Junlee presents...games, movies, music, my life!

Final Fantasy XIII-2 demo impressions

2012-01-14T18:06:00.003-06:00

I finally got around to playing the demo for Final Fantasy XIII-2. I wasn't particularly excited to get into it, as it went unplayed for a few days after I downloaded it. I guess the extremely mediocre and disappointing taste FFXIII left in my mouth was still lingering. I was so fed up and disgusted with that game by the end, I decided to trade it in towards something else, without even thinking about it. Now I might end up regretting that decision since I have a strong feeling I'll be buying FFXIII-2 after all. And since this is technically a sequel, I can't have one without the other. Damn you, Square-Enix. Damn you.

The very first thing I liked about the demo was who you're playing as. I haven't been following the game at all so I have no idea who Noel is. But I like him. He seems like a cool dude and I like his weapon. He's already much better than Snow, Hope, and that annoying bitch (you know the one) all put together. Serah is there but I didn't really notice her. Maybe that's because she made little to no impact on me during the last game. Anyway, I like Noel. The battle system is largely the same but they're added a few things, which I like. You now have the option to get monsters you've defeated to fight with you. You can have up to three and, with paradigm shifts being all the craze again, this gives you even more combat options. And in my opinion, when you have a lot of options, that's when this battle system really shines. If things are really easy and you only have two characters, it's kind of dull because you're just pushing X over and over again. But with more people, there are more shifts. With more shifts, there are more attacks and combos you can pull out of the bag. Once you get into the groove of things, it all starts to feel very intuitive. If you're fighting a really powerful enemy, you can shift to one of your more defensive sets (which you've hopefully taken the time to customize). For example, you can have Noel as a Sentinel, Serah as a Ravager or Commando, and have one of your monsters as a Medic. Once you get back on even terms, go back on the offensive (like Cerberus X or whatever). Like I said, the combat system really shows what it's made of when things get hectic. That's how it was in the first game and I'm sure that's how it'll be this time around.

This game also introduces "cinematic actions". That's really just a fancy way of saying quick time events. You'll find these in a lot of game now a days so it's not like SE is breaking ground here. But it does provide a nice change up simply because you're not expecting it out of this type of game. Or at least I wasn't. Again, haven't been following. Another thing this game has - moogles! There's one actually following you around throughout the demo, discovering secret floating things (yes, those are back). It is kind of weird hearing it string together full sentences but it's still nice to see them. Back to the floating ball thingies, it seems like these will still be our only way to save and get items, although you can now buy things from this chocobo chick.

Overall, I really liked the demo. I played it for damn near 2 hours and that is pretty huge. There was more exploration in this demo than the first half of FFXIII, although it still wasn't that much. It should go without saying that the game looked fantastic, especially with the rain. I was set on not even giving this game the time of day but I'm afraid that I might end up getting it. It's almost like SE puts a spell on gamers, whenever a new FF is about to release, that makes them forget how bad the previous game in the series was.

For collection purposes, and because I'm OCD about these things, I'm going to try and find the first game for really (dirt) cheap. I can't have 2 and not have one. My brain won't allow it.

Amazingly lazy vacation week PLUS...I BEAT DARK SOULS!!!

2012-01-06T17:35:00.003-06:00

My vacation week is about to come to an end, sadly. But I really couldn't have asked for a more lazy, bum worthy vacation. It was definitely a "crusty week", as blogger buddy Random J like to call it. I haven't done a damn thing but lounge and play video games. Since I'm always behind on my games and books, I figured this week would be a good time to try and beat Dark Souls. I didn't actually expect to spend the entire week trying to finish it but that's just how this game rolls.

After 86 hours and some change, I finally conquered Dark Souls! Par the course, the game made me rage at the very end. I made it all the way through only to continuously get owned by the final boss, over and over again. There's one big trick that should have made this boss a piece of cake. You can actually parry him! If you can pull if off right, the boss is kind of a joke. But me? I like to make things difficult. I had no trouble parrying all of the knights on the way there but couldn't cut it against the boss. So, I leveled my shield all the way up, changed weapons, changed armor, and got a completely different strategy. I beat him first try doing it the new way. Who knew?! As always, big sense of satisfaction. There wasn't much of an ending but I really wasn't expecting one. This isn't one of those games that gets a huge send off with a 30 minute cutscene.

So, now that I have Dark Souls out of the way, I can catch up on some reading. I'm currently making my way through The Hobbit because the movie trailer got me so excited. I still have several more to read after that, so it seems that gaming is going to take a back seat for a bit. Until, of course, games like Kingdom of Amular: Reckoning and Mass Effect 3 come out.

Gaming Journal: Dark Souls - Vol. 6: THIS is why you play Dark Souls!!!!!!

2011-12-30T17:18:00.007-06:00

I just beat the most difficult boss in Dark Souls (so far). It took me several times and several youtube videos and guides but I finally did it. Orenstein and Smough. Or, as they'll be called from now on, quick bitch and fat bitch. You have to fight both of them at once and they are bastards. I hate them with a passion and I can't describe the relief I felt once I landed the killing blow on fat bitch. The worst part about this fight, other than having to fight them both at once, is once you kill one (which is difficult enough), the other absorbs the dead ones powers and becomes even that much more difficult. I get pains just thinking about it.

The quick bitch is, in my opinion, the best one to kill first because the fat bitch is easier by himself. I went in with 10 estss flasks and came out with none. I was down to 1/4 health and the fat bitch was grinding me down. Seriously, fighting these bitches by yourself (I had no humanity and no one to summon for help) is draining. I'm currently resting my character at the next bon fire and resting myself by doing this post. Once I finally killed the fat bitch, my heart was POUNDING and an immense amount of relief engulfed me. Dark Souls is really the only game where I've felt so much grief and frustration and then feel just as much elation and relief 5 minutes later. It's kind of amazing.

According to what I've heard, after beating these guys, I should be over half way through the game. That's kind of crazy because I've been playing it for 55 hours.

Belated Merry Christmas

2011-12-26T18:18:00.002-06:00

I can't believe I didn't make any posts on Christmas but...yeah, I just didn't. How's that for an explanation?

How was your Christmas? Mine was pretty good, actually. Christmas Day was fun and I really do like getting other people gifts, I've found out. I received some really cool gifts (including some awesome black and orange shoes that make me smile just looking at them - you want pics, don't you?). My mom and I came up with a last second gift idea for my dad which went wrong once we actually opened the piece of shit on Christmas Day. We decided to get him a ping pong table because he, and coincidentally (or not) I, really enjoy ping pong. He hasn't played in a long time and it's been a little while for me but it's just a lot of fun. Here was the plan:

Since it was last second, we had to rush to try and find one and then get it home. Dad is the only one with a truck so we had to find someway to get it without him knowing. Luckily, he asked me to go play tennis with him and his friends Saturday morning. I decided to drive so my mom took the truck while we were gone. How she managed to get the ping pong table from the truck and into the driveway all by herself is still a mystery but she was able to hide it. So, Christmas Day, after everybody opens their presents, we giddily walk into the garage with the aforementioned "I thiiiiiink we have one more gift..." while trying not to look at dad because I'm smiling.

Long story short, we decided to put it together later after we had left the house for a bit. We come back, take everything out of the box with the intent of putting the damn thing together only to find out that the tables inside the box looked like beat up shit. Do the dumb shits at Target just throw their merchandise around when they get it off the truck? I can't believe they would even sell something in this condition. We were going to try and make a go of it but just found too much wrong with it. Dad just said "We're not paying for that shit." and rightly so. Whenever it's not rainy outside *shakes fist at window* we're taking it back. Hopefully, one day, we'll get another one.

But other than that one incident, it was a great Christmas. We never have a lot of family around for the Holidays (just the 5 of us) because everybody else lives up north, about 700 miles away. No matter, though. We make the best of it and still have a good time. So again, how was your Christmas? I don't get very many comments anymore but, to be fair, I don't really post that much anymore. Maybe I should try that again and see how it works out.

Happy Holidays!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

2011-12-20T21:13:00.004-06:00

I am so excited about this movie...

It looks fantastic! It almost feels like I'm going back in time and getting excited all over again for the next The Lord of Rings movie. PUMPED that all of the big actors are back and having watched the BBC series, Sherlock (which you should check out if you haven't), I can tell you that Martin Freeman is going to be PERFECT as Bilbo. I really need to go ahead and read the book. It's just sitting on my shelf.

Can't wait!!!

The Dark Knight Rises

2011-12-19T21:08:00.002-06:00

Cool trailer, right? Get you some quality head phones and watch it again. The sound is half of what makes this trailer so great. All the chanting = epic! Hearing Bane, in his bad ass voice, say "When Gotham is ashes...you have my permission to die." gives chills.

