Another

By: Robert Murphy 

I have never been a super huge fan of the horror genre, if I was a character in a game I would have the weakest constitution in the group but never the less it doesn't stop me from playing a scary game or watching a scary show. Another though doesn't start right out into the shock or the gore aspects of the horror genre but rather it strives to give you the chills and unnerves you to your core with it's story. We follow a young student named Sakakibara Kouichi who just moved back to the town of his birth for school while his father is away on business. And while everything appears to be normal in this town, his class and the town have some secrets hidden just underneath the surface and Kouichi, just like a stereotypical horror movie character, keeps asking questions until he finds out just what is going on in his new home. 

From the very first episode of the show things are a little bit eerie and unnerving as it flashes images of creepily designed dolls every so often as if to try to place subliminal messages into your brain that this show is going to be a little off it's rocker. This was a little off putting at first as it seemed to be so out of place and not at all relevant to what is going on but you can never judge an anime before it's finished and so I kept going. Happily, I was rewarded for waiting it out as the pieces started to come together in the story but Another was trying too hard to put in some horror cliches that just didn't quite fit in. The horror aspects that did work for the show are when the cliches disappear and you get to watch the story unfold and Kouichi starts to figure out just what's happening around him. All the characters in Kouichi's class move about shadily and you can tell there is something right beneath the surface of each one of them. When this breaks out it is truly a shocking scene just for the pure dread that some of the characters will exude and they really have every right to do so as many of them and their families begin to die.

Now I apologize if my first paragraph may have led you to believe that there isn't any gore in Another, no this isn't the case because once the deaths start to occur in the show they can be pretty gruesome. The very first death in the show had me at a loss for words just for the ridiculousness behind it, it's was deliberately meant to be far-fetched and the writers wanted something unique that came off as corny. Other deaths are fairly standard things that we've all seen before but are exceedingly drawn out such as the replay moment over and over when a young nurse dies in an elevator collapse, her head is shown repeatedly hitting the floor and splattering blood in every direction like a watermelon at a Gallagher show. Stuff of this nature happens constantly throughout the show and while at first it was somewhat of a draw it quickly became a predictable part of Another. 

The sad part of all this is that the show had some intriguing aspects working for it but decided to make itself into another cheap horror flick about teenagers being murdered one by one. As I said before, Another starts out trying to give you the chills as Kouichi strives to find out the secret behind his class and eventually the secret to why they're all dying around him. It's an intriguing mystery to be honest and it had me hooked right up till the end because it's an idea that I just have never seen before. Kouichi's class is almost like there own select part of the school, they have their own rules and their own way of doing things and while this is no big news when you see how proper and advanced most Japanese schools are, this was still something unique. 

In the end, if Another had avoided using so many tired cliches that I have been numb to over the years, it would have been a much better show. The creepy angles that the show was going for worked for the story that I was watching but then things go all Miley Cyrus and crashes through with a big drawn out death scene with abnormal amounts of gore. There is a solid story buried underneath the rubble but it's not enough to save Another entirely. 

Good:

- A solid idea for a mystery and suspense story

- The dynamic of the kids in the classroom is something unique 

Bad:

- A gross amount of horror movie cliches

- Drawn out death scenes with an overabundance of gore and blood 

- Some of the deaths were just ridiculous and stupid to think about 

Scully Rating: 5.0 out of 10 

BattleBlock Theater

By: Robert Murphy

It seems like I was the guy who had always heard about the game, BattleBlock Theater, a fun platformer that feature ridiculous characters, abilities and would have you laughing all the way through. For whatever reason I never bought the game but now I have and I'm kicking myself for not buying it a whole lot sooner. We enter this delightfully charming world as you and your friends set out on a ship destined for good times and happy sunshine filled thoughts when disaster strikes you and your crew. Now you're trapped on a strange island dominated by your new cat overlords who want you to go through various obstacle courses for their amusement. In order to save your friends you must survive the obscene challenges on every level then get on your ship and get as far away from the island as fast as that ship will sail.  

