Page 4346 – Capsule Computers

Home Blog Page 4346

Why the Introduction of Mega Pokemon is a Godsend

September 9, 2013

It’s been about a month or so since we first caught wind of the next evolution in the Pokemon franchise; Mega Evolutions. People are going absolutely mental, in a good way, over the fact that our favourite Pokemon can take that extra step forwards with a Mega Evolution. Not only do these new evolutions look down right fierce, they also rock out on the battlefield, the evolution changes the stats, appearance and abilities of a Pokemon. They must be deadly because, as a trainer, you’re only allowed one Mega Pokemon in battle at a time. I think this idea is so great and I’m a big fan of it, but honestly, who isn’t at this point in time?

Now let me throw back to the title of this article: Why The Introduction Of Mega Pokemon Is A Godsend. I’ve played Pokemon all my life and while there was a time where I didn’t play it I’m pretty sure by this point in time I’ve more than made up for my years away from the franchise. I’m a big fan of the first two generations, they’re nostalgic to me and my favourite Pokemon come from those generations, simple, though I still like all the other Pokemon out there.

Now to the point: Mega Evolutions are going to make old Pokemon relevant again. We have just seen the release of the three original starters’ Mega forms and they look fantastic, not only that but now maybe with their Mega forms they can actually stand up to the Pokemon from the newer generations. It’s no secret that older Pokemon are, stat-wise, weaker than the more recent ones, disregarding a few select bunch. This is the reason why I like the idea of Pokemon being able to Mega Evolve, I think audiences are going to start making themselves look deeper and longer for the older, no, “classic” Pokemon with the intentions of making them Mega Evolve and see how they go. It’ll definitely bring new light to the oldies that are, for lack of better words, collecting dust.

It also gives a new feel to certain Pokemon, we will begin looking at Pokemon like Mawile with a little more respect because we know that at any moment in battle it can Mega Evolve and kick the crud out of you, there choice of Pokemon so far has been really good because there is no pattern, which means essentially any one from your team could end up with a Mega Form. It’s a surprising move by Game Freak, I really believe it is, especially when you have rival monster-taming franchises like Digimon who have been doing things similar to that for many years. Digimon always went above and beyond their Mega form, be it a Burst Mode or any other iteration. Pokemon managed to take an idea like that and make it their own, it’s not like they designed them similar to Digimon either, they didn’t strap rockets and knives onto a Pikachu and call it a Mega Pikachu, they really owned it, they made it there own and they made it well.

When it comes to a franchise like Pokemon that, fundamentally, hasn’t changed since it was first created sometimes an addition like this is a great and wonderful thing. Too many unnecessary features are added into long-running games that tends to ruin it for the player, Pokemon seems to be dodging that like crazy and with every addition they put in they seem to be hitting the nail right on the head. Some of you will agree with me and some of you won’t, I want to hear both sides so please head to the comments section below and tell us why you think Mega Evolutions are a Godsend or why you think they’re not.

Changing Ways: Book 2 Review

Andrew Day

September 9, 2013

Changing Ways: Book 2
Author: Justin Randall
Illustrator: Justin Randall
Publisher: Gestalt Comics
Release Date: Out now
Price: $29.95 – Available Here

Overview

Changing Ways Book 1 was a rare breed; violent, frightening, and absolutely gripping. The story, characters and artwork were all some of the best the industry has to offer, and I couldn’t wait for more. Book 2 takes the ball and runs with it in a big way. It may not focus as much on the fear element this time around, but Randall’s characters and story are just as gripping as ever. The tone of the artwork has notably changed as well, but it is still wonderful to look at, and captures the feel of the story perfectly.

Story

It has been 10 years since the red lesions and marks appeared on people all over the world, and Jessie Barrot and her younger brother Alex have been trying to survive. After a traumatic incident on that fateful night, their father, distraught and blaming himself for not being able to protect his family, left his kids with their aunt and set off alone on a search for answers. Since then, Jessie and Alex have been alone, traveling along and staying in hiding so that nobody knows their secret; that Jessie is marked and Alex has the incredible gift of super-hearing.

