Game Review: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled (2009)
Platforms: PS3, Xbox360
Developer: Konami
Plot: The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are on a quest to stop the evil Shredder after his latest heist, which sees Lord Krang stealing the Statue of Liberty. However, when they go to confront the Shredder, he sends them back in time to literally make them history. Fighting your way through the various times (stoneage, wild west, and even the far future), you take control of your favorite Turtle (Leonard, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael), each with their own strengths and limitations.

This remake is of the classic arcade game, and not the much more played (for me, anyway) SNES game of the same name, which contains more levels and a lot more time playing. My brother and I would spend hours on this title, trying to beat our best times and scores (18 minutes with Leo and Raph). My brother prefers Raph because of his speed, but Leo's always been my favorite character. The new game certainly has some new and awesome graphics (see the screen shot of the original arcade game, below), but it also has a smaller screen which means that Raph's speed is no longer an advantage (much to my brother's disappointment). The big disappointment for me was that it wasn't based on the SNES version, and therefore was lacking a lot of the very fun levels (like the Technodrome). My hope is that they will add in some additional downloadable levels in the future, perhaps as a free add-on, where you can chose between the arcade and SNES versions. Wishful thinking, I know, but one can always hope.

As it stands, the game is a fun beat-'em-up, but it's hardly worth the $10 price tag. Sure the graphics are nice, but you'll beat the game in about 10 minutes and you'll often wonder why it went by so quickly. And, if you're like me and have played the SNES version of the game more often or more recently, you'll wonder where a bunch of your favorite levels went. And why it's so damn difficult to throw Footsoldiers at the screen (which is how you defeat Shredder the first time in the SNES version).

The 3-D graphics are a nice touch, and it's nice to be able to attack in 360 degrees, instead of being stuck on a 2-D playing field. The advantage here in the new Re-Shelled game is that the bad guys ARE limited by a 2-D playing field, especially the bosses. This makes the game easier once you figure out the bosses patterns and when to best take advantage of the fact that they can't touch you if you're above or below them. Especially if you're Leo or Don, who have the longest reaching weapons.

Don't get me wrong here, the game's tons of fun - but extremely brief. By the time it's over, you'll feel like you just hit your groove. Sure you can replay it and try to get some trophies or achievements (most of which involve player 1 getting squished or frozen...or not frozen...but any other player doesn't count towards these awards), but after years of playing the SNES version it just feels so...short.

I recommend the game if they drop the price down to $5, or if they add in the functionality to play both versions of the game, but until that time there's just not enough content there to justify the $10 price tag. Maybe I value the almighty dollar differently than others, but my money's better spent somewhere else. I am holding out for that SNES remake version, however....

Labels: comic review, turtles, turtles in time, turtles in time re-shelled, video game review, video games

Comic Review: Rival Angels vol. 1
Writer / Artist: Alan Evans
Website: www.rivalangels.com
Plot: Sabrina "Ultragirl" Mancini is a professional female wrestler who gets bumped up from the developmental league to the professional division and is forced to live with three other female wrestlers, nick-named the "Upstarts." Her roommates are "The Definition of Technician" Krysten Moline, Aussie babe Brooke Lennox, and Sun "Lil Dragon" Wong. Sabrina finds that playing in the major league is a new game for her, and that her opponent in the ring isn't the only hurdle she has to overcome. Filled with nail-biting edge of your seat action, intense drama and some hilarious moments, this comic has everything you'd want from a story and more!

Even though it's a webcomic, the first graphic novel collection is available here. Whatever he's charging for it, it's worth the price of admission.

Ignore the fact that Alan and I are now friends and are both attending Mid-Ohio Comic Con in October - I was a big fan of this comic long before I even knew who Alan was, and I don't like wrestling. What I like is the kind of action and pacing that his stories provide, and the interesting and dynamic character relationships that he provides. It's interesting to see these girls interaction outside the ring one way, but when they're all thrown into a free-for-all ring match to see who will participate in a TV tournament, there's no holding back.

Each of the girls has a very distinct personality. Sabrina is overconfident and a little bit of a showboat to the fans. Krystin is a powerhouse with a fan following due to her technical moves. Sun is a firecracker that is quick and likes to get the drop on her opponents (or as she likes to call it, "ninja'd!"). And Brooke is a little talent bombshell that has seduced her way to the top, and will stop at nothing to get what she wants...no matter who stands in her way!

It's no secret to people who follow the comic on Drunk Duck that I'm a huge fan of Brooke's, and in fact I have stated many times over that her and I will date her! Alan, being the cheerful sport that he is, was kind enough to give me a cameo appearance in the comic poking fun at my fictional online relationship with another web comic artist, BetaJess (see the 2008 and 2009 Drunk Duck Awards presentation for Best Romance Comic). He tells me that another cameo may be in the works down the road....

If you love action, strong women kicking ass, and some fun plot twists and turns, be sure to check out Rival Angels on the web and purchase the graphic novel for your bookshelf! And I'm not just saying that as a fellow creator, but as a huge fan!

Labels: alan evans, comic review, comics, rival angels, web comics

Comic Review: Bloody Pulp (Zuda)
Writer: Jorge Vega
Artist: Jeff McComsey
Plot: This is the house that Pulp built and the house rules are simple: NO ONE LEAVES. Ever. BLOODY PULP is the story of John “Pulp” Polpowski, a nightmare for hire who leads a dangerous double life — secretly moving the men and women he’s been paid to kill to a remote safe house far from the syndicate controlled streets of 1930’s Kansas City.

The 8 page preview is available on Zuda.com, and is currently ranked in the #1 spot (but it's a tight race for #1). Jorge is a personal friend of mine, and an amazing writer. His first graphic novel, Gunplay from Platinum Studios, was fantastic and the fact that he was not given the opportunity to finish the trilogy is a tragedy. His other works from Two Fisted Press include Ghost Village and 9-Months.

The set up for this comic (the 8 page preview) is absolutely gruesome and fantastic. And in order to win the competition, Jorge needs your votes and faves! Unfortunately, this requires signing up for the free comic service that is zuda.com (not because it's a bad service, but because it requires about 1-2 minutes of your time). Fortunately, it gives you access to a boat-load of free web comics that are professionally done and allows you to support what you like. And that support could help land someone (cough cough, Jorge Vega, cough cough) a paying gig supplying more pages for Bloody Pulp on zuda.com.

So do me (and Jorge) a favor, and go sign up and vote / fave the comic already! Because I want to know how this thing ends. And if you read the free 8 page preview, then you will too!

Labels: bloody pulp, comic review, comics, jorge vega, zuda