Articles by ian-bonds
Thu Nov 19, 2009 — by Ian Bonds
Capcom Announces 'Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition'
This morning, Capcom announced that new DLC (that's Downloadable Content to the layman) for Resident Evil 5
The game was released earlier this year to critical acclaim, and one pack of DLC was announced at the Tokyo Game show about a month ago, so the additional DLC comes as a pleasant surprise. Fans voted on the Capcom website to have the new content only as DLC (rather than buying the game again with the content included therin) but Capcom also seems to be offering it on disc as an incentive for people who didn't pick it up the first time. You can see the new full press release with details on all the DLC after the jump.
Continue reading Capcom Announces 'Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition' ›
Thu Nov 19, 2009 — by Ian Bonds
ComicMix Six: Best Geek-Themed Games for the Holidays
With the holidays fast approaching, the question becomes: what do you get for the comic-loving gamer in your household? Well, here are some of the best releases from this year to satiate their comic-gaming lust and keep you looking like the know-it-all Santa. From purely comic-related titles to one of the year's best surprises for film-fans, this is the collection to make your gamer happy.
1: Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
Playing the previous title in this series isn't necessary, as the events that unfold herein are actually the video game adaptation of Marvel's 'Civil War" event from a few years ago. As players traverse the games environments, you're tasked with choosing Pro- or Anti-Registration stance as you recruit new team members for your cause. Gameplay is multiplayer-centric, as 4 players can team up together to take on all foes in this combat rich title. As players pair up different members of their teams, stat bonuses reward the player for pre-existing groups (like having all the members of the Fantastic Four as a team, for example). The control is refined from the previous title, so those who ARE familiar with the series will notice tighter control of their teams, as well ease in combining powers, one of the games newer features. Here, timed special attacks can be joined with a selected partner for a larger attack, and bigger damage results. While the ending won't match the comic's storyline, players will certainly enjoy all the Marvel references and characters throughout the title, and Xbox 360 and PS3 owners actually can download MORE characters to increase their player rosters.
Continue reading ComicMix Six: Best Geek-Themed Games for the Holidays ›
Mon Jan 26, 2009 — by Ian Bonds
Preview: 'Watchmen: The End is Nigh'
Video game prequel aims to flesh out graphic novel & film backstory
As is typical with any comic to film adaptation, there’s bound to be a video game tie-in, and (sadly for some) Watchmen is no exception. But this isn’t your typical cheap cash-in on the film or graphic novel’s name…at least, that’s what the developers, filmmakers, and even some of the comic’s creators would have you believe. Watchmen: The End is Nigh takes place in 1972, over a decade before the events in the graphic novel and film, and tries to explore the days when Rorschach and Nite Owl were a crime fighting duo (just five years before the Keene act outlaws vigilantes and costumed heroes). As such, don’t expect to see the events of the film or book here…but fans will definitely have something familiar to look forward to.
As detailed in last month’s issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Zack Snyder (the film’s director) and Dave Gibbons (the graphic novel’s co-creator and artist) are both involved in the making of the game on a purely collaborative level. The game’s script itself is being penned by comic scribe (and creator Allan Moore’s mentor) Len Wein, who also served as editor on the graphic novel. It’s these elements that the Denmark developer Deadline Games hopes will separate the title from other such games in the genre. That and the fact that it won’t be sold in stores at all: the title will be available exclusively as an episodic download beginning in March for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and the Steam network on PC.
Wed Jan 21, 2009 — by Ian Bonds
Review: 'Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe'
Worlds Collide in this stellar fighter
Crossovers are nothing new to comics. Who could forget when the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles found their way into a GrimJack book, or when the Punisher visited the Archie Universe? Well, apparently, they can cross into game universes too. As if to answer the challenge put up by Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter over almost 11 years ago, Midway has released Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Building on the series’ newer 3D fighting mechanics, the new title boasts a refined move set, two separate storylines, three new kombat modes, and, of course, a new roster featuring DC’s mightiest heroes and villains. So how does the game fare? Read on…
So, how would the DC characters find themselves caught fighting the kombatants from Earthrealm? Well, due to several well-timed attacks during battles, both Superman and the lightning God, Raiden, cause a tear in each universe that cause their worlds to collide (and their greatest foes, namely Darkseid and Shao Kahn, to conjoin). These events are played out in both ends of the story mode, which you can play either from the DC perspective or the MK point of view. In this mode, players don’t choose their characters. Rather, as the chapters in the story progress, the character they control is swapped out as the story focuses on each new fighter. This allows the players to get a good handle on several different fighting styles, as well as the differing angles and roles each character has in the story.
