For those of you who share Sheldon Cooper's love of locomotives, you'll be GEEKED to know that the PC railway train simulator RAILROADS ONLINE is coming to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S video game consoles. In Railroads Online, developed by Stefan Kelnberger and published by astragon Entertainment, players create the railroad network of their dreams alone or in a multiplayer with up to 16 players. In a large open game world, rails, switches, and stations must be built to transport different goods in authentic locomotives. The game uses the advanced physics systems of the Unreal Engine to create the most authentic railroad simulation possible, rendering collisions and forces dynamically in real time for maximum immersion. Railroads Online will be released digitally this Fall priced at $39.99.
In the game more than 20 authentic locomotives are available for transporting different goods. These locomotives hail from the golden era of steam engines in the United States, spanning from the 1870s — when steam power was rapidly transforming transportation — through to the height of steam locomotive innovation in the early 1900s.
Among the collection are legendary models like the Montezuma, renowned Baldwin steam engines, the powerful Class 125, and the iconic "Betsy". Many of the steam locomotives featured in Railroads Online no longer exist or a very limited number are still around. The development team used specialist magazines, preserved documents, and surviving models in North American museums to recreate these locomotives as faithfully as possible in the game.
Game features include:
Open sandbox game world to explore;
Online multiplayer mode with up to 16 players;
Build your own railroad infrastructure, including tracks, switches, stations and more;
Authentic, detailed locomotives and equipment;
Realistic railroad physics system and operation of locomotive controls, valves, brakes and equipment;
Earn money by transporting goods to develop your own business and buy more locomotives, cars and equipment;
To help spread some holiday cheer, the nice folks over at Ubisoft have provided ageekdaddy.com with a digital download of the video game Riders Republic for Xbox to giveaway. Have a blast skiing or snowboarding through iconic U.S. national parks like Yosemite and Zion in this video game. Not a fan of winter weather? You can also engage in mountain biking and wingsuit racing!
Jump into the Riders Republic massive multiplayer playground. On Xbox you can battle against more than 20 players online simultaneously! Compete in mass start races where you have to bump and grind your way to the finish line against other players that will have no issue with colliding into you if that means they will get the win. Plus, you can customize your character to highlight your own style to friends or show up the competition.
One lucky winner will be selected from all entrants. For a chance to win just complete the rafflecopter entries below before 11:59 pm ET on December 26, 2021. Must be a United States resident over 18 years old to participate in this giveaway. Good luck and Merry Christmas!
A Geek Daddy is a UbiStar brand ambassador. During the next year my kids and I will be doing video game reviews, sharing news and updates about the video game developer's family friendly focused products, and hosting giveaways. Come back throughout 2022 for Ubisoft highlights and promotions on ageekdaddy.com!
Video games don't need to be all about punching, kicking and shooting people to be fun to play! Two new simulators from video game publisher BIGBEN have kids learning while having a good time. Bee Simulator and Farmer's Dynasty which will be available this holiday shopping season for PS4 and Xbox One let players experience life through a bug's eyes and a modern cowboy's perspective. If you are looking for non-violent video games that are both educational and entertaining check these two out.
BEE SIMULATOR
See the world from the viewpoint of a bug as you fly around rural and urban landscapes collecting pollen. Protect yourself and defend your hive from other insects as well as threats from mankind. Learn about the importance of bees in ecosystems while having fun engaging in challenges and races in this visually stimulating simulation video game.
BEE SIMULATOR is available from Best Buy for Playstation4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Purchase the game via one of the Best Buy links in this post and this dad blogger will receive a small commission at no additional charge to you. Your support of ageekdaddy.com is appreciated!
FARMER DYNASTY
Coming soon with a release date scheduled for November 21 is a video game that lets you simulate life as a farmer. Start with simple farming tools and grow quickly from there to build a FARMER DYNASTY. Improve your yield by acquiring new agricultural facilities like greenhouses and silos on your way to becoming one of the top farmers in the village. Learn that getting food to your dining room table isn't as easy as just going to the grocery story. An entertaining way to learn about the economics and technology involved with being a farmer.