Seemingly ripped from the imagination of a child, BattleBlock Theater revolves around your tiny paper drawn character who can come in a variety of different appearances to suit your preference. Your tiny character as I said has now been kidnapped by a strange cat society who have been torturing all who come to their shores by making them compete in events of their own design. In each level you must strive to reach the exit placed somewhere in any given level but also making sure that when you get their you have obtained three gems to activate it. There are usually more than enough gems to do so as each level has at most seven of the shiny delights cleverly placed and hidden throughout the chaotic levels you'll be playing through. Besides the level, you also must face the challenge of the various creatures that add for more pandemonium for your poor unfortunate character such as robots that shoot homing missiles at you as well as weird raccoon/beaver/deer monsters that will swallow you whole and more. You however can fight back against these enemies with melee attacks and various gadgets and abilities that can be obtained by collecting balls of yarn hidden in levels and selling them to some of the kitty cat wardens in the games level selection area. 

Perhaps the thing that most people know most about BattleBlock Theater is the fact that you can play with your friends and effectively ruin said friendship in the process. I recently had the chance to play multiplayer with Dibble on the game and my rage level peaked to all new levels while we were playing. The game of course is meant for two players to work together and is quite enjoyable even if you decide to screw each other over time and time again. Levels cleverly add challenges that will be overcome by helping one another out by doing things like hurling your partner across a water way or getting one friend up to a high ledge and then aiding the other up with a friendly helping hand. Then of course you can have some fun by not aiding one another or using abilities on each other, I deeply enjoyed blowing Dibble up with grenades and setting him on fire with a fire ball, he for some reason didn't like it so much. BattleBlock also features some deliberately competitive multiplayer modes where you and your friends can fight against each other in different game modes like a capture the flag game type along with other modes for you and your friends.

Now as many of you may or may not know, I don't usually point out a games soundtrack or audio features but with BattleBlock it is something you cannot help but bring up. The game features an insanely catchy array of songs such as dub step beats and songs that literally will chant about the secret area you had found. The whole thing fits the feel and environments for what you are experiencing and to add to the fun of it all there is also narrations and audience interaction that goes along with what you're doing. A frankly hilarious narrator will talk and react to many of the things you experience throughout the game for things like when you burn alive or drown horribly in water. Alongside this an audience in the background, which I presume is the legion of cats who have enslaved you, will applaud at your success in levels and cheer you on as you play, it's nice to be appreciated. 

Finally, BattleBlock Theater also features it's own level editor for players to use which let's you create your own torturous maps for you and others to play on. The feature is very easy to use and will allow you to create levels in less than a few minutes so you can play them or share it with others to try out. All the blocks, creatures and features are at your disposal to use in your attempts to make your own evil levels to watch people suffer at and can get addictive if you get into it. You can also obviously put others creations to the test as well and see the variety of game types that people have come up with, which is a lot since the game is a few years old at this point.

In conclusion, I have no idea why it took me so long to pick up such an amazing game but I am so happy that I got my chance to play it now. BattleBlock Theater features an insanely addictive platforming experience with many unique ideas and levels the likes of which I haven't enjoyed this much since my old Mario days. The whole experience was a charming affair right down to the music that was playing in the background of each level that I played to the crazy narrator. It is a game that I truly have enjoyed playing and if you haven't played it like me, I suggest you get on it ASAP. 

Good:

- Crazily designed and fun levels

- Artistically charming

- The soundtrack is catchy and adds to the appeal of every level

- Great level editor feature

Bad:

- I can't say anything bad about my experience with the game, maybe don't buy it if you don't like the kiddy styling but that's all I've got

Scully Rating: 9.0 out of 10 

  

Tropico 5

Sean Dibble

Ah the tropics, a place full of wonder and beauty to behold for anyone who comes to visit. The crown controls one of these islands and needs a governor to run it and it for whatever reason you're the person for the job. Are you up to the task? If you are then get ready for your family to take over and bend this island to your will through money, power or force if necessary. 

Tropico 5 is the latest in a line of city builder/strategy games that is set in the late 1800's and spans from there all the way to the modern day. To begin the game you will create your character who will play as the head of your dynasties family. Then you can choose to do what you would like from here by either doing missions for the crown or the rebels but always be sure to keep an eye on the time you're given for your mandate because if it rums out that means game over. The only way to fix this issue is to get over 50% approval overall and then either fight for independence from the crown or buy it, that is your choice. 

This game is fun and addictive, every island that you can play on is different so no play through is the same as the last. In order to succeed in the game you must create jobs, homes and trading for your people. All the while you're also completing missions, exploring and fending off invaders. Everything is done for the benefit of your people in the game whether it's finding ore deposits or looking to make the crop that would earn your domain the most money. One weird thing that I did find in my playthroughs was the timeline itself, if you get to the missions you're doing quickly you can get to the Cold War before 1945. While this makes no sense it all it is always fun to change history a little.

