Synopsis: SONIC THE HEDGEHOG is a live-action adventure comedy based on the global blockbuster video game franchise from Sega that centers on the infamously brash bright blue hedgehog. The film follows the (mis)adventures of Sonic as he navigates the complexities of life on Earth with his newfound -- human -- best friend Tom Wachowski (James Marsden). Sonic and Tom join forces to try and stop the villainous Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) from capturing Sonic and using his immense powers for world domination. The film also stars Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz as the voice of Sonic.
My thoughts: Although a step down from last summers Detective Pikachu, Sonic is a huge win especially after the backlash from the original trailer. Baby Sonic is the most 2020 thing to happen so far this year and I loved every minute of it and I'm always on board when Jim Carrey is given the reigns to just go nuts. I'm glad this movie made some money before COVID-19 as it sets up for sequels and hopefully more goodness is to come.
Final verdict: 4.5 gold rings out of 5.
Coffee & Kareem:
Synopsis: While police officer James Coffee (Ed Helms) enjoys his new relationship with Vanessa Manning (Taraji P. Henson), her beloved 12-year-old son Kareem (Terrence Little Gardenhigh) plots their break-up. Attempting to scare away his mom's boyfriend for good, Kareem tries to hire criminal fugitives to take him out but accidentally exposes a secret network of criminal activity, making his family its latest target. To protect Vanessa, Kareem teams up with Coffee - the partner he never wanted - for a dangerous chase across Detroit.
My thoughts: Netflix latest original is here to get us through COVID-19 and it's fine but it's nothing special. It's classic adult humour in a fish out of water story with some action sprinkled it. It doesn't do any one thing great which holds it back and Henson is wasted as a juggernaut actress. Definitely worth a watch to kill an hour and a half but probably won't revisit it.
Final verdict: 3 foul-mouthed 12 year olds out of 5.
The Invisible Man:
Synopsis: Trapped in a violent, controlling relationship with a wealthy and brilliant scientist, Cecilia Kass (Moss) escapes in the dead of night and disappears into hiding, aided by her sister (Harriet Dyer, NBC's The InBetween), their childhood friend (Aldis Hodge, Straight Outta Compton) and his teenage daughter (Storm Reid, HBO's Euphoria). But when Cecilia's abusive ex (Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House) commits suicide and leaves her a generous portion of his vast fortune, Cecilia suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of eerie coincidences turns lethal, threatening the lives of those she loves, Cecilia's sanity begins to unravel as she desperately tries to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
My thoughts: As far as Universal Monster remakes go this is head and shoulders above The Mummy and Dracula Untold but it still has it's issues. The running time is longer than it needs to be and they leave too many hanging threads early on which takes focus away from what's happening on screen. Moss is a fantastic actress but she's not able to elevate this movie much.
Hello everyone! This week I finally got a PS4 and although I currently only have 2 games for it (MLB 15 The Show; Yu-Gi-Oh!) I decided to take a peak at what other people recommend which cause me to dig in depth so here my friends are the top 10 critically acclaimed PS4 games as of this writing (Friday September 18, 2015). Which games would you recommend? As always hit me up at twitter @DonnyForTheWin or in the comments below!
10. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remastered
Rating (8.4)
Summary: Two RPGs - Now in High Definition. Over 200 hours of gameplay, including the International version content never before released in North America. Relive the fateful journey with fully remastered HD visuals and rearranged music.
Praise: Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster is already great way to play these classic RPGs on the PS3 and Vita, and the even prettier PlayStation 4 version comes with the visual improvements you’d expect for the new-generation platform.
9. Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition
Rating (8.4)
Summary: The definitive edition of this action game arrives with enhanced 1080p graphics at 60fps, new features and all the original DLC included. Chain together stylish combos with up to 8 unique weapons. Traverse the demonic world of Limbo as you join Dante and Vergil in the legendary rebirth of the Devil May Cry franchise.
Praise: The Definitive Edition is an already fantastic game perfected and shined up brighter for an audience that didn't come in nearly the droves that it demanded the first time. DmC walked the walk and talked the talk of an envelope-pushing experience on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. On the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, it's the chaotic, anarchic Devil May Cry the new generation needs and deserves.
