<\/p>\n","post_title":"Nihon Box March 2021 Review","post_excerpt":"Mysterious spring","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"nihon-box-march-2021-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206255","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206241,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-05-14 13:57:43","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-14 12:57:43","post_content":"Created By:<\/strong> Iolanda Zanfardino & Elisa Romboli<\/span>\n\nWritten By:<\/strong> Iolanda Zanfardino<\/span>\n\nIllustrated By:<\/strong> Elisa Romboli<\/span>\n\nCover By:<\/strong> Elisa Romboli<\/span>\n\nPublished By:<\/strong> Black Mask Studios\n<\/span>\n\nAlice is a sweet-loving, charismatic children's author who adores fairytales. Whilst in the middle of penning her new book, she discovers her perfect happily ever after relationship was all a sham and quickly packs her bags to join her illustrator friend Robin on her move to San Francisco! Here our innocent young author is thrown out of her tranquil surroundings and into a new Wonderland - where her new housemates are out and proud about their kinks. Just what wonders await Alice in this dazzling new town?<\/span><\/em>\n\nI am sure we are all aware of the Lewis Carroll classic that was \u2018Alice in Wonderland\u2019. Well this story\u2019s Alice takes herself to the Golden Gate City in search of some freedom, inspiration and distance from her toxic ex girlfriend. She is now on a journey of self discovering after a harsh taste of reality back home. Not wanting to rely on her close friend Robin, Alice takes it upon herself to find her own place, which ultimately ends up being in a shared house with a bunch of \u2018interesting women\u2019? Perhaps this will be a tale of sexual awakening and exploration for our timid Alice.<\/span>\n\n\n\nWith only 36 pages for our first issue, it has left us with an interesting start to Alice\u2019s next step in life as she settles down in SF. We discover that her illustrator Robin could be a possible love interest in the future, Alice has deep ties to FairyTales and wants to live her life as close to one as she possibly can. Alice also just had a massive shock when she discovered the true feelings her ex had for her and then took it upon herself to just pack up and leave all of a sudden for a new city. Alice appears to be an all or nothing gal from what I read, she has her own style which isn\u2019t racey or controversial. Playing it safe, seeing as her profession is that of a children's author. It will also be interesting to see how her own story telling will evolve with her lifestyle change to the big city. Will this little firefly discover her light again?<\/span>\n\nSo this comic series is definitely aimed at a more mature audience, as you may have guessed from the front cover. Which I must say has so many details that could be overlooked at first glance, and I am guessing may have several clues as to how this story will progress. For now we are done with the main introductions, but for the issues ahead I will be amazed if there isn\u2019t a rauchy sex scene, a pole dance or some form of bondage. This girl Alice is in a whole new World to explore!<\/span>\n\n\n\nAlice in Leatherland is brought to us by real-life creative couple Iolanda Zanfardino (writer) and Elisa Romboli (artist) while they were in a pandemic lockdown together. Having found the time to sit down and work on a comic book mini series together, they created this diverse, modern romantic comedy that is bound to make a splash in the comic book industry. I\u2019m interested to see where this story will go in further issues and just how far it is willing to illustrate on page. \u2018Alice in Leatherland<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 is being published by Black Mask Studios<\/strong>, the Los Angeles based indie publishing company. Who has previously published the following acclaimed titles; Calexit<\/strong>, Black<\/strong>, 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank, Loud<\/strong>, and Destiny, NY<\/strong>.<\/span>\n\nAlice in Leatherland #2<\/strong> is out on the 19th May!\n<\/span>\n\nOverall:<\/strong> 8\/10<\/span>","post_title":"Alice in Leatherland #1 Review","post_excerpt":"Alice adores fairytales","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"alice-in-leatherland-1-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:39:07","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:39:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206241","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206235,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-05-13 15:06:12","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-13 14:06:12","post_content":"\r\n

Developer:\u00a0<\/strong>Ubisoft Montreal<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Platforms:<\/strong>\u00a0PC, PS4, PS5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Genre:<\/strong>\u00a0Action, Adventure, RPG<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Publisher:\u00a0<\/strong>Ubisoft<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

The first set of DLC has come out for Valhalla, titled Wrath of the Druids. The expansion sees Eivor on his way to Ireland where you will pick up a new story arc and will see the amazing expanse that is Ireland.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To play the DLC you will have to complete one of the two first story arcs in England and an option to sail to Ireland will come via a stranger who will arrive in your camp. The power level in Ireland is 55 but it will adjust to your character level. This means you don't have to progress that much in the main game to enjoy the DLC. If you have played through Valhalla you will be higher than 55.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

Ireland is a huge new area you get to explore, the map is impressive. The terrain is a lot more rugged and mountainous than the original game. If you are from Ireland or have visited Ireland, you will familiar with the locations which is a nice touch. As a gamer from Ireland, it's novel to travel to in-game places you know and have visited. The game does a good job of having that Irish vibe with the voice acting and lore of Ireland portrayed well. Irish landscapes are well rendered and you get a sense of life in the Viking era of Ireland. A mixture of Latin, Irish and English is spoken too. Druids add a sense of mysticism and mystery to the proceedings too. The architecture is faithfully recreating buildings of that era. You will be able to equip new unique items such as clothing and weapons too. You will encounter new enemies, animals throughout the DLC. Ubisoft gets the mix of a new place to play through with solid gameplay, stunning visuals and intriguing story arcs to boot. It was a joy to play and see places I was familiar with. There are new abilities and new gameplay mechanics and buildings too. It's a really solid offering and it adds to the game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The standalone price for the season pass for Valhalla costs \u20ac39.99.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The season pass is included in the Gold and Ultimate editions of Valhalla.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The season pass will include access to Wrath of the Druids (released 13th May) and The Siege of Paris which will be released later in the year.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

While the standalone price for the season pass may seem high, the Wrath of Druids is sizeable about 13 hours of main quests and 5 hours of side quests. It depends on if you need another fix of Valhalla, and if you do I think you will get your money's worth, this only part 1 of the DLC. I liked the new arcs, the additional skills, new enemies and the general Irish feel about the DLC. I have been to a lot of these places so it was interesting seeing the \"Viking\" version in the game. The voice acting, mysticism, the darkness all have been executed well. It was a joy to play the DLC. I remembered how much I have enjoyed Vahalla after I revisited the game via the DLC. I'm looking forward to the next set of DLC.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Overall:\u00a0<\/strong>8\/10<\/span><\/p>","post_title":"Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids Review","post_excerpt":"The first set of DLC has come out","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"assassins-creed-valhalla-wrath-of-the-druids-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:52:44","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:52:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206235","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206206,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-04-30 12:24:47","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-30 11:24:47","post_content":"\r\n

Developer:<\/strong>\u00a0Housemarque<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Platform: <\/strong>PS5
<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Genre:<\/strong>\u00a0Action, Roguelike, Horror<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Publisher:<\/strong> Sony Interactive Entertainment<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Returnal<\/span> is the next generation sci-fi based roguelike 3D person shooter from\u00a0Housemarque\u00a0<\/em>that is exclusive to PS5. While this intro tries to summarise the game in a short sentence it doesn't do this game the justice it deserves. The game thematically lies somewhere between sci-fi, mystery and some horror elements this is due to the Alien-esque nature of encounters with the enemies. The gameplay is a roguelike as you die a lot and lose the majority of your perks apart from a few permanent items as well. The game covers a lot of genres of game and themes too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You are Selene who has crashed landed on Atropos (an alien planet) where you are searching for a broadcast signal and this is all you know and this is how the story is set up. From the initial frame, the impressive cinematics and the crash land help to set up the story and mystery of the game. Very little is given away which creates a level of intrigue and mystery, this is all set in the beautiful dark and wonderful of Atropos. The design and layout do give off Alien vibes throughout the game. As the game is a roguelike where you will die a lot, more story elements and your understanding of the world grows with every cycle (loop) of the game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It's difficult to pinpoint and place the game in one genre but the game has elements of Hades, a bullet hell shooter, Doom, Metroid Prime and the Hades comparison comes from the roguelike nature as well as some well-crafted storytelling wherein each cycle more is revealed. Doom in terms of the fast-paced shooter elements but 3rd person. The bullet hell feels of the enemies you encounter and just the manic nature of the enemies you encounter. There are lots of platforming elements too and an amount of discovery at each level.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The levels are procedurally generated so each run will have a varied gaming experience and a novel feel, also each run will have a slightly different difficulty level too depending on what power-ups are available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The power-up system is varied due to various upgrades and collectable items. Straight-up power-ups that have a positive effect include weapon upgrades, health upgrades and efficiency upgrades. You can fabricate and make other upgrades too. Then you have malignant upgrades\/power-ups that can have positive as well as negative effects, the negative effects can be removed by completing specific tasks or you may be lucky and avoid the negative malignant effect. The game has a multitude of effects and events that will vary each run and which can make the run easier or tougher as well. There is a huge emphasis on risk and reward throughout the choices you make. That's why I'd also classify that the difficulty varies depending on your run, upgrades available and the procedural levels that are updated.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each loop\/cycle whereby you die and come back act as a learning and help to introduce into other devices in the game such as collectable items, upgrades and power-ups. It will take several deaths in the game before you start the whole power-up systems as well as the collectables available and their power. Every inevitable death allows you to progress further in the story but also allows you to start with more permanent power-ups. The game does a great job of walking you through each element and its potential effect. I enjoyed that you learned more and more things as you progressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The game starts in this dark rain-sodden forest where very little is known, the detailed environments add the dark atmospheric vibes. Even though the levels are procedurally generated there is a good mix of items to collect and platform elements amongst the all-out shooter action. The game uses some clever narrative technique including the use of 1st person view for story elements and that you pick up voice messages from yourself all over Atropos. You are primarily in 3rd person view which gives you a broad view of each area and heightens the gameplay elements. Each voice note adds a little more detail of what is going in the world and helps the drive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The world reminds me a lot of the film Prometheus with a clear Alien vibe throughout the whole game. While I wouldn't classify the game as a horror it does give that sense in large parts of the game as enemies spawn out of nothingness. Even though each level isn't huge, the art style and level design give the game a huge sense of scale and the huge world that exists. The game melds level design, Alien themes and this dark atmospheric tone which gives the sense you are a small survivor in a huge vicious world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A lush map that helps to guide you from level (\"room\") to level provides a navigation mechanism and helps you to find upgrades and power-ups whilst giving a sense of direction. The map allows you to plot a path for gaining the most buffs and power-ups or you can bypass them and head more directly to a boss.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The dual sense and haptic feedback are integrated seamlessly into Returnal. Every feature of the dual sense has been considered in the design and gameplay elements. The first thing that hit was the haptic feedback, the gentle vibrations that mimic rain and the use of sound to further engross you into the world of Atropos. Dualsense gives feedback such as the ground you are treading on, rainfall and tremors from enemies. It's all these little things that add to the whole sense of game immersion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The L2 trigger serves as two buttons where pressing until halfway gives a zoomed fire whereas pushing past the tension point gives the L2 button an alternate fire. Again the haptic feedback provides a system whereby you feel more immersed in the game and these small but clever uses of the controller are enjoyable and make sense. The dual sense gives a real tactile feel to the game and what is going.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

