Lunar Productions

Reviews of geeky things, from video games and comics to anime and manga.

[lunarproductions]

I admit I have never been a huge fan of the Flash, only seeing him in the DC animated cartoons and movies but Arrow introduced Barry Allen all over again and he and his show soon became my favorite part of the CW comic book shows; until Legends of Tomorrow season two that is. However, despite its ups and downs I continue to watch and enjoy the show

This article is basically me expressing what I liked and didn’t like about the episode in a casual format. No fancy reviewing here, but if you want to fangirl with me then read on!

FANGIRL FAVORITES

Barry, just Barry in general. His actor his very cute and despite me not liking facial hair much he worked it well, along with the longer hair. It was no mystery to have him return but it still felt really awesome to see it happen. I love his new power level though he probably won’t be able to access it now that he’s of sound mind and body.

Wally speaking Japanese was pretty neat, not sure if the actor learned it just for that scene or if he is a fan of the culture like myself. Also, Wally has become a bit more tolerable as time has gone on, can’t say the same for his sister. Though I do enjoy their bond.

Caitlin has had an issue with being rather boring, especially in the beginning while she was mourning and then when Robbie died again. I always liked her character but becoming Killer Frost added an edge she needed.

Overall the whole cast did really well and I liked that we were introduced to the Thinker earlier on though I imagine we won’t make many more cameos until his true big reveal. While I liked Julian, hopefully his departure means Barry can do more forensic work and lead a life outside of the Flash business.

FANGIRL FAILS

Iris, just Iris in general. It was recently noted in a video I was watching how weird it was for two people who were raised together as brother and sister to be romantically involved and I have to agree. Especially when they both call Joe dad. Other than that she’s just annoying, that hasn’t changed, and she has zero chemistry with Barry. Felicity, who I dislike on Arrow, had buckets of chemistry with Barry and even Patty had some but the show keeps forcing Barry and Iris together. I know why but Arrow takes a dump on comic book canon relationships why can’t The Flash?

The CGI graphics still don’t impress me, notably when it's of actual characters. Barry and Wally have really bad character models when they run and it’s easy to tell they’re computer generated.

Julian leaving sucks. They spent the last season getting viewers to like him for what? I know season three was bad but he wasn’t part of the reasons why it was bad.

Back to Iris but, her being the reason Barry comes to his scenes was predictable and trite. Yes, they’re in love blah blah blah but agh…

Another thing, everyone ending up back on Team Flash so quickly and easily. Also, so many of them have powers now. Yes, I know the characters of Sisqo and Caitlin have them in the comics so I did see this coming but now with Wally it sort of takes away from Flash being the star. While I like all of these characters using their powers, I also accept that it does mar the storytelling a bit. They tried to make it seem like Vibe and Kid Flash had so much trouble holding down the city but it shouldn’t have been that hard, especially with what we learn in Legends of Tomorrow that Citizen Steel was also aiding them for months.

FANGIRL FANGASMING INTENSIFIES

So, Grant Gustin is a very sexy man. He has that adorkable vibe that I love so very much and his fun and happy approach to Barry Allen is endearing. While I enjoy the show for what it is, him being so attractive also helps and as I mentioned before with his longer hair after the Speed Force visit well...yum! Speaking of hair, I’m also liking Sisqo’s longer locks and Caitlin’s hair has so much volume and bounce. It really helps enhance her rebel vibe though. I was disappointed she rejoined the team so easily but it’s clear she has her own set of demons to work through.

Because the ending scene of her going full Killer Frost as amazing! While I’d really like for her to come to grip with her powers and this darker side, I love how forceful it is. The Caitlin before was one who might let people walk all over her and her Frost side is a drastic opposite, they need to meet in the middle.

And my final and favorite moment was Barry bursting out of the containment cell to save Iris. It was a true show of power and something I don’t think anyone has ever done before, it was pretty amazing.

