Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Episode 29 Game Edition

Episode 29 Game Edition: When in doubt use a nail file
Hey guys in case any of you are confused this is still the midnight multiplayer podcast.  The change of name is just to reflect the new website. Any podcast listed as Game edition will be the same old classic MM podcast you've always had. The new podcast that will come will be under the same feed but be titled stuff like Movie Editon, Music Edition, and others as we decide to do more shows. Feel free to only listen to the shows where the topic interest you.
In Episode 29 we discuss a bit about the games we've been playing including UFC 2009 and Velvet Assassin. Then we talk pre-e3 and all the fun that comes with it. Assassin's Creed a firey debate about Modern Warfare 2, Bioshock 2, Mass Effect 2, and many more. So enjoy and leave some feed back please.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Moving on Out

Hey guys just letting you know that the midnight multiplayer podcast will be moving to a new location here at Geeksquisite. On this new blog we will not only be talking and writing about video games but just about everything we consider awesome. So you will be getting your same old video game presence at the new blog along with much more. Thanks everyone for the last year and looking foward to the ones yet to come.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Obscure Video Game Review: Toxic Crusaders



Hey guys, I know I haven't posted here in a while, but I figured I'd take a little time out of my day and bring to you a first in a series of reviews I'll be doing. These reviews will focus on the obscure titles that maybe not everybody knows. So, the game I'm Taking a look at is Toxic Crusaders on the Sega Genesis. First, let me just tell you guys about how licensed this game is. This game is based on a TV show of the same name, which is based on a comic book of the same name, which is a spin-off on another comic book called "The Toxic Avenger" which was based on a cult-classic movie, "The Toxic Avenger". So, this game already has a lot of back-story to it... However, that isn't quite it's focus.

The real focus here is the gameplay, it's a side-scrolling brawler, much like the TMNT Arcade Game or something like Streets of Rage, you scroll to the side, and you fight dudes. While those games have never been too much about accuracy, this game is even MORE in-accurate, sometime you wonder if you're even hitting the enemy at all. It gets so bad that sometimes you're shooting at stuff off-screen! However, this somehow doesn't limit the game's fun-factor too much. The enemies, while numerous, usually only take 1 or 2 hits to kill, so the in-accuracy of the combat doesn't feel like it's limiting you very much. Besides regular combat, you can also take down enemy helicopters and hop in them for a short period of time.

You play as one of three characters, Toxie (Who you might also known as The Toxic Avenger), NoZone (A Mutation of a pilot and a bird), and Junkyard (A Mutation of a obo and a Junkyard Dog). There's no character select screen, so the only way to hange who's playing who is to goto the options menu at the beginning of the game and choose the player. If you're playing as Toxie, you also have Toxie's little pal Blobbie running around, who was also in the TV show. However, instead of being pink like he was in the show, he's yellow here, and on the back of the box, they call him Bloobie for some reason. Anyways, Blobbie can be used in many different ways to attack the enemy, but my personal favorite is using your mop as a golf club and golfing him into different enemies.

While the game isn't heavy in storyline, it has a thin plot, taken directly from the TV Show. Aliens called Radiation Rangers are attacking Tromaville, and it's up to Toxie n' pals to stop them. I find it funny that somebody who is essentially made out of toxic waste is fighting to stop people who are trying to pollute the planet. Anyways, you get to fight in a variety of locations. You start in a city area (Tromaville), but there's also a Park with a bunch of radiation oozing about, An Alien Spaceship, a Train Station, and more. There's enough Variety in the six different levels to keep the game from becoming boring, even though you're fighting the same enemies over and over.

Overall, the game is fun, but if you're not a fan of the TV Show, or The Toxic Avenger, it might not do anything for you. Thats not to say you shouldn't give it a shot, though. I first played this game before I even watched The Toxic Avenger or Toxic Crusaders, and I still enjoyed the hell out of it. So, if you ever wanted to mop up Tromaville, or you just want an average side-scrolling brawler, Toxic Crusaders for the Genesis is for you.

I give this game 4 out of 5 stars.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Classic Movie Review: Casper

Its 1995 and Steven Speilberg has his hands in many projects to this day, Casper being one of them. I had known almost nothing about this friendly ghost except for the fact that my grandfather painted him on the side of a wooden Halloween decoration he made for us one year for the trick-or-treaters. So imagine me at 7 years old hearing about a Casper movie, well its been 14 years and since it was on I decided to see whether it still hits those chords that made me enjoy it as a child :)


Directed by Brad Silberling, his first feature film. I have to say this movie got to me even at 21. Yes its campy at times and Eric Idle's performance made me have a few WTF moments. As for the other actors, Christina Ricci is pretty good here and so is Bill Pullman who seems...idk a bit "surreal" during the movie but I agree with critics that their performances are good for having to stare at almost nothing since Casper and the other ghosts are CGI (vaporware). Cathy Moriarty's performance has been classified by critics as a "poor mans Cruella Deville", I'm gonna get off the fence and disagree. Theres a campiness to her but I think she really tried to be unique in her character, and I applaud her for that. So for a first time feature film director, not a bad job and it doesn't hurt Speilberg is producing. 

The CGI for 1995 is pretty damn good and once again used for the campy effect, no its never overdone in this movie. There are some genuine physical humor and irony here and there. The movie is actually criticized for mixing campiness and seriousness (seriously? why are people always expecting one type of direction in a movie?!). I was moved by Caspers story about how he died and it was sad to see him let Pullman take his chance to be alive again.

SPOILER ALERT! (oh wait, too late? o well ;)

So to round it up let me say this:

The Good: CGI is great for the time period. The performances are earnest if not all on top form. The mix of campiness where there isn't seriousness works great. The scene where Casper and Kat (Ricci's character) dance is moving IMO. Story isn't nearly as campy as the atmosphere which makes the movie work on kid and adult levels.

The Bad: Eric Idle's performance. Pullman's "attitude". The apparent "prank" by this annoying bratty bitch and the stereotypical gullible guy was a complete waste of screen time for me. Fatso's cleavage when he pretends to be a woman is just wrong to say the least ^_^

All in all, this is a classic movie worth watching as a Halloween Special. Even when it's not Halloween. A good job for first time director Brad Silberling. Can he show improvement when his newest movie Land of the Lost with Will Ferrell? idk, the movie looks pretty bad to me but with Silberling attached I will give it a chance. Will I go see it in the theatres....um unlikely. 

Sunday, May 10, 2009

MidnightMultiplayer Podcast Episode 28

episode 28


The Big E3 games list and more

Monday, January 26, 2009

Monday, January 5, 2009

2008 MMP: AWARDS

Episode 22: MMP: AWARDS



Thanks to everyone who voted and watched the video podcast. if you didn't catch it and would like to head on over to Justin.tv channel and watch the show

Sunday, January 4, 2009