Graphically the game is top notch as well, your surroundings are beautiful and the islands really come to life while you play. The soundtrack is maybe the best I have heard in a game like this before, its quick paced and fun to listen to as your plucking along across the seas or across your island nation. The whole thing will have you dancing and just make you feel happy and isn't that why we play games? The game does have a steep learning curve and will take awhile to master at first but if you spend time with it, it will be a game you will truly love. 

Although the game may be hard at time and because it is a city builder with not much more to offer, it is still a game to look into. The graphics throughout the game a delightful and beautiful plus the soundtrack is top notch to listen to as you play along ruling over your island. The timeline can get a little screwy at time though depending on how well you govern things and how fast you progress yourself but all in all it is a game I am always coming back to play. 

Good:

- Graphics are solid

- A pleasant soundtrack to listen to while you rule your island nation

- A fun city builder that is set apart from the rest

Bad:

- Hard to pick up right away

- The timeline of events can get messed up now and again

Scully Rating: 8.0 out of 10  

Sex Tape

By: Robert Murphy

We've all heard it at one time or another, a woman will say how much she misses the old days when her and her husband were younger and were having sex everywhere, all the time and every which direction. The fact that things slow down when you start a life together happens to everyone and yeah it is a little sad and we all say that it won't happen to us but it ends up happening anyways. That is the basic premise of the movie Sex Tape where a couple, Annie (Cameron Diaz) and Jay (Jason Segel) have finally begun to figure out the whole family thing and are looking to get the spark back to their love life after it has gone so far south. The thought of seeing Diaz naked would make most anyone jump out of their seats and it most assuredly does for the twos entire family as their exploits of a one night free for all gets leaked to everyone they know. Hoping to avoid the unbearable humiliation the two set out to destroy their ill advised sex tape once and for all before they have to pick up and leave to find a new town where no one knows them. 

Right from the first scene you can tell that Sex Tape is going for a lewdness factor that seems to be popular for Jason Segel when I first saw him in another movie called Forgetting Sarah Marshall. I had thought that Jason though wouldn't ever be seen doing a movie like that again especially after he made his mark in How I Met Your Mother and other various films and the same can be said of Cameron Diaz. For whatever reason the two chose to take part in the movie though and it sad because the whole thing is a one trick pony from the very start. We see a dizzying array of sex scenes based on Diaz and Segel's early college phase when they first met and while I do enjoy the thought of it all, it really wasn't that necessary to show scene after scene after scene of the two humping and Segel being the more naked one as you might expect. This bringing up another point I had to make which is Segel for some reason seemed incredibly scared on screen, naked or clothed he felt like a deer in front of headlights or a kid getting stage fright during a 1st grade talent show. He is noticeably slimmer than he has been in recent years and maybe he felt a little self conscious about himself the whole time, whatever the case it wasn't a shining moment for him through the movie. 

The other half of Sex Tape takes us all on a joy ride (cut out the joy) across the Los Angeles to all of their known friends and family who they must stop from seeing Diaz and Segel from doing the beast with two backs. This part I know should have been just as fun as it sounds but for whatever the reason it just wasn't, the two end up doing ridiculous stunts to get the evidence of their night together back from everyone, burning iPads and the like for no reason what so ever. Which also the entire film seemed to be a giant plug for Apple products as nobody else owned a single other brand for their phones and other electronic devices, it was like subliminal messaging but the kind that smacks you in the face repeatedly over and over. The one stop along the way that I did enjoy happened at the posh mansion of Hank Rosenbaum (Rob Lowe) who wanted to buy the blog that Diaz writes about her family (for some reason). Rob Lowe is famous for having his own sex tape get out a few years ago and the underline humor and chemistry in the situation is just oh so juicy to watch. The scene of Rob and Diaz is more enjoyable than the entirety of the rest of the movie if I'm being honest and it was my one good take away from it.

In conclusion, most of the titillation that you were expecting from Sex Tape gets used up in the first few minutes of the movie. Segel was not on his A game this time around and felt out of place for many of the somewhat raunchy points in the movie, Diaz was doing her part for the sex appeal (even though she is 42 now) but even she felt a little out of place with the whole thing. What I guess hurts the most about the movie though is you kind of already know it's going to be a one trick pony from the start but you hoped that it was the kind of movie that would make it work despite it all. In the end, Sex Tape has about the same appeal that you would get from a celebrity sex tape that has been "leaked" online and that is a dark, confusing image of something you built up too much in your head. 