[lunarproductions]

Mind Snares Alice's Journey bills itself as a mature, psychological thriller with horror elements and for a hidden object adventure game this is a fresh idea. Unfortunately, it loses track of the story halfway through and goes back to tired old tropes, with an unfulfilling ending. While I love when games have a deep story, I accept that hidden object games will often have a very simple, linear story -they’re straightforward, and I’m okay with that. What I’m not ok with, however, is a game getting my hopes up and completely letting me down. Here we have a decent HOAG that bit off more than it could chew in terms of story and that overshadows its positive notes. We play Alice, an office worker who gets no respect from her boss and is working so much she can’t be with her family as often as she would like. On her way to yet another work-related emergency, she gets in a car accident. After that, I have no idea what happens to her because the game doesn’t say. Sure, it starts off with an opening cinematic that shows Alice alive and well two years after the events of the game but the story in the game itself doesn’t tell us how Alice gets to that point physically. What it does is take us on a surreal journey of Alice fighting her mental demons -I think. There is an evil hooded figure who acts as the antagonist throughout the game but we never learn who it is or anything about them so it’s unclear if it’s an actual supernatural entity or a figment of Alice’s mind. Leaving things ambiguous can work to a story’s favor but that requires good writing. Alice’s dreamscape is divided into four worlds and the hospital setting where Alice wakes up, perhaps implying she is in a coma after the car accident. Though it’s safer to say there are only three worlds since the fourth is a lazy rehash of the hospital setting. Alice waking up and her journey to the first world are the best parts of the game, they create a very eerie feeling and directly relate to the struggles she faces; with pictures of her family, her birthday on a note and lots of memories of things she’s missed thanks to her job. The first world represents her work life, wanting to be the perfect employee but sacrificing her happiness to do so. These are real life issues many face and deal with, it hits home and had me invest myself into the main character. But the other worlds lack these qualities. The second world is a mystical looking area where Alice has to help save a tree and any sense of horror or relatability goes out the window and we no longer gain insight into Alice, her personality, or her current situation. The third area is about Alice dealing with an evil witch and as I mentioned, the fourth isn’t even unique. There is also a tree lady in the game who has words of wisdom to share but she serves no purpose at all to the story or gameplay. There are so many directions these areas could have taken to expand upon the main character and her dilemma, especially after the game had such a strong start. We could have explore her past, her family, anything that makes Alice who she is and explain why she is suffering so much now but the writer’s gave up. There is also this theme of Alice having to choose her destiny, at first I assumed that I would have to choose at the end of the game to follow my dreams or continue life as is but no. It’s just over, the end, no resolution or any explanations. I’ve gone on about the story because it’s the most unique feature this title has going for it, everything else places it in generic HOAG territory. It has lovely graphics though the animations for cutscenes aren’t very smooth. It has scene-setting music as well as full voice acting that is pleasant to the ears. The gameplay is to be expected, a lot of puzzles which were rather easy and some hidden object scenes which I can always use more of but this title had a good amount. There is a fast travel map and a great journal feature, though the the fact that you travel one world at a time leaves little room for backtracking. It’s enjoyable to play though there is no bonus content or extra chapter which is a shame given that the main story ends so abruptly. Can a bad ending ruin a good game? Sometimes. Mind Snares Alice's Journey offers a fun experience with puzzles and hidden object scenes to keep players busy as well as achievements to collect and Steam trading cards. It has a good story that is unfortunately not handled well towards the end but shows a lot of promise. But because of the story quality going down it seems less like a journey for Alice through the snares of her own mind and a generic HOAG with some evil ghost causing trouble. Another issue is that the game is short, you can complete it in three hours or so and it lacks any replay value. It is fun so if you see it on sale pick it up, but I would recommend not jumping for this title at full price.

My Rating

Must buy.

A good game to buy.

Only buy if on sale.

Mediocre.

