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Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe on Playstation 3 & XBOX 360 Review

Of all the dumb ideas in the world Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe is probably top of a very long list. Seriously, you can imagine all these “game ideas” people sitting around in their suits talking about a new game and someone suddenly goes “let’s put Batman in Mortal Kombat” and everyone stood up and applauded him for having the worst idea. Ever.

Stupid idea as it is, though, it’s actually very, very fun. And here’s why:

Things I Loved:

• Beat ‘em ups are one of my favourite genres but at the same time I’m fucking awful at them. Like really fucking bad. And that frustrates me. Street Fighter pisses me off. The original Mortal Kombat’s piss me off. Soul Calibur pisses me off. Etc. For some reason this game doesn’t though. The button inputs are relatively easy to remember whichever character you play as and the gameplay is fluid and above all fun. As dumb as it might seem kicking the crap out of the Joker with Sub Zero it’s bound to raise more than a few smiles.
• Most characters share the same button inputs to execute their moves so instead of having to sift through a massive list of moves you can pretty much learn one characters moves and know them all. The fact they all handle differently (a.k.a. the game puts emphasis on you learning timing and stuff) is where the challenge comes in but it’s not so inaccessible that you’re overwhelmed.
• The story modes are absolutely hilarious. It’s like, DC world has merged with Mortal Kombat world and they are fighting each other because they think the other dudes are the enemies who are fucking with the time vortex of uber-parallelity and stuff. Amazing.
• The online lobby system is brilliant. Esentially you drop into a room where you can be challenged by another player. Upon accepting you can fight against the challenger until one of you chooses to drop out, at which point you’re taken back to the lobby in order to take on another challenger. Brilliant.
• The uppercut still feels like it would break the average persons jaw. I don’t know how they’ve managed to make the uppercut always seem so powerful in Mortal Kombat games, but it’s still super-rewarding here.
• The Joker is fantastic in this game. His moves are brilliant and so in character. Even his stance is brilliant as he writhes his fist in a Scrappy-Doo esque “put ‘em up” fashion.
• You’re able to knock opponents off buildings and through walls in this game resulting in some breaks from the normal gameplay which have you matching your opponents button presses or simply mashing the controller. It’s all quite fun in the heat of battle.

Things I Hated:

• The variety of game modes are bleak to say the least. You get your standard arcade fare, the story mode which is a series of bouts tied together by cutscenes and a Kombo mode which sets you a number of challenges for each character to complete. Other than versus and online modes, though, that’s pretty much your lot. Here’s hoping for some DLC?
• The stages are particularly bland. I expected elements of Superman’s universe to have more colour and Gotham to be more gritty but as it is the stages lack interest. I appreciate your focus of attention is your opponent, but I do like interesting backdrops in my beat ‘em ups.
• Catwoman looks dumb. Why didn’t they just polygonize Michelle Pfeiffer?
• Some of the sound effects and grunts from the characters become overly annoying. Particularly when you’re spamming a move over and over and over again and all you hear is the same fucking sound over and over and over again. Fucking. Annoying.

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe surprised me. I bought it out of a love for beat ‘em ups, Batman and a shop sale but came out of it pleasantly surprised. It’s not the type of game that’s going to hold your attention for very long but in the time that it does it’ll hold it well.

Get looking in those post-Christmas sales. It’s worth £20.

7/10.

Oh Noez. We Have No Moneyz.

The year is over. Everyone is pissed because they are back at work. No one has any money. Everyone will be unemployed this time next year. But, hey, cheer up. We still had a good 2008 right? Here’s the stuff that I thought was the best.

• Breakout Artist: Ladyhawke.
  Runner-up: Katy Perry.
• Video Game: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots.
  Runner-up: Grand Theft Auto IV.
• get2sammyb.co.uk Blog Entry: “Is Soul Calibur IV A Bit Too Pervey?”.
  Runner-up: “Wimbledon Chicks”.
• Record: 808’s & Heartbreak (Kanye West).
  Runner-up(s): Ladyhawke (Ladyhawke); Volume One (She & Him).
• Book I Read: A Quiet Belief In Angels (R. J. Ellory).
• Hit Count Increaser: Georgina Baillie.
• Movie: The Dark Knight.
  Runner-up: Forgetting Sarah Marshall.
• Celebrity: Russell Brand.