While I love this trailer, it doesn't have quite the impact the first trailer for The Dark Knight had when it came out. I didn't expect it to. I've also seen a bootleg version of the prologue and I love Bane's voice. It's a shame he only has one line in this trailer. He sounds extremely intelligent in the prologue but intimidating at the same time. I was worried about how Bane would come off in this movie but my doubts have all but disappeared.

Also, what about Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle? I think she's looking good. I know some people have hated on the casting choice but I see no problem with it. She had more attitude in her walk at 1:38 than I think I've ever seen from her. It's kinda hot. <_<

Batman is looking rugged. The story is set 8 years after the end of The Dark Knight and Batman has been out of the picture. It shows. It looks like Bane is going to lay the smack down. You know, in the comics, he actually breaks Batman's back. I'm wondering how this will all end...

Opening day guaranteed!

Brand new game: The Last of Us

2011-12-10T20:34:00.004-06:00

There has been a lot of speculation leading up to the elusive Playstation 3 exclusive "The Last of Us" and now, finally, it's been properly revealed. The biggest surprise for me? F**king NAUGHTY DOG is developing this game. The trailer itself looked good enough but the fact that ND is the developer is huge for me. Check the debut trailer:

Get More: GameTrailers.com, The Last of Us - VGA 2011: Exclusive Debut Trailer HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

The graphics are definitely comparable to the Uncharted series, especially the last two games. Naughty Dog has just released some new details about the game:

"Abandoned cities reclaimed by nature. A population decimated by a modern plague. Survivors are killing each other for food, weapons; whatever they can get their hands on.

Joel, a brutal survivor, and Ellie, a brave young teenage girl who is wise beyond her years, must work together if they hope to survive their journey across the US."

Interesting. I wonder if it's going to another zombie game or if ND is going to throw in some kind of twist? I'm hoping for the latter. I was already intrigued by this game but now I'll definitely be looking out for it.

Playing Metal Gear Solid 2. Taking me WAY back.

2011-12-07T23:56:00.003-06:00

*Notices he hasn't posted in a while...<_<*

You might not know this but I actually started the Metal Gear Solid series with Metal Gear Solid 2. Don't ask me why, I know it's stupid. I never really heard about the series much until my friends kept talking about how awesome MGS2 was. So I blindly bought the second game without knowing what I was getting myself into. For this very reason, MGS2 holds a very special place in my heart. A very crazy, convoluted, and sometimes goofy, place in my heart.

I just got the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection in the mail today and I've been playing Sons of Liberty for a little over an hour now. Playing this game is bringing back some major memories. I couldn't have known what was going on the first time I played it, or caught the little references from the first game, but I know that I loved it. There was one time when I played this game for 8 straight hours until I realized I was hungry and needed food. Which was really only to give me the energy to play more.

Traipsing around the Tanker, putting guards to sleep, stuffing them in lockers, listening to Otacon ramble on about irrelevant Chinese proverbs, it's all so oddly refreshing and nostalgic at the same time. I haven't played this game in a long time but I'm remembering why I love it. No matter how bat shit crazy and off the rails this game goes, it's still one of my favorite of the PS2 era. Yes, Metal Gear Solid 3 is a masterpiece and is a much better game. But I'm drawn to Sons of Liberty more so than the first Metal Gear Solid. Even if it's the better game, I guess having played the first one so late in the series reduced it's impact.

I am now excited to re-acquaint myself with this game and keep moving forward in this collection. Eventhough I had the game for my PSP, I never played Peace Walker. I keep hearing nothing but good things about the PS3 port, and I'm sure it's much better to play with the PS3 controller versus the PSP. And I'm sure it will look great. Which reminds me, MGS2 is very nice looking. The HD upgrade has made it very easy on the eyes.

Picking up an old past time

2011-11-23T17:30:00.002-06:00

Something I might or might not have ever mentioned on this blog:

Playing basketball was pretty much my life up until college.

I used to play all the time. I would spend hours a day out in the driveway trying to perfect my game. I played at the YMCA, in junior high, and 2 years of high school (before being on the team stopped being fun). I'm a pretty modest guy but basketball was something I was pretty good at and got even better at in my high school years. I was always a guy who was low on confidence even though I was good but that stopped being a problem the older I got. Even when I wasn't playing on an organized team, I would spend most of my time before and after school playing. It's not only what I loved doing but's it's also where I made the majority of my friends.

Once I graduated high school, I spent less and less time playing basketball. It wasn't until I was almost done with college that I got back into it. My friends and I would go to our school's fitness center and get full court games going. It was always a blast. Fast forward over 2 1/2 years and I hadn't even touched a basketball. I hardly ever thought about it, to be honest. I had started playing more tennis but, more than that, I just got lazy. I think that's what happens to a lot of people once they get older. Being lazy and also not having the time you once had.

Recently, I've been having major b-ball withdrawals. It came out of nowhere, really. My co-worker and I have been talking about getting people together and hooping but it hasn't happened yet. I hope it doesn't turn out to be one of those things you talk about forever but never actually do. I've been craving just dribbling a ball for the past couple of weeks. So, fed up with not fulfilling my need to play, I went out to the garage, found a couple of old basketballs (and the air pump because they were flat as hell), and got to work. We got rid of our driveway goal several years ago but it didn't matter. Just dribbling, for the first time in almost 3 years, was exhilarating. I did a few dribbling exercises I remember from school to the old feel of things. I was definitely rusty but the between the legs and crossovers started coming back to me. It felt great and it immediately brought me back to those days. Besides feeling great, there was something else I noticed...

Holy crap, I'm out of shape!

Just dribbling, forget playing a game, wore me out. This will not do. I'm been wanting to get back in decent shape for a while now and this just might be the catalyst. Since I don't have a hoop readily accessible, I'm just going to work on my dribbling for now. Once I get to where I'm not wheezing like I just ran a marathon, I'll think about playing in some actual games.

Out of shape or not, it just felt good to get back to my old past time.

Can't believe it but...

2011-11-19T22:02:00.002-06:00

I HAVE A NEW CAR!!! The two photos below were taken at night but I think they still do a pretty good job of representing the sexy.

This car is really exactly what I wanted. It's low on options I didn't want (or need) and has exactly what I do want and need. And I love the black color. The inside is also mainly black, two tone with gray. I also got a pretty good payment, considering everything. It was a little bit less than the max that I wanted to pay. I'm lucky to be in a position where I can have a really good credit score.

Now the plan is to stay at home, get my money back up a bit, and then look for a place to live sometime in the first part of the year.

Love my new car!

Gaming Journal: Dark Souls - Vol. 5: Back in the game...

2011-11-08T00:39:00.004-06:00

After making it through both Batman: Arkham City and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, I decided it was finally time to get back to the game we all love to break controllers over: DARK SOULS! *evil laugh*

Picking up right where I left off (after the dreaded Blight Town), I was instantly reminded of why I've already put 40 hours into this game. Simply put, once you get to a certain point, this game grabs hold of you and demands that you keep playing. It's evil, I tell ya!

Current location: Anor Londo.

How I got there: After ringing the bell in Blight Town, Sen's Fortress was the next place to go. Sen's Fortress wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be but that doesn't mean I didn't die a lot. There was still a lot of trial and error, falling off ledges, and different paths to follow. I won't lie and say I didn't get some help online because, well, I've been doing that the whole game. If I didn't help myself from time to time, I'm sure I'd have 90 hours on the game instead of 40.

Back to the game, going through Sen's Fortress had it's ups and downs but ultimately it's a great place. Once I made it outside towards the top of the tower, one of the coolest things in the game so far was checking out the views and seeing all of the locations I've visited, as well as seeing the battlegrounds of previous boss fights (like the roof of the church where the two gargoyles caused so much hell). Eventually, I made it to the boss of the area, and with it came my first thrown controller. This boss, an Iron Golem, wasn't even difficult. What was difficult and really annoying was the small area and the fact that I rolled off or got hit off the edge probably over 10 times. It was getting infuriating until I finally changed strategies. I stopped locking on, wielded my spear with two hands, and took the golem down in a couple of minutes. It was so easy once I made the change.

A really cool scene happens after the boss fight when you inspect a very curious glowing ring on the ground. Without getting into details, I ended up in Anor Londo and it's pretty stunning when you first see the place. It's pretty different from anything else you've seen in the game. I decided to make my way to the first Bonfire in the area. One thing I've already noticed: there are huge knights everywhere! This should be interesting...

Until my next update!

I laughed

2011-11-02T20:58:00.004-05:00

This picture I found (while looking for Uncharted 3 pics) made me laugh, so it deserves to get posted.

Gaming Journal - Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

2011-11-02T20:35:00.004-05:00

Warning: The following post is full of outrageously positive adjectives which help describe my first three hours with Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this game in the reviews? As the aforementioned warning states, I've only played the game for about 3 hours. But it's been an amazing three hours, ones which I wouldn't mind replaying right away if somehow my save data became corrupted.

