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Count_Zero

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  1. Count_Zero
    <p>This episode I’m continuing to review the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0575094176/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0575094176&linkCode=as2&tag=themillenn0b3-20">Cities in Flight</a><img style="border:none !important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0575094176" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> series by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/James-Blish/e/B000APGES2/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=themillenn0b3-20" target="_blank">James Blish</a><img style="border:none !important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" />, with book 3 – Earthman Come Home.</p>
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='585' height='360' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/7atQJHirJiQ?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' frameborder='0'></iframe></span>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/books/'>Books</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/book-review/'>book review</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/cities-in-flight/'>Cities in Flight</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/james-blish/'>James Blish</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/science-fiction/'>science fiction</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2623/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2623/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2623&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  2. Count_Zero
    This time I’m finishing up the run of DC’s The Shadow Comics – at least the ones that I own a copy of, with a story arc that goes back to some of the character’s original pulp roots.
    The premise of this arc, on paper, should make for a gloriously macabre crime thriller, taking a mix of the pulp genre and combining it into the exploitation genre. This arc pits The Shadow and his agents against the Finn family, a group of brothers involved in organized crime, selling drugs, arms, and smuggling diamonds, while secretly disposing of the bodies of the people that they kill through their operations through the hot-dog plant of the one brother in the family who has gone legit and who is unaware of the rest of the family’s dirty deeds.
    Instead, the book turns it into a dark comedy… and it’s not funny. The Finn gang is effectively made up of a group of complete morons, with perhaps the only reason why The Shadow and his Agents haven’t mopped them up already is because they’re assuming that their opponents are competent, when instead they’re idiots, making stupid decisions. For example, a central plot event in the series has the Finn Brothers getting the bright idea, “There’s this one psychotic who thinks he’s an agent of The Shadow – let’s unleash a bunch of Hollywood Psychotics from a mental institution – put them under the control of a Libyan general (as tensions with Libya were already at a high) we’re selling guns to, and let them smoke out The Shadow.” In turn, the Libyan takes his army of psychotics and sets out on a plan to unleash a deadly chemical weapon on New York, to wipe out the city, because He’s Libyan.
    I’m not sure if this is better or worse than, just a few months later, Jim Starlin having Ayatollah Khomeini make The fucking Joker Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, as part of the Death in the Family storyline.
    While the storyline itself is a failed farce, this arc does some things right. the first two story arcs – Howard Chaykin’s original run, and Andy Helfer’s Shadows and Light arc, felt incredibly over-crowded. They were shoving too many plots into too few of a number of issues. Here the book basically sticks with only one plot. The narrative focuses almost exclusively on the work to bring down the Finns, and once The Libyan gets involved, he also becomes the focus of the plot, with the Finns then reacting to how things have gotten out of hand, rather than driving the plot from the villainous side of things.
    Artist Kyle Baker does a very good job of taking over the art, following in the footsteps of Bill Sienkiewicz in the “Shadows and Light” arc. His work fits, thematically, with Sienkiewicz’s work, but with his own twists. It does become overly comedic at points, but that’s more or less a reflection of the story.
    That said, if you’re a fan of the pulps, or The Shadow in general, this story will probably rub you the wrong way, as Baker’s writing, especially in this comic, has that vibe of “I think this character and this comic are stupid, and so I will write the character accordingly.” On the one hand, it’s better than just not caring, but on the other hand, considering that The Shadow as a character can and has had interesting dramatic stories told with them, I can’t help but feel that potential is squandered here.
    This arc ends with The Shadow dead, and his sons taking his body back home with him returning attached to a cyborg body, while his agents attempt to carry on without him – at which point everyone gave up on the comic and canceled it, so I’ll stop here.
    If for some reason you want to read this mess, it’s available from Amazon.com.

    Filed under: comics Tagged: comics, DC Comics, The Shadow

  3. Count_Zero
    <p>Well, this month I’ve been swamped with school, but I have had a little time to watch a couple movies, and read one book, so I might as well give my thoughts on them. Specifically, I’ll be discussing the films <a class="zem_slink" title="Iron Man 3" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1300854/" target="_blank" rel="imdb">Iron Man 3</a>, <a class="zem_slink" title="Star Trek Into Darkness" href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1408101/" target="_blank" rel="imdb">Star Trek Into Darkness</a>, and the <a class="zem_slink" title="Hugo Award" href="http://www.thehugoawards.org/" target="_blank" rel="homepage">Hugo Award</a> nominated (and now <a class="zem_slink" title="Nebula Award" href="http://www.sfwa.org/nebula-awards/" target="_blank" rel="homepage">Nebula Award</a> Winning) science fiction novel 2312 by <a class="zem_slink" title="Kim Stanley Robinson" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Stanley_Robinson" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">Kim Stanley Robinson</a>.<span id="more-2601"></span><br /><embed src="http://blip.tv/play/iIk9g5LFDAA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="480" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></p>
    <h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size:1em;">Related articles</h6>
    <ul class="zemanta-article-ul">
    <li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.kindlepost.com/2013/05/sf-and-fantasy-awards-season-heats-up-hugo-and-nebula-awards-still-to-come.html" target="_blank">SF and Fantasy Awards Season Heats Up; Hugo and Nebula Awards Still to Come</a> (kindlepost.com)</li>
    <li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://www.omnivoracious.com/2013/05/nebula-award-winners-announced-kim-stanley-robinson-nancy-kress-and-more.html" target="_blank">Nebula Award Winners Announced: Kim Stanley Robinson, Nancy Kress, and More</a> (omnivoracious.com)</li>
    </ul>
    <p> </p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/books/'>Books</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/film/'>film</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/2013-hugo-award-nominees/'>2013 Hugo Award Nominees</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/book-review/'>book review</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/hugo-award/'>Hugo Award</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/iron-man/'>Iron Man</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/kim-stanley-robinson/'>Kim Stanley Robinson</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/nebula-award/'>Nebula Award</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/nebula-award-winners/'>nebula award winners</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/science-fiction/'>science fiction</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/star-trek/'>Star Trek</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/star-trek-into-darkness/'>Star Trek Into Darkness</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2601/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2601/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2601&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  4. Count_Zero
    <p>This week I’m reviewing a little known film from the Shaw Brothers. How little known is it? So unknown that I couldn’t find an IMDB page for this film!<span id="more-2595"></span></p>
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='620' height='379' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/27sdPh7nADU?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' frameborder='0'></iframe></span>
    <p>Heaven & Hell property of Shaw Brothers Films, Distributed in the US by Image Entertainment.</p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/film/hong-kong-action-movies/'>Hong Kong Action Movies</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/film/'>film</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/kung-fu-films/'>Kung Fu Films</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/martial-arts-film/'>Martial arts film</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/movie-review/'>Movie Review</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/shaw-brothers/'>Shaw Brothers</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2595/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2595/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2595&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  5. Count_Zero
    We continue on with the Nintendo Power recaps with issue #40, for September of 1992. The cover game for this issue is Felix the Cat for the NES. I find it interesting that so soon after the launch of the SNES, we still haven’t gotten many SNES games on the cover of the magazine. Most of our letters this issue are about where you’d like to take your Game Boy.
    Felix the Cat Guide
    We also get complete maps of the first 3 stages, as well as power-up notes and notes on stages 4 through 6.
