It should be clear by now that I'm pretty much a nerd. Thus I hope it is not too much of a stretch for me to reveal that I am also a very avid fan of anime. Yes, I enjoy the typical over the top fanfare that most anime bring to the table, but I was caught off guard when a friend recommended the series True Tears to me.
True Tears does something that very few anime tend to do; it follows someone's normal, everyday life and the encounters that they must face. The main character, Shin'ichiro, is caught in a very uncomfortable situation involving a girl his family took in, the somewhat-loner hyper girl at his school, and his best friend's girlfriend. Normally this is the type of situation that an anime would take and turn into a comedy fest, but True Tears decided to take this situation very seriously, and show the reprecussions one choice can have on everyone around you. It's something that I am not at all used to when watching any sort of animation, but I have become completely hooked on this series.
Shin'ichiro has one trait about him that really catches my attention; he tends to show his emotions and thoughts through a series of small comic books that he draws. Such distinctly human, realistic things show up every now and then during the series, really reminding me that despite its artistic beauty, this show is really down to earth. Each episode tends to end with a cliffhanger, which eggs on the viewer more and more and pulls them deeper into the story. The characters all have very real human flaws, flaws that don't rear their heads very often in this sort of medium. It is surprisingly relieving to see an anime take on such a subject, one that very few dare to take on; young love and friendship. Yes, I love my out-of-this-world comedy and action that most anime offer, yet so far I must say that True Tears has been the first anime to catch me emotionally off guard in a long, long time, and I tend to HATE stuff that gets overly emotional.
Overall score out of 10: 9.0. The reality of a very limited viewing audience is what keeps this score from going any higher. Sure, the chances of this type of situation as presented in the show are at best slim, but they are not at all beyond the realm of realism. Keep in mind, the series is not yet over, so this is a score for what has happened so far; if the ending is not to my tastes, i'll be sure to rant about it.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Game: Dynasty Warriors 6
First, let me get one thing clear. I like the Dynasty Warriors series. Yes, they are repetitive and have had little innovation over the past five years. The characters have had very few updates, and the attacks that the characters use have had little change in the past...oh...ten or so versions of the games in which these ancient Chinese warriors have appeared in. Finally, though, the folks over at Koei decided that its about time that they take the franchise and give it a bit of a face lift. New character models, new weapons, totally new attack system...this game is very different from the Dynasty Warriors of yonder year.
This is Dynasty Warriors 6. And in some ways, its much better than its predecessors...and in others, not so much.
The game takes place during an actual historical period of China around the 2nd century and the fall of the Han Dynasty. Then again, anyone who is reading this review probably has played the previous versions of the game and thus knows the story well. The versions of the characters seen are based on the way they were presented in the epic "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", which shapes up these men and women to be the superheroes and super villains of their age, complete with super strength and all. Your job is to use whatever warrior you choose to cut a nice wide swath in the soldiers around you...sounds easy, sometimes IS easy, sometimes turns out to be a total pain in the butt.
The first thing that fans of the franchise will notice is that every character has gotten a MAJOR overhaul. This is also the first Dynasty Warriors game to come out with fewer characters than its preceding version. Some removals are alright, but a few staple characters of the franchise have also been erased, which is sure to put off some players.
Koei decided that it was time to do away with the control system of the old games. Now, a new "Renbu" system is in place to dictate how strong your character is in battle. Basically, the more people you kill in a row, the more powerful your attacks become and the more versions of an attack you can perform. Attacks are now separated into three categories. The "Normal" attack is, as expected, what you'll be using most of the time. Instead of being able to attack a set number of times as in previous installments, DW6 decided that you should never stop attacking.......ever. If you keep pressing the normal attack button, you're going to keep attacking....and attacking...aaaand attacking. Now this makes sense in that you're going to be able to sweep through enemies in a much more kung-fu esque movement style, but there is a catch. The old "press X so many times and then Y to unleash a cool attack" system, the staple of the series, is gone.
Yep, its gone.
Now, the "Charge attacks" are split into 2 forms. Both also depend on the Renbu system. First is what I call a "Solo Charge", where you keep pressing the Charge button in order to link a stronger combo, depending on your Renbu level. It is surprisingly interesting and intriguing to level up a character to see what their entire combo system is like, and since most of the moves actually seem realistic now, it looks very fluid and pretty to the eyes. There is also a "Crowd Charge", which is done by holding down the Charge button. This unleashes a single, usually sweeping attack meant to give yourself a little bit of breathing room. Again, this move really matters when Renbu is high.
As expected, the rocking, guitar heavy soundtrack has returned, as well as the absolutely atrocious English dub of the character's voices (and the creators DIDN'T include the Japanese audio track for some reason..they always should). Still, its cheesiness is funny and adds to the game's character. Overall, the best you can say about it is that...well...it works.
Score: 7.0 out of 10. It may just be my opinion, but I REALLY miss the old Charge attack system the game had. Sure, give everyone new weapons and new looks, but the fighting system is what really made the games. That isn't to say that this fighting system doesnt work, because it does, it just doesn't feel very...Dynasty Warriors-ish. The saving grace is that there are MANY more characters on screen at once than in previous versions and some of the weapons look really cool, not to mention the characters holding them. Still, the graphics should be better than this now that we are in 2008, and much of the sense of individual "power" felt in the previous versions has been diminished. I'm still sure that I'm going to play this game for a while to come, I just wont be as enthused about it as I thought I would be.
This is Dynasty Warriors 6. And in some ways, its much better than its predecessors...and in others, not so much.
The game takes place during an actual historical period of China around the 2nd century and the fall of the Han Dynasty. Then again, anyone who is reading this review probably has played the previous versions of the game and thus knows the story well. The versions of the characters seen are based on the way they were presented in the epic "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", which shapes up these men and women to be the superheroes and super villains of their age, complete with super strength and all. Your job is to use whatever warrior you choose to cut a nice wide swath in the soldiers around you...sounds easy, sometimes IS easy, sometimes turns out to be a total pain in the butt.
The first thing that fans of the franchise will notice is that every character has gotten a MAJOR overhaul. This is also the first Dynasty Warriors game to come out with fewer characters than its preceding version. Some removals are alright, but a few staple characters of the franchise have also been erased, which is sure to put off some players.
Koei decided that it was time to do away with the control system of the old games. Now, a new "Renbu" system is in place to dictate how strong your character is in battle. Basically, the more people you kill in a row, the more powerful your attacks become and the more versions of an attack you can perform. Attacks are now separated into three categories. The "Normal" attack is, as expected, what you'll be using most of the time. Instead of being able to attack a set number of times as in previous installments, DW6 decided that you should never stop attacking.......ever. If you keep pressing the normal attack button, you're going to keep attacking....and attacking...aaaand attacking. Now this makes sense in that you're going to be able to sweep through enemies in a much more kung-fu esque movement style, but there is a catch. The old "press X so many times and then Y to unleash a cool attack" system, the staple of the series, is gone.
Yep, its gone.
Now, the "Charge attacks" are split into 2 forms. Both also depend on the Renbu system. First is what I call a "Solo Charge", where you keep pressing the Charge button in order to link a stronger combo, depending on your Renbu level. It is surprisingly interesting and intriguing to level up a character to see what their entire combo system is like, and since most of the moves actually seem realistic now, it looks very fluid and pretty to the eyes. There is also a "Crowd Charge", which is done by holding down the Charge button. This unleashes a single, usually sweeping attack meant to give yourself a little bit of breathing room. Again, this move really matters when Renbu is high.
As expected, the rocking, guitar heavy soundtrack has returned, as well as the absolutely atrocious English dub of the character's voices (and the creators DIDN'T include the Japanese audio track for some reason..they always should). Still, its cheesiness is funny and adds to the game's character. Overall, the best you can say about it is that...well...it works.
Score: 7.0 out of 10. It may just be my opinion, but I REALLY miss the old Charge attack system the game had. Sure, give everyone new weapons and new looks, but the fighting system is what really made the games. That isn't to say that this fighting system doesnt work, because it does, it just doesn't feel very...Dynasty Warriors-ish. The saving grace is that there are MANY more characters on screen at once than in previous versions and some of the weapons look really cool, not to mention the characters holding them. Still, the graphics should be better than this now that we are in 2008, and much of the sense of individual "power" felt in the previous versions has been diminished. I'm still sure that I'm going to play this game for a while to come, I just wont be as enthused about it as I thought I would be.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Delayed Review: skate
Ok, after a long delay because of "car auction work" and the beginning of the new school semester, it's finally time for a new review. This time we find a game from a genre that I have not touched for about four or five years, the skateboarding genre. The genre has been absolutely owned by the Tony Hawk franchise for about eight years now, so "skate" (which is spelt with a lower case s on purpose) is a welcome change to the genre. Tony Hawk was a very, VERY fun game franchise...until it took a turn and decided to become "Jackass" with four wheels. Don't get me wrong, Bam Margera and the gang are absolutely hilarious guys and all, but it just doesn't transfer into good game material (at least for me).
skate takes place in the open-ended city of San Vanelona, which is absolutely HUGE for a skateboarding game and allows for some really creative thinking in how to acomplish everything that one must to complete the mile-long list of missions and challenges to be found in the game. The most surprising thing about the game is it's take on skateboarding...which is dead on realistic (GASP!). Rather than the absurd take of rail grinding down the trunk of an elephant onto a dumpster, pulling a 1080 within the blink of an eye, landing in a manual...(fill in about 10 more lines worth of tricks)...and ending with a double back flip Christ Air, skate does something brilliant. It realizes just how hard most of the tricks in the game are in real life, and gives them a point system in accordance. For once, a 360 kickflip actually MEANS SOMETHING.
skate's trick system is really what sets the game apart. Every jump or board spin is completely controlled by inputs on the right joystick of the controller, which takes a little bit of getting used to. Give it about fifteen minutes, though, and you'll find this is the best thing to happen to the game genre in years. Grabs are performed rather easily, and skating around the city comes with relative ease, minus the occasional wipe out when you hit a curb. There are no stats in the game either; you basically start as good as you're going to get, so the game utterly depends on the player's skill. There is still plenty of character customization, though, which is something EA has become an expert with. Famous skaters in the game look quite good, and the world as a whole gets a solid thumbs up for looks; it's pretty and definitely gets the job done. The random cars that show up every now and then are a bit of a bother and dont look too good, but hey, this game isnt about cars, its about skaters.