3D audio is the other buzzword and the game promotes amazing sound effects and soundtrack. I own just regular headphones but the world seems more alive when I play with headphones, I could hear every element of the world from the weather, enemies and my footsteps. The audio and soundtrack are superb.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The main game mode is the rogue-like one player shooter whereby you have to kill every enemy to reach a boss to progress to the next biome. There are two other modes available, online mode and challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The online mode is more along the lines that you can avenge or take the gear of other fallen Selenes in your world, this is illustrated by a corpse of Selene that you will find with the Gamertag of the fallen Selene.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Challenges are like an arcade run where you have to achieve certain goals and you will be placed on a leaderboard to gain ultimate grabbing rights.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While I have only spent a few hours playing on the day 1 patch, the day 1 patch improves navigation and identifies exits to each room in the game. This improves the visual aids to the user which is noticeable in the first level. There are some texture improvements on both Selene and enemies you encounter too, the colours on the enemies are more vivid. The majority of the day 1 patches are extra visual polish on the game. The game does seem to run smoother however this is only a slight tweak and the difference isn't massive compared to the 20 hours plus I played on the pre-day 1 patch version. Day 1 patch mainly is adding extra polish to a stunning game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The game is quite challenging and can be unforgiving at times if I'm being honest, the learning curve is steep and I would classify the game as hard. It does become easier as you progress through every run and learn more about the powerups and shortcuts that are available. If you are used to bullet shooter or roguelike games, then you may find the difficulty level to your taste, the difficulty doesn't detract from the experience but enhances the overall gameplay and longevity of the game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I have to say from the first run through the game to my last run-through, I found myself in awe of different elements of the game. I was struck by the intro, the crash landing and just seeing this world, the cinematics is superb and it felt movie-like. The use of the dual sense and haptic feedback just made the whole experience more immersive, sound effects, and noises, while these may seem small, the whole Returnal experience was enhanced. The use of the story narrative where you piece a little bit more with each run adds a whole lot of mystery and intrigue. Finding voice messages from different versions of Selene dotted throughout the world makes the narrative even more powerful and a bit of mind bend. The gameplay has a mix of action, shooter and platformer with some puzzles thrown in for good measure. Big huge scary monsters are rendered and look amazing. The boss fights are big and epic. The game has lots of variety and requires several run-throughs before you gain a thorough understanding of all the gameplay mechanics and what is possible. It's a game that has all the elements above but is great fun too, the pace is spot on, there is variety in how you play. The game is challenging, you will come back for more. Each game mechanic, each game design and each decision by developers all enhance the game and make it even more impactful. It's a superb hell of a ride.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Overall:\u00a0<\/strong>9\/10<\/span><\/p>","post_title":"Returnal Review","post_excerpt":"Sci-fi based roguelike","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"returnal-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:53:46","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:53:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206206","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206198,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-04-28 19:03:59","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-28 18:03:59","post_content":"

Created By:<\/strong> Reiki Kawahara<\/span><\/p>\n

Directed By:<\/strong> Tomohiko It\u00f3 (Season One & Two, Ordinal Scale Movie), <\/span>Manabu Ono (Season Three: Alicization, War of Underworld)<\/span><\/p>\n

Studio:<\/strong> A-1 Pictures<\/span><\/p>\n

Audio:<\/strong> English, Japanese<\/span><\/p>\n

Subtitles:<\/strong> English<\/span><\/p>\n

Format:<\/strong> DVD, BluRay, Netflix, Crunchyroll<\/span><\/p>\n

Licensed By:<\/strong> Manga UK for Season One, Anime Limited has Season Two onwards<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure to many this franchise needs no introduction, as for some of you it may have been your first anime. As it became a massive hit when it began back in 2012 and has since been known to divide the anime community back in the past. We are coming up to the shows 10th anniversary next year and after seeing clips of the new season: Alicization Underworld, I decided to go back to the very beginning of the show and catch up.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the year 2022, virtual reality gaming and its technology has come a long way. Now players can \u2018fully dive\u2019 into an online multiplayer role playing game by using a NerveGear, that allows the user to experience and control their online characters with just their minds, whilst in reality they are just lying down in their bed with a gaming helmet on. Both the NerveGear and the latest VRMMORPG game Sword Art Online, were created by Akihiko Kayaba. Who welcomes all the new players when they enter the game - only to trap them all inside on Launch Day as he removes everyones \u2018logout\u2019 button. Now 10,000 players of all ages are trapped within the online game, with no way to disconnect - except to beat the game by defeating the Boss on the 100th floor.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We follow a young man named Kirito, as he does his best to survive in the game as a solo player. Along the way he often joins up with other players and even joins a Guild, in order to progress even further towards the Boss floor. Two years pass both within the game and the Real World, many have given up all hope of ever leaving Aincrad and have begun businesses, bought homes and as for Kirito - meeting a fellow SAO player named Asuna and having a family together by more or less adopting a wandering child that they found in the forest. This couple keeps pushing forward at all times for the sake of all the players still trapped in the game and in memory of those that have died along the way. The first Season of Sword Art Online had heart ache, a thirst for survival, seeing people reach their limits, the dark side of humanity but also the many girls that have all fallen head of heels for Kirito. With only one of them getting that all important ring on their finger. Now this show may not have been for everyone, as there were a number of dark themes involved, including PKs (Player Killers) within the game that were murderers. We also had immense violence, torture, some shocking and intense scenes at times, especially towards Asuna towards the end of the first season. It came close to hitting the 18 age rating at times.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Season Two is set a year after the events in Aincrad but just a short time after where we left off in Alfheim Online, as both Kirito and Asuna begin to readjust to reality and attend school again. We have since been introduced to Kirito\u2019s cousin Suguha, who joins the gang as they continue to explore ALO. This season follows Kirito as he ports his avatar over to another game called Gun Gale Online, at the behest of a Government Official after reports of several real life murders linked to the game and a player going by the name Death Gun. Here we meet a player named Sinon, who assists a very feminine looking Kirito as he gets his barings in the new game. Sinon has an interesting backstory and is using her character in GGO to help tackle her childhood trauma. Once again by the end of this season, another girl has fallen for Kirito. With Asuna still the only one in Kirito's sights, the rest of the girls still manage to follow him wherever he goes. This season also see\u2019s Kirito playing a significant role in how a Government taskforce tries to bridge the gap between crimes committed between the real and virtual worlds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In the second half of Season Two, we return to the adventures found in ALO. As Kirito and his friends set out on a quest to discover the legendary Holy Sword Excalibur. Once that side mission is complete, its Asuna\u2019s turn to shine as after her duel with an undefeated player, she is asked to join a party with a guild known as the Sleeping Knights, in order to complete a mission. There we meet the undefeated swords-woman Yuuki, known across ALO for her 11 hit original sword skill \u201cMother\u2019s Rosario\u201d. This was a heartbreaking arc to watch, as Yuuki\u2019s story was tragic. Asuna, having ultimately discovered her secret, rushes to her side and does all she can to comfort her. Once again it is both Kirito and his ideas of limiting the gap between the real and the virtual worlds, that allows Yuuki the chance to experience a normal school day yet again. Something she had been unable to do for so very long. Although the end of this season left me in tears, it was beautifully done and left such an impact on all the characters involved that continued to be shown again in the coming seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Following on from Season Two, the \u201cOrdinal Scale\u201d movie was released. Having bridged the gap once more between the real and virtual worlds, a new headset and VR game was released. Similar to when Pok\u00e9mon Go was first released, you had to travel around to both catch Pok\u00e9mon, defeat gyms, participate in raids and hatch eggs. This film brought the VR world into the real world, you could \u2018dive\u2019 out in the open on the street during live events. With Boss raids a common event, they were organised in a way that wherever it was taking part, areas of the city would be cordoned off for the event for safety precautions. It was a community event, instead of solo gaming. You would imagine that Kirito would love this kind of game, but in fact it was the opposite, as it didn't feel the same as a \u2018fulldive\u2019. It relied more on your physical ability, as it was just you as you are doing all the movement. Too much physical effort for Kirito it seems. Ultimately there was something sinister going on behind the games development, as several players' memories became affected - including Asuna\u2019s. As Kirito begins investigating more into the games developers, he uncovers that there is a link between this new VR game and the developer of SAO: Akihiko Kayaba.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Season Three takes on the Alicization arc. Where a member of \u2018Laughing Coffin\u2019 ends upattacking both Kirito and Asuna one night out on the street. As Kirito manages to push Asuna out of harm's way, he ends up being injected with the same poison that was being used to carry out the murders he was investigating in GGO. Now clinging onto life and with severe brain damage, it\u2019s none other than Investigator Kikuoka that brings forth the idea that Kirito gets transferred to a military hospital in order to get specialized medical attention. By using the same full dive tech that was used by Yuuki in ALO, Kirito awakens in the same world he onced visited as part of his part time work at Rath. However he still retains his memories, all except the moment he was attacked by Laughing Coffin and the memories he once held in this World. Now Kirito must figure out how this \u2018game\u2019 works, what he can do and how he can get out again.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this series we meet Eugeo and Alice, both of which were born in the same village and grew up together. In this world there are rules and laws, if they are broken by an individual, they are taken away by an Integrity Knight to be punished. This is what happened to the young girl Alice, now Eugeo wishes to go and rescue her. However first he has to complete his Sacred Task, which of course Kirito teaches him a short cut in how to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n

This season is unlike anything that happened in the franchise previously. Although Kirito is now \u2018trapped\u2019 in a new world, it\u2019s not a game. This is an AI building environment, these \u2018people\u2019 are living out their entire lives, generation after generation right here. All experiencing life just like people in the real World. It\u2019s almost like The Truman Show, a world set up so that individuals will believe its real and will live their lives out as normal. And of course this is all being done with an ulterior motive, not for the world of gaming but as a technological advancement for warfare by creating a \u2018bottom-up\u2019 AI. One that was created not by inputting all the data, but by learning it itself and establishing its own morals and values. So although Kirito is recovering within the \u2018full-dive\u2019, as his neural brain paths are being restored, he is also trying to help rescue the captured Alice within. There is quite a bit going on in this show, although very little time has passed between all these events in Asuna's world - perhaps a week or two at best. For Kirito, it has been over two years and a lot has happened in that time!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Part Two of this Season has only finished airing in recent months and has yet to receive an English Dub. So the physical release will be some time for Alicization: War of Underworld. However you can still watch the English sub version now over on Crunchyroll if you just can\u2019t wait! For me, this arc of the franchise has been the strongest yet and needed the previous seasons to get the characters and storyline to this point where this arc would be possible. Ultimately it is Kirito that has suffered the most in this season, I can\u2019t say much as there are far too many spoilers involved. It\u2019s such a strong season and I have no idea where it will go next, but there is hope for another season. We know already that there is a movie in the works named Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night, which brings us all the way back to Season One in Aincrad from Asuna\u2019s perspective as she encounters Kirito and we see her initial struggles trying to cope with her new reality trapped within a game.<\/span><\/p>\n

