The Third Window Films Collection

Of all the so-called 'boutique' labels that continue to licence and distribute film on optical media, none is more consistently interesting to me than UK-based Third Window Films. I don’t buy every title the company release, I’m not that kind of collector, I buy only the ones that I’m interested in, but that in itself is a significant portion of what TWF have on their roster. Because of that discerning approach you won’t find links to every TWF film below the cut, but you'll find all of what I presently own (and a few from past Nutshell authors).

Neg's Noteworthy Video Game Boxart Collection

I honestly find myself being disappointed with video game boxart a startling amount of the time. Sure, sometimes it’s outright awful; I'm looking at you, Mega Man. But, more often than not, I'm usually displeased with what is objectively decent, or genuinely beautiful art, simply because I somehow find it to be incongruent with what it's trying to represent, and sell a consumer on. Still, I have been able to identify 10 examples that I either appreciate in a purely aesthetic sense, or that have something else about them that I consider worthy of celebrating and elaborating on. Below the cut, you will find all of them, as well as links to my reviews of each associated game.

The Mega Man Collection

To me, the Mega Man and Mega Man X series are about skill. When it comes to most forms of media, including video games, I am all in for two things: Character and Story. However, the medium of games is unique in that it undeniably has to cater to the development of skill, even if I, and many others, value narrative most highly. It is bound and defined by it. As a kid, I rented these games consistently, reveling in the colorful and characterful Robot Masters and Mavericks. I treated them as a collection of sampler platters. Indeed, it was not until I returned to the franchise as an adult that I came to appreciate Wily and Sigma’s abodes, finding the utmost joy in doing complete runs. Mega Man himself may be little more than an avatar to me, but that’s fitting, as it is through him that I am able to express my prowess at besting his foes.

Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Mega Man 7
Mega Man Powered Up

Mega Man X
Mega Man X2
Mega Man X3
Maverick Hunter X

Below the cut, I will be providing my thoughts on the structure of both the Anniversary and Mega Man X Collections.