In the comic book dictionary, the terms “reboot” and “retconning” refer to the process of adding or subtracting details from character history. Reboots “modernize” characters to better fit changing times and connect with new generations of readers. The Superman: Earth One graphic novel (penned by legendary artist J. Michael Straczynski) is the latest result of…
Batman. The superhero without superpowers. The guy who prowls the night dressed up like a bat. Throughout his long career, Batman’s personality has undergone many facelifts to accommodate modern trends, as well as identifying with a new generation of fans. The latest update, the Earth One graphic novels, deliver a very different Batman. But we’ll get…
Wild Arms 2 is the sequel to the massively popular Wild Arms. The original alone was an impressive feat, considering it stood in the shadow of RPG giants like Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior. The game’s developers, recognizing the elements that made Wild Arms an underground hit, kept many details unaltered. The Wild West atmosphere, the…
“Metroidvania” is a term used to describe a game from the Castlevania franchise that combines elements of its own series and the popular Metroid games. The most notable example is Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, whose fantastic game experience served as the de facto blueprint of many, if not all, future Castlevania games in the last decade. This…
Released in 1997, an RPG by the name of Wild Arms stood quietly in the shadow of the do-no-wrong Final Fantasy games, an unappreciated gem of the RPG community. It’s about time that the gem was revealed to a larger audience. Wild Arms’ plot revolves around the three playable characters: Rudy, Jack and Cecilia. They…
The basic principle in dramas is to start small, then build up with bigger and bigger scenarios. Role-Playing Games (RPGs) are notorious for this: one day the local painter ascends a mountainside to get photographic equipment for his friend’s wedding, the next he’s piloting a giant robot (Gear) to fight the insidious forces attempting to…
The Tales video games has always been innovative. The first game, Tales of Phantasia, shocked the RPG world by adding mechanics often found in fighting games (special moves are executed via directional presses plus the action button). Each follow-up has built upon and evolved this concept, bringing their own touch to make battle unique while…
The Arc the Lad Collection was brought to American shores in 2002 by the Working Designs publishing company. It compiles the first three Arc the Lad games, plus the additional side-game “Arc Arena,” where monsters caught and tamed during the first two games are pitted against each other for rare rewards. The Collection is infamous for…
The Superman film franchise has floundered since the days of Christopher Reeve. Despite the hero’s universal appeal, finding the right mix of ingredients to emulate the miracle of Reeves’ performance has never gained any real success. It’s a lofty challenge, not just the powers or Superman’s humanity, but the suspension of disbelief on the part…
In the Divergent film adaptation, humanity has isolated itself from the rest of the world via a high-tech barrier known as the Fence. Apparently they’re being protected from the devastation of said world caused by war or the danger of vicious mutants; take your pick. In this walled-off Chicago of the future, every teenager must take…
The Mega Man X series was Capcom’s attempt to take the Mega Man franchise in a darker, more mature direction. Although the early games resonated with the fan demographic, Capcom fumbled the ball with the latter entries. Thinking the series should be kept “fresh” in the name of modernization proved to be the X games’ downfall….
Time travel, synonymous with DeLoreans, Terminators, and confusion. Many have tried to defining the rules and scenarios involving messing with history, and we still don’t get it. Theories get proven wrong, cause and effect work in completely different ways, and people who should disappear with an aborted future (*coughJohnConnorcough*) still breathe. Time travel is complicated…
