Retro Game Review: Spider-man 2

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Hello Enthusiasts,

If you go around and ask folks their opinions on Spider-man video games, you will often hear that the title I'm reviewing today is the best one. Today, we'll check the validity of that statement as I review Spider-man 2. I will be reviewing the version of the game that came out on consoles rather than the PC version, which I hear differs greatly. Also, of course, be prepared for some Spoilers Below.

This game is based off of the movie with the same title, which was released in 2004. The premise is that Peter Parker continues to do his Spider-man thing, but has been running into some trouble. He can't keep up with his school work, he can't make the time to impress Mary Jane, and Harry Osborne is hell-bent on getting revenge on the wall-crawler. This all lead's to Peter losing his powers due to a lack of confidence in himself as the web-slinger. Luckily for this game we were spared the task of having a level where Spider-man has no powers like the movie included. On top of all of that, Spider-man's new big foe comes into the mix, Dr. Otto Octavius, aka Dr. Octopus. I give the movie tie-in's a lot of credit, because they really do add a lot of additional story, which generally doesn't feel too forced.

So why do so many people consider this game to be the gold-standard when it comes to Spider-man titles? Well, this game had a lot of great firsts and set a path for other games to follow. This was the first Spider-man game to feature an open-world environment, and the first one to actually let you walk around the streets of New York City (previous titles were limited to rooftops and inside buildings). This allowed players to take on side missions, help with random street crimes, play arcade games, and gather collectables. This was also the first Spider-man title that didn't force a player to constantly refill their web, which helped a lot with the flow of the game. Plus, on top of those, the game was also the first Spider-man title to offer an upgrade system, which I believe every Spider-man game since has offered.

So outside of being the first to do a lot of different things, there are a few highlights to the game. As mentioned earlier, the story does differ from its cinematic counterpart, and it does the extended story well. Instead of just Doc Ock, players get to face The Rhino, Mysterio, and The Shocker. Players are also introduced to Black Cat in this game, who helps in moving the story along. The game introduced a decent fighting/dodging mechanic that works for what it is, allowing players a chance to counter-attack after dodging a hit (if they've unlocked the upgrade). There's also a system in the game that charges up and, when used, allows Spider-man to move fastter than his enemies and attack them while they move in slow-motion. This is especially helpful when fighting some giant mechanized battle suit guys later in the game. Even the side missions can be fun, like taking picture for the Daily Bugle or delivering pizzas as Spider-man.

However, even with all of these positives, the game does lack in certain areas. The cut scenes are painfully bad in several different ways. The graphics in these scenes get a downgrade from the rest of the game, looking more like they belonged on the PS1 than the PS2. This title came out on the same system as one ofy previous reviews, 007: Nightfire (which can be found at http://boredenthusiast.blogspot.com/2016/12/retro-game-review-007-nightfire.html?m=1 ), and these graphics are several steps behind that. Black Cat and Peter look especially bad in these scenes, which is strange since both of them are in so many. The dialogue in these scenes can also seem really forced, and I always just want to move on to the actual gameplay. This is made even more apparent when the dialogue during gameplay can be pretty funny and natural. Also, while the fighting mechanic does work well enough, the dodging system has a bit of a delay. It's not bad enough that you won't be able to adjust to it, but it will take a little time. I suggest one of the games in the arcade to assist, which is just a game that has you dodging bullets.

So, is this the best Spider-man game? I would say no, but it is a good one. While newer games have made the fighting more fluid and have of course gotten a graphics upgrade, not all of them have a story to match, or enjoyable dialogue like this one does. I think there's really one Spider-man title I enjoyed more, and that was Spider-man: Web of Shadows. So yeah, if you have a system from this gen, pick up this title. It won't look as polished as some other games, but it sure is a lot of fun.

I give Spider-man 2 an 8.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Comic Book Review: Wolverine - Enemy of the State

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing the graphic novel Wolverine: Enemy of the State. This review, as many do now, may contain some Spoilers Below.

The story, written by comic all-star Mark Miller, opens up with a trap, where one of Logan's old friends in Japan has his child stolen to draw Wolverine out. When Wolverine arrives though, he is captured by The Hand and is brainwashed to kill just about every superhero on Earth, and we all know that he is the best at what he does. This, of course, causes a significant amount of chaos in the Marvel Universe, as one of their more durable heroes is now their enemy, which is something nobody was hoping for. Luckily, he is then captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. and returned to his normal, heroic self, free to get his bloody, hate-filled revenge.

This is the example for a Wolverine comic to meet. The art is fantastic and consistent all the way through, thanks to the brilliant work of industry icon (and son of an industry legend) John Romita Jr. The story is engaging and interesting, with some amazing scenes, like when Logan is being deprogrammed by S.H.I.E.L.D. This scene shows Wolverine breaking out of his restraints and slaughtering every agent on board, until he stops before killing one woman because he can tell she is pregnant. It is revealed that this is all happening in his mind, induced as a mean of overcoming his programming, and this one only the most recent of thousands of simulations (but the first one where he spared anyone). This scene along was great and I loved the idea that shows that it is no easy task  to remove such programming from Logan's mind. Also, even though he isn't doing what we might want him to be doing when he's working for The Hand, it shows him at the pinnacle of his awesomeness, taking down characters that are out of a lot of other heroes leagues. At the same time though, Logan will still help people when he is being controlled, with the example being shown of him stopping a mugging of a woman between his super-powered assassinations.

So yes, the book is memorable and enjoyable. It's also a pretty long book, coming in at well over 100 pages, with very few one-panel pages thrown in there. a lot happens, and it's mostly action. There are a few pages where only a line or two of dialogue are said, letting the action speak for itself. I think I saw more SNIKT than I did conversation. Still, the dialogue is clever and informative, which is impressive since it's a pretty straightforward plot for such a long graphic novel. It''s nice that, throughout everything, Wolverine's reputation overcomes his current actions with most of the other Marvel heroes, with characters like Captain America and Nick Fury giving him the benefit of the doubt right away for his actions. It also helps that Electra knows The Hand's methods when she sees them, and she does have a moderate role in part of this story.

The only possible downside to this comic for me is the final part of it. The story ends with another issue remaining in the series, and it's a look back at a WWII concentration camp where Wolverine was prisoner. He could have broken out at any time of course, but he instead liked to make the wardens go insane trying to kill him, to the point that it's implied that they had all been committing suicide. This is all done without Logan's normal rude remarks either, he would just stand there as a constant presense. It's not a bad story, and I would actually like to read a whole graphic novel about it, but it does not fit in here at all. It's a random jump back that was put in to pad a little bit more space in the book, and I really could have done without it.

If it wasn't for the last, disconnected issue, this could have been a real 10/10. However, I cannot ignore that someone made the decision to include that in this otherwise perfect story of Wolverine becoming a villain and having to redeem himself. If you are a fan of Wolverine, Marvel, or just comics in general, this is a good read. I definitely suggest picking up a copy, because you'll be reading it more than once if you're anything like me.

I give Wolverine: Enemy of the State a 9.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Retro Game Review: James Bond 007 - From Russia With Love

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing the 2005 game James Bond 007: From Russia with Love. This title was published by EA Games and was released for the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and XBOX consoles. It is based on the film of the same name, which was released in 1963 (which was based on a novel that was released in 1957).

For those unfamiliar with the story, I'll fill you in. In both the film, game, and novel, From Russia with Love takes place not long after the events of the previous installment, Dr. No. The organization known as SPECTRE (though in the game they are called OCTOPUS due to some apparent legal disputes) sees James Bond as a threat after he eliminated one of their top guys, the aforementioned Dr. No. So, the organization sets up a trap for MI6, baiting them with a Soviet encoding device called a Lektor. They have a member of their organization pretending to defect and offer the Lektor up, but only if she gets to be picked up by 007 himself. All the while, the real plan is to have a different agent assassinate Bond when the opportunity presents itself. Of course the defecting female agent ends up falling for the ever-charming Bond, and the rest of the story is a whirlwind of action, suspense, and everything else you love about a James Bond movie.

