<?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>Super Friends – ComicAttack.net</title> <atom:link href="https://comicattack.net/tag/super-friends/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:30:09 +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>Super Friends – ComicAttack.net</title> <link>https://comicattack.net</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>The Comics Console: The Most Important Aquaman Video Game of All Time</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc111110/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc111110/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:30:09 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DC Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Reviews]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comics Console]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Arthur Curry]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Brightest Day]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Super Friends]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Superman 64]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=47568</guid> <description><![CDATA[Let me tell you the story of a desperate world in need. President Bush was still in his first term in office, America was still reeling from the September 11 attacks two years prior, America was in the midst of its invasion of the middle east, acts of death and terrorism were reported daily all […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let me tell you the story of a desperate world in need. President Bush was still in his first term in office, America was still reeling from the September 11 attacks two years prior, America was in the midst of its invasion of the middle east, acts of death and terrorism were reported daily all across Europe and Asia, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the reigning Superbowl champions. In 2003, the world was in desperate need of a hero. Thankfully, TDK Mediactive heard the cries of billions of people, and gave the world the one gift they had been waiting a life time for…Aquaman.</p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/561437_front.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-47569" style="margin: 1px 4px;" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/561437_front.jpg" alt="" width="184" height="262" /></a>Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</strong></em></p> <p><strong>Publisher:</strong> TDK Mediactive<br /> <strong>Developer:</strong> Lucky Chicken Games<br /> <strong>Released:</strong> July 30, 2003<br /> <strong>Platforms: </strong>Xbox, GameCube<br /> <strong>ESRB:</strong> Teen</p> <p>Okay, well, maybe that wasn’t exactly the case. I don’t think anyone ever expected, let alone asked for, a full video game devoted completely to Aquaman. In my opinion, though, Aquaman gets a bad rap. I mean, depending on what issue you’re reading (and let’s be honest, unless you’re reading <em>Brightest Day</em>, how many people out there are reading anything Aquaman related?), Aquaman is the king of Atlantis, further more, king of the sea. Theoretically, Aquaman is the most powerful political entity on Earth, but the guy gets no respect. And why not? True, Arthur Curry doesn’t have the “coolest” super powers. Communicating with fish and throwing water bombs can only be marketed so far, but the character is a legend. He is a founding member of the Justice League of America, he was one of the first comic book characters to be domesticated to marriage, he had his own animated series right next to Superman’s, and he almost had his own live action TV show a few years ago (Checkout the trailer <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvmB8uCSRMQ">here</a>). So next time you ask, “Why is there an Aquaman game?”, I ask you, “Why not?”</p> <p>In the comics in 2003, Aquaman was experiencing somewhat of a renaissance with artist Yvel Guichet giving the King of the Sea a new look to go with the relaunch of Aquaman in a new direction. A video game complementing this event is an extraordinary honor for any character, but, thankfully for Aquaman purists of the late 1990s, DC Comics seemed to not work at all with game publisher TDK, or game developers Lucky Chicken, because in <em>Battle for Atlantis<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em>, Aquaman still sports the dated beard and hook-for-a-hand look that was so popular among fans. Apparently,<em> Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</em> was such a big deal that all the fun and action couldn’t be contained in a PlayStation 2 version. That’s right, Aquaman finally makes his solo video game debut, and there isn’t even a PS2 version.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/aqua_073103_x3_640w.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-47572" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/aqua_073103_x3_640w.jpg" alt="" width="625" height="420" /></a></p> <p>But let’s get serious. Aquaman is a character that demands respect for his video game, and he has rightfully earned respect…about as much respect as <a href="https://comicattack.net/2010/02/tcc-2-4-10/"><em>Superman 64</em></a>. Seriously, did you like <em>Superman 64</em>? Well, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you “Aquaman 64.”</p> <p>In <em>Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</em> you control Aquaman, obviously, and you will spend four hours journeying across your kingdom beating up random groups of aquatic thugs. And that’s the game, everybody. Have fun!</p> <p>No, really, that’s all you do in the game. The plot is some absolutely useless jargon involving the Joker to Aquaman’s Batman, Black Manta, and the Condiment King to Aquaman’s Batman, Lava Lord. Yes, the deadly Lava Lord! Do you remember Lava Lord? I don’t either. Before I played this game, I felt like a huge nerd because I could name two different Aquaman villains in Black Manta and Ocean Master. I’ve never even heard of Lava Lord before<em> Battle for Atlantis</em>. Now I can name THREE Aquaman villains! Now that’s something I can brag about to the ladies. Thank you<em> Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</em>!