State of Decay: Year One Edition: XBox One Review

State of Decay: Year One Edition: XBox One Review

Platform: XBox One
Released by Undead Games

Something's rotten in State of Decay: Year One Edition - and it ain't just the zombies on show.

Remastered for the grunty XBox One from its 2013 release, this tale of ragtag survivors and the attacking zombie hordes is exactly what you'd expect from a cross between Grand Theft Auto and Dead Island.

Essentially, split over 3 DLCs, all collected together in one package, you're just trying to do what you can to survive an apocalypse, be it in the form of military action or everyday survivor, it's all your decisions.

Using various areas as bases, you head off on different missions; in one you're a simple guy named Marcus who's off fishing with his mate, Ed, when the masses attack. To survive, you have to bash their heads in, get to others who have survived and band together. In another, you're a military soldier, trying to protect your base and getting hold of various people needed for your missions - as well as using your car to plough through the hordes of the undead.

Food, medicine, shelter, weapons, ammo; they're all here for the taking and all for you to utilise as you wander from one level to the next. But the more people you find, the more ability you have to switch between characters and to play the story from other angles.

So far, so Grand Theft Auto.

The problem with State of Decay is how average it all looks on the screen - particularly for a next gen title release.

Zombies glitch, get stuck in apparently solid objects and pop up randomly with no warning. Equally, your character can walk through solid objects, jump through walls without actually going through them and looks like it was designed for a SEGA console way back when.

There's no finesse here and while the gameplay's relatively enjoyable, (plus it never gets tired of letting you plough into the undead with cars), the whole thing's fairly static. Cut scenes have about as much life in them as a piece of cardboard frozen solid on an icy day and there's little to progress here in terms of interaction.

Buggy it may be, and while that's endearing for a little bit, the frustrations of the gameplay come to the fore perhaps more than you'd expect. Collecting together the DLCs of Breakdown and Lifeline add a little more to the overall package, but don't fully give it the feel that it's a premium title.

All in all, State of Decay: Year One Edition is a minor embarrassment on the XBox One. Sure, there's fun to be had, if you fancy building a community, smashing in zombies and looking around, but for a next gen console, this retro hit doesn't quite cut it.

Rating:

Thrilling Adventure Hour Auckland show

Thrilling Adventure Hour Auckland show

The Thrilling Adventure Hour just played its first and only show in Auckland, before heading to Wellington this weekend for its last live shows ever with the Workjuice players.

Here are some shots of the extremely talented and funny cast at work.

The Thrilling Adventure Hour plays Wellington's Opera House for shows on Friday and Saturday. 

All ticket info: www.thrillingadventurehour.com/downunder

Jurassic World - The Stunts

Jurassic World - The Stunts

Jurassic World roars open on June 11th and here's a reason why Chris Pratt's proving to be so popular.

Spy: Film Review

Spy: Film Review

Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Jude Law, Miranda Hart, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Alison Janney
Director: Paul Feig

After stinkers like Tammy and The Heat, the prospect of another Melissa McCarthy helmed comedy is not one that many may relish.

So, it's more than pleasing to report that, for the large part, Spy is a brilliantly funny and engaging comedy that sees McCarthy present her most likable showcase of comedy and character, replete with gross out moments that you'd expect from the re-teaming of the Bridesmaids director and star.

McCarthy is Susan Cooper, a deskbound CIA agent, who works in a vermin infested basement guiding her James Bond-style spy, Bradley Fine (Jude Law), on various dangerous missions. The rub is that Cooper was top of all her classes and was always sidelined from active duty, but has now the intelligence to work the desk, and practically save the day via satellite and ear-piece.

However, when a rogue nuke and a highly coiffured, tightly wound baddie Rayna, played with bitchy chutzpah by Rose Byrne, threatens the entire world, Coop's got no choice but to head into the field...

As already mentioned, this farcical pastiche of all of those spy films from your youth, works a lot better than your deepest fears would suggest, thanks in no small way to McCarthy's performance and Feig's realisation that an ensemble comedy with individual moments is the right way to go. (Peter Serafinowicz as a handsy Italian compadre and Miranda Hart's channeling of her own klutzy TV character also complement the team feel)

It's also very funny too, with Statham brilliantly sending up the action man career choices he's made and roundly mocking the genre with his character Ford, a spy who believes Coop's out of her depth and will blow the mission because she doesn't have the skills he's mastered. Feig's wise enough to know that by limiting Statham's presence and utilising his action skills sparingly, he superbly contributes to the feel of Spy.