You have to admit sometimes it's good to be bad! The newest LEGO themed video game being developed by TT Games for Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment is going to let you have a good time playing through adventures as LEGO mini-figure versions of bad guys and gals from the DC Comics universe. My family has had some great times playing video games that have provided LEGO style portrayals of franchises like Jurassic World, Harry Potter, and Star Wars; so we're excited that in October a new DC universe themed one is being released.
LEGO DC SUPER-VILLAINS is going to have a unique twist as it will be the first LEGO game to put players at the center of a villain-centric adventure filled with favorite locations and characters from across the DC universe. It will let you create and play your way through it as your own customized super villain through a story filled with the tongue and cheek humor and wacky vibe that has become a trademark of LEGO cartoons and video games. This customized character actually becomes the focal point of the game's adventure teaming up with a variety of iconic villains from the pages of DC Comics to do the unexpected … save the day!
In LEGO DC SUPER-VILLAINS, the Justice League has disappeared, leaving Earth’s protection to a newcomer group of heroes from a parallel universe, proclaiming themselves as the ‘Justice Syndicate’. Renowned DC super villains from the ‘Legion Of Doom’ discover Earth’s newest heroes may not be the heroes they claim to be. With each player’s completely customizable super villain character in command, this team of misfit lawbreakers must join forces to discover and foil the evil plans the incognito strangers have in store.
At the beginning of the campaign, players create their own unique villain who serves as the main character throughout, while also teaming up with a variety of DC super villains throughout the story mode. As players progress, they will unlock new abilities, powers and can continue to customize their character to take on the evil threat. Friends and family can join story mode at any time for fun, two-player, local co-op experiences where players can team up.
“The original story in LEGO DC SUPER-VILLAINS flips the DC universe upside down as players embark on an unforgettable adventure starring memorable villains set across notable DC locations,” Ames Kirshen, Vice President, Interactive & Animation, DC Entertainment informed A Geek Daddy in announcing the game's release. “DC’s roster of iconic Super-Villains is unmatched and fans will love teaming up with The Joker, Harley Quinn, Lex Luthor and a host of others to save Earth from a greater evil.”
“LEGO DC Super-Villains gives players a new way to play with their favorite DC characters with a splash of light-hearted, villainous antics,” added Sean McEvoy, VP Digital Games, The LEGO Group. “Players will enjoy exploring the expansive DC universe in the way only a LEGO game can deliver.”
LEGO DC Super-Villains will be available October 16, 2018 for PlayStation4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One X, Nintendo Switch, and PC. A Deluxe Edition of the game, featuring the main game content, Season Pass content and early access to the DC SUPER-VILLAINS: TV Series DLC Character Pack, is now available for pre-order. An exclusive LEGO mini-figure, Lex Luthor Superman, also comes with the physical version of the Deluxe Edition, while digital consumers will receive the Justice League Dark DLC Character Pack with their Deluxe Edition. For more info: chaos-is-coming.wbgames.com
My kids have been looking forward all year long to The LEGO Ninjago Movie arriving in theaters. So they were ecstatic when after going to see the film on its opening weekend, I surprised them with The LEGO Ninjago Movie video game when we arrived home from the theater. The twins loved playing the game so much it was really hard pulling them away from it when bedtime rolled around. With movie quality graphics and an impressive variety of ninja moves that players can utilize while controlling their favorite LEGO NINJAGO heroes this game absolutely gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval.
The video game allows players to battle against Lord Garmadon and his Shark Army as their favorite NINJAGO heroes: Lloyd, Nya, Jay, Kai, Cole, Zane and Master Wu. Learning and mastering martial arts moves such as Rushing Boar (a dash attack to charge an enemy), Floating Butterfly (a jumping lunge attack that allows a ninja to leap at a foe from above), Swooping Hawk (a jump slam attack) and Stinging Bee (a flurry of stinging strikes against an opponent). Utilize these and other powerful combat moves to tackle adrenaline pumping fight sequences that will make you feel like a part of the big screen action from The LEGO NINJAGO Movie.