The game starts out in (excuse the pun) uncharted territory: an English pub. It is there where we are introduced to the game's villain, Katherine Marlow. It doesn't take long to realize that she's a bitch. But she's an awesome bitch, AND she has a British accent. Shortly after, I received a hell of a surprise which I won't spoil for those who want to play the game but, if you've been following the series from the beginning, it's quite the treat. Right when I found out what was happening, I immediately yelled "This game is AWESOME!" despite having played it for only 15 minutes.

The game looks stunning and that shouldn't surprise anyone. What Naughty Dog has been able to bring out of the PS3 is incredible and it's a joy to just abuse that right analog stick to move the camera around to take in the views. One of the biggest graphical feats of the game so far has been an elaborate escape from a dilapidated, burning chateau in France. I probably said "This is crazy!" about 10 times. Judging from the reviews though, I haven't even scratched the surface of the awesome set pieces this game has to offer.

If there's one thing I didn't like at first, it was what seems like a new aiming system. It seems a bit slower and it makes it a little more difficult to do head shots (who doesn't like those?) but I've since adapted and it's not a problem.

The game has incredible pacing and it's very difficult to stop playing once you get going. But I'm currently hooked on the show American Horror Story so the game is on hold until later tonight.

Gaming Journal - Batman: Arkham City

2011-10-26T23:04:00.004-05:00

This will be my one and only gaming journal for Batman: Arkham City because I've already completed the game. I was fortunate enough to score a 4 day weekend (I love my job's vacation policy) and it just happened to fall on the same week I got the game. Extra free time = extra game time!

Arkham City opens with a bit of a surprise (and a certain pussy...that is, if you got the code). After the initial surprise, the game actually started kind of slow for me. The city is much larger than the asylum from the first game but I kind of felt like I picked up Arkham Asylum after a long layoff. It didn't feel like a new game yet. The initial disappointment quickly blew over, though, as I got a bit further. I think the side missions in this game are absolutely critical to overall enjoyment. There are so many side characters, villains, items, collectables, and just cool stories to experience just from the side missions. And then there's the main story, of course. The story slowly builds, twisting and turning, before culminating in a truly awesome twist that I didn't see coming. The guys at Rocksteady sure as hell know how to tell an amazing Batman story.

Allow me to speak of the villains because they...are...amazing. I never thought the Penguin could be quite as diabolical and evil as he's portrayed in this game. Some of the things he talks about doing to his victims caught me off guard in an awesome way. This game is definitely a little darker than it's predecessor. And then there's Zsasz. Do yourself a favor: complete his side mission because this dude is truly demented and disturbed. The best boss fight in the game belongs to Mr. Freeze. Again, you can't top Batman villains. It can't be done. Of course, there's the one and only Joker. Can we give Mark Hamill an award of some sort? On a larger note, the voice acting is superb all around. Hugo Strange (who I think is voiced by the same guy who did Yen Sid in Kingdom Hearts 2) is a great addition to the cast and you won't know what's going on with him until the game is almost over. Mentioned all of the villains and cameos would have me typing out a novel so you just have to play it. There's still plenty of side missions I need to finish so I'm probably missing some myself.

Catwoman. Oh, Catwoman. Nobody wears leather quite like her. She's limited compared to Batman because she doesn't have all of the cool gadgets but she's still fun to play with. She's very quick and tripping and slapping thugs with her whip is always cool. She has four episodes that are integrated through the main story, as long as you download her content before you start the game. Which I recommend. Her missions were a nice little break from time to time. Robin is also in the game. It would be cool to play as him but, as I understand it, he's only available for Challenges. Of course he's going to be DLC (unless you bought your game at Best Buy).

The only thing negative I guess I can say about the game is actually kind of a good and bad thing. There are so many side missions and Riddler trophies and secrets to collect, it almost becomes overwhelming to the point where it takes away from the main game. There were so many times where I was flying towards a main story marker and then something on the side would suddenly pop up. I just couldn't help myself and ended up changing direction to do the side stuff. I eventually just had to restrain myself and move on with the main story. I guess it wouldn't be so bad for the non-ADD people out there.

Once it was all over, I really enjoyed the game. I even loved the simple things, like boost grappling from building to building. It's truly exhilarating and that is an accomplishment in itself. For those out there who have played the game, let me know what you thought of it! Reading all of the glowing reviews is nice but getting reactions from "regular" gamers is always better.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - Launch Trailer

2011-10-21T00:29:00.003-05:00

Get More: GameTrailers.com, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - Launch Trailer HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Not much to say except that Sony doesn't need to remind me to pre-order.

Oh and Hollywood should really recruit Naughty Dog to do trailers for their movies because they can't be touched when it comes to game trailers. BOSS!

Gaming Journal: Dark Souls - Vol. 4: Blight Town

2011-10-17T22:48:00.006-05:00

I know I said in my previous journal entry that I was going to save these for major progression in the game or accomplishments but I'm throwing that rule out of the window. Because I'm going to take these opportunities to vent now. I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier since this is clearly a game made to vent about. ANYWAY...

Blight Town. I made my way down there and...hold on, allow me to be more specific. I made my way down to this horrible, wretched, rickety, dark, dank, stank cesspool of shit. But before I could truly make my way down, I had to make sure to die several times before even making it to a bonfire. This place stressed me out and, after a few hours of making some good progress and finally feeling better about everything, I made a really stupid mistake and fell to my death. I can't blame this on the area because it was my fault. I think I would have had a good chance to make it to the boss if I hadn't been careless. It was all the way back to the first bonfire I found in Blight Town and it was all I could take for tonight.

You must alway be on your guard here (more so than usual) and you better have some purple moss clumps because the threat of poison is constantly high. You'll find all kinds of baddies down here and, luckily, I can handle everything pretty easily with my sword. The enemies aren't a huge deal, it's traversing Blight Town that is a real bitch.

I think I'll be of a better mindset if I take a break, maybe pick it back up Wednesday night since tomorrow is my late night at work. Yes, that's how serious this game is. I plan my schedule around this shit.

***UPDATE***

Because I have a high threshold for grief, and after watching some videos and reading some stuff on Blight Town, I decided to try and at least get to the bonfire next to the boss tonight. I guess I can't stand not playing this game for one day. Good news is I'm sitting at the Bonfire right now, pretty close to the area boss. Bad news is, I'm pretty sure the boss is a giant, flaming spider. This level would have a giant spider as a boss. Oh well. Let's hope I can kill it!

***Resume regular post***

Also, by the time I get home tomorrow night, a certain someone will be waiting for me:

Gaming Journal: Dark Souls - Vol. 3: Before the Blight

2011-10-16T23:38:00.004-05:00

I would usually like to save these updates for something major but this deserves a post. Why? I'm about to make my way to the infamous Blight Town. I've heard so many bad things about this section of the game, I'm afraid it will ruin me. If you go on the Dark Souls board on GameFaqs, search for topics about Blight Town. I dare you to find anybody say one good thing about it.

On my way to Blight Town, I spend several hours leveling and getting new materials in The Dark Gardens and in the Dark Basin. I beat a big ass, floating butterfly (set to some really haunting music), damn near died defeating a multi-headed Hydra, and killed several other monstrosities. After getting some really cool armor in the Basin and level my Black Knight Sword to +3, I was feeling pretty good. Dare I say, even confident? My confidence was short lived once I made my way down to The Depths through the Lower Undead Burg. But before the Undead Burg, I had to make my way through a Capra Demon and his bitch ass dogs. Leave it to Dark Souls to make me hate dogs.

After the Capra Demon gave me the key to the Depths, I trudged through. I'm strolling along these dank ass sewers, killing rats, hollows, slimy...things, and even a Butcher! He was formidable but wasn't shit compared to my sword (oh how I love it...sorry Albee). Everything was going good until I dropped by vigilance meter and went running down a hallway like an idiot and fell right through a hole in the floor. Imaging how high my pissed off meter was when I dropped right into a group of frogs. These aren't just any frogs because these frogs can curse you...PERMANENTLY! And yes, I got cursed. Not only does this kill you instantly but cuts your health in half for the rest of the game until you find a way to get the curse taken off of you. Sucks, doesn't it? I made it a priority to get this curse off of me before doing anything else major. Thanks to the internet, I found a way to do without having to pay for it. There is a way to go back to the asylum at the very beginning of the game, which would be better explained if you look it up yourself. Remember that nest of two eggs to your right before going to the nest of eggs at the top of the hill where the crow takes you away? Well, go back to that nest. You should have some cracked red orbs and you can actually drop an orb (literally drop it) and the bird (which is still in it's egg?) will trade it for the item you NEED to remove the curse. In order to receive the trade, you have to save and quit your game and then re-load. You'll be right on top of the nest where you can just pick up your trade. Bingo!

