Random Video Game Review - Rollerdrome

 

A lot of you will remember playing games that were associated with and/or had the name Tony Hawk in its title. A legendary skateboarder who gained celebrity status for such, whose name became associated with some of the most beloved and cherished sport games out there. I personally have only played at least one of his games and I have a feeling that this game, may have been loosely inspired by his games. Whether that is true or not is another matter, but let's check it out:

You, the player, play as Kara Hassan who is a participant in the titular deadly sport of Rollerdrome. The sport has its contestants perform a series of roller skating tricks while, at the same time, fighting against enemies using firearms. Played from a third-person perspective, ammo is refilled every time a trick is performed, whereas health is replenished by picking up the loot that the enemies leave behind. You skate through various stages while dodging attacks and using bullet time to aim your firearms. As you progress, more powerful weapons and other traits and skills, become available. However, the challenges get tougher, as do the enemies. Plus, there are some optional missions to take on in each level too.

Overall, this is a pretty decent game. While the progression aspect may not be anything new or groundbreaking, the idea of skating and shooting combined, is not something many games until now, have given some thought into. It's pretty well executed here, and I also like the cell shaded settings, characters and so forth. It gives it a little bit of style, which is nice. It's a game that I may play again at some point due to its replayability, but perhaps not too often. 8/10

Random TV Miniseries Review - Knuckles

 

You know, I'm glad Paramount is finding success in their Sonic films. I mean, for a long time, most video games turned into films, often failed in spectacular fashion. But it's good that, somehow, the more recent ones have found success and are doing very well in being faithful to the games while also trying to forge its own path. Now those of you that remember the old Sonic games will know that originally Sonic the Hedgehog 3 was meant to have Knuckles as a playable character, who ultimately spun off into a separate game that he shared with the blue blur. Of course, later ports of Sonic 3 have bought that feature to have Knuckles into it. So it feels kind of fitting that after the second Sonic film, we would have a spin-off of sorts with Knuckles. Not entirely sure that people wanted this, but it's here and one of my friends recommended I give it a watch, so here we go:

Following the events of the second film, Knuckles (reprised by Idris Elba) is struggling to adjust to life on Earth. That is, until he gets a vision of an elder of his tribe, Pachacamac (voiced by Christopher Lloyd) who tells him to start training an apprentice so as to give him purpose and a mission after securing the Master Emerald. That person, he trains, is deputy sheriff Wade Whipple (reprised by Adam Pally) who is long wanting to be a bowling champion like his estranged father. The pair get to know one another and Wade trains to become the bowling champion at a bowling event. All the while, trying to evade agents working for G.U.N. who are interested in Knuckles and the powers he possesses.

This show is very much a buddy comedy. It has all the things you'd expect from a buddy comedy and plays out exactly like every other one I have seen. But despite how predictable the show is, it's very light-hearted, and you'd get a few laughs from it. Plus lots of nostalgia with the soundtrack and all things in pop culture. Probably not all that demanded or needed, but its a pretty decent show if you have 3 or so hours to spare. 7/10

Double Random Movie Review - Love Lies Bleeding + The Fall Guy

 

So I watched 2 films in this past week. One blockbuster about a stuntman and an A24 film about Lesbian gym lovers. Two films where the only things they have in common is having guns, people falling (pun intended), two lovebirds and a lot of physical work, among possibly many other things. They also both star some big names like Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Kirsten Stewart, Dave, Franco, Ed Harris, Aaron-Taylor Johnson and many more. So star power for both films is there in force. Let's have a look at them:

Random Video Game Review - Biomutant

 

Some time ago, I played this game. Got it recorded for a YouTube video, only for it to screw up. Basically, Xbox Game Bar recorded a blank screen with sound. What fun that was (NOT!). So having since played it a bit more, I am now ready to give it a review. The developer I have never heard of, but the publisher I have. THQ Nordic, who I guess are re-releasing the remainder of what was left of THQ when it originally went bust. While also publishing more modern games like this. With an eco-friendly theme to it (and probably done better than many games that follow that theme), let's take a look:

The main story, revolves around something called the "Tree of Life", which is one day struck by a natural disaster and is quickly polluted. The roots of the tree, through which it gives the world its life, comes under threat from 5 creatures that begin to slowly gnaw at it. With the Tree at risk of being slowly killed and different tribes having different views on the world that they now live in, it's down to the player created character to determine the fate of the world. The game is an action game with RPG elements and set in an open world while played from a third-person perspective. You play as a mammalian warrior in this crazy world, which can be created by the player and lots of its features can be tweaked. Characters can move, dodge and be able to attack with melee weapons or long range shooting weapons. You can collect parts in your adventures which, when combined, can create some unusual weapons with differing statistics. Among the parts that can be used, there are cryogenic parts which can offer unique abilities to your character as it fights. As you play the game, further tweaks can be made to your character, weapons and robotic companion. This can be useful in certain situations and areas.