For now feel free to buy your physical copies of the anime franchise today. If you prefer streaming, then Seasons 1, 2 and the first half of Season 3, as well as Ordinal Scale are available to watch now in English Dub over on Netflix. The full franchise is also available to watch in full over on Crunchyroll.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> 8\/10<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Sword Art Online: Season One to Three Review","post_excerpt":"Created by Reiki Kawahara","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"sword-art-online-season-one-to-three-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:48:04","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:48:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206198","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206192,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-04-26 17:08:23","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-26 16:08:23","post_content":"Developer:<\/strong> Studica Solution, Electric Monkeys<\/span>\r\n\r\nPlatforms:<\/strong>\u00a0PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X (Reviwed) |S\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nGenre: <\/strong>Action<\/span>\r\n\r\nPublisher:\u00a0<\/strong>PQube<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nGravity Heroes is a retro arcade 2D shooter that embraces the nostalgic world of single-level shooters but uniquely the ability to change gravity, hence the name Gravity Heroes. It combines the all-out action of a retro shooter rendered in beautiful pixel and allows for up to 4 players to play across a host of levels.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe gameplay is a homage to many classic retro shooters, you arrive on a level and you have to survive hordes of enemies. As you survive the hordes of enemies by dodging, killing and changing gravity, you will get access to power-ups to help you. The game is a mix of platformer and shooter but the ability to change gravity is unique and takes time to adjust to. Once you get used to the gravity mechanic, it adds a whole lot more to the game and elevates it from just a retro shooter. The gravity element is what makes the game stand out and novel. The game is chaotic, with limited level size filling up with tons of enemies. The shooter mechanics are superb and if you enjoy any shooters, this is a pleasure to play. The platform elements are decent but the main mechanics are gravity and shooters.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEach level and each character is rendered in beautiful pixel art. The art style is bright and pops off the screen. The level design is superb and each platform and design element is used to make the game feel even more action-packed. The explosions, the guns and the projectiles are all bright and add an extra sense of impact to the gameplay too. The soundtrack provides some upbeat music to keep you bopping along.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nWith fantastic gameplay elements, the art style and design add extra gloss to this superb shooter.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe game does every game mechanic well, the shooter aspects are satisfying and challenging, there is a real sense of accomplishment as you progress through each level. The platforming elements are minimal but add another layer. The use of the gravity of mechanics is mind-bending at the start but makes the game stand out. It becomes a superb gaming mechanic the more you get used to it. Levels are fun and chaotic, the mix of all gaming elements make for a challenging but enjoyable play. The pixel art accentuates the gameplay and gives some needed style to the game. The game supports up to 4 players local multiplayer which means even more mayhem. This pixel art shooter gets a combination of gaming elements and design spot on, it's chaotic fun and addictive.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOverall:<\/strong>\u00a07.5\/10\u00a0<\/span>","post_title":"Gravity Heroes Review","post_excerpt":"Retro arcade 2D shooter","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"gravity-heroes-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:54:06","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:54:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206192","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206183,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-04-23 14:56:37","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-23 13:56:37","post_content":"

Hello everyone! Hope you are all keeping well, I have a massive haul to talk about today as last week I received 9 months worth of my Nihon Box subscriptions all of a sudden on my doorstep!<\/span><\/p>\n

As you guys are aware, I normally review the SoKawaii box each month. However that isn\u2019t the only subscription service I\u2019m with. Back in March 2020 I did a review of my very first Nihon Box, sadly when the pandemic started my boxes were stuck in their warehouse in Japan due to limited postal options. Almost a year has passed since my last box, when all of a sudden I came home one day to find two big FedEx boxes in my sitting room. The lovely people over at Nihon Box must have decided to rebox everyone's orders that they had been waiting on for so long and send them first class! So that way their warehouse would be empty of all back orders from 2020. To make it even more amazing, they had replaced any out of date food items with replacement ones. Such attention to detail and top class warehouse operatives too, as everything was packed with care. Not a single item was damaged, and there were a number of breakable items inside! I have to say, that team deserves more than just a round of applause!<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve known about this service for quite some time now, as I\u2019ve seen several unboxing videos from Doug D\u2019Marco on YouTube. Check out his channel if you can, he reviews several different subscription boxes and gives good, honest reviews. (<\/span>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/Angelraider78<\/u><\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Much like SoKawaii, Nihon Box is a Japanese monthly subscription service that handpicks at least 6 items each month that are almost exclusive to Japan and ships them straight to your door. Their items are a mixture of Otaku Anime related merchandise and figures, as well as traditional Japanese items, from sweets to tableware. All of this is available to subscribe to for what I find a very affordable price each month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like SoKawaii, the more months you pay upfront the cheaper the price for individual boxes will be.<\/span> https:\/\/www.nihonbox.com\/en<\/u><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Monthly is \u20ac29.99 plus shipping costs<\/span><\/p>\n

3 Months is a single payment of \u20ac86.97, making each box \u20ac28.99, plus shipping costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

6 Months is a single payment of \u20ac170.94, making each box \u20ac28.49, plus shipping costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This image is just a collection of a number of the traditional Japanese items that are included amongst every Nihon Box. From what I would deem as soba cups or green tea cups, which most often are not made with any handles. A Daruma, which I have just painted in the right eye of. I advise reading up on the history of this item as its actually quite sweet and interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n

We also have items which you would more than likely see at summer festivals in Japan, from a kitsune mask to a small paper balloon in the shape of a fish known as a Kingyo Kamif\u00fasen. There is also a traditional wind chime included, in the shape of a fish. Which would be lovely to have in front of a door or window when the summer breeze comes through. There is also a small cat figurine, known as a Maneki Neko Mokiji, decorated in maple leaves to celebrate the Autumn season. And a Washi Ningy\u00f3, which is a cute little figurine doll that was handmade from Japanese washi and kimono fabric. This beautiful little figure comes in her own display case and is just so precious to look upon. Alongside the two Ukiyo-e Sakura postcards, that are just another item that best represent the old Japanese historic art style.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These next few items include a decorative plate and insulated lunch bag from The Promised Neverland. A show that has been well represented this year in Nihon Box, as we also received a plushie of Emma. We also have a decorative Spirited Away hand fan known as a Uchiwa, which will come in very handy during the hot weather. Another authentic Made in Japan item is this Usagi tray, which can be used to hold your meal or sweets. Much like you were being served in authentic Japanese restaurant or ryokan.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Oooh now we are on to the high quality stuff here! Time for the figures, the best selling point about this service for me. Now not every month had a figure included, as they were sometimes switched out for a large plush - such as Ryuk in October and Rimuru in August. The rest of the months you are almost guaranteed a figure no matter what! So my new pride and joy on my shelf is the Asuka Langley figure from Evangelion from last July's box. That month gave you the chance of getting one of the four figures available in the Evangelion Shin Gekijouban figure range that was being released to mark what was the upcoming release of the fourth and final film - Rebuild of Evangelion. You could have gotten either Asuka, Rei, Kaworu or Evangelion Unit 13!<\/span><\/p>\n

We also have a Pok\u00e9mon ReMent figure from the Terrarium Volume 4 series, which had 6 to collect including Gengar, Totodile, Moltres, Slowpoke, Umbreon, as well as Pikachu sleeping on a Mareep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last April's box included the 2020 Sakura Miku figure, which was brand new at the time. We also received a Kirby figure from the Solar Swing Collection, which was also featured in a SoKawaii box last year. Thankfully I received the other version that was available in this box, so my collection is now complete. Very cute item to have, which swings side to side when sunlight hits the small solar panel on the front of the figure base.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We are finally onto our last three items! December\u2019s box included the Yami Yugi figurine from the Noodle Stopper collection. Although they are small scale statues, their poses allow them to sit freely on shelf corners - or indeed on the lid of your cup ramen as intended. For the size of the figure itself, its actually really well detailed and I adore it! From the same Noodle Stopper collection, comes the InuYasha figure from September's box. This was done for promotion of the latest InuYasha anime that was released last year - Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon.<\/span><\/p>\n

And last but not least, we have the Cardcaptor Sakura: Special Rocket Beat Figure! Which was only recently released at the time this box was filled, so I am super lucky that this figure was included in the box at all!<\/span><\/p>\n

Nihon Box always does their best to follow the latest anime trends as well as finding items from fan favorite shows in order to always appeal to their customer base. With items from classic shows such as InuYasha, GTO and Cardcaptor Sakura, to the newer franchises including The Promised Neverland and Demon Slayer. They not only source out some decent quality figures, but also to make sure that each month their box represents another unique aspect of Japan - from its food, to its culture, art, history and beliefs. It\u2019s a well rounded box, for both anime fans and cultural fans. For me, they are just a step above the likes of SoKawaii box just for their variety in products and value for money in the items you receive. Although SoKawaii are currently more reliable when it comes to shipping, it\u2019s simply only the side effects of the pandemic that has put them both on an even playing field. End of the day, I highly enjoy both of these subscriptions and don't see myself cancelling either of them anything soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information on how you can order your own box, look to the top of this review and head over to the link below so you can sign up today!<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.nihonbox.com\/en<\/u><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Nihon Box April to December 2020 Review Part 2","post_excerpt":"I have a massive haul to talk","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"nihon-box-april-to-december-2020-review-part-2","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:50:32","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:50:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206183","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206175,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-04-19 17:50:35","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-19 16:50:35","post_content":"

Developer:<\/strong> Arik Zurabian, Edo Brenes<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Platforms: <\/strong>Mac, PC (Reviewed)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Genre: <\/strong>Adventure<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Publisher:\u00a0<\/strong>Arik Zurabian<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Dude, Where Is My Beer? (DWIMB?) is a throwback to the fantastic genre of point and click adventure games, this is reminiscent of some of the classics from Lucas Arts and Sierra. The game follows the journey of a man looking for a pilsner in a world gone mad of craft beer and snobby hipster nonsense all set in Oslo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

DWIMB? is beautifully crafted in a cartoony hipster art style, the world has a fantastic comic feel as well. The world of Oslo and its inhabitants bring this game to life, characters give the sense this is a living breathing place as you journey through it. The character design has a great hipster vibe with the personality being brought to the fore through dialogue. The only thing lacking is the lack of voice dialogue but this is understandable considering it's a small team building this game. The themes of hipsters, beer and Oslo in terms of level design and gameplay is superb and even the use of fonts adds to themes as well. The superb soundtrack and music bring different scenes and areas to life. I loved the metal bar in particular with the metal music and metal fans in the bar.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It's been a while since I played a point and click adventure, I used to play games like Monkey Island and Sam & Max, this game did evoke memories of both. With any point and click adventure, you will have to set actions and the use of dialogue to understand how to achieve your objective of getting a pilsner. The menu system and short keys make the game easy to pick up and play. Controlling and interacting with the world is smooth and effortless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The gameplay is complemented by great wit and a fantastic sense of humour, I would have loved to hear the characters being voiced as well but maybe in the future. Each character you interact with has their unique personality and their dialogue brings them to life. Their dialogue and what they say will help you in our ultimate goal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As you progress through Oslo you will pick up items and clues that will help you along the way, the game has lots of puzzles and problem solving required to progress. The game also pokes fun at the genre point and click adventure which is present throughout.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The game is beautiful from the moment you get off the bus until you search for that elusive pilsner. You meet and speak to a host of wonderfully created characters who give the world a sense of meaning. The elements of the point and click adventure are all there with a great soundtrack to boot. The mixture of puzzles and game design making for a challenging game. The only thing I would like to see in future versions would be some voice acting otherwise I enjoyed playing this stylish and fun game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Overall:<\/strong>\u00a08\/10\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n","post_title":"Dude, Where Is My Beer? Review","post_excerpt":"Point and click adventure","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dude-where-is-my-beer-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:54:30","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:54:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206175","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206168,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-04-16 15:13:52","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-16 14:13:52","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

