Grand Theft Auto – Medicom Kubrick Sets

Perhaps the only official merchandise that ever blessed this long-running Rockstar series. GTA 3 set was more mild on accessories, whereas Vice City set even came with a beach post-card, Kubrick style.

SSX (2012) – The Art of Flight vs First Descent?

So while playing and after finishing the game, is it just me or does the new SSX pretty much pits the 2 movies together? Sean White as Griff Simmons and then Travis Rice and his crew as the SSX team both conquering gnarly back country slopes. Ponder and discuss folks.

SSX (2012) – At Long Last!

Finally got and (at this point) beat the new SSX. Truly a worthy successor to the old school titles- everything is even bigger, badder, and more tricky this time around. Different slopes can have weather conditions that require using special gear like ice picks, wing suits, thermal packs, navigation goggles, oxygen masks, and even simple padding and extra protection to make it through.

There are 2 sets of controls- new ones oriented around analog sticks and old school ones that take you right back to where you left off On Tour or 3.

You can go absolutely anywhere on the slopes now, even ride up the walls with enough speed/boost. There aren’t as many trick bonus icons scattered about, but it doesn’t really get in the way either with chaining uber and epic uber tricks as well as signature ones.

Slopes are still gorgeous and extremely fun to blast through and new variety includes such things as being inside volcanoes (with snow, ha!).

The soundtrack is right up there too with fresh songs by The Big Pink. Camo & Krooked, Digitalism, DJ Shadow, Flux Pavillion, The Herbaliser, Nero, Noisia, The Hives, The Naked and Famous (with Young Bloods from the Art Of Flight), etc

All in all, great title with pretty solid online and offline modes, and definitely a truly worthy and overdue successor to the old titles.

The Generation Gap – Front Mission 3 to Evolved

So after a recent purchase of the new Play Arts Kai Zenith, the series’ iconic mech, I want to write a little generation gap article to reflect upon this series’ evolution as well as the rather surprising merchandise’s footsteps.

I got into these games with Front Mission 3, for the PS1, and immediately noticed that the game had some pretty decent (for the time) figures made by ArtFX. I got a couple, beat the game, all was well. The game itself was your typical militaristic sci-fi turn-based strategy with 2 story paths you could play through (and a heap of hours needed for each one). The figures were pretty solid and not very limited in articulation like quite a few of their brethren.

After making a natural stop at PS2 with Front Mission 4 and even a Nintendo DS with the remake of the first game, the series made its way to PS3 with Front Mission Evolved. Has it finally evolved? Indeed- the new installment was a 3rd-person action game with a much more dynamic and arcady feel than the previous, serious strategy games. This time, Square Enix made a set of updated figures with new articulation, but some of the old feel as well- like weapon pegs in palms of hands, which makes old and new figures’ accessories fully compatible.

While the new game was easily overshadowed by better options in its class, the new figures were quite worthy despite a much heavier price tag.

And finally, some comparison pics as well as couple glam-shots:

New figure definitely looks its part and fits new standards in games- more aggressive, more realistic, more clean-cut. The old guy looks more true to the older graphics and less stress on individual looks.

Creepin On Your Desks – Revoltech Woody

Just got this for Christmas from a friend, and there will be some great pics coming soon. Meme was made of this Woody figure and a rather ridiculous one, so I’ll keep my own fun much more sane, but still out there to keep the spirit of the joke.