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Articles by David Lasby
Musician Aaron Grubb Releases New Zelda Cover Album to Celebrate Ocarina of Time Remake
Nintendo released the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in early November, much to the delight of fans everywhere. The game has been viewed by many as the superior version of the game, with outstanding upgrades in graphics and quality of life improvements to gameplay. And of course, the game presents a whole new generation of Zelda fans a chance to play the 1998 classic that was the entry point for many die-hard fans.
We Can't Stop Thinking About These Spooky Video Game Locations
As our staff has been enjoying October and all the spooky seasonal fun, we’ve been debating the most memorable, frightening places in video games. We believe video games hold a unique position among the various mediums of art because they hold the power to not only scare, but to transport into the terrifying realm of experience. Below is our list of must-see locations in gaming.
Boss Rush Diaries: PAX West 2026, Day Three
Sundays are one of the busiest day for cons, but it comes with delightful cosplays and unforgettable memories. This was no exception for day two at PAX West with the Boss Rush Network crew. From mind-blowing demos and interviews to insightful panels, see what we’ve been up to today in Seattle! The Boss Rush Network team attendance at PAX West 2026: Corey (Founder and President), Ed (Vice President), David (Editor In Chief), Sofi (Associate Writer) and Andre (AV assistant).
PAX West 2026: Fake Leaks, Patches, and Game Dialogue: Daybreak Games Talks Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2
During day two of PAX West, Daybreak Games held a playthrough of Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 on the main stage of the convention show floor. The event, organized by Torbin (Senior Influencer Manager at Daybreak Games), featured the Prologue and subsequent two missions of the game during the two-hour play session.
Boss Rush Diaries: PAX West 2026, Day One
Today marked the first day of PAX West 2026 in Seattle, Washington. The weather was a traditional “Seattle grey” with light showers to start the morning. The theme this year is PAXLand, inspired by an amusement park adventure (similar to East 2026), and the show in Seattle was split between expo halls: Arch–where the indie games and AAA developers’ booths were set up, and Summit–where the tabletop games, merch, panel talks, arcades, and more are waiting for PAX West visitors.
Castlevania Belmont's Curse Lives Up to the Hype
During this year’s media hour at PAX West, I stopped by the Konami booth to try the twenty-minute demo of Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. As a big fan of the Castlevania franchise, and metroidvanias in general, I couldn’t wait to check out this latest iteration. Let me tell you: I was not disappointed. The demo drops players into a ravaged and blood-soaked section of medieval Paris (clearly an early area in the game), where players control Rose Belmont, daughter of the legendary Trevor Belmont.
Giger's Alien Is a Must-Have for Fans of the 1979 Film
Title: Giger’s Alien Authors: H.R. Giger Genre: Coffee table book / autobiographical Publisher: Titan Books Release Date: September 2026 (First published in the UK, 1979 by Big O Publishing) Price: US $50.00 / Canada $66.00 / UK £39.99 Originally published by Big O Publishing in the UK in 1979, Giger’s Alien is a production diary and autobiographical account of H.R. Giger’s experience designing the Xenomorph and set pieces for the 1979 horror classic Alien, directly by Sir Ridley Scott.
Boss Rush Banter: What New Content Are You Most Anticipating in Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2?
Now that Daybreak and Cold Iron Studios have announced the release date of August 25 for Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2, it’s time for fans to get excited. It’s been nearly five years since the first game released, and despite the limited content, the game has remained a favorite among fans of the Alien franchise.
Boss Rush Banter: We Need More Games Like Blue Prince
Recently, I was between games, having just finished Resident Evil 7: Biohazard and Resident Evil Village. I loved these games immensely, and have been working through a lot of the remakes and major releases that I’ve missed due to a busy schedule. I’ve been a lifelong gamer, but with the stress of adult life, I don’t get to play every major release right when it comes out; and with the price of games going up, I’ve had to be a bit more intentional about the games I purchase.
BOOK REVIEW: The Unheld Is Western Horror with Deeply Moving Characters and Writing
Title: The Unheld Authors: Luke Larkin Genre: Horror / Western Publisher: Hyperion Avenue (an Imprint of Disney Publishing Worldwide) Release Date: August 25, 2026 Price: Hardcover $27.99 (USD), Paperback–$18.99 Antonio Gramsci, while imprisoned by Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime, once wrote, “The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters.” While this is technically a popular paraphrasing of his original statement, the quote beautifully captures...
