Q&A: November 12th, 2025

Kelvin Kuang Says
Long-arm questions incoming.

Bring it on!

Kelvin Kuang Asks
What's your thoughts on Volition's The Punisher video game? As a Payne "clone" minus bullet-time, it has an interesting spot; an gritty setting that's based off elements of the comics and the 2004 tie-in movie at the time; a persona that's essentially edgier Max Payne and Shadow The Hedgehog had a baby; has the involvement of Garth Ennis and Thomas Jane; was controversial due to the graphical violence similar to what got Manhunt on the spotlight; and was released a year before they went on to make Saint Row. I guess to quote from your video: "do these elements improve the gameplay?"

I took a quick gander at it for that video actually and it didn't really click for me. Something about the game I recall felt too slow or lacking in moment to moment intensity. Granted, I didn't play beyond the 2nd level, so my impression of the game is just that, not a very strong opinion.

I'll probably be giving it another shot one day, especially as I like Thomas Jane as The Punisher. He really lays on the voice in the game compared to the film but that's kind charming, and hey, Jane can do it.

Shit... he should've starred in the Max Payne movie.

Kelvin Kuang Asks
While listening through The Downward Spiral for the first time, I also went ahead and read through it's development and controversies it has attracted. That got me thinking: what attracts you to music albums that embraces it's uncomfortable subject matter either from the music's theme or behind the scenes dramas that was going on in production or even the media's preconceived notion itself?

I honestly couldn't tell you why.

I'm answering this question last because I've written, deleted, rewritten, and redeleted several paragraphers about my theories regarding the interest in uncomfortable subject matter that's ultimately kinda irrelevant to music. Music can tell stories of course but subject matter is often last on my attraction to them.

I had no idea "One Good Reason" by Celldweller on Need for Speed: Most Wanted was about suicide. It was an instrumental, I was 11, and I just thought the sound was cool. I can't describe why I think this is the single greatest electronic sound I've ever heard, I just do, and it seems that a lot of the music that has that sound is the ones that delve into darker subject matter.

Probably because if you put the lyrics for Pink's "Get This Party Started" it wouldn't fit at all.

Though I adore that song too.

Kelvin Kuang Asks
While I do agree with your talking point about the needless reason for an Halo trilogy remake, you also mentioned in the past about what your expectation about the Max Payne "remakes" that could prove to be compelling. Is there a line to be drawn on needing a remake for various of reasons (even if you aren't in the camp)?

It's been said the purpose of Art is to have no purpose other than itself. Whether that's true or not, I object when I hear people say we shouldn't bother with ____ because they don't "need" to exist.

Art doesn't "need" to exist.

It's not water, food, or shelter.

I'd be extremely sad if every single version of Max Payne or Halo evaporated from the Earth but my life wouldn't be in any higher level of peril. My apathy to Campaign Evolved then isn't to do with need but opportunity. I can immediately imagine several ways a Max Payne Remake could be a compelling. But knowing the current bind that Halo's in, and from what I've seen of Campaign Evolved, I don't see any opportunity for Halo being realized. It's the safest possible idea MS could pitch after three fumbles over the span of 10+ years.

It screams "please like me" which isn't attractive on a person let alone a product.

DOOM '16 helped usher in a new line of Boomer Shooter fans and gave birth to a particular sound of Metal that's even found it's composer - Mick Gordon - being featured on and producing Metal albums. Resident Evil 2 Remake founded an entirely new gameplay loop for the franchise that managed to walk the tightrope of RE4's influence without abolishing the original game's tension and resource management.

Campaign Evolved is Halo with... uh... shiny textures and sprint?

...my enthusiasm is infectious.

It's not impossible for me to be won over, I doubted DOOM '16 and that game became one of my favorites. I'm just not expecting a bold vision from the Studio who's boldest vision was Halo 4 and has been walking back from that apologizing ever since.

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