Track stacking



Anyone who happens to own a Gamecube, Gameboy Advance and cube-to-gba link cable -- I realize that even on a global scale this is only a handful of people -- absolutely must track down a copy of the cube version of Rayman 3 and unlock the "Mad Trax" mini-game. I'm not sure why Ubisoft went to all the trouble of developing this cube-exclusive addition to the game, but it's an absolutely ingenious piece of game design.



One player uses the GBA in a mode that looks and plays very similarly to Tetris. But this mode is actually an overhead view of a race course, and the dropping tetris-pieces are hunks of road that you use to assemble a giant floating highway (while dodging giant floating meteors). Meanwhile, the other player drives over this highway in an F-Zero styled 3D racer. Together, you try to guide the car to each checkpoint before time runs out.



It's one of the most fast-paced, incredibly addicitive co-op games I've ever played! And it's tucked away in such an obscure and unlikely place. If you are one of the few people with all the necessary hardware, I definitely suggest you check it out.



Sam Logan

I'm a boy science adventurer



The sword almost certainly wasn't a katana, but Earl probably doesn't know any better. And even if he did, it's hard to get a good look at a blade when it's jammed under your chin.



I mean, I assume it is. I'm not speaking from experience, here. (Fortunately.)



The second season of Venture Bros. is over! I got into this cartoon very recently, and plowed through the entire thing just in time for the airing of the season finale. It's a brilliant parody of Johnny Quest-like cartoons and superhero comics, but the part that makes it really endearing is the utterly fascinating universe it takes place in (and the joyfully vicious sense of humour it employs.) Heartily recommended!



Sam Logan

Never hear the end of it



I love working with Malcolm. Not that I don't enjoy working with the other Noosehead members, but Malcolm is a particular favourite. He's seriously fun to draw, and his outrageous yet surprisingly perceptive dialogue is pretty amusing to write, too.



I never did report back with my final verdict on the new Sloan album. To make a long story short, it's a fantastic tour-de-force that spans multiple eras of rock-and-roll and pulls each one off with astonishing success. It's a million hours long without a second of filler, and basically is the best CD the band has ever released.



It could be the best release of the year. In fact, if a better album than this one is released in 2006, we are all really, really fortunate. Sloan! That's what I'm talking about. Enjoy it with your ears.



Sam Logan