My thoughts on Metroid Prime: Federation Force

Of all the games that Nintendo had announced at E3, one had attracted a lot of controversy. It got the video game fanboys roaring with rage, foaming at the mouth like rabid dogs at the sight of a juicy steak.

The game? Metroid Prime: Federation Force.

Now, I will admit, I am not exactly a hardcore fan of the Metroid series. I enjoyed Prime and Zero Mission, and I do have Super Metroid on my Wii thanks to the Virtual Console, but growing up, I always was more into Mario's adventures instead of Samus Aran's. I do have a great respect for the series, though.

When the trailer for this game came out, there was a lot of derision. Fans of the series went ballistic. The first Metroid game in five years, and this was it?! A game that focused on first-person shooting and not exploration? None of the titular beasts of the series? And no Samus Aran? BLASPHEMY!! BURN THIS GAME! BURN DOWN NINTENDO!!!

That was the majority of the gamers' reactions to the trailer. Everything about it was criticized, the graphics, the genre, even the idea it didn't resemble a traditional Metroid game. There has even been a petition for Nintendo to cancel this game.

My opinion on the trailer? I thought it seemed like something fun, but I can't play as it was a four-player co-op game. However, I would go on to learn that there was a single-player campaign and that Samus would appear in the game, so that's pretty cool.

I, honestly, think this game sounds like a lot of fun. I honestly like the idea of a game that focused on the Galactic Federation itself. I imagine they were out doing stuff like exploring the universe and fighting space pirates (Samus can't possibly be the only one out there beating them up), so focusing on a group of soldiers having their own adventures is a great way to expand the Metroid universe a little bit.

Maybe it's not because I'm a crazy hardcore Metroid follower, but I really don't get much of the rage. I remember many people complained about the original Metroid Prime being a first-person shooter, but it ended up becoming one of the most popular games on the GameCube, if not all time. But it got me playing a Metroid game, and it was one of the only FPS games I really enjoyed, alongside DOOM.

I think Federation Force will be a fun little game that allows players to experience the Metroid universe from a new perspective, and perhaps that people really need to just calm down, and give the title a try before losing it.

My thoughts on Super Mario Maker

When I was a kid, I wanted to design video games. I even remember getting a little program for my computer called Klik 'n' Play. It was a neat little game. I tried to use it to make my own little platformers. Yeah, they were not very good.

Anyway, when I first learned of this game, I thought it would be a neat bit of fun. The game? Super Mario Maker.

Oh man, if my kid self could see this, his jaw would drop. A game that allowed a player to create their own Mario levels?! That is awesome! I mean, look at this trailer!

From what I understand, this game was originally created as a tool for the company to develop levels in Mario games. That's neat. I also have heard that you can upload your custom levels on the internet. I sense much potential for making insanely hard levels. Personally, I would love to make a new take on the Pipe Maze levels from Super Mario Bros. 3. I remember the Pipe Maze...well, the Super Mario All-Stars version.

When I get a Wii U, I'd love to add this game to my library. I didn't get one right away because game consoles and games are expensive, and I wanted to put some money away towards them. But since I've been a Nintendo fan since I was a kid, and I've always wanted to create my own games, I'd love to pick this up.

My thoughts on Star Fox Zero

Recently, I stumbled on the trailer for something that has not been seen for several years: A new Star Fox game: Star Fox Zero.

I am a fan of the Star Fox series. I remember once playing the original SNES Star Fox in England years ago (It was called Star Wing over there due to legal reasons), and Star Fox 64 was one of my favorite games for the Nintendo 64, beating it several times. I even got the 3DS remake, which I reviewed here. I also liked the two Gamecube games: Star Fox Assault and Star Fox Adventures. I will admit, I did like Assault more than Adventures, but I thought Adventures was a good game.

Anyway, with the announcement of Star Fox Zero, there came a trailer. You have to see this trailer. It is epic.

Everything about this trailer was awesome. The graphics, the gameplay, and I liked that they resurrected the Arwing changing into a walker form from the cancelled Star Fox 2 for the SNES. Maybe they'll bring back Faye and Miyu for this game, too. That would be really cool.

