Tag Archive: ray carsillo


The Ringo Starr and Art Garfunkel of Comedy

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April 20, 2010

Originally Published: July 17, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Wednesday nights have always traditionally been a powerhouse for Comedy Central; with South Park at 10PM, the Daily Show at 11PM, and Colbert Report at 11:30PM, Comedy Central could always breathe easy.

The problem, though, has always been finding the right comedy to bridge the gap between the four foul-mouthed youths from the Denver suburbs, to the biting, tongue-in-cheek, current events mockeries that are the Daily Show and Colbert Report.

Finally, someone has come along and attempted to bridge the gap.

Michael and Michael Have Issues is best described as a sketch show within a sitcom that follows the hijinx of a pair of comedy veterans, Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, as they try to write their weekly comedic masterpiece. During this process, insane hilarity always seems to ensue as you watch them go from one extreme to the other. In the blink of an eye, Michael and Michael transition seamlessly from the professional atmosphere of cracking jokes in the voiceover production room with producers and directors, to a sophomoric competition over the imagined affection of their intern as he writes an article about the comedy duo for his school paper.

While watching the premiere episode, I could not stop laughing. The show’s flow was very smooth from bit to bit while maintaining the overall plot of the episode. Michael and Michael and their supporting cast were able to convey some great humor in not just their words, but their actions as well. You could tell from watching their interactions with each other that Michael and Michael are indeed both longtime friends and colleagues, even though, sometimes, they were trying a little extra hard to come off as enemies. Their natural rapport with each other is evident, and will probably determine the long-term fate of the show, since their relationship is the key component to the show’s premise. With a little more polish, I could see this sitcom becoming a Comedy Central staple, if it can garner enough support that is.

To talk more about the premiere episode of Michael and Michael Have Issues, Robin Lundberg and I chatted with Michael Showalter about everything from going through the process of getting the show green-lit by Comedy Central to being a Jersey boy, like myself.


CLICK HERE – to listen to Robin Lundberg and me interview Michael Showalter.

From the board room meeting that opens the show with Michael and Michael trash-talking each other, to such instant classic bits like “The Farting Butterfly” and the “Worst Word in the History of the World,” Michael and Michael Have Issues will keep the belly laughs flowing and keep Comedy Central’s Wednesday night dominance at an all-time high as they attempt to successfully bridge the gap.

Be sure to check out Michael and Michael Have Issues every Wednesday night after South Park on Comedy Central at 10:30PM EST.

-Ray Carsillo

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Take Me to Your Leader

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Originally Published: July 13, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com), Lundberg.me, and Collider.com

During Nintendo’s press conference at this year’s E3, the Nintendo brass revealed an interesting statistic: 60% of all American households still do not have any home console whatsoever. After making pledges to wage their own personal war against this statistic (in much nicer terms since it is Nintendo) by promising more games to appeal to the casual gamer, they also said that they were afraid of isolating their hardcore audience (guess the Wii’s gimmick is finally wearing off).

To appeal to the hardcore gamer, Nintendo showcased games from third-party developers like Red Steel 2, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Measures (both published by Ubisoft) and a decent selection from SEGA.

The presentation by SEGA was surprising since many associate them with the now-tired and mediocre-at-best Sonic the Hedgehog series. Following the release of the solid hit Madworld (a Running Man meets Sin City gore-fest exclusive for the Wii), many felt that SEGA was ready to re-stake a claim as a strong third-party developer. With that in mind, I give you SEGA’s newest exclusive title for the Wii: The Conduit.

In The Conduit, you play as Michael Ford, an agent for a secret government organization known as “The Trust” tasked with keeping the world at peace while protecting America’s interests. You begin by following the orders of your shadowy leader, John Adams, as you attempt to retrieve stolen technology by a terrorist known only as “Prometheus”. As you explore the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, you begin to uncover a conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels of government and involves a lot more than an experimental piece of technology.

In a decision that will change your life and the fate of a nation, you befriend Prometheus as you realize that Adams has his own agenda and that the stolen technology is not of earthly origin. Now, you must wage a one-man war against your government as you try to single-handedly prevent an alien invasion that would spell the fall of life as we know it.

With a game that had as much hype and potential as this one, it’s no surprise that it fell short. It is a surprise, though, that it did not even come close to what was expected of it. As the only true first-person shooter for the Wii, it would have been difficult for hardcore gamers who play the Wii (is that an oxymoron?) to not be satisfied with this game but this game disappoints on every level.

The story had potential, but as it unfolds, it looks and feels like a Perfect Dark rip-off from the N64. It’s a first-person shooter, has government agents, alien invasion, crazy technology, you befriending an enemy, and your friends becoming enemies; an original storyline would have been appreciated.

The game also looked like something from two console-generations ago. Horrible enemy models with environments that looked like amorphous blobs painted on a canvas combine to make this one of the worst looking games to come out in years. I understand the Wii does not have the graphics power of the other consoles, but I’ve seen it do so much better than this.

The music sets a good feel and pace for the game and the sound effects work, but the voice acting is abysmal. Even with Kevin Sorbo (star of the television hit Hercules) as Prometheus (interesting that he is best-known for a Greek demi-god and his character is named after a Greek god), the voice acting is over-the-top to the point of utter absurdity.

Aside from being one of the few first-person shooters for the Wii (namely Metroid Prime 3 and Red Steel with everything else worth mentioning really being a rail-shooter), the other appeal for the game was the most highly-touted multiplayer for Wii since Super Smash Bros. Brawl. This is something that would compare to the best of the best on other systems as it allows up to 12 players to play.

