it is the neck injury which logically brings the match to a conclusion and Kevin Owens a victory going into WrestleMania.
OVERALL - I did wonder beforehand how much of a match it would be or whether it might be something shorter, designed to set something up further down the line. It certainly has left room for the feud to continue but I certainly wasn’t expecting what they delivered. I thought this was an outstanding match and for me was definitely match of the night even if other parts of the show might take moment of the night. I did notice that despite taking a couple of bumps onto the barbed wire char, this remained a notably bloodless match but it certainly didn’t lack for brutality. Randy Orton’s return was perfectly judged and gave the ending a feel good moment that would definitely be needed given what followed next.
MATCH 4 -2025 Men’s Elimination Chamber Match
John Cena vs. CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Logan Paul vs. Damian Priest vs. Seth Rollins
PRE-MATCH - With Jey Uso choosing Gunther (as expected), the men’s Elimination Chamber looks to sets up Cody Rhodes’ match for WrestleMania … or will it? With Damian Priest and Seth Rollins the last to be confirmed to the match, this should make this one of the most exciting and more open Chamber matches that I’ve seen in years. There are several WrestleMania worthy combinations here and that’s even without Roman Reigns who I originally thought might be a part of this. But realistically, I’m expecting this to be a battle between John Cena and CM Punk but I could foresee a possible Logan Paul or Seth Rollins shaped plot twist in here that reshapes the picture once again. I would love to see Cody Rhodes vs. CM Punk at WrestleMania but at the same time I do wonder whether Cody vs. John Cena would be the big main event that WrestleMania 41 needs. If WrestleMania 40 was about ushering in a new era, it kind of makes sense for WrestleMania 41 to commemorate the beginning of the end of a previous one. If there’s one thing the 2025 Royal Rumble showed, then that’s unpredictability is still thing in WWE and what may be the more obvious course of action may not be the way it goes down.
THE MATCH - While the women’s chamber match began with a shocking return, the men’s instead makes use of its big names and long term storytelling with a WrestleMania 40 rematch of sorts between Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins. They are two of the absolute best and get things going with some solid action and some trolling from CM Punk that is never not amusing.
If Liv Morgan was arguably the stand out star in 2024 in the women’s division, then it’s hard not to argue the same for Damian Priest in the men’s. While this match does feel like a two horse race between Cena and Punk, the in ring chemistry between the three can’t be denied. Priest and McIntyre in particular exchange some heavy blows, a Razor’s Edge of Rollins onto McIntyre and a McIntyre powerbomb of Rollins onto Priest are early standouts in the match. The in-ring action is really good while the crowd reacts strongly to the presence of Logan Paul and throws plenty of shade his way. Priest gets a strong crowd reaction for a beat down of Paul once he enters the match, but the biggest moment for Priest is the surprise early elimination of Drew McIntyre, his rumoured WrestleMania 41 opponent. McIntyre’s heel reaction is predictable of course and Priest bears the brunt it and is subsequently eliminated by an opportunistic Logan Paul. Looks like that rumoured re-think of plans for Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 41 didn’t lead to much.
John Cena gets a massive pop when he enters, as you’d expect, and he does his usual thing in laying out everyone in the match, culminating with a Five Knuckle Shuffle and Attitude Adjustment to Logan Paul. Paul makes for a very detestable heel and he has certainly impressed with his in-ring ability since day one, but like Bayley earlier, I don’t think he added anything to this much and was eliminated by Punk without any controversy.
I was very excited for this match going in and wondered whether a shock might be on the cards, but as I was watching it I felt like it was playing out exactly how you expected it to including McIntyre’s predictable reaction at being eliminated. Maybe I’m being unfair but as good as the in-ring action was, I didn’t feel like it was hitting those dramatic high points until things got down the last three where I felt that we got to the match that WWE truly wanted here: Seth Rollins vs. John Cena vs. CM Punk. Seth Rollins seemed to be there only to be an unpredictable element in a match that, up to this point, felt a little predictable.
The final twelve minutes shifted the gears of the match to the next level as history came together with long term storytelling when CM Punk and John Cena squared off for the first times in many years. I may not have watched much of WWE during their heyday, but I certainly appreciate the significance of this moment as did the crowd. The action is incredible from all three as they produce their best signature moves and submission holds and the crowd loves it. The several near falls have the desired reaction as this Elimination Chamber match is now firing on all cylinders as it approaches an exciting and dramatic finish.
I did say in my pre-match thoughts that I could foresee either a Logan Paul or Seth Rollins shaped plot twist and I was right on at least one count. An eliminated Seth Rollins costs CM Punk the match in a heel move that has of course been seen before but it no less effective and CM Punk’s much touted dream to main event WrestleMania is brought to an end. There is no doubt that this is going to have major implications but for now at the very least, the main event picture is completed with John Cena confirmed to be going to WrestleMania 41 to face Cody Rhodes.
