Happy Halloween from Free Swim

Happy Halloween kids!

Hope you hit all the right houses for the good stuff, and remember to egg the ones that give lame stuff like loose change or friggen dental floss (yeah I got that once).

And remember to watch The Walking Dead on AMC tonight!

The Walking Dead: Episode 1 Days gone by Sneek Peek

The Premiere of AMC's new series the Walking Dead is this Sunday Oct 31st (Halloween)! Wanna see the first 5 mins? Of course you do!
This show is gonna be awesome, don't believe me? Check out the video below courtesy of OS. For more on the show shuffle on over to http://www.amctv.com/originals/The-Walking-Dead/

Yoshi: An Italian plumber's best friend....or abused pet?

The ASPCA is investigating a recently reported report of animal abuse. The report details years of abuse to a yet to be revealed reptile by an Italian man who poses as a plumber and stalks wealthy Caucasian blond's of aristocracy.
The report also claims the perp may have an accomplice who may be related.

Daft Punk Derezzed Music Video

Check out the video for one of the songs from the Tron Legacy sound track by Daft Punk. The music genre is perfect for the movie in my opinion and the video has some fresh footage too!

Transformers: DotM teaser poster

So here's the first peice of media for the upcoming Transformers movie Dark of the Moon....first the sub title is garbage, second if rumors are true and the main protagonist is Shockwave they have completely blown it, third, this poster SUCKS! Is that the Dark Knight? Is it Batwave? Is that Shockman?

It's certainly NOT Shockwave!

Really Bay? Really? The first movie was pretty good, the second was such a waste of time and money, and the third has only one way to go, but from this shit poster and interwebs rumors I'm not interested at all! Maybe the Robotech (Macross lite) live action movie can do it right...but I have no faith in that one either.

Tron Legacy One Sheet

And here's the Tron Legacy one sheet!

Ya know what I see? Sequels, I see cyber sex, I see tron babies. I see Disney's Neo or perhaps Anakin and Padme....This is my prediction!

Come December 17th we will see, I am still on the fence with this one...it has potential.

TGS 10: Final Fantasy Fabula Nova Crystallis Trailer

Better late than never I suppose, below is the TGS2010 trailer for the Fabula Nova Crystallis and we get a treat in the form of some FFVSXIII actual gameplay video! From the bits that are revealed it looks a bit like Fallout Fantasy...

Schwarzenegger v. EMA (originally VSDA v. Schwarzenegger )

http://www.mediacoalition.org/VSDA-v.-Schwarzenegger-

TGS10 CastleVania: Lords of Shadow Trailer

I reserved CastleVania: Lords of Shadow back when it was first announced. And after seeing the trailer below I am all in, this very well may be the CastleVania I've been waiting for Since Symphony of the Night! Finally a badass Vamp Hunter that LOOKS like a Belmont! I'm sorry but Leon Belmont was too much of a pretty boy, Mathias would've choked him with his own whip! Any way enough talk check out Konami's sick ass trailer below from TGS10!
Check out Konami's official site @ http://www.konami.jp/castlevania/jp/?ref=tgs

Retro Review: Super Castlevania IV

Not to be 1 up'd by his great great grand papy Trevor, Simon Belmont return's for Konami's first CastleVania in the 16 bit era.

According to the games instruction manual; Once every one-hundred years, there comes a time when the power of good is weakened, and men with evil in their hearts pray for the resurrection of the Prince of Darkness. And with each resurrection, his evil power grows stronger.

So are we to believe a hundred years have passed since Simon Belmont defeated Dracula in the original Castlevania? That is what the US instruction manual would have you believe;

It is time once again for Simon Belmont to call forth the powers of good to aid him in his battle. Armed with his mystical whip, his courage and the centuries-old knowledge of Belmont family training, he sets forth on his mission .

But Super Castlevania IV isn't actually part of the chronology it's a remake of the original in glorious 16 bit graphics, So it should've really been titled Super Castlevania. The game isn't a straight up remake either, it retains the basic platforming game play but it's really more of a reboot, as the game doesn't recreate the original stage for stage with a 16 bit coat of paint.

OK nitpicking aside, graphically Super Castlevania IV was an enormous improvement over it's predecessors and the audio soundtrack truly complimented the atmosphere of the game with it's remixed tracks and new additions.
The frame rate was also so smooth compared to it's 8 bit versions, Simon's animations for walking jumping and whipping were significantly more detailed and fluid. Simon also learned some new techniques with the whip, now you could control the whip in 8 different directions which would come in handy with another new game play addition, using the whip to swing across sections of the stage! That was a fun and well utilized throughout the game, it wasn't just a gimmick used a few times. Simon could also hold out his arm and let the whip dangle and/or "jiggle it".
The stages of Super CastleVania IV is where this game really shines, it expands on the basic stages of the original with altering the feel so much that it no longer played like it's 8 bit predecessors. My favorite stage was the 9th the Treasury, every aspect from the stages soundtrack to the ambient effects to the boss stood out, the stage was beautiful and the effects while battling the Gem Bat boss were a nice little touch.
Super CastleVania IV was one of the systems best titles.
9/10