September 1995 — TJ | This Month, That Year

★★★★☆

I was first introduced to Real Time Strategy with Dune 2 on PC / DOS, it was addictive, well thought out and had multiple strategies based on how you wanted to play. I, as I assume many others did too, assumed Dune was more of the same - how wrong was I.

So why bring up Dune when we're meant to be talking about Command & Conquer? Westwood developed the game and taking what they'd learnt from their attempts in Dune 2, created the almost perfect Real Time Strategy game.

Playing as either the Global Defense Initiative or Brotherhood of Nod, you undertake a world war in an alternate universe on earth, the aim of course, is to win. Each player is tasked with completing a series of battles, using troops, vehicles and support weapons developed through the expansion of their bases.

Like Dune 2, Westwood allowed players to choose how they wanted to play; you could be defensive and work on fortifying your base before creating a support weapon OR, you could go hard and fast with building troops and vehicles with the aim to swarm and overwhelm the enemy. With maps varying in size and complexity, you were forced to change the way you play the game - keeping the same plan each time wouldn't necessarily guarantee a win.

I would do my best to build the biggest army I could before swarming the enemies location, often obliterating everything in my way. This though, was my downfall and as the levels got harder, the more I struggled. The game would feel heavily weighted towards the computer when in reality, it needed me to switch up from attack to defense. As a forty something year old I now understand this, the then spotty teenager me would get pissed off.

One of the best parts of Command & Conquer was the leveling of each side. GDI or Nod were well balanced and where one army had strengths, the other would have benefits else where. Units and vehicles were fairly similar, keeping battles on the front interesting and reliant on strategy. Base building was where you saw the biggest difference with differing defense options based on who you play as - Ion cannon or Nuke, what would you choose?

I got to play it in it's original DOS format on my best friends computer, seeing the CD-ROM cutscenes in their highly compressed format stuck with me. Go forward a couple of years and it was also the first time I got to use a mouse on the Sony PlayStation (yes, it did exist). This game will remain one of my favorites and even though I don't consider it the best in the series (that accolade goes to Red Alert 2), it's still deserving of talking about.

by Down

★★★★☆

Just before the millennium, I started to discover my rock and metal roots. Moving from 50s and 60s artists such as Buddy Holly to the likes of Metallica, The Offspring, Slayer and Pantera was a giant but amazing step. Hanging out with the Metal Hammer and Kerrang crowd led to me finding genres I wouldn't have ever considered; It would take a few more years for me to understand that musical taste shouldn't be dictated by the people I hung around with but rather by the music itself.

Pantera, led by Phil Anselmo and featuring the heavy riffing of Dimebag Darrell would cause my cheap earphones to rattle uncontrollably. I was yet to hear Slipknot and had only really heard Slayers Raining Blood - Far Beyond Driven was probably the heaviest album I had heard.

But, like most bands, things change and Anselmo formed Down following the disbandment of Pantera. Their first album Nola was released in 1995 and featured 13 songs. It's my opinion that 'Stone the Crow' is the best song on this album, closely followed by 'Eyes of the South'. When I say close, I mean skin of your testicles tight.

Down aimed for the Hard Rock feeling of the 70s and 80s while maintaining a heavy undertone. It may now have been Pantera but god damn did it rock.

Stone the Crow had me hooked the first time I heard it, great riffs, excellent lyrics and something I went back to over and over again.

★★★★☆

September 1995 saw me going to 'big' school, I'd just enjoyed my last Summer Holiday as a primary aged child and it was going to be awesome. I still have vivid memories of asking Mum if I could see this and her answer of 'no, I think you'll get bored' being pretty final and incredibly disappointing.

It wasn't until I was with my wife that I finally sat down and watched this legendary film. I think it's fair to say that this incredible true life story was done justice through the power of Hollywood. The first time streaming it, I got lost in the on-screen magic - I felt like I was part of the story and was compelled to watch it through to the end.

If you aren't aware of the story, what have you been doing with your life? Apollo 13 was the third planned lunar landing however, just two days in to flight it became a fight for survival. The fact that NASA and the Astronauts managed to repair what they could and still get home is a miracle. The film truly captures the horror, panic and struggle experienced by not only the astronauts but the people in charge of their life on the ground.

Amazing filming featuring the NASA vomit comet, CGI and practical effects and an all-star cast makes this a film you need to watch.