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Triple DS Review for Holiday Travel

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April 18, 2010

Originally Published: December 21, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

It’s late Christmas morning and all the presents have been opened and little Billy and Susie Cunningham are enjoying their new toys. Then, suddenly, their mother’s voice pierces the frozen air, “Get ready! It’s time to go to Grandma’s house!” Billy and Susie are forced to leave many of their toys behind as they are herded into the family car for the 90 minute drive to their grandmother’s house, after which they will have to wait several hours until after Christmas dinner to open a second round of presents, and then endure another 90 minute drive back before they see their new toys again. And the entire time they will nag their parents, “Can we open presents now?” By the time everyone gets home, no one wants to see each other for at least another three days, the children playing with their new toys, and the parents happy to not hear the whining about unopened presents.

A tragic story, I know. I remember many of my childhood Christmases having a similar story. Twenty years later though, there are so many new and innovative things that children can fit in their pockets to keep them occupied for the normally tortuous drives and to keep them from chewing their parents’ ears off. One of these ingenious devices is, of course, Nintendo’s DS system. Standing for “Dual-Screen”, the DS fits in the palm of an adult’s hand and plays some great games that will keep the children occupied on any long drive. The DS is great for plane rides, car trips, sitting in the doctor’s office. It’s one of the reasons why I have one myself because even for adults it is a great, portable way to pass the time.

Now, most of you already probably have a DS since it is the most popular selling handheld of all time so I don’t have to sell you on it anymore. The real question now is what games you get for it. With the holiday quickly approaching and that DS needing a new game to keep the kiddies occupied, here are a few quick reviews on some of the newest games for Nintendo DS.

NINJATOWN

Recommended in my last article, I felt this was a good way to go more in-depth into a good kid’s game. Ninjatown is based on the popular Shawnimals plush toys that your children are already probably familiar with. It is a RTS (real-time strategy) game that is a great way to introduce them into strategy games and develop those critical thinking skills while actually being fun to play. The graphics are simple, but so are the toys so that is no surprise. It lacks replay value due to no unlockables or the like, but it does have a multi-player mode which is crucial to all RTS games.

With many different types of ridiculously cute ninjas to train for your war on the evil Mr. Demon and only one resource to maintain, this is a great introductory RTS game that will keep your children occupied for a solid 10-15 hours.

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

Graphics: 6.5: Nothing special in terms of graphics. This is a simple game that is more about the characters and the strategy than about looking good. Still though, for a DS game, it is about average.

Audio: 5.0: No voice acting to speak of and the music is pretty much the same for most of the game and can get very repetitive and annoying by the time you advance to the harder stages. It is the same for the SFX, you want to stab yourself in the ears with the stylus as you hear the same enemies with the same groans over the course of 36 stages.

Plot/Plot Development: 7.5: The characters are plush toys so the fact that they came up with a relatively coherent plot is impressive. Reminiscent of something out of a CareBears movie, the plot was enjoyable and got a few laughs out of a more hardcore gamer such as myself that your kids might really enjoy. Not bad.

Gameplay: 9.0: Crisp, smooth, classic RTS style gameplay. A little difficult to conduct everything with the DS’s stylus, but overall no hitches make this a solid gaming experience.

Replay Value: 5.0: With no unlockables to think of, once you beat the 36 game stages, there isn’t much to bring you back to it aside from the multi-player mode, which is a must have for all RTS games anyway. The fun gameplay, though, makes the multi-player very enjoyable at least.

Overall (not an average): 7.0: An average RTS game that was made well for the Nintendo DS. Its appeal to younger kids cannot go unnoticed and carries a lot of weight in my recommendation for those long car rides. It does have some appeal to older folks, but more as something to just laugh at. Overall, Ninjatown isn’t a bad way to kill 10-15 hours if you need something to help pass the time.

METAL SLUG 7

Nothing quite like the old school, button mashing, shoot everything in sight, arcade game. Yet another installment in the Metal Slug series, Metal Slug 7 is pretty much the same as every other Metal Slug game. You choose a character and you shoot everything in sight through several stages and a handful of continues. With the DS version, though, you can go back with a full batch of continues to the last level you reached and since there are only seven levels, to say this is a fast game is the understatement of the century.

Sure, there is some replay value if you want to go back and try to rescue all the prisoners or if you are an old school buff that loves trying to beat your own high score over and over, but aside from that there really isn’t that much to bring you back to this after you beat it the first time. If you need a game for one car ride, then this works. That’s it. After that, the case makes a great coaster. The graphics and music are around Super Nintendo level so don’t expect to be dazzled visually either.

It was given a T-rating, but it could easily have been an E-10+ because there just is not enough in this game to warrant the T-rating. I’ve seen a lot more cartoon violence with a lot more questionable language be given a E-10+, but since previous Metal Slugs have been given that rating, the ESRB decided probably to just mail this one in. I guess when you have a horse and it runs, you just keep beating it until its corpse turns to a fine powder.

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

Graphics: 6.0: Reminiscent of the Super Nintendo days, this doesn’t even push the DS at all. It’s colorful, but nothing that really screams out at you as impressive.

Audio: 5.5: Another game with no voice acting. Another game with repetitive sound effects. At least this game had different music in different levels to give it the extra half point. Super Nintendo quality music though.

Plot/Plot Development: 4.0: It is as simple as it gets. Evil tyrant escapes. You and your army cohorts have to stop him. Again. For the seventh time. No twists or turns or anything special. Pitiful.

Gameplay: 7.0: The game handles well. Although it is a little bit difficult to flick switches or judge all your jumps. But, then again, how hard is it to just keep pressing the shoot button and aim your gun?

Replay Value: 3.0: Unless you are obsessed with increasing your high score, this is not a game that you can replay much, especially when it you can beat the whole thing in only 2-3 hours the first time through.

Overall (not an average): 4.5: If you like Centipede, Space Invaders, and other arcade-style games that are more about score than the game actually being difficult, then this is the game for you. For the rest of us who have evolved past the coin-fueled twitch stage, Metal Slug 7 is a waste of $30.

CHRONO TRIGGER DS

With games like Final Fantasy IV and VI, Earthbound, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, the SNES was a haven for RPG fans. Another classic game was a little known hit called Chrono Trigger. The first game with multiple endings depending on what you accomplished over the course of the story, it would set the table for what many RPGs, and games overall, are today.

Now, over a decade and a port to the PS1 later, it is back in the hands of Nintendo and has been given a facelift for the Nintendo DS. With some new, awesome anime cut scenes to help develop the characters and a new look to the battle sequences; Chrono Trigger DS is even better than the original.