    Prince of Persia Guide
    Jordan Mechner’s classic acrobatic game has come out on the NES. For those unfamiliar with the game, are the unnamed prince. You have one hour to rescue the Princess from the evil grand Vizier before he either forces her to marry him or kills her. We get maps of levels 4 through 14 and the end of the game.
    Little Samson Guide
    This is a fantasy platformer from Taito. We get detailed maps of the first 6 stages, as well as notes on stages 7 and 8.
    </p>They're watching you
    Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past Comic
    Link frees the princess at the water palace, and soon afterwards hears Zelda crying out to him from across a desert. He travels across it and finds a swamp, but is caught by a hag who tries to feed him to a creature made up of hundreds of eyes (which is probably pretty disturbing to kids).
    The Jetsons: Robot Panic Guide
    This Game Boy game has a series of mostly unrelated levels where for each level you control a member of the Jetsons family. I have a hunch that this game had a first life as something else entirely, and then had the Jetsons franchise plastered on top of it. We get maps for levels 1 through 3, as well as notes on levels 4 through 6 (which are all in the Cogswell factory.
    Dr. Franken Guide
    As a reminder – Dr. Frankenstein and his monster weren’t the same thing. This Game Boy game ignores that in favor of this exploration-based platformer, where you play as the monster, Dr. Frankenstein, attempting to find all the pieces of himself. Yeah. We get maps of the first 6 floors of Frankenstein’s castle, plus some notes on the 7th floor.
    Kingdom Crusade Guide
    This is an odd little action-strategy game, that looks like a mix of Tactics Ogre and Legend of Zelda. You move units on a map grid like the Tactics Ogre series (and Final Fantasy Tactics) – but the map grid is really an overworld. When you reach your destination square, you get a Legend of Zelda style sequence. There’s also a guide for a barbie game after this, but I’m ignoring that, because there has never been a good Barbie video game.
    Super Mario Adventures Comic
    Mario and Luigi find a mysterious house in the woods, that looks abandoned and very spooky. Naturally, they investigate. The house is, of course, haunted by Boos and is a cunning trap by Bowser. I still love the Boo’s reactions when they’re looked at, though they could be considered as prototypically Moe.
    Nester’s Adventures
    The game this time is Wings II, and again there are no hints to be had here.
    Dino City Guide
    Basically, the premise of this platformer is based around the concept of the portions of Super Mario World where you rode Yoshi. We get maps of Acts 1 through 4, continuing onto the back of the issue’s poster.
    Soul Blazer Guide
    This is an action RPG game (ala Zelda) from Enix. We have maps of the first few areas in the game. We get strategies for the bosses of those areas, as well as notes on some of the items and weapons.
    Parker Brothers Games Guide
    Monopoly and Clue have gotten ports to the SNES, and they get semi-strategy guides.
    Super Bowling Guide
    We have notes on the different game types in the game, as well as some useful strategies. Yes, there are some strategies to video game bowling, as you have a little more control over the balls.
    Now Playing
    George and Rob consider Adventure Island 3 to be more of the same. Danny Sullivan’s Indy Heat, which is like Super Off-Road except paved. They like Little Sampson. Tecmo Cup is actually an RPG take on soccer, which rubs them the wrong way – but which I think might work better on a portable system (and apparently the success of Inazuma Eleven proves this to be the case). They like the port of Dig Dug to the Game Boy. The second Spy vs. Spy game has also been ported to the Game Boy as a System Link game. I’m not sure what to think about that. Part of the fun with the Spy vs. Spy games has always been a certain degree of schadenfreude – planting a trap, and seeing your opponent trigger it, because of the split screen.
    They like Dino City, and were split on Monopoly. They also say that Soul Blazer is a slow burn. Another shump makes the list of also-rans today, with Strike Gunner – and George and Rob are running into shump burnout.
    Top 20
    This month Mario only retains the top spot on the NES. Legend of Zelda holds the top spot on the SNES, and Metroid II holds the top spot on the Game Boy.
    Celebrity Player Profile
    We’re taking a step away from people who actively play video games this time, in favor of more recognizable people. The subject of the profile is Tim Allen, who apparently doesn’t play video games at all. As far as what Tim Allen’s up to, Toy Story 3 is coming out later this year.
    Pak Watch
    This issue, the games on their way to players (of note) include Super Star Wars, Bart’s Nightmare, Wing Commander, Dragon Warrior IV, and in Japan Ogre battle is getting released.
    My Quality Control pick for this issue is Soul Blazer. I liked Willow, which tried to be a Legend-of-Zelda-alike in the 8-bit generation, it’s time to take a look at the 16-bit take.
    Filed under: Video games, Where I Read Tagged: Nintendo Power, video game magazines, Video games, Where I Read
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  6. Count_Zero
    <p>This week I’m recapping the last issue of Nintendo Fun Club News. From here on, we enter the realm of Nintendo Power. It’s just a shame that Fun Club News goes out with a whimper.</p>
    <embed src="http://blip.tv/play/h6Vcg4v0agA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
    <p>Game Reviewed:<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007V0Y1C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=themillenn0b3-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0007V0Y1C">Wizards & Warriors</a><img style="border:none!important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0007V0Y1C" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/'>Video games</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/acclaim/'>Acclaim</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/games/'>Games</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/konami/'>Konami</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/ljn/'>LJN</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/nes/'>NES</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/nintendo/'>Nintendo</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/nintendo-power/'>Nintendo Power</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/rare/'>Rare</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/video-game/'>video game</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/wizards-warriors/'>Wizards & Warriors</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2499/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2499/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2499&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  7. Count_Zero
    Get Troy from Amazon.com
    Ever since the dawn of cinema, people have aspired to adapt the great myths and legends of history. The tales of the Arabian Nights, the legends of Heracles, and most significantly, the Illiad and the Odyssey of Homer. However, the technology required to tell the second to last has been a little lacking. However, the Lord of the Rings films, with the technological development of the Massive Engine, when was used to show the massive battles of the books, now the time has come where Homer’s works can be given the adaptation they so richly deserve, in a live action format.
    This film is not that adaptation.
    Now, don’t get me wrong, this movie isn’t bad. It’s just not the Iliad. The film attempts to hit the bullet points of the Trojan War – Paris flees Greece with the wife of King Menelaus of Sparta. King Menelaus is not pleased by this development (as you can imagine), so he contacts his brother Agamemnon asking him for help getting her back. He in turn contacts all of the kings of the various city-states he’s turned into vassal-states and tells them that it’s time for them to fulfill their end of the deal and bring along troops to go with him to Troy, and get his brother’s girl back (and also to get control of Troy).
    Alright, here’s the main thing, that I’m going to get out of the way right now. In the Iliad, the Greek Gods weren’t just set dressing, they played a major role of the story. Unfortunately, this is set aside in favor of an philosophical sub-plot about – basically, atheism vs. theism (in Troy – with the theists causing Troy’s destruction), and another plot about leaders leading from the front vs. leading from the rear (Achilles being the former, Agamemnon being the latter). Now, I normally wouldn’t have any problems with such a sub-plot in other films, but it feels out of place here.
    This is mainly because of the film’s source material. With the Illiad, as mentioned previously, the Gods are actively coming down to the battle regularly (on both sides even) for the first 2/3rds of the book. Posideon sides with the Greeks. Aphrodite (who gave Helen to Paris as a bribe in a beauty contest between herself, Hera and Athena) sided with Troy. Further, in the Illiad, the many of the heroes of both sides were children of Gods (and not just of Zeus, who anyone who remembers their Greek mythology knows would couple with anything that had a vagina). This lead to hand-wringing by the Gods, who cared about their children, and didn’t want them to die, but to interfere would just make the battle worse.