OVERALL - I thought the men’s Elimination Chamber match was never less that good at all times but only became excellent for me in the final twelve minutes. I thought Seth Rollins, John Cena and CM Punk stole the show in this match, lived up to their billings and the crowd reaction during those twelve minutes really showcased that. I thought that Damian Priest came away looking particularly impressive from his showing here while I felt that Logan Paul, despite getting a great heel reaction from the crowd, didn’t really make much of an impact for me. I personally preferred the Women’s Chamber match as a whole, but when this match was hot, it really delivered.
Will Cody Rhodes Sell Out to the Rock?
PRE-SEGMENT - I’m kind of glad that they haven’t let this fester for longer than it has. The segment on the 28th February edition of Smackdown was far too heavy handed for my taste with Michael Cole especially insufferable. Did this really need to be dragged out to Elimination Chamber? I’m not sure and it’s taken a spot from other talent who might have benefitted from the opportunity. At the very least, Cody and the Rock have history and a compelling story to tell. So fingers crossed it’s worth the spot.
THE SEGMENT - I was not then nor have I ever been a fan of the idea of John Cena in the main event of WrestleMania 41, but I was at least resolved to it and could understand how it could be promoted as the main event. But I also felt that Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena was a less exciting prospect compared to the Bloodline storyline that dominated last year. While it’s too early to tell just how big the story will be come April, there can be no argument that this segment has given the WrestleMania 41 main event a story worth tuning in for. Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena is now a match I really want to see!
The Cody f-bomb response to the Rock was memorable enough but I would never have predicted what followed next. In retrospect I wish the camera hadn’t focused so much on Cena’s face during the embrace leading up to the moment, but it didn’t take away the shock from the moment. John Cena’s heel turn is up there in the Hulk Hogan category of betrayals and as I sit back and think about it, the more I admire the genius of it and the daring.
I don’t know why the hell Travis Scott was in the ring, but that moment will ensure Elimination Chamber 2025 is remembered for many years to come.
OVERALL
WWE has knocked it out of the park with two excellent PLE’s back to back in 2025 so far. The match quality was generally superb and while the tag team match may not have been anything special, the other three were. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn stole the show for me in a match that I thought could be something special but even then I wasn’t necessarily expecting something that special. I loved the women’s chamber match as a whole more but thought the men’s managed to reach a superb conclusion and has now set us down the path to what should hopefully be an exciting WrestleMania.
It seems a long time ago now since a new film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe felt like an event to be savoured, but such is the current reality of things. The dramatic highs of Infinity War and Endgame have long since passed and Captain America: Brave New World is the latest to perhaps feel the weight of comparison to other, better films. It’s such a shame and feels somewhat unfair because this is a much better film than its critical reaction would suggest and had this been released several years earlier, I suspect the reception would’ve been more positive than it is. All that is certainly debatable and despite the mixed critical reaction, I found Brave New World to be a very entertaining, political/action thriller and does a few unexpected but interesting things with parts of the MCU that seemed forgotten about. But it is also a film that sticks to a well established formula and hits those familiar beats without offering something new which is what I feel the MCU is seriously lacking at the moment. This is a solid, very watchable and entertaining film that I feel could have been greater.
Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson has long proven himself to be a principled and capable character within the MCU and there’s no question that he’s up for it as the lead here. He enjoys great chemistry with Danny Ramirez’s charismatic side kick, Joaquim Torres, and Carl Lumbly’s sympathetic Isaiah Bradley whose plight is at the centre of Brave New World’s political thriller based story. What also helps is that he has a very good foil in Harrison Ford’s Thaddeus Ross who has long been an underrated antagonist within the MCU and steps into the forefront for the first time since his underrated showing in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. The late William Hurt deserves plenty of credit for Ross’ standing in the MCU and Ford steps into the role seamlessly in a film that has multiple antagonists looking to challenge the new Captain America. The MCU doesn’t have a great track record with villains but Brave New World does better than most from Ford’s Ross to Giancarlo Esposito’s Sidewinder who is the least served in terms of screentime if not necessarily in screen presence, and then there’s Tim Blake Nelson’s long forgotten Samuel Sterns. Blake Nelson does what he can to make the most out of Stern’s mysterious villain but by the end, it is the moments he creates that are perhaps more memorable than Sterns himself.
There’s plenty here to have a good time with, the action sequences are suitably hard hitting with Sam’s Captain America upgrade impressing in particular, Harrison Ford is a fine antagonist and I particularly enjoyed his arc here even if the trailers bafflingly spoiled the appearance of the Red Hulk. The Hulk effects have come along way and here it looks very good which isn’t always the case for the film as a whole with some background effects in particularly looking unforgivably out of place. Brave New World is the sequel to The Incredible Hulk that we never thought we’d get and it does have MCU-wide altering implications that I appreciate even if the film itself doesn’t reach the level that The Winter Soldier and Civil War did. Despite the political thriller themed story, it doesn’t stop to allow any real tension to take hold, it doesn’t work as a mystery either because we quickly know who’s behind it. It does have some outstanding moments including the assassination attempt on Ross, the battle at Celestial Island and of course Cap vs. Red Hulk. It’s a fun film that I would happily revisit, but it is not one of those MCU films that left me feeling WOW at the end of it.