The story is the same. You are the young, rambunctious Crono and you bump into a beautiful girl at the fair named Marle. She asks you to show her around and being young and rambunctious, you go along. You happen upon your friend Lucca and you all have a wonderful time until Lucca’s latest invention malfunctions and Marle gets sent back in time! One of the most developed plots in the history of RPGs then begins to unfold as you begin on a quest to not only save Marle, but all of time itself.

This is still one of my favorite games of all time. The characters are timeless. The plot is well written with twists and turns in every major chapter. The graphics are still only Super Nintendo level, but considering that was the original system it was made for, it is forgivable. The music is timeless. I was playing this a few days ago when a friend called and I had to pause the game. The music kept playing in the background and my friend who had not played the game since it first came out, recognized it instantly. It doesn’t get more timeless than that. It was a sleeper hit when it first came out, it was a hit when it was ported to PS1, I say it should be a smash hit now that it is back home on a Nintendo system. A must have for RPG fans and a great way to help pass some video game history onto the kids. Add in that it will kill at least 20 hours and you know you’re set with the kiddies on that car ride.

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

Graphics: 7.0: Still with the same old Super Nintendo graphics, it has at least been upgraded with some awesome anime cut scenes during major moments of the game to update the look and feel of the game a bit.

Audio: 8.0: Again, only Super Nintendo level sound: there are no voiceovers and the SFX do leave a little to be desired. But considering that the music is the kind that passes the test of time (fitting, it being a time travel game), I can’t take off too much for it.

Plot/Plot Development: 9.0: A quest to save time and the girl. A classic plot, classily done, and it still holds up even now. Just as fun playing through now as it was a decade ago.

Gameplay: 9.0: The new battle system takes a little time to get used to and it can be a pain fighting multiple enemies to select who you want to hit, but other than that, this is a crisp playing game.

Replay Value: 6.0: There is a no co-op or true multi-player mode, however this does include a new arena mode where you can buy monsters that you find in the game and raise them to do battle. Sounds a little too much like Pokémon to me to really appeal to die-hard Chrono Trigger fans, but the multiple endings are something that might bring you back to play it through a few times.

Overall (not an average): 8.5: The game could use a facelift in terms if graphics and music, but aside from the aesthetics, it is still a classic RPG that stands this test of time. This game is definitely worth it, both as a way to introduce to new gamers to great RPGs and for the older gamers looking for a little bit of nostalgia. This is a must have.

So there it is, folks. Some ways to pass the time on those holiday drives. Peace on earth is a nice thought, but we got to have peace in the household first, right?

Have a happy holiday season.

-Ray Carsillo

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Last Minute Shopping

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Originally Published: December 17, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

The nights are growing shorter and so is your time to get that last solid present for under the tree. You know they want a video game, but which one? You don’t want to have it end up just as another trade-in at the local GameStop and most clerks at these places can’t tell their elbow from a Wiimote. Well have no fear, lucky reader. I am here to give you a list of last minute winners guaranteed to put a smile on their face.

Now, if you’re looking for games for some little ones and don’t feel they’re ready for an over the top, alien shoot ’em up, or some action-adventure, sword wielding bloodbath, then here are a few E-rated games that will keep them happy till their birthday rolls around.

1. Warioland: Shake It! – Nintendo Wii – This title reminds me of the old Super Mario World games for Super Nintendo. With some stellar cartoon cell-shaded graphics and a very forgiving life system, your child will love the cartoon antics of Wario when he catches fire or gets frozen as he goes searching for treasure over 30 unique stages. With at least three missions and secret treasures to find on each level, the replay value is strong for a children’s game and the race back to the beginning of the level is a great twist on the stage-ending mechanic. A great way to introduce your children into the classic platformer.


2. Ninja Town – Nintendo DS – Based on the popular Shawnimals plush toys, I admit I did not expect much from this game, but ended up being blown away. It easily deserves all the accolades it has won. This game is a great way to introduce kids into the RTS (real-time strategy) genre. With only one resource to maintain (your magical ninja cookies, of course) you do not have to worry about foraging constantly to create new dojo for your ninjas to become stronger and concentrate on pure strategy. Add in the ridiculously cute creatures that populate Ninja Town (that your kids might already be familiar with) and you have a winner whether they are looking to get into the RTS genre or simply hone their skills.

3. Lego: Batman – All systems – If your kids are fans of any of the other Lego based games, then this is a fine addition to the series. Star Wars is still the best, by far, but if your child has a predisposition towards the Gotham Guardian, this works on lots of levels. Warner Bros. opened the vault to help make this as authentic a Batman game as possible while still keeping it kid friendly. With the new movie just coming out on Blu-Ray, it could be a Caped Crusader Christmas.

“But, Ray! My kid is in high school and I don’t think these childish games will work for him/her.” Never fear! There is plenty of T-rated games just waiting to be picked up.

1. Prince of Persia – XBOX360, PS3, PC – The trilogy with the last prince was complete, so the fine folks at Ubisoft Montreal have started a new storyline with a new prince, a beautiful new world to traverse, and a fine looking mystical companion. The amazing new storyline plays out across an expansive world with new fighting mechanics and the same great wall jumping and acrobatics that made the series a breakthrough to begin with. This action/adventure gem is at the top of a lot of people’s lists for good reason so if you’re teen is into that kind of game, then this is a must pick-up.

2. Tales of Vesperia – XBOX360 – A Xbox exclusive, this one is for the more financially minded consumer. If your teen is a fan of RPGs (role-playing games), anime, or both, then this is great way to make them happy and to make sure they don’t go looking for another game for a while. With a minimum of 40-45 hours of gameplay before completion, this game will sit in the system for a while before they go looking for their next video game fix. The gameplay is solid, the storyline is compelling, and the characters are unforgettable. This will make a solid present under any tree.

3. Mirror’s Edge – XBOX360, PS3, PC – Another action/adventure game that deals with amazing acrobats, but this time you are in the head of a female urban free runner (those are the people that jump off and climb buildings for fun). The story takes place in a futuristic world where information is monitored and only the urban free runner can get the real information through. A sinister conspiracy is uncovered involving your family and things go for a crazy turn. Not a tremendously long game, this seems to be setting the table for something bigger (Do I smell a sequel?) and it is ridiculously fun leaping from rooftop to rooftop. Another strong showing for the action/adventure genre.

Now you’re wondering, “What about the games for Mommy and Daddy?” Well, there are plenty of M-rated games out there for long after the kiddies go to bed.