    Also, in the Illiad, both Agamemnon and Menelaus are both front line leaders, with Menelaus being killed in action, and Agamemnon being wounded but surviving. Instead, the conflict between Achilles and Agamemnon is more focused over respect than leadership styles – Agamemnon took a woman from Achilles who he’d claimed as spoils for work he’d done. To be fair to the writers of the film, Homer’s Achilles would come across to modern audiences like a whiny bitch. Still, there had to be a better way to resolve that without settling to one of the top two insipid straw men to come out of your standard High School political arguments (“When we go to war, the President should fight in combat!”, with the other being “Politicians should force their kids to fight when we go to war”). Other than that, most of my complaints are the standard Hollywood stuff, like the deaths of Agamemnon and Ajax (which don’t happen in the Iliad). Additionally, the sack of Troy is basically the standard Hawk the Slayer, Deathstalker-style burn then pillage sacking, just bigger, though not better.
    With my bitching out of the way, let’s talk about what I liked about the movie. Wolfgang Peterson did a really good job with this movie, both in terms of the casting and the directing. Eric Bana is great as Hector, Brad Pitt is great as Achilles, all the casting is just good. Everyone puts in excellent performances whether they liked their performances or not. Sorry Peter O’Toole, even if you didn’t like this movie, you put in a damn good performance, and you, Pitt, Cox, and Bana’s performances (as well as Sean Bean’s as Odysseus) are some of the high points in this film. The fight choreography is also excellent, and they even do stuff that I hadn’t seen done in other films before (like actually incorporating the participant’s greaves in the choreography).
    To be absolutely honest, I had a lot of fun with this movie, and I’d say that this is one of the best “epic” films I’ve seen out outside of the Lord of The Rings that I’ve enjoyed in a while.
    Rating: 7 out of 10.
    Note: I’ve decided to go back to assigning scores to reviews. This is basically because when it came to give a verdict, I always kept leaning toward “rent it”, which feels like a cop out response to me. Assigning scores isn’t a graceful conclusion, but it’s one that I feel better about as way to more clearly express my thoughts on a film.
    Filed under: film, Reviews Tagged: film, Reviews
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  8. Count_Zero
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='585' height='360' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLqVvoLyAj9RHvd-qtR9EusC27zLEt2AFI&hl=en_US' frameborder='0'></iframe></span>
    <p>Recently, on my YouTube channel, I completed a Halo 4 let’s play. I’m posting the whole playlist here for your convenience and viewing pleasure. Enjoy!</p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/'>Video games</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/halo-4/'>Halo 4</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/lets-play/'>Let's Play</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/video-games/'>Video games</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2637/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2637/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2637&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  9. Count_Zero
    <p>On New Years Eve I saw <a class="zem_slink" title="The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_hobbit_an_unexpected_journey" target="_blank" rel="rottentomatoes">The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey</a>. Here’s what I thought of the movie.</p>
    <embed src="http://blip.tv/play/h6Vcg4yhCgA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/film/'>film</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/cate-blanchett/'>Cate Blanchett</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/hobbit/'>Hobbit</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/ian-mckellen/'>Ian McKellen</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/martin-freeman/'>Martin Freeman</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/peter-jackson/'>Peter Jackson</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/richard-armitage/'>Richard Armitage</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/the-lord-of-the-rings-film-trilogy/'>The Lord of the Rings film trilogy</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2515/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2515/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2515&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  10. Count_Zero
    <p>So, I forgot to post part 8 of my Let’s Play of Remember Me yesterday, so I’m going to make up for that today.</p>
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='585' height='360' src='href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/lets-play/'>Let's Play</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/'>Video games</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/lets-play/'>Let's Play</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/remember-me/'>Remember Me</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/science-fiction/'>science fiction</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/video-games/'>Video games</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2678/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2678/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2678&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
    <a href="http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/2013/12/19/lets-play-remember-me-parts-8-9/" class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  11. Count_Zero
    <p>This week it’s time for another book review, as I continue to make my way through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/James-Blish/e/B000APGES2/?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&linkCode=ur2&tag=themillenn0b3-20" target="_blank">James Blish</a><img style="border:none!important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="https://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" />‘s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1585676020/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1585676020&linkCode=as2&tag=themillenn0b3-20">Cities in Flight</a><img style="border:none!important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1585676020" width="1" height="1" border="0" /> series with book 2: A Life For The Stars.</p>
    <embed src="http://blip.tv/play/h6Vcg4vJcwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
    <p> </p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/books/'>Books</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/a-life-for-the-stars/'>A Life For The Stars</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/book-review/'>book review</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/cities-in-flight/'>Cities in Flight</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/james-blish/'>James Blish</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/science-fiction/'>science fiction</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2493/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2493/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2493&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  12. Count_Zero
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='585' height='360' src='href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/'>Video games</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/cyberpunk/'>Cyberpunk</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/lets-play/'>Let's Play</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/remember-me/'>Remember Me</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/science-fiction/'>science fiction</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/transhumanism/'>Transhumanism</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/video-games/'>Video games</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2692/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2692/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2692&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
    <a href="http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/2013/12/26/lets-play-remember-me-part-16-the-big-payback/" class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  13. Count_Zero
    So, this week, with our EGM recaps, we’re skipping ahead another few months, to issue #81 for April of 1996. Our cover story for this issue is Street Fighter Alpha II, and I have to say that the cover art isn’t very good. Frankly, the mid-90s have not been kind to EGM’s covers.
    Editorial
    This issue Ed Semrad is taking up the pen for the editorial column. It’s been almost a year since the last issue of EGM I recapped, and the Nintendo 64 still isn’t out. That said, at the very least they have decided what they’re calling it now. Ed also has some complaints about Capcom’s inability to count to 3 with game titles, referring to Street Fighter Alpha II (and the lack of a proper Street Fighter III), and also warning Capcom that they should avoid from taking some of the mis-steps that Sega had taken with their Virtua Fighter series around this time (with Virtua Fighter Kids being singled out). The editorial column is much more stream of consciousness this issue. Additionally, they’ve taken to increasing the font size for certain words and phrases for emphasis. I don’t particularly like that. It disrupts the flow of the column, and makes it feel more like a rant.
    News
    The Ultra 64 is now the Nintendo 64. However, while it is getting a new name, what it’s not getting is a simultaneous launch in the US, Europe, and Japan. The Japanese launch is still on, while the US and European launch is delayed. Nintendo is not officially saying, at the time this issue came out, why. However, some information in the Editorial column suggests that the delay is due to a shortage of necessary components. Also, the Japanese system isn’t getting a bundled title, and apparently neither will the US. I do remember that we get some bundles later – however, I don’t remember if we got a pack-in at launch or not. Leading into this, we get a preview of the N64DD which, like the Super NES CD-Rom, is vaporware. As it is, from the specifications we get for the hardware, the system would almost be better off with a Zip Drive, except for the whole problems of the click-of-death.
