Along the trails of the West (Comics)

"Lungo i sentieri del West" - copyright: Sergio Bonelli Editore. Written by Antonio Segura and art by José Ortiz.

There are many countries that are well-known for some particular stuff. For example, when you think about soccer, it probably reminds you about Brazil. If you think about sushi, you possibly also think about Japan. And if you think about deserts, it reminds you of the Egypt. Finally, if you think about western stories, what comes to your head? Was it “United States”? Actually, the western stories remind me of Italy.

Well, at least in the comic’s world, my relation is completely correct. The Italian Sergio Bonelli Editore is the best western comic producer, where you can find stories worthy of the classical American bang-bang. And the name responsible for the success is basically one: Tex Willer. Created by Bonelli and Gallepini, Tex is icon for the western comics as Superman is for the superhero comics.

Tex Willer riding a horse

In continuous publication since its creation, in 1948, Tex’s stories are famous in many countries, being considered the best of its segment. Greece, Turkey, Spain, Brazil, and, obviously, Italia, are some examples of where Bonelli comics, that has many others interesting characters and stories besides Tex, is a reference of quality and fun.

Tex 500 cover (from left to right): Kit Willer (Tex's Son), Tiger Jack (Navajo Warrior), Tex Willer, Kit Carson (old Tex's friend)

In my opinion, one of the best Tex stories is “Lungo i sentieri del West”, in the original, or something like “Along the trails of the west”. First published on the volume Maxi Tex #13, in October 2009, this 324 pages story is full of everything that a great western story must have: stagecoach chases, desert travels, Indians wrath against some corrupted palefaces, quick draw duels, and more.

Maxi Tex #13 cover

The main plot of the story is a western classic: after many crimes committed by a group of outlaws, Tex, a ranger and a justice man, is on their trail to bring justice to their victims. However, the bandits do not give up, which leads to a chase across the west American territory. It is the Bonelli Editore quality standard in its highest level.

Stagecoach chase

During the travel, Tex helps a lot of people along the way, many of them victims of the outlaws. He faces dangers like tornados, cheetahs, and snowstorms. And if at first this looks too fantastic for a western comic, you better read it for yourself. The writer Antonio Segura created the adventure plot with passion, mixing action, drama, and thriller moments in a perfect balance. The story follows an exciting rhythm, but without forgetting the important details and the characters developments.

Tex and Carson in a saloon gun battle

The story “Lungo i sentieri del West” also has a great artwork. José Ortiz style is absolutely amazing, making the entire action look really credible and intense. You can almost feel thirsty in the desert, of feel nervous during a gunfight. As I said before, the story goes along the American territory, which makes you face different environments, all of them brilliantly designed.

From sandstorms to icy mountains

It is interesting to see that the Ranger meets many friends during the story. The stories of the Tex Willer universe are all connected (with a few exceptions). So, it is natural to see him talking about past adventures, or meeting with people met in previous stories. If you’re a regular reader, these facts are like funny memories; if it is your first story, these moments make you feel like “wow, this is not a simple cowboy story”, making you feel how depth is Tex fictional universe.

"In that same time at Prescott...", as a classic old west town

During the story, there are some plot twists that leave the chase in the background. However, this is not a bad thing, as these events take the reader to new and exciting situations. For example, there is a moment when Tex helps some traveler families to pass through a Ute Indian reservation. Tex is also the Chief of the Navajos (I will not tell how this happened, but if you did not know it, I suggest you to look for this great story in past Tex comics), a Native American tribe of the United States, and it is interesting to see how he deals with this dual responsibility: help the lost travelers, but not harm the Utes territorial rights.

Tex needs to show his abilities in order to survive an Indian fight challenge

As good as any western movie of John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, “Lungo i sentieri del West” is a perfect story for the genre fans. A great adventure, that takes you to shootouts and deserts, saloons and long horse ridings, in the company of Tex Willer. A tough but noble man, who does everything to bring justice against the outlaws, regardless their color, properties or native land. A complete western adventure, full of fun for everybody who likes a thrilling story.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64)

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - copyright: Nintendo.