Created by:<\/strong> Heather Einhorn, Adam Staffaroni<\/span><\/p>\n

Written by:<\/strong> Janet Harvey<\/span><\/p>\n

Illustrated by:<\/strong> Sonia Liao<\/span><\/p>\n

Colorist:<\/strong> Johanna Taylor<\/span><\/p>\n

Lettering by:<\/strong> Morgan Martinez<\/span><\/p>\n

Published by:<\/strong> The MIT Press<\/span><\/p>\n

Release Date:<\/strong> 27th April 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marie Curie was a highly credited and celebrated physicist & chemist. Known for her pioneering work in radioactivity and being the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in 1903. She also created the secretive Curie Society, whose mission was to support the most brilliant female scientists in the World through funding and support. This elite organisation is still recruiting talented members to this day, and has issued three invitations to a group of young college students that happen to be sharing the same dorm room.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Here we meet Simone, Maya and Taj. A group of women, each dedicated to their own fields of research, with open minds but with very little group experience. Before there can be any initiation into this secret society, these women are put through many tests and challenges along the way. One of which will include going up against a former member, whose ideals have taken her down a more self-sufficient route compared to the society's main objective.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This book celebrates many brilliant minds, showcases the many fields of study and research that one can achieve in the world of Science. As well as being full of action, it is also a great addition to have for any young girls library. To have a book that shows them that there are many opportunities and women who have already made a huge contribution to the world of science. The back of the book includes many bio\u2019s of real life female Doctors' and Professors that I am sure were used as inspiration for the characters in this story.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our trio of young college students come from different walks of life. Simone is the youngest student within the college and was fast tracked into freshman life due to her high intellect & research papers. However due to her young age, she lacks the confidence to easily interact and relate to many of those around her. Although I am sure she can more than likely keep up with the workload, its her social skills that need to be improved upon. Next we have Maya, a young woman from a high society family. Whose parents expect the utmost from their daughter, in terms of her grades, the connections she makes and the social circles she must join. In their eyes, nothing is more important than advancing her career and ultimating winning a Nobel Prize. And last but not least, we have Taj. This girl comes straight from the city, with a rebellious nature and some admirable free running-esque agility, she has admitted in the past to being behind some \u2018graffitti like\u2019 projects back home. She has a talent for engineering and is certainly the woman to have on hand when it comes to organising the tech for any undercover operation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Together they first make a very unlikely team. Even beginning as simple room mates ends in instant fights, over mere noise or even cleanliness. It\u2019s only through going on training exercises and with interacting with the mentors at the Curie Society, do these young women start to bond after some time. In fact they kind of remind me of a more modern day version of the three lead characters from the 2001 cartoon \u2018 Totally Spies!\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018The Curie Society\u2019 was created by Heather Einhorn and Adam Staffaroni. Both of which are also co-founders of EEP - Einhorn\u2019s Epic Productions, a multi-platform content studio. Which specializes in creating stories that showcases heroic female characters. They focus on the underserved gen-z, millennial, female and diverse fandoms, by creating character driven stories that can be scripted for podcasts, graphic novels, television, film, virtual and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Janet Harvey was responsible for putting pen to paper to bring this story to life. She is also an award winning writer for both comic books, film and games. Her own graphic novel - Angel City<\/em> is available now from Oni Press.<\/span><\/p>\n

We then have our artist - Sonia Liao. Who has worked on projects for BOOM! Studios, Sourcebook Fire, Red 5 Comics and EMET Comics. Her work on \u2018The Curie Society\u2019 has been a pleasure to enjoy and has added to the ease of reading the book. Not only has she illustrated a modern day college campus, but has also brought images of the past to life - from wooly mammoths to wartime espionage. It will all make sense when you read the book.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I would imagine that this book would be well enjoyed by both young girls and boys, with perhaps leaving a more lasting impression on the former of the two. For older readers, perhaps such as myself, it is quite enjoyable nonetheless. I mean when was the last time you sat down and read a book that mentioned cross breeding woolly mammoths in order to save the glaciers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018The Curie Society<\/em>\u2019 will be available to buy on the 27th April from MIT Press. Pre-order it now in your local brick and mortar bookstore!<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> 8\/10<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>","post_title":"The Curie Society Review","post_excerpt":"This book celebrates many brilliant minds","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-curie-society-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:53:14","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:53:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206168","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":69},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_22"};

\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Destiny, NY #1-2 Review","post_excerpt":"In an alternative timeline","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"destiny-ny-1-2-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:19:05","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:19:05","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206280","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206269,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-05-21 15:02:45","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-21 14:02:45","post_content":"Written By:<\/strong> Thomas J Behe<\/span>\n\nIllustrated By:<\/strong> Phil Elliott<\/span>\n\nPublished By:<\/strong> Markosia Enterprises Ltd.<\/span>\n\nContraband is the latest video sharing site that has emerged from the dark Web. This app is the host to thousands of incriminating videos of domestic violence, criminal abuse, shit kickings and even murder. All for the sake of getting a top ranked video, voted upon by the viewers so you can score a couple of grand. The app has taken the global communities by storm, with more and more younger viewers wanting to participate and contribute their own content. But just who created this site, for what purpose if not to just see the world burn?! We follow a guy named Toby who becomes so entangled in this mess, that his own moral values begin to twist whilst he is trying to make sense of all the evil around him.<\/span><\/em>\n\nThis is an incredibly dialogue heavy story, where its main villain seems to hold no filter when it comes to saying everything he thinks out loud. There are also continuous time skips and flashbacks, where it can get rather confusing as to trying to follow the storyline. As apart from the date changes at the beginning of each chapter, there is no definitive style that separates the two timeframes. It does however have an interesting plot, where one man - his mind twisted from working as a mercenary overseas, creates a video hosting website whose content reflects his own ideals. With clips of brutal murders, beatings, savage attacks and mocking the justice system. Its certainly a book aimed at an older audience, for fans that enjoy the likes of The Purge perhaps.<\/span>\n\n\n\nToby isn't anyone's hero, although he talks about saving his girlfriend - in reality the two barely know one another. He enjoys filming women in secret and once captured a pedophile on film, by giving the footage to the authorities. His good deeds more or less end there. He gets caught up with a man named Tucker Scott, the creator of Contraband. Being framed into working for him, only to end up on a man hunt for the very person he was trying to save. The chaos is intense throughout and you really do see the dark side of humanity show its wicked grin. It is also tech heavy as well, as Toby gets to know the Web designer and app developer behind Contraband. As well as a rather unique mobile phone he created, that also works as a gun. Illustrations of which are at the beginning of this book.<\/span>\n\n\"Contraband<\/strong><\/em>\" was created by Thomas Behe, the CEO of Octopus.sh, a self-sovereignty identity platform. He is also a product innovator, published author and MBA graduate of Ivey Business School, he\u2019s launched identity solutions for Experian, Barclays, Sky and iTV, his case studies are being taught at Harvard, Ivey and Copenhagen business schools and he has also appeared in Wired, KuppingerCole and the Financial Times.<\/span>\n\nTogether with artist Phil Elliot, whose other recent comic work includes TUPELO<\/strong><\/em> , Absent Friends<\/em><\/strong> & Rockpool Files<\/em><\/strong> for Slave Labor Graphics and Illegal Alien<\/em><\/strong> for Dark Horse Comics. Thomas has created this graphic novel - Contraband<\/strong><\/em>. Which has been described as being the \u201cfirst tech fiction comic to expose the stark dangers of social media; online cyberbullying, privacy invasion, voyeur spying, fake news, trolling and corporations abusing people\u2019s data to influence public opinion, make billions and dominate the social fabric of society.\u201d And they ain't wrong!<\/span>\n\n\n\nThis comic has raised some frightening but real live occurrences that need to be addressed. The Dark Web is real, it needs to be monitored and legislation, protocols and technology needs to be improved upon to better contain & immobilise it. This title has brought forth a topic that many may not have been aware of up to now, but it has gained the spotlight so it can be addressed. There is also talk of a follow story to Contraband that will deal with some of the topics brought up in these pages. Including the idea that what if it was entirely possible to pass over complete control of an app or website, to whoever holds the top ranked video. And what would it take for someone to reach the top, in order to gain that control.<\/span>\n\nYou can catch Contraband out now in all good comic book stores and online. Follow the links below for their website and their social media to follow along on the next installment to the series.<\/span>\n\nWebsite: http:\/\/contrabandgraphicnovel.com\/<\/a><\/span>\n\nFacebook: https:\/\/m.facebook.com\/tjbehe<\/a><\/span>\n\nYou can buy your issue from Amazon: https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/Contraband-Thomas-J-Behe\/dp\/1913802604?tag=randrambofara-21&geniuslink=true<\/a><\/span>\n\nOverall:<\/strong> 7\/10<\/span>","post_title":"Contraband Review","post_excerpt":"Contraband is the latest video sharing site","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"contraband-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:34:48","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:34:48","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206269","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206255,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-05-19 14:34:39","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-19 13:34:39","post_content":"

\u201cMysterious Spring\u201d<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Hello everyone, hope you\u2019re all doing good!<\/span><\/p>\n

With international shipping methods beginning to return to normal, postal restrictions have started to be lifted. So instead of waiting another year to receive a bunch of backdated subscription boxes - I have instead received this years\u2019 March box from Nihon Box! Even though I am still waiting on January and February boxes to arrive, let\u2019s just get this review started!<\/span><\/p>\n

Much like SoKawaii, Nihon Box is a Japanese monthly subscription service that handpicks at least 6 items each month that are almost exclusive to Japan and ships them straight to your door. Their items are a mixture of Otaku Anime related merchandise and figures, as well as traditional Japanese items, from sweets to tableware. All of this is available to subscribe to for what I find a very affordable price each month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like SoKawaii, the more months you pay upfront the cheaper the price for individual boxes will be. https:\/\/www.nihonbox.com\/en<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Monthly is \u20ac29.99 plus shipping costs<\/span><\/p>\n

3 Months is a single payment of \u20ac86.97, making each box \u20ac28.99, plus shipping costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

6 Months is a single payment of \u20ac170.94, making each box \u20ac28.49, plus shipping costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a link to their FAQ page, just in case you\u2019re wondering if they ship to your country: <\/span>https:\/\/www.nihonbox.com\/en\/nihonbox\/faq<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