So there you have it. 2008 is gone forever never to return. Those are the things worth mentioning (plus tons more I missed). I’m glad I don’t have to do this end of year bollocks for another 12 months because it takes some thought. And I hate thinking.

Enjoy and all that.

This Is Getting A Remake. Oooh-yeah!

I’m so fucking stoked about Outrun coming this month. It’s fucking Outrun, man. That game is like - oh em gee - one of my favourites. What’s more badass than driving a Ferrari through the US with Maria Sharapova giving you a subtle handjob as you work the handbrake? Doing it in a fucking video game with SEGA’s trademark “cock-rock” blaring in your ears of course!

It got me thinking, though. Outrun is coming to the PS3 and 360 as a download, why can’t we have more? Here’s what I’d like please, Mr. SEGA.

"Welcome To The Fantasy Zone. Get Ready."

Space Harrier fucking rocks. You’re this dude who can sort of fly with a giant laser-ball firing weapon and you have to shoot at giant stone faces. All with that wicked “doobeedoo-do-do-doobeedoo” tune blaring in your ears. Fuck yes. Give us a “Super II Turbo HD Remix X Alpha 7 T2″ remake please SEGA!

"Kitten Mania."

Chu Chu Rocket fucking rocks. First game I ever played online actually, back in the glory days of the Dreamcast and 28k modems. Chu Chu Rocket is a four player competitive online game where you - erm - guide mice into your rocket by dropping “directional tiles”. Of course the cats are out to ruin the day. It’s fucking mental. C’mon SEGA; this only needs upgrading into HD and programmed to work with PSN, XBOX Live Arcade, etc. Makes sense.

Punch, Punch, Police.

Streets Of Rage fucking rocks. Mainly I have - *counts* - five words to say: Streets Of Rage online co-op. I think the universal sound of my readership simultaneously wanking onto their computer screen confirmed my suspicions; this would be bloody amazing. Chuck in the Bionic Commando Rearmed spit and polish and well… mmm.

This Is How It Would Look By The Way.

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 fucking rocks. My favourite in the series. They have to do nothing to this game, just redraw it in high definition. The sales will do the rest. I know this is a pretty “weak” revival on the scale of Outrun, etc but I honestly don’t think they need to do anything else. It would be brilliant.

"Would You Turn That Radio Down?"

Jet Set Radio fucking rocks. I think this is probably more geared towards a full scale release but everyone wants it. Jet Set Radio was brilliant in almost every way; it’s graphics, it’s soundtrack, it’s core gameplay, it’s style. It made me feel cool. If this doesn’t get revived then I will cry myself to sleep forever. Even if they just stick the original on PS3 and XBOX Live. Should be enjoyed by ONLY those with a good sound system (read: fucking mega sub).

"RELOAD!"

Virtua Cop fucking rocks. This probably more geared towards a Wii release. I love the Wii zapper peripheral and oddly enough I only have one game to look forward that takes advantage of the add-on (House Of The Dead Overkill). So c’mon SEGA - put the original game on the Virtual Console with the Wii Zapper controls included. Or make a new episodic version for Wii Ware with high score tables and stuff. Amazing.

"Super Monkey Ball!"

Super Monkey Ball fucking rocks. Has Super Monkey Ball been on the 360 and PS3 yet? I know it’s been on the Wii and iPhone but those games (certainly the Wii version) controlled like shit. Utter shit. Super Monkey Ball kind of feels like the game that would no longer justify a £40 blu-ray release. But as for an XBOX Live or PS3 download, fuck yeah. £14.99 for 100 levels and all the classic Monkey Target games (perhaps with online play?). Fucking mentally awesome. Count me in. Would be excellent with the Wii Balance Board too by the way.

Birds And Birds And Stuff.