Any entertainment media has its eternal classics. Masterpieces that are reference in their area, becoming obligatory for anyone interested in that media. If you are a movie maniac, you probably watched and are a fan of Marty and Doc Brown. If you are addicted for series, you certainly were amazed by Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. If you are a bit (or a lot) otaku, you most likely is a follower of the Yorozuya.

And, at last but not at least, if you a hardcore gamer, you surely played and loved one of the best games of all time: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Originally a Nintendo 64 exclusive, launched in 1998, nowadays you can find it via Virtual Console or in a renewed Nintendo 3DS version.

The cartridge box of Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time is present in all the lists and ranks of the best games. The reason of being absolutely popular and critical acclaimed is a perfect amalgam of elements: fascinating story, great graphics, solid gameplay, and amazing sound. It’s possible to see that (almost) every detail of this Zelda were carefully refined, creating a very credible in-game atmosphere. And if we consider when the game was launched, it is easier to recognize why this Zelda title is so famous and prized.

The Kokiri Village is where the adventure begins

The story is very interesting and has some great twists, worthy of a book series or even a movie. It starts with Navi, the fairy, awakening a child called Link in the Kokiri Forest. The boy and the fairy travels through the kingdom Hyrule, collecting Spiritual Stones in order to help Princess Zelda. She wants to stop Ganondorf, the king of the Gerudo, who aims to acquire a holy relic called Triforce.

Link meets Ganondorf, the game final boss

There is a key moment in the story, when Link is able to get the legendary Master Sword. Doing it, the hero travels seven years to the future. Although everything looks familiar in some way, almost everything has become different or destroyed, thanks to Ganondorf acts during the seven years. Link, now the Hero of Time, must defeat the villain, traveling to different locations between the eras and helping the sacred sages, in order to save the world.

Link removing the Master Sword from the pedestal in the Temple of Time

Obviously, there are many things that happen during the story. Link meets many different people, such as the Gorons and the Zoras, and also amazing locations, such as the Desert of Colossus and the Death Mountain. Besides the main plot, there are plenty side missions, which allow you to find and collect things like a stone-speaking mask, ice arrows, Gold Skultulas (one hundred of them), and time travels songs.

Epona is your faithful companion in the journey (her side-quest is virtually obligatory)

Ah, the songs. Ocarina of Time is also composed of amazing songs and melodies. Using an ocarina, a peculiar type of flute, Link (and the player) can perform many different songs in the game. They are not only great to listen, but also keys to solve puzzles and discover secrets. Besides that, the game has just a few dubbed words (unfortunately, Navi has one of them), however the dungeons songs and the sound effects are enough to make every moment epic.

Adult Link learning a new song (from a man that learned it from Young Link)

The graphics may be a little “rough” nowadays, but even now they are convincing. Most textures are very realistic, with different great environments areas, from deserts and icebergs, to castles and meadows. The characters are lovely, both friends and foes. The gameplay is very solid, with many moves (as backflips and rolls), weapons (as a boomerang and a hammer), and items (as masks and bugs) available to the player. As I said before, everything is well connected, with almost perfect balance between every part of the game system.

There are a lot of items to collect (including a blue chicken Cojiro...)

In my opinion, Ocarina of Time has no real cons. There are only a few minor problems, almost insignificant compared to the game greatness. Such as: your fairy Navi can be annoying sometimes, interrupting your exploration; there are some parts of the game that you may find yourself lost, mostly between dungeons; some tasks and dungeons are really challenging, requiring high precision and smartness, as the (in)famous Water Temple (I used a piece of paper in order to write the map details, and don’t get lost in this dungeon).

And besides the Water Temple itself, there is Dark Link. Probably the most difficult combat of the game

However, in order to complete the title, you will have to face these difficulties. After playing many times, I can say that the best advice to beat them, and the game itself, is composed of three simple actions: talk to everybody, explore everywhere, and think about everything. You must talk to all the NPC’s to receive tips and hints, obligatory to complete the game missions. You also must explore all the locations, in order to find secrets and many necessary items to advance the story.

