Tag Archive: review


A Greener Planet

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May 31, 2010

Originally Published: February 12, 2010, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

While growing up, I was never really fascinated with the Hulk because the character never had the depth to draw me to him. I loved the fact that the madder he got the stronger he got, and the cheesy catch phrases were great to imitate (“RAY SMASH!”; “RAY STRONGEST THERE IS!”), but beyond these, the Hulk was always a B-level character in the grand scheme of things.

My frustration only grew with Hulk as he was depicted the same way over and over again in horrible movies that were later remade with bigger names into better movies with the same basic story, and we can’t forget the horribly overpriced straight-to-DVD animated features.

But in 2006, there was hope. Over the course of a little more than a year in the Incredible Hulk’s third volume, came the Planet Hulk storyline, an arc that has been the Hulk’s shining moment in his nearly 50 years of comics (with a close second being the storyline that came out of the Planet Hulk story arc, World War Hulk). This was the first time, the Hulk, and not Bruce Banner (or a merging of the Hulk’s body and Banner’s personality), was the personality with layer upon layer of depth and development. The Hulk was thinking, strategizing, speaking in complete sentences. And after years of being limited, the Hulk had become not only the center of his own planet, but would soon become the center of the Marvel Universe.

These glorious storylines drew me to the superhero who liked purple stretchy pants like never before. Of course, Marvel would screw it all up and have a horribly anti-climatic end to World War Hulk and make him stupid again, but for a time, Hulk was the top dog.

Realizing that many casual comic readers had also been drawn to the Hulk across these story arcs, Marvel animation (who always seem to want to feature the Hulk in something, some way or another) decided that the Planet Hulk story arc would make a fantastic DVD movie. And so, I present to you Planet Hulk.

With the cover art done by Alex Ross to grab prospective buyers’ attention, and voice acting veterans like Liam O’Brien as Hiroim and Kevin Michael Richardson as Korg signing on board, this is easily the best animated feature starring the Hulk that Marvel has done. A full hour and 21 minutes also makes it one of the longer comic book based animated films to come out in a long time. Of course, I thought that with everything Marvel would have had to cram into the DVD to make it as true to the original series as possible, I thought they would have been pushing 100 minutes, but Marvel found a way to streamline the story and still keep in all the best parts of the Planet Hulk comics.

The basic premise is that the Illuminati back on Earth (comprised of Black Bolt, Namor, Iron Man, Professor X, Mr. Fantastic, and Doctor Strange) have come to the conclusion that the Hulk is simply too dangerous to remain on Earth and so they gas him and send him on a spaceship towards a desolate planet. Of course, Tony Stark sticking true to form, has to gloat in a recording explaining the situation to the Hulk when he wakes up, and in the Hulk’s fury, he knocks the navigation system out of whack and crash lands on a planet ruled through fear by a man simply known as “The Red King”. To keep his subjects in line and entertained, the Red King holds gladiatorial matches in a coliseum in his capital city between natives of the planet and those unfortunate enough to crash land on his barren world. Not taking too kind to being a slave, Hulk fights back. We then watch as our hero evolves and strategizes against the Red King as he fights for not only his freedom, but for an entire planet’s.

Although not perfectly true to the original comics (Silver Surfer was cut due to legal issues and was replaced by Beta Ray Bill), it did add little snippets that brought together some aspects of the Marvel universe very nicely (such as Thor’s origin story, although slightly perverted by Beta Ray Bill’s presence, leading to how Korg ended up as a gladiator). It also trimmed down Hulk’s “Warbound” party due to the fact that 81 minutes was simply not enough time to give everyone’s back story, have Hulk develop a relationship with all of them, and then have him kick lots of alien butt.

The animation was beautiful and flowed very smoothly, especially in some of the epic fight scenes that were re-created straight from the comics. The voice acting was top notch and the musical score set the mood perfectly from the action sequences to the more emotional moments.

At the end of the day, this was the best Hulk story ever done and that alone made this the best Hulk DVD ever made. Considering some great extra features like a full episode of Wolverine and the X-Men (the same old story of “Hulk vs. Wolverine vs. Wendigo” though, more of the same tired garbage I was mentioning before, but a full extra 22 minutes of animation isn’t something to scoff at either) and several behind the scenes mini-documentaries and motion comics and my only real problem with this was the fact that Marvel couldn’t get over the legal issues that constantly seem to be plaguing them nowadays and get the Silver Surfer into this.

Planet Hulk gets 4 out of 5.