1. Left 4 Dead – XBOX360, PC – A gory, survival-horror game in a bright green case and tons of Christmas red blood splattering on the screen to represent the most wonderful time of the year. One of the best online multiplayer games to come out in years, this is a game you’ll want to play with a friend. The graphics aren’t as sharp as you would like, but this is truly a game focused on the gameplay. Hordes of zombies with little to no lag and never enough bullets to go around make this one of the best survival-horrors to come out in a long time.

2. Fable 2 – XBOX360 – The long awaited sequel to the revolutionary RPG. If you enjoyed the first one, then you have to have the second. Improved graphics, more choices and consequences, and all the RPG elements you’ve come to know and love make this a great 20-30 hour romp in the woods of Albion. You even get a dog this time around!

3. Fallout 3 – XBOX360, PS3, PC – This has truly been the year of the sequel and the biggest jump in terms of quality between titles is evident in this series. The year is 2277 and the U.S.A. is a nuclear wasteland. Your mission: survive. What makes this game memorable is learning how to survive. From constructing exploding teddy bears to locking in for a Matrix-like kill system; this game will consume your time well until it is safe to come out of your nuclear bunker.

Those are the games that will make everyone you know, no matter their age, happy. On this last list, are the games that leave everyone cringing and they will be returned. Guaranteed. Avoid these games at all costs Grandma!

1. Sam and Max: Season 1 – Nintendo Wii – It was a short-lived cartoon whose humor did not resonate with an audience. Now, I remember why. The series had an underground following on the PC, so it has been ported to the Wii for this holiday season and helps remind us why point and click adventures only work for the PC. I could not finish this game because it was just plain awful. Repeated, tired humor, with unresponsive controls makes this one of the worst games I’ve played in a while. If you are looking for a funny, point and click game, you might have better luck with Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law.

2. Castlevania: Judgement – Nintendo Wii – People jumped for joy at the announcement of a Castlevania game for the Wii. Then they heard it would be a fighting game. Moans and groans echoed throughout the video game community, as people feared how Konami would screw this up. Well, there were more ways than I could count. The powers were cool, and the story was okay, but it gets repetitive much too quickly, even for a fighting game. The levels were nicely themed and had some cool hazards, but I would rather fight the zombies and monster fish that were hazards as bosses than against characters that haven’t been around in over a decade. It left me completely unsatisfied as I yearned for the classic side-scrolling that defined the series. Overall, this was a sad effort from Konami.

3. Resistance 2 – PS3 – I was really surprised at this one. The first game was amazing, it put the PS3 on the map, and was an instant hit. The second game looks like the folks at Insomniac Games saw what Epic was doing with Gears of War and they would steal as much as they could. You can no longer carry different types of weapons as you come across them, you can only carry two at a time. Very frustrating for when you need a shotgun against a certain type of enemy, but dropped it at the beginning of the level for a rifle because you did not know what you were going to be up against. It may make the game harder, but it also makes it more frustrating when I could carry eight weapons in the first game. The enemy A.I. is predictable and the bosses are too simple to be anything more than a nuisance. It becomes more of a chore to beat the levels than an enjoyable experience because it is the same wave after wave of enemy as you progress. No puzzles or choices or anything imaginative to mix it up. The graphics are much better, but the game lacks so much of the soul from the first installment that I had to put this on my “Do Not Buy” list.

Well folks, there it is. For all you last minute shoppers out there, those are some helpful hints. I tried my best to showcase games that I have not highlighted before, so this might be a good time to look in my archives if you still need more ideas. Thanks for reading my article and have a happy and safe holiday season.

-Ray Carsillo

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The Patron Saint of Video Game Journalism

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Originally Published: December 11, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

A while back, I had a chance to sit down with one of the founding fathers of video game journalism, Geoff Keighley. Geoff and I talked about how he got his start in the business and what direction he feels the video game industry is heading in on many different fronts.

Geoff is currently the host of GameTrailers TV on Spike, a weekly look at the best games coming out for all the systems, and was recently promoted to Spike’s Executive in Charge of Video Game Publisher Relations. As well as these responsibilities, Geoff is also the Executive Producer of Spike’s Video Game Awards.

The 2008 Video Game Awards air LIVE on Spike TV, this coming Sunday, December 14th, at 9PM EST. The awards show is being hosted this year by Jack Black with such musical acts as the All-American Rejects and 50 Cent. I will be there on-site for the awards and will be sure to report back to all you fine folks on this year’s results.


CLICK HERE – to listen to my interview with Geoff Keighley, host of SpikeTV’s GameTrailers TV.

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He Knows If You’ve Been Bad or Good…

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Originally Published: December 8, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

And for your own sake, you had better hope he thinks you’ve been good, otherwise…BAM! Marvel Comics has felt that to help get us all in the spirit, why not treat us with the release of the most blood-thirsty, most gory, most over-the-top, brutal display there has been in theatres, since, possibly, ever. Just in time for the holidays, Punisher: Warzone has been released into theatres. Blood red is a Christmas color, right?

When told about this movie, you are not expecting much because this is the third iteration of the Punisher in the past 20 years with the last one coming in 2004. Marvel did not openly say this was a sequel to that Punisher, but it did come up with a concurrent plot from the last movie so this movie will be treated as a direct sequel by most comic aficionados.

This time around Ray Stevenson (from HBO’s Rome) plays the death-dealing, skull-wearing, anti-hero with his own sense of justice. It is hinted that this movie takes place in current times so it can be assumed that it is about four-six years further down the line in the Punisher timeline from the last movie. Still haunted by the murder of his family by the mafia, Frank Castle continues his one man rampage as the Punisher against those the law cannot prosecute. Castle is so sick of the red tape that he figures he would show that he has nothing personal against the color.

At this point he has desensitized himself so much that all he has is his mission: to obliterate those he deems worthy of punishment. Those who are helpful to the mission, like his arms dealer, Microchip (sitcom veteran, Wayne Knight), are the only contact he has with the real world as he continues his personal war.

After an impressive opening scene to set the gory tone of the movie, Castle hears from a sympathetic cop that the mafia has bought off the docks at a glass recycling plant for the evening and that something big could be going down. With a chance to take down one of the mafia’s higher lieutenants, Castle jumps at the chance.