The Ocarina of Time, a mystical instrument that helps you to progress in the game (and lends it its title)

Finally, you must think about everything inside Ocarina of Time. Understand its mechanics is essential to progress through the game. For example, if you find a spider web blocking a door, and you cannot cut it, just think for a moment: what can I do to remove it? If you look around, there is a lit torch. Maybe you can use something to bring the flames to the web, and then burn it. This example is a simple one, but it illustrates how the game works. You must always think about what you need to do, and which options you have to use.

From the left to the right: a Deku Scrub, the King of Gorons Darunia, a Zora, and the Kokiri Saria

The best part of Ocarina of Time, for me, is its greatness. Huge dungeons, lots of NPC’s to interact, many secrets hidden in the entire game map… everything in this title is great, both in quantity and, mostly, in quality. As you adventure in the lands of Hyrule, you have the feeling of “how many more things I still have to discover?” And it is not because you are bored with it, but because you do not want this great story to end soon.

The game has a great map, with many amazing places to visit

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. A title that defined many standards in the game industry, as the targeting system for 3D games and the great side-quests, which are not only funny, but also, provide some useful stuff for the game. While you play the game, you find yourself immerse in the culture of Hyrule and its entire people. This title is an eternal classic, and will always remain as one of the best games of all.

Crash Bandicoot: Warped (PS)

Crash Bandicoot: Warped is developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony. "Crash Bandicoot" and related content is owned by Activision. Playstation is trademark of Sony.

“Old, but gold”. This saying may be used in many situations, but there is a world where it fits perfectly: games. The best games are ageless, because which defines a good game is how much fun you can get from it. Of course, graphics, sound, plot, and others characteristics are also important; however, they are nothing if the title is not funny to play.

Every gamer has some great old games as his favorite list. And, among some of my list, there is one called Crash Bandicoot: Warped. Released in 1998 for the Sony Playstation, the title developed by Naughty Dog is the third game of the marsupial series. Third, and probably the best Crash’s title until now, even after many new developers tried to achieve Naughty Dog quality level through the last years.

Crash Bandicoot: Warped box art cover

The game formula is simple. It gets every good point of its predecessors: mechanics, characters, basic level design; and then adds new great stuff, like new environments, original music and sounds, and a lot of exciting and funny challenges. Warped is a perfect example of how to improve a franchise. It is like the previous Crash games, but at the same time, it has much fresh new improvements.

You can select the levels before each boss, entering the Time-Twisted Machine.

Warped plot makes use of the time travels possibilities. After being defeated by Crash in the last game, Doctor Neo-Cortex releases an evil entity called Uka Uka, brother of Crash’s ally Aku Aku. Aiming to find the gems and crystals that Cortex was not able to (in the previous games), Uka Uka recruits Doctor Nefarious Tropy with his Time-Twisted Machine. Now, they will try to get them in the past.

The villains, from the left to the right: Dingodile, Tropy, Cortex, N. Gin. Tiny Tiger. In the top, the leader Uka Uka.

Aku Aku senses the return of his evil brother, and asks to Crash, and his sister Coco Bandicoot, to enter the Time-Twisted Machine. In order to collect the gems and crystals, the siblings must travel through many ages and locations. Crash has the majority of the levels, but Coco has some of the best challenges. The final battle is between Crash and Cortex, alongside Aku Aku versus Uka Uka. But don’t forget: there are always something extra to find in Warped.

Get the yellow clock in order to start a Time Trial Challenge

If you not familiar with a Crash Bandicoot game, don’t worry. Most of the levels follow a simple objective: run with Crash from the beginning to the end of a level, finding the obligatory pink crystal in the way. You will need to defeat enemies, escape from traps, chasms, and many other dangers. You can also get extra lives and Wumpa though the level. Coco’s levels are different, but you also need the pink crystal to beat them. And don’t forget the boss battles, always funny and challenging.

