EthanJMossAlwaysLearning

Just the random ravings of an English MA student

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How to prepare for Ghost of Tsushima

How to prepare for Ghost of Tsushima

Sucker Punch’s highly anticipated Ghost of Tsushima is fast approaching its long-awaited release date, promising gamers as of this Friday the samurai fantasy they have always longed to experience. During this brief final day of waiting, how can gamers begin to prepare themselves for the most immersive experience with Jin and the island of Tsushima?

  Research the History

For those who have turned…

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Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Extending a hand to old fans

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Extending a hand to old fans

Ubisoft recently unveiled various new exciting games and features to upcoming titles already in the spotlight at their most recent Ubisoft Forward event on Sunday. For Assassin’s Creedfans, this event had a lot to uphold, as prior to the livestream a series of leaks over the preceding week exposed the gameplay that had previously been scarcely displayed. The leaks were less than flattering,…

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AN ARTIFICE OF WORDS

AN ARTIFICE OF WORDS

An expression of your admiration Delivered in the manner of a monologue Suggests nothing but a passionless citation Of a conceited speech with no dialogue.

Displays of your supposed affinity For those you demand pay attention To your desperate and hollow acts of divinity, Are futile attempts at your unearned ascension.

You borrow the words of the greats that came before Yet you fail to comprehend…

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They Deserve Better

The greatest disservice a progressive creation can do Is to demand respect for its name alone, When once the movements that gave power to me and you Did so on their merits, not spoken but shown.

  Ethan J Moss (14/12/2018)

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Doctor Who: S11.E1 - The Woman Who Fell To Earth (Review)

Doctor Who: S11.E1 – The Woman Who Fell To Earth (Review)

07th October, 2018, the first episode of season 11 of Doctor Who aired, and what a crucial episode it was, as the show has undergone a series of pivotal changes since the conclusion to Peter Capaldi’s run as the 12th Doctor. Jodie Whittaker has now taken up the mantle of the title character, being the first female Doctor in the series. Chris Chibnall has risen up as the new show runner, and…

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Black Lightning – S2.E1– Rise of the Green Light Babies

Black Lightning – S2.E1– Rise of the Green Light Babies

What impresses me about this show is how I was thoroughly entertained, and yet it was not until the very end of the episode that I realised Jefferson never once fired a single bolt of lightning this episode. It was mostly character development, emotions and mature conversations. Other CW shows would fall apart without their superhero shenanigans, the drama is uncompelling, the dialogue often…

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Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: An Over-demanding Odyssey

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: An Over-demanding Odyssey

Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, released October 5th, is a game sailing against a storm of uncertainty and backlash amongst the series’ fanbase. I covered this in a previous video, but the game’s drastic diversion from the formula of the previous Assassin’s Creed games resulted in a mixed response from gamers, with the changes drawing in a lot of new gamers as well as those that had…

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Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: Expectations vs Quality

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey: Expectations vs Quality

I have been trying to formulate this argument in my head for a while now. Since the first reveal of Ubisoft’s upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey back at 2018’s E3, there has been an extremely mixed response to the game’s concept. The game, despite sharing the core mechanics of the series’ previous main entry, Assassin’s Creed Origins, it is plain to see that the atmosphere of the game…

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Spider-Man PS4: Caught In a Web

Spider-Man PS4: Caught In a Web

The life of a superhero, I imagine, would be a tedious, stressful, busy, and somewhat repetitive occupation, despite the flashy lifestyle. Even so, the rewarding feeling of the work done would make all of the challenges worth it in the end. Peter Parker’s lifestyle is a clear indication of this, being constantly fraught with balancing the tedium yet stress-free requirements of a normal life, as…

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Horizon Zero Dawn: Learning to Accept a Disconnect

Horizon Zero Dawn: Learning to Accept a Disconnect

Horizon Zero Dawn is a ps4 exclusive title released by Guerrilla Games 28 February 2017. The game was met with immense praise, averaging a 9/10 in regards to most reviews, praising it in almost every regard. As such, when I finally got around to playing the game recently, it is fair to say my expectations were high.

However, first, allow me to provide some context into my experience acquiring the…

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Damaging Dreams

Dreams that trace happier times are cruel, Deluding you into opening your heart once more, Delirious with phantom love and a painful renewal Distressing a wound forgotten in your core.

Disappointed by the reality you’ve been dealt, Destroyed again without a single touch, Demonstrating how it was you truly felt, Demolished and never rebuilt, ignorance was your crutch.

Downtrodden by that…

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A Passion for Shakespearean Fashion

A Passion for Shakespearean Fashion

I wish I could pull off a collar so round and frilly, As those dashing neck braces worn by old Willy. Never since has neck fashion been quite so top tier, As those glorious moon disk collars, adorned by Shakespeare.

And that rogue’s hipster beard, you love it and you know it, That dashing facial hair befitting an actor, playwright and poet. He steps on stage, the groomed stubble bewitching us…

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Inconsequential Character Flaws: Assassin’s Creed Origins and the problem with Aya

Inconsequential Character Flaws: Assassin’s Creed Origins and the problem with Aya

(Spoilers for Assassin’s Creed Origins)

In light of acquiring the Curse of the Pharaohs DLC for the first time recently, I decided to replay through the story of Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Origins, something I have already done three times since its release in October of 2017. As this might suggest, I clearly enjoy the experience of Origins’ story, and the game as a whole I would likely rank…

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Lost in Translation (Prose Poem)

Lost in Translation (Prose Poem)

The east provides few remembrances of home. Senses succumb to foreign sensations; all voices convey secrets; all sights and smells raise queries in the mind.  Culture conceived by eastern conventions; tales from my homeland were unheard. So to hear Arthurian legends, spoken with such elevated curiosity, the west reclaimed my mind.  Inquiring into English yore, my Asian companion, drawn to a…

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Eclipsed

I stood at the gate of a rich city where golden spires sprout towards the sky like delightful daffodils craving the sun. The aureate walls encircle the city like a gem, a vow to defend and treasure like a wedding band. Nestled upon a silver lake, reflective like glass, submerging a replication beneath the sapphire waters; El Dorado above, Atlantis below, encompassed by emerald fields glistening…

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Zazen

Beginning the trance, night stows beneath my sealed eyes without the moon’s light.

Inhaling the plumes of golden amber resin, smelling of honey.

The dry taste of bread, the herbal fragrance of tea – a humble breakfast.

The music of rain composed by the clouds of spring keeps the gong singing.

Droplets like arrows ricochet off jade roof tiles, like the dragon’s scales.

New birds sing their tune – th…

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Among Seasons and Stars

Among Seasons and Stars

I met the Azure Dragon in the east, Slithering through Spring’s sleeping shoots, Revitalising flora like an icy blue stream, Tending the bearers of this year’s fruits.

I met the Vermillion Bird in the south, Nobly perched beneath the summer skies, It’s five elegant plumes all ablaze, With roaring suns shining through its eyes.

I met the White Tiger in the west, Autumn’s majestic and virtuous beast,

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