So let\u2019s begin with our first item - which is a \u2018Beastars\u2019 shoulder bag. From the hit Netflix series that got everyone discussing \u2018furries\u2019 all over again, it was adapted from a manga series of the same name and animated by CG studio Orange. With a second season not far off in the horizon, now is the perfect time to start wearing this bag around the town as Netflix continues their advertising campaign for the show.<\/span><\/p>\n

This cross shoulder bag isn\u2019t massive by any means, but is perfect for those that only plan on carrying just their phone and wallet as they travel about. It\u2019s handsfree, strong built and I say it would hold up rather well in the rain with its hard plastic coating that covers the design on the front of the bag. Although the picture is a tad unusual, it will make complete sense to fans of the show. For others that are unaware of its existence - it may need a slight explanation. As it features our lead wolf - Legoshi clutching our white rabbit Haru. It\u2019s a useful product, but the design may just be hitting a specific fanbase for this one. Kind of wish they were able to acquire a different image for the print.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Next up is our Japanese snack - which this month is a Sakura flavored Dorayaki. Now this product was absolutely delicious and did not last very long in my home.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDorayaki is a type of Japanese confection. It consists of two small pancake-like patties made from castella wrapped around a filling of sweet azuki bean paste<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Or in this case, Sakura flavored filling. Each of these treats came individually wrapped, so they remained super fresh. Perfect to have with a cup of Green Tea or as a small reward to yourself to help you keep motivated throughout the day. The flavor wasn\u2019t overpowering in the slightest, it was very pleasant and had a sweet taste to it. Well worth checking out this line of Japanese confectionery if you ever get the chance. The sakura filling also symbolized the start of the very short lived Sakura\/Cherry Blossom season in Japan.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Next up we have two more anime related merch, beginning with a retractable keychain from Detective Conan. This rather large rubber keychain has a clip at the top so you can attach it to your bag or pants loop, whilst the bottom has a ring hoop for your keys. This clever and stylish looking item was available in four characters including Conan Edogawa, Sh\u00faichi Akai, Tooru Amuro and Kait\u00f3 kid which is pictured above.<\/span><\/p>\n

The second item in this picture is of the recently released Evangelion Coo\u2019nuts, which have become very popular amongst convenience stores in Japan. These small little objects always have perfect balance and will not fall down when you push them. They are a quirky little toy that always seems to be coming out with new anime collaborations, with Evangelion becoming the latest. This series features 16 characters from EVA, of which I got Asuka Langley!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Our next item this month is *another* set of chopsticks - which isn\u2019t too bad when you see that it is in fact a Sakura designed chopstick and spoon set. Which is a lovely addition to the cutlery drawer when you discover that these were in fact made in Japan - and not China for once! Would love to see some bowls or plates with similar styles being included in future boxes. Perhaps one day it may add up to a set!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Next up is this rather adorable Rem plush from Re: Zero. I have yet to get into this franchise, but it must be a very popular one as there is new merch constantly being released every month! This character plush is quite large and very well detailed, it definitely has that cute \u2018moe\u2019 factor about her. For me the eyes on it are very striking and have such a cute plush on the cheeks. I\u2019m very particular about plushies and figures, but this one here is exactly what I would be looking for in merch. It has a perfect resemblance to the anime character. This is the ideal companion for any Re: Zero fan I believe.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

And finally we are down to our last item, which is this Pok\u00e9mon ReMent figure from the new Stained Glass Collection. These sets are always a joy to get and I can never fault the ReMent brand. The designs have always been so creative and flawless, with a story to tell and picture perfect scenes. This collection had 6 designs, including Ho-Oh, Lugia, Mew, Gardevoir, Umbreon and the above Pikachu.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nihon Box always does their best to follow the latest anime trends as well as finding items from fan favorite shows in order to always appeal to their customer base. With items from classic shows such as InuYasha, GTO and Detective Conan, to the newer franchises including The Promised Neverland, Demon Slayer and Re: Zero. They not only source out some decent quality figures and plushies, but also to make sure that each month their box represents another unique aspect of Japan \u2013 from its food, to its culture, art, history and beliefs. It\u2019s a well rounded box, for both anime fans and cultural fans. This box's theme was \u201cMysterious Spring\u201d, and each pamphlet in every box also includes a detailed section called \u201cDiscover Japan\u201d. This month's topic was about Sakura and why it is the symbol of Spring in Japan. It\u2019s details such as these that make this subscription box so unique and talked about.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information on how you can order your own box, look to the top of this review and head over to the link below so you can sign up today!<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.nihonbox.com\/en<\/u><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Nihon Box March 2021 Review","post_excerpt":"Mysterious spring","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"nihon-box-march-2021-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:35:57","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:35:57","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206255","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206241,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-05-14 13:57:43","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-14 12:57:43","post_content":"Created By:<\/strong> Iolanda Zanfardino & Elisa Romboli<\/span>\n\nWritten By:<\/strong> Iolanda Zanfardino<\/span>\n\nIllustrated By:<\/strong> Elisa Romboli<\/span>\n\nCover By:<\/strong> Elisa Romboli<\/span>\n\nPublished By:<\/strong> Black Mask Studios\n<\/span>\n\nAlice is a sweet-loving, charismatic children's author who adores fairytales. Whilst in the middle of penning her new book, she discovers her perfect happily ever after relationship was all a sham and quickly packs her bags to join her illustrator friend Robin on her move to San Francisco! Here our innocent young author is thrown out of her tranquil surroundings and into a new Wonderland - where her new housemates are out and proud about their kinks. Just what wonders await Alice in this dazzling new town?<\/span><\/em>\n\nI am sure we are all aware of the Lewis Carroll classic that was \u2018Alice in Wonderland\u2019. Well this story\u2019s Alice takes herself to the Golden Gate City in search of some freedom, inspiration and distance from her toxic ex girlfriend. She is now on a journey of self discovering after a harsh taste of reality back home. Not wanting to rely on her close friend Robin, Alice takes it upon herself to find her own place, which ultimately ends up being in a shared house with a bunch of \u2018interesting women\u2019? Perhaps this will be a tale of sexual awakening and exploration for our timid Alice.<\/span>\n\n\n\nWith only 36 pages for our first issue, it has left us with an interesting start to Alice\u2019s next step in life as she settles down in SF. We discover that her illustrator Robin could be a possible love interest in the future, Alice has deep ties to FairyTales and wants to live her life as close to one as she possibly can. Alice also just had a massive shock when she discovered the true feelings her ex had for her and then took it upon herself to just pack up and leave all of a sudden for a new city. Alice appears to be an all or nothing gal from what I read, she has her own style which isn\u2019t racey or controversial. Playing it safe, seeing as her profession is that of a children's author. It will also be interesting to see how her own story telling will evolve with her lifestyle change to the big city. Will this little firefly discover her light again?<\/span>\n\nSo this comic series is definitely aimed at a more mature audience, as you may have guessed from the front cover. Which I must say has so many details that could be overlooked at first glance, and I am guessing may have several clues as to how this story will progress. For now we are done with the main introductions, but for the issues ahead I will be amazed if there isn\u2019t a rauchy sex scene, a pole dance or some form of bondage. This girl Alice is in a whole new World to explore!<\/span>\n\n\n\nAlice in Leatherland is brought to us by real-life creative couple Iolanda Zanfardino (writer) and Elisa Romboli (artist) while they were in a pandemic lockdown together. Having found the time to sit down and work on a comic book mini series together, they created this diverse, modern romantic comedy that is bound to make a splash in the comic book industry. I\u2019m interested to see where this story will go in further issues and just how far it is willing to illustrate on page. \u2018Alice in Leatherland<\/strong><\/em>\u2019 is being published by Black Mask Studios<\/strong>, the Los Angeles based indie publishing company. Who has previously published the following acclaimed titles; Calexit<\/strong>, Black<\/strong>, 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank, Loud<\/strong>, and Destiny, NY<\/strong>.<\/span>\n\nAlice in Leatherland #2<\/strong> is out on the 19th May!\n<\/span>\n\nOverall:<\/strong> 8\/10<\/span>","post_title":"Alice in Leatherland #1 Review","post_excerpt":"Alice adores fairytales","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"alice-in-leatherland-1-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:39:07","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:39:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206241","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206235,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-05-13 15:06:12","post_date_gmt":"2021-05-13 14:06:12","post_content":"\r\n

Developer:\u00a0<\/strong>Ubisoft Montreal<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Platforms:<\/strong>\u00a0PC, PS4, PS5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Genre:<\/strong>\u00a0Action, Adventure, RPG<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Publisher:\u00a0<\/strong>Ubisoft<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

The first set of DLC has come out for Valhalla, titled Wrath of the Druids. The expansion sees Eivor on his way to Ireland where you will pick up a new story arc and will see the amazing expanse that is Ireland.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

To play the DLC you will have to complete one of the two first story arcs in England and an option to sail to Ireland will come via a stranger who will arrive in your camp. The power level in Ireland is 55 but it will adjust to your character level. This means you don't have to progress that much in the main game to enjoy the DLC. If you have played through Valhalla you will be higher than 55.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

Ireland is a huge new area you get to explore, the map is impressive. The terrain is a lot more rugged and mountainous than the original game. If you are from Ireland or have visited Ireland, you will familiar with the locations which is a nice touch. As a gamer from Ireland, it's novel to travel to in-game places you know and have visited. The game does a good job of having that Irish vibe with the voice acting and lore of Ireland portrayed well. Irish landscapes are well rendered and you get a sense of life in the Viking era of Ireland. A mixture of Latin, Irish and English is spoken too. Druids add a sense of mysticism and mystery to the proceedings too. The architecture is faithfully recreating buildings of that era. You will be able to equip new unique items such as clothing and weapons too. You will encounter new enemies, animals throughout the DLC. Ubisoft gets the mix of a new place to play through with solid gameplay, stunning visuals and intriguing story arcs to boot. It was a joy to play and see places I was familiar with. There are new abilities and new gameplay mechanics and buildings too. It's a really solid offering and it adds to the game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The standalone price for the season pass for Valhalla costs \u20ac39.99.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The season pass is included in the Gold and Ultimate editions of Valhalla.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The season pass will include access to Wrath of the Druids (released 13th May) and The Siege of Paris which will be released later in the year.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

While the standalone price for the season pass may seem high, the Wrath of Druids is sizeable about 13 hours of main quests and 5 hours of side quests. It depends on if you need another fix of Valhalla, and if you do I think you will get your money's worth, this only part 1 of the DLC. I liked the new arcs, the additional skills, new enemies and the general Irish feel about the DLC. I have been to a lot of these places so it was interesting seeing the \"Viking\" version in the game. The voice acting, mysticism, the darkness all have been executed well. It was a joy to play the DLC. I remembered how much I have enjoyed Vahalla after I revisited the game via the DLC. I'm looking forward to the next set of DLC.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Overall:\u00a0<\/strong>8\/10<\/span><\/p>","post_title":"Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids Review","post_excerpt":"The first set of DLC has come out","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"assassins-creed-valhalla-wrath-of-the-druids-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:52:44","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:52:44","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206235","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206206,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-04-30 12:24:47","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-30 11:24:47","post_content":"\r\n

