Review: District 9

In a surprising twist, District 9 turned out to be the biggest hit of the summer. While it didn't have an enormous budget, the brilliant marketing campaign crafted by the studio definitely stirred up a lot of interest for the movie. With large posters deeming certain areas in movie theaters and the San Diego Comic-Con "Restricted For Humans Only".

The movie's set-up isn't what you might expect from a story of aliens landing on Earth - it is in a documentary style, with the beginning of the movie having an assortment of people explain the events of

the past 28 years, when the aliens' mothership first landed on Earth. For three months, the ship hovered over Johannesburg, South Africa, until world governments dug into it and found over a million malnourished aliens, which were set up in "District 9" - a camp for the so-called "prawns" run by MNU (Multi-National United) which quickly became a slum.

However, the people of Johannesburg begin riots with the aliens, causing intervention from MNU. A plan to evict all 1.8 million prawns to "District 10", a similar camp 240 kilometres from the original, is set up, with main character Wikus van de Merwe leading the project. Him and a team of MNU agents go door-to-door, having the prawns "sign" an eviction notice.

While I won't divulge all of the plot details, I can tell you that the development team did a great job in making Wikus an interesting character despite being around the prawns - which were very interesting in their own right. It was easy to develop a sense of pity for the aliens, as they were forcefully evicted from their "homes" without an understanding of what was happening.

The treatment of the prawns by the entire human race serves as a metaphor of the treatment of African Americans during the Civil Rights movement, and the treatment of any group targeted by the world. Amazingly, the movie is heart-wrenching, and the humans' cruelty of the aliens exemplifies this.

And despite the somewhat small budget, the graphics were amazing. Closer to the end of the movie, we see plenty of firefights, with lots of interesting alien technology. While this does get rid of the "documentary" feel, it seems almost appropriate. If a sequel were to be made, it would certainly not be in documentary style.

Speaking of the sequel - before entering the movie, I had already heard people talking of a potential sequel. I dismissed it, because it seemed like the premise of the movie could not constitute a series, and also because most fans will ask for a sequel any time a movie is good, regardless of whether it could carry it. But after seeing the movie myself, I can certainly say that a sequel is not only possible, but probable.

SPOILER WARNING - - - At the end of the movie, it is revealed that Christopher Johnson, the MNU-given name of the protagonist alien, will be returning to his home planet for help before rescuing all of the aliens in District 9. This revelation occurs when he sees the horrific experiments MNU has performed on his race - this leads support to the idea the Christopher could return, but with an army of his brethren, and start a war on humanity. Looking at the alien technology seen in the movie, it seems they could easily win.

And where would that leave Wikus? At the end of the movie, he was seen fully transformed into a prawn, and is likely unable to change back to a human. Would he be a major character? Would any human be a protagonist? No matter the case, a "District 10" (a name idea for a sequel) would be much different from the original - the documentary style would have to be ditched to make room for a focus on sci-fi action. - - -

Critics have been raving about this film, specifically saying it is the best movie of the summer. I agree wholeheartedly; rarely do we see a film of this quality. If you haven't seen this yet, make the plans - this is the movie everyone will be talking about. 8.5/10

Image credit: Why So Blu? (here), The Freire Project (here).

Review: Sony PSP Go Console

So where do I start? Well first of all the new Sony PSP Go has no more UMD Drive, but instead has 16GB of storage and a card slot - a compact Memorystick Micro. Sony is obviously trying to impress and go head-to-head with Apple and their iPhone and iPod Touch. With no more UMD Drive, there will be a lot less hassle for users meaning that there won't be as many as those nasty failures with the moving parts. For those of you who have a large UMD library, it would be in your best interest to wait and see what Sony have to offer as it is rumored they will be making even more changes to satisfy existing PSP users. Hints suggest a release of a software to convert your UMDs for Go play, but Sony could end up with piracy issues with this.

One thing you will notice straight away is the new design of the PSP. The screen size has been shortened to 3.8 inches and the whole screen slides up to reveal D-Pad, Analogue nub and face buttons. Pretty cool if you ask me. Although the screen is now smaller, Sony have kept the same resolution as well as the battery-life. The video quality may have stayed the same, but Sony have made an effort and have increased the sound of the music player as well your tunes becoming clearer. The last change I would mention is the addition of Bluetooth to connectivity to Wi-Fi. To be even more competitive against the iPhone and iPod Touch, Sony have even added in a built-in Skype application thus turning the PSP Go into a free phone so long as you stay in a Wi-Fi area.

