https:\/\/youtu.be\/HSOlfz7djoo<\/a><\/p>\r\nOverall:<\/strong> 9\/10<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n","post_title":"Host Review","post_excerpt":"Directed by Rob Savage","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"host-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-05 14:17:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-05 14:17:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205883","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205874,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-01-15 17:00:05","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-15 17:00:05","post_content":"Developer:<\/strong> Bungie<\/span>\r\n\r\nPlatforms:<\/strong> PC, PS4, PS5 (Reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S<\/span>\r\n\r\nGenre:<\/strong> Action, Adventure<\/span>\r\n\r\nPublisher:<\/strong> Bungie<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nDestiny 2 is the multiplayer first-person shooter from Bungie, the follow up too much-lauded Destiny. Beyond Light is the latest expansion pack in the series.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"destiny2_1\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/destiny2_1.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nDestiny 2 is a superb first-person shooter, the game mechanics, shooting and platform elements are slick. It feels and plays very smoothly. It's one of my favourite shooters, it has a mix of a good campaign mode with an immersive online mode. The Beyond Light expansion takes place on a series of new planets that you play through the campaign online modes. The levels and worlds have superb textures and maps. It is slick from the first moment. Destiny integrates the world and multiplayer seamlessly. The maps act as both places to engage in multiplayer activities and online sessions too, it's one hud for all. The action and sci-fi elements are superb, there is a huge range of guns, maps and online events. It makes great use of the next-gen consoles to give an amazing view of these imaginary worlds. Aliens and monsters are well rendered and detailed. The combination of rich level design, simple game mechanics and a fun shooter make this a joy to play. There is nothing groundbreaking, it's more refinement on the existing. I think expectations need to be set, that is just further improvements on Destiny 2 and not a remake.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"destiny2_2\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/destiny2_2.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nThere are downsides to the game though, there is a grind to unlock other worlds by repeating the same events over and over again. The campaign is solid but is short. I'm a huge fan of the campaign modes in first-person shooters and a richer, longer story is always more enjoyable. The story, voice acting is done well and the game flows well.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBeyond Light expansion: Xbox Series X and PS5 support 4K 60 FPS gameplay while the Xbox Series S supports 1080p at 60 FPS. The PVP mode allows for 120 FPS on the newer consoles. Cross-play is available in each console family. This does bring a sense of next-gen performance and gaming to the new consoles. It looks fantastic and I had a consistent frame per second while playing. This is a pretty big deal that effectively widens your range of vision and it's never been offered in Destiny 2 on consoles before.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"destiny2_3\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/destiny2_3.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nDestiny 2: Beyond Light breathes more life into a fantastic shooter, the next-gen consoles provide an excellent platform and provide solid performance while playing. The campaign is short and I found myself wanting more though. Mechanics are simple, the learning curve is fairly low and there is a ton of customisations available in the game too. It's one for the shooter fans.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOverall:<\/strong> 7\/10<\/span>","post_title":"Destiny 2: Beyond Light Review","post_excerpt":"Multiplayer first-person shooter","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"destiny-2-beyond-light-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:59:38","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:59:38","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205874","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205866,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-01-13 15:24:55","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-13 15:24:55","post_content":"Developer:<\/strong> Ubisoft Quebec<\/span>\r\n\r\nPlatforms:<\/strong> PC, PS4, PS5 (Reviewed), Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S<\/span>\r\n\r\nGenre:<\/strong> Action, Adventure<\/span>\r\n\r\nPublisher:<\/strong> Ubisoft<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nImmortals: Fenyx Rising is the massive open-world RPG action game that is addictive. It plays along the line of a modern Assassin's Creed game but with a heavy emphasis on puzzles. It's nowhere near a straight Assassin's Creed clone and does diverge away from AC. I was expecting something similar to AC but was pleasantly surprised.