Done and Dusted: Final Fantasy XIII-2 Demo (PS3)

Do we review game demos here?  Well, sod it, I'm going to anyway.  It's about time I posted something here instead of letting Xavier have all the fun.

Long, long ago, when I was young and you were even younger (unless you're older than I am, in which case HA HA!), Square-Enix released Final Fantasy XIII.  It was a long game, that had a 25 hour training mode which featured a very linear story and felt like the game was not just holding your hand, but making damn sure you didn't go off on your own and have fun.  Once you got past that, things opened up a bit, and the remaining 75 hours or so were left up to you, but at that point you really didn't care any more.  The grind of the opening chapters had worn you down too much.

Oddly enough, a lot of people didn't like it very much.  Sure, the graphics were stunning (on the PS3), and the voice acting reasonably well done (even if most of the characters were either uninteresting or irritating), but that wasn't going to save the game from the critics (Edge gave the game 5/10 because of the linear start), or the gaming public.

Okay, so 2009 isn't that far away, but fast-forward to 2012 and the arrival of Final Fantasy XIII-2 looms upon us (unless you're in Japan, in which case it's fallen upon you all ready).

Now, I've only had a chance to play the demo so far, since the game isn't out for another couple of weeks from the date I type this, but the segment I go to play...  Yea.  Final Fantasy is back.

I easily plunged almost 4 hours in to this demo, only getting stuck once becuase I hadn't bothered to read the instructions and had no idea how to use the Moogle which joins you on this adventure.  Once I had that bit sorted, the rest was a fun-filled breeze of an adventure.

You play as Lightning's sister Sarah, and newcomer Noel.  I chose to have Noel lead the party, though I was free to change at any time, including during battle.  The demo dumps you (apparently in Chapter 2) in the Bresha Ruins in the time period 005 AF (which becomes more logical in the main game) and gives you a battle nice and early on - with the option to indulge in a few tutorials if you feel you need them.  Fight over, and you get to experience the ruins.  This is mostly running around, chatting to NPCs, who make a welcome return, and performing side missions (which took the form of fetch quests or battle quests) while you locate and defeat the big-bad for the area.  Once done, you get a nice trailer for the game and then it's game over.

The battle system's seen a bit of a tweak.  Instead of a summon, the demo allowed me to add a captured monster to the party (up to 3 at any one time, though you can capture as many as you like - albeit one of each species).  These monsters can be levelled up alongside the player characters, using items won in battle or purchased from the shops (well, crazy shop lady) dotted around.  Player progression follows the idea of XIII, allowing you to upgrade levels in the various fighting catagories (Commando, Ravager, Medic, etc...) and then use the Paradigm Shift mechanic to switch between the various roles.  Monsters have one type of role to start with, but have the ability to learn new skills when fused with other monsters. They also learn new skills as they level up and each monster has their own skill set and learning ability.  They also get an Overdrive/Limit Break system called Feral Link.  The monsters share the Feral Link bar, so you won't ruin it by changing them around during Paradigm Shifts.  Other than the new monster mechanics, battle goes as FFXIII with the player controlling one character and AI doing the rest of the work, though having the option to swtich character during the battle was a nice touch I never used.

So, what did I think?  I think I took 3 hours too long, just running around and arsing about.  Random encounters are back (which is a good thing if you ask me, I missed them), and I spent a long time just enjoying the grind.  I only did a few of the fetch quests, though I did level up the monsters I used to the best of their available ability.  I even attempted the Big-Bad a couple of times, getting squashed like a bug for my efforts.  After the fight, the game just picked me back up, dusted me off, and told me to go grind some more.  No restarting from last save, just a restart from the moments just before the battle with any tactical changes I'd made still intact.  It was brilliant.  

I was even treated to a small puzzling section, involving running around on vanishing squares while collecting crystals.  It wasn't hard, but it was interesting and felt like it could get much, much harder if it wanted to.