So technical difficulties aside when I played this for a Humble Choice video I was doing, this game is OK. It's nothing groundbreaking or innovative and much of what it has, is things that other games have done. So I guess if you want a game with a message about the environment (and is actually OK for what it is), then yeah, give it a play. I don't know if I will play this again, but it was fine first time round, so we'll see. 7/10

Monthly Update - May 2024

 

May is upon us!

Nothing really new to report on. Month will be mostly new and recent releases for films and TV shows. While video games will continue to be old Steam releases that are (at time of review) on sale, all on the review front.

Among the new released stuff, at least one A24 film will be reviewed as well as a few major blockbusters and things on streaming too.

Also check out my YouTube channel for even more things too!

That's all for this update! Peace to you all and have a great day!

Random Movie Review - Batman: The Long Halloween

 

With there not being much on at the cinema at the moment, I decided it's time to talk about another animated Batman film. This time, it's a film set in the Tomorrowverse and is a 2 part adaptation of another beloved Batman story, The Long Halloween. I have read this story and the overall story is told across one year and features a number of the villains that we know and love. With at least one origin story, for one of them, being revealed. I know it's probably not the right time to be talking about this film with Halloween in the name, but it is one I have been wanting to talk about for a while, so no better time than now. Let's get to it:

Across one year, Batman (this time voiced by Jensen Ackles) learns that a murder is taking place at certain points of the year, specifically holidays. Working alongside GCPD Captain James Gordon (voiced this time by Billy Burke) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (voiced this time by Josh Duhamel) with some occasional help from Catwoman (voiced this time by Naya Rivera), Batman sets out to find the mysterious killer as well as dealing with villains that may have a connection to them and the mobsters of Gotham. All while Harvey Dent begins to turn villain himself.

I think when DC makes these films, sometimes it's good just to have the one film. But as we've learnt with Superman: Doomsday and the Injustice film, it's not always easy to cram in so much in one film. Hence, why this, and also animated films that have come before it, work because it's spilt up into parts. I mean, sure, it may mean more money, but a film that leads into another film without cramming in too much, usually works well. Sure, there have been some recent Marvel films that have crammed too much in two part films anyway, but usually with good reason. Anyway, this is a good take on the story and very faithful too while going in its own directions in places. I may not be too keen on the animation style of the Tomorrowverse franchise, but it works pretty well for this Batman story, so can't really complain. The voices may not live up to the iconic voice actors like the late Kevin Conroy and the very much alive (at time of posting) Mark Hamill, but a good attempt nonetheless. 9/10

Random Video Game Review - Roboquest

 

It's not getting an easier in finding games on Steam that I want to review and are currently on sale. Fortunately, today, I found that this game was on sale, so I decided to give it a go. While it's not as heavily reviewed as some of the bigger and more well known games out there, the reviews of it are mixed, let's just say. The studio is one I don't know too much about, but they have developed the Payday games (well 2 of them anyway), the Riddick games (again just 2 of them), a Walking Dead game and one indie game I remember playing, called Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons. Plus with a Dungeons & Dragons game being in the works, it looks like they have definitely made a name for themselves, even if the name isn't known, but the games are. So let's take a look at this one:

This game is a first-person shooter with roguelite elements, played either alone or with two player co-op. A total of 6 unlockable classes are available and on a wide array of different difficulty levels. Each run you do, you get to collect various items, gadgets and the like to assist in the game or to purchase upgrades between runs at the so-called Basecamp. Every run also follows a levelling up system, which seems to work the same way that most games go about it. The main campaign has branching paths, randomized bosses and encounters and secret levels, all for the sake of encouraging replayability.

I think overall, it's an OK game. It's probably not one I will be returning to play non-stop, but it serves its purpose well. Where it lacks in innovation, it compensates on the fundamentals of the mechanics in these kinds of games. Plus a pretty cool soundtrack too, so yeah. 7/10