Brave New World is a solid first outing for Sam Wilson’s Captain America, perfectly entertaining but not able to reach the same heights of its excellent predecessors.
This Women’s Royal Rumble, more than any of the previous ones, vindicated for me a negative view I had from the start, that this match lacked the build it deserved. This, for me, was a tremendous Rumble that showcased just how strong this roster is and I think more can and should be done with it. I did however, really like the on-screen tracker which showed how many stars were active, had been eliminated and what entry number was next. I cant remember this being included in previous Rumbles but I thought it looked slick.
The match offered surprises from the start with the number one entry: Iyo Sky. Sky was my pick for the Rumble this year before the reports of Charlotte Flair’s impending return and strongly suspected win here. It was also suprising for me that they started with two heavy weights of the Women’s division with Liv Morgan also starting but at number two. Given her run in 2024, it was a dead cert that Morgan wasn’t going to win, but I thought they might save these two for later in the match. But the positive of course, and what we definitely got, was a quality start to the Women’s Rumble from two of their strongest performers.
It also seemed booked to reflect the depth of talent at their disposal as, aside from the very start and end, there was never less than at least three women in the match at one time. For the vast majority I thought this worked although nearer the end I felt that there were too many in the ring especially as a sequence between Iyo Sky and Giulia didn’t quite work. However a sequence that saw six women, and big names as that, eliminated at the same time to get to the final five, was a memorable moment for me.
But the quality of the in-ring work was excellent and everyone, from the top stars to the mid card, looked on point. Particular stand outs for me included:
Iyo Sky started the match strong and featured through most of the match. I thought Sky could’ve been a real contender to win this match year but she was at least made to look very strong.
Liv Morgan has put in fantastic performances in the last 3 Royal Rumbles and had she not had the 2024 that she had, she could’ve been as much as a contender as Iyo Sky this year. But another strong showing here is testament tot just how far she has come.
Chelsea Green is absolute comedy gold and the presentation with Piper Niven is working very nicely on Smackdown. Green is making the most of her run as Women’s United States Champion and that the fans are increasingly getting behind her is testament to how well it is working for her right now.
Ivy Nile looked impressive with a power based presentation that suits her heel turn with the Creed Brothers. They utilised the match to make her look stronger and set up a future Intercontinental title match with Lyra Valkyria at the same time. The segment with Maxxine Dupri also brief but was delivered perfectly as that minor feud was allowed to play out.
Bianca Belair and Naomi are probably the best Women’s Tag Team Champions since Bayley and Sasha Banks’ run as heel champions in 2020/21. But they have been regular features and deliver quality match after quality match. Their standing during this match showcased that.
Pure Fusion Collective is a group with a terrible name that I’m not sure WWE knows necessarily knows what to do with. However I thought they had a good showing here and I especially liked how they dominated as a trio and I thought it was a nice touch that they were eliminated all at once.
Jordynne Grace had a great showing with a positive reaction from the crowd who especially cheered for her slamming, the rather underrated, Piper Niven.
It was also a match that continued the trend of surprises from legends to NXT talent. Lash Legend, Jaida Parker, Stephanie Vaquer and Giulia made their Rumble debuts and looked very strong but unquestionably it was Roxanne Perez who shined most and surely can’t be far away from a main roster call up.
But not everyone ended up looked strong however as it was painfully clear that the presentation of Michin simply isn’t working. The crowd didn’t react and seemed to go silent once she arrived. Something needs to change.
I also felt sorry for for the Rumble debuting Lyra Valkyria who suffered a wardrobe malfunction early on that stopped her momentum briefly but the fans did applaud once she got back into action. I’m a big fan of hers and I fear that this is all she will be remembered for in this match but I’m hopeful bigger things will come for her as I see her as a future World champion.
While Charlotte Flair’s return was expected, there was the surprise and welcome returns for Trish Stratus, Nikki Bella and, perhaps most notably, Alexa Bliss. I thought this was a Rumble that perfectly balanced the past, present and future with the lack other legends a welcome testament again to the quality of the roster right now.
OVERALL
I thoroughly enjoyed the match and thought it was a high-quality Rumble that deserved more promoting than it got. I felt in the moment that the predictability of the outcome hurt it slightly, but I thought it was well laid out match as a whole where layers were added at the right moments to give it a boost where needed. The crowd was getting very quiet around the number 23rd and 24th entries, but they pulled it back for the finish. Charlotte Flair was not my preferred choice given the timing of her return and the quality of stars available. Having re-watched the match again the following day and appreciating the overall quality of the match itself, the result doesn’t bother me quite as much. But it’s also another Rumble where I couldn’t always tell who was coming in based on the entrance music. It’s getting better, but the issue is still there.
