You know those nights where you just make bad decision after bad decision and they all culminate with one horrible event? Yeah... that was last night. Bad decision #1: Pour myself a drink. Bad decision #2: pour myself a second, third, fourth, and so on. Bad decision #3: Decide to put other substances in my body that should not have been there and don't mix well with alcohol (I'll let you use your imagination). Bad decision #4: play Mario tennis. That's where everything went downhill fast and resulted in me getting reacquainted with the porcelain deities in my bathroom... for a good, I don't know, two hours. Luckily the greatest rapper of all time was there to look out for me and made sure I didn't go too overboard. You would have thought I learned my lesson already but it certainly doesn't look that way. So much for being productive today.
Anyways the point of telling all that was so I could tell you all this. Like Mr. Tippytoes mentioned, we are back at school. You would think that would cut down on posts since we are such diligent and hard working students... but no. You can now expect more regular posting from all of us to help you get through your tough year. We are a sincerely good group of people who care for your well being... what else can I say? So, here's hoping for another interesting school year in terms of the blog and all things MS(g)B. I'll get excited when the hangover wears off. Back to the bed for me.
On a side note: Who the fuck takes a dump ON a bush... especially a dump ON the bush right next to our apartment? Seriously?!?!?
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Back to school busy busy
Classes have started, exciting fourth year of college and all (and it should be the last) has kept me from updates. In the time since my last post I trudged through Bioshock but that was about it. Doing a review of the game would be a bit of a moot point since it's been so widely reviewed and scrutinized. To sum it up I thoroughly enjoyed the game, loved the atmosphere and art direction but there were some things that irked me. First and foremost the benefits of fully exploring areas did not seem to actually be worth it, I would find my way into some random-obscurely-placed-rooms and it would reward me with random ammo that I already had too much of. Next, I played through the game on the normal difficulty and the only reasons I died was from being intent on killing a big daddy using some crappy ammo instead of my good electric element or armor piercing (aka I conserved ammo for some future use that never occurred). I have to be honest, this game was definitely up there in amazing factor and a great play, it deserves a good amount of the praise it has received. I just think that the level of immersion the game reached in terms of atmosphere and interaction with the inhabitants of rapture was really hurt in the fact that you as a player were as detached from it as possible. Because I never actually felt in danger, lost, or worried then I was more compelled to play stupidly and without caution. I look forward to playing through it on hard difficulty so that I have to be extra cautious to progress through it hopefully (increased difficulty in a game tends to bring out the most creative sides of people in order to progress past obstacles).
So the game DJ Max Fever is coming to the US. While this is old news I was reminded of it from Kotaku's recent post of art and screen captures from the game and while I am not the heaviest into rhythm games I tend to like particularly challenging ones with spectacular song selections (Amplitude will always be superior to Guitar Hero/Rock Band in my mind, Harmonix please make a current gen iteration of Amplitude).
On another random related note Ladytron has released (for free) a great remix of Ghosts, Ghosts (Blestenation Mix). I think it sounds great, then again I am biased in that I have been obsessed with them for the past year...
So the game DJ Max Fever is coming to the US. While this is old news I was reminded of it from Kotaku's recent post of art and screen captures from the game and while I am not the heaviest into rhythm games I tend to like particularly challenging ones with spectacular song selections (Amplitude will always be superior to Guitar Hero/Rock Band in my mind, Harmonix please make a current gen iteration of Amplitude).
On another random related note Ladytron has released (for free) a great remix of Ghosts, Ghosts (Blestenation Mix). I think it sounds great, then again I am biased in that I have been obsessed with them for the past year...
Saturday, August 16, 2008
We are not fucking around - The Wire
To explain the gap in posts, I would say that I'm outta games to play.
BioCommando: Rearmed and Pixel Junk: Eden came out so I'm down for that and for buying a Wii,360, and PSP, but I'm low on cash, ladies and gentleman, and some of that cash has been spent enjoying the show, The Wire. Yeah, I know, like "Stuff White People Like" told me to.