Boss Rush Banter: Xbox Game Pass Is Still the Best Deal in Gaming
I hate that Xbox raised prices on their Game Pass subscriptions, particularly the ridiculous percentage of price increase. I actually cancelled my membership altogether when the price increase was first announced. I still feel this way, but did recently renew my membership at a lower tier. The main reason for this is that I love playing games with my fourteen-year-old, youngest child. We both love gaming.
Boss Rush Banter: Mina the Hollower Proves Indie Studios Are the Lifeblood of the Gaming Industry
As layoff continue to plague large gaming studios, many worry about the future of the gaming industry. Mega-corporations like Microsoft buy up promising studios only to shutter them without warning. Too much control of the industry we all love lies in the hands of a powerful few stakeholders who prioritize maximum profits above all else.
Boss Rush Banter: Game Devs Got It Right with Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2
Back in July of 2024, a supposed leak of Aliens: Fireteam Elite 2 surfaced online, code-named “Project Macondo.” The sequel to the beloved PvE squad shooter appeared to be a hero shooter with specific characters with unique abilities, a drastic departure from the player-customizable Marines with endless variations. These new heroes had abilities such as “ninja strikes” and weapons like “throwing axes,” bizarre inclusions in the world of Alien.
Check Out the Latest Zelda Music Cover from Musician Aaron Grubb
Lifelong video game fan and talented musician Aaron Grubb has released another fantastic cover of music from The Legend of Zelda franchise. Grubb has created many, many covers for the series previously, including four albums dedicated to his Zelda covers. If you haven’t checked them out before, I highly recommend doing so. This latest release, playable below, is a spaghetti western version of “Requiem of Spirit” from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
BOOK REVIEW: Afterburn Is an Imaginative, Deeply Political Indie Novel
Title: Afterburn Authors: Michael Bodhi Green Publisher: Indie book / self-published Release Date: October 4, 2025 Price: Kindle / eBook–$1.99 (USD), Paperback–$10.99 As anyone of age is aware, life in the 2020s has been chaotic, conflicted, and downright messy, at least politically and economically speaking. Violence, culture wars, and pandemics have widened the tensions over science, religion, race, and politics.
BOOK REVIEW: Afterburn Is an Imaginative, Deeply Political Indie Novel
Title: Afterburn Authors: Michael Bodhi Green Publisher: Indie book / self-published Release Date: October 4, 2025 Price: Kindle / eBook–$1.99 (USD), Paperback–$10.99 As anyone of age is aware, life in the 2020s has been chaotic, conflicted, and downright messy, at least politically and economically speaking. Violence, culture wars, and pandemics have widened the tensions over science, religion, race, and politics.
Boss Rush Banter: What Are Your Long Shot Hopes for Alien Day 2026?
As you likely know if you’re reading this article, April 26 (or 4/26) is celebrated by fans everywhere as Alien Day, as the date corresponds to the designation of the planet on which the film Aliens takes place, LV-426. Game publishers, Marvel, Disney, and even fans release special artwork and make big announcements on the date, and it’s become a yearly event to contemplate all things Alien.
Boss Rush Banter: The Original Zelda Remains a Fun Reminder of How Video Games Used to Be
After finishing a run through a few Resident Evil games, I wanted a palate cleanser, something that I could pick up and put down as my busy adult life allowed. It seemed like the perfect time to dust off my Nintendo Switch Online membership and replay some of the classics. I try to play at least one Zelda game a year, and it had been nearly a decade since I’d replayed The Legend of Zelda (1986). Fantastic choice.
Boss Rush Banter: What Resident Evil Game Should People Play After Requiem?
Like so many, I recently finished Resident Evil Requiem and decided that I want to take a deep dive into the franchise. I asked a few of my friends which games I should play next and got a range of answers. Knowing that I’m a fan of the survival-horror elements, one friend suggested I check out Resident Evil Biohazard and Resident Evil Village.
Boss Rush Banter: We Need an Alien Game in the Style of Resident Evil Requiem
Like many fans of horror in the gaming community, I’ve been immersing myself in the world of Resident Evil Requiem. The game is a fantastic single-player experience, and a reminder of just how effective video games can be at good storytelling, when developers let go of the multiplayer, live service, everything-royale model, and just give people an experience they can sink their teeth into.
Nintendo Failed to Meet the Moment by Not Acknowledging Zelda's 40th Anniversary
February twenty-first marked the fortieth anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, an all-time great video game franchise and one of the titans of Nintendo’s intellectual property lineup. Many had hoped Nintendo would do something to mark the occasion, with more optimistic fans predicting game announcements, while other fans simply hoped Nintendo would celebrate the day with social media posts. Sadly, Nintendo did neither, only giving the franchise a passing nod on the Nintendo Today! application.
