Super Street Fighter II Turbo

Super Street Fighter II Turbo X: Grand Master Challenge (Japanese title), boasted several minor, but important improvements over previous update The New Challengers.

Intro has Chun-Li (and Cammy's mucky tongue) tower above England, with mysterious figure flashing back and forth just before Ryu unleashes fireball.

Who could it be?

They put the speed back in (1, 2 or 3) and globe was completely redrawn.

Inputting fiddly codes had characters become TNC and set the standard for the future games.

Once character is selected, eight random opponents and bosses are initially hidden by ? in a single horizontal row near bottom.

As plane flies to next opponent, information message of Battle in [insert country here] is displayed at the bottom of screen.

Portraits are now framed like family photos and before settling under mug shots, names appear from left to right slam in middle centre.  In TNC, VS was engulfed with glowing fire and large blood splat.

Scratch that, as gore is gone and new sample sounding like 'fight' cracks it.

Also, chosen speed and purple background of 'Super' new globe scrolls furiously from bottom to top.

Some characters learned new specials.

Dhalsim (vertical Yoga Flame), Honda (fancy throw), with Chun-Li and Dee Jay given different vertical flying kicks.

So-called Super Combos can be executed when gauge is filled.

Upgraded specials hit multiple times and if used to defeat opponent, sunny-esque explosion occurs.

In order to fight Akuma instead of Bison, at least three perfects must be achieved and player can't lose a round.

To play as secret boss, hover over Ryu, T.Hawk, Guile, Cammy and Ryu again for three seconds each, then push all three punches and Start simultaneously.

With a bit of luck, Ryu will transform into Akuma’s silhouette.

Finally, endings add exclusive screen after standard sequence, which is ultimately pointless, as finishing game displays all sixteen stills behind credits.

I need a drink.

(Ah, that's better).

Right, here we go.

Unless stated, Capcom were responsible.

3DO, 1994

Panasonic’s bomb was the first home machine to host Super Turbo.

Capcom brought out a weird looking 6 button pad, but worked much better than standard hunk of plastic.

Soundtrack is lifted from FM Towns Super port, but adapted to include danger themes.

‘Character name’ is oddly spoken, but ONLY in VS battle.

WHY?

Sprites and animation are arcade perfect, but background colour scheme is muted and just like FM Towns, are devoid of parallax.

That’s just the start.

Dee Jay

Much of crowd is frozen and torch doesn’t cast glow on peeps or tree.

Ryu

Position of crescent moon is in a totally different position and sky doesn’t scroll.

SERIOUSLY?

Blanka

Peeps in wooden hut don’t move.

Cammy

Fiery haze is quite choppy.

T. Hawk

Majority of crowd remains static.

Guile

Guy sat on crate doesn’t tap knee or foot.

Dhalsim

Six elephants don't move or make a racket.

Chun-Li

Hat guy down alley refuses to move.

Ken

Luxury yacht doesn’t bob and seagulls don’t caw throughout round.

Honda

Tub doesn’t overflow or have extra drips.

Balrog

Most of pretty lights are on the bastard blink and as for crowd activity, only trilogy in middle (and a small section directly behind), two showgirls and guy with mask actually move.

Vega

Fence is already down and some characters don't move.  Also, green lights, lanterns and bull sign forget to glow.

Okay, gameplay cannot be faulted, but the amount of detail left out is fucking deplorable.

DOS CD, Eurocom 1995

Arcade's graphics data at a lower resolution mean ‘larger’ sprites look out of place on squashed backgrounds.

In a futile attempt to remedy situation, characters stand a greater distance away at round start.

Danger theme shy music is pretty slow and sounds like something knocked up on a fucking organ.

Speech and sound can be out of sync, gameplay generally sucks, but patches went some way to fixing glitches.

Amiga (AGA only), Gametek 1996

If you want a giggle, look up incredible box art...

Intro with Cammy and Chunners is present and correct.

Sprites are perfect; as are backgrounds.

Well, nearly.

Ryu’s house has magically shifted to the opposite side of the screen and elephants are reduced to four.

Remember, Amiga original had six Dumbos.

I am very fucking confused.

