New Spider-Man Game is a Game Changer

Since 1962, every Spider-Man cover has informed the reader to “expect something extraordinary.” After 20 years of successful movies, we have a new Spiderman game coming out aligned with the release of a summer blockbuster movie.  Insomniac Games and Marvel have collaborated to bring gamers a new twist to the Spider-Man video gaming Franchise.  Marvel stated that the best Spider-Man stories are when Peter Parker and Spider-Man’s worlds collide.

Peter Park vs Spider-Man

I had a good look at the cut scenes from the demo, and I must admit I was impressed by the details.  The tight framing of shots echo Peter Parker’s life.  He lives in a small studio apartment in New York, where we get to see what kind of Spider-Man we have.  Spider-Man puts on his web-shooters which mean we won’t have the Spider-Man from the early 2000’s trilogy that gave Spider-Man web making powers.  There are a few bills and messages in the apartment which leads gamers to believe we will have choices in Peter’s life vs choices in Spider-Man’s life the will have an impact on the outcome of the game.

Familiar Villains

The next scene jumps the player into the story line of a hot lead on the Kingpin.  Peter hears a police dispatch in his earpiece, then we are web-slinging across skyscrapers in New York City and Manhattan.  This game will be open world, so there is no limit to where we can go and interactions in the big apple.  Developers noted that web slinging will be more physics driven, and gamers will have to use momentum to swing around the city. 

After beating up, a few low-level thugs Spider-Man gets a few clues that lead him closer to capturing the Kingpin.  I really liked the combat during the fight b/c it showed what gadgets, web-combos, hand to hand combat.  After getting adjusted to the new controls, we get back on the streets. 

Open World and Cameos

Spider-Man mini-map in the lower left-hand corner of the screen that shows the street layout and highlight side activities.  There are a lot of possibilities and themes to explore.  Norman Osborne aka the Green Goblin the city mayor, so we know that will have ramifications that will lead to trouble for Peter Parker and Spider-Man.  Note for those of you who aren’t fans of the series, Green Goblin knows Spider-Man is Peter Parker!  It seems like a lot will go in this game.

As gamers explore the city more of the Marvel universe is unfolded.  The Avenger’s tower, Black Panther’s Wakanda Embassy, and Dr. Stranger’s Sanctum are available to explore in the city which means that we may get cameos from other Marvel heroes.

The RPG and Crafting

The ability to be in an open world means that the story will not be linear progressed, and gamers can approach resolutions to critical events in different ways or times.  There was one side quest on the game that had you locate Peter Parker’s old backpack with images of his first web shooters inside.  Developers stated events like this will be vital in fleshing out Spider-Man’s backstory with audio recordings as well.  As a reward for completing side quest gamers will gain a performance score for completing objectives and crafting components. 

The crafting materials will be used in a number of ways.  Drawing from Peter Parker’s scientist background, gamers can upgrade and create gadgets in the video game.   Gadgets and crafting will add to the new suit option portion of the game.  Gamers will have the ability to choose from dozens of suits, and the gadgets will serve as add-ons to enhance the suits.  Each suit will serve a purpose and give gamers a different experience or way to complete objectives. 

Impressions

The game looks solid, and I admit that I will play it.  Insomniac Games hinted it will do for Spider-Man what Rocksteady did for Batman in terms of development and pushing the limits of franchise to create a new experience.  Spider-Man release date is September 7, the game will be single player, and Playstation 4 exclusive. 

What's Your Opinion on the Black Panther Movie?

I have been really busy creating content for twitch TV and YouTube, so I haven't had the opportunity to see the new Black Panther movie.  I saw on the news this morning that the movie has been #1 at the box office for 4 weeks in a row and has gross over $1 Billion dollars.  The statistics support that Black Panther is a good movie, but what is your opinion about it?

I got friends and family that seen the movie, and they say it's okay.  I read reviews on the internet that said it was game changing like Wonder Woman, but I honestly thought Wonder Woman sucked.  I wasn't feeling the world war stuff, and it really didn't match the themes I was familiar from the tv series or comic books.