<\/span>\r\n\r\nImmortals: Fenyx Rising comes to life with a cartoon style of graphics, it's bright and wonderful, but quickly turns dark and foreboding. It alternates between both quite a bit. The stage is the age of The Greek Gods, and the game uses a voiceover of two Gods: Zeus and Prometheus to tell the tale of Fenyx and the protagonist's fight against Typhoon (deadliest Titan in Greek mythology). While there are elements of the parkour in Fenyx Rising a whole host of extra features make the gameplay vastly different from AC. This is mainly due to the sheer amount of puzzle sections on the game.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"immortlasfenyxrising1\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/immortlasfenyxrising1.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nFirst off Fenyx possesses a host of powers and acquires extra \"Godly\" powers like flight (Wings of Daidalos) just to name one. You have the ability to run, fight, mount stead or fly through this open world that is full of mythological beasts (Cyclops, Minotaur and Medusa). Fenyx emphasises these gameplay elements throughout and there is a ton of variety. I think Fenyx comes into its own after about 3-4 hours into the game where you have levelled up sufficiently and have the broad variety of weapons and special powers to take on the vaults (dungeons). Puzzles come in the form of speed run challenges, archery puzzles and platforming puzzles too. This variety keeps you engaged. As this is an action RPG the fighting mechanics are solid and a decent levelling up system makes you do side missions too. The fighting is fun and you can chain huge combos whilst using additional God powers too.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"immortalsfenyxrising2\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/immortalsfenyxrising2.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nThe voice acting, visuals and level design are superb. The narration of Zeus and Prometheus is somewhat of a bad comedy duo with some Dad jokes thrown in. It's not amazingly funny but I can see the intent to lighten and narrate throughout the game. The narrative does succeed and paints a more vibrant picture of the world and mythology. The Greek mythology theme permeates the whole game and design and adds an air of authenticity to the game.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe PS5 and Xbox Series X (I assume) support a quality mode 30 fps at 4K native and a performance mode that supports 60 fps dynamic 4K.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"immortlasfenyxrising3\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/immortlasfenyxrising3.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nThe game plays phenomenally well once you get used to the controls and all the variety of specials you will acquire. There is a huge amount of puzzles, enemies and diversion in the world to keep you coming back. The powering up system is rich enough without being complex, it's a fun game that you will lose hours in. It's a surprising mix of puzzles merged to an open-world RPG. I have put in a lot of hours and keep coming back to the game.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOverall:<\/strong> 8\/10<\/span>","post_title":"Immortals: Fenyx Rising Review","post_excerpt":"Open-world RPG","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"immortals-fenyx-rising-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 16:03:21","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 15:03:21","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205866","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205859,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-01-11 16:32:28","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-11 16:32:28","post_content":"Developer:<\/strong>\u00a0Troglobytes Games<\/span><\/p>\r\nPlatforms:<\/strong>\u00a0PC, PS4, PS5 (Reviewed), Switch, Xbox One<\/span><\/p>\r\nGenre: <\/strong>Action, Adventure<\/span><\/p>\r\nPublisher:<\/strong> Hound Picked Games<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
HyperParasite is an old-school top-down twin-stick shooter rogue-like that is thematically tied to the 80s from the neon game sign to the movie character references, music and gameplay. It has that dystopian 1980s film feel to it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"hyperparasite_1\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hyperparasite_1.jpeg\")
<\/p>\r\n