This is not a long demo (for a Final Fantasy), but it's good enough to want to spend a long time playing.  The graphics are just as good as FFXIII, the voice acting is good enough for the main characters to allow you to get in to the game.  The backing conversations you walk past can sometimes sound a little over-acted, but just walk away and they fade out.  What this demo does do is give you a taste of what's to come.  Not a small nibble, but a good sized slice of the gameplay mechanic cake.  Of the story, you get a sip, but it's enough of a flavour to make you want more - which is good because I haven't yet really gotten in to XIII (which is something I really ought to do at some point).

Should you buy the game?  If you like Final Fantasy games, but felt a little put-off by FFXIII then this is the game for you.  99% of the problems are fixed and even the demo feels like an apology.  If you enjoyed FFXIII then you ought to LOVE this.  If you hate Final Fantasy (or JPRGs as a whole), then there's probably very little for you here, but this could be a good starting point into the genre.  It's not as complicated as older FF titles, and it feels a lot more open and free than XIII.  At least download the PSN or XBLive demo and give it a try.  You never know, you might like it.

I did.

Amazon.co.uk Widgets

Done and Dusted: Sherlock, season 1

Created by Steven Moffatt and Mark Gatiss, Sherlock is a new BBC modern take on the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Staring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, the 3 part series is set in modern London and takes the story ideas from the old books and puts a new sheen on them

This was announced back in 2008, with a broadcast to be late 2009, should the pilot be successful. However, the pilot cost a boatload, and the rumours were that this was a potential disaster. The BBC did not show the pilot, and instead re-shot this in a three part series, 90 minutes an episode.

The pilot is on the DVD, which I am working my way through, and is a different format to the show as now. Once I get to it I'm sure I'll be able to comment.

The three part series aired in July 2010 and I gratefully lapped this up, as a fan of the books, and someone looking for good TV.

From the start it takes the Sherlock story in new and exciting ways, with him doing mass texts during a police press conference, meeting a shell shock Watson and showing his analytical genius at every turn. It could be compared to CSI in the way it shows his thoughts and reviews of his analysis, but I found that Sherlock does this much quicker and seamlessly during the investigations.

The relationship that Sherlock and Watson have, and the two actors have, sparkles. Each plays so well off of the other. Even the bit parts in the show have a good deal of polish, so even when the two of them are scene stealing the other actors are not drowned out.

The shows length is probably the best thing, 90 minutes give ample time for the story to develop and twist and turn. Exploring dead ends, running after various criminals and having epic showdowns, especially the season end.

With season 2 already started, and excelling with new takes on the original stories, I will happily recommend this to anyone. The DVD is cheap, and the more people who grab it, the better chance of a third season. And this really does need to be picked up again and again as I really do not see much from the BBC that is worth the license fee.

Done and Dusted: Source Code

When I saw the trailers for this I penned this in as a must see. One thing led to another and I never got round to it.

So I was gad when this hit DVD so I could watch it and enjoy some of the best sci fi and sci fact in a while. Ill get back to the fact bit near the end.

The film starts with Army helicopter pilot Colter Stevens, played by Jake Gyllenhaal of Donnie Darko fame, waking up on a train, being refer too as Shawn, and generally have a very confusing and frightening 8 minutes. He looks different to who he is, he is near Chicago and he is being talked to by a woman who seems to know him. Or at least the person he looks like. Then the world explodes.

When he wakes he finds himself in a cockpit of his aircraft being talked to by an Air Force Captain Colleen Goodwin, Vera Farmiga, who verifies his identity, a strange process. Between her and Dr. Rutledge, Jeffrey Wright, he learns he is part of the source code. This device takes two phenomenons, one of which is the electrical charge that is stored within the human mind after death. The other is a human’s memory of the last 8 minutes of life. Using this, the source code and create an alternate reality where they can find out who bombed the train and stop a further bombing occurring.

During the film he jumps back many times, creating a strong bond with the woman, Christine, and a desire to save the passengers. He also discovers that he actually died, and in questioning the Captain finds out that he is on life support. The Captain empathises with his condition, but Dr Rutledge just sees him as a tool to further his project.