Book 2 goes a long way to explain the events that are happening in the world. Why the markings have started appearing and what they all mean. A lot is still left unexplored, but it is definitely more than we had in the first volume. By doing this, readers will want to go back and read Book 1 again, to try and make sense of all the chaos. This volume is also far more linear than the first, with the story not jumping backwards and forwards aside from a few key flashback sequences. The linearity of the story makes it a lot easier to get into as you aren’t jumping around the place.

Since this book explains a lot of the chaos and the confusion, a lot of the uncertainty that created the original’s tension. Here, that uncertainty is replaced with imminent doom, and it is a transition that works well. We don’t know exactly what is coming for the characters, but we know it is going to be trouble when it finds them. It is a sign of Randall’s talent for writing that the motivation behind the tension and fear has completely changed, yet we still feel the same emotions as we read.

As I started reading, I was worried that the decade-long time skip from the first book would cause some problems, notably in character development and reader empathy. However, I was happily proven wrong in my assumptions there, as the characters are so well defined from just their first appearances, that you are immediately drawn to them. It is also interesting to see the change of character that these people have undergone in 10 years, becoming almost unrecognizable. In this way, readers don’t necessarily have to read Book 1 to ‘get’ Book 2, but doing so really lets you see where these lost characters have come from, as well as giving you a good idea as to where they are going.

Artwork

Justin Randall’s art style is magnificent to see. It looks like photos that have been washed out and touched up in Photoshop. It just looks so natural and real that it is hard to grasp that these aren’t photographs that were edited on a computer. Characters are all really well-done, and even the minor background characters have their own uniqueness to them.

The artwork is as different in tone from the first book as the writing with, and this is a cool thing to see. In the original, the use of shadows and rain to obscure large parts of the book was an excellent stylistic choice, as people always fear what they don’t know or what they can’t see, and darkness is the greatest tool for portraying that. While here, we KNOW what is happening, so instead of panels and pages hiding in the shadows, everything is out in the open for the world to see. The juxtaposition between uncertainty and shadows to knowledge and light is such an impressive tool.

Overall

There is something in the water over at Gestalt Comics. Those guys are absolute comic book magicians. Changing Ways Book 2 continues the story of a broken family from Grey Oaks after the world has gone to hell. The story and the characters will stick with you as you read, and the artwork although notably different from the original, is still worthy of display in a museum. While I wasn’t as scared reading this book as I was with the original, I was just as gripped, cared just as much about the characters (except for Cassie), and am dying to know what happens next.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

CC Comic Zone – Sacrifice

Frank Inglese

September 9, 2013

Here we are, we’re back again for another round of CC Comic Zone! This is the place where we come to talk about all things Comics, Manga, Graphic Novels and, pretty much, all illustrated media! Once again I’m Frank Inglese and this week I want to talk about the theme of “Sacrifice”. It’s everywhere, not only do we sacrifice small things in our everyday lives but the heroes in our favourite stories constantly sacrifice their lives in the hopes of saving others.

Sacrifice is actually one of my favourite themes in all Illustrated Media, I love it because I fell as though sacrifice is the ultimate form of trust, respect and loyalty. Every single superhero in the imagined universe shares the trope of sacrifice, whether it’s a daily sacrifice like hiding their own identity so as to save their family from the clutches of their enemy or the sacrifice of their own lives to save a population of people under attack. Western Comics love this trope just as much as the Eastern writers. Superman, Spiderman, Goku, they all do it! Characters like Goku and Superman seem to enjoy sacrificing their own lives more than once, to the point where it becomes “a thing” and it, somewhat, looses it’s strength. Like I always say; these tropes don’t always work, sometimes they work too well, other times not well enough.

As I just mentioned; superheroes like Superman and protagonists like Goku seem to constantly sacrifice their own lives, I’m not entirely certain as to how many times, if at all, Superman or the other DC and Marvel heroes have died and been reborn to just eventually die again in the hopes that “this time” they’ll actually save the world forever, Goku’s deaths on the other hand I am certain about. While I happen to be a huge fan of DBZ, both the Anime and the Manga, I can admit when a character does certain things too many times and when that certain thing gets a bit overused and hard to understand let alone deal with. Goku’s constant deaths and rebirths are one of them, it’s not just him though, it’s a lot of Dragon Ball Z characters but considering he’s the “main man” of the series, I’ll focus on him.