In addition to learning fighting moves, master the art of Ninja-gility as you play The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Video Game by running on walls, high-jumping and learning other ninja skills. As players progress in learning fighting skills and athletic abilities, they will rank up acquiring new maneuvers and skills plus additional combat techniques on the way to mastering the art of Spinjitzu. Plus each character has their own unique elemental powers and upgradeable weapons to develop and utilize in the game.
Players must overcome the challenges presented in eight levels each based upon locations from the movie's story and the LEGO NINJAGO television series. Each location has a number of hidden secrets to discover to help you make your way through the game's storyline. Explore a variety of environments ranging from NINJAGO City to the jungles of NINJAGO Island as you battle your way through these locations trying to overcome the evil menace of the dreaded Lord Garmadon.
Also each of these locations has its own unique Challenge Dojo where players can have fun testing their ninja skills in different ways. The main storyline for the game can be played either by a single player or two players can play cooperatively. The twins really enjoyed partnering up to battle the bad guys in The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Video Game. Special Battle Maps also allow up to four players to compete in three different game modes against one another through a split screen format. My wife and I joined in the Battle Map action with the kids providing for some great family time together enjoying this game.
Bring home from the theater the action and humor of the big-screen animated adventure The LEGO NINJAGO Movie with this great video game. Created by TT Games, the developers behind LEGO Dimensions, and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Video Game allows players to immerse themselves within the film's adventurous story so they can experience what it is like to be a NINJAGO warrior themselves. The LEGO NINJAGO Movie Video Game is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam. For more information, please visit lnmvg.wbgames.com. Ninja go!
** A Geek Daddy received the featured product for free to review **
My kids and I have been having a good time playing the new Cars 3: Driven to Win video game that features racing competitions with characters and locations from all three of the Disney PIXAR Cars movies. The controls are easy enough to use so that young kids can comfortably play the game without getting frustrated or overwhelmed yet it is also challenging enough so that adult will enjoy participating in the races as well. With the ability for four players to race against one another at the same time in split screen head-to-head action it is really easy to get the whole family engaged in competing against one another.Perfect for a weekend game night, Cars 3: Driven to Win is a video game families can have a lot of fun playing together.
The setting for the video game takes place after the final big race in Cars 3. Note there are some spoilers in the game if you haven't already seen the movie. Based upon its game play and great graphics though, you'll have an entertaining time playing it even if you've never seen a Cars movie. Is there anyone out there who has never seen a Disney PIXAR Cars movie?
Cars 3: Driven to Win includes a variety of customizable playable characters including Lightning McQueen, Mater, Mack, Cruz Ramirez and Jackson Storm. Some of the characters are playable right away and others need to be unlocked by winning races, completing stunts and achieving a variety of objectives as you progress through the game. Cars 3: Driven to Win also features 20 unique tracks that highlight 13 iconic race environments from the Cars movies.
There are six exciting modes of game play in Cars 3: Driven to Win. The variety of racing options keeps the game interesting for repetitive play. Race Mode lets you challenge a pack of characters from the Cars movies in a first to complete a number of laps is the winner challenge. Battle Race allows you to collect power-ups including missiles, oil slicks, and rocket engines to take out your competition with during the race. In Takedown Mode the player who takes out the most opponents during the race wins instead of the first to cross the finish line. Best Lap Challenge has players race against themselves to set a track record. Playground Mode lets players explore a fantastic obstacle course. Stunt Showcase has players perform stunts to earn points. The player who earns the most points before time runs out wins the competition.
Then there is Piston Cup mode. Combine a variety of locations and modes to create your own unique racing series. For example engage in Race Mode at Florida International Speedway, Stunt Showcase at Thunder Hollow Destruction Derby and Battle Mode at Radiator Springs Interstate Pass. Whoever has the best record among the three races will win be crowned your family's Piston Cup champ! Have fun mixing up the locations and modes to make every Piston Cup competition you play on Cars 3: Driven to Win exciting and unique.
