The Terminal Moment Is Here

Braid: A Review

Dan Fahy — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:32:30 +0000

“Developers should design innovative, ethical and personal art because players are hungry for inspiring new games.”

When making statements like this Jonathan Blow has a lot to live up to and with Braid his debut platform/puzzle game not only does he live up to them, he manages to bring the world of video games one step closer to a respectable art form.

At a quick look it would be easy to mistake Braid for a Super Mario Bros. clone; both feature a solitary man traversing multiple worlds in search of a kidnapped princess; both feature similar enemies and both end each level with the same mantra “the princess is in another castle”. Those similarities and homages aside Braid has little interest in being the next Mario, instead it’s more content with wrapping it’s complex and mysterious story in time based puzzles.

Each of Braid’s six worlds revolves around a different time based puzzle and theme, bookended with some cryptic narrations and littered with puzzle pieces the game slowly offers players a glimpse of the story’s emotional undercurrent and while the narrative may at times come of as both over and melodramatic by Braid’s closing scene all the pieces fit perfectly, both asking and offering players questions they may not have been expecting given it’s minimalistic presentation.

Expertly designed with both a gorgeous art style and haunting music Braid would not quite work as a game were it not for it’s gameplay and thankfully both Braids platforming and puzzle elements manage to live up to the games it pays homage to. While at times it may seem as if the solution to it’s increasingly complex puzzles is out of reach, for those willing to both think and overcome the multiple red herrings the game throws their way will find a very rewarding experience. Braid is the future of gaming, both emotionally and artistically rewarding it offers something unfortunately not seen very often in modern gaming. It’s also an extremely fun experience to boot.

10/10

Braid is available for download on Xbox Live, Playstation Network and PC. The above version is a review for the Xbox Live version of the game.

Posted in Video Game: Reviews Tagged: 2008 release, braid, pc game, psn, video game review, video games, xbox live

The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom

Dan Fahy — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:45:46 +0000

Yesterday Giant Bomb put up a Quick Look for The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom; a game which until now had completely escaped me. Taking the role of Mr. Winterbottom players bend time and space in order to eat as many pies as possible, clearly the game has its priorities right.

Part Braid with the humour of ‘Splosion Man and art direction clearly inspired by Edward Gorey the game looks to take all it’s influences and combine them for a fun puzzle/platforming experience . Plus who wouldn’t attempt to bend time and space for some pie? The game is set for release February 14th exclusively on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft points; the trailer can be found below.

Posted in Video Game: Trailers Tagged: The Misadventures of PB Winterbottom, Video Game, xbox 360, xbox live

Frozen

Dan Fahy — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:19:50 +0000

Since it’s still frosty outside it’s only fitting that there be a snow themed horror movie on the horizon. Frozen, Hatchet director Adam Greens latest film, follows three skiers (Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell and Kevin Zegers) trapped on a ski-lift of a holiday resort. With the resort abandoned for a week and hypothermia starting to set in the group must figure out how to get out both alive and in one piece.

With some hype and an interesting if slightly spoilerish trailer Frozen has a lot going for it and if it can manage not to squander it’s good will with some dumb character moves could be a good start to the horror genre in 2010. It currently has a US release date of February 5th but hopefully won’t be too long before it’s release this side of the pond. The trailer can be found below.

Posted in Film: Trailers Tagged: 2010, Film, frozen, horror films, trailers

The ‘09 Lists: Music Videos

Dan Fahy — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 21:14:20 +0000

The end of the year means only one thing, end of year lists and below are 15 of my favourite music videos of the year. There’s some short film, some promos, some live performances and one funny youtube. Not included is a Rammstein video which I thought was best not to link to just because of the kind of hits I’d attract from it.

Bat For Lashes – Daniel

Bloc Party – One More Chance

Brand New – Sowing Season

Dead Man’s Bones – In The Room Where You Sleep

Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks

Lady Gaga – Bad Romance

Kanye West – We Were Once A Fairytale

Major Lazer – Keep it Going Louder

Major Lazer – Pon De Floor

Mastodon – Divinations

MGMT – Kids

Nine Inch Nails with Gary Newman – Cars

The Antlers – Two

The Muppets – Bohemian Rhapsody

Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Head Will Roll

Posted in Music: Videos Tagged: bat for lashes, bloc party, dead man's bones, grizzly bear, kanye west, lady gaga, major lazer, mastodon, mgmt, music video, the antlers, the muppets, yeah yeah yeahs

Review: Paranormal Activity

Dan Fahy — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:01:46 +0000

Paranormal Activity

Directed by: Oren Peli
Starring: Katie Featherston // Micah Sloat
Running time: 86 min
Genre: Horror // Thriller

It’s been ten years since The Blair Witch Project was released in cinemas and it seems that ten years was ample time for audiences to once again fall in love with a ghost story within the guise of a mockumentary. It may seem odd to discuss The Blair Witch Project straight away but the similarities that Paranormal Activity has to it are too great to ignore; both are simple ghosts stories, both present themselves under the illusion of “found footage” and both fully take place completely through a handheld camera. That’s not to say that Paranormal Activity is just a cheap copy though and along the way it manages to offer a few tricks of its own.

Presented without a title card or credits Paranormal Activity follows the lives of Micah Sloat and Katie Featherston, a young couple from San Diego, who with camera in hand ,try to find out what’s been making weird noises in their house at night. Katie is convinced that a spirit has been haunting her since childhood and has grown restless since moving in with fiance Micah, while cynical Micah is convinced that neighborhood children have been playing pranks on them. As the title suggests, there is something “paranormal” going on and as the nights progress and the incidents (which I will not explain in detail or spoil) grow in scale, it becomes clear that maybe some things are better left alone.