The PSP Go is useful multimedia device and so I recommend it to you all if you enjoy gaming, watching movies and listening to music. Not any really major changes however Sony have now become competitors against Apple and it will be interesting to see what they can make out of it. 8/10

Image credit: MidLife Gamer (here).

Review: Wii Sports Resort

I'm going to be perfectly honest here - chances are, if you're an avid gamer, you will not be buying Wii Sports Resort for the twelve sports, but rather the Wii MotionPlus peripheral. And even though you may consider the game itself more of a demo for the new peripheral, you may be pleasantly surprised by the fun it provides.

The game plays much like a fleshed-out version of the original Wii Sports. Instead of having a meager five sports to play, Resort includes more than twice that, coming in with twelve sports for the family to enjoy. Theser sports include: Swordplay, Wakeboarding, Frisbee,

Archery, Basketball, Table Tennis, Golf, Bowling, Power Cruising, Canoeing, Cycling Air Sports.

While you may have seen some of these before, such as Golf, Table Tennis, and Bowling, the experiences are differed in the fact that Wii MotionPlus makes the experiences feel more physical. But the new sports are arguably even more fun - Swordplay in particular. The motions are now 1:1, and the whole time I played this particular sport, I could only think about how it would integrate into the next Zelda game.

Archery is another favorite game of mine, and with good reason. Long be

fore the Wii MotionPlus, I came up with my own theory for how a bow and arrow could work on the Wii - by pressing a button on the Nunchuck, pulling it back, and letting go of the button. While this did not happen in Twilight Princess, it was implented into this Archery game. I also enjoyed how gravity and wind factored into the game.

Wakeboarding makes great use of the Wii MotionPlus peripheral

Still, the games aren't as expansive as they could be. The game comes in at $50, and the Wii MotionPlus peripheral is sold seperately for only $20. So, is the game worth $30? While I personally think so, you might not want to buy such a casual game for that price. More "hardcore" gamers would probably be more willing to buy the game if it had Wi-Fi connection, a feature I sadly realized it did not have.

If you're a casual gamer, without a doubt, pick this game up. But if you're looking for a more meaty experience, there are better games for you - though don't forget to buy the Wii MotionPlus peripheral seperately, because it has been confirmed it will be used in the next Zelda game. 7.5/10

Image credit: Gamer Tell (here), Chewing Pixels (here).

Review: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is currently the highest-grossing film of the year, and that's not a surprising fact. An action movie with giant fighting robots and an immediately recognizable license is sure to attract a great deal of fans. But how does the film stack up?

The film revolves around Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) and his attempt to live a normal life, free of Bumblebee, an Autobot that has grown attached to him. However, his attempts are futile, as he begins seeing strange symbols whose origins are linked with the Transformers.

However, the plot is certainly not why you will see the movie. In fact, the plot is hardly interesting at all, though the parts of the film that most people will be interested in (namely, giant robot battles and Megan Fox) work for the most part. Nearly every part with the human characters is enormously uninteresting, with the exception of the parts with both humans and Transformers.

Leo Spitz, introduced as Sam's college roommate, is wholly unimportant and bland, though is featured a great deal in the movie. Megan Fox's character was so uninteresting (likely because of her inability to act) that I cannot

even remember her name - and didn't know it when watching the movie either. Mudflap and Skids, two Autobots, are also introduced in the movie, and are possible the most offensive characters in history - they are nothing more than racial stereotypes (one even has a golden tooth).

Overall, the movie is very poor by most standards; however, if you enjoy the license, you will certainly enjoy this movie. As much as I love Transformers, I have to give it a less-than-impressive 4/10.

Image credit: Mania (here), seventeen (here).

Flash Game Review: Warfare 1944

When approaching sequels, I am usually very cautious - but when it comes to games, console or Flash, sequels are almost always better, the sole reason being, the gameplay usually remains the same, but with some new additions that change it for the better. That is exactly what happened with Warfare 1944.