You are a parasite that is battling through reams of enemies, you can take over host bodies in the game. The parasite is reminiscent of venom. Hosts are an array of enemies you encounter. The parasite has very little defensive capabilities, i.e. usually on hit causes death. Hosts have a varying level of health and unique abilities - ranged or close combat. The name of the game is to capture a host and battle through the levels. You will encounter a midway boss and end boss level after you die a ton of times. You can upgrade the host, buy upgrades and gain new hosts throughout the game.<\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"hyperparasite_2\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hyperparasite_2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\r\n
HyperParasite does suffer from being quite difficult. The game is tough and you will find it to be a slog at times. Replaying same regenerated levels over and over to gain in-game cash. This in-game cash allows you to take over new hosts. This can be quite time consuming and frustrating. While this is fun when you start dying and gain very little in-game cash to buy new hosts, it can become a hard slog. The difficulty curve is steep but persistence is required.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThe has a fitting 80s theme track by Van Reeves and Joe Kataldo, it fits the theme of the game perfectly. The game has a sense of humour, the visuals and the cultural references to 80s are all done well. It's a super slick game from presentation to gameplay. The game supports local two-player co-op mode too.<\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"hyperparasite_3\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/hyperparasite_3.jpeg\")
<\/p>\r\n
The game despite its difficulty is super fun, however, at times you may find it a slog. It's a tough game. The novelty of taking control of the host mechanic is fun. Rogue-like elements also add to randomness and fun too. Soundtrack and visuals are in tune with the 80s retro feel too. I have to say I'll be playing this for a while.<\/span><\/p>\r\nOverall:\u00a0<\/strong>7\/10<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
<\/p>\r\n\r\n
<\/p>\r\n","post_title":"HyperParasite Review","post_excerpt":"Top-down twin-stick shooter","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"hyperparasite-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 16:03:46","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 15:03:46","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205859","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205837,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-01-05 17:14:51","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-05 17:14:51","post_content":"Developer:<\/strong> Giant Squid<\/span>\r\n\r\nPlatforms: <\/strong>Apple TV via Apple Arcade,<\/strong>\u00a0iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, PS4, PS5 (Reviewed)<\/span>\r\n\r\nGenre: <\/strong>Adventure\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nPublisher:\u00a0<\/strong>Annapurna Interactive<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nPathless is a wonderful gaming experience where you take the role of an archer with the aid of an eagle. The game is a journey through a forest that has been corrupted and you must defeat the bosses to bring it back to normality.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe game is set in a cel-shaded forest and the art style is the texture of the world you inhabit. The game is open-world technically but the gameplay is fairly linear, the game involves solving a series of puzzles and navigating the world to each boss section. A huge emphasis is placed on the exploration of the world.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"thepathless1\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thepathless1.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nThe game's main mechanic is using your bow to hit diamonds which gives you a burst of energy that speeds you through the terrain. This is a satisfying sensation when you hit each diamond too. Using this mechanic you can chain together a series of hits to race through the amazing world. There is a real sense of achievement chaining your movement throughout the game. Your eagle is your trusty companion that lets you fly and glide through the landscapes. Puzzles either use a combination of using your bow, pressure points and elements of platforming games to scale buildings. The lack of a map is interesting but further emphasises the gameplay through exploration. The sonar mechanic is used to help you to guide you to points of interest.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"thepathless2\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thepathless2.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nThe setting, detail and artwork are amazing. It has a unique feel and the soundtrack (Austin Wintory) is used effectively throughout. The cel-shaded textures and the pace of the game adds a real serene feel at times. Game mechanics as mentioned above gives a sense of movement, gliding and flying, it's a wonderful experience. The boss elements are where the land lights up and the use of the richer reds and fire transform this game. This dichotomy enhances the feel of the game, the score sets the mood and binds the games together.