Gaming Reviews: Asterix & Obelix. XXL2

Release date: June 30th 2006 (original PlayStation 2 release). November 29th 2018 (remastered PlayStation 4 release).

Type of game: Beat them up, adventure, comedy, cartoon.

Platforms: Originally release on the PS2 and Windows in 2006, it was later remastered with new graphics for the PS4, Xbox one, Nintendo Switch, and Windows (only through Steam).

Story: A rouge Roman spy named Sam Shieffer tells Asterix and Obelix that their druid friend Getafix has joined with the Romans and had helped Julius Caesar capture three other druids. Asterix doesn't believe Sam saying that Getafix wouldn't do such a thing and so he sets off with Obelix and Dogmatix to rescue him and the other druids. Who are all located at this new city that the romans have nearly finished building. A city that is centred around fun and games... named Las Vegum.

My thoughts: I never thought that there was a video game based on the Asterix comics until I found the original PS2 version in a used game section in a cheap shop. And I like it a lot. The idea of an ancient roman Las Vegas is quite interesting. They based the casinos on places that the Romans have conquered. Lutetia (the capital of ancient Gaul), Little Venetia (a parody of Venice), LuckSore (ancient Egypt), WCW, Pirate Island, and finally SeizeUs Palace. Also the Roman soldiers are dressed up as classic video game characters (including Mario, Sonic the hedgehog, Pac-man, Rayman, and there is also a centurion named Larry Craft).

Gameplay: Your mission is to visit every place in Las Vegum and rescue the captured druids. You will also have to face a final boss which is a gigantic super soldier (which the druids were forced to create). You can also collect helmets and use them to buy character upgrades and extra stuff. And also Asterix can use the magic potion which gives you extra abilities.

Any dislikes?: The fact that you'll have to fight off seemingly endless waves of enemies can get annoying. Also when you die, you'll loose every single helmet that you had collected. This is worse in the boss battles when you had collected every item available in the arena, yet get killed and you've lost everything and there is no way that you can get it back. Another annoying thing is that the Mario soldiers shoot water that can force you backwards. Which is frustrating when you are also surrounded by enemies.

My score: Four stars.

Film Review: Batman vs the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Release date: June 4th 2019.

Story: Batman encounters the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as two of their deadliest enemies join forces in order to bring chaos to Gotham city.

My thoughts: This is a good film. It is based on the six issue comic book series of the same name. And it is great to see these two series meeting each other. But there are somethings that I didn't like about it much. One thing was the fact that the TMNT world co-exist with the Batman world. There was no "Interdimensional travel" to be found here. Also there was the mutagen or ooze. In the TMNT lore, when you come into contact with the ooze, you'll be transformed into the animal that you've been in contact the most. Yet in this, you just transform into any random animal (and in one case a plant). But apart from those, it is a great film with a lot of comedy and action.

My score: Four stars.

The top four games that I want to see in the near future.

No 4: An open world pokemon game.

Pokemon is a popular game in its own right. And with the recent release of Detective Pikachu, it is still highly talked about. So what I would like to see is a game similar to that of Skyrim online or World of Warcraft. Where you can freely walk about, collecting pokemons, building gyms or towns, and challenging and trading with other players. This would be a massive successful game if done right. Minecraft had something similar to this called Pixelmon. But it is sadly no longer around.

No 3: Creepypasta and/or Godzilla Go.

With the success of mobile games like Pokemon Go and Jurassic World Alive, then I wouldn't be surprised if other franchises would try and cash in on their successes. I would like to have two based on the Godzilla and the Creepypasta franchises. Where you travel around and collect the characters.

No 2: A Friday the 13th style game but with other slasher killers.

I love the Friday the 13th game and I want to see other similar games like it in the future. But perhaps one where you can play as other slasher killers from other horror movies (like The Burning, Madman, Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Halloween, Child's Play, My Bloody Valentine, and others). And perhaps something like you can create your own slasher killer and even name them as well. But this could just be a DLC for the Friday the 13th game.

No 1: An open world superhero game.

A open world game where you can create and name your own superhero would be amazing. One where you can play with other players and can even form superhero teams. Something similar to GTA online perhaps.

Film Review: Charlie and the chocolate factory.

Release date: July 10th 2005 (Grauman's Chinese theatre release), July 15th 2005 (US release), July 29th 2005 (UK release).

Story: Charlie Bucket wins a golden ticket and goes on a grand tour of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory.