Marvel's Black Panther Cast is Star Studded and Successful

I can't wait to see the Black Panther Movie coming out February 16, 2018.  The movie will align with the story line of Captain America Civil War.  King T'Challa returns home to Wakanda to take over the throne due to his father's death.  When T'Challa gets home he faces opposition and a challenge for the throne by powerful foes.  In order to take on the challengers, King T'Challa becomes the Black Panther.  This movie has me excited b/c of the cast.  Lupita Nyong'o is from Star Wars.  Michael B. Jordan is from Fantastic 4 and Creed.  Danai Gurira play Michonne on The Walking Dead.   My question is Michael B. Jordan plays Johnny Storm from the Fantastic 4, so how can he play as Erik Killmonger in the Black Panther?  I wonder if that's an indicator that the Fantastic 4 is not going to get a sequel?

Anyways, here is the main cast for the Black Panther:

Cast overview, first billed only:
	Chadwick Boseman	...	T'Challa / Black Panther
	Michael B. Jordan	...	Erik Killmonger
	Lupita Nyong'o	...	Nakia
	Danai Gurira	...	Okoye
	Martin Freeman	...	Everett K. Ross
	Daniel Kaluuya	...	W'Kabi
	Andy Serkis	...	Ulysses Klaue / Klaw
	Angela Bassett	...	Ramonda
	Forest Whitaker	...	Zuri
	Letitia Wright	...	Shuri
	Winston Duke	...	M'Baku
	Sterling K. Brown	...	N'Jobu
	John Kani	...	King T'Chaka
	Florence Kasumba	...	Ayo
	Sydelle Noel	...	Dora #1 / Xoliswa

End of the Walking Dead bc Producers are Ego Tripping!

I'm a bit late, but Carl's death was the shocker that producers of The Walking Dead promised for the mid-season finale.  This plot twist really messed up the show and ends the series.Now some of you are saying that The Walking Dead will not end anytime soon since the comic book is still going.  I say to you that you're wrong. 

I'm more than certain that Walking Dead fans noticed the show has really dipped in ratings due to the episodes being weak and main characters roles changing for the worse.  Characters like Michonne, Maggie Greene and Daryl Dixon have really seen a lack of air time and development.  But their lack of air time was for good reasons.

Danai Gurira, best known for playing Michonne on the popular AMC series, lends her talents to Black Panther as Okoye, a member of Wakanda's bodyguard force the Dora Milaie. 

Lauren Cohan, best known for playing Maggie Greene, spent majority of the year filming a movie called the Boy.  Lets just say that the movie flopped. 

Norman Reedus, best known for playing Daryl Dixon, will be featured in Death Stranding.  Death Stranding directed by Hideo Kojima is already winning awards for the art direction. The story of Death Stranding is the character Sam dies and the player is sent to another world, referred to as an upside-down world submerged in water. Kojima suggests that when the player returns to the world of the living, anything they did or any damage that an explosion or the likes causes when the player dies remains persistent in the world and does not go away. Another element talked about is the existence of "Timefall" a type of rain with the ability to age or deteriorate whatever it hits. Another gameplay element talked about is the players ability to interact with the environment and wander outside of the character's body, as well as recovering items when they die.

Back to The Walking Dead.  The show is really all over the map with filler storylines b/c the main characters were doing other projects.  Now that everyone is back the producers decided to make a cut to prove a point.  They decided to let Carl get bit which basically ends the show.

If you who read The Walking Dead comicbook, then you know is the main star of the franchise.  There is a theory that the series is told from the perspective of Carl. That is why Rick Grimes can do everything that's impossible.  Well now that Carl is dead, what is the show future?

Many are saying that Carl Grimes, Chandler Riggs, wanted to do projects outside of the series.  For that reason he is leaving the show.  To be honest the kid has been on the show since he was 10. so it's the only show on his resume that will stand out. so I feel that's complete bullshit. 

I feel that Carl character was killed b/c Producers want to make it known that the TV show does not have to stick to the comic book storyline.  Carl being killed was the final statement on that.  Many characters like the priest, Carol, Rosita Eugene, Daryl, and should be dead already. 

Killing Carl off basically means the show has no young stars to develop and really putting everything on the regular 5 stars - Rick, Michonne, Maggie, Carol and Daryl to continue the series.  They're putting everything they have on them, and I have to say good luck.  When you stray from the origins of the comicbook series then you are setting yourself up for failure.