This feature may be one of the few saving graces because it reminds me of the old game: Goldeneye (arguably the greatest multiplayer game ever). Unfortunately, with quickly depleted health bars and a horribly-long lobby-load time leaves this needing more polish to be ranked up there with a classic like Goldeneye or modern marvels like Gears of War or Halo.

When all is said and done, this is a short game (8-10 hours of gameplay max) that seems to have been thrown together with spare parts from other games two generations ago. If this is Nintendo’s best effort for hardcore gamers, maybe they’ve accidentally figured out the reason why 60% of people don’t own a home console.

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 3.0: I can’t remember giving a game this bad a graphics rating, mainly because the game looks like something from two generations ago. I actually forgot what polygons were until I saw this game. It’s a current generation abomination.

Audio: 6.0: Solid SFX and a catchy soundtrack lay a decent audio foundation, but the instant a character opens its pixilated mouth, the entire experience goes down the toilet. Horrible voice-acting all around drops this score below passable marks.

Plot/Plot Development: 5.0: An old, tired plot that has already been done before and done better at that. The story flows at a break-neck pace that also affects the length of the game itself and gives you the feel that SEGA just had spare parts lying around and wrapped it around an alien-invasion story.

Gameplay: 5.0: The game has slow, unresponsive controls, enemy A.I. permanently set to cannon-fodder, and only 8-10 hours of gameplay. Then again, maybe only 8-10 hours was more of an act of mercy than anything.

Replay Value: 8.0: There is a decent amount of collectibles, achievements, and unlockables that if you are a diehard completionist, it will have enough to bring you back for a second or third playthrough. Add in a multiplayer mode that clearly takes up most of the system’s processing power, even if it still responds poorly after doing so, and you have enough that, if you actually enjoyed this game, you would play it again.

Overall (not an average): 3.0: Aside from the multiplayer mode, this is one of the worst games of the year. It looks like something from 10 years ago that they forgot to touch up before releasing it for the Wii. Avoid The Conduit at all costs.

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1.21 Gigawatts!

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Originally Published: July 10, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

When you think of classic comedies and memorable characters in the 80s and 90s, you might include Judge Doom from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? or Doc Emmitt Brown from Back to the Future.

The man behind those iconic characters is actor Christopher Lloyd. Ever since he made his film debut in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Lloyd has left his mark on both the big and little screens with some of the most over-the-top performances in history.

Now, Mr. Lloyd is returning the little screen for a two-part mini-series on NBC called Meteor, which airs this Sunday, July 12, and the following Sunday, July 19, at 9PM EST. Lloyd plays Dr. Lehman, who discovers that a meteor is on a collision course with Earth, and he needs to find a way to get the proper authorities to believe him before it’s too late.

I had a chance, along with Robin Lundberg of Lundberg Doin’ Work, to talk to Christopher Lloyd about this role and some of the classic roles he’s embodied over the years.


CLICK HERE – to listen to Robin Lundberg and me interview Christopher Lloyd.

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It Must Be The Greatest

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Originally Published: July 7, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com), Lundberg.me, and Examiner.com

With its unprecedented dominance in most sports games, EA Sports felt it was a good time to continue another one of its majestic, untouchable franchises. Fight Night Round 4 was green lit and, after months of hype, was being touted as one of the most anticipated games of the year (it even had a sticker on the cover saying so) with two of the all-time great heavyweight champions serving as the game’s cover boys in Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali. Could such a highly publicized title live up to its positive press, though?

One of the major appeals for the game churned out by EA’s hype machine was the “what if?” premise. Upon your first time selecting Exhibition mode you’re provided a roster that features some of the greatest fighters of all time combined with the greats from today as you mix and match to answer those questions fight fans have always had like, “Who’s better: Ali or Tyson?” or “What would Frazier or Foreman do to Lennox Lewis’s weak chin?”

Disappointingly, there could only be so many boxers included in the game and so some of the other all-time greats, like Rocky Marciano and Floyd Mayweather, had to be excluded. Fortunately for die-hard fans though, there are rumors that they could be available via downloadable content at a later date over Xbox’s or Sony’s respective store systems.

After living out your boxing fantasies in Exhibition mode, you can jump into the create-a-boxer feature and try your hand at the impressive “Legacy Mode” to see if you could work your legend up to somewhere near that of the two athletes that grace the game’s cover. With hundreds of customizable features for your boxer, ranging from blocking styles to the color of your trunks, you’ll feel as if you’re actually living the dream as you begin to work your way up from dingy gyms to some of the most spectacular arenas in all of boxing in an attempt to become the “Greatest Of All Time” (or G.O.A.T. as the game prefers).

The legacy mode isn’t difficult once you’ve figure out the patterns for the mini-games, which constitute the fighter’s training, to raise his stats to near unbeatable levels. On the first go-around, I received the max reward on half the mini-games and began maxing out my stats to the point that “Legacy Mode” just didn’t have the luster to bring me, a more casual boxing fan, back for more after I was 12-0 with 11 KO’s.

Continually, it is once you step into the ring as your created fighter where the game’s hype starts to show a few openings in its airtight defense. If you build up your stats enough (so you turn that chin of yours from glass to granite), you can just button-mash (or analog-stick mash, either way I averaged 1200 punches per 10 round bout, that’s about a punch every 1.5 seconds) your way to victory over almost any opponent. You might not always get a knockout, but unless you’ve imported someone like Ali (whose stats are off the chart) as an opponent you can just keep dropping haymakers and straight rights until the match is over and you have your hand raised.

