Monday, 13 June 2022

The End of Video Game Box Art Mistakes

Epic conclusion pulls out all the stops.

Legend.

EU - Europe
NA - North America

After Burner II (EU/NA) - Mega Drive/Genesis
F-15 Eagle is depicted, but we fly an F-14 Tomcat.
Parodius (EU/NA) - NES
Miss Mishitarina replaces Chichibinta Rika, yet Las Vegas showgirl is here.
Also, Honey Mikayo (blonde in yellow dress) doesn't appear.
Largo Winch: Empire Under Threat - PS2, PC, Gamecube and Xbox
Protagonist looks very dapper in a cloud grey jacket and matching trousers.
But according to back.

Billionaire wears blue jeans.
Not even close.

Back to the Future Part II - home computers

Caption describes chaos in 1985, but this stage takes place in 2015.
We haven't gone back to 1955 to stop Biff's plan, because we're still in 2015.
Whoa this is heavy.

Akira - Amiga/CD32

Embarrassing pile of shit was an insult to the licence.

Anyway, to business.

2019 Neo Tokyo is about to E.X.P.L.O.D.E
Oops, it should be Neo-Tokyo and E.X.P.L.O.D.E.

However.

Wrongs are fixed.
But that's all they got right.

30 years after World War 3.
Really?

Source material begs to differ.

31 years after World War III
No fucking excuse.

Two screens with nonsense captions.


During a battle between the gangs Tetsuo, Kenedas childhood friend, loses control of his bike and just misses hitting one of the escaping mutant children.
In this zone, we control Keneda, not Tetsuo.  Also, it should be Keneda's.

Tetsuo mutates into a hideous blubblery mass.
No such word, but blubbery is.

Kenada - leader of the Capsule Gang & Tetsuo - childhood friend of Keneda
© 1987 Akira Committee
Anime was released in 1988, not 1987.

Okay, I've held back, so is it Kenada or Keneda?

Neither, because it's Kaneda.

HA HA HA!

Ninja Remix

C64

Game is an improved version of Last Ninja 2: Back with a Vengeance.

Let's check that.

This product is to be regarded as an updated version of Last Ninja II.
Fair enough about omitting subtitle (space restrictions), but numeral instead of number just irritates.

You arrive in this frightening and awesome modern world bringing nothing with you save your intelligence, skill and cunning and burning desire for vengence.
Dictionary shall have vengeance, in this life or the next.

For shits and confusing giggles, NES port of LN 2 (exclusive to NA) was simply called The Last Ninja.

(Bares teeth).

Amiga/Atari ST

Cover is the same.
Story explains that although beaten, the evil Shogun Kunitoki was not destroyed, and used all his mystic powers to transport himself through time to establish a new empire of tyranny in modern day Manhattan.
Good for him.  But there's one huge problem.

Game is a port of original.

Just... P-I-S-S OFF!

LN 2 was ported to 16 bits under the correct title, making shit even more fucking bizarre.

System 3 present the Premier Collection on Amiga.

Compilation features The Last Ninja.
Considering game doesn't exist under this moniker - astonishing stuff.

Reverse. Reverse.

Screen of Last Ninja is Ninja Remix.
How, what and why? It's enough to make your head explode.

Miscellany

Strap yourself in for the home straight.