I have no idea why I've been holding out for so long to get a Wii U, although I have been wanting one. So many games on it sound like a lot of fun to play, like Super Mario Bros. U, Hyrule Warriors, and Super Smash Bros. for the Wii U. All those games sound like a lot of fun to play, and now I have a FOURTH reason to get one. Just gotta save up some money...

Finn Balor is a scary man.

I watched this preview of an NXT event in Tokyo, featuring Irish wrestler Finn Balor, aka Fergal Devitt. And, well...this is it...

Finn Balor is a scary man. Seriously, somebody put this guy in a series of horror films. The Demon King could be a legendary horror character, right up there with the likes of Freddy Krueger, Michael Myers, and Jason Voorhees.

Marvel's Post-Secret Wars Teasers.

As you know, Marvel is doing a big event known as Secret Wars...well, technically, this is the third Secret Wars. Marvel has done two previous Secret Wars miniseries.

The first Secret Wars was in 1984, a twelve-issue miniseries written by Jim Shooter and drawn by Mike Zeck. The mini was intended to tie-in to a Marvel Super Heroes toyline that Mattel was releasing at the time.

In the mini, the Beyonder, a mighty cosmic being, gathers up the major Marvel superheroes and villains and takes them to an artificial planet known as Battleworld. He basically tells the heroes and villains to fight each other, stating the victors get their hearts' desires.

It was one of the first major comic book crossovers, and like DC's Crisis on Infinite Earths a year later, it did have consequences for the MU, albeit not as epic. The miniseries saw the first appearance of the black Spider-Man costume that would eventually become part of the supervillain Venom. It also featured the first appearances of the supervillainesses Titania and Volcana, and the second Spider-Woman, Julia Carpenter. The Thing would stay on Battleworld for a while afterwards, and the She-Hulk would join the Fantastic Four in his place.

Secret Wars would spawn a sequel, Secret Wars II, in 1985. In the sequel, the Beyonder decides to search for enlightenment, and he believes he can find it on Earth. The story tells of his misadventures figuring out human life and his encounters with the superheroes and villains of the Marvel Universe.

The story crossed over with almost every title Marvel had published at the time, and it is considered somewhat inferior to the first, quality wise.

Thirty years later, Marvel has revisited the concept with a new Secret Wars miniseries, written by Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic.

I'll admit, I like the cover. I'm a sucker for Alex Ross artwork.

This Secret Wars seems to also pay homage to Crisis on Infinite Earths, a story involving the various incarnations and alternate takes on the Marvel Universe, including the Ultimate Universe, being destroyed and melded together into a new Battleworld. With this series, Marvel has promised an "All-New" and "All-Different" Marvel Universe, launching with 60 #1 issues. With this, they released two teaser images. Here's the first one:

At least we now get the idea that the MU is not getting rebooted. Some of the stuff from the current MU is being carried on, which I think is very nice. We still have elderly Steve Rogers, Sam Wilson as Captain America and Jane Foster as Thor, which is great. This is pretty much how I felt that the MU would be after Secret Wars, still chugging along with some slight changes and new additions from other universes.

Phil Coulson - I admit, I like Phil. I'm glad he's sticking around. His presence may indicate that the SHIELD title will be one of the relaunched titles.

Spider-Gwen - Not surprising Marvel will want to keep her around, as she has become quite a popular character. Maybe her world will survive Secret Wars. I hope so, as she may be superfluous in an MU that already has a bunch of Spider-Man-connected characters.

Black Panther - I imagine he'll get his own title again due to him having a movie coming up.

Iron Man - Hopefully, Secret Wars will undo the damage the character had taken due to Civil War and Superior Iron Man. He's now one of Marvel's most popular characters, so I want an Iron Man that has an altruistic streak again. I have heard rumors that it may not be Tony in the suit. If that's the case, I'd be neat to see Jim Rhodes in the suit again...

Vision - Considering the Vision's big role in the latest Avengers movie, it's not surprising he will get a bigger role in the All-New Marvel Universe, as he will be joining the Avengers post-Secret Wars. Don't like the new look, though. I think it's a bit too busy.