The game itself is a third-person shooter that utilizes an auto-aim feature. The maps are mostly linear, with some hidden areas in each of the maps, many of which include unlockables. There are also some missions that utilize vehicles, like the Jet-pack from Thunderball that shows up a few times. The game features both a single player campaign that follows the story above, as well as a split-screen multiplayer.

So the game stays pretty true to the story, though with several liberties taken. There are several extra missions and areas in the game that weren't featured in the film, like when Bond breaks into the OCTOPUS headquarters at the end of the game. Still, a lot of the scenes are pulled straight from the movie, like the gypsy shootout and train scene (although there is more added to all of them, of course). EA was even able to get the same James Bond himself, Sean Connery, to do the voice acting, which adds a lot to the game for me. The graphics are solid for their time, and the controls are intuitive as well.

On the negative side of the chart I would go ahead and put the difficulty. If you've a lot of my previous reviews, I like a game to progressively get more difficult. However, this game had spots that were incredibly difficult in a game that is otherwise pretty middle of the road in that regard. The function to select a current weapon also leaves something to be desired, as you will find yourself scrolling through the options to find what you're looking for, rather than just utilizing a weapon wheel. I would have also appreciated bots in multiplayer, as the battles can be a little lackluster if you onlybhave two players. It's little things like this that hold the game back from really knocking it out of the park.

Deapite any grievences, this game is a lot of fun. I felt like I was playing an alternate universe version of the movie, and it truely was enjoyable. I suggest picking up a copy, and I hope you like it as much as I do.

I give James Bond 007: From Russia with Love an 8 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Comic Book Review: Black Road - The Holy North

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Today's review will be of the first volume of Image's comic, Black Road. As a head's up to any parents looking to get this one for a younger reader, this story is a little graphic, so be warned. Also, as I go through this, it's a good idea to remember that there may be Mild Spoilers Below.

So this story takes place during the expansion of Christianity in Scandinavia, which would have been somewhere between 700-1100 C.E. This comic revolves around a warrior from a small village named Magnus ( often referred to as "Magnus the Black"), who is escourting a Cardinal north on the Black Road. The Cardinal dies early on, and his mission is passed along to his adopted daughter, Julia. The Black Road is dangerous for a number of reasons, but it is the only way to travel on foot to a Christian fortification on the northern coast.

The action scenes in this book are pretty exciting, the movements are all very fluid and believable. The main character, Magnus, is relatable, but also a giant mass of murderous muscle. It would have also been easy for Magnus to have been written with no personality but angry (much like how many buff Scandinavians are written), but he is given a range of emotions, though he still never really cracks a smile. I also liked the art in thr comic, which is sketchy, but I feel like it really fits with the setting being so far in the past.

The book does have a few flaws though. It jumps around a lot, seemingly skipping a good amount of the journey; it's almost like watching a highlight reel of a longer story. I realize that I'm not going to see every step the character's take, but leaves a lot to be assumed. This makes the story a bit more difficult to follow, which I found frustrating. This is no more apparent than near the end, which has a plot twist, and then a COUNTER plot twist, both of which happen within a page or two of each other. Also, as someone who really appreciates historical accuracy, I was pretty upset with the language used in the book. The writers don't even try for an older dialect of english like Thor uses, instead using much more modern words and phrases in the conversations.

So is this comic terrible with those flaws listed above? No, it was still enjoyable, but I think the writers over at Image need to slow down. Maybe they're used to writing really short stories or they had some strict deadlines, but I certainly felt like parts of this wete really rushed. Pick it up, if only to have a basis for later volumes, which could be a lot better, the story certainly has the potential, it's just not reached here.

I give Black Road: The Holy North a 6 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Retro Game Review: 007 Nightfire

Thr image above belongs to its respective owner, not me

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today's review will be of the ps2/XBOX/GameCube game, 007 Nightfire, which was released in 2002. The game was also released on the PC, Mac, and Gameboy Advance, but these other ports were noticible different from the original console set.

The game stars the Pierce Brosnan version of James Bond (though not voiced by the actor) on another mission to save the world. This time he is preventing the corporate head of the Phoenix Corporation, named Drake, from collecting the Earth's nuclear weapons and launching them from a defense satellite at NATO bases, ensuring his domination of the world. This takes Bond through various locations around the world as he attempts to get all of the plan's details and stop the plot, eventually leading to a big battle in space.

The game is a lot of fun and feels like an actual entry to the movie franchise. There are bad jokes, gunfights, driving scenes, and just about everything else you can associate with a Bond film. While the graphics are dated now, they still look pretty solid, definitely in the top half of the games at the time. The story, mentioned earlier, makes sense and is better than some of the actual movies. The level designs are pretty complex and interesting as well, with several hidden areas that provide additional equipment. There are several levels that become a lot easier by looking around to find alternate paths and equipment, and really make the player feel more like a secret agent. Add this to the diverse locations, and you can see how much effort went into the settings.

The multiplayer is also a pretty fantastic, comparable to one of the most popular mulitplayer shooters, 007 Goldeneye, though there are some changes. There is a greater variety of maps, equipment, and character, but the fun is all still there. Various skins, play modes, and weapons are unlocked by doing really well in the missions, some things being obtainable only after completing missions on the harder difficulties.

As you can likely tell, I think pretty highly of this title, but there are some drawbacks. The difficulty, in particular, varies throughout the game, rather than increasing steadily. The second to last level is actually pretty easy, despite the two previous levels being very difficult. The game then jumps up to expected insane difficulty of the final level, but it's even harder without a proper build-up. Also, the basic controls are pretty terrible, and I don't suggest trying to get used to them. Instead, I recommend picking another control layout, like Goldeneye or Thunderball.

Despite some grievences with the peaks and valleys of difficulty, this game is a lot of fun, one of my favorite Bond games (and I have played several). If you're a fan of Bond games or FPS games in general, this is certainly a good one to pick up.

I give 007 Nightfire a 7.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Guest Book Review: Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light

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Here it is, our first Christmas crossover between The Bored Enthusiast blog and the Only in the Movies blog and I’m happy to be a guest writer here to give you a review of a book I really enjoyed.

Alfred Hitchcock: A Life in Darkness and Light was written by Patrick McGilligan and published in 2003. For any of you who may be regular visitors to my blog, you already know that I’m a huge Hitchcock fan, but for those of you who don’t I’ll leave a few links to some of my film reviews at the bottom.  (You can also check out my ’10 Alfred Hitchcock Movies Everyone Should See’ list by clicking here)

Patrick McGilligan is a solid biography writer and has also written books on James Cagney, Clint Eastwood, Fritz Lang and others. Focusing just on this one though, I was surprised how much of a page-turner it was. At just under 700 pages (if you don’t count the index, filmography, notes, and sources and acknowledgements) it’s a compelling book and a great comprehensive look at the life of one of the greatest Directors in the history of cinema.

The book is broken up into seven parts, each one focusing in different stages of his life and career. From Part 1 ‘London: The Enjoyment of Fear’ which focuses on Hitchcock early years growing up in London during the early 20^th century, the book takes us all the way through his career in England, Germany, his move to Hollywood and ending, of course, with his death in 1980. Alfred Hitchcock’s ups and downs, his trouble with censorship, his wife Alma’s role in the filmmaking process, problems with actors and studios, innovations in filmmaking, his television show ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’, behind the scenes stories from some of history’s best films… It’s all there and it’s a really good read.

