Author: Mr O'Brien

Back to School

Following the Christmas Holidays students across Scotland had been struck down by yet another Lockdown forcing student and teachers back into their homes and delaying schools once again. However, recently the schools opened, and student and teachers alike returned to their classes and here at St Aidan’s we sat down with a couple Sixth-year students to hear their thoughts and opinions on their return.

The first thing we questioned was the students’ opinions on returning and how they were feeling as they returned to normal classes, Daniel Burns said,

“It’s good to be back and see people but it’s weird to see so many people in the same space.”

And to most it would seem like a sudden shock seeing so many people gathered in the once space especially after spending so long at home with the only interaction with other people being through a computer screen. Another student, Robyn Cavinue, had stated,

“it’s scary, but obviously the teachers are doing whatever they can to make it not as scary.”

And it’s true, teachers have been trying their hardest to assist students through the process as they return and help them feel more comfortable. However, some students are a bit more excited to be back as one Mia Fallon claimed,

“It’s definitely a weird experience but it’s good to be back and life’s starting to feel more normal now.”

However, returning to school is only one step in returning to normality, as we also asked about any changes the students may have expected as they returned. Opinions varied as some students expected harsher rules as said by Mia.

“I expected it to be a lot more social distanced and stricter rules which has been followed.”

Ella McKendrick claimed,

“The school is a lot more tense; I think a lot more people are more anxious, and I think I expected it to be quite strict, but I think it was quite unexpected how much other people have changed as well.”

Lockdown and Covid have hit hard, and many people have been caught in the fallout finding ways to keep safe and it has changed everything, except for some students who had admitted they didn’t really expect many changes, Emily Duffy claimed, “I thought it would be more strict” while Daniel hoped “just that we’d be able to get rid of social distancing when in the school and would be able to sit with my friends.” Unfortunately, as much as we can hope it’ll be a long while until we can truly return to normal interaction with our friends.

Finally, we asked about the students thought on their upcoming exams, although official exams have been cancelled by the SQA and the Government schools are still required to hold assessments to test students’ skills so as to make a prediction on their final grade, which for these 6^th year students will be their final grade before they leave for the next chapter in their life.

“I’m quite nervous about them and I think everyone is, I think as well there’s been a lot of change about them, and there’s a lot of question surrounding them.” Said Ella.

Although exams have already begun for some it is still very difficult for many, for these sixth-year students it’ll only be their second time performing exams following their cancellation the previous year. Robyn explained,

“I think it’s more stressful now than it would’ve been in the first place.”

Overall, returning to school has been a difficult process with many students voicing their own opinions and worries as they try to return to normal while dealing with their exams which’ll decided their future and I can do is wish them luck and hope they can make it through.

JMAC 5: Favourite Video Games 

5: Life is Strange Series 

Developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix, Life is Strange and is prequel Before the Storm is an episodic graphic adventure with elements of drama, fantasy and dark mystery. 
The first game follows the story of Max Caulfield, a photography student living in the fictional town of Arcadia Bay, Oregon. After discovering she has the ability to rewind time Max decided to work alongside her Childhood friend Chloe Price to solve the mystery of a missing girl by the name of Rachael Amber a close friend of Chloe, in the process uncovering dark secrets within the town and a terrifying premonition.  

The prequel, Before the Storm follows a similar game style and focuses more on the story of Chloe and Rachael and the relationship between them with a lot more focus on themes of growing up, loss and emotions.
Life is Strange made its mark with its award winning story led by amazing and realistic characters and plot twists that made you think and its consequences mechanics. In the game the choices you make matter, these choices maybe as subtle as dialogue options or as much grander in making action that can have life or death consequences. But overall whatever you do and say will have an impact sooner or later. Although this type of mechanic is hardly original the original game puts a spin on it with its rewind feature that allows you to rewind time and correct mistakes or try out different alternatives until your happy, but even then you never know how it will affect you down the line. Although Before the Storm lacks this feature the game plays wonderfully with consequences making everything feel more grounded without the supernatural elements making the choices you make matter and resonate with you as the player more. Life is Strange is a simple but an amazing game with many replay opportunities allowing you to play through the game in various ways and try out different actions and decisions to learn and view the world in a number of ways and see how you as the player impact that world.  

4: Horizon Zero Dawn 

Designed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Horizon Zero Dawn is an award-winning action-adventure Roleplaying game with sci-fi and fantasy elements. 
In a post-apocalyptic future overrun by plant life and robotic creatures the humans left alive must live a new life as they try to survive the deadly machines. The player takes control of Aloy, an orphan disgraced by her tribe, will travel across the land exploring ruins of lost cities, braving harsh conditions and many challenges to take revenge on an enemy tribe that attacked her and the mystery of her own birth.  

Horizon Zero Dawn received many praise for its interesting and captivating story, world and characters with the star Aloy, perfectly and consistently fitting in with the narrative that the game shows us. Her personality stands out as the outcast different from others but filled with curiosity allowing us to understand her actions throughout the games, investigating ruined structures of bygone citys that other characters have forsaken. The world-building is immaculate as we can see the time has passed since the fall of humanity, the remains of cities overgrown with greenery and rust filled with debris and relics from the old world and technological temples that managed to survive seem alien compared to everything else. Gameplay is amazing with no one way to deal with any situation. Taking the discreet road and silently taking out human enemies one by one is rewarding or you can go loud and use your myriad of gadgets and equipment to storm enemy’s and take them out. Finally the true gem of gameplay is the mechanical creatures that are roaming the earth, with multiple types ranging from robotic deer to ginormous dinosaurs each one is terrifying and amazing in their own way with every beast baring it own capabilities forcing you as the player to come up with different strategies in order to deal with them. Once again Horizon Zero Dawn is an amazing game filled to brim with activists and exploring to do that will leave you playing for hours searching for everything.  

