I just finished up writing my review of Metroid Prime 3 for Paste. I really look forward to those months that I'm doing Paste reviews; describing why a game's compelling -- to non-gamers, really -- in only 200 words is the kinda challenge that can't help but make one a better writer, especially as I've been working with Chris Dahlen (Pitchfork et al) as the section's games editor thus far. He pulls out this "Complicated Games" column every month that is by itself a reason to subscribe to Paste, if you're like me and only understand about a third of the music being discussed in the rest of the magazine. By the by, my latest review of Persona 3 is currently online -- they don't put all the articles online, but some of Chris' columns are there too.Anyway, I struggled a bit with the Metroid review, because I've been writing about games for gamers more hours a day than I've been sleeping, and found it difficult to look at Metroid from the perspective of someone who's never even heard of it before. What I keep thinking of, as I'm playing, is the love affair some of us have had in some shape or form with Samus since we were literally children. So the first draft of the review I turned out produced the single cleverest and sharpest criticism any of my work has ever received, and I'm summarizing/paraphrasing: "Great for EGM, but too Maxim for Paste." Ouch, dude! Seriously, though, I loved that -- this is what I mean about growing as a writer in 200 words a month. Point is, Chris' suggestion was that my initial approach to the review was perfect fodder for an Aberrant Gamer column, but not quite right for what we were after for Paste's games section.
So I took his advice; this week's Aberrant Gamer is about one lady against the hordes, and how it is we've fallen in love with a gal who gives up so little -- even moreso than we're in love with much showier, more overtly sexual game femmes. The other lesson for the day is if you want to write about games -- or about anything else, for that matter -- find a really good mentor, someone who can write like whoa and who won't accept less than your best.
[Pic of Samus, literally the best Samus art I've ever seen, is by Transfuse, aka Ivan Flores, whose entire gallery is worth looking at. Here is the full version of the header image, which needs to be seen in actual size; this is another incredible drawing of Samus, and this black and white of my personal favorite subject matter is a can't-miss.]