-Ray Carsillo

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Fly Me to the Moon

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Originally Published: January 24, 2010, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com), Lundberg.me, and Examiner.com

When one mentions Sega, the first thing that comes to mind, for most people, is a spiky blue hedgehog. However, Sega has taken steps over the past couple years to let people know there is a lot more to them than our superfast friend. First came Jack in last year’s sleeper hit Madworld, with his chainsaw and the game’s Sin City style sending gamers into a frenzy. Now, with the help of Devil May Cry and Viewtiful Joe director Hideki Kamiya, Sega unveils their latest creation: Bayonetta.

With guns in hand (and attached to each ankle), as well as swords, claws, and other weapons you acquire over the course of the game, Bayonetta, a 500 year old witch who escaped the witch hunts of the 15th century, rages her own personal war against the forces of heaven as she fights to not only restore the balance between light and dark, but also to restore the memories she lost when she was forced into a near five century hibernation by her fellow witches.

As soon as the game starts, Kamiya’s style oozes out of the game with over the top characters and situations, a pop version of Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” blasting in the background, and an ageless battle between heaven and hell unfolding as you’re immediately thrown into a face-off against several angel-like creatures.

The other thing you immediately notice is that the fighting system is exactly like Devil May Cry. It is to the point that you wonder how much work Kamiya actually did on this game or if he just redesigned his classic Dante as a female in a cat-suit. It’s not to say that the system is poor, but points off for lack of originality. Also, the PS3 version lags tremendously compared to the Xbox 360 version so the fighting system on that console lacks the smoothness necessary to pull off many of the elaborate combos that define this fighting style.

One of the nice nuances added to this fighting style, and for many of the game’s button prompt sequences, is that Bayonetta’s power comes from her hair and that she uses her hair to serve not only as most of the construct of her cat-suit, but to construct giant fists and feet to finish off some of her more devastating combos. She also uses her hair to summon hellish demons to her side to finish off all of the massive bosses you have to deal with over the course of the game in some tremendous cut scenes.

To counteract the lack of originality in the gameplay, the game is graphically beautiful. Of course, a good portion of that deals with the emphasis on some of Bayonetta’s…best assets…but even when not focusing on those select areas, the levels, the angel creatures, the demons, the bosses, everything looks like you really are invading a heavenly stronghold.

Throw in phenomenal voice acting (although it was weird that no voice actors were credited in the end credits), a great instrumental soundtrack and some great pop covers on a Frank Sinatra classic, and spot-on SFX and the peripherals for this game are top notch.

It is a shame that it looks like that the great music and graphics are mostly being used to try to cover up a plot with more holes in it than a Palm Beach golf course. As Bayonetta starts to uncover her memories, she comes across a small girl, who starts calling her “Mommy”, that ends up being a time-traveling version of herself, and she has to fight her father, who might also be her husband, who is also the right eye of their god, and Bayonetta may have died, and then come back because of a magical gem, and that is why she hibernated, and…I am confused just writing this. When you also consider that everyone seems to make these unbelievable escapes, whether they are magical or not, and the plot might just make your head hurt like a fourth-rate anime.

If you can look past the plot holes and the Devil May Cry gameplay mirroring and get into the game, there is actually a lot of replay value for this considering it only has a one-player mode. There are endless collectibles and secrets to find as you progress through the game and after beating the game the first time through, you unlock hard mode. Mind you, a full playthrough on normal should only take you 12-13 hours, so even with the replay value; this game will probably give you a total experience of only 25-30 hours if you beat every mode and collect every item.

Speaking of collectibles and lack of originality, the economy system for this game to buy items and maneuvers requires collecting…golden rings. Really Sega? You couldn’t just make some digital cash? Just because you call them “halos” in this game, doesn’t mean we don’t know what they really are. Such a setup is fitting for a game that is best described as “fun, but trite”.

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

Graphics: 10.0: This game is gorgeous in every aspect. From the color schemes, to the facial expressions, to creature design, to water effects, this game delivers on the visual spectrum.

Audio: 9.0: I loved the cover of Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” along with a tremendous original orchestral theme. I could’ve used a fuller soundtrack though besides those two songs and that knocks this down a point. The voice acting was top-notch, even if no one knows who the actors were, and the SFX were spot-on.

Plot/Plot Development: 5.0: The plot was more convoluted than most animes and even after beating the game, leaves you asking questions about a lot of the characters. The character development was clearly more focused on how Bayonetta physically developed instead of how her personality should develop. Add-in that the game had a very fast pace to it, which was probably intentional, and you can see the plot was not a primary concern for the development team.

Gameplay: 7.0: The Xbox 360 was very smooth. The PS3 version was anything but. Taking away the glitches, the gameplay was still a blatant rip off of Devil May Cry and left you looking for more.