The original game, Warfare 1917, was universally well-received, with an average rating of 9.4/10 on Armor Games, and over 13 million plays. It was an original idea, too - a strategy game set during World War I as opposed to World War II. So, with all of this positive attention, it would be foolish to not make a sequel. Enter Warfare 1944.

I'll start off with some of the changes. The two armies playable are the U.S. and Germany - not a noticeable change, but a change none-the-less. Gameplay has changed a decent amount, while still keeping the exciting action of the original. Troops can now be deployed in one of three Deployment zones - this has a major impact on gameplay, because different Deployment Zones have different amounts of Cover (Cover being comparable to the trenches of the original game).

Another major change to gameplay is the addition of Resource Points. While you still have to wait to access a certain type of troop, you can order two different types within moments of each other - assuming you have enough Resource Points. You start off with 800 RP, and steadily gain 200 every few seconds or so. Riflemen cost 200 RP, for example. This makes the game move much faster - a much needed addition, in my opinion.

The Fire Support system has also changed. To order Fire Support, you must have a Office on the field. He can order Fire Support, but at a price - 400 RP for an Air Strike, and 500 RP for an Artillery Strike. With this cost, it is much easier to order Fire Support, which leads to the destruction of tanks much faster. An important feature, for sure, because in the previous games, Tanks were a nearly indestrucible force. Bazooka Teams also make the destruction of Tanks faster.

Warfare 1944 is undoubtedly a great improvement over Warfare 1917. The action is at a faster pace, and Tanks are no longer incredibly powerful. The Defensive/Objective missions makes the game more "fresh", though the Defensive missions are mostly for the German campaign. I can't think of a bad word to say about the game - 10/10.

Image credit: Con Artist Games (here).

Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into The Inferno (Wii)

Being a big fan of the Avatar series, I was very excited about getting a chance to play Into The Inferno, which follows the third season of the TV show. And, while my excitement continued during the beginning of the game, by the end, I was severely disappointed.


The controls, although slightly "gimmicky", work for the most part. Each character has very similar attacks, however; no matter what element they bend, each character has the same moveset. This is very infuriating, as there is very little variety. The only difference between the characters is when they use their bending out of a battle; but, because Aang can bend all the elements, he is always the best choice.

Another problem I have with the game is the story arc. The basic timeline remains somewhat the same as the show, but there are some major differences made: Sokka does not go along with Aang and Toph when they try to find the Firelord, we never see the end of the invasion, Aang and Zuko never go to the Sun Warrior civilazation (instead going to the "Chamber of the Elements", made specifically for the game), Azula is not seen losing her sanity until the last few seconds, and the fight with Ozai (and with Azula) is changed drastically.

I did enjoy some parts of the game, mostly the combat, but by the end, I was not pleased with the whole package. The game is quite short, and will probably not please those who aren't big fans of the series. As much as I love the series, I have to give the game the less-than-amazing score of 4/10.

Image credit: PALGN (here)

Flash Game Review: Phage Wars 2

It appears that I reviewed Phage Wars (here) a little too late, as I discovered today that Phage Wars 2 has just been released! While I was excited, I was also very nervous to play the game, as Hedgehog Launch 2 had just been released, and I wasn't too pleased (read the review here). However, it's safe to say the Phage Wars 2 is nothing but an improvement.

If you are a fan of the original, than the opening screen might seem a little daunting. The menu is different for one important reason: the game has RPG-like qualities, in that, has you progress through the game, you collect new proteins that you can use to upgrade your virus. As opposed to selecting different viruses from the beginning, you always start with the same virus, and it changes as you decide which proteins to use throughout the game.

For example, the "theF" protein, named after "thief", give +2 Speed, -3 Strength, +2 Agility, and -1 Defense. While that particular protein is very large, there are smaller proteins you can collect in the earlier parts of the game. To be successful, you must use your own combination of proteins, and focus on one of the five skills (Speed, Defense, Agility, Strength, and Reproduction) that best fits your strategy.

There is a total of eight different areas in which to use your virus in battle, each with four "levels". The first two, Culture (light) and Culture (dark) are very similar, only, Culture (dark) has less light (not very noticeable) and each level has a different. These two sections have levels that are identical to the later levels of the original game, but you will see new levels as you progress.