Avoid at all costs.

https://www.artifexmundi.com/g/mind-snares-alices-journey/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/363330/Mind_Snares_Alices_Journey/

[lunarproductions]

I do admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the “Over the Edge” storyline. It had a lot of heart and emotional weight but I didn’t enjoy the darker tone. I’m also from the city so I couldn’t relate to the idea of drag racing, maybe using driving under the influence instead would have had more impact. However, there were some great character moments and it paved the way for this issue. If you’re a fan of Betty Copper then this story arc and what follows is right up your alley. Betty isn’t even my favorite character but I felt much closer to her after reading Archie #23. Read the full review at Outright Geekery.

[lunarproductions]

When I first jumped into this series I was unsure if I would enjoy it, but I believe in giving things a chance. I’m very happy that I did. The action and adventure has been ramping up as each issue is published and Rose #5 finally gives readers the moment they were waiting for; the meeting of titular heroine Rose and her mystical beast, Thorne the Khat. We get to see more of Rose’s true character shine through as she shows strength, determination and kindness. Fans of fantasy and magic should definitely consider picking up this series because things seem to only be getting more exciting from here on out.

Read the full review at Outright Geekery.

[lunarproductions]

After nine issues of this series, I’m coming to the point where I’m getting bored. While I’ve liked every issue and this one is no different, the pacing is slow, and this is the second issue where not much happens. While I enjoy a good story, world-building and learning about character motivations when I read a superhero comic I want more action than talking. There have been a few issues like this, and for the most part, I enjoyed the story enough to look past the slow pacing, but Injustice 2 #9 made me realize how slowly everything is going, taking pages to move the chess pieces to where they need to be. Our heroes are finally on their way to confront Ra’s Al Ghul, but not in this issue and probably not for another two issues at that. Read the full review at Comic Bastards.

[lunarproductions]

Well, this story arc has been a wild ride, for sure. Batman Beyond #11 marks the end of this particular story arc, concluding the fight between Terry and Damien -sadly it’s underwhelming. While I’ve enjoyed the story itself, the more I read, the more I was nagged with the logistics of it. The suit that Terry is wearing is dangerous and will push him to fight even if his body and mind can’t take it giving him an easy out as to why he’s fighting Damien and surviving in the first place. The suit robs Terry of his agency, until this issue of course where suddenly he has the power to overcome it. However, the story arc does a good job of introducing Damien into the Batman Beyond world, and this issue gives us a bit of closure as well.

Read the full review at Comic Bastards.

[lunarproductions]

Welcome to the last issue in this miniseries, where things certainly end with a bang. Not in an action sense but more in a story sense. I’ve had very lukewarm feelings about this series so far. The last issue was my least favorite of the four but My Little Pony the Movie Prequel #4 somehow pulled out some decent storytelling in the final hour and even made me curious about a character who I previously wrote off as just a bad fan fiction insert.  Granted, I still think Tempest Shadow is edgy for the sake of being edgy, but clearly, with good writing, she can still be interesting. If you’re a fan of that character, pick up this issue for sure, and if you’ve somehow enjoyed the previous three, then this will be a nice way to wrap up the story thus far. 

Read the full review at Comic Bastards.

[lunarproductions]

I’ll be blunt unless you’re a child or young adult, or a brony, then My Little Pony the Movie Prequel #3 isn’t for you. After reading three issues of this movie tie-in series I’m left underwhelmed and downright bored. Of course, a huge reason is that the main ponies who fans love are nowhere to be found. This series is about characters who will appear in the movie alongside them, who I don’t know or have any connection to yet and this doesn’t help. It’s also simple storytelling with heavy-handed messages of friendship thrown in, and decent enough artwork. I stepped into this miniseries hoping to get hyped for the movie, but so far I’m left with indifference. Read the full review at Comic Bastards.

[lunarproductions]

There’s no denying hidden object games have taken on the characteristics of classic adventure games. This means improved stories, investment in characters, and more variety. On the other hand, sometimes this means the hidden game charm that I look for is featured less and less. Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders is a good game and on the surface does everything it needs to d. However, it’s also on the shorter side, with little bonus content, easy puzzles and not nearly enough hidden object scenes. Throw in a predictable story and nice graphics for a pretty standard hidden object game that players will enjoy.