In the firefight that ensues upon his arrival, Castle accidently takes out an undercover FBI officer and, enraged that he crossed his own personal line by taking out one of the good guys, he takes out his ire on Billy the Buete, a mafia lieutenant more concerned about his looks than his earnings. Poor Billy ends up on the bottom of a glass grinding machine and has all the skin ripped off of his face. We’ll say he doesn’t take well to the skin grafts and born is JIGSAW (played by Dominic West from HBO’s The Wire; is there anyone else wondering if the casting director has premium cable?).

Driven to the brink of insanity, Jigsaw begins his own war, against the Punisher. He recruits every gangbanger, thug, lowlife, and his insane brother (and third tier Marvel villain) Loony Bin Jim in an attempt to take down the greatest threat to the new mafia empire Jigsaw wishes to build.

As a die-hard comic book geek, whenever a new comic book movie comes out, I admit it will be scrutinized a little more than a regular movie simply because the storyline has already been written out. Punisher: Warzone holds up to these impossible comic storyline standards relatively well.

The Punisher lays waste to every lowlife he sees without any remorse or even a second thought. Since this is an older, more hardened Punisher than in the last movie, this is very accurate to the comics. The Punisher is a merciless vigilante who takes the law into his own hands at every turn. A Vietnam veteran trained in many different forms of combat and nearly every handheld firearm known to man, Frank Castle uses his extreme training to bring about an extreme form of justice. And from the get-go, that’s the best way to describe this movie: extreme.

The Punisher is, simply, a killing machine that does not stop until the credits roll. It is a 1 hour and 47 minute bloodbath with overkill being the favored method of doom for the thugs unfortunate enough to be “punished”. It is so over the top that most of the people in the theatre, myself included, just broke out laughing during the movie.

The characters in the movie and what happens to them is very accurate in terms of the comic, as well, except for Jigsaw. How The Punisher deals with Jigsaw in the end was never done in the comics and really irritated many fans of the series, although it did follow in line with how things were going with the overkill in the movie.

Another low point was how many ideas were seemingly stolen from other action movies. No “bullet time” effects were used (as if we haven’t seen enough of those in the last few years), but The Punisher hanging himself off a chandelier and spinning around, unloading bullets into mobsters as he goes was stolen directly from The Boondock Saints. At least it was stolen from one of the best action movies of recent history, but still, stealing is stealing and Punisher: Warzone’s score gets punished because of it.

Another irritating detail was that in the middle of the night, The Punisher would be walking down 6th Ave., with all his guns on display, for the entire world to see. Boy! Doesn’t Plaxico Burress wish he lived in that world right now? What was the costume designer thinking? A trench coat would have been “too much of a stretch”? Because him walking around with an AK-47 and several Berettas on display in the middle of New York City gives a great sense of realism.

Aside from those gripes, if you’re looking for a movie to just vegetate in front of for a while, Punisher: Warzone would succeed. For the most part, the movie does give you a pretty accurate depiction of the Punisher from the comics and sometimes you just need a movie chock full of mindless violence and enough fake blood to fill the Mississippi River. The acting was fairly solid: Stevenson was passable, Dominic West was great as Jigsaw, and all the rest of the cast did a great job supporting the two headliners.

If you’re looking for an action movie with a minimum of dialogue and more explosions than you can count and need an alternative from the happy, cheery, romantic comedy that seems to dominate this time of year, then this movie is not a bad choice. If you’re a die-hard of the series, then you’ll just walk away nodding your head with satisfaction. I can see this becoming a late night, B-movie classic in no time.

Punisher: Warzone gets: 2.5 out of 5.

-Ray Carsillo

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Musical Checkmate

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Originally Published: December 4, 2008, on Collider.com and 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Cadillac Records chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists. It’s a feverish tale of race, sex, violence, and rock ‘n’ roll in Chicago of the 1950s and 60s as it follows the exciting, but turbulent, lives of some of America’s great musical legends.

The story centers around how the blues became popular and would pave the way for what would be rock ‘n’ roll and opens up on Chicago of 1947 where an ambitious young Polish immigrant bar owner, Leonard Chess (Academy Award Winner, Adrian Brody), hires a talented, but undisciplined, blues combo led by guitarist Muddy Waters (Jeffrey Wright) and harmonica player Little Walter (Columbus Short).

Chess arranges a recording session for Waters and when his early recordings start rocketing up the R and B charts, Chess Records is born.
As time goes on, Chess treats his musicians like family, buying each one a brand new Cadillac when they record their first hit (hence the name of the movie), but the line between professional and personal matters becomes blurred on many an occasion.

Finally, in 1955, one of Chess’s artists crosses over into mainstream America, a skinny guy from St. Louis with a funny “duck walk” named Chuck Berry (Mos Def). Berry’s catchy, country-tinged tunes mark the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. When Berry is arrested at the height of his career, however, Chess has to find someone else to bridge the cross over gap.

Enter Etta James (Beyonce Knowles), an emotionally scarred young woman whose vulnerability tempts Chess’s loyalty and concern in unexpected ways.

As rock ‘n’ roll grows more popular, the Chess artists find that booze, women, and the high life have taken their toll and as tragedy looms, Leonard Chess leaves the music business finally in the late 60s. The blues and rock ‘n’ roll would live on though, having forever changed the landscape of American music.

Now that you know what you’ll be getting yourself into for 1 hour and 48 minutes, let me tell you why you should see this movie.

This story accurately chronicles the roots of one of the strongest aspects of our culture: the music. It tells a story that has needed telling for a long time, since most people do not know the details about the origin of our modern music and the suffering that many people went through to refine some of these great sounds.

This movie gives you the highs and the lows that you would expect from any good drama and they’re woven beautifully in-between some classic songs that will have your foot tapping in the theatre.

Along with great music, you get great acting from this movie. Nearly all songs played in the movie were played by the actors themselves, there was no lip synching going on here. And since most characters were forced onto an emotional roller coaster, you really got to see the range of many of these actors.

“It was daunting. You wanted to have the fresh, green Walter to going to where he went really dark. That’s why it was a challenge, but that’s why I wanted to do it. It was going to challenge me and Hollywood’s perception of me,” said Columbus Short at the NYC premiere when asked why he took the role considering the range of Walter’s life he was portraying in the film.

The struggles for many of these artists was not just making a living through music, but also trying to be accepted in the segregated America of the 1950s and 60s and the trials that came with that. Not only trying to find acceptance within their own communities, but with white America was a struggle on many different levels.