The next two areas are Photophillic and Photophobic; again, Photophobic is the same concept with less light, but each level in each of the areas is unique. These levels are different because they contain cancerous cells. If your virus infects a cancerous cell, then it will have twice the reproduction rate (in that cell only, of course).

Once the previous areas are completed, you move onto Cyanobacteria and Plantae. The added element in each of these is bacteria cells - once these are "conquered" by your virus, it will have twice the strength in that particular cell. This is helpful is you use my personal strategy (see Tips, below), as you will quickly have a very powerful weapon on your hands.

Metazoa (dead) is next, and, once complete, Metazoa (live) is the final step. These two change everything - red blood cells predominate, and each of them grants double speed to your virus. This makes the action fast-paced, and if you're too slow, you'll lose. These sections also contain white blood cells, which grant double defensive powers to your virus. These are great to use if you might be losing, as they act as a sort of "safe haven" for your virus.

While the gameplay remains very much the same (with some new additions), I do appreciate all the other "bonuses" in the game. After each "experiment" (level) is complete, you will recieve a chart showing the success of each virus in the experiment, as well as a comparison of the abilities of each virus involved. You can also see a "heat map", showing where most of the virus was during the level - however, this is quite pointless.

Despite the fact that Phage Wars 2 has just been released, I'm already pondering a third installment. Once you finish the game, you receive an "e-mail" for your success. The e-mail invites you to the "Bonel Prizes" for your success, and includes a nomination. In the e-mail, it says: "There [the Bonel Prizes], you will be up against many individuals, much like yourself, for the honorable Bonel Award." This is a definite hint for a sequel, in which your virus could go up against some of the toughest viruses in the world.

It turns out, my excitement was definitely not in vain. This game is even better than the original. The RPG qualities make it more in-depth than the original, and the changing of levels makes it more intriguing. I truly do hope for a sequel, as this series is one of the best I've ever played. 9/10

Tips:

- Strength is one of the least valuable skills - in the later levels, you are able to take control of bacteria cells that greatly improve your cells. Unless it works with your particular strategy, avoid using proteins that boost strength.

- Agility and Reproduction are two of the best skills in the game. Reproduction especially, as you can use it in combination with the red blood cells in the later levels to build an army with great speed.

- If a level has only a few "special" cells (cancerous, bacteria, red/white blood), use your virus to conquer it as fast as possible; these can provide an upperhand that can mean the difference between losing and winning.

Play Phage Wars 2 here!

Image credit: Armor Games (here). Onlinegamesector (here). (Image from original game).

Flash Game Review: Hedgehog Launch 2

Being a big fan of Hedgehog Launch, I was very excited when I saw that Hedgehog Launch 2 available for play. In the excitement, I didn't realize something: it's nearly impossible to improve Hedgehog Launch. While the game isn't "amazing", any changes to it would likely be for the worse. I immediately realized this once I began to play the sequel.

The story, involving a mission to the Moon (underground, through Nebraska), is light-hearted and fun, just like the original. The gameplay is incredibly similar - there is no discernible difference. But the background is much different; instead of the "cartoon-y" drawings of the original, the game features photographed backgrounds. This seems quite strange, and simply "out of place".

After experiencing the game, I can safely say that this game is a step down from the original Hedgehog Launch. I'm glad that they gave it another whirl, but if you are an avid fan of the original, you might want to avoid this game. 4.5/10

Play Hedgehog Launch 2 here!

Image credit: arcade.gamedesire.com (*Image from original game)

Flash Game Review: Phage Wars

When it comes to flash games, the "Strategy" genre is one of the most popular. With games such as Gemcraft, Bloons Tower Defense, and Warfare 1917, the Internet really knows how to make an amazing strategy game. But sometimes, it's best to get back to the basics. And that's what has been done in Phage Wars.

The premise is quite ingenious, despite its simplicity. You take control of a virus, the color of which is your choice (each color has different abilities; for example, black is heavy on strength while weak on speed and agility, and yellow is the most evenly balanced), and attempt to wipe out all other viruses on screen. This is done by clicking and dragging on any cell that you currently control, then sending out approximately half of your virus (indicated by a number; you usually start with about 100 on a single cell) onto another.