Flicky fucking rocks. So stupidly simple but so ridiculously awesome. Man, you have to like control this blue bird and collect yellow birds and escort them to the exit. Man would this make a good £3.50 revival. The original is probably already on Virtual Console so check it out. It’s brilliant.

And that’s my lot. No doubt I’ve missed something or other out but for now these are what I want to be downloading from the ol’ PSN, XBOX Live Arcade or WiiWare. Love you SEGA, really I do (well only when you’re not making shit games).

(Disclaimer: the reason Shenmue isn’t there is because I just fucking want a full version of Shenmue 3 on the PS3 or XBOX 360. I don’t want an episodic version or anything. Although I would take that over nothing).

Get to work then. And while you do that I’ll ask my dear readership a question: what SEGA game would you like to make a revival? Answers on a postcard please (read: answers in the comments section below).

I Used To Sleep With My Keyboard Too.

I correctly predicted the rise and rise to fame of Katy Perry this year (ok I’mma stop being so smug about that now) and fully intend to put my amazingly good 100% correct popstar prediction on the line and call Frankmusik to be the biggest pop act of 2009.

So how does the UK’s Frankmusik intend to reach domination point? With fucking amazing electropop, that’s how. It’s pop, with glitches, 80’s samples, video game synths and bitcrushers. It’s pop that goes hand-in-hand with Nintendo Entertainment System and sunglasses. It’s the sound of 2009.

How the hell does a nobody from Croydon break the music industry then?

Well first you have to have a cult “cover”/”sample” thing of The Stranglers “Golden Brown” with a video shot entirely by yourself which (for me) totally summarises British clubbing culture. Well particularly the whole electropop scene anyway.

Then you have to make a completely home made music video for your first “single”, In Step, which has pretty girls dancing in their underwear with hoola-hoops.

Finally you need to release a fucking dreadful video for your first proper “single” which has girls without bras dancing on a giant keyboard. (Aside: best pop song synth solo since that one in Daft Punk’s “Digital Love”?)

I’ve been lucky enough to hear bits of the new Frankmusik album and well, one of the tracks “Better Off As” will be the hit of 2009. You heard it here first. Honest.

Resident Evil: Degeneration Review on DVD & Blu-Ray

I love, love, love, love, love Resident Evil. Love the characters, love the settings, love the environments, love the weapons, love the style, love Capcom, etc. etc. Resident Evil: Degeneration kind of revealed itself as a movie wet dream to me: a video game movie, being handled with care in the style such a movie should be handled.

I’ve seen Mila Jovovich’s interpretation of the series and while I don’t think they’re particularly the worst game-to-movie adaptation, I also don’t think they’re very good.

So onto Resident Evil: Degeneration. Set years after the destruction of Raccoon City, Degeneration follows Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy. Claire Redfield is now part of a search and rescue team coordinating efforts in the aftermath of terrorist attacks. Leon S. Kennedy is a government agent sent to shoot things in the head.

The movie has a rather thin plot and is marred by unusual pacing but essentially the action kicks off as Claire Redfield waits in an airport that’s, well, hit by a biological attack. Cue lots of people getting infected and skulking about a smashed to bits airport setting with trapped survivors.

Being Resident Evil there is a lot of overarching plot points that may be missed by those looking for just an action flick. Even those who do know what’s going on may get the feeling that there is a bit too much backplot to capture the full impact of the film storywise.

Leon and Claire aside there is a new love interest and three somewhat mysterious characters. Typical affair: politician, British scientist and scorned family man which the move insists on having you question their motives throughout. All is revealed in the end. From screens I’ve seen of the upcoming Resident Evil 5 I think I can confirm that the subtle clue before the credits of this movie tie closely into the upcoming game but you’re going to have to wait until I’ve played through that before I can confirm. All I can say is that I think within the ashes of the Umbrella corps rises a new threat to humanity.

I never found myself particularly wowed by the cinematography; there are some good set pieces but on the whole the directing is slightly one dimensional. Voice acting is passable but there is rarely a connect to what the voices are saying and what the characters are doing. Having said that, the CGI is good and the animation decent on the most part.