Aside from the lackluster A.I., the game does deliver on most other fronts. Instead of the system used in previous versions of the franchise (where you would physically apply ice to different parts of your boxer’s face to keep the swelling down and allow him to fight longer) a new, three-level system has been implemented that measures your boxer’s health, stamina, and damage.

Depending how your well your boxer performs, points are awarded to your corner, allowing you to heal and prepare your player as the fight continues. A high punching-accuracy will net you a lot of points. Stunning or knocking down your opponent is worth even more. These points can then be applied to healing your fighter’s damage, restoring health, or rejuvenating his stamina. Obviously, the longer you keep these bars filled up, the better your boxer will be as the fight goes on. A low stamina will mean your punches will have less bite and can be thrown less often. Having high amounts of damage inflicted on your boxer, along with a low health bar, will mean he is more likely to be knocked out. This new system makes it much easier to gauge how well your boxer is doing as the fight progresses and where you might need to make some in-between round adjustments.

Along with the Exhibition and Legacy modes, there is also a strong multiplayer mode where you can fight other boxers, either online or off, and use either imported boxers that you create yourself or boxers from the roster.

Overall, considering that EA Sports lacks any real competition in most sports franchises, it was nice to see the improvements they made on this more distinguished one. It might not have the long-lasting appeal for more casual boxing fans, but hardcore fans will keep thinking they have a puncher’s chance for a long time.



Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 8.0: The boxers themselves look great, but the backgrounds and in-between round animations lack the polish I would expect from an EA Sports game, considering the time they usually pour into their hit franchises. However, it is still a very strong game visually to the point you can see sweat flying off of your opponents after landing a devastating haymaker.

Audio: 9.0: Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas do a great job with authentic ringside commentary and the soundtrack provides you with a beat to get your blood pumping before you step into the ring. Joe and Teddy do get a little repetitive after a while, but that is just expected with sports games nowadays if you play them long enough. The punching sound effects are solid, but not special.

Plot/Plot Development: N/A: It’s a sports simulation.

Gameplay: 7.0: A lackluster A.I. and repetitive motions keep this from being anything more than average. This game is too much of a button masher to make it great, but the new health bar system is one of those changes you didn’t realize you needed until you saw it.

Replay Value: 7.0: Unless EA Sports begins to have other great boxers added as downloadable content, there isn’t much to bring to bring the casual fan back for more. A strong multiplayer or the chance to be known as the G.O.A.T. will bring hardcore boxing fans back for more for a long time, though.

Overall: 8.5: Most of the improvements and changes that EA Sports made between rounds were welcome additions to this franchise that many would argue were needed to be fully rejuvenated. Hardcore boxing fans will be happy to pick this up since it is the best pure boxing game out there right now, but more casual fans will tire of it quickly.

Fight Night Round 4 is out now for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

-Ray Carsillo

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To Be A Kid Again

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Originally Published: July 6, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com) and Lundberg.me

With steroids, luxury taxes, and overpaid, under appreciative players usually being what people first think of when they think of modern baseball, it is easy to forget the beauty in the simplicity of this child’s game.

When people think of baseball games for the Wii, they usually think of glitchy, unresponsive, second-rate games that don’t compare to other systems’ exclusive franchises.

Both of these problems are solved with Activision’s Little League World Series 2009 for the Nintendo Wii and DS.

Little League World Series 2009 allows you to take control of an already established little league team, or create your own, and try to guide a young group of dreamers to a title run in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

If you choose to take a pre-loaded team, you can choose from teams from 16 different regions: eight American and eight from the rest of the world.

If you choose to create your own team, you can customize everything from the state or country your team hails from to the color of your catcher’s mitt. Batting stances, equipment brands, hair, eyes, and more are all customizable to the point where you’ll feel like you were playing with the little league team you played for when you were 12 years old.

After selecting your team, you can then take them through the extensive World Series mode as you can go from the regional championships all the way to Williamsport. This is a much more difficult task than it sounds due to the fact that it is round-robin play meaning it is one-and-done for your team if you lose.

To try to help stack the odds in your favor, the game does include two things that can make your team more competitive against the top-tier squads. First, depending on how well your team performs, you can earn attribute points to assign to your players after each game. A little extra juice on your starting pitcher’s fastball or a little more pop from your second baseman could be the difference between a stalled run in the regional tournament and immortality.

The second helpful feature harkens back to the old days of the Madden football games. Stellar performances can earn you special trading cards that can be played in the middle of a game to boost your stats or diminish your opponent’s. Having trouble running the bases? Play a card to boost your team speed for an inning. Need that fly ball to sail over the wall? Play a card to boost your power for an at-bat. This old-school, sports-game feature is a nice addition and will surely change the tide of a game if played properly.

In addition to the World Series mode, there are also a plethora of mini-games and the standard exhibition mode if you want to play a friend in a Midwest versus Mid-Atlantic grudge match.

After playing through a couple of tournaments, I can say that if you only have a Wii, this isn’t a bad way to get your baseball fix, considering your only other option is the abysmal MLB2K9. The controls are simple, but respond well to the Wiimote. If you’re more comfortable using both hands while playing your games, Little League World Series 2009 is also classic controller compatible.

When it comes down to it, if you are looking for just a pure, fun baseball experience on the Wii, this game is probably your best bet. Fun mini-games, a competitive A.I., and none of the superfluous trimmings that usually come with the pro-based games leave this as possibly the best baseball game on the system. Plus, who wouldn’t want to pretend to be a kid again?