The House of the Dead (EU) - Saturn
Not for the faint-hearted only those with nerves of steel and lighting reflexes will survive.
Those who possess lightning reflexes are fucked then.
The House of the Dead III - Sold Out Software PC release
Keep both barrels loaded and bring a friend along, House of the Dead III's storyline has you wading through a flood of blood and gore.
Another conversion failing to include The.
The Typing of the Dead (NA) - Dreamcast
Your rapid-fire typing skills spell doom for the undead in this utterly odd, challenging take-off on House of the Dead 2.
Take-off makes no sense (take would've been fine) and once again, The is missing.
Silent Hill 3 (NA) - PS2
Heather Morris is the voice actress, not character.
Apidya - Amiga
Sorcerer is misspelled as sorceror.
Die Hard Arcade (EU) - Saturn
Presidents should be President's.
Die Hard Trilogy (EU) - PS1
Three incredible adventures - Once intense game.
That is one brilliant mistake 
Snow White and the 7 Clever Boys (EU) - PS2
Snow White lives deep in a perfect forest live with seven clever boys who work everyday to protect the forest greenery and environment.
The only thing more amazing then Engrish description is this was actually licensed by Sony.
Operation Wolf - home computers
The No. 1 arcade of 1988 is recreated perfectly - 6 levels of thrilling coin-op action are brought to life on your home micro.
Arcade was released in 1987.
NAM-1975 (EU/NA) - Neo Geo
The roar of the helicopters overhead snaps us back into reality.
Will never forget the nightmare of that Summer.
Pretty sure they meant we'll.
Space Rebellion (EU) - PS2
Did they definately fuck up? Definitely.
Journey - Amiga
The use of 'a' is fine, until the end.
This is what makes Journey a uniquely compelling entertainment.
Which of course makes no sense. 
Total Recall - home computers
As Doug Quaid you Travel (capitalisation) to Mars.
Strange mutants, futuristic vehicles and a startling array of weaponry all captured in superbly executed graphics and a game play that compliments the success of the year's top movie.
A game play? A wh at?
More importantly, compliments is contextually wrong, as it should be complements.
Equinox (EU) - SNES
Y (HUGE GAP) our.
At first I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but...
The Terminator (EU/NA) - SNES
Kyle Reese's mission is to go back in time to protect Sarah Conner, mother of John Conner.
The rest of us remember Connor.
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (EU) - GBA
In the original timeline, Arnie was always a Model T-101, not T-100.
Ocean Commander (EU) - PS2
Its your mission to protect territorial water as a special arms commander, by using dreadnought, arms and military equipements.
Its should be It's and I only carry equipment.
Last Ninja 2: BWAV (Limited Edition) - C64
To help us complete our quest we''re given a Shiraken Star.
No such weapon, but in case of emergencies, I always carry a shuriken or two.
Last Ninja 3 - C64
The Shogun Kunitoki, the all-powerful master of the palace hasbrought you, the last of the Ninjas, to the very heart of his corruption and evil.
Is it difficult to leave a space? Apparently so.
Castlevania: Vampire's Kiss (EU) - SNES
Is Richter skillfull enough to banish Dracula to beyond Eternity?
Maybe, but I'm too skilful for my own good.
Jaws - home computers
Ignoring re-imagined story, assholes are under the delusion that protagonist is Brody, not Brodie.
Spinning on to the end.
Mans' deepest fear is back.  Nope, it should be Man's.

Nigel Mansell's World Championship Racing (EU) - SNES
Yes, the mistake is in the title, as they 'forgot' Racing.
More so, hold onto your enegines.
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (EU) - PS3, 360 and Wii
Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast is missing The and somebody clearly smoking crack refers to The Stone Roses song as She Bangs a Drum, whereas the rest of us know She Bangs the Drums. 
Waterworld: The Quest for Dry Land - PC
Attack and escape from enemy atolls on jet-skis, assult craft and rocket barges.
It's an assault to the senses.
Eliminator - Amiga
A war machine whose solitary quest is to eradicate all forms of life - travelling from planet to planet obliterating all in it's path.
Yes, its wrong.
Goat Simulator - PC
This was possibly done on purpose, but goats go 'Maaaa', not 'Baaaa'.
California Games (EU) - NES
Win individual events or wrap up the hole competition.  It's guaranteed to get your adrenalin pumping!
I get a different rush, the adrenaline kind.
International Ninja Rabbits - Amiga
The sequel to Ninja Rabbits features even more agressive animals.
Now if critters were aggressive, then I'd really be shitting myself.
The Karate Kid Part II - Amiga/Atari ST
Actual film quote in bold.
Live or die, man? Your choice! Live or die, man?
No referees? Then how do you know who wins? Whoever dead, doesn't! No referee. Then how do you know who wins? The one who's dead, doesn't.
I don't get it? Practice, Daniel-san, practice. You will! I don't get it. Practice, you will.
Daniel-san! This is not tournament! This time, the fight is for real!  Daniel-san, this not tournament. This for real.
Maniac Mansion (EU) - NES
Your task is to help Dave choose a rescue team and guide them on the wildest, wierdest mission your NES system has ever seen.
One of the weirdest blurbs I've ever read.
Populous (EU) - SNES
When can the man excell the God?
Who can say? But I excel at such matters.
R-Type (EU) - Master System
It's your against the creatures of the evil Bydo Empire!
Or more appropriately, it's you against...
Robocop 3 (EU) - Mega Drive
Old Detroit. The streets are full of danger. Only one man can stand alone against such numbers. Robocop!
To quote Dick Jones, he's a cyborg you idiot.
Finally.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (EU/NA) - SNES
This exciting Super NES sequel to the Legend Of Zelda and The Adventure Of Link uses 16-bit power to create a quest so colorful and detailed you don't just play it, you live it!
Ignoring Of, one of the greatest games of all time is a distant prequel. 
Signing off.