Overall Score: 8.9 out of 10. This game is good. Really, really good. It looks good, sounds good, has a GREAT soundtrack...it's just polished to a nice sheen. It takes skill to play, which I'm sure will turn away plenty of players, but as of now it is outselling Tony Hawk BIG TIME, which gives me hope for this genre. I can see people getting bored with the game quick, though, and once you've beaten it I dont see much reason to go back and play it again. Still, the game is one hell of a party while it lasts.
skate takes place in the open-ended city of San Vanelona, which is absolutely HUGE for a skateboarding game and allows for some really creative thinking in how to acomplish everything that one must to complete the mile-long list of missions and challenges to be found in the game. The most surprising thing about the game is it's take on skateboarding...which is dead on realistic (GASP!). Rather than the absurd take of rail grinding down the trunk of an elephant onto a dumpster, pulling a 1080 within the blink of an eye, landing in a manual...(fill in about 10 more lines worth of tricks)...and ending with a double back flip Christ Air, skate does something brilliant. It realizes just how hard most of the tricks in the game are in real life, and gives them a point system in accordance. For once, a 360 kickflip actually MEANS SOMETHING.
skate's trick system is really what sets the game apart. Every jump or board spin is completely controlled by inputs on the right joystick of the controller, which takes a little bit of getting used to. Give it about fifteen minutes, though, and you'll find this is the best thing to happen to the game genre in years. Grabs are performed rather easily, and skating around the city comes with relative ease, minus the occasional wipe out when you hit a curb. There are no stats in the game either; you basically start as good as you're going to get, so the game utterly depends on the player's skill. There is still plenty of character customization, though, which is something EA has become an expert with. Famous skaters in the game look quite good, and the world as a whole gets a solid thumbs up for looks; it's pretty and definitely gets the job done. The random cars that show up every now and then are a bit of a bother and dont look too good, but hey, this game isnt about cars, its about skaters.
Overall Score: 8.9 out of 10. This game is good. Really, really good. It looks good, sounds good, has a GREAT soundtrack...it's just polished to a nice sheen. It takes skill to play, which I'm sure will turn away plenty of players, but as of now it is outselling Tony Hawk BIG TIME, which gives me hope for this genre. I can see people getting bored with the game quick, though, and once you've beaten it I dont see much reason to go back and play it again. Still, the game is one hell of a party while it lasts.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Music: Sneaky Sound System
Oh I've needed an album which I can just groove to for quite some time. Sure, Daft Punk's "Alive 2007" is packed full of energy, but really it's just new versions of songs that fans of the group have heard for a few years already. Out of nowhere I was recommended a self titled album by Sneaky Sound System and decided to give them a go. The album was released originally way back in August of 06, and I had heard a few clips of songs from it in various online videos and such, but I hadn't been able to get a good listen of the entire album. Then, this past December, a limited edition version of the album was released with new remixes of Sneaky Sound System's (SSS) works. "Remix" is a word that draws me like a moth to the flame, so I decided to fork over my wallet and take a spin.
This album is, at times, just really damn fun. There is a common vein through every song that has a disco-esque vibe to it, especially in songs like "UFO" or "I Love It" that keeps the level of energy high throughout the album. There is a pretty heavy emphasis on the bass throughout as well, really hitting home the point that this is an album that is supposed to be danced to. A few of the songs actually made me thing of "Lights" by the Scissor Sisters for some reason, though SSS's work is much more techno-pop-ish.
This album is very, VERY much a visit to the past, screaming carefree 80's at every moment that it can, but also takes the modern pop genre into consideration when it comes to its lyrical forms. The female lead singer, who calls herself Miss Connie apparently, does a great job, but the album does at times taper off, especially in songs where she isn't prominently featured such as "You're Hot". "Hip Hip Hooray" seems like a wrench thrown into the mix just to suddenly cause unneeded chaos, and some of the songs just seem lacking in overall quality as though the group suddenly gave up and decided to work on the next track.
Of the remixes offered with this version of the album, the Stylaz Fuego Remix of "UFO" and the Tonite Only Remix of "Pictures" stand out as the strong support of this half of the album. The remixes offer a bit of a different taste of the original works that may draw in a different audience, which is good since the remixes are all of the best works off of the original album. the Bag Raiders mix of "Hip Hip Hooray" really gives this version of the song an edge. The remixes really save this album from the brink of utter forgotten-ness.
Score: 7.7 out of 10. The remixes are fun and there are a few songs amongst the main chunk of the album that are good, but too many of the songs seem like things that I have heard before that I just cant give this a higher score. The album does have one common vein in style, but at the same time SSS just cant seem to define exactly what kind of group they are lyrically. The lyrics make the songs change styles constantly, which is too confusing and will turn off many listeners.
This album is, at times, just really damn fun. There is a common vein through every song that has a disco-esque vibe to it, especially in songs like "UFO" or "I Love It" that keeps the level of energy high throughout the album. There is a pretty heavy emphasis on the bass throughout as well, really hitting home the point that this is an album that is supposed to be danced to. A few of the songs actually made me thing of "Lights" by the Scissor Sisters for some reason, though SSS's work is much more techno-pop-ish.
This album is very, VERY much a visit to the past, screaming carefree 80's at every moment that it can, but also takes the modern pop genre into consideration when it comes to its lyrical forms. The female lead singer, who calls herself Miss Connie apparently, does a great job, but the album does at times taper off, especially in songs where she isn't prominently featured such as "You're Hot". "Hip Hip Hooray" seems like a wrench thrown into the mix just to suddenly cause unneeded chaos, and some of the songs just seem lacking in overall quality as though the group suddenly gave up and decided to work on the next track.
Of the remixes offered with this version of the album, the Stylaz Fuego Remix of "UFO" and the Tonite Only Remix of "Pictures" stand out as the strong support of this half of the album. The remixes offer a bit of a different taste of the original works that may draw in a different audience, which is good since the remixes are all of the best works off of the original album. the Bag Raiders mix of "Hip Hip Hooray" really gives this version of the song an edge. The remixes really save this album from the brink of utter forgotten-ness.
Score: 7.7 out of 10. The remixes are fun and there are a few songs amongst the main chunk of the album that are good, but too many of the songs seem like things that I have heard before that I just cant give this a higher score. The album does have one common vein in style, but at the same time SSS just cant seem to define exactly what kind of group they are lyrically. The lyrics make the songs change styles constantly, which is too confusing and will turn off many listeners.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Game: Rock Band
Well, that was a fun little Christmas and New Years break now, wasn't it? Now its time to get back to work, so I decided that I'd review one of the hottest Christmas gifts from this past holiday season, the caffeine based son of "Guitar Hero" and the arcade addiction of a Japanese arcade that is "Rock Band".
If you hate "Guitar Hero" for any reason whatsoever, stop reading this review now. "Rock Band" isn't going to change how you feel about this game genre. In fact, chances are you'll hate it even more after this game after you find out that your voice pitch is way off and you can't keep a beat on fake drums if your life depended on it. Lucky for me, I happen to thoroughly enjoy the "Guitar Hero" experience and so I welcomed "Rock Band" with open arms ready for a good time. And a good time I did indeed have.
First off, let me just say that the game looks GREAT...that is, the few chances that you have to actually see the virtual band playing when you're not concentrating on the gameplay itself. Character customization enters the genre for the first time, and its actually quite fun to design your own little band to be a quirky "KISS" ripoff or soldiers of the Emo movement. Everything is animated very well, so when you watch your friend try to beat the game on Expert, you won't have much of a problem watching it in action.
"Rock Band" sports a pretty remarkable song list for one to enjoy over the course of the game with classics from "Livin on a Prayer" to modern hits like "Here It Goes Again". There is a little bit of something for everyone in this game, especially because you aren't limited to just one style of playing. While the typical guitar playing of the genre stays, you now are also given the choice of playing bass, which is somewhat simpler but at the same time offers a whole new level of depth to the songs that the "Hero" franchise only offers in multiplayer, and it's just done to a much better level in "Rock Band".