Players assume the role of Tara, a young apothecary who is trying to find the cure of a plague that is spreading across Persia. On this mission she soon realizes this isn’t a plague that a simple herbal remedy can cure, it’s the work of the evil Grand Vizier Zaved and you must ally yourself with the mysterious yet handsome Darius and the somewhat helpful genie Minu. The story is a typical save-the-world epic with magic, mystical creatures and even some romance. “Some” romance might be putting it lightly, I liked the interactions with Tara and Darius but wish there were more. A bit of flirting or something, especially since talking to Darius is an ongoing feature in the game. Which adds another complaint in that I wish there was more character development. We mainly learn about Darius from a plot twist and a journal that fills in his past, but we learn nothing about Tara, very little about mostly-mute Minu, and Zaved is given no fleshing-out as a villain. While I know these sorts of games aren’t expected to be giant stories, if you’re adding in a story and focusing on it and the action with less emphasis on other elements, give players more meat.

Playing this game on a computer requires a mouse to play and you use basic point and click controls. You click on items to pick them up, interact with puzzles and scenes and also talk to people. There is a dialogue feature only present with Darius where you can talk about a few different topics, some provide backstory and others offer hints to your current situation. As an apothecary, making potions is part of the gameplay but you only make five potions. You also have a book to tell you what to do and it doesn’t act as a mini-game so it’s pretty easy. All the mini-games in the game were relatively easy, I only had trouble with one and that’s because I just don’t like that particular type of puzzle. The hidden object scenes are also rather easy in nature and are very scarce in the game, which was my biggest issue with the game. Sure, the game has a fun action feel, especially when you take control of Darius to solve physical puzzles or team up with Tara for a two person job, but I play hidden object games mainly for hidden object scenes.

The graphics are lovely, filled with vibrant colors and lush scenery. While some of the animation and cutscenes could be better, overall I was so engaged in the game I can’t pinpoint any errors that jumped out at me. Near the end, with Darius, they should have altered his appearance in a certain way and did not which stood out to me but aside from that I found the game to be aesthetically pleasing. There is also fitting background music and full voice acting done by a good cast of actors. It took some time to get used to Tara’s voice actress and I felt she was the weakest of the main cast but I was happy no one tried to use any bad accents since it was set in Persia. Sure, accents can help with immersion but if they’re bad it comes off as insulting. The game also has a well done user interface and the hidden object scenes are not blurry or insanely hard to see small items.

If you’re a fan of games in this genre then I do recommend playing Persian Nights: Sands of Wonders. It’s fun to play with a good story and it also is visually appealing. If you’re playing on Steam there are also achievements and trading cards to collect as well. Since the game is rather easy, collecting all of the achievements in one playthrough is possible. The game lacks a bonus chapter and while it has a satisfying ending that wraps everything up neatly, I’ve come to enjoy bonus content. It’s also worth noting that basic features like a teleporting map, different levels of difficulty and a journal are present here, though the journal is rather basic. It’s a short and easy to play game but I liked it and feel you will as well.

My Rating

Must buy.

A good game to buy.

Only buy if on sale.

Mediocre.

Avoid at all costs.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/621080/Persian_Nights_Sands_of_Wonders/

https://www.artifexmundi.com/g/persian-nights-sands-wonders/

[lunarproductions]

After the first issue of this series caught my attention, as the music linked to it, I found myself looking forward to what Skin & Earth #2 would have to offer, despite my suspicions as to where the story would lead. Set it in world destroyed by polish where the rich get richer and the poor just work and die off, this series is done by the musician Lights. She writes it and does all of the artwork which is very commendable, it’s entirely her vision. Her new album is also linked to this comic and so far, two music videos have come out that reflect the story being told here which is great experience to see things coming to life in different mediums. This issue focuses on En’s relationship with her lover and its unfortunate end.

Read the full review on Comic Bastards.