What's so great about The Wire? Everyone on the show's an asshole. Everyone. What's bad about The Wire? It's long and sometimes plodding, and one time there was this ridiculous sex scene where two actors were moaning in cadence. Boring. Fake. The gay sex scene had more intensity. Did I mention that Omar's gay?
You're here for the good parts: Bunk and Omar
One Homocide detective fucks up the investigation, so Bunk and Mcnulty have to redo it:
Bunk's married, and has to hide the evidence from cheating. The audio sucks on this one...
Omar Part 1:
Omar Part 2:
Bonus: Bumpin' underground
I have dreams at night because of this video. DefJux makes 'em good.
A Lil Fu got this in my life
Get a Lil Fu in your life.
We should have one of those contests where you get to take the MS(g)B dude or VA.BBurg(if she agrees) of your choice out for whatever.
Donation drive! We need 360s!
BioCommando: Rearmed and Pixel Junk: Eden came out so I'm down for that and for buying a Wii,360, and PSP, but I'm low on cash, ladies and gentleman, and some of that cash has been spent enjoying the show, The Wire. Yeah, I know, like "Stuff White People Like" told me to.
What's so great about The Wire? Everyone on the show's an asshole. Everyone. What's bad about The Wire? It's long and sometimes plodding, and one time there was this ridiculous sex scene where two actors were moaning in cadence. Boring. Fake. The gay sex scene had more intensity. Did I mention that Omar's gay?
You're here for the good parts: Bunk and Omar
One Homocide detective fucks up the investigation, so Bunk and Mcnulty have to redo it:
Bunk's married, and has to hide the evidence from cheating. The audio sucks on this one...
Omar Part 1:
Omar Part 2:
Bonus: Bumpin' underground
I have dreams at night because of this video. DefJux makes 'em good.
A Lil Fu got this in my life
Get a Lil Fu in your life.
We should have one of those contests where you get to take the MS(g)B dude or VA.BBurg(if she agrees) of your choice out for whatever.
Donation drive! We need 360s!
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Freebirth scum
It has been a while since an update happened I guess. Between the weekday trudge of work I've been cramming in a lot of movies/games/comics (damn you fukennedy). I'm going to do a couple things here which will make this post rather long. Starting with a couple quick reviews of games that I have recently beat or have poured a considerable amount of time into (aka about halfway). Following this there will be some pictures of most of my disc based games (cartridge games would be too troublesome since this was some rapid pictures) with the intention that upon request I can give a review of a given game if someone was curious (an unbiased opinion, and then my own totally-weird-skewed-one).
Condemned: Criminal Origins
To preface I'd like to say I generally don't play horror/scary games (then again until about 3 years ago I didn't play much anything aside from RPGs) but I've been branching out and this gave me a great taste of some more gritty and visceral game presentation which I found to really enjoy. By the time I got to halfway or so through the game I couldn't put it down and spent almost my whole day finishing it.
Graphically the game is pretty impressive, it was a launch title for the 360 even! The lighting is fantastic since it's honestly all about the light and dark, mostly dark and then your tiny pew-pew flashlight. Everything ran smoothly for me but then again I've never been an afficionado when considering graphic performance or textures etc. Gameplay in Condemned is pretty straightforward, I have seen some say the combat is rather simple because of the emphasis on melee but I found that a great reason to force the player to get up close and personal with so much of the environment. Also the addition of the taser and variety of melee weapons (each is wielded with a subtle difference) can really add variety to the occasional scuffle. Enemy AI also really factors into making each encounter it's own unique experience. The storyline was pretty damn compelling, the primary suspect being very well thought out. The hints at direction towards the paranormal towards the end dispelled the eerie ties realism but still made it interesting. The main protagonist and his friend in the FBI lab were voiced very well and made very likeable and relatable. Overall I found it a great play, there is definitely room for the more collective minded to go through and find all the optional birds and metal or just perform better with the kill/accuracy stats at the end of each chapter. The length of the game even makes it doable for multiple playthroughs but not too short. Definitely a solid starting point for a series that leaves great mechanics to be tinkered with and made even better, it's a great game that stays with you after playing it. There were a lot of memorable moments.