Replay Value: 8.0: A very good score considering this is only a one-player game. There are a lot of collectibles, a lot of unlockables, and you have to play through the game fully once before you can unlock hard mode.

Overall (not an average): 7.0: A lack of originality really hurts this score. There are games that take elements from other games, and then there are blatant rip offs. Bayonetta is the latter. It is a beautiful looking game that hopes some make-up and bright lights will cover up its deeper flaws. The plot is poorly developed, but the action is good, if not repetitive. A surprisingly amount of replay value for a single player game helps to give this game a passable score, but at the end of the day, I recommend this as a rental, not a purchase, especially if you are eyeing up the badly optimized PS3 version.

Bayonetta is available now for Xbox 360 and PS3.

-Ray Carsillo

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It’s Elementary My Dear Reader

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May 12, 2010

Originally Published: December 28, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

It is the quintessential detective story. A consulting detective from 221B Baker St. in London whose keen intellect has no match as he solves the unsolvable to try to keep streets of Victorian era London safe while having his own unique brand of fun along the way. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is a character that resonates with people even now over 100 years since his creation. After all, he was the original CSI and we all know how popular those TV shows are. In fact, several of Holmes’ techniques concocted by Conan Doyle influenced modern crime solving techniques like finger printing and bullet printing.

In terms of popularity though, Holmes as an iconic character had quietly faded into the background noise of the modern media frenzy and passing fads. With a shortage of good ideas out in there in Hollywood, director Guy Ritchie pulled Holmes and the gang off the shelf to reintroduce them to the world with a more modern filmmaking flare and an original plot not directly based off of any of Conan Doyle’s stories.

With a little more base in the occult and the macabre than anything the original Sherlock Holmes ever had to deal with, this modern rendition starring Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes and Jude Law as Dr. Watson see the original Dynamic Duo deal with an ominous figure in a man known as Lord Blackwell, played by Mark Strong. The movie opens up with the duo breaking in and disrupting the sacrifice of a young maiden by Blackwell who is promptly arrested, thrown in jail, and then hung for his crimes. Not much of a movie if the antagonist is jailed and hung in the first ten minutes, but miraculously, Lord Blackwell rises from the grave and begins to haunt the streets of London once again, striking fear and terror into all who believe. Luckily for all of London, there is Sherlock Holmes.

As a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories, this is a fantastic modern rendition of the timeless tales. There were a few extra explosions and fight scenes to help keep the viewers attention than were in the original stories, but more importantly, the movie flowed well for the entire 2 hours and 14 minutes. The character depictions were more true to the original stories than most media portrayals have been over the years, such as Watson being a very competent companion and not the bumbling sidekick as in several depictions, or not leaving out the details of Holmes’ persona that he was an avid boxer who got bored very easily, to the point that he would shoot the queen’s initials into his wall to help occupy his time.

Aside from the accurate character depictions (with a lot of credit going to Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr.), the story was something worthy of the originals. Although a tad much with the occult theme for the villain, the way Holmes unraveled all the clues and came to his conclusions with his deductive thinking, all the while skirting just on the edge of the law, were done in ways that would’ve made Conan Doyle proud.

My only critique with the movie was that it was done in a third person perspective. The original stories were all from the perspective of Dr. Watson and therefore told from his perspective as Watson was being trained all the while in detective work by Holmes. I think it would have been nice to see Guy Ritchie try something a little different and tell the story through the eyes of Watson instead of from the movie-standard third person.

Aside from that minor complaint though, this was a fantastic movie with superb acting from everyone involved, tremendous action, some nice light-hearted comedic moments, and an enthralling plot. The dynamic between Law and Downey Jr. was a joy to watch and the movie held your attention the whole way through and, of course, the movie’s ending left it open for a sequel. If you plan on going to the movies only once this holiday season, Sherlock Holmes should be your pick.

Sherlock Holmes starring Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law gets 4.5 out of 5.

-Ray Carsillo

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Looking Through 3D Glasses

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Originally Published: December 23, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (Now ESPNNewYork.com)

It is the most hyped movie of the holiday season with one of the most acclaimed directors of our time (James Cameron) and a $500 million dollar budget. Could it possibly live up to all this hype though or is it just a lot of bright colors and flashing lights?

The first thing I have to explain, due to many people asking me about how much money Nickelodeon put up for this, is that this is NOT the same property as the Nickelodeon cartoon of the same name! Nickelodeon’s Avatar will have its own movie in 2010 and it will be directed by M. Night Shyamalan. James Cameron’s Avatar has blue aliens and amazing visuals. Nickelodeon’s Avatar deals with monks who control the four main elements (earth, wind, water, fire).