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 6.5: The cartoony look will turn a lot of people off because it looks like another game for the Wii that is meant to appeal to only younger players. The vibrant colors and over the top animations do play well and without a glitch, but I think a lot of people would prefer a more serious looking game.

Audio: 8.0: The clang of the aluminum bat and the snap of the catcher’s glove after pouring in a great fastball over the outside corner are sweet sounds to hear that define Little League baseball. Add in Gary Thorne and Brent Musberger for authentic play-by-play and the only thing the audio lacks is a decent soundtrack.

Plot/Plot Development: N/A: It’s a sports simulation.

Gameplay: 8.0: If you play the game without any assists, the fielding can be a bit difficult if you aren’t used to playing with just the Wiimote, but with the game being classic-controller-compatible, it provides a way to remedy this problem. The pitching system could also use a little tweaking since there is a minimum of control over where you can aim the pitch. Otherwise this is a solid baseball game in terms of controls.

Replay Value: 7.5: No online capability is a serious downside for this game, but it is compatible for up to four players offline and has an abundance of mini-games and collectibles to keep you coming back for more.

Overall: 8.0: Considering all of the other options there are out there for the Wii, this is probably your best baseball bet. With the combination of solid controls, good atmosphere, and an authentic feel from professional play-by-play, you have an enjoyable experience on your hands. It could use online capability, less cartoony graphics, and just a little more overall refinement, but otherwise this would be a great pick up for the entire family or any pure baseball fan.

Little League World Series 2009 is out now for the Nintendo Wii and DS.

-Ray Carsillo

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More Than Meets the Eye

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Originally Published: June 30, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com), Examiner.com, and Lundberg.me

Continuing with my summer series analyzing blockbuster movies and the video games based off them, today I look at Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

This sequel to the smash-hit based off the Hasbro toys and cartoon of the mid-’80s picks up two years after the first movie. The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime (still voiced by Peter Cullen, the same man who voiced him in the cartoon), are now known by the world’s governments and work in tandem with them to cull the persistent Decepticon threat, even after the defeat of their leader Megatron (voiced by Hugo Weaving of the Matrix, V for Vendetta, and Lord of the Rings fame).

After extinguishing the sixth Decepticon attack in eight months against the humans, this time in Shanghai, Optimus receives an ominous threat from the dying Decepticon Demolisher that the Fallen shall rise again. Unsure of how to perceive this threat, the Autobots return to US shores to try to appease political red tape that has arisen from the damage their latest excursion.

Meanwhile, Autobot ally Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeouf) prepares for college on the East coast by consoling his girlfriend Mikaela (Megan Fox). After delivering her a long-distance-relationship survival kit and breaking the news to Autobot Bumblebee that he will be leaving him behind, Sam begins to pack. As he rummages through his closet, he comes across a shard of the all-knowing All-spark (which was the focus of the first movie) that embedded itself in his clothes.

Upon touching the fragment, Sam has the language of the Autobots and Decepticons, Cybertronian, embedded into his mind with a map of where an ancient Autobot artifact, the Dagger’s Tip, is located. Unable to decipher the information, Sam goes off to college, spasming all the way. Now, as the mystery of the Fallen begins to unfold, the Autobots and Decepticons race to the East coast in order to procure the map from Sam; one side trying to prevent a worldwide catastrophe, the other trying to ensure its outcome.

This movie was amazing. I loved almost every second of it. From the first fight scene in Shanghai five minutes in, to Optimus battling three Decepticons at once midway through, to the final climatic battle between the Autobots and Deceptions in the deserts of Egypt, this movie was non-stop action. It is no surprise, though, that the fight scenes between giant alien robots would look phenomenal from director and special effects guru Michael Bay.

Die-hards of the Transformers will be thrilled with this movie because it held true to a lot of the original cartoon. From the inclusion of the Decepticons’ moon base to Soundwave unleashing his pet robo-dog as an advanced scout were both brilliant moves that only fans of the cartoon will truly appreciate. Die-hards would also recognize all of the extra Transformers that were thrown in to flesh out the rosters, from Mudflap and Beat for the Autobots to Grindor, Sideways, Long Haul, and Devastator for the Decepticons.

These additions though may ostracize more casual fans because they see these brightly-colored robots dropping bombs (literally and figuratively) and they’re barely acknowledged in the movie by their more popular counterparts, such as Bumblebee for the Autobots or Starscream for the Decepticons.

I felt that all of the main characters were used almost perfectly in this big screen visualization of a giant alien robot war. With all the new robots though, I was surprised, as a die-hard myself, that Breakaway wasn’t included for the Autobots (an F-14 fighter jet and the good counterpart to Starscream), but I guess too many planes might take away from everyone’s favorite evil second-banana.

The only other point that takes away from the overall experience is that the movie is two hours and a half hours long. For the most part, it flows surprisingly well for a long movie, but there easily could have been 15 to 20 minutes cut from the entire Cairo excursion scene. It felt drawn out and you just keep asking yourself, “When is Sam going to get to Optimus already?”

Aside from those minor complaints, this movie really delivers the goods. You have funny, memorable characters, like Leo, and John Turturro coming back to reprise his Sector 7 role from the first movie (some would say there were a few too many of these characters, but I understand the need to have a counter-balance between the human and robot characters), deeply dramatic moments, a compelling plot combined with over-the-top action, and giant robots. What else could you ask for from a summer blockbuster?

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen gets 4 out of 5.