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"thepathless3\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/thepathless3.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nThe one downfall is that there isn't much replay value in the game. The game mechanics and puzzles aren't too complex and it's a bit samey at times. When a boss is encountered it breaks up the gameplay considerably and turns the game into another cinematic feast. I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere and the cinematics of the world. I liked the emphasis on experiencing the game with the sparse tutorial and no map. It's a game that craves to be explored. It's something that will take probably less than 10 hours to complete. If you are looking for something a bit different on the PS5\/PS4, I would recommend getting it. I found so many parts enjoyable, it's a feast for the eyes and ears.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOverall:<\/strong>\u00a08\/10<\/span>","post_title":"The Pathless Review","post_excerpt":"Wonderful gaming experience","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"the-pathless-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 16:06:14","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 15:06:14","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205837","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":71},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_22"};
\n<\/code><\/pre>\n","post_title":"Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Season 1 & 2 Review","post_excerpt":"Somewhat off-putting title","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"is-it-wrong-to-try-to-pick-up-girls-in-a-dungeon-season-1-2-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2022-10-08 16:33:55","post_modified_gmt":"2022-10-08 15:33:55","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205920","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205911,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-01-27 15:30:22","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-27 15:30:22","post_content":"Developer: <\/strong>Factor 5<\/span>\r\n\r\nPlatforms: <\/strong>Switch, PS4, PS5(Reviewed)<\/span>\r\n\r\nGenre: <\/strong>Action<\/span>\r\n\r\nPublisher: <\/strong>Inin Games<\/span>\r\n\r\nRelease <\/strong>Date: 29\/01\/2021<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nTurrican Flashback is a collection that comprises Turrican, Turrican 2: The Final Fight, Mega Turrican and Super Turrican. Turrican is the classic 1990s shooter, platformer and adventure game. It combines several retro genres into one superb game. It's this mix that makes this a fantastic game to revisit.<\/span>\r\n\r\nDesign-wise it compromises the classic side-scrolling levels of a 2D retro platformer but has all the action and mayhem of a shooter. The visuals have that classic 2D feel, with multi-tiered levels, Turrican's level design is excellent. The level designs have the traditional element of going from left to right linearly, however, levels go underground, into the water and the sky. The levels keep you guessing in terms how to progress through them, the designers have also managed to keep a sense of uncertainty as you progress through the levels. Other techniques such as environmental factors like wind, asteroid\\meteor storms, ice and water affect the levels as you play through them. The levels have a really rich depth and lots of enemies hidden around each corner. The platform elements are superb but also frustrating (in a good way) at times. Game difficulty is high throughout. There is one retroelement of timed levels which are in Turrican which add another level of difficulty. Turrican managed to make all these elements work seamlessly together to produce a brilliant rich gaming experience.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"turricanflashback1\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/turricanflashback1.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nControls and game mechanics are spot on, the controls feel tight, intuitive and responsive. The power-ups allow for you to choose different guns and the power gets ramped up. Your gun can match the type of style you want to play through levels. Players also can leverage bombs, rolling and powered attacks too. The soundtrack (Chris Huelsbeck) is superb for a 90s game, the music and sound effects stand out and lend another dimension to this game. It reflects what is going on in the game, the change in weather and level too. It all adds to the sense of this ever-changing game.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"turricanflashback4\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/turricanflashback4.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nModern-day updates include the ability to rewind, save the state and load the state of the game. The rewind features allow you to replay any point that you may die at, this will happen often, this is very useful due to the difficulty of the game and probably is the only way to finish the game! If you don't use the rewind feature, this game reminds of the super arcade games with limited continues. If you want a challenge try without the rewind.