If you're willing to fork over $170 for the box set version of "Rock Band", you are also treated to a microphone to belt out your favorite songs into, which actually works pretty well as a game mechanic. It's really, REALLY hard to fail a song while singing, even on the hard difficulty level, if you have any form of pitch control at all. The real selling point of the game, though, is the new drum mechanic, complete with a new "drum set" that comes with the $170 package. This is a real test of the game genre and it's fans, as it is hands down the hardest of the four modes of play in the game, but for some reason feels the most rewarding when one becomes good at it. I have just a little bit of experience with drums, mostly because a few of my family members are superb drummers, so I was able to watch and learn from them from a young age, so the drumming comes easily to me. But again, I must emphasize the point that the drumming is HARD, especially if someone has no prior experience since it is the closest simulation to playing the real instrument that one can get for a low price like this.
The game is fun alone, but it's one hell of a party when all four avaliable instruments are played together. This game is meant to be multiplayer, and if you have any friends that like this genre, you are ready to have a blast playing this game together. My one complaint actually comes in the guitar portion of the game. Anyone who has played the "Hero" trillogy knows what I mean when I say hammer-ons-and-offs are a huge portion of the gameplay, but the visual cue for when to do them is MUCH harder to catch in "Rock Band" than in the "Hero" franchise. Also, the new guitar for the game may be a bit bigger and have more buttons, but one crucial factor is missing. The strum bar (the thing you flick to hit every note in conjunction with holding down the fret buttons) no longer has the satisfying "click" that it's "Hero" counterpart does. However, this also means that anyone who plays the game like one plays a bass will have an easier time dealing with the controller, which is understandable. It takes a bit of getting used to, but don't worry, the controllers all work fine.
Score: 9.0 out of 10. This is such a fun game when you're playing with people who enjoy it. I know plenty of people who bash this game genre, thinking that it's detracting from people playing real instruments and will destroy the music genre in the future, but I personally dont see it that way at all. Did karaoke ruin singers? No, and this wont ruin music. After all, it's a game, and if you get into it, its a REALLY FUN game.
If you hate "Guitar Hero" for any reason whatsoever, stop reading this review now. "Rock Band" isn't going to change how you feel about this game genre. In fact, chances are you'll hate it even more after this game after you find out that your voice pitch is way off and you can't keep a beat on fake drums if your life depended on it. Lucky for me, I happen to thoroughly enjoy the "Guitar Hero" experience and so I welcomed "Rock Band" with open arms ready for a good time. And a good time I did indeed have.
First off, let me just say that the game looks GREAT...that is, the few chances that you have to actually see the virtual band playing when you're not concentrating on the gameplay itself. Character customization enters the genre for the first time, and its actually quite fun to design your own little band to be a quirky "KISS" ripoff or soldiers of the Emo movement. Everything is animated very well, so when you watch your friend try to beat the game on Expert, you won't have much of a problem watching it in action.
"Rock Band" sports a pretty remarkable song list for one to enjoy over the course of the game with classics from "Livin on a Prayer" to modern hits like "Here It Goes Again". There is a little bit of something for everyone in this game, especially because you aren't limited to just one style of playing. While the typical guitar playing of the genre stays, you now are also given the choice of playing bass, which is somewhat simpler but at the same time offers a whole new level of depth to the songs that the "Hero" franchise only offers in multiplayer, and it's just done to a much better level in "Rock Band".
If you're willing to fork over $170 for the box set version of "Rock Band", you are also treated to a microphone to belt out your favorite songs into, which actually works pretty well as a game mechanic. It's really, REALLY hard to fail a song while singing, even on the hard difficulty level, if you have any form of pitch control at all. The real selling point of the game, though, is the new drum mechanic, complete with a new "drum set" that comes with the $170 package. This is a real test of the game genre and it's fans, as it is hands down the hardest of the four modes of play in the game, but for some reason feels the most rewarding when one becomes good at it. I have just a little bit of experience with drums, mostly because a few of my family members are superb drummers, so I was able to watch and learn from them from a young age, so the drumming comes easily to me. But again, I must emphasize the point that the drumming is HARD, especially if someone has no prior experience since it is the closest simulation to playing the real instrument that one can get for a low price like this.
The game is fun alone, but it's one hell of a party when all four avaliable instruments are played together. This game is meant to be multiplayer, and if you have any friends that like this genre, you are ready to have a blast playing this game together. My one complaint actually comes in the guitar portion of the game. Anyone who has played the "Hero" trillogy knows what I mean when I say hammer-ons-and-offs are a huge portion of the gameplay, but the visual cue for when to do them is MUCH harder to catch in "Rock Band" than in the "Hero" franchise. Also, the new guitar for the game may be a bit bigger and have more buttons, but one crucial factor is missing. The strum bar (the thing you flick to hit every note in conjunction with holding down the fret buttons) no longer has the satisfying "click" that it's "Hero" counterpart does. However, this also means that anyone who plays the game like one plays a bass will have an easier time dealing with the controller, which is understandable. It takes a bit of getting used to, but don't worry, the controllers all work fine.
Score: 9.0 out of 10. This is such a fun game when you're playing with people who enjoy it. I know plenty of people who bash this game genre, thinking that it's detracting from people playing real instruments and will destroy the music genre in the future, but I personally dont see it that way at all. Did karaoke ruin singers? No, and this wont ruin music. After all, it's a game, and if you get into it, its a REALLY FUN game.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Game: Super Mario Galaxy
After the disappointment that was Super Mario Sunshine, the most famous face in the video game industry returns in Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii. This game has been getting a great deal of buzz since its release, especially for the fact that for a time, it knocked it's Nintendo brother "Zelda: Ocarina of Time" off the #1 game of all time slot on many review score averaging websites such as GameRankings.com. While it has since then been bumped down to the #2 spot, the game is still clearly getting rave reviews. I got the game on more of a whim than anything, since I have never been that much of a Mario fan (I'm more of a Sonic person myself, though I'm ashamed to say so in light of every 3D Sonic game of the last half decade), and I did find myself having a fun time with the game.
It's just that, to me at least, it is not even close to "best game ever" material.
Let's start with the basics. The game looks absolutely gorgeous and it's artistic design is superb. The level designs are some of the most diverse and creative to ever grace a television screen, especially since the "galaxy" aspect of the game is taken so seriously. Every little planet in each galaxy (and some levels are made up of many, MANY little planets) has its own gravity, so the movement from one area to another is always new and interesting. Everything looks like it should in a Mario game; a bit cartoonish, never really serious, but still very enjoyable. The best part is that levels are never repetitive, so there is no fear of having to do the same thing over and over again.
Character and enemy design is great, especially with the main characters of Mario, Luigi, Bowser and Rosalina (a new character). I wont go deep into the plot, but you can pretty much guess it; Bowser gets mad, steals Princess, Mario must save. Everything looks nice and clean though, especially Bowser and the other bosses scattered throughout the game. The addition of a new "Spinning Attack" for Mario also helps, since getting around can sometimes be a bit confusing so the classic "jump on the head" tactic gets a bit difficult. There are also a few all new abilities for Mario to try out, the most fun of which is a new "Ice Mario" that only manages to show up maybe two or three times over the length of the game. The sound design as well has very few faults; good music, good sound effects, all around a very good job.
So what's wrong with the game? Everything is good, well polished, and plays well. My major problem comes with that I was able to beat the game (that is defeat the final boss) within four days of getting it. The level of difficulty in the game just felt non existent once I got used to the controls. Death was never much a problem, considering that once you get a certain length through the game a postman gives you five extra lives on a regular basis when you start up the game. It was easy for me, at least, but for people who are planning on this being their very first Wii game, beware. Many friends of mine who had never played anything but "Wii Sports" before on the console became VERY frustrated with the controls, sometimes confusing what was up and what was down during some of the puzzle portions of the game. My experience is, at least, that the game is too difficult for the casual player, and too simple for the experienced player. That seems impossible, but that is what I have seen.
Score: 8.7 out of 10. It's a good game, to be sure, but I certainly do not agree with the sentiments of "Best Game Ever" that are being screamed about all over the web. The two other games of Nintendo's holy trifecta, "Zelda: Twilight Princess" and "Metroid Prime 3", seem like much better picks for the Wii. If you really like Mario, though, I'm sure you'll have a blast with this game. For me, something just didn't click as it clearly did with so many reviewers.
It's just that, to me at least, it is not even close to "best game ever" material.
Let's start with the basics. The game looks absolutely gorgeous and it's artistic design is superb. The level designs are some of the most diverse and creative to ever grace a television screen, especially since the "galaxy" aspect of the game is taken so seriously. Every little planet in each galaxy (and some levels are made up of many, MANY little planets) has its own gravity, so the movement from one area to another is always new and interesting. Everything looks like it should in a Mario game; a bit cartoonish, never really serious, but still very enjoyable. The best part is that levels are never repetitive, so there is no fear of having to do the same thing over and over again.
Character and enemy design is great, especially with the main characters of Mario, Luigi, Bowser and Rosalina (a new character). I wont go deep into the plot, but you can pretty much guess it; Bowser gets mad, steals Princess, Mario must save. Everything looks nice and clean though, especially Bowser and the other bosses scattered throughout the game. The addition of a new "Spinning Attack" for Mario also helps, since getting around can sometimes be a bit confusing so the classic "jump on the head" tactic gets a bit difficult. There are also a few all new abilities for Mario to try out, the most fun of which is a new "Ice Mario" that only manages to show up maybe two or three times over the length of the game. The sound design as well has very few faults; good music, good sound effects, all around a very good job.