The ability to allow players to personalize the attributes of their favorite Cars characters and race as them, great visual effects and backgrounds, a variety of playable game modes, and its overall fun factor, have earned Cars 3: Drive to Win the nod of approval from A GEEK DADDY. Whether you are a fan of the Cars movie series or just enjoy automobile racing, this is a video game you are going to repeatedly want to play over and over again. This really is a very fun family-friendly game to play!
Cars 3: Driven to Win is being distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment under license from Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. The game was developed by Avalanche Software, the same video game studio that created the popular Disney Infinity video games. It is available for Playstation 4 and Playstation 3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch, and Wii U.
My kids have been having a blast playing the new MOTO RACER 4 video game for XBOX ONE and PLAYSTATION 4. Video game publisher, Microids provided us with this arcade style motorcycle racing game to play and our whole family has really gotten into the competition of playing it for the bragging rights of being the MOTO RACER 4 champion! The video game allows players to choose to ride either dirt bikes or motorcycles in races through a variety of spectacular looking courses that also provide a variety of exciting competition modes to choose from. It really is a fun game to play! Plus very family-friendly as its controls are very simple and easy for children to use and the game doesn't contain any violence or mature content that parents would want to steer kids away from. It does contain features though that let you do some pretty cool jumps and tricks!
To share A Geek Daddy's enjoyment of MOTO RACER 4, I also have a couple of codes to giveaway to download the PS4 version of the game from the Playstation online store. For a chance at winning this video game we're doing two separate giveaways -- one on Twitter and one on Instagram.
Twitter Giveaway
You must follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet embedded below before January 24, 2017 @ 11:59 pm ET to be eligible to win. Must be a US resident over 18 years old to participate.
Instagram Giveaway
You must follow @Geekdad248 on Instagram and LIKE our original contest tweet embedded below
before January 24, 2017 @ 11:59 pm ET to be eligible to win. Must be a
US resident over 18 years old to participate.
A Geek Daddy has not been financially compensated
for this
endorsement or hosting the giveaway but was provided the same
items being provided as a prize for personal use. The prize is provided
by Microids and A Geek Daddy is hosting the promotion as a
benefit to our readers. Must be a US resident over the age of 18 to
participate. Must RT the original contest tweet embedded in this post by January 24, 2017 at 11:59 pm ET. One entry per person and
winner will be randomly selected
from all eligible entries. The selected winner must reply back with a valid email address to accept the prize within 48 hours of being notified of winning. A Geek Daddy will email the digital download code to the winner upon receiving an email address. Email addresses will only be used for providing the prize. By participating in this promotion you
waive
any liability of any kind
against the publisher of this blog.
Thereviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy
Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for
free
A few years ago we set up a Wi-Fi router primarily so that our family could stream movies on Netflix from our personal computer located in the home office at the back of our house to the living room television at the front of it. How we use the Internet has changed between now and then though. On any given evening you'll find my twins each on a tablet working on homework, my wife on her smart phone playing Candy Crush, and I'll be updating this blog from a laptop. While our use of the Internet has evolved over the years we hadn't made any changes to how we were accessing it. That original router meant primarily to watch an occasional movie was now being overwhelmed as apps, games, and videos were tapping into it from a variety of sources at the same time often bringing our connections to a standstill.
It was time for a change and thanks to Best Buy we've had the chance to switch our old wireless setup with a brand new WRT 3200 ACM Wi-Fi Router from Linksys. I have to say the change is amazing! Without upgrading our cable internet connection bandwidth, we found that lag times and disconnections disappeared when using multiple wireless devices around the house. Troubles with apps not performing, movies not downloading and our wi-fi in general crashing went away as soon as our family installed the Linksys WRT3200 ACM Wi-Fi Router. The reason it works so well is this new router is powered by Tri-Stream
160 technology, which doubles the bandwidth on all spatial streams making it
the fastest dual-band router on the market. What does that mean in plain English? Instead of sending out a single signal to one device at a time as traditional routers do, the WRT 3200 ACM sends a variety of signals to multiple devices at the same time and at the speed. The WRT 3200 ACM Wi-Fi Router also allows users to gain access to restricted
DFS channels at full bandwidth for the clearest Wi-Fi not available with
most other routers. The clearer your signals are the stronger the connection will be leading to faster speeds.