Devil May Cry 4
I played the first DMC when it first came out on PS2 (back in the day when I actually rented games) and I was stunned at how much I actually enjoyed the game (my primary diet was still RPGs...and MGS since playstation was my main console). After that though the series dropped off my radar until over a year ago while I was playing through SMT: Nocturne I realized how much of a badass Dante was and how much fun he was to have in my party. Thus begun my re-immergence into the DMC franchise. Last summer I picked up the collection of all 3 previous games (I wanted DMC3 SE without the red "greatest hits" logo hah) and powered through them with a renewed appreciation for the over-the-top franchise...then I got to DMC2. Ok that game blew, I got through it for the sake of knowing what happens when a game goes wrong. While it isn't actually a horrible game...well yes it is. When it comes down to it you have to compare a sequel to the original and this was just such a huge step back. After that though DMC3 was like "whoa buddy strap in", but that was after the ride already started and you're hangin on for dear life. A true return to form that was a great evolution of the game in a good direction. Now pumped for a possible sequel the coming of DMC4 made the fact I did not have a 360 or PS3 a heart-rending fact. I waited and bid my time, and finally I tasted the goods.
First off, it looks amazing and I don't recall ever having any slowdown in the hectic fight scenes. One thing I have to say though is that it feels slower than the previous titles. The controls have a bit more weight to them in the execution, granted this makes it easier to react to things but still the action seemed slower than before. This is slightly countered by the fact that Nero (new guy) has a grab move that allows you to immediately grab the next dude you wanna fondle from afar after you're done with your current toy. The fact you are able to so quickly move onto the next enemy even if he is a distance away was a great feeling, also combat can be truly taken to the air due to this mechanic. Returning to control Dante in his given part of the game is fantastic, the loss devil trigger forms from DMC left me a little sad, but keeping DMC3's system still works in it's own way. The difficulty overall seemed easier than previous titles (DMC2 doesn't count as being a part of the family) and that was on the harder of the two difficulty levels available out the gate. It doesn't disappoint though with many many more options available to be unlocked, I personally look forward to heaven or hell (one shot kill for everything including you).
One criticism I see all the time for DMC games is the "horrible voice acting", This always leaves me confused. The whole point of the game is to be absolutely ridiculous, the action is absolutely unbelievable in cutscenes and they say horribly cheesy and corny lines for a reason. It's fucking hilarious, the same kind of hilarious a well done B-movie has in that it isn't taking itself seriously. If you're looking for epic storyline with passion and heartache look elsewhere cause the story is cheese and the gameplay is fucking on point. While some fans of the more hardcore direction DMC3 took may be disappointed, I found DMC4 to still be an enjoyable new addition to the franchise. The extras and optional Bloody Palace mode as well as unlockable difficulty levels (there are like 6 or 7 difficulty options total) make it have great replay value and the skill customization give nice options based on your playstyle. Easier to get into than the third installment due to the easier curve on the standard difficulty but retains the franchise's trademark quirks and addictive combat for a fantastic experience.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
I'll be short with this since multiplatform games that span every platform just kinda exist and you either dig it or you don't. I found it rather enjoyable, think Gauntlet Legends with comic book flair and a fair bit of character customization. Hero skills which you can choose based on how you wanna play, distribute points to powerup skills and spend money to adjust costume stats. As a good evolution of that mindless beat-em-up game with friends, I feel the game brought a bit more of the "mindless" part out of the genre since you get to plan how you want your character to grow. The story is the same old corny badguy threatens the world that most marvel super heroes contained in the game experience quite often. You do get a good shot of nostalgia from possibly watching any of the cartoons as a kid, overall a decent length game which surpassed my expectations (I thought it would be slightly better than rubbish). I think it'd be doubly as fun with a great set of friends to muck around with. Good fun, streamlined for easy pick up for those friends that haven't touched the title and despite derivative "super hero-bad guy" storyline still compelled me to play.