The key to winning the game is to take control of the biggest cells first - the larger the cell, the faster your virus grows on it. But each cell, before it is under the control of a player or the CPU, has a number. For example, if a large cell has the number 7 on it, you could send 40 of your virus to it, and you would end up sacrificing 7 of your virus to control it (leaving you with a cell containing 33 of your virus).


While I do love the execution of this simple concept, there are a few production problems with the game. When you select a multitude of your cells to send out the virus to "conquer" one of the CPU's cells, the game slows down extensively. This is a major problem, because I personally use this "swarm" tactic many times while playing the game (see Tips, below).

However, despite that major problem, I am very pleased at the highly noticeable difference between your virus types. Unlike some other games, your choice of virus actually makes a major difference in your gameplay. And for that, I give the game an 8/10.

Tips:

- When playing as the white (fastest and weakest) virus, or any other of the "weaker" viruses, use my personal "swarm" tactic. Take control of as many cells as possible, even if each one has a weak amount of your virus. Eventually, your virus will quickly grow into a powerful force, and you can select multiple cells to "swarm" onto each of your opponent's cells.

- For the stronger and slower cells (such as black and purple), "waiting it out" may be very risky, especially if your opponent begins to take control of the cells around you. Take over your opponent's cells early - this is made more effective by sending your virus to a cell that has just sent some of its own virus somewhere else.

- You may find a good place in the middle of those two strategies when using a well-rounded cell, such as green and yellow. Use a mixture of the "swarm" tactic and a direct-hit tactic to win with the "medium" cells.

Play Phage Wars here!

Image credits: bigfuntown.com (here), playtowerdefensegames.com (here).

Review: Land Of The Lost

I've never been a big fan of Will Ferrell - for some reason, his particular brand of comedy just never interested me. But that didn't stop me from going to see the recently released comedy Land Of the Lost, and, while it's certainly no milestone in the history of movies, it is "pretty decent".

A parody of the 1974 television series of the same name, Land Of The Lost takes many elements of the show and puts a humurous spin on them, much like the 2004 movie Starsky & Hutch. The most notable difference is the characters - in the TV series, the three characters who travel to "The Land Of The Lost" were a father and his two children. In the movie, the main character is simply an eccentric scientist who everyone mocks, the "daughter" is the one scientist who believes him (and his love interest), and the "son" is Will Stanton, a tour guide operator who is a reluctant part of the trip.

Will Ferrell takes on the hilarious role of Dr. Rick Marshall, a very arrogant scientist with a supposedly insane theory of traveling "sideways in time", to a place where past, present, and future combine. He is endlessly mocked for his theories, except by fellow scientist Holly Cantrell, who helps him eventually reach "The Land of The Lost".

The movies tries very hard to be funny, and, for the most part, it succeeds. At points in the movie, its humor doesn't go near as far as it should - but that doesn't mean this movie isn't very funny. I give Land Of The Lost a 6.5/10 because I think it's an enjoyable movie, but could have been done better.

Flash Game Review: Shift 4

As I previously reported, the Shift series is continuing - first with the original Shift game releasing for iPhone, and continuing with the release of the flash game Shift 4.

The game starts off strong, with an odd and humorous plot leading you into the first level. You'll quickly realize that your "Shift" ability is obviously a main focus of the game, and will be necessary to help you solve the increasingly difficult puzzles.

The new ability to control ("CTRL") other characters adds an extra level of depth to the regular "Shift" puzzles, and this will be necessary in solving the truly difficult puzzles (in case you're wondering, you must keep all of the characters alive at all times).

I'll admit - I haven't finished the game yet! The game is quite new, and you will find yourself getting stumped quite often in the more difficult levels. The learning curve is a bit steep, but the game is still intriguing and the basic concept is still just as fresh as the original game (which is now available for iPhone, with bonus levels!). 8.5/10

Bones/Family Guy Cross Over Review

Remember my post about Stewie Griffin making an appearance in Bones? The episode turned out to be a huge success.


The show starts off with a shock: Dr. Brennan ("Bones") deciding she wants to have a baby. Of course, instead of going with the "normal" route, she specifically asks for Booth's sperm. While he is reluctant, he eventually goes along with the idea.


I won't reveal the whole episode to you, but I will tell you that it's not one to miss. With a shock at the end (which is ruined by the preview of the next episode, which will certainly be great), and revealing the reason that Booth sees Stewie (and the "ghost" of his lost friend...), the episode was better than expected. 8/10.