Backgrounds are frozen in time and even though sprites 'back off' correctly, animation is embarrassing.

Colours of inanimate projectiles amuse, as Ken’s fireball, Guile’s sonic boom and Bison’s psycho crusher see red.

HA HA HA!

Voices couldn't make it and sporadic sound effects are pathetic.

Remixed music is a huge improvement over DOS, but at the same time – really fucked up.

Character select music plays between plane flying to next country.

More bizarrely, whichever tune plays for a limited time and ‘ends’.  Then, regardless at what point match is at, danger theme comes on.

Soon after, process begins again.

Hmmm.

Few can forget how terrible original played, but this is EVEN WORSE.

Gravity shy characters? Animation skipping like badly scratched CD?

Fucking hey.

Detail can be toned down to make shit run better, but nightmare remains vastly unplayable.

One more thing.

Vega is fought before Balrog.

Wrap your head around that.

CD32, Gametek 1996

Same slurry, and loading times can swivel on ferocious mid digit.

Street Fighter Collection, PS1/Saturn 1997

TNC and Super Turbo on one disc, with console exclusive Alpha 2 Gold appearing on the other.

Upgraded arcade port has Cammy unlockable in versus and training modes, and sprite is based on X-Men vs. Street Fighter.

2006 PS2 compilation Street Fighter Alpha Anthology included a remixed version of Alpha 2 Gold.

Pigtails was given her own story, ending and can also be selected in arcade mode.

Street Fighter Collection II, PS1/Saturn 1998

Marketed as Capcom Generations 5: Street Fighter Collection 2 in Japan, but an independent ‘sequel’ for Europe and North America.

Anyway, expect The World Warrior, Champion Edition and Hyper Fighting.

Arranged soundtrack can be unlocked and after completing 1P at least once, Super VS mode gives the best of three character worlds.

CPU Battle (available after vanquishing each game without continuing), offers the challenge of fighting against any opponent on highest difficulty.

Collection is pretty cool, as art galleries, bios and tips for each game can be viewed.

Finishing arcade mode opens the door to secrets.

'For Matching Service', Dreamcast 2000

Only available through mail-order in Japan via the Dreamcast Direct Store, port was obscenely accurate.

If you want to be hyper bitchy, arcade’s Q Sound doesn’t begin until after Round 1 is spoken and screen appears to differ in size.

Via Sega’s Matching Service, online versus mode was only compatible with analogue modems.

Tonnes of goodies can be accessed in secret option menu.

Dip switches gave licence to change region and version, meaning Balrog can wear boxing gloves for the first time in a Japanese version.

Bonus rounds cut from arcade can be restored and new speed settings (4-6) and 0 (super slow) adds spice.

Icing on top of cake is 'another' Gouki, who possesses Super Combo Shun Goku Satsu.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival, Game Boy Advance 2001

Known as Super Street Fighter II X: Revival in Japan, alternative version rings the changes.

Gone is Ryu unleashing hadoken and various full screen static poses form intro.

Mug shots are notably 'tougher' and blazing inferno burns brightly during character select.

Globe is kinda redone too, looking more like TNC, rather than Super Turbo.

Also, only your character dominates winning screen with his/her quote.

To get around portable only having four buttons, controls can be customised in various ways to get the six.

For example, hold light punch longer than usual to get medium punch, or press two buttons together for the same effect.

System works, but still not ideal.

D-pad make motions painful and good fucking luck doing a 360.

We get speed settings, every bonus stage and Super Combo KO warps to hyperspace.

Endings aren’t animated, but expect brand new (or altered) screen with scrolling message.

Modes of miscellany are unlocked via accumulation of VS points, beating game at least once, or on specific difficulty.

(Sighs).

Rewards of perseverance are Akuma and Shin Akuma (both possessing their Super combo), art galleries, Time Attack (5 modes) and Survival (8 modes).

Defeating up to 100 random opponents isn't as difficult as what it sounds.

Now things get juicy.

For the most part, it’s the SNES port of TNC, but India now has the hallowed quota of six elephants.

This is so fucking awkward.

Animation (sprites* and audience), sound effects, speech**, music***

*New techniques use arcade’s animation, so sprites briefly grow.