If you’re a fan of Alfred Hitchcock’s work or just a fan of classic films in general, then I definitely recommend checking out this book.

I give it 8.5 out of 10.

 For some of my Alfred Hitchcock movie reviews click the links below:

Dial M for Murder

Vertigo

The Lady Vanishes

Psycho

Comic Book Review: Kingdom Come

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing the DC graphic novel, Kingdom Come. I will work to avoid it, but as usual, there may be some Mild Spoilers Below.

This story takes place several years in the future. This means that just about all of the traditional heroes have been retired for some time now. Superman is a farmer in Kansas, Batman has an army of bat-robots to control crime, and Billy Baxton is now a full grown adult with a full time job...as Luther's assistant. A new wave of super-powered beings has rolled in, and they leave something to be desired, as all they do is pick fights with each other for no reason. Faith in heroes, and humanity, has been lost as a result. There is, of course, an evil plan by Lex Luther to destroy the remaining old heroes once they decide to come out of hiding to clean up the place.

So this story works in a few places. The dialogue between characters is great, with humor in even more serious areas. The plot for the story wasn't bad, certainly unique, even if it did leave something to be desired. The choices of the heroes are admirable of course, helping humanity instead of taking their well-deserved retirement. The story also really captures how they changw with age, and it's always believable to their characters. It's all very creative and well thought out, but it's not all perfect.

Now even though this one does it well, I'm still not a fan of the attempt of realism in the art of comics. It always feels more like I'm watching a slideshow than a movie, and it comes a bit short here for me, especially when think of aomw of DC's big events.

Overall, this is a really well thought out event, and kept me interested. My review here is a little short to keep from giving out full spoilers, as things happen pretty fast, but I definitely suggest giving this one a read.

I give DC's Kingdom Come a 7.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Game Review: Ratchet and Clank

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing the early 2016 reboot of Ratchet and Clank.

This game is a recreation of the original game with the same title. It follows Ratchet, a Lombax that dreams of becoming a Galactic Ranger (but is denied due to his criminal past), and Clank, a defective Warbot who escapes destruction. These two meet up and begin a 3-D platforming/shooting adventure to save the galaxy. The story is told from the perspective of Captain Qwark, the recently imprisoned leader of the Galactic Rangers.

The game keeps true to its roots while adding a lot to keep everything fresh. There are a dizzying amount of weapons and gadgets, and you will find yourself visiting the same planets a few times in order to collect everything and fully upgrade your arsenal. The game has added in a few flying missions to help change things up a bit, which does add some nice variety. There is, of course, a major graphics upgrade since the original game was released that this one is rebooting, but the graphics look noticeable better from just the most recent game before it. The story is a bit deeper now, and many of the jokes land like thry always have.

Where the game really shines though is in the combat. The enemies are somewhat diverse, thoough not to the level you might see in other games, but there are so many ways to take them out. From a standard melee attack to deploying a killer robot named Mr. Zurkon (and just about everything in between), there is no lack of diversity when it comes to Ratchet's tools of the trade. As each weapon is used it also gets stronger, even without specifically upgrading it. The game does stress using everything at your disposal as well, as there just isn't enough ammo to stick to the same gun or two.

The only big negative for me is the lack of a co-op mode, as this game could really benefit from it. If a few things were altered so Clank could be his own character, it would make the game even more fun. We got to see a multiplayer more in one of the more recent Ratchet and Clank games, All 4 One, but no such luck here. It's just one of those games I would have loved to play while sitting next to a friend.

Overall, this game is great. It's a ton of fun, one of the best PS4 exclusives this year. If you don't have it yet, I would go get it and get sucked in to the vast world. Even if you're not very familiar with the franchise, you don't need to be to enjoy this one.

I give the 2016 reboot of Ratchet and Clank a 9 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

First Impressions: Let It Die

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Hello Enthusiasts,

So I know I've missed a couple of posts over the last few days. This is, in-part, due to the regular business of the holiday season. However, this year I had the extra distraction on the free-to-play PS4 game, Let It Die. I haven't beaten the game yet, so I wanted to do a first impressions review instead.

This is, as previously mentioned, a game that is completely free in the Playstation store. The play style is most similar to a game like Bloodborne, with a system of attacking and dodging. However, unlike games with similar play styles that I've tried, this game has a fun sense of humor as well. A player will use a variety of weapons that can be quickly interchanged with the D-pad, making it easier to attack different types of enemies. The game also has a system of raiding other player's bases and plundering for resources. Also, as with most free-to-play games, there are in-game purchases that can make your experience a lot easier, like buying extra revives.

So, here's the story. The world has suffered from catastrophic earthquakes, which have destroyed a lot of the major cities around the world. Out of this, a small mountain of buildings and hallways has risen up, called the Tower of Barbs. At the top is apparently some great treasure or a mystical item, which nobody has ever reached. So, you play as a set of interchangeable fighters who work to climb the tower and claim the treasure. If your fighter dies along the way you are unable to revive them, they become one of the enemies of that floor, though stronger than the average enemy, and they get the title of "Hater". You are guided on you journey primarily by the grim reaper, who calls himself Uncle Death. As it turns out, the game is a game in the game. That's to say that you can back out to an arcade where you can speak with a few different people before Uncle Death sends you back into the fight. The story is fun and humorous, never taking itself too seriously.

The game is a lot of fun, though certainly stressful. As you progress with a fighter, you will be able to upgrade their stats, but what's better is increasing their weapon mastery. It's one of those systems where improving the mastery of a weapon is done by using that weapon in battle. This, along with the fact that found weapons will break very quickly, forces the player to get proficient with just about every weapon found. The game is also difficult, and getting to the top of the tower will take some time. As the title of the game implies, you will die, there's no two ways about it.

While it is a lot of fun, it does feel like it is lacking a bit in some areas. There isn't any real parry system, and it feels like there should be one. You can block, and it will stagger the enemy if timed just right, but a system of countering would be welcomed. Now, I'm not too far into the game, but the two boss battles I've had haven't been too crazy; in fact, the first one was downright easy. I fought through hoards of enemies to get to the boss, and I hardly lost any health. It took getting hit once to learn his attack pattern.

Overall, this game seems to be a lot of fun, if not a bit stressful at times. If you aren't confident in your Bloodborne or Dark Souls abilities, this may be a good way to used to that kind of game play. Plus, despite any complaints I could have, it's free, and it is top of the line for a free game.

Based on my first impression, I give Let It Die an 8.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Game Review: Bulletstorm

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Hello Enthusiasts,

Today's review will be of the 2011 game Bulletstorm, by the developer "People Can Fly". There are strong suggestions that this title will be getting a remaster for the current generation of systems, so this may not be something you'll need to go back to older consoles for.

This game is a first-person shooter, with some extra elements added to it. You play as Grayson Hunt, the leader of a band of space-pirates who used to be an elite black ops team before they were burned. Since that incident, Hunt has become something of a reckless commander, and in taking on a warship for the Confederation of Planets, he crash lands his ship on a strange, mutated planet. He finds an electronic leash that will track creative kills and award upgrade points for them, which becomes a focal point for the game. He then sets off with his now part cyborg "friend" Ishi , who is not happy that Hunt was so reckless and got the other two crew members killed. This begins a journey of bith survival and revenge. There are a number of other side characters in the game, including Trishka, who is a Confederation soldier that is captured by Hunt.

While there are several positives to get to, I think the biggest one is the creative kill/upgrade system. As a player goes through the game and gets more proficient with the weapons and the leash, the types of kills that can be performed get really interesting. This is furthered by a number of the guns having special shots that can be used. The assault rifle has a special shot that, if landed, disintigrates the enemy, while the pistol has an option to launch fireworks that can propell enemies around. These would be a lot of fun regardless, but add in the abilities of the leash, which can pull enemies closer or lanuch them in the air, and it's an absolute blast.

