Hall of Fame: Week 15

It's getting into full summertime mode here at the PtP offices. So what better way to start another amazing summer weekend than with a little HoF PtP? It's times like these that we prefer to crack open a few cold ones, while Anthony sips on his spritzer, and just enjoy the fruits of our past media consumption.

This week Matt pays homage to the king of fighting games and makes me want to get back into the old arcade, Dabs gives us a show that really probably represents the PtP crowd far too well and unfortunately was canceled far too soon. Anthony gives us an throwback to a true zombie flick where you don't have to worry about them running like cheetahs and leaping like monkeys; but damn don't you learn something about humanity. As for myself I explore a band that really reached its potential after it dumped some of its trash. Enjoy.

-Pat

The Game: Street Fighter II

Want to know if someone is a true gamer or not, ask them what is the greatest fighting game of all time…if they give you any other answer than Street Fighter II, their opinion is to be discarded and from then on they are to be considered a gaming novice. One can spend hours debating the best FPS, platformer, shmup, etc. as these are open to opinion. But in the world of fighters, it is impossible, yes impossible, for anyone to logically dispute Street Fighter II as the greatest fighting game of all time.

Question: Why go to the arcade when home consoles offer amazing titles for a one time fee? Answer: Because some arrogant shithead is at the arcade and thinks he can demoralize you in front of your friends using Blanca (Ken all the way baby!). Street Fighter II was amazing in that it was one of the few games responsible for revitalizing the arcade industry…once again lines were trailing out of your favorite arcade…enter the hardcore gamer. Sure one could take on the computer, but the real pride came from defeating your peers. SFII wasn’t the first fighting game…but it was the first to do it well, introducing several features that have become important staples of the fighting genre (multiple characters, different move lists, combos, refined one on one gameplay). Unlike any game before it, Street Fighter II promoted a player driven culture that has forever changed the world of gaming. Forget Doom WADS, forget downloadable map packs, forget Little Big Planet, Street Fighter II was one of the first games where players were responsible for game content. Instead of squashing pirating, Capcom legitimized it by adopting features of pirated SFII arcades in future updates (Championship Edition, Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter II).

Putting the historical importance of this game aside, Street Fighter II is as fun today as it ever was...anyone can take a shot at this fighter and enjoy it…its timeless. Released eighteen years ago, the game visually impressive; the characters still appear varied and unique, the backgrounds are still bright and colorful. In one fell swoop Capcom made Walt Disney look like a talentless hobo. Today the franchise shows no signs of slowing; Street Fighter IV, released recently has been met with great praise (…and is a blatant nod to SFII). Although we have been blessed with great franchises such as Tekken, Soul Calibur, Virtua Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and countless others, it is important to revere the king…long live Street Fighter II.

-Matt


The Show: Freaks and Geeks

How come all great TV shows are canceled prematurely? Oh, because America is stupid, I forgot.
Freaks and Greeks was a great come-drama based in 1980 that introduced some of the top names in current comedy and film: Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Jason Segel. The concept was great, two groups of friends living the real eighties of awkwardness, being dumped, ditched and doped up.
The Freaks were older, dealing with relationships and pot and the absolute shittiness that is high school. They skip class to smoke a bowl, party late night, and overall do the things I should have done in high school more often. The comedy was amazing, subtle and insulting in true PtP fashion. But even as they bitch about their dead end town and how their band should take it to the next level (and not just cover Rush), they seem to take for granted the fact that they all have each other's backs.

This element is found with the Geeks as well. Needless to say I could relate with these guys a lot. Pushed around, beat up, and completely overlooked by the female species (at least they were pursuing girls though, that is where Anthony went wrong. But at least he has Mulligan to massage him to sleep at night.) Classic moment is when lanky,coke-bottle-eye-glasses-wearing Bill drinks a bunch of beer from a keg and is rolling around on the floor. Or when he makes out with a chick. Basically everything Bill does is hilarious, including breathing.

The show reminded me of a Wonder Years for a new generation and sans the narration. There was no wise voice speaking in the background forcing the theme down your throat, it was hilariously acted out in front of you.

The show lasted a mere 18 episodes. A shame and failure for American television as we know it.
So I'm pumped to hear some Lincoln hatred on this one, bitches.

-Dabs


The Movie: Dawn of the Dead

31 years ago George A. Romero released the follow-up to Night of the Living Dead. Dawn, while not an actual sequel, was a spiritual predecessor, thematically carrying the torch of the original. This time Romero used the film’s setting, an abandoned shopping mall, to take aim on American consumer culture, as zombies wander from store to store without really distinguishing themselves much from their living counterparts that used to frequent its stores. Like any zombie film worth its salt the symbolism is there, and like any good zombie film it’s about as subtle as an axe to the head. Like the director’s original film, the movie is less about the zombies than the people trying to survive them. The survivors find refuge in the mall, and use barricades to isolate themselves from the walking dead. Romero is making the same point here as he was in the original: the living dead aren’t the biggest threat to humanity here... humanity is the biggest threat to itself. The 2003 remake of the film was well-made, but while it added faster zombies and zombie-babies it neglected the ironic humor and social satire. I prefer the latter, even though Zombie-Baby was undeniably cool. It all ends the only way that a zombie apocalypse can end... hint: It doesn’t end well.

-Anthony


The Album: One Day Remains by Alter Bridge

The formation of this band possibly was one of the greatest things that I got to follow with such amazing enjoyment words can’t even describe how it still makes me laugh at Scott Stapp. The birth of this band came from the gutted remains of what was Creed, and while that band was alright Alter Bridge took the best elements, being Mark Tremonti, Scott Philips and Brian Marshall, and left the suck that was Scott Stapp for the greatly talented Myles Kennedy.

First a little Scott Stapp disclaimer… If there is one band member above all else that I loathe it is this self serving prick. Never mind the fact that man literally licks Sanford’s nuts to increase his solo album sales, but his utter lack of talent and disrespect for his former band, music and the fans is to this day the epitome of what is a “tool”.

Back to the HoF… Alter Bridge did not disappoint with their debut album. There is literally not a bad track on it. The vocals are a far cry from the heavy grunge that Creed was known for in its early albums but rather this was more alternative with a lead singer who not only could actually sing correct notes and match chords, but also had a range that was just sick to listen to.

One Day Remains contains both fast/get up type music as well as some moderate contemplative tunes, I wouldn’t dare to call them slow, even “In Loving Memory” picks up the count shortly into the track but the message isn’t lost with it.
Bottom line was that Creed died creating the phoenix that is Alter Bridge and really nothing was lost, the only things were gains with Kennedy; a singer who these band members truly deserved, and the new sound/voice that really is enjoyable to listen to.

-Pat