Game review: Shantae Half Genie Hero with Zelia

Notice, this is a review with my OC instead of starring myself in fiction. Readers discretion is advised.

(One day, in Anthony's house when he was gone for a review of "The Lego Batman Movie".)

Zelia: *walks to Anthony's house for her plan* I wonder if he's doing something in his home... *knocks the door and waits for a minute, which he was not there.* Hm? Strange, he hasn't come and open the door. *sees a paper on the window with a tape* A message? *picks it up and reads*

"Dear anyone, im sorry that il be gone for a long day, i was packing up to my business in Montreal. Especially with in theater, going shopping and more. I got plenty of plans of review and others, but i leave it for you to finish my work. One plan that i haven't talking about is Shantae Half Genie Hero. If it must be Zelia, i hope she'll enjoy it when i showed her about Shantae's series. If not, i guess il let whoever give a shot. Thank you and good luck. PS: i putted my second house key in the mailbox to keep it secret from someone's trespassing. -Anthony"

Zelia: Well, i guess il give a shot of this game, since he showed me about Shantae games from last months ago.

Hello everyone, my name is Zelia and this is a game review. Im pretty sure some of you don't know about Anthony, which he's left for his business, especially his adventure to take look at something going on in this year, 2017.

So today on game review, he told me that im talking about Shantae. Im pretty some of you know about her, a half genie who's a guardian of Scuttle Town to face against her nemesis names Risky Boots. She was first introduced in 2002 on GameBoy Color, which although it was a fun game, but it didn't get a good release from a criticisms of sexist, seriously, its just a game for everyone, not an objectifying harem girl from big boys you mindless SJWs! I mean seriously, there's no reason to complaining that "Itz Tooh Sexay four Kidz!!!". I hate it!

*ahem* Sorry for my outburst. Anyway, not only it didn't do well for the release, its also mention to be the final game of GBC, since Nintendo was focused on GameBoy Advanced. Despite that, the game became a cult favorite for the fans, which the company Wayforward Technologies made three more games of Shantae and they went pretty good when they came out.

But there's one game that it came out last year that Anthony actually beat this game for a week before New Year.

Shantae Half Genie Hero is a 2016 game that was developed and published by Wayforward Technologies (And Marvelous USA for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Wii U.). This game was announced in 2013 before the release of "Shantae and the pirate's curse", the creator of Shantae Matt Bozon had a plan for the forth game, but rather working together, they decided to making a crowdfunding on Kickstarter.com. They wanted to reach the goal of 400,000$ for their game, and it was successful that it got doubled with more than 800,000$. When their crowdfunding is done, they kept going their Paypal donation for the backers until December 2014. They wanted to release it on October of the same year, but got delayed for not only need more money from backers, but also upgrade and even fixing from the bugs, until they finished the development in November 2016 and finally released it on December of the same year.

So, this makes me asked a question, how did it succeed than Mighty No. 9?

Lets find out.

For the gameplay, its a same thing from the previous game, with a genre of "Metroidvania" with save points and some secret room to achieve. As Shantae, her main attack is her ponytail as a whip. I find it pretty strange for her attack, i wouldn't do that for my own hair. Anyway, aside that, you can also using magic like fire, spinning damage, bubble shield and thunder cloud. But you have to buy them before you get them and they're limited that you can recharge your energy with a magic potion.
Speaking of magic, as Shantae who's a half genie, she can transform into animal and mythical creatures by doing belly dancing. While you're in belly dancing, you can select by using a D-pad, but it can change for about 2 seconds if you wanna transform or even using something specials like destroy everything or even turning into a tree for free oranges...?  Thats, weird...
When you're in animals, you may or may not attack, each of them as special abilities, like a monkey can do a side dash to the wall, a mermaid can shoot bubbles in water and an elephant can stomp on the ground (Specifically a flower.).
In shop, aside of magics you can buy, you can buy some upgrades for magics and even the hit points for extra damage for her hair whip and even more defense for your health, like a bikini armor for more defense. That may sounds... questionable, i don't know if il be comfortable to wear it, either that or Anthony will be crazy to see me wearing it, but i digress...  But the cool thing about shopping, there's a humanoid snake named Tuki who appeared in various location in the level map. I like the concept of shopping in the middle of the level.