The film pans out quite quickly and tells a great story, you end up wondering if he could affect reality with his actions and really end up cheering him on. Its very groundhog day like that, but the twist at the end if mind blowingly fantastic.

This is where I head to the sci fact part of my initial lead in. Of course, as this is theory and conjecture there will always be those that state that it is sci fi. However, during my adventures into writing I concocted a theory for travelling within different dimension/timelines. If you could find a way of shifting your energy/essence from one reality signature you could jump to another. You could see what the left path was, then shift yourself to a universe where you take the right whilst retaining everything you learnt.

This was all random theory for a sci fi piece that I never wrote, but it was some incredible thinking that was done during my often-extended period of insomnia. Or spells in the bath.

This film, with the twist, almost took this idea word for word and it made me very happy to see this kind of thinking in a film. Most films avoid the high brow for fear of losing audiences, but taking the risk is well worth it.

This is a good film for sci fi fans and anyone who likes sci fi series like slides and quantum leap. The characters are nice, if not too deeply explored, and sometimes quite 2D. The scenery is lovely, and the action scenes push the film forward with necessity rather than explosions just because.

Done and Dusted: Attack the Block

I have found that sometimes, my expectation of a film can be shockingly off; especially of I make a leap of judgement without research. Often this leads me to watch a bad film; in this case it was an excellent film.

Attack the Block is a British film, and produced by those people who had done Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim Vs the World.

You can see why my perception of this was initially a comedy, especially as Nick Frost was also in it.

The film starts in London, somewhere in the estates, following a nurse, Sam played by Jodie Whittaker, during bonfire night. A gang of kids mugs her for her phone; during the struggle the leader pulls a knife. Then a meteor hits a nearby car and she flees.

The leader, Moses played by John Boyega, goes into the car to steal anything there, only to be attacked by a small white critter. After being cut up he and his gang chase this thing and kill it. Realising it to be some alien thing, the head back to their block to store it somewhere safe.

They head to Hi-Hatz, and his fortified weed room, to store it. Whilst there they witness more falling aliens and the gang decide to tool up and take the creatures out. At this point they think that they are all little white weedy things. They arrive in the park to find that they really are very big black things with glow in the dark teeth.

As they flee, the cops arrive with Sam looking for the muggers. Moses is caught and bundled into the van and the creatures then butcher the police. His gang comes to his aid, stealing the cop van and hightailing it back to the block. Where they crash into Hi-Hatz car, leading a creature to eat his bodyguard, as they flee into the building looking for safety.

This film blew me away and the simple story that it tells, it’s very much in the nature of Cloverfield. Close film action to the characters and quite visceral scenes at times. It’s not overly gory or shocking, but the sense of fear and panic you get as the black creatures chases the gang down and kill them can be palpable.

The creature effects are brilliant, rotascope to get them looking matt black and nice CGI for the teeth, over the top of a guy in costume. I spent a good portion of the film debating on if the critter was full CGI or actor.

The science in this is amusing as hell, and is a good enough excuse for this romp. The kids were found in London and the language in this was done by a writer who seems to be taking more pot than some of the characters.

I recommend this to any sci-fi fan, or anyone who likes black comedy or action. Not one for hard fi fans, or if your looking for scares, but very much attention grabbing for the rest.

Done and Dusted: Race to Witch Mountain

Disney has a variety of film series, especially live action, and all have followed the Disney rule of three to a tee.

Race to Witch Mountain, so Wikipedia states, is a remake of the first film, Escape to Witch Mountain. Which in reading the synopsis I really doubt.

Race to Witch Mountain starts with the crashing of a UFO and arrival of the government suits, led by Henry Burke, played by Ciarán Hinds. A ruthless individual who will do anything to deal with the alien intruders.

We then flash to a cab with our favourite all time wrestler come actor Dwayne Johnson, who is Jack Bruno. We see him driving fairs to the UFO convention which he describes a freak central, and ends up dropping Alex Friedman, Carla Gugino, to the convention at Planet Hollywood.

He then is derailed by a couple of goons, who he quickly deals with in typical action man style, then ends up finding two kids in his car, Sara (AnnaSophia Robb) and Seth (Alexander Ludwig), who offer him stupid amount of money to drive in “that direction”.