One of the problems with most summer blockbusters is that the movie will typically deliver the goods and you’ll have a sub-par video game that takes away from the overall experience. The only exception to this trend, where both the movie and the game have been exceptional, was Spider-Man 2.

Spider-Man 2 finally has some company on that short list.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is also an awesome video game. Getting a chance to hop into the driver’s seat of both your favorite Decepticons and Autobots as you follow the plot of this amazing summer blockbuster is a thrill. It appeals to both die-hard and casual fans because it fleshes out the roles of more minor characters from the movie while also letting you wreak havoc or save the day with Megatron and Optimus Prime.

The transformations from vehicle to robot and back are seamless and often necessary to complete the missions in the fastest possible time. You need a fast time in order to get an energon reward (energon is the life force for Autobots and Decepticons) and upgrade your characters’ firepower, speed, recovery time, etc.

As you progress, you can also go back and perform the same missions with different robots. Sometimes Starscream’s fighter jet is more apt for a mission than Long Haul’s dump truck or Iron Haul’s turret ability is more of an asset against a large group of foes you’ll face compared to Bumblebee’s EMP (electro-magnetic pulse) ability.

Along with the ability to replay missions for better scores or to play through two different storylines as either Decepticons or Autobots, there is also an online versus mode that will pit you against different people in team or single death-match, capture-the-flag mode, or Guardian mode where a team has infinite re-spawns until one of the teams’ leaders is defeated. This really ups the ante in terms of the game’s replay value.

Included with these aspects, the unlockables are probably the best feature of all. By meeting certain mission requirements, you can unlock original episodes from the mid-’80s cartoon. There are six episodes in total, three from the Decepticons and three from the Autobots, and this will bring die-hards back time and time again.

The only real knock on the game is that the high-end graphics, such as the transformations and explosions, create a real strain on the system’s processing power. In order to prevent further slow-down, developers had to tone down the backgrounds. Not to say the terrain graphics are bad, they’re just a little bland.

The sound effects are perfect for the game in terms of transformations, explosions, and jets screaming through the air, but the music is generic at best. Aside from this minor complaint, the audio works pretty well.

Overall, this game is a must-have for any Transformers fan because you’ll flash back to all of your battles with your action figures as a kid, except the explosions will be more than you making swooshing sounds. Casual fans will appreciate the game because it will help them get into the lore of Transformers and probably help them understand the movie better because it cuts away all of the superfluous comedy of the plot and gets to the heart of the matter. Either way, Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is a great game that is worthy of this great movie.

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 7.5: Nothing special in terms of graphics. The transformers themselves look great and the transformations look smooth, but this needs extra processing power and it leaves the terrain looking bland and monotonous.

Audio: 8.0: The SFX are great and fit the game perfectly, but some generic music takes away from the overall experience enough to dock it a couple points.

Plot/Plot Development: 9.0: The plot follows the movie perfectly in the Autobot storyline and only deviates slightly towards the end for the Decepticons (obviously so that they can win), but does so in a way that was a little bit of a stretch. Aside from this blemish, the plot is just as good as the movie.

Gameplay: 9.0: No glitches to speak of keeps the game flowing at a great pace just like the movie. The only thing that knocks this down a peg is that the targeting system can be a little fickle at times, but not enough to take away from the overall experience.

Replay Value: 10.0: When you offer entire cartoon episodes as unlockables, you’ll be working towards them all night long if need be. Add in high score online leaderboards and a near flawless online versus mode and this game is definitely worth the $60 pricetag.

Overall (not an average): 9.0: Minor aesthetic complaints aside, this game delivers on all fronts. Die-hards will love taking control of their favorite characters and wreaking havoc or saving the day with them and casual fans will love how it fleshes out a story they might have a little difficulty understanding at first. Couple this with tremendous replay value, classic cartoons, and just as many explosions as its movie counterpart and you have a sure winner on your hands.

Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen is available now on all platforms.

-Ray Carsillo

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A New Prototype for the Superhero Genre

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Originally Published: June 25, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com), Lundberg.me, and Examiner.com

With super hero popularity at an all time high, one of the premiere super hero video game publishers, Activision, teamed up with DC and Wildstorm to create a brand new anti-hero and to put out a brand new game.

In Prototype, you fill the shoes of Dr. Alex Mercer after he wakes up on a morgue slab with amazing metamorphic abilities; the ability to change his body’s structure at the molecular level into almost anything he can think of. Along with enhanced speed, strength, leaping, and the ability to run straight up walls, Dr. Mercer must use his new found powers to piece together his lost memory and figure out the nature of a pandemic virus that turns those it infects into uncontrollable, zombie-like beasts.

Many people have already found out how good Prototype is considering it sold nearly 500,000 units combined for PS3 and Xbox 360 in its first week, but for those of you who haven’t and are looking for a solid action/adventure game, this is something you should probably consider picking up. The action is frenzied and there are always missions to complete and upgrades to collect. The experience reminded me of the Spider-Man 2 game from the last generation of consoles (also an Activision product), which was easily the best super hero movie/video game adaptation in a long time.

The bounty of powers and possibilities is obviously the biggest draw for this game. From making hammer-fists or blades come out of your arms, creating full body armor and developing limited flight, to absorbing your enemies into your body to regain heath, it’s hard to see how you couldn’t have fun with this on your quest to becoming the ultimate weapon.

The main drawback I felt for the game though was also the big draw; there might actually have been too many powers. All of those choices left a lot of room for experimentation, but usually you filtered out powers you never used and only used these powers during the missions in which you earn them. I never used the heat vision or the shield feature once you developed the full body armor; they were pointless.

