johnsoma's movie Reviews on Newgrounds

[Power Star 4]

Here's a story. I watched the first 3 episodes when I was a kid, but I somehow missed that this finale ever came out. I just thought maybe it had been abandoned; wouldn't be the first web series like that. So imagine my surprise when I decide to watch revisit the series and see that the finale had existed all along.

I can tell there was a lot of work put into this, and there are a lot of great moments, just like the rest of the series. The thing is, I was actually kinda let down here. Maybe it was the buildup from re-watching the rest of the series and the 15-year wait, but this one just didn't click.

Looking at the date, it seems like you started work on the Armed with Wings series immediately after making this, and you know what? I can kinda see it. It's in the tone, and the supernatural, existential nature of the story. Heck, the final shot is straight out of AwW.

Thinking about it, that might be my problem. Every previous episode only ever had the story to set up the wild action. This one, all of the sudden, has the story be constantly present, weighing everything down with heavy themes and frequent dialog. It worked with Armed with Wings, because it was like that from the start. Not such much with Power Star.

The finale might not have been all that I wanted it to be, but it is so fascinating that I can see such a clear through-line from one iconic series you made to the next. All in all, going through the series was a lot of fun!

D-SuN responds:

I glad you found this one! And it's really awesome to hear from someone who both appreciate my old and new work (AwW and Power Star). Sorry you felt it was a bit of a let down! I can't decide myself which one I like the most, part 2 or part 4.
No one has ever said they see aspects of AwW in Power Star to me. Glad to hear it!
Thanks for taking the time to do a rewatch and retro review :)

A Power Star Collab just came out on NG, you might want to check that out - it's really cool!!

[Power Star 3]

Now I do understand all of the problems you had with making this, and that you wanted to move on to other projects, but this one doesn't really add anything to the overall plot of the series.

That's not a huge problem, though. Especially since this one has the best action of the whole series. That also means you don't actually have to watch the other episodes to understand this one; an unintended plus, but a plus nonetheless.

Basically, it's a great, accessible, replayable action movie. It's just lacking the extra substance the rest of the series has.

D-SuN responds:

This was meant to be the finale to be honest. The battle is pretty high octane, all it needed was the ending in part 4, but I was too lazy to animate it and decided to put it off and make a part 4.

[Power Star 2]

After binging the series, I can confidently say this is the best one. The story is present without getting in the way, but that's not the important part.

I don't have enough good to say about the action. I can see the inspiration from The Matrix in the superhuman martial arts and I love it!

(The audio on this upload is out of sync. It's the only one of the series that has that problem and that is unfortunate)

D-SuN responds:

Yeah I have to agree that this one is probably the best overall.

[Power Star Reanimated (Pt 1)]

It's pretty good! Just that the sudden shifts to non-sprite sections and back are jarring, even if they are well done.

AnonymousFrogClock responds:

That can be attributed to Etoonz and I doing our parts using regular 2D animation as opposed to sprites. I hope Part 2 will contain a better sprite to non-sprite ratio

[Shantae, the dancing Half-Genie!]

I love how Shantae just existing was enough to give this animation an M rating. Her notoriety knows no bounds.

Seriously though, that's a really good model!

onmodel3d responds:

Thank you! I rated it M mostly because of the nature of my other works, along with the post containing a link to NSFW versions, haha.

[Big Hoss And His Smoker]

Dude is so sweaty. Someone get this guy some water!

Potatoman responds:

Nah, get him some melted butter!!!!

[WAHOO]

I really do want to get this, but I'm also right in the middle of a game, and Xenoblade 3 is right around the corner. Why does everything good come out all at the same time?

phuijl responds:

2022 surely is a FEAST of gaming year

[The story of FNF vs PIconjo]

I didn't realize this was for a FNF mod at first. It holds up on it's own.

pepperly responds:

Ahah, I was kind of afraid it wouldn't, thanks!

[Newgrounds Races]

This is a great concept, and it got a few laughs out of me too! Some background music could be nice, but that's the only serious complaint I have. Nice work!

Icy64 responds:

Y'know I couldnt think of a way to do audio correctly with out having large gaps of silence, tot the point where i decided not to even put audio in my last animation, and the thought never crossed my mind to add backround music and I have had 3 people told me to add music, I feel super dumb.

Thanks for the Review!

[Madness Combat - Teleport Interference]

You really made everything on your own? Both the models and animations? This is seriously incredible stuff!

MANtikora responds:

Thank you very much! Yes, animations and almost all models are made by me. There are few props that I took from ue marketplace that were for free - like those pipes behind a broken wall in the last scene.