Australian Penthouse

Music and game reviews from the June 2009 issue… this month we look at Street Fighter IV, The Doves’ Kingdom of Rust and the music doco Before The Music Dies

STREET FIGHTER IV
DEVELOPER: Capcom
PUBLISHER: THQ
PLATFORM: PS3, X360

THERE are two things we can tell you without a shadow of a doubt: Street Fighter, in all its incarnations, is probably the greatest beat-’em-up in history, and every man and his dog reckons he’s the greatest at it.

The latest version has been tweaked to perfection, with a roster of classic characters and a few killer newbies, but the focus attacks (new to the series) change everything you know about the game, giving you the awesome ability to instantly turn the tide of battles. The traditional 2D look has been preserved with an almost painted edge, with ink washing the screen during combat. Easy to pick up and play but fiendish to master, SF IV reigns supreme, laying the smackdown on the wannabe competition.

HOUSE OF THE DEAD: OVERKILL
DEVELOPER: Big Ben Interactive
PUBLISHER: Sega
PLATFORM: Wii

THE House of the Dead series is known for its over-the-top violence, hair trigger gun-fu and bazillions of zombies or mutants…or whatever the hell you want to call them.

Overkill has an extremely gritty and atmospheric 1970s grindhouse look and feel. The two male leads are caricatures of every antihero. Agent G’s your consummate suited-up spook, and Isaac Washington is a constantly cursing, distilled Samuel L. Jackson. The tone is hilarious as you shoot your way (via light guns) through Papa Caesar’s (who bears a striking resemblance to Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights) Palace of Pain, jailhouses, secret bunkers and crazy carnivals.
Though a little on the short side, the replay value, especially in co-op, is off the charts. We challenge you not to laugh your balls off while spraying your way to Overkill’s climactic and extremely disturbing conclusion.

THE DOVES
KINGDOM OF RUST
EMI

FORMING in the late 1980s and having brought out a damn good fourth album this month, it’s safe to say that
The Doves have withstood the test of time. Kingdom of Rust delivers the kind of rock we haven’t heard in a while
—mainstream atmospheric rock with long and catchy choruses and ringing guitars. Feels good. While the sound is strident, the lyrics are mostly not: dreamy and melancholy with a focus on the beauty of nature.

But that’s a good thing; no swearing, no screaming. From the album’s opening tune, Jetstream, with its intense post-punk techno vibe, to the folk-rock, dark-sounding title track, The Doves are certain to please their long-time fans, while also attracting a new and younger group of admirers.

BEFORE THE MUSIC DIES
Stars: Dave Matthews, Erykah Badu, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, Les Paul
DV1
A FASCINATING look at the music industry today through the eyes of record companies, artists, music teachers and performers, narrated by Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker. The synthetic and overproduced music of modern pop is scrutinised by various notables and set against a back-story about a talented guitarist who has chops and kudos, but no label deal. The documentary discusses the evolution of American music and examines the marketing of contemporary pop stars.

“The reality is that superficiality is in,” says Branford Marsalis. “And depth and quality is kind of out.” Erykah Badu says there are three types of artists: “The one who is in pain to express themselves, the one who knows how to imitate that, and the one who does what they are told.” An insightful flick.