Now that we have cleared that up, James Cameron’s Avatar deals with a human mining company trying to rip out special ore (imaginatively named “unobtainium”) from the crust of a jungle planet called Pandora. The indigenous people of this planet though refuse to let their land simply be cultivated or embrace the human culture that is being forced upon them.

In order to help bridge the gap between the two species, Dr. Grace Augustine (played by sci-fi staple Sigourney Weaver; if you want to have a successful sci-fi movie, you need Sigourney!) develops something called the “avatar” program where she melds human DNA with the alien DNA. The human who had their DNA harvested can then plug into the avatar body mentally via a machine that is safe back at the human mining colony.

This is where Jake Sully comes in (played by Sam Worthington, another sci-fi vet after his major role in Terminator: Salvation). His twin brother helped Dr. Augustine with the avatar program, but was murdered in cold blood and thus his avatar was left in storage. Since the avatar-human hybrids cost millions to cultivate, instead of throwing it away, the government contracted Jake due to his similar DNA.

Thus begins an epic, action-packed drama that really takes about 20 minutes too long to unfold and tries to cover up slow moments with some cheesy 3D special effects and a light show that would be too intense for most raves. Really, this was a very good movie, but it just dragged at a couple of points that helped shake you out of the world that James Cameron tried so hard (and spent so much money) to bring us into.

The South Park episode that summed it up as “Dancing with Smurfs” was very spot-on. This movie is basically the thought that a people who are one with nature are forced to leave their homes and fight against foreign invaders and their culture after bringing one of these foreigners into their fold and way of life. Instead of Native Americans and settlers though like in Dances with Wolves, it is blue aliens and humans.

The movie’s visuals were brilliant (and the creature that was a hammerhead shark crossed with a rhinoceros was awesome) and it should win a Visual Effects Oscar hands down. Anything beyond that would be a stretch and the fact that 7-10 Oscar nominations have been predicted for this is a joke. There was some good acting from those involved with a plot that has shown worth before with some simple twists and special effects to make it look new again, but this isn’t a ground-breaking feature film. Of course, with worldwide numbers, it should make back the $500 million dollar investment.

A visually beautiful film with a solid plot makes this probably worth a viewing in the theatre and maybe even a special edition DVD buy because it will probably have some sweet special features (it better with that budget), but I saw it once and that was enough for me.

James Cameron’s Avatar gets 3.5 out of 5 as a solid, but not special, movie worth one, but not multiple, movie theatre viewings.

-Ray Carsillo

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The Holiday Rush

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Originally Published: December 21, 2009, on Lundberg.me and 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

I did this last year where I offered some last minute advice to help out people looking to pick up a couple of more items to stuff in the stockings or under the tree and due to positive feedback, we’re doing it one more time!

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. New Super Mario Bros. Wii – Nintendo Wii – Any older gamer will appreciate the nostalgia this game conjures up. Any young gamer will fall in love with the crazy characters, classic side-scrolling platforming gameplay, and the hours of exploration and fun it will provide. Just like every other great Mario Bros. game to ever come out. This Wii game has been flying off of store shelves this holiday season with good reason.


2. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks – Nintendo DS –Another one of Nintendo’s powerhouse franchises with a new chapter in its long and storied history. What’s nice about this is that the kids can take this with them on the long car or plane ride you’re already dreading. At least it’ll keep the kids out of your hair as you prepare for departure delays or traffic due to the predicted bad weather. Not the longest or most in-depth in the Zelda series, it will more than do the job of distracting the little ones this holiday season.

3. A Boy and His Blob – Nintendo Wii – Rounding out the Nintendo dominance of kid-oriented games is a remake of a NES classic. A Boy and His Blob follows a young lad and his alien, shape-shifitng friend, who can help the boy in a plethora of ways by eating magical jellybeans. These jellybeans allow the blob to turn into a gun, a ladder, a trampoline, and many other useful items as you travel across these beautifully drawn 2.5 D worlds.

“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. Ghostbusters: The Video Game – All systems – The closest thing die-hards have seen to a third movie, this game picks up about three years after the end of the second movie and brings the story together better than any movie could have. With all the original voice cast returning to reprise their iconic 80s roles, ‘bustin’ has never felt so good.

2. Batman: Arkham Asylum – XBOX360, PS3 – One of the most critically acclaimed games of the year, Batman: Arkham Asylum is the initial offering of what looks to be a long series of new Batman games. With a free-flow combat system that flows like water and a plot worthy of a comic maxi-series, this game is a must have for any comic book fan.

3. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – PS3 – The SpikeTV Video Game Awards game of the year delivers on every front like no other game this year. Plot depth, tremendous characters that pull on your heart strings, probably the best looking game of the year, and flawless gameplay makes this a must have for any gamer’s collection if you have a PS3.