3: The Last of Us Series 

Developed by Naughty-dog and published by Sony, The Last of Us is 3rd-person action adventure game with elements of survival and horror set within a post-apocalyptic America.  

Following an outbreak of a mutant fungus that turns those infected into aggressive cannibalistic creatures known as Infected. Humanity is trying to survive with warring gangs and the controlling and paranoid government willing to shoot anyone on sight. The first game mainly follows Joel, a cold and stoic survivor who is tasked with smuggling a young girl named Ellie who may be the key to a vaccine. The game follows their growing relationship as they travel across country facing many obstacles and addressing themes such as loss and what people are willing to do to survive. The second game mainly focuses on Ellie and follows a similar plot travelling across country but instead focusing on a theme of revenge and the cycle that comes with it.  

Although simple, The Last of Us is an amazing series that has won many awards for its story, gameplay and characters. The players traverse through various areas from ghost towns, ruined citys, forests and sewers that all feel unique and terrifying in their own way as you use a variety of firearms and makeshift weapons to defend yourself against hostile humans willing to do anything and the cannibalistic creatures that lurk behind every corner. Certain situations can be approached multiple ways from sneaking through without getting caught to assaulting the enemies with everything you’ve got. Exploration is a huge part of the game as you search for resources to craft with as well as collectibles scattered through out the games.  

2: Red Dead Redemption Series 

Developed and published by Rockstar Games, Red Dead Redemption is a series of western themed action-adventure games with an emphasis on 3rd person shootings. 

Chronologically the first game in the series is Red Dead Redemption 2, following the story of Arthur Morgan, a member of a criminal gang led by Dutch Va Der Linde. Set in 1899 the gang must deal with the decline of the Wild West, living in a world that doesn’t want them any more while also dealing with the government, rival gangs and other adversaries as they commit crimes in an attempt to raise money so that they may leave the United States and start a new life. The game also follows John Marston a fellow member of the gang who goes on the become the protagonist of the original Red Dead Redemption game in which it is now 1911 and Marston who refuses to accept the American frontiers death continues to act as a hired gun until his wife and child are kidnapped and held ransom for his services forcing Marston to hunt down the members of his former gang.  

Considered one of the greatest and highest selling series of all time both of the Red Dead Redemption games have received many awards including Game of the Year from multiple gaming publications and considered by critics as the best games ever made. The games are presented through open world in which you can explore the American south and interact in a number of ways from shootouts, heists, hunting, and numerous side-quests and interactions that make the world feel alive. The open-world is beautiful with various different areas that all look amazing from the dusty areas down south to the snowy mountains up north the weather plays a fun role as certain weather conditions will negatively impact your character should you fail to plan accordingly, warmer clothing option negate the effects of cold weather and vice versa apply negative effects in warm weather meaning you should plan your outfits accordingly. Gunplay feels amazing with old western time weapons making you feel like a true cowboy with your characters iconic “dead eye” ability allowing you to slow down time, mark targets and then accurately hit them creating that illusion of you being a true gunslinger as you take down enemies. Additionally the game is sold by its morality as bounty systems where every action you make has an impact on the way the world and other characters will interact with you. Meanwhile committing crimes within certain areas of the map will label you as wanted within that area meaning police and bounty hunters will attack you on sight so as to claim the bounty on your head, otherwise you must pay it off yourself. The Red Dead Redemption games is an amazing series that truly deserves the the amount of attention and rewards that it has received and is definitely one that I would recommend.  

1: God of War Series 

Developed by Santa Monica Studios and produced by Sony, God of War is a series of action adventure games with elements of fantasy and mythology that have become a staple for the Play Station brand.  

The games follow the story of Kratos, a Spartan warrior tricked by the God Ares into killing his own family which triggers a chain of events as Kratos battles the pantheons seeking vengeance against the Gods for their many machinations. The Greek era of the games mainly focuses on Kratos following this path of vengeance slaying the Greek Gods one by one until finally none are left. Most recently the Norse era shows the aftermath, Kratos older and wiser now follows a path of redemption feeling guilt for all he has done while also introducing Atreus, Kratos’s son as a secondary protagonist as the latest game follows shortly after his mother’s death as he and his father travel across the Scandinavia in Midgard and other realms of Norse mythology to spread her ashes all the while dealing with Norse Gods and creatures who stand in their way.  

God of War is a fun and exciting series that has taken a couple of forms, earlier games followed a linear pathway with a fixed camera and played similar to a hack and slash style of games mowing through enemies by chaining together combos and different weapons you collect from the Gods you slay giving you a range of abilities and useful powers in order to progress through the game. The most recent 2018 instalment introduced a more open play style with an over-the-shoulder camera and open-world map with many areas to explore to attain new gear and improve your characters and grow stronger more like an RPG with many collectibles and side-quests to assist in the process. God of War is a fun story with interesting characters and dynamics that make the series stand out and is one that definitely deserves the attention.