Despite of "Metroidvania", as always, there's a platform, which its not easy for your start with a lower health (Unless you're lucky to find more health holder to get extra health points.), mainly because there's plenty of enemies stand in front of you for shooting or something after you, but at least you can't jump back if you get hit. But if you fell down to miss a platform, you gotta start over where you left off. You better transform as a bat that you'll be safe without falling. I know its challenging, but man, im not an expert gamer for a platform. As for the boss fights, they're pretty cool. At first, i though it will be hard to beat, but it turns out if you're lucky to find a pattern to beat it, like in the first boss of "Tinkerslug", you have to beat it by hit the bell, throws a burning barrel to knocking it down and hit it by tapping a button for a million times. Like i said, it starts a bit hard, until you'll find a pattern. But some boss that its way too easy, like where you confronting at Ammo Baron that he uses a flying carpet for his power along with his soldiers, the only way to beat it, its to use you spinning weapon attack at him and his soldiers non-stop, despite you take a damage that you better drink a potion to not only health, but more magic meter.

But unlike previous Shantae games, this one had some lacklusters, there's no map system where you are and there's no way to going back after saving your data for a checkpoint. So this game feels a bit like Super Mario Bros 3, well almost. They could've let us do in freedom in the levels to find some secrets.

In the hub of Scuttle Town, you can walking around talking people and sometimes breaking vases to earning more gems to buy something in shop. There's a bath house that if you're finished in level story, you better take a break to regenerate your health and magic then save your data. If you wanna go to select the location, you better go to Sky's house for for a flight with his big bird name Wrench (I mean jeez, i never seen how it grew bigger out of nowhere.). Finally there's a art gallery that you have to find some secret room to get any keys to unlock the door to see a concept and some fan arts from backers. Personally, i like to see some concepts that they could've been in the game. Unless you counted Shantae's succubus that got removed from the final release. I guess it will be a bit creepy to see her manipulating some boy or something.

For the story, i find it pretty fascinating at the start. It started where Shantae woke up from mysterious voice, not until she meet a spirit known as "Messenger" that she wants to know about her lost mother, Even though it didn't happen until later or not. Then it later focus where Shantae and her uncle Mimic have a blueprint for the project. But not before it was taken by Risky Boots that she has to fight back, until she gets it back. So its up to her that she has to fins some pieces from her uncle's building plan. Although its a bit similar from the first game, but different. So we not sure if the blueprint is gonna be good or bad from Risky.
But the one thing that i don't like, its the subplot where she got fired from the mayor Scuttlebutt that she'll be replaced by newcomer named Holly Lingerbean. But it turns out she's not a half-genie, but a memory vampire thing that she took all of Shantae's friends's memory to make them amnesia. Its cool, but does this has to do with the main plot?  No, its just nothing but a filler that we though its gonna be Shantae's new nemesis. Tak about a waste of potential with that evil girl. And yes, i am aware it was a founded pick during Kickstarter.

And the final act, it went shocking that i've ever seen. But i don't wanna talk about for spoilers. Either way, i find the story is pretty good, but its not that perfect from a filler. Not to mention, the dialogue in this game is well-written with good hints to find in the level and some jokes that i giggled.

About the graphic and the music. I find the graphic is wonderful and pretty cute design. Even though we like sprites, but this one has a good artwork what they done. Its colorful, cute and amazing background. But other times if you completed the level story, when you get back to the location say in the desert, the background and the sky got disappeared. I don't know how, so i hope they'll fix it with patch. And for the music, it was pretty good to listen, especially the signature song "Dance through the danger", i guess i like to thanks to Virt for interesting song and Cristina Vee for beautiful signing. Speaking of her, she did play as out titular character, well just a bit. and yes, there's even a voice acting plan during a crowdfunding, which i wish if it has it.

And finally if you're asking me about something included in the game, well when i heard, the game will let you play as Risky Boots, which she's going to have a similar control from "Shantae and the pirate's curse", using guns, her hat for a parachute, charging sword and summoning Tinkerbat for the attack. Aside of Shantae's nemesis, it will also let you play has Shantae's NPC, Bolo, a man with  his ball-in-chain, despite he's a creep for girls, Sky who can summon birds and Rottytops for her gameplay style of  feeding and self-dismemberment. I don't know if they will be in the game, but only Wayforward will tell.

