I'm a little late on this one, but what the hell. Here we go with some more revealing questions in this series of Doctor Who, Otaku, and Video Game challenges. Of course, it should be noted that one of these questions will be made entirely redundant by my answer. Let's make this a game - which one is it? Which answer was unsatisfactory? Wait until all three are done, and then we'll see if you win.
Doctor Who Challenge, Day 3
Your favourite new series episode.
New series episodes are a little tricky to pick. Unlike the old Doctor Who stories, which were told over the span of five or six episodes (sometimes more than twelve - sometimes a whole season!), each episode is more-or-less self-contained, 45 minutes worth of story. Of course, each season so far has had a deus ex machina-ish build up and resolve towards the finale, so when you ask "what's your favourite story?," and I say, "oh, the Bad Wolf sub-plot," I just inadvertently picked thirteen episodes in one. So. Favourite overall episode? Not story? ...I'd have to say... hnnnggg... uhhhh Blink. Yes, it's basically everyone's answer to that question, but goddamn it, this is Moffat's crowning glory - a tale without the Doctor, that lasts only 45 minutes, and yet feels bigger and weightier than any Russell Davies finale ever has.
Of course the zenith is the climax, with the Doctor on the DVDs having his "conversation" with the protagonist, and the painfully horrifying assault by the Stone Angels on the TARDIS, but just everything about this story gels so well together. It's the first story to really benefit from Who's new "real world" feeling. It's probably the best supporting cast in any Who episode, ever. And - and here's the real clincher - it really cemented the fact that you don't need the Doctor to write a Doctor Who story. Okay, guys? Doctor Who as a show is all about being able to do anything you want, whether that be going to impossible planets or fucking about with the logic of space-time. Why did it take you this long to realize that a Doctor Who episodes without the Doctor in it didn't have to be miserable, piss-swilling abominations? Yes, I'm looking at you, Love and Monsters.
Otaku Challenge, Day 3
Your next cosplan.
Aurgh. I'm sorry, but... I don't cosplay. If I was going to go to a convention and cosplay, it would be a gaming cosplay and I'd probably go as a Team Fortress character, or something. I just can't picture any anime or manga character I'd be suited to go as. Maybe... Jet from Cowboy Bebop? One of those naval uniforms from Full Metal Panic!? A neko conneko? Euuurghh I don't know! I'm sorry to disappoint (or enthrall) you, but yeah, I just don't cosplay. I guess I'm not really an weeaboo at all and I have to disembowel myself with the sharp corners of my keyboard in order to preserve my honour.
Video Game Challenge, Day 3
A game that is underrated.
A game that (I feel) is underrated? There are a few. A lot of Tim Schafer games, in particularPsychonauts and Brutal Legend, haven't had much of looks-in (in Brutal Legend's case, being passed off as a bad game entirely, and it's not, I assure you - it's definitely quite entertaining), and hell, even the original Portal hasn't raised above cult status (though some would call that a good thing). In the end, I'd probably have to say VVVVVV. This game blew away all my expectations, and I was disappointed to see that it didn't get mentioned in any website's end-of-2010 wrap-ups. It's a lot like Portal, in both its ideologies and its structure. It's also painfully adorable, and nostalgic...! Yeah, I'd say VVVVVV. It was critically acclaimed, but as seen in the examples of Psychonauts, Beyond Good and Evil, and Penumbra, this assures nothing - VVVVVV is an underrated, often completely ignored indie gaming masterpiece and really needs more people to give it a play. That includes you. Go. Go play it now.
...so, did you guess which response was redundant? That's right! You win! Your prize is getting to tune in next time to find out my favourite Doctor, the most expensive otaku item I've ever bought, and my guilty gaming pleasure!
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