(Image courtesy of SteamDB. “‘Back to the Dawn’ provides players with two distinct characters, allowing them to experience two different storylines in the same gritty setting.”) Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor When “Zootopia” meets high stakes political corruption, prison life and capitalism, out comes “Back to the Dawn,” which shines as a unique take on the…
Our performance in a dark world
(Photo courtesy of Gaijinpotblog.com) A cherry blossom tree in Japan. “…life is beautiful yet very short.” Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor Society demands that everyone performs their role in life on a daily basis. I perform my role as a student, submitting assignments (usually) on time, interacting with my peers, and learning from my professors. I…
Celeste Rivas was failed by everyone
(Photo courtesy of Shinemycrown.com) Celeste Rivas before she went missing Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor Trigger warning: This article contains graphic information regarding sexual violence. After enough scrolls on Twitter/X, you’re really left wondering: is there empathy left in this world? This thought came to me when I discovered the case of the musician D4vd, and…
Student reactions following active threat on South Campus
Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor On the first day of class, Sept. 3, 2025, at approximately 2:30 p.m., UMass Lowell Police received reports of a male walking behind Riverview Suites residence hall on South Campus brandishing a rifle. Police also became aware of a video shared on social media that quickly went viral that depicted the…
The importance of soundtracks in film and more
(Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. “Shigeru Miyamoto thanks the Nintendo Orchestra for their performance at E3 2011.”) Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor When the discussion of music comes up, rarely does film, TV, and video game music become the first talking point. Despite that, the songs that fill the background of beloved movies and games can…
“Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition” defies limitations
(Image courtesy of Nintendo. “Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition fully realizes itself on the Switch’s superior hardware.”) Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor Massive open-world games are somewhat of a regularity in modern video games, with what feels like dozens being released each year with bigger ideas and worlds. Nearly 10 years ago today, “Xenoblade Chronicles X,”…
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a resurrected masterpiece
(Image courtesy of Nintendo.) “Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition revisits a beloved cult classic” Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor Many people may only know of the Xenoblade series after Shulk made his first appearance in “Super Smash Brothers Wii U” and the subsequent success of “Xenoblade Chronicles 1,2, and 3.” There is, however, a game with…
“Marvel Rivals” shows flaws and promise
(Image courtesy of SteamDB.) “Marvel Rivals is a 6v6 ‘hero shooter’ featuring iconic Marvel characters.” Jesse Nguyen Connector Editor With 444,286 Steam players on its first day of release, “Marvel Rivals” is a third-person hero shooter video game developed and published by NetEase games alongside Marvel Games. It was released on Dec. 6, 2024, for…
