Join Bruno as he takes a look at 1978-1985 Kenner Star Wars Toy Line, a vintage Star Wars toyline book by JF Rolland.
If you're interested in purchasing the book in French or English, you can check out this link.
NO TIME TO DIE - FILM REVIEW (spolier free)
A FILM REVIEW BY NEIL KENNY
Today in a very empty cinema I saw Daniel Craig's last outing as Bond in "No Time to Die".
So, what did I think...?
[spoiler free]
Well, I'll preface this by saying Craig has been very lucky in his tenure with the problems around Casino Royale, Spectre, Blofeld etc. being resolved and with this film Craig has added to or increased his Bond Top Trump scores heavily*.
As a film it is entertaining enough and very well crafted. The performances are extremely accomplished on the whole and without them the plot would not have any resonance. This film has real consequences and wouldn’t work as well otherwise.
The plot could confound casual watchers as this is a direct sequel to Spectre and reconfirms that these films are a separate continuity. Saying that the film does reference previous (pre DC) films a lot in the opening titles and in the music call-backs one particular Bond outing gets more than a passing nod.
The film is long and doesn’t really drag but it can go a bit slow in places. The middle section could actually be removed as it has no bearing on the plot at all and just seems to be there in order to accommodate characters who reappear and a smidgen of character development. If anything, the film would work well in a home environment when watched in sections as it is very episodic although you would lose the grandeur of the cinematography (fancy word for pretty pictures).
The dialogue was very witty throughout but did feel to be the result of different hands. The big bad guy does get some nice lines but in the end is pretty forgettable apart from the mask. The same goes for the lead henchman who apart from the gimmick was pretty forgettable.
The action sequences are very well done and there is a brutality in the quickness of them and all very well shot. In fact, the whole film does look very polished and the only thing that struck me was the limited colour palette as it went all in for the moody muted look.
Was it any good?
Well, I was entertained enough and would watch it again although like I mentioned earlier, I would probably watch it in sections due to its length. As I mentioned earlier Craig has been very fortunate with the availability of the Bond assets his tenure could access and it has led to a very particular series of films. Previous entries have all been very mixed for me with both good and bad and this instalment is very much the same. Some will hate it and others will love it and I fall somewhere in the middle.
Not the answer a review should give but this film is more than a film - it is a last entry in this particular run and tries to be the best of Daniel Craig Bonds.
[still spoiler free but I’m not taking chances as Bond nuts might deduce stuff]
There is one principal plot point which will be the talk of the town but even this has history (You Only Live Twice [novel]) and one thing to mention; remember how some Bond films ended – the last end credit card – well it's there.
* There is one category where he still gets a zero and I’ll leave you all to guess what it is but I’ll say that Ralph Fiennes doesn’t really count.
- Neil
Tom's Gaming World! - Episode 26 - New Pokémon Snap, Biomutant and Pickups!
Join Tom as he discusses his new gaming pickups as well as going in-depth with two fairly recent releases (at the time of writing at least), New Pokémon Snap and Biomutant.
Retro-Bit Official SEGA Saturn 2.4Ghz Wireless Controller Unboxing!
Join Tom as he continues to sample Retrobit's licensed SEGA controller offerings! In this video he takes a look at the 2.4GHz Saturn pad which includes 2 wireless receivers, enabling it to work on many different platforms including Nintendo Switch and even the original SEGA Saturn console!
DISCLAIMER: All views expressed are those of BLAST PROCESS and do not represent the opinions of any entity whatsoever with which any BLAST PROCESS contributor has been, are now or will be affiliated.
Tom's Gaming World! - Episode 24 - Bowser's Fury, Cobra Kai, Rise of the Robots, pick ups and more!
Join Tom as he talks about his latest pickups as well providing mini reviews for Bowser's Fury and Cobra Kai for the Nintendo Switch. He also plays some Rise of the Robots on CD-i...the least said about that the better.
I really need to think about thumbnail images in the future, skimming through the video to find a non-terrifying image of my face proved very difficult... - Tom
Plaid Stallions - Toy Ventures Magazine Unboxing! | Bruno's Boxes
Join Bruno as he showcases this lovely magazine for toy collectors from the folks at Plaid Stallions.
PlaidStallions Toy-Ventures magazine is an old school print magazine about vintage toys from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s covering topics and items that don’t get the respect they deserve. Each issue will feature collector guides, rare photographs, interviews, and articles by some of the toy experts in the Collector Field. Issue #1 will be a salute to the celebrated toy company Azrak-Hamway International or AHI and topics will include Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, Space:1999, Parachuting Superheroes and a guide to the World Famous Super Monsters toys!