Ninja Gaiden 2
I am about halfway through the game, it just went from being '"hard but bearable" to that well known reputation of "utter destruction of my ass". I don't see why people say it visually looks dated, I mean it looks fine to me (pretty damn good actually) but maybe I just have no graphic quality standards (hah). I have to agree the camera is horrendous, especially since half the time you're in narrow corridors and going around corners in narrow corridors...but I kinda get used to it and suck it up. The combat takes place at such breakneck speeds you either are managing to get by or are slaughtered mercilessly. Until I get any good at the game there is no other way to describe the various encounters I partake in. Overall I am absolutely enjoying the game in the same way pain from erging can be a delight. I am a glutton for games that punish you and this is one of them. Story? who comes to a ninja gaiden game asking for deep story? the purpose is to prove how much you can master the combat system and try to perceive what you are doing at the speeds the game moves at. In a day and age where games are attempting to simplify things more and more to reach a broader and broader audience I always approve of a game that slaps the user in line until the adjust to the control scheme/difficulty level/interface within reason. This game presents a challenge to those that are so inclined and anyone that appreciates the challenging part of DMC, or GoW, or Godhand will appreciate the unyielding gameplay of Ninja Gaiden 2. I don't claim to be any good at this game or those mentioned games at all, I just enjoy having a game make me feel like shit and absolutely useless.
Also Itagaki is hilarious and I really don't care or necessarily agree with all the stuff he spouts, but he's entertaining and the games he made were definitely above decent. Also he said Okami was lame, I think Okami did something very noble and cool and was a great game but I would also agree that game is hella long bordering on too long/boring and some gameplay parts of it definitely came off as second thoughts. All great games have minor flaws, I'm just saying his criticism of that particular game I saw as warranted.
Back on track from that random tangent, great game for fans of the series or people who are down with tough as nails action games. It's not going to be ushering in a new wave of fans that are unfamiliar with the title and aren't ready to be smacked around and really have their hands dirtied.
Ok here we go, some shots of my collection of games for PS2, Gamecube, Wii, Playstation, Xbox, 360, DS, PSP, and a DC game (no I do not own a DC hah).
I have a good assortment of GBA/SNES/64 titles as well but basically if you guys want a review or opinion of any games here then I'd be glad to give one. I don't know why I did the soundtracks as well at the end, I figured why not.
As a final random note I generally don't pay much attention to news about upcoming games since I am generally busy playing stuff I still have but I can't help but get excited about a new SMT game or this revival of schmups. XBLA already has Geometry wars 1 and 2, Ikaruga HD, and it has a new Galaga title coming as well as Raiden IV among others. Also a new entry into the Devil Summoner mini-series in the SMT franchise has me wetting my pants since they're re-introducing the demon conversation system (sorely lacking in Persona 3 *GLARE*) and refining the action elements of Raidou Kuzunoha ps2 entry in 2006.
Condemned: Criminal Origins
To preface I'd like to say I generally don't play horror/scary games (then again until about 3 years ago I didn't play much anything aside from RPGs) but I've been branching out and this gave me a great taste of some more gritty and visceral game presentation which I found to really enjoy. By the time I got to halfway or so through the game I couldn't put it down and spent almost my whole day finishing it.