Let me take you back to when he and Piccolo fought and killed Raditz; Goku sacrificed his life, he allowed a man to kill him so that their enemy could also be killed. What made this particular death an ideal vision of heroic sacrifice was the fact that not only was it the first time he would do it but it was Goku putting his trust into a man, Piccolo, who at one point in history was a huge antagonist in the Dragon Ball series, and while the character of Piccolo changed through the gap between “Ball” and “Z”, I still feel like it was a big thing. Goku did this kind of thing again and again and again throughout the series and while it was “almost entirely necessary” considering the situations he was put into it seems like it just lost it’s flare overtime.

The funny thing about this trope is that so many characters continuously sacrifice and I don’t know why I chose to do this particular theme because it’s so damn broad, I could literally choose any character right now and I guarantee they would have sacrificed something and a great deal of those characters, once again, would have sacrificed their lives on multiple occasions. Look I’m not saying it’s bad because it makes the audience feel incredible, we all have that person we would die for well these heroes are dying for the lives of so many, it’s uplifting while at the same time being incredibly saddening.

Flip the coin and you get situations like that in the Attack On Titan Manga, soldiers literally throwing themselves into the fray so as to stop the enemy from reaching the “more important” citizens and fellow soldiers. There’s sacrifice on every page yet within that story not every soldier is a “hero”, they’re soldiers, that’s what the creator wants them to be seen as and that’s what they are yet they still put there lives on the line at any given moment for the progress of mankind. I think Attack On Titan does sacrifice well, essentially there is no “Yes citizens I will jump into the arms of death just to save your lives” or any generic crap like that, it happens, it’s brutal and it works.

Fullmetal Alchemist does sacrifice better than any other Manga, Comic or Graphic Novel that I’ve ever read. The reason is because the sacrifices are series-long, not only that but it is layered and traded and mixed and confused until it loops back around to the basic ideal that is “we messed up, I messed you up, I messed myself up, let’s deal with this until we can change it all back to when everything wasn’t so messed up”. I’m not going to go through each and every detail, if you’ve read the Manga and you’re reading this I could stop writing here and you would understand exactly what I am talking about.

See the great thing about FMA is that it’s not just the older brother giving something up, literally, for the little brother, they’re both missing something and the reason they’re doing so is because they were both looking out for each other, it stretches across their journey and the amazing thing is that other characters take some of the burden from the two main characters, they share it, they actually share the sacrifice which leads to more sacrifices being made. What completes the trope within FMA? By the end of the Manga they have done exactly what they set out to do making each and every sacrifice along the way worth the pain. Disagree with me if you may but Fullmetal Alchemist really is the winner of this theme, no other series does it better.

Like I say almost every week; “some series’ do it well, some don’t”…well I’m not going to say that this time, every series does sacrifice well, whether they did it well previously or they do it well now. It is in everything, when something like this that we do in our own lives is done so often people tend to get it right. Yes, sometimes it is overplayed and overdone but it still gives you that sense of satisfaction when it happens. This is more of a “who did it better” than a “who did it worse” situation. Sacrifices need to be made, it’s what makes a good hero.

GTA V Smashes Largest Game Budget Record

Nathan Farrugia

September 9, 2013

GTA V Smashes Largest Game Budget Record

GTA V is nearly a week from release after six long years of production and the budget for the heavily anticipated title has recently been revealed. Coming in at a huge $265,000,000 US dollars (that’s alot of zeros), Grand Theft Auto V obliterates anything that has come before in terms of production cost and has a budget more inline with a Hollywood Blockbuster rather than a game. This total includes the total cost of developing, producing and marketing the popular title. Although this may seem like a massive amount to break even on, Rockstar and Take Two Interactive are poised to easily recouperate their losses, with over 2.1 million pre-orders placed for the game in the USA alone. Worldwide, the game will easily make over one billion dollars before the year is out.