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. Madworld – Wii – It’s rare to see a phenomenal M-rated game on the Wii, but Sega’s Madworld delievers in ways I never thought a Wii game could. An unfathomable amount of gore and language brightens up the black and white world of “Jack”, a man tasked with winning a “Running Man”-esque game of death in a world that just screams “Sin City”. Either interacting with the entire environment to find new and interesting ways to kill your enemies, or just relying on the chainsaw on your right hand, you will have fun wreaking havoc in Madworld.

2. Assassin’s Creed 2 – XBOX360, PS3 – My pick for game of the year, Assassin’s Creed 2 expounds on the plot of the first game and trumps the action by leaps and bounds. A new free-flow combat system, being able to wield two weapons at once, poison, guns, and an entire economic system make what was once a repetitive, tedious chore to beat in AC1, makes AC2 one of the most unique mainstream gaming experiences of the year.

3. Halo 3: ODST – XBOX360 – My choice for first-person shooter of the year, any Halo fan needs to have this game. Aside from the amped up difficulty due to you acting as a lower class of trooper than Master Chief’s Spartan self, the film noir aspect of taking over every member of your squad at different moments as you unravel the mystery of the Covenant’s attack is one of the most immersive plot techniques I’ve seen in gaming in years.

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. Fairytale Fights – XBOX 360, PS3, PC – A nice concept that falls flat on its face. Living through some classic fairytale character’s stories with some bloody hack-‘n’-slash combat is a nice thought, but horrible gameplay, a poorly kept-together plot, and nothing really special about using these fabled characters from fairytale lore aside from the random weapons they find was really a disappointment.

2. TMNT: Smash-Up – Nintendo Wii – It uses the same engine as Super Smash Bros. Brawl, but it lacks everything else. Only a handful of selectable characters, a miserable story mode, and controls that aren’t nearly as responsive as the Nintendo character counterpart. A bitter disappointment for any TMNT fan and another TMNT media project that doesn’t include the original theme music!

3. The Conduit – Nintendo Wii – This is probably one of the most hyped games of the year and instead should be considered as the worst first-person shooter of the year. Basically a remake of Perfect Dark from N64, but with some more high tech weapons and a looser plot. The graphics look like something from the Gamecube and the multiplayer, although probably one of the better ones for the Wii, is still subpar when compared with the multiplayer offered by games for the XBOX 360 and PS3.

Well folks, there it is. For all you last minute shoppers out there, those are some helpful hints. Thanks for reading my article and have a happy and safe holiday season.

-Ray Carsillo

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Eat Your Heart Out John Hammond

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

I think every boy growing up in my generation who saw Jurassic Park instantly fell in love with dinosaurs and the idea of “What if they roamed the Earth, today?” We even sat through the less than stellar sequels because the thought of living with these long extinct creatures excited and scared us in ways that stimulated our pre-pubescent imaginations.

Most of us have matured (and, of course, most of us now are obsessing over women, an entirely different breed of creature that excites and scares us), but we still remember the feelings that are stirred up when a concept involving dinosaurs is brought to the table.

In that vein, I present to you Jurassic: The Hunted, a new first person shooter from Activision. You play as Craig Dylan, a contractor for a private security firm that is hired by a scientist looking for her father whose expedition was lost in the Bermuda Triangle back in 1983. As your plane flies over the ocean and you prepare to parachute onto an island, a storm suddenly appears and lightning strikes your plane. As the plane begins to tail spin out of control, you, your teammate, and the doctor (Gilligan and the skipper escaped the same fate), fall into a bright blue light. When you wake up and begin foraging for weapons and supplies, you come across a lizard…a really big lizard.

Thus begins your adventure as you find out later that you fell through a temporal vortex and that the reversal of the earth’s magnetic poles are causing tremendous amounts of unstable energy to pull creatures and objects from all of time. You’ll explore a German U-boat, use weapons from the Civil War, and get your hands on a sweet plasma rifle from the future as you search for the missing doctor and end up trying to save the world in the process.

Well, it isn’t the most original plot, but it had great potential and like I said before, people love dinosaurs. Unfortunately, great potential does not a great game make. The execution of the plot felt rushed, like Activision was trying to just get this out before the holiday. I blew through the entire game in about five hours and even with the unlocking of a hard mode, and the inclusion of a survival mode that reminds you of a one-man Horde or Firefight mode from Gears 2 or Halo 3: ODST, is not enough to make this an elite game.