Long story short (too late), after more leveling and fighting, I made my way back to the depths. Through the magic of the internet, I was able to find a way through the depths without encountering those damn frogs again. I eventually made it to the boss in the Depths, the Gaping Dragon. This thing is CREEPY looking! Despite looking like he's going to rape you, he's actually not that bad because he's really slow. Just keep moving and attack during the many opportune moments and he'll go down. He gives you A LOT of souls, as well as the key to Blight Town. There's a merchant right next to the door and he's got some pretty awesome armor. I didn't buy the main armor because the stuff I was wearing was close enough but I did buy the helm, which is PLAYA! It's both pimp-ish and geeky.

I could have just gone into Blight Town but my better judgement told me not to. I just got a huge amount of souls and I know as soon as I stepped into the new area, I would find someway to die and lose it all. Plus it's late. So, I made my way back to the Bonfire in the Depths and saved my game.

I'll begin my trek through Blight Town tomorrow. I'm currently level 34 and my armor and weapon are great, honestly. But I'm preparing myself for the worst, based on everything I've heard about this place.

Gaming Journal: Dark Souls - Vol. 2: Ring My Bell

2011-10-15T22:54:00.002-05:00

It's been a slow and arduous process but I finally made some really good progress in Dark Souls. And by really good progress, I mean do one of the first things you're supposed to complete in the game. It only took me about 25 hours of grinding and getting my stats up to wield certain badass weapons I was lucky enough to get. Sound tedious? It was at first but once you really dig into Dark Souls, it gets it's vice grip on you and doesn't let go. What might be tedious and frustrating as hell in other games isn't a problem with this game, for me at least.

You get what you work for in this game and that's why I love it. There have been so many weapons, secrets, badass enemies, and just...things to do and find while playing this game. For those in the know, the thing I completed was ringing the first bell at the top of the church tower in the Undead Parish. It was tough. Even with my Black Knight Sword +1, those gargoyles were bitches. It took me 4 tries (and OOOOH I was getting frustrated) but I finally got my movements and dodging down and took them down fairly easily. My sword was doing boss damage, I just needed to play better defense.

I'm currently level 26 and I've been running around the Darkroot Gardens for a bit. I've beat up on some gangly looking trees, floating sting ray looking things, and some really cool looking stone golems. I could see those guys being good for farming at 300 xp a pop! I know of a couple bosses in the area but I want to make sure I'm up for them before rushing in.

I know there's a giant wolf (with a sword in it's mouth) in the area so I might hit him up before watching more scary movies on Netflix!

Batman is making me spend that money

2011-10-14T20:54:00.002-05:00

Reviews for Batman: Arkham City are starting to pour in and they couldn't be more glowing. I knew I was buying the game, there wasn't a question about it. But I never actually thought about pre-ordering it until today. I honestly didn't expect several upon several perfect scores for this game. I knew it would be good but not DAAAMN good.

After viewing the Gametrailers review and checking a few others out, I e-walked my happy little self over to Amazon and hit that pre-order button. I justified spending full price on yet another game because I haven't used my Amazon Store credit card in a while and it had a $0 balance. I figured it was time to use it again.

By the way, I'm in a really good mood. Maybe it's because it's Friday and I have the weekend off! Double woot! *fist pump*

Gaming Journal: Dark Souls, Vol. 1

2011-10-09T12:29:00.002-05:00

The days are short, the nights are long...

What is that over there? Looks like a Knight but he's wearing a red cape. His back is turned, maybe I can sneak up behind him and backstab him, something I've yet to do correctly, and take whatever loot he's guarding. Slowly...slowly...A HA! *another failed backstab attempt* Oh no, that didn't work...oh...oh...SHIT, HE'S CHASING ME! I'm out of fire spells, I'm...

"YOU DIED!"

My experience with Dark Souls, so far, has been one of great frustration but also immense satisfaction and addiction. Replaying areas over and over again has never been so much fun. I guess the thing that keeps me going (and I'm still so early in the game) is knowing that I will get over whatever keeps killing me. Just getting to new areas is satisfying because consistent, tangible progress is difficult to come by. Once you finally beat that bitch of a boss and come across that new bon fire, or checkpoint, you can't help but feel amazing.

The gameplay in Dark Souls is not for those of us who like to rush in and wreck shit. This is not Devil May Cry. Rush and precede to get your ass handed to you. You must be patient, vigilant, and patient. Did I mention you have to be patient? I can't tell you how many times I have died because I thought I had the upper hand, got cocky, and then got a spear to the face. Be prepared. Do not go running down a corridor or into an open space all willy nilly. You probably won't like who's waiting for you. Also, and this is very important: be aware of your surroundings!!! You will accidentally roll off of a bridge or a cliff at some point in this game. Trust me, it will happen. Next time I play, maybe I should take my own advice.

Like I said, I'm still pretty much in the very early stages of the game. I'm not even 10 hours in. If I didn't have a job, I'd probably be a zombie by now from all the hours played. Seeing as it's a Sunday, I would like to get some good hours in today. For those playing the game (I know there's at least one of you!), I'm in the Undead Parish and I've already defeated the armored boar. I got to what looks like the courtyard of a church before dying because I was wielding a weapon I didn't have complete control over yet. -_- I need to get my stats up. And so I shall!

Praise the sun!

I must be a masochist

2011-10-03T16:26:00.002-05:00

Somebody slap me and tell me why I'm even considering buying Dark Souls? I played the first game, Demon's Souls, on a whim and fell for it's incredibly difficult, but addicting gameplay. After a while, though, the game started getting to me and I gave up on it. In hindsight, I think this was a mistake. It was brutal and seemed hopeless at times but it drew me in like few games can. I found myself doing things over and over again because even minor victories turn into huge accomplishments in this game. It was a different kind of exhilarating, something very few games have these days. Still, I gave up on it. I didn't particularly care for the nexus or the way the game was set up, being able to enter different worlds based on certain requirements.

Dark Souls is supposed to be even more difficult and unforgiving, even depressing! So why am I being drawn to it? Maybe the game is evil. *shrugs* Seriously, though, I'm actually going to buy this game. First of all, there is no more nexus. The game is actually open world and sounds much better compared to how the last game was set up. Instead of going to the nexus to do things like heal, buy things, or just simply rest, there are now bon fires scattered throughout where you can do those things. The only drawback, and this sounds right up this game's alley, is once you do all of that, every enemy (save the bosses) you struggled so hard against returns to say "Got'cha bitch!"

Since this game is an RPG, there is of course a currency you collect to upgrade yourself, your weapons, armor, etc. Your currency is in souls and when you die, those souls are left at the spot where you died. You can go back to get them, when in your hollowed state, but if you die again before reaching them, you lose them forever. I learned in Demon's Souls to not hold onto your souls for too long. If you have the chance to spend them, do it! That's kind of how to play these games. Be prepared! If you think taking a certain course of action, like spending souls you have to level something up, is going to help you, do it. Better safe than sorry and, really, you're probably going to be sorry either way.

Luckily, the game isn't cheap or obnoxious. Well, it might be obnoxious but it's the fair kind of obnoxious. You have to be able to learn, adapt, and be patient. I was obviously none of those with the first game considering I traded it in.

I'll have to correct that with Dark Souls.

Batman: Arkham City - Joker

2011-09-24T15:26:00.002-05:00

Get More: GameTrailers.com, Batman: Arkham City - Joker Trailer HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

I wish I could laugh like Mark Hamill's Joker. I'd just randomly laugh for no reason at all at various times during the day.

This game needs to go ahead and drop.

New car

2011-09-14T22:44:00.003-05:00

I am seriously considering buying a new car very soon. My new job pays fairly well and I have been able to save money. Can you guess why I'm able to save money? I'm still living with my parents. I've been having this dilemma for the past month or so, should I get a new car and stay with my parents (or get a cheap, probably crap place for myself)? Or should I continue riding dirty with the '92 S-10 and spend more of my resources getting a decent place for myself? A lot of people have said "Well, what if you get a place to live and then you're truck goes out on you?" It's a good point. I've been driving my truck since I started driving, close to 9 years. At some point it's going to call it quits. Add to that my desire for an upgrade. I really just want something new. It doesn't have to be brand new (and I don't want to pay that much) but I want something new to me.

What say you guys? If I were to find a place to live, I don't need anything big and fancy for just myself. I imagine I could get a new car and a place of my own. I just worry about money because, well, that's what I do. I'm pretty cautious with my money. It can be a good and bad thing.

Thoughts and suggestions are welcome!

Busy

2011-09-14T22:13:00.002-05:00

My job has been keeping me pretty busy recently. Some days are really slow but I've been pretty lucky by doing fairly well early on. Success at my job basically boils down to how many students I can get to come to school. Once the start of a new quarter comes rolling around, I had better hope I'm busy. Considering I've only been there less than 2 months, I'm pretty happy with how things have turned out so far.

