Mystery Science Reviews 3000

On 05/07/2017 at 09:31 PM by Cary Woodham

Hey folks, got another batch of reviews over at GamerDad.com that have been published recently. Please click on the links and read as many as you can and maybe even post a comment or two. I’d appreciate it. Uh oh, we got Reviews Sign!

And that leads me to what I want to talk about first. Something cool has happened recently. As some of you may know, my most favorite TV show of all time is Mystery Science Theater 3000, or MST3K for short. If you don’t know what it is, please go look it up on the internet and then come back here. I just don’t feel like dedicating blog space to the history of the show when my blogs are too long as it is anyway. So after more than 15 years of being off the air, MST3K is returning with new episodes on Netflix! Of course we’ve had Rifftrax for a while, and that’s good, too, but this is still exciting! I’ve watched a few episodes as of this writing and I thought I’d share my first impressions and review it a bit.

So far, I really like the new show. I don’t have any problems with the new host, although I think I could probably be the host of MST3K and do just fine. Although it’s probably one of those things where the hosts make it look easier than it actually is, but at least you can’t blame me for not having enough confidence. So yeah, in the comments section, let me know if you’d watch the show if I were the host? What would the show be like if that were the case? Let me know what you think!

They’ve also greatly improved the puppetry of the robots. Tom Servo can fly now, which is cool, and Crow is more versatile. I also like how they have Gypsy’s cord hanging from the ceiling now instead of on the floor. Although I preferred her original goofy voice instead of her regular woman voice she has now.

And that brings me to the problems I have with this show, as minor as they may be. The puppets have new voices, and while I don’t have too much of a problem with them, I found that Tom Servo’s voice wasn’t distinct enough to the other voices, so it was hard to tell who was talking sometimes. When you are doing a puppet voice, I think it needs to be very distinct. I also think the characters talk too fast. I don’t know if they did that so they could cram more jokes or if the show is a bit shorter (seems so, and I know there are no commercials now). But I’m a Texan and I talk slow and I listen slow, too. So it may just be me. Another small quibble is they do the intro before the theme song, and then they suck the host up to do the theme song, so it looks like he does the same thing every time (he doesn’t). So it’s just a bit confusing at first. One last thing that frustrates me about the show, but it’s not really a problem, is that I don’t know as many facts about the new show as I did the old ones. But then, I had many years to read up on the old show, and I haven’t had a chance to do the same with the new one, so there are a lot of things I’d still like to know, like how much of it is actually CG and real (like the door sequence).

But yeah, otherwise I really like the new show so far, and I can’t wait to find more time to watch more of the new episodes (I don’t binge watch things like a lot of people do). Again, in the comments section, let me know what you think about me being the host of the show, and tell me your favorite MST3K characters. My favorites are Tom Servo and TV’s Frank. OK, NOW we have Reviews Sign!

Discover the World of Super Mario in McDonald’s Happy Meals

Looks like McDonald’s is doing Mario toys in their Happy Meals again. I don’t know how long it’s been going on or when it ends, so I wanted to post it as soon as I could so it can be at least somewhat topical for a little while. Click to see what the toys look like and which ones I’ve gotten so far!

I am Setsuna (Switch)

I really liked this game. It’s one of the few RPGs I’ve played all the way through in a LONG time. To say that it’s like Chrono Trigger is an understatement. The way you travel on the world map and encounter battles are EXACTLY the same. Even the tech and combo skills are named the same. In fact, with a few slight story changes and name changes, this could’ve been a Chrono Trigger side story. It’s not a perfect game, but it still held my interest all the way through, and RPGs hardly do that anymore. I wish more companies would make RPGs like this one.

LEGO Worlds (PS4)

A lot of people have said this is Minecraft with LEGO’s but personally I think it plays more like the Toy Box from the Disney Infinity games, with building tools similar to the ones found in Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts. It’s a pretty good game, and nice to see a LEGO game that focuses on the imagination of the toys and not a silly license parody.