So what's wrong with the game? Everything is good, well polished, and plays well. My major problem comes with that I was able to beat the game (that is defeat the final boss) within four days of getting it. The level of difficulty in the game just felt non existent once I got used to the controls. Death was never much a problem, considering that once you get a certain length through the game a postman gives you five extra lives on a regular basis when you start up the game. It was easy for me, at least, but for people who are planning on this being their very first Wii game, beware. Many friends of mine who had never played anything but "Wii Sports" before on the console became VERY frustrated with the controls, sometimes confusing what was up and what was down during some of the puzzle portions of the game. My experience is, at least, that the game is too difficult for the casual player, and too simple for the experienced player. That seems impossible, but that is what I have seen.
Score: 8.7 out of 10. It's a good game, to be sure, but I certainly do not agree with the sentiments of "Best Game Ever" that are being screamed about all over the web. The two other games of Nintendo's holy trifecta, "Zelda: Twilight Princess" and "Metroid Prime 3", seem like much better picks for the Wii. If you really like Mario, though, I'm sure you'll have a blast with this game. For me, something just didn't click as it clearly did with so many reviewers.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Preview: Films of 08 and beyond.
With the end of 2007 rapidly approaching, I've begun to look at the year ahead of us as well as even a bit further for the films that I am really chomping at the bit for. A couple of these films are ones that I am more excited about than any other films beforehand, so it's hard to really narrow it down to 5 films. The 5 films in question will all be released (at least as of this posting) in 2008, so lets start with an early, January release.
5: Cloverfield. 1/18/08
If you have yet to see a trailer of this film, I highly recommend you look for one right away. Cloverfield is an epic monster movie set in New York City, shot in a very distinct style as though the characters in the film are using handheld cameras (or at least thats what I get from the promos so far). None of the previews or promotional items for the film have yet to actually show the monster in question, and at some points it was rumored to be yet another Godzilla film, but those rumors have been pushed aside for the most part in favor of a new, completely original take on the monster genre. I've never been a fan of giant monster films, but this one just looks so different that I cant wait to get a good glimpse at the big beastie in question.
4: Where the Wild Things Are. 10/03/08
I have always been a fan of the work of Spike Jonze, which comes mainly though the large library of music videos that he has directed. To see him make a feature length film, not to mention a very imaginative one based off of a classic children's novel, will be a thrilling experience once it hits the silver screen. I haven't heard too much about this movie yet, but considering the amazing imagination of Jonze, I am certain that he will do the book justice and bring it to the screen in a way we cant imagine.
3: James Bond 22. 11/07/08.
Sure, this one is almost a year away, but c'mon. Its James Bond. Really, the drawing factor for this film is Daniel Craig, who many argue is the best Bond since Sean Connery himself. I thought that this film's prequel "Casino Royale" was absolutely brilliant, so I eagerly await to see what shockwaves that film will have on the future installments of the franchise. This is another film of which there has been very little released about, but news did surface a few months ago that Craig has signed on for multiple Bond films, so the hope that a stretching storyline the like existed in the Connery era has begun to shine.
2: Wall-e. 06/27/08.
Oh this movie just looks like so much fun, not to mention absolutely GORGEOUS. Pixar has done some really good work in the past few years, with "The Incredibles" being their pinnacle work in my book, but the design for "Wall-e" looks so absolutely astonishing that I just cant wait to see it for myself. The film apparently is almost devoid of any actual speech; they even called in the guy who did the sounds for R2-D2 to make the sounds for this film. The film is about a robot that was left on earth for 700 years after humanity left and his desire to seek out his purpose. This film, until today, was my #1 choice, but a new trailer came out for...
1: The Dark Knight. 07/18/08
...which made me scream like a little fangirl. Before this new trailer and the six minute short film preluding "I Am Legend", it was hard to get a grasp on just how Heath Ledger was going to take on the role of The Joker. I was completely skeptical of his ability to take on such a psychotic role, but after these two teasers, I am convinced that this film is going to be one of the most action packed, adrenaline pumping films of the last decade. They really are taking the gloves off for this film and diving deep into the darker aspects of the Batman universe, presenting a new face of the superhero for the masses. This is sure to be the thrill ride of the year.
Honorable mentions:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 05/22/08.
I want to see it, but at the same time I'm quite skeptical about this film. Is Harrison Ford really going to be able to pull this off, or will it seem like one long joke?
Alice in Wonderland. TBA 2010.
Ok, so Im getting WAY ahead of myself here, but cmon! Alice in Wonderland by TIM BURTON!? Anyone who has seen how American McGee took on Alice might have a brief idea of how Burton will go about with this, but anyone who is unfamiliar with McGee is most likely in for quite a shocker when they see the first screens of this film.
Well that's that list. There are a huge number of good films to look forward to next year, so there is sure to be something for everyone.
5: Cloverfield. 1/18/08
If you have yet to see a trailer of this film, I highly recommend you look for one right away. Cloverfield is an epic monster movie set in New York City, shot in a very distinct style as though the characters in the film are using handheld cameras (or at least thats what I get from the promos so far). None of the previews or promotional items for the film have yet to actually show the monster in question, and at some points it was rumored to be yet another Godzilla film, but those rumors have been pushed aside for the most part in favor of a new, completely original take on the monster genre. I've never been a fan of giant monster films, but this one just looks so different that I cant wait to get a good glimpse at the big beastie in question.
4: Where the Wild Things Are. 10/03/08
I have always been a fan of the work of Spike Jonze, which comes mainly though the large library of music videos that he has directed. To see him make a feature length film, not to mention a very imaginative one based off of a classic children's novel, will be a thrilling experience once it hits the silver screen. I haven't heard too much about this movie yet, but considering the amazing imagination of Jonze, I am certain that he will do the book justice and bring it to the screen in a way we cant imagine.
3: James Bond 22. 11/07/08.
Sure, this one is almost a year away, but c'mon. Its James Bond. Really, the drawing factor for this film is Daniel Craig, who many argue is the best Bond since Sean Connery himself. I thought that this film's prequel "Casino Royale" was absolutely brilliant, so I eagerly await to see what shockwaves that film will have on the future installments of the franchise. This is another film of which there has been very little released about, but news did surface a few months ago that Craig has signed on for multiple Bond films, so the hope that a stretching storyline the like existed in the Connery era has begun to shine.
2: Wall-e. 06/27/08.
Oh this movie just looks like so much fun, not to mention absolutely GORGEOUS. Pixar has done some really good work in the past few years, with "The Incredibles" being their pinnacle work in my book, but the design for "Wall-e" looks so absolutely astonishing that I just cant wait to see it for myself. The film apparently is almost devoid of any actual speech; they even called in the guy who did the sounds for R2-D2 to make the sounds for this film. The film is about a robot that was left on earth for 700 years after humanity left and his desire to seek out his purpose. This film, until today, was my #1 choice, but a new trailer came out for...
1: The Dark Knight. 07/18/08
...which made me scream like a little fangirl. Before this new trailer and the six minute short film preluding "I Am Legend", it was hard to get a grasp on just how Heath Ledger was going to take on the role of The Joker. I was completely skeptical of his ability to take on such a psychotic role, but after these two teasers, I am convinced that this film is going to be one of the most action packed, adrenaline pumping films of the last decade. They really are taking the gloves off for this film and diving deep into the darker aspects of the Batman universe, presenting a new face of the superhero for the masses. This is sure to be the thrill ride of the year.
Honorable mentions:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. 05/22/08.
I want to see it, but at the same time I'm quite skeptical about this film. Is Harrison Ford really going to be able to pull this off, or will it seem like one long joke?
Alice in Wonderland. TBA 2010.
Ok, so Im getting WAY ahead of myself here, but cmon! Alice in Wonderland by TIM BURTON!? Anyone who has seen how American McGee took on Alice might have a brief idea of how Burton will go about with this, but anyone who is unfamiliar with McGee is most likely in for quite a shocker when they see the first screens of this film.
Well that's that list. There are a huge number of good films to look forward to next year, so there is sure to be something for everyone.
Game: Warhawk
Since PS3 sales seem to have been skyrocketing over the past 2 months, I decided that I should brush the dust off of my own and pick up a new game in hopes that there would be a good number of online players to compete against. In light of this, the game that I decided to get is Multiplayer only, and also a bit of an Unreal Tournament clone minus the huge amounts of blood, but still has its great moments nonetheless.
"Warhawk" somehow managed to slip under my radar upon its initial release this past August, but after a recommendation from a friend of mine I picked it up. From what I have played, the plot of the game is...well...nonexistent. There are two sides, a good handful of weapons and vehicles to choose from, and stuff that can go boom, so why not go to war? "Warhawk" works because there are so many ways to play that anyone who is at all interested in this type of frantic, multiplayer action will find their niche in the gameplay and is sure to have a blast.
In every match you have the decision to remain an infantry soldier, get into a truck or tank, or take to the skies in a helecopter/fighterjet hybrid. While it seems like the aerial combat is emphasized as the main portion of the game, being an infantryman or a tank driver can be a surprise left hook that can completely screw up the enemy team's strategies. As I said before, the tank driving and flying portions feel oddly reminiscent of a game like "Unreal Tournament", but that definitely is not a bad thing.
