The collected works of ScottyB

We all know the format. The logic and the frustration.

Most of us have played a Lemmings game at some point in time (probably ~10 years ago most likely) but like many proven formats, it just won’t die.

And why would we want it to when its still alive, well, kicking and tormenting minds all over the globe?

Team17 (the creators of the fabled, much critically acclaimed ‘Worms’ series) got their hands on the rights to make this Playstation 3 version of the Lemmings saga. And in typical Team 17 fashion, they’ve taken it to the next level by cuteifying (Yup, that’s a made up word and I don’t care because its all I can think of that accurately describes this) up the graphics and adding a whole new level of complication to the age-old formula.

Now you can scroll left, right, up and down. The stages are sometimes huge, sprawling over many stories and wildly variable landscapes. In fact, if you didn’t know better, you’d almost say you were indeed playing Worms.

It has all the hallmarks of the original titles though. You’ll get stumped, you’ll reset the level numerous times and above all, you’ll enjoy it.

Not bad for $13.45 in the Playstation Store.

Link: Team17

I got about Big W today in search of the DVD sales.

And in doing so, I happened upon both Alien and Aliens in the bargain bin, $12.87 each, both 2-disc ‘Definitive Editions’, digitally remastered and packed with bonus features, all in a cool cardboard cover.

So I walked out with two new DVD’s.

Ironically, it had only been this week that I had been debating buying the Quadrilogy pack which was on sale at Video Ezy - but then these special editions are both remastered and cheaper. Sometimes you get lucky.

It’s been years since I’ve seen the original Alien movie.

As a kid, I remember staying up and watching it on late-night television. Now, I never used to get really scared watching movies, but Alien was right up there with delivering scares and that sci-fi genre format that I loved so much as a youngster.

Watching it today, you realise how dated things become. I know, it was made in 1979, so at 28 years old (older than me!), you have to give it some credit - much like me, its no spring chicken in modernism that’s for sure.

They all run these whiz-bang ‘computers’ which is basically colours and numbers on a DOS-looking screen. And the Alien is sooooo much a ‘puppet on a string/stick’ that its actually quite hilarious at times.

Nonetheless, it is this return to the real quality sci-fi that makes you appreciate both how great the vision was back then and how far we’ve come today. Our expectations have surely lifted that’s for sure. In fact, I admire the producers, directors, artisans, modellers, CGI dudes, prosthetics etc. that go into films these days. It must be so difficult to deliver convincing, powerful images that won’t age like milk.

Hopefully they release 3 and Resurrection in this ‘Definitive Edition’ format. Looking forward to watching the series through again soon.