8. Axiom Verge
Rating (8.4)
Summary: A failed scientist dies in an accident, only to awaken in a mysterious, alien world. Where is he? How did he get here? And why do the fundamental laws of reality appear broken? Life. Afterlife. Real. Virtual. Dream. Nightmare. It's a thin line. It's Axiom Verge
Praise: Its story is simple, yet subverts convention with its attitude. The exploration loop is incredibly satisfying, and combat feels both tight and adaptable, like a complex dance where the partners both accentuate each others strengths, allowing any weak points to fade into the background. I could go on, but honestly, the next sentence sums everything I need to say up quite nicely. You really, REALLY, should play Axiom Verge.
7. OlliOlli2: Welcome To Olliwood
Rating: (8.5)
Summary: OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood plucks the iconic skater from the street and dropping him squarely in the middle of the Big Screen’s most bodacious cinematic locations.
Praise: OlliOlli2 is what happens when a developer takes in feedback and does its best to employ the best of said feedback. There isn’t one aspect of the original OlliOlli that wasn’t improved in some way, shape or form in OlliOlli2. The new visual style is incredible, the mechanics are as close to perfect as you can get, the soundtrack is packed with amazing songs and artists that complement the gameplay and there’s exact parity between the PS4 and PS Vita versions of the game. In short, OlliOlli2: Welcome to Olliwood is nothing short of a masterpiece.
6. Dark Souls II: Scholar Of The First Sin
Rating (8.7)
Summary: Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin includes the 3 previously released DLC packs - Crown of the Sunken King, Crown of the Old Iron King, and Crown of the ivory King - along with additional features. All versions of the game include the following features (Existing Dark Souls II owners will receive a patch to implement these elements): Additional NPCs added for an enhanced story experience. Parameter adjustments for improved game balance. Augmented item descriptions. Improved online matchmaking functionality.
Praise: Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin certainly comes off as a definitive version worth checking out. The changes in enemy placement can be a bit jarring at first, but I think you’ll agree that these changes keep the overall game feeling fresh, regardless of how many hours you devoted to the original game. And if you’re coming off of Bloodborne, and wanting more From Software goodness, than Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin certainly fits the bill.
5. Batman: Arkham Knight
Rating (8.7)
Summary: Batman confronts the ultimate threat against the city he has been sworn to protect. The Scarecrow returns to congeal an imposing array of super villains, including The Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, to summarily destroy The Dark Knight. The game introduces Rocksteady's uniquely-designed imagining of the Batmobile drivable for the first time in the franchise. Batman: Arkham Knight offers gamers a complete Batman experience as they rip through the streets and soar across the skyline of the iconic Gotham City.
Praise: The Bat could not have hoped for a better send off. Graphically astounding, narratively compelling, and featuring two utility belts full of new gadgets. This is bat-time very, very well spent.
4. Bastion
Rating (8.9)
Summary: The goal of the game is to construct a safe haven in the wake of the Calamity, a cataclysmic event that shattered the world into a series of floating islands. As players journey into the wild unknown in search of survivors and supplies, they will confront strange beasts, forge an array of customizable weapons, and gain new powers from specially-brewed spirits. The entire play experience of Bastion is dynamically narrated, gradually revealing a rich backstory as the narrator reacts to the player's actions in real time.
Praise: When the credits first rolled all those years ago, I simply sat in my chair, completely blown away at what I had just experienced. While it may have taken a few years to find its way onto the Sony platform, Bastion still stands as proof to what a small team of creative and passionate individuals can accomplish, and that video games as a medium have an infinite amount of potential. Hopefully, we can all stick around long enough to see what comes next.
3. Shovel Knight
Rating (9.1)
Summary: Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. It's a hot mashup of new and old! You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this land with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and quest for his lost beloved. He wields a Shovel Blade: a multipurpose weapon whose techniques have now been lost to the ages. Always honest and helpful, Shovel Knight is a shining example of the code of Shovelry: Slash Mercilessly and Dig Tirelessly! But, between Shovel Knight and his beloved stands a cadre of villainous knights. These terrible foes, known as The Order of No Quarter, have been dispatched to prevent Shovel Knight from reaching the Enchantress, and will pursue their mission at any cost. If you love games with perfect platforming, beautiful art, infectious music, crazy bosses, humor and levity, and real heart... Shovel Knight is for you!
Praise: Luckily Shovel Knight is generous with its placement of checkpoints, allowing a measure of modernity where it could have easily opted for the old school Nintendo-hard approach. Likewise, the only real consequence to dying is the loss of some of your treasure which, taking a page from the Souls games, can be recovered upon returning to the spot you died at previously, provided you don’t die again that is. In fact this idea of recovering your own gold can potentially add more to the game, as it encourages revisiting the often precarious situation that killed you in the first place for the opportunity to gain back your hard earned treasure. Unfortunately, there were occasions where the treasure I dropped ended up in a place that made it impossible to recover (such as the point-of-no-return in a bottomless pit) which detracts from an otherwise smart take on dying in a platformer that doesn’t rely on lives and 1-Ups.
2. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Rating (9.2)
Summary: With the Empire attacking the Kingdoms of the North and the Wild Hunt, a cavalcade of ghastly riders, breathing down your neck, the only way to survive is to fight back. As Geralt of Rivia, a master swordsman and monster hunter, leave none of your enemies standing. Explore a gigantic open world, slay beasts and decide the fates of whole communities with your actions, all in a genuine next generation format. Also known as "The Witcher III: Wild Hunt"
Praise: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt sets a new standard for open world RPGs. Its shockingly cohesive world is as beautiful as it is demanding, and it's packed full of mature content that throws you from one emotional response to the next. Its storytelling is superb, its combat is grippingly refined, and its often unforgiving nature only lends itself to a brilliantly rewarding experience. In an industry that's flooded with so many by-the-book open world titles, Wild Hunt stands out as a true labour of love from a developer that's uncompromisingly passionate about its creative freedom. Geralt's incredible adventure is nothing short of a masterpiece.
1. Bloodborne
Rating (9.2)
Summary: Bloodborne is an action RPG in which you hunt for answers in the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness spreading through the streets like a disease. Peril, death and madness infest this dark world, and you're tasked with uncovering its darkest secrets which will be necessary for you to survive. Armed with a singular arsenal of weaponry, including guns and saw cleavers, you'll require wits, strategy and reflexes to dispatch the agile and intelligent enemies that guard the city's underbelly. You will utility holy chalices to access an array of vast underground ruins, chock full of traps, beasts, and rewards, to explore and conquer on your own or with other people.
Praise: Bloodborne may not be a Souls game and it doesn't fall into the horror genre, but it captures everything that makes the series so satisfying, so terrifying and so magical.
I want to keep playing, I want to discover its secrets, I want to fight every monster, try every weapon, discuss theories and explore as many of the community dungeons as possible. To put it bluntly, I want to bleed the game dry.
Praise: Bloodborne may not be a Souls game and it doesn't fall into the horror genre, but it captures everything that makes the series so satisfying, so terrifying and so magical. I want to keep playing, I want to discover it's secrets, I want to fight every monster, try every weapon, discuss theories and explore as many of the community dungeons as possible. To put it bluntly, I want to bleed the game dry.
Ugh... Licensed games... Aren't they the worst? Developpers litterally put zero effort into producing a game knowing that they'll stick a recognizable character, or characters on the box art knowing full well that people will pick the game up on that alone... So why bother actually crafting a good game right!? Now saying all that, there are certain games that stand above, the Looney Tunes series in particular has been good... Well was at one point it's tappered off a bit lately but there's still some gems to be found and since it was a certain carrot chomping character's birthday this week (Happy 75th Birthday Bugs!) we figured we'd honour this rabbit with his very own top 10.
But first some rules! Firstly: Only games where you play as Bugs Bunny was considered. Secondly: We didn't include sports games... Obviously that would need a list of it's own (sorry Space Jam!). Thirdly: I considered series as a whole, so no individual games will be found on this list. On to the list!
10. Rabbit Transit (Atari 2600)
Alright... So apparently this rabbit is Bugs... Uh huh okay. This game is supposedly based on the very funny Rabbit Transit short but really it's just a frogger rip off. You jump over eggs or onto platforms and light them up and once you reach the end you move on to the next level. Except there is only 2 levels, the eggs level and the platform level you just keep bouncing between with the difficulty going up each time... It was very repetitive and didn't take long to get boring and if I hear London Bridge one more time I'm gonna kill somebody. But hey at least it beat Acme Arsenal!
9. Looney Tunes: Back In Action (GBA)
This is where, as far as I'm concerned, the Looney Tunes games started going downhill. Back In Action was released on several platforms but since I played all these games on emulators it was just easier to do the GBA version and the first thing I noticed was how rough the controls were. It's reminiscent of an NES game where you could only move up, down, left or right and very choppy at that. But this game came out a decade after the NES died! The storyline was decent enough and the game looks pretty good for a handheld but it's hard to get past those horrendous controls.