So, what do i think about this game?
Well, i find it pretty good game, with fun gameplay, good story, likable characters (Minus Holly and Scuttlebutt.), cute graphic, great music and...  Its no wonder why this game was successful than Mighty No. 9. Even though it has some issues like a filler, the desert background and some lack of map system, but it still fun.  This is a game that i like it when Anthony showed me, you should give a try.

So il give it to 8/10.

So, i guess im done with a game review. Im sure Anthony will be happy for my opinion. If you guys like to know your opinion or some request, send me a comment bellow.

So thank you for reading and see you next review, peace.

Movie review: The Lego Batman Movie

*In dark night in Montreal, Anthony (me) is running around in the city to find something if its a criminal. Once he goes to an alleyway, he sees Batman, who's waiting for him*

Anthony: *approaching him* Batman...  I know what you doing, you want me to rewatch Batman V Superman since you're unappreciated my criticism?

Batman: No...

Anthony: Why not?

Batman: I've got another one for you, but its a spin-off.

Anthony: Of Batman V Superma--

Batman: NO!!! Its not Suicide Squad...!! Its this! *throws an envelop at him*

Anthony: *catches it* Ok...? *opens it that its a ticket to "The Lego Batman Movie".* Hm, Batman gets his own spin-off in Lego universe film.

Batman: So long... *grabs his grappling hook and jumps away*

Anthony: Wait!  *sigh* Oh well, i guess i gotta talk about it. 



Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.

Well, im finally ready to talking about the movie of 2017, after two movies of last year that i'd rather buy the DVDs of them. Anyway, lets getting started for my main subject of 2017.

In 2014, i watched "The Lego Movie", i'd say this movie is fun and entertaining. It has great animation for a similar stop-motion in CGI, the characters are fun and the story is rather good. Ever since it was successful, they decided to cash in to make a movie, which i though its gonna be a sequel, but they're going to a spin-off with The Dark Knight himself, Batman.

"The Lego Batman Movie" is a 2017 animated film that was directed, Chris McKay and produced by Dan Lin, Roy Lee and two directors of their previous film, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and finally written by Seth Grahame-Smith. This is the film that im curious about the spin-off featuring Batman from "The Lego Movie" that i expect to see him confronting against The Joker and other villains in Gotham with his master building mind. Well, i was sorta right when i watched it.

So, with all that said, will The Dark Knight rises for a good Lego Spin-off, is this film is not as "Everything is Awesome!".

Well, lets find out.

The Story
It begins as usual, The Joker along with his fellow villains is going to steal a powerful weapon to taking over Gotham City. But then, Batman come in to stop him. But he ended up taking to seriously that he's sick and tired of arch-rivalry by hating The Joker that he want to banishing him to the other dimension called "Phantom Zone". So its up to Batman to make his decision to end The Joker or perhaps apologizing him...?

Unlike The Lego Movie that it has an interesting story i ever watched, here, this is rather the strange. Im not saying is awful, but i find it to be pretty weak than the previous film. I mean, Batman wants to banish The Joker to the other world for hurting an arch-rivalry? Im not sure that i considered an interesting concept, i mean we love the battle between Batman and The Joker, but at least there's some that are great like Tim Burton's Batman or even Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight. Aside that, there's even a subplot where Batman has his sidekick with Dick Grayson as Robin, which they'll considered a family to dedicated to Bruce Wayne's dead parents, and even where Barbara Gordon become a new commissioner after his father and join with Batman. I can say the subplot is more interesting with a main plot, even though the downside is that Batman prefers to working on his own, but il get to that later about "The characters".

The story is rather weak that i considered, but the subplot is much better like the comic that we all know.

The animation
Since this a spin-off of "The Lego Movie", the animation is once again, pretty great. They used the same stop-motion effect on CGI with a tricky ways, especially the minifigures limbs, how they moves and more. Not to mention, the facial animation looks pretty cool and sometimes funny. The background in this movie looks fantastic like before, its almost like they bought a lot of Lego Product to build a big city. Even though this is a CGI movie, if they'll do this real life, it will be a decade of development of realistic stop-motion. As for the gags, its likely average, some of them is worked, but some thats easily hard to work or perhaps a bit immature. But sometimes in the first act, it started to get strangely quiet that one example is that Batman is doing his business all alone and quiet. I don't why did they put that in the movie, its just a waste. Other time they made a Batman reference like from previous films if you've seen or not, not sure why.
There's not much else to say, its pretty much as another great animation since before, well except for one filler scene.