Talking about speed -- in addition to improving our mobile device's internet connectivity, the router was also really fast to set-up. I have to admit really dreading taking the WRT 3200 ACM out of the box because adding hardware to my computer always turns out to be a pain; but thanks to its great installation software you essentially just needed to plug the router into an ethernet connection and follow some prompts go get the wi-fi up and running around the house. It is very easy to do and can be done fairly quickly. A real plus from my point of view.
So here are this router's specs:
• 1.8 GHz CPU for high-powered performance;
• MU-MIMO technology for high-speed Wi-Fi to multiple devices at the same time, same speed;
• Open-source ready with OpenWrt and DD-WRT® for complete flexibility and customization of functions;
• Upgraded Smart Wi-Fi app to manage and monitor your home Wi-Fi from a mobile device, anytime, anywhere;
• 256MB Flash and 512MB of RAM Memory;
• 4 Gigabit Ethernet Ports
If your family is like ours and often has multiple devices using a home Wi-Fi network at the same time, I'd encourage you to check out the Linksys WRT 3200 ACM Router. It has really worked well for us. For more information or to purchase one please CLICK HERE.
My kids always enjoy playing with either LEGO building blocks or one of the various video games they have that are inspired by the toys like LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes. Hey I'll admit it I love playing with all things LEGO too! So we were excited to hear the news that LEGO is introducing a new video game that will merge virtual and physical play this September. Called LEGO Dimensions, the toy company promises to break the rules of traditional gaming to merge physical LEGO brick building with interactive console gameplay in a manner only imaginable in the universe of LEGO entertainment.
Taking a cue from the popular blockbuster hit THE LEGO MOVIE, this new gaming system has a story that merges our real life world with the fantastic LEGO worlds of our imagination. LEGO announced its new gaming system through releasing a humorous video that portrays the creation of a magical vortex that connects real life to a dimension of LEGO worlds.
When a mysterious and powerful vortex suddenly appears in various LEGO
worlds, different characters from DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings and
The LEGO Movie are swept away. To save their friends, Batman, Gandalf
and Wyldstyle bravely jump into the vortex and quickly find themselves
fighting to save all of LEGO humanity.
Let creativity be the
guide to a building and gaming adventure – journey through unexpected
worlds and team-up with unlikely allies on the quest to defeat the evil
Lord Vortech. Play with different minifigures from different worlds
together in one LEGO videogame, and use each other’s vehicles and
gadgets in a way never before possible. LEGO Bad Cop driving the
DeLorean Time Machine…why not?! The LEGO Ninjago Masters of Spinjitsu
fighting alongside Wonder Woman...yes, please! Get ready to break the
rules, because the only rule with LEGO Dimensions is that there are no
rules. #BreakTheRules
The concept for this new game isn't entirely new though, it is essentially following in the footsteps of ACTIVISION's popular ground-breaking SKYLANDERS which allows players to purchase physical action figures and than immerse the toys they've collected into their video game play. DISNEY recently followed the Skylanders model with the release of their own Infinity video gaming platform. Based upon the popularity, and profitability, of combining physical and virtual play elements, LEGO has now joined in on this video game trend. It will be interesting to see how LEGO puts its own spin on this trend and the quality of its product versus that of Disney Infinity and Activision's Skylanders.
LEGO Dimensions is being developed by TT Games and published by Warner Bros. Interactive. It will be available for Xbox One and Xbox 360 from Microsoft, Sony's Playstation 4 and Playstation 3, and Nintendo's Wii U entertainment systems and will combine many of the LEGO licensed properties together including DC Comics, The Lord of the Rings, The LEGO Movie, The Wizard of Oz, LEGO Ninjago, and Back to the Future. Characters from additional fan-favorite LEGO worlds will be introduced in future upgrades and editions of the game.