“When you see him singing, you see him alive and well and the performance side is who these man really are, but you have to survive and you’re surviving segregation and heavy racism and it was a poor time. The blues is what helped them get through it. If they weren’t singing, they’d be in the fields picking cotton in the hot baking sun. That was their everyday life. And that’s what this film does on multiple layers. It gives you the music, the time, the good feeling you get from that music because sometimes they would be drinking and it would come out as happy music and sometimes it would be deeply painful and you would hear the pain in it. This music influenced Elvis Presley, the Beatles, the Who, and in the end these men have to come back and pay homage and half the riffs you hear in this film, you do a double take and go ‘oh my god, that is where that came from?’ and some of them didn’t even try to hide it when they took it, they just took it,” commented Eamonn Walker, who plays Howlin’ Wolf in the film, on the struggles the Chess Records artists went through.

There was a lot of stir around this movie as well not only for the touchy subject matter this movie deals with, but also because Hollywood loves making a stink whenever someone gains or loses weight for a role. Beyonce had to put on 20 pounds to play the legendary Etta James and I promise you she still looks amazing in the movie and, of course, she had no problem pulling off the singing. The real question would come with having to play such a troubled character on screen. I can tell you, she made it seem like it was second nature.

“I had to think about things that really meant something to me. I had to think of things that were painful and emotional and it was difficult because I would go home with swollen eyes and a big attitude every night, but it definitely paid off,” said Beyonce about her inspiration.

The only problem with this movie I had was that there were so many different characters that I felt you never followed one long enough to really develop the relationship you need to have as a viewer to care about the characters. Most of these people wore their hearts on their sleeves, but you never really see where they get the shirt from.

Now, in the movie’s defense, to chronicle the 20 year history of one of the most influential music companies in history, you would expect to see a lot of different characters and shifting personalities. To remedy the lack of being able to develop the characters then, they should have stressed the greatest character of all, the company itself. To have some of the most influential musicians of the 20th century all congregate at one point or another under this one roof is remarkable and not nearly emphasized enough in this movie for my liking and because there never is a single character fleshed out to the point that you feel strongly for them, the movie leaves a little something more to be desired when all is said and done.

However, when the credits are rolling, this is a solid movie. It portrays everyone involved with the dignity and class they deserve while still remaining true to the story that was Chess Records and the birth of rock ‘n’ roll during one of the ugliest times in American history. Everyone involved gives amazing performances and the music makes you want to run out and buy the soundtrack immediately. Anyone who has heard any rock ‘n’ roll from the past 40 years should see this movie, especially if they do not know where it all started. Look for Cadillac Records in theatres nationwide on Friday, December 5th. Cadillac Records gets: 4 out of 5.

-Ray Carsillo

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Near-Flawless Victory

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Originally Published: November 29, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Most felt that the Mortal Kombat series had suffered one of their own fatalities; they thought the previous installment in the series would mark a possible end to one of the most successful fighting franchises of all time. The genii at Midway would need something big, some twist, to rejuvenate the series and keep it fresh.

Enter one of the most enduring pop-culture franchises ever created, DC Comics. With the likes of Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Green Lantern, and many others, you had instantly recognizable names, faces, places, and powers that had just recently been rejuvenated themselves through blockbuster box office returns and are in the midst of one of the largest comic story arcs ever where evil is supposed to win in the Final Crisis.

So, what happens when two beloved pop-culture dynamos come together? They FIGHT! I present to you ladies and gentlemen: Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.

If you are going to get one fighting game this holiday season, this is the one. From a storyline that actually makes sense, to brand new features like “Testing Your Might” in the middle of a battle, and mid-air and special “Klose Kombat” fighting sequences and the series has successfully been renewed.

In terms of the combat, the old Mortal Kombat system has returned along with a few new twists. There are now expert moves, moves that, if timed correctly, are automatically done twice and done more powerfully the second time. However, so small is the window to pull off these moves that even the better experts will have difficulty performing them every time. Mix this with the potential for some old school 10 hit combos, the new mid-air and up-close fighting systems, and some revamped fatalities (and brutalities for the DC Heroes since they cannot kill) and the gameplay is on par with the best of the series.

The addition of DC’s greatest heroes and villains adds depth to the game by allowing you to play a deep story mode from both points of view (and you have to if you want to unlock both of the game’s hidden characters). You play through the story mode and get a chance to try almost every character to see their strengths and weaknesses. (I am still a dominating force with Sub-Zero.)

The big change to the story mode from previous games is that, even though it worked for a short while, there is no more third person action adventure. The story plays out for you in-between character-specific fights. For example, when Batman meets Scorpion and the two have words with each other, there is no third-person take on this. We go to an old school, best of three rounds, Kombat scenario. I personally enjoyed the third-person adventuring, but this was the only possible way to pull off a story mode in this game considering how many great characters are available to you. And, of course, the story mode leaves it open-ended enough so there is a possibility for a second MK vs. DCU.

Those are the game’s positives, but there are a few negatives. One of the big negatives is there are no level specific fatalities like in previous games. In the last installment of the Mortal Kombat series, you could knock your opponent into a lava pit or a giant meat grinder by hitting them up against certain walls or boundaries. Even in the old school games, with the right mashing of buttons at the end of a battle, you could knock your opponent into a spike pit or acid bath. These have all been removed.

Another issue I had was the lack of unlockables. The Krypt has been removed and the only things you can unlock, aside from story and arcade endings, are two bonus characters added to the twenty you start out with. I liked the Krypt, even if it was nearly impossible to get everything in it, because I enjoyed looking at extra movies and concept art and getting alternative costumes. You’re telling me you couldn’t give me black suit Superman from when he came back after being killed by Doomsday? How about an old-school blue Batman suit? The Joker in his Hawaiian vacation outfit is always hysterical. A lack of unlockables is a sore point with me and it damages this game’s replay value.

Even with a couple negatives, this was a great game. The spectacle of my favorite DC Heroes and Villains kicking butt was great. Add in the return of some of my favorites from the Mortal Kombat universe and then mixing in some old school, button mashing and I was one happy gamer from this. If there is one fighting game you are going to get this holiday season (because you should have gotten Super Smash Bros. Brawl back when it came out) this is the one.

If you want some more information on the new fighting mechanics and the storyline of the game, take a listen to my interview with Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Lead Designer Brian LeBaron. CLICK HERE

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

Graphics: 9.0: Blood and guts galore are always the visual gem that a Mortal Kombat game provides and this one does not disappoint. A nice detail was how good Sub-Zero’s Ice Ball/Superman’s Ice Breath looked when the opponent was frozen solid. A point was removed because some of the interactive environment looked a little blocky and faded from the screen too quickly. Aside from that, this is a beautiful looking game.