Phone Distraction Is Ruining the Arts--Are Video Games Immune?
Recently, I came across a post from writer Ewan Morrison (@MrEwanMorrison) on X, noting the increasing problem facing the arts today: phone distraction. The post references recent complaints from literature and film-study professors that students are unable to maintain attention during viewings and readings, with many unable to completely watch films or finish novels.
After Age of Imprisonment, I'm Once Again Hooked on Tears of the Kingdom
Towards the end of 2025, Zelda fans were treated to Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, a Warriors game that retold the history of the Imprisoning War; but unlike previous installments, Nintendo made clear this story was canon. I thoroughly enjoyed playing my way through the Imprisoning War from the early days of Rauru’s Hyrule. While I LOVED The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, I always felt that the lore and storytelling left something to be desired.
BOOK REVIEW: Hard-Boiled Crime Thriller Meets Sci-Fi Western in Alien: Cult, the Latest Expanded Universe Novel from Titan Books
Title: Alien: Cult Authors: Gavin G. Smith Publisher: Titan Books, 20th Century Studios Release Date: UK: 25 November 2025; US: 30 December 2025 Price: US/Canada $18.99; UK/Rest of World £9.99 Certain sections of the following review contain spoilers, some mild and others major. These sections are clearly marked above the section heading and contain directions about skipping ahead should you wish to avoid spoilers.
These Recent Games Have Me Feeling Like It's the 90s Again!
Recently, I completed a 100-percent run of Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, sinking a huge amount of time into the game. With the holidays approaching, I the timing hasn’t been right to dive deeply into another game with a big time commitment. Thankfully, two gems released that I’ve had on my wish list since they were announced: Marvel Cosmic Invasion and Terminator 2D No Fate.
Donkey Kong Bananza Wins Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2025
Thursday, December 11, marked the annual celebration of video games and gaming culture via The Game Awards. While there’s been much debate and intrigue over which title will win the coveted Game of the Year award, there’s been far less suspense about which game will win the award for Best Family Game. In news that will surprise absolutely no one, the summer smash hit for the Nintendo Switch 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, took home the prize.
Boss Rush Banter: Now that Predator: Badlands Is Out, What Should Be Next for the Franchise?
The theatrical release for Predator: Badlands has been a major success by almost any measure; as of mid-November, the film has earned $136.3 million, surpassing its production costs while earning high marks from fans and critics alike. Dan Trachtenberg has made it known that he has another idea for a Predator film, but has declined to reveal more information at this time. This got me thinking about what I’d like to see from the next Predator movie.
BOOK REVIEW: Solid Storytelling, Fun Throwbacks to Dark Horse Era Make Alien: Perfect Organisms a Worthy Read
Title: Alien: Perfect Organisms Authors: Shaun Hamill Publisher: Titan Books, 20th Century Studios Release Date: UK: 28 October 2025; US: 18 November 2025 Price: US/Canada $18.99; UK/Rest of World £9.99 Certain sections of the following review contain spoilers, some mild and others major. These sections are clearly marked above the section heading and contain directions about skipping ahead should you wish to avoid spoilers.
Rogue Incursion Evolved Edition on Insane Difficulty
Last year, Survios released Alien: Rogue Incursion on PSVR2 and Steam VR, with a delayed release on Meta Quest 3. The studio set out to develop an Alien game that gave players a true virtual reality experience and leveraged the company’s considerable VR expertise to deliver on that promise. For many die-hard Alien gamers, the game felt locked away behind VR consoles, leaving many gamers feeling a sense of missing out.
PAX West 2025: Indie Game Draco And The Seven Scales Is a Beautiful, Creative Throwback to the Game Boy Era
During the final day of PAX West, I had the chance to try the indie Zelda-like game Draco and the Seven Scales. The game is a retro-style throwback to the black and white Game Boy era, with classic chiptune music, and nostalgic sprites; but beneath the gorgeous aesthetics to this game are some modern gameplay mechanics that make this one a must-play for Zelda fans and for those who enjoy the action-adventure RPG’s of yesterday.