Flash Game Review: Stunt Pilot 2

Top flash game developer Rock Solid Arcade released it's newest game, Stunt Pilot 2, this week, and it is looking good.

After a good amount of time in the "Beta" phase, the game is really polished, and obviously fun. There are some definite improvements and updates from the original, including a small feature that I found really convienent - while using the "turbo" mode in the original, the smoke was purple, but the smoke is now blue. This is a small addition, but makes it more clear when you're using a speed boost.

Of course, the actual gameplay is greatly improved. While the original game could get a bit stale, the second installment is always fresh, and each level seems well concieved. While the main goal is still to fly through each ring, you may now have to avoid towers, gas tanks, and trees. And flying through the towers can affect the level as well - you may fly through three towers at once, and have them each explode and topple down, leaving you to escape the wreckage.

One thing I really admire about the game is that it brings back points. While nearly every game in existance has a point system, the games at Rock Solid Arcade, specifically Stunt Pilot 2, really make you want to gather up points. You'll find yourself boosting to the end of the level, only to see a cannon below launch a 50-point ball into the air, and suddenly you're doing aerial acrobatics to catch it.

I'm really pleased at how Rock Solid Games could take the idea of the original Stunt Pilot, which was in my opinion one of their "weakest" games (though it was by no means bad), and transform it into such as action packed flight simulator. The level editor also adds to the excitement, and is just as in-depth as I had hoped.

The addition of the new type of Bonus Level is one of my favorite parts. Instead of the balloon popping levels of the original game, the new Bonus Levels have you attempt to fly along a curved line in order to rack up points. Boosting will help you get even more points, though it makes control more difficult.

I tend to shy away from giving perfect tens, and I didn't even plan on giving one to Stunt Pilot 2. But then I realized - I couldn't come up with one negative thing about it. This game really gets a 10/10. So, what are you waiting for? Go over and play now!

I apologize for the lack of pictures - I'm not able to create a screenshot at the moment. Also, go here to check out a video of mine while playing Stunt Pilot 2. I'll add some of my created levels soon.

Review: NCIS

All the characters (from left to right): Gibbs, Director Jenny, Ducky, Abby, Tony, McGee, and Ziva

There have been a multitude of criminal investigation/"cop" shows, especially recently. Unfortunately, most of these are quite shallow, and many share one very common problem: the characters have no "meat". These types of shows (the CSI shows, as an example) should look to NCIS for help (and Bones; a review of that will come later) because NCIS has great character development.

The show won't go so far to detract from the actual crime experience, but it's so great that NCIS can bring out all the personalities in these characters, and still successfully balance all the major elements necessary for a crime show like this (drama, action, and a good portion of comedy sprinkled out during the "down time").

Like I said, the shows characters are where it really shines. Abby, the forensic specialist, is one of the most hilarious and original characters on TV, and the "couple", Ziva and Tony, bring plenty of humor onto the show. I give NCIS an 8.5/10.

Blast From The Past: Final Fantasy VII

Ah, yes, the old Final Fantasy VII. One of the greatest games of all times, it has recieved numerous awards and recognitions, and has even been credited with the popularization of RPGs (Role Playing Games) in the United States.

Although many people claim that the game was "over hyped" and many still claim it is over-rated, I believe the game deserves everything it's gotten. The gameplay is rich and exciting, and the Materia system is very in-depth. And even though the game was on PS1, the gameplay graphics are not bad, and the video graphics are absolutely stunning.
The story is long and interesting, spanning an entire 3 discs. It involves a wide range of characters, from your party to your enemies (and sometimes both).
I must state one of the best parts of the game: the music. A team of expert composers created the soundtrack to this game, which includes classical music along with more modern pieces. I strongly suggest you head over to ffonline.com to hear all of the amazing tracks in this game.
I give Final Fantasy VII a 10/10 - truly stunning. One of the greatest games in history.
** Edit: I've added some music from the game.

Review: The Snails

A local band, The Snails, has quickly skyrocketed in popularity recently. Although they are still "only local", with a tour coming up this summer, that will change. The Snails are original in that they have a completely different sound from other popular bands right now. To here a sample of their sound, go here. Although I do not have any followers at this time, I hope that you may see this and start "following" this band!