Audio: 10.0: The voice acting was crisp and the SFX were all solid. The voice script was a little over the top, but its comic book characters fighting Mortal Kombat characters, I think I would have been more disappointed if it wasn’t over the top. This game delivers a great sounding experience.

Plot/Plot Development: 8.5: It was actually a plausible plot for these respective universes to somehow meet. Written by comic book veterans Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, the story kept in tune with both the Mortal Kombat and the DCU story lines. The time period was set happening sometime after the second Mortal Kombat game and before the Identity Crisis of the DCU and it fit well with the original plot. Some things were a stretch for both universes though and a few of the pop culture references were funny, but unnecessary.

Gameplay: 9.0: Like every Mortal Kombat before it, this was easy to pick up, but difficult to master. Some of the combos are simply impossible to complete and there were a couple of glitches if you liked to use Scorpion’s, Sub-Zero’s, Batman’s, or Raiden’s teleportation moves a lot. Still, this game was mostly smooth and not very frustrating.

Replay Value: 7.5: The lack of unlockables and extra characters keeps you from coming back to the single player story and arcade modes very often. The multiplayer and online features are solid, but won’t keep you coming back unless you need a constant dose of bloody, brutal fighting.

Overall (not an average): 8.5: This game is a great new entry into both Mortal Kombat’s and DCU’s respective mythos. The game gets a little repetitive after a while, but that’s the same for every fighting game. New in-battle Kombat systems, old-school characters, a revamped story mode, and old-school Mortal Kombat brutality makes this a must have if you are a fighting fan and/or a DC Universe fan. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is out now for XBOX360 and PS3.

-Ray Carsillo

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Thunderstruck…Twice!

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Originally Published: November 25, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (Now ESPNNewYork.com)

After an eight year hiatus, that little devil in the school boy outfit (that still fits so well at 53 years old) and his old mates have come around once again with their new album, Black Ice. Of course, I am talking about AC/DC.

Along with a new album, is a new tour, and I was fortunate enough to acquire tickets to not one, but TWO concerts in the area. Out of the sky fell a pair of tickets to the November 13th concert at Madison Square Garden and out of my own pocket I acquired a four pack to the November 19th concert at the Izod Center. Since it seems to be a mandatory obligation to comment on concerts for us 1050 Bloggers, I have come here today to sing the praises of one of my all-time favorites.

For the music lovers out there, be sure to read up on the other 1050 Blogs here because music is a big part of our lives, and John Broder was one of my lucky office mates to come with me to the Izod Center and will have an equally interesting take on the concert. Also, be sure to check out Joey Salvia’s new CD Long Lost Weekend. Honestly, I was really impressed with how good it was. You can check out Joey’s page to find out how to grab the CD. Here are the links:

Christina Stoffo’s Blog

John Broder’s View From the Suite Seats

Joey Salvia’s Long Lost Weekend

Now that the plugs are over, back to business. Since I’ve been listening to it non-stop for the past three weeks, I’ll start with the new album. If you are a fan of AC/DC, this is a must have. Most of the tracks are amazing, although I admit that there were a couple that sounded like the same song, just with different lyrics. The single off the album, “Rock ‘n’ Roll Train”, is an instant classic that will have you singing along in no time. There are so many other great songs on the album, from “Money Made”, “Anything Goes,” “Big Jack”, and my pick for the theme of Iron Man 2, “War Machine”, that you should go get this album right now if you haven’t already.

In terms of the concerts, all I can say is AMAZING! Even well into their 50s, these guys know how to put on a show and make sure their fans go home happy. As to be expected, they played a few songs from the new album since it is the Black Ice Tour, but they pulled out a lot of their classics and left mine and many others’ throats hoarse from screaming and singing along. From Angus pulling off one of the most amazing solos in the history of rock ‘n’ roll when they break out “Let There Be Rock” to the cannons firing with “For Those About to Rock”, this is one of the must see rock experiences of your life if you get the chance.

Even the opening act, a band from Ireland called The Answer, was awesome and got the crowd revved up. I expect good things from those guys in the future, but the night belonged, of course, to AC/DC.

The only disappointing thing was that they played the entirely same set in both concerts. Here was the set list (and yes, supposedly they are mixing it up a little bit in different cities which disappointed me even more):

1. Rock N’ Roll Train
2. Hell Ain’t a Bad Place To Be
3. Back In Black
4. Big Jack
5. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
6. Thunderstruck
7. Black Ice
8. The Jack
9. Hells Bells
10. Shoot to Thrill
11. War Machine
12. Anything Goes
13. You Shook Me All Night Long
14. T.N.T.
15. Whole Lotta Rosie
16. Let There Be Rock

Encore:

17. Highway To Hell
18. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

An interesting difference was that I never noticed how good the acoustics were in the Izod compared to Garden, but when you think about it, the Garden was never really built for concerts; it was technically built for the circus. Anyway, the NYC crowd I felt was much stronger than the Jersey crowd and that disappoints me because, well, I’m a Jersey boy. I wanted us to represent a little more. Even with the nice acoustics, we didn’t sound nearly as loud as the NYC crowd even though both venues were sold out.

Aside from that though, I can’t stress enough how great this new album is and that if you’ve never seen them live, AC/DC is one of the must sees of your lifetime if you are any degree of a rocker. You won’t regret it.

-Ray Carsillo

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Grinding the Gears

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Originally Published: November 21, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Ray Carsillo Reporting for 1050 ESPN at NYC Gears of War 2 Launch
Video by Jared Bodden

It helped launch the current generation of systems and prove just how far we had come in terms of shooter games. It also left us on the edge of our seats as we knew by the end cut scene that this epic was not over. Gears of War was revolutionary in terms of how much it stressed firing from behind cover and blind firing without a stress on stealth. Add in that there was nothing more satisfying in online play than sneaking up behind someone and mowing them down with the chainsaw attached to your gun. Graphics, weapon design, enemy A.I., they all took steps forward with the first Gears of War, so how on earth could they top it?

If you loved the first Gears as much as I did, then you were at a Midnight Mayhem Launch at one of the many locations across the tri-state area, waiting anxiously for the clock to strike 12:01 AM on Friday, November 7th. Take a look at the attached video to see a special interview with Rod Fergusson, the Senior Producer for Gears of War 2 from Epic Games and you can get a better sense of what to expect.

After finally procuring my own copy of Gears of War 2, I staved off sleep for as long as it took for me to beat it and I could not have been happier with the product.