The ‘best’ of both worlds?

Ha ha ha!

**You Win and You Lose are missing.

***Compressed beep music includes danger themes and sporadic remixing.

As for parallax happy locations, most are untouched, but China and Vegas recycle environments from Alpha 2 and 3 respectively.

More, more, more.

‘Modded’ stages

Ryu

Battle now takes place on rooftop, with two huge houses and giant full moon.

Zangief

‘Improved’ version of classic original is spliced with Alpha 2 pipes and lights.

Brand spankers

Guile

High in the sky, ocean twinkles in warm sunlight with jet coming and going as it pleases.

Basically, a variation of Charlie’s Alpha 2 stage.

Akuma

Same as Ryu, but red sky at night.

M. Bison

Sinister looking hideout, lit statues and computers.

Ken

Under the bridge, buildings and saxy billboard.

Oh yeah…

One of the best alternative versions has one major flaw.

When criteria is met to fight Akuma in Arcade, game crashes when you reach him.

Hard reset also leads to times glitching up in Survival and Time Attack.

Insultingly, this affected North America and Europe, but NOT Japan.

HOW THE FUCK WASN’T THIS NOTICED?

Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition, PS2 2003

Ignoring limited arcade run in Japan a year later, Nubytech brought out various character pads (each with their own box and face plate artwork courtesy of Udon).

Unsurprisingly, a huge arcade stick featuring entire cast looked tip top.

Years later, Madcatz would do the same for SF IV.

As Ryu prepares to unleash fireball, game logos flash up during intro.

Expanding on the concept of SFC II, every version of each character can be selected.

Rules, portrait, speech etc are specific to game, so for instance, Dee Jay is only available in TNC and Super Turbo.

Bonus stages are gone and some background details removed from arcade are reinstated.

For example, Ryu’s signs and both Honda’s lanterns.

(Scratches head).

CPS-1, CPS-II and arranged music are found in Gallery, together with The World Warrior's iconic intro.

Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie (albeit cut), is thrown in for good measure, enforcing BBFC 15 rating.

Overall though, this should’ve been subbed ‘The Incomplete Edition’.

Regardless of which character version is chosen in Arcade, CPU is always Super Turbo.

Bullshit.

If CE character is chosen, we should rattle through CE.

You know I'm right.

The Anniversary Collection on PS2 and Xbox contained Hyper and Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike.

Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 1 on PS2 and Xbox in 2005 boasted The World Warrior, Champion Edition and Hyper Fighting, with 2006 sequel Vol. 2 having Super Turbo.

PSP equivalent Reloaded (not to be confused with Remixed), had the same complement as Vol. 1.

So TNC can only be found on Street Fighter Collection.

Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Xbox Live/PSN 2008

The first to offer widescreen support and current gen visuals was developed by Backbone Entertainment.

First off, there is no intro.

Redone sprites and backgrounds by Udon look decent enough, but most portraits are incredibly goofy.

New victory quotes are poorly written, but endings are more fleshed out

Remixed music fares better, and while voices are similar to what we know, characters themselves (particularly Blanka), smack of Alpha III.

Mulitplayer online modes include Tournament, Quarter and Ranked matches.

What mode interests most is Rebalanced, as new moves and techniques are mixed with standard set.

Principle of stages remain, but with new audience members and other tidbits.

The Crazy Buffalo (name of Balrog’s Super Combo) replaces Golden Nugget, a section of India has been opened up to show the Taj Mahal, China has a different street scene, clouds above Guile’s parked fighter jet scroll and Ken's yacht bobs smoothly (although sea remains static), and includes cityscape.

Quality of animation for background characters are 16 bits and colour scheme is garish.

Yep, I'm a huge fan.

If whole situation encourages nausea, Dreamcast Super Turbo is built-in.

Worth £11.99?

Not really, but each to their own.

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers is due to be released for Nintendo Switch on 26 May 2017.

Price?

Oh not much, only 35 quid.

Robbing bastards.

Choose between classic pixels (presumably still Dreamcast), or those in HD Remix.

