Portal 2
Greetings, Portal 2 is a 2011 video game and a sequel to the original Portal that was released in 2007. The single player campaign delves deeper into the lore of the Portal series by introducing new characters or expanding on individuals that are already established, creating new interactive elements that are required to complete tests such as repulsion or propulsion gel and creating a history for Aperture Science. The voice cast plays their roles excellently with Ellen McLain reprising her performance as the villainous AI GLaDOS, Stephen Merchant voices the moronic robot known as Wheatley and J.K Simmons takes on the role of Aperture's charismatic founder, Cave Johnson.
The plot is set an unspecified period of time after the events of the first Portal. GLaDOS has been killed and Chell had managed to leave briefly but was dragged back into the building at the end of the original game. It starts with Chell being awakened from her stasis room by Wheatley, who had discovered that she was still alive and supposedly the last remaining human in the facility. Once Wheatley introduces himself, he attempts to aid Chell in trying to escape once again from the test chambers. Chell is equipped with the portal gun to help her get around obstacles, but the only way to exit is going through the lair of the deactivated GLaDOS much to Wheatley's fear.
They accidentally reactivate her when they are in her territory. Once awake, a vengeful GLaDOS states to Chell that she had to relive through her final moments of being killed due to her black box and puts the silent protagonist back to completing test with the intent of murder. Wheatley continues to plan a way out as Chell buys time by solving the puzzles for the murderous AI. It is eventually decided that they could neutralize GLaDOS and allow Wheatley to take over the facility via the stalemate button.
It is a great game with a good use of puzzles, a nice atmospheric soundtrack and humour that is both witty as well as dark. The storyline itself is very entertaining and has an unexpected but interesting twist that drives a lot of the humour later on as the game progresses, often at the expense of Wheatley. I haven't yet played the co-op campaign but the single player is a great experience that keeps giving laughs,well hidden Easter eggs and secrets such Ratman's dens as well as interesting challenges from start to finish. It also had a brilliant ending that wrapped everything up nicely but unfortunately mean that there probably never will be a sequel,at least one that follows Chell.
Plot=10/10
Characters=10/10
Graphics=10/10
Overall=10/10
Quote of the day
Please note that we have added a consequence for failure. Any contact with the chamber floor will result in an "unsatisfactory" mark on your official testing record, followed by death. Good luck!
GLaDOS
Portal
Back to the Future: The Game
Greetings, Back to the Future: The Game was created by TellTale and is considered to be an official part of the original storyline, taking place after the events of the third film. Like other TellTale games such as Sam and Max, Back to the Future is a point a click episodic adventure with all storylines flowing into each other. Some of the original cast such as Christopher Lloyd and Michael J Fox return but Marty McFly is voiced by A.J. Locascio who gives a good performance in imitating a younger Fox. New characters are introduced with likes of Edna Strickland, an anti-delinquent activist, Marty’s grandfather Arthur, singer Trixie Trotter and Biff’s father, the gangster, Kid Tannen.
The story is predominantly set in Hill Valley during 1931 but does change periods and visits alternative timelines. In 1986, Doc Brown has been missing for several months and the bank begins to sell off his items. A concerned Marty is startled to find a time travelling DeLorean has made it back to the present time without any sign of Doc. McFly discovers that this vehicle is a duplicate of the original that was destroyed in 1885 and that Emmet had travelled to 1931. Brown has been incorrectly imprisoned in suspicion of burning down a speakeasy belonging to Kid during the prohibition era. Marty has to free Doc from prison before Emmet can be gunned down by Kid’s gangsters.
A lot of the story revolves around Brown’s past, with Marty attempting to get a young teenage Emmet to leave his family tradition of an occupation in law in exchange for science. Therefore setting in motion the events that would lead to the creation of the DeLorean time machine. The score suits the game nicely by incorporating pieces of the iconic themes from the movies while adding a fresh twist to some of them. It was composed by Jared Emerson-Johnson, who walked worked with TellTale before on other projects such as Sam and Max as well as the Walking dead.
While most of the puzzles are relatively straightforward that didn’t stop me from enjoying the experience which was similar to that of the trilogy in terms of humour and in keeping with the well developed characters, as well as the general essence of it. I also liked the cartoonish design that TellTale uses for its games, believing that it captured the appearance of Doc and Marty nicely. If you liked the films you might appreciate this and due to the high probability of a sequel, I look forward to what will happen next in the much loved series.