Aside from the abundance of powers, there really wasn’t much to complain about with this game. Running up buildings could be difficult at times because it seemed Alex had trouble with any uneven surface; this glitch could be frustrating. But, when you have streets full of New York City residents screaming in terror as hive zombies emerge from infected buildings without any lag, it can be forgiven. Add in music that set the mood perfectly and your senses are kept constantly stimulated.

Unfortunately, again, aside from the powers, there isn’t anything that sets this apart from any other super hero game either. I was able to draw too many parallels to games that come before it. This prevented Prototype from feeling as if it was something truly special and original.

Although the game lacks multi-player, there are plenty of collectibles scattered around New York City and the opportunity to try and get gold medals on any and all challenges will keep you coming back for more. Plus, there aren’t many things I enjoy more in gaming than climbing to the top of a virtual Empire State Building and then flying off into the skyline.

Prototype is out now for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 9.0: The graphics weren’t overly flashy, but being able to have an abundance of Non-Player Characters on screen at once and having some awesome live-action cut scenes when absorbing enemies make this a visual gem.

Audio: 8.5: There isn’t a theme song that will stick in your head or anything truly memorable, but the music does a fine job of setting the mood. The SFX are all solid and the voice acting is top-notch with voice-acting vets like Phil LaMarr or big screen talent like Barry Pepper lending their talents to the game.

Plot/Plot Development: 8.5: The story is a little predictable in most aspects, however, a surprise ending and the overall mystery to the game makes this a memorable plot more-than-worthy of the super hero genre.

Gameplay: 7.0: A minimum of general glitches in terms of lag, but the difficulty with running up curved walls, switching between powers in the middle of battle, and aerial attacks make the gameplay only on par with most games of this nature.

Replay Value: 6.0: A lack of a multiplayer mode hurts this game, but it still gets an okay score because there are plenty of collectibles and the chance to replay side-missions for higher scores.


Overall: 8.0 (not an average): The game really revolves around your powers and their development more than anything and this is a huge plus and downfall for the game at the same time. Even considering this dependency on your powers and not a great amount of originality, this game is still worthy of the super hero genre and deserves a look from any action/adventure fan.

-Ray Carsillo

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Putt Precision Perfection

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April 19, 2010

Originally Published: June 22, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com), Lundberg.me, and Examiner.com

Right off the bat I’m going to admit that I’m not a golf aficionado to say the very least. In honor, though, of the conclusion of the U.S. Open, especially since it is being played in nearby Bethpage Golf Course in Farmingdale, NY, I am taking this time to review EA Sports’ Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10.

I sheepishly admit that I got addicted to this game for the entire weekend and for someone with as many games as I have to play, to devote an entire weekend to one game, shows how good this game is. It’s not going to dazzle you with graphics, but I think this is easily the best simulation for a sport there is right now, from mimicking the difficulty of sinking a 10 foot putt to trying to play in the rain at Bethpage.

I found myself wanting to throw my controller after every missed putt like I was actually living it. And this was on only the first hole of the Buick Invitational. The new putt-precision system is a nice addition and does make it a little easier for amateurs like myself, but for you pros out there with Tiger, you can simply up the difficulty for that more classic feel.

The putt-precision system though does need a little tweaking. Allowing only one look at how your ball will track is a little frustrating and can actually up the pressure if you see that your current path will send the ball spiraling into the fringe if your corrections aren’t enough to sink the putt. One thing, though, that can really push the casual player away is how the consequences for squandering a putt opportunity, as opposed to a normal shot, are extremely harsh and unforgiving.

If you have the Wii, these problems are a little less noticeable since with the inclusion of the 1:1 Motion Plus sensor with the game, you can judge your shots with a little more accuracy than with the analog stick on a Xbox 360 or PS3 controller making this the first preferred sports game for the Wii, at this point in time. Add in the lack of processing power needed for the simple graphics (grass is grass, whether in 480i or 1080p) and the Wii might be the best buy of the bunch for this particular game.

Along with an extensive career mode, that will lead you through every major as you try to up your stats to near-Tiger levels and became a tour de force, the game now includes a Tournament Challenge mode. In this mode, you can relive some of the most impressive performances in tour history at some of the most famous courses from Bay Hill to Sawgrass to help you unlock new and better clubs and louder and more interesting clothing apparel.

Include live, online tournaments, mini-games, and plenty of other multi-player options; if you are a golf fan, this game is your dream come true. Even if not a golf fan, you’re going to have a good time and find yourself mildly addicted if you’re anywhere near as competitive as someone like me. Just don’t go smashing too many controllers.

The only real knock on the game is as with most sports games that the commentary gets tired very fast and Scott Van Pelt is tired to begin with so you might want to grab your iPod or put a CD on to cover up the droll ramblings. Other than that, this is an early front-runner for sports simulation of the year. Of course, that could change very quickly with Fight Night Round 4 coming out shortly.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 is out now for all systems.

Ratings are based on a score of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 8.0: There aren’t a lot of knocks here in terms of graphics, but it doesn’t exactly push any system’s threshold either. There are only so many ways to make grass look good, especially when not supporting 1080i or 1080p.

Audio: 6.0: A generic music playlist is disappointing considering the lineups EA usually compiles, but it is a golf game. Coupled with repetitive, dry commentary (even for golf) and the audio is a clear weakness for this game.

Plot/Plot Development: N/A: It’s a sports simulation…

Gameplay: 9.0: Although the putting is frustrating to say the least, I think that it adds a level of difficulty that you would only see if you were playing on a real course so I can forgive it. Even having people in the crowd reacting from some shots that slice astray was a nice touch to this spectacular sports simulation.