The first game set the stage for one of the grandest universes we’ve been immersed in as gamers in a long while and the second game did its job, which was to flesh out the characters and expound on the background of this amazing universe.
You once again take on the role of Marcus Fenix and have to lead Delta Squad against the Locust Hordes who are trying to take over the surface world after living under the earth’s crust for no one knows how long.

One of the additions to this game is in Co-op story mode, you aren’t a ghost shooter when you tag along with a buddy, but take over as Dominic Santiago, Marcus’s closest friend and 2nd in command and follow the story through his eyes as well as Marcus’s. A nice addition to mention is that both Marcus’s and Dom’s back stories have been fleshed out and you learn a lot about their characters and personal motives with some interesting twists and turns along the way.

As well as the fleshed out story, the graphics have been upgraded to push the XBOX 360 to its limits and you can tell. The light effects, the blood, the lush color of vegetation (or not so lush of rotting vegetation), all bring the sense of realism to all new heights. The enemy A.I. has been upgraded and the gameplay is as smooth as can be. I saw no glitches to speak of. And some of the most fun levels I’ve played in a long time were when you get behind the wheel of several C.O.G. and Locust “vehicles” and just start blowing everything and everyone to kingdom come.

The multiplayer is back as well and has been ramped up. With new multiplayer modes, like King of the Hill, Wingman, and Annex, new maps, and the pure satisfaction of winning a battle of clashing chainsaws and you have one of the best multiplayer experiences out there.

Add in new abilities, like using dying Locust soldiers as shields while under fire, collectibles from every level, and new weapons such as poison gas grenades, burst shot pistols, the ability to turn your grenades into proximity mines (which can be planted right on enemies as well as on walls), flamethrowers, and the return of some of the greatest weapons ever imagined like the Lancer chainsaw rifle and you have all the ingredients for, in my opinion, so far, the best gaming experience of 2008.

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

Graphics: 9.5: Sharp, clear, crisp. These are words that you use when describing Gears of War 2. The only reason why I deducted points was that when you mow down enemies with the chainsaw, they fall apart into lots of little pieces that would not make sense if you’re slicing them right down the middle. Aside from this minor critique, the game is a feast for the eyes.

Audio: 10.0: The voice acting was superb. The gravel and guts in Marcus Fenix’s voice made you think of how much fighting this man had seen. The music fit every situation and helped to build tension to let you know when something was coming so that you actually tensed up because you didn’t know what would be behind the next corner. Explosions, gunfire, chainsaws grinding, and other SFX were all solidly used as well. Can’t deduct from something was perfect.


Plot/Plot Development: 9.0: The first Gears ended in a cliffhanger and the second Gears ends in even a bigger cliffhanger. Questions from the first Gears were answered, but even more questions pop up as you play through the game. I don’t want to give anything away by saying what they are, but I already can’t wait for Gears 3! Add in the emotion you feel for the characters as their backgrounds are fleshed out and you walk away from this one like you just watched a great movie in the middle of the trilogy. Dare I say, this is The Empire Strike Back of video games?

Gameplay: 10.0: There were no glitches as far as I could tell and everything kept up at a great pace. I didn’t even realize how long I had been playing the game for until I finally looked at my clock and said “Damn!” It felt like I was watching a movie it was so smooth. Enemy A.I. was relatively unpredictable and the game was just hard enough to give you a challenge, but with enough checkpoints to keep you from being frustrated. Best game I’ve played this year, I think.

Replay Value: 9.0: Not a lot to bring you back to the story mode aside from getting the achievements of beating the game on a harder difficulty and trying to find all the collectibles, but the multiplayer is great. Lots of different modes keeps the multiplayer situations constantly in flux and there is still no greater feeling in gaming than sneaking up on someone and hacking them to ribbons with your Lancer Chainsaw Rifle.

Overall (not an average): 9.5: One of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve had in gaming in a while. From the story mode to the great multiplayer mode, this game is tight as a drum. It’s hard to really complain about anything except that I don’t think I can wait another two years for Gears 3 to come out. Gears of War 2 is out now exclusively for XBOX 360.

-Ray Carsillo

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Double Review for Double 0-7

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Originally Published: November 16, 2008, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

With the release of the new James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, I’ve decided to review not only the movie, but the video game as well. We’ll begin with the movie.

Many people were worried that the series was on its last legs after the egg that Die Another Day laid and the lack of action in Casino Royale , but Quantum of Solace proves that Casino Royale was simply setting the stage for something much bigger and better than we could have hoped for. Quantum of Solace slams you against the back of your seat from the very get-go with its fast-paced, action-packed, sequences and a plot deeper than the Atlantic Ocean.

The movie picks up right where Casino Royale left off with Bond transporting “Mr. White” to a MI-6 safe house for interrogation. This also marks the first time in the series that a Bond movie picks up so closely on the heels of the previous movie, helping with the continuity of the story and insinuating that, if you didn’t get the feeling from Casino Royale, this isn’t your daddy’s James Bond.

Once the interrogation starts, you find out quickly that Mr. White and his unknown organization have people everywhere, as demonstrated by one of MI-6’s agents going rouge and freeing Mr. White. Thus begins another action packed chase sequence on the roofs of Siena, Italy.

I won’t give away any more of the plot except that Bond will find himself unable to trust anyone as it quickly becomes clear that no one is safe from the reach of this mystery organization and Bond will have to go rogue to get to the bottom of how far this mystery organization’s reach is. Along the way, he will question himself as he realizes that many of whom he holds near and dear begin to suffer in the wake of his path of destruction as he travels across oceans to corner solid leads and stop a diabolical plot or two along the way.

Bottom line is that this was an awesome Bond movie and it will rejuvenate the series. With the continuation of the story directly from movie to movie, it’s easier to follow the characters and their changes and really get engrossed in the mythos. Everyone gives great performances and Daniel Craig really puts his own touch on Bond by acting so blatantly defiant at times that it’s almost funny while still being a bad ass.

The plot and action sequences were really well thought out, played beautifully on the screen, and will keep your attention for the entire 1 hour and 45 minutes to the point you’ll be asking for more. Add in classic elements like tons of beautiful women with some…interesting character names like Miss Strawberry Fields and you’ll really enjoy the experience.

There were only two things with the movie that bothered me. The first was in some scenes, you could tell that someone wasn’t watching the continuity as certain characters were out of place from cut to cut and it didn’t make sense. To the untrained eye it could probably get by, but for someone like me, it got under my skin a little.