    On other news fronts, being that this is the age of the CCG (Customizable Card Game–think Magic: The Gathering) Boom, Topps is doing a Killer Instinct CCG. I can’t see that game having the same legs a Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat game could have. Additionally, Psygnosis is porting some of their former Sony-exclusive titles to the Saturn, most notably Wipeout. We also have the launch of what would become one of the last great great cheat devices – the GameShark, from Interact. The GameShark, along with the Action Replay lasted until the current Console Generation. With the start of the current generation, with its heavy focus on online multi-player, the era of the game cheat device came to an end. Also, Sega is working with Matsushita (who worked on the 3DO – remember that?) on a system that will use the new Digital Versatile Disk technology to carry games and video. Oh, and we get an ad for gaming news site Nuke.com. I did some more checking and yes, Nuke.com became Gamespot.com, trusted home for Gaming news until Gerstmann-gate. Now, it’s just okay. I still check it out on occasion, but the people I trusted are no longer there, and I’ve noticed that their review style appears to have deliberately changed to make the reviewers less visible.
    Review Crew
    So, after the past few months, the Review Crew has been shaken up once again. The new lineup is the late Andrew Baran, Mark LeFebvre (which I’m not going to try to pronounce), Mike Desmond, and Sushi-X. I’d do a Where-Are-They-Now for Desmond and LeFebvre, but I can’t figure out what they’re up to. If Mark and Mike would like to give a shout-out to what they’re currently working on, and they read this, please feel free to drop a note in the comments.

    Alien Trilogy (Acclaim, PS1): The “Trilogy” part is a misnomer. The game’s plot basically revolves around “Aliens”. However, Alien 3 came out 4 years prior, and Alien Resurrection is set to come out the following year, so the game’s title is going to invoke the idea of the trilogy. Anyway, this game is basically an Aliens First Person Shooter where you play as a Colonial Marine. It’s also EGM’s game of the Month. The Crew applauds the game’s slower pace and the game’s more lethal enemies–which plays up the fact that a Facehugger can (and should) be able to kill you. Additionally, the levels have objectives, as opposed to your standard “find the exit” game-play, with an occasional variation of “find the key to unlock the door so you can exit” game-play that you often saw the early first person shooters. Though, to be fair, while most first person shooters still have a certain degree of reach-the-exit going on, the use of objectives helps change things up enough to provide some variety. Anyway, they’re also impressed with the game’s lighting and level design. Andrew gives it an 8.5, while Mark, Mike and Sushi give it 9s. Overall: 35.5/40 and it receives the Editor’s Choice Gold Award. Frantic Flea (GameTek, SNES): I remember GameTek. They did a lot of licenced trivia games – specifically with the Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy licences. I don’t recall any notable original IPs from them, aside from the Brutal series. This game is a mascot 2D platformer, one of the last as the genre starts to kind of burn out gamers, at least for a while. The complaints are, mainly, that the game is frustrating, the main character’s only attack isn’t very effective, and that you need to collect a certain number of fleas to progress, but if you get hit once you drop all your fleas, and thus have to start over. Andrew gives it a 7, Mark gives it a 5, Mike gives it a 5.5, and Sushi gives it a 6. Overall: 23.5/40. Thunderstrike II (U.S. Gold, Saturn): Helicopter flight simulator. Frankly, I didn’t know that US Gold survived this long. I was sure they went under earlier. The consensus is that this is one of the best flight-sims for home consoles, though it still has it’s flaws. In particular, there is some graphical pop-up, some problems with slowdown, and an inability to change the target you’re locked on to. Frankly, that last one is a major biggie. Andrew gives it an 8.5, Sushi and Mark give it 8s, and Mike gives it a 7.5. Overall: 32/40 and it receives the Editor’s Choice Gold Award. Defcon 5 (Data East, Saturn): This is a kind of base/tower defense game, but one that’s played in the first person. You are an engineer at a deep-space mining installation, but in charge of setting up, controlling, and repairing the base’s defense system, and trying to keep alien intruders from getting inside of the base and destroying it. The Crew generally likes the game’s take on the first person shooter genre (and frankly, it’s a take on the genre that’s still innovative – to my knowledge nobody’s tried to do a new combination of the tower defense genre and the first person shooter genre). However, there are some control problems. Andrew and Sushi give the game 7.5s, Mike gives it a 7, and Mark gives it a 6.5. Overall: 28.5/40 D (Acclaim, Saturn): This is a puzzle based horror adventure game with a time limit – you have to solve the game’s puzzles within 2 hours, and there’s no pause function, and you can’t carry over stuff between playthroughs. To me, that sounds like an exercise in frustration. It’s also (as many other adventure games from this period) FMV heavy. However, the Crew likes it. Andrew and Mark give the game 8.5s, with Andrew drawing comparisons with Phantasmagoria (a valid comparison). Mike gives it a 7, applauding the lack of load time between areas, and Sushi gives it an 8. Overall: 32/40 and it receives the Editor’s Choice Gold Award. Clockwork Knight 2 (Sega, Saturn): Clockwork Knight got a sequel rather quickly. Further, the sequel managed to incorporate a lot of refinements quickly as well. In particular, the difficulty was tweaked for novice players, running is easier to do, and the graphics are adjusted to take better advantage of the Saturn’s potential. Andrew and Mike give it 9s, Mark and Sushi give it 8.5s. Overall: 35/40. Johnny Bazookatone (US Gold, PlayStation): So, this is a licenced action game, and one that I’m not surprised that I’ve never heard of. All things considered, I’m not surprised that the game has some problems. To be specific, the game is very picky about what you can or can’t stand on and it’s picky about the collision detection. They cut it a surprising amount of slack though. Andrew and Sushi give it 7s, Mark gives it an 8.5 and Mike gives it an 8. Overall: 30.5/40. Krazy Ivan (Psygnosis, PS1): This is a mecha simulator. We’re going to get a lot more of these as the 90s go on. They liked the game, though Mark and Mike thought it was a little short, and Andrew had a bit of a problem with the strafe controls. Specifically, instead of holding them down to constantly strafe, you have to mash the strafe button, which I can understand why that’s frustrating. The game gets a 9 from Andrew, 7s from Mark and Mike, and an 8 from Sushi. Overall: 31/40. Braindead 13 (Readysoft, 3DO): A FMV-heavy adventure game – which is to be somewhat expected as this is the studio that brought you Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace. It’s also a little less linear than those games, and it gives you unlimited lives. The crew does agree that there’s essentially no replay value here, except maybe going for a speed run later. Andrew gives it a 9, Mark gives it a 7.5, and Mike and Sushi give it 7s. Overall: 30.5/40. Baldies (Atari, Jaguar CD): This is a real-time strategy game. That’s right – we’re getting into the heyday of the RTS. Mark compares it to Lemmings and Command & Conquer, Mike compares it to Lemmings & Warcraft. I’m suspecting the Lemmings comparison comes from the game’s lighter tone. There are some complaints about the controls being tricky to get the hang of, and the FMV cutscenes not looking very good. Andrew gives it a 9, Mark gives it an 8, and Mike & Sushi give it 8.5s. Overall: 34/40. Tetris Blast (Nintendo, Game Boy): Basically, it’s Tetris with bombs, which allow you to clear ever more massive swaths of the screen. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as addictive as standard Tetris. The game gets a 7 from Andrew, 8s from Mark and Sushi, and an 8.5 from Mike. Overall: 31.5/40.