There are a few moments when perhaps the R-rated humour borders on going too far and the crass could have been dialled back - but seeing Cooper blow chunks over a downed assassin is perhaps the icing on the edgy cake, as opposed to some lazy fart gags deployed on a falling plane as the global trot continues.

But it's McCarthy's film through and through; she's imbued Cooper with a sympathetic edge that's appealing from the get-go. Whether it's railing against the mousey disguises the agency's given her ("I look like someone's homophobic aunt" she decries at one point - a sly mocking of the glamour of spy films and also of the perception of her) or keeping the riffing under control, she really does shine through. It's a timely reminder that with the right material and clearly the right director in Feig, she's less irritating than the material of other films have afforded her.

Feig gets the pastiche of the spy genre down pat from Bond style credits to a feel at times of Get Smart, but he doesn't border too far on parody choosing to slyly mock the conventions of the genre, and pepper it with some, at times unnecessary, R-rated gags. He's tapped brilliantly again into the rivalries and insecurities of his female leads (a la Bridesmaids) and they get to rule the roost.

Roundly mixing the bawdy with the bluster, Spy is a pleasant surprise; it's a chance for McCarthy to cement her position as a comedienne who excels when the material is right.

Your mission - should you choose to accept it - is to go into Spy, with an open mind. You may well be pleasantly surprised.

Rating:

Destiny: Expansion II - House of Wolves are here

Destiny: Expansion II - House of Wolves are here

DESTINY EXPANSION II: HOUSE OF WOLVES BRINGS NEW ADVENTURE,

ACTIVITIES AND UPGRADES FOR ALL PLAYERS

Bungie Expands the Destiny Experience Offering Brand-New Competitive

Multiplayer Event and Co-op Arena Activity

New Story Quests Send Guardians to Hunt Down the Traitorous Fallen House of Wolves

Auckland, New Zealand – May 20, 2015 – Bungie and Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), announced today that Destiny Expansion II: House of Wolves is now available for download on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One and Xbox 360. Destiny Expansion II: House of Wolvesmarks the second official expansion to the Destiny universe that adds a wealth of new weapons, armour and gear to earn in new story missions and quests, three new competitive multiplayer maps and a new co-op Strike.  In addition, the expansion welcomes new activities to Destiny with the introduction a brand-new competitive multiplayer event in the Crucible called Trials of Osiris, and a brand new co-op arena activity called the Prison of Elders.

“We continue to be humbled by the Destiny community, and remain fully committed to creating the best experience we can for the fans,” said Pete Parsons, COO of Bungie.  “That means we’re listening every day to real-time feedback from the players. In the eight months since launch, we’ve supported the game with 17 updates that we believe have grown and improved the universe.  House of Wolves is no different.  For example, we’ve engineered a new upgrade path for your existing Exotic and Legendary gear, and we’re revamping our PvP system with a new rewards system and new PvP event called Trials of Osiris.  We’re excited to see the response.”

Destiny Expansion II: House of Wolves features the following:

·        New Co-op Arena Activity – Set in the Prison of Elders, teams of three players can take on waves of increasingly difficult enemies to earn high-level legendary and exotic rewards.

·        New Competitive Multiplayer Event – The Trials of Osiris is a brand new, weekly 3v3 elimination event where power levels matter.

·        New Loot and Customizations – Earn new weapons, armor, and gear, including Legendary, Exotic, Faction and Fallen-themed items.

·        Level Increase – Raise your Light Level to 34, including the introduction of gear ascension to increase the maximum level of previously earned Legendary and Exotic weapons and armor.

·        New Story Missions and Quests – Take on new adventures through new missions and quests featuring Petra Venj of the Queensguard and Variks, a Fallen loyal to the Queen.

·        New Social Space – Visit a brand new space in The Reef, set within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, with new vendors offering unique rewards, new bounties and more.

·        New Strike: The Shadow Thief – Journey to the Moon and hunt down a notoriously cutthroat Fallen mercenary named Taniks.

