Conclave - The scoop and digest

Based on Robert Harris' 2016 novel of same name, taut mystery thriller is written by Peter Straughan and directed by Edward Berger.

Ralph Fiennes - Lawrence

Jacek Koman - Wozniak

Lucian Msamati - Adeyemi

Stanley Tucci - Bellini

John Lithgow - Tremblay

Sergio Castellitto - Tedesco

Carlos Diehz - Benitez

Summary

Following the Pope dying of a suspected heart attack, the responsibility for the conclave falls on Cardinal Thomas Lawrence.

Three weeks later at the Vatican, the unexpected arrival of Mexican Vincent Benitez, Archbishop of Kabul, gets tongues wagging.

It's revealed the Pope secretly appointed Benitez using a legitimate procedure known as 'in pectore'.

With no candidate achieving the necessary majority of 72 votes, election spans multiple days.

During which, Lawrence finds himself at the centre of a conspiracy, casting a cloud of corruption over the Catholic Church.

The abyss calls out 

Forget the absurdity of Angels & Demons, this was great.

Excellent performances, superb cinematography, a haunting score and an intelligent script guarantees compelling entertainment.

While not really a whodunnit, hushed conversations reek of skulduggery and providing you haven't read the book, final twist hits with a sledgehammer.

Source material is immaculately observed and only Fiennes' character is changed, originally Jacopo Baldassare Lomeli.

Dune: Prophecy - Episode 2

Two Wolves

Written by Elizabeth Padden and Kor Adana

Directed by John Cameron

Following Kasha's inconclusive autopsy, Valya leaves for Salusa Secundus with Sister Theodosia to protect Ynez.

After Javicco orders Desmond's arrest, it's revealed that Tiran-Arafel is a tyrannical force, a reckoning.

Valya has her sister Tula put Raquella's great-great-granddaughter Lila through the Agony ritual to unlock her genetic memory so she can ask for more details about the premonition.

Javicco tells his wife Natalya about Desmond claiming he was swallowed by Shai-Hulud which gifted him a power he used to kill Kasha and Pruwet.

Valya confronts Desmond who intends to destroy the Sisterhood.  She employs the Voice to force him into suicide, but he resists, mocking her as she retreats.

One born twice

Chore springs into life during the last 20 minutes, with Desmond growing more menacing.

I'm just worried how dull other characters currently are.

When Lila slips into a coma and astral projects, shit briefly becomes Insidious, but thankfully horror isn't overdone.

And please dispense with the unnecessary sex scenes already.

'Probably' everything that ripped off SNK's Neo Geo

While the world was committed to churning out countless clones of Street Fighter II and Mortal Kombat, others focused their energies elsewhere.

Best Bout Boxing (1994)

Jaleco arcade boasts Ivan Drago, under the 'pseudonym' of Draef Varona.

To more important business.

Jyoji Hariuchi vs Joe Higashi

Carolde First vs Geese Howard

Biff Vugue vs Axel Hawk

Both were surely based on Eric Esch, professionally known as Butterbean.

Kim Hi-Soo vs Kim Kaphwan

Fightin' Spirit (1995-96)

Initially released for enhanced Amiga computers (namely the A1200 and A4000), Light Shock's game was published by neo Software.

Title screen vs Fatal Fury Special

Tong Lee vs Hwa Jai - Fatal Fury

This stage smacks of Billy Kane's South Town Village.

Yuri Hishimoto vs Sokaku Mochizuki - Fatal Fury 3: Road to the Final Victory

Burke Mortlock vs John Crawley - Art of Fighting 2 portrait

Copying quiff? Now that's attention to detail.

And rather appropriately, we get a derivative of blondie's stage from original game.

Check this out.

Loading screen vs Neo Geo CD

Okay then.

Fight Fever (1994)

The first South Korean developed game for the Neo Geo modelled itself on Fatal Fury 2 and Art of Fighting.  Unfortunately, Viccom's effort would look out of place on a Mega Drive.