To put the budget in perspective, GTA IV had a budget of around $100 million. A game such as Uncharted 3 had only a $25 million dollar budget. EA’s Star Wars: The Old Republic was the former record holder, with a budget of about $200 million. In the film industry, the most expensive film to ever be produced is Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End (the final installment in the original Pirates of the Carribean trilogy), which finished up costing a whopping $300 million dollars to produce. While GTA V fails to take down the Disney movie, it beats every other film ever created in terms of budget. That is one impressive feat.

These inflated budgets are becoming a greater trend for large game companies as they strive to constantly push the boundaries and create bigger and better experiences for the players. Have you got your copy of GTA V pre-ordered? Let us know your hype level for one of the biggest releases in gaming history as we near the September 17 release date. If you somehow haven’t seen the official trailer for the game, you can check it out here.

Valvrave The Liberator Season Two – Sneak Peak and Assumptions

Frank Inglese

September 9, 2013

**The lovely ladies of Season One are back and better than ever!**

Not much has really surfaced for the second season of Valvrave The Liberator, what you’re about to see is some awesome-looking pictures of the cast in the second season but apart from that we really haven’t got much at all, which is fine essentially because it’s only about a month until we actually get to see the series again. If you haven’t seen the series I highly suggest you go and catch up on it now before the second season begins because when it does a lot of people will be talking about it and you don’t want to miss out on that. Not one bit.

There's a real focus on the female characters in this sneak peak. — **There’s a real focus on the female characters in this sneak peak.**

Straight away we can assume that a sense of true government and stability will be developed by the time we’re introduced back into the story, you can see that strictly through the costuming and, in fact, that’s about all we’ve gotten. I’m hoping that the series evolves from just being a “segregated school” to and actual form of government and I think that’s what is going to happen. I highly doubt there will be any elongated time skip between seasons, I don’t think that will fit very well. It can really go a few different ways; there could be a small time skip and the audience will be told what happened in that time through flashbacks, we could see the development of the characters first-hand instead of through memories, it could honestly just begin right where it left off and blow our minds like the last season did, there are so many ways it could happen, such is Anime.

**Straight out of a magazine but at least we have it.**

Fact is; none of us will have to speculate for very long because, come October, we’ll be engulfed in the awesome power that is Valvrave The Liberator which has actually just been licensed by Aniplex. It made a very big impression during the run of it’s first season so I have no doubt in my mind that it will be making the same, if not bigger, impression this time around. Speculate with us, hit the comments section below and let us all know what YOU think is going to happen in Season Two of Valvrave The Liberator, we’d love to hear your thoughts.

Monster Hunter 4 – Nintendo-themed DLC Announced

Frank Inglese

September 9, 2013

Monster Hunter 4

Over the weekend Capcom, at their “Monster Hunter 4 Direct” presentation, announced that the Monster Hunter franchise will be crossing over with two big titles from Nintendo for DLC in the latest iteration of the franchise; Monster Hunter 4. With the release of the newest game, players can download extra content that mixes Mario, The Legend of Zelda and Monster Hunter all into one! The first piece of DLC will be skins for the “Felyne” characters in the game, if you haven’t played the game; they’re like little familiars that follow you around and help in battle. The Felyne characters will be dressed as Mario and Luigi and will cary around massive hammers, very reminiscent of the older Mario titles. This particular DLC will be available in Japan through the “7Spot WiFi Service”, players will unlock the collaboration quest through going to their local 7-Eleven store, the quest will later be released online. The video from the conference referring to this part of the DLC is below:

The second piece of DLC, and by far what I’m most excited about, is the Monster Hunter X Legend of Zelda DLC. Not only will you be able to dress head-to-toe in true Link style but you’ll also be given a customizable Master Sword and Hylian Shield as your weapon. It’s not just those either, a bow, a boomerang and a musical instrument of your choice similar to those in the Legend of Zelda games will also be available for you to use. It’s quite exciting and you can use these new items in any way you please, having the costume on does not mean you HAVE to use the Legend of Zelda weapons and vice versa. No actually information on how to get the DLC has surfaced as of yet but once it does you can be sure we’ll be updating this article. The video from the conference referring to this part of the DLC is below:

The game will allow for up to four players to simultaneously play like in the games that came before it, the games will be directed and produced by the same people who did the previous titles and Manga creator, Hiro Mashima of Fairy Tail fame, has said to have designed a full-body outfit that will serve as armour and a special weapon, both of which will feature in Monster Hunter 4. Although there is no release date for the West as of yet, we do know that it will be Shipped around Japan for the 3DS on the coming Saturday, the game will go for about US$60 and it seems as though there will be a release of “Special Packs” which will go for approximately US$265 and will come with both the game and a Limited Edition 3DS XL, there will be two different designs for the console. Keep your eyes on the site for any and all news and information to be released in the coming months.