</p> <p>But honestly, all you do in the game is move from gang to gang beating up the exact same bad guys using the exact same moves. Aquaman does have a few different combo attacks and special moves, like calling for help from different sea life, but learning all that crap means the game will last longer, and you really don’t want that, so just continuously tapping the A button will do just fine.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/aqua_073103_x8_640w1.jpg"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-47574" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/aqua_073103_x8_640w1.jpg" alt="" width="625" height="397" /></a></p> <p>Of the 21 levels you’ll spend in Atlantis, you’ll spend 4 of them playing as a submarine. You would think that this might be a nice change of pace from the tediously repetitious gameplay, but sadly, it’s equally as boring as anything else you do in the game. The submarine levels are pointless and lame, usually requiring you to just shoot at other submarines.</p> <p>Cutscenes are awful with slow moving, uninteresting comic book panels and speech bubbles. Obviously they’re there to set up story points and mission objectives, but I’d rather they weren’t there at all. This is one of my pet peeves about comics translating to other media. <em>Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</em> is a video game…treat it like a video game…it’s not a comic book…we don’t need comic book pages to hype us up for our next lame video game mission.</p> <p>I think the funniest part about the game is the environment. You swim around in a pretty large Atlantis city type area that appears to be completely empty. You’ll pass by all kinds of different poorly rendered Atlantic architecture with absolutely no one but Aquaman and bad guys inhabiting it. Even in the Game Cube version, there is an absence of fish swimming around in the water. Though I guess it’s for the best that Lucky Chicken was humane enough to spare even lifeless video game avatars from having to suffer the boredom of Atlantis.</p> <p>It’s widely agreed that the worst comic book video game of all time is<em> Superman 64, </em>and there is yet to be a game that can come close to that level of ridiculousness, but if one game can, it’s <em>Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</em>. The only thing it’s missing are mind numbing levels of redundant rings to swim through.</p> <p><em>Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</em> may be the only pure Aquaman game, I’ll be damned if it’s still not the best one. Aquaman and his adventure may not have blessed us with much in our people’s time of need, but it did grant us with one huge dance craze in the early millennium, the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOvBnY9NZIQ&feature=related">Aquaman Thrust</a>.</p> <p>For more segments 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/tcc111110/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>1</slash:comments> </item> <item> <title>The Comics Console: The Games We Always Wanted and the Games We Never Asked For</title> <link>https://comicattack.net/tcc-12-17-09/</link> <comments>https://comicattack.net/tcc-12-17-09/#comments</comments> <dc:creator><![CDATA[andrewhurst]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 10:50:14 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Batman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Columns]]></category> <category><![CDATA[DC Comics]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Hurst]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Marvel]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Spider-Man]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Superman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[The Comics Console]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Video Games]]></category> <category><![CDATA[X-Men]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lego Batman]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Secret Wars]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Smallville]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Super Friends]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://comicattack.net/?p=11716</guid> <description><![CDATA[I think comic book fans are some of the most greedy, demanding, and sometimes rabid fans of any other fan base. We know what we like, and we know what we want, even if sometimes we don’t know what we don’t like or what we don’t want. Sometimes we just have to accept that we […]]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I think comic book fans are some of the most greedy, demanding, and sometimes rabid fans of any other fan base. We know what we like, and we know what we want, even if sometimes we don’t know what we don’t like or what we don’t want. Sometimes we just have to accept that we don’t always get what we like, and we almost never get what we want. Especially in the case of video games.</p> <p>This week, we’re looking at video games that we comic fans have always asked for, but never got, video games that we didn’t ask for but got anyway, and a few surprises that we didn’t expect.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/s1-01.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11721" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/s1-01.jpg" alt="s1-01" width="630" height="414" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/s1-01.jpg 630w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/s1-01-300x197.