Graphically the game is pretty impressive, it was a launch title for the 360 even! The lighting is fantastic since it's honestly all about the light and dark, mostly dark and then your tiny pew-pew flashlight. Everything ran smoothly for me but then again I've never been an afficionado when considering graphic performance or textures etc. Gameplay in Condemned is pretty straightforward, I have seen some say the combat is rather simple because of the emphasis on melee but I found that a great reason to force the player to get up close and personal with so much of the environment. Also the addition of the taser and variety of melee weapons (each is wielded with a subtle difference) can really add variety to the occasional scuffle. Enemy AI also really factors into making each encounter it's own unique experience. The storyline was pretty damn compelling, the primary suspect being very well thought out. The hints at direction towards the paranormal towards the end dispelled the eerie ties realism but still made it interesting. The main protagonist and his friend in the FBI lab were voiced very well and made very likeable and relatable. Overall I found it a great play, there is definitely room for the more collective minded to go through and find all the optional birds and metal or just perform better with the kill/accuracy stats at the end of each chapter. The length of the game even makes it doable for multiple playthroughs but not too short. Definitely a solid starting point for a series that leaves great mechanics to be tinkered with and made even better, it's a great game that stays with you after playing it. There were a lot of memorable moments.
Devil May Cry 4
I played the first DMC when it first came out on PS2 (back in the day when I actually rented games) and I was stunned at how much I actually enjoyed the game (my primary diet was still RPGs...and MGS since playstation was my main console). After that though the series dropped off my radar until over a year ago while I was playing through SMT: Nocturne I realized how much of a badass Dante was and how much fun he was to have in my party. Thus begun my re-immergence into the DMC franchise. Last summer I picked up the collection of all 3 previous games (I wanted DMC3 SE without the red "greatest hits" logo hah) and powered through them with a renewed appreciation for the over-the-top franchise...then I got to DMC2. Ok that game blew, I got through it for the sake of knowing what happens when a game goes wrong. While it isn't actually a horrible game...well yes it is. When it comes down to it you have to compare a sequel to the original and this was just such a huge step back. After that though DMC3 was like "whoa buddy strap in", but that was after the ride already started and you're hangin on for dear life. A true return to form that was a great evolution of the game in a good direction. Now pumped for a possible sequel the coming of DMC4 made the fact I did not have a 360 or PS3 a heart-rending fact. I waited and bid my time, and finally I tasted the goods.
First off, it looks amazing and I don't recall ever having any slowdown in the hectic fight scenes. One thing I have to say though is that it feels slower than the previous titles. The controls have a bit more weight to them in the execution, granted this makes it easier to react to things but still the action seemed slower than before. This is slightly countered by the fact that Nero (new guy) has a grab move that allows you to immediately grab the next dude you wanna fondle from afar after you're done with your current toy. The fact you are able to so quickly move onto the next enemy even if he is a distance away was a great feeling, also combat can be truly taken to the air due to this mechanic. Returning to control Dante in his given part of the game is fantastic, the loss devil trigger forms from DMC left me a little sad, but keeping DMC3's system still works in it's own way. The difficulty overall seemed easier than previous titles (DMC2 doesn't count as being a part of the family) and that was on the harder of the two difficulty levels available out the gate. It doesn't disappoint though with many many more options available to be unlocked, I personally look forward to heaven or hell (one shot kill for everything including you).