Friday, 10 June 2022

Jurassic World: Dominion - The scoop and digest

Colin Trevorrow returns to conclude Jurassic Park's overall storyline.

Chris Pratt - Owen Grady
Bryce Dallas Howard - Claire Dearing
Laura Dern - Dr. Ellie Sattler
Jeff Goldblum - Dr. Ian Malcolm
Sam Neill - Dr. Alan Grant
DeWanda Wise - Kayla Watts
Mamoudou Athie - Ramsay Cole
BD Wong - Dr. Henry Wu
Isabella Sermon - Maisie Lockwood
Campbell Scott - Dr. Lewis Dodgson

Summary

Four years after the events of Fallen Kingdom, or three years after Battle at Big Rock (confirmed to be canon during news report), dinosaurs roaming freely has forced humans to live differently.

Mercenaries hired by Biosyn kidnap Maisie and Blue's baby Beta for research, prompting Owen and Claire to embark on a globe-trotting rescue mission.

Meanwhile, giant locusts secretly engineered with prehistoric DNA threaten an ecological disaster.

Old and younger guard can't be having that now can they?

Joyless

Convoluted, perfunctory and tedious, what the FUCK happened here?

Getting the old band back together raised a smile, but all and sundry just go through the depressing motions and look like they'd rather be somewhere else.

Once in Malta, Bond-esque chase sequence with downgraded Indoraptors wasn't fun or exciting, just stupid.

New big bad Giganotosaurus fighting, but not killing Rexy, means filmmakers only partially raped Dino Crisis 2.

Having said that, principle of monster attacking catwalk is very similar to climax inside missile silo.

Unfortunately, it's not vaporised by a satellite laser, as the claws of Therizinosaurus ends paltry contribution.

(Sigh).

Jurassic Park III and Fallen Kingdom were awful, but the worst was saved until last.

Sunday, 5 June 2022

Famous Paintings in Video Games - Second Stroke

Art has always been a prominent feature in the Animal Crossing series.

What can be purchased varies from game to game and none are referred to by their actual title.

For example, J. M. W. Turner's The Fighting Temeraire (unique to New Horizons), is called Glowing Painting.

Anyway, I've chosen New Leaf.

L-R: Liberty Leading the People - Eugene Delacroix, The Milkmaid and Girl With a Pearl Earring - Johannes Vermeer and The Clothed Maja - Francisco Goya
L-R: Kabuki Actor Ōtani Oniji as Yakko Edobei - Tōshūsai Sharaku, Sunflowers (1888) - fourth version - Vincent van Gogh and Arearea - Paul Gauguin
Apples and Oranges - Paul Cezanne (left) and A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte - Georges Seurat (right)
Summer - Giuseppe Arcimboldo (left) and Basket of Fruit - Caravaggio (right)
The Fifer - Édouard Manet (left) and The Blue Boy - Thomas Gainsborough (right)
The Sower (left) and The Gleaners (right) - Jean-François Millet 
Mona Lisa (left) and Lady With an Ermine (right) - Leonardo da Vinci
The Bar at Folies-Bergeres - Édouard Manet (left) and The Hunters in the Snow - Pieter Bruegel the Elder (right)
The Nightwatch - Rembrandt (left) and The Birth of Venus - Botticelli (right)
Las Meninas - Diego Velázquez
Largo Winch: Empire Under Threat