XBOX REVIEW: Console Version of Alien: Rogue Incursion Is a Masterful Achievement
Title: Alien: Rogue Incursion Part One Evolved Edition Developer: Survios Publisher: Survios Release Date: September 30, 2025 Platforms: Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5 | PS5 PRO, Xbox Series X|S Reviewed on: Xbox Series X Price: $29.99 (USD) for the Standard version, $39.99 for the Deluxe version Earlier this year, I reviewed the Meta Quest 3 version of Alien: Rogue Incursion Part One and wrote extensively about how that VR experience was a dream fulfilled for this lifelong Alien...
Boss Rush Diaries: PAX West 2025, Day Four
Your friends at Boss Rush Network continued with day four of PAX West 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The weather remained cool today, cloudy and in the 70s; but that didn’t stop the action from heating up on the convention floor. More amazing cosplays, pro-gaming competitions, merch, and much more. Here are our highlights for PAX West on Monday, September 1, 2025.
PAX West 2025: Unsent Is an Amusing, Light-Hearted Platformer from SlimeWare and Red Rabbit Games
Note: The following article was written by Boss Rush Network Podcastor and games expert Patrick Klein and edited by David Lasby. Unsent is a 3-D platformer created by SlimeWare and Red Rabbit games, which is scheduled to come out on Steam October 20. You play as Valentine, the newest delivery man in a 1970s-inspired post office and are tasked to work in the Unsentiment Department.
Daedalic Entertainment's Hidden Deep Is a Spooky, Addicting Dive into 80s Horror
During day two of PAX West, I had the chance to stop by the Daedalic Entertainment booth to play the Early Access version of Hidden Deep, a physics-based platformer that is heavily inspired by 1970s and 80s science-fiction / horror films. It’s dark, frightening, and loads of fun. And for those who grew up watching films like Aliens and The Thing, they’ll feel right at home in this hair-raising platformer.
Boss Rush Diaries: PAX West 2025, Day Three
Today, your friends at Boss Rush continued with day three of PAX West 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The weather remained cool today, cloudy and in the 70s; but that didn’t stop the action from heating up on the convention floor. More amazing cosplays, pro-gaming competitions, merch, and much more. Here are our highlights for PAX West on Sunday, August 31, 2025.
Boss Rush Diaries: PAX West 2025, Day Two
Today, your friends at Boss Rush continued with day two of PAX West 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The weather was cooler today, cloudy and in the 70s; but that didn’t stop the action from heating up on the convention floor. More amazing cosplays, pro-gaming competitions, merch, and much more. Here are our highlights for PAX West on Saturday, August 30, 2025.
PAX West 2025: House Fighters: Total Mess Is a Nintendo-Like, Toy-Story-Inspired Game with Loads of Charm
On the second day of PAX West, I stopped by the Polish Games Booth to play House Fighters: Total Mess from Revulo Games. The cartoon-style PvE aerial arcade shooter features classic airplanes flying in every day environments. The nine-person developer team has spent three years working on the game. One dev told me they took inspiration from Nintendo games in terms of their art and play style, and I can confirm this game feels like it should be on the Switch.
PAX West 2025: Mr. Sleepy Man Is Mario 64 Meets Untitled Goose Game
The following article was co-written by Ed Varnell and David Lasby. While taking a break in the media room, our Editor-In-Chief told me about a game I should definitely check out. A platforming N64-like game? Cartoony and expressive? Weird but satisfying? I must find it out! He wasn’t wrong, and when I got my hands on this game, I truly had some 1998 joy playing it. My eyes were awoken to a game called Mr. Sleepy Man, created by Devin Santi.
Boss Rush Diaries: PAX West 2025, Day One
Today, your friends at Boss Rush kicked off PAX West 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The weather was sunny and comortable at 83 degrees, truly the best time of year in the Emerald City. Metro and graffiti highlighted the PAX West theme (similar to East 2025), and the show in Seattle was split between expo halls: Arch–where the indie games and AAA developers’ booths were set up, and Summit–where the tabletop games, merch, panel talks, arcades and more are waiting for PAX West visitors.
Geek Therapeutics Releases New Book on the Psychology of Hit Kid's Show Bluey
We made our annual stop by the Geek Therapeutics booth at PAX West to talk with Dr. Anthony Bean about what’s new from his company. We were delighted to discover that the publisher has just released a brand new book in the Psychology of… series—The Psychology of Bluey. This is, of course, about the hit children’s TV show Bluey from Disney / ABC Kids, which follows the daily life of the lovable Blue Heeler family, exploring the challenging of childhood and parenting.
