#BestOf Christophe Lambert laughing scenes

Christophe Lambert rules!

The Man as Raiden from Mortal Kombat. Art © Eyz

After such an outstanding start of a post, that will no doubt leave a permanent mark on your soul, here's a compilations of various Christophe Lambert laughing scenes from various movies.

Because his laugh is so unique and memorable:



If you don't start laughing like an idiot midpoint through this video, you are no fun!

#Gaming NEWS! MKVita + DOA5

Here's a new trailer for Mortal Kombat on the Vita and one for Dead or Alive 5!
First up, the Mortal Kombat one.
It's actually the "complete" trailer from which that previous Kitana trailer was cut from. (so...was that a teaser for this new trailer? are we at a point where peope make trailers for trailers? wait a minute...Yes!!)



Well, I won't be getting this game...since I already have it for Xbox 360!
But I can enjoy this live trailer nonetheless :P

~

Meanwhile Tecmo released a new trailer for Dead or Alive 5, this one featuring Bayman and Christie, two more returning characters!
Are they gonna make some vids for all the characters? Probably so.



I love the new "more realistic" artstyle.
Looks great!

Some news regarding more Virtua Fighter guests are expected soon, more precisely Sarah Bryant and Pai.
In the meantime, enjoy some concept arts as well as Hi-Res screens of the new level:

Again, I just love the new artstyle!
Character faces do look different instead of the same copy-paste generic anime. They all have different details and facial features now!

#Ad - Mortal Kombat 9 Vita teaser [PS Vita]'

Here's a pretty kickass "live action" ad Warner just released for the upcoming release of Mortal Kombat 9 on the Sony's Vita.
Check this out:



That's some badass video and an equally fantastic looking cosplay ;)

What did you do this weekend?!

Hey gang, long time since I did one of these, heh?!

So, what did you guys and gals do this weekend?
Read any fun book I should heard of? Any good movies out there? Any entertaining video games lately?

Me? Well, besides watching hours of 30 Rock for no reason - it's been mostly this...

Yep!
Big FIGHTIN' GAMES marathon!
Powered by the Xbox 360, so it seems XD

It's been the occasion to have a quick run through all of these again, shake back memories and whatnot.

Here's my current impression of this generations' titles (I've mostly played the latest iterations of them, if available)
- Mortal Kombat 9: Luv luv luv this latest episode of Mortal Kombat/pseudo-reboot of the series. Easily one of the best this generation and one of my all time favorite fighters already. Just love how fun, simple and accessible the mechanics are, yet still deep enough to offer a challenge against another player of even the CPU sometimes.

Note: Why did they stop putting out these DLC characters? Warners stopped Ed Boon & co and want them to plan the next game already?

- SSF4: While I wasn't a big fan of SF4 originally, having a long history with the franchise and past episodes (SF3, Alpha,..), Super is quite a good improvement. My bro didn't like it as much a me though :P
We played it not that long, since the others proved so much funnier. But still a classic.

Note: I should be able to finally grab a copy of the update "Arcade Edition" in stores pretty cheap by now. Will probably do!

- KOF12: Oh, KOF. My favorite fighting game series at heart. How much I wanted to love ya...but it looks like such a lackbuster entry, cheap, lazy. Awful ugly menus, bland roster, very slow gameplay...at least it offers the prettiest 2D graphics/sprites ever done!

Note: Can't wait to grab KOF13...to help me forget..about 12....

- Blazblue CS: I'll say it quick.. I really really wanted to love you BB...but I...just...can't....

Note: The original Blazblue CT looked like a modern Guilty Gear. Rocking tunes and all... CS took out all the great rocking music, added clusterfuck HUD informations all over the screen and slowed the pace (and added tons of useless gimmicks too)... I heard there's a new update coming this winter... they better fix everything!
Also, the characters look so uninspired... It's like it's from the same dev team as the GG series...but without the art direction/designer and creator of GG behind it!!

-Tekken 6: I always loved the Tekken series since the original one on the PS1. Though I had a preference for the realism (in the physics and control) for Sega's rival franchise Virtua Fighter over it.
Tekken 6 is easily the best entry of the series so far. Fun, crazy, explosive, colorful.
You gotta love the over-the-top sense of Tekken.