As I said though, there are a lot of outstanding elememts to the game. The graphics are great for the time it was released, and I'm sure the remstered version will have an upgrade that that. The dialogue is superb, ranging from being pretty funny to dramatic and emotional. Ishi is particularly interesting, since he will switch between being humorous and helpful to literally strangling Hunt, with the swings being attributed to him fighting with the new cyborg part of his brain. The controls for the game are also really user-friendly, and it didn't take me long at all to get things down. Plus, there is a certain mechanical dinosaur that was a real highlight of the game for me.

As usual though, it's not a perfect game. Some of the guns that get unlocked are boring in comparison to some of the others, and I found myself rotating between a select number of my favorites. The game is also pretty short, so portions of it did feel a bit rushed. The game's difficulty seemed a little unbalanced as well, going from pretty easy to difficult and back to easy again within a single level. This made the more difficult sections even more difficult, since I didn't really get to build up to it.

Despite the flaws of the game, it is a lot of fun. It's really creative for a first-person shooter, and it's just about as well written as I coulf hope for. I'm really glad they're remastering it, and I am hoping we get a sequel sometime soon.

I give Bulletstorm a 8.5 out of 10

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Comic Book Review: All-New Wolverine vol. 1

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Hello Enthusiasts,

As a direct follow-up to yesterday's review of The Death of Wolverine, I decided that I would today review the comic book All-New Wolverine: The Four Sisters. As is the norm lately, there will be Spoilers Below.

This story is all about the mantle of Wolverine being picked up by X-23. For those unfamiliar with X-23, she is an imperfect clone/daughter of Logan. X-23 has all of Logan's abilities, including his healing factor, adamantium coated skeleton and claws, heightened senses and reflexes, etc. Rather than three claws for each hand, she has two for each hand and one for each foot. She was created to be the world's greatest assassin, and did very well in that regard for a number of year. Like Logan, However, she eventually found her way to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters and tried to turn over a new leaf. Logan saw a lot of what could have happened to him with the Weapon-X program and took her under his wing, since he's the only one that could really understand what she was going through. She was eventually able to work through her dark past, and became a member of the X-Force.

As mentioned, this is where she actually becomes the new Wolverine now that Logan has passed. She does this her own way, though a lot of what she does is because of the influence of Logan when he was mentoring her. Logan knew that she could kill and that she was good at it, but he taught her the importance of holding back whenever possible (a strange lesson from the Wolverine we all know and love). Because of this, X-23 doesn't kill the way that I thought she would in this comic, but that doesn't mean she is any less awesome than I expected. She is able to handle just about every fight she's presented with easily, including a fight with the Taskmaster. She relies on her physical abilities as well as her mental abilities to overcome enemies in battle, though she isn't infallible, which makes the comic a solid balance of awesome and being concerned for X-23.

The volume is well written and and well drawn, with both areas staying consistent. I particularly enjoyed a scene early on where X-23 is unconscious after taking a bullet to the head and has a dream where she speaks with Logan about wanting to kill the shooter. The scenery in the dream is soft, but the characters still look sharp. All of the fight scenes flow well, and X-23's acrobatics practically jump off of the page (intentional word play). I would say that the fight scenes are by far the best parts of this book, even with a lot of the other portions (like the dream I mentioned) being fantastic. I really like the decision to have X-23 pick up the mantle as well, she is a good fit to carry on the legacy of Wolverine. While she is more reserved, we all know that she could tear everyone apart if she chose to, so she actually seems like a far more responsible Wolverine, one who doesn't Snikt their way through all of their problems.

Where the story does lack is with the side characters. The story revolves around several imperfect clones of X-23, none of whom have her healing factor. They are trying to escape their creators, but are really awkward in any discussions they have. This is attributed to being new to the outside world, but I still feel like they would pick up some cues from those in the facility they were raised in. They're bland and bored in just about every scene they're in. just like most of the other characters throughout the book. The only flushed out characters are the two Wolverines, and one of them is dead. Even though the side characters were my only real problem with the story, they brought it down a few levels for me, probably in part because of the amount of time that's wasted on them

Still, even with the issues the side characters have, this story felt really flushed out and I enjoyed it a lot. If you were a fan of Logan, I suggest picking this one up, you could very easily be a fan of X-23 as well. After all, she is the best at what she does, even if what she does isn't very nice.

I give All New Wolverine: The Four Sisters a 7 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Comic Book Review: The Death of Wolverine

The image above belongs to its respective owner, not me

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing the Marvel story, The Death of Wolverine. This story isn't exceptionally long, especially for the conclusion to one of Marvel's most popular characters. Surprisingly, Wolverine has not yet been resurrected, despite the trend of every popular character getting to cheat death. As it generally has been lately, there will be some Mild Spoilers Below.

So the story begins with Wolverine visiting Reed Richards, who is confirming for him that he has indeed lost his healing factor. Wolverine still maintains his other mutant abilities, like his agility, super strength, and heightened senses, but he can now be killed. Also, nit having a healing factor makes having sharp claws puncture through his hand a lot more troublesome, so using his claws should be a last-case kind of scenario. Word somehow gets out about Wolverine's new mortality, and he becomes hunted by just about everyone. As it turns out, there seems to be an organization that is, of course, trying to capture and clone (again) Wolverine, so there is some story dedicated to that as well.

This story is pretty well written for the most part. Aside from a few bits here and there, I enjoyed the story, the dialogue, and the small twists. I also like that Wolverine starts the story without his healing factor, but being the bad-ass that he is, manages to make it through to nearly the end of the book, taking along a whole lot of others with him. Even in the last scene, just before he dies, he is really pushing himself and being a machine of absolute destruction. Wolverine lives up to the name of a wild animal, clinging to life with everything they have and killing anything in their way.

The art work is pretty solid; it's not my favorite, but there is certainly a lot worse out there. It stays fairly consistent throughout the story and delivers as well as it is required to. The artwork was done primarily by Steve McNiven, who has a long history of working with Marvel and Wolverine as a character, so it's easy to relate it to a lot of other comics featuring the hero. There are a couple of crossover characters as well, like the previously mentioned Reed Richards, and they look alright. However, the focus is Wolverine, and he looks pretty good at being the best at what he does.

While the story is great for the most part, the actual death of Wolverine left something to be desired for me. I won't give it away, but it's something that would have taken him out of the game anyway. I guess it's better that he didn't have his healing factor at the end there instead of having to suffer for all eternity. Still though, it wasn't quite the death I was hoping for. He saves the day, but I always imagined that Wolverine would go out in a blaze of glory rather than how he did actually go. A lot of the other characters in the book have bit parts as well, it's a real loner story for Logan, whether he wants it to be or not. Some may see this as a positive, but I feel like someone could have been there to help him out, considering how many teams he's been on throughout the years.

By the end, I thought this was a pretty good send off for one of Marvel's larger characters. Old man Logan recently came back into the main universe, so we do have a Logan, but he isn't the same as the Wolverine that served with the X-Men, the Avengers, the X-Force, and just about everyone else. That's the Wolverine that will be remembered and missed. Luckily, this story paved the way for the All-New Wolverine, but that's a review for another day.

I have The Death of Wolverine a 7.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Retro Game Review: Super Mario Sunshine

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today, I will be reviewing the Nintendo GameCube exclusive, Super Mario Sunshine. This title was released in 2002, and was the second 3-D platformer in the Mario series (the first was Super Mario 64). 