Evil Ryu (Alpha 2) and Violent Ken (first appearing as sub boss in SVC: Chaos) belatedly join roster, and two-on-one mode Buddy battle (Dramatic in Alpha series) are unexciting additions.

Incidentally, SNK's Fatal Fury was the first to have two humans gang up on CPU.

Taking a leaf from FM Towns port of TNC, colour editor lets you alter character palette and gallery includes over 1400 illustrations from out of print Street Fighter Artworks: Supremacy book.

First person mode 'Way of the Hado' has Ryu wipe out Shadaloo army by player angrily waggling Joy-Cons.

Let's be brutally honest, charging so much for an enhanced port of a not very good 9 year old remake is taking the fucking piss.

Intense scrutiny may be over, but Ryu and chums will be back to dominate future features.

Rambo: The Video Game

Not to be confused with Sega's 2008 arcade Rambo (or any other game of same name solely based on First Blood Part II), it's time for toilet to finally flush Teyon's colossal turd.

Released for 360, PS3 and PC in 2014, travesty miserably replicates action sequences from the first three films.

Laughable graphics, terrible voice acting, embarrassing enemy AI and unbalanced difficulty condemns QTE driven on rails fuck stain to nearest plague pit.

Oh, it also crashes.

Filling and activating the Wrath gauge has Rambo enter Max Payne-esque slow motion and is the ONLY way to replenish health.

How fucking stupid.

As central characters have no additional dialogue (including groans and screams), the dulcet tones of Stallone and the late Richard Crenna are taken from StudioCanal's original voice tapes.

Did they forget about Brian Dennehy and Steven Berkoff et al?

So apart from Rambo and Trautman, rubbish script is made up.

Ignoring a completely pointless Vietnam section, Rambo's exploits are remembered at his funeral.

This is NOT Colonel Trautman.

Headstone states he died at some point in 1988.
"MAY GOD FORGIVE HIM "
I just love how they managed to fuck up positioning of speech marks.

Unlike said arcade, Polish developer decided against using live action footage for cut scenes.

First Blood

Rambo arriving in fictional state of Washington gives us false Hope.

But from hereon in...

Forget Johnny, heeere's Teasle.

OH MY GOD!

Gotta admire dodgy moustache.

Hang on, why the fuck does character model look more like Galt?

Did 'cleaning up' process begin wearing vest?

Guess not.

Take a butchers at magnificent mistake.

People a bit loopy are said to have a screw loose.
Mitch begs to differ, and determines solider boy has a screw 'lose'.

FFS!

Chuckle at close up of Galt inside helicopter.

Impostor doesn't have a black eye or moustache, and hair is near shaved off.

But wait.

Subtitles state Gault.
Oh shit!

And there was me thinking that Jack Starrett portrayed Galt.

Lester on the radio is decent in principle.

Less blue and red sirens of course.

(Ahem).

Amusingly, Rambo is described as a Green shitting Beret.

Brilliant writing.

If unstable war veteran (or anybody) held a knife to my throat, I wouldn't exactly be smiling, but come the fuck on.

For fun.

"I could have killed 'em all. I could kill you. In town you're the law, out here it's me.
Don't push it. Don't push it or I'll give you a war you won't believe. Let it go. Let it go."

Take a peek at National Guard geezer firing rocket launcher.

It's just fucking ridiculous.

Hey Earl, he looks exactly like you.

BULLSHIT!

Fair enough.

Unfortunately, there's no rat cave scene.

Boo hiss boo.

After stealing army truck and arriving back in town, he's already wearing belt of M60 bullets.

Is this true?

Not really.

To clarify, ammo draped across body doesn't happen until later.

To make gas station go bang, zippo lighter more than assisted.

Guess what?

Instead, flammable spillage loses argument with M60.

We then embark on a law enforcement massacre.

This happened in the book, but rather importantly, NOT in Ted Kotcheff's film.

Trautman does at least closely resemble his 1982 counterpart.

Rambo: First Blood Part 2

Authenticity is upped, but still contains some juicy shit.

Yushin

Lifer

Co

Julia Nickson looks, well... HORRENDOUS.

(Laughs).

Apparently, this is Podovsky.

Seriously?

