Thursday, April 19, 2007

What's new with you?

So, is anything actually happening over there? I really haven't gotten much mail from anyone recently, except when Jordan sent me that Blue Dragon thing the yesterday. Are you guys... breaking up with me? I guess I haven't been saying much either but as yet there hasn't been much to say. I may be off probation soon if I have correctly read the reaction of one of my superiors at Nova, so that's pretty cool.

Also, I got a DS, which is also quite cool. The first game I got for it was Jump Ultimate Stars, which is like Smash Brothers, but it has Shonen Jump characters and it's not as good. Now, don't get me wrong, it is still a damn good game, but it's missing a few things that keep it for being that good. One is level design. Smash Brothers was great with that but the levels in this game, though reflecting many og the manga, they also feel generic. Most of them feel like the same kind of platform filled level with mildly different traps, if any. The Naruto level was kind of cool in that it has some ninja traps and the One Piece level has a cannon in the middle but I just know it can have more than just platforms. I'd loke the Eyeshield level to be on a Football field, not just another platform level with a field in the background. On the plus side, the levels all take place within a big manga panel, which I think is kind of cool.

The other is that I don't know if this plays nearly as well in multiplayer as Smash brothers, but I've never really played a multiplayer game on a game boy before.

I do love the Koma (panel) system, though, which is pretty cool and allows you to build a cool team of battle, support and bonus characters. Basically you have to build a team on a grid fill it with manga panels. More powerful characters take up more panels (except for bonus characters who only take up one panel each and ive bonuses to selected characters). So you can have a team of three characters with a few bonuses or one character with lots of bonuses and support.

I already beat of levels from series I like (Slam Dunk, Eyeshield21 and One Piece) and from series I've never heard of (Popularity King Taizo Saga and Jaguar for example) and for the most part am kicking ass, though right now, I'm having trouble trying to finish the Hitman Reborn level. Still, I really hope they bring this game to the Wii, because it would be endlessly cool.

As for other things, not to much is happening over here.

I heard that there will be a Spider-Man stage musical, and even stranger, it's directed by Julie Taymor, who did the incredibly popular and critically acclaimed Lion King play as well as some amazing movies like Titus and Frida. The music will be by Bono and the Edge. Frankly, I'm not a musical person, but I am curious and will be buying the inevitable soundtrack. However, I'm mildly worried since they mentioned there will be a new character, Arachne:

The character breakdowns provide some insight to plot points as the character Arachne ("female, 20-35 years old, any ethnicity") is described as "a beautiful, boastful young woman turned into a spider for her hubris and lack of respect for the gods. She subsequently appears to Peter Parker and the audience as in turn a powerful spider-woman who comes from another time to inspire Peter; an otherworldly lover; a bride; a terrifying (and sexy) dark goddess of vengeance; a dance partner in a charged and violent spiders dance of death; and, finally, a lonely, fragile young woman." Casting is seeking a "strong Celtic, Balkan style, e.g., Sinead O'Connor," noting, "outside the box ideas are welcomed. Could be someone from the music industry."

Seems very strange, as Spider-Man doesn't interact with magic and myth that much unless some gets start like Doc Strange shows up. Still, they did mess with it in Michael J Straczynski's run (creator of Babylon 5) but that story was really nothing to write home about. Still Taymor, is very talented and as long as she gets the characters it should be fine. But most importantly, I want to see J. Jonah Jameson sing. Face it, you do too.

8 comments:

Nathan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

You may recall my previous disappointment with "Ultimate X-Men" but I recently, on a whim decision, decided to try Ultimate Spiderman and enjoyed it a bit more. So lately I've actually been "catching up" on the whole Ultimate Marvel line... including subsequent X-Men titles, which are as you suggested way back when, much better.

That's new with me, I guess?

(sorry about the deletion thing above)

Stefan Robak said...

I was wondering why someone left me a message in Japanese. Ultimate Spider-Man's my favourite simply because it's the most grounded and the most character oriented. Stay away from Ultimate Adventures and the Ultimate Elektra mini-series.

The problem with the first few Ultimate X-Men is that Mark Miller (used to writing larger than life stories in the Authority) doesn't seem entirely sure what the Ultimate universe is that early on.

Jordan said...

So, is anything actually happening over there?
I went to Toronto for a week and a half or so with Vern. Did and saw lots of things, and ate lots of things that I normally wouldn't touch with a 10-foot clown pole. I should probably write a post about it, but I'll need to find the time first...

Also, the dentist told me that my wisdom teeth will need to be taken out. Umm, does that count as something actually happening?

Jordan said...

Oh, and on a related note: I've read an unconfirmed report that Eyeshield 21 may get converted into a Japanese stage musical.

Anonymous said...

I got a job. I start april 30th. Also my computer is fixed. Other then that, thats all there is to report on my fornt.

Anonymous said...

Also i forgot. Happy Birthday.

Stefan Robak said...

See, I new shit was going down. To be fair, there are many popular manga that become musicals. Bleach, Sailor Moon, Hunter X Hunter (I think) and I keep seeing adds for a "One Piece Road Show" which may or may not be some sort of One Piece musical performance.

Oh, and I just a 30 dollar gift certificate from my sister for RiffTrax. Sweet!