review

Killer Instinct Review

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Meant to be a graphical showcase for Nintendo’s Ultra 64 hardware, the original Killer Instinct clearly prioritized style over substance. It’s rendered visuals were ahead of anything else at the time and its gameplay allowed players to pull off combos that routinely featured dozens of hits. For the most part, that was all it needed to be a success at the arcade and on the Super Nintendo.

With so many great fighting games out now and a community of players that is smarter than ever, it’s going to take more than pretty graphics, a loud announcer and flashy combos to make an impact. Luckily for us, Killer Instinct returns with some bite while retaining the essence of what made the original fun in the first place. Continue reading →

Sex Criminals Vol. 1: One Weird Trick Review

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I don’t know if “courage” is the right word here, but it surely took some effort on my part to give Sex Criminals a chance. Despite the fact that it’s not a story that exists for the sake of arousal, and the fact that it’s nominated for best ongoing comic series of the year, overcoming the stigma that comes with the subject matter wasn’t easy. Even after buying the book and deciding to read it on the train, it got immediately weird to read this when Steff left my side and a stranger sat beside me. Going forward, I’ll probably read this at home, but I’ll gladly keep reading the series if it can sustain this level of quality.

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Mad Catz Killer Instinct Arcade Fightstick TE 2 Review

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Sporting a new and improved d-pad, The Xbox One controller is the most viable Microsoft controller for fighting games yet. However, for those who would prefer to fight the old-fashioned way, Mad Catz has you covered. If this was simply a standard Mad Catz Tournament Edition fightstick with new art, that would be great. However, they’ve gone the extra mile to evolve this fightstick to the point where this is their best one yet.

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New X-Men Book 5 Review

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For a series that has made its mark by bulldozing its way through conventions that have defined Marvel’s mutants since their inception, Book 4 in the New X-Men series was kind of a letdown. By spreading the team out across the world to handle different missions, the end result was a book that wasn’t very cohesive, meaningful or entertaining. Maybe cognizant of the way the last installment played out, Grant Morrison’s New X-Men Book 5 is not only a return to form, but is also one of the most outside-the-box X-Men tales I’ve read yet.

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All New X-Men Vol. 4: All Different Review

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Still reeling from the chaotic events that took place during the Battle of the Atom, the time-displaced X-Men and Kitty Pryde complete their side switch in All New X-Men Vol. 4: All Different. They don’t get much time to settle down though, as a distress call from Florida takes them to a modern X-Men member in need and the evolution of a past threat.

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Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #1 Review

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Up until his appearance in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Iron Fist was an unknown quantity to me. Even in that game, his presence is scarce, as he’s widely recognized as being one of the worst in the game. Still, his appearance in that game was enough for me to try out Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #1. This issue establishes the troubled past of Daniel Rand while throwing him in the mix of a conflict with ninjas. It’s by no means bad, but I don’t think it’s all that great, either.

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New X-Men Book 4 Review

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The war against Cassandra Nova may be over, but there’s still much work to be done if you’re one of the X-Men. In New X-Men Book 4, the team is split up into different parts of the world to help bridge relations between man and mutant. This book in the series bucks the trend of tight casts and focused stories for shorter arcs and way more characters. The more, the merrier, right? This sadly isn’t the case here.

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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers

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The Guardians of the Galaxy have lingered in the background of an alternate Marvel universe since the 1960s. Having been brought into the main fold and backed by a major motion picture set for release later this year, this eclectic gang of space vigilantes are finally poised to be Marvel’s next big thing. In anticipation of the film, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers made my reading list.

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New X-Men Book 3 Review

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After a disturbing John Sublime diversion took precedence in Book 2, New X-Men Book 3 shifts the focus back to Cassandra Nova. Having taken over Professor X’s body before heading off to space with Lilandra, she begins her latest assault on mutant kind with unthinkable weapons at her disposal. Have the X-Men finally met their match?

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Joker Review

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Sporting a smile that only a mother could love, the cover of Joker by Brian Azzarello has always caught my eye, even before I began reading comic books. Giving it nothing more than a glance for years, I finally decided to act on it for three reasons:

  1. I loved The Killing Joke
  2. Joker is written by Brian Azzarello, the same person who currently writes Wonder Woman
  3. It was half price at the book store

After reading it, I’m not sure what to make of a book that seemed like a sure-fire hit.

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