Jack the Giant Slayer Trailer: Well, It’s Got to At Least LOOK Better Than The Original…

Posted on December 6, 2012 by geelw

Whee! Another repost (but with some additions) – hey, I’m busy, so if you read this on the old blog already, sorry ’bout that! To those who haven’t yet – enjoy!

Hey, I’m old enough to remember seeing the original 1962 flick on TV a few times during the late 60’s and early 70’s, but even then, I thought it was pretty cheesy when it came to the special effects. That was thanks to seeing almost all of Ray Harryhausen’s best work by that time in much better films and noting my my smart little head right away that the “special” effects in Jack weren’t up to snuff. Hell, Alexander Korda’s classic1940 film The Thief of Bag(h)dad beats the original Jack by a few miles in terms of sheer visual punch. Anyway, some who view this trailer are crying “sacrilege!” or claiming Warner Bros has RUINED their childhood memories, but I say this new coat of CG paint might at least be a better film in terms of looks. OK, and acting as well, as I never could stand Kerwin Matthews as a lead. There was something about him was so wooden that the effects in the fantasy films he was in were more compelling (well, except for the ones in the original JtGK). We’ll see about the story and all that in a bit, I suppose…

DmC Eye of Dante App: Some Are Still Kicking Capcom Around For Mere Marketing

Posted on December 5, 2012 by geelw

Oh, the internet can be a nasty little place for trying to push a product sometimes. Case in point, poor Capcom’s otherwise interesting app promoting the upcoming DmC through a bit of gameplay and site-hopping. If you go to the YouTube page and read the comments (which isn’t advised if you like your brain not flipping around in your head), they’re pretty mean and mostly not about the actual app. Ah well – I say if Ninja Theory’s new game coming out next year is good, all this green hot bile will dissipate like dust in the wind. Of course, the anti-DLC crowd is still not to be assuaged, so there’s always that fire to deal with…

THE SIMPLE Series For Wii U: The Family Party – D3 Knows Its Japanese Audience

Posted on December 5, 2012 by geelw

Nope, it’s not a sign of a new console’s premature apocalypse when the budget-priced releases start popping up. In Japan, D3 Publisher is well-known as a producer and publisher of a lower-priced games lineup for a few consoles called THE SIMPLE series, so it was only a matter of time before they started getting games done and shipped for Nintendo’s new system. This one’s a compilation of 35 family friendly mini-games and I’m gathering will do well because D3 has figured out that sticking a ton of content onto a disc and getting it out during the holidays (December 20) at an affordable price point (about $30) will net them a decent profit no matter what reviewers will say. The chances of this coming out here are pretty slim, but it would be a nice surprise if it did in some form or another.

This Ni no Kuni Behind The Scenes Video Will Make You Want To Make Games…

Posted on December 5, 2012 by geelw

…Or hell, at least want to buy a PS3 just so you can play THIS one. Personally, I love this video because you can see the passion as well as dedication the team at Level-5 put into the project (and boy, do they have some nice offices in Fukuoka), with a “little” assistance from Studio Ghibli, of course. Kids, remember to show this to your parents so you can prove that all that time you spend in front of the TV will lead to something other than the need for glasses or contacts, a lust for caffeinated beverages and the occasional bandage to cover up those blistered thumbs.

Sony’s Holiday Strategy Seems To Be Go All Nintendo On Its Fan Base…

Posted on December 5, 2012 by geelw

I wasn’t going to say anything snarky initially, but I overheard a hilarious conversation yesterday that definitely kick-started this post. Basically three kids were arguing about Sony “copying” Nintendo’s hugely popular Mario Kart games with Little Big Planet Karting (above) and the Super Smash Bros. series with PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (below). Granted, if you actually play the games you’ll see that both do certain key things differently, but on the surface, yup – shameless, aren’t they? I had to laugh because while they all were wrong in that way kids who no not a thing about how games are made are, a few nails were indeed hit on the head. Granted, Sony’s other first party stuff has been pretty solid and there’s more greatness to come in 2013. But for this brief, not so shining moment, the Nintendo fanboys and girls out there actually have a genuine gripe that can’t be easily brushed away. Well, at least the two games are good*, so that saves them from a bit of the batting about they’re getting in some corners of the internet…

*”Good” being entirely objective term, as we all know Mario Kart is the gold standard here. LBPK is a wee bit problematic on a few fronts, but the driving and blowing stuff up works OK.

