ODD: DCUC Wave Two is hitting all over the country, but not the online retailer I pre-ordered it from. I don’t blame the retailer for that–nor Mattel, frankly. Wave One arrived at the online retailers before it hit the brick and mortar stores, so there doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to it. And considering the speed and tenacity of the local scalpers, I’m still better off waiting for my full set to ship than wasting gas money driving around to Targets and Wal-Marts to get one or two figures. But still…patience is not one of my more practiced virtues.
I’ve got vacant spots on my DCUC risers waiting for the latest heroes and villains to join them. If Wave Three (which I’m anticipating the most) ships this late from the online retailers as well, I may go briefly crazy. Just a warning.
END: Many of you were traumatized by my giant crotch-shot of David Bowie’s action figure from Labyrinth. Allow me to make up for that by posting these giant, hi-res photos of Leonardo from their upcoming TMNT line.
ODD: I got Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Wii over the weekend. I was an obsessive fan of the original N64 Super Smash Bros in college, often cajoling my friends into playing just so I had someone to beat the living crap out of (my roommate, who delighted in pounding me in Goldeneye or Perfect Dark, refused to play SSB with me). I’m surprised by how similar the Wii version is to the original. I never played the Gamecube version (Super Smash Bros. Melee), but I find that my skills from the N64 game are perfectly applicable to SSBB. That said, there are definitely some differences, such as the extremely dynamic (and sometimes annoying) stages and the frenetic way the power-ups work. I find the matches often get a little out of control, though never as badly as, say, Marvel vs. Capcom 2 (which I played once and, after nearly having a seizure, never touched again).
END: Speaking of videogames, I also picked up a used copy of Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (an Xbox game that’s backwards-compatible with the 360). I’ve played it–extensively–before, but it’s still one of my favorite games of all time. As much fun as I’ve had with similar games such as Crackdown, nothing compares to the sheer joy of running up the side of a skyscraper barefoot only to leap off and perform an Atomic Elbow Drop on a giant mech. A fantastic, well-made game created by people who understood the appeal of the Hulk.
It got me thinking–what would the perfect Batman game be like? They’ve tried beat-’em-ups, brawlers, and Metal Gear Solid-style stealth games, and none of them have really quite been a hit with fans. I’m betting this year’s LEGO Batman will be good, but obviously the gameplay won’t exactly be based on the comics. So what sort of game would perfectly capture the spirit of Batman? It would need to include combat, adventure, mystery, and a really good story. Maybe a sandbox game a la Hulk and Spider-Man 2, but with a stronger story element, like GTA?
Poe
Thanks for the great comment, T'Challa!
Somehow I hadn't even heard about the new Incredible Hulk game…that's a must-buy for me (assuming the reviews are even mildly positive…I'm still a little wary after my experience with JAWS Unleashed…)
T'Challa
I have never been one for getting whole series of figures based on the characters of a particular universe, especially when I have little interest in the characters. Usually, I only go for the figure of a series I am so enamored with I cannot do without, such as Marvel Legends Series 10’ Black Panther, and maybe DC Universe Classics Series 1’ Classic Detective Batman. This tactic I have found has helped me on several occasions, for by shopping for only the requisite figures I need in the present, I ensure for the future that I have income to spend on future incredible essential figures yet to be released. It also helps to keep me from getting greedy and going overboard with collecting figures. After all, there are other things to buy. Since, DC Universe Classics’ Series 2 has no figures of any interest to me; I will not be getting it. This said, this series does appear to have amazing figures with great articulation based on some iconic DC characters for those that are invested in such characters.
Waiting for figures to arrive at your doorstep is part of the fun of collecting figures. The feeling you get when you finally receive your figures makes all the waiting worth it. Best tip to get over the waiting is to occupy your time with other matters.
Since I gave up on Nintendo back when the PS1 first came out and the fighting genre of games is not my cup of tea, I have no real motivation to get into Super Smash Bros. Brawl even though I do find that it looks like quite a challenging fun fighting game worth trying out.
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction by Radical Entertainment is absolutely the best comic book based video game of all time. I picked it up on a whim and having previously played unfaithful and inefficiently done comic book based video games I was surprised to find that Hulk: Ultimate Destruction was the first video game to faithfully and effectively capture the spirit of a comic book series. It is the model standard for what comic book based video games should be.
Developer Edge of Reality is making a new video game called The Incredible Hulk based on the movie of the same name. The Incredible Hulk video game borrows extensively several elements from The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction video game to the degree that many people are calling it a remake or a sequel of The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. See the link below for the official press release of The Incredible Hulk and pictures of this new spectacular looking video game.
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/859/859297p1.html
In order to make a great Batman video game a developer should base it on the comics, create an action adventure with role-playing elements, include stealth gameplay as a way to scare criminals, and have a large sandbox world but at the same time have large separate self-contained levels.
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Paul
I'd want a batman game thats open ended and involves detective work.
So a GTA game style might work the best.
Esbat
I want Harley Quinn, proly end up either buying her on the sly or trading for her next weekend on The Fwoosh or ToySoup.
Also, best sandbox game for me is still Ultimate Spider-Man Limited Edition for the PS2. It was a Black Cat appereance away from knocking Marvel Ultimate Alliance from the #1 Esbat slot (got both USM and MUA from K-mart for 17 bucks a pop).
Tom-Tom
i think the perfect batman game would be either GTA style (without the guns [unless its infinite crisis :D])
there were people talking about the same game as you poe, and they gave it similar praise. i wonder if my cousin will ever play MvC2…
Pete
I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves that Hulk game. I was playing it this weekend too, by a strange coincidence…well, that and a lot of Bioshock.
I've got a copy of Brawl on reserve, though I'm notoriously terrible at the Smash Brothers games.
Poe
Really? I saw four Penguins at the Target in Watertown on Sunday…
PrfktTear
I'm thinking I should order Wave 2 online as well just to avoid the whole "hunt" aspect of the game and wasting time & money.
I bet Harley Quinn is going to be IMPOSSIBLE to find in stores. The Penguin was bad enough, I got him at New England Comics, so of course I paid a little more (even with a discount). Otherwise I've only seen him in stores one other time.