Video Game "Fire Emblem: Three Houses" Proves Knowledge is Power
Official art for Fire Emblem: Three Houses. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)
By Nelson Fernandez
Originally released for the Nintendo Switch game console on July 26, 2019, Fire Emblem: Three Houses offers players the role of the protagonist, allowing them to teach characters how to fight on the battlefield through social and strategic aspects, and improve their critical thinking and leadership skills.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses was developed by Intelligent Systems and Koei Tecmo, who worked on making it a unique gaming experience.
The three houses, called, Black Eagles, Blue Lions, and Golden Deer, represent kingdoms in which the different characters become students who rely on players to gain specific knowledge. For example, Edelgard, a female leader of the Black Eagles, wishes to learn how to be a good leader and fight with an axe; the player must teach her how it’s done.
As professors, players can make each of their character-students stronger by building their motivation. When not on the battlefield, gamers can explore the school and focus on making characters bond, eat together or exchange gifts and lost items found around the academy. The premise of the game almost reflects school life.
An example of the game’s battles. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)
During a battle, players solve a puzzle by deciding where to move their army of soldiers in training. When a student fights and defeats an enemy, they gain experience through level-up points that increase the characters' stamina and skills. In real life, students learn and grow the more they study, and the same is true of the students in the game.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses also helps with reflexes and reaction time. During the battle, it is suggested to watch carefully where the enemy team moves, as well as their actions. This is so that when it is a player’s turn again, he/she will know what to do to counter them.Fire Emblem: Three Houses includes a myriad of dialogue scenes with full-voice acting.
Student stats and relationships increase after bonding or gift-giving. (Photo Credit: Intellifence Systems)
The story builds slowly keeping players entertained through well-written lines and diverse characters. After a duration of time, the game tracks separate stories depending on which house the player chose at the start, guaranteeing plenty of replay value.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses was the highest-rated video game of the summer, rated 9.5/10 by ING and reviewed as a 4.5 star game by over 1,000 customers as seen on Best Buy and Game Stop's websites.
One Lehman student who plays the game also gave it high praise.
“I enjoy strategic role-playing games during my free time,” said Anthony Vasquez, a 23-year-old films and television senior at Lehman. “This game helped me look at problems from different angles and tackle them based on what is the best solution.”
Fans Mourn the Loss of Disney Star
Cameron Boyce (Photo Credit: Wikipedia)
By Mayte Peña
Well-known for his rolesas Luke in the Disney Channel show “Jessie,”andCarlos from the “Descendants”franchise,20-year-old American actor, Cameron Mica Boyce, died in his sleep on July 6, 2019, leaving millions of fans heartbroken.
A Boyce family spokesperson told ABC News thatthe actorpassed away due to an epileptic seizure, an ongoing medical condition that the young starsuffered from since childhood, despite years of treatment.
Lehman students were among his fans in mourning. Lehman student,Natalia Palacios, a 21-year-old senior dance major, said that she didn’t know that Boyce had suffered from epilepsy. “I feel like he really hid it so well even from his friends.”
At age 9, Boyce made his acting debut in the 2008 horror film “Mirrors.” In 2010 he appeared in the blockbuster comedy “Grown Ups” as one of the sons and joined the Disney family as Luke Ross on “Jessie,”which ran for four seasons. His fame grew in 2015 when he became part of the “Descendants” world, a Disney trilogydirected by Kenny Ortega,which follows the children of the Disney villains. Boyce played Carlos de Ville, son of the “101 Dalmatians” villain, Cruella de Vil.
On a Disney Channel marathon of the “Descendants”movies, the final movie had 8.43 million viewers according to Hollywood Reporterand featured a tribute to Boyce. The Boyce family created the Cameron Boyce Foundation in his honor. Its mission repeats a phrase Boyce used when receiving an award. He hoped to keep at-risk teens and adults off the streetsandto provide “young people artistic and creative outlets as alternatives to violence and negativity.”