Developer:<\/strong>\u00a0Housemarque<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Platform: <\/strong>PS5
<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Genre:<\/strong>\u00a0Action, Roguelike, Horror<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Publisher:<\/strong> Sony Interactive Entertainment<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Returnal<\/span> is the next generation sci-fi based roguelike 3D person shooter from\u00a0Housemarque\u00a0<\/em>that is exclusive to PS5. While this intro tries to summarise the game in a short sentence it doesn't do this game the justice it deserves. The game thematically lies somewhere between sci-fi, mystery and some horror elements this is due to the Alien-esque nature of encounters with the enemies. The gameplay is a roguelike as you die a lot and lose the majority of your perks apart from a few permanent items as well. The game covers a lot of genres of game and themes too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

You are Selene who has crashed landed on Atropos (an alien planet) where you are searching for a broadcast signal and this is all you know and this is how the story is set up. From the initial frame, the impressive cinematics and the crash land help to set up the story and mystery of the game. Very little is given away which creates a level of intrigue and mystery, this is all set in the beautiful dark and wonderful of Atropos. The design and layout do give off Alien vibes throughout the game. As the game is a roguelike where you will die a lot, more story elements and your understanding of the world grows with every cycle (loop) of the game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It's difficult to pinpoint and place the game in one genre but the game has elements of Hades, a bullet hell shooter, Doom, Metroid Prime and the Hades comparison comes from the roguelike nature as well as some well-crafted storytelling wherein each cycle more is revealed. Doom in terms of the fast-paced shooter elements but 3rd person. The bullet hell feels of the enemies you encounter and just the manic nature of the enemies you encounter. There are lots of platforming elements too and an amount of discovery at each level.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The levels are procedurally generated so each run will have a varied gaming experience and a novel feel, also each run will have a slightly different difficulty level too depending on what power-ups are available.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The power-up system is varied due to various upgrades and collectable items. Straight-up power-ups that have a positive effect include weapon upgrades, health upgrades and efficiency upgrades. You can fabricate and make other upgrades too. Then you have malignant upgrades\/power-ups that can have positive as well as negative effects, the negative effects can be removed by completing specific tasks or you may be lucky and avoid the negative malignant effect. The game has a multitude of effects and events that will vary each run and which can make the run easier or tougher as well. There is a huge emphasis on risk and reward throughout the choices you make. That's why I'd also classify that the difficulty varies depending on your run, upgrades available and the procedural levels that are updated.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Each loop\/cycle whereby you die and come back act as a learning and help to introduce into other devices in the game such as collectable items, upgrades and power-ups. It will take several deaths in the game before you start the whole power-up systems as well as the collectables available and their power. Every inevitable death allows you to progress further in the story but also allows you to start with more permanent power-ups. The game does a great job of walking you through each element and its potential effect. I enjoyed that you learned more and more things as you progressed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The game starts in this dark rain-sodden forest where very little is known, the detailed environments add the dark atmospheric vibes. Even though the levels are procedurally generated there is a good mix of items to collect and platform elements amongst the all-out shooter action. The game uses some clever narrative technique including the use of 1st person view for story elements and that you pick up voice messages from yourself all over Atropos. You are primarily in 3rd person view which gives you a broad view of each area and heightens the gameplay elements. Each voice note adds a little more detail of what is going in the world and helps the drive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The world reminds me a lot of the film Prometheus with a clear Alien vibe throughout the whole game. While I wouldn't classify the game as a horror it does give that sense in large parts of the game as enemies spawn out of nothingness. Even though each level isn't huge, the art style and level design give the game a huge sense of scale and the huge world that exists. The game melds level design, Alien themes and this dark atmospheric tone which gives the sense you are a small survivor in a huge vicious world.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

A lush map that helps to guide you from level (\"room\") to level provides a navigation mechanism and helps you to find upgrades and power-ups whilst giving a sense of direction. The map allows you to plot a path for gaining the most buffs and power-ups or you can bypass them and head more directly to a boss.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The dual sense and haptic feedback are integrated seamlessly into Returnal. Every feature of the dual sense has been considered in the design and gameplay elements. The first thing that hit was the haptic feedback, the gentle vibrations that mimic rain and the use of sound to further engross you into the world of Atropos. Dualsense gives feedback such as the ground you are treading on, rainfall and tremors from enemies. It's all these little things that add to the whole sense of game immersion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The L2 trigger serves as two buttons where pressing until halfway gives a zoomed fire whereas pushing past the tension point gives the L2 button an alternate fire. Again the haptic feedback provides a system whereby you feel more immersed in the game and these small but clever uses of the controller are enjoyable and make sense. The dual sense gives a real tactile feel to the game and what is going.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

3D audio is the other buzzword and the game promotes amazing sound effects and soundtrack. I own just regular headphones but the world seems more alive when I play with headphones, I could hear every element of the world from the weather, enemies and my footsteps. The audio and soundtrack are superb.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The main game mode is the rogue-like one player shooter whereby you have to kill every enemy to reach a boss to progress to the next biome. There are two other modes available, online mode and challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

The online mode is more along the lines that you can avenge or take the gear of other fallen Selenes in your world, this is illustrated by a corpse of Selene that you will find with the Gamertag of the fallen Selene.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Challenges are like an arcade run where you have to achieve certain goals and you will be placed on a leaderboard to gain ultimate grabbing rights.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

While I have only spent a few hours playing on the day 1 patch, the day 1 patch improves navigation and identifies exits to each room in the game. This improves the visual aids to the user which is noticeable in the first level. There are some texture improvements on both Selene and enemies you encounter too, the colours on the enemies are more vivid. The majority of the day 1 patches are extra visual polish on the game. The game does seem to run smoother however this is only a slight tweak and the difference isn't massive compared to the 20 hours plus I played on the pre-day 1 patch version. Day 1 patch mainly is adding extra polish to a stunning game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The game is quite challenging and can be unforgiving at times if I'm being honest, the learning curve is steep and I would classify the game as hard. It does become easier as you progress through every run and learn more about the powerups and shortcuts that are available. If you are used to bullet shooter or roguelike games, then you may find the difficulty level to your taste, the difficulty doesn't detract from the experience but enhances the overall gameplay and longevity of the game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

I have to say from the first run through the game to my last run-through, I found myself in awe of different elements of the game. I was struck by the intro, the crash landing and just seeing this world, the cinematics is superb and it felt movie-like. The use of the dual sense and haptic feedback just made the whole experience more immersive, sound effects, and noises, while these may seem small, the whole Returnal experience was enhanced. The use of the story narrative where you piece a little bit more with each run adds a whole lot of mystery and intrigue. Finding voice messages from different versions of Selene dotted throughout the world makes the narrative even more powerful and a bit of mind bend. The gameplay has a mix of action, shooter and platformer with some puzzles thrown in for good measure. Big huge scary monsters are rendered and look amazing. The boss fights are big and epic. The game has lots of variety and requires several run-throughs before you gain a thorough understanding of all the gameplay mechanics and what is possible. It's a game that has all the elements above but is great fun too, the pace is spot on, there is variety in how you play. The game is challenging, you will come back for more. Each game mechanic, each game design and each decision by developers all enhance the game and make it even more impactful. It's a superb hell of a ride.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Overall:\u00a0<\/strong>9\/10<\/span><\/p>","post_title":"Returnal Review","post_excerpt":"Sci-fi based roguelike","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"returnal-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:53:46","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:53:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206206","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206198,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-04-28 19:03:59","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-28 18:03:59","post_content":"

Created By:<\/strong> Reiki Kawahara<\/span><\/p>\n

Directed By:<\/strong> Tomohiko It\u00f3 (Season One & Two, Ordinal Scale Movie), <\/span>Manabu Ono (Season Three: Alicization, War of Underworld)<\/span><\/p>\n

Studio:<\/strong> A-1 Pictures<\/span><\/p>\n

Audio:<\/strong> English, Japanese<\/span><\/p>\n

Subtitles:<\/strong> English<\/span><\/p>\n

Format:<\/strong> DVD, BluRay, Netflix, Crunchyroll<\/span><\/p>\n

Licensed By:<\/strong> Manga UK for Season One, Anime Limited has Season Two onwards<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure to many this franchise needs no introduction, as for some of you it may have been your first anime. As it became a massive hit when it began back in 2012 and has since been known to divide the anime community back in the past. We are coming up to the shows 10th anniversary next year and after seeing clips of the new season: Alicization Underworld, I decided to go back to the very beginning of the show and catch up.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the year 2022, virtual reality gaming and its technology has come a long way. Now players can \u2018fully dive\u2019 into an online multiplayer role playing game by using a NerveGear, that allows the user to experience and control their online characters with just their minds, whilst in reality they are just lying down in their bed with a gaming helmet on. Both the NerveGear and the latest VRMMORPG game Sword Art Online, were created by Akihiko Kayaba. Who welcomes all the new players when they enter the game - only to trap them all inside on Launch Day as he removes everyones \u2018logout\u2019 button. Now 10,000 players of all ages are trapped within the online game, with no way to disconnect - except to beat the game by defeating the Boss on the 100th floor.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We follow a young man named Kirito, as he does his best to survive in the game as a solo player. Along the way he often joins up with other players and even joins a Guild, in order to progress even further towards the Boss floor. Two years pass both within the game and the Real World, many have given up all hope of ever leaving Aincrad and have begun businesses, bought homes and as for Kirito - meeting a fellow SAO player named Asuna and having a family together by more or less adopting a wandering child that they found in the forest. This couple keeps pushing forward at all times for the sake of all the players still trapped in the game and in memory of those that have died along the way. The first Season of Sword Art Online had heart ache, a thirst for survival, seeing people reach their limits, the dark side of humanity but also the many girls that have all fallen head of heels for Kirito. With only one of them getting that all important ring on their finger. Now this show may not have been for everyone, as there were a number of dark themes involved, including PKs (Player Killers) within the game that were murderers. We also had immense violence, torture, some shocking and intense scenes at times, especially towards Asuna towards the end of the first season. It came close to hitting the 18 age rating at times.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Season Two is set a year after the events in Aincrad but just a short time after where we left off in Alfheim Online, as both Kirito and Asuna begin to readjust to reality and attend school again. We have since been introduced to Kirito\u2019s cousin Suguha, who joins the gang as they continue to explore ALO. This season follows Kirito as he ports his avatar over to another game called Gun Gale Online, at the behest of a Government Official after reports of several real life murders linked to the game and a player going by the name Death Gun. Here we meet a player named Sinon, who assists a very feminine looking Kirito as he gets his barings in the new game. Sinon has an interesting backstory and is using her character in GGO to help tackle her childhood trauma. Once again by the end of this season, another girl has fallen for Kirito. With Asuna still the only one in Kirito's sights, the rest of the girls still manage to follow him wherever he goes. This season also see\u2019s Kirito playing a significant role in how a Government taskforce tries to bridge the gap between crimes committed between the real and virtual worlds.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