My thoughts: A good remake but it has a few flaws. Like Willy Wonka acting like a creepy man with the mind of a child for example. Put on the plus side, the scenery is impressive (Tim Burton directed this movie) and I do like the fact that they tried to give Wonka a back story (showing him to be the son of a seriously strict dentist. Played by Christopher Lee). And the boat ride scene is more family friendly then the previous movie. I remember when this movie was in cinemas, there was a line of actual chocolate and confectionaries being released to help promote the film. I used to buy them a lot (the Scrumdidilyumtious Fudgmallow delight was my favourite). And the Oompa Loompa songs are catchy and imaginative (each song was styled from the 50's, 60's, 70's, and 80's). I would recommend it for anyone who is a fan of the book and/or the previous film.

My score: Three stars.

Film Review: Willy Wonka and the chocolate factory.

Release date: June 30th 1971.

Story: Charlie Bucket lives with his mother and his four bedridden grandparents in a tiny hut just on the edge of a large town. A town which is also the home of a world famous chocolate and confectionary factory owned by the mysterious Willy Wonka. One day, Wonka announces that he has hidden five golden tickets inside the wrappers of five chocolate bars and that the ones who find them, will be given a grand tour of his factory. Will Charlie be one of the lucky ones to find a golden ticket? And if he is, what amazing experiences awaits for him in the factory?

My thoughts: One of the first films to be based on the book 'Charlie and the chocolate factory' by Roald Dahl. And one of the most remembered (even though Roald Dahl hated the movie). The sets are amazing, the characters are recognizable, and the songs are catchy. Gene Wilder does a great performance as Willy Wonka. In fact, Jon Pertwee (Doctor Who and the Navy Lark), Peter Sellers (the Goon show, the Pink Panther), Spike Milligan (the Goon show), Fred Astaire, and all six members of Monty Python were all considered to play the role. The only thing that I didn't get about it is the subplot where Wonka's rival Slugworth asks each ticket finder to steal a new yet unreleased creation called the everlasting gobstopper. How on earth did he managed to track them down? I can understand Augustus Gloop, Violet Beauregarde, and Mike TeeVee (Slugworth could have just followed the news crews) but what about Veruca Salt and Charlie? Slugworth was at Veruca's father's factory when the second ticket was found and he encountered Charlie just seconds after Charlie finds the last ticket. But apart from that, this is a good film and I recommend it for everyone. Though you might want to skip the boat ride through the tunnel scene.

My score: Four stars.

TV Review: The hitchhikers guide to the galaxy.

Release date: January 5th - February 9th 1981 (1 series. 6 episodes).

Story: Arthur Dent is having a terrible morning. Not only has loads of bulldozers suddenly turned up on his front doorstep with the intent on demolishing his home, but also that one of his closest friends is in fact an intergalactic hitchhiker who is a researcher for a intergalactic travel guide. And also that the planet Earth is about to be demolished as well. This leads to a series of adventures where Arthur will meet new people, strange places, bug eyed monsters, and will also learn about the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

My thoughts: This was based on the successful book of the same name by Douglas Adams. Which also spawned a radio series (which the cast had also starred in), a comic book, a stage play, video games, and a feature length movie. This is a great show which mainly follows the first book but takes the ending from the second book (where the characters arrive at the Restaurant at the end of the universe, they then highjack another space craft, then they all get teleported to random places, and Arthur and Ford end up on prehistoric Earth). If you like science fiction with a twist humour then I would recommend this.

My score: Four stars. 

Gaming Review: Jurassic World Alive.

Release date: 23rd May 2018.

Type of game: A Pokemon Go style game on the Mobile Phone. Where you go around catching dinosaurs rather than pokemons.

My thoughts: This is a really cool and amazing game. Just like Pokemon Go, you yourself travel around the open world and catching dinosaurs. Using darts to collect DNA samples and also being able to create hybrids of various dinosaurs (not all of them but still cool). There is a large variety of dinosaurs to collect and unlike Pokemon Go (where you'll have to hunt for them) the dinosaurs appear everywhere and all you'll have to do is click on them.

Any Dislikes: This game is huge. It takes chunks out of your battery life and you have to carry a portable phone charger with you. And it also asks you to play on Wi-Fi only when you try and get the game. Also there is a part of the game where you can fight other players, but the problem is that you find yourself fighting players that are many levels higher than you. Also this game can't be played everywhere. The signal goes out a lot and you may need to restart the game over and over again. Also the thing that shoots out the darts sometimes has a life of its own.

What I want to see in a future update?: Perhaps something educational where we can learn about the dinosaurs that we've had caught. I know that there is already something like that but perhaps it can be expanded more. Perhaps showing us where this dinosaurs once roamed, the food that it ate, and how it would spend it's day.

My score: Four stars.