It’s also another Rumble where I couldn’t tell who was coming in based on the entrance music. It’s getting better but the issue is still there.
MATCH 2 - 2 out of 3 Falls Match for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship: DIY (champions) vs. Motor City Machine Guns
I was very happy that this match was included on this Royal Rumble card. It’s been a long while since the Tag Team Titles were defended on a PLE and for me, the tag team division has been bubbling away nicely the last few months. With teams such as the Creed Brothers, The War Raiders, Judgment Day, A-Town Down Under, The Wyatt’s, Pretty Deadly, Street Prophets and others, there is a healthy pool there to make the division stand out once again.
It’s a shame therefore that the match never managed to reach the heights of greatness that it probably could’ve on another show. Perhaps it was that it had to follow the Women’s Rumble or maybe because we saw this match the previous evening on SmackDown. It wasn’t a bad match by any means and it did get some reaction from the crowd in the latter stages, but this was a match that I felt could’ve been better. I at least liked the Street Prophets involvement that will keep this story going and will hopefully lead to something special at WrestleMania.
MATCH 3 - Ladder Match for the WWE Universal Championship: Cody Rhodes (champion) vs. Kevin Owens
This feud has ignited Cody Rhodes’ reign as champion which had been solid up to this point but lacked a meaningful feud to make it truly memorable. Kevin Owens for his part, is an outstanding heel challenger and has been on fire himself since taking Randy Orton out of action. It’s shocking to me that he hasn’t had more World title reigns in his time.
This is match given the true fight night feel in a way that the Tag Title match didn’t feel like and it’s been a while since a Single’s Ladder match has taken place, so it does feel kind of fresh here. It doesn’t take long for this brawling match to exploit the benefits of being No Disqualification. Cody took an early bump through a ladder onto the concrete and another one soon after they finished a brawl through the crowd. This is not your classic tag team ladder match with plenty of fast paced, creative, high spots. This is a more character driven, brutal bout more akin to the classic Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels WrestleMania X match. They both take some body slams onto the ladders which looks incredibly painful for me just sitting and watching this at home and they both sell the consequences of the impact to intensify the drama.
There were up to five ladders in play, three set up to take some high impact landings which you know are going to be scary to watch. Owens is back flipped and lands on the edge of a ladder while Cody takes a powerbomb that looks to catch the back of his head rather than back. I’d love to know who they truly feel after these sort of matches. But it is a fisherman’s brain buster from Kevin Owens onto another ladder that is the biggest bump of the match and is sold significantly so that WWE officials and Sami Zayn arrive to really in add to the drama.
There has been talk over the last year whether Cody would be more effective as a heel wrestler and to be fair, the final stages of this match gives us a little hint of what that could look like. Rhodes brutalizes Owens in the final stages with a nasty looking Alabama slam through a ladder and claims the win. It’s a fantastic finish to a fantastic match but the merciless way he finishes and the nature of his celebration over Owens’ broken body was definitely eye catching. It’s interesting what role Sami Zayn is being positioned for here and that he didn’t really get involved.
Perhaps the most open and unpredictable men’s Rumble matches that there’s ever been. This match is that star studded, with so much talent worthy of the top spot that it’s genuinely difficult to predict an outcome. This was also promoted very well with so many stories intertwining that the prospect of them all colliding is a mouth watering prospect. Most of all, it lived up to its billing and delivered an outstanding Royal Rumble that, like the Women’s, showcased the depth of talent that WWE currently has. Plus the ending was a complete surprise and from what I’ve seen online in the hours since, a polarizing one.
I wondered whether they were playing it slightly safe with the legend that is Rey Mysterio at number one however Penta’s arrival at number two was just genius and the fan reaction tells you why. Neither were ever going to win this match, but they started it off in stunning fashion although it looked like Penta almost came close to a nearly botched elimination. I also thought it was clever to introduce Chad Gable and continue this rivalry from Raw. Full props for starting this Rumble match strongly as well with the additon of high flyers such as Carmelo Hayes and Santos Escabar really setting the pace for the early stages of this match.
Speed, who I knew/know nothing about, was a surprise celebrity entry in a brief but funny moment with Bron Breakker and Otis. Breakker in particular starts to make an impact and mixes things up slightly. It’s all fun stuff but you definitely get the sense that it’s waiting for the big names to enter to really kick things into gear.
The mighty and impressive Jacob Fatu arrived at number 12 and instantly made an impression by eliminating Gable, Mysterio and Andrade. He’s been the breakout star from the Bloodline feud of 2024 and he’s especially been impressive the last few weeks as well. The dynamic of the match changes permanently as Roman Reigns enters the Rumble at 16. After clearing house, he takes a massive spear from Bron Breakker with the look on Paul Heyman’s face absolutely priceless.