Note: I wanted to play this one for hours non stop...looks like I was the only one on that.
The game is looking kinda dated now, it is showing its age compared to some of the other games we played this weekend. (the console port came out a bunch of years after the arcade original, without much change to the graphics)
Can't wait for the proper new game, Tekken Tag 2!

- Soul Calibur IV: I didn't like much this latest entry in the Soul series.. But it was kinda fun to have a new go at it this weekend.
The guest characters are so out of place this time around though :P
But I preferred playing with the SW characters over the manga artists-designed ones....

Note: Better than remembered.
My problem with this series, is that Namco is over trying to make every entry MORE and MORE epic compared to the previous ones...and it's kinda getting a bit much. Look at the trailer of the new game.
See? Over-complicated silly designs, giant armors and even bigger swords, random details, orchestral music more symphonic than ever (?).
At least Ezio will make this a "must try", just to see how the guy will play in a 3D fighter.

- DOA 4: The DOA serie's always been newcomers friendly, easy to master and quick fun assured.
After playing all these complicated titles above, this was an instant success. Like we never stopped playing it.

Note: Not expecting much from DOA 5, without series creator Itagaki.

- Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Okay, I'll say it right from the start. I always had a problem with this one and couldn't bear to love it that much. I spent hours, literally hours on the past previous two MVC games, more so than all of the above games' play time combined.
I knew MVC3 would be different from MVC2, I was expecting it...even though, it was too much for me. The game just looks bland, no colors at all. All the backgrounds look colorless and liveless, and even the characters don't stand out much over the levels thanks to the over dark art style used here. (I blame this on the art direction)
Anyway, the game was still fun, but too slow for a VS Series entry. And the roster lacks some crazy charas to stand out. (thank god for Taskmaster!)

Note: I'm pretty sure the update Ultimate MVC3 will make me forgive this one, since most of my problems will be addressed and fixed there. Like SSF4 did for SF4, IMO.

- VF5: Saving the best for the last.
Just a gorgeous, great, complicated and fun fighting game. My favorite this generation, alongside MK9.
The game still holds pretty well compared to most of his contemporary fighters.

Note: The latest arcade update (it had like 5 updates since this one) is finally coming to home system...digitally only?! WTF??
I wish Sega was less cheap than that. HEY! If all the others can pull off these DLC updates/disc retail release simultaneously, you can as well!!
Specially since they're cutting so much content to make it possible, size-wise.

And that's all.
I also tried the original SF4, Blazblue and Samurai Spirits Sen by myself, but that was just quick tryouts by myself, just to check 'em out back.

MortalKombat' NEWS! and the 4th DLC character is...

And the final (?) surprise 4th DLC character for Mortal Kombat 9 is....



WHAT. THE. HECK?!

Yep.

That's right...
A "guest character". You've seen Link, Heihachi, Spawn (Soul Calibur), Yoda, Vader (Soul Calibur), Kratos (MK9 on the PS3) and many more in these recent years specifically...
Ed Boon did say a while back that he would try to add Freddy or Jason if enough people requested them... And I've seen lots of people asking for a "guest" from another series, from Ryu (Street Fighter) to any other ridiculous option...
Now, as a fan of Friday the 13th, I guess I'd like to see Jason Voorhees get in the game as well :/

Anyway, random, right?

I would love if he was his own separate DLC instead of using the 4th slot on the "Season Pass".
Or if NRS announced a second batch of characters..

Freddy will join the rest of the cast on August 9, 2011.

Gamin' NEWS! Rain DLC Gameplay Trailer

Here it is already, Mortal Kombat 9's Rain Gameplay in video (and therefore, in-game reveal trailer as well!)



Pretty kickass!
(I hear the haters already, "another Ninja?? again??")
I look forward to killing you soon, with Rain! A~YAaaaah!!

Gaming NEWS! MK DLCs

The new Mortal Kombat is great.
I've been loving it since I got it (less than a month ago).