This game is killing me.

When Rambo cuts POW free, it's done from the front, when should be from the back.

Hang on a minute, character in question isn't semi-naked.

What is their fucking problem?

Best of all.

Lovely green grass, boots are clean and not a speck of mud on M16.

But...

Yep, scene is so dirty, I need a wash.

Rambo III

Final part begins four days after Trautman is captured by the Russians.

Guy telling story reveals himself to be POW Rambo rescued.

Yep, he was Banks all along.

Describing Rambo's relationship with Trautman:
"a real friend in all that mud and blood and puke, that's one of a kind."
I get the mud and blood part, but puke?
Ha ha ha! 

At the end of eulogy, Rambo comes out of hiding and leaves Thailand to save Trautman.

So after one of the greatest plot twists of all time, there's no reason why events from war-torn Burma couldn't have been translated.

Lazy bastards.

Anyway, 3 days later in Afghanistan.

To be completely fair, I can't moan too much.

Trautman

Zaysen

However, dialogue contains another spectacular goof.

Vengance? Not vengeance?

That's it.  I'm done.

Supplementary to film trilogy is DLC Baker Team.

Who cares, right?

Ghost in the Shell - The scoop and digest

Adapting much loved anime 22 years later is surely a bad idea?

Scarlett Johansson - Major Mira Killian / Motoko Kusanagi
"Beat" Takeshi Kitano - Chief Aramaki
Pilou Asbæk - Batou
Hideo Kuze - Michael Pitt
Chin Han - Togusa
Peter Ferdinando - Cutter

Cyber-terrorist survivor Mira Killian is chosen as a test subject by Hanka Robotics and CEO Cutter trains her as a weapon.

Working alongside Batou, Mira learns the ropes fast at anti-terrorist bureau Section 9.

After learning that a rogue geisha bot was ghost hacked by an entity only known as Kuze, she seeks answers by 'deep diving' into its AI.  During which, Kuze counter-hacks, forcing Batou to disconnect her.

Kuze sets about killing Mira's creator Dr. Ouelet by taking control of Hanka employees, but assassination attempt is foiled by Mira and Batou.

Mira is taken to Kuze's secret location and discovers failed Hanka test subject has created his own makeshift network.

Question your own memories girl.

Ouelet admits Mira wasn't the first, but in fact the 99th of Project 2571.  Ignoring Cutter's orders to euthanize, Ouelet gives her an address which may be of interest.

Cutter kills Ouelet and declares Mira must be terminated.

Using Ouelet's note, a woman reveals her daughter Motoko Kusanagi ran away and when arrested, committed suicide.

After taking care of Cutter's men, a spider tank is deployed to take out Mira and Kuze.

Mira disables armoured threat by ripping out motor, but loses arm in the process.

Kuze offers to merge his ghost with Mira, but a Section 6 sniper kills him.

Batou and co rescue Mira and with her 'consent', Aramaki executes Cutter.

Embracing her true identity, Motoko returns to work for Section 9.

Major embarrassment?

Yes and probably.

Live action isn't a patch on Mamoru Oshii's anime (surprise surprise), but worth watching.

Rupert Sanders' film looks absolutely stunning, although holographic Bladerunner-esque cityscape is perhaps too busy.

Clint Mansell's score could be worse and no matter what you think about 'whitewashing' controversy, leading lady was ideally cast.

Birth of Major, rooftop leap, upwards shot of plane above skyscrapers (now helicopter thing), puddle alley shoot out, mechanical fingers furiously typing, discussion on boat with a beer swilling Batou and of course, spider tank sequence, are all lifted from 1995 classic.

Overkill.

Geishabots must be based on Gynoids from GITS 2: Innocence and Kuze (baddie of GITS: S.A.C. 2nd GIG), amalgamates the Puppet Master, with fashion sense smacking of the Laughing Man.

Considering anime is largely for adults, why pussy out with violence shy 12A bullshit?

Bang goes the opportunity for head popping gore.

Premise is no longer thought provoking and feels very, very forced.

Celluloid may look beautiful, but at the same time, extremely fucking boring.

Excluding Johansson, performances are virtually lifeless and action couldn't be more stock.

