Blog de Dyer

It’s hard to decide which volume of Cowboy Bebop is the best, but the pattern you’ll begin to notice is that whatever disc you just finished watching, that was definitely the best. This pattern is no different after the conclusion of Bebop’s third volume in the Remix collection.

Like the rest of the show, we’re introduced to great little stories and characters, and while no new members of the spaceship Bebop are added, viewers further get a glimpse at a mysterious silver haired, sword toting jerk that they met briefly in the seminal fifth episode.

Vicious, the most aptly named villain on television, makes a double-episode appearance as Bebop pays more attention to its subtle, underlying story arc. With every fourth or so episode we’re shown small hints at what’s going on with Spike, arguably the primary focus of the entire series, and why he knows this maniacal criminal, however, this edition of Cowboy Bebop pulls no punches with the narrative.

Read the rest of this entry »

Following the tradition of its prior volume, Cowboy Bebop’s second volume of its Remix edition packs five high class chapters of bounty hunting, character exploration and kickass choreographed action sequences to boot. With the introduction of a new major character, the over-the-top tomboy hacker Ed, the crew of the clunker spaceship Bebop further expands and becomes not only more entertaining, but purely fascinating, as well.

The mystery shrouding the smooth-and-cool Spike’s past is hinted at briefly – very briefly – with a possible flashback regarding a surgery; Jet Black, Bebop’s “Captain”, has some marital issues with his ex-wife – and her new husband who doubles as the gang’s next bounty, and Faye Valentine, Bebop’s gambling addicted vixen, continues to cause horrible mischief. Aside from the main characters detailing and history-nit-picking, side-characters continue to be as intriguing and awesome as ever.

Read the rest of this entry »

There are few words you could add to “kung-Fu space bounty hunter” to get people’s attention. Add “mysterious underlying plot”, “incredible characters” and/or “the best musical score in television history” and you’ve sealed the deal.

Cowboy Bebop is, without question, the single greatest animated series ever created. Phenomenal animation accompanies well crafted, choreographed action and the characters of Bebop are probably the best you’ll ever meet, including the secondary never-gonna-see-them –again folks.

Each episode is a stand-alone story - save for episode five which gives us a taste of Spike’s dark past - and in its own right would make Cowboy Bebop a totally amazing experience; having the climactic “No way!” finale in episode five, however, boosts the show to an entirely new level of awesome.

Read the rest of this entry »

Burnout Paradise developer Criterion has given you the key to Paradise City, where traffic is appropriately paranoid and nitrous boost is the primary export. While initially slapped behind the wheel of a “beater” for a muscle car, you’ll work your way up the racing ranks through a series of events that stray from traditional three lap tracks in order to progress through this free-roaming, do-what-you-want racing game.

Access to Stunt Runs, Road Rages and Marked Man events – bank points for doing crazy tricks, take out all opposing drivers and surviving a race where you’re the only takedown target, respectively – is granted via city traffic lights. With over 200 intersections, you’re not exactly strapped for things to do, and the events, including the aforementioned regular races, are a ton of fun.

Unfortunately, always having something to do is Burnout Paradise’s biggest problem.

Read the rest of this entry »