In the second half of Season Two, we return to the adventures found in ALO. As Kirito and his friends set out on a quest to discover the legendary Holy Sword Excalibur. Once that side mission is complete, its Asuna\u2019s turn to shine as after her duel with an undefeated player, she is asked to join a party with a guild known as the Sleeping Knights, in order to complete a mission. There we meet the undefeated swords-woman Yuuki, known across ALO for her 11 hit original sword skill \u201cMother\u2019s Rosario\u201d. This was a heartbreaking arc to watch, as Yuuki\u2019s story was tragic. Asuna, having ultimately discovered her secret, rushes to her side and does all she can to comfort her. Once again it is both Kirito and his ideas of limiting the gap between the real and the virtual worlds, that allows Yuuki the chance to experience a normal school day yet again. Something she had been unable to do for so very long. Although the end of this season left me in tears, it was beautifully done and left such an impact on all the characters involved that continued to be shown again in the coming seasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Following on from Season Two, the \u201cOrdinal Scale\u201d movie was released. Having bridged the gap once more between the real and virtual worlds, a new headset and VR game was released. Similar to when Pok\u00e9mon Go was first released, you had to travel around to both catch Pok\u00e9mon, defeat gyms, participate in raids and hatch eggs. This film brought the VR world into the real world, you could \u2018dive\u2019 out in the open on the street during live events. With Boss raids a common event, they were organised in a way that wherever it was taking part, areas of the city would be cordoned off for the event for safety precautions. It was a community event, instead of solo gaming. You would imagine that Kirito would love this kind of game, but in fact it was the opposite, as it didn't feel the same as a \u2018fulldive\u2019. It relied more on your physical ability, as it was just you as you are doing all the movement. Too much physical effort for Kirito it seems. Ultimately there was something sinister going on behind the games development, as several players' memories became affected - including Asuna\u2019s. As Kirito begins investigating more into the games developers, he uncovers that there is a link between this new VR game and the developer of SAO: Akihiko Kayaba.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Season Three takes on the Alicization arc. Where a member of \u2018Laughing Coffin\u2019 ends upattacking both Kirito and Asuna one night out on the street. As Kirito manages to push Asuna out of harm's way, he ends up being injected with the same poison that was being used to carry out the murders he was investigating in GGO. Now clinging onto life and with severe brain damage, it\u2019s none other than Investigator Kikuoka that brings forth the idea that Kirito gets transferred to a military hospital in order to get specialized medical attention. By using the same full dive tech that was used by Yuuki in ALO, Kirito awakens in the same world he onced visited as part of his part time work at Rath. However he still retains his memories, all except the moment he was attacked by Laughing Coffin and the memories he once held in this World. Now Kirito must figure out how this \u2018game\u2019 works, what he can do and how he can get out again.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this series we meet Eugeo and Alice, both of which were born in the same village and grew up together. In this world there are rules and laws, if they are broken by an individual, they are taken away by an Integrity Knight to be punished. This is what happened to the young girl Alice, now Eugeo wishes to go and rescue her. However first he has to complete his Sacred Task, which of course Kirito teaches him a short cut in how to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n

This season is unlike anything that happened in the franchise previously. Although Kirito is now \u2018trapped\u2019 in a new world, it\u2019s not a game. This is an AI building environment, these \u2018people\u2019 are living out their entire lives, generation after generation right here. All experiencing life just like people in the real World. It\u2019s almost like The Truman Show, a world set up so that individuals will believe its real and will live their lives out as normal. And of course this is all being done with an ulterior motive, not for the world of gaming but as a technological advancement for warfare by creating a \u2018bottom-up\u2019 AI. One that was created not by inputting all the data, but by learning it itself and establishing its own morals and values. So although Kirito is recovering within the \u2018full-dive\u2019, as his neural brain paths are being restored, he is also trying to help rescue the captured Alice within. There is quite a bit going on in this show, although very little time has passed between all these events in Asuna's world - perhaps a week or two at best. For Kirito, it has been over two years and a lot has happened in that time!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Part Two of this Season has only finished airing in recent months and has yet to receive an English Dub. So the physical release will be some time for Alicization: War of Underworld. However you can still watch the English sub version now over on Crunchyroll if you just can\u2019t wait! For me, this arc of the franchise has been the strongest yet and needed the previous seasons to get the characters and storyline to this point where this arc would be possible. Ultimately it is Kirito that has suffered the most in this season, I can\u2019t say much as there are far too many spoilers involved. It\u2019s such a strong season and I have no idea where it will go next, but there is hope for another season. We know already that there is a movie in the works named Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night, which brings us all the way back to Season One in Aincrad from Asuna\u2019s perspective as she encounters Kirito and we see her initial struggles trying to cope with her new reality trapped within a game.<\/span><\/p>\n

For now feel free to buy your physical copies of the anime franchise today. If you prefer streaming, then Seasons 1, 2 and the first half of Season 3, as well as Ordinal Scale are available to watch now in English Dub over on Netflix. The full franchise is also available to watch in full over on Crunchyroll.<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> 8\/10<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Sword Art Online: Season One to Three Review","post_excerpt":"Created by Reiki Kawahara","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"sword-art-online-season-one-to-three-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:48:04","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:48:04","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206198","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206192,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-04-26 17:08:23","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-26 16:08:23","post_content":"Developer:<\/strong> Studica Solution, Electric Monkeys<\/span>\r\n\r\nPlatforms:<\/strong>\u00a0PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X (Reviwed) |S\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nGenre: <\/strong>Action<\/span>\r\n\r\nPublisher:\u00a0<\/strong>PQube<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nGravity Heroes is a retro arcade 2D shooter that embraces the nostalgic world of single-level shooters but uniquely the ability to change gravity, hence the name Gravity Heroes. It combines the all-out action of a retro shooter rendered in beautiful pixel and allows for up to 4 players to play across a host of levels.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe gameplay is a homage to many classic retro shooters, you arrive on a level and you have to survive hordes of enemies. As you survive the hordes of enemies by dodging, killing and changing gravity, you will get access to power-ups to help you. The game is a mix of platformer and shooter but the ability to change gravity is unique and takes time to adjust to. Once you get used to the gravity mechanic, it adds a whole lot more to the game and elevates it from just a retro shooter. The gravity element is what makes the game stand out and novel. The game is chaotic, with limited level size filling up with tons of enemies. The shooter mechanics are superb and if you enjoy any shooters, this is a pleasure to play. The platform elements are decent but the main mechanics are gravity and shooters.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nEach level and each character is rendered in beautiful pixel art. The art style is bright and pops off the screen. The level design is superb and each platform and design element is used to make the game feel even more action-packed. The explosions, the guns and the projectiles are all bright and add an extra sense of impact to the gameplay too. The soundtrack provides some upbeat music to keep you bopping along.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nWith fantastic gameplay elements, the art style and design add extra gloss to this superb shooter.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThe game does every game mechanic well, the shooter aspects are satisfying and challenging, there is a real sense of accomplishment as you progress through each level. The platforming elements are minimal but add another layer. The use of the gravity of mechanics is mind-bending at the start but makes the game stand out. It becomes a superb gaming mechanic the more you get used to it. Levels are fun and chaotic, the mix of all gaming elements make for a challenging but enjoyable play. The pixel art accentuates the gameplay and gives some needed style to the game. The game supports up to 4 players local multiplayer which means even more mayhem. This pixel art shooter gets a combination of gaming elements and design spot on, it's chaotic fun and addictive.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOverall:<\/strong>\u00a07.5\/10\u00a0<\/span>","post_title":"Gravity Heroes Review","post_excerpt":"Retro arcade 2D shooter","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"gravity-heroes-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:54:06","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:54:06","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206192","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206183,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-04-23 14:56:37","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-23 13:56:37","post_content":"

Hello everyone! Hope you are all keeping well, I have a massive haul to talk about today as last week I received 9 months worth of my Nihon Box subscriptions all of a sudden on my doorstep!<\/span><\/p>\n

As you guys are aware, I normally review the SoKawaii box each month. However that isn\u2019t the only subscription service I\u2019m with. Back in March 2020 I did a review of my very first Nihon Box, sadly when the pandemic started my boxes were stuck in their warehouse in Japan due to limited postal options. Almost a year has passed since my last box, when all of a sudden I came home one day to find two big FedEx boxes in my sitting room. The lovely people over at Nihon Box must have decided to rebox everyone's orders that they had been waiting on for so long and send them first class! So that way their warehouse would be empty of all back orders from 2020. To make it even more amazing, they had replaced any out of date food items with replacement ones. Such attention to detail and top class warehouse operatives too, as everything was packed with care. Not a single item was damaged, and there were a number of breakable items inside! I have to say, that team deserves more than just a round of applause!<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve known about this service for quite some time now, as I\u2019ve seen several unboxing videos from Doug D\u2019Marco on YouTube. Check out his channel if you can, he reviews several different subscription boxes and gives good, honest reviews. (<\/span>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/Angelraider78<\/u><\/span><\/a>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Much like SoKawaii, Nihon Box is a Japanese monthly subscription service that handpicks at least 6 items each month that are almost exclusive to Japan and ships them straight to your door. Their items are a mixture of Otaku Anime related merchandise and figures, as well as traditional Japanese items, from sweets to tableware. All of this is available to subscribe to for what I find a very affordable price each month.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like SoKawaii, the more months you pay upfront the cheaper the price for individual boxes will be.<\/span> https:\/\/www.nihonbox.com\/en<\/u><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Monthly is \u20ac29.99 plus shipping costs<\/span><\/p>\n

3 Months is a single payment of \u20ac86.97, making each box \u20ac28.99, plus shipping costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

6 Months is a single payment of \u20ac170.94, making each box \u20ac28.49, plus shipping costs.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This image is just a collection of a number of the traditional Japanese items that are included amongst every Nihon Box. From what I would deem as soba cups or green tea cups, which most often are not made with any handles. A Daruma, which I have just painted in the right eye of. I advise reading up on the history of this item as its actually quite sweet and interesting.<\/span><\/p>\n

We also have items which you would more than likely see at summer festivals in Japan, from a kitsune mask to a small paper balloon in the shape of a fish known as a Kingyo Kamif\u00fasen. There is also a traditional wind chime included, in the shape of a fish. Which would be lovely to have in front of a door or window when the summer breeze comes through. There is also a small cat figurine, known as a Maneki Neko Mokiji, decorated in maple leaves to celebrate the Autumn season. And a Washi Ningy\u00f3, which is a cute little figurine doll that was handmade from Japanese washi and kimono fabric. This beautiful little figure comes in her own display case and is just so precious to look upon. Alongside the two Ukiyo-e Sakura postcards, that are just another item that best represent the old Japanese historic art style.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