So they head into the desert, display a series of powers, get attacked by a armoured kill droid and end up driving around like loony’s until the plot takes them to Witch Mountain.

The original Escape to Witch Mountain had the kids as orphans who survived a “boat accident”, but other than that it was similar, ish.

This new film is a good romp and has some laughs and references that some can spot, especially the obvious Winnebago. The classic travelling van for any alien related American based film.

My memories of the first films, and other sequels are really faded, but this is good for kids and adults and stands up to the previous films, the possibility of a sequel is there as well, but I doubt it.

Other reviews were average, as in around 50%, but it stormed the box office and became the first Disney film in 2009 to hit number 1.

Give it a watch, especially if you have kids or fond memories of the original eras films.

Done and Dusted: Clash of the Titans

Remakes can be varied things, and often end up being rubbish, or brilliant re-designs. Listing the good ones is a simple task, take one hand, count on your fingers and don’t reach five.

The bad ones I have found to be an ever-increasing list, and regrettably this is one that should be ade4d to it.

Now, I’m not saying the film itself is that bad, for an action romp with monsters and Gods and fighting, it is entertaining. But compared to the original, it is lacking and not all there.

Plot wise, we follow Perseus, Sam Worthington, found in a coffin with his dead mother, raised by a fisherman, Pete Postlethwaite, and his family. A mysterious woman watches him, Io as we find out later, played by Gemma Arterton. The start of the film grounds him and his family as men, often slighted by the Gods, who end up watching the statue of Zeus being toppled by Argons as they declared war on the Gods.

Hades turns up and slays the warriors, then destroys the boat the family are on for good measure. Classic Greek tradegy style, and the family are drowned with Perseus being left in the wreckage and rescued by the Argons.

The Gods, led by Zeus, played by Liam Neeson, discuss retaliation at mans blatant affront. Hades turns up, played by Ralph Fiennes quite nicely, and convinces Zeus to let him deal with the Argons and release his child, the Kraken.

Meanwhile, in the Argon royal court, the royal family are insulting the Gods further, which leads to Hades turning up in the midst of them, slaughtering the soldiers present and sparing Perseus, as well as revealing that his is a demigod. His conditions for sparing the city of Argon, the sacrifice of Andromeda, Alexa Davalos, to his Kraken.

And so the task of saving the is given to Perseus and he sets out, honour guard of red shirts in tow, to save the city.

The film then pays homage to the original in several ways, the mention of the owl, the scorpions, Pegasus amongst other things. Yet none of this seems to match the originals way of handling the tale. Yes, it is very gritty and the “I shall do this as a man” is driven down your throat often enough. Perseus still ends up using the Godly gifts, and the final fight is a let down as it is a case of use head on monster.

Aside from this, there are some nice differences in the film to at least make it worthwhile to watch.

It is a bit blatant on the 3D bits, and the CGI is par for the course. Acting is OK, no outstanding contributions, and the music score matches what’s on the screen.

Overall an ok film, but the original was far better, a bit of a popcorn flick or background type thing.

 

Done and Dusted: Storm Front

This is another book review, which I blame Robin for getting me into an addictive series. I don't know why I didn't get into this series sooner, although I expect its because my primary reading genre is fantasy, not dark fantasy.

The book in question is the first in Jim Butchers "The Dresden Files", and tells the story of Harry Dresden who is a private investigator and wizard. He is even in the phone book as wizard, and is the only one.

This is a real world setting, although it is suggested that the darker, more fantastic elements are creeping into the world. This is why Harry has set up shop in Chicago; he also likes helping people with his magic.

As any classic PI, Harry is in financial difficulties and is used as a consultant with the police and the Chicago Special Investigations (SI) Unit. The head of this unit is his friend, Lieutenant Karrin Murphy, who comes to Harry with the odd things that can't be solved with normal police work.