Replay Value: 10.0: If you like golf, you’ll keep coming back to this game over and over again until next year’s release. Mini-games, online play, an extensive career mode, and now the Tournament Challenge mode along with tons of unlockable content will keep every golfer happy for a long time.

Overall: 9.0: (not an average) The putting system can be frustrating at times and the game doesn’t exactly stimulate the senses. Of course, it’s not like there is any competition for golf games out there since EA has the monopoly on the field like with their Madden franchise. The gameplay, though, is what makes this game and if the game of golf is what gets you pumped up then you’ll be all set for another year as Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10 improves on their already high golf gaming standard.

-Ray Carsillo

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The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny?

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Originally Published: June 20, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com) and Lundberg.me

When I saw Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball for the Nintendo Wii, I didn’t think much of it. Then I started to analyze the concept. Some of the most revered character genres in all of creation are being combined into one game. Pirates, ninjas, robots, aliens, monsters, and more are meeting in one of the most-fun games you’ve ever participated in on the playground. This game had a premise of what could be an instant classic. So, what have I learned after playing it? Always trust your first instinct.

Although a winning concept, Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball is really nothing more than a glorified mini-game. The story mode lacks any real depth beyond a handful of text prompts before each match as you battle your way through various scenarios set before you. These scenes are possibly humorous to a small child, however, the text story is droll and predictable to anyone out of pre-school.

The graphics are typical of the Wii with their cartoony goodness, but there aren’t many details to drool over visually because of the overhead observational view of the dodgeball court. Even then the court is rather bland and leaves you wanting more.

On top of lackluster visuals, the audio is dull at best. No voice acting whatsoever and cheesy music and sound effects leave any hardcore gamer just shaking their head.

The gameplay was beyond simple and the inclusion of a homing-shot targeting-system left the game to be no challenge whatsoever. It was nice to see each group of characters have special powers to help delay your opponents, but instead of a dodgeball match, the powers help it de-evolve into what might have been a cooler game, actual pirates versus ninjas.

There isn’t much to bring you to this game a first time, never mind for repeat playthroughs, but at least there a few nice versus options if you can convince a friend to play with you. Other than that though, this game is an instant bargain bin offering and will only appeal to much younger, beginning players, if anyone at all.

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest.

Graphics: 4.0: A lack of details on the court, cut scenes, and an overall emphasis on the cartoony look leaves you looking for more from the looks of this game.

Audio: 2.0: Bad sound effects and worse music, coupled with no voice acting, just shows the lack of production value given to this title.

Plot/Plot Development: 2.0: Text-driven prompts usually, only between two characters, poorly develops a lackluster pseudo-rivalry between all these of fictional fan-favorites. This is just another clear sign of poor-production values.

Gameplay: 2.0: No difficulty whatsoever and an emphasis on powers leave a lot to be desired from the gameplay. To say the game is chaotic and unsatisfying is like only saying the Red Sox and Yankees have a rivalry.

Replay Value: 5.0: If you should get this game and can convince someone to play with you, you might actually find the one, barely-redeeming quality of the game. There are several different versions of dodgeball that may get your more competitive side to emerge. However, there is nothing to bring you back to the story mode.

Overall: 1.0 (not an average): Unfortunately, this makes my list of some of the worst games ever made. The worst part of this awful game is the wasted potential. This game could have been very good, I don’t know if there was a lack of funding or a true development team, but the lack of production values and creativity leaves this game a bitter disappointment. Follow your gut when you look at this game and avoid it.

Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball for Wii is out now, probably at the bottom of the bargain bin, if you’re looking to waste a few dollars.

-Ray Carsillo

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‘Bustin’ Makes Me Feel Good

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Originally Published: June 15, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com), Examiner.com, and Lundberg.me

The 80s was a hotbed for geek culture. With Transformers, G.I. Joe, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles permeating the popular culture, it’s hard not to see why my generation is having a renaissance of our childhood, as these franchises have celebrated or soon will be celebrating anniversaries.

The only geek-geared franchise that began in the movies though, and is now celebrating its 25th anniversary by releasing both a brand new video game and both movies on Blu-ray on June 16, was, of course, Ghostbusters.

With shock-value scares and classic humor from some of the greatest comedy minds of the era, Ghostbusters struck chords with fans young and old (although some of us younger fans couldn’t truly appreciate all the comedy until we hit our early teens).

From an entire universe being encapsulated in the fictional work of “Tobin’s Spirit Guide” to the gluttonous green ghoul called “Slimer” haunting the Sedgewick Hotel, Ghostbusters caught our imaginations from the opening scenes. Add in classic characters like the sarcastic Peter Venkman, and “the heart of the Ghostbusters,” Ray Stantz, and you had an instant classic.

Unfortunately, after two movies, a long running cartoon series, and a cartoon-inspired line of action-figures and video games, Ghostbusters faded away far quicker than those other classic 80’s franchises. Die-hards of the series though had always been clamoring for more; especially a third movie to complete what many have felt should have been a film trilogy.

While rumors continue to swirl about a third movie script being green lit by Columbia Pictures (which actually have some validity to them after I chatted with Harold Ramis, which you can check out by CLICKING HERE), many fans are saying this new video game is the closest thing we will get to a third movie.

