Indiana Jones and the Emperor´s Tomb - Playstation 2 (PS2) - Review

Another relic was unburied recently, the game that´s keeping me busy this month is none other than "Indiana Jones and the Emperor´s Tomb".

Back in 2003, I remember I had a nice tuned up computer and one of the first games I´ve played on it was "Indiana Jones and the Emperor´s Tomb" and of course I´ve loved it. It was the second Indiana Jones game made, in the wake of the "Tomb Raider" titles.

When "Tomb Raider" game was launched in 1996, it was said it was a rip-off of the Indiana Jones movies. Then, after a long while, LucasArts empire striked back creating a computer game oddly similar to the first Tomb Raider named "Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine". It was identical to a Tomb Raider game, just slightly changing the model of Lara. It was a Lara with clothes, because that Indy was just too thin and light and even moved like a woman.

I don´t wanna sound harsh, as it is obvious, i love the character of Indiana Jones and it´s storylines. I know that Indiana Jones games comes way too far in between, so each one is to be celebrated, but "Infernal Machine" didn´t come out that good. But the storyline was interesting, and had shown a nice touch of continuity by bringing the return of dear old Sophia Hapgood, Indy´s partner from the classic "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis". I have read the making off, have seen the storyboards, they had the best of intentions.

The following Indiana Jones game one was an ocean of improvement, with a beefed up Dr.Jones, gigantic scenarios, perfect atmosphere and a John William sounding soundtrack which build up the perfect Indiana Jones mood. It was too good to be true. There were even nifty details such as Indy losing is hat in fistfights, and having to look for it later.

I remember the game was challenging then, a little bit too much, so much I was stuck in a area in Austria, at the beginning of the game.

Then it turned out that my newly tuned up computer was a poorly assembled one and after a little while it burned and crashed, totally ravaging my poor CD trapped inside the CD-rom. Attempts at rescue were made, but the CD itself could not be salvaged. My poor chinese copy was scratched beyond repair. My fault for relying in such evil ways.

Last month, thanks to the blessing of auction sites, i managed to dig a brand new original copy of "Emperor´s Tomb", this time for the PS2. I was thrilled. Finally I would be able to finish up this terrific game.

Even the game manual was a joy to see, having the appearance of a 1932 passport, plus Indy´s notes and handwriting.

Then I put the disc on, see the classic LucasArts logo, gosh, it´s been so long, haven´t played a LucasArts game since "Rebel Assault 2"? No, it was a more recent one, "Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds". Well, I remember the Thailand scenario, and then...

Was it something wrong with the TV? I looked around and everything was so...BLURRED? VHS like blurred? PS1 like blurred. I remember playing on the computer, everything looked so sharp(?). I haven´t seen this kind of blurred forest textures since..."Tomb Raider 3" in Playstation 1?

Usually I´m not the one to complain about PS1 graphics, like some unrespectful teenagers I met in game foruns, who love to trash "old school games", but at first the blurred textures really felt "low resolution".

Then it came to mind. Recently I have played the PS2 masterpiece "Tomb Raider Anniversary", which was a magnificent detailed work, in which the word "sharp resolution" was printed in every frame, every texture. That´s what happened "Indiana Jones and the Emperor´s Tomb" was still a major game, but would pale (again) in comparison to the more advanced and recent TRA from the same PS2 System.

As for the gameplay itself, slowly the game was starting to show it´s strong points. The action is straightforward, the scenarios really were gigantic, there were interesting puzzles, and above all, playing with Indy was fun. The actor providing the sound-alike Harrison Ford did a good job, the orchestral soundtrack was exciting, and punishing the bad guys with fisticuffs and whipping was a guilty pleasure.

In this episode Indy must recover Heart of the Dragon in China, he must fight Nazis, chinese mobsters, sharks, monsters, alligators, explore temples, sunken submarines, exotic cities. All in good Indy fashion. It really feels like a movie.

I´ve spent many hours trying to defeat the Kraken and victory tasted really good. It deserves a place of honor in my collection, it IS a treasure, i just needed a moment to re-calibrate my point of view.

Ghost Rider - Playstation 2 (PS2) - Review

The other day my wife brought us home a surprise gift: The Ghost Rider Playstation 2 game.

And quite a surprise it was. As much as i like the Ghost Rider comics, I didn´t really paid attention to the recent movie, and the game sure wasn´t a priority to acquire. The working word in here is "surprisingly good".