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"turricanflashback3\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/turricanflashback3.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nTurrican is the original and sets the basis for all the other games, it's build and level design lay the foundation for the other 3 games. I found this to be the toughest and as it's the oldest, the visuals are lagging behind the others.<\/span>\r\n\r\nTurrican 2: The Final Fight has some extra guns and I found it not as tough as the original but the look, feel and the gameplay is similar. I would class Turrican and Turrican 2 similar in a lot of ways. Minor gameplay improvements and animations.<\/span>\r\n\r\nMega Turrican and Super Turrican are very similar in look and feel, they look the best in the series and it's a toss-up between these two as which is my favourite. The graphics do the best they could in terms of 16-bit graphics. They both extend the complex level design and possibly get close to perfection for Turrican.<\/span>\r\n\r\nTurrican flashback contains 4 superb retro games to play, control-wise and gameplay-wise they play similarly. The later version of the games do boast better graphics and textures. The gameplay is superb throughout though, an amazing array of well-crafted platform levels mixed with a shooter. The mix of gameplay is chaotic, challenging and tons of fun. I don't remember playing the original but the games do show a level of polish for a game that is 30 years old. The modern-day features of rewind and saving game state take the edge of the difficulty of the game. A fantastic game to revisit or experience for the first time.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOverall: <\/strong>8.5\/10<\/span>","post_title":"Turrican Flashback Review","post_excerpt":"Turrican collection","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"turrican-flashback-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:58:25","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:58:25","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205911","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205905,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-01-25 17:17:35","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-25 17:17:35","post_content":"Developer:<\/strong> Engine Software, Ubisoft Montreal, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Pune Production<\/span>\r\n\r\nPlatforms:<\/strong> PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X (Reviwed) |S<\/span>\r\n\r\nGenre:<\/strong> Arcade \/ Beat'em Up<\/span>\r\n\r\nPublisher:<\/strong> Ubisoft<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nScott Pilgrim vs. The World is a classic side-scrolling beat 'em up in a 16-bit retro style, think Streets of Rage mixed with Scott Pilgrim. It's a real throwback to one of my favourite gaming genres, I know you don't see many side-scrolling beat em ups apart from the odd indie game. I love side-scrolling beat 'em ups.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"scottpilgrimvs_ce1\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/scottpilgrimvs_ce1.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nThe game is styled and themed with all things Scott Pilgrim from the characters, the locations and the bosses you meet throughout. Thematically it gets across the comic aspects of Scott Pilgrim well, the Scott Pilgrim vibe is omnipresent. The humour, language, sounds and soundtrack all fit in seamlessly to the game. It looks slick and has that 16-bit retro vibe going. Even the playstyle and gameplay does evoke memories of Streets of Rage on the Megadrive. The main story mode follows a couple of environments which lead to a boss and this formula continues for each boss. The gameplay is simple and straightforward.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"scottpilgrimvs_ce2\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/scottpilgrimvs_ce2.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nThe game does support up to 3 extra players playing locally or online. The extra game modes of Zombies, Dodgeball and Battle Royale do add some much-needed variety to the single-player. My favourite extra game is Boss Rush Mode which has you play all the bosses from the game in a row. I'm a major fan of game bosses in general and this is probably why I love it. Each boss has their moves and secret moves and is the best set of enemies in any game.<\/span>\r\n\r\n![\"scottpilgrimvs_ce3\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/scottpilgrimvs_ce3.jpeg\")