PAX West 2025: Pokémon Legends: Z-A Brings Fresh, Addicting Gameplay to the Franchise
During the media hour at PAX West 2025, we stopped by the massive Nintendo booth to play the soon-to-be-released Pokémon Legends: Z-A for the Nintendo Switch 2. The staff offered two demos totaling fifteen minutes of gameplay, with the first being a demo of the new real-time battle style and the second against a new enemy type. For those unfamiliar with the game, Nintendo describes the setting as follows: “Lumiose City—a home for people and Pokémon alike.
It has been the summer of Donkey Kong Banaza. If you’re a Nintendo fans, and you were able to track down a Switch 2, chances are you’ve put hundreds of hours into this Game of the Year contender, bashing your way through terrain and shouting “Oh, banana!” at your television with each discovery. If you’re nearing the endgame content, then you’ve likely secured all of the various Bananza transformations that DK learns from the elders.
Alien Earth's First Episode Sets Epic Scale, Deep Universe for Serious Storytelling
Boss Rush Network watched the premiere of FX’s Alien: Earth as part of the Advance Fandango Screening at the Seattle AMC Pacific Place 11 theater. The following review discusses general reactions and is Spoiler Free, except for the very basic premises of the show, which are already widely known. This Alien show isn’t for everyone—and I’m so damn happy about that.
Boss Rush Banter: Donkey Kong Bananza Has Made Me Love Nintendo IPs Again
I’ve been a lifelong Nintendo fan—I literally started my video game journey with Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda on the original Nintendo Entertainment System in the late 80s. So, I’ve always loved Nintendo’s intellectual properties. But like many gamers, my transition to adulthood has altered my relationship with some of these IPs; I don’t have endless time to play video games, at least not like I did as a child.
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BOSSRUSH.NET — BE YOU. BE MORE. PLAY GAMES. BE BETTER. GAME REVIEW: Wrenchboard through the Wreckage in Seafrog Seafrog is a refreshing and fun combination of Tony Hawk-style skateboarding and Metroidvania-style exploration. GAIN EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, EARLY ACCESS TO SHOWS, BECOME A PATREON PRODUCER, AND MORE! FOLLOW FOR FREE AND GET THE BOSS RUSH PODCAST EARLY! The Boss Rush Family of Podcasts are available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
BOOK REVIEW: Thrilling Twists and Iconic Action Make AVP: Rift War a Must-Read for Fans
Title: Aliens Vs. Predators: Rift War Authors: Weston Ochse & Yvonne Navarro Publisher: Titan Books, 20th Century Studios Release Date: September 6, 2022 (USA / CA) / August 16 2022 (UK) Price: US / CA $15.95 (USD), UK / World £8.99 Certain sections of the following review contain spoilers, some mild and others major. These sections are clearly marked above the section heading and contain directions about skipping ahead should you wish to avoid spoilers.
BOOK REVIEW: Thrilling Twists and Iconic Action Make AVP: Rift War a Must-Read for Fans
Title: Aliens Vs. Predators: Rift War Authors: Weston Ochse & Yvonne Navarro Publisher: Titan Books, 20th Century Studios Release Date: September 6, 2022 (USA / CA) / August 16 2022 (UK) Price: US / CA $15.95 (USD), UK / World £8.99 Certain sections of the following review contain spoilers, some mild and others major. These sections are clearly marked above the section heading and contain directions about skipping ahead should you wish to avoid spoilers.
Boss Rush Banter: Which Aliens Versus Predator (2010) Campaign Was Your Favorite?
In 2010, two of the most iconic sci-fi / horror brands clashed in a unique video game experience. Published by SEGA, Aliens Versus Predator (2010) brought the Xenomorph and Yautja to home consoles with three heart-pounding and creative single-player campaigns. Players could choose between the Alien, Predator, and Colonial Marine campaigns, in any order, and immerse themselves in a cohesive story told from different perspectives.
Boss Rush Banter: Will Switch 2 Become the New Ultimate Zelda Machine?
Among Zelda fans, the original Nintendo Switch became known as the ultimate Zelda machine, as it gave players access to 15 of the 21 mainline games, leaving out these titles: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, A Link Between Worlds, Tri Force Heroes, The Wind Waker, and Twilight Princess.
Mario Kart World's "Free Roam" Is the Best Kind of Tutorial
As with most Nintendo fans, I’ve been playing a lot of Mario Kart World on the newly released Switch 2. My passion for Mario Kart goes back to the SNES days, so when I started up the latest release, I jumped straight into Grand Prix mode, ready to hunt down those gold trophies. As I got more embedded in the game, I became obsessed with Knockout Tour, the newest gameplay mode which I wrote about here.
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