Happy fall season! While there may be no Halloween parties this year and cozy autumn travels, we still find a way to have fun and relax in this crazy season. In between the so-called a-phone-calypse, here’s what’s now playing in GadgetMatch:

Games to play

Marvel’s Avengers

We’re in the middle of our playthrough for the review and the campaign mode has been fantastic so far. Called the “Reassemble Campaign,” it follows Kamala Khan AKA Ms. Marvel as she tries to bring the Avengers back together after a catastrophic event five years ago. — Rodneil

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2

This is literally everything we loved about the cult classic game in the late 90s, early 2000s but in better detail and with a few new challenges to keep us playing. It’s a faithful remake that players will certainly enjoy. — Rodneil

Command and Conquer: Remastered Collection

Remember the RTS games, Command and Conquer and Red Alert? These popular games defined the genre especially with their compelling gameplay, fast-paced plot, and unforgettable cutscenes. Thankfully, EA has remastered the game in glorious 4K to appease fans who have been craving for another C&C game for years. It is definitely a game worth playing since the luminous leader Kane approves of the remaster himself. — Kenrick

NBA 2K21

It’s another NBA 2K game, this time with a different take to the whole experience. Yes, there are new shooting mechanics to master, a more prolonged take on MyCareer, and a MyTeam mode with progression rewards. But it’s still the same great basketball simulation game from before. I mean, you can simulate a pre-NBA bubble atmosphere in time for the playoffs. — Gab

Shows to binge-watch

Emily in Paris

Netflix’s new hit series — Emily in Paris — created an uproar in social media, portraying an American woman’s adventure in the city of love rocking her almost perfect life. Emily Cooper, played by Lily Collins, struggled as the only American in a Parisian office, got entangled in a web of romance and illicit affairs, and found herself in hilarious misadventures throughout the city. — MJ

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai

This is a rather unusual Slice of Life/Harem anime. It has shades of the supernatural like what we’ve seen from Makoto Shinkai’s work in Your Name and Weathering With you. Of course, it’s not as visually stunning, but the story/stories can be just as engaging. Best binged on a cold weekend with coffee/tea/hot chocolate in hand. — Rodneil

Hi-Score

Hi-Score is a Netflix documentary that quirkily tells the origins of the video gaming industry. This is absolutely a MUST-WATCH for anyone that’s ever been into video games. The writing, pacing, and visuals are all on point and it’s a really fun way to learn about the history of video games. — Rodneil

As someone who literally has the word “retro” in all his active gamer tags, Hi-Score is a gold mine. It features some of the classic video games that ultimately served as the foundation for gaming as we know it today. The short docu-series also tackles the highs and lows of the industry, its major players, and the technologies they were rocking at the time. Combined with clever visuals and fluid storytelling, you get to immerse yourself in the history of the video gaming industry. — Gab

Memories of Alhambra

Can’t believe I’m late to the party on this show. A tech company CEO receives a tip from an augmented reality (AR) game creator but he was given little information to go on. The series (I’m only two episodes deep), follows the CEO tracking down the creator by playing through the game. Oh, and the female lead is Park Shin-Hye. ‘Nuff said. — Rodneil

It’s Okay Not To Be Okay (사이코지만 괜찮아)

A star-studded cast, A-class cinematography, life-like visual effects — these factors are already given why K-dramas get the hype. Getting deeper, I love this series mainly because the plot talks about mental health and trying to “deal with it” as a whole. It may not be the same for all, but most of us live in our fears and traumatic experiences. I love how they named each episode based on Ko Mun Yeong’s books. ‘The Cheerful Dog’ is definitely one of my favorites. — Vincenz

Haikyu!!

Sports anime always make people feel things. Haikyu!! isn’t an exception, a volleyball anime based on the manga of the same name. With its fourth season’s second cour of 12 episodes premiering this October, it’s a good time to binge-watch the anime. Savor the feeling of triumph, defeat, discomfort, challenge, perseverance, pressure, and hope! — MJ

Movies to see

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

Like any other OVA, none of the events from this feature film will have any significant repercussions on the main storyline. However, it’s easily one of the best OVAs out there. Nearly every single member of Class-1A was given ample time to shine with Deku and Bakugo taking center stage in the final action sequence. This has literally all the quirks you love from My Hero Academia condensed in a satisfying movie. — Rodneil

The Social Dilemma

“If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product.” The Social Dilemma digs deep into the machinations of social networking and how, as some of us have known, it’s designed to keep us glued to our devices. It’s an insightful and well-presented documentation of how social media can affect our psychological disposition and a case study against how the current system in general just isn’t good for humanity. — Rodneil

The Promise

Late to the party with The Promise but I just recently saw this on Netflix and it left a strong impression on me. Set in the twilight years of the Ottoman Empire, the story focuses on a fictional love triangle between an Armenian medical student, a dancer from Paris of Armenian heritage, and an American journalist with the very real events that lead to the death of millions of Armenians as an extremely vivid backdrop. An event in history that’s often glossed over but deserves to be discussed. Starring Oscar Isaac, Christian Bale, and Charlotte Le Bon, you can expect great acting but do watch it for the history lesson too. — Carol