\r\n\r\nWhile Scott Pilgrim does a lot right: the style, theme and the beat em' classic for gameplay. The main game doesn't have that depth of variation to keep you glued to the game, after 2 or 3 levels you have pretty much seen the guts of the game and what is on offer. I'm a huge fan of side-scrolling beat 'em ups and I enjoyed it but didn't love it. However, the addition of online, local play and modes such as Zombies do add some much-needed variety and longevity to the game.<\/span>\r\n\r\nOverall:<\/strong> 6\/10<\/span>","post_title":"Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game - Complete Edition Review","post_excerpt":"Side-scrolling beat 'em up","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world-the-game-complete-edition-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2023-09-04 15:59:20","post_modified_gmt":"2023-09-04 14:59:20","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205888,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-01-20 16:10:03","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-20 16:10:03","post_content":"Director:<\/strong> Seiji Tanaka<\/span><\/p>\r\nWritten By:<\/strong> Seiji Tanaka<\/span><\/p>\r\nStarring:<\/strong> Mebuki Yoshida, Yoji Minagawa, Yoshitomo Isozaki, Makoto Hada<\/span><\/p>\r\nFormat:<\/strong> On Demand, Dual Format BluRay\/DVD<\/span><\/p>\r\nAge Rating:<\/strong> 15 (BBFC)<\/span><\/p>\r\nAudio:<\/strong> Japanese<\/span><\/p>\r\nSubtitles:<\/strong> English<\/span><\/p>\r\nLicensed By:<\/strong> Third Window Films<\/span><\/p>\r\nRelease Date:<\/strong> Out Now<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Having graduated from the prestigious Tokyo University, Kazuhikos\u2019 life has remained unchanged ever since he was in high school. With a lacklustre attitude towards life, he still resides in his childhood bedroom, living at home with his folks and has no job or career. However after attending a local bathhouse one night, he runs into a woman who remembers him from high school. Soon after Kazuhiko begins working at the same bathhouse, alongside a fellow new employee named Akira. With a new work routine and money in his pocket, Kazuhiko begins to enjoy his new lifestyle. That is, until he returns to work one night to discover that the bathhouse also runs as a murder grounds for the Yakuza.<\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"melancholic1\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/melancholic1.jpeg\")
<\/p>\r\n
I must admit, I highly enjoyed this film. Although it was only filmed in 2018, it had a classic feel to it that reminded me of older mob films from the 80s and 90s. The whole idea of using a bathhouse as a place to murder certain individuals was ideal and simplistic, as it will always be easy to clean and was less likely to come under suspicion by the authorities. I highly enjoyed that idea by the script writer. It\u2019s not something I have seen before in film, but when I sit back and think about it - I\u2019m amazed I haven\u2019t come across it before. It\u2019s a film well worth rewatching time and time again, also very easy to recommend to people. The overall plot was believable, well able to keep my attention and the acting was pretty good. Especially considering how Kazuhiko character begins to gradually develop.<\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"melancholic2\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/melancholic2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\r\n
So we begin with our lead actor Kazuhiko, whose enthusiasm towards life was heavily lacking. Even after attending the prestigious Tokyo University, which would have set him up for life if he were to apply himself to any company. He simply sat at home, he didn\u2019t seem to get any grievances from his parents who seemed to just accept the situation for what it was. Perhaps this was Kazukio\u2019s overall attitude his entire life, or maybe he was simply burnt out, I\u2019m not rightly sure. Soon after he reconnects with high school classmate Yuri, he seems to push himself forward to getting a job at the bathhouse she visits. Thus he begins to have feelings towards her and soon enough they are seeing one another outside of the bathhouse. Kazuhiko\u2019s life drastically changes even more when he uncovers the shadier side of the bathhouse. Shockingly he soon becomes involved in the whole business and even manages to put up a fight when it comes to staying involved. Truly Kazuhiko has an unusual sense of morals. We meet an interesting bunch of characters throughout this film, from those that live under the radar and have walked dangerous paths in life. To simple, hard working individuals like Kazuhikos parents and Yuri. It\u2019s a dark humored comedy, with the beginnings of a sweet coming of age romance thrown in, but not forgetting the danger with the sinister Yakuza element.<\/span><\/p>\r\nSo we have blood and gore, a number of gruesome deaths in a bathhouse, as well as knowing how they dispose of the bodies without any evidence. This single element is what I have an issue with, as the way they disposed of the bodies should have left a vulgar smell that would have been vented out of the building and noticed by the neighbourhood. This apparently wasn\u2019t even an issue in the film and was never addressed. Moving on though the most action packed scene was certainly the skirmish on the staircase, well executed and we really did get to see the full set of skills that Akira possessed. And like all decent action films, there was the inevitable twist at the end. Making this a thoroughly enjoyable watch and one I would definitely return to in the future.<\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"melancholic3\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/melancholic3.jpeg\")