The weapons one can choose as an infantryman in the game are pretty bare bones and expected. You've got your starting pistol, a knife, a machine gun, a homing rocket launcher; nothing that will blow you away, but at the same time everything packs enough of a punch to get you from point A to point B. The real perk for being an infantryman are the immense turrets that they can hop into to wreak havoc upon any nearby vehicle, especially the flyers. At the same time, Tanks are particularly mean against infantrymen, as they can blow up a turret or a person in a moment's notice, but a truck with a turret on it can run circles around a tank. Then again, an infantryman with a mine or rocket can take out the truck in a snap. The ground battle is pretty well balanced, but the air battles are heavily air-to-air combat based, but this portion of the game has the best control and is the most polished.
Sound-wise the game is pretty typical explosions and gunshots, but it sure is cool with surround sound to hear one of the fighter jets give your head a buzz cut at full speed as an infantryman. The main songs are only heard in the menus and are trying really hard to get an epic feel to them, but its almost overkill with how loud the songs are compared to the majority of the gameplay. The menus are well polished, although it took me a few plays before I realized that I could customize what my character looked like in game. The ground areas sometimes look cheap and the character models move in an awkward way that is unpleasant to the eye. Overall, though, this game has accomplished a great feat; I have actually started playing my PS3 again.
Score: 8.3 out of 10. A fine, fun game, but lack of a single player campaign and somewhat limited choices in how to fight really draws away from the score. One of the better games in the PS3's lineup as of now, and at least it takes a stand for multiplayer games outside of the first person shooter genre.
"Warhawk" somehow managed to slip under my radar upon its initial release this past August, but after a recommendation from a friend of mine I picked it up. From what I have played, the plot of the game is...well...nonexistent. There are two sides, a good handful of weapons and vehicles to choose from, and stuff that can go boom, so why not go to war? "Warhawk" works because there are so many ways to play that anyone who is at all interested in this type of frantic, multiplayer action will find their niche in the gameplay and is sure to have a blast.
In every match you have the decision to remain an infantry soldier, get into a truck or tank, or take to the skies in a helecopter/fighterjet hybrid. While it seems like the aerial combat is emphasized as the main portion of the game, being an infantryman or a tank driver can be a surprise left hook that can completely screw up the enemy team's strategies. As I said before, the tank driving and flying portions feel oddly reminiscent of a game like "Unreal Tournament", but that definitely is not a bad thing.
The weapons one can choose as an infantryman in the game are pretty bare bones and expected. You've got your starting pistol, a knife, a machine gun, a homing rocket launcher; nothing that will blow you away, but at the same time everything packs enough of a punch to get you from point A to point B. The real perk for being an infantryman are the immense turrets that they can hop into to wreak havoc upon any nearby vehicle, especially the flyers. At the same time, Tanks are particularly mean against infantrymen, as they can blow up a turret or a person in a moment's notice, but a truck with a turret on it can run circles around a tank. Then again, an infantryman with a mine or rocket can take out the truck in a snap. The ground battle is pretty well balanced, but the air battles are heavily air-to-air combat based, but this portion of the game has the best control and is the most polished.
Sound-wise the game is pretty typical explosions and gunshots, but it sure is cool with surround sound to hear one of the fighter jets give your head a buzz cut at full speed as an infantryman. The main songs are only heard in the menus and are trying really hard to get an epic feel to them, but its almost overkill with how loud the songs are compared to the majority of the gameplay. The menus are well polished, although it took me a few plays before I realized that I could customize what my character looked like in game. The ground areas sometimes look cheap and the character models move in an awkward way that is unpleasant to the eye. Overall, though, this game has accomplished a great feat; I have actually started playing my PS3 again.
Score: 8.3 out of 10. A fine, fun game, but lack of a single player campaign and somewhat limited choices in how to fight really draws away from the score. One of the better games in the PS3's lineup as of now, and at least it takes a stand for multiplayer games outside of the first person shooter genre.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Music: edIT, "Certified Air Raid Material"
Its somewhat ironic that I found this album when a couple of my roomates were playing an NBA game, considering how much the NBA and rap/hip hop music are intertwined nowadays. You can ask anyone I know about what kind of music I listen to and its a near guarantee that the first words through their mouths would NEVER be "rap" or "hip hop". You'll usually find me listening to everything from solo guitarists like Andy McKee or Antione Dufour all the way to the other end of the spectrum with metal by Turisas.
My major problem with rappers is I think that the focus is a bit too much just on them. At least in bands or with electronica you know exactly who to give the credit for creating the music, but rappers for the most part (MOST PART, not everyone because there really are a handful of rappers out there who are immensely talented) are known just for writing the lyrics, which are absolutely nothing without a good beat behind them. Those that make the beats, though, remain primarily uncredited to the public. edIT is the type of guy who would make those beats, he just takes it a few...ok, a few dozen steps further.
"Certified Air Raid Material" randomly showed up on my "Just For You" section of iTunes, so I decided to take a bit of a look at a few of the more popular songs by edIT. I was immediately taken in by his music, which has a vivid hip hop feel to it, but many of the songs have no lyrics to them. They are simply intricately detailed beats and mixes that could be rapped to, but are really meant to get one's blood pumping. The amount of detail placed into each individual track rivals some entire albums that were released this past year.
This album really pays attention to the mixing, so in a sense one could argue that it IS an electronic album (thats at least what genre iTunes puts it under, but they get it wrong quite a bit in my book), but have anyone listen to the second track "Battling Go-Go Yubari in Downtown L.A." and the first thing that comes to mind is hip hop. I really am at a loss of words when trying to explain what the songs are like to listen to; it just has to be experienced. Its easy with a group like "Daft Punk" to explain songs because they use an immense amount of repetition, but the songs in "Air Raid Material" change up so often that everything is always fresh and now.
Score: 8.8 out of 10. I simply cant put into words what this album is like, but i CAN say that it is very, VERY good, and this is coming from someone who doesn't have a particular taste for music of this genre. If this is the direction that hip hop is going in and his this type of talent on the rise, you have one more very interested listener.
My major problem with rappers is I think that the focus is a bit too much just on them. At least in bands or with electronica you know exactly who to give the credit for creating the music, but rappers for the most part (MOST PART, not everyone because there really are a handful of rappers out there who are immensely talented) are known just for writing the lyrics, which are absolutely nothing without a good beat behind them. Those that make the beats, though, remain primarily uncredited to the public. edIT is the type of guy who would make those beats, he just takes it a few...ok, a few dozen steps further.
"Certified Air Raid Material" randomly showed up on my "Just For You" section of iTunes, so I decided to take a bit of a look at a few of the more popular songs by edIT. I was immediately taken in by his music, which has a vivid hip hop feel to it, but many of the songs have no lyrics to them. They are simply intricately detailed beats and mixes that could be rapped to, but are really meant to get one's blood pumping. The amount of detail placed into each individual track rivals some entire albums that were released this past year.
This album really pays attention to the mixing, so in a sense one could argue that it IS an electronic album (thats at least what genre iTunes puts it under, but they get it wrong quite a bit in my book), but have anyone listen to the second track "Battling Go-Go Yubari in Downtown L.A." and the first thing that comes to mind is hip hop. I really am at a loss of words when trying to explain what the songs are like to listen to; it just has to be experienced. Its easy with a group like "Daft Punk" to explain songs because they use an immense amount of repetition, but the songs in "Air Raid Material" change up so often that everything is always fresh and now.
Score: 8.8 out of 10. I simply cant put into words what this album is like, but i CAN say that it is very, VERY good, and this is coming from someone who doesn't have a particular taste for music of this genre. If this is the direction that hip hop is going in and his this type of talent on the rise, you have one more very interested listener.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Game: Call of Duty 4
Now if anyone has been reading this so far, they would have read my previous Halo 3 review and how I would nowadays give it a bit of a lower score than my first impression was worth.
Call of Duty 4 is the reason why.
As much as I try, I can think of almost no problems with this game. The single player campaign is expertly crafted, and takes more chances with plot twists and taboo subjects than Hollywood would dare take in this post 9/11-Iraq War era. Every weapon in the game packs a punch when used in the right hands, the sound design is deafening with explosions and bullet ricochets abound...this is just a phenomenal, PHENOMENAL game.
While it isn't very long, the single player mode is worth the price of admission alone. Simply making it through the first three levels, including being stuck in the point of view of a doomed middle-eastern leader, is such a rush that you'll play it right over again to try and see things you might have missed the first time around. You play as either the British SAS or the US Marine Corps over the course of the game, and even take a trip to the outskirts of Chernobyl at one point.
Halo 3 will surely remain the multiplayer king for some time, but Call of Duty 4's multiplayer is, in my opinion, much more polished. While every player starts with a skin-and-bones weapons set, the weapons are good enough that you could play the entire online mode with them. The better one gets, the more weapons choices one gets, but the weapons are so well balanced and the levels so well designed that there is really no "unfair" way to play, which is what I found to be the major problem in Halo 3's multiplayer; there most assuredly ARE unfair ways of playing Halo 3, and certain weapons are far better than others. Call of Duty 4 is completely skill based, so more more you practice and play, the better you get. The ranking system is equivalent through every game type as well, and there are many, MANY game types.
Call of Duty 4 is much more serious than Halo 3 is. It has a higher learning curve, plus no health bar, but I think this is a good thing. You have to be careful around every corner and have eyes in the back of your head at all times, but it isn't as strict as, say, Rainbow Six Vegas. Its a perfect balance of fun and skill.