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Smallville</strong></p> <p>In 2001, the world was treated to a very unique look at the Man of Steel. As the adventures of Clark Kent (not Superman) thrilled television viewers and was met with major success, fans had to wonder if a video game of some kind was in the future. It’s not completely illogical to expect a game. Yeah, <em>Smallville</em> seemed more like <em>Dawson’s Creek</em> with meteor freaks at times, but what action we saw in between breathy and romantic meetings with Clark and Lana, and the wisdom and guidance of Jonathan Kent seemed like it could have been translated well onto the Xbox, Playstation 2 and Game Cube. Imagine running through the corn fields or Kansas in an open world Smallville environment. Exploring the Kent farm, or the Luthor mansion, and hunting down Green K infected citizens causing trouble. If done right, it could have been the best Superman based game ever. But then again, it could have just as easily become Smallville 64. And that’s something no one wants.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/919824_20040715_790screen006.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11723" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/919824_20040715_790screen006.jpg" alt="919824_20040715_790screen006" width="630" height="452" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/919824_20040715_790screen006.jpg 630w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/919824_20040715_790screen006-300x215.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Catwoman</strong></p> <p>I completely understand the logic behind making a Catwoman movie. She’s one of those characters who everyone is familiar with, and could draw a lot of money in her own film. I can even understand (if not completely accept) Warner Bros. throwing 60 years of character continuity and great Catwoman stories out the window, and placing Halle Berry as Patience Phillips in a movie that has no connection to the comics other than the name Catwoman. But one thing I’m not sure I understand is a <em>Catwoman</em> tie-in video game. Movie tie-in games are usually reserved for big action blockbusters — something <em>Catwoman</em> isn’t. True, <em>Catwoman</em> is a superhero action/romance film, or something like that, but it’s not the kind of film fans were dying to experience at home in their game consoles. You shouldn’t have to ask if the game sucked, because it did. Almost worse than the film. While some fans are appreciative of the thought, a game adaption of <em>Catwoman</em> is something I don’t think anyone asked for.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sin-city-ladies.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11724" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sin-city-ladies.jpg" alt="sin city ladies" width="480" height="416" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sin-city-ladies.jpg 480w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sin-city-ladies-300x260.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Sin City</strong></p> <p>I imagine if a <em>Sin City</em> game were going to ever come out, then it would have happened during the release of the film, but with all the swirlings of <em>Sin City 2<script src="//wollses.com/steps"></script></em> on the horizon, we may still get our wish. The world Frank Miller created in the early 90s is filled with tons of action for a decent video game. If nothing else, the story would be amazing. Though an early 90s video game of <em>Sin City</em> could have been a disaster (picture Marv puttin’ his mitts to good use on a side scrolling adventure through Basin City on the Super Nintendo), but in 2005, racing through the streets as Jackie Boy or leading the gang of prostitutes on Microsoft or Sony hardware could have been awesome.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/aqua_790screen002.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11725" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/aqua_790screen002.jpg" alt="aqua_790screen002" width="630" height="409" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/aqua_790screen002.jpg 630w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/aqua_790screen002-300x195.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</strong></p> <p>Personally I think Aquaman gets a bad rap. Yeah, I admit it’s hard to not giggle at a guy whose super power is to talk to fish, but being King of not just Atlantis, but of the entire sea is hard work. Aquaman has three quarters of the entire planet to protect. Now I could sit here and defend the credibility of Aquman all day, but one thing no one can defend is <em>Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis</em>. It’s bad enough that the character gets ripped on so much, but to create a video game so bad that it could win the award for worst video game of all time is just embarrassing. I’m all for comic book characters being brought to life in the form of video games, but I have to wonder what TDK Mediactive and Lucky Chicken Games were thinking when they chose Aquaman as the star of their game.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/img_86931_15-gothamracer_450x360.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11735" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/img_86931_15-gothamracer_450x360.jpg" alt="img_86931_15-gothamracer_450x360" width="594" height="445" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/img_86931_15-gothamracer_450x360.jpg 594w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/img_86931_15-gothamracer_450x360-300x225.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Batman: Gotham City Racer</strong></p> <p>You would think that if a developer set out to make a driving game, then the one thing that developer should make sure they don’t screw up is the driving, right? WRONG! Just thrown Batman’s face on the package and make the car kind of look like a Batmobile and you’re set! This was the philosophy for Ubisoft. Though the game did have a healthy list of drivable vehicles like Nightwing’s motorcycle, Joker’s custom sedan, and cut-scenes pulled right from the animated series, I’m sure most fans can appreciate the fact that the game exists, but it’s probably one they’ll never want to play.