One criticism I see all the time for DMC games is the "horrible voice acting", This always leaves me confused. The whole point of the game is to be absolutely ridiculous, the action is absolutely unbelievable in cutscenes and they say horribly cheesy and corny lines for a reason. It's fucking hilarious, the same kind of hilarious a well done B-movie has in that it isn't taking itself seriously. If you're looking for epic storyline with passion and heartache look elsewhere cause the story is cheese and the gameplay is fucking on point. While some fans of the more hardcore direction DMC3 took may be disappointed, I found DMC4 to still be an enjoyable new addition to the franchise. The extras and optional Bloody Palace mode as well as unlockable difficulty levels (there are like 6 or 7 difficulty options total) make it have great replay value and the skill customization give nice options based on your playstyle. Easier to get into than the third installment due to the easier curve on the standard difficulty but retains the franchise's trademark quirks and addictive combat for a fantastic experience.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
I'll be short with this since multiplatform games that span every platform just kinda exist and you either dig it or you don't. I found it rather enjoyable, think Gauntlet Legends with comic book flair and a fair bit of character customization. Hero skills which you can choose based on how you wanna play, distribute points to powerup skills and spend money to adjust costume stats. As a good evolution of that mindless beat-em-up game with friends, I feel the game brought a bit more of the "mindless" part out of the genre since you get to plan how you want your character to grow. The story is the same old corny badguy threatens the world that most marvel super heroes contained in the game experience quite often. You do get a good shot of nostalgia from possibly watching any of the cartoons as a kid, overall a decent length game which surpassed my expectations (I thought it would be slightly better than rubbish). I think it'd be doubly as fun with a great set of friends to muck around with. Good fun, streamlined for easy pick up for those friends that haven't touched the title and despite derivative "super hero-bad guy" storyline still compelled me to play.
Ninja Gaiden 2
I am about halfway through the game, it just went from being '"hard but bearable" to that well known reputation of "utter destruction of my ass". I don't see why people say it visually looks dated, I mean it looks fine to me (pretty damn good actually) but maybe I just have no graphic quality standards (hah). I have to agree the camera is horrendous, especially since half the time you're in narrow corridors and going around corners in narrow corridors...but I kinda get used to it and suck it up. The combat takes place at such breakneck speeds you either are managing to get by or are slaughtered mercilessly. Until I get any good at the game there is no other way to describe the various encounters I partake in. Overall I am absolutely enjoying the game in the same way pain from erging can be a delight. I am a glutton for games that punish you and this is one of them. Story? who comes to a ninja gaiden game asking for deep story? the purpose is to prove how much you can master the combat system and try to perceive what you are doing at the speeds the game moves at. In a day and age where games are attempting to simplify things more and more to reach a broader and broader audience I always approve of a game that slaps the user in line until the adjust to the control scheme/difficulty level/interface within reason. This game presents a challenge to those that are so inclined and anyone that appreciates the challenging part of DMC, or GoW, or Godhand will appreciate the unyielding gameplay of Ninja Gaiden 2. I don't claim to be any good at this game or those mentioned games at all, I just enjoy having a game make me feel like shit and absolutely useless.
Also Itagaki is hilarious and I really don't care or necessarily agree with all the stuff he spouts, but he's entertaining and the games he made were definitely above decent. Also he said Okami was lame, I think Okami did something very noble and cool and was a great game but I would also agree that game is hella long bordering on too long/boring and some gameplay parts of it definitely came off as second thoughts. All great games have minor flaws, I'm just saying his criticism of that particular game I saw as warranted.
Back on track from that random tangent, great game for fans of the series or people who are down with tough as nails action games. It's not going to be ushering in a new wave of fans that are unfamiliar with the title and aren't ready to be smacked around and really have their hands dirtied.
Ok here we go, some shots of my collection of games for PS2, Gamecube, Wii, Playstation, Xbox, 360, DS, PSP, and a DC game (no I do not own a DC hah).
I have a good assortment of GBA/SNES/64 titles as well but basically if you guys want a review or opinion of any games here then I'd be glad to give one. I don't know why I did the soundtracks as well at the end, I figured why not.
As a final random note I generally don't pay much attention to news about upcoming games since I am generally busy playing stuff I still have but I can't help but get excited about a new SMT game or this revival of schmups. XBLA already has Geometry wars 1 and 2, Ikaruga HD, and it has a new Galaga title coming as well as Raiden IV among others. Also a new entry into the Devil Summoner mini-series in the SMT franchise has me wetting my pants since they're re-introducing the demon conversation system (sorely lacking in Persona 3 *GLARE*) and refining the action elements of Raidou Kuzunoha ps2 entry in 2006.
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