Spider-Man: Web of Shadows part 1

This week on Highbrow-Lowbrow is Spider-Man week. Spider-Man was my all-time favourite character as a kid all the way up to me late teens, right up until the writers messed with the character and backstory beyond all recognition, and around the time the Marvel Studios movies showed me how awesome character like Iron Man and Captain America are. So, why is this Spider-Man week? Just because.

One of my favourite bloggers, Shamus Young, often writes in-depth reviews of videogames, analysing the story and critiquing each aspect of the game, and they are a joy to read.

Inspired, Spider-Man week is going to be celebrated with a week-long ridiculously in-depth review of the 2008 Spider-Man game, Web of Shadows. It wasn't a great game, but I devoted a note inconsiderable chunk of time to the game, and thought I'd share my thoughts on the game, which developed into a 3,000 word thesis on the bloody thing.

Why The Big Lebowski is the funniest film ever

Source: http://365thingsaustin.com/wp-content/uploads/the-big-lebowski.jpg

100 word reviews:

The Big Lebowski, 1998

My favourite film is The Big Lebowski, by the Coen brothers, simply because it is one of the funniest films I’ve ever seen. The Coen’s create comedy in every scene, by juxtaposing bizarre situations and dream-like visuals with nonchalant but hilarious dialogue, and the whole artifice is held together by the iconic character of Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski (played to perfection by Jeff Bridges). It’s an excellent parody of detective mysteries and the early 90’s culture, with a wonderful design and soundtrack. This is a rare kind of film that is rewarding on every viewing.

Look Back: Watchmen, by Alan Moore (1986)

A retrospective graphic novel review

Does this seminal comic/graphic novel require introduction. I don't think it does, it is now so ubiquitous to the general comic-book reading, film-going audience. Even if people don't always like it.

Source: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt45wNlw9SvQpnYFXWlJwnI3rPZddUejka_TfsyKXMkQxXVkC-30nbRz79iy-Uqka_kAceBqvExnGG8Nj8q-P_NMrutu7w0NQP0RpmioeI82O190YGI-rvT6gEWyfWhYc2HSI0CGDJv4v/s1600/Watchmen_Graphic_Novel_cover.jpg

Look Back: Deadly Creatures (Wii , 2009)

A retrospective videogame review

Developed by Rainbow Studios, published by THQ

Deadly Creatures is a third party title for the Wii. A lot has ben written about supporting Third Parties in computer games, as these are the studios that take more creative risks with gameplay or premises. Rainbow Studios, part of THQ, took a big creative risk with Deadly Creatures, and it, mostly, paid off.

Look back: De Blob (Wii, 2008)

A retrospective videogame review

Developed by Blue Tongue studios

de Blob is a deceptively simple game. At first glance, it appears to be a game designed for children, with its cartoon graphics and humour and simplistic gameplay based, of all things, matching colours. But beneath that is a deep subtext examining the effects oppression, governmental controls, imperialism and censorship upon a society consisting of Liberal values... not that the games target audience of the "3+" will quite appreciate this.

Look back - Serious Sam: the Next Encounter (PS2)

A retrospective videogame review

Serious Sam; the Next Encounter was made available for the ps2 and gamecube. It was made by Climax studios, not Croteam, who made the original PC version. The differences are notable. Climax's version seems slightly more cartoony and the comedy isn't quite as good, although Sam "serious" Stone is still quiter the quip master. In addition, the reduced memory and output capacity of the console, means that many of the levels are smaller or more contained. When the levels do become larger, the game becomes prone to freezing or crashing. But despite these differences and flaws, it still maintains the Serious Sam feel.

Look back - Prince of Persia: Sands of Time (PS2, 2003)

A retrospective videogame review

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, is a platformer for the PS2. The gameplay revolved around gravity-defying, Parkour-style, free-running platforming, allowing you to run along and up walls, in rder to climb high up and avoid murderous traps. Due to the likelihood of dieing repeatedly, time-reversing mechanics where introduced via the "dagger of time." The game also involved sword-fighting with sand zombies in a huge arabian palace, and it is, simply one of the best games ever made.