[lunarproductions]

Blonde, bold and beautiful; the iconic Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, is back with her own series giving her a revamp for the modern world. While I am not personally well-versed on the character or her past, I know of her and know who she is the minute she takes the scene. Sheena has been around in one form or another since 1937, being the first female comic book character to have her own ongoing series. She’s also had television series and a movie so chances are you’ve seen her before without even knowing it. I decided to give Sheena #0 a shot to learn more about the character and where these writers planned to take her. This issue is short and serves more as a teaser than anything else and is a decent starting point for a reader who may also be as curious as I was.

Read the full review on Comic Bastards.

[lunarproductions]

Clue #3 marks the halfway point in this fun and colorful series based on the popular Hasbro board game of the same name. While the first issue acted as set up, the second put certain wheels into motion and here we see all of the characters are linked together by a certain flower. The and hows and the whys are still a mystery but everyone in the house, except for Ms. Scarlett and the detectives, see these flowers as very important and valuable. While all the details have yet to be shown to us or the guests, it’s clear Mr. Boddy was in no way just an innocent party host and the events happening in this series have been carefully crafted. Read the full review on Comic Bastards.

[lunarproductions]

Despite the action packed cover and the name “Screams and Arrows,” Injustice 2 #8 is a very subdued issue. I didn’t find this to be a bad thing but the cover is certainly misleading. This issue deals with the aftermath of Ra’s Al Ghul’s attack on the wedding of Green Arrow and Black Canary, as he kidnaps their son and Black Lightning’s daughters. It serves to move characters into their next position and sets up for the confrontation between the heroes and Ra’s. I enjoyed this issue, the story was good, as was the artwork and it had humor as well. While it make seem like filler it was still an enjoyable read.

Read the full review on Comic Bastards.

[lunarproductions]

After reading the first volume of this series I was left happy and eager for the story to continue so sitting down to read Pix: Too Super for School was a welcomed experience. I found that it is somehow even better than the first volume, covering more of the main characters’ lives and focusing more on the struggles of being a teenager than being a superhero. The high school years can be rough as young people try to juggle their lives, studies and also travel on a path of self discovery. Add in being a superhero fairy princess and Pix is facing a very real uphill battle.

Read the full review on Outright Geekery.

[lunarproductions]

Your Pal Archie #1 gives us a fresh, new take on Archie and his friends but with a classic story telling style. If you’re a fan of the older digest-style books with small stories without any major overarching story plots then this might be the series for you. I will say, I was expecting a digest. However there are only two stories and thirty six pages in total so it wasn’t exactly the same fun experience. What you do get are two amusing stories with nice art. At the end of the day that’s what matters.

Read the full review on Outright Geekery.

[lunarproductions]

Sonic the Hedgehog is a video game created in 1991 by SEGA, which has since become a bankable franchise. Following up on that success, Sonic the Hedgehog premiered as a monthly comic under Archie Comics in 1993. Recently, Archie Comics announced it would end the series, devastating many fans. News soon followed that IDW would be the new home for the Sonic the Hedgehog comics, but details are not yet public. However, that doesn’t help sooth the wounds caused by the end of a comic which lasted over 20 years.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Jennifer Hernandez, a life-long Sonic fan as well as an artist who worked on the Archie Comics run of the series. She’s been very vocal on social media sharing her thoughts, feelings, and memories connected to the comic series and now she’s taken the time to talk to Outright Geekery and share her own personal perspective with us.

Read the full interview on Outright Geekery.

[lunarproductions]

With each issue of this series I am constantly amazed at the trouble three teenage sleuths can get themselves into. Things have gone from trying to solve a murder to working for a drug cartel, trying to bust said cartel and now dead body gets added to the list. Don’t worry though, Nancy Drew And The Hardy Boys: The Big Lie #5 also includes police and political corruption if that tickles your fancy. Seriously, this is only issue five. I am in love with the storytelling of this series and the great pacing, I eagerly look forward to reading each issue and this one was no exception. 

Read the full review on Outright Geekery.