I will say that the game at least looks good. Seeing the dinosaurs on-screen in this game is like watching Jurassic Park again. All I would need is John Williams’ classic theme and I would be set with the peripherals of this game. Unfortunately, the sound falls flat on its face compared to the graphics. The music and SFX are generic at best and the voice acting would be comparable to Larry the Cable Guy trying to do Shakespeare.

The gameplay is solid, but not spectacular and I would have loved a larger variety of weapons, especially those from different time eras. The whole time travel aspect of the game wasn’t emphasized enough in general, but that again goes back to the rush job that Activision seemed to give this one. The boss battles were simple and you shouldn’t die more than a handful of times if you are any good at first-person shooters. The adrenaline feature you have is a nice idea and the graphics of seeing the vitals for the dinosaurs are awesome, but aside from that it is mostly unnecessary.

Going back to the survival mode, which is probably the only thing to try to bring you back to this game, but it isn’t special in any way and you should get your fill of hunting dinosaurs after a single playthrough of the game.

This game has a really strong core to it, but it just seems that everything was so rushed that it started to unravel at the seams as you continue through the entire game. The gameplay is average and there is no difficulty to speak of for anyone familiar with first-person shooters. A saving point for this game is that it is available on all systems and is only $40 compared to the full $50 or $60 price usually seen. Still, it shouldn’t offer you more than five to seven hours of gameplay and for that I would rent this instead of buying it.

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

Graphics: 9.0: Easily the best part of this game is the visuals. The dinosaurs look just as good as if you were watching Jurassic Park and there were almost no glitches to speak of.

Audio: 4.0: Generic music and SFX do a horrible job of setting the mood or immersing you in the game. Add on top of that some of the worst voice acting I’ve heard in a long time and this game might be better played with the volume off.

Plot/Plot Development: 6.0: A fun idea that should appeal to a wide audience, but horrible execution and a feeling of being rushed through the game really takes you back and out of the experience.

Gameplay: 6.5: There weren’t any glitches that I could think of throughout the game, but there were only a handful of weapons to use and the melee feature was not necessary because if the dinosaurs got close to you, you were done for. Of course, every first-person shooter needs to have a melee option though. The adrenaline feature was also unnecessary. Add in the simplicity of the game and you have a barely passing score.

Replay Value: 4.0: A couple of difficulty levels and a survival mode is just not enough to bring me back to this game after the initial playthrough.

Overall (not an average): 6.5: The game gets a barely passing score because even with all the flaws it had, it was still fun. It is sad when a game like this comes out because if the developers had sat on it and put a little more into it, you could’ve seen this being a solid game that made an impact instead of something that is at best a good rental. The lower price tag does make it appeal a little more to the masses, but I would still rent it over buying it.

Jurassic: The Hunted is out now for Xbox 360, Wii, PS3, and PS2.

-Ray Carsillo

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From My Mom’s Basement – Episode 3

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Originally Published: December 19, 2009, on Lundberg.me and Sportsrev.tv

This week features reviews of Captain America: Reborn #5 (of 6) and The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for Nintendo DS.

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Wheels of Glory

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Originally Published: December 16, 2009, on Examiner.com, Lundberg.me, and 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

There are few games that can offer the sense of realism like a racing game. There is nothing quite like the feel of pounding the clutch as you switch to 5th or up to top gear as you try to pass on the outside as a hairpin turn is approaching. There are few things that match the visceral sensation of actually fighting against the g-force as you drift into a turn at 110 MPH and try to tame the laws of nature itself. Of course, a large part of this comes with the tools that can be added to a racing game in the form of a steering wheel, pedals, and shifter that you need to truly experience all the moments I described above.

So, when you pop in the winner of Spike TV’s VGAs Best Driving Game of the Year (which I agree wholeheartedly with), Forza Motorsport 3, what wheel would provide the best experience to go with the best driving game?

Well, I know a pretty strong candidate for the discussion. Let me introduce you to the Porsche 911 Turbo S Wheel from Fanatec. With two possible gear sticks, three force feedback motors, and a smooth belt drive; this wheel easily provides the best racing experience possible on the Xbox 360 and therefore makes it the best wheel on the market.

I enlisted the help of a friend of mine, Joseph Layton (give a quick shout out to Joe!), who is a gearhead and an avid video game racer (and also sometimes serves as my editor) to try out the wheel and give it a good thrashing. He played with it for four hours straight, rushing through gears, drifting all over the track, and, generally, driving like a maniac. He said the finish of the wheel was excellent and the sense of driving was very lifelike. The hand-stitched leather wheel cover provides a great grip and the authentic Porsche crest looking back at you lets you know this is a special piece of equipment.

