SCOURGE of WORLDS
SPECIAL COLLECTORS EDITION

FROM RHINO HOME VIDEO

Release Date: February 22, 2005

MSRP Price: $24.95 (estimated price)
Amazon Price: $19.96
Costco Price: UNKNOWN

Format: Anamorphic Widescreen (16:9)
Studio: Rhino Home Video
Run Time: 90min
Number of Discs -  2
Sound - Dolby Digital 5.1
Directed by: Dan Krech

Scourge of Worlds Rating: "B" 
Video:  B
Audio:  A
Content:  C
Acting:  NA
Bonus Material:  B
Overall:  B

This is an interactive disc set with the possibility of more than 1100 possible paths and six different endings. This is a disc set that could keep someone heavily into animation or D&D for hours. 

I have to admit that twenty years ago Dungeons and Dragons, the role playing game, was a part of my life. I had never even heard of the game until I joined the military. It was a good way to burn off the hours in a way that truly exercised the mind - Especially when you were constantly broke. Sure there were always the creatures, human ones, that let a simple game dominate their lives. As for me the game was entertaining and with nothing more than two people, two six-sided dice, paper and pencil you had a game. Shit, I still have the role playing material I had then, it's just packed away in the garage somewhere. Just couldn't throw it away. I played  a lot them too - Boothill, Gurps, AD&D in space, Star Wars and Star Trek. We even mixed and matched a few systems for something new. Like I said, it was a way to burn the hours. 

While many shrug their shoulders and shake their heads they really have no concept of the game. Once I had played for a while my minds eye sharpened and what I read became the movie I saw. The minds eye turns what I read into visual images. It's sure makes reading fun.

This new DVD from Rhino Home Video is an computer animated feature which allows viewers to select what the characters will do and see that choice played out on the screen. Its a pretty neat concept. What I found so amazing is that if you take the time, listen to the words being said and watch the characters mouths you can at times read their lips saying the same thing. This is impressive animation. 

Between the two or three choices there are bad ones which lead to the wrong path and kills the characters. 

PACKAGING 
The packaging looks nice, though very dark. The outer cardboard slip case uses metallic embossed foil in gold on black. The inner DVD holder is rather cheap. The plastic two-disc holder with cardboard flap.  It is adequate. 

VIDEO: 
The 3-D computer animation looks pretty damn good. The video itself looks sharp, clean and debris free. Since the video is computer generated it lacks any of the flaws you find with film. It very nicely done. 

AUDIO: 
The audio in Dolby Digital 5.1 and makes pretty good use of the surround, especially during the fight scenes. The tracks were clean and clear. Not bad at all. 

BONUS FEATURES: 
There are a few with the set contained on the second disc.

• 2 New Alternate Endings, bringing the total to six. 

• Linear version of the movie.

• Behind-the-Scenes look at the making of Scourge of Worlds. 

• Character & Monster concept art, turntables and descriptions.

• Environment flythroughs 

• Trivia Game

• Trailer

SUMMARY: 
Scourge of Worlds isn't very good as a movie or a game, but I did find it interesting to play around with. The film lacks any real character development and the storyline is too simple. The video is slightly below what was done for Final Fantasy but it still looks good. For someone who enjoys animation or D&D this could be a good disc set to play around with. Me, I'll stick with "B" movies like Dolph Lundgren in "The Punisher". Now that, is a good film.

Scourge of Worlds Rating:  B

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