Karate Kenji vs Geese Howard

Kim Hoon vs Ryo Sakazaki

Nick Commando's stage vs John Crawley's stage

Before facing Karate Kenji, end boss challenges player by sending a paper aeroplane, which subsequently cracks photograph.

Albeit without flying object, the same principle occurs during the intro to Art of Fighting.

Sticking with Fatal Fury's prequel, here's some weird shit.

Alli - Best of Best (1994) vs Todo

Knuckle Bash (1993) vs Ryo's motorbike

And yes, Elvis in the house.

Map - SWAT Police (2001) vs Art of Fighting 2

Rather than a fighting game, hack is a run-and-gun.

HA HA HA!

Gekido Advance: Kintaro's Revenge (2002)

Game Boy Advance sequel to PS1 game Gekido: Urban Fighters was a decent Final Fight clone.

Boss vs Musashi Akatsuki - The Last Blade

Tetsuo vs Moriya Minakata - The Last Blade 2

But the prize goes to:

Tetsuo and Koji vs Rock Howard and Kain R. Heinlein - Garou: Mark of the Wolves

Seriously, what the actual FUCK?

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is scheduled to be released on 24 April 2025.

BRING IT ON!

Miscellany

Double Dragon V: The Shadow Falls (1994) vs World Heroes

Geese Howard

Alfred Ashford - Resident Evil Code: Veronica

Anderson - Double Dragon II (Game Boy)

Exodus - Fighting Layer

Ghost - Final Fight Streetwise

Bruce Hasimikov - Top Ranking Stars

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z cover (2014) vs Ninja Masters (1996)

Yes I am reaching.

But not with this one.

Boy Kills World (2024) vs Garou: Mark of the Wolves

Coincidence? I don't think so.

Decapre¹ - Ultra Street Fighter IV vs King Lion² - Savage Reign

¹Debuted in Street Fighter Alpha 3 as apart of Juli and Juni's boss introduction.

²King Leo's 'shadow'.

Albert Wesker - Resident Evil (1996)

Eric Pirius in original's live-action intro.

Character smacks of 1P in Forgotten Worlds (1988), who gives off strong vibes of The Terminator (1984).

However.

John Crawley - Art of Fighting 2

Ignoring sunglasses, hairstyle does it for me.

The Punisher (1993)

Frank Castle's family photograph suddenly cracks.

We already know what happens in Art of Fighting.

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers vs Samurai Shodown II

Tear off the meat to get to the bone.
That's the way of the jungle!

Blanka's quote is eerily similar to:

All creature will die and all the things will be broken.
That's the law of samurai.

Player select

Galaxy Fight: Universal Warriors and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters (Mega Drive version)

And.

Fatal Fury 2

Cue the grand finale.

Master's Fury (1996)

Unico's successor to Dragon Master is another blatant piss take.

Fatal Fury 2

Kang Pung vs Kim Kaphwan

Game complete vs Player select

And.

Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (SNES)

Err, why are E. Honda, Dhalsim and Blanka purposely smiling for the camera?

(Laughs).

The King of Fighters '94

Sya Ki vs Benimaru Nikaido

Sakato vs Choi Bounge

Art of Fighting 2

Jane Isabelli vs Yuri Sakazaki

Tung Ga vs Takuma Sakazaki

Pearl Jack vs Jack Turner

Kill Ruki vs Geese Howard

And just for the hell of it.

Sakamoto vs Jubei Yagyu - Samurai Shodown

Tony Rung vs Dragon - World Heroes

Kang Tae Kwon combines two versions of Tung Fu Rue, namely stance (original) and face (Fatal Fury Special).

Piece of shit was remade in 1997 for the PS1 as The Master's Fighter exclusively in Japan.

Although sprites are identical, most characters were renamed.

Pearl Jack - Bill

Kill Ruki - Kain

Sya Ki - J. Choi

Kang Pung - Takuya

Kang Tae Kwon - Kang

Jane Isabelli - Mishell

Tung Ga - Gamp

Sakato - T660

Reverse fixture may span multiple parts, but I haven't decided yet.