Akata Witch is a series of young adult fantasy novels written by Nnedi Okorafor. The collection currently consists of two books: Akata Witch (2011) and Akata Warrior (2017). The novels follow the story of twelve-year-old Sunny Nwazue, an American-born Nigerian girl who discovers she has magical abilities and becomes part of a secret society of Leopard people. In Akata Witch, Sunny learns that she is a "free agent" with magical abilities, known as a "leopard person", and joins a group of young students who are being trained in magic. Together, they must stop a powerful serial killer who targets children. The novel explores themes of identity, culture, and the power of friendship.
The novel explores themes of identity, culture, and the power of friendship. In Akata Warrior, Sunny continues her training as a leopard person and faces a new threat to her community. She must confront her own fears and embrace her destiny as a warrior to save her family and friends.
What are Sony boss Shuhei Yoshida's favourite PlayStation games?
Shuhei Yoshida is The Man. An immediately relatable, warm figure who shines in an industry swimming with faceless suits. The president of Worldwide Studios at SCE is often refreshingly frank in interviews, while he regularly sends out playful tweets to his 138k followers follow @yosp to sample his forever chipper antics. During our exclusive interview, we ask Yoshida what games he feels have defined PlayStation, before letting him pick his favourite first-party title from every Sony console and handheld. Safe to say, his choices may surprise you. Over to you, Shuhei
PlayStation platforms have been home for so many diverse, creative and innovative games from both first and third parties. That diversity, depth and breadth of games defined PlayStation, muses Yoshida. That said, the following are my personal favourite first-party titles for each generation; not necessarily the best selling title, but each had a special space in my heart for a long time
Ape Escape - PS1
During the PS1 days, I had the privilege to work as a localising producer for the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro The Dragon series for the Japanese market. I also helped Kazunori Yamauchis team to produce Gran Turismo, and start and grow an internal development studio that created Ape Escape, The Legend of Dragoon and Ico.
Among those titles, Ape Escape was the one I had the most hands-on role with as a producer; getting involved in the creative process to discover, try and polish a variety of fun ways to use the brand new DualShock controllers dual analog sticks. We had a lot of fun making the game, and it was received very well.
God of War - PS2
The Santa Monica Studio was formed in 1999 by a small group of industry and Sony veterans headed by Allan Becker. Aside from the continued success of the Twisted Metal franchise, and a collaboration with Incognito studio, Santa Monica Studios struggled to create a hit title from the internal team.
I remember when we showed the demo of God Of War at E3 2004, we noticed people playing the game had a big smile on their face a clear sign that we had something special on our hands. The game eventually became a hit title, got lots of awards, and Kratos has become one of the iconic PlayStation characters. It also provided a solid foundation for Santa Monica Studios to further attract talented developers and grow.
Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee - PSP
PSP launched in Japan in December 2004 with a handful of titles, including this game. I was a fan of the series on consoles, but I found the new Hot Shots game on the brand new handheld device very accessible, beautiful and hard to put down. It supported Wi-Fi multiplayer, so some of us played rounds of golf during long international flights.
Journey - PS3
When I played towards the end of the game, I had tears in my eyes as I was remembering my deceased grandmother. It was a very personal, almost spiritual experience from playing a short but beautiful videogame. I felt it was a triumph of videogame as a medium; showing games can touch our hearts.
"ThatGameCompany had a very special approach to game design, defying conventions and trying to create certain emotions in players. I believe Journey inspired many people inside and outside the industry, and more games will be developed that will move people in an emotional way.
Sound Shapes - PS Vita
I love games, I love music. There have been many games that challenge your ability to tap to the rhythm of music or make you feel like playing musical instruments, but nothing like Sound Shapes. When youre playing you feel like youre recreating the music at the same time. A perfect game to play on a handheld with headphones.
The create mode allows you to be a game designer, music composer and arranger at the same time. The well-crafted editor also makes it a blast to create a good sounding little action platform level. I published a few levels of mine, melodies taken from then-popular Kyary Pamyu Pamyu songs, and it was fun to socialise with other creators.
Infamous: Second Son - PS4
Running up the surface of tall buildings, jumping and flying through the air over a vast and realistic Seattle; what more is there to say? Actually, the Photo mode shows off the beautifully rendered city and characters of the game. Combined with the Share feature, it is an early example of what PS4 games look and feel like playing and sharing gameplay experiences.
So there you have it: the personal gaming picks of one of the most important figures in PlayStation history. If you somehow missed out on any of the above beauties, we suggest seeking em out, post-haste.
Of course this is most effective w/ Trick room.
The sequel delves deeper into the magical world of the leopard people and explores themes of courage and self-discovery. Nnedi Okorafor's Akata Witch novels offer a unique and refreshing take on the fantasy genre. The series combines elements of Nigerian culture with magic and adventure, creating a rich and compelling world that readers of all ages can enjoy. The main idea behind the novels is the journey of self-discovery and empowerment that Sunny goes through as she embraces her magical abilities and learns to navigate the challenges of being a teenager. The books also highlight the importance of embracing one's heritage and the strength that can come from diversity. Overall, the Akata Witch novels are a must-read for fans of fantasy and anyone looking for a captivating and diverse story..
Reviews for "From Nigeria to the World: Akata Witch's Impact on International Fantasy Literature"
1. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars
I found the "Akata Witch Novels Collection" to be quite disappointing. The plot seemed convoluted and lacked depth, while the characters felt one-dimensional and underdeveloped. The magical elements introduced in the story were confusing and not well explained. Overall, I struggled to connect with the story and it left me unsatisfied.
2. Mark - 1 out of 5 stars
I had high expectations for the "Akata Witch Novels Collection," but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The writing style felt juvenile and the dialogue was unrealistic. The pacing of the story was uneven, with long stretches of uneventful scenes followed by rushed, confusing action. Additionally, I found the world-building to be lacking, leaving me with more questions than answers. It's a series I wouldn't recommend to anyone looking for a well-crafted fantasy tale.
3. Laura - 3 out of 5 stars
While I didn't hate the "Akata Witch Novels Collection", I wasn't particularly impressed either. The story had potential, but it felt like it was trying too hard to be unique and ended up feeling forced and contrived. The characters were quirky, but their personalities often clashed with each other, leading to confusing dynamics. The magical system, though intriguing, was never fully explored, leaving me wanting more explanations. Overall, it was an okay read, but I probably won't continue with the series.