Find out more here:
https://plaidstallions.com/reboot/
and here:
ASCII Soldier Pad for Panasonic 3DO - Perfect for Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo!
Tom returns with another controller unboxing and review, this time he takes a look at ASCII's Soldier Pad for the 3DO, which is perfect for SSF 2 Turbo...but what else? Good question!
8BitDo - SN30 Pro + (Switch, PC, Mac, Android) Unboxing and Review
Join Tom as he opens up the 8BitDo SN30 Pro + controller (that's a mouthful) and puts it through its paces!
Official Sony PS3/PS4 Venom Arcade Stick Unboxing and Review
It's no secret that Tom's a big fighting game fan and as any fan of genre knows, an Arcade Stick is the the best way to play classic 2D fighter series such as Street Fighter and King of Fighters.
So when Tom saw the Venom PS3/PS4 for a bargain price second-hand he just had to pick it up, join Tom as he unboxes and shares his thoughts on this beast of a peripheral!
AntLion ModMic USB Mic Unboxing
Lets unbox the Antlion Audio ModMic USB!
The ModMic USB is the highest quality of wired ModMics ever made, with an unmatched clarity for the first USB terminating ModMic! The ModMic USB attaches to any pair of headphones, instantly transforming them into the ultimate audio headset.
The ModMic 5 can be bought from Amazon using the links below, while a list of outlets can be found here.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
SLS (SEGA) PS2 Wireless Surf Wave Controller Overview and Review
Ever wanted a wireless controller for PS2? Well, Tom has been after that very thing for a while, he finally settled on the Surf Wave controller...and it's SEGA branded!?
Originally known as the AirStyle and created by FounTech, SEGA later licensed this same controller and manufactured it through their SLS (SEGA Logistics Service) arm, which deal with the maintenance and distribution of Sega hardware within Japan. They also released a few other controllers, the Surf Wave being one of the most notable.
Join Tom as he gives an overview and review of the controller and attempts to solve the mystery of why the particular one he has acquired is lacking the SEGA branding on the pad itself...enjoy!
PowerA Fusion - Wired Fight Pad for Xbox One Unboxing!
If you're anything like Tom you need either a nice Arcade Stick or a controller with a very particular style of D-pad to get the most out of your favourite Fighting games.
That's exactly why Tom picked up the PowerA Fusion - Wired Fight Pad for his Xbox One. Is it any good though you might ask? Maybe Tom can enlighten you…
Tom Plays Sisters Royale (PS4)
Join Tom as he plays through Sisters Royale, a great fun Shoot 'Em Up from industry veterans, AlfaSystem and published by Chorus Worldwide.
Check them out on twitter: https://twitter.com/ChorusWorld
Sisters Royale PS4 Review
A REVIEW BY TOM PARRY
First things first, Sisters Royale is fun. With that out of the way, why else would you be interested in playing this vertically scrolling Shoot ’Em Up?
At its core Sisters Royale is a fairly generic ‘Bullet-Hell’ shooter, however it is by no means bland, with its colourful visuals and cast of characters that are easy on the eye.
The gameplay mechanics work well too, you can choose from one of 5 characters (6 with the optional DLC) who each have a unique ranged projectile attack as well as an additional attack, usually geared towards a close quarters offensive. You also have access to bombs, which your character can store a total of 5 of at a time, once unleashed they can wipe out everything on screen. What’s especially nice is that all the characters attacks are different enough to encourage multiple playthroughs, adding some variety to the game.
The game also features story-elements, unique to each character that are told through the medium of text, accompanied by an illustration of the character speaking. Although I’m usually not of fan of this type of story-telling, the conversations between stages are relatively short and unobtrusive for those who just want to get stuck into the gameplay, also they’re completely skippable with just a button press, I only wish all games would give the player this option.
The game itself is relatively short, although offers plenty of challenge, especially for those who aren’t too experienced with the genre, such as myself. Playing on ‘Normal’ mode I used a total of 15 continues to get through the game’s 5 stages. If you play like I do and die constantly throughout, it’s very handy to have unlimited continues, relieving the kind of frustration that could potentially result in rage-quitting.
If you happen to be a master of this genre however I imagine you might be able to breeze through the game with ease on the default difficulty but perhaps the game’s ‘Hard’ mode may be enough to keep hardcore players challenged. After all, while I thought the game’s hitbox (safe area around the character) was a generous size, due to little in the way of audible or visual clues telling you you’re losing health, I quickly realised that this was not the case and it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your Life bar on the left of the screen as the enemies are most likely chipping away at it without you realising. In short, it’s probably a very difficult game when you’re trying to complete it without using continues.