Super Mario Sunshine follows Mario, Princess Peach, and all of the Toads associated with them taking a much-needed vacation to a tropical island known as Isle Delfino. Everything is not as it seems though, as the island has been vandalized with a gross goo, which has driven away the "Shine Sprites", which seem to be small gods to the people of the island. Mario finds a water spouting backpack, called FLUDD, and uses it to clear off the first bit of goo. As it turns out though, the cause of all of the goo is someone impersonating Mario, and our hero is tasked with cleaning up every last bit of the stuff from the island and collecting all of the shine sprites for the people of the island.

                                                       Gonna have to blame this one on Mario

So begins Mario's adventure in cleaning up an island, while trying to figure out who is setting him up for this vandalism. This quest will take him to several different areas of the island,from the theme park to the industrial port. Each area has a different set of missions, and not all of them involve washing away goo from the ground or the side of buildings. As missions are completed in each area new unlockables and pieces of the story are revealed.

Based on just the premise, I'm sure the game sounds pretty boring. Rather than going through the castles and levels of previous Mario games, you get to basically do community service. However, this game is a gem in the GameCube library. The controls are very user friendly, the levels are well designed, and the story actually gets pretty interesting as it moves forward. It all ends up being a revenge plot, but it's an interesting approach to the idea. I don't want to spoil it for anyone that hasn't played it, as it's an interesting reveal, but those of you who may remember it know what I'm talking about. The platforming in the game is well done, it's both fun and difficult, as a good platformer should be. I thought that the sections with the classic Mario theme sung acapella in the background. Speaking of which, the music in the game can also be counted as a positive, with most of it being fun and upbeat music, which fits in with the vacation-island theme of the game.

The upgrades are fun, though you can only have one equipped at a time. Still, the appropriate nozzle change that you're looking for won't be too far from anywhere it's needed.The progress that you make in the game is obvious in other, smaller ways as well. As the dark goo gets cleaned up and more Shine Sprites are collected, the sun comes out more and more on the island, to a point where one of the residents will give you sunglasses if you want to dim the brightness a bit. Also, as Mario cleans everything up, the residents of the island will begin to treat him better, praising him rather than treating him like a common criminal.

Negatives for the game are few and far between, but there are a couple of them. Some of the levels don't provide much in terms of direction, and there are levels that will take a lot of time just to figure out what you're supposed to be doing. It didn't happen too often, but it did occur often enough that I began to get frustrated each time I encountered a level like that. Also, while the boss battles are creative, they are a bit too easy. This is especially obvious when battling a boss after a pretty difficult platforming section. I would spend forever getting to the boss, then beat them in one shot (I'm looking at you, Gooper Blooper).

Still, the game is a lot of fun. If you have a GameCube and have not picked this one for some reason, that needs to change. This offers a lot of the best things the GameCube can offer, and I definitely recommend picking it up.

I give Nintendo's Super Mario Sunshine a 9 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

The images above belong to their respective owners, not me

Game Review: Far Cry 4

  The image above belongs to its respective owner, not me

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will reviewing the forth game in the popular Far Cry series. I will try to keep spoilers to a minimum, but there may be some Mild Spoilers Below.

Far Cry 4 is an open world first person shooter, with a focus on action in the environment. It takes place in the fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat, which is in the middle of a revolution. The player takes the role of Ajay, who is just trying to pass through to scatter his mother's ashes, per her last request. As it turns out, Ajay is the son of one of Kyrat's most famous freedom-fighters, and is brought in to the Golden Path (the rebels). The game features a lot of exploration through jungles and mountains, with a variety of wildlife (most of which is out to kill you). Surviving will require using a variety of weapons, vehicles, and items.

There are a lot of good things to say about this game. The dialogue in the game is hilarious, very few of the jokes fall flat. The dictator of the country, Pagan Min, is particularly funny throughout the game, never seeming to lose his cool despite the progress that you make. I really enjoyed the diverse environment, and the various settings really instill a sense of the people's culture. The unlockables in the game are useful and can be challenging to obtain. The unlockable wing-suit ends up being incredibly useful, though difficult to get down at first. There is also a system of unlocking larger pouches for things like ammunition and heath, which can be a real game changer, but to get the highest upgrades for each the player will need to complete "Fashion Week" challenges, which require killing a stronger version of some of the more dangerous animals in the game (like those damn Honey Badgers). The variety in weapons is impressive as well, with just about every type of firearm included (as well as a great bow). Each weapon also has upgrades and attachments that can be unlocked, purchased, and equipped.

Something the game does very well is allow the player to use creative ways to take out enemies in a stealth fashion. Throwing a piece of raw meat into an enemy area will attract a carnivorous animal, like a bear or a large cat. Shooting a bee hive in an enemy area will cause the bees to swarm at the enemies as well. The player can shoot a flaming arrow and set areas on fire without giving away their position, and the radios can be destroyed to prevent the enemy troops from calling for backup. You can always rush in and try to gun down everyone, but that can easily end poorly and I personally don't think it ends up being as fun. Plus, the game does steadily get more difficult (appropriately so), and I felt like I was rewarded for taking the time to take over areas in a covert manner. The style of movement also feels like it caters toward a stealth-based system, although that could just be me using the mechanics to my style. However, as much as I like going in stealth-like, I can't deny that I took great pleasure in bursting into an enemy base on the back of an elephant and just decimating an entire squad of soldiers.

The game does have a few downsides though. Some of the side missions can be a bit lackluster, and I found myself avoiding things like the drug-induced missions, as well as the missions where you travel to the past to fight demons. I know, it sounds like a lot of fun, but it's actually kind of boring, especially when compared to the rest of the game. The ending also feels kind of dull compared to the rest of the game, as Pagan Min doesn't put up much of a fight on his own, it's just difficult to get to him, This comes after hours of fighting far more difficult soldiers and animals, so it's disappointing that I can just shoot Pagan once and be done with it. It's definitely a case of the journey being better than the destination.

Overall, I really liked this title. It's not the best in the series in my opinion, but it is an enjoyable (if not frustrating) game that did a fantastic job of keeping me engaged. Between the gameplay, the setting, and the dialogue, the game really comes together as a comprehensive story. I look forward to the next installment of the series, but this one does well enough for me for now.

I give Far Cry 4 an 8 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Discussion: Minecraft vs. Legos

                                              
                                                         The image above belongs to its respective owner, not me

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be discussing one of the most popular toys of all time, Lego's, and how it compares with one of the most popular video games of all time, Minecraft. Is one better than the other? Should a parent looking to help their child develop creative skills lean towards one of these options over the other? These are some of the questions to answer.

For anyone who has somehow not heard of these two things, a quick recap for you. Minecraft is and open world RPG that allows the player to craft nearly any structure. There is a dungeon exploring element to the game as well, and Forbes lists Minecraft in the top five highest grossing video games of all time (http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2016/07/08/here-are-the-five-best-selling-video-games-of-all-time/#aeeb5ff2deea).

Lego's, on the other hand, are small plastic building blocks that have been on the market for almost a century. New sets of this toy will come out for big movie releases, and I remember just having a whole foot locker of assorted pieces that I would play with on a pretty consistent basis. Back in 2014, Times Magazine listed Lego as the most influential toy of all time (http://time.com/3089384/influential-toys/).

So, how do these two compare? They both encourage building, rather than destruction or violence. Both of these also allow creative juices to really come out as well, letting the players both young and old to build whatever structure they want. It can take time, patience, and sometimes a little ingenuity to get it just the way you want it, but I've seen astounding things built with both.

While these two do share a good number of similarities, they aren't exactly the same thing. Minecraft does have the benefit of having a nearly infinite number of pieces for a player to usd, allowing for the player to really make any kind of structure they can imagine. I may have had a footlocker full of Lego pieces, but that was multiple generations of the toy all thrown in one box. In terms of big structures and projects, Minecraft is definitely more cost effective. However, by that same token, Lego's can have a bit more of a focus on problem solving. If I want to build something, and I don't have the piece that I know would work, I can try to make a few other ideas work. In an instance like this, I feel that Lego's inspire a bit more ingenuity for someone who's determined to get something built.