It’s a movie for enthusiasts at the end of the day. Those constantly seeking snippets of storyline from the massive Resident Evil plot will certainly enjoy a little bit of filler and the movie never gives the impression it wants to be anything more. It’s short and fun but rarely very riveting.

For the enthusiast.

6/10.

get2sammyb.co.uk Most Wanted '09

I think I’m pretty much done getting hyped up over 2009’s list of entertainment. In fact, I admittedly got very carried away with games and kinda had to chuck the odd movie and film in there to make it the tiniest bit fairer. The thing is, records usually get announced around summer time in order to make a Christmas release date, so it’s only Imogen Heap’s (and New Found Glory’s) that I know for definite are being recorded now for an ‘09 launch date. As for films; well the best of those usually hit during the summer and I’m afraid I don’t know enough about Transformers 2 and others to slot them into this list.

I promise to give more information as and when I know about them though. For now though, here’s the list of things that are getting me excited (in no order) about ‘09; at the moment:

• Madworld (Nintendo Wii)
• Alan Wake (XBOX 360)
• Resident Evil 5 (Playstation 3 & XBOX 360)
• Watchmen (Movie)
• God Of War III (Playstation 3)
• House Of The Dead: Overkill (Nintendo Wii)
• The New Imogen Heap Record (Music Album)
• Killzone 2 (Playstation 3)
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (Playstation 3)
• Punch Out!! (Nintendo Wii)
• Street Fighter IV (PC, Playstation 3 & XBOX 360)
• Heavy Rain (Playstation 3)

So there you have it, a very game dominated list. First time I’ve done such a thing so I promise a wider spread of content next year. I still think it’s a good list though.

“If you could only have one of the above,” I hear you call, “Which would it be, Mr. B?”

The answer is: Resident Evil 5.

Fascinating stuff, no?

Probably Scores About 6 out of 10.

Honestly, the hit track from Take That’s last album “Beautiful World” was “Shine”. Why? Because it was packed with tonky piano lines and a catchy melody. Also it was upbeat. The other big release for Take That was the Stardust song “Rule The World“. Arguably the best ballad Gary Barlow has written.

Unfortunately he doesn’t seem content with it for latest release “The Circus” is packed to the rafters with ballads and slow tunes. None of them are particularly bad but are all epitomised with album opener “The Garden”. The swirly synths and slow building piano riffs are particularly comforting but the track never ever takes hold. This problem is a problem that is consistent through pretty much the whole record.

Title track “The Circus” is a downbeat ditty with classic production values; “Julie” is an acoustic guitar led pop track with a try-hard melody; “Hello” is an almost Beach Boys-esque harmony driven pop song that’s not especially memorable.

However, it’s not all bad. “How Did It Come To This” is a fantastic mix of modern and classic pop as a swung drum beat maintains a bop to the overall tune before offloading into the first memorable chorus of the album. “Up All Night” and closer “Here” maintain the upbeat feeling, with an almost Beatles feel.

Get past the difficult opening and the latest Take That offering is a solid album with a few clangers. Now I’m just waiting for the return of Robbie.

EDIT: Fucking hate it when record labels won’t let you embed things. You can watch the video here.

The woman wears a large dress as if to juxtapose her personality. She feels unnoticed and so wears big, out of fashion clothes to garner attention. The band represent her inner-aggression by thrashing out “kick ass” solos and “deep-defining” bass lines. The drummer’s slow motion close-ups show the ladies aggression by the way he appears to be grinding his teeth.

The water is dirty as though to represent how something even in it’s purest form can be corrupted. The lady drowns in the water to display how we all drown in our own corruption. To further this the locked door represents that the greatest prisons we build are within our own minds and not structural. This is proven by the way the “structural” door unlocks shortly after the ladies life is lost to the corrupted water.

The sepia tone of the video and the dated room the band perform in provides the “perfect” (note intended irony) environment for the director to demonstrate his metaphor that older things are less perfect.

Alternatively, this could just be a purposely “deep” (read: not deep at all) video of an old single for teenage girls (and Media Studies students) to mull over.

Either way the track’s alright isn’t it?