All in all, Sisters Royale is a fun and colourful game with very solid gameplay, if not particularly varied (each stage basically follows the same routine). If you’re a fan of the genre, you’ll probably not find much new here but if you’re a casual player like myself this is an accessible way to get into the over-crowed ‘Bullet-Hell’ genre and have a bit of fun for half an hour or so and if you really want to challenge yourself , you can try completing it without using any continues…good luck!
- Tom
PROS: Solid Gameplay, Very Accessible, Colourful Visuals
CONS: Short, Lack of variety in Level Design
SISTERS ROYALE IS DEVELOPED BY ALFA SYSTEM AND PUBLISHED BY CHORUS WORLDWIDE AND IS AVAILABLE NOW AS A DIGITAL DOWNLOAD PS4 (£11.49) AND SWITCH (£11.69) AND WAS PROVIDED BY BROWN BETTY PR FOR REVIEW.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II - Playstation 4 Review
Just a few months after The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel was released on PS4, the sequel has now had the remastered PS4 treatment setting us up for the much-anticipated release of The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III this fall.
Trails of Cold Steel II is a great addition to the franchise which continues to build on the original, it continues straight after the events of the first game which makes playing it a necessity. The story begins with a mission to reunite all you beloved classmates. With such a huge mass of characters and even more being added it’s easy for cast members to fade into the background, however this game manages to not only keep all the characters involved in the story, but to continue to build their character arcs and bonds throughout the game whilst tying all the components of the story into a neat little bow by the end of the game.
The overall heart and soul of the Trials games remains true with cold steel II with some very welcome additions (except the snowboard minigame, I am terrible at that).
So what are these additions? The sequel offers much more freedom as you are no longer tied to the academy as your base of operations and you are not forced to have a set party for your assignments, instead allowing you to handpick your party before disembarking on story elements.
You begin the story at level 40 with all crafts being carried over from the first game, initially I thought this would be an issue as it wouldn’t allow for character growth, however I was pleasantly mistaken as each character learns new crafts as well as upgraded versions of previous crafts. With the level increase comes an increase in difficulty, making using tactics during battle all the more important.
The battle system still maintains the combat link system but this has been expanded with the ability to now overdrive with your link partner allowing you to take 3 turns there and then, this can completely change the tide of battle. This feature is only available once you have searched out and completed the trial chests for the relative characters which features defeating some difficult enemies.
The battles with Valimar are very much still rock,paper,scissors but a new element has been added with your party members linking up with the ashen knight to take part in the battle too.
There is a slight issue with the framerate at times when the battles get a little bit hectic, but overall The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II is a solid addition to the franchise and is Falcom continue to build on this for Cold Steel III, I for one will be pretty pumped for its release.
Find out more!
Mega Retron HD from Hyperkin - Unboxing and Mini-Review!
Anyone curious about Hyperkin's Mega Retron HD console may want to check out this vid, join Tom as he unboxes and tries out the console for himself.
The Mega Retron HD is the latest in Hyperkin's range of HD 'Clone' systems that endeavour to produce the same gameplay experience as you remember from the original console through the use of original cartridges and clone hardware but out-putting to HD as well as composite.
Supa Retron HD from Hyperkin - Unboxing and Mini-Review!
Anyone curious about Hyperkin's Supa Retron HD console may want to check out this vid, join Tom as he unboxes and tries out the console for himself.
The Supa Retron HD is one of many Super Nintendo 'Clone' systems that endeavour to produce the same gameplay experience as you remember from the original console through using original cartridges and clone hardware.
The Supa Retron HD even outputs in HD so your old games can look as good as possible on your fancy new HD screens, as the name suggests ;)
BETWEEN THE STARS - Prologue Demo - STEAM REVIEW (PC)
A REVIEW BY IAN CHANDLER
Between the Stars is a Kickstarter game which has just received full funding and is due for release in Q1 2019 by Isolated Games. They have released a long playable demo called Prologue which is what I'll be reviewing here. BTS is a single player spaceship action game with management elements and is the latest in a long line of games of this type, going way back to Elite in the 8-bit era.
You play a starship captain of the Interstellar Republic as you hop about the galaxy in a variety ships, shooting space pirates, managing your crew and carrying out various missions along the way. The graphics are pretty but being as it's space there's often not a lot to look at. The music is well done too and I didn't notice it repeating even though it did. Voice work on the whole is good and the ships handle pretty well. There's no controller support (at least on this demo) but it doesn't take long to get used to the basics.