Score: 9.7 out of 10. This is the best game I have played in 2007, and there were MANY games this year. Ask for it for Christmas, go out and get it now, do everything in your power to get this game.
Call of Duty 4 is the reason why.
As much as I try, I can think of almost no problems with this game. The single player campaign is expertly crafted, and takes more chances with plot twists and taboo subjects than Hollywood would dare take in this post 9/11-Iraq War era. Every weapon in the game packs a punch when used in the right hands, the sound design is deafening with explosions and bullet ricochets abound...this is just a phenomenal, PHENOMENAL game.
While it isn't very long, the single player mode is worth the price of admission alone. Simply making it through the first three levels, including being stuck in the point of view of a doomed middle-eastern leader, is such a rush that you'll play it right over again to try and see things you might have missed the first time around. You play as either the British SAS or the US Marine Corps over the course of the game, and even take a trip to the outskirts of Chernobyl at one point.
Halo 3 will surely remain the multiplayer king for some time, but Call of Duty 4's multiplayer is, in my opinion, much more polished. While every player starts with a skin-and-bones weapons set, the weapons are good enough that you could play the entire online mode with them. The better one gets, the more weapons choices one gets, but the weapons are so well balanced and the levels so well designed that there is really no "unfair" way to play, which is what I found to be the major problem in Halo 3's multiplayer; there most assuredly ARE unfair ways of playing Halo 3, and certain weapons are far better than others. Call of Duty 4 is completely skill based, so more more you practice and play, the better you get. The ranking system is equivalent through every game type as well, and there are many, MANY game types.
Call of Duty 4 is much more serious than Halo 3 is. It has a higher learning curve, plus no health bar, but I think this is a good thing. You have to be careful around every corner and have eyes in the back of your head at all times, but it isn't as strict as, say, Rainbow Six Vegas. Its a perfect balance of fun and skill.
Score: 9.7 out of 10. This is the best game I have played in 2007, and there were MANY games this year. Ask for it for Christmas, go out and get it now, do everything in your power to get this game.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Movie Review: I Am Legend
I went into this movie with high expectations. I was expecting to see a summer blockbuster suddenly rear its head in the late fall with plenty of action and explosions. What I got was a severely plot-heavy film where Will Smith remains alone on screen for the vast duration of the film.
Is this a problem? In a way, yes and no.
This film definitely came across in trailers, to me at least, as an action movie. I was really expecting a lot more shooting, car scenes, and overall more "Michael Bay"-ness. Instead I got a film which is very emotionally charged and supported by brilliant imagery, albeit mostly computer generated or assisted. There really are a few moments in the film that are heart wrenching and make one really feel for Robert Neville (Will Smith). Will Smith's acting in this film is absolutely superb, really giving the sense of what the mindset of the last man on earth might be like.
The portrayal of a New York where humans have been nonexistent for three years is absolutely breathtaking. Plants have begun to retake the city, cars sit rusted parked along the sides of the roads, and buildings have begun to show their wear and tare without maintenance over the time. The CG work in the film is some of the best I have ever seen; scenes shot in Times Square were done with cars going by and people packing the sidewalks. The CG artists managed to erase all of that from every frame and turn Times Square into a desolate graveyard. Truly some of the best imagery I have seen in film this year.
The film has some legit plot twists that really catch you off guard, but they all seem to come rather close together. Maybe it was my "action movie" expectations that put me so off guard to this, but it may also be the film's length; it clocks in at exactly 100 minutes, or 1 hour 40 minutes. I REALLY, and I mean REALLY expected this film to be at least two if not two and a half hours long, and the end comes so...suddenly, that what you think is chapter two or three of the film is really the film's climax.
Overall, though, this was an enjoyable film, and certainly the type of film we need right now; something that doesn't need to be taken seriously and will give you a few scares, but at the same time can really make you think about "what if...".
Score: 8.1 out of 10. It may just be me, but this just wasn't the film I was expecting. Still a great film, mind you, but it really caught me off guard in it's style and emotionally-driven storyline.
Is this a problem? In a way, yes and no.
This film definitely came across in trailers, to me at least, as an action movie. I was really expecting a lot more shooting, car scenes, and overall more "Michael Bay"-ness. Instead I got a film which is very emotionally charged and supported by brilliant imagery, albeit mostly computer generated or assisted. There really are a few moments in the film that are heart wrenching and make one really feel for Robert Neville (Will Smith). Will Smith's acting in this film is absolutely superb, really giving the sense of what the mindset of the last man on earth might be like.
The portrayal of a New York where humans have been nonexistent for three years is absolutely breathtaking. Plants have begun to retake the city, cars sit rusted parked along the sides of the roads, and buildings have begun to show their wear and tare without maintenance over the time. The CG work in the film is some of the best I have ever seen; scenes shot in Times Square were done with cars going by and people packing the sidewalks. The CG artists managed to erase all of that from every frame and turn Times Square into a desolate graveyard. Truly some of the best imagery I have seen in film this year.
The film has some legit plot twists that really catch you off guard, but they all seem to come rather close together. Maybe it was my "action movie" expectations that put me so off guard to this, but it may also be the film's length; it clocks in at exactly 100 minutes, or 1 hour 40 minutes. I REALLY, and I mean REALLY expected this film to be at least two if not two and a half hours long, and the end comes so...suddenly, that what you think is chapter two or three of the film is really the film's climax.
Overall, though, this was an enjoyable film, and certainly the type of film we need right now; something that doesn't need to be taken seriously and will give you a few scares, but at the same time can really make you think about "what if...".
Score: 8.1 out of 10. It may just be me, but this just wasn't the film I was expecting. Still a great film, mind you, but it really caught me off guard in it's style and emotionally-driven storyline.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Music: Daft Punk, "Alive 2007"
Now, before you start asking, yes, the reviews that I am starting with are generally of things that I like. Why? Because thats the fodder that I have to work with right now. Plus, I'm just getting started, so its much easier to talk a lot about something I enjoy than to actively seek out things I want to simply bash, since that just seems so low to do nowadays.
Daft Punk's "Alive 2007" isn't so much a new album than a deeper revelation into the minds of the duo that is Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (yes thats one guys name) and Thomas Bangalter. Anyone who is familiar with the songs "One More Time" or "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" would think that a live performance of these songs would basically be just a simple playback of the songs off of a record.
They would be sadly mistaken.
"Alive 2007" shows the world just what it would be like to be at a live Daft Punk concert; adrenaline pumping bass blasting out at an electric crowd screaming for more and more. Daft Punk's live style is drastically different than listening to one of their typical albums, for they readily take bits and pieces of their songs and smash them together live to create a whole different type of song. In actuality, "Alive 2007" is more like 3 or 4 VERY long songs than the actual 13 presented in the track listing, but there is nothing wrong with that at all. Also, if you happened to download the "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" single from this album off of iTunes, you'll find that even the single is bits and pieces from the live performance smashed together; it never shows up during the entire live set.
Daft Punk was kind enough to blatantly tell which songs were being mashed together by track, i.e. "Around the World/Harder Better Faster Stronger" being the title of track 5. If one track embodied the entire album I would pick track 8, "One More Time/Aerodynamic". These are two very well known Daft Punk songs, but are mashed together in such a way that they become brand new all over again. There are very few weak points over the duration of the 84 minute long album, though if you have a problem with songs longer than your typical MTV single, this album might not be for you. This is an album for the fans, and can really only be appreciated by those who have been fans of Daft Punk and the electronica/club genre for some time.
Score: 8.0 out of 10. I am an absolute fanatic about this album, but the score is really reduced due to the limited audience that the album is aimed at. Electronica really does not have as strong a following in the United States as it does in Europe or even Asia, but Daft Punk is most assuredly one of the biggest names of the genre. Ask anyone who knows a thing or two about music and they will most likely know who Daft Punk is, but the casual listener will not really understand what the album is trying to do. Still, a stellar performance by Daft Punk, I eagerly await to see what new, innovative music will come from their next album.
Daft Punk's "Alive 2007" isn't so much a new album than a deeper revelation into the minds of the duo that is Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo (yes thats one guys name) and Thomas Bangalter. Anyone who is familiar with the songs "One More Time" or "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" would think that a live performance of these songs would basically be just a simple playback of the songs off of a record.
They would be sadly mistaken.
"Alive 2007" shows the world just what it would be like to be at a live Daft Punk concert; adrenaline pumping bass blasting out at an electric crowd screaming for more and more. Daft Punk's live style is drastically different than listening to one of their typical albums, for they readily take bits and pieces of their songs and smash them together live to create a whole different type of song. In actuality, "Alive 2007" is more like 3 or 4 VERY long songs than the actual 13 presented in the track listing, but there is nothing wrong with that at all. Also, if you happened to download the "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" single from this album off of iTunes, you'll find that even the single is bits and pieces from the live performance smashed together; it never shows up during the entire live set.
Daft Punk was kind enough to blatantly tell which songs were being mashed together by track, i.e. "Around the World/Harder Better Faster Stronger" being the title of track 5. If one track embodied the entire album I would pick track 8, "One More Time/Aerodynamic". These are two very well known Daft Punk songs, but are mashed together in such a way that they become brand new all over again. There are very few weak points over the duration of the 84 minute long album, though if you have a problem with songs longer than your typical MTV single, this album might not be for you. This is an album for the fans, and can really only be appreciated by those who have been fans of Daft Punk and the electronica/club genre for some time.