Total War: Rome II Review

Joe Morgan

September 9, 2013

Total War: Rome II
Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: SEGA
Platforms: PC (Reviewed)
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Price: $59.99 – Available Here

Overview
The Total War franchise has been delivering solid historical strategy games since the original Shogun: Total War was released back in 2000. Epic historical campaigns have been fought from feudal Japan to the Medieval period to the times of the Industrial Revolution and Napoleon’s Battle of Waterloo. One of, if not the, most popular games in the franchise gave players control of Rome, the nation that formed the cornerstone of how society operates today.

With several games in the franchise getting sequels, fans have been clamoring for a return to Italy. How does the newest entry in the Total War franchise stand up? Is it a victory for the Empire or a dark stain on the name? Let’s find out.

Gameplay
The Total War games have been around long enough now that most fans of the strategy genre have probably had at least a little exposure to their playstyle. Even so, Rome II brings some new things to the series while keeping everything manageable for the novices and newcomers alike.

For the folks that are completely new to the franchise, Rome II has multiple ways you can go about playing it. In truth, it can behave as both a real-time strategy game such as Starcraft or as a turn-based world conquering game like Civilization V. Fans who want the overall experience can choose to enjoy both sides of the game together.

If you want the entire gamut of what Rome II has to offer the player, you’ll want to start a campaign. When you do, you’ll choose from one of eight playable factions: Roman Republic, Carthage, Macedon, Egypt, and more, with the potential of more as DLC or expansion factions in the future. Each has its own unique play styles, rival factions, political intrigues, military struggles, and more that will provide tension both from outside as well as within. This provides players with a great variety in what they can experience from one faction to the next.

Each turn, players will have to manage every aspect of running their empire. This includes everything from ordering the construction of buildings in each city to researching new technologies that benefit both the military and civilian sectors of society. You’ll also have to go back and forth with the rulers of other nations to handle war declarations and peace treaties, raise and reinforce your armies, and more. It can grow to feel a bit overwhelming at times, but you set the pace of the campaign so you never feel rushed to move on.

In Rome II, managing your army alone is a substantial undertaking. You’ll have to choose someone to lead each army. Do they belong to a house you’re rivals with or will they serve your interests? How much prowess do they have as a troop commander? What traits do they exhibit? Once you’ve chosen the force’s leader, you’ll be able to begin recruiting different troops to bolster your ranks. You can then choose how to place them in the world. Are they attacking? Defending a mountain pass? Will they set up a defensive position or plan to ambush your enemies on the road? There’s a tremendous amount of work that goes into putting your forces together, but seeing all of the planning and hard work pay off grants a wonderful sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that ensures you’ll want to keep track of every squad.

Arguably one of the most important aspects of any strategy game is the combat. Rome II delivers on this in spades. It’s quickly clear that the development team has gone to great lengths to make combat as intense and tactical as possible. Before battle, you can arrange your squads in whatever formation you see fit. Assigning squads to hotkey groups (as is standard practice for real-time strategy games) allows for quick access in the heat of combat. You have to be careful how you group and order your troops, though. Mixing foot soldiers with mounted units could lead to disaster if you aren’t paying attention.

Each unit has its own strengths, purposes, and viable tactics. For example, horseback units are great at running down enemies on foot, so you could place them at the top of a hill, out of the foe’s line of sight. This would allow you to bring them in behind to flank the unsuspecting army charging the hill. This is just one example of how proper planning and thought can bring swift victory or crushing defeat. It really gives you the sense that you’re there in the third century, racking your brain to decide the most effective path to victory.

