Product Review - Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes

Hi Guys, 

 

Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes is an action/adventure game will take players deep into the Marvel Universe with classic characters and original storyline. The game allows players more opportunity for unprecedented freedom and endless possibilities to create new adventures themselves.

In Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes, players use real-world interactive Marvel figures to activate original storylines (Play Sets) in the virtual game worlds of some of Marvel’s most popular franchises, including The Avengers. In the Play Sets, players are able to take on the role of more than 20 Marvel characters including Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk and Hawkeye to battle enemies, complete challenging missions, solve puzzles and ultimately save the world from destruction. 

I played the characters of Thor, Black Widow, Spiderman & Iron Man and totally fell in love with them. Each has his own unique powers and limitations so deciding what you want to play with against which enemy is really great. This is great if you want to test some of the rival enemies against other MARVEL Super hero. I am not that good with Microsoft XBOX remote when I tried it but I will be buying the game to play on my Nintendo Wii or whenever I buy Sony PS3/PS4 and get rid of my ages old Sony PS2. I got the Hawk Eye as a gift to attend the premier of the game but I won't be able to use it unless I have the whole Starter Pack. 

Featuring an enhanced Toy Box mode, Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes has introduced new structured, franchise-themed adventures that players can customize and play using any in-game character from across the Disney Infinity universe. Fans also have hundreds of Marvel-themed items, locations, props and characters at their disposal to create their own stories or even re-create their favorite comic book moments. 

                                     

GAMEPLAY FEATURES

MARVEL FRANCHISES – Marvel franchises introduce deeper, immersive storylines and Marvel Super Heroes deliver new combat gameplay, more destruction in game worlds, authentic Marvel gadgets and vehicles in Play Sets and Toy Box.

EPIC STORYLINES - Original, character driven stories written by award-winning Marvel comic writer, Brian Michael Bendis.  Authentic, intertwined stories where some Marvel Super Heroes can cross between Play Sets, all set in iconic Marvel locations.

ENHANCED TOY BOX - An all-new Toy Box mode that makes it easier for players to create and share their one-of-a-kind levels and mini-games with family and friends.  Use the new Creator tool to quickly build your worlds faster and easier than ever before. 

TOY BOX GAME DISCS – New pyramid shaped discs deliver structured, franchise-themed games to the Toy Box. Build and customize your games by using Toy Box Toys of your choice and play through each game using any Disney Infinity character to complete missions.

FORWARD COMPATIBILITY – All of your Disney Infinity figures, toys and power discs are compatible with the Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Toy Box - stats and upgrades intact.  Disney Infinity characters can increase their level cap from level 15 to 20 and skills can be allocated across a variety of attributes using the Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes skill tree.

POWER DISCS – New set of circular and hexagonal Power Discs will be available for Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes. Circular discs will add costumes, Area of Effect attacks and team-ups. Hexagonal power discs will add new weapons, vehicles and sky and terrain customizations. Power discs are the most coolest feature ever as you never know what you are going to get inside the sealed package. These can totally change the whole environment of the game altogether or can give your character an extra power to keep up to the enemy unlimited powers. 

Select Power Disc descriptions are below:

-          Marvel Skies and Textures

o   World War Hulk - Customize your landscape to make it look as if Hulk went on a smashing rampage

o   World War Hulk Sky - Turn your blue skies green with this Hulk themed power disc

o   Stark Tech - Deck out your Toy Box compliments of Tony Stark. Unlock the Stark Industries Tech theme with upgraded Hologram Readout Tech ability

o   View from the Suit - Ever wonder what it's like to see the world from inside Iron Man's helmet? Check out the Hologram Readout Tech upgrade and unlock Stark Industries “View from the Suit”

-          Marvel Vehicles/Mounts

o   Hydra Motorcycle - Take Hydra's Motorcycle for a spin. Sidecar included

o   Lola - Need a ride? Unlock this Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. hover car

o   S.H.I.E.L.D. Containment Truck - Contain enemies and protect civilians with this S.H.I.E.L.D. truck

o   Falcon’s Wings - You'll be soaring when you put on Falcon's Wings

o   The Avenjet - Hop on board the Avenjet for a speed boost in your Toy Box

-          Marvel Team-Ups and Costumes

o   S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier Strike - Send down a missile strike from above.  Your enemies will need to take cover

o   Marvel Team Up: Winter Solder - Team up with the Winter Soldier and catch your enemies in the crossfire

o   Marvel Team Up: Iron Patriot - Hit them hard, hit them fast, hit them everywhere! Iron Patriot reporting for duty

o   Stark Arc Reactor - Try the Mark 42 on for size!  Unlock Iron Man’s black and white special edition Guardians of the Galaxy armor with added boom!

o   Sentinel of Liberty - Expand your Super Hero wardrobe with Captain America's World War II costume and original shield!

o   Gamma Rays - Time to get old school and unlock the Original Grey Hulk costume with added smash!