I have to go in early tomorrow because a student of mine is starting class for the first time. I should be heading to bed pretty soon but I'll probably end up spending too much time on the computer (like I always do) and watching TV. I already spent a few hours playing Deus Ex tonight.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution - That late night game

2011-09-05T19:43:00.004-05:00

I received Deus Ex: Human Revolution in the mail a few days ago but have only played it once. That's because the US Open is on. Not only is the US Open on but most of the matches have been great and I'm afraid if I take time away from it to play the game, I'm going to miss something amazing. I did have time to finally pop the game in a couple nights ago and I made it through the prologue, which was great. I can already tell this is going to be one of those games you play late into the night and early morning without realizing how much time you've spent playing it. I was hard pressed to shut it off after I got to my first real mission but I had to wake up really early the next morning and I did the responsible thing.

The Open is on right now but I don't have to work early tomorrow morning so I plan on getting my play on after the tennis. I chose to go lethal for my first mission. Woot!

5.5

2011-08-29T22:46:00.002-05:00

That is my average number of posts per month this year. That is horrible! I want to write more but I find myself almost forgetting I have a blog sometimes. Why? It's not like their hasn't been anything interesting to write about. I could be writing about stuff everyday. I always have something going on or something that I have an opinion about. So why not write about it? I find myself reading more blogs and more opinions on things instead of talking about my own. I've never been a massive poster but I did use to post about 30 times a month or close to it.

But, seriously, how many times am I going to have this talk with myself? Have I lost interest in my blog? Say it aint so! Hell, I could be blogging from work if I wanted to, with full internet access and all. I think I'm going to start doing that.

I need these shoes in my life

2011-08-29T20:44:00.003-05:00

I'm watching the US Open and Roger Federer just walked out in these shoes:

They look so clean on TV (even better than in the picture above) and I really must have them. I don't usually like to drop over $100 on shoes but I just might now.

Thoughts on El Shaddai + a random game purchase

2011-08-29T17:28:00.002-05:00

As a follow up on my previous post, I did end up getting El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron and I have completed it. I can't be bothered to do a full review so I'm going to do a quick overview.

The first thing you will notice about El Shaddai are it's visuals. They're like a dream, literally and figuratively. I would be hard pressed to find a more artistic and beautiful game this gen. If nothing else pushes you to move forward in this game, the visuals will do it. You will want to traverse to more levels just to see what they will look like. Along with the creative and awesome graphics, the game also throws several styles of play at you in no order. One moment you will be playing like a regular 3D action game and the next you'll be playing a side scroller, a la Viewtiful Joe. Some levels will even switch styles on the fly, which helps to keep things fresh when the combat system might start to feel stale. There is even a fast pace driving section, which surprisingly works considering the game's setting.

The combat, while not bad, doesn't really do anything you haven't seen before. The option to use 3 different weapons does help to break things up but it's still not enough. The one thing I do like is that it does actually matter which weapons you use depending on the enemies and situations. So it's not like they're useless, I just wish there was a little bit more depth. But considering you only attack with one button, I think the combat is decent. The platforming is actually more of a problem. There were a lot of bad jumps and it just got frustrating at times. For every frustration, though, the game would switch things up and do something so cool that you could forgive the annoyances. What I can't forgive is how abruptly the game ended. It's bad enough that the game is too short but the way it ends is beyond annoying. I was actually a little bit mad when the credits started to roll. I was thinking "Surely not...*credits start rolling* Oh **** that." I need more than that.

The ending certainly doesn't make this a horrible game but the only way that ending could be redeemed is if there is a *good* sequel. I'm not sure if there is going to be one or, if it ever comes out, I'll care enough. To wrap this overview up, I'm glad I played this game because it's honestly a visual experience that I think everybody should check out. But is it a game that I think is worthy enough to stay in my collection? I'm not sure. If I had to give it a score, I'm thinking probably 7/10.

Speaking of another game, I ordered Deus Ex: Human Revolution off of Amazon last night on a complete whim. I am hearing some really good things about this game and I had credit in my account, so...why not?! I've never played the original but I know it's considering a great game. I hope this is good. After El Shaddai, I need something with a little more substance.

Gametrailers review - El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron

2011-08-16T22:01:00.003-05:00

I try not to let game reviews ultimately sway me one way or another when it comes to playing a game. But I think Gametrailers did just that with El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron.

Tags: GameTrailers.com, El Shaddai - Review HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

This game looks gorgeous. I love the art style. I played the demo and I was intrigued but not really that impressed. It was just the demo, though, and after seeing more of the game in this review I am pretty sure that I will want to play this game. The gameplay looks interesting for a what is essentially a button masher. I'm glad there does seem to be a good story under all of the style. That is always important, I don't care what anyone says. Gameplay is the key to a good game but there have to be other elements.

The game came out today so I'm going to look around and see if I can maybe find a good deal somewhere. It might one of those games that will take a while for me to get around to but I will play it.

DmC (Devil May Cry) gameplay trailer

2011-08-16T21:47:00.002-05:00

Tags: GameTrailers.com, Devil May Cry - GC 11: Gameplay Debut HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Ok, I'm not going to lie. I do like what I see in this video. But, still, part of me wishes they weren't doing a Devil May Cry reboot. They could have named this game anything else and it wouldn't be getting any of the backlash it's received so far. It seems like I'm in the minority when I say this but I loved Devil May Cry 4 and would have loved to see a sequel to that game. I want to know more about Nero since DMC4 didn't give us hardly any back story on him. It's a shame, in my opinion.

But I will be keeping my eyes on this game and, who knows, may just get it when it comes out.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception needs to stop playing and come on out

2011-08-16T21:38:00.004-05:00

Tags: GameTrailers.com, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception - GC 11: UK Fight to the Plane Trailer HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Would my words even do this justice? I just need the damn game to hurry up and get here.

By the way, I just found out that Sony cut the price of the PS3 down to $250. Not trying to sound biased or anything (kind of impossible to do, I guess) but that is a f**king spectacular deal. Having spent double that on mine, I have no regrets because I love my PS3. But $250? That's a steal.

And now I just went and made a love post to Sony even though I try not to have any brand loyalty. Oh well.

Relationships are good and all

2011-08-01T10:28:00.002-05:00

...until you completely lose interest. That's what happened with my relationship. After being together for nearly 8 months, it finally hit me that it wasn't going to work. I wasn't feeling invested in it at all and I was starting to see major incompatibility issues. Could I live with this woman? No. Did we like to do a lot of the same things? No. Did our personalities mesh very well? No. Did I even enjoy being around her that much? Sadly, no. I'm the kind of person who loves to laugh and I can't remember the last time I really had a good laugh around her.

After a couple weeks of dwindling communication, plenty of hints, and canceled Friday night plans, she knew what was coming. At first I thought I was being an ass by doing all of this but it turned out to be the right thing to do. It made the actual break-up a hell of a lot easier. I was still dreading it on the drive over to her place. I knew what I was going to say but didn't know how she would react. Instead of me looking like the villain, it went about as well as these things can go. She understood and was starting to see the writing on the wall around the time I was starting to show the signs (she's not stupid).

At the end of the day, it was all good and we didn't end it on bad terms. Which is really all you can hope for in a break-up.

Freddy Krueger is in Mortal Kombat...excuse me, WHAT?!

2011-07-22T00:14:00.004-05:00

I was completely shocked when I heard about this. I thought it had to be a mistake. But, behold, Freddy Krueger is actually going to be the new DLC character coming to Mortal Kombat. I haven't even purchased any of the new characters but I'm going to make sure to at least get Freddy. And probably Kenshi. He's a badass.

I still can't believe it. I love his fatalities. It's too bad they didn't do the Robert Englund Freddy but they probably couldn't get him. That or they wanted to deliberately go with the Freddy from the new (see: shitty) Nightmare on Elmstreet movie.

It looks like I'm gonna get back to killing folks real soon. In the game, that is.

BioShock Infinite shuts down E3

2011-07-10T18:29:00.002-05:00

Watch and be amazed. 15 glorious minutes of BioShock Infinite.

Tags: GameTrailers.com, BioShock Infinite - E3 2011: Full 15-Minute Demo HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Can I call this the game of the year for 2012 already? Jeebus, I need this game in my life. Is Elizabeth creating alternate universes or what is going on? She can just make things appear? Need. NEEEEEED! The sky rails are incredible and the environment (much like the original) is a wow factor just by itself.

This looks like it will definitely make up for the disappointing, but still somewhat satisfying, BioShock 2.

New JOB!

2011-06-26T23:31:00.002-05:00

It seems like I've been looking for a new job since I started my current job. It would have been a year there at the end of this month. I won't be making it.

On Friday, June 24th, I put in my two weeks notice. I found a new job! Not only is it a MUCH better paying job but it's also a job where I was finally able to take advantage of the degree I earned. Without a lot of experience, my degree helped me out a lot in being able to land this job. But perhaps the coolest thing? I got the offer on my birthday. Ha! I could have only imagined (and I did, actually) that would happen.

I'm going tomorrow to fill out all the necessary paperwork and I start July 11th. This job is going to open up a lot of opportunities for me. With the substantial bump in pay, I'm finally going to be able to get a new car. I guess I could've had a new car by now but I've always been cautious with money. I've been driving the S-10 for almost 9 years (since I started driving). I love the old truck but I'm ready for an upgrade. Also this could open up some potential career paths for me down the road. I'm just glad to be out of retail. I was afraid I would stuck for the rest of my life.

Life hasn't been half bad for me this year. :)

It's the first anniversary of my 24th birthday

2011-06-23T10:22:00.001-05:00

;)

*wow, I should post more*

E3 2011: Playstation Vita...$250. Me = pleasantly surprised

2011-06-07T00:53:00.002-05:00

Sony had quite a lot of say and show with their new handheld. No longer is it the PSP2 or NGP. Playstation Vita. I don't know exactly how I feel about the name. It's better than NGP and I'm glad it's not called PSP2. Vita is just kind of an odd name. Vee-ta. I'll get used to it though. What's more impressive than it's name is the price point. I was surprised to learn that the Vita is only going to to be $250. I was expecting $300 at the very least. Now there is a $300 model but it comes with 3G. Considering the flop known at PSPGo was $250, the Vita costing just as much is quite nice, especially with all it's got going for it. It is a gorgeous piece of hardware with portable Uncharted!

Speaking of games, the line up actually isn't that bad. Uncharted is definitely the stand out title though and it looks amazing. Seeing graphics like that on a handheld is pretty cool. Oh, have I mentioned there is going to be a BioShock game on the Vita? Oh yeah. Me likey. I have to imagine there is going to be quite a lot of third party support for this system. I think Sony may have finally done something right with this thing.

E3 2011: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception trailer and gameplay demo

2011-06-06T22:50:00.005-05:00

Click the play button below to watch how a video game trailer should be done.

Tags: GameTrailers.com, E3 2011: Drake's Fear Trailer (Stream) HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

If that doesn't sell you on the game then I don't know what will. Amazing doesn't quite do it justice. I'm absolutely loving all of the water effects. Speaking of water, watch the gameplay demo which was also shown.

Tags: GameTrailers.com, E3 2011: Cruise Liner Gameplay Demo (Stream) HD, PC Games, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360

Holy water and lighting! The folks at Naughty Dog do not play in the visual department. It's just ridiculous. I don't know why I haven't pre-ordered this game already. It's a foregone conclusion that it's going to be incredible.

Album review: Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More

2011-05-31T22:25:00.004-05:00

Never, in my 24 years of living, had I thought I could love the kind of music Mumford & Sons make. They're a lot of folk, a bit british blue grass, country, soul, and rock all rolled into one. I have never listened to anyone quite like them. I first heard of them after seeing the status of a facebook friend, who had a link to their live performance of "Little Lion Man", that said 'If you don't like this, you don't like music.' Skepticism in mind, I clicked on the link. What I heard was something different and something I didn't think I would like at first. But as the song went on the band's energy and emotion, not to mention the great chorus and infectious melody of the song, had me hooked.

Having heard "Little Lion Man", as well as another single "The Cave", I decided to go ahead and try their album. It started as kind of an experiment and ended with a listening experience I've rarely ever had. It's an album you have to actually listen to and not just hear. Marcus Mumford does an amazing job with his phrasing and inflection when he sings. You can hear pain, vulnerability, joy, and other emotions within his voice in every single song. It also helps that he has so much texture and grit in his voice. He's really a great singer. Almost every song had "chill moments". Whether it was the vocals, lyrics, instruments, or just the way the song was structured. Multiple chill moments. One more thing I noticed, before I get into the individual track break downs, was how every song had different layers to it. There are no ordinary, straight shot songs on the album. Ok, I take that back. There are two songs I can think of that set a straight path but, with these particular songs, they're the better for it. This band knows what it's doing with their songs and how they want to structure them.

Whew! That was a long intro. Onto the song-by-song breakdown!

1. Sigh No More - The first song, and title track, of the album starts off kind of slow. The band lures you in with a very harmonious beginning, leading into a more uptempo and uplifting ending. The lyric "Love, it will not betray you, dismay, or enslave you. It will set you free. Be more like the man you were made to be." runs throughout the second half of the song with Mumford, as well as the banjo, getting more and more into it.

2. The Cave - One of the more popular songs from the album is definitely a great one. The song really gets going with a boot stomping banjo riff running throughout the song leading into the amazing chorus.

3. Winter Winds - This is just one of my many favorites. It's such a free song! I'm not even sure what that means but it's what comes to mind. It's incredible. The chorus, the mix of instruments, and the end had me in heaven. There's a moment around the 2:43 mark where a trumpet comes in right before an explosion of instrumentation, which provided my first chill moment.

4. Roll Away Your Stone - This one is special. The banjo is glorious during the amazing chorus. While listening for the first time, you're not quite sure yet but the song is building and building until...it completely switches things up and blows your lid off, leaving you in complete euphoria. Get yourself and good pair of headphones for this one (and the whole album while you're at it). Suffice it to say, I had another chill moment.

5. White Blank Page - Marcus Mumford starts things off with a raw vocal. That's the only way to describe it. After a quick round with the chorus, we're treated to a few beautiful seconds of the banjo before things get epic. Things switch up in the latter half of the song where it turns into a boot stomping, yet lighter waving, anthem. Does that make sense? Oh, did I mention how I had another chill moment?

6. I Gave You All - Things take a pretty somber tone with this one. Mumford puts every sad and angry emotion into every word. The song starts as a slow burner and then starts building toward the middle. The harmonizing during "I gave you allllllllll" sends chills (by this point, I should probably sit by a fire).

7. Little Lion Man - Probably the band's biggest hit (which drops the F bomb right in the chorus). It is the boot stomper of the album where the chorus just explodes in the end. Really great song, even better watching them sing it live.

8. Timshel - I'll drop all suspense. This song is brilliant. As far as song structure goes, it's probably the simplest on the album, as well as the shortest. It consists of the guys all singing in unison the entire way with amazing lyrics. "You have your choices and these are what make man great, his ladder to the stars.". Beautiful song. The entire thing is a chill moment.

9. Thistle & Weeds - Oh what I wouldn't give to see them perform this song live. Drama just oozes out of this track. The way Mumford sings is brilliant and the atmosphere is awesome. I can't do this song justice by trying to describe it. It was damn near spiritual. I'm losing track of chill moments so I'll stop mentioning them.

10. Awake My Soul - I guess I would call this the album's anthem? It's quite the uplifting song, which is nice. This is another one that would be cool to see live, just for the audience towards the end. I saw one comment on this video that said "masters of the slow build" and it couldn't be more true. This song is the perfect example of that. "In these bodies we will live, in these bodies we will die. And where you invest your love, you invest your life.".

11. Dust Bowl Dance - Anyone ever read The Grapes of Wrath? I haven't. No worries, it's on my list of books to read. It's set during the dust bowl era in the US where millions were displaced from their lands. That's also the setting of this song. It's telling a story and it's a damn brilliant song for it. It starts fairly quiet before the intensity goes up several notches when Marcus spits out venom at the "liars and thieves" who stole from the poor. He apparently has a plan for them. There are a couple flurries on the guitar and drums before Marcus finally confesses to what he's done.

12. After the Storm - Could there be a more perfect ending to this album? Beautiful, poignant, haunting, as well as uplifting and sad at the same time. The lyrics themselves, especially in the second verse, gave me major goosebumps. Perfect in every sense of the word.

In today's musical landscape, where pop music serves as the dominating force, it is so refreshing to see someone like Mumford & Sons come along. They may not have affected the charts too much but they've affected me and how I listen to music. I started playing this album so much that when I would go a day or so without listening to it, I actually felt kind of off, kind of empty. I can't tell you how many times I've gone through the entire thing now but it's a ridiculous amount. Eventually, the magic of every great masterpiece wears off and you find yourself looking forward to the next one. Lucky for me (and millions of other fans), the band has started making new music this year and an album will be out soon.

It's kind of a good thing I got into Mumford & Sons so late. Now my wait for new material won't seem very long!

Favorites...If I absolutely had to choose, I guess the favorites of my favorites (aka the entire album) would be:

Winter Winds
Roll Away Your Stone
White Blank Page
Timshel
Thistle & Weeds
Dust Bowl Dance
After the Storm

The 5 I didn't list are also favorites, I guess they're just not the elite favorites. "The Cave" and "Little Lion Man" would have probably been on there had I not heard them so much before listening to the album. It doesn't really matter in the end because the album is a masterpiece. From top to bottom.

Final Score: 10/10

Backlogged: My stupid little rant about nothing

2011-05-25T17:48:00.004-05:00

Some people might think it would be a good thing to have so many games and books in their backlog. Never ending entertainment! I'm not one of those people. I have been trying, and failing, to split my entertainment time between video games and books. I haven't done either in about a week. I think part of the problem is I might have too much on my backlog. I find myself thinking about what I want to play/read until too much time passes by and just feel like doing nothing. Another part of the problem is work. I don't like my job and when I come home I don't feel like doing anything, even something that might be fun. I just feel like sitting. Have I mentioned I need a new job?

I realize this is all very trivial. Here I am berating myself about having too many entertainment options. Woe is me. But I needed a new blog post and this was the first thing I wanted to bitch about.

Game: Dragon Age II (with some Mortal Kombat on the side).

Book: A Game of Thrones.

Let's do this!

Disappointment and surprising greatness

2011-05-13T12:25:00.002-05:00

I bought two albums from Amazon the other day, The Script's Science & Faith and Mumford & Sons' Sigh No More. I had been wanting to hear the new album from The Script for a while now because I liked their first album. Mumford & Sons was kind of a surprise purchase. I was able to get the album, digitally, for free because of a promotion code, so why not. After listening to both albums, I was surprised by my feelings on each one.

Science & Faith, on initial listening, was disappointing. There wasn't one standout song on the entire album, save for maybe "Walk Away". I don't think there are any flat out bad songs on the album but everything really starting sounding the same. It was almost like the album was one, very long, song. That is not a good thing. I'll give it another chance but it will be a while. Why? Because I'm going to be wearing Sigh No More out.

I never thought I could love music like the music that Mumford & Sons makes. The only way to really describe it is "folk rock". I'm not sure what else to call it. Musically, it shits on anything I've heard within the past year and perhaps longer. My first listen was damn near a religious experience and I'm not even religious! The albums has the big hits, like "Little Lion Man" and "Cave" but it's so much more than just the big hits. Songs like "Thistle & Weeds", "White Blank Page", "Awake My Soul", "Timsel", "I Gave You All", and the list goes on. If you think you might not be into *does air quotes* this kind of music, as I did, you might want to give Mumford & Sons a chance. They could, and probably will, surprise you.

PG Tippin'

2011-05-08T22:16:00.003-05:00

I've been drinking a lot more tea than usual. I still love coffee (and it's still #1) but tea is starting to edge it's way into my heart. I will say, though, that it's harder to drink coffee after drinking a lot of tea because of the major difference in taste and boldness.

Since I started really getting into tea, I've been drinking staples such as Earl Grey as well as different green tea and even some white tea (which is very nice). But sometimes, well, you just feel like a nice cuppa PG Tips. I didn't really appreciate the taste until after I had tried other teas. It just has a good taste, with a nice amber color to boot. I just finished one cup and I think I'm ready for another.

By the way, I don't put anything (as in sugar, milk, etc.) in my tea or coffee. Am I weird?

You know Obama is feeling like a BAMF right now...

2011-05-02T10:18:00.003-05:00

Osama Bin Laden...

2011-05-01T23:26:00.000-05:00

Hack you very much

2011-04-26T19:01:00.002-05:00

The Playstation Network has been down for the past week. Why? Hacking bitches. I'm not going to be one of these people (idiots) who are screaming "I CAN'T PLAY ONLINE FOR A WEEK! I'M BUYING AN XBOX! That'll show Sony for getting attacked by hackers!" While I don't believe it's fair to place all of the blame on Sony they do have to share some of the blame. It is, after all, their network that has been breached and perhaps it wasn't secure enough? I'm not educated enough on such things to say. The person(s) who did this, I believe, deserve most of the blame. They are the ones who attacked the network and left millions open to identity theft. Anybody who defends these people or says things like "Sony had it coming" are morons. Let them be the ones to say that when their credit card number gets stolen and their bank account goes into the red.

If you ask me, I don't give two hootenannies about the damn online play being out temporarily. It's going to be back sooner rather than later. It's not my life and, to be quite honest, I can't remember the last time I played online. It's just not that important to me when it comes to gaming. Granted, once I get the chance, I will jump online to play some Mortal Kombat (and probably get my ass handed to me). But I can wait.

The real problem here is the possibility for identity theft. I haven't canceled the debit card that I have in my account but I'd be lying if I said the thought hasn't crossed my mind. With the update on the Playstation Blog, it sounds like there isn't any strong evidence to suggest that credit card numbers have been stolen but that doesn't mean they're not giving out pre-cautions.

The good news to come out of this is it sounds like Sony is re-building their system to strengthen the infrastructure. Hopefully that means more security. Because we all know Sony is going to be catching some major heat, and possible lawsuits, for this mess.

Stormy nights

2011-04-25T00:20:00.004-05:00

Down here in Arkansas (over yonder...), we're used to a little severe weather here and there during springtime. There are usually a few tornadoes and some scary nights. But this spring is just ridiculous. There's been extremely severe weather for the past three weeks in a row, at least two or more nights a week. I'm sick of it!

I also haven't been getting a lot of sleep during these storms because, of course, almost every single one has occurred in the middle of the night. It's not necessarily because of the storms that I'm not getting any sleep (unless the sirens start howling, then we take cover) but because Harley is a nervous wreck during them. And where do you think Harley runs to for safety when he's getting anxious about the weather? That's right, straight to my room where he needs me to tell him it's going to be all right. In a way, it makes me feel good. After all, he is like my furry child and I love him to death. But, as I said, I don't get very much sleep.

There is going to be another wave of severe, probably tornadic, weather coming into the region tonight and is going to be a threat over the next two days. Wonderful. The weather man is saying it could be the worst we've seen yet. In all the years we've lived in this area, the really bad stuff usually misses us. *knocks on wood* I'm not feeling terribly concerned yet but that doesn't mean we're always going to be in the clear.

Let's hope mother nature is in a good mood.

Shang Tsung makes ya take your head off

2011-04-09T13:52:00.003-05:00

Video Games | Mortal Kombat | Shang Tsung Trailer HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

Will this game just arrive in my mailbox already? It's on pre-order from Amazon. Seriously, I haven't been this excited for a fighting game in never.

I'm loving old Shang Tsung and my jaw literally dropped when Johnny Cage ripped his own head off. Brilliant idea! This game is going to be everything Mortal Kombat should be. And let's not forget all of the other stuff in the game. There is a challenge tower (with 300 challenges!), story mode, all of the "test your..." games, tag team play, and the krypt.

April 19th bitches!

Almost can't beliive I did it

2011-03-28T18:42:00.003-05:00

I just went and did something that I used to think would be regrettable.

I traded in my Wii.

I finally realized that I had no further use for it. Sales be damned, the Wii is the biggest disappointment of this gaming generation, no questions asked. How did Nintendo manage to drop the ball so much after such a strong start? I got sick of the constant shovelware, terrible third party support, lazy remakes and rehashes, and the complete lack of originality and first party titles. There's only so many Mario games one can play. Don't get me wrong, Super Mario Galaxy was a fantastic game. Metroid Prime 3 was a great game. No More Heroes (which is now coming to the PS3) was a fun game. Donkey Kong Country Returns was a fun game. That's four games off the top of my head that I enjoyed but never had the urge to play again. There were more but does it matter if I can't remember them?

I started noticing a trend with my Wii. I would always get excited for certain games that were coming out but, by the time they actually released, guess what happened? I would never buy them. Because in the back of my mind I knew that there would be games for the Wii that, while I would enjoy them, I would brush them aside to collect dust after beating them and forget about ever buying them. I knew the magic was fading when I finished Super Mario Galaxy 2, which was a fun game, and thought absolutely nothing of it. Since then, I haven't so much as turned on the system. Also since then, I've traded in the remaining three games I did own. It was only a matter of time.

Notice how I haven't even mentioned the crucial oversight by Nintendo to not make the Wii an HD system. I give Nintendo kudos for bringing some innovation to how we control video games but, in the end, it doesn't matter if the majority of the games are crap or the controls themselves amount to nothing more than imprecise waggling.

Meet the parents

2011-03-28T13:56:00.003-05:00

Last night my girlfriend, Jamie, had dinner at my parent's house for the first time. It actually wasn't the first time she had met them, though. I made it a point for her to come by last Monday to meet them so it would take some of the pressure off of the "big" dinner. My brother and his partner were also there, which was cool. My brother seems to really like her. My parents also seem to like her. I have to give kudos to my parents for making her feel comfortable. I figured they would. We're not really a "formal" family and we're pretty chill.

