Lollipop Magazine

Starflyer 59 – Vanity – Review

November 7, 2021

Vanity is Starflyer 59’s 16th full release, and it’s treading the same ground as the last four, except without a near-great tune like “Young in My Head.”

Sayonara Wild Hearts – Review

November 27, 2019

A world of neon and synth pop turns out to be the background for your journey of reflection and self-discovery.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – Review

November 5, 2019

If it’s Wario running the 100m dash, or a crocodile wearing headphones throwing the javelin, I’m on board.

Torche – Admission – Review

July 8, 2019

All roads lead to the title track, the heart of the album (placed smack in the middle) and among the best songs the band has ever recorded.

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – Review

April 2, 2019

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is an incredible achievement and one of the best action games ever made.

Noisem – Cease to Exist – Review

March 9, 2019

With this album, the band has sharpened their sound to a razor point and it strikes with precision and efficiency.

The Jesus and Mary Chain – Damage and Joy – Review

December 8, 2018

Damage and Joy combines the sneer and guitar barrage of the underrated, monochrome Munki with the somber acoustic trip of Stoned & Dethroned.

The Breeders – All Nerve – Review

December 6, 2018

Kim and Kelley Deal make difficult music. This is tough sledding at first – like much good and great music – but it’s interesting and at times, very good.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy – Review

November 27, 2018

Spyro Reignited Trilogy does a beautiful job of bringing these games to modern consoles.

Soulcalibur VI – Review

November 9, 2018

Soulcalibur VI makes another strong case as to why the series should always be in the conversation when it comes to fighting games.

Bloodbath – The Arrow of Satan is Drawn – Review

October 26, 2018

If only we could all have this much fun at our second jobs.

Komrads – Resistor – Review

July 24, 2018

Resistor is all over the place, but somehow it all works. A fascinating debut.

Vampyr – Review

June 18, 2018

Despite deficiencies in both narrative and gameplay, Vampyr is still compelling because of its all-consuming Gothic atmosphere.

Dragon’s Crown Pro – Review

May 9, 2018

It understands the genre and delivers satisfying, bombastic combat in short bursts, but also finds ways to deliver a full-length adventure that meets modern expectations.

Monster Magnet – Mindfucker – Review

March 31, 2018

They’ve gone from tripped-out, psychedelic fare like Spine of God and Dopes to Infinity to a more straightforward rock ‘n’ roll sound on Mindfucker, their 11th album.

Shadow of the Colossus – Review

March 9, 2018

Shadow of the Colossus is an all-time classic, and this excellent remaster provides a vital opportunity to play it again or discover it for the first time.

Celeste – Review

February 23, 2018

The star of Celeste is definitely the palm-sweating finger acrobatics required by the devious level designs.

Hooded Menace – Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed – Review

February 1, 2018

Rest assured that by the closing notes of “Black Moss” you’ll feel suitably torn asunder and buried alive, with the grime under your fingernails to prove it.

Like Moths to Flames – Dark Divine – Review

November 3, 2017

Metalcore stalwarts Like Moths to Flames make a huge step forward on Dark Divine, their fourth record.

For The Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records – Review

October 27, 2017

Seeing the Metal Blade name associated with a band is as good as a guarantee that it’s the real deal, and this book shows what it took to make that a reality.

Cuphead – Review

October 3, 2017

The detail and charm in Cuphead means it was made with a lot of love, but that would just be window dressing if it wasn’t a solid action game.

36 Crazyfists – Lanterns – Review

September 25, 2017

As bleak as things can get on Lanterns, ultimately it ends up sounding hopeful.

Comeback Kid – Outsider – Review

September 1, 2017

Comeback Kid manages to outdo their previous work yet again.

Yakuza Kiwami – Review

August 29, 2017

Yakuza Kiwami (“Extreme”) lets gamers experience the wacky fun of the original Yakuza in a remake with modern graphics and gameplay polish.

Superhot – Review

August 1, 2017

Rather than run headfirst into a firefight, you’ll think multiple steps ahead and carefully consider where your enemies will intersect with your bullet.