So, the main character is Johnny Blaze, a stunt motorcycle rider daredevil, which made a deal with the demon Mephisto to save his father´s life, and became a demonic flaming-headed motorcyclist with supernatural powers, but instead of serving hell, he decides to fight evil, which makes for a good excuse for a beat-'em-up game. :)

At first glance, the game it looks like a "Devil May Cry" clone, and at a second glance, it still looks, but guess what, I found the Ghost Rider even more controllable than Dante himself.

So, In "Castlevania" style you can whip the incoming bad guys with your flamin chain from hell, and you can collect their "soul orbs" from the ground as you would collect Gil (money) in the "Kingdom Hearts" game series, and you can use these souls to buy new attack upgrades in RPG style.

The graphics are really good, the backgrounds are nicely designed and detailed, which reminded us of "DIABLO" in the hell sequences, and "Desperados: Wanted dead of Alive" for the desolate "Western" like scenarios.

But what really took us by surprise was the sequences in which he was riding his bike, the Hell-Cycle. You control that amazing bike in roads in hell (ROADS, with good traffic signalization hehehe) in vast scenarios in hell, and later on, on Earth, facing obstacles to jump and dodge and shooting flame balls in your adversaries or whipping them with your chain.

Those road sequences were jaw dropping to us and granted us both a good laugh for long hours, and those obstacles really had us to really focus and pay attention when to dodge and when to jump.

In short, a great game, surprisingly good for movie-licensed game worthy for any gamers collection.

The Essential Fantastic Four Volume 1 (Paperback)

I grew up reading the Fantastic Four comics by John Byrne, on his legendary run in the 80´s.

John Byrne grew up reading the Fantastic Four comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in the 60´s.

John Byrne filled his Fantastic Four pages with references of those early comics made by the king themselves.

So, the archeologist in me followed his natural curiosity, and went to look for those ancient gems in the 90´s, just to get
those references, to witness these events often mentioned.

There was a hardcover collection, named "MARVEL MASTERWORKS" back then, it was shockingly expensive, enough to scare my student self from it. Even years later, when I could obviously afford it, the "ghost of expensiveness" was still floating around.

Then came the internet, and with it, scans of comic books, and while drunk by the novelty, I was still a collector of tangible comics.

After all, when you buy a collectable of a movie, you´re buying a tangible souvenir of that movie experience you just had. Something you can touch, to help assimilate that as a real thing. Well, in the comic book world, sometimes the comic itself is proof enough of that world.

So, Marvel on its smartness, launched cheaper collections of his early comics, reprinting their classic tales in black and white in a "phone book" format, featuring, like the cover says "over 15 comics in continuity".

It´s hard to describe the sensation of reading it for the first time, it´s like reading the old testament of Marvel comics, a real time travel. Jack Kirby illustrations on its prime depicting Stan Lee´s solid storyline laying the foundation of the Marvel Universe.

Gosh, to witness the origins of the Fantastic Four, and its allies and enemies, the first appearance of Dr.Doom "the World´s most fearfull super-villain", it´s almost as if you could warn them of what´s to come. Ykes! There´s Dr.Doom, Namor, MoleMan, Puppet Master, the Red Ghost, Impossible Man and others.

Really, "Fantastic Four" is the Star Trek of comics, even more than the "Green Lantern", each edition presented new imaginative discoveries, new realms to explore, and situations that would be rehashed and copied countless times over the years. Too bad the "Coming of Galactus" storyline isn´t featured here, but you could feel it was going steadily in that direction, with each dangerous situation leading to another even more dangerous.

And it´s delightful to compare these first editions with later adaptations, like the two recent movies, which i found entertaining by the way, the classic Hanna Barbera cartoons, and the amazing recent Fantastic Four TV series (2006) by french animation company Moonscoop.

The episode "Impossible", from the latest Fantastic Four cartoon, featuring the hyperkinetic Impossible Man, was particularly hilarious, and quite close to the original version. Surely, this cartoon deserved much more than just one season. My best guess for it´s cancellation? Excessive quality.

Well, returning to this paperback edition, if your a Marvel fan, you've gotta pick this up, it is (paraphrasing a well known science fiction character) fascinating.

Malaak: Angel of Peace Part II - Graphic novel review

Lebanon´s first ever comic book heroine is back for another action packed and emotional ride.

I must admit I haven´t seen a comic book character being fleshened out with so much substance so fast. It´s like the skinny girl next door that suddenly blooms into a full woman without you noticing and you´re like "whaaat? when did this happen?".

