arts // no. 8

 

 

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me) &

theotherpress.ca

 

 

Comic Corner: Realistic romance
better than fiction

» ‘Soppy: A Love Story’ review

   
 

.: Brittney MacDonald

When we think of the romance
genre, we often recall tales of
heroes and heroines saving the
lives of their beloveds in some
grand way that often involves
endangering themselves in

: the process. But for those of
: us who have been in love, we
: know that narratives like this

00000

aren't often the reality. It’s
the little things that become
the most awe inspiring: those
singular moments when

: your partner will bring you

: coffee because they know you

: hate mornings or watch your

: favourite movie with you despite
: the fact it’s animated and in

: Japanese. It’s that kind of love

: that is celebrated in Soppy.

Written and drawn by

: Philippa Rice, Soppy is not so

: mucha graphic novel as it is a
: collection of moments in time.
: There is no plot or intrigue,

: just brief glimpses into Rice’s

: life with her boyfriend. To

: some that might sound boring,
: but I actually found it to be :
: incredibly honest and charming. :
: reflect the simplicity of

: the story they represent. I

The appeal here does

: not lie in the complexity

: of the narrative or in the

: character development, but

: in the reader’s response to

: the moments presented. It’s
recognition for those in long
: term relationships, nostalgia
: for those who have been in

: one, and optimism for people
: who have yet to experience it.

Artistically the panels
are very simple, but they

Illustration by Philippa Rice

: found Rice’s aesthetic to be

: adorable, and I appreciated

: the bold choices she made in
: regards to how she presented
: herself, her boyfriend, and

the world they inhabit.

I think this is a great book

: if you just want something to

: pass the time. It’s perfect for

: making you laugh when stuck
: on the bus, and you don’t need
: to really sit down and analyze

: it—just get it and be happy.

 

Have fun herding livestock

» ‘Herding Dog’ video game review

EE
00000:

ave you ever dreamed of
herding sheep or pigs?
How about being a dog?
In the new game Herding
Dog, you can do both!

Herding Dog is a sweet little
game on Steam where you can
run around asa dog, herding
your livestock and protecting
them from wild animals. In
order to complete each level and
progress in the game, you need
to finish a mission. They start off
fairly easy—the first level is to
chase some birds away from the
farmer’s seeds—but progressively :
get more complicated, with goals:
such as collecting items, avoiding :
lightning, saving your livestock,
and herding that livestock into
a pen all in the same level.

This game offers a simple,

casual experience that doesn’t
become too difficult. | managed
to obtain almost all of the
achievement badges in the

first 20 minutes of play. All you

: actually need is your mouse to

: click where you want your dog to
: go. The game feels very much like
: it could bea tablet or Android

: game, as touch screen controls

: would also be very suitable.

What I liked most about

: this game is its distinctive

: art style. Everything is very

: geometrically shaped, and the
: colours are bright. It is unique.

Overall, this game is not

: something I would recommend

: fora hard-core gamer unless they
: want something more relaxing.

: The game is probably more

: suited for children, who I could

: definitely see really enjoying

: this. Herding Dog may be

: entertaining enough if you want

: something simple and distracting
: fora short period of time.

  

Sceenshot from the game