    Gaming Gossip
    Being that this issue of EGM is undamaged, we have a full Gaming Gossip column this time. First up, rumors are already circulating about the PlayStation 2. That’d be a pretty fast turnaround time on console generations. Mind you, we do eventually get a PlayStation 2, but not for some time. Square is also considering releasing compilations of Final Fantasy through FFIV on the PlayStation. Not quite – we don’t get III, but they make up for it by giving us V, VI, and Chrono Trigger. Quake is rumored to get a home console port from GT Interactive. Well, we do get a home console port on the N64 and the Saturn, but Midway publishes the N64 version, and Sega publishes the Saturn version. Sega’s planning on putting out a web browser for the Saturn. Unfortunately that browser is vaporware. However, they do include Internet connectivity in the Dreamcast, the first console to do so. They even designed a mouse an keyboard for it, and first person shooters that were ported to the Dreamcast could be played with the mouse and keyboard, and played online, and played against PC gamers. Unfortunately, the Dreamcast was ahead of it’s time. And last, but not least, Atari is pulling out of the console market. So, for those playing the home game, that leaves Sega, Nintendo, Sony, and Matsushita left in the console market.
    Feature Articles
    We start off with our preview of Street Fighter Alpha 2. You know this is the mid-90’s when they describe the game’s visual style as being “Japanimation” instead of being “anime”. First off, the major differences between the versions are that Dan Hibiki, Akuma/Gouki, and M. Bison/Lord Vega are now playable characters, instead of being hidden bosses. This is kind of good, which considering that Dan Hibiki is a joke character, and bosses are always cranked up in difficulty, can you imagine getting beat by Dan Hibiki when he’s controlled by the computer? Getting beat by Dan while controlled by another human is humiliating enough. Zangief also returns, and with this game we get the additions of Rolento, Gen, and genki schoolgirl Sakura.
    Next Wave
    We have a much more in-depth article on Frantic Flea here. However, unlike the usual more “in-depth” coverage later in the magazine, the focus is more on talking about the game and the writer’s impressions about the game, instead of of using the magazine as a method of conveying screen shots. This is a good thing, considering that around the time of this issue’s publication, the Internet is becoming more wide-spread, and thus screen shots are becoming a little more accessible. However, magazines can still have higher quality screen shots, as they don’t have to worry about using a lot of bandwidth (since in 1996 broadband Internet wasn’t very common). Still, having more discussion of the game is very nice to have.
    There’s also a preview of Guardian Heroes, a fighter/brawler from Treasure for the Saturn that can handle six-person free-for-alls, which is impressive, and also fits with the frantic tone that Treasure is known for. The game also has some RPG elements as well, in that you can level-up the fighter you play as. This sound pretty interesting, actually. However, being that is a brawler, it can get monotonous over time. That said, since it does support multi-player, that should help alleviate some of the monotony, as from my personal experience, brawlers like Turtles in Time were considerably more fun when you were playing with someone instead of playing by yourself.
    Next up is Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge from Capcom. I’ll be frank, I’ve never really gotten into the Darkstalkers series. It just never quite worked for me – I’m not sure why. As far as over-the-top fighting games go, I prefer the Guilty Gear series to the Darkstalkers series. There’s also a look at Street Fighter Alpha for the Saturn. Apparently while the Saturn version has arcade-quality graphics and sound, what it doesn’t have is Arcade-quality speed. Now, I haven’t played the arcade version of Street Fighter Alpha, but I have played the version on the Street Fighter Alpha collection for the PS2. Hopefully that version retains the arcade quality graphics with the increased speed. Anyway, the Saturn version of Alpha has some problems. The controls are laggy, and there are problems with collision detection – which, because of the nature of fighting games, are big freaking problems.
    We also have a look at Revolution X, Aerosmith’s first try at a console game – one that failed pretty badly. Cheer up guys, you’ll do better once Red Octane comes around. There’s also a preview of the Saturn port of Magic Carpet. Meanwhile, we have the first Namco Collection for the PlayStation. I have to say that the Namco Collection series, early on, had some of the best presentation in its little genre (Compilations of Classic Arcade Games). This collection contains a few games that I haven’t seen in later collections – specifically Rally X, New Rally X, Pole Position, Toyopop, and their shump Bosconian. The PlayStation is also getting a port of Myst (just like just about every other disk-based system).
    There’s also the PlayStation port of the first-person shooter (by the way, gaming has progressed enough that they’re willing to call it a “First Person Shooter” now, instead of a Doom Clone) PO’d, which really doesn’t look very good. Frankly, it looks downright terrible. Vik Tokai has the point and click (or in this case, press), adventure game Silverload, which is rare among video games because it’s set in the Old West. Mindscape has the space sim Raven Project. It looks like the game works okay in the levels that are in a planet’s atmosphere. However, when the game is in space, it apparently runs into problems, as the engine doesn’t work well for three-dimensional combat, ala Wing Commander and X-Wing.
    Moving away from games that are in a more Western themed design idiom, there’s Horned Owl from Sony Computer Entertainment. This is a sort of shoot-em-up like Virtua Cop, except you’re controlling a cop in powered armor. The mechanical design is even by Masamune Shirow, which is nice. They oddly don’t name-drop Ghost in the Shell, but they do name-drop Appleseed. To be fair, Ghost in the Shell was only out for a month, and none of the mecha from the manga made it into the film. Meanwhile, the Japanese PlayStation has its first platformer in Floating Runner. The game looks pretty generic, and if it got a stateside release, I’d be surprised.
    We have a new sub-section of this called “Protos”, for games that are very early in their development. This section has screen shots and some notes on the games. This issue has coverage of Ultimate Mortal Kombat III for the Saturn, and the announcement that the game will have a 22 character roster (one of the biggest fighting game rosters for the time). There’s also a look at a licenced game based off of Congo for the Saturn, and a game from Atlus titled Devil Summoner (or, rather, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner) the precursor to the later Raidou Kuzunoha games in the series – though unlike those game, Devil Summoner’s protagonist isn’t an Onmyoji (or Onmyoji-knockoff). We also get our first look at Final Fantasy VII and it’s protagonists Claude, Ealis, and Barrett. Well, 1 out of 3 ain’t bad…. yes it is.
    There’s also a new Top Gun flight sim, and a Warhammer RTS in “Shadow in the Horned Bat”. I’m eternally amused by the fact that the Top Gun franchise, despite being spawned by a movie, is made up almost entirely of arcade-style fight simulators. Speaking of sims, Wing Commander III is getting a PlayStation port, FMV cut-scenes and all, including the perfomances of Malcolm McDowell & Mark Hamill. I really hope that this makes it to PlayStation Network eventually. Also, the Playstation is getting the Arc The Lad Strategy RPG. I haven’t played the original game – just the most recent game for the PS2, which I wasn’t impressed with. SCE is also putting out a more sprite-based traditional RPG in Beyond the Beyond. Meanwhile, Virtua Fighter is getting a fighting game with Super Deformed characters (set to be released in the US as Virtua Fighter Kids), and Sonic The Hedgehog, of all of Sega’s franchises, is getting a fighting game. It all goes downhill from here folks. On the bright side, SNK’s got a new fighting game coming out called “Ninja Masters”.
    Once again, we’re skipping the Sports coverage, and moving on to the letters column.