Lehman sophomore and psychology major Jade Pratt, 19, said, “Cameron was so talented, and it saddens me that we can’t see how he would have blossomed.”
"Past Perfect Life" Shows Teen Finding Her Truth
“Past Perfect Life” by Elizabeth Eulberg (Photo credit: Mayte Peña).
By Mayte Peña
Inspired by a true story, author Elizabeth Eulberg’s new novel “Past Perfect Life” tells the story of a teenage girl named Alisson Smith who lives a good life with her dad and friends in Valley Falls, Wisconsin until she discovers her father actually kidnapped her when she was 3.
Released on July 9, 2019, the novel examines the strong, heartfelt father-daughter bond that exists between Ally and her father, as well as her attempts to find herself again after all the lies.
In all of her ten-adult books, Eulberg depicts strong female characters who do not worry about boys, but rather focus on real problems like identity, self-love and solidarity between girls helping each other and not competing against one another. Readers can connect with the characters and themes of parenthood, friendship, and the meaning of family.
Ally is supported in her journey towards her family’s truth by Neil, a close friend who is interested in her, and Ally’s mother, a selfish and unsympathetic woman when she’s first introduced. As she goes through the challenges of moving in with her mother and adjusting to her new life, her best friend Marian is always ready to help however she can. While Ally’s relationship with her biological sister, Sarah, is strained at first, the blossoming relationship between the sisters who never had the chance to meet in the past is fresh and satisfying. Ultimately Ally adjusts to her new life, and her aspirations motivate her to continue going after what she wants.
"Toy Story 4" Hits Close to Home
Official Poster for “Toy Story 4.” (Photo Credit: Disney/Pixar)
By Keisha Paul
Pixar released the latest installment of the “Toy Story” series on June 11,2019. Based on a screenplay by Andrew Stanton, the film acts as a continuation of “Toy Story 3.”It was directed by Josh Cooley, known for movies, such as “Up,” “The Incredibles,” and “Inside Out.” Cooley told Los Angeles Times in an interview that a fifth “Toy Story”movie has not been discussed yet.
The movie serves as a heartwarming reminder that support from strangers or friends can make anyone feel more comfortable in unpleasant situations. It picks up where “Toy Story 3” left off, when Andy, now 17 and moving away for college, decides to give his toys away to a new character named Bonnie. As “Toy Story 4” begins, it becomes clear that 5-year-old Bonnie plays with most of her toys and not Woody, who waits for Bonnie to play with him again, while other neglected toys comfort him.
This sets the stage for the movie’s recurring theme of self-reflection, acceptance and inner growth. Forced to realize that he’s no longer the favorite toy, Woody makes it his new purpose to make Bonnie happy by convincing her new toy to stay with them. As the plot unfolds, Woody becomes a guide and helper to Bonnie and other toys new and old.
Other scenes show characters like Little Bo Peep, Buzz Lightyear and a new character, Gabby Gabby, undergoing their own self-discovery and helping each other along the way. Little Bo Peep was given away to an antique shop in previous episodes, and had to learn how to live away fromWoody, who she now runs into after escaping the shop. Despite enjoying her new life as a lost toy, seeing Woody again brought up sad memories about their separation. However, she refuses Woody’s proposal of living together again and continues to travel the city on her own.
Meanwhile, Buzz Lightyear(who unlike Little Bo Peep, stayedwith Woody), didn’t understand what having an inner voice entailed. In challenging situations, he would press his talk button and follow what it said as if it was his own voice. By doing that, he discovered his real inner voiceand trusted it as a guide to making good decisions.
Gabby Gabby, on the other hand, dreams of taking Woody’s voice box and using it to finally be adopted. Thrown away by the shop keeper’s daughter, she is heartbroken, but ultimately finds a loving home with a girl who lost her parents.
Anyone who has ever felt lost or lonely can relate to the struggles that these toys face.