Good:

- Rob Lowe wins me over again with his on screen chemistry that should have happened between Segel and Diaz 

- Cameron Diaz....the reason behind it is something I'm sure you all know already

Bad:

- A one trick pony joke about sex that never seems to end

- Segel is not at his best at all, not sure why but he felt very nervous the entire time to me

- One big Apple promotion disguised as a movie

- Most of the exploits to retrieve Segel's and Diaz's sex tape were plain ridiculous

Scully Rating: 3.0 out of 10 

Sixty Second Shooter Prime

By: Robert Murphy

Anyone who has spent their time searching through the Xbox arcade before will have undoubtedly come across a game called Geometry Wars which pits a tiny ship against waves of increasingly difficult enemy ships and challenging events. The game style is not something new and while searching through the Xbox One arcade recently I discovered a game that struck me to be in similar fashion, Sixty Second Shooter Prime. In this adaptation of this twin stick style of game you play as a small ship that also progresses through waves of enemies that include enemy ships, spiral like objects, giant three dimensional cubes and much more. Your goal is to hopefully progress further and further to higher levels trying to survive and reach a larger score than the last time with your missiles and guns by your side.

Besides Geometry Wars, I have played a number of this style of game before and it truly can be a hit or miss type of thing to play especially with how limited it can be for those making the game. When it comes to Sixty Second Shooter Prime we see examples of just how limited things can be but can still see the fun to be had. Much of the games graphics are basic and feature simple shapes for your ship and your enemies as well, it feels like many of them could be drawn on a napkin by someone trying to make cool three dimensional shapes. The backgrounds are not any better, lumpy clouds, dizzying arrays of random colors and stark lines that cut randomly through the playable field make things not only confusing but very unimpressive to play on. These and other features such as different songs can be selected in the main menu for the game but this doesn't make the game any more impressive to play through if you're hoping for more appeal in a different background. Other visual effects that will come as you fight to survive through the waves of enemies include the large explosions that come with so many other games like it. This can be caused by hitting a very high combo which explodes everything in the nearby area in a chain reaction, while this is great to accomplish it the joy can be immediately taken away by the confusion of the explosion leading you to hit an enemy you didn't see. 

Getting into the gameplay, Sixty Second Shooter Prime plays like a game that wants to rush through it because you either die instantly or you have to hurry up and make a large score before the time runs down. It isn't to exciting when a game puts a time limit over your head especially when the time frame is sixty seconds, it causes a panic almost with a player and I believe that's why many games have done away with it entirely. Never the less you must try and climb through the levels with your odd space ship destroying everything using bombs, missiles and guns hoping for a higher score each time. You can also collect a variety of power ups such as time slow down, invincibility, multipliers and additional missiles, this was one thing I really thought was stellar about the game and helped make me feel the addiction that the game meant to give off. Another addition that helps the game is the Infinity Mode that takes you away from the panic and the short lived momentum of the 60 second mode and lets you add more time through power ups the longer you survive. 

In conclusion, Sixty Second Shooter Prime is a let down of a game especially when you look at some of the competitors it has and the other games that have been around with twin stick format. The game isn't at all that expensive though and can provide you with some amusement for a short time but that is about all you get with the amount of content the game has in store for anyone who purchases it. Maybe if the game gets a little more work put into it it could have some potential but outside of what you have right now I can't see anyone playing for too long. 

Good:

- Can be enjoyable when you get going like any twin stick shooter

- Power ups are fun and add to the minor addiction 

- Infinity Mode helps break up the short gameplay

Bad:

- You will feel rushed while playing through most of the game

- Visuals and graphics are very unimpressive

- Lack a lot of content, you will unlock everything in an hour of playing

Scully Rating: 4.0 out of 10 

Towa no Quon

By: Robert Murphy

Do you ever wish that you could unlock a power hidden within side of you, with all your might you wish you could have the power to change things and make a difference? Well that is exactly what the people known as Attractors wished for and they found an ability within themselves that they could use to change things, once they learned to control it that is. Some of these people have incredibly dangerous powers and strengths and due to this a secret organization has begun to seek them out and eliminate them. Custos is the name of this shady group and they have vast resources to aid them in their efforts to kill every last Attractor, including enhanced cyborgs known as WTOC. A particular Attractor won't allow this to go on, his name is Quon and although he doesn't look it he is a very old and is determined to protect every last Attractor to repent for his past.   