Along with Terminator Salvation, this also displays title twice during opening credits.

Why? Who knows?

Free Fire - The scoop and digest

I'm a huge fan of Ben Wheatley, so was obviously well up for latest effort.

Sharlto Copley - Vernon
Brie Larson - Justine
Armie Hammer - Ord
Cillian Murphy - Chris
Babou Ceesay - Martin
Jack Reynor - Harry
Sam Riley - Stevo

In 1978, arms deal taking place inside a derelict warehouse goes awry.

Buyers:

Frank, Stevo, Chris and Bernie.

Sellers:

Vernon, Harry, Martin and Gordon.

You've also got 'bird' Justine and representative Ord.

After merch and dosh are exchanged, shit hits the fan when Harry shoots Stevo for putting his cousin in hospital after refusing to get a bit friendly with junkie.

Mass mayhem ensues, with respective trigger fingers getting extremely itchy.

During which, two men hired to steal the money take aim, but are ultimately killed before employer can be revealed.

When sent to call for back up by Chris, Frank is killed by his own explosive trap meant for Vernon.

Before dying from multiple wounds, Martin reveals he hired two geezers (Howie and Jimmy), to double cross Vernon and split the cash.

Unlucky pal.

Chris manages to make it upstairs and kills Vernon, but Ord selfishly cuts brief telephone conversation short.

Harry attempts to flee in his van but Stevo isn't having any of it.  They kill each other in a bizarre Mexican standoff, as although tyres crush Stevo's head like a melon, bullet fired just before murder is enough to cook Harry's goose.

Ord and Chris agree to call a truce, take the money and chill out until the fuzz turns up.

Justine has other ideas.

She blows Ord away and 'accidentally' shoots Chris, who eventually succumbs to over indulgence of lead poisoning.

As escape is made, flashing lights and sirens wail, and fate of briefcase bitch is left ambiguous.

Good fun

Okay, first things last.

Before the bandwagon of Reservoir Dogs is jumped upon, let's not forget Tarantino's famous debut copied so much from Ringo Lam's City on Fire.

Yeah, I just had to get that in there.

Thanks to Wheatley's intricate direction of fickle betrayal, isolated situation remains absorbing.

How things pan out during modest running time is cartoonish and dragged out, but at the same time - really fucking clever.

Sharlto Copley steals the show, but quality of support pours like wine on a hot summer's day.

However, some characters are just here for the sake it.

Accomplished script is frustrating, as profanity contains few laughs.

Ears pricked up when Harry says "Suck on this!" to Stevo.

Taxi Driver?

This isn't a classic by any means, but nevertheless, entertaining.

A tasty foccacia of video game miscellany that mix nicely with others

Latest epic begins with soundalikes.

Catalyst (New Found Glory album) and Catalypse (C64)

Horrigan (In the Line of Fire) and Harrigan (Predator 2)

Enemy of the State and Enema of the State (blink-182 album)

Samara and Zamzara (C64)

Pyro (X-Men) and Pyron (Darkstalkers series)

Jak and Jax (debuted in Mortal Kombat II)

Lookalikes

Hokuto (Street Fighter EX series) vs Kasumi (debuted in The King of Fighters '96)

Jim Raynor (Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty) vs Ethan Thomas* (Condemned 2)

*Protagonist was clean shaven in Criminal Origins.

Saisyu (The King of Fighters '95 boss debut) vs Zan Takahara aka Claude (Undercover Cops) 

Matt Gables, aka Bubba, could be mistaken for Axel Stone from 1991 Mega Drive classic Streets of Rage.

Don Bluth left Disney to form his own studio in 1979.

Not to be confused with Escape from Singe's Castle, official 1991 arcade sequel Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp was beautiful to watch, but like its predecessor, sucked smelly ass in the gameplay department.

When Morduc places Death Ring on Daphne's finger, Dirk's loved one is transformed into a monstrous banshee.

Eve prepares to take a bite of forbidden fruit, thus sealing Garden of Eden's destruction.

Both look practically the same as The Little Mermaid's antagonist Ursula.

It's possible sea witch was Bluth's unused baby, and Disney 'borrowed' design.