One of the many outstanding moments of this Rumble see’s Roman finally take on Jacob Fatu one on one while Penta is amusingly forgotten about in the corner. But this marks the true beginning of the Rumble as those big names, McIntyre, Cena, Punk and Rollins arrive one after another. The clash of just two of these stars would be a moment in itself, but having so many in the ring at one time with this storytelling and stakes? This Rumble for me was destined to achieve legendary status.
Given the pre-match build-up and star studded quality, this is a Rumble that didn’t really utilise many surprise entries, but then it didnt need to. Joe Hendry got a big pop while it was also great to see AJ Styles get a good reaction as he returns from injury. But there were some notable absences such as Solo Sikoa, Toma Tonga, Randy Orton, R-Truth and even no-one from the NXT roster such as Obi Femi or Trick Williams.
But it comes back to what I said previously about the Women’s Rumble, this Rumble showcased just how much talent is in the current WWE roster and how strong this era is right now.
Standout performers for me included:
Penta looked very impressive in his Rumble debut and help get the match off to a strong start. He mixed it up with several superstars and I did especially like some double teaming with Roman Reigns.
Bron Breakker had a longer sting in this Rumble and had a few standout moments from kick starting the eliminations, his moment with Speed and an exchange with Roman Reigns.
Jacob Fatu was also a Rumble debutant and WWE seem fully aware of what they have with him. He had dominant showing which made so much sense for this character. I’m a big fan of his already.
Roman Reigns spent half the match in the Rumble and had some notable exchanges. Reigns hasn’t appeared in the Rumble with the Tribal Chief character before and I felt that his performance here really showed how far he has come and just how well it’s working right now.
John Cena - I’ve not always been a Cena fan but the story they’re telling with him is an interesting one and I thought he put on a great showing despite not wrestling much these days.
Seth Rollins is perhaps the best in-ring wrestler WWE has right now but there was an intensity to his exchanges with CM Punk and Roman Reigns. If this is what WrestleMania is going to look like, then he has got the ball moving is a memorable way.
When Damian Priest arrived at 28, I wrote the following in my notes:
The ring is really starting to fill up with the very best of WWE. I still can’t call this match but my pre-match prediction was CM Punk.
My prediction for the final four was Reigns, Cena, Punk and Rollins. I was significantly off with this prediction which brings me to the two biggest surprises of the match for me. Drew McIntyre and Jey Uso.
Drew McIntyre was one of the MVPs of 2024 with an incredible run with CM Punk and some great heel work. He entered the Rumble strongly as he engaged with Roman Reigns which is the genrally direction I assumed he would be taking to WrestleMania. But his elimination by Damian Priest felt off and seemed to lack consequence. The word after the match that something hadn’t gone right here felt true in the way the moment played out. The elimination of Reigns, Rollins and Punk delivered one of the Rumble’s key moments when Seth Rollins lost it and curb stomped Roman Reigns twice. Is this what WrestleMania will be, then where does it leave Drew McIntyre?
I would’ve been disappointed if both Rumbles had a predictable outcome, but I didn’t think it would be this unpredictable. I thought Triple H was very brave to subvert expectations in the most star studded Royal Rumble by having Jey Uso win and it was a great moment. Don’t get me wrong, Jey is definitely popular and has had a remarkable journey to get to this point, but I haven’t been too sure about him as a singles’ star. Yet I cheered for him when he won his brief Intercontinental championship and I cheered here. Maybe I’m being harsh, I don’t know, but there’s no question that Jey Uso put on an outstanding performance and for me, solidified this Rumble as one of the best.
OVERALL
I genuinely thought that this was one of the best Royal Rumble matches I’ve seen. It had such a strong build up, so many intertwining stories, and it felt so open. But the match quality delivered with newer stars establishing themselves strongly while the top stars lived up to their billing. The criticism online for the result here feels hypocritical when you consider what the Women’s Rumble match was criticised for. But I thought the 2025 Royal Rumble produced two outstanding and fun matches and not to mention a hard-hitting ladder match. The Royal Rumble is my favourite annual WWE event with the exception, maybe, of WrestleMania. This one really delivered.
Nosferatu is a gloriously atmospheric experience with a bleak, gothic visual style that allows very little colour to permeate the screen. This is a horror that doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares, although it has a few well judged ones, but utilises careful pacing, impressive set design and a visual grittiness to fester a cold, creepy and uncomfortable atmosphere. I’m not a particular fan of horror and I found Nosferatu not too intense but rather an enthralling watch from a director who clearly loves the material. Horror fans shouldn’t be disappointed either especially with some of the graphic and grotesque images offering some genuine, chill inducing moments.