Score: 8.0 out of 10. I am an absolute fanatic about this album, but the score is really reduced due to the limited audience that the album is aimed at. Electronica really does not have as strong a following in the United States as it does in Europe or even Asia, but Daft Punk is most assuredly one of the biggest names of the genre. Ask anyone who knows a thing or two about music and they will most likely know who Daft Punk is, but the casual listener will not really understand what the album is trying to do. Still, a stellar performance by Daft Punk, I eagerly await to see what new, innovative music will come from their next album.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Game: Halo 3
"Finish The Fight"
These words first blared into the eyes of gamers worldwide during the summer of 2006, and thus the buildup to arguably the most important video game of all time began. Followed by a yearlong, full throttle hype machine that trickled the smallest bits of information to send the fanbase into a frenzy, Halo 3 has now become one of the most commercially successful entertainment properties of all time, making more money in 24 hours than anything EVER...film, music album, ANYTHING, Halo 3's first day income dwarfs it in comparison. Sure, it has made a huge amount of money, but the important question remains; how is the actual game?
At the time I am writing this review, my views about Halo 3 have changed a bit, but I will be fair and review the game as though it is still fresh in my mind. I was, after all, foaming at the mouth for this game for over a year, and was left awestruck by it from its first cinematic to it's adrenaline rush of an end, and charged up all over again by its multiplayer matches. I'm one of those people who has even read the Halo BOOKS, so I tend to think I know more about every nook and cranny of the Halo universe than the average buyer of the game. In the end, though, as I have said, only one point matters; Did Halo 3 live up to its hype?
In a word, in a first experience, for a fan of the genre and the game series, the answer is an emphatic YES. Halo 3 is beautifully crafted and polished, filled with plenty of plot twists, weapon choices, and more enemies on screen at once than one can shake a grenade at. Let's get the more boring stuff past us first; you no longer play as the Arbiter (a character introduced in the 2nd installment of the trilogy, whom many had distaste for) and see the entire plotline unfold through the visor of the series' iconic hero, the Master Chief. The graphical detailing in the game, both aesthetic environments and brilliant character models, are very pleasing to the eye and never get boring. Trust me, if every hallway in a game looks EXACTLY the same, the game can get boring in a heartbeat, and Halo 3 ensures that this does not happen. All of the game's main characters are back from the second installment, and they all have their place in the sometimes confusing plot line. The single player game is somewhat short if you are an experienced fan of the genre (I beat it in one day with a break in the middle called "college classes") but has plenty of replay value, especially thanks to the ability to play with up to three friends online in the main story. This is a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and also helpful; the game is near impossible to beat in harder difficulties without the assistance of a friend. It will last you a while, and you'll find yourself wanting to go back to find the nice handful of secrets hidden within the game.
Now, to the reason that 95% of buyers actually GOT the game; it's multiplayer matches. Just as in Halo 2, Halo 3 uses a matchmaking system that sets one up with players of close skill, so matches are for the most part even and sure to be a blast. The addition of a few new weapons (primarily the Spartan Laser, a weapon that cuts anything it hits in half, and the Gravity Hammer, which when swung can stop a car in its tracks) make things interesting all over again, and the level design is, for the most part, very good. The option to use the Forge, a new level editing software included in the game, allows players to come up with their own unique game types limited only by the imagination, and is sure to lengthen the lifespan of this game by years. A few bothers from previous incarnations of the game, i.e. the ease of sniping and sword-hogs (the sword is a 1-hit-kill weapon) have been addressed and are now considerably less of a threat, making the playing field of the game much more even. Sure, it takes more skill to play Halo 3 than its prequels, but thats a good thing. Nothing bores like an overly repetitive, simple game. The level-up system has also been revamped; each game type has its own ranking out of 50, 50 being godlike, but there is also an overall skill level ranking via insignia shown next to every player's name that shows that while they may be only a skill level 3 in Team Slayer (team vs team killing match), overall they are actually a Brigadier General. This helps players know exactly where they belong and who they should be fighting.
The best feature of the game comes with the ability to re-watch previous matches in the game's Theater option. One can freely look about an entire match played a few days beforehand to take a snapshot of an amazing moment or even record something so incredible that their friends would never believe it if they had not seen it. Well, now they CAN see it. This also opens the doors to those who have wanted to create machimania from the Halo franchise to have a blast blowing each other up for the world to see. This feature has created some really interesting bits of eyecandy for the fanbase and is yet another reason for people to return to the game again and again.
My few initial problems came with one or two levels of the map that I believed were just poorly designed, though this may just be my taste as I know plenty of players of the game who love levels I hate, and hate levels I love. My other main problem comes with
the Theater option; it takes FOREVER to get to a single point in a long game, and the rewind function isnt so much as "rewind" as the games equivalent to a DVD's "jump back a chapter" function, and can get quite annoying. Other than these two bits, there is very little wrong with the game; everyone can find their weapon that they enjoy using, whether it be rockets or swords, lasers or hammers. Sure, the ending (WAIT AFTER THE CREDITS) is a little confusing, but just go play Marathon (a previous title by Bungie, Halo's daddys) to understand it.
Final Score (Initial): 9.3. This is about as good as multiplayer console shooters can get. Its well balanced, fun, has a climax in the single player mode the player wont soon forget, and will remain the top played XBox Live game for a long, long time.
...ok, thats my INITIAL review from the point of view of a fanatical mouthfoaming fanboy a-la September 25th, 2007. At the time, that was all true to me. Nowadays though, I can say that I haven't played Halo 3 online for a while. Why? Because it feels so much like Halo 2 did. One may think this is a good thing, and in a way it is; the game has a strict fanbase that easily made the transition from one game to another. However, after a while, I just stood back and thought "Isn't this just the same game Ive been playing since 2004, but a little shinier with a few new nuts and bolts?" Don't get me wrong, I had a BLAST while I was playing the game, but games have come out since then that just seem to....outdo Halo 3. Yes, i said it. For the casual gamer at heart, though, Halo 3 is the perfect mix of pick-up-and-play with a nice 50cc shot of adrenaline to fit the wide fanbase the game has. I'm sure I will return to the game sometime soon and become re-obsessed with it in one way or another, but if I were to review the game NOW, especially in light of the fact that a certain other series came out with it's latest game recently, I would give Halo 3 a slightly lower 8.9 out of 10. Still a stellar accomplishment of a game, but it has simply because too casual and everyday for me.
These words first blared into the eyes of gamers worldwide during the summer of 2006, and thus the buildup to arguably the most important video game of all time began. Followed by a yearlong, full throttle hype machine that trickled the smallest bits of information to send the fanbase into a frenzy, Halo 3 has now become one of the most commercially successful entertainment properties of all time, making more money in 24 hours than anything EVER...film, music album, ANYTHING, Halo 3's first day income dwarfs it in comparison. Sure, it has made a huge amount of money, but the important question remains; how is the actual game?
At the time I am writing this review, my views about Halo 3 have changed a bit, but I will be fair and review the game as though it is still fresh in my mind. I was, after all, foaming at the mouth for this game for over a year, and was left awestruck by it from its first cinematic to it's adrenaline rush of an end, and charged up all over again by its multiplayer matches. I'm one of those people who has even read the Halo BOOKS, so I tend to think I know more about every nook and cranny of the Halo universe than the average buyer of the game. In the end, though, as I have said, only one point matters; Did Halo 3 live up to its hype?
In a word, in a first experience, for a fan of the genre and the game series, the answer is an emphatic YES. Halo 3 is beautifully crafted and polished, filled with plenty of plot twists, weapon choices, and more enemies on screen at once than one can shake a grenade at. Let's get the more boring stuff past us first; you no longer play as the Arbiter (a character introduced in the 2nd installment of the trilogy, whom many had distaste for) and see the entire plotline unfold through the visor of the series' iconic hero, the Master Chief. The graphical detailing in the game, both aesthetic environments and brilliant character models, are very pleasing to the eye and never get boring. Trust me, if every hallway in a game looks EXACTLY the same, the game can get boring in a heartbeat, and Halo 3 ensures that this does not happen. All of the game's main characters are back from the second installment, and they all have their place in the sometimes confusing plot line. The single player game is somewhat short if you are an experienced fan of the genre (I beat it in one day with a break in the middle called "college classes") but has plenty of replay value, especially thanks to the ability to play with up to three friends online in the main story. This is a thoroughly enjoyable experience, and also helpful; the game is near impossible to beat in harder difficulties without the assistance of a friend. It will last you a while, and you'll find yourself wanting to go back to find the nice handful of secrets hidden within the game.