The missions follow the basic routine of flying where you need to go, maybe shooting a few enemy ships, then docking at your objective. Once you arrive the game turns into a text adventure, with a dialogue box giving a description, ie "You have entered a large room, do you want to go left or right" and the choices available are listed below. This was a bit strange at first and I wondered if I had flown through a time warp to the 1980s. There's not even any spoken dialogue, it is strictly old school. Once you finish the mini adventure section (which usually only takes a couple of minutes) you are back flying about again.
The downside to this is there can be long periods of just getting from A to B which although you can use 'turbo' engines to get there a bit quicker, it can drag the pace of the game down a bit.
The space combat is quite fun, and there looks to be a large amount of star systems to explore, upgrades to ships and general Elite-ing about available in the main game when it gets released.
Whilst it is difficult to review an early demo, and of course the main game could be very different, the demo itself is worth downloading if like space-em-ups and have a fancy to relive Level 9-style text adventuring.
Oh, an important thing to note, you can't save your progress in this demo, so be sure you want to quit when you do!
-Ian
PROS Lots of gameplay for a demo, good presentation
CONS Can get repetitive, long periods without action, no Save Game
4/5
You can find more out about the game at the official Isolated Games website:
Blast Zone! Tournament - Steam Review (PC)
A REVIEW BY IAN CHANDLER
Do you like Bomberman? Do you like dressing up your in game character in different outfits? Do you like loot boxes? Then you’ll LOVE Blast Zone! Tournament, currently in Early Access on steam, the sequel to Bomb Buddies (unfortunate name?) from Victory Lap Games
The game starts with bright colourful menus and thumping techno music (though I am old so it could be any one of the millions of thumpy noises them kids listen to these days). Your avatar has the super-deformed big head anime look and has literally billions (10 billion combinations according to the publisher) of outfits, hairstyles etc. so you could spend hours dressing your little bomberperson. Also there are loot boxes you can buy for real money full of outfits and numerous other stuff.
There are ten game modes such as Free for All, Team Deathmatch, Treasure Mode (coins are sometimes released when bombs go off) and Zombie Mode, which turns any dead players into zombies who can walk through blasts and infect other players. Lots of Power-Ups are available to increase Speed and Bomb Range, as well as Ultimates which offer other abilities like being able to throw or kick bombs across the screen.
The one player mode has 240 levels divided into 7 zones like Jungle, Pirate Ship and a Disco dance floor. The multiplayer options cover 283 levels across the 7 zones and allows up to 32 online players at the same time. Victory are targetting this as an esport, and like other esports games the PC requirements are minimal, listing only a Pentium with 512Mb graphics needed to run it (though I wonder how well such a machine will handle 32 players on screen at once) and I had no issues running it at a good speed with my somewhat-overkill Ryzen 7 and GTX1080.
So, aside from loot boxes, costumes and hundreds of levels, how does it actually PLAY?
Very well in fact, super smooth with bright colourful graphics and a good learning curve so even someone not good at Bomberman in the past can get a good game in. The one player game has a good variety of challenges and is a good way to train you for the multiplayer, which is where the long term fun is to be had. Having a screen full of characters and bombs going off in all directions really is a lot of fun with friends, and the deep customisation and many game modes really reward extended play. It’s not cheap at £15.49, but there is a lot there if you enjoy Bomberman and multiplayer gaming in general.
So, if you liked Bomberman you’ll love it, if you didn’t this won’t change your mind.
- Ian
Blast Zone! Tournament was provided for an unbiased review, all views expressed are those of BlastProcess.com
You can find more out about the game at the Victory Lap website:
BROTHERS Board Game Review
'Brothers' is a board game created by Christophe Boelinger with art by Xavier Houssin. It's an abstract strategy type game, featuring a Modular Board with a Tile Placement game mechanic. It's easy to set-up and learn and would be suitable for kids and adults alike.
GAME DESCRIPTION: You and your brother are peaceful farmers... Or at least you were! Your herds are getting too big for the pasture. Outsmart your brother by placing your enclosures so he can’t correctly place his and show him that you’re the one with a head for cattle in the family.
Blast Process were lucky enough to be sent a copy for review but before we get into playing the game it must be unboxed first! So lets lift the lid on 'Brothers' and see what's inside shall we!?
Brothers is a small but perfectly formed package that's built from quality materials and makes for a simple, fun unboxing experience. But, how does the game play? Is it any fun? How easy is it to learn? We answer all those questions in the video below!
As you can probably tell, we enjoyed the game a lot, it was simple to set up, easy to learn but delivered a strategic and fun experience. The Blast Process Team are happy to report that we give 'Brothers' a massive thumbs up!
- Tom
You can find out more about the game here: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2...
Also head on over to the Ankama website for more great games: https://www.ankama.com/en