Who knows?

Bluth copied his very own Sir Hiss from 1973 Disney classic Robin Hood.

No doubt about this one.

Aladdin's resident Genie rings the loud bells of Space Ace villain Borf.

Jesus Christ.  At least paint him a different colour.

In truly bizarre circumstances, Disney ripped off Disney with Zach Braff (Chicken Little) and Honker Muddlefoot (Darkwing Duck).

Now you've got the taste for this shit.

Clockers vs Anatomy of a Murder

Indigenous vs The Dinosaur Project

Rush'n Attack (NES) vs Blastfighter

Home computer ports retained Japanese name Green Beret, and artist obviously read The Punisher.

Seeing literally double.

The Complex vs Lucius

Could they be ANY similar?

HA HA HA!

You could also throw Ed Sheeran's debut album Plus into the equation.

Offerings vs Gremlins

Parody?

Housebound (Region 1) vs Silent Hill: Homecoming (North America)

Kingsman: The Secret Service vs Shallow Grave (The Criterion Collection)

Abduction vs Splinter Cell: Conviction

Holy SHIT!

Sex Tape (not to be confused with found footage horror Sx_ Tape) vs The Beatles - Help

Or more appropriately:

Cameron Diaz vs John Lennon and Jason Segel vs Paul McCartney

Outrageous.

American Horror Story: Hotel vs Debbie Harry's Kookoo

Situation is skewered yes?

While I don't expect many to agree, there's something very fishy about:

Fear Factory - The Industrialist vs Dead Space 2

(Frowns).

DJ Shadow - The Mountain Will Fall vs David Lynch - The Big Dream

Both should come with the warning of 'danger of death'.

Probably Halo 4's best easter egg is:

Big Scary Laser - do not look into beam with remaining eye

Aphex Twin (Selected Ambient Works 85-92) vs Yellow Pages logo

What the...

(Fuck?)

Well said.

Portal vs Fire Exit sign

Here's Lord Kitchener pointing the finger.

Clearing up an urban myth.

Poster was not produced during World War I, or used for official recruitment.

In fact, Alfred Leete's iconic design only became popular after conflict ended.

Almost a century later.

The Pop Group - Citizen Zombie and Saxon - Call to Arms

Courtesy of Dr. Vincent Gilgamesh, there's even a parody in the very obscure SNES game Timeslip.

Your Planet Needs You

New Model Army - Carnival vs M. C. Escher's Eye.

Say no more.

The Uninvited (2008 poster) vs Knock Knock (2007)

Now compare both to actual still from Bob Clark's original stalk and slash 1974 classic Black Christmas. 

Since 1975, Beholder (or Eye Tyrant) has gone through various transitions in fantasy tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons.

I accuse Cacodemon (Doom) of stealing design.

Blasteroids is the third official arcade sequel of Asteroids.

It seems Mukor was 'influenced' by Lo Pan's 'sight' familiar from Big Trouble in Little China.

When compared to Mukor, Blood Money's final creature doesn't reek of originality.

Okay, what's next?

Older Joe (Bruce Willis) stares at time machine in sci-fi thriller Looper.

Which IMHO is perversely like.

Emperor's home from Sega's voice acting tour de force The House of the Dead 2.

Zod's warship Black Zero in the lamentable Man of Steel has the vibe of a Terraformer in PS3 sequel Resistance 3.

Alien mothership letting rip in the terrible Independence Day is very similar to the intro of 1992 SNES classic Contra III: The Alien Wars.

Coincidence?

The idea of Inside Out has been likened to Numskulls comic strip of yesteryear.

While I agree to a certain extent, that's where similarities end.

Shape wise, Riley's imaginary friend Bing Bong is part elephant, part cat and part dolphin.

I make the following observations.

Tail has me grinning like a Cheshire Cat in Disney example of Alice in Wonderland.

Legs are kinda pink and cream.

Enter adorable saggy cloth cat Bagpuss.

I have no idea what kind of animal weaselly Servant is supposed to be from cinematic platformer Heart of Darkness, but snout me.

What the fuck were designers on?

Scanning barcodes...