The story centers mainly around Quon, a man a who will do anything for his fellow Attractors often pushing himself too far in the effort to save people from Custos as he's the only one able to fight with his powers. The other issue being that many of the Attractors that you will see throughout the show are young kids who have unlocked their abilities due to some sort of trauma. As I said these kids want to have the power to stand up against people or do something to stop bad people in their lives and it awakens their abilities but it is very dangerous when it first happens and until they learn to control their powers they can cause a lot of damage. This is where Quon and his friends come into help keep all of the Attractors safe from harm hidden in their theme park sanctuary. The whole thing gives off a very X:Men type feel to it where Quon like Professor X keeps all of the mutant children under their care safe from harm. It isn't a blatant rip off of the story though and is very much an idea that fans of the series know works. 

Right from the first scene in the show you see just what Towa no Quon is all about, it is great to watch a scene unfold for how well it is put together and just how unreal the action scenes can be. Quon's transformation from boy to beast is something that unlocks his hidden strengths and abilities, his tremendous strength, speed and fighting skills make even the cyborgs at Custos think about their chances and that a 5 on 1 fight. All action scenes are fluid and sleek and great to watch, my only issue is I wish that there were more fighting Attractors in the show. Each of the main Attractors though that Quon works with do have their own ability that helps out in a pinch but it's mainly backup for Quon when he needs it. The powers though of Attractors are all unique, some have telepathy, some can talk to animals, some can hack computers with handy little prob creatures, it's all appealing to see when they come out. The fact that they mainly serve to help out when needed does make them all very forgettable characters though and it weakens the plot a little bit. 

What you have with a show like Towa no Quon is a very serviceable action series with so many good action scenes to see along with a compelling story to keep you going. It does have an obvious formula to it with the good guy Quon trying to make up for his past and a bad guy who reeks of cliche villain right from the start. But this is overlooked by all that is offered by the show as each episode had me more enthralled than the last. I wish there was more appealing characters other than Quon too, when you get down to it he really is one of the main and worthwhile character that you spend your time watching while the rest stand by when called. All in all though I was pleased with what I recieved from Towa no Quon since it was a show I'd never heard of before and chose to give it a shot on a whim and was rewarded in the end. 

Good:

- Amazing action scenes throughout the show

- Very appealing story that continued to get better as the show went on 

- Attractors all had unique and cool abilities to witness

Bad:

- I wish that the other characters were more appealing and became stronger but they didn't

- Quon becomes the main show runner and you need a little bit more to carry a show

Scully Rating: 7.0 out of 10  

Tammy

By: Robert Murphy 

Do you ever have one of those days where absolutely nothing goes right? From the minute you wake up you were destined to have a crap storm of a bad day and that's what we open on in Tammy as Melissa McCarthy's foul mouthed, brash and over inflated brand of character returns for another go. Tammy is about to blindsided with a series of bad luck events that included losing her job, hitting a deer and being cheated on by her long time husband to name a few. This leads her to storm off out of town to get away from all the bad that has happened and the only way she can do that is with her grandmother, Pearl (Susan Sarandon) by her side and her chunk of cash she has in her pocket. The two set off together on an adventure to get out and live free before one of their times is up and the other wants to do what we all want to do at times and that's scream "SCREW YOU" to the world and have a good time. 

We have seen this sort of ill mannered character from Melissa McCarthy before as she has become a master of the role in other films the past few years in Identity Thief and The Heat. This isn't to say this a bad thing because it frankly works and McCarthy is sometimes such a hard read as an actress that it can feel different each time even though you know the film was made for her brand of character. As her character and Pearl set off on their journey together, you can't help but notice and undeniable spark between the two and how their on screen chemistry works quite well. Sarandon's character Pearl is an alcoholic/diabetic ball of delight who is incredibly charming even under the grey wig and make up that try and make her older. Add in a little Tammy mix to that with her spunky and loud attitude and you do find a recipe for success but it works for only a quick one liner or two and a few outrageous events. While Sarandon "co-stars" as the films sidekick, she doesn't gain all the main drive as McCarthy does and when the film lulls and falters, you are left staring at the screen with her being the only one on it. 