Barbie Sparkle Blast (iPad)

Normally I don’t review these free-to-play Candy Crush clones, but the PR lady was just so gosh darn nice to me I just couldn’t help it. I know, I’m a big softie. Plus it was a good opportunity to review a game geared towards girls, which I don’t do enough of. Surprisingly, this was one of the better Candy Crush clones I’ve ever played!

After the End (iPad)

The PR guy sold me on this one when he said it was like a cross between Lara Croft GO and Captain Toad. Well, it’s not really like Lara Croft GO at all, and while it is like Captain Toad, the sluggish touch screen controls made it way less fun.

Chaos Code: New Sign of Catastrophe (PS4)

It’s just another one on one 2-D fighter. In comparison to the more modern BlazBlue and Guilty Gear games, this one looks a bit dated, like a SNK fighter from the early to mid 2000’s. It’s not a bad game, but the characters just didn’t stand out to me.

Loot Rascals (PS4)

It’s a strategy game with cartoony Katamari-like graphics (I read an Adventure Time animator helped with that), and lots of British humor. It’s not bad, but I just can’t get into strategy games.

Has-Been Heroes (PS4)

This one’s hard to describe. It’s an action RPG roguelike hybrid, but the learning curve is set way too steep. I couldn’t figure it out at PAX South and I still can’t figure it out here.

The Deer God (PS4)

And finally is this 2-D platformer with pixel graphics where you get to play as a deer. Sounds cool, but the game is awful. Either that or it was so artsy it went over my head. I just felt the anti-hunting messages were too heavy handed and the gameplay was just awful. Like I said in my review, “Deer God” is what you’ll be saying when you play this.

And that’s all for now! Thanks for reading and posting comments! Later! --Cary

KnightDriver

05/08/2017 at 12:19 AM

I like those happy meal toys and Loot Rascals has me interested. I'm thinking it's something like Skulls of the Shogun. I want to try it.

Cary Woodham

05/08/2017 at 07:22 AM

Since that writing I've gotten a few more of the Happy Meal toys. I only have two I haven't gotten yet.

Yeah, Loot Rascals is a strategy game, so if you like those, you should check it out.

Thanks for reading and posting comments!

05/08/2017 at 09:05 PM

I've banned myself from collecting for a while. I went a little crazy with Skylanders and Disney Infinity figures last year. Time to forswear it for a while while my bank account recovers.

05/09/2017 at 08:28 PM

The good thing about the Mario Happy Meal toys is that they're much less expensive than Skylanders or Disney Infinity figures. I wanted to get the Crash Bandicoot Skylander set, but not at 30 bucks. I will still try and get all the amiibo figures I can, though.

05/10/2017 at 08:35 PM

I wish I could do more figure hunting right now but I've got to make some money first. I'll think about those McDonalds toys if I'm on the run somewhere and need something to eat.

05/10/2017 at 09:34 PM

Too bad the food at McDonald's isn't that great. Well, actually I don't think their food is BAD, but there are so many places that are better.

05/10/2017 at 09:53 PM

I usually try to avoid fast food in general but every so often. . .

05/11/2017 at 06:15 PM

Yeah I don't eat fast food that often either. But I think it's good for you to eat it every once in a while as a treat.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

05/08/2017 at 12:43 AM

I really want to pay Setsuna, but I'll wait until I have a Switch to do so. I like RPG's on handhelds.

05/08/2017 at 07:23 AM

Well the good thing is that Setsuna is also on the PS4, so you don't HAVE to wait if you don't want to. It really is a good game. I haven't really used my Switch as a handheld yet so I don't even think of it like that!

Super Step Contributing Writer

05/08/2017 at 09:09 AM

I'd have to hear you riff something before I knew whether I think you'd be good on the show. Delivery has a lot to do with it, and I've only ever read your stuff, not heard your voice ... Aliiive in our heearts*ahem* Catholic school, sorry.

At first, I thought they did a riff on McDonald's Super Mario toys and got excited lol.

05/09/2017 at 08:29 PM

Aw, you don't have to hear me riff first. Anyone can do it, how hard can it be? :)

05/09/2017 at 09:22 PM

I mean ... I kinda would actually. Lol It's like people who are hilarious at parties but can't preform stand up well. It's a particular context and skill set.