Clemens (Alien 3)

Agent 47 (Hitman)

Finishing nicely with.

Oysterband - Rise Above

Come on, name another?

Riot Police in Predator: Concrete Jungle (which shares name, but not plot of Dark Horse comic of same name), looks remarkably like Chaos Dreadnought (aligned to the blood God Khorne), of Warhammer 40,000 fame.

Evil Ryu was given a menacing makeover for Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition.

Now for something very, very fucking WEIRD.

Developed by Limenko and released in 2000, Legend of Heroes was a 4P Korean arcade scrolling brawler that few have heard of.

Even I don't believe Capcom ripped obscurity off.

The drill (in various situations).

In the Titty Twister's storage room, Seth (George Clooney) gives pneumatic vampire weapon a dance in From Dusk Till Dawn.

After conquering Silent Hill once, Harry Mason can acquire the rock drill.

House of the Dead spin-off Zombie Revenge wasn't everybody's cup of cocoa, but a certain melee weapon is of particular relevance.

After Jupiter, Saturn is the second largest planet in the Solar System.

The first stage of 1990 PC Engine shmup W Ring: The Double Rings is set on...

You also get Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.

Want more?

Your wish is my pleasure.

Frontier: Elite II warms things up.

Elite: Dangerous features a Saturn-esque planet.

Presenting my fabulous four.

Galaga: Destination Earth (PS1)

Eliminate Down (Mega Drive)

Pulstar (Neo Geo)

Super R-Type (SNES)

Impossible object Penrose Triangle was designed by Swedish graphic artist Oscar Reutersvärd in 1934.

Music

Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Get Lost VI

Warpaint - The Fool (Deluxe)

Múm - Smilewound

Sky - Mozart album

Above & Beyond - Tri-State

Tracer - Water for Thirsty Dogs

Video games

Rock 'n Roll
Can't see it? I suggest a trip to the opticians...

Title screen of non-fixed area 1988 arcade shmup Ark Area.

Title screen of 1984 Manic Miner sequel Jet Set Willy.
Was this the first computer game to feature a rendition of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata?

Matthew Smith was such a clever sod.

Last one.

Sally (Oblivion) 

Thunder, thunder, thunder, ThunderCats... Hoooo!

2011 series reboot was cancelled after its first season.

Demon priest Mumm-Ra gazes into his cauldron.
For the record, Snarf irritated the fuck out of me.

Situation was parodied in Family Guy episode The Man with Two Brians (more than likely a spin on Steve Martin comedy The Man with Two Brains).

The whole cauldron idea may have been lifted from Time Bandits.

Evil (David Warner) uses his bowl of water to track Randall and co from the Fortress of Ultimate Darkness.  For fun, note the mysterious Horseflesh (Marcus Powell).

But wait, did Terry Gilliam draw inspiration from 1963 classic Jason and the Argonauts?

Zeus (Niall MacGinnis) oversees the mortals from Olympus.

In Greek mythology, three-headed beast Cerberus guards the Gates of Hell.

To begin, Dwayne Johnson action vehicle Hercules (2014).

Game start.

Resident Evil (Gamecube remake)

God of War

Gluttony boss (Dante's Inferno 2010)

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night

Mythical monster isn't a boss in linear DS outing Order of Ecclesia.
Instead, Shanoa must find three Custos glyphs in order to face Dracula.

For Ethan's nightmare to continue outside the Baker residence, three copper head reliefs must be placed in the flawed, but mostly great Resident Evil 7: Biohazard.

Mixing things up.

Years before the t-virus infected doberman pinschers in Resident Evil, Arthur must defeat fire-engulfed boss of same name in Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

Three boobs are better than two.

Mary (Total Recall 1990) and Desiree Dupree (American Horror Story: Freak Show)

Heads up.

3-Headed Shark Attack

Without a shadow of any doubt, Xbox exclusive Dino Crisis 3 has one of the worst camera systems in video game history.
Those with incredible patience will eventually face end boss Cebalrai.

King Ghidoarh (Godzilla franchise)

Three-headed giant (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)

In Monkey Island, Guybrush Threepwood uses the three-headed monkey catchphrase to momentarily distract.

Until next time.