Hidden in the midst of McCarthy lime light though, there are a surprising number of other compelling actors and actresses who sneak some screen time out of Tammy. Pearl happens to meet a love interest at one of the road trip stops along the way, gentleman rancher Randy (Gary Cole) created some more appeal to keep watching. The twos hook up also makes way for the stale romance of Tammy and Randy's son Bobby (Mark Duplass) as the two flirt at various points throughout the film. I didn't mind that Bobby would show up at various random times through the film and in fact I loved him as a character but he was vastly underwritten and was part of many of the films lulling moments with Tammy. Other crazy events transpire that lead to Pearl needing to call up an old time friend for help, a no nonsense Leanor (Kathy Bates.) Pearl and Tammy seek refuge with her and her lesbian partner Susan (Sandra Oh) which later leads to an all out 4th of July raging party with some jet-ski burning and alcoholic rants for some added tension. 

Tammy as a character is the perfect way to describe Tammy the film, a mess of ideas and one trick stunts to try and distract you from the fact that you just watch something with no plot to it. Pearl and Tammy do have an initial plan in mind at the beginning of the film but it gets lost in a clump of ideas and stories that were included in the story along the way. McCarthy is still pretty funny and I'm not saying you won't laugh at what you see but her one trick pony act may be coming to end as there won't be too many more ways you can sell this angle for too long. Sarandon, Bates, Duplass and other side characters are a delight though and I deeply enjoyed their stories, I just wish that there was more of their story to go around when the end credits roled.

Good:

- McCarthy still is funny and still proves she can use her brand of character once more

- Sarandon provides some much needed help for the films low moments

- A great cast of side characters

Bad:

- Very erratic story telling

- Tries to fluff up the lack of story with a series of one liners and stunts

- I don't think McCarthy should have outshined everyone, I believe she needs to stick to the role of side kick with her brand of character 

Scully Rating: 5.0 out of 10 

Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition

By: Robert Murphy

While looking through the recent additions to the Xbox One game selection, I saw this game and it spoke to me and made me think of an old style of gaming, not so far back as the first Mario but more of my first computer game styling. Another World: 20th Anniversary Edition is a side scrolling platforming game that first debut back in 1991 and has now received an HD touch up to hit gamers of this generation. The cinematic nature of the game was hailed as quite a popular idea as the game tells it's story of a scientist named Lester who ends up in a whole new dimension after an experiment goes wrong. 

 Not a whole lot is spoken from characters in the game and that's the main challenge to Another World. There are no tutorials, no instructions, you figure out the controls as you go and figure out how to survive as you go as well. Just about everything can cause you harm or causes your death on this alien world, including the aliens who immediately imprison you once you meet them. It's a game that is very unforgiving and you know what, I kind of liked that about it. Figuring out your way through the different levels of the game is no easy task and I've never wanted to rage quite something more but I was still spurned on to keep playing. In a lot of ways you have to work things out for yourself, solving the puzzles of each area and figuring out what is significant around you to progress further, which its usually everything. 

What's also great about the Another World is how much of a story it tells with so little dialogue going on, most of the characters you meet will gesture to something or sometimes aliens will shout at you in their language which won't help you any.  Right from the get go you can tell that this game is a major storyteller as we start out simply enough in a hidden laboratory and running experiments when a lightning strike effects what looks like a supercollider and transports us to this new world. What breaks up the gameplay are short cut scenes that play somewhat like a brief film or gif that will give you some more insight into what you're doing but not much. Graphically the game has improved from what it use to be but former players can relive the past by switching from old graphics to new with the push of the Y button. The new graphics introduced though are nothing to really be wowed at but at the same time fit the style and the animation well for all the character in the game.

What I did not find endearing to endearing about Another World though started when an area became increasingly harder to traverse. Alien creatures that were basically mini sarlaccs were hanging on the top and the bottom of the screen on which I was suppose to get through. This shouldn't be any big thing, if they weren't there there wouldn't be any challenge to the game but what became the issue were the controls. All the controls are very simple to master once you lock them down but your character will often snatched by a creature or slip down a nearby hole when you clearly weren't even close to it. This brings me to what I feel will be the overall downfall for Another World's attempt to find some new customers, people who never played the game before like myself will most likely find the game to be an exercise in futility. The game is short but harsh and in many ways repetitive as you will undoubtedly preform the same sequence over and over until you get it right and the reward doesn't really give you the satisfaction you might be looking for once you're done. I myself enjoyed the game but in many ways I can see it hitting home with too many others who never knew about this game before.