Now, to the reason that 95% of buyers actually GOT the game; it's multiplayer matches. Just as in Halo 2, Halo 3 uses a matchmaking system that sets one up with players of close skill, so matches are for the most part even and sure to be a blast. The addition of a few new weapons (primarily the Spartan Laser, a weapon that cuts anything it hits in half, and the Gravity Hammer, which when swung can stop a car in its tracks) make things interesting all over again, and the level design is, for the most part, very good. The option to use the Forge, a new level editing software included in the game, allows players to come up with their own unique game types limited only by the imagination, and is sure to lengthen the lifespan of this game by years. A few bothers from previous incarnations of the game, i.e. the ease of sniping and sword-hogs (the sword is a 1-hit-kill weapon) have been addressed and are now considerably less of a threat, making the playing field of the game much more even. Sure, it takes more skill to play Halo 3 than its prequels, but thats a good thing. Nothing bores like an overly repetitive, simple game. The level-up system has also been revamped; each game type has its own ranking out of 50, 50 being godlike, but there is also an overall skill level ranking via insignia shown next to every player's name that shows that while they may be only a skill level 3 in Team Slayer (team vs team killing match), overall they are actually a Brigadier General. This helps players know exactly where they belong and who they should be fighting.
The best feature of the game comes with the ability to re-watch previous matches in the game's Theater option. One can freely look about an entire match played a few days beforehand to take a snapshot of an amazing moment or even record something so incredible that their friends would never believe it if they had not seen it. Well, now they CAN see it. This also opens the doors to those who have wanted to create machimania from the Halo franchise to have a blast blowing each other up for the world to see. This feature has created some really interesting bits of eyecandy for the fanbase and is yet another reason for people to return to the game again and again.
My few initial problems came with one or two levels of the map that I believed were just poorly designed, though this may just be my taste as I know plenty of players of the game who love levels I hate, and hate levels I love. My other main problem comes with
the Theater option; it takes FOREVER to get to a single point in a long game, and the rewind function isnt so much as "rewind" as the games equivalent to a DVD's "jump back a chapter" function, and can get quite annoying. Other than these two bits, there is very little wrong with the game; everyone can find their weapon that they enjoy using, whether it be rockets or swords, lasers or hammers. Sure, the ending (WAIT AFTER THE CREDITS) is a little confusing, but just go play Marathon (a previous title by Bungie, Halo's daddys) to understand it.
Final Score (Initial): 9.3. This is about as good as multiplayer console shooters can get. Its well balanced, fun, has a climax in the single player mode the player wont soon forget, and will remain the top played XBox Live game for a long, long time.
...ok, thats my INITIAL review from the point of view of a fanatical mouthfoaming fanboy a-la September 25th, 2007. At the time, that was all true to me. Nowadays though, I can say that I haven't played Halo 3 online for a while. Why? Because it feels so much like Halo 2 did. One may think this is a good thing, and in a way it is; the game has a strict fanbase that easily made the transition from one game to another. However, after a while, I just stood back and thought "Isn't this just the same game Ive been playing since 2004, but a little shinier with a few new nuts and bolts?" Don't get me wrong, I had a BLAST while I was playing the game, but games have come out since then that just seem to....outdo Halo 3. Yes, i said it. For the casual gamer at heart, though, Halo 3 is the perfect mix of pick-up-and-play with a nice 50cc shot of adrenaline to fit the wide fanbase the game has. I'm sure I will return to the game sometime soon and become re-obsessed with it in one way or another, but if I were to review the game NOW, especially in light of the fact that a certain other series came out with it's latest game recently, I would give Halo 3 a slightly lower 8.9 out of 10. Still a stellar accomplishment of a game, but it has simply because too casual and everyday for me.
First post and review: Sweeney Todd
First and foremost, thank you to anyone who is actually willing to give their time to read this. I feel that many review sites around the internet are too focused on a single area of entertainment, and thus a wider range of interests are needed under a single roof. My goal is to review many different forms of entertainment, from films to video games, from the point of view of your average college student, aka one of the main consumers of this type of media. I will do my best to review everything on an even basis, always out of a score of 10, with 10 being perfect and 1 being abysmal.
My first review is something of a sneak preview for the rest of the world. I was given a sneak peek of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" this past weekend, a film which I have been looking forward to for some time. Bear in mind that I have never seen a stage performance of "Sweeney Todd", so my review is purely from the point of view of the film. Simply put, if you are a fan of either Johnny Depp or Tim Burton, you're in for a treat. If not, still, go see this film as soon as it is released.
Sweeney Todd tells the tale of a man seeking revenge for the life stolen from him fifteen years beforehand, and the madness that ensues in his quest for vengeance. From the previews released for the film, I have heard a few complaints from "Sweeney Todd" purists, or as I call them "Sweenists", that there was no way Johnny Depp could enact and sing the role. Do not fret, for he does a superb job in the role, and while it is slightly reminiscent of Jack Sparrow at times (especially when you see him on a ship during the first scene of the film), the way he portrays the torn character that is Sweeney Todd is brilliant. Oh, and his singing isn't bad either. Fangirls are sure to swoon over him even more.
The character of Mrs. Lovett, played by Helena Bonham Carter, was a very interesting role to view, and Carter gave her a great deal of vivid motion as well as a wonderful voice. The one problem I had with her was she actually reminded me quite a bit of another character dealing with a psychopathic killer; Harley Quinn from Batman. I very much saw her obsession with Sweeney Todd (who she affectionately calls Mr. T, Harley calls the Joker Mr. J) in the same supportive manor as the odd Harley/Joker relationship. Of the two main characters, Mrs. Lovett actually seems to be the more wicked of the two; in reality, it is she who drives Sweeney to all of the horrible deeds he does, giving him a place to commit his dirty work as well as placing evil thoughts within his mind about "Meat Pies"...see the movie, you'll know what I mean.
Sacha Baron Cohen, in a blue tight spandex-ish outfit, singing with a fake Italian accent. I dont need to say anything more, its simply amazing.
The film is a cinematic feast, full of brilliant imagery and very interesting use of computer to convey a darker, more sinful London than one would ever imagine. Filled with dark blue hues for the majority of the film, there is never a moment where one does not sense the lust and evil intent oozing out from the characters through their voices and actions. The music of the film easily matches if not surpasses the look of the film, with Carter and Depp leading the way. The most disappointing parts of the film were focused mainly around Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin, and while not at all a bad performance by any means, he comes off more as the creepy old lecher from down the road than a true villain.
The best part of the film comes during the song "By The Sea", a brilliantly shot sequence that is drastically different from the rest of the film and also had parts of the audience in stitches from the hilarious imagery on screen. I wont ruin it for anyone, but any Depp fan will have a ball during that sequence. Overall, "Sweeney Todd" is a brilliantly shot film, wonderfully acted and keeps one interested from beginning to end.
Final: 9.0 out of 10. A visual feast with brilliant shooting, costume design and lighting, but from time to time is just the slightest bit overdone and has a few portions that seem unnecessary, but this is sure to be one of the best films of the holiday season.
My first review is something of a sneak preview for the rest of the world. I was given a sneak peek of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" this past weekend, a film which I have been looking forward to for some time. Bear in mind that I have never seen a stage performance of "Sweeney Todd", so my review is purely from the point of view of the film. Simply put, if you are a fan of either Johnny Depp or Tim Burton, you're in for a treat. If not, still, go see this film as soon as it is released.
Sweeney Todd tells the tale of a man seeking revenge for the life stolen from him fifteen years beforehand, and the madness that ensues in his quest for vengeance. From the previews released for the film, I have heard a few complaints from "Sweeney Todd" purists, or as I call them "Sweenists", that there was no way Johnny Depp could enact and sing the role. Do not fret, for he does a superb job in the role, and while it is slightly reminiscent of Jack Sparrow at times (especially when you see him on a ship during the first scene of the film), the way he portrays the torn character that is Sweeney Todd is brilliant. Oh, and his singing isn't bad either. Fangirls are sure to swoon over him even more.
The character of Mrs. Lovett, played by Helena Bonham Carter, was a very interesting role to view, and Carter gave her a great deal of vivid motion as well as a wonderful voice. The one problem I had with her was she actually reminded me quite a bit of another character dealing with a psychopathic killer; Harley Quinn from Batman. I very much saw her obsession with Sweeney Todd (who she affectionately calls Mr. T, Harley calls the Joker Mr. J) in the same supportive manor as the odd Harley/Joker relationship. Of the two main characters, Mrs. Lovett actually seems to be the more wicked of the two; in reality, it is she who drives Sweeney to all of the horrible deeds he does, giving him a place to commit his dirty work as well as placing evil thoughts within his mind about "Meat Pies"...see the movie, you'll know what I mean.
Sacha Baron Cohen, in a blue tight spandex-ish outfit, singing with a fake Italian accent. I dont need to say anything more, its simply amazing.
The film is a cinematic feast, full of brilliant imagery and very interesting use of computer to convey a darker, more sinful London than one would ever imagine. Filled with dark blue hues for the majority of the film, there is never a moment where one does not sense the lust and evil intent oozing out from the characters through their voices and actions. The music of the film easily matches if not surpasses the look of the film, with Carter and Depp leading the way. The most disappointing parts of the film were focused mainly around Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin, and while not at all a bad performance by any means, he comes off more as the creepy old lecher from down the road than a true villain.
The best part of the film comes during the song "By The Sea", a brilliantly shot sequence that is drastically different from the rest of the film and also had parts of the audience in stitches from the hilarious imagery on screen. I wont ruin it for anyone, but any Depp fan will have a ball during that sequence. Overall, "Sweeney Todd" is a brilliantly shot film, wonderfully acted and keeps one interested from beginning to end.
Final: 9.0 out of 10. A visual feast with brilliant shooting, costume design and lighting, but from time to time is just the slightest bit overdone and has a few portions that seem unnecessary, but this is sure to be one of the best films of the holiday season.
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