Lego also offers more than structures that can be built. A player van build a car that can roll around, a boat that will actually float when put into water, and design these things however they want. Minecraft does have a small wooden boat that can be constructed, or a mine cart that can roll of tracks, but these are pre-designed and just require that a player collects the resources. However, Minecraft does have the benefit of letting a player's creations, like a boat or a teleportation device, work without just using their imagination.

So, if you had to pick one to buy your kid, what would it be? Well, despite my love of video games, I would say that Lego's offer more overall. Yes, buying enough pieces to make anything you can come up with ends up costing far more than the cost of a game (and a game system if you don't have one). However, a small (but not tiny) Lego set could run you twelve or fifteen dollars, and comes with enough to build a couple of things. Also, Lego's have the added benefit for children of helping them work all of the muscles in their hands as they work to put together and pull apart those tiny pieces.

However, though I generally consider the Lego to be a better choice for kids, it's not by much. Minecraft is still excellent for both the young and the old. If you already have a console/decent PC/smartphone, it may be more cost effective for you to go down the Minecraft route. I say Lego, but a strong case can be made for either. These are both excellent mediums for creativity, construction, and a lot of fun.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Comic Book Review: Final Crisis

The image above belongs to its respective owner, not me

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing DC's epic, Final Crisis. It's going to be difficult to dance around plot points, so I would like to just throw the warning out there now, Spoilers Below.

Holy cow, what a beast this one is. This event is mostly about Darkseid killing a New God, Orion, and then using the Anti-Life Equation to take over just about everbody's minds on Earth. I say mostly because there are a lot of different stories going on in this book, nearly too much to follow. I had said other events, like Crisis on Infinite Earths, were difficult to follow, but I think this one takes the cake. It tries to tell a lot of stories at once, which does work at some points, but not so much at others.

Timeline-wise, this event takes place after 52. This mean we have Renee Montoya as The Question, the DC Trinity are back in action, and you shouldn't be holding your breath for Superboy to make an entrance.

So, some positives for this book first, of course. The art work is stunning, for starters. There are some scenes that would have just been terrible if the panel wasn't so perfectly drawn. The art remains consistant throughout the event as well, which I'm thankful for. There also some parts of the story I really enjoyed, like the travel through Batman's memories, which he uses as a weapon (you'll have to read to fully understand). The stakes feel really high throughout the volume, starting off with the death of a couple of key characters within the first part of the book. I think it's the high stakes that are the highlight of this book, every single thing is almost too big to comprehend. Also, despite how I felt through a good chunk of this book, it all did actually come together in the end; all of the various storylines did in fact mean something for the greater story.

This book is not all positives though, that's for sure. The most glaring problem for me was how many different stories were trying to occupy the same space here. The Question is charged with leading an organization of heroes, Hal Jordan is being charged with the attempted murder of John Stewart, Superman is in some kind of meta-realm, Darksied is trying to clone Batman, there are street level heroes trying to hold their own ground, and that isn't everything. It all gets far too convoluted, and it bounces around so frequently it can make your head spin. The atmosphere of the story will vary as well, going from normal, to hopeless, to positive, back to hopeless, and it just never stops.

I think all of the problems in the book can be broken down into one statement; it's hard to follow. Story wise, emotionally, it's all a little difficult, and I'm probably going to have to read it another time or two to feel comfortable to say I get it all. Being this hard to follow makes it less captivating, and it felt like a chore at some points. I would have put it down, but I knew this story was going to have a real impact on the universe, and I would probably get a few great scenes later on.

Overall, I have to suggest reading this if you are looking to keep informed on the big events of the DC universe (which was just rebooted, so it's not the universe is still feeling the aftermath). However, if you're a more casual reader, leave this one on the shelf. Yeah, it looks nice and has a few cool parts, but I don't want anyone who's looking to read comics seriously to be turned off by this one. If that sounds like you, I say to start with Marvel, their events are generally easier to digest, then go over to DC (but still, don't make this your first DC event, there are better ones).

I give Final Crisis a 5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Retro Game Review: Paper Mario - The Thousand Year Door

                                                       The image above belongs to its respective owner, not me
Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door. This game was released in 2004 and was exclusively a GameCube title.

This title follows Mario as he receives a letter from Princess Peach about an ancient treasure in a distant land. The treasure is behind the Thousand Year Door (roll credits), which can only be opened by collecting the seven Crystal Stars. The stars can only be found using a magic map, which is included in the letter that the princess sends to Mario. Mario sets off to Rogueport, where Princess Peach said she would be waiting. However, upon arrival, it appears that Peach has done what she does best and got herself kidnapped. Mario's only hope to find her is to collect the seven Crystal Stars, since Peach's captors (the X-Nauts) are also hoping to open the Thousand Year Door. Along the way Mario receives help from a few new characters, all with their own special abilities to assist Mario in solving puzzles and accessing new locations.

So this game, unlike most Mario games, is an RPG with turn-based attacks during fights. As it sounds, almost everything in the game appears to be on paper, so all of the characters are 2-D, even though their environment has a Z-axis to travel on.  Mario has several different lands to explore, and can go back and forth between them at the players pleasure (most of the time). There are always various factors to consider when fighting in the turn-based combat, such as not jumping on spiked enemies and having to use stronger attacks on some enemies that have stronger defenses. The fights also utilize "Flower Points" which allow Mario to perform so more complex and powerful moves, like a multi-jump and a power-hammer attack. There are also special attacks that are unlocked as Mario gathers the Crystal Stars that can help in fights, but the only way to recharge them is to earn audience approval. Each of the companions that Mario collects along the way have their own attacks to use, though only ally can be present in a fight, and switching them out counts as either Mario's turn or his ally's turn.

So let's cover the positives in the game. The fights are a lot of fun and get to be addicting. My favorite part of the game is actually when Mario joins a fighting tournament to rise through the ranks and become the champion, because it was just fight after fight. They incorporate the strategy of choosing actions and attacks for Mario and his companion, but also require some quick timing to get the most out of an attack or block some damage from an enemies assault. The player can also get an extra attack in at the start of the fight if they are able to attack their opponent outside of the regular fight mode, when Mario and his companion are roaming around. The area of the game outside of the fights is also a lot of fun, with some decent puzzles to solve and exploration. Because of the unique style of the game, there are a lot of hidden areas that take a bit of training to start catching as you're moving around. On top of that, Mario will get new abilities throughout the game that assist him in traveling to previously blocked locations, like being able to roll up like a paper towel tube and roll around (the game really exploits the paper thing).

The story itself is pretty strong for a Mario game, since Peach is usually just captured by Bowser for no particular reason. She is held for information about where the map is and how to obtain the Crystal Stars. The dialogue in the game is also pretty solid, with some good humor that doesn't hold back the plot from advancing. Most of the side missions feel like they do have a point to them (unlike some other RPG's) and I rarely felt like the tasks were tedious or anything. The characters all have distinct personalities, and it just overall felt like the game was flushed out well.

I don't feel like there are too many bad spots for this game, but the Peach missions certainly seem to fall into that category. They are short, there's no action to them, and I feel like I would have gotten just as much information from a cut scene. There are a couple of Bowser scenes as well, and some of them work, but others really don't feel like they matter (though I like the set up for them, which was like the original Mario Bros. game). Also, some of the special moves that get unlocked with the Crystal Stars are underwhelming, and I found myself sticking to the same few if I was using the special moves. When you have moves that can do significant damage or heal you, your ally, and replenish Flower Points, the power to immobilize the enemy for a move or two doesn't seem as appealing.