The other thing was that this movie basically confirms the cutting of “Q Branch”, the R&D gurus who outfitted Bond with his many wonderful gadgets. Although there was some cutting edge tech, there was nothing so outlandish like a grenade-pen or tracking beacons in his shoes. The most extensive piece of tech for Bond was his cell phone, which really helps solidify the new, more realistic, direction the Bond movies are going in. I miss John Cleese though. Aside from these minor complaints, never mind one of the better Bond movies, this was one of the straight up better action movies I’ve seen in a long time.

Quantum of Solace gets a solid 4.5 out of 5.

Moving from the theatre to the home, I picked up the Quantum of Solace video game, looking forward to boat, plane, and car chases across three continents and more chase scenes on foot than I could shake my controller at. Unlike the movie though, the game fails to deliver on many accounts.

Although the levels based on the movie are well thought out and stealth is highly encouraged, there were no vehicle chase scenes to speak of and this really took away from the length of the game. In order to compensate, they flashed back to Casino Royale and had half the game revolve around these flashbacks.

Now, these levels were enjoyable, but the fact that they felt they needed to virtually include both movies in the game to make this worthwhile simply speaks to the fact that there probably wasn’t enough here to make a game with to begin with and that disappointed me because from watching the movie there was, which means the developers got lazy.

Now, in fairness, all James Bond games will be compared to the smash hit, Goldeneye, from the N64. One of the things from that game was that the gameplay came straight out of the movie to the point that you had the entire plot without even having to see the movie. This game changed a few things around; some were good, some not so much.

One of the good things was that it explained the situations a lot more thoroughly so that you had a better understanding. Example, the chase scene in Siena, Italy. The scene takes place on the day of the Polio, one of the most famous horse races in the world held in the town square. If you are unfamiliar with Italian traditions though, you might be a little confused watching a horse race in a town square while watching the movie, whereas it is explained in great detail in the game.

Another good thing was that enemy physics system. Enemies falling down when you shot them in the legs, but not necessarily passing away, or falling over a hand rail into boxes below if their momentum was taking them towards the rail were nice touches. This gave the game a solid sense of realism and was one of the bright spots.

One other great thing was hand to hand combat. Sneaking up on enemies and stealthily putting them down by pressing a corresponding button was great stuff. Add in the boss and lock pick mini-games and of having to push the right button at the right time in order to pass and the game does try to keep you on your toes by mixing things up a bit.

One of the bad things is that the game basically changed a great deal of the plot, especially towards the end of the game, to fit where they were going with it more and showed us things from the villain’s points of view, which was interesting, but completely unnecessary since the game is supposed to revolve around James Bond.

Add in that the enemy A.I. was poor at best and that it began to feel like you were playing a shooting gallery down at the boardwalk, simply hiding behind cover and waiting to pick off enemies when they popped up to shoot at you, and you have a game barely worthy of a rental. If you are a fan of James Bond and the mythos, then rent the game to get a couple extra plot details you may have missed from the movie, otherwise, there are plenty of better 1st person shooters out there.

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

Graphics: 9.0: The game looked pretty solid. The fire graphics were alright, and the light effects were well done. Everyone’s faces and movements were smooth and everything looked as it should. It was difficult to tell exactly where to go sometimes because sometimes exits blended in a little too well to the darkness, but aside from this, the game looked pretty good.

Audio: 10.0: Voice acting was really well done and having a long list of enemy phrases to choose from prevented the A.I. from ever repeating itself. If Bond was spotted, enemies never called it in the same way twice, which was a nice touch. Explosions and gun fire sounded solid and the music was solid as is always expected from a James Bond game. Just play the opera level to get a sense of how good this game was sound-wise.

Plot/Plot Development: 6.5: The plot was only passable because if you didn’t see the movie, not everything made sense to you. And if you didn’t see Casino Royale, you were definitely in trouble. If a James Bond game is based on a movie, it should follow the movie as closely as possible, and this didn’t do that. Lots of holes in the plot make the movie a must see and the game a rental at best.

Gameplay: 7.5: A lack of levels based on the vehicle chases really took something away from the game. The enemy physics was solid, but their A.I. was subpar and it made it feel like a shooting gallery half the time. Even when they tried to flank you, it was so blatantly obvious that it was no difficulty at all picking them off. All you had to do was hide behind cover and that made it feel like the shootouts were cheap knockoffs from the Gears of War series. I liked the addition of a hand to hand combat system and that many “boss” fights and the lock picking system was basically a mini-game. It kept the feel of the game different and tested your reflexes a bit more. Overall, the gameplay passes, but was nothing special.

Replay Value: 7.0: There isn’t a lot to replay the story mode. You could go back to try to find the entire cache of cell phones with extra intel on the mission to unlock things for multi-player, but that’s it. The multi-player itself isn’t anything special and feels like something that was added because it is expected nowadays. I would rather have had more levels and a better enemy A.I. than an average multi-player mode.

Overall (not an average): 7.0: Although the game looks and sounds great, it is not. The gameplay is lacking and a lack of overall game to actually play is disappointing. Add in an average multi-player that looked slapped together because it is expected to be in every shooter out there and this game is a rental at best, even for the most die-hard of James Bond fans. Quantum of Solace is out now for all systems.

-Ray Carsillo

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Trouble in Paradise

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Originally published: November 7, 2008, on Collider.com and 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

I had a chance to catch up with Eileen Walsh, who plays Breda in the new independent movie, Eden. The movie follows a married couple in a picturesque Irish town as they prepare for their 10th wedding anniversary. Breda is determined that the milestone will re-ignite the lost passion in their marriage. Billy, on the other hand, has developed an obsession with Imelda Egan, a pretty, but unobtainable, local young thing and has convinced himself that the coming weekend will see them become lovers under the eyes of the entire town. As the date draws closer, Billy’s behavior becomes more and more chaotic, while Breda’s frustrations crystallize and find more mature, high-risk expression.


CLICK HERE – to listen to my interview with Eileen Walsh.

I also had a chance to catch up with Eugene O’ Brien, the writer, and Declan Ricks, the director, of Eden and came away with the impression that this movie is a drama that speaks to basic human emotion. Fear, wanting, denial, and the movie will play with your heart strings till the very end. You’ll go from hating Billy one instant, to rooting for him the next, and you’ll have your roller coaster of emotions with Breda as well as both actors did fantastic jobs . Eden comes out today in New York and L.A.


CLICK HERE – to listen to Part 1 of my interview with Eugene O’ Brien and Declan Ricks.


CLICK HERE – to listen to Part 2 of my interview with Eugene O’ Brien and Declan Ricks.

-Ray Carsillo

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