    Letters
    This issue they’re saving the best for last, sort of. The letter of the month is voicing a complaint that EGM’s own editorial staff has expressed – one of exasperation with Nintendo’s constant delays for the release of the Nintendo 64. Frankly, I would say that part of the reason why the N64 didn’t do well on the market was the fact that the system’s launch lineup really didn’t compensate for the constant delays. With the SNES, we had titles like Super Mario World, Super R-Type, and Castlevania IV that really made up for it. The N64 had Mario 64, Pilotwings and (a little later), GoldenEye. That’s it. There’s also a question about whether Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 will be ported for the N64. The response is that Midway is working on a port – but it never materializes. The N64 doesn’t get a Mortal Kombat game until Mortal Kombat 4.
    Filed under: Video games, Where I Read Tagged: EGM, video game magazines, Video games, Where I Read
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  14. Count_Zero
    <p>This week, it’s time to get started with Nintendo Power #1, with reviews of 7 games!<span id="more-2520"></span></p>
    <embed src="http://blip.tv/play/h6Vcg4zJBgA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
    <p>Main Title: ‘Jazz Plumber Trio’ – Remixed by DJPretzel – <a href="http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00055/" rel="nofollow">http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR00055/</a></p>
    <p>Closing Credits: ‘Feeding Frenzy’ – Remixed by goat – <a href="http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01595/" rel="nofollow">http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR01595/</a></p>
    <p> </p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/'>Video games</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/bases-loaded/'>Bases Loaded</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/chronogaming/'>Chronogaming</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/console-platforms/'>Console Platforms</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/contra/'>Contra</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/games/'>Games</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/gauntlet/'>Gauntlet</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/jaleco/'>Jaleco</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/konami/'>Konami</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/legend-of-zelda/'>Legend of Zelda</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/ljn/'>LJN</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/mlb/'>MLB</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/nes/'>NES</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/nintendo/'>Nintendo</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/nintendo-power/'>Nintendo Power</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/rbi-baseball/'>RBI Baseball</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/retro-gaming/'>Retro Gaming</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/super-mario-bros-2/'>Super Mario Bros 2</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/video-game/'>video game</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2520/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2520/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2520&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  15. Count_Zero
    <p>This week I’m continuing with the <a class="zem_slink" title="Dorian Hawkmoon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorian_Hawkmoon" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">Hawkmoon</a> reviews with the second book – <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IUQHA4/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=themillenn0b3-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005IUQHA4">The Mad God’s Amulet</a><img style="border:none!important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005IUQHA4" width="1" height="1" border="0" /></em>, and the introduction of the third member of Hawkmoon’s band of heroes.<span id="more-2532"></span></p>
    <embed src="http://blip.tv/play/h6Vcg43oXwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
    <h3>Image Credits:</h3>
    <p><em><a class="zem_slink" title="The Jewel in the Skull" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jewel_in_the_Skull" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">Jewel in the Skull</a></em><br />Published by <a class="zem_slink" title="First Comics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Comics" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">First Comics</a><br />Script by <a class="zem_slink" title="Gerry Conway" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Conway" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">Gerry Conway</a><br />Art by <a class="zem_slink" title="Rafael Kayanan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Kayanan" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">Rafael Kayanan</a><br />All used for purposes of criticism</p>
    <p><em>The Mad God’s Amulet</em><br />Published by First Comics<br />Script by Gerry Conway<br />Art by Rafael Kayanan<br />All used for purposes of criticism</p>
    <p>Sahara Desert From Space<br />Taken By NASA<br />In the Public Domain</p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/books/'>Books</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/book-review/'>book review</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/dorian-hawkmoon/'>Dorian Hawkmoon</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/eternal-champion/'>Eternal Champion</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/fantasy/'>fantasy</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/gerry-conway/'>Gerry Conway</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/hawkmoon/'>Hawkmoon</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/michael-moorcock/'>Michael Moorcock</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/runestaff/'>Runestaff</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/the-jewel-in-the-skull/'>The Jewel in the Skull</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2532/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2532/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2532&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  16. Count_Zero
    <p>The new issue of my fanzine is up on eFanzines.com – and <a href="href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/news/'>News</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/fanzines/'>fanzines</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2722/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2722/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2722&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
    <a href="http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/new-fanzine-issue-up/" class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  17. Count_Zero
    Ninja Gaiden is one of those series that hold a special place in my heart. It’s a game series, like Castlevania, that is known for it’s steep learning curve, that I can’t beat without using save states, and that I love anyway. Ninja Gaiden Shadow, isn’t exactly in that series. It was originally released in Japan as a port of the NES game Shadow of the Ninja, but Tecmo liked it so much, they bough the game. Well, now it’s time to find out if it was worth their money, and yours.
    The Premise
    Ryu Hayabusa is a young man. His father is still alive and is still in possession of the Dragon Sword.  As Ryu trains in New York, he learns of a sinister plot by Emperor Garuda to take over the city for his lord, Jaquio. Ryu goes forth to save the city and the world.
    The Good
    This has some excellent boss fights. Yes, they’re all find-the-pattern-and-exploit it variety – but that’s absolutely fine.  That means that you can theoretically beat the boss without getting hit, which means if only have one or two hits left on your life bar when you reach the boss, you still have a chance of beating the boss. This is significantly better than some other games where the boss semi-regularly gets cheap hits on you that you can’t really avoid. To be honest, if you can’t beat a boss without a full life bar going in – and there’s a possibility that you won’t have that life-bar, then that’s bad game design. This game doesn’t fall into that trap. That is good game design.
    Additionally, the extra lives in this game aren’t too hard to get to. If you’ve played any Mega Man game, you know that to get most of the one-ups in these games (aside from the semi-randomly dropped ones) you often had to go through a series of precise jumps, based on rote memorization, using an item from a Robot Master that, if you’re using the recommended order, you would have beaten later in the sequence, all while scratching your nose with your foot. Oh, and did I mention that if you mess up once you die. Yeah, that’s bad game design. Ninja Gaiden Shadow doesn’t do that. Here the 1-ups are accessible through a moderately difficult series of jumps that, if you mess them up, you can try them again. That is good game design.
    The Bad
    There are problems with enemies taking pot shots at the player when the enemies are off screen. Fortunately the bullets are easy to dodge, but it’s still a nuisance. They also fall back on the crutch of having part of a level be in a really dark area – in that you can’t see platforms, aside from a occasional flashes of light – but that only lasts for a small chunk of a level.
    The Ugly
    Several things – aside from the Fire Wheel there are no ranged attacks the player can make. Further, with a few exceptions many of the obstacles that can attack you in the levels can’t be destroyed. Plus, your character’s range for his melee attacks aren’t great. This does lead to a few cheap hits. They’re not common, but they’re there.
    The Verdict
    Frankly, this is the best game in the Ninja Gaiden series that I’ve played. Period. I give this my full recommendation.
    Rating: 10 out of 10.
    Note – yeah, my last few reviews didn’t have scores. Old habits die hard. I’ll see if I’m able to shake that habit and consistently assign scores.
