The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial
The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial
The student media organization of California State University Northridge

Daily Sundial
Jesse Illanes

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor

All content by Jesse Illanes
From left, Moctesuma Esparza, activist and executive producer of the film Selena; presents an award with co-hosts, Sonia Balcazar and Kiarybel Lara at the Mexican-American Film & Television Festival 2025.

Mexican-American Film & Television Festival highlights important Latino stories and filmmakers

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
May 7, 2025
Soulcalibur II, running on the Nintendo Switch 2 via Nintendo GameCube - Nintendo Classics.

The Sundial’s hands-on the Switch 2: Metroid Prime 4, Cyberpunk 2077 and everything in between

Nyan Gavino and Jesse Illanes
May 2, 2025
The Nintendo Switch 2 being displayed with its three modes of play in the showroom section of the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience: Los Angeles.

The Sundial’s hands-on the Switch 2: Exciting new hardware and premier titles

Jesse Illanes and Nyan Gavino
May 2, 2025
Nintendo Switch 2 Key Art. Courtesy of Nintendo.

Nintendo Switch 2 unveiled – Innovative games, higher performance and higher pricing

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
April 10, 2025
A vinyl record crate, displaying the selection available at Licorice Pizza in Studio City.

Second Spin: How local records stores are preparing for Record Store Day 2025

Aliyah Hinckley, Ari David, Madeleine Christian, Giuliana Melgar, Jesse Illanes, and Nyan Gavino
April 8, 2025
Captain Goro Majima leading the charge in a siege against an enemy pirate ship. Courtesy of SEGA

Review: Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

Nyan Gavino and Jesse Illanes
April 2, 2025
The CSUN Game Development Club, with its officers and various club members, gathering for their second club meeting of the Spring 2025 semester.

Fostering Creativity With CSUN’s Game Development Club

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
March 24, 2025
SNL 50 ads featured in New York's Times Square on Feb. 14, 2025.

Review: Live From New York, SNL50’s Star Power Saved the Special

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
February 25, 2025
Media Querencia

Media Querencia

Claire Geriak and Jesse Illanes
February 24, 2025
Photo by Aliyah Hinckley

CSUN 2024 Achievements: Retrospective and Future

Alyssa Alvarez, Jesse Illanes, and Zipporah Pruitt
January 23, 2025
Matador Marquee

Matador Marquee

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
January 23, 2025

The Sundial Culture Desks 2024 GOTYs | Sundial Podcast

Jesse Illanes and Nyan Gavino
January 7, 2025
Left to right: Lucius (Paul Mescal) battling General Acacius (Pedro Pascal) in The Colosseum in the film "Gladiator II." Photo courtesy of IMDb.

Review: Gladiator II does entertain, but fights with its own identity

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
January 5, 2025
Speakers, Madison Trujillo and Matthew Miehe, introducing themselves at the Northridge Review Launch Party and moderating the contributors reciting their work.

Northridge Review’s Launch Party Showcases Riveting Stories From the CSUN Community

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
November 26, 2024
Silent Hill 2 Protagonist, James Sunderland, looking at himself in a mirror, existentially pondering his arrival at Silent Hill. Captured on PS5.

Review: Silent Hill 2’s Remake Revives the Franchise with a Stellar Reimagining

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
November 4, 2024
Chappell Roan's TikTok account (left) and Elon Musk's X account (right) on their election thoughts.

How are celebrity endorsements shaping the 2024 Presidential Election?

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
November 4, 2024

Matador Marquee

Jesse Illanes, Cultural Editore
October 28, 2024
From left, Amber Bui and Drestine Leogo, who were helping students and sharing resources for National Transfer Student Week on the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct.22.

The Badge Project Highlights Resources for Transfer Students

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
October 25, 2024
Game Jam participants, attending the presentation on the prizes and details.

CSUN’s Game Development Club Kicked Off A Horror-Themed Game Jam

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
October 22, 2024
From left, Daniel Armin and Troy Horowitz, members of the Chi Nu chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi at CSUN, posing at the Gift of Life table.

Students swab for a cause: Alpha Epsilon Pi’s marrow registry event at CSUN

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
October 21, 2024
Jazz musician John Beasley, looking focused and sitting at a piano. (Photo courtesy of johnbeasleymusic.com)

A conversation with Grammy-award winning jazz musician, John Beasley

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
October 13, 2024
Theatrical poster for Megalopolis. Courtesy of IMDb.

Review: Megalopolis – A Convoluted Vanity Project With a Few Redeeming Qualities

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
September 30, 2024
Astro Bot splash screen. Captured on PS5

[Photo] Astro Bot review: shining with creativity and nostalgia

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
September 23, 2024
“Josiah McElheny: Island Universe,” installation in the Resnick Pavilion.

Color, cosmology, & technology – Upcoming exhibits combining art & science at LACMA.

Jesse Illanes, Culture Editor
September 19, 2024

Matador Marquee

Jesse Illanes
August 29, 2024

Cantando: Gaming OSTs

Jesse Illanes, Reporter
April 5, 2024

Leading in Innovations and Layoffs: The State of the Video Game Industry

Jesse Illanes, Reporter
April 4, 2024
Illustration by Pamela Garcia

Writer’s Pick: Top 5 Games of the Year of 2023

Jesse Illanes, Culture Reporter
December 21, 2023
CSUN poetry: Zeal

CSUN poetry: Zeal

Jesse Illanes, Culture Reporter
December 16, 2023
Illustration by Pamela Garcia.

Alan Wake II review – A triumph in storytelling & psychological survival horror

Jesse Illanes, Culture Reporter
December 12, 2023
Alien Hominid Invasion and Alien Hominid HD Review - Beaming light onto the “run and gun” genre

Alien Hominid Invasion and Alien Hominid HD Review – Beaming light onto the “run and gun” genre

Jesse Illanes, Culture Reporter
November 11, 2023
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Review – A Symphonic Experience of Action, Emotion and Integrity

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Review – A Symphonic Experience of Action, Emotion and Integrity

Jesse Illanes, Culture Reporter
November 4, 2023
Attendees of the "Native American Welcome" event receive information from the CSUN American Indian Studies booth on Sept. 20, 2023, in Northridge, Calif.

AISA’s Native American Welcome event promotes awareness and hospitality for the community and its students

Jesse Illanes, Contributor
September 28, 2023
Photo courtesy of store.100gecs.com.

Review: ‘10,000 gecs’ by 100 gecs – A hyperpop earworm

Jesse Illanes, Contributor
May 30, 2023
A person from TV Show "The last of Us"

Review: ‘The Last of Us’ – Relationships found amidst chaos

Jesse Illanes, Contributor
May 3, 2023
Poster of the movie "Women Talking"

Review: Deliberation amidst torment – ‘Women Talking’

Jesse Illanes, Contributor
April 27, 2023
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