Hivemind Times Issue #76

Welcome To The Hivemind Times!

What’s up freaks, it’s Graydon here to tell you all that it's going to be a wonderful weekend. 

Hope you all enjoyed the new random things bracket that landed this week. On the eve of Valentines day I hope everyone tells someone they love them, and if you don’t have anyone to say it to at least you have this newsletter. 

This week's issue is packed full of some goodies so enjoy and as always follow your heart and never trust the English.

- Graydon

VIDEO GAMES

What’s up fuckers. This is Andy. I used to be roommates with Graydon and Riley back when I lived in Detroit and they fucking hated me. Somehow I convinced them to write video game reviews on here, so here we go. 

I came across Cyberpunk 2077 while recovering from my “last straw”, a vicious 4-day bender in Miami. I had deliberately cleared my schedule for several weeks following, and it was a perfect time for a long, engrossing, solo playthrough.

The first thing I noticed was how goddamn good this game looked. It’s probably the most aesthetically satisfying thing I’ve ever seen. It’s a beautiful mess of retro-futuristic sci fi, with elements of 80s Japan, 90s UK rave culture, early 00’s Los Angeles, and even some Mad Max.

Gameplay wise, it’s basically a mashup of the best aspects of the shooter RPG games I grew up playing (Fallout, Borderlands, GTA etc.). I had no friends as a kid. Like literally not a single one!! No one talked to me at school.

Apparently this game was completely broken on launch and there were a million bugs, rendering it virtually unplayable. Looks like they almost over-corrected over the past 2 years, as it’s one of the smoothest playthroughs I’ve ever experienced.

Graydon says he played it right when it came out and banged out the whole campaign under a barrage of glitches. I will never know such pain, but the plot is so compelling that I probably would’ve powered through the constant bugs just like he did.

It’s a great balance of RPG choose-your-own adventure and straightforward fun. I never felt like I fucked anything up by picking the wrong dialogue or siding with the wrong faction, but I did feel like I had some form of agency and control over my destiny (must be nice!!).

Also, Keanu Reeves is in it which was generally a plus. I’ve never seen a game take some famous actor and inject them into a game like that, but I don’t play enough video games to know if that’s unique to Cyberpunk or not.

There really isn’t much I can trash about the game. The combat is smooth, the world is immersive without making you read 50 pages of lore, the collectibles and weapons are usually unique and exciting. What’s there not to love? If you want to escape your reality to a slightly more colorful and exciting version of the same corporate-run hellscape, this game is for you. Just play it, you’ll have fun.

Also, don't do that pink powder. This isn’t 21 Jump Street. That is not a real drug.

- Andy

THE BEST VALENTINE’S DAY TRADITION

ALBUM RECS

Pressure Drop by Robert Palmer

A real hoot here of whacky disco stuff and New Orleans funk. Idk i feel like there is something in here for ya.

- Graydon

POEM OF THE WEEK

Langston Hughes (1902-1967)
<3

Juke Box Love Song

I could take the Harlem night

and wrap around you,

Take the neon lights and make a crown,

Take the Lenox Avenue busses,

Taxis, subways,

And for your love song tone their rumble down.

Take Harlem's heartbeat,

Make a drumbeat,

Put it on a record, let it whirl,

And while we listen to it play,

Dance with you till day--

Dance with you, my sweet brown Harlem girl.

MERCH