The story opens up in 1991, two years after the end of the second Ghostbusters movie, with your character being hired as the newest Ghostbuster. Simply known as “the rookie,” you begin your Ghostbusting career ominously by short-circuiting the famed containment grid that holds all the ghosts, ghouls, and specters that the Ghostbusters had already caught. Only a couple of ghosts escape, including our old friend Slimer, before Egon can get the grid back online. However, since you let them go, you have to catch them. Thus begins the obligatory training level as you hunt the loose ghosts in the Ghostbusters firehouse’s basement. After catching the first ghost, Slimer floats out of the firehouse to find safety at his favorite old haunt, the Sedgewick Hotel.

After arriving at the hotel and disposing of Slimer in similar fashion to the first movie, Egon reveals the startling news that there is a lot more ghost activity going on in the hotel other than Slimer (anyone remember the twinkie?). Thus begins the stirring of a plot that started in the first two movies and will come to a fright-filled, comedic head in the game to give a fitting finish to this trilogy.

Visually, this game is stunning. From the ghosts and goblins to the Ghostbusters themselves, this game looks hauntingly good. The environments set the mood perfectly as you work your way through such unsuspecting settings as the New York Public Library to the murky New York City sewers as you uncover a cataclysmic plot over a century old. Add in the classic Ghostbusters soundtrack to help lighten or darken the mood as necessary and you’ve got a game that feels like you’re playing a new movie.

The gameplay is strong, but not perfect. No one actually dies in the game, but if you or the other Ghostbusters get knocked around too much, you’ll be planted on your backside like a turtle as you wait for someone to help you up (they’re carrying around 100 lbs. of equipment on their backs, not easy to lift while on the ground). This sets up an interesting conundrum while fighting harder ghosts. Do you keep saving your own bacon or risk it to pick up your teammates and get some extra proton streams on the ghoulish baddies? Sometimes the decision is made for you though as some ghosts, either by accident or on purpose, not quite sure, will hover directly above your fallen comrades and prevent you from reviving them. Unfortunately, if everyone in the party gets knocked out, you have to start the mission over from a checkpoint. To say this can be frustrating after being knocked out 15-20 times on hard mode is an understatement. Along with a few too many glitches for my liking, it does a lot to remove you from the overall experience that this game tries to create.

A big positive for the game is the replay value. An impressive multiplayer system that allows you to team up with up to three friends to bust ghosts in three different modes will have you coming back for more as you try to rack up the high score as you catch more and more ghouls online. Add in a varying amount of possessed collectibles per story mode level and the challenge of trying to scan every breed of ghost with your PKE meter into your own personal Tobin’s Spirit Guide and what is only a 10-15 hour story mode will easily give you many more hours of secondary gameplay.

Of course though, the best part is that there is no greater feeling than listening to all of the original Ghostbusters come back and do their own voices for this video game. Bill Murray sounds like he forced his performance a bit since it has been so long since he has been involved in a comedy anywhere near the quality of Ghostbusters, but age hasn’t affected any of the other Ghostbusters and Ernie Hudson surprisingly sounded the best of the bunch. Along with Alyssa Milano as Venkman’s newest love interest and this star studded cast delivers for the most part another classic comedic performance.

If you are a fan of Ghostbusters, this game is beyond a must-have. A story that has been waiting 20 years to be made, this game is the culmination of everything fans have come to love from the series and more. There is no greater satisfaction than forcing a ghost into a well-placed trap and listening to Venkman whine when a new ghost slimes him from behind. An instant classic! For the nostalgia alone, this game could be a game of the year contender.

Ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the best.

Graphics: 9.5: The game is beautiful visually. From the way the proton stream wraps around ghosts as you try to wrestle them into traps to the character and ghost models themselves, this game will blow you away with graphics. Only that the models look a tad cartoony at times keeps this game from getting a perfect score (not counting the Wii version which purposely looks more cartoony).

Audio: 10.0: The entire original Ghostbusters soundtrack is included and it makes even the load screens entertaining. Add in tremendous voice acting from everyone involved and the SFX being spot on with how they should sound and this game is a treat for your ears.

Plot/Plot Development: 9.0: The plot ties together with the first two movies perfectly and develops at a natural pace like you were watching another 90-minute masterpiece. The game explained many common questions from the first two movies very well, but also brought up a few new questions with the Ghostbusters canon. For the most part though, everything was well explained in terms of new plot points, technologies, and spirit guide additions. Only drawback would be that if you haven’t seen the movies, you might miss many references. Of course, if you haven’t seen the movies, you most likely aren’t going to want the game either.

Gameplay: 7.5: Glitchy and frustrating at times, considering everything that is happening on screen it can be forgiven to a point. It was nice to see a game’s hard mode actually be hard and not just a walk in the park like the easy mode. If you’re looking for a challenge and can tolerate the, at times, weak teammate A.I., then you’ll definitely enjoy the game experience overall. Another nice feature would have been able to customize your rookie Ghostbuster on all systems, a feature only found on the Wii.

Replay Value: 8.5: Plenty of collectibles from haunted items to filling your personal Tobin’s Spirit Guide will be plenty to keep you coming back for a few more story play throughs. Add in though a very enjoyable multiplayer mode online where you compete with friends to catch ghosts and earn cash and any fan of the series, the game, or both will keep coming back for more.

Overall: 9.0 (not an average): The game provides everything you could have hoped to expect from it. A great plot that continues the classic Ghostbusters storyline along with awesome surprises will make any and every fan of this classic series jump for joy on more than one occasion as they play through the story mode. Along with a solid multiplayer mode and this game is a must have for anyone where ‘bustin’ makes them feel good.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game will be out for every system on June 16th.

-Ray Carsillo

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