To save repetition, the following are all by Amedeo Modigilani.

Jeanne Hébuterne in Red Shawl
Jeanne Hébuterne, Left Arm Behind Head
Nude Sitting on a Divan
Lunia Czechowska with a Fan
Jackie Chan Stuntmaster

The Scream - Edvard Munch
Mona Lisa - Leonardo da Vinci
Guernica - Pablo Picasso
Painkiller

The Seat of Justice Held in the Parliament at the Majority of Louis XV - Nicolas Lancret
The Card Players - Théodor Rombouts (left) and A Youth Singer - Claude Vignon (right)
Meditation of St. Francis - Francisco de Zurbaran
Thief: The Dark Project

Still Life with a Skull and a Writing Quill - Pieter Claesz 
The Penitent Magdalene - Georges de La Tour
Gone Home

Ophelia (detail) - John Everett Millais
Still Life with Apples on a Pink Tablecloth - Henri Matisse
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures

Technically parodies, but whatever.

The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp - Rembrandt
Mona Lisa - Leonardo da Vinci
Splatterhouse 3

Portrait of Doña Isabel de Porcel - Francisco Goya
Saturn Devouring His Son - Francisco Goya
Mansion of Hidden Souls

Helena Fourment with a Carriage (detail) - Peter Paul Rubens (left) and Madame Bergeret (detail) - François Boucher (right)
Portrait of Hendrickje Stoffels with a Velvet Beret (detail) - Rembrandt
No One Lives Forever

Portrait of Madame Juliette Récamier - Jacques-Louis David
The Reader - Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Remothered: Tormented Fathers

Medusa - Peter Paul Rubens
The Lamentation - Ludovico Carracci
Batman & Robin - Game.com

An Old Man with his Grandson - Domenico Ghirlandaio (left) and Death of Marat - Jacques-Louis David (right)
Watson and the Shark - John Singleton Copley
Until next time.

Wednesday, 1 June 2022

Men - The scoop and digest

In only his third feature, writer/director Alex Garland dives into the river of folk horror. 

Jessie Buckley - Harper
Rory Kinnear - The Men
Paapa Essiedu - James
Gayle Rankin - Riley

Summary

Following the apparent suicide of her husband James (who actually slipped and fell to his death when attempting to climb down from an upstairs balcony), Harper rents a house in picturesque Cotson to 'heal'.

During a walk in the woods, a naked man begins stalking her.

After several awkward and bizarre encounters with male locals, events take a sinister turn.

Gore, guilt and grief

Like Darren Aronofsky's mother!, opinions will be divided.

Menacing atmosphere is complemented by Rob Hardy's amazing cinematography.

Haunting score (composed by Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow), will make even the most stubbornest of hairs stand on end.

Buckley gives a stellar performance and Kinnear ensures no two personalities are the same.

Before meeting country bumpkin Geoffrey, Harper takes an apple from tree and takes a bite of classic forbidden fruit, recreating Adam and Eve.

The naked man also shows up in the makeshift Garden of Eden.

Symbolism? Err.

Whatever, the Green Man gives birth to Samuel, the vicar, then Geoffrey, and finally James.

For me, sequence didn't completely land.

Oh, giant vulva is taken from carvings depicting Sheela na gig.

Is hubby axed off screen? That's left for us to decide.

Why male contingent look the same is never explained and Harper not noticing didn't make any sense.

I suppose she perceives them differently because of rebirth principle.

But even that is questionable.
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