After I pried my buddy from the wheel, I stepped into the driver seat myself and looked at the peripheral from a pure gaming perspective and I immediately found myself fighting against the wheel as I tried to take some tight turns a little too quickly.

The term “simulation” had taken on completely new meaning because there was an entirely new world of nuances and fine-tuning that I didn’t get with a regular controller and now needed to take into consideration with this wheel. From knowing when to let my foot turn to led to when to let up and ease on the brakes, this was racing like I had never experienced before and it was good. Even when using the famed Forza Motorsport 3 Rewind mode, the wheel would actually rewind itself as well to the position where my wheels were at that previous point in the race as I prepared to re-do that hairpin turn. The wheel had surprised me and made a great game even better.

I had only a couple of problems with what the wheel had brought to the table. Although my friend said it was mostly authentic to a Porsche’s pedals, I thought the pedals were a little too sensitive and not being able to adjust that on this model was a little bothersome (But that could be the car we used in the game during much of the testing, a racing-spec Porsche GT2, in honor of the wheel).

I was also a little perturbed with the placement of the buttons on the wheel. Often when reaching for several buttons in mid-race, I would press the wrong button and would suddenly be rewinding the race when I just needed a pause for a bathroom break.

Aside from these minor complaints, this wheel does nothing but add to the overall experience of an already great game. Throw in that the wheel is backwards compatible with any racing game that supports the Microsoft Wireless Wheel and is also compatible for the PS3 and the PC and that makes this wheel worth the $350 price tag because it will last you the remainder of this generation of consoles, and since this current generation is expected to last longer than previous ones, it looks like it would be a great investment in your video gaming peripherals.

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

Overall: 9.0: Obviously, none of my other usual categories apply to this piece of equipment. Hands down, this is the best wheel on the market and due to its compatibility with previous Xbox 360 racing games and other systems, it makes it a worthwhile gaming investment. Throw in the phenomenal force feedback (the best of any wheel I’ve ever used) and smooth feel of the wheel and I can’t rave about this wheel enough.

Note: The wheel was used with a Rennsport Wheel Stand (also from Fanatec) which made the entire review much easier than it would have been otherwise. The stand itself should also receive a 9.0 because the setup was quick and simple and the overall build quality was very good. I had no problems with the stand, but my friend complained about it sometimes hitting his leg when using the pedals. I just think he was flailing about way too much though.

-Ray Carsillo

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A Football Blitzkrieg!

Filed under: Video — Leave a comment
May 11, 2010

Originally Published: December 14, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com) and Lundberg.me

Ever since the Madden franchise acquired rights exclusivity to the NFL, there have been several alternatives to try and put a dent in the near impenetrable armor that surrounds the football powerhouse that is Madden. Another new contender is stepping into the ring though and it isn’t necessarily emphasizing the truck stick.

QuickHit.com is a website that offers a free flash based football game that will rack the brains of Fantasy Football heroes and test the mettle of Madden die-hards alike by combining RPG elements with the pure strategy that you would find out on the gridiron.

RPG elements? Flash based? FREE?! That’s right. It doesn’t get more revolutionary than this. No downloads required and no credit card either. In fact, before writing this article, I got a quick game in at work even though I signed up on my home PC if you’re questioning the download part.

Aside from the pure strategy involved with calling all the plays since you’re your custom team’s head coach (and if you’re a rookie in that department, NFL Legend Bill Cowher lends a few suggestions along the way), you can also decide what players to train (level up) between games and what new abilities they can learn (offensive linemen can learn moves to help them get a pancake block, running backs can break more tackles, etc., etc.).

Now, of course, a team with a higher level will have a clear advantage, but the best part will be when two evenly matched teams duke it out as it is a true test of your football acumen that you just can’t find in the often glitch riddled gameplay of Madden (there are ALWAYS at least five plays that will ALWAYS work).

A downside for many people though will be that the game isn’t the best looking, but anyone who is a true football fan should be able to look past the simple flash-based graphics and appreciate the great football gameplay that is played out before you, as you get the instant gratification or instant frustration as you see how the play you called turns out.

There is only so much I can tell you about QuickHit.com, so I had an opportunity to talk with the Director of Design on QuickHit.com, Brandon Justice, and I think he can tell you much better than I could just how awesome QuickHit.com is so be sure to check out the video over here!

QuickHit.com Football Preview with Director of Design Brandon Justice and Ray Carsillo
Video by Jared Bodden

So, if you are looking for an alternative to Madden or Madden Head Coach and don’t want to keep dropping the $60 every year for updated rosters and tweaked graphics, QuickHit.com might be the answer for you. It’s as simple as going there right now and signing up for FREE (Of course, with it being free there are a couple of short ads you might have to sit through between quarters, but they take about as long as the ridiculous load times Madden 10 had this year)!