Beginning September 27, 2015 the LEGO Dimensions video game will be available in a Starter Pack along with the LEGO Toy Pad, which allows players to transport special LEGO minifigures and other LEGO vehicles and objects into the games, bricks to build the LEGO Gateway, three LEGO minifigures (Batman from DC Comics / Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings / Wyldstyle from The LEGO Movie) plus the LEGO Batmobile. Additional expansion packs can than be purchased to provide new buildable characters, vehicles, tools, gadgets, mission-based levels and unique in-game content. Expansion packs that will be available at the release of LEGO Dimensions or later on within 2015 include a Back to the Future Level Pack with a LEGO Marty McFly minifigure, a LEGO Ninjago Team Pack with Kai and Cole minifigures, DC Comics Fun Packs with Wonder Woman and Cyborg minifigures, The LEGO Movie fun packs with Emmet, Bad Cop, Benny and Unikitty characters, and a The Wizard of Oz Fun Pack with a Wicked Witch of the West minifigure. LEGO plans on having further waves or expansion packs released regularly following the launch of LEGO Dimensions.
"When kids play with LEGO bricks, they build beyond the singular brands, intermixing all of their favorite characters and universes, and we have come up with a way for players to experience that in games," said Jon Burton, Founder and Creative Director, TT Games in a press release sent to A Geek Daddy Blog. "Now for the first time in a video game, LEGO fans can play in the virtual world and in the real world -- combining everything without restrictions. Imagine putting LEGO Gollum from The Lord of the Rings behind the wheel of the LEGO Delorean in New Ninjago City - the creative play is endless."
One brand that probably won't appear in LEGO Dimensions that was included in The LEGO Movie unfortunately is Star Wars as this video game system is a direct competitor to Disney Infinity. One of my kids favorite video games is Disney Infinity but it does have some weaknesses that it appears LEGO is looking to exploit. While offering numerous characters to expand into its game, Disney Infinity really limits the structured game play and uses for add-on characters (for example Anna from FROZEN can't play in the Marvel Avengers levels or Sorcerer Mickey can only play in the build it yourself Toy Box worlds) while LEGO Dimensions promises that gamers will be able to use everything interchangeably, anywhere through the game - with no limitations. Another Disney Infinity limitation has been its difficulties with backwards compatibility as consumers needed to buy a new a new figure platform to access its second edition updated game and lost the ability to access content from its first edition offerings. LEGO Dimensions has also promised that the LEGO Toy Pad, LEGO Gateway, and the video game found in its initial Starter Pack will offer endless opportunities to customize player's experiences for year's to come and in a dig at Disney proclaims "future expansion pack purchases will continue to work with the Starter Pack, even in the fall of next year -- no compatibility chart necessary."
Now my kids have really enjoyed the Disney Infinity video games and we have purchased characters to play on it ranging from Baymax to The Incredible Hulk to Woody from Toy Story which have resulted in some great hours of family fun. We're actually planning on buying the next expansion of Disney Infinity when it arrives presumably in the Fall of 2015 and hopefully with a Star Wars theme based on our satisfaction with it. That being said, we've also been somewhat under-whelmed by Disney Infinity as it has failed to fully live up to its potential by lacking in providing greater detail in its backgrounds and environments, the ability to fully interchange all of its characters in any aspect of game play, and to provide more structured and enhanced developer provided levels for players to use all their characters in rather than making people DIY through the Toy Box features. Note the Toy Box feature is a lot of fun and very good but most people can't produce the same level of quality through it as that provided by professional video game developers - sort of like youtube is fun to watch but I wouldn't replace viewing television networks for it. It will be interesting to see how LEGO Dimensions lives up to its promises and how it actually plays once it is available in September.
Hopefully continued competition between Skylanders, Disney Infinity, and LEGO Dimensions will prompt improvements in each game to the benefit of their players. I know my kids are looking forward to playing ALL these video games - and yes once again I'll admit I am too!