The characters
There's a lot of characters like in the first movie, well a bit less characters from other cultures. Not only that, but also a multiple of villains that some we love, but some that are forgettable like in the comic.

First is Batman himself, or Bruce Wayne (voiced by Will Arnett). He's best know as a dark and serious hero in Gotham to fight the bad guys over the decades. In this movie, he's more likely portrayed as a selfish hero who's focus on his own business to fight the bad guys and rather rude to his partners or even The Joker. In the previous film, he's much as nicer and funny, an ex-girlfriend of Wildstyle and at least he's likable. In this movie, he's just flat out rude that he's just ended up being unlikable. I mean, i know its all because of his vengeance of his dead parents, but don't take it too seriously for his portrayal. Even though Will did a nice job for his voice acting role.

Next we have Dick Grayson aka Robin (voiced by Michael Cera). He's much like in the comic, a young sidekick of Batman that he likes to working with him for a help. The strange thing about him is that he called Batman as his father (Which its because he also lost his family?) and speaking in other languages, thats a strange development of Robin, but ok?  Not to mention, he wears his glasses and wearing his old fashion outfit like in the old comic, which he's little bit similar to Carrie Kelly's female Robin. And this is the second time that i have Michael Cera since "Sausage Party", but i think Cera did a nice work of his role.

On third we have Barbara Gordon (voiced by Rosario Dawson). She's going to be a replacement of his father for his old age, which im ok for that. She's pretty much as...   Well, Barbara Gordon, who works as a hero in Gotham to dealing bad guys along with Batman. Even though she's maybe attractive at Batman ever since he sees her. But i was disappointed that she could've wear her Bat-outfit to join with Batman and Robin, but i won't tell when she'll wear it in the first place, since we see her as Batgirl in the poster, kinda feels like a false advertisement that we want to see...  Although still, i think Rosario did a decent job as Barbara.

And finally there's The Joker (voiced by Zach Galifianakis). Now its not easy to tell who's the better voice acting role of The Joker, which we all know with Mark Hamill's role in Bruce Timm's Batman animated show that we all know and love. So for Zack's role, he's not bad, i guess its better than Jared Letto's role in Suicide Squad. He's known to be cruelty, insane and tricky. In this movie, he's rather portrayed as a sympathetic villain since he's an arch-nemesis of Batman, since The Dark Knight is flat out being a D*** to had enough of him and plan to banish him. Aside that, he looks pretty scary of his face with his sharp teeth, hope you kids will have a good sleep after seeing his creepy face.

There're few other roles like Alfred Pennyworth (voiced by Ralph Fiennes, aka Lord Voldemort from Harry Potter), who's Batman's butler and perhaps his partner and Harley Quinn (voiced by Jenny Slate) who's Joker's henchwoman and...      Well, not much else to say for her.

For the character background, they picked up some Batman villains that we all know like Catwoman, Two-face, Clayface, Mr. Freeze, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, The Penguin and Bane. But they picked some others that we probably don't like such as Polka-Dot man, Clock King, Calendar Man, Kite Man, Condiment King and...  Egghead?

They also picked the hero background like the Justice League, which they appear in Superman's party club, but thats only part they appeared and never seen ever again. Such a shame.

As for the other characters like from other cultures? Well, i won't tell it for spoilers.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, The Lego Batman Movie is just rather my disappointed start of 2017 movie. Although the animation looks amazing, the characters are rather bellow average, which some of them that i like, such as Barbara herself or even Robin, but others are falls-flat like Batman himself for his selfish business. And the story is probably the weakest for the Lego Spin-off film, but the subplot is rather interesting with sidekicks join with Batman. Its not as awesome than The Lego Movie, but i can say its rather average. If you like Lego or Batman, this one is for you. If not, well im pretty sure you should watch either "The Lego Movie", or maybe some live action Batman movies.

Il rate this movie 6/10. Its just a bellow average movie.