Playing the story mode is where fans of DC will really get the most enjoyment out of this title. As focus shifts from hero to villain, other characters flesh out the story and interact with whomever you play as, either in battle or in aid. And honestly, as hokey as the story sounds, the excellent cut scenes really make it work within the confines of what we know about these characters. So how are characters like Liu Kang and Scorpion able to put the beat down on Superman and Captain Marvel? Well, as the worlds collide, they take on each other’s properties. Since the world of Mortal Kombat is a magic-based realm, and Superman is susceptible to magic…yeah, you can kick Kal-El’s ass. This also makes our heroes a bit more aggressive…the rage builds within them and the urge to fight grows, making each character stronger and more brutal. This “Rage” is built up over time in battle, and is unleashed as a yellow aura around the character that strengthens attacks and allows you power through your opponents’ hit,not allowing them to knock you back.
Sun Oct 26, 2008 — by Ian Bonds
Playing With The Incredible Hulk
A listing of the Green Goliath's Video Game Escapades
By now, many of you have picked up the new Incredible Hulk DVD or Blu-Ray and witnessed the newest take on the character in cinematic form. Of course, there has also been the occasional video game tie-in, and this hero is no exception. Let’s once again take a look back at the Jade Giant’s anthology of gaming…as green as it may be.
Questprobe 1: The Incredible Hulk – 1984, Commodore 64
The Hulk’s first foray into the video game world was…a text adventure. Needless to say, it’s not very exciting or note worthy. What IS noteworthy is the fact that this was supposed to be the second Hulk game; the first for the Atari 2600 was cancelled before release. The next proper game wouldn’t be for another 10 years.
The Incredible Hulk – 1994 (Super NES, Sega Genesis, Sega Game Gear)
Dr. Banner’s next appearance in video games did little to strengthen the character’s status with fans, as we were treated with a bare bones brawler that made little to no sense for the comic’s history or tone. Here, there was no “Hulk Smash” to be found…just Hulk Punch…everything. Bad guy? Punch. Wall? Punch. Controller? PUNCH. The game made big green move like he was walking through molasses dipped in tar, and for some bizarre reason, after a few hits, he’d turn into Banner and DIE. Apparently, there is something stronger than the Hulk, and its name is shoddy game development.
Sat Oct 18, 2008 — by Ian Bonds
Comic Mix Six - The Six Worst Comic Book Video Games
The Worst of the Worst
Comic books, admittedly, don’t have a great history when itcomes to video game adaptations. Hell,most games based on licensed properties have a certain stigma about them. It probably stems from the fact that theyfeel like a cheap cash-in…a way to make a quick buck on a popular fad such asmovies, TV shows, and yes, comics. Now,that’s not to say ALL comic book games are bad, no; but the genre does have itsshare of stinkers. Out of all thepossible crap-fests out there, these are the top six games that should never beallowed near your console of choice…EVER.
Marvel’s Uncanny X-Men– 1989: NES
Back in the heyday of the Nintendo Entertainment System,they were making games for EVERYTHING. At the time, publisher LJN held the rights to the Marvel license, andsadly, churned out turd after turd. Oneof their biggest steaming piles was this mess, based on Marvel’s MightyMutants. What made this game sobad? Well, sadly, the technology of theday seems to be the biggest culprit. Thegame took a top-down view of the action, and since there was only so much youcould show in 8-bit, character details were pretty much non-existent. That, combined with the muddy, dirty colorsof the backgrounds and you were lucky you could see anything at all, let alonewhich character you had selected. Nothing was recognizable, despite the fact that it had a decent sized rosterselected from the books. Thankfully, it’sone of the few bad marks on an otherwise mostly successful game franchise.