In conclusion, Another World told me a pretty great story for a game with virtually no dialogue and being a game that had already been released a few odd years ago. The ability to switch between HD and the old look is definitely a plus for new and old players of the game as the new stuff makes it just as inviting as the classic feel will for those who played before. Another World is though one of those unforgiving games that will make you want to pull your hair out and even with the short playthrough, it may not hit the way it did back when it was first released. 

Good:

- The ability for the game to tell a great story with no dialogue was fantastic

- No tutorial and no prompts made this game difficult but that was part of the fun

- Colorful worlds with great animations and the ability to switch back to the classic style of the game

Bad:

- Easy to get lost, angry and annoyed with the game

- A lot of repetition that will set off your controller throwing emotions

- Controls could have done with an upgrade as well 

Scully Rating: 6.0 out of 10  

Zetma

By: Robert Murphy

It had been awhile since I sat down to watch any type of anime and I frankly felt that that was wrong and so I set out to find a new one to watch and found Zetman. The show is something that gets many of it's ideas from the noble act of being a hero and wanting to help those in need. This is a great idea on paper and something to wish about as a child but sadly we all grow up and realize that this can't happen, unless you were born or rather created with the power to do so. The main story follows Jin Kanzaki who has incredible strength and abilities hidden inside of him which were meant for the use in destroying creatures called EVOL. EVOL are monstrous creatures that were created for humanities amusement as they fought each other to the death, that is until they achieved consciousness and tried to blend with regular society. While this seems okay, what will it hurt if they just want to be left alone, well not all EVOL stay so nice and they return to the creatures they were and it's up to Zetman or Zet to stop them.  

As I started Zetman, I was really intrigued by the overall setup to the story as it unfolded. Not only does Jin fight to protect humanity but he also befriends a man named Kouga who wants to do the same just like the heroes he's watched in anime and just like a favorite hero of mine, Batman, he has the money to do it. However, the two end up facing down different paths in their pursuit of whats right and end up become enemies rather than friends. While it all sounds like it'd get interesting and fun to watch, it really ends up being the opposite. Kouga is a childish character who really is just looking to be admired like the characters in his shows, he isn't doing it for anyone but himself and is often jealous of Jin for his abilities. Jin himself was initially interesting for me but the confusion behind his story bothered me, he becomes a very muddled character with too much conflicting ideals being thrown on him and you as you watch the show. 

The other major issue to come from Zetman is how it progresses you through the story. The show is based of a manga like many other anime to come before it and in the books you get much more of the story that is left out here in the show. Episodes connect to each other in the flimsiest of ways and where one minute Jin is a young boy fighting crime with his young friend and the next he's working for a shady organization that's trying to stop the rouge EVOL. The story is very much all over the place and once you think you've gotten a grasp on the situation it jumps away from you again. For a twelve episode series, it has a lot going on and not enough time to explain itself, maybe if it had taken a step back to tell the story right and not rush you through it it could have been better. 

The action of the show is somewhat solid, although many of the EVOL are very unoriginal in the forms that they come in where most are just a lizard man looking creature or a shrimp monster. All of the fighting reminds me a lot of Casshern Sins and in fact Zet reminds me quite a bit of the main character from the series in the way he transforms and fights. Kouga himself later gets a unique outfit that makes me think back to Tiger and Bunny and he often acts like one of the characters from the show always professing about justice and it really gets old super quick. 

In the end, Zetman is a very sub par show when you look at the following that the manga has acquired and was probably a big let down for them. The setup as I said led me to believe that there really could have been solid potential for Zetman as a show but it just doesn't follow through with any of it. Many characters end up just getting dropped and their a plenty of plot holes that are just very jarring to the narrative in the story. I would that maybe a second season could straighten things out for the show but with how badly the first part did I won't hold my breathe.

Good:

- Decent action scenes

- Had a good setup but doesn't follow through

Bad:

- The story is very poor

- Massive plot holes and time skips that jar the viewer

- There's no sense of rhyme or reason to what you're watching

- Kouga and Jin start out solid but end up very muddled characters

Scully Rating: 4.0 out of 10