Bill Skarsgard has played a monster before but here he disappears completely under the make-up as his mysterious, imposing and, frankly, terrifying Count Orlok is at the centre of everything. The romance between Nicholas Hoult’s Thomas and Lily-Rose Depp’s Ellen has enough scenes early on to make you feel invested in their relationship but also has you fear for Thomas in particular, who is required to enter the realm of Skarsgard’s Orlok. This opening act is probably where I was at the edge of my seat the most as Thomas gets lost in a spiralling nightmare where even we in the audience, are not sure what’s real and what isn’t. Depp’s Ellen is the central figure of all these events and while she unquestionably puts in a good performance, it is also her performance that for me at times, was the films biggest weakness.
I understand that this is a horror with some demonic possession and supernatural elements, however there are only so many times I can watch someone act out a demonic possession before it starts to feel ridiculous to me. A sequence where a now banished Thomas and Ellen return to their home frankly felt too much and swayed into ridiculousness and took me out of the film for a moment. What doesn’t help is that I never felt as emotionally invested in Ellen as I did with Thomas who, early on, was at the most peril. I liked that the second part of the movie had Ellen take a more active role but there are other characters, in particular Willem Defoe’s Prof. Albin Eberhart Von Franz, who I found more interesting.
VERDICT
There’s no denying that Nosferatu is a film that I admired a great deal even if I’m not sure whether I actually liked it or not. The word ‘enjoyed’ doesn’t feel right to describe the experience either especially for a film that keeps you on a icy edge as long as it does. But with some interesting characters, a scary foe and a story that builds and builds with a well judged pace, Nosferatu for me is a triumph.
This is the first time I’ve written something like this alongside the live stream so let’s see how it goes. I was generally underwhelmed by the previous entry which I thought had a poor presentation on YouTube, but I do like the old school vibe and I can see the benefit of having a kind of mini-PLE presentation.
I’m not expecting any real surprises tonight but I am at least hoping for a fun show. It’s disappointing that the Women’s Division seems to be getting the short straw despite introducing two new championships to the division. I think they can do much better by their talent roster of women.
With that being said … I’m excited for the show.
Jessie Ventura sounds as if we’re still in the 90’s and I was very amused by Joe Tessitore smiling as Jessie doesn’t appear to be facing or looking where he should be.
MATCH 1 - Rhea Ripley vs. Nia Jax
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS - A rematch from Elimination Chamber 2025, Ripley gets a mighty pop and while I think it’s a good thing for this title being defended, I don’t think the outcome is in doubt. I love the run Nia Jax has had, but I think I would rather have gone for someone else here rather than serve Jax up as canon fodder for Ripley’s first title defense. Why not showcase and build upon the newly established Women’s Intercontinental Title instead?
THE MATCH - Loved the opening exchanges as Nia Jax doesn’t allow Lilian Garcia to finish the Big Fight Night style introductions. The match starts with a fast paced intensity that I was not expecting but certainly appreciate although the commercial breaks really disrupt the flow of the match for the viewer at home. If you needed a reminder that this isn’t a PLE, then the commercial break is that!
After the break, it is power move after power move with the fast paced opening not letting up. Nia Jax has really impressed me since returning to WWE but it is very clear here just why Rhea Ripley is the biggest star of the Women’s Division right now with incredible showcases of strength against a powerful opponent.
THE RESULT - A short match with a forgone conclusion in terms of the result, but I do feel that they judged the style of the match perfectly against its length and was a lot of fun overall.
MATCH 2 - Bron Breakker vs. Sheamus
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS - I’ve really enjoyed the rivalry between Bron Breakker, Sheamus and Ludwig Kaiser the last few months. Their Triple Threat Match was incredible and the follow up singles matches have also been fun as well. I feel the logical endgame is for Sheamus to finally win the IC title but I would’ve assumed that this would make more for a WrestleMania moment. So I’m not expecting a title change … although I may be wrong though.
THE MATCH - I expected it to be physical and it certainly didn’t disappoint in the earlier stages with two standout moments from both men around the ring heading into the commercial break. Breakker’s spear, catching Sheamus mid-air, in particular looked like a hard hit. Not quite as fast paced as the previous match, but still delivering the kind of moments you’d want to see even if it is lacking the intensity of some of their previous matches.
The match seemed to be moving faster after the break and hitting the high spots, but I couldn’t escape the feeling that the match just wasn’t being given the time to turn into something naturally special. As I finish typing that, was over with a clean finish.
THE RESULT - the win for Bron Breakker certainly cements his Intercontinental Title reign further but the match itself wasn’t anything special and I say that with some disappointment given how good some of their other matches had been. Wrong match for the the wrong show maybe? I dunno, but I’m curious as to where Sheamus goes from here.
Contract Signing for the Royal Rumble Ladder Match - Shawn Michaels Moderating
PRE-SEGMENT - This has been the best feud of Cody Rhodes’ run as World Champion. Kevin Owens makes for such an effective heel with the theft of the of the Winged Eagle belt makes for a fun addition. However I am at the stage where I think this feud is cooked and ready to be eaten and I don’t want to see it spoiled. I don’t see why this needs to be on this show and not simply on Smackdown? Both are outstanding on the mic and I’m sure will cut great promos so let’s see how things turn out.