·        New Competitive Multiplayer Maps: 

o   Black Shield – a decommissioned Firebase is believed to have been a key defensive position used by the Cabal when they established their warbase on Mars

o   Thieves’ Den – a Fallen hideout located in the calderas of Venus with precarious drops that offer alternate routes for those willing to risk the fall

o   Widow’s Court – an asymmetrical map with both long sightlines and tight interiors, set in the European Dead Zone on Earth

·        PlayStation® Exclusive Content* – PlayStation® gamers will also get access to a fourth competitive multiplayer map, Timekeeper, which is set within a mysterious clockwork-like structure on Mars built by the Vex.  *Timed exclusive until at least Fall 2015

Players can purchase Destiny Expansion II: House of Wolves** individually, or as part of the Destiny Expansion Pass**, which includes both Expansion I and Expansion II, on PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. 

As an added bonus for all players of the game, the competitive multiplayer maps from Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below are now available for everyone.

Poltergeist: Film Review

Poltergeist: Film Review

Cast: Sam Rockwell, Rosemarie Dewitt, Saxon Sharbino, Kyle Catlett, Jared Harris, Jane Adams
Director: Gil Kenan

"They're here"

It was 1982's Poltergeist and director Tobe Hooper which turned the TV set into something to be feared, turning the image of a small girl with her hands on a set spewing static into an icon.

Now, over 33 years later, the remake is upon us, in a time where digital devices have overwhelmed us and homes are swamped with screen-based technology. (A fact only partially acknowledged during the flick)

Rockwell stars as Eric Bowen, laid off from his role within John Deere and relocating with his family to a suburban sprawl. With financial tensions nibbling at the parents, the kids aren't faring much better, with teen Kendra hating the move, youngster Madison continuing to talk to herself and son Griffin one terrified breath away from a full-on asthma attack thanks to his inner fears.

But it turns out that Griffin's worries may have some merit, when Madison is apparently abducted during a storm that affects all the electrical equipment in the house - soon, the Bowens are dealing with a cod TV psychic (an Irish accented Jared Harris) and a group of paranormal experts as they try to get their daughter back.

Effective and creepy for the first 45 minutes at least, the new Poltergeist certainly knows how to get under your skin.

Bundling the under-deliverance of the American dream and the fears that haunt you when you relocate, Kenan's done a solid job of dialling up the suspense and tension by allowing scenes space to breathe and employing some effective jump scares early on thanks to cameras which glide and pan slowly across the screen.

The malevolent atmospherics carry on well thanks to the innate likeability and realism of Rockwell and Dewitt as a couple, giving you the empathy you need for their escalating plight (even if they - like their kids - are underwritten once the spooks set in). And the set-piece where the storm kicks in terrifying and haunting the home alone kids works chillingly, working on the fears thanks to creepy clowns, split-second digital FX and a sense of dread.

However, when the paranormal team and psychic ghostbuster show up, it's really where Poltergeist starts to lose its freaky mojo; lapses in logic and flow jar the 2015 Poltergeist movie and Kenan relies more on the humour and silliness to propel the movie toward the end point within the supernatural realm.

Granted, the malevolent spirits are well-realised but echoes of Insidious and a smarter FX employment nag the second half of Poltergeist with a horrible feeling of deja vu.

Solid, rather than re-visionary, the Poltergeist remake proffers up an entertaining if uneven film; its first 45 minutes are nothing short of unsettling, but its second half derails the work done early on.

Potentially, for more savvy horror audiences these days, it could have used a bit more of an edge, but keeping it in the realm of family friendly, if unsettling, fare means this supernatural fright-flick is nowhere near as effective as it could be and it certainly won't scare up enough cash to kick this franchise back from the afterlife.

Rating:

The Thrilling Adventure Hour - interviewing Ben, Molly and Marc

The Thrilling Adventure Hour - interviewing Ben, Molly and Marc

As you'll know, I was fortunate enough to sit down with Ben Acker, co-creator of The Thrilling Adventure Hour, and Workjuice Players Molly Quinn (of Castle fame) and Marc Evan Jackson aka Sparks Nevada.

The troupe is in New Zealand to play its first - and last ever - live shows as The Thrilling Adventure Hour.

The guys were very generous with their time and rather than edit highlights out, I've decided to upload the whole interview for you all to enjoy on Soundcloud below.

The Thrilling Adventure Hour plays  in Auckland today with its live show at the Logan Campbell Centre  at 8pm, before heading to Wellington's Opera House for shows on Friday and Saturday. 

All ticket info: www.thrillingadventurehour.com/downunder

Shows tonight (Improv at Classic Comedy), Wednesday (Logan Campbell, Auckland) & Saturday (Opera House, Wellington). Tickets available for all. 

Get more information and tickets here.