Overall, this game is a bunch of fun. Despite a couple of drawbacks, I didn't ever really feel like I should stop playing. I haven't gotten a chance to play any of the other games in this series, but if they're anything like this title, they're probably worth a play as well. If you have a GameCube and haven't had a chance to get this title yet, go grab it and have a blast.

I give Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door a 9 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

5 Completed Shows to Watch

Hello Enthusiasts,

As a follow up to my post about 5 current shows to watch (http://boredenthusiast.blogspot.com/2016/12/5-current-shows-to-watch.html?m=1), I decided to also have a post about 5 shows to watch that have already run their course. The shows on this list aren't going to be the huge success shows everyone knows about (Breaking Bad would be on the list if I was including those), and I'll include shows that I personally don't think had a bad season during their run.

1. Eureka

This show was on for five seasons, from 2006 to 2012. It follows a U.S. Marshall, Carter, and his daughter, Zoe Carter, as they stumble upon a government funded town of absolute geniuses. This town, called Eureka, is both a paradise as well as a nightmare, as all of these great minds have been able to create so many wonderful things, which often backfire with disasterous effects. In order to keep everything in check, they have Carter become the sheriff of the town. It's a lot of fun, has some cool story arcs, and I suggest giving it a watch (even though Netflix only has season 5).

2. Firefly

This one has gotten big since it was cancelled, but not to the point of some shows. Firefly takes place in a future where humans have conquered and terraformed a number of planets across the universe. Many of these planets are watched over by the Alliance, but a lot of the outer planets are less supervised and become a bit more lawless. This leads to the show being something of a space-western, which I can say is a less-explored genre. The show is clever and a lot of fun, but due to a lack of ratings, it was cut during its first season. Since then a movie has been released, Serenity, which wraps up a couple of things, but I definitely recommend this as a show to watch.

3. Parks and Recreation

I know I'm in the minority, but I was never really a fan of The Office, something about the show just never resonated with me. What's baffling is that the same writers used the same format for this show as they did The Office, but I loved Parks and Recreation. This show ran for seven seasons, and was funny all the way through. It follows an aspiring and energetic government employee, Leslie Knope, as she works to improve her town (Pawnee, IN), as well as achieve her goals of furthering her polical career. It is a political satire of a lot of aspects of government and the extremes of each party, so go into this one with the mindset of not taking it all too seriously. The show has a couple of big names in it, like Rob Lowe and Nick Offerman. This show was also a real launching point for the now big-name actor, Chris Pratt. Even if you don't generally like this type of show, give it a watch, you may be surprised.

4. Hannibal

This one ran for three seasons, from 2013-2016. It follows a young investigator, Will, and his relationship with his some-day enemy, Hannibal Lector, who is a psychiatrist helping Will with his psychological issues. The show is really suspenseful and tense. The characters develop a lot over the course of the show, and it all ends on a high note. It's a great watch, especially for anyone who was already a fan of Hannibal as a character. Definitely one to watch, as long as you have the stomach for a bit of gore.

5. Galavant

Finally, we have Galavant. This show ran for two seasons on ABC and was cancelled in early 2016. The show was a musical comedy that was actually handled really well. It followed our main character, Galavant, as he is pulled out of a drunken state of existance to become a true hero once more. The show received mixed reviews, which was a contributing factor to it being cut, but it's still a fun watch overall.

So those are my top five shows to watch that have already ended. Do you have any shows you would recommend? Do you disagree with anything I listed? Put your thoughts in the comments below!

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

The images above belong to their respective owners, not me

Game Review: Need for Speed - Rivals

                                                                   The image above belongs to its respective owner, not me

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing the racing game Need for Speed: Rivals. This title, released in November of 2013, is not the newest in the series, but there are only a couple of more recent releases. There's isn't much to spoil here, but if you're really invested in the story of a racing game, know that there are Spoilers Below.

The basic premise of the game is similar to the series' Hot Pursuit titles. You can either play as a racer or a cop, unlocking new cars as you go along. The racers are doing their normal thing, racing and trying to earn money, while the cops are tying to stop them. Each side has it's own story to it, though the cop's is a bit more flushed out, While the racer will say some things about winning and being the best, the cop is all about using excessive force to stop the racers, which is frowned upon by his superiors, which gets him suspended at one point. This changes when he gets brought into a government organization that focuses on stopping illegal street racers. This seemed like a bit of a strange decision for the cop's story, rewarding him for using force that is far too extreme for an officer of the law, given that the police have been viewed less than favorably in the eyes of the public within the last several years.

So let's hit the positives first. The map for this game is expansive and looks really nice. A lot of detail goes into environment that you will speed right by at 200mph. The game is set in a fairly rural environment, with mountains and fields throughout the map, but that doesn't mean there isn't any traffic. A somewhat busy highway runs right through the map and leads around to different areas of the environment, so it is not difficult to find some annoying traffic to hit, which adds a little difficulty to the game that I was thankful for. The actual driving controls are pretty solid as well, with fairly realistic controls and physics (or what I have to assume are realistic, I don't generally drive hundreds of limes an hour through the mountains). There are also areas of the map that will track how fast you're going during a particular stretch of road, and you can compete against yourself in that regard.

The multiplayer is also a good deal of fun in a couple of different ways. You can, of course, race against your friends online and compete in the regular challenges head-to-head. However, the game really shines when one player is a cop and the other a racer. Working to either escape or capture your friend at the high speeds of the game is a whole lot of fun, and I really think it to be the most enjoyable online experience in the game.

This is not a flawless game though, and some b of the flaws really stand out. One of my biggest issues is with the gadgets in the game. There are several different gadgets that the cops and racers have, including EMPs, spike stripes, turbo boost, calling in helicopters, and an abundance of others. Most of the reason to race, especially when playing as the cop, is just to upgrade gadgets. It feels like there is too much emphasis on these toys, to the point that doing any challenges or races in the game feels more like timing the use of gadgets correctly rather than just being the better driver. I may sound nostalgic, but I used to like just having to race to unlock new cars or to upgrade things like my engine or suspension. This just feels like they wanted to mix a realistic driving game with a Mario Kart.

Also, as I mentioned before, the story in the game leaves something to be desired, especially for the racer. Now I wouldn't normally care for a racing game, most of them don't have a story at all. Some others have a very basic story, like Forza: Horizons story, "it's a tournament, that guy's the best, work your way up and beat him". However, I complain because this game obviously wanted their story to be considered. It's not even like you don't see the story often, you basically have a weird cut-scene for it after every set of missions you need to do is complete, which is often. They go so far as to divide the game up into chapters for both the racer and the cop. So if they want it considered, I will complain about how shallow, predictable, and unnecessary it is.

Overall, I would call this game a solid "okay". If EA had been willing to leave it as an open world racing game with some challenges, it would have been a lot more fun. As it is though, the game has far too much going on with the gadgets and a story that nobody wanted. I know it's gotten some decent reviews from other sources, but I didn't feel like the game appealed to a player like me, who just wanted to focus on the driving. As I mentioned above, if I wanted to also have items to use, I would stick with a game like Mario Kart or Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing. 

I give Need for Speed: Rivals a 5.5 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Book to Movie: The Harry Potter Series

Hello Enthusiasts,

With the fairly recent release of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, I decided that today we will be looking at the Harry Potter book series, and how it has transitioned to the big screen. Yes, despite only choosing the cover for my favorite of the books/movies for the photos on this one, I will be taking the whole series into account here.