The Disney Infinity:  Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) video game Starter Pack includes:

-          1 Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) Video Game

-          3 Marvel Super Heroes Figures:  Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow

-          1 Disney Infinity Base (2.0 Edition)

-          2 Toy Box Game Discs

-          1 Marvel’s The Avengers Play Set piece

-          1 Web Code Card

Publisher: Disney Interactive

Developer: Avalanche Software

Genre:  Action/Adventure

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, PC, iOS

Pricing:   

Starter Pack:                                R999.95

Play Sets:                                     R399.95 
Disney Infinity Figure:                   R179.95 
Power Disc Pack:                         R79.95

Website:                             www.disney.com/Infinity

Cheers!!!

Contact me for your product's review on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com

#PIHT - POLO Pink Pony Brunch - Kyalami Johannesburg 3 Oct 2014

Hi Guys,

It was the start of the October month and I was invited to be a part of something so unique and amazingly great that I loved myself more for what I am doing in my life. I really appreciated the beauty to be healthy and to fight the disease which takes our loved ones so far from us that we are left with the moments spent with them only.

Polo South Africa organized another POLO International Horse Trials (#PIHT) from 3rd -5th Oct 2014 after the great success in the inaugural season in 2013. This year’s event took place in Kyalami Equestrian Park. It was my first time to any of the Horse trials. I don’t even know about what it is all about and did some Google/Wikipedia study to find out what it is. 

The Horse Trials is an Olympic equestrian sport where a single horse and rider combination, compete against other combinations across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and showjumping.

The event kicked off on Friday 3 October with the dressage phase at the Kyalami Equestrian Park where horses were looking amazingly great along with their riders. A tempting and delicious POLO Pink Pony brunch in aid of Breast Cancer Awareness month was also hosted alongside for the special VIP guests and media under an elegantly decorated white marquee. This event aims to raise awareness for The Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) through POLO’s Pink Pony Campaign where a limited edition collection of Pink Pony merchandise is sold in aid of CANSA. Guests were also given a chance to purchase some of these items on the day at the POLO pop-up store.

Lunga Shabalala of SABC’s new Man Cave show was MC for the event. He was very funny with his comic timings and enthralled the whole crowd with his MC skills. People were inspired by guest speaker, Eddie Rust, who shared his cancer survival story and encouraged everyone to get checked at regular intervals. He shared some of the facts & realities and made people aware that this can happen to anyone so better take precautions and get proper treatment.

Fashion and lifestyle media, and socialites alike sipped on champagne and cocktails served by LiquidChefs as they mingled and watched the POLO Spring/Summer ’14 fashion show. Shashi Naidoo, Jen Su, Tobi Jooste, Gina Myers, Tamerin Jardine, Laura Stewart and Mrs Charity, Talita Jansen van Vuures were present at the event and enjoyed the morning to afternoon for the charity event.

The breakfast and lunch menu was delicious especially the sweets and desserts. Every dessert was colored in the Pink theme matching the clothing of the people. It was so tasty and yummy that I only ate desserts and candies. I had to scout for my Pink tshirt in Sandton City but bought some other brand in the end as rightly pointed out by the photographer there.

There was a lucky draw for all the guests present at the event. As they walked into the event, all VIP guests were handed CANSA badges which had a number written on them. Lunga asked guests to pick lucky number slips and 15 guests walked away with POLO Hand Bags, travel pouches and tickets to Horse Shows. Though I was not the lucky one, I got my share of goodies in the bag that was given to all the guests. I have my own Polo – My First Pony soft toy and an umbrella which will keep me covered in rains and sunlight alike.

Thanks a lot to the Polo and CANSA for the invite. I really enjoyed my day with some amazing people and horses. Follow Polo on Facebook & Twitter. Follow CANSA on twitter.

Checkout some of the photographs I took on my Instagram (araijain) or www.photoyatra.blogspot.in

Cheers!!!

Contact me for your product's review on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com

#CelebrateBlogging Contest @Blogadda Chapter 24 - When the Diamonds danced!