    Filed under: Quality Control, Video games Tagged: Game Boy, Nintendo Power, Quality Control, Video games
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  18. Count_Zero
    <p>This week I’m doing another film review – this time of a World War II Ensemble film – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00008Z44M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00008Z44M&linkCode=as2&tag=themillenn0b3-20">Is Paris Burning?</a><img style="border:none!important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B00008Z44M" width="1" height="1" border="0" /><br />Naturally, this includes some discussion of this sub-genre as a whole.<span id="more-2577"></span></p>
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='620' height='379' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/u4K-MDfoHOA?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' frameborder='0'></iframe></span>
    <p>Also, I apologize for not getting into the French New Wave stuff as much as I would have liked.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/film/'>film</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/film/'>film</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/film-criticism/'>Film criticism</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/is-paris-burning/'>Is Paris Burning?</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/world-war-ii/'>World War II</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2577/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2577/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2577&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  19. Count_Zero
    <p>I’m continuing with the <a class="zem_slink" title="Dorian Hawkmoon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorian_Hawkmoon" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">Hawkmoon</a> series with the third book – <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005IUX8E2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005IUX8E2&linkCode=as2&tag=themillenn0b3-20">The Sword of the Dawn</a><img style="border:none!important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005IUX8E2" width="1" height="1" border="0" />.<span id="more-2555"></span></p>
    <embed src="http://blip.tv/play/h6Vcg47MAwA" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="392" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>
    <p>Image Credits<br /><a class="zem_slink" title="The Mad God's Amulet" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mad_God%27s_Amulet" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">The Mad God’s Amulet</a><br />Published by <a class="zem_slink" title="First Comics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Comics" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">First Comics</a><br />Script by <a class="zem_slink" title="Gerry Conway" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerry_Conway" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">Gerry Conway</a><br />Art by <a class="zem_slink" title="Rafael Kayanan" href="http://rafaelkayanan.blogspot.com" target="_blank" rel="homepage">Rafael Kayanan</a><br />All used for purposes of criticism</p>
    <p>Sahara Desert From Space<br />Taken By NASA<br />In the Public Domain<br />All used for purposes of criticism</p>
    <p>The Sword of the Dawn<br />Published by First Comics<br />Script by Roger Salick<br />Art by Rafael Kayanan<br />All used for purposes of criticism</p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/books/'>Books</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/reviews/'>Reviews</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/book-review/'>book review</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/eternal-champion/'>Eternal Champion</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/fantasy/'>fantasy</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/hawkmoon/'>Hawkmoon</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/michael-moorcock/'>Michael Moorcock</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/runestaff/'>Runestaff</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2555/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2555/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2555&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  20. Count_Zero
    <p>I’ve come to the last installment of the story of <a class="zem_slink" title="Dorian Hawkmoon" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorian_Hawkmoon" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">Dorian Hawkmoon</a> with <a class="zem_slink" title="Michael Moorcock" href="http://www.multiverse.org/" target="_blank" rel="homepage">Michael Moorcock</a>‘s book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005K5URI0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005K5URI0&linkCode=as2&tag=themillenn0b3-20">The Runestaff</a><img style="border:none!important;margin:0!important;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=themillenn0b3-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B005K5URI0" width="1" height="1" border="0" />. Now, the question is, how satisfying is this conclusion?<span id="more-2567"></span></p>
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='620' height='379' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/9kSCZTk47nE?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' frameborder='0'></iframe></span>
    <p>Image Credits<br />The Sword of the Dawn<br />Published by <a class="zem_slink" title="First Comics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Comics" target="_blank" rel="wikipedia">First Comics</a><br />Script by Roger Salick<br />Art by <a class="zem_slink" title="Rafael Kayanan" href="http://rafaelkayanan.blogspot.com" target="_blank" rel="homepage">Rafael Kayanan</a><br />All used for purposes of criticism</p>
    <p>The Runestaff<br />Published by First Comics<br />Script by Roger Salick<br />Art by Rafael Kayanan<br />Used for purposes of criticism</p>
    <h6 class="zemanta-related-title" style="font-size:1em;">Related articles</h6>
    <ul class="zemanta-article-ul">
    <li class="zemanta-article-ul-li"><a href="http://d20darkages.blogspot.com/2013/02/writing-and-michael-moorcock-what-ive.html" target="_blank">Writing and Michael Moorcock: What I’ve learned…</a> (d20darkages.blogspot.com)</li>
    </ul>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/books/'>Books</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/book-review/'>book review</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/dorian-hawkmoon/'>Dorian Hawkmoon</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/eternal-champion/'>Eternal Champion</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/fantasy/'>fantasy</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/first-comics/'>First Comics</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/hawkmoon/'>Hawkmoon</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/michael-moorcock/'>Michael Moorcock</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/rafael-kayanan/'>Rafael Kayanan</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/runestaff/'>Runestaff</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/sword-of-the-dawn/'>Sword of the Dawn</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2567/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2567/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2567&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
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  21. Count_Zero
    After a far too long delay, I’m finally carrying on with my Nintendo Power Recaps with issue #49 for June of 1993. Our cover story for this issue is the crossover that nobody was really anticipating ? Battletoads and Double Dragon. It perhaps bears noting that it is the Battletoads which are hogging the spotlight here (no pun intended) while one of the Lee brothers is in the far background.
    The letters column this issue has a request of more reviews of alternate controllers. It does bear mentioning that as we moved into the 16-bit generation, magazines dedicated less space to reviews of 3rd party controllers. Gamers still knew they existed, thanks to massive numbers of ads but we didn’t get dedicated reviews of them.
    B.O.B Guide
    This is a side scrolling run-and-gun game from E.A. for the SNES. The game follows a teenage robot who crashes his dad’s spaceship on a planet full of enemies. He has to fight through them all and make it to his date. The game incorporates falling damage, related to how quickly you fall, which is a nice touch. We get maps of stages one through six, as well as weapon and utility item notes. I’m also noticing that none of these stages have boss fights, which was probably a daring move for the time. There are some more difficult stage-specific enemies, but no set-piece boss fights, except towards the end of the game, which isn’t covered in this guide.
    Taz-Mania Guide
    So, Taz Mania is running wild, Brother. Unlike other versions of Taz-Mania, this one uses Mode Seven graphics, to make this a sort of racing game, with the player standing behind Taz as he runs down roads wrecking havoc, collecting Kiwis along the way. We get maps for the first 3 stages and, due to the camera angle not allowing screen-shot maps, they’re hand drawn.
    Casino Games Round-up
    First up is Vegas Stakes for the SNES. We get info on the five different casinos you can play at, none of them officially licensed. The games are the usual games for a casino game ? 5 Card Stud, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, and Slots.
    Next up is Super Caesar’s Palace, which does have an official license. This game has only one casino, but a slightly larger collection of games. In addition to the usual stuff, there’s Red Dog (draw 2 cards and then bet on whether your card will be in between the two). There’s also horse racing and keno.
    Yoshi’s Cookie SNES Guide
    Well, Yoshi’s cookie has gotten a SNES port, which means it’s time for a guide for the SNES version. Of note with the SNES version is Bullet-Proof Software, the same people who brought us Tetris, developed the game. Alexey Pajitnov even did the puzzle design..
    Power U
    This is basically a Q&A column, with a bit of FAQ to it. We’re starting off with a surprising cheap shot at Sega and the Genesis, with their response to the question ?Does the SNES have Blast Processing.? Nintendo’s response is, basically, ?Sega won’t tell us what Blast Processing is in the first place, so they really can’t say. The closest they could get to a straight answer was Sega saying that developers program their games to get the most out of the console’s system resources. That’s something the SNES, and for that matter, all consoles are capable of, so if that is the real, technical definition of Blast Processing, then it’s essentially meaningless. Or Sega just didn’t tell Nintendo because they’re a competitor, and Nintendo’s just going for the blatant low blow. I’m going with the latter because we have an actual honest-to-god editorial cartoon mocking the Genesis.
