Drag Me to Hell
Sam Raimi’s latest mixes elements of his most notable works, The Evil Dead and Spider-Man trilogies. Luckily there’s more Evil Dead here than the latter and Drag Me to Hell didn’t disappoint. The screen writing and fright scenes could already be considered some of the best of it’s genre.
Christine (Alison Lohman) is a good-intentioned bank loan officer who we first meet listening to life coaching seminars in her car. “There is no friction, with the proper diction.” the recording says, and Christine repeats. Tired of being taken advantage of and wanting to get ahead at work, Christine denies a loan extension to the wrong crazy lady who in turn plaxea a curse on her. Lohman (Matchstick Men) does a great job as Christine and even handles lines such as the Campbell -esque “I’m gonna get some!”. Justin Long (Live Free, Die Hard), Dileep Rao, and David Paymer (Get Shorty) all turn in admirable performances and really round a great cast.
There was a whole lot more toothless-face-mawing than I was expecting, but the cinematography and special effects are mostly excellent. Raimi sets up many great set-pieces and manages to have a only few odd ones. The horror genre can be tricky though as there’s a thin line between genuinely terrifying and over-the-top. But the only important thing is that I’m slightly more terrified of gypsy curses now than ever before, and that means I just watched a fine horror film.
Final Score – ****
-Ken Kleven
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Punch Out!! Wii Review
“Little Mac Makes His Triumphant Return!”
In 1987, “Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!” was released on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) Console. Throughout the years, the game has been recognized by many as one of the most charming, and yet challenging, titles of that generation of gaming. In 1994, Nintendo followed up with “Super Punch-Out!!” on the SNES. Now, after fifteen long years, Nintendo has released “Punch-Out!!” on the Wii. The game revolves around Little Mac, a one-hundred seven pound boxer from the Bronx, who dreams of becoming the World Video Boxing Association’s world champion. Mac will obviously not be able to conquer his foes with brute strength at his size, and so you must guide him with cunning strategy to defeat boxers that hail from all over the world.
Gameplay:
“Punch-Out!!” on the Wii plays very similarly to its predecessors. You have the option to use either motion controls (Nunchuk, Wii Remote, Wii Balance Board accessible) to control Mac directly, or you can use the Wii Remote sideways for a more classic feel. While the motion controls are entertaining and get you more into the game, in my opinion the classic control does the game more justice. Regardless of your control scheme preference, the gameplay control is very smooth. You can either dodge, duck below, or block your opponent’s punches. Then, when there is an opening, you counterattack with some punches of your own. While this sounds like it would be monotonous after a while, each fight is entertaining in its own right, because you must learn each opponent’s patterns. For instance, to beat King Hippo you must discover a way to expose his weak stomach, but to beat Aran Ryan you must punch him before he can punch you. While the controls and concept are simplistic, Punch-Out!! offers addictive gameplay by providing unique and interesting opponents each round.
Graphics/Sound:
Punch-Out!! offers a cartoon-ish style of graphics, which fits the series’ charm well. Observant players will enjoy the detailed animations that appear in each fight. For instance, when you knock down a boxer, he will visibly appear hurt (bruises on his face/body, bandages, or even a lost toupee in Don Flamenco’s case). In addition to this, Mac himself will appear battered and bruised if he gets roughed up a bit too much. Even better yet, some opponents have comically stereotypical animations when they are knocked out (Glass Joe, the weakling boxer from France, has croissants knocked out of him when you KO him). The cartoon-like graphics and little graphical details really add to the atmosphere of the game.
As far as sound goes, the game offers mostly remixes of the classic Punch-Out themes, but now each fight has it redone in a style according to the boxer’s nationality. For instance, Piston Honda’s fight has a distinct traditional Chinese element to the music, while Disco Kid’s version of the fight theme sounds like something you would hear while out clubbing. Best yet, each boxer speaks and taunts in his native language. This is a very nice touch in my opinion, and it really adds to charm of each boxer.
Play Time/Replayability:
While the original playthrough of the game may only take you hours to complete, the game has a lot more to offer than just the main storyline. After you face a boxer in Career mode, he is then unlocked for exhibition mode, where you can fight him whenever you choose. In addition to this, each character has challenges that you can complete, which will unlock you music and soundbits specific to that boxer. Also, the game includes a head-to-head mode, although this leaves something to be desired. Then again, Punch-Out!! was never the kind of game that needed multiplayer. If this wasn’t enough to sell you, then Title Defense mode will be. Once you become the World Champ, your opponents train themselves for one more shot at Little Mac. Players who breezed through the original game may be shocked to find that they now struggle with Glass Joe, who now wears protective headgear and throws delayed hooks the second time around. These toughened boxers often require you to rethink your whole strategy, and essentially offer a whole new career mode (so for those of you who complain there are only 13 boxers, there are really 26 unique fights). All in all, you’ll be spending a good amount of time playing through each boxer and developing your own strategies. Also, if you’re anything like me, you’ll come back to Punch-Out!! every few years and find it to still be fresh and original. There is a reason people still play the original to this day, and this game offers the same quality that will draw people back generations later.
Summary:
The Wii version of Punch-Out!! has a lot to offer. Whether you’re a first-timer or an experienced vet, you’ll fall in love with the game and its charming characters. While it is not a very avant-garde title, it brings some classic gameplay that is much needed in the current generation of consoles. Whether you are playing for nostalgia, or just to experience one of the most classic gaming series in video game history, Punch-Out!! is definitely worth your time. I recommend a buy, but I also like to come back to games after a while. It’s true that you could probably finish it through renting, but chances are you will want more over time!
Final Score – ****1/2
- Dan Norris