Veterans of the series will notice several improvements to the combat in Rome II. An updated “true line-of-sight” mechanic utilizes terrain to block line of sight, allowing you to more effectively maneuver and flank your enemies. Naval combat can now take place alongside land battles, and the combat is more varied and dynamic, giving you better control of your vessels and the troops that man them. One of the most significant changes, though, is the fact that individual troops have their own health and can be attacked by multiple units at once. It makes the combat feel realistic and, by virtue of nature, more entertaining.

One of the most disappointing aspects of Rome II is the vast array of bugs and other issues being reported. Even though my machine easily met all of the recommended specs, I had to spend a considerable amount of time tweaking my graphic options to get a consistent frame rate. The forums are also rife with folks experiencing AI and networking problems. It’s worth noting, though, that the development team is taking an aggressive stance with patch development, working to correct the issues so many are experiencing.

Visuals & Audio
Rome II is a fantastic looking game. The sheer scale of combat alone will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor. For the machines that can handle beefing up the settings, a truly beautiful game is there to enjoy. Even if you can’t ramp up the visual settings, the game is impressive to see. The variety of units, ships, and locations is staggering, constantly giving you something new and interesting. The intuitive UI and camera control are also great, letting you take in the whole battle or zoom in to see a single troop’s perspective on the fly.

Rome II has solid audio design. It works to deliver an immersive experience, bringing you into the setting with epic music tracks, clashing of swords, shouts of battle, and more.

Overall
Overall, Total War: Rome II is a great game. The gameplay offers a great variety of both real-time and turn-based options. The combat is immersive and intensely tactical while the campaign offers you the chance for something totally different yet equally as strategic. The game also looks great and sounds good. There is a lot here for fans of both the franchise and genre. All of the bugs in the game right now hamper the experience, but once they’re squashed Rome II will keep would-be Caesars conquest for years to come.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

The Biggest Step Ever In Console History

Amelia Craigie

September 9, 2013

The Biggest Step Ever In Console History

Now with the date for Xbox One release announced, the world is on the edge of their seats waiting to see what the gaming industry has in store for us. Tens of thousands of us have already rushed out to pre-order Xbox One and PS4 consoles, and traditionally Sony and Microsoft are still pitched up against one another.

Although, you would think that the two rival companies would have the odds against them, as gamers tend to have divided loyalties to consoles as well as the fact that they are launching the consoles so close to each other. However, it seems that despite the cheap mobile games, better free-to-plays and perfectly fine predecessors, the gaming culture is growing enough to create what seems to be the biggest console launch in history.

At the moment, reports show that PS4 pre-orders alone have already outstripped launch sales of the PS3. This I already learned first-hand today when I went to pre-order the PS4, as EB Games then JB Hi-fi told me that I couldn’t get my console. After a chat with a couple of guys that work at game stores in Sydney, it appears that here in Australia, the PS4 was all snatched up from the get go. There are also reports of stores selling out on Xbox One orders; the plan to throw in the EA Sports Fifa 14 game certainly helps them. Now, it appears that the PS4 is the current race leader, (as a PS follower, YAY!) but it is still too early to tell who will get the gold.

It is hard to tell how successful this all will become with varying predictions, but from what I have seen and heard, this is certainly on its way to being the largest console season in history. The better graphics, more complicated AI and physics, bigger worlds, and all the other goodies promise coupled with the larger than ever gaming culture are all obvious signs that success is undeniable.

There has been some seemingly bad news such as an announcement of Microsoft executive, Yusuf Mehdi, claiming that Microsoft’s strategy is to break even or perhaps make a small profit on sales of its Xbox One console, but then make money selling games and other services that comes with the Xbox console. However, this is not as bad as most have interpreted it; I would like to remind you what Sony did with their PS2. They sold their product with the price lower than the product costs, and this ended being a good move for them as they gained a good marketing share and considerable profits came from the games.

But whether you are a hardcore gamer with their name on the order list, an occasional gamer, a social/family gamer or pretty much anyone for that matter, be prepared for a new world of Interactive Entertainment. And also a reminder to Aussies, don’t forget that you can try out the new consoles at the big EB Games Expo in Sydney in early October.