NEOGEO X Gold LE: Delay of Game Equals More Anticipation (As Well As Some Rustproofing)…

Posted on December 4, 2012 by geelw

Sometimes, delays are a good thing, provided you’re taking the glass half full approach. To wit: Best Buy notified me that my order would be delayed until the 18th, but no biggie. That gives me more time to practice playing a few games on that really fine PS2 collection from a few years back. After all these years I’m still absolutely, completely terrible at Magician Lord (and probably will still be), so I’m going to be spending a few hours trying not to die so much or jump up and down on a controller after losing that final life.

For newbies, let me very safely state that NeoGeo games aren’t for rage-quitters at all. Nope, if you get all Hulky and throw that big ol’ heavy arcade stick down, you’ll probably break a toe (and need to go spend a small fortune replacing it. Er, the controller, not your toe). The X’s replicated arcade stick seems to be of similar quality (and not inexpensive either), but I’m definitely NOT going to be tossing it around when I lose. Now you know why they call throw pillows THROW pillows. Just aim for something non-breakable (and not the family pet, lest you get that toe you didn’t break earlier chewed on while you sleep)…

Far Cry 3: I Haven’t Played It Yet, But I’m Already Hooked In…

Posted on December 4, 2012 by geelw

Thanks to having so many other games to play through this month, I know I won’t get around to playing Far Cry 3 until next year. However, from what I’ve seen so far (a friend has it and is having a total blast), I’m going to be REALLY busy in Crytek’s massive open-world shooter. I spent an hour or so watching someone play and it looks as if the game allows you to do what you want on those islands outside the main story line (a great thing). Sure, you’re still killing men and animals by the boatload, but the story sections are compelling from the beginning and you can get your character’s motivations and grasp his rather insane situation thanks to some excellent writing and motion captured performances. Hmmmm… maybe I’ll skip a few games and pick this up sooner than later after all… we shall see.

The Last of Us Story Teaser: Naughty Dog’s Survival Epic Means Business

Posted on December 4, 2012 by geelw

With the so-called “aging” PS3 heading into its last year or so as a viable console, it’s really great to see developers like Naught Dog keep forging ahead with key AAA titles for the console that will absolutely be worth that $60 price tag. The Last of Us just may be one of the best console games of this generation as well as one more example of how story-driven games will always be superior to the usual multiplayer madness that’s about as deep as a broken teacup. Keep your eyes on this one, folks – it’s going to be quite special…

Review: TANK! TANK! TANK!

Posted on December 3, 2012 by geelw

Platform: Wii U

Developer: Namco

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

# of Players: 1 – 4

ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Official Site

Score: B (80%)

As a launch title for the Wii U, Namco Bandai’s TANK! TANK! TANK! may not look like a system seller, but look past its colorful arcade visuals and initially simple gameplay and you’ll find a fast-paced (and 100% tank focused) party game shooter that owes more than a little credit to Sandlot’s always fun Earth Defense Force series of games. In fact, the game manages to play almost exactly like an arcade version of EDF would, streamlining the experience down to timed stages, random weapon pickups that you can use instantly and a mix of assorted enemies from giant robotic spiders and wasps to some pretty wild bosses that need to be taken down as quickly as possible. Granted, blowing monsters into scrap metal over and over is all you do here in the main game whether playing in solo or co-op, so those seeking something deeper should look elsewhere. On the other hand, given that this is a rather enhanced port of an arcade game that offers much more than the original version, you SHOULD expect and respect the repetitive nature of the game to the fullest by diving in and shooting up the scenery as much as possible.
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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey TV Spot 9 (And More To Come, I’ll Bet)…

Posted on December 3, 2012 by geelw

Funny that some people flew all the way around the world to see this flick, but hey – I guess obsession makes one do some strange things. I couldn’t put my mind to doing that at all even if I could afford it, as hell, there’s not a damn thing wrong with the local cinema here. Well, except for it used to be swarming with stray cats (!), but that problem was taken care of years ago. You’d think a film so huge and anticipated wouldn’t need so many ads, but hey, this sort of thing is quite common and has been for a while. Still, I’m waiting for the day when an entire movie is split into a bunch of commercials and all one would need to do is record or download them all and piece the film together like some sort of digital jigsaw puzzle. Oh, it’ll happen eventually – I’m just ahead of the curve again.