    Next up is a question about whether the SNES CD-Rom or the Super FX is better. I’d say the Super FX is better because it actually came out, though Nintendo says it’s apples and oranges. We get another question about the lack of first party sports games, and Nintendo decides not to give a straight answer and points to all the third-party titles instead of saying ?We’re getting out of the sports games business because Madden is awesome?.
    We get a question about what all the possible colors on the SNES do. Well, Timmy, they help the SNES show many different types of colors on-screen at once, including multiple objects that are the same color.
    Finally, we get detailed information about the SNES’s processor speed, and then a side-by-side statistical comparison on the SNES and the Genesis in terms of processor speeds, memory and that sort of thing. As any PC hardware buff will tell you, that information is meaningless without benchmarking but even now nobody’s written benchmarking software for the SNES and Genesis. It would be interesting to see, if you wrote such an application, and were able to create cartridges for the software for the SNES and Genesis, how they would turn out.
    All in all, though, this article reminds me a lot of some of the raw numbers articles from EGM that came out earlier. I wonder if it was a response to how popular such articles were.
    Battletoads in Battlemaniacs Guide
    The SNES finally gets its own Battletoads game. I should really hunt down the arcade game version of this on MAME, if for no other reason because it was dramatically more violent than the home console versions, and just to compare it to the console versions or something. We get maps for every level except the last, including the rocket-bike levels, which is a really nice touch, though you don’t get timing information. Still, if you’ve played the first Battletoads game, all the levels look pretty much the same.
    Battletoads in Ragnarok’s World Guide
    Like with the other Battletoads games, this one, for the Game Boy is pretty similar to all the earlier games. You have several brawling stages, you have a jet bike stage, and you have a stage where you zip around on snakes.
    Battletoads & Double Dragon Guide
    This little guide covers the NES version of the game. While this version keeps some of the classic Battletoads level types ? brawler, Rocket-bike, Swinging wrecking ball, it does ditch the snake level type, which is nice.
    Controller Roundup
    We get a run-down of various notable controllers, both first and third-party for the SNES. This includes a few 3rd party controllers that are only available in Japan, like ASCII’s one-handed controller for use with Wizardry-style RPGs. Unsurprisingly, ASCII also what is basically a memory card unit for your SNES that lets you transfer your saves between games ? like the Wizardry series, which ASCII also released in Japan.
    Bubble Bobble Part 2 Preview
    This is more of a preview than anything else. We get a refresher on the gameplay mechanics of the Bubble Bobble series.
    Titus The Fox Preview
    Mascot-based action platformer, and the rundown of the gameplay mechanics we get makes it clear that it doesn’t have particularly much to distinguish it from other games in the genre.
    Raging Fighter Preview
    This is Konami’s fighting game for the Game Boy. We get a list of the roster and a stat breakdown. No move lists though.
    Normally I don’t go into counselor?s corner much, but there’s one trick of note here ? we get a 3 page spoiler-free guide (not that it matters much) for Destiny of an Emperor for the NES. For those who don’t remember, that was the Romance of the Three Kingdoms themed RPG from Capcom.
    Also, for this issue’s Nester’s Adventures, Nester (playing Batman Returns) would learn to use a cape attack when a heart is in the area, if it wasn’t for the fact that Batman and Catwoman were teaming up to hit him with a logic bomb so they can go off for a hot date.
    Fire and Ice Guide
    Another puzzle game for the NES gets a guide. We get maps of a few of the rooms, as well as some notes for the level creator.
    I’m not going to go in-depth here, but we also get a run down on a bunch of upcoming hockey titles and, with Father’s Day coming up, we get a repeat of some hints for games that you might want to play with your dad.
    Top 20
    For the SNES, Legend of Zelda regains the top spot, while Mario firmly retains his hold on #1 on the Game Boy and NES.

    Now Playing
    Of note among the also-rans is The Terminator for the SNES, which apparently is too easy for power-players, despite the fact that it has no continues, and it drove the Angry Video Game Nerd up the wall. There’s also Super James Pond for the SNES, and F-15 Strike Eagle for the Game Boy.
    Pak Watch
    Sunsoft has an upcoming Bugs Bunny game based directly on several specific cartoons, which will likely be a future Quality Control pick. Jaleco has the fighting game Tuff E Nuff. Koei has PTO, and JVC has Dungeon Master.
    So, for my Quality Control pick. I’ve already done Yoshi’s Cookie, so that’s out. I think I’ll go with Raging Fighter, just to give a Game Boy fighting game a try.
    Filed under: Video games, Where I Read Tagged: Battletoads & Double Dragon, Nintendo, Nintendo Power, video game, video game magazines, Where I Read
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  22. Count_Zero
    <p>We to take on a new type of enemy, and get a new S-Pressin.</p>
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='585' height='360' src='href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/lets-play/'>Let's Play</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/'>Video games</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/cyberpunk/'>Cyberpunk</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/lets-play/'>Let's Play</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/remember-me/'>Remember Me</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/science-fiction/'>science fiction</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/transhumanism/'>Transhumanism</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/video-games/'>Video games</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2696/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2696/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2696&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
    <a href="http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/2013/12/28/lets-play-remember-me-part-18-nephalim-and-seraphim/" class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  23. Count_Zero
    <p>This week I’m finally getting back to reviewing a more current video game – Vanquish, a joint by Shinji Mikami and developed by Platinum Games. That’s a good pedigree for Gameplay, but how is it for story?<span id="more-2586"></span><!--more--></p>
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='620' height='379' src='http://www.youtube.com/embed/aRXApJlYyxQ?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent' frameborder='0'></iframe></span>
    <p>Excerpt from the William Tell Overture<br />Performed by Kevin MacCloud</p>
    <p><a href="http://www.incompitech.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.incompitech.com</a></p>
    <p>Released under Creative Commons license.</p>
    <br />Filed under: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/'>Video games</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/videos/'>videos</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2586/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2586/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2586&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
    Source
  24. Count_Zero
    <div style="width: 220px" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/comics/manga-comics/'>Manga</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/akira/'>Akira</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/anime/'>Anime</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/grave-of-the-fireflies/'>Grave of the Fireflies</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/isao-takahata/'>Isao Takahata</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/megazone-23/'>Megazone 23</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2650/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2650/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2650&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
    <a href="http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/2013/11/14/thoughts-from-my-re-watch-of-akira/" class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
  25. Count_Zero
    <p>In part 6 we get to meet Nilin’s biggest fan.</p>
    <span class='embed-youtube' style='text-align:center; display: block;'><iframe class='youtube-player' type='text/html' width='585' height='360' src='href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/lets-play/'>Let's Play</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/category/video-games/'>Video games</a> Tagged: <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/lets-play/'>Let's Play</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/remember-me/'>Remember Me</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/science-fiction/'>science fiction</a>, <a href='http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/tag/video-games/'>Video games</a> <a rel="nofollow" href="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/gocomments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2671/"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://feeds.wordpress.com/1.0/comments/countzeroor.wordpress.com/2671/" /></a> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=countzeroor.wordpress.com&blog=3836055&post=2671&subd=countzeroor&ref=&feed=1" width="1" height="1" />
    <a href="http://countzeroor.wordpress.com/2013/12/16/lets-play-remember-me-part-6-fanboy/" class='bbc_url' rel='nofollow external'>Source</a>
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