Well, Batman could've give me something good of his film, but i guess its better than Batman V Superman.

Anyway, so this ends of my movie review, if you have your opinion of any suggestion, let me know at the comment bellow.

Thanks for reading and im Anthony, signing out.

*end of review*

Anthony: *walks out of his home* Um, Batman? I finished my opinion of your movie...! Batman? *looks around that it doesn't respond* Bat-- *as he walks, he sees two doors of decision, the left one is for Nintendo Switch and the right one is "Logan" movie (Which they'll coming out the same day, March 3rd.).* Two doors? Huh, im pretty sure they'll coming out the same day or something, but which door shall i pick...?

To be continued...

(And yes, i want to get Nintendo Switch in early March, but i need more money to get it that it cost 400$. Donate me, please???)

Movie review: Sing

*in the theater in Montreal*

Clumpido (My OC): *sings "Cocaine" by Eric Clapton*

Anthony (me): Ok ok, stop sir.

Clumpido: *stops* Ok...?

Anthony: Sir, i hate to tell you that your signing performance is incredibly cringy. Your voice is cracking up that you need to practice your tone. Its almost like you practice yourself for like one week or something.

Clumpido: But- But i... I trained it for--

Anthony: Get out.

Clumpido: *cries like a girl and walks away*

Anthony: Oh boy... Lets get a break time.




Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review. 

You know, singing a song is a level for meaning or for entertaining. We always want something that is original, a cover and perhaps a parody for fun. I like sing a song, especially doing a karaoke in my old secondary school. I sang with my fav song in my list like "Owner of the lonely hearts", "Fragile Birds" and "Conqueror".

So today, im gonna talk about a film that has about signing competition, with anthro animals... In last year...

"Sing" is a 2016 animated film that was written/directed by Garth Jennings and produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy. Not to mention, this is gonna be my first time that i review an animated film of "Illumination Entertainment". Its an animated company who's best known with Despicable Me movies (Especially they made a third one that it will coming out this year, 2017.). and as i promise, this will be my last film of 2016, i mean i know i gotta watch a film of 2017.

So, with all that said, will this movie will be like my new honorable mention of my movies of 2016, or is this film that i get booed by the crowds?

Lets find out.

The story
It begins in the past, a koala business man name Buster Moon was fascinated with musical along with his past father. As he grew up, he was thinking for his plan in his theater, he decides to making a singing competition with big price of 100,000$. But not before he and his assistant name Ms. Crawly accidentally turned a fan to fly their promotion papers away in the town for making a "spread the word". After that, everyone in the town was participating in the theater like crazy. So Buster has to find the way to make his singing competition something easy after he nominated some competitors and probably find something for the expensive price.

Though i gotta say, i find it an interesting concept in the movie. Its almost like what if Illumination Entertainment bring Zootopia (For an Anthropomorphic characters, but more animals.) and American Idols (Without Simon Cowell) in the blender. Even though its not easy to make more money for the theater. But the downside of the story is that it kinda mixed up for the lack of focus. Mainly because it focuses with some competitors, like where Johnny has to moving away for his singing, despite he has his father who's a criminal, Ash had a complicated relationship with Lance, Meena wanted to sing, but stuck in stage fright or even a D***head mouse name Mike who's trying cheat his competition to make money on his own. I know its because we want a character development or even their struggling for the competition that what we like find out.
The story is interesting, but rather above average for the lack of focus from plenty of subplots with competitors.

The animation
Like i said, this is the first time that i watched animated film by Illumination Entertainment. The animation looks pretty cool. Its colorful, nice background and interesting design. Again, its like Illumination Entertainment version of Zootopia with the character designs of similar size like in real life animals, but unlike Zootopia that Disney picked some animals based on the Zoo, in "Sing, they picked almost every animals, because why the heck not. Although the texture and the quality looks pretty cool looking, but not as perfect quality than Zootopia, but still it looks pretty cool. As for the animation, i find it pretty entertaining for the dancing, playing music or singing, well unlike the rabbits with "Anaconda", which its rather not a good idea for kids. As for the gags, well its more likely 75%, which i did laugh almost everything, but some jokes that i find it immature like one of buffalo's character with a fart joke or even almost killing a snail character that made me feel cringy.
The animation looks impressive, cute and entertaining, but it can be a little bit immature for some moments for a kids movie.