Even the DLC's been fun keeping the game fresh and having something to do in preventing me from leaving MK aside.
NetherRealm Studios did something pretty neat.
They offered a "Season Pass", something to help reduce the cost of upcoming characters they'll add (based on fan selections and discussions).

And for free, for those who won't buy the DLC characters, they will offer up new costumes by bundle of two.

Anyway, here's a fun trailer for the Classic Skin costumes:

Tags: GameTrailers.com, Mortal Kombat - Classic Skins Throwback Gameplay, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

And here's a video of Skarlet, the Lady in Red. (my only complaint is that sadly, the only new "original" character in this MK installment has been a DLC). Out since a couple days ago, last week.

Tags: GameTrailers.com, Mortal Kombat - Skarlet Gameplay Trailer, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Originally an hack/palette swap for Kitana/Jade in the old games.
And now a full fledged fun character.

This week, today, the new added character is Deadly Alliance returning (or would that be "introduced" chronologically speaking since the game's a reboot?) Kenshi!

Tags: GameTrailers.com, Mortal Kombat - Kenshi DLC Gameplay, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

The blind swordsman is back! With kickass moves, badass fatalities and even a babality!

FanFilmFriday: Sub-Zero (Chinese Ninja Warrior)

Playing Mortal Kombat a lot recently made me think about the original live movie.
Which reminded me of the awful/epic bad/good sequel Annihilation.
Which made me check out some of the better things some fans put up together with less budget, time & effort.

Enjoy this "music video":



Courtesy from these guys own youtube channel. Check it out!

BestMovieScenesEvah - Too bad... you...will..die!!

 Here's some awesome acting from that awesome/awful Mortal Kombat II movie:


(recommendation: deactivate youtube's commentary before playing it)

The original MK movie was awesome. Pretty well executed, directed. Great special effects, fun (if a bit silly) plot straight from the games and yet not completely unwatchable and amazing combats well choregraphied.

Too bad the 1997 Mortal Kombat: Annihilation movie seems to have run out of budget after the first 10 minutes, where Raiden changes looks to accommodate the lower budget (Christophe Lambert-less), the special effects leave the better practical effects to become low budget CGi messes, actors improvise lines without a real script and many more stuff that either makes this the greatest Hollywood B-movie or the worst summer blockbuster!

AwesomeCosplay Pic of the day: MORTAL MUSIK

Here's an awesome rock band..composed of Mortal Kombat's ninjas:

Such an awesome pic for today!
And fitting, since I've been playing the new Mortal Kombat lately (and lovin' it).

Drawing - MK Sheeva

'Was finally able to play the new Mortal Kombat game!
And I gotta say, it ROCKS!

Cooking with Scorpion

Finally...blogspot works again? They sure took their time...

One of the reason why I always liked Mortal Kombat.
As gore or violent as they were....they were fun(ny) too!

Here's an awesome blast from the past:



An unlockable funny video from MK: Deadly Alliance.

Fightin' NEWS! 2 random new vids in anticipation

Time for some fightin' games-related news!

This blog post is Van Damme-approved.

First, it seems this new Tekken Tag 2 will be more polished than some current fighting games have been *coughMarvelVsCapcom3cough*
Anyway, the game will feature a lot of little scenes, be it as introductions, endings, pre-matches animations, etc...

Check out this cute lil' video of  J.a.c.k. and Alisa:



Simple, doesn't affect the gameplay at all, but a nice touch nonetheless^^


Meanwhile, Johnny Cage kicks ass in the upcoming new Mortal Kombat!



Is it me or are his facial traits closer to JCVD as ever??
Like, back to the roots  
(trivia: the MK series started out as a fighting game starring Jean-Claude, then left JCVD to embrace a more original approach while Johnny Cage sprites still kept some Van Damme motion capture here and there)

Drawings - JAM Session March

JAM Session!

I asked you guys and gals for your ideas and suggestions...
And you answered it here!

Here's some ideas I picked up to draw.

http://atomictiki.deviantart.com/'s suggestion.