Flash Game Review: Dogfight 2

Like I said, here is another flash game review, this one also created by Rock Solid Arcade. I will not be reviewing the older Dogfight because I have played Dogfight 2 first and I would be much too harsh if I rated the first one.

Click here to play Dogfight 2

The first time I played Dogfight 2, I wasn't expecting much. I had never heard of Rock Solid Arcade, so I didn't know how good they were, and I had also never played a flight game (at least, not in flash). I was amazed at what Flash was capable of. Rock Solid Arcade has taken online games to the next level.

Dogfight 2 will blow you away with it's amazing attention to graphics and details. When you fire at an enemy plane (by pressing Space), you will see the holes appear in the plane. When more damage is dealt, you will see white smoke being released from the plane. When even more damage is dealt, the smoke will turn black. This isn't all; the graphics are also very sharp (just like Robokill), and the explosions are realistic.

Each level is unique in it's own way. For example, while the first level simply has you fighting two planes, another level might have you facing bomber planes, defending your camp, escaping a hail of gunfire, or even bombing down a zeppelin. The possibilities are endless, and Rock Solid Arcade has taken advantage of that.

The attention to detail, coupled with the originality of each level make for a truly astounding game.

Dogfight 2 also has another thing going for it that is sadly lacking in many flash games: sound. The background music of the game is intense and very fitting, while the action sounds are highly realistic. You can hear the sound of your guns firing, but you can also hear a new sound when they make contact with an enemy. Your bombs even sound realistic as they drop and explode.

I give Dogfight 2 a 9.5/10. The only reason I could think of to take that .5 away was the easiness. Dogfight 2 has many easy levels, but unfortunately, no difficulty settings. That is it, however; the game is entirely perfect other then that one simple fault.

Flash Game Review: Robokill

While I did plan to have console game reviews on this blog (and still do), this recession has made it impossible to have access to a large amount of console games. So, in the meantime, I can review another type of game, arguably just as fun: flash games.

My first flash game review is of Robokill, an exciting "WASD" shooter (meaning you use the W, A, S, and D buttons to move) from Rock Solid Arcade.

Click here to play Robokill

Now, before I start, I would like to mention the one major flaw with the game: you have to pay to play! This is only for the later episodes, however, and not the first episode. I will only be reviewing the first episode because I refuse to pay for a flash game, no matter how good it is.

The difference between Robokill and other flash games is apparent when you begin playing. The graphics are crisp and sharp, almost enough to be on a portable game console like the DS. The game is also much more in-depth then others. As you collect money from destroying rooms full of robots, you can spend the money to upgrade your weaponry. However, instead of just having one weapon you upgrade ridiculously, you can choose what weapons to use.

The shop screen

You have four slots available for your weapons, as well as four slots to use healing and defense items. The most interesting part in my opinion is the different weapon types. You start off with a light blaster, but there is also shotguns, grenades, and the most powerful laser. Each one has it's own benefits and disadvantages.

Robokill is a great game, and Rock Solid Arcade should be proud. I give Robokill a 9.5/10 simply because of a few tiny faults that could have been fixed up.

Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Being a big fan of action movies, I felt slightly apprehensive about going into The Curious Case of Benjman Button, but I can surely say that after seeing this movie, my mind has been completely changed.

The movie begins with Daisy, an old woman who is on her deathbed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina, along with her daughter, Caroline. Daisy's last request is for her daughter to read the journal of a dear friend of hers, the man who lived life backwards: Benjamin Button.

The movie explores Benjamin Buttons life from when he was born as an old man, to when he eventually closes his eyes as a baby. When Benjamin is born, on the day World War I ends, his father is rushing to the delivery room. The doctors tell him that his wife will not make it, and she makes him promise that he will "have a place". This scene displays incredible emotion as Button's father realizes the monstrosity that killed` his wife, and decides to abandon the child.

Benjamin's life is explored in detail as this 2 hour 48 minute movie progresses. We get to see as he meets Daisy, a young child, in his seemingly older days, and as they continue to interact as their ages get closer to meeting. The sheer emotion and drama of each scene in his life, and especially the final scene, is amazing. I give this movie a 9/10 because it is truly one of the most amazing movies I have seen in my life time.