POST-SEGMENT - this panned out more or less how anyone could reasonably expect it to but what fun it was. Kevin Owens is so much better as a heel than a face for me and this confrontation had such an intensity that I do think it actually added a little more to what was already a strong story. Thumbs up for the inclusion of Shawn Michaels as well, it didn’t too much for me but it was at least something different.
MATCH 3 - Braun Strowman vs. Jacob Fatu
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS -When they announced this match, I was genuinely surprised and thought it would end up on Smackdown only. Jacob Fatu has easily been the MVP of the New Bloodline and is exciting to watch and him facing off against Braun Strowman is definitely an attraction I’m game for. I’m not expecting this to last long, but I’m expecting it to be fun. On a separate point, Tama Tonga and Jacob Fatu are both so good, you’ve got to wonder why they need Solo Sikoa.
THE MATCH - It’s Braun Strowman who benefits early on with some dominance over Fatu but it is the latter’s suicide dive outside of the ring that is the defining moment of those early exchanges.
I love the heavy hits outside of the ring as Jacob is sent flying over the announcers table. But it is Jacob Fatu who takes control and ends up getting himself disqualified when the referee tries to stop him from severely injuring Braun Strowman.
THE RESULT - I’m not a fan of the finish here personally as I feel Jacob Fatu has already been well and truly been established as a powerful, monster heel and this at times felt very similar to what Big Bronson Reed did to Seth Rollins. It’s clearly designed to establish Jacob Fatu even further which it no doubt has as the fans were clearly into it. Me personally, I would’ve preferred an actual finish to the match.
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS - I go back and forth when it comes to Jey Uso. I’ve loved his work with the Bloodline and he has had some great singles matches, but I’m still to be fully convinced that he is good enough to be World Champion. But his Intercontinental Title win was an incredible moment and he clearly is a fan favourite so there’s definitely something that I’m not seeing. On the other hand, I am a huge Gunther fan and I think they’ve booked him perfectly since he arrived on the main roster. As Michael Cole pointed out, he’s been a champion for 80% of his time in WWE so he’s incredibly talented in this kind of role. I think he’s been a solid World Champion, but like Cody Rhodes, he hasn’t had the feud needed to really establish this reign. I don’t think this match will alter that either way but I’m hopeful that it should be a fun encounter after a small but solid build-up.
THE MATCH - This is the kind of match that we’ve seen from Gunther and Jey Uso before, but it works for a reason. Gunther has always been convincing as a powerhouse with his hard hitting chops and style of utilising various combinations of moves to win matches gives him an old school credibility. But Jey Uso, here as the underdog, goes toe to toe with Gunther and scores a few near falls that gets strong reactions from the crowd, Michael Cole and even myself while watching. The spear and top rope splash near-falls almost had me convinced that Jey would score that three count. But alas, it was not to be. It never felt like a PLE quality match but rather a strong Raw main event.
THE RESULT - It was of course the expected result and probably the best match of the night. With Gunther seemingly not featuring on the Royal Rumble, this gives him something to do with the title between now and presumably Elimination Chamber which follows. It was a good match but not quite up there with some of his other matches.
OVERALL
It was a show with no surprises and predictable outcomes but some good wrestling to keep things entertaining. I thought it was a better show than the previous one but I do think more could be done to showcase other talent on the roster, particular in the women’s division. I do have to remind myself that this is not a PLE but it’s done its job and I now look forward to the Royal Rumble.
It’s a polarizing time we’re living through right now where discord has become so incredibly toxic that it seems like very little room is left for civilised discussion. Star Wars has not escaped this either with the reactions to both The Last Jedi and the Rise of Skywalker leaving such a bad taste in my mouth that I found myself not particularly excited for anything that was to come next for Star Wars. Thank the maker for what did come next. The Mandalorian’s simplicity rekindled my passion, Andor’s ambition and complexity gave me hope for what could be possible while Ahsoka has left me feeling excited for what’s to come next for Star Wars. That’s quite a turn around from where I was in 2019 and it’s the best compliment I have for this series.
Ahsoka is an especially rewarding experience for me as I am a huge fan of The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels animated shows for which this is a continuation. There is a joyous thrill for me in seeing these characters rendered in live action for the first time with my awareness of their backstories giving the series more of a presence and importance than what a completely original cast of characters might’ve been. How well this show does and how these characters are perceived with those unfamiliar with these shows is difficult for me to judge. There are moments throughout where the writers try to give some snippets of these characters histories and what they’ve been through, but the only way to really grasp where these characters have come from is by watching those shows. Whether that is a realistic expectation for the audience is highly questionable for me but at the very least, this series has enough qualities without this to make an impression. Ahsoka is visually impressive with a cinematic quality, has some outstanding set pieces, promising new characters and for the first time in a long time, seems to have given Star Wars a sense of direction again.