Coco's Jet Ski levels are a great addition to the game

As I said before, Crash’s best adventure seems to have made good use of the fans and critics feedback. Before Warped, some of the cons could be the high difficulty of the first title, the repetitive environments of the second, and the somewhat lack of different gameplay of both games. The launch of the third Bandicoots adventure is nearly perfect. It has the top graphics available in the PlayStation, with many exciting new gameplays, as Coco’s flying and Jet Ski missions, and Crash’s bazooka and motorcycle races.

The bazooka helps you to eliminate enemies and find secrets

The environments are very original and well designed. Using a time-machine, you can travel to different eras and locations, such as the medieval era, future, pre-history, Arabian nights, World War, Piracy era, among others. And the difficult level of Crash Bandicoot: Warped is well balanced. In general, levels are fair, with the boss battles needing more strategy. And, as usual for the series, the backtracking for crystals, gems, secrets paths and levels, and the new time-trial mode, is a great reason to keep playing after defeating Dr. Neo-Cortex.

Crash Bandicoot: Warped is probably one of the best 2.5D games of all time. It is a funny and challenging game, with the perfect difficult level: it is not impossible, but you will have to improve your abilities in every level played, mainly if you want to get all the secrets of the game. With amazing graphics and original level design, great sound effects and music, fascinating characters, and an addictive gameplay, Warped is really “old, but gold”.

Slam Dunk (Manga)

Slam Dunk: copyright Takehiko Inoue/Shueisha

“Slam Dunk”. If you are familiar with basketball, you may know what this expression means. When the player scores putting the ball through the basket, after a jump, with one or both hands, we call this shot “dunk”. And when this shot is performed with high speed, strength and style, we may call it “slam dunk”.

More than an efficient way to score, the slam dunk is able to raise the team and crowd spirits. It’s the shot that defines many of the best basketball players of all time. However, there is one more meaning for “Slam Dunk”: it’s also the name of a Japanese basketball shounen manga. And just as the name suggests, it has a story full of thrills, fun, and great basketball moments.

Slam Dunk is a manga created by Takehiko Inoue, and published in Weekly Shonen Kump from 1990 to 1996. One of the best-selling manga series of all time, it tells the comedy-drama story of the Shohoku High School basketball team. The main character is Hanamichi Sakuragi, a bad boy first year student, who starts to play in order to impress his senpai Haruko Akagi. Her brother is Takenori Akagi, last year student, and captain of the team.

Japanese Slam Dunk #1 tankōbon Cover

Sakuragi knew nothing about basketball at the beginning of the story, so he had to learn everything from the basics. Despite joining the team only for Haruko, after some time he starts to truly like basketball. Akagi, being in his last year at school, wants to lead his team to the top of Japan. After some problems, he, and the team coach Mitsuyoshi Anzai, find in Sakuragi the spirit and potential to make the basketball of the best.

Hanamichi Sakuragi

Besides Sakuragi, the team has another rookie, Kaede Rukawa. Despite being as arrogant as Hanamichi, Rukawa has real talent for basketball. His top abilities make Sakuragi becomes his rival, who thinks he is the best player of the team. And to add some romance in the story, Haruko fall in love with Rukawa, because of his basketball skills; however, Sakuragi’s evolution makes her start to have some doubts about where is her heart.

There is also another last year student, Kiminobu Kogure. He became inspired by Akagi’s will and wants to turn the team a champion as well. As the manga advances, two more key players return to the team. Hasashi Mitsui and Ryota Miyagi, who were involved in some problems two years before the freshmen arrive. Of course, the team has some other players; but these 6 are the core of Slam Dunk, being responsible for the growing of Shohoku basketball team.

Shohoku starting lineup (from the left to right): Rukawa, Sakuragi (yes, new haircut), Mitsui, Miyagi and Akagi. 

The relation of the characters is a great part of the story. Akagi is very responsible, always hard-working to achieve its dreams. Sakuragi is the self-proclaimed “genius”, although his only talent is being stubborn and never give-up, which gives him the capacity of fast learning. Rukawa is the real “genius”, always trying to be the best of all in his selfish way. Mitsui is looking for redemption, and Miyagi is trying to prove that he is part of the team (and also shows himself to Ayako, the team assistant).