A Green Lantern gal, from Sinestro's planet.
Though I admit, I'm more of a Soranik Natu-kind of guy.

's suggestion.

Here's everybody favorite ,junky I mean archer.

Back when he had both arms.
Good times...good times

's suggestion.

Finally a brand new "real" Mortal Kombat!
Can't wait!

(I mean, I love MK vs DC and all... but I can't wait for a brand new "real" MK, 'nuff said!)

's suggestion.

I luv this guy!
One of my favorite Marvel characters, with 2 kickass miniseries so far and mostly great guest appearances in Avengers or Deadpool so far.

And that's all for this time~

Dan Forden is back!

For Mortal Kombat fans~



Lead programmer and music composer Dan Forden is back, in HD, in the new Mortal Kombat game!

And he's Toasty!

Mortal Kombat - an underdog story

I'm currently playing through Mortal Kombat: Armageddon in anticipation of the upcoming 9th MK game.
(well, not "currently" currently, since I'm at work right now...but you get the point)

And it's kinda sad how bad Mortal Kombat's current reputation is.
And it's even unjustified!
Why do people hate MK these days? Because they all adore Street Fighter?

Don't get me wrong, I love SF too. I was one of the few who bought and played the SF alpha or SF3 series WHEN they were actually originally released (unlike most modern SF fans who jumped in with SF4). But that's the point, "too".
Can't you love more than one thing? More than one fighting game or series, more than one platformer, more than one comic book publishing house, more than one music band?
You like ice creams? Do you only ate one flavour of ice cream and never taste others?

If people wouldn't let any chance to some other fighting non-SF series, we wouldn't had Last Blade, or KOF, or Samurai Spirits...nor Capcom's own Darkstalkers series!!

I know some people, specially in the US, are pretty attached to their brands. (MacDonalds/Wendy/Burger/King/etc.. or Coca Cola/Pepsi/etc..).
But I don't :P
It's all marketing wars.

Anyway, past MK4 people started hating the MK series when they went 3D instead of motion captured photos.
I'm pretty sure Midway would went bankrupt a lot sooner and with a lot more people dissing them if they didn't, but whatever...
So, the series continued to be over-the-top/horror/gore-ysh. But in 3D.

An despite Midway being one of those few companies that kept listening to the fans to keep the brand alive ("we want X, Y and Z in the game", "we want more Fatalities", "we want a campaign story mode", "we want XYZ back", "we want weapons", "we want tons of unlockables", "mingames", "customisable characters", "more characters", "all previous characters", "a crossover") (ps: I just described all post MK3 episodes)
People. Keep. Dissing the series!
Even when the gameplay is pretty solid and the graphics good enough.

Sure it isn't as mainstream as a Soul Calibur, nor as the same publicity image as a Capcom game...but why should all games be the same or control the same?

Why does this series' popularity as the time pass along?... Because of the so-called "professionals" who started giving the games bad rep' in the first place.
Giant online references like IGN or Gamespot have an influence on players despite what some might say. Even on other review publications or internet sites.
Then, people start to follow threads and so on...
(internet talks, reputation, common knowledge, etc.. snowball effect!)

I originally started compiling reviews, quotes and such but this post was starting to get huuuuge.
So simply resumed.
After a good classic trilogy (MK1, 2, 3), the series passed through a rough spot (MK4) and while the series tried to change and evolve in 3D, the bad rep' continued to grow for no reason.
IGN and Gamespot called the 5th, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance a great game and beautiful evolution for the series:

"Anyone looking for a wilder ride than the one offered by Tekken 4 or Virtua Fighter 4 should definitely check out Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance."

"Better than the previous installments" (what "previous"? there only was MK4 since the good ones?)

Then came MK6, Mortal Kombat: Deception, which was described as "Better than the previous modern installments"...huh...what about Deadly Alliance??

Then the 7th, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, "the best the series has offered in a while", "unlike modern episodes of the series"...but....another one (and many others) of your reviewers just said the previous one was good??

Finally came the latest episode, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe.
"[E]ven as the game moves the series back toward the fundamental strengths of Mortal Kombat", the "best the Mortal Kombat series has been able to offer these last couple of years".