The book, Storm Front, starts with the classic damsel in distress calling to discuss a missing person case. Before that, Harry is called in by Murphy to view a scene of two people who had their hearts ripped out. As Harry works though the two cases, he realises they are connected, but not before encountering demons, fey, vampires, mobsters and being threatened by the White Councils hound.

This book is a real page-turner for me, as the characters are likeable, the relationships believable and the twists and turns fun to meander down, if a bit obvious at times.

The best bit for me is the magic system, as everything magic based in this world relies on focus and energies. Practically anything can be done so long as you have the right will and focus, as well as power enough to back it. Love potions, not a problem, rituals, easy, wands and staves and magical artefacts, the works.

Magic also has a variety of flavours, although the first book does not explain a huge amount about them. Dresden, for all his experience, is still only human, but he does have Bob, an intelligent air spirit who functions as a computer for him.

The first book also drops various hints over what is to come in the series. His family, the death of his master, the fact he killed someone with magic. Whilst not applicable to the main story, all these little things add to a world that you want to know more about.

After finishing the first book, I have promptly bought the second, which I am consuming at a rapid rate. I recommend this to anyone of a fantasy bent, but also those who enjoy the classic PI style and story. The book series also generated a TV series, which is nothing like the books, but for a TV spin off is fun too watch.

Even if you’re not a major fantasy buff I would say pick up the first book and give it a try.

Done and Dusted: Knocked up

So, whilst ideally trying to watch something late one night, this film came on. My knowledge of this film was sketchy at best, and my perception of it was a bad comedy around the idea of girl getting knocked up and guy being inept.

It turns out, even though I was not really paying too much attention, that my perception was wrong.

I shall explain...

Knocked up stars Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl, as two people who meet during a drunken one night stand. Seth, playing Ben Stone, is a lazy Canadian illegal immigrant, living off his compensation from a traffic accident. He lives with several stoned friends who are working on a website that will show when full frontals happen in movies. Katherine plays Alison Scott, a hard working producer on E!, an entertainment show who is given camera time as presenter.

So she goes out to celebrate, meets Ben, who while inept is at least charming, and they drunkenly get it on. Eight weeks later she discovers she is pregnant and contacts Ben to tell him this. Both are a little freaked, but decide to have the kid and work on the relationship.

And so the film begins to turbo off into the rom com side of things as the relationship deepens and issues arise.

My first reaction to this film was a whole lot of, "its you". Many is the cameo part from Harold Ramis as Harris Stone, to Alan Tudyk as Jack a boss at E!. This meant I gave the film enough attention to see the glimmers of comedy that I had initially thought were not in this film, and actually relate to the characters.

Whilst Ben is inept, he does try and you really feel for his position, especially as he deals with "HORMAL WOMAN OF DOOM". Alison is great as a first time pregnant woman trying to deal with the baby, father and pressures of work. She also has a crazy sister; whose husband also has relationship issues and was another "its you" moment, Paul Rudd.

There is a fair amount of stoner gags and swearing, Seth Rogan is in good form and the relationships sparkle.

This is a good film to watch, especially with a partner or female friend, but can easily be watched for the man humour with Seth. However, it did not really hold my attention as I said above, but it was nice to have my views of this film changed to something positive.

Done and Dusted: Knight and Day

I’m a fan of spy stuff, especially funny spy stuff. Even Spy Hard was enjoyable to a degree for me.

So when I heard about Knight and Day, with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz, I was looking forward to a humorous romp with guns, spies and helicopters. Even the trailer made this film to be exactly what I was looking for.

I bought the DVD as a 2 for 10 deal and settled down to watch.

The film starts with Diaz, June, rummaging around scrap looking for engine parts. It quickly jumps to an airport and Cruise, playing Roy, eyeing up various people.

As he is looking over a toy counter he sees June, lugging the heaviest hand luggage in the world. He “bumps” into her, polite greeting is given, and she watches him through security whilst explaining every motor part in her bag. Then he “bumps” into her again after security and boards the flight after her ticket if rejected.

For a spy fan it was obvious that he just used her to transport something through security.

You are swiftly directed to the “bad” guys who have been watching his reactions and who he met. The chief decides to let June onto the plane to see who she is to him.