From the left to right: Rukawa, Mitisui, Akagi, Miyagi and Sakuragi.

The manga art is a masterpiece itself. Inoue is able to deliver all the emotion of the characters in a brilliantly way, making you feel empathy for their difficulties and triumphs during the series. The drawings are very detailed, with amazing action scenes for shots, tricks, blocks, dunks (obviously), and all the basketball characteristic moves. The manga is full of humor, drama, and action moments, and all this feelings are well illustrated and developed.

Ssakuragi performs a Slam Dunk: Inoue art is amazing

The plot is well build. The entire manga story is about the evolution of the basketball team, and how the people linked to it grow with the challenges and conquests. The series final (without spoilers) is not a “happily ever after”, as we may figure out during the manga development. Reality is a heavy burden with many challenges; however, it makes you grow stronger. Sakuragi and friends face many difficulties in the story, growing in every situation. And the end of Slam Dunk is the major lesson: sometimes, you lose, and others, you win; but you will only win (and enjoy the victory) when you give everything you got.

Shohoku Basketball will face many opponents during the manga

Some people say that moves and shots made by the characters are exaggerated. It’s true that, sometimes, you may think that Shohoku team may be able to face a NBA All-Star Team. But we must not forget that this is fiction story. It would not be fun to see boring matches, with no amazing shots or tricks. Another possible con would be the length of the basketball games. Some take many and many chapters (or volumes), with the last seconds looking like hours. However, everything is done to show the characters feelings and the tension during matches. Actually, you just note that after reading: while you are “inside” the story, everything flows perfectly.

You will become a fan of Slam Dunk characters and story

If you like basketball, this is a must read story. You will find everything there, with a great art, fascinating characters, and an epic plot. If you don’t like basketball (as I did, before start reading), this is your chance to understand this exciting sport, through an incredible story. And, if you don’t like basketball and manga, this is a great option to become a fan of both. Slam Dunk is, at the same time, simple to understand, and deep to hold the reader. An epic story full of emotion, fun, action and drama.

Robotek (Android)

Robotek: copyright Hexage s.r.o.

When I have downloaded Robotek, the game layout almost deceived me. "Never judge a book by its cover" is a saying that goes well in this case. Despite the simple design, the graphics are competent to deliver what the game offers: high level strategy, seasoned with luck and bad luck moves. 

You know those turns of Risk Board Game (that excellent board game, which is better known by the trademark "War"on Brazil) where you create the whole strategy, and has bad luck in all the tosses? Or when you play without logic, but see your luck take care of everything? Or when both come together for a Total Success (or failure)? This unpredictability is the essence of Robotek, making it very addictive.

A Robotek family

The proposal is simple: the machines have taken control over the Earth, and you, human, must defeat them with their own technology. The setting is on the map of the planet, that contains all the stages, classified according to the level of difficulty. Win fights and experience points, improve your robots, and conquer increasingly challenge levels, until the earth is released from the evil control.

The game takes place in turns, where you choose between 3 slot machines. One slot machine allows summon a robot, between tankbots, drones or droids, to protect the central unit; the other slot allows the use of strategic power; and the other offensive attacks. And here is the element explained before: the slot machine choice is yours, but the result is random.

A sweet (and sweat) victory

So, even if you are correctly reading the battle, you must have a little luck to do everything right. And even with the Gladstone Glander’s loved at your side, a good strategy is also essential to ensure victory. Often, you will have to fight against opponents with a higher level, resulting in hard matches. The analysis of future moves is an important requirement, which will make the rise of your machines easier.

Full Luck! Full Power!

Even if sometimes you want to throw the device into the wall (because the bad luck), the weak point of this game really is the presentation. The sounds are just OK, the graphics are enough; but is that feeling “it could be better”. I believe that some more effects would make a more striking and exciting experience. The jokes developed throughout the game could also be a little more explored, even if they are only an extra.

This great game is available for Windows Phone, Android and iOS. It needs very little space for installation, and offers a lot of fun, although sometimes it’s quite frustrated. Try this love and hate relationship in Robotek, and feel like John Connor, after releasing the world of the evil machines rise.