8. Loons: The Fight For Fame (X-Box)
I was probably most excited to play Loons when researching this list. The premise hooked me, it's a fighting game that pits Daffy, Taz, Sylvester and of course Bugs against each other for the role of a lifetime in a film, they don't realize they are trying to tank the studio so that they can buy all the stock for cheap. They tried to make a "looney" fighting game but it moves far too slowly to be engaging. And what kind of fighting game only has 4 playable characters? Insanity I tell you. The game is fun in spurts but it gets old quick. Maybe worth a garage sale pick-up though.
7. Looney Tunes: Collector Alert! (GBC)
Apparently back in the day every game tried to be Pokemon and Looney Tunes had their own "collect them all" game. Marvin The Martian is trying to destroy earth and Bugs must stop him with the help of the characters he collects. The game even spawned a sequel which was basically this game from Marvin's point of view, unfortunetly Bugs isn't really playable so that wasn't considered. This game is fun enough and has decent graphics for the game boy color era. The music could be better but it handles quite well and isn't as long in the tooth as collecting 150 pocket monsters but there's lots of replay value trying to complete your roster of Looney Tunes.
6. Bugs Bunny: Lost In Time/Bugs Bunny & Taz: Timebusters (PS1)
This was Bugs first foray into 3D design and I guess it probably looked good at the time but it was far too polygonal for my liking and the graphics were pretty choppy. The camera also has a lot of issues which surprised me right off the bat since there wasn't a whole lot of obstacles on the first stage of the original game which sees Bugs lost in time before joining Taz in the sequel on the hunt for several objects that were lost in time. They add enough obstacles and abilities for both characters to keep the games interesting and the developpers really made great use of the license. It also is the 2nd best game on the list for using the humour and storylines from the cartoons.
5. The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout (NES)
This game is perhaps most worthy of this list seeing as though it was put out about 25 years ago to celebrate Bugs's 50th birthday back before the Nintendo was "super". Birthday Blowout follows Bugs as he tries to get to his birthday party. A lot of the gameplay resembles Super Mario Bros but it's slightly different since Bugs is armed with a mallet and picks up carrot blocks instead of coins, but it is very much a Mario-clone in the side-scrolling adventure game genre. NES games are usually known to be challenging but Birthday Blowout is not since I made it over halfway through the game in less than an hour of gameplay but it never felt repetitive which was a challenge for games back then.
4. Bugs Bunny in Double Trouble (Genesis)
Although Lost In Time was the 2nd best game at paying homage to it's cartoon counterpart it can not touch Bugs adventure on the Sega Genesis. Double Trouble has Bugs trapped in a TV and reliving some of his classics cartoons including "Duck! Rabbit, Duck!" and "Knighty Knight Bugs". It was a lot of fun to relive these moments appropriately so in great graphic form on the Genesis.
3. Looney Tunes: Carrot Crazy (GBC)
Birthday Blowout may have set the standard for what a Looney Tunes jump and run side scroller should play, but Carrot Crazy on the game boy color perfected it. This game gave Bugs all kinds of fun abilities that set the stage for his adventures on the Playstation. Sure it's really nothing that Mario and Sonic didn't do already, but that's really the only thing that held it back. Surprisingly this game, unlike most game boy games, has a good soundtrack and is really a staple of MOST Looney Tunes games on the hand held system, the previously mentioned Collector Alert included.
2. Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage (SNES)
Going into this list, this game was the only one I remembered from my childhood, and I remembered it fondly. All those days in my basement playing the copy I rented from my local rental store, Video Capers in case you were wondering. I'm proud to report it holds up amazingly. Great gameplay, great graphics, great sound and tons of replay value. I had a hard time moving on to the next game since I was having so much fun. If you own a Super Nintendo you'd be crazy to not own this game or at the very least have played it!
1. Crazy Castle Series
Bugs Bunny was the star of the first 4 Crazy Castle games in North America before giving way to Woody Woodpecker for the fifth installment. These insanely fun puzzle games spanned 3 systems. The original on the NES was great fun if you're a fan of puzzle games. This, like Rabbit Rampage, I had a hard time putting down. The sequel on the Game Boy kept it's predecessors gameplay but it was hard to listen to that god awful music. The third installment now on the Game Boy Color proved to be the high water mark of the series and made me forget all about the original NES game. The fourth was a step back as they tried to do too much instead of sticking with what works. I can tell you that I enjoyed this game so much that I'll be looking out for Crazy Castle 3 at used video game stores to play on my Game Boy player for my Nintendo GameCube.
The Invisible Man: