Monday, July 06, 2009

sweet.jesus.

i cannot be more excited. THANK YOU i have been waiting for this for over a decade. i remember playing LOOM on a friends macintosh. well, his dads macintosh, but either way. i LOVE this game, and am happy to hear Lucasarts is doing a push on their classic games. i hope everyone is as excited to see this news as i am.

LucasArts title to be Jedi Arena?

so Lucasarts is going to announce a 'new old game' today, and i've been doing some digging. apparently on their Twitter page, the Atari 2600 is being brought up, so i pulled a list of all LucasArts games for the 2600. there's a Star Wars rail shooter, but i don't imagine that would be it, and i noticed an unreleased ROTJ game based on ewoks. then my eye slipped onto Star Wars: Jedi Arena which released in 1983 for the 2600. this seems like it would be a good match, as i don't recall any of the graphic point and click adventures being on Atari. fingers crossed on this one, although i'd still like an updated/new version of LOOM. STILL one of the best games they've ever released. also, a new Grim Fandango wouldn't hurt either.

Friday, May 08, 2009

x-men origins: wolverine

so i played through wolverine the other day, and i have to say i was quite pleased. i'm sure you've heard that this isn't your everyday movie game. i'm pretty sure you've heard that this isn't your everyday superhero game either. well, i can say happily that both of those statements are true.

from what i hear, the studo had MUCH more time to work on the game than would normally be given, and it really pays off. there are some signs of course, the graphics could use a little help, and there are rare glitchy moments. these are easily forgiven, but i still feel the need to mention them.

the story revolves loosely around our clawed heroes origin movie by the same name. there are of course added components to make the game last longer than the 2 hour movie. it's presented well, but bounces between one timeline to the next, and sometimes without warning. it can be a little jarring, but it does a nice job of making sure you don't spend too much time in one environment type.

the real meat of the game, as with any good game though, is in the gameplay. the game plays VERY similarly to god of war, which is not a bad thing at all. the claws operate much differently than the famous blades of chaos, but they get the same point across. there is a lot of carnage going on in this game. seeing chunks of flesh fly off when you get shot, watching the holes mesh back together. it's damn sweet. wolverine also has a pretty good set of combos at his disposal, and some TERRIFIC finishing moves to lay waste to baddies.

speaking of baddies, there is a pretty nice selection of enemies to face, even if some are a bit oddly placed. you have your typical goon types, and then guys with guns, etc. but i don't get the rock monsters in africa. i've read plenty of x-men in my day, and i don't remember seeing those guys ANYWHERE. you can get really creative when taking out most of the enemies, and you have a LITTLE leeway with the larger opponents, but more often than not, you're gonna jump on their back and stab away.

you can also make use of your environment to take people out. tree stumps, or limbs, spikes, a large fan in one case can all be used to impale or slice up enemies. it really gratifying! i haven't even mentioned tossing guys off ledges, or high areas in general, and then there's the LUNGE. oh sweet mercy is this a GREAT idea. you can target an enemy, and as long as they aren't too high up, or obstructed by something, you can leap a good portion of the screen away and jump on these guys. you can then follow up your lunge with a different button to add to the carnage. i spent a great deal of time lunging from one enemy to the next, just to turn around and keep the chain going.

THEN there are collectibles to aid your progress. you can collect mutagens to give you more health, experience boosts, or other boosts. they each have three levels and you can equip up to three at a time. another meter you can grow by defeating enemy types is your reflex meter. as you kill off different types, the meter fills and at each level grants you bonuses toward that enemy class. you can fill these up three times as well. it'll take a couple play-throughs to get them all maxed out though.

you can even get little statues that grant bonus content, like little arenas and new costumes. it's a lot of fun to play through in the old brown and yellow costume rather than the jeans and tank top of the regular game.

i think that's all i've got for now. it's a great game and i highly recommend you play it. i finished my initial play-through in 10-12 hours. i liked it enough to do it all in one sitting though, which says something. i usually don't even finish games, but this one really is a lot of fun to play, which is what matters most. thank you raven software, for giving me a fun wolverine game.

Monday, April 20, 2009

new old news

i finally finished Dead Space the other day. i have to say i really enjoyed the experience. some would say the game is too short, but i'd respectfully disagree. my finishing time was around 13 hours, which is just enough time for me. i rarely complete games that fun longer than 20 hours or so, unless i REALLY get locked in and/or captivated by the gameplay. my 360 is still in a box waiting to get fixed, but luckily my roommate is letting me borrow his for a few!

it's nice as i can get my 360 fix for a little while, and it's been hard not having Street Fighter IV to pick up whenever i want. so i'm fully taking advantage of the 360 and i'm trying to get through Lost Odyssey. it's 4 disks, but i'm hoping to get through it in time!


Monday, March 16, 2009

new shop

i reopened my cafepress shop. the link to it is here. you can also click into the shop anytime by clicking the link near the top of the page. i'll upgrade to a premium shop if i can get enough orders coming in, that way i can have different graphic for the products. you will dig them. i'm sure of it.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

BULL-corn

so it finally happened. my SECOND 360 (this one and Elite) has taken a shit. The GPU went out, and it's been more than a year. LESS than 18 months, but i digress. i'm pretty irritated that microsoft has the nerve to charge me 99 bucks to get it fixed, but it beats buying a new one. how many years are we into the lifecycle of this system? and it's STILL not a stable piece of hardware? i dig SONY for not having as many games i want to play for PS3, but at least i know every time i turn it on, it WILL ACTUALLY TURN ON. if anyone would like to contribute to my XBOX360 repair fund (as i'm still jobless) feel free to contact me.

still the fact that i'm 360-less right now is BULLCORN.

Saturday, March 07, 2009

harumph

so i was playing my 360 the other day, and the colors started to tweak out. i readjusted my HDMI cable, and all was well again. mere moments later, while watching Torchwood, the colors started tweaking out again. so i reset the console, and the screen was completely blank. the GPU on my 360 ELITE, no less, has gone out. which sucks, for those that may not know this is a bad thing. no street fighter, no rock band, no viva pinata. boo.

i'll have to send it in for repair, which will be a second time now, and i have to admit it's quite ridiculous. i'm hoping this is something that won't be happening again, but it seems with the 360 you never can tell.

i'm gonna miss street fighter for sure, as it's my favorite game right now, and was getting most of my gaming attention. i have plenty of PS2 games to go through, so i'm not TOO worried, but i'd still like to be playing street fighter instead.

well i guess i'm gonna go play catch up for a while. 'til next time

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

joblessness

man, being without work REALLY sucks. this is the first time in my life when i have absolutely no money coming in, and am really concerned with what's going to happen next. luckily i still have a roof and electricity, but i don't know how long those will last either. i apply for work for a good portion of the day everyday, and i just can't seem to get any bites. well, if you're reading this, and happen to like how i write, let me know if you've got a lead for me would you? that's all i've got for now, but hopefully something will come up soon.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Tournament Stick


Sweet Baby Lettuce!  i got my fight stick in today, and it is FANTASTIC.  as you've probably heard already, this is not your dad's madcatz peripheral.  i've only really tested it with SSFIIHDR, as SFIV isn't out until wednesday, but lemme tell you!  it works like a dream, it's weighted perfectly and feels oh so right at the ends of my grubby little fingertips.  here's a janky phone picture i took.  
i'll add more pics once i break out the real camera.

SFIV again...

We're about a week away now, and i'm so excited i could SQUEAL!  i've got it paid off, and the tournament stick as well so i'll be sure to add impressions once i've tried them both out.  it would be amazing if i could use it to play MVC2 on the original XBOX, but it isn't meant to be.

wow, that was a run on sentence, no?

i'm sure you can tell i'm amazingly stoked.  i've been watching videos in my spare time getting prepped and ready for the play style.  i hear it's got an awesome training mode, which will be good as i haven't played straight up SF in a while.

i've been playin' lots of MVC2 with my roommate and we finally unlocked all the characters and colors so we can select 3 of the same character -sweeeet-.  i admit, he did much more of the work for it than i did, but hey, it's his game ;D

i'm still trying to get through NGII, and it's still kicking my ass.  i feel like i'm not a gamer anymore!  i can't beat Ninja Gaiden!  how terrible.  it is a sad, sad day.  i think i'll go through God of War again, and that will prep me for some good ole NG.

well folks, i gotta hit the sack.  update soon!

Sunday, January 18, 2009

GoodReads

The Count of Monte Cristo (Modern Library Classics) The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars

i LOVE this book. i don't want to over-hype it, so i'll try not to get too excited. i'm surprised to see people say it drags at points, or is un-exciting. i don't recall reading a novel this thick so quickly. i just couldn't put the damn thing down. if you can keep up with the different plot lines, you'll be aces. but, if you tend to not really pay attention when you're reading you should probably skip it.


View all my reviews.

Street Fighter IV

So effi'n stoked for this game. I've been a Street Fighter junkie since day one. i still remember going to the bowling alley when i was a kid, walking straight to the arcade and throwing myself into the Street Fighter arcade game. not SFII mind you, the ORIGINAL street fighter. aMAZing. it's pretty crap awful in retrospect, but it began my love with all things SF. then, one teenage afternoon, i remember heading to The Mine Shaft (R.I.P.) and seeing this new arcade cabinet.

Street Fighter II. OH. MY. GOD. was this the same game from all those years ago? it couldn't be! this was too new, too juicy, too beautiful! Dhalsim was the first character i ever chose, and i remember choosing Ryu, and then Chun-Li in the following battles. this was even before the days of placing your quarter on the screen ledge to call 'next'. what a glorious afternoon that was. i was ADDICTED to this game. riding my bike many a weekend with a pocket full of ones, up to the Game Room at Birdcage Walk. those were the days man. those were the days.

i was sure to visit my new best friend at least 1 weekend a month. i remember the joy i felt when i discovered Ryu's special moves were the same as the first game. i quickly applied the moveset to additional characters, and in that moment there really was no turning back. i've jumped headlong into any fighting experience Capcom can throw at me, and for the most part they've done me right. sure, there are a few stinkers, but the hits more that make up for the misses.

February 18th. Be Ready.

big red

i'm not really sure why, but the 'Big Red' song has been plowing through my head for the last 48 hours. i'm starting to get irritated, but at the same time, i just want to know WHY this song is in my head.

Monday, January 05, 2009

dag.

man, i lag TERRIBLY don't i? i have no cause to wonder to myself why my visitors are infrequent. i don't keep them entertained. or informed. which is a shame.

however, i DID play and finish Prince of Persia for the 360, and i dug it. a lot. some have chided it as being to easy, bot for me it was nice to have an experience where the character on screen was actually doing JUST what you wanted him to do. there are multiple paths through the stages which are a blast to run through. there is an option to teleport to areas you've already visited, but i found myself running back and forth just for the sheer thrill.

it's a gorgeous game as well. i'm a big fan of concept art, and to see it in motion was amazing. by the time i finished with the game i was quite satisfied. it didn't leave me feeling incomplete like some games can at the ending. speaking of, the ending really surprised me, and i'm really excited for what they think of next for the new prince. there are a few extras to 'unlock' basically just new costumes, but it's a nice addition. something different to look at the second time through.

i actually found myself wanting to play through assassin's creed just because of the altair skin.