And it´s like this in this gorgeous and utterly compelling gigantic graphic novel, the author takes you by the hand like the clueless tourist you are and take you to visit secret and fascinating places you didn´t know existed and suddenly, you´re part of there, like a wide eyed witness of events unfolding in real time right before your eyes.

This is the real Beirut, presented to you not unlike Amelie Poulin´s neighbourhood, with it´s real people, staircases, windows and local expressions and slangs you´ll find yourself repeating.

Part "slices of life", part "action movie serial", this second edition chronicles the ascencion of local superheroine Malaak into "stardom" as she easily defeats the evil Jinn, spiritual perpetrators of the ongoing war, until she meets a sudden forced stop as she meets a "Boss" she wasn´t yet prepared to meet.

A regular comic would only present the hero grit their teeth, present a little blood in the corners of the mouth, laugh a little bit, present a maniac smile "Is that all you can do idiot?" and then that hero in question would give a ultramegapowerful blow in a splash page (just after the candy bar add), just to show how badass he is. Not in this case.

Malaak takes a hard beating, experience fear, flees and scapes to the arms of her friend and confidant Adrian. She is tired, overwhelmed, injured, patched up, and take days to recover, lick her wounds and figure things out. I wonder when was the last time a superhero is really shown as a normal human being, even the low powered ones.

We all take beatings out of life, and we all need time to breath and recover our strenght. It is sort of a relief to know that we are allowed to feel confusion, to acknowledge that our mutant healing factor is kinda slow, and that we all need time to find again that drive to guide us out of a messy situation, paraphrasing the Beatles, "with a little help of our friends". And that´s Malaak does, as she gather her mind and spirit together in an admirable comeback trail.

This book is beautifully rendered in a glossy paper, and it´s bigger than it looks in the photos. Buy this for great work of art it is and the treasure hunter inside you will be very pleased I assure you.

How Lara Croft saved Captain Kirk

I was playing Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation when i started to associate ideas.

Lara Croft is a busy character, an athletic woman solving puzzles while running against time through ancient temples trying to save the world from former Atlantean queen Natla.








This game inspired german movie maker Tom Tykwer to direct the amazing cult movie "Run Lola Run" which featured LOLA (Franka Potente), an athletic woman with red tinted hair solving puzzles while running against time through Berlin trying to save her boyfriend from being killed by mobsters.









This movie inspired director J.J.Abrams to produce the hit tv series "ALIAS", which featured an athletic spy Sidney Bristow (Jeniffer Garner) wearing a red wig (or blue, depending on the occasion), solving puzzles while running against time through enemy bases trying to save the world from other spies.










This TV series proved to be a enormous hit, enabling J.J.Abrams to produce other tv series, until he was called to direct "Mission Impossible III", which featured spy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), solving puzzles while running against time through foreign cities trying to save the world from other spies.









Thanks to that movie now we´re able to watch STAR TREK again on the big screen, with a new movie directed by J.J.Abrams, with Captain Kirk, McCoy, Uhura and Chekov solving puzzles while running against time through the corridors of the Enterprise trying to save the world from vengeful romulans.

In short, Lara Croft saved Captain Kirk. :)

Indiana Jones Omnibus Vol.1 - Graphic novel review

INDIANA JONES OMNIBUS VOLUME 1 WILLIAM MESSNER-LOEBS (W), DAN BARRY (W), LEE MARRS (W), DAN BARRY (A), LEO DURANONA (A), KARL KESEL (A), ANDY MUSHYNSKY (A), and more 352 pages $24.95

Back in 1992, I was still fresh from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", the movie on teathers, and fiercely playing
"Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" on the computer.

I remember stopping by my favourite comic shop, my mecca at the time and buying a edition of "Comics Scene 18" magazine,
one portraying John Wesley Shipp on the cover as "the Flash", the one from the live action tv series. It was one of the few "Comics Scene" which would arrive here in Brazil.

One of the previews were the "Indiana Jones" comic book series, to be produced by Dark Horse Comics. It featured the interview
of illustrator Dan Barry, presenting an black and white art reminescent of the ancient Russ Manning´s Tarzan comics. A new born classic, I´ve had to get my clutches on it. The first one would be the adaptation of the game of the same name "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis", featuring that fascinating story of Indiana Jones and Sophia Hapgood in a race against the nazis to find the lost city. Even by that time, there were quite a few options of Adventure games to play with, guess the difference was is that one would take time to savour it as it deserves.