This then lead to an interesting flight where, whilst June is pepping up in the toilets after he drink was split, Roy eliminates the agents on the plane, including both pilots.

Up to this point everything was as I was expecting and I was looking for the humour to continue, and to a degree it did. Roy, being apologetic, professional and June panicking. The warning of not getting into any cars and “Dip” procedure.

However, the sparking fun never came, even in the bits that were used in the trailer to promote this film. Both Cruise and Diaz felt as if they were dialling this in at times, when both have shown sparkling performances in similar roles.

The action is OK, a bit swift at times, and usually obviously not them doing the stunts.

I do have to say that, at times, the spark crept in and this was the film I was looking forward too. It just did not do it enough. Some nice touches with the drugged up montages, and bit of spy-fi with the mcguffin being used as a plot, but otherwise a let down.

In an age with historical spy-fic with The Man from Uncle and Burn Notice, the films of both Cruise and Diaz, it’s a pity to see something like this.

If you’re really into spy stuff, watch the other things mentioned, if you like humour as well, watch Burn Notice. Otherwise, it’s a cheap flick which you can breeze through in the background and enjoy the odd scene.

Done and Dusted: The Last Airbender

This is a film based on the animated cartoon done for Nickelodeon, telling the story of Ang: the last Airbender. Being a fan of the morning cartoon (for the English at least) I was interested in seeing what they had done to translate this cartoon to real world film style.

First we need to look at the world of Airbenders. This world is based on balance, with 4 nations living together, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Each nation is capable of manipulating their element using a combination of martial prowess and magic, read chi. In addition to the real world, there is also the Spirit world, which grants powers to the 4 nations. They also pass on guidance to the only person who can see and speak to them, the Avatar.

The Avatar is a balancing point, as the only person in the world who can “bend” all 4 elements, as well as commune with the Spirits. He is re-incarnated so he can always be able to keep the 4 nations in order and is incarnated to the different nations.

100 years ago, the Avatar vanished, and following that, the Fire nation began a campaign to free themselves from the Spirits guidance and restrict all other bending. This campaign leads to the destruction of the Air nation, as they would have been the nation who would have had the Avatar.

The film starts off, as the cartoon series did, in the land of the Southern Water Nation, read South Pole, where we find a brother and sister hunting. The brother is not a good hunter and the sister is a Water bender.

As they are hunting, they find a strange white light and break the ice under them to find a sphere of ice. In breaking it open they find a small boy and strange creature. In cracking the sphere a light shines into the sky and is spied by an iron ship that heads towards it.

The boy is taken to the sibling’s village, where they run into the ship and members of the Fire nation, including the Prince of the Fire nation, who is looking for an elderly person. During the search the boy is brought to the Prince and it is revealed he is covered in tattoos, which designate him as Air nation.

The boy is taken away, the siblings chase after him, and in a brief fighting sequence we see the boy escape, hook up with the siblings and discover he is the last Airbender.

So the story of Ang begins and the film proceeds to follow the first season, book, and section of the cartoon series.

This leads to my biggest complaint that is the cartoon series is filled with things going on, and with cutting it down to fit the film you just have a feeling of empty gaps at times. The relationships develop in jumps and the action does progress, but sometimes feels disjointed.

The other complaints I’ve heard about this film was that the characters are not cast like the cartoon. The Ice nation is portrayed as Inuit’s, the earth nation as Chinese and Air Tibetan. The Fire nation being more Mongol. In casting for the film, only the Fire nation seems to be cast as a non-white nation, only they have been cast primarily as Indian.

As a complaint, I find it minor to the gaps, which are in the film and lack of comedy. The brother is the non-powered character who usually wisecracked through the adventures. This is lacking in the film, as is Ang’s boyish humour and the flow in the fighting.

And that is my main complaint for a film, which should be a fighting film the fight chorography is naff.

Overall, this is an average film; one that kids can quite easily watch but will annoy anyone else. If you are really interested in the world, I would recommend watching the cartoon as it does fill the gaps and is funnier and entertaining.