Changing Ways: Book 1 Review

Andrew Day

September 9, 2013

Changing Ways: Book 1
Author: Justin Randall
Illustrator: Justin Randall
Publisher: Gestalt Comics
Release Date: Out now
Price: $29.95 – Available Here

Overview

In my time here, I have sort of carved out a niche for myself; mostly dealing with family-friendly games and books, so every once in a while it is an absolute treat to get to read something that makes my spine shiver and my skin crawl. Changing Ways: Book 1, by the incredibly talented Justin Randall not only accomplishes that desire I (and a lot of other people) have to be terrified, mortified and absolutely gripped, but does so with such intensity that it is impossible to put down. The tragic tale of Dave Barrot and his wife and daughter are expertly told with a story that will have you glued to the page, and artwork that deserves to be hung in a museum somewhere.

Story

Changing Ways follows the story of Dave Barrot, his wife Lucy and their daughter Jessie. The book opens with a great atmospheric scene where Dave is narrating that he hardly ever sleeps, and when he does he has nightmares. Immediately the tone of the book is set, and we as readers can get a sense of this troubled individual. It isn’t until much later in the book that we find out what has been the cause of Dave’s restless nights, but when we do, certain occurrences through the story begin to make a whole lot more sense.

Dave and his daughter have been collecting insects that each have a strange red mark on their body, and we soon find out that Dave himself has a similar mark carved into his chest (That is kind of a spoiler, but it is on the front cover of the book so i’m not giving away too much here). Without much explanation as to what these marking are or where they come from, the people of the little town of Grey Oaks start acting strange. Neighbours are becoming violent and cannibalistic, while the Barrots discover they have superpowers.

When a neighbor’s dog, marked with another strange red symbol bursts through the window and savagely threatens his family, Dave holds it off until its owner shows up. Unfortuntately he too is marked, and the altercation quickly becomes lethal. With his family’s safety being his top priority, Dave rushes them out of town to a little hotel, hoping that will be the end of the craziness for the night. Sadly, it is only the beginning.

The story takes place over one incredibly bad night for the Barrots, and occasionally jumps back a few hours to show what was happening to a particular character at a particular point in time. In this way, the book feels like it is telling two intertwined stories, each with their own protagonist; Dave and Lucy, and each tied together by their daughter Jessie.

Changing Ways was a book I had to read twice, for two very important yet vastly different reasons. Firstly, since the story jumps around a bit and it can be a bit difficult to keep track of when and where certain events are happening, secondly and more importantly the book is just that good that I needed to go back immediately after I finished it and read it once more. The second reading adds a bit of clarity to the story, and you can scan through and find a few hidden nuances that you might have missed the first time.

Artwork

Simply put, the artwork in this book is phenomenal. The way that Randall has drawn his world is so unique, so lifelike and so gorgeous to look at, even in its most tense moments. It is the kind of work that you wouldn’t be surprised to see hanging in an exhibit somewhere. The characters all look like photographs were taken, and then edited through Photoshop. Randall has managed to capture life and realism in his characters.

I think almost everyone at some stage in their lives was afraid of the dark, even if it was just for one night after watching a particularly scary film, or for a few months of a childhood. There is something about being unable to see everything that is happening around us that makes our mind race with possibilities, many of which are good. It is this sense of inbuilt fear and the ability for our minds to race uncontrollably that makes Changing Ways’ art style work so well.

Many of the panels in Changing Ways are set in high-shadow areas, or at the very least have large segments darkened out so that you can’t see what’s around every corner. Your mind is constantly racing about the things you can’t see to the point that it absolutely sucks you in. The use of rain throughout the book also accomplish this, as it obscures things in a different manner.

Overall

Changing Ways is visceral, raw, emotional and impossible to put down. As your mind fills in the blanks that were intentionally left in the artwork, and the story unfolds over this dark and scary night for the Barrots, you will be hooked. By the end of book 1, the story of Dave Barrot is far from over, and readers will be absolutely dying to read more. With its dark and dare I say frightening art style, and its short, sweet bursts of dialogue, fans of the horror and thriller genres, or those just looking for a book that is impossible to put down, will have no excuse to not pick up this must-read.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

The Deep: The Vanishing Island Review

Andrew Day

September 8, 2013

The Deep: The Vanishing Island
Author: Tom Taylor
Illustrator: James Brouwer
Publisher: Gestalt Comics
Release Date: Out now
Price: $19.95 – Available Here

Overview

Coming off an incredibly strong first volume, the creative team of Tom Taylor and James Brouwer are back again with The Deep‘s second volume: The Vanishing Island. It was almost impossible to improve on the original, but these guys managed to do it. The artwork and writing retains all of the charm and originality from the original, while some slight refinements make the book feel like the real beginning to a series that will last a very long time.

