Walk the "Edge of Time" with some time-traveling Spidermen

Originally published in the October 19, 2011 issue of the Coast Report.
By Parker Shannon, Distractions Editor

“Spiderman: Edge of Time” for the Xbox 360 is an enjoyable visit to both of Marvel’s Amazing and 2099 universes that offers players an interesting story and solid gameplay along with theoretical time travel and rips in the fabric of space-time.
Developed by Beenox and published by Activision, the game puts players in the shoes of Amazing Spiderman (Peter Parker) and Spiderman 2099 (Miguel O'Hara) in a race to stop the fabric of space and time from collapsing.
The key feature in “Edge of Time” is that players switch back and forth seamlessly between the two Spidermen who work in tandem to affect each other’s realities by changing events in their respective points in time.
Switching between the wall-crawlers is very natural, and the two of them have conversations throughout the game that add a lot to the depth of their characters. Amazing Spiderman spouts so many lame puns it was nearly impossible to keep track of them all, especially with Spiderman 2099 constantly giving lectures about quantum causality.

This game's story truly feels like a Spiderman comic. It will certainly sit right with fans because it was penned by veteran Marvel writer Peter David whom also wrote for “The Incredible Hulk,” “Supergirl” and “Aquaman” comics.
More depth is added to the story through unlockable newspapers that change as the player completes goals in the story to reflect the revised timeline as well as through references to other Marvel characters the Spidermen make throughout the game. These little touches give players the sense that the events of the game are just one part of a much bigger world just waiting to be explored.
As far as gameplay, “Edge of Time” is pretty much a typical third-person beat 'em up with basic combo attacks that are upgradeable via collectible orbs to increase their effectiveness.
Each Spiderman has attacks unique to his own fighting style. Parker uses his webs as his primary weapon while O'Hara gets in close to his enemies and attacks with his fists and feet. Both of the web-slingers can also enter their own super-speed mode for a short period of time in order to dodge enemy attacks, as well as cause a time paradox that renders nearby foes immobile for a short period of time, which the player can use to dispatch large groups of enemies quickly.

Spiderman 2099 levels feature free-fall sections in which the player must maneuver O'Hara through long shafts at high speeds while avoiding obstacles. I found these areas particularly tedious and frustrating due to the lack of precision in the controls that lead to Spiderman 2099 crashing into a great many metal beams.
Unlockables come in the form of new costumes that must be unlocked through the completion of challenges scattered throughout the main story. These challenges can also be accessed through a mode called the Web of Challenges after the story is completed.
Players also unlock action figures that can be viewed which give descriptions and back story for all of the characters in the game – similar to the collectable trophies in the Smash Bros. games.
“Spiderman: Edge of Time” is not the best superhero game ever made, but it does present a strong story and solid gameplay.

"Dark of the Moon" Doesn't Disappoint, Doesn't Suprise

“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” is a game based on a blockbuster movie. A movie game. That could serve as the entire review, but you might want a little more explanation as to why you might want to avoid this game.
“Dark of the Moon” tells the story of Decepticon schemes and Autobot heroism leading up to the events in the movie of the same title. It's a third-person shooter with some driving portions sprinkled in to break up the monotony.
Levels are linear - very linear. You go where you need to, shoot the enemy and watch a cutscene. There is little to no exploration to be done, and a lot of invisible walls to be run into.
Controlling the Autobots and Decepticons is clunky and incredibly slow, and actually hitting the enemies I shot at seemed completely random at times. There were instances where bullets literally passed through the enemy they were intended to hit. And other times when shooting anywhere near a baddie caused them to explode.
Stealth-Force mode, which allows players to transform to a partial vehicle mode that includes the use of weapons, is probably the coolest feature in the game. This new mode, however, also renders robot mode nearly useless. In Stealth Force mode, players gain increased mobility, increased damage protection, a lower profile and the ability to fire endlessly without reloading. The game can be played almost entirely in Stealth Force mode.
A saving grace for the game are the graphics, which are pretty impressive in some levels. The Autobots and Decepticons are also rendered beautifully and the transformation animations look great.

Online multiplayer offers up to 10 players three modes in which to blow each other up: deathmatch, team deathmatch and conquest.
The deathmatches play out just as you would expect, and conquest adds a tiny bit more strategy to the game by allowing players to take capture points around the map.
Players can choose from four classes: scout, hunter, commander, and warrior. Each class has two or three body types to choose from and features unique weapons and special abilities such as the hunter's ability to fly or the scout's increased speed.
Controls are the same as in the single-player campaign, with the addition of team-buffing special abilities specific to each class including the ability for commanders to heal teammates and reveal enemies anywhere on the map for a short time.
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” is not the worst game ever made. It's not even the worst movie game ever made, but it's certainly not going to compete with some of the other third-person-shooters out there. If you can find this game for a bargain, it wouldn't hurt to pick it up.

‘Ops’ doesn’t answer call of duty

Originally published in the Dec. 1, 2010 issue of the Coast Report
By Parker Shannon, Staff Writer

 Photo courtesy of Activision

“Call of Duty: Black Ops” isn’t all that it was cracked up to be.

Most of the single-player campaign is spent watching in-game cut-scenes that take control completely out of the player’s hands and the rest offers wave after wave of generic foreign bad guys.

The story revolves around a large conspiracy involving Russian plans to attack America. The main playable character, Alex Mason, is at the heart of Russia’s MK-ULTRA-esque plan and spends most of his time recalling memories for his mysterious interrogators.

‘The Walking Dead’ comes to life

Originally published in the Nov. 10, 2010 issue of the Coast Report
By James Vu, Coast Report Staff Writer
*Editor's note: "The Walking Dead" has been renewed for a 13-episode second season by AMC* 

Andrew Lincoln stars as Rick Grimes in "The Walking Dead"

Photo courtesy of AMC

From the director of “The Shawshank Redemption,” Frank Darabont, comes AMC’s newest drama series, “The Walking Dead,” an exploration of the human tensions and struggles in a zombie apocalypse.

The story, adapted from Robert Kirkman’s comic book series of the same name, is centered around County Sheriff Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln (“Love Actually”), who wakes up from a coma in an abandoned hospital.

Iron Man 2 Review

All he wants is a high five.

“Iron Man 2” is quite possibly one of the best movies I have seen that’s able to capture the essence and attitude of its source material.

The movie, coming months off of Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) admission to the world that he is Iron Man, deals with the aftermath of this admission and how it affects modern peace keeping and warfare.

Doctor Who: "The Eleventh Hour" review

 "The Eleventh Hour" will premiere April 17 on BBC America.

Karen Gillan (Left) and Matt Smith (Right) photo courtesy of the BBC

I haven’t seen any episodes of the old “Doctor Who” series except for a few clicks here and there on YouTube and only started with the revival of the series that starred Christopher Eccleston as the ninth incarnation of the Doctor.