Fantastic Four – 1997:Playstation
Ugh. When you talkabout ugly games, two system generations ago, we had some DOGS. 3D graphics were all the rage, and polygoncounts were climbing higher and higher. Sadly, they still couldn’t figure out that muddy background thing, andso stuff tended to blend together - badly. At least this time you could see what was happening…but it wasn’tpretty. Take a tried and true gameplaystyle, affectionately known as the “beat ‘em up”, and add comic’s firstfamily. What could go wrong? Well, how about poor control, terrible plotand just plain shoddy gameplay? First,the game is about the Fantastic FOUR…so you have Mr. Fantastic, InvisibleWoman, Human Torch, The Thing and…She-Hulk? Wouldn’t that be FIVE? Then, you have repetitive, lazy combat (anormal pitfall for the “beat ‘em up”) of miscellaneous enemies that are largein number and small in variety. Add to thatthe poor hit detection, lousy control response and just a general sense of “whybother?” and you 
have this mighty gem. Fantastic,indeed.
Continue reading Comic Mix Six - The Six Worst Comic Book Video Games ›
Tue Sep 30, 2008 — by Ian Bonds
Iron Man - A Video Game History
A Survey of Shellhead's Best ands Worst Adventures
Today, the world will be purchasing the wildly successful Iron Man film on DVD and Blu-ray and to commemorate the event, we’re taking a look at the hero’s history in videogames. While his feature film debut was acclaimed by comic fans and critics alike, his video game appearances, while many in number, are spotty at best. Let’s take a look at what ol’ shellhead brought to screens before Downey filled his tin boots.
Captain America and the Avengers – 1991 (Arcade, NES), 1992 (Sega Genesis), 1993 (SNES, Sega Game Gear), 1994 (Gameboy)
Tony’s first appearance was in the arcades in 1991 in a side scrolling beat ‘em up adventure. He may not have gotten top billing, but he along with Hawkeye, Vision and (obviously) Cap roamed the US bashing baddies like the Wizard and Tornado in an effort to defeat the Red Skull. It was pretty standard fare as far as action games go: just continue to the right of the screen, defeat miscellaneous thugs and continue to the boss characters. The formula worked for the time (when brawlers like Double Dragon and Streets of Rage were all the…um…rage) but the home console ports didn’t fare as well. The first on Genesis wasn’t able to match the arcades sounds (not that “Avengers Assemble” and “Oh No!” needed to sound better when repeated ad nauseum) and the control was severely lacking. The SNES version a year later was slightly better graphically, but was still a bit maddening in the control department. Oddly enough, the best version was on the lower powered NES…but that version only let you select Cap and Hawkeye, as the plot was changed slightly to have you rescue Iron Man and Vision from the grips of the Mandarin. Weird.
Thu Sep 18, 2008 — by Ian Bonds
Hands-On: 'Spider-Man: Web of Shadows'
Our New Video Game Reporter Chimes in
As sure as the sun rises, sure as night follows day, sure as MJ loves Pet…oh, wait, scratch that one…um…as sure as humans breath in oxygen and expel a form of carbon, there’s sure to be a new Spider-Man video game. And unlike even vs. odd numbered Star Treks, the quality of Spider-Man games (or super-hero games at all) is sketchy at best. Sure, you’ll occasionally hit a milestone gem like the game based on the Spider-Man 2 movie, but then you’ll follow it with duds like Spider-Man 3 and Friend or Foe. Thankfully, the developers at Shaba Games have taken the mold from the good Spidey titles and built an even better game around some new ideas that make this feel like the best wall-crawling escapade yet.
That’s right, I said feel.
I recently had an opportunity to play a preview build of Web of Shadows for Xbox 360, and let me tell you, as a hardcore Spider-fan, this is the one we’ve been waiting for. As fantastic as the swing mechanics were in Spider-Man 2, this takes everything up a notch with quality camera control, new combat maneuvers, a great story, and, finally aerial combat.
Admit it…even if he is a nerd, Parker has some bad-ass moves. The way he hurls himself through the sky, zipping along a webline is graceful, dynamic, and awe-inspiring. The animation team at Shaba has done a wonderful job of upping the ante with his swing animation, and everything flows just the way you remember from past games. That’s the good thing. The even better thing is how you transition from swinging to fighting. Even while gliding through the air, you can target the nearest enemy by clicking the left trigger, and the camera stays focused on your foe (unless you tap the right analog stick). Tap the Y button and Spidey will shoot out a webline straight for his target, either pulling his foe to him or him to it. With careful timing, you then tap Y again once the two are about to connect, and you’ll begin the attack sequence. Under a flurry of blows, ol’ Webhead can punch, kick and web up his foes, bouncing from target to target with ease. With a few simple controller taps, you’ll be ping-ponging between enemies at a fast rate, and scoring some serious upgrades.
