Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on December 19th, 2007
Raincheck for the Wii, Sex and Violence don't mix, and Christmas Nights in Japan? - Welcome to the column that promises to have a very merry christmas but still undecided on the new year known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. I can safely say this past week, I did zero gaming. Yep, zilch, zero, nada. That's what going up to Ohio and spending seven days in some remote frozen tundra will do for you. I did stop at one Gamestop though. Bought 2 games and 4 dvds (buy 2 get 2 free) for $40 and some change. Final Fantasy XII (Collectors Edition) for PS2, Dead or Alive Ultimate for Xbox were the pickups for games.
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on December 14th, 2007
As I’ve indicated in this space before, one of the joys of the DVD age is the chance to see, at long last, films that one might have heard about since childhood, but that were unavailable until now. A recent addition to Fox’s Cinema Classics line is a case in point. Fox Horror Classics consists of three movies directed by John Brahm, and the one I want to talk about today is The Undying Monster (1942), which I first read about over thirty years ago.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on December 12th, 2007
Arkadian Warriors rocking to XBLA, No Rockband for Christmas in Canada, and Games of the Year? - Welcome to the column that promises to rock as much as possible but we have to be in bed by 9:00pm known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. As promised, a lot of FirePro Wrestling was played. I actually got down the timing system. Once I did that, I was able to figure out the little things and it made for an enjoyable experience. Be sure to read the review at your leisure. It was good to review a Playstation 2 game and I would expect there will be a couple more before we say goodbye to the system. Neo Geo Battle Coliseum released this week and the World Heroes compilation released sometime next year would be likely candidates.
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on December 7th, 2007
So I was musing over the last couple of days once again on the nature of the appeal of what I’m (extremely) broadly defining as cult movies. I’m not explicitly looking for a Grand Unification Theory here, though I wouldn’t turn my nose up at one if it turned up. There are some easy answers, but they’re very much only partial ones.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on December 5th, 2007
Reviewer fired for bad review, Xbox 360 Dashboard Update, & the Wii being put up on Ebay for grand larceny? - Welcome to the column that is always honest and promises that Kane & Lynch is indeed a steaming pile known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another edition of Dare to Play the Game. Well as mentioned in the previous week, I finished Puzzle Quest and inadvertently started Carcassonne since it was offered free. To date, only Galaga has been easier for achievements. I finished the achievements on my own over the weekend. Easy 200 points, seriously.
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on December 1st, 2007
The wonderful thing about cult film fandom is the peculiar obsessions that typify it. I’m thinking specifically here of the enthusiastic loyalty fans have for a given director or performer, whatever said person’s standing in the mainstream film community might be (and very often in defiance of such). Hence, for instance, the following that Joe D’Amato commands. As for performers, let’s think for a moment about character actors. I’ve already documented my great fondness for Michael Ripper, he of the bulging eyes and multiple bit parts in Hammer films. Well, I have in my hands a delightful little tome that does me one better.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, News and Opinions by Michael Durr on November 28th, 2007
Ecco Jr for VC, Asteroids for XBLA and another History Channel game for the 360, could this be the worst release week ever? - Welcome to the column that would realize that it might suck if it didn't spend enough time putting itself over known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another addition of Dare to Play the Game. Puzzle Quest has fallen, all twelve achievements are done with and I'm a pleased gamer. Level 50 went pretty quickly as I mentioned. I also finished Guitar Hero 3 on medium so I can safely say I've beat all the Guitar Heros on at least medium. The Lou battle wasn't so bad in comparison to the Slash battle but I guess I gained a few skills.
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on November 24th, 2007
Time for another entry in the Wish List, my lament for sorely absent DVD releases. Today: Paperhouse, to date available only in Region 2 and 4 imports, which is a real tragedy. Allow me to explain.
Posted in: Dare to Play the Game, Regular Columns by Michael Durr on November 21st, 2007
Not enough Family in Microsoft, Not enough Rockband and Too Much Sonic Blast - Welcome to the column where there might be too much of a good thing but we will never know when to stop known as Dare to Play the Game.
Welcome to another addition of Dare to Play the Game. Welp, Puzzle Quest is beaten; Lord Bane has fallen and one lone achievement is left: reach level 50. Sitting at an eyelash away from 48, I would say this falls by the end of the weekend. Lord Bane was actually beaten at level 43 which is pretty good I would say. A few tips to those that might be struggling with Bane but keeping control is the key. If you learn Headbutt from Orc Lord and combine that with Flaming Skulls (wizards) and get a little bit of luck, you will come out on top(Ultimate Troll Rings also work wonders). The other tip for the level 50 experience achievement is to enable the Medal of Selentia as your head gear which doubles your experience from every combat and learn the spell Sense Blood which you grab from Gnolls. Liberal use of those two will enable you anywhere from 200 to 500 experience per combat from the simplest of creatures (we are talking level 20 orcs).
Posted in: Brain Blasters by David Annandale on November 17th, 2007
So I’m in the middle of working my way through Severin’s latest Black Emanuelle box set, and a screening of Black Emmanuelle/White Emmanuelle (actual title Black Velvet) has prompted these musings, which I inflict on you here rather than in the review itself. Now, European sexploitation movies from the 70s aren’t exactly the deepest experience going, but there’s plenty of food for thought in this film, even despite (or because of) its flaws.
