by | 05/10/2009 · 11:47 pm

GAME REVIEW – Tales Of Monkey Island: Chapter 3 ‘Lair Of The Leviathan’

By Marty Mulrooney

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We are now at the halfway point in Telltale’s take on the Monkey Island Universe. Tales of Monkey Island has so far provided fans with two excellent games that we are still amazed have even seen the light of day in the first place… although I did note in my review for The Siege Of Spinner Cay that some technical shortcomings were ruining the proceedings somewhat… So now, it’s crunch time. We can no longer let nostalgia and love for this classic adventure franchise cloud our judgement. How does Chapter 3 measure up as an adventure game in its own right?

Well first of all, any technical shortcomings from the last two chapters have disappeared with this, the third chapter in a five-part adventure of piratey proportions. I am happy to say that Lair Of The Leviathan had addressed nearly every single niggle I had with the previous two episodes: it is tightly woven, consistently funny, and a joy in both the graphics and sound departments.

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by | 03/10/2009 · 1:35 pm

GAME REVIEW – ‘Splosion Man

By Duncan Voice

SplosionManLogo

Gaming droughts, rain, tennis, annoying cider adverts, sweating to death on the London Underground. British summers leave a lot to be desired but thankfully Microsoft, with its much-vaunted ‘Summer of Arcade’ made this year a bit different from the norm. Five games released over the course of the summer at a price of 1200 MS points, at admittedly varying quality – I’m looking at you Turtles in Time – but with this scheme Microsoft has offered gamers an excellent selection of games during the slow summer months, championed digital distribution and once again solidified Xbox Live as the premier online console service.

One of the standout games from not only the summer, but possibly the year is the wonderfully titled ‘Splosion Man, from Twisted Pixel, creators of the well received The Maw. On paper, it is a typical platformer, with the task of making your way to the end of the level in as quick a time as possible. Sound familiar? Fear not, you will have never played anything like this before! Continue reading →

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by | 02/10/2009 · 12:25 pm

Site Update – A Word From Site Creator And Founder Martin Mulrooney

By Marty Mulrooney

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Hey everyone! If you are reading this, then congratulations. You are one of the increasingly large number of people who visits Alternative Magazine Online on a regular basis. You are the lifeblood of this whole experiment in offering something set slightly aside from the mainstream!

Today marks a very special day for the site, and for myself personally. That is because today, the site hits 6 months of age! I would have never thought all that time ago, not even graduated from university yet, that the site would grow so rapidly, or get such a wide variety of visitors and collaborators. So now, if you would please bear with me, I have several announcements to make!

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by | 30/09/2009 · 10:54 pm

INTERVIEW – In Conversation With Duncan Jones (Director Of Moon)

By Marty Mulrooney

I had the immense satisfaction earlier this year to see a film that not only instantly became one of my favourite science fiction films of all time, but one of my favourite films ever, period. Moon, the debut film of director Duncan Jones, is a small low-budget sci-fi film with a big heart.

Duncan and Sam
Director Duncan Jones and actor Sam Rockwell on set.

Boasting a phenomenal central performance from Sam Rockwell as a lonely lunar-miner, as well as voice support from Kevin Spacey as his robotic companion, it now rivals Blade Runner (at least for me personally) as an enduring cinema classic that I will rewatch again and again for many years to come.

They don’t make sci-fi films like they used to, but Moon looks set to change that. Miniature work, a focus on smart plot development, and some very deep questions about the human condition… Moon truly is a blast from the past.

Finally, I was able to speak to director Duncan Jones over the phone for a good 20 minutes on the 21st September 2009. What follows is a recording of our full conversation, as well as a transcript to make all of the little details easier to pour over and enjoy…

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