Have You Played Fall Guys Yet?

I’ve been having a ton of fun playing Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout since it came out a couple weeks ago. It’s free on Playstation+ and also available on Steam for some money. It’s just a fun little game. And I like free.

This Honest Game Trailer sums it all up nicely. It’s colorful, it’s silly, it’s frustrating and it’s easy to dive right back in. I’ve won a dozen or so competitions at this point. And my bean is dressed like the Spot from Spider-Man fame.

So I’m having a blast!

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6 Thoughts on Star Wars Alphabet Squadron (Review)

Let’s talk some Star Wars! Specifically, let’s talk about the series of novels about Alphabet Squadron, the hip new starfighter squadron that’s roaring into our hopes and dreams. Even more specifically, let’s talk about how Alphabet Squadron is definitely not a replacement for the classic Rogue and Wraith squadron books of my youth.

Book Rating: 5/10 – Alright.

This might be my first ever book review on Henchman-4-Hire. I haven’t read any real novels or books for many years. But I’ve decided to pick it up again during the pandemic. Since Star Wars Expanded Universe novels were one of my favorites as a teen, I decided to scratch that itch once again with Alphabet Squadron, the first of three planned novels set in the new Disney continuity. Could it live up to my fond memories of the original X-Wing novels, a concept this new series was clearly trying to copy?

No, it could not. But I read it anyway and now I’m going to give you my thoughts on the Star Wars novel Alphabet Squadron! Join me after the jump for my review. Expect FULL SPOILERS for Alphabet Squadron.

Read the rest of this entry

Here’s That Suicide Squad Video Game Trailer

The last trailer I have to show from DC FanDome is the trailer for the new Rocksteady video game: Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League. It’s not a gameplay trailer, just a really fun cinematic that shows off the characters and scope of the game. It’s pretty cool.

We knew this game was coming in some form or another. I even did a List of Six on the game prior to FanDome, of things I want to see in the game. How many did I get right? A few…it’s set in the Arkhamverse, it’ll probably have the Arkham fighting style, it’s going to feature multiple playable characters, it’s going to target the Justice League and Harley Quinn is one of the stars. So that’s 5 out of 6 things I get!

No word on whether or not the Joker shows up…

Still, the game looks cool and should be pretty awesome. It comes out in 2022, so we’ve got a long wait ahead of us. But long waits are nothing new in video game announcements, so I can be patient.

Honestly, I am now much more excited about Gotham Knights…

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Here’s All Those Amazing DC Movie Trailers from FanDome!

DC FanDome was yesterday and, holy cow, did they ever deliver! Hollywood may be in a bit of a standstill because of the virus, but that doesn’t mean moviemaking is dead! DC and Warner Bros are apparently churning out some real bangers! And we saw so many great trailers at FanDome yesterday.

Let’s dive right in, shall we?

First up is The Batman by director Matt Reeves, with Robert Pattinson starring. This trailer looks dope as hell.

I like the look of the costume in action. And I love the tone of the trailer. As much as I might be interested in taking Batman in some new directions, I can’t deny that Batman done right is still damn cool. A serious, grounded take on Batman as he tackles corruption in Gotham City and tussles with more than just the Joker sounds great to me! I think this was my favorite trailer of the day.

Another great reveal was the lineup to The Suicide Squad by director James Gunn. Not a full trailer, just a great reveal of the characters who are gonna show up!

I think that’s a great teaser! The cast and the characters look awesome, and we already know James Gunn can deliver. Need proof? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at the filming of The Suicide Squad!

As much as I’m a Marvel fanboy and can’t wait to see Gunn return for Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, I am pleased as punch with everything shown here about The Suicide Squad. This is gonna be good.

Of course, The Batman and The Suicide Squad are a long ways away. We’ve actually got Wonder Woman 1984 coming sooner rather than later. How does that look?

It looks OK. Not as amazing as I would have hoped. And Cheetah looks way too CGI-heavy for my tastes. I think they could have showed her off better in this trailer. But everything looks largely OK. I think Wonder Woman 1984 is going to do just fine.

That is, if we ever get movie theaters back…

Lastly we’ve got the first official look at Zack Snyder’s Justice League. And I think it looks like hot garbage.

I am not a Snyder Fanboy or a #ReleasetheSnyderCut person. I have loved some Snyder movies, like 300 and Watchmen, but I think his DC Comics work has been terrible. I think Man of Steel is the worst. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was OK in the theater, but I have really soured on it since — same with Justice League. These are bad movies, and Snyder is to blame.

So I do not have any hopes for his remastered Justice League movie. None of these new scenes look good, and “Hallelujah” is a terrible choice for the trailer.

Of course, I’m still going to watch this 4-hour monstrosity when it comes out. Perhaps I’m wrong and it’ll be good for once, but I doubt it.

Overall, DC did great at FanDome, as far as I’m concerned. I’m glad to see they might finally be getting their act together with these movies.

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We’re Getting a Robin Video Game (Among Others)!

Holy guacamole! I wasn’t sure how I was going to share the various DC FanDome trailers we’re going to get today. Do I flood my blog with trailers? Do I space them out over the next few days so that I can digest them all? Well there’s no point in holding onto this one because I’m freaking out.

Gotham Knights is the next game in the Arkhamverse series and it will focus on the Bat-Family: Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl and Robin! I’m getting a Robin video game!

This is beyond my wildest dreams. I love the Arkham games, and Batman is great…but a game that focuses on the Bat-Family instead?! A game where Robin and the former Robins (and Batgirl) are the stars? Where you get to play as all of them throughout the game?!

Here’s some gameplay footage from an early build of the game! It’s got two-player co-op!!!

I am salivating. This is a dream come true. I was so prepared for another game where Arkham Batman fights the Joker. But a game where Robin and the Family have to take on the Court of Owls?! Are you kidding me?!

Somebody pinch me.

Now all I need is confirmation of Tim Drake as Robin and not Damian. He looks short and young in the trailer, but he’s taller, seems older and is dressed as Red Robin in the gameplay footage (though is called just “Robin” in the HUD). Could Red Robin just be a skin? Alternate costumes seems like a pretty common thing in these games.

UPDATE: Robin has been confirmed as Tim Drake!

Here’s the flavor text for all of the characters:

  • Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.
  • Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.
  • Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.
  • Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.

Anyway, game is due out in 2021. Looks like this might be my Playstation 5 upgrade game.

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