Story

The Nekton family are back, and after their discovery at the end of volume 1, they are traveling the seas once again, hoping to find more clues to unravel the mystery (I can’t tell you the mystery without spoiling the ending of Volume 1… So check out Here Be Dragons to discover the mystery for yourself). While traveling along, they are contacted by the governor of a small island in the middle of the ocean. The governor has a unique situation on his hands; a GIANT tidal wave, enough to wipe out his tiny island and all of its inhabitants was headed straight for them, but instead of being wiped out, the small landmass and all of its residents remain untouched. Never ones to turn down a mystery, the Nektons set sail once again.

Joining the Nektons this time is an elderly gentleman by the name of Nereus, a man who seems to know the answers to the secrets of the world, but instead of just telling our favourite sea-bearing family, is coaching them to discover them for themselves. He has also taken up the hobby of trying to freak out Fontaine as much as possible, much to the rest of the family’s humor (although, an old man on a submarine freaking out a teenage girl is kind of a scary thought).

The story follows a lot of the same structure and pacing of the original; The Nektons are contacted about a mysterious event, they head to the location, find something amiss, investigate further, trouble ensues, and their family bonds get them through. The structure works wonders for the book, and is told at a great pace for everyone.

One of the problems I mentioned in the beginning was that the plot device in the climactic moment felt kind of predictable, this time it is far less so. Readers who are constantly analysing the book may be able to pick up on it rather quickly, but for the rest it should serve as an enjoyable surprise. The twist also allows for some incredible imagery, and imagination as you can just picture what the family, and especially Ant is thinking as it unfolds.

In the previous book we were also introduced to Trish, the reporter with an axe to grind against the Nektons (especially Kaiko) While her appearance in Vol 1 was minor at best, her absence here was noticeable. Here’s to hoping that she will become a recurring character and constant thorn in the sides of the Nektons as they unravel the mysteries of the ocean.

Once again the characters are all extremely well written, and everyone gets their chance to shine. Will solves the mystery, Kaiko saves an island of people and Nereus’ goofy exterior freaks people out. However the best part of the book is definitely Ant and Fontaine’s ‘spelunking’ of the floating island, and the touching moment that occurs between the two. It serves as a great lesson to anyone that family, and siblings will always be there for you, even if they are annoying (and want you to kiss a fish… no that isn’t a metaphor).

Even though this is the second volume in the series, you don’t need to have read Here Be Dragons to enjoy The Vanishing Island (although it helps). After having read both, I kind of feel that Vol 1 was an introduction to the characters and their adventures, while vol 2 really kicks off the story in a big way.

Artwork

Much like the first volume, the artwork here is an absolute dream to see. Characters and backgrounds are again clearly drawn, with enough detail to really make them come alive, but not so much that it becomes burdensome. The artwork even feels slightly more refined from the original, with some character designs and appearances being really sharp and clear.

Special mention needs to go to the lighting and shadows of this issue, which are simply spectacular. The faint aura of a glowstick in an otherwise pitch-black cave is portrayed impeccably in this book, as is the small impurities and other floating debris you find in the water. This issue definitely goes to show that you can have a cartoony-simplistic approach to a book, while maintaining a feel of realism.

Overall

The Deep: The Vanishing Island is another fantastic installment in The Deep series. Its characters are some of the best in comics right now, and even though it is targeted towards children, I can’t help but find myself dying of anticipation for Volume 3. The unique story, likeable characters and artwork that leaps off the page, The Vanishing Island is a worthwhile book on its own, and a fantastic installment to a series that hopefully continues to grow.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

1...4,3454,3464,347...6,765 Page 4,346 of 6,765