Category: Toys & Games

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Books & Novels Children's Books DC-Related LEGO Toys & Games

LEGO DC SUPER-HEROES HANDBOOK

Written by Scholastic, Inc.

SUMMARY:

Published in 2013, at 109 pages, after a single-page introduction, this paperback has the following sections (each with a Lego character and/or props).

CHAPTER 1: HEROES

Superman (pages 10-13)

Batman (pages 14-17, featuring 4 different Lego Batman figures)

Robin (pages 18-19)

Wonder Woman (pages 20-21)

Aquaman (pages 22-23)

The Flash (pages 24-25)

Green Lantern (pages 26-27)

Commissioner Gordon (with a likeness to actor Gary Oldman) (pages 28-29)

Lois Lane (with a likeness to actress Amy Adams) (pages 30-31)

Colonel Hardy (pages 32-33)

Guards (pages 34-35)

CHAPTER 2: VILLAINS

Lex Luthor (pages 38-39)

General Zod (pages 40-41)

Faora & Tor-An (pages 42-43)

Joker (pages 44-45)

Harley Quinn (pages 46-47)

Bane (pages 48-49)

Catwoman (pages 50-51)

Two-Face (pages 52-53)

Poison Ivy (pages 54-55)

Riddler (pages 56-57)

Scarecrow (pages 58-59)

Mr. Freeze (pages 60-61)

Penguin (pages 62-63)

Henchmen (pages 64-65)

CHAPTER 3: VEHICLES

Batmobile (pages 68-69)

Batwing (pages 70-71)

Batboat (pages 72-73)

Batcycle (pages 74-75)

Bat jump jet (pages 76-77)

Joker’s helicopter (pages 78-79)

Bane’s drill tank (pages 80-81)

Batman’s tumbler (pages 82-83)

Catwoman’s Cat-cycle (pages 84-85)

Two Face’s Tow truck (pages 86-87)

Arkham Asylum Security Van (pages 88-89)

Lex Luthor’s Power Armor (pages 90-91)

Lex Luthor’s Off-Roader (pages 92-93)

Zod’s Black Zero Drop Ship (pages 94-95)

Zod’s Black Zero Escape Pod (with Lois Lane) (pages 96-97)

CHAPTER 4: LOCATIONS

Gotham City (pages 100-101 – shows Batman, the Batwing, Joker, & the Joker’s Helicopter only.

Metropolis (pages 102-103) – shows Superman & Wonder Woman vs. Lex Luthor in his Power Armor only.

Batcave (pages 104-105) – includes Batman & Robin, with a jailed Poison Ivy.

Funhouse (pages 106-107) – includes Joker, Harley Quinn, & Riddler vs. Batman & Robin.

Arkham Asylum (pages 108-109) includes Batman & Robin, Scarecrow, Harley Quin, Penguin, Joker, Guard, and the Arkham Asylum Security Van.

REVIEW:

Simplistically written for its intended audience, a paragraph-long synopsis per character along with a few quick facts are blasted out in “Biff-Pow-Zap,” star-spangled comic book style.  These ‘facts’ summarize a character’s super-powers, equipment, secret identity, etc.  Some characters, such as the Flash, are even displayed with some added visual effects (i.e. the Flash’s velocity running at super-speed; the Batboat’s fiery jet engines accelerating).  Though it’s impressively designed, this handbook is a glorified toy catalog (minus listing retail prices).  Still, LEGO collectors may find it a nice reference guide.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 5 Stars

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Categories
LEGO STAR WARS-Related Toys & Games

LEGO 75269: DUEL ON MUSTAFAR (STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH)

SUMMARY:

As part of LEGO Star Wars’ Winter 2020  wave, this duel set is LEGO’s second effort to recreate the iconic battle pitting  Obi-Wan Kenobi vs. Anakin Skywalker during Episode III: Revenge of the Sith’s climax. The set has 208 pieces, an instruction manual, and two mini-figures.  It’s recommended for ages seven-and-up.

REVIEW:

Re: the mini-figures, it’s an inexpensive way to add both Jedi Knights to any Star Wars fan’s collection. Obi-Wan comes in tattered robes with an angry and distressed face. As for Anakin, he, too, has torn robes accurate to the scene, with one solemn face and one with sinister yellow eyes. Both figures also come with blue lightsabers.

As for the set, it’s a mixed bag. Play features include splashing lava bits, a collapsing pillar (that is very scaled down), and rotatable plates for the figures to stand on. The plates actually rotate a full 360-degrees and can slide back and forth.  Better yet, the entire set itself can also be folded up for a more storage-friendly look. The coloring is cartoony, with bright reds and yellow, really making this set a little bit of an eyesore for any collector looking to display this set.

Otherwise, the set is a kid’s dream – sporting play features galore and outstanding figures to boot. As for an older fan, detailing inaccuracies, such as the bridge being smaller, is very disappointing. In the movie, the bridge is proportionally about as big as this entire set is, so it isn’t a shocker to see it scaled back for such a small set.

To be fair, LEGO does a nice job recreating this scene for such a low price point for kids.  Adults, however, may not be quite as satisfied.

BONUS FEATURES:

None. 

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

Categories
Basketball Sports (TV & Videos) Toys & Games Video Games

NBA LIVE 97 (SEGA GENESIS)

SUMMARY:

Produced in 1996 by EA (Electronic Arts) Sports, this Sega Genesis cassette is rated ‘KA’ (for kids ages 10+ and adults).  Played in exhibition game mode only, thirty teams (plus create-your-own players) are available for play. 

There isn’t a specified playoff mode, so games can’t be played in tournaments or as a ‘full season.’  Each quarter is evidently limited to three minutes.  Stat sheets and replays are available in game play.  Though a draft mode isn’t available, player trades, waivers, and signings are accessible. 

Due to licensing rights, the likenesses of some players (i.e. Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan, and Allen Iverson) aren’t directly identified — they are instead referred as either ‘guard’ or ‘forward.’  For all game play, it’s a single-camera angle.        

REVIEW:

Its unsophisticated pixilated imagery obviously can’t compare with modern games.  At best, it holds well in line with other games of this series from that era.  Its simple controls are easy enough for those unfamiliar with such games.  It proves a pretty fun game to play with a friend, considering its maximum number is two participants. 

Among its best assets is that participants can feel like they have a fair chance to win.  There are likely better Sega basketball games available, but, despite its limitations, NBA Live 97 is certainly workable.  To some extent, this game even seems ahead of its time, in terms of what it can actually do.  

BONUS FEATURES:

One can ‘create-a-player’ or assign players to one of two custom-built, generic squads.  However, player creation and editing (including for real NBA players) is considerably limited, but it’s is easy to do.    

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING: 6 Stars