But I'd still listen to you riff something. Lol Now you can't use the "I don't know video editing or YouTube" excuse for THAT, because it really isn't editing- intensive at all.

05/09/2017 at 09:53 PM

I like the sound of my own voice. :)

05/10/2017 at 06:40 AM

Well then you should have zero problems becoming internet famous! Lol

05/10/2017 at 08:24 PM

Ha ha! Well I'm not really as bad as some Internet celebrities who like to talk about themselves all the time. But I still think I could be an MST3K host.

Blake Turner Staff Writer

05/08/2017 at 01:32 PM

Man, I am adoring the new MST3k show! The thing I really love is that they're still doing old movies, the effects are still awful, and it's still pretty family friendly. It would have been easy for them to chase current trends or make the show a bit more adult, but I'm so glad they kept the core that made the show.

Felicia Day and Patton Oswalt are perfect too!

I also really liked I am Setsuna. Mechanically, it is very similar to Chrono Trigger as you said. I'd argue that it's more akin to something like FFVI in tone though. I love how sombre it is, and the melancholy nature of the story just spoke to me.

My main issue with it is pretty much your main issue with it. Too much snow. More variation would have made this game a modern classic.

I haven't played any of the other games you mentioned unfortunately, but your description of Loot Rascals made me REALLY want another Katamari game. Or at least another game from that team...

05/09/2017 at 08:36 PM

Yeah they're doing a great job of keeping MST3K how it was before. Of course, having the original creator on board helps. Being family-friendly is a neat thing about MST3K. Sure there are adult jokes, but they're presented in such a way that they'd go over kids' heads.

Felicia Day seems familiar. Oswalt is no TV's Frank, but he can be somewhat funny every now and then on the show.

Have you ever played Chrono Trigger? Couldn't you see I am Setsuna as some sort of side story that would've happened between the 65 million years BC time to 10,000 BC time? Or from the 10,000 BC time to Middle Ages? That's a long time span for things to happen!

I don't think we'll get a Katamari game from the original team, considering the creator of the Katamari games now makes furniture and playground equipment. Sadly, the last Katamari game we got from Namco was a mobile endless clicker.

05/10/2017 at 02:01 AM

I have played Chrono Trigger. While there are darker moments, for the most part it feels pretty light and whimsical - at least compared to I Am Setsuna. I could see it being a side story if some of the more maudlin scenes were toned down though.

Felicia Day's most famous role is in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but she's in tons of things. She's a massive gamer and pops up in award shows, podcasts, and has her own youtube shows on Geek and Sundry. The most famous one was The Guild, which was a sitcom-esque webshow about an MMO Guild.

That mobile clicker game was so depressing. I don't even mind clicker games, since I have anxiety and they're a great way to lower my stress without really thinking about stuff, but that katamari game was even a bad clicker game! There's supposed to be a game using similar mechanics coming out on Steam but I doubt it'll capture the sheer joy of playing Katamari.

05/10/2017 at 08:28 PM

Have you played Chrono Cross? It was a little darker than Chrono Trigger. I guess that's also where I got the idea that I am Setsuna could be a CT side story.

I don't watch Buffy or any of that other stuff, but she still seems familiar somehow.

05/10/2017 at 11:27 PM

Have you seen Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog? She's in that. If not, you should watch it asap, it's my favourite musical and it has Neil Patrick Harris in it.

And oh yeah, I guess you're right. I forgot about Chrono Cross for a sec.

05/11/2017 at 06:18 PM

Even though they said it was a sequel to Chrono Trigger, I don't think Chrono Cross had much to do with the first game. The battles were totally different (they were a cleverly disgused card game), and anything in the story that related to the first game felt tacked on. I'm not saying Chrono Cross was bad, I just think they should've had it be it's own game. They could've tacked on story elements to I am Setsuna to make it feel more like Chrono Trigger than Chrono Cross since the battles were more similar. Sorry, I'm a bit of a fan of Chrono Trigger. :)

PixlBit