Console Yourself: Sonic Unleashed
Sonic the Hedgehog’s global odyssey has given rise to some very mixed opinions. Most press reviewers regard the game as an acceptable improvement over the mammal’s previous outing, but gaming forums are awash with bile over the character’s world tour. So who’s right? There’s only one way to find out: by reading Julian Hazeldine’s detailed dissection of the title.
Man, 26, Listens to Every Album on iPod. World Yawns. / 06.01.09
Hello. I thought I’d just do a quick bit of shameless pluggery for a project that I’m running for the duration of 2009 over on my LiveJournal (well, at least, for as long as LJ is still up and running, there being question marks over that as of today). I’m planning to listen to every album stored on my iPod (around 350-odd when I’ve stripped out certain exceptions) in sequence (alphabetical by album title) and write between 50-200 words on each one. If you’re interested, you can follow my progress via this helpful tag link, which saves you having to venture anywhere near my usual other witless ramblings!
My Favourite Ad in Ages / 05.01.09
Oh, it’s easy to see it as a lazy nostalgia piece - “REMEMBER WHEN MOBILE PHONES WERE MASSIVE!!!??!?!” and the like. But what stops it from being just that that it’s simply superbly made - the very opposite of lazy - and there are a few shots in there that you wouldn’t necessarily expect. (The Our Price moment being my favourite.)
But perhaps best of all is the 25th anniversary logo at the end - a beautiful piece of retro design…
An African Residence / 04.01.09
With the next Resident Evil game only three months away, Capcom’s Japanese demo of the title has been gradually circulating around the globe. Unlike the trial of the fourth game, which basically gave away the first twenty minutes of the title, this trial offers two separate scenarios, playable in single player or split-screen co-op.
Opinions after the jump.
Matt Smith IS the Doctor! / 03.01.09
… and I’m not happy.
I don’t care how good he is, he’s too fucking young.
I do reserve the right to reevaluate this kneejerk reaction, but this is the first time I’ve been in any way disappointed by a new Doctor announcement, and it HURTS.
The REAL Next Doctor / 02.01.09
BBC News have made one of their traditional “pre-announcement announcements”, this time that the eleventh Doctor will be confirmed in a special edition of Doctor Who Confidential at 17:35 pm on the 3rd of January.
NTS reserves the right to be staggered if it’s anyone other than Patterson Joseph.
The Krypton Factor returns. NTS campaign for hilarious name-change. / 02.01.09
Back in December I was due to go to Granada Studios in Manchester to watch an episode of the rebooted Krypton Factor as part of the audience. Unfortunately a mixture of mild lateness and ITV giving over 80 more seats to ‘corporate sponsors’ than expected meant I didn’t get the chance. So, my first viewing of the new series ended up being yesterday, when the show returned to ITV after literally some years away. The problem they face is similar to that faced by the production team bringing back Gladiators, as there are a whole generation of a certain type of person who view shows like this in very high regard. The Krypton Factor was a huge part of our formative curiosity and knowledge and for that reason it resides in the special, sacred cow areas of our brains. Basically, if you fuck it up, we’ll fuck you up, ITV.
After the jump, I present you some first impressions. On the whole, they are not great.
Attention Broadcasters! / 26.12.08
YouTube videos are not broadcast quality material. In any way whatsoever. Stop being lazy and source decent quality clips, dammit.
It’s even worse when this is done in obituaries, like ITV News has just done on the sad death of Eartha Kitt. Luckily, they were interspersed with higher quality material… which was broadcast in the wrong aspect ratio. A wonderful way to pay tribute to her, I’m sure you’ll agree. I’m sorry, how did this make it to air again?
Festive cheer? Bugger off.
Merry Christmas, you old building and loan! / 25.12.08
Just a quick note to wish all of our readers out there a happy holiday season, whichever holiday (or holidays…if you’re smart you’ll reach for the plurality) you may choose to celebrate. It’s a pleasure, as always, bringing you breaking news of video-game playthroughs, and up to the minute reviews of programs that ended years ago.
We thank our thousands of daily visitors and our six regular commenters for their continuing support. We love you, in a way.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
PS — Thanks for the wings!
Flight of the Conchords Season 2, Episode 1...online NOW / 17.12.08
The entire first episode of season two. Why? I dunno. Consider it an early xmas gift.
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/c48f423bdf/season…
I won’t be able to watch this until after work (how unfair!) but to call me excited about this is a hell of an understatement.
Attention People Who Design Websites for Telly Shows! / 16.12.08
For God’s sake, somewhere on the front page, have in big letters when the next broadcast of the show is. It’s the most important thing people will want to know, and it should be available at a glance - not buried away on a non-obvious page, or - incredibly - nowhere on the site at all.
The current site where this has really pissed me off is with The IT Crowd, but make no mistake - this happens everywhere. Stick it in a box at the top somewhere!
Doctor Who, Journey's End: CBC Edits / 15.12.08
CBC being the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation - the same fellows who provide funding for the series, and get mentioned in the end credits. Which means they’d treat the show with respect, yes?
Time's Top Ten Viral Videos / 14.12.08
Pretty much all ten of these are worth your time if you haven’t seen them already (for some reason none had even grazed my radar), but my personal favourites are:
Hamster on a Piano, for services to cuteness.
Western Spaghetti, for sheer wilful invention. (Post It note butter!)
And Christian the Lion, for making me want to weep in spite of the X Factor-y music choice.
New Follow That Bird DVD / 14.12.08
The Muppet Newsflash is reporting a new edition of the excellent Follow That Bird, a delightful film starring all of the Sesame Street characters who aren’t Elmo.
Don’t be turned off immediately, expecting it to be simple for-kids fare; Follow That Bird is as much fun as any of the classic Muppet films, and the 25th anniversary will be a great time to watch it again. Not much word on the extras, but it’s got a behind-the-scenes featurette, so that’s a start. Would it be too much to ask for a puppeteer commentary or an interview with Carroll Spinney?
Also, the new cover sucks. The old one was much better. And that’s not opinion…that is fact.
Venture Bros. season 3 DVD news / whining / 09.12.08
It looks like March 24 (in honor, obviously, of our favorite dead henchman) is the date to look forward to, according to IGN…The Venture Bros. season 3 will be making its DVD debut in a beautiful Atari-themed package (check it out after the job). It will also be released on Blu-Ray…which I have nothing against. Except that the Blu-Ray version will COME WITH A COMPLETE AUDIO SOUNDTRACK OF THE THIRD SEASON.
Which means I now HAVE to buy a Blu-Ray player. Like…now. So can anyone point me toward a decently-priced multi-region model?
Holding on for tomorrow... / 09.12.08
… and by “tomorrow”, I mean “3rd July 2009”, obviously.
Yes, Blur are back, and they’re playing a show with the original, Coxon-inclusive lineup in Hyde Park next summer. Tickets go on sale at 9am Friday, and if you’re not ludicrously excited about this, then frankly, you’re no friend of mine.