My college years were filled with a lot of late evenings tackling my buddies in exhausting bouts of combat as we all strove to be the campus champion in Mortal Kombat. This game had cutting edge graphics and features for the time and was a great way to release some of our scholarly anxieties and just have some youthful rambunctious fun. I've wondered over the years why video game publishers have never made an exhilarating combat game that allows players to bash comic book super heroes and villains against one another. Well the waiting ended this year when the creators of Mortal Kombat took its game engine updated with today's graphics and processing technology to produce INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US.
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US pits the DC Comics super heroes of "our universe" against their personalities from an alternate dimension on Xbox and PlayStation consoles. The game play is fun and full of special effects and feature moves that keeps the games interesting. It's a brawling good time for fans of Superman, Batman and the like. The weakness of the games is an odd ball plot and lacking script for the game's "story" but that is overcome by the sheer fun of the game's one-on-one battle sequences.
Don't fret though because DC has addressed the limitations of the game's script with an incredible new comic book series with the same name as the video game but with its own stand alone in-depth story. Often times these type of tie-in comics are just meant for marketing purposes and don't have a lot of effort put into them making them not worth a glance, but I have to say DC has embraced this effort and made this an extraordinary piece of work. I was riveted to the pages while reading it and enthralled by the storyline of this comic book series. The comic has decent artwork but it is the story that draws your interest and hooks you. This was one of the best comic book reads I've had in a few years and highly recommend it whether or not you are interested in the video game.
While of course the story has super hero battles it also has a philosophical undertone exploring the balancing
act of giving up "freedom" to gain "security" that combined with good character plots and scripting makes this title a winner. The comic book series revolves around how an injustice is done to Superman and how superheroes based upon that act as "gods" among mankind in response. There really are some hard hitting sequences in this comic that go a lot darker than the "Smallville" type portrayal of the DC universe that many people associate with its super heroes.
The story starts with the Joker tricking Superman into killing his pregnant wife, Lois Lane as well as their unborn child, with his bare hands and in the process also causing a nuclear explosion that decimates his adopted home of Metropolis killings it entire population of 11 million people. This pushes Superman to his breaking point. He pledges to stop all violence in the world. Instead of protecting humanity from threats so they have the freedom of self determination, the Man of Steel determines that he well decide the rules by which mankind conducts itself and behaves. This places Superman at odds with Batman who doesn't believe that super heroes should be acting like "gods among us" in determining how much freedom or control the people of Earth should have over their own behavior.
The plot of INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US really places Superman who has been know for upholding "truth, justice, and the American way" into a grey area between good guy and bad guy which is highlighted in one scene where he tries to put down a citizen protest and is yelled down being told "you think you can come here and hover above us all with a scowl and some special powers and tell us what to do?" This dynamic really makes the story an entertaining read that I couldn't put down. So far I haven't figured out if the comic book story is taking place in an "alternate reality" like the video game and is explaining how the Superman Regime from the game began or is supposed to be taking place in the "main stream" DC universe. While there are similarities between some things in the game script and the comic book story there are also lots of differences too. DC Comics does call the series a prequel to the video game though which has to make you think maybe this is the alternate reality setup. I guess I'll have to just keep reading to find out.
Missed the monthly serial issues of the comic? Don't worry you can catch up with the first 5 issues all bundled together as a hardcover edition. INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US - VOLUME 1 went on sale August 13, 2013. Check it out!
Also if you are interested in the game console video game and/or the comic book there also is a great iPad game that I've downloaded and been playing quite a bit lately...it's become my favorite game beating out Angry Birds: Star Wars for my attention...and its FREE. I just beat a number of challenges to add General Zod to my online cast of characters. You can download the game from the iTunes store.
Kudos to DC Comics for making their INJUSTICE video game and comic book a great dynamic duo!
DISCLAIMER: I was provided a complimentary digital advance readers edition pdf of INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US-VOLUME 1 from the publisher. I was not compensated for this review and the thoughts and opinions in this post are my own.
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