Team #Alphabet Soup

Read the previous part of the story Chapter 23 on Reema's blog

Chapter 24

She wiped her tears. That must be it. She grabbed her bag and left her room immediately.

She sent a text to Ravi, Tara and Sudheeran.

Lets meet madman ASAP!

She reached the Janamaitri police station.  He was seated inside the station. But not imprisoned. Sudheeran, out of deep respect towards him, had asked Ravi to just keep an eye on the madman. The madman had made the station his place of meditation.
As soon as he saw her, he guffawed loudly.

“I was waiting for you. Where are the others?”

No sooner did he speak those words, the team reached the station.

“What is it?” Sudheeran asked looking at the madman and Jennifer.

“He can help us.”

Ravi moaned, “Not again! He has already caused enough-“

“Just think Ravi! One evening, release the nightingale and she’ll sing her song. He is the caged nightingale! Aren’t you?”
She looked hopefully at him.

“I am but a Bhranthan (Madman)”

Ravi ran his fingers through his hair in irritation. “Do you know anything about the temple?”

“I know many things about the temple. Amma has-“

“Alright! Alright! Let me rephrase it. The child is missing. Again! Wait! Did you arrange her kidnap again?”

“Hahaha! I was under your observation. How do you-?”

Tara interjected half sobbing, “My daughter is missing. She must be inside the temple. Please! Please tell us about the secret chambers.”

He said, “I know some of the chambers and passages. But I don’t know how many chambers there are in all.”
Sudheeran was calm again, “Is there any other way we could find that out?”

“The temple has immense powers. More than you can imagine. There is a chamber in the temple that holds the entire world within its walls. Come with me.”

*****

They entered the interior of the temple where the Garbhagriha was. After an area around the Garbhagriha for circumambulation, the rooms lay. He took them inside the 4^th room from the left.

“These aren’t the secret chambers. These are but rooms. The secret chambers are hidden within these rooms. That is how the temple has been built. To normal people’s eyes, these are the secret chambers. While they are deep within. It is like our mind. We think that the peripheral thoughts and desires are important. We think that we are our emotions and actions. While the self, is deep within.”

He asked the priest to open the only chamber inside the room.

“Isn’t this the chamber of scriptures?” the priest asked.

“yes”

“you spoke about the power of the entire world.”

“Think again! This chamber houses numerous age-old scriptures, Vedas, Vedantas, Shlokas and Stotras. There are very powerful Shlokas in here. You utter one word wrong, and you shall be beheaded. Pronounce them right, with the right intonations, you will attain Moksha. Tell me another chamber as powerful as this.”

Jennifer felt a chill. Her hands involuntarily went for her camera. But she stopped herself.

Some things were better unknown.

She noticed that the madman was looking at her, hint of a smile on his face.
The scriptures room had never been opened for several years and there was a lot of dust and moisture in the room. The chamber was big and there were racks on all the four sides with a small door on one side of the room.

The priest went and got an old torchlight. He hit it hard thrice and then it lit up the room.

“What are we searching for?” asked Ravi

“The details about the temple architecture.”

“Are all these in Malayalam?”

“Most of the scriptures are in Sanskrit. There are a few in Malayalam too.”

The madman went towards one of the racks. The writings were on dry palm leaves. They were all neatly arranged in piles. Each section of a rack had six piles of palm leaves. He sat down on the floor and began leafing through the age old dry leaves on which there were many writings. He skimmed through one set of writings in a pile, skipped a pile and reached for another. After around five to six trials, he sat still with a set of palm leaves in his hands. He poured through them and kept saying “Hm…” as though he was humming in approval to an invisible voice. 

“So, that is it.” The madman looked up.

No one dared to breathe.

“There is a meaning for everything happening in this cosmos. There are 18 chambers in this temple and 9 passages.”

“Meaning?”  Ravi questioned.

 “8 indicating the Ashta-lakshmi – The eight Lakshmis’.  9 indicating the number that cannot be destroyed.”

“A number that cannot be destroyed?” asked Ravi. Tara was now becoming restless.

“ Any number multiplied with 9 adds up to 9.

He quickly took out his pen and a small diary he kept in his pocket always and wrote an equation -  

9*3 = 27  >  2+7=9

 9*5 = 45  >  4+5=9

“And the 1 chamber?” asked Jennifer.

 “This one. The chamber of scriptures is the last one.”  

“ In total 18. The number again adds up to 9. This is the 18^th chamber because scriptures, and 18 are connected. There are 18 puranas, 18 upa-puranas, the epic Mahabharata has 18 parvas. So does Bhagavad Gita. The temple was built keeping all these in mind.”