The characters
As a said before, this movie focus with various characters for the competition. And like the 2016's The Jungle Book, it feature an all-star casts.

First, we have Buster Moon (voiced by Matthew McConaughey), I find him to be an interesting character for his optimistic personality. Even though he's taking too far for his competition for his plan of price or competitors. Its understandable that he cares about songs for his passed father, but its rather risky. But to be fair, Matthew did an interesting role as a business koala to gaining mojo of his theater.

Now lets get to the competitors, first, we have Rosita (voiced by Reese Witherspoon), i can say that she can be my favorite character in the movie. Although she struggles to focus on her own singing rather than being a mother that she's teamed up with Gunter (voiced by Nick Kroll). As for Gunter, although he's more likely "Meh" character, despite he likes to be with Rosita for a contest. Even though she did get shined up for her own life.

Second, is Johnny (voiced by Taron Egerton), he's also my fav in the movie. Its not easy to feel sorry for him, since he's focus on his sing competition, rather than working with his father for a criminal charges. Also, he has an amazing voice for his signing with his piano. Well done, Taron.

Third, we have Mike (voiced by Seth MacFarlen), i have nothing against Seth, he's a great guy that he created his best shows like "Family Guy" and "American Dad". But his role as Mike is easily my least favorite. Due to the fact he's portrayed as an arrogant mouse to be a winner that he earned money, despite he cheated his way. What a freakin douchebag. But still, Seth did a nice work of his role.

Forth, its Ash (voiced by... Scarlett Johansson, aka Black Widow? Well, thats an unexpected pick.), she's another sympathetic character. But this time, she had an issue with Lance, since they're the punk rocker. I mean we understand that if we had a relationship, its not easy to make of focus which music genre that we like to play. This is the third time that i have Scarlett Johansson in 2016. Well, almost. But still, she's always doing impressive role that she's my fav actress.

Finally there's Meena (voiced by real singer Tori Kelly), Once again, she's a character that its not easy for her, mainly because despite she has a beautiful voice for singing, but complicated because she has a stage fright. We know that its easy e like to doing an effort sing, despite of we have a fear of stage. But she did get shined up later in the movie (But i won't tell movie, because of spoiler. And despite she has less screen time.). And good lord, Tori has a beautiful singing voice that i was nearly going to cry. (Well, im not really crying. ^^;)

There are few characters in the movie, like Ms. Crawly (Voiced by... Garth Jennings himself? Huh, thats a strange choice.) who's an elder assistant of Buster and Eddie Noodleman (voiced by John C. Reilly) who's Buster's rich partner, but even though he's richest, but he wanted to focus on independent than greed.

Although the characters that im surprised that i liked them (Minus some that i don't like, such as Mike.), but sometimes some of them didn't get more screen time what we want. Then again, the movie have a lack of focus which character what we like to see. And i am very surprised that they did an impressive role and singing.

And speaking of singing, this movie has over 85 songs that we all known that we heard on radio, Youtube or other apps. Unless you counted one new original song by not only Ariana Grande, but also a legendary songwriter/singer Stevie Wonder. Some songs has a good pick that we like to listen we can easily recognize.

And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, sing is a pretty good film of Illumination Entertainment. With entertaining animation, cool designs and some fun characters. Although we like some characters, but the story is rather average, i liked the concept sure, but the focus that its not easy to tell what are we like to see, Buster's plan or the competitors practice for their winning? But who cares. Some say its a bit similar to "Cats don't dance", which i understand for a similar concept, but i personally think that i like "Sing", its one of the film that will be like my honorable mention for my 2016 movie list, but i guess it will be like my new honorable mention of movies in 2017 along with "The founder". If you like singing a song or fan of Despicable Me movies, this one is for you, i recommend to watch it.

Il rate this movie, 8/10.

So this ends of my movie review, if you have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know in the comment bellow.

Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, sign-- *look at the window* Hm? What is this? *walks out of a theater that there's a Bat signal in the sky* Oh...

What will Anthony's gonna do when he witness a bat signal, is this gonna be he next movie review of 2017?

Tune it next time on same Bat Time, same Bat Channel...!