Why does MK keep getting this bad rep after everything they tried to do to please fans?
Just because it isn't by Capcom nor play like SF doesn't mean it's bad?
It's the blood and gore? Then why complain about it when it lacks in MK Vs DC?? (why didn't you get the unprotected Pal release, like me, which is normal since I live in Europe!)

At least with the upcoming MK9 I hope people will go easier on it since it's a return to the classic controls with HD graphics... No more weapons or 3D controls(once more to please the fans).
Yet, I know people will diss it and praise the future Super Street Fighter 4 Turbo Remix Championship Edition Capcom will improvise for the next winter or something...

//End Rant.

Movie NEWS! K.O.!!!

And people thought the 1st live Street Fighter movie was bad.... :/
I'm disappointed in you guys... you gotta "smell" these kind of movies from way far off!



So the King Of Fighters live movie is out...
And it is bad...
Well, BIG SURPRISE there! Did you seriously expected this to be any good?
Van Damme's Street Fighter was actually good in my eyes.
Let me see...
It had a plot! (despite how "fantastic" it turned out to be, talking about it's "universe")
It was well choreographed. (well, at least choreographed shall we say)
It wasn't deep serious and super-emo-gritty-ysh like most of the other game-to-flick adaptations.
The characters kinda looked like the ones they were based upon.
Van Damme kicks ass. (if you hate him, you're probably a Steven Seagal fanboy at heart! or just racist :/ there! I said it!)
The bad:
Obviously it was a tad much over-the-top.. I understand some "2000s kids" might hate that aspect..but hey, we who grew up in the 80s/90s actually liked that stuff!
Van Damme isn't American (as much as he'd like to!), and Guile is...therefore... :(
Characters personalities and/or origins messed up... Like, say, Charlie/Blanka... Or Dhalsim..

Anyway, it was a fun and entertaining movie at heart. And isn't that the goal of any movie/comics/game? To be fun and entertaining??

Let's check quickly the other similar themed movies..
(I was planning on reviewing one or two of those for my Movie Reviews anyway!)


Mortal Kombat, which came out at the same time as the 1st SF movie, was actually pretty good.
Since MK was a gory/badass/violent franchise, their movie went a bit more serious and less "colored".
The combats are a lot more serious and better choreographed.
Though, it is just as much over-the-top.

There was a 2nd MK, simply titled Mortal Kombat 2 (and a tv show, but let's not go overboard with this subject...)
It was a bit more faithful, but a lot cheaper too... The plot was very silly...
Let's just say it was made for fans, not mainstream audience, with a very tiny budget...

Then came the 2000s.
And hollywood, already mass-adaptating comic books, decided it was cool and quite profitable to adapt more video games too.
And since games have a more impressive international fanbase, they could also make those for less money/less professional and make just as much money if not tons more!

So came Dead Or Alive. A sort of Charlie's Angels meet the SF Movie meet a bikini contest. Hey! The game already built up it's audience upon that! :P
It was one of those SF-like movies.
Goofy, fun, stupid yet kinda watchable. Less good and cheaper than SF too...
Fights are boring..which is stupid since this is a fighting game-to-movie adaptation...

There also was SF: Legend of Chun-Li.
Which made money for only one reason... It kept promising people it was going to be a SF movie done right...
And kids "bought" that.. -sigh-
From the first pictures to the first trailer..I knew it.. It was a stupid "super-emo-gritty-ysh" modern adaptation with serious tones and even less respect to the source material.. Exactly what the 1st SF wasn't and what made it good despite what "internet rants" say.
So it was a big flop... They even put a bit too much money on this movie, even if it doesn't show..in the marketing department... Big commercial failure!
And people were finally saying again that the SF movie "wasn't that bad" in "a cheesy kind of way".
(I kinda hate this expression.. "cheesy"... it was over-the-top, OF COURSE! but not that "cheesy"... I find Avatar "cheesy"...big blue furry cat people...ewww...)

Then was announced two more similar movies...
This King of Fighters...
First pictures.. you could smell it...another Legend of Chun-Li.. With just as much respect for the source, the same type of tone...