Bill & Ted Face the Music

A direct sequel to the cult duology of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Bill & Ted Face the Music brings the same quirky, lighthearted charm of the original with Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter. Pressured to write the song that will unite all of humanity, Bill and Ted attempt to steal the song from their future selves. What follows is the same hijinx we all know and love from the excellent duo. It’s the right amount of lightheartedness we all need in this dark corner of 2020. — Luigi

Nadie Sabe Que Estoy Aqúi (Nobody Knows I’m Here)

Follow the story of Memo, a singer turned recluse who met a girl that changes his life — for better or worse. This film is not your usual romance drama though. The whole story centers around Memo’s struggle between keeping his former identity hidden and expressing his desire to break free. It’s one of the better Spanish films on Netflix. The film brilliantly puts a twist in the old “follow your dreams” tale too. You may be taken aback by how the film ends, but rest assured that you’ll be hooked to Memo’s character once his talents truly shine. — Kenrick

Albums/Songs/Podcasts to listen to

The Album by BLACKPINK

Four long years after their official debut, the popular K-Pop group finally releases their first full-length album. The title track “Lovesick Girls” is a little different from the hard-hitting, beat-dropping tracks that catapulted them to global recognition. But it’s exactly the jolt the group and its dedicated fanbase — the BLINKS — needed after the long wait. — Rodneil

“Not Shy” by ITZY

This one’s a banger. ITZY has been taking the K-Pop world by storm ever since they debuted and their overall unique vibe just keeps growing. What I personally noticed is how some of their songs sound like they’re typically arranged for boy groups. The same is true with their choreography. Honorable mention to their B-side track “Surf” which has also been on my regular rotation recently. — Rodneil

“More & More (English Version)” by TWICE

TWICE’s global fanbase is growing exponentially and as a treat, the girls recorded an English Version of the song. Quite a feat considering none of them are native English speakers. The song sounds amazing, the translation isn’t awkward, and the girls’ performance on the pronunciation and vocals are top-notch. Yes, I’m whipped for TWICE. — Rodneil

“Solo” by Jay Park feat. Hoodie

Lately I’ve been spending nights mindlessly scrolling through TikTok and ran into this viral video of Jay Park. I looked up the song and was instantly hooked to its smooth vibe. It’s been on repeat over the past few days. — Rodneil

“HOLO” by Lee Hi

One of my anthems this quarantine. It’s a song that I usually play especially when I feel alone or just thinking about a particular person I’ve always been missing. This track reminds me that everything will be alright, and this “feeling” (if ever this is JUST one) will stop one day. Playing this together with her 2016 track ‘Breathe’ makes me cry even more. — Vincenz

“Where The Sea Sleeps” by Day6 (Even of Day)

Don’t let Day6’s Denimalz characters in the music video fool you. Unlike those cute visuals and storyline, the lyrics suggest otherwise. I’ll be honest, I bawled my eyes out more than enough while watching the music video all because of the translated lyrics. This has been one of my most repeated songs this 2020 — and I think you should, too. — Vincenz

“Bon Voyage” by YooA (of OH MY GIRL)

If you’re fond of animated Disney/Pixar films together with their OSTs (especially Moana), this one’s for you. YooA’s debut song truly feels magical, whimsical, and ethereal. All these adjectives combined aren’t even enough to say how perfect this song is. Her fairy-like visuals complement well with the MV’s nature-y setting. It even feels like I’m watching a Korean version of a Disney live-action film. — Vincenz

BONUS: Someone actually edited the song with Moana in it.

“We Ride” by Brave Girls

After two years of hiatus, Brave Girls is finally back with a single! Their comeback song is a completely new concept from their daring hits ‘Deepened’ and ‘Rollin’. ‘We Ride’ focuses on the “city pop” genre which is slowly gaining popularity among listeners. As the genre suggests, music video visuals give us a “Neon Tokyo” vibe while the track features ‘80’s synthpop. It may not be as loud and repetitive, but it’s honestly the perfect song for pure chill and night road trips (hoping this pandemic will end sooner tho for this to become a reality). — Vincenz

folklore

Taylor Swift’s recent album, “folklore”, surprised the world in different ways: a shift from lovey-dovey pop music to sentimental indie folk music, and the album being a secret project throughout Swift’s isolation during the lockdown. In essence, this new album harnesses the power of storytelling, music, and emotions — it even looks like the pinnacle of Swift’s journey as a talented artist and musician. This album is best enjoyed with a cup of coffee, especially on a rainy day. — MJ

Dynamite by BTS

Haven’t gone down the K-Pop rabbit hole (yet) but this song has the ability to stick to your head and just inject a big dose of positivity into your day. Which is – admittedly – something a lot of people need during these times. A true-blue pop song that doesn’t need to pretend to be anything else. — Carol

Books to read

Eat, Pray, Love

When I decided to read Elizabeth Gilbert’s 2006 memoir, it’s like the universe conspired to guide me in my own self-exploration — which happened to be the book’s central theme. It’s a story of enjoying the world as a human being, enriching your spiritual life, and finding harmony and balance to make the most out of your life. It’s a great read for anyone embarking on a journey of self-discovery and recovery of broken hearts and souls. — MJ