These next few items include a decorative plate and insulated lunch bag from The Promised Neverland. A show that has been well represented this year in Nihon Box, as we also received a plushie of Emma. We also have a decorative Spirited Away hand fan known as a Uchiwa, which will come in very handy during the hot weather. Another authentic Made in Japan item is this Usagi tray, which can be used to hold your meal or sweets. Much like you were being served in authentic Japanese restaurant or ryokan.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Oooh now we are on to the high quality stuff here! Time for the figures, the best selling point about this service for me. Now not every month had a figure included, as they were sometimes switched out for a large plush - such as Ryuk in October and Rimuru in August. The rest of the months you are almost guaranteed a figure no matter what! So my new pride and joy on my shelf is the Asuka Langley figure from Evangelion from last July's box. That month gave you the chance of getting one of the four figures available in the Evangelion Shin Gekijouban figure range that was being released to mark what was the upcoming release of the fourth and final film - Rebuild of Evangelion. You could have gotten either Asuka, Rei, Kaworu or Evangelion Unit 13!<\/span><\/p>\n

We also have a Pok\u00e9mon ReMent figure from the Terrarium Volume 4 series, which had 6 to collect including Gengar, Totodile, Moltres, Slowpoke, Umbreon, as well as Pikachu sleeping on a Mareep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last April's box included the 2020 Sakura Miku figure, which was brand new at the time. We also received a Kirby figure from the Solar Swing Collection, which was also featured in a SoKawaii box last year. Thankfully I received the other version that was available in this box, so my collection is now complete. Very cute item to have, which swings side to side when sunlight hits the small solar panel on the front of the figure base.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We are finally onto our last three items! December\u2019s box included the Yami Yugi figurine from the Noodle Stopper collection. Although they are small scale statues, their poses allow them to sit freely on shelf corners - or indeed on the lid of your cup ramen as intended. For the size of the figure itself, its actually really well detailed and I adore it! From the same Noodle Stopper collection, comes the InuYasha figure from September's box. This was done for promotion of the latest InuYasha anime that was released last year - Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon.<\/span><\/p>\n

And last but not least, we have the Cardcaptor Sakura: Special Rocket Beat Figure! Which was only recently released at the time this box was filled, so I am super lucky that this figure was included in the box at all!<\/span><\/p>\n

Nihon Box always does their best to follow the latest anime trends as well as finding items from fan favorite shows in order to always appeal to their customer base. With items from classic shows such as InuYasha, GTO and Cardcaptor Sakura, to the newer franchises including The Promised Neverland and Demon Slayer. They not only source out some decent quality figures, but also to make sure that each month their box represents another unique aspect of Japan - from its food, to its culture, art, history and beliefs. It\u2019s a well rounded box, for both anime fans and cultural fans. For me, they are just a step above the likes of SoKawaii box just for their variety in products and value for money in the items you receive. Although SoKawaii are currently more reliable when it comes to shipping, it\u2019s simply only the side effects of the pandemic that has put them both on an even playing field. End of the day, I highly enjoy both of these subscriptions and don't see myself cancelling either of them anything soon.<\/span><\/p>\n

For more information on how you can order your own box, look to the top of this review and head over to the link below so you can sign up today!<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.nihonbox.com\/en<\/u><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","post_title":"Nihon Box April to December 2020 Review Part 2","post_excerpt":"I have a massive haul to talk","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"nihon-box-april-to-december-2020-review-part-2","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:50:32","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:50:32","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206183","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206175,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-04-19 17:50:35","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-19 16:50:35","post_content":"

Developer:<\/strong> Arik Zurabian, Edo Brenes<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Platforms: <\/strong>Mac, PC (Reviewed)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Genre: <\/strong>Adventure<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Publisher:\u00a0<\/strong>Arik Zurabian<\/span><\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

Dude, Where Is My Beer? (DWIMB?) is a throwback to the fantastic genre of point and click adventure games, this is reminiscent of some of the classics from Lucas Arts and Sierra. The game follows the journey of a man looking for a pilsner in a world gone mad of craft beer and snobby hipster nonsense all set in Oslo.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

DWIMB? is beautifully crafted in a cartoony hipster art style, the world has a fantastic comic feel as well. The world of Oslo and its inhabitants bring this game to life, characters give the sense this is a living breathing place as you journey through it. The character design has a great hipster vibe with the personality being brought to the fore through dialogue. The only thing lacking is the lack of voice dialogue but this is understandable considering it's a small team building this game. The themes of hipsters, beer and Oslo in terms of level design and gameplay is superb and even the use of fonts adds to themes as well. The superb soundtrack and music bring different scenes and areas to life. I loved the metal bar in particular with the metal music and metal fans in the bar.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

It's been a while since I played a point and click adventure, I used to play games like Monkey Island and Sam & Max, this game did evoke memories of both. With any point and click adventure, you will have to set actions and the use of dialogue to understand how to achieve your objective of getting a pilsner. The menu system and short keys make the game easy to pick up and play. Controlling and interacting with the world is smooth and effortless.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The gameplay is complemented by great wit and a fantastic sense of humour, I would have loved to hear the characters being voiced as well but maybe in the future. Each character you interact with has their unique personality and their dialogue brings them to life. Their dialogue and what they say will help you in our ultimate goal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

As you progress through Oslo you will pick up items and clues that will help you along the way, the game has lots of puzzles and problem solving required to progress. The game also pokes fun at the genre point and click adventure which is present throughout.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n

<\/p>\r\n

The game is beautiful from the moment you get off the bus until you search for that elusive pilsner. You meet and speak to a host of wonderfully created characters who give the world a sense of meaning. The elements of the point and click adventure are all there with a great soundtrack to boot. The mixture of puzzles and game design making for a challenging game. The only thing I would like to see in future versions would be some voice acting otherwise I enjoyed playing this stylish and fun game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n

Overall:<\/strong>\u00a08\/10\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n","post_title":"Dude, Where Is My Beer? Review","post_excerpt":"Point and click adventure","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"dude-where-is-my-beer-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:54:30","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:54:30","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206175","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":206168,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-04-16 15:13:52","post_date_gmt":"2021-04-16 14:13:52","post_content":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n

Created by:<\/strong> Heather Einhorn, Adam Staffaroni<\/span><\/p>\n

Written by:<\/strong> Janet Harvey<\/span><\/p>\n

Illustrated by:<\/strong> Sonia Liao<\/span><\/p>\n

Colorist:<\/strong> Johanna Taylor<\/span><\/p>\n

Lettering by:<\/strong> Morgan Martinez<\/span><\/p>\n

Published by:<\/strong> The MIT Press<\/span><\/p>\n

Release Date:<\/strong> 27th April 2021<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marie Curie was a highly credited and celebrated physicist & chemist. Known for her pioneering work in radioactivity and being the first recipient of the Nobel Prize in 1903. She also created the secretive Curie Society, whose mission was to support the most brilliant female scientists in the World through funding and support. This elite organisation is still recruiting talented members to this day, and has issued three invitations to a group of young college students that happen to be sharing the same dorm room.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Here we meet Simone, Maya and Taj. A group of women, each dedicated to their own fields of research, with open minds but with very little group experience. Before there can be any initiation into this secret society, these women are put through many tests and challenges along the way. One of which will include going up against a former member, whose ideals have taken her down a more self-sufficient route compared to the society's main objective.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

This book celebrates many brilliant minds, showcases the many fields of study and research that one can achieve in the world of Science. As well as being full of action, it is also a great addition to have for any young girls library. To have a book that shows them that there are many opportunities and women who have already made a huge contribution to the world of science. The back of the book includes many bio\u2019s of real life female Doctors' and Professors that I am sure were used as inspiration for the characters in this story.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our trio of young college students come from different walks of life. Simone is the youngest student within the college and was fast tracked into freshman life due to her high intellect & research papers. However due to her young age, she lacks the confidence to easily interact and relate to many of those around her. Although I am sure she can more than likely keep up with the workload, its her social skills that need to be improved upon. Next we have Maya, a young woman from a high society family. Whose parents expect the utmost from their daughter, in terms of her grades, the connections she makes and the social circles she must join. In their eyes, nothing is more important than advancing her career and ultimating winning a Nobel Prize. And last but not least, we have Taj. This girl comes straight from the city, with a rebellious nature and some admirable free running-esque agility, she has admitted in the past to being behind some \u2018graffitti like\u2019 projects back home. She has a talent for engineering and is certainly the woman to have on hand when it comes to organising the tech for any undercover operation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Together they first make a very unlikely team. Even beginning as simple room mates ends in instant fights, over mere noise or even cleanliness. It\u2019s only through going on training exercises and with interacting with the mentors at the Curie Society, do these young women start to bond after some time. In fact they kind of remind me of a more modern day version of the three lead characters from the 2001 cartoon \u2018 Totally Spies!\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018The Curie Society\u2019 was created by Heather Einhorn and Adam Staffaroni. Both of which are also co-founders of EEP - Einhorn\u2019s Epic Productions, a multi-platform content studio. Which specializes in creating stories that showcases heroic female characters. They focus on the underserved gen-z, millennial, female and diverse fandoms, by creating character driven stories that can be scripted for podcasts, graphic novels, television, film, virtual and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Janet Harvey was responsible for putting pen to paper to bring this story to life. She is also an award winning writer for both comic books, film and games. Her own graphic novel - Angel City<\/em> is available now from Oni Press.<\/span><\/p>\n

We then have our artist - Sonia Liao. Who has worked on projects for BOOM! Studios, Sourcebook Fire, Red 5 Comics and EMET Comics. Her work on \u2018The Curie Society\u2019 has been a pleasure to enjoy and has added to the ease of reading the book. Not only has she illustrated a modern day college campus, but has also brought images of the past to life - from wooly mammoths to wartime espionage. It will all make sense when you read the book.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

I would imagine that this book would be well enjoyed by both young girls and boys, with perhaps leaving a more lasting impression on the former of the two. For older readers, perhaps such as myself, it is quite enjoyable nonetheless. I mean when was the last time you sat down and read a book that mentioned cross breeding woolly mammoths in order to save the glaciers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018The Curie Society<\/em>\u2019 will be available to buy on the 27th April from MIT Press. Pre-order it now in your local brick and mortar bookstore!<\/span><\/p>\n

Overall:<\/strong> 8\/10<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>","post_title":"The Curie Society Review","post_excerpt":"This book celebrates many brilliant minds","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-curie-society-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 15:53:14","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 14:53:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=206168","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":69},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_22"};

Page 69 of 159 Previous 1 … 68 69 70 … 159 Next

review

Comics

Little Victories: Autism Through a Father’s Eyes Review

October 8, 2022

Comics

Destiny, NY #1-2 Review

October 8, 2022

Comics

Contraband Review

October 8, 2022

Anime

Nihon Box March 2021 Review

October 8, 2022

Comics

Alice in Leatherland #1 Review

October 8, 2022

Games

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Wrath of the Druids Review

September 4, 2023

Games

Returnal Review

September 4, 2023

Anime

Sword Art Online: Season One to Three Review

October 8, 2022

Games

Gravity Heroes Review

September 4, 2023

Anime

Nihon Box April to December 2020 Review Part 2

October 8, 2022

Games

Dude, Where Is My Beer? Review

September 4, 2023

Comics

The Curie Society Review

October 8, 2022

Page 69 of 159 Previous 1 … 68 69 70 … 159 Next

Scroll to Top