It's always funny, the pressure that we create for ourselves. It really shouldn't be that big of a deal when you bring your girlfriend (or boyfriend) over to meet your parents for the first time but it is. You might think all kinds of things, like "Will they think she's cute?", "Will they like her personality?" "Will they think she's right for me?", et cetera. But in the end it all turned out fine. Nothing really to worry about if you have a good relationship with your family and they support you, no matter what. I guess I'm lucky in that sense.

But now the tables have turned. I now get to go to her parent's house for dinner.

Swing action

2011-03-27T14:08:00.003-05:00

I really need to play more tennis. I love playing. It's also good exercise which I definitely need. My dad and I just got done playing and we were working up a good sweat (and it's 40 degrees outside!) I got into a rut where I would only play about once every few months. As you can guess, it's kind of hard to improve and stay in shape when one plays so little. It's also kind of annoying because I can say, without sounding cocky in the slightest, that I a knack for this game. I just need to play more so I can consistently get better.

In an ideal world I would want to play an hour a day. Unfortunately, whenever I come home from work, I just want to sit around and do nothing. That has to change.

We could learn from our canine friends

2011-03-17T00:31:00.003-05:00

We all know the saying "man's best friend". Well dogs are pretty loyal to their own, as well. There's no better evidence of that than this touching and nearly heartbreaking video of an extremely loyal dog staying by his fellow canine's side after the devastation in Japan. Remember, animals are affected by natural disasters too.

That dog wasn't letting anybody near the other dog that was hurting. He sat himself right down in front of him, even when he himself is shaking, hungry, and scared. Dogs can be such amazing animals and their loyalty is one of the reasons why I love them so much. I got a lump in my throat when the injured dog started moving and the other dog put his arm up over him, as if to say "it's ok". That was the one uplifting part of the video, finding out the dog wasn't actually dead.

If you couldn't tell, I'm a major bleeding heart when it comes to dogs. I love mine (Harley) as if he were my furry child. I imagine some people probably think I'm being silly but we can learn a lot from dogs. It's been reported that both dogs have been rescued and are in veterinary care.

Bioware has done it again

2011-03-14T10:13:00.003-05:00

So, I finally beat Mass Effect 2 last night. It was a great game, one that had me completely hooked and absorbed in it's universe. After finishing the game (which took 43+ hours), I still found myself wanting to play more and finish up little side missions I didn't get and just talking to characters. Bioware certainly knows who to suck you in and keep you there even after the journey is over.

The only disappointment I had was not being able to play the first game. Of course, I could rectify that by either playing the first one on PC or buying a 360. But since I don't have a proper PC and I'm not buying a 360 for one game, I'll have to get over it. The interactive backstory comic, which let me make the real important choices from the first game, was cool but I felt like I was missing out on quite a few things (mainly small subtleties) in the second game that I would have enjoyed more had I played the first game. My decisions in the interactive comic obviously had a major impact on characters and events in the second game but it wasn't the same. It was like reading a summary of a good book. You get all the good stuff but it doesn't leave you with nearly the same impact.

Still, that's not Bioware's fault. And it shouldn't come as a fault to the second game. Really, the only real problems I had with Mass Effect 2 were a few recurring technical hiccups. Also, Project Overlord was some crap. It only got good at the very end where you had to make an incredibly difficult decision if you were trying to play renegade the whole way. Luckily, Overlord wasn't a part of the main game, it was just DLC. Still, the majority of the mission was tedious and was the only part of the game where I was asking myself "When is this going to end?!"

The other 99% of the game was fantastic. Like I said, the best thing about this game is how it absorbs you into it's world. And you know the game did a good job with the characters when you're actually worried that you're going to lose certain people in the last mission. There were moments during the final mission where I was cringing during certain moments because I was afraid some of my favorite characters weren't going to make it. Looking back, I realized that it all depended on loyalty and whatnot but that's how good the game had me hooked. And just like Dragon Age: Origins, I was questioning myself on whether or not I made the right decision at the end of the game. It certainly wasn't the popular decision with my crew. This is the stuff that causes multiple playthroughs. There are so many things I could have done differently and I'm already thinking about importing my character (for a New Game+) and making different decisions and pursuing different relationships. I would like to do that before Mass Effect 3 drops later this year.

But first there's Dragon Age II.

The Kombat Kontinues

2011-03-10T21:24:00.004-06:00

Video Games | Mortal Kombat | The Kombat Kontinues Trailer HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

Excuse me.

*picks up jaw off of the floor*

THAT was an amazing showcase! This game looks absolutely brutal, even for Mortal Kombat. Those stage fatalities are crazy and the face in the lava made me cringe. The ending was perfect. By the way, these combos are ridiculous. I would hate to get caught in one (which I will) but they look great. Some of these x-ray moves are disturbingly hilarious (Lui Kang getting hit in the hit with a car) and some of just awful in a good way (Kano's knife breaking bone).

I feel like this is going to be the best Mortal Kombat ever. They've brought everything (and more!) back that made the games great in the first place. And I'm so glad they're bringing back characters like Cyrax and Ermac, two of my favorites from Mortal Kombat 3. They're still teasing with Kratos. I want to see what he can do! Not too long now.

I might as well go ahead and pre-order.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. New villain!

2011-03-08T23:34:00.005-06:00

Just when the news, screen shots, and trailers had stopped coming, Naughty Dog goes and drops a bomb: the new villain for the game. And she may surprise you.

Video Games | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | GDC 11: Katherine Marlowe Cutscene HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

Love. It.

This is a pretty big departure from the villains of the first two games, who were more physical threats than anything. Katherine Marlowe seems like a downright bitch. Smart, tactical, and ruthless. And she has an awesome voice actor (is that Helen Mirren?!). But that shouldn't be very surprising. The Uncharted games have become known for their brilliant voice acting and dialog.

"Oh, careful now, wouldn't want ya melt."

The PSP2 (NGP) is shinin'!

2011-03-02T19:36:00.004-06:00

A video of the PSP2, from GDC, has been released. No, it's not shown playing any games, just the system rotating. And rotating. Considering how sexy and shiny the handheld is, I'm perfectly fine with that.

I'm hoping this thing doesn't cost and arm and a leg because that right there damn near sold me. Such a beautiful device.

Travelling

2011-02-28T18:38:00.004-06:00

Here are a few of the places, in no particular order of preference, that I would like to visit someday:

United Kingdom - Mainly England and Scotland since their isn't much of Ireland, although I'm sure Wales would be cool as well. Also, this goofy looking British dude said he would be happy to take me in if I needed a place to stay.

Ireland - My cousin once told me that he went to Ireland once where he rode the bus and he drank an Irish coffee while riding. That alone made me want to go. I just want to go and enjoy the scenery though and listen to people talk. Also, like the UK, I just want to go to random places.

Japan - Talk about a culture shock. Can you see a red head walking down the streets of Osaka?

Australia - While not at the top of my list, I definitely would like to go the way over there someday.

France - France never really used to do much for me and I had little interest in going to Paris. But the recent pictures my girlfriend has shown me from her trip had me thinking again.

Rome - Are there many other places in the world with more recognizable monuments and places to tour than Rome? I'm not Catholic (or a very religious person for that matter) but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to visit Vatican City.

I'm sure there are more places but those are just the places off the top of my head. That's a lot of time to spend as well as a lot of money. But it would be worth it.

Chaos Walking

2011-02-27T23:50:00.002-06:00

I received a book series from my oldest brother for Christmas. It's the Chaos Walking trilogy, books I had never heard of but was told were excellent. I started reading the first book and was hooked pretty quickly. It had a fast pace and a great concept. What would you do if you lived in a town where everybody could everyone else's thoughts, even animals? This is the basic premise when the book begins but, as interesting as that concept is, it's really just the tip of the iceberg. The main character, Todd, and his dog Manchee find themselves on the run, for most of the book, from something he doesn't even understand yet. The town he once called home has a terrible secret and Todd is right in the middle of it.

I finished the first book pretty quickly and, despite the abrupt cliffhanger ending, I thought it was excellent. Todd is a good protagonist and Manchee is the best animal character I've ever read. Since we can hear Manchee's thoughts, he has a personality and voice. This book also has the most heartbreaking scene in any book I've ever read (and I've read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas). It's the first book that has ever gotten that kind of emotional response out of me. I guess it just hit that right nerve.

I'm in the latter half of the second book right now and, while it's set at a different pace from the first book, it's just as good. I'll be looking to finish it this week and start on the third book. I'm definitely glad my brother decided to get these for me.

Something to ponder

2011-02-27T23:14:00.002-06:00

Are you happy? I know that's quite the broad question so allow me to break it down into parts. Do you enjoy your job? Do you wish you were some place else? Do you wish you were doing something else? Do you feel like you are meant to be doing something better with your time? Do you feel like you could, and should, change your current situation? Do you feel fulfilled throughout the