Yet for a show titled ‘Ahsoka’, I was surprised by how this never truly felt like Rosario Dawson’s show. Episode five’s 'The Shadow Warrior’ delved deepest into the psyche of Ahsoka and her past, but otherwise Natasha Liu Bordizzo’s Sabine Wren is as much, or arguably more so, of a lead than Ahsoka herself. The emotional stakes of the story feel more entwined with Sabine’s search for Eman Esfandi’s lost Jedi, Ezra Bridger than Ahsoka’s quest to prevent the return of Lars Mikkelsen’s Grand Admiral Thrawn. But it is the complicated Master/Padawan relationship between Ahsoka and Sabine that remains the most prominent character based thread of the show and one of the few to not have been inherited through Rebels.
Not everything in this show is a call back as it introduces some new characters with the most impressive of them being Ray Stevenson’s Baylan Skoll. Skoll impresses from the outset with his imposing presence, mysterious demeanour and, throughout the 8 episode run, you get a sense there’s more to this character to be explored. Stevenson’s sad death casts a sadness over the proceedings and it’s truly regrettable that we won’t see more of Stevenson’s stand out take on this original character. Other notable additions include Ivanna Sakno’s Shin Hati and Jeryl Prescott Gallien, Claudia Black and Jane Edwina Seymour’s Great Mothers who bring another aspect of Star Wars lore into live action for the first time. But this is a series that should satisfy fans with the live action debut of the world of Lothal, The Ghost, Chopper, Hera Syndulla (a sadly underused Mary Elizabeth Winstead), the Purrgil and of course, Huyang (an outstanding David Tennant).
VERDICT
Ahsoka is a welcome addition to the Star Wars Saga and is the most exciting entry since The Mandalorian. Whilst certain to resonate with fans of the extended Star Wars Saga, those unfamiliar may have more of a mixed experience as this first season sets up more than it resolves. But it is so entertaining, visually rich and leaves things in such an interesting position that the prospect of what comes next is an exciting one.
Breath of the Wild grants you the freedom to approach it in whatever way you see fit. Unlike your more typical open world games, this doesn’t generally tell you where to go, what to specifically look for or what order things should be done. This is a game that lets you explore, to go out into this fallen kingdom and discover the characters and stories on your own terms. It’s a potentially overwhelming set up depending on the type of gamer you are, if structure is your thing then Breath of the Wild may frustrate with its minimalist approach to storytelling. Even the map gives nothing away as the villages, towns, stables and (many) ancient shrines that you come to discover become visible on your map only after you’ve actually found them. If absolute freedom is your things however, then Breath of the Wild is definitely for you and while it took me a little time to embrace it on its own terms, there is so much to admire about the game.
Easily my favourite thing about the game is the artwork which has a hand drawn quality to it and is only slightly undermined by the Switch’s performance which occasionally struggles to cope when a lot of things are going on. But Breath of the Wild is a strikingly beautiful and almost melancholic experience as you roam the vast, open landscape battling monsters, collecting resources and exploring this ruined version of Hyrule. Regions vary when it comes to the terrain which includes snowy tundra’s, scotching deserts, rain soaked hills and volcanic mountains, lush green fields and open meadows. What I like especially, and what keeps everything together, is Hyrule Castle at the centre the world and visible from all corners as constant reminder of what the overall goal is.There is a lot to explore and the game is smart in how it rewards exploration. Monsters can pose varying combat challenges that requires you to be adaptable in how you engage and what weapons to use. The scavenging of ingredients and raw materials is essential for upgrading plus you can combine them in almost unlimited ways to create health boosting dishes and elixirs for all environments and situations that would normally force you change equipment and/or armour. The choices are endless and requires plenty of experimenting to get right. After 120 hours, I’m still discovering things in regions I’ve visited several times over and it is testament to the world design and gameplay that I’m still wanting to revisit these regions over again.
When trying to summarize Breath of the Wild, I think it comes down to some of the design choices and details that allows you approach the gameplay in various ways. The physics system for instance is surprisingly clever and realistic with things that you probably couldn’t get away with in other games, you can here. I’ve completed many puzzles in a method that I’m fairly certain wasn’t the intended way but worked all the same. The game keeps you constantly on your toes with the ever changing environment and weather patterns affecting everything from visibility, climbing and even your health depending on what equipment you can have equipped. The cold regions can cause damage if you don’t have the right clothing or elixirs (the same for hot) while some foes will only be susceptible to certain weapons so you may be forced to alter tactics or avoid conflict altogether in that moment. The game has such depth and so many surprises that in the moments where I was starting to lose interest, there was always something new to adapt to, find or explore. No other game I’ve played on the Switch has forced me to alter my approach as much as this or even just simply admiring the design choices as this.
VERDICT
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is one of the finest games I’ve played on the Switch with gorgeous artwork and an incredible world to explore. Its minimalist approach to story is not usually my preference but here it works as you will get lost in this version of Hyrule and become invested in the plight of its inhabitants. A terrific game indeed.
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