Spider-Man (Peter Parker) - Marvel's not ditching this guy, not with his MCU debut coming thanks to the deal with Sony. Makes me wonder why they can't cut a deal with Fox to do X-Men and Fantastic Four in the MCU.

Spider-Man (Miles Morales) - He will be in the Avengers post-Secret Wars. I hope we get to see him interacting with Peter Parker.

Ms. Marvel (Kamala Khan) - I'm happy she'll still be around, and an Avenger post-Secret Wars. Girl is hitting the big time. In wrestling parlance, she's getting pushed to the moon. I hope she can handle being one of Earth's Mightiest.

Ant-Man (Scott Lang) - he's got a movie coming up, hopefully he'll get a series.

Red Wolf (Unknown) - At first, when I saw this, I had no idea who he was, didn't recognize him. A guy I knew on Twitter surmised it was Ka-Zar, but I said it wasn't as Ka-Zar was more like Tarzan than Turok. Only later did I realize it was Red Wolf, a Native American western character. There have been a couple of Red Wolves over the years, but this one is believed to be the original Wild West Red Wolf (Wildrun) instead of the modern one (William Talltrees). I wonder what his status will be.

And here's the second image:

Doctor Spectrum - Doctor Spectrum was originally created as an analogue to DC's Green Lantern. This was one that appeared in a Jonathan Hickman story he wrote earlier. I'm guessing Marvel wants a Green Lantern.

Citizen V - This one genuinely surprised me, as this was a disguise of Baron Zemo. This was the same costume he wore. Could this signal the return of the Thunderbolts?

The Thing (Benjamin Grimm) - So much for the rumors that Marvel is burying the Fantastic Four. Based on Ben's outfit, looks like the Thing is going to Guard the Galaxy. Why not, he was in the West Coast Avengers and New Avengers for a while. Seems to me they're just going to have the Fantastic Four break up and have the heroes join new teams, based on this...and I have been hearing Johnny Storm is hanging out with the Inhumans for reasons.

Karnak - The weakness-finding Inhuman has a new look...but wasn't he dead?

Rocket Raccoon - The raccoon is back! Enough said!

Inferno - An Inhuman. Don't know much about him.

Medusa - The Queen of the Inhumans. Considering that the Inhumans are getting a bigger role in the MU, and that they are getting a film. I think they're getting a title.

Daredevil - The Man Without Fear is getting a new look! My guess is it's a nod to the plain black sweats look he had in the Netflix series. I've liked Mark Waid's work on him, so hopefully we'll see more of that.

Wolverine (X-23/Laura Kinney) - You know, DC used to be the company that was about legacy, passing mantles and identities. Now in recent years, Marvel has become the legacy company, what with Laura taking up her father's mantle as Wolverine, it seems. Hopefully, things'll work out for her.

Starlord (Peter Jason Quill) - I expect the Guardians of the Galaxy to have plenty of spotlight in the New MU, mainly due to their popularity from the film. I wonder how his team is going to be shaken up..and what rockin' tunes will he be listening to for the whole thing.

Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange) - Hopefully, we'll see Doctor Strange retake his rightful place as the Sorcerer Supreme, the main mystical defender of the world against all supernatural threats. Wouldn't mind seeing him have a big ol' magic brawl with Shuma-Gorath. Come on! The big ol' tentacled eyeball needs love! He's been in video games! And Strange has an axe. Neat.

Old Man Logan - My guess is this is their compromise between having Logan around, and keeping classic Logan dead. I want to see this guy running a bar the heroes frequent after battles to drink, rest, and have some laughs in. I also hope we get some nice interactions between him and X-23.

It seems the New MU wants to celebrate their universe of old, while embracing the new additions and the newfound legacies they created. That's good. I didn't want a full-on reboot because I felt Marvel didn't need it. I am quite excited for this, unlike DC's New 52, and I can't wait to see the New MU unfold!

First Day of June

Today was the first day of June. You'd think on that day, there would be warmth and lots of sunshine (and in the case of where I live, humidity), right?

Nope.

It was surprisingly chilly today. And the sky was full of clouds. And it rained. Actual rain. How about that? Never thought you'd expect that. Man, what a way for June to start.

Ah, well. At least it wasn't insanely hot today.