The first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (changed to the Sorcerer's Stone) was released in 1997, and the books were a hit with readers young and old. This is a franchise, and it has become a cornerstone of a lot of people's libraries. The series has been so successful that it is now a major staple of most Universal theme parks. By the time the final book in the series was released in 2007, Hollywood had already released the first five books as successful films. Do these films do the books justice? The short answer is yes, but it's not quite that simple.

Overall, these films are excellent interpretations of the books. The actors and actresses do a fantastic job in portraying these characters, and the movies were the launching point for the actors that palyed many of our main characters. The settings are breathtaking, as one would imagine, and the entire experience can be wholly immersive for fans of the books (as well as for those who are less familiar with the source material). With all of the attention to detail, it's strange that certain aspects of the books are omitted from the silver screen. I remember being young and loving these books, and I loved the tests that each character had to pass at the end of Sorcerer's Stone. Harry had to ride his broom to catch the right key (like he had been practicing in Quidditch), Ron had to win a dangerous game of Wizards Chess with the help of his friends. Hermione had to solve a complicated riddle to discover which potion would allow them to continue and which ones would kill them. Then I saw the movie, and Hermione was left behind to care for Ron, not contributing to the progression like she was supposed to. It was like cutting out the scene from Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade where Indiana figures out which cup is the Holy Grail. I was young, and I was angry. There are little things like this sprinkled throughout the films, little omissions that don't make a lot of sense to me. Another (less anger-inducing) example is when Harry didn't use the Elder Wand to repair his original wand like he did at the end of the final book.

I was also pretty upset with the decision to make the final book two separate movies. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is far from the longest book, being tied for third place in that contest. It was definitely the most emotional movie and has a lot of content, but it was not the movie that needed two films. If anything, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix would be the movie that needs to be broken up, since it is not only the longest book, but has one of the more complex plots. It felt like a cheap cash grab to me, and I cannot be swayed in that opinion. This is a growing trend, as the same thing happened to the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy, and I get a bit more upset than I probably should.

Again, I don't mean to tear these movies down. They are blockbusters for a reason, they are mostly faithful and enjoyable. I will nitpick, but really, the book-to-film adaptation is better here than we see with most other cases. If you look at most Stephen King books, entire portions of the story will be changed or left out all together (see my previous book to movie review, The Running Man, at http://boredenthusiast.blogspot.com/2016/11/book-to-movie-running-man.html) Luckily for fans of the series, Harry Potter gave us something better than that.

To wrap up, the Harry Potter movies do the books justice a good 98% of the time, but the other 2% are obvious to the fans. I would definitely recommend reading the books first and then jumping right into the movies from there, that way you know you're getting the full story. It's not a perfect adaptation, but the films are still a good time.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

All images above belong to their respective owners, not me

Game Review: Octodad - Dadliest Catch

                                                  The image above belongs to its respective owner, not me

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing Octodad: Dadliest Catch, released in 2014.

This is a squeal to the 2010 game Octodad, and it continues with the same theme, but improves upon a lot. You play as an octopus, posing as a human. You have a wife and two children (no, I don't know how) that are oblivious to the fact that you are not human, and you are just trying to live a happy life in your suburban setting. The player goes through the game, trying to seem normal, all while a chef/their neighbor that knows he's an octopus is out to kill Octodad. The Chef is actually pretty intense when compared to the rest of the game. It's a crazy set up for a game, but it actually works.

This game is pretty enjoyable and straight forward most of the time. You control the octopus' arms and legs individually and have to work to walk around and maneuver through obstacles. The game is all about comedy, between the dialogue, the story itself, and the mishaps caused by just trying to move around. There are also a lot of less obvious jokes too, like a sign in the grocery store that says, "half off/half on sale", implying that there is no actual sale.

There is also hear a lot of great background dialogue from other characters, and sometimes Octodad will respond. Things like the guy in the grocery store not realizing that the mike is still on for the PA when he starts to talk about where the meat really comes from are great to listen for. I also love how everyone inexplicably understands Octodad despite the fact that he speaks in blubs, it's like the ongoing joke in King of the Hill where everyone can understand Boomhower, despite the fact that he speaks total mumbling gibberish. The subtitles for Octodad are great, because they don't translate, but they will say things like "frustrated blubing", just to give a general direction of dialogue from him.

For how fun this game is though, it is far too short. I started and ended this game in a single afternoon (though still haven't found all of the collectible neck ties). There are really only five locations in the game, though the last one is broken up into several sections. On top of how few areas there are, most of the areas are pretty confined as well, outside on that last area I mentioned. This limits down the amount of space to explore as an octopus flopping around. While that helps in finding the ties, I did feel a bit too confined as I played through the levels like the house.

Overall, this game is a lot of fun, but is too short for me. I hope that there's a third game in this series, and I hope we see it last at least twice as long. Still though, if you have a PS4 and you're looking for something different to play, I say download this one. It'll help pass the afternoon at least.

I give Octodad: Dadliest Catch a 7 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast

Comic Book Review: Y The Last Man

                                                                        The image above belongs to its respective owner, not me

Hello Enthusiasts,

Today I will be reviewing the comic series Y: The Last Man, published by Vertigo.

The basis of the story is that all males in the world, both human and animal, die in the same instant. The only male survivors of this epidemic are an escape artist name Yorick and his monkey, Ampersand. Society begins to crumble as nearly all of the world leaders pass and their positions become vacant. Factions of women start to form in this new society, and people begin to fear that, barring some miracle, this might be the end of the world.

With all of this going on, Yorick has one objective on his mind: get to his girlfriend in Australia (girlfriend from before all of the men died). Since Yorick lives near Washington DC, that means traveling across the country to get on a ship headed to the land down under. Because of the chaos (and to keep his presence discreet), Yorick travels across the country with slower methods of travel, such as walking and taking a train (a helicopter after this mess would surely draw attention). He makes his travels across the nation with his bodyguard, Agent 355, who his mother appointed (she was a U.S. Senator). There are several mishaps and adventures along the way before an unexpected conclusion to the 60 issue story.

This story is interesting, and it is executed wonderfully. Many of the factions of women believe that the men were killed for a specific purpose, so they are very violent to the faintest idea of men, which can prove challenging for our main character. This series really works to explore every possibility that could come with this, including having certain factions of women try to capture Yorick so they can have him as an asset. The book also takes a strong look at survivor's guilt and focusing on a goal to keep going in trying times. It's easy to see how hard this crisis hits certain characters, as well as how different people deal with the tragedy.

It's hard not to give away too much, it's fun just to talk about these books, so I will work to hold back. Let's just say the writing for both the story and the dialogue is excellent. It can be completely serious and depressing, but also incredibly funny. Yorick himself is such a lighthearted character that I laughed out loud a couple of times while I read the book, it all reads so naturally. Agent 355 also develops into a more fun character after she starts out as the strong, no-nonsense type. Another great positive to these book is the art,which has a very clean feel, while still looking like an Indie comic. The main artist for the series is Pia Guerra, who was also an artist for some of the Doctor Who comics by IDW.

As great as this story is, there is one big negative for me. Near the end they really gloss over a lot, several years in fact. I can't give away the ending, but they go from Yorick at the lowest of low to him being an old man, sitting in a room on a wooden chair. Keep in mind, he is young during the run of the comic, probably late 20's, early 30's, so the jump was frustrating to say the least. Also, along with this huge jump in time, it also seems that our main character doesn't get the ending that he was hoping for, though it's not exactly what you may think.

Overall, these books are great, and I would love to just ramble on about all of the fun things included in them. The story felt short, but that was mostly because of how good it was, I tore through the pages of this one. It starts off strong, stays that way, but ends on a bit of a sour note. Still, it's nice to see such a strong Indie comic, and it's one I would suggest to a lot of the people I know who are looking for something new.

I give Y: The Last Man an 8 out of 10.

Sincerely,

The Bored Enthusiast