Paranormal Activity got a lot of praise earlier in the year for its effectiveness with a low budget and, with the $15,000 available to him, director Oren Peli gets more than his money’s worth: with lead actors Micah and Katie taking up 99% of the film’s brief 86 minute run time both are believable if not always likable, and while the film has scares to fall back, on without the great chemistry of the two leads would mean nothing. The scares themselves, and to a greater extent, the effects are a breath of fresh air to modern horror, relying on subtle noises and the audiences personal fears rather than blood and gore to create tension and fear. And first-time director Peli certainly knows how to create tension.

Although he directs, Peli doesn’t control the camera: at night time, the camera has a fixed view of the room, while during the day Micah and Katie take turns to wield the camera. It manages to remain tense throughout, with a growing sense of dread during the day as the couple prepare for the night ahead, consulting websites and local psychics for an answer to their problem until the darkness invades their home. As the film progresses, the presence that is haunting them begins to prevaid every aspect of their lives and it’s a sensation that can even be felt in the cinema. Some of the scares may appear cheesy but remain effective even to the final scene.

With a refreshing take on the haunted house story and some simple but ingenious scares Paranormal Activity is a master class in atmosphere. Fans of the “gore porn” genre may find themselves getting restless but those willing to give themselves over to the film will find themselves more scared of a night time shadow than they have been by any masked killer.

Posted in Film: Reviews Tagged: Film: Review, horror films, katie featherston, micah sloat, paranormal activity, reviews

Hamster Balls + Zombies = Dead Rising 2

Dan Fahy — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:19:37 +0000

Frank West may be off busy fighting Ryu and some anime characters but that doesn’t mean that the zombie destroying fun of Dead Rising is over. Thankfully Chuck Greene is up to the challenge of chopping up some zombies in Dead Rising 2 and with the latest trailer for Capcoms zombie killing simulator comes a glimpse of the multi-player mode sorely missing from the first entry.

As seen above players take the role of a different coloured costume and take on hordes of zombies in a “Gladiator” style arena. Really though when a game gives you chainsaw modified motorcycles what more do you need? Apparently hamster balls and I’m not going to complain. If only Dead Rising 2 can get rid of the annoying clock system from the first game and it’ll solve all the first games problems.

In case you missed the earlier video check out the clip below to see Chuck Greene himself messing up some undead hordes.

Posted in Video Game: News Tagged: chainsaws, dead rising 2, multiplayer, tokyo game show, trailers, undead, Video Game, zombies

Tokyo Game Show 09: No More No More Heroes

Dan Fahy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:27:49 +0000

No More Heroes is the best third party and “mature” game currently on the Wii. No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle will probably follow that trend. The Tokyo Game Show has given a few more brief videos for the title including a new playable character Shinobu; an assassin from the original No More Heroes and a better look at the revamped mini games within the game.

Shinobu; straight and to the point.

The Coconut game from the first entry to the No More Heroes franchise has gotten a Wario Ware update

Nothing says world class assassin like cooking steak.

Hyperbole aside No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle looks like a great title and something the Wii is currently sorely missing. It’s due for release in all regions in Q1 2010.

Posted in Video Game: News Tagged: 2010 release, goichi suda, nintendo wii, no more heroes, no more heroes: desperate struggle, Video Game

The Last Guardian: Your Griffin thing probably dies

Dan Fahy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:28:50 +0000

More Tokyo Game Show news this time in the form of a short but cute trailer for The Last Guardian (more awesomely known as Trico, the man-eating erne in Japan)

Not much is known about The Last Guardian other then that it follows a small boy and a giant griffin type creature as they navigate a labyrinth filled with soldiers but with Team Ico behind the game every gamer should be excited for it.

A sequel to critically acclaimed Ico and Shadow Of The Colossus, The Last Guardian is exclusively available for Playstation 3 hopefully sometime next year.

Posted in Video Game: News Tagged: 2010 release, ico, Playstation 3, shadow of the colossus, team ico, the last guardian

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: 18 Billion Damage Points

Dan Fahy — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:32:23 +0000

Frank West isn’t just a reporter anymore. The protaganist of Dead Rising has made the move to fighting games with Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars , the seventh instalment to Capcoms Vs. series which has included Marvel Vs. Capcom and Capcom Vs. Snk.

So how can Frank compete with Mech characters and super fighters? Throw in some zombies and Mega Man blasters and you get the idea of what to expect. The video below shows off just how you can do 18 BILLION hit points to someone and not kill them. If the game ends up as fun as it is over the top Wii owners can look forward to a good Capcom Vs. game after missing out on the rerelease of Marvel Vs. Capcom earlier in the year

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is due for release on Nintendo Wii January 29th, 2010. More news as it becomes available.

Posted in Video Game: News Tagged: dead rising, fighting games, frank west, nintendo wii, tatsunoko vs. capcom

Sam Fisher: Terrorist Stomper

Dan Fahy — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:31:17 +0000

Tokyo Game Show is upon us once again and already news is starting to pour out. High up on our upcoming games list is Splinter Cell: Conviction which unfortunately was another victim to the great 2009 Christmas Release Exodus of this year. Those worrying that it would slip out of the Q1 2010 release need worry no more though as TGS has given us a release date trailer, because every thing needs a trailer apparently. So set your calendars for February 23, 2010 and get ready to kick some terrorist ass all over again. Michael Ironside demands you do.

EDIT: Now with said trailer.

Posted in Video Game: News Tagged: micheal ironside, release date, splinter cell, xbox 360