<\/p>\r\n
Bonus Features:<\/span><\/p>\r\nBehind the scenes<\/span>
Q&A with director and cast<\/span>
Melancholic short film<\/span>
Trailer<\/span><\/p>\r\nMelancholic<\/em> is the debut film from director and writer; Seiji Tanaka. With the film having debuted in Japan back in 2018, it wasn\u2019t long before it gathered a large following. It has won several awards over the years, including the \u2018Japanese Cinema Splash Best Director Award\u2019 at the 31st Tokyo International Film Festival, and the \u2018White Mulberry Award for First Time Director\u2019 at the 21st Far East Film Festival. As well as several Audience awards and a Jury Award from several other events and screenings. Out of the entire cast, the most experienced actor has been Makoto Hada, who played Kazuhiko\u2019s boss Azuma in the film. The rest of the cast have very little information available online regarding their careers, but each of them gave very good performances throughout.<\/span><\/p>\r\nIt\u2019s thanks to Third Window Films<\/em> over in the UK, that we have gotten a physical release of the film. Collected together in a dual format box, with the film available on both BluRay and DVD. As well as the option to stream it online as well. You can click the link below to buy your copy today and support the industry that we all love in these trying times.<\/span><\/p>\r\nBuy it now from:<\/span><\/em> http:\/\/thirdwindowfilms.com\/films\/melancholic\/<\/a><\/p>\r\nOverall:<\/strong> 8\/10<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n","post_title":"Melancholic Review","post_excerpt":"Directed by Seiji Tanaka","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"melancholic-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-05 14:16:42","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-05 14:16:42","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205888","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205883,"post_author":"5","post_date":"2021-01-18 16:34:02","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-18 16:34:02","post_content":"
Directed By:<\/strong> Rob Savage<\/span><\/p>\r\nStarring:<\/strong> Haley Bishop, Jemma Moore, Emma Louise Webb, Radina Drandova, Caroline Ward, Teddy Linard, Seylan Baxter<\/span><\/p>\r\nAge Rating:<\/strong> 15 (BBFC)<\/span><\/p>\r\nRelease Date:<\/strong> 4th December 2020<\/span><\/p>\r\nDistributed By:<\/strong> Vertigo Releasing<\/span><\/p>\r\nFormat:<\/strong> Digital<\/span><\/p>\r\n <\/p>\r\n
Whilst in the middle of lockdown, zoom calls become a common way of catching up with friends and family. Tonight is Haley\u2019s turn to organise the weekly zoom meeting with her five friends. Tonight\u2019s activity, apart from drinking and gossiping, is a s\u00e9ance. Although many are skeptical of the medium Haley hires, the evening begins to take a sudden turn for the worst when during the s\u00e9ance a demonic presence is invited into each of their homes. One by one, events start to unfold that will send a shiver down through anyone's spine. All of this takes place during the zoom call, as an uninvited guest makes their presence known.<\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"host_1\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/host_1.jpeg\")
<\/p>\r\n
Have you ever heard of someone making a really good horror film in just 12 weeks? It\u2019s madness! Just three months to create a script, remotely train your actors through a virtual workshop so that they know how to not only film themselves acting out their lines, but do their own stunts, camera work, lighting and effects. Now that is pressure and the actors well and truly deserve that paycheck at the end of the day. The filming style reminds me somewhat of a modern take on the Blair Witch, but instead we have webcams and a group of friends remotely communicating from each of their homes. Now filming during this current global pandemic would usually be impossible, but that did not stop the crew, actors and director of \u2018Host\u2019 from pushing through and making this film. Honestly, it was entertaining. Terrifying in parts, and I actually had to watch something more \u2018calming\u2019 before going to sleep that night. It sent chills down my spin in several moments, from the medium disappearing, to going up into the attic. This is a great film to watch for those that love a good fright.