 Shekhar quickly asked – “How many of these chambers and passages do you know?”

“I know 13 of them. And 7 passages. The directions about the passages or the chambers aren’t given here. We’ll have to find the rest.”

He quickly added based on his experience, “There is another thing that you have to keep in mind. Some of these chambers do not have ventilation at all. So make sure that none of you get stuck in any of these chambers. You will suffocate to death.”

He gave the team the directions about the 13 chambers he knew. They quickly began the search.

They first tried to find the passages, mainly to stop Cyrus from leaving the temple. This was the topmost priority at the moment. They had to find the right chamber before Cyrus escaped with the child. They decided to guard the known passages with the help of the Sub-Inspectors and extra constables called by the Ravi. He informed them that it was an urgent operation. No questions asked. The search continued. They had strict instructions not to make any noise.

The madman hadn’t left the room. From the start, his eyes were tied to some kind of a symmetrical arrangement between two racks. He used all his force to drag one of the racks aside to reveal the wall behind. It took him a while to notice an outline of a door. After applying varied amount of force and moving the door in all directions, it opened. He had found the first chamber.

Apart from a few empty earthen vessels lying around, the chamber had nothing exciting to offer. He informed the others that one of the unknown chambers were found. The team slogged continuously for a long time. After what seemed like a couple of hours, they heard someone scream. They quickly ran in the direction of the voice.

It was coming from below the 5^th room around the Garbhagriha. A police constable had fallen into a chamber accidentally & was stuck halfway through. It was a chamber whose door was on the floor. They pulled him out of the chamber. Two of the constables checked inside the chamber. It was one among the unknown chambers and looked like an old well without water.

Sudheeran said, “Three more to go.”

Going from chamber to chamber, wall to wall, Tara and Jennifer met and hit many things but with no luck. They began to feel dejected. Jennifer began feeling guilty as she entered another room. She kept blaming herself for involving Cyrus in this. She kept searching every nook and corner trying to fight against her guilty conscience. 

Suddenly an idea struck her, she remembered the pictures Roohi had clicked the day the idol went missing. Jennifer had spent a lot of time safeguarding her in this very temple premises. She looked at them and decided to compare the pictures and the premises. It might take some time. But she would do it so thoroughly that a second time check wouldn’t be necessary. She called a few others and told them her plan. She asked them to feel each part of the temple & search. She had read a lot of books and seen many movies. A picture might just speak a thousand words.

She took the eastern side and began with the temple kitchen first on the row.

Kitchen was the usual Kerala Style temple kitchen with big utensils.

The first room after the kitchen was a kind of service room.  The temple gave Annadaanam – donating food. The food prepared for the same was kept in this room. Third was a hall with a huge sitting space. They had small stools everywhere along with a lot of utensils and mats to sit on.  On the right side of hall, it had stairs to go up. She began climbing the stairs.  In one picture, Jennifer saw something shining on the stairway. She began searching for the source of the reflection. She climbed around five steps and there she saw it. A tiny loop, towards the right, almost in line with her eyes.

Who would look for a chamber while walking up the stairs?

She pulled the loop. No luck! Her fingers hurt. She pushed at the wall with all her might and it slightly moved. Again, she pushed hard with the pent up anger, guilt and memory of the accusations. It gave away to a room. Extremely excited, she entered and saw someone in the room. She moved closer to realize that it was a dummy wearing a kathakali dress. It was the room where the dance and elephant's costumes were kept. She  was disappointed. She informed the others that there were just two to go. She continued searching with a renewed energy.

Two more to go

Two more to go

Cyrus! You jerk! Where are you?

She continued comparing the pictures to the fourth room only to be disappointed further by finding nothing in there.

She went to the next room and looked at the pictures. Nothing. She looked at the wall. A white mark! It wasn't there in the image on her camera. She moved closer and sees something stuck to the wall. Sandal paste? She began to scratch it absent mindedly wondering why it was not in the picture. She noticed it was shaped well and was just drying.

Why would someone play with the sandal paste while searching for the chambers?

She removed her finger from the mark. A triangle!
 

'Triangle means, you're close to me.', she thought to herself.

Roohi is somewhere nearby!

---end of chapter 24--- 

Read the next part of the story here - Sarita's blog

“Me and my team are participating in ‘Game Of Blogs’ at BlogAdda.com. #CelebrateBlogging with us.”

Contact me for your product's review on twitter @araijain or @thelifesway or email - thelifesway@gmail.com