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

Graphics: 7.5: It is hard to judge graphics on a flash game because you know right off the bat it could never compare to the power of a console game, and QuickHit.com admits that it would be impossible for them to try (at this point in time, anyway), so in comparison to other flash and free online games, the looks for this game are solid, especially in all the menus.

Audio: 5.0: Generic pads clashing, whistles, and other football related SFX mixed with generic music gives this a middle of the road score.

Plot/Plot Development: N/A: It’s a sports sim (with RPG elements)…

Gameplay: 9.0: This is one of the key elements that QuickHit.com shines in. A plethora of plays that are easily selectable with drop down menus that whittle down your options to the specific play you are looking for, no glitches that I was able to notice, and the fantasy football RPG elements between games to level up your players will appeal to every guy who has ever played Fantasy Football and loves tweaking his roster from week to week.

Replay Value: 10.0: RPG and sports games are possibly the most addicting games due to the obsession you develop over time when it comes to leveling up and tweaking your roster as you make another run to a championship. Combining those elements will keep football fans coming back for more. Millions will be lost in workplaces across the country as people keep playing football at QuickHit.com!

Overall (not an average): 8.5: For a work in progress, this is a very addictive and fun (and cheap!) way to pass the time. It can only get better as new features get added to it and it already has a rock solid base to work from.

-Ray Carsillo

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Drawing Up Plays in the Sand

Filed under: Written — Leave a comment

Originally Published: December 8, 2009, on 1050ESPN.com (now ESPNNewYork.com)

Few would argue the dominance of Madden as the premiere football franchise, but there are several competitors out there who are offering some interesting alternatives to the typical football experience. Everyone knows I’m a fan of the Blitz series. It’s a nice alternative to the Madden series how it provides true bone-crunching play and some less than legal alternatives to medicine, but it is more of an arcade experience than true football.

Another of these alternative franchises is the Backyard Football franchise that is trying to branch out from its “kiddie” label over on the Wii console to something that is a “family friendly” alternative. Part of that movement is making it available for the Xbox 360 in this year’s version. Unfortunately, it has still has a long way to go before it can shake off its “kiddie” label.

For those of you who are unaware, the Backyard Football franchise looks like a bunch of the Wii’s Miis in football gear representing the 32 NFL teams. Along with the cartoony looking children representing these teams, each team has one age regressed superstar from each NFL team. San Francisco has Frank Gore, the Giants have Eli Manning, the Arizona Cardinals have Kurt Warner, etc., etc. To open up the field a bit, each team also only has seven players on the field so you see a lot less “in the trenches”.

In terms of a football game, this will not appeal to any hardcore fans out there. It might appeal to little children (or ignorant girlfriends) who are trying their hardest to get into football and might make a decent stepping stone before trying to focus on the real deal. To also appeal to a younger generation, you can also earn powers to help out your team in tight spots like the “bull rush” where you grow horns and run over everyone or the “twister” where you spin around the field and can’t be tackled.

A nice new feature is also the ability to create-a-player and make custom teams to help personalize your playing experience during the 16-game season. Still, the experience overall is very simple and will bore most gamers very quickly.

The graphics are poor even when admitting they were done in a cartoony style and the audio is subpar at best. The commentary might make you chuckle a little as they try to spoof the old Madden style (and are probably more entertaining than the current commentators for Madden), but the kiddie carousel music will have you shaking your head by the time you finish your first session.

This is not a very good football experience overall, but if you have a little child who is trying to learn about football and can’t wrap his head around the Madden franchise or the actual live game, this might be a nice way to bridge the gap.

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

Graphics: 4.0: Even though you know going into this game the graphics are going to be cartoony, they aren’t even a very good cartoony look. Plus, it’s very hard to follow the football because the graphics are so poor.

Audio: 6.5: A barely passing score due to the light-hearted commentary, but it grows old very quick and the music grows old even faster.

Plot/Plot Development: N/A: It’s supposed to be a sports sim…

Gameplay: 7.0: Controls are a mix of both the old-school Blitz series from the arcades and the current Madden style and it works, but it is really nothing spectacular.

Replay Value: 5.0: There is a season mode that can keep bringing you back if you want to play with different players or teams, but that’s really it. There is also only localized multiplayer so all those Wii friend codes you collected or that Xbox Live account is worthless.

Overall (not an average): 5.0: A poor attempt overall as a football alternative and it doesn’t appeal to anyone who can tie their own shoes, even with the cheaper price tag than its more adult counterpart ($39.99 compared to $59.99).

Backyard Football 10 is available now for Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

-Ray Carsillo

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