<\/span><\/p>\r\nThere is a good mix of personalities and lifestyles between this group of friends. From those that prefer to live life with an open mind, including the existence of the paranormal. To those that are more skeptical and have no problem in voicing their opinions loud & clear. Then we have those that decide that in order to add some drama to the night, they invent a story that is the lead cause to a demonic spirit crossing over and causing numerous murderous acts. You know, just your normal Friday night zoom call with the girls. Through this film we see friendships being tested and some coming to a sudden end as the evil entity goes on a rampage. Apart from the supernatural aspect, the character personalities, relationships and living situations are incredibly realistic and true to life. It makes it all the more frightening when the chaos begins.<\/span><\/p>\r\n![\"host_2\"](\"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/host_2.jpeg\")
<\/p>\r\n
From being to end, \u2018Host\u2019 has been a captivating watch. From a relatable script to the sudden change to a horror film. It ticks boxes across the entire film. It is also a fresh take on what is still a new aspect of filming, through using a webcam and allowing the actors to perform all their own camera work and stunts. As though it was an \u2018amaeuter film\u2019 but made to the highest degree. The film industry is ever changing and its fantastic to see what some can do even during a global lockdown.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\u2018Host\u2019 is available to stream online now through Amazon, Google Play and Virgin Media. Click on the link here for the full list of websites where you can watch it now, all thanks to Vertigo Releasing - <\/span>https:\/\/www.vertigoreleasing.com\/portfolio\/host\/<\/a><\/p>\r\nYou know a film has to be good when it gets a 100% rating from Rotten Tomatoes!<\/span><\/p>\r\nTrailer:<\/strong> <\/span>https:\/\/youtu.be\/HSOlfz7djoo<\/a><\/p>\r\nOverall:<\/strong> 9\/10<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n <\/p>\r\n","post_title":"Host Review","post_excerpt":"Directed by Rob Savage","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","post_password":"","post_name":"host-review","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2024-12-05 14:17:07","post_modified_gmt":"2024-12-05 14:17:07","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"http:\/\/comicbuzz.com\/?p=205883","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":205874,"post_author":"11","post_date":"2021-01-15 17:00:05","post_date_gmt":"2021-01-15 17:00:05","post_content":"Developer:<\/strong> Bungie<\/span>\r\n\r\nPlatforms:<\/strong> PC, PS4, PS5 (Reviewed), Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S<\/span>\r\n\r\nGenre:<\/strong> Action, Adventure<\/span>\r\n\r\nPublisher:<\/strong> Bungie<\/span>\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\nDestiny 2 is the multiplayer first-person shooter from Bungie, the follow up too much-lauded Destiny. Beyond Light is the latest expansion pack in the series.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nDestiny 2 is a superb first-person shooter, the game mechanics, shooting and platform elements are slick. It feels and plays very smoothly. It's one of my favourite shooters, it has a mix of a good campaign mode with an immersive online mode. The Beyond Light expansion takes place on a series of new planets that you play through the campaign online modes. The levels and worlds have superb textures and maps. It is slick from the first moment. Destiny integrates the world and multiplayer seamlessly. The maps act as both places to engage in multiplayer activities and online sessions too, it's one hud for all. The action and sci-fi elements are superb, there is a huge range of guns, maps and online events. It makes great use of the next-gen consoles to give an amazing view of these imaginary worlds. Aliens and monsters are well rendered and detailed. The combination of rich level design, simple game mechanics and a fun shooter make this a joy to play. There is nothing groundbreaking, it's more refinement on the existing. I think expectations need to be set, that is just further improvements on Destiny 2 and not a remake.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThere are downsides to the game though, there is a grind to unlock other worlds by repeating the same events over and over again. The campaign is solid but is short. I'm a huge fan of the campaign modes in first-person shooters and a richer, longer story is always more enjoyable. The story, voice acting is done well and the game flows well.<\/span>\r\n\r\nBeyond Light expansion: Xbox Series X and PS5 support 4K 60 FPS gameplay while the Xbox Series S supports 1080p at 60 FPS. The PVP mode allows for 120 FPS on the newer consoles. Cross-play is available in each console family. This does bring a sense of next-gen performance and gaming to the new consoles. It looks fantastic and I had a consistent frame per second while playing. This is a pretty big deal that effectively widens your range of vision and it's never been offered in Destiny 2 on consoles before.<\/span>\r\n\r\n