Plot=9/10
Characters=10/10
Graphics=8/10
Overall=9/10
Quote of the day
Vengeance? Ha! I was never one to hold grudges, Jeffrey. My father held grudges. I'll always hate him for that.
Pierce Hawthorne
Community
ParaNorman
Greetings, ParaNorman is a 2012 animated film mixing the elements of humour as well horror fit for family viewing. Despite attempting to be a family orientated movie, the themes and the story in general are reasonably darker as well as rather complex than the black and white scenario you would expect. Some of the more prominent cast members include John Goodman, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Bernard Hill. It was created by Laika, which is mostly known for the 2009 movie Caroline.
The plot is centred in a fictional Massachusetts town called Blithe Hollow. During the 1700s as the Puritans began to colonise the area and in their attempt to keep it holy, they executed a local who was charged with the crime witchcraft. Before the witch was killed she cursed those who judged her to walk the earth as the living dead. Most of the plot is set in the present day around Norman, the protagonist of the story, who has an obsessive interest in the deceased and the ability to interact with ghosts. Of course nobody believes that he has these powers which has lead to his ostracism from the town’s community and even emotional isolation from his family.
It isn’t long before Norman is contacted by his estranged uncle, who also has the same paranormal abilities and is the most recent generation of his family to ensure that the witch and the zombies never rise from their graves. The uncle, realizing that his own life span was about to end had to ensure that Norman would take over his duties of reading a book at the witch’s burial site and thus protect the town from the curse by preventing the witch from awakening. After his uncle’s death, Norman decides to believe him after the current visions he had been having and attempts to read the book. However, he is too late and the witches curse begins. Therefore Norman has to stop the spell with an ill prepared team consisting of his uncaring sister Courtney, his socially rejected friend Neil, Neil’s older brother Mitch and Norman’s bully, Alvin.
Overall, it is a really good film that actually contradicts well known tropes by flipping them against themselves and balances the humour and emotional scenes nicely. While it may not have the most notable cast, the actors and actresses certainly deliver their parts perfectly. I don’t recall ever watching another Laika film before this one, but I will keep an eye out for their latest projects and might watch Caroline at some time.
Plot=9/10
Characters=9/10
Animation=9/10
Overall=9/10
Quote of the day
It's ok to die Bats, I'll be here to protect Gotham! I'll do a real good job
Joker
Batman: Arkham City
RED 2
Greetings, RED 2 is the sequel to the 2010 film Retired and Extremely Dangerous, bringing back a good portion of the actors and actresses that stared in the first movie as well as introducing a few that are new to the series. New members of the cast include Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Lee Byung-hun. I enjoyed the original set up due to its successful blend of colourful characters, humour and action scenes but couldn’t really follow the plot that well. However that isn’t a problem in this movie that has a simpler storyline despite being set in different locations around the world, instead of just America again.
The story is set after the events of the first RED in which retired CIA agent Frank Moses, played by Bruce Willis, tries to settle into a normal life with his girlfriend Sarah portrayed by Mary Louise Parker. However their lives are interrupted by an old friend and ex-special agent Marvin, John Malkovich, warns that their lives are once again in danger due to a leaked document that involved both of them in an operation during the Cold War. Frank doesn’t listen to the warning and Marvin is forced to fake his death by blowing up his own car.
Once Moses is at his colleague's funeral, he is forcibly taken to a location for interrogation about Operation Nightshade. However, he manages to escape the facility with the help of Marvin and begins to unravel the reasons for his planned interrogation. Helen Mirren’s character, Victoria is threatened into finding and killing Moses or else by killed by her MI6 employers as she had worked with him in the first RED film. Notorious Contract killer Han played by Byung-hun is also hired to pursue and assassinate the targets of Frank and Marvin
Overall, it is a humorous and enjoyable movie with interesting action as well as plot twists but it doesn’t quite stand on par with the original movie in my opinion. However, it is still definitely worth watching. There are plans to make the series into a trilogy which should hopefully keep up the same standard as the first two. I look forward to how they are going to conclude the story and what other notable celebrities will be included.