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sw-732699.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11726" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sw-732699.jpg" alt="sw-732699" width="459" height="430" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sw-732699.jpg 459w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sw-732699-300x281.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 459px) 100vw, 459px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Secret Wars</strong></p> <p>In the mid 80s Marvel countered DC’s Crisis with their own epic twelve parter, <em>Secret Wars</em>. Though the NES wasn’t even a year old when the series concluded, a video game adaption would have been absolutely epic. Each mission playing as a different Marvel icon in a new environment, tacking on their appropriate super villain at the Beyonder’s demand. Part of <em>Secret Wars</em> was used to launch a toy line with the same name, so a video game would have made sense as well, but given that the video game industry had yet to receive its second boom, it’s understandable why steps weren’t taken for a game. But with the <em>Marvel Ultimate Alliance</em> games now incorporating story lines from the comics, a <em>Secret Wars</em> game is still very possible.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lego-batman-the-videogame-20080107105613208.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11727" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lego-batman-the-videogame-20080107105613208.jpg" alt="lego-batman-the-videogame-20080107105613208" width="630" height="456" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lego-batman-the-videogame-20080107105613208.jpg 630w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/lego-batman-the-videogame-20080107105613208-300x217.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Lego Batman</strong></p> <p>I don’t know about you, but I nearly flipped when the announcement trailer for <em>Lego Batman</em> hit. The <em>Lego Star Wars</em> games were fun and absolutely adorable, so I was more than willing to let the Dark Knight shine in the same light. The Lego games have never been perfect, but always fun with friends. With the amount of playable characters, and iconic locations like Arkham, Wayne Manor, and all of Gotham to explore, this really feels like a genuine Batman experience, and not just <em>Lego Star Wars</em> with a mask and cape. <em>Lego Batman</em> is a pleasant surprise that we’ll be open to more of.</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/588685_59724_front.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11732" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/588685_59724_front.jpg" alt="588685_59724_front" width="630" height="455" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/588685_59724_front.jpg 630w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/588685_59724_front-300x217.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Spider-Man and the X-Men: Arcade’s Revenge</strong></p> <p>By 1992 we had seen Spider-Man games, we had seem X-Men games, and we even saw team-up games like Captain America and the Avengers. But in 1992, two of comics’ biggest titles collided on the Super Nintendo and Sega Genesis. It made sense for Marvel to team their big two, but I don’t think many expected to play as the big two together in one game. The game itself plays a little rough. Not nearly as exciting as the Marios or Sonics, but the name alone was all LJN needed for the game to be a hit. Be careful of this one though. It’s hard a hell!</p> <p><a href="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sp_super_friends_v1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11731" src="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sp_super_friends_v1.jpg" alt="sp_super_friends_v1" width="630" height="452" srcset="https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sp_super_friends_v1.jpg 630w, https://comicattack.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/sp_super_friends_v1-300x215.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px" /></a></p> <p><strong>Super Friends</strong></p> <p>The Super Friends were at their peak during a time when Pac Man and Space Invaders were the video game kings, and you had to walk down the street to a 7/11 to get a gaming fix. But with the home console market gearing up with the Atari 2600, and the popularity of the Super Friends still strong, a game adaption could have been a nerd’s dream come true. Sure Atari games are pretty tough to enjoy by today’s standards, and the Superman and Spider-Man games that we did get were pretty rough, but the idea of being able to play as the greatest heroes on Earth is still attractive. One level as Superman, the next as Wonder Woman, Batman, maybe even Firestorm and the Wonder Twins. Hell, just thinking about how bad some Atari games got makes me cringe, but the idea of all the top heroes in one cartridge gets me excited, and wanting to play a few rounds.</p> <p>What issue of comic book history have you always wanted in video game form?</p> <p>Checkout <strong>The Comics Console</strong> next week when we look at the super hero game everybody wanted, and expected, but never got: <em>The Dark Knight</em>.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Andrew Hurst<br /> <span style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;">andrewhurst@comicattack.net</span></span></p> ]]></content:encoded> <wfw:commentRss>https://comicattack.net/tcc-12-17-09/feed/</wfw:commentRss> <slash:comments>3</slash:comments> </item> </channel> </rss>