And the upcoming Tekken movie...
I'll say my early impressions of these, without seeing it. Cause you can easily understand what producers will make of a movie from early infos.



Wow.
I won't like this as much as my good ol' Van Damme Street Fighter...
But this kinda looks good... I mean, not good, but better than the Chun Li movie!
Why? It's quite close to the Mortal Kombat movie in tone. Lots of characters? Check. They don't shy away from the game visuals&costume? Check. (except Heihachi's stache and Kazuya's hair) And it seems to actually feature some combat, which is always good fer a frickin' fightin' game adaptation!!

Hum..
*cough*
Anyway..
Now, let's turn back on our brain and see what we did learn today:
- Hollywood likes money.
- If something's successful, some Hollywood producers will be planning to cash on it with a movie, be it a comic, a game, a book, a ride, toothpaste, a commercial, some clothes, a product mascot...anything!
- The cheaper the better. Better profits that way.

Thus I ask.. why are they keepin' on making adaptation of those "frickin' fightin' games".
You know. Games were gameplay, characters and movesets are the more important aspect? Not movie adaptations of actual adventure games, action games... stuff where the plot and universe are more important for the immersion, and stuff...
There was talks about a Halo movie or Mass Effect... I'd take a bad Halo over a bad Soul Calibur anyday! (YOU KNOW they'll do it...eventually...)

Gamin' NEWS! Mortal Kombats, Spideys and Bats

Ladies and gentleman!
Here's some gamin' news!

First of all Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions is almost out!
Next tuesday September 7, 2010 (but expect early releases like always :P)

Here's the launch trailer:



I like several aspects of this game! (2099! Manga Spiderman costume! lots of enemies)
I never been this motivated for a Spidey game since his first 3D platformer (on Dreamcast, N64 and PS1).
But I do dislike some aspects of it as well... (Deadpool :/, Black Suit Ultimate Spidey..? Really? I guess they need kids to buy this game at all costs..)


Moving on,
the new Mortal Kombat 9!
Yes, it's still untitled for the moment...

People love to diss MK these last years...but they're probably angry SF fanboys who only started at SF4...
I mean, the last modern MKs were different from the original (with the 3D arena and all..), but they weren't that bad!
Capcom did far worse! *cough*Plasma Sword*cough*

Anyway, here's a brand new kickass trailer:



Wow! That was..interesting!
Nice idea!
And here's a look at the upcoming character select screen:

And finally Bats!

Remember Batman: Arkham City? I reported some info on it not long ago.

Well, here's a ton of new screens! (well, more like 30)

First, some scans from a GameInformer preview:

As you can see, Batman still kicks ass!
Catwoman's awesome!
And there's Harvey Dent in here too!

Lots of interesting tidbits in this preview.
Now, here's some more better screens for ya:

My quick first impressions based on those screens:
+ Game looks as nice as the first one, if not a bit cleaner and better
+ Catwoman! RRrroar~
+ Harvey looks kickass! As he should be! Hoping he will actually be in the game and not just the last 5 minutes of it à la Dark Knight
+ The scenery is amazing!
+ Great effects & visuals (explosion, contrasts..)
- Why didn't they made Gotham the playground? Why this improvised Arkham City? (explained in the scans and my last news post). Stupid move! Or they could have made simply a "No Man's Land" game!!
- Only Catwoman + Oracle for this game's Bat-family (for the moment) Will we see Robin? Nightwing? A Batgirl?
- All thugs look the same to me (Joker/Arkham-inspired..) Need more variety design-wise. (yes they're different but using the same type of "design")
- Emo goth Harley... :(

Let me add this up about Emo goth Harley.
In the first game, it was kinda "in context". She was disguised, she was helping Joker break free...
She was still recognisable...
But now, they left out all the last bits of classic Harley...
No more domino mask? No more asymmetric design?
She ended up her transformation into a slutty goth emo girl... I don't recognise the character!!
Just to appeal to the masses... well, f*** the mainstream audience!

Grrr... *angry eyz iz not amuzed*