Plot=8/10
Characters=8/10
Special effects=8/10
Overall=8/10
Quote of the day
Roz, my tender, oozing blossom, you're looking fabulous today. Is that a new haircut? Tell me it's a new haircut. It's got to be a new haircut. New makeup? You had a lift? You had a tuck? You had something? Something has been inserted in you that makes you look like...Listen, I need a favor.
Mike Wazowski
Monsters, Inc.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
Greetings, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is the prequel to the original Deus Ex video game, which was released in the year 2000. Human Revolution is an open world game with two major maps that the player can explore if they wish and will be rewarded with money as well as other items including weapons if they search the area. The use of stealth is one method of progressing through the plot and can be lethal or non-lethal depending on the choice of the player. While it is more time consuming there is less chance of raising alarm by using stealth if done effectively. It is possible to complete the game without killing any of the enemy AIs with the ability to knock out, stun and shoot guards with tranquilizers.
The plot is set in the near future, in which society is being sharply divided by those who wish to advance humanity by replacing human limbs with mechanical ones, to those who believe it is unethical. To make matters worse, those who don’t augment themselves are falling into poverty as corporations are starting to employee those who have changed themselves. The storyline begins with an unprovoked attack on Sarif industries by an unknown enemy. In the assault, the chief of security Adam Jensen is fatally injured, several scientists who were on a breakthrough of augmentation technology including their lead, Megan Reed disappear and are thought to be dead. In order to be saved Sarif, Adam’s boss, augments Jensen with top of the line technology and in the end saves his employees life. Months later, Jensen starts investigating and gets entangled in a conspiracy.
The game itself is quite deep and intelligent with interesting and well developed characters to spur it forward. The moral dilemmas are also a big part of the appeal, especially the choices that the player has to make at the end as there is no clear cut answer. A few side missions can be found at various parts in the plot, scattered throughout the two main maps, and while they don’t have an effect on the plot it does help create the atmosphere of a crumbling world. Overall, it is definitely a game to buy even if you haven’t played the original Deus Ex as it isn’t heavily involved with the original storyline.
Plot=9/10
Characters=8/10
Graphics=8/10
Overall=9/10
Quote of the day
The Enrichment Centre reminds you that the Companion Cube cannot speak. In the event that the Companion Cube does speak, the Enrichment Centre urges you to disregard its advice.
GLaDOS
Portal
A Game of Thrones
Greetings, A Song of Ice and Fire is both a successful book and television series written by George R.R. Martin. It is set in the fictional continent of Westeros which is inhabited by many dynasties, clans and mythical creatures. A Game of Thrones is the first novel in the series and is centred around several characters that interlink the many plot threads, focusing mainly on the Stark family. With so many characters, with more to come, it can be difficult to keep track of them all but none the less is an enjoyable experience.
The main plot follows Ned Stark, who becomes the Hand of the King after the death of his predecessor. Essentially, Ned governs the kingdoms in place of the usurper King Robert who is too busy living a life of debauchery to rule. Stark begins to investigate into the death of the previous Hand of King, suspecting that he had uncovered something he shouldn’t have. His suspicions rise when a failed assassination attempt tired to take the life of one of his youngest sons, Bran who had fell into a coma and become crippled as he fell from a roof when it became clear that Ned would become the next Hand of the King.
Stark’s bastard son, Jon, had been sent to join an organisation that defended the Kingdoms from the threats that lay behind an enormous wall to the north. Behind the wall lie savages and mystical creatures that are believed to be only from fables or fairytales. As winter come closer unusual activities in the region increase. Another important thread plot is that of the overthrown dynasty of the Targaryen, with only two members of the family left they attempt to regain their stolen throne, Daenerys and Viserys. Daenerys is married to a warrior named Drogo in the hopes that his clan will be able to reclaim their kingdoms taken by King Robert.
There are other characters and story lines that are important to the overall plot such as Tyrion Lannister known as the Imp, Cateyln Stark and her daughters. With over 700 pages a Game of Thrones is a long introduction to the series and has me eager for more. I have yet to see the television series but I’m sure it will be as entertaining as the book.
Plot=9/10
Characters=9/10
Wording=9/10
Overall=9/10
Quote of the day
You don't know who I am. You don't know where I am. And you'll never see me coming.
The Mandarin
Iron Man 3