Years passed, and only a few original editions here and there would arrive here in Brazil, "Young Indiana Jones" particularly. Dark Horse would launch other movie related comics, the terrific and terrifying "Star Wars: Dark Empire" series, ALIENS, Predator, Rocketeer and James Bond. All of them offensively good. How dare them to be so good, it was so good it hurts.

The good thing about DARK HORSE handling all those movie licenses at the time was the fact that they actually took the time to develop good, well planned and well executed comic books out of those movies. Apparently there was no rush on it. It would be months or years of interval between one series and another, it wouldn´t feel like a rushed afterthought, like draining a poor slave overnight by a last minute movie tie-in.

Did you ever read a comic book adapting a movie? I mean, straight out of a movie? Did you ever read the "X-Men The Movie Adaptation"? The poor brazilian who drew it didn´t even had access to the actual likeness of the bloody actors on the movie! Rogue, was portraied by Anna Paquim on the movie, and the illustrator didn´t even knew that, and drew Rogue in the comic, like a regular "grim and gritty" tall Rogue from the 1990´s. It was pitiful. Makes you wanna hang the suits and bean counters behind this crime.

Did you read the "Daredevil" comic adaptation? It was a sin punishable by death! The original Daredevil movie was based on a few selected comic series, mostly by John Romita JR "The Man without fear". THAT was a sensitive work of art. The movie adaptation? It was like a pizza squashed on the pavement with pieces of beavers on it.

I won´t even mention the...no...i won´t mention.

Well, where were we? Oh yes, the "INDIANA JONES" comic book series. Well, one of the good things brought in by the recent Indiana Jones movie "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"... no, it wasn´t the fridge scene, no the monkeys scene or the flying saucers scene, one of the GREAT things about this movie was the fact that led blessed DARK HORSE to open their comic book catacombs and publish a massive compendium of the Indy comic books launched during the 1990´s. Why bother in making a last minute, rushed comic book adaptation of the movie made by an uncaring, underpaid starved team that just couldn´t care less for the source material,when they had hundreds of high quality long-out-of-print substantial stories on their archives?

OH WAIT, they actually did published a movie adaptation of "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" which sucks badly, they were like, why break the tradition, right? Let´s make a last minute thingie just for the sucktivity of it.

But let´s forget about it also and focus on this buried treasure.

The book i´m talking about is the "INDIANA JONES OMNIBUS", which collects the entire "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" miniseries, plus "Indiana Jones and the Thunder on the Orient" and "Indiana Jones and the Arms of Gold".

Finally after 20 years I could read this entire storyline, my favourite one: "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis", with it´s beautiful art, clever adaptation of the game, and a good piece of pulp fiction on its own right. The bickering and bantering between Sophie Hapgood and Indiana Jones is priceless. 103 pages of quality substantial art.

"Indiana Jones and the Thunder on the Orient" is almost as good, but the coloring leaves a little to be desired, the color palette was a little too yellowish.

"Indiana Jones and the Arms of Gold" featuring Indiana Jones in the peruvian alps. Good to see the script lived up to the actual likeness of the country they were trying to portrait, and I actually visited. They even had good spanish! a miracle!

I bought this omnibus edition on the library. It was 350 pages of real, exciting satisfying treasure that deserves the vault!

Marvel Ultimate Alliance - PS2 game

A few weeks ago we spent two entire days indoors playing "Marvel Ultimate Alliance" on the videogame. It was a two player PS2 action rpg game, in which basically you go around with your classic Marvel superhero punching bad guys inside some corridors. I choose to play with "Thor" and she would be "Storm".

It would be a very generic, even boring gameplay (hey, we were just fresh from beating Final Fantasy X, hard to compete with that) at first glance if were not for the fact that the
writers did a wonderful job with the characterization, adding layers and layers of story and dialogue true with 40 years of Marvel Comics. Continuity and adherence to chronology is something of a commodity these days, with the plague of "reboots" and "dumbing downs" infesting all areas of entertaining. Not here at least. I was led to nerdy tears of joy with the references of the Shiar Empire, from the 80´s X-men comics, Galactus, Asgard, Atlantis, Dr.Strange´s Sanctum Sanctorum, and countless elements which would not impress who was born yesterday.

The ASGARD scenario was particularly beautiful, it was like playing Diablo, but with Marvel heroes. By the end of that sunday, we both fried Dr.Doom together with our combined lightnings. Our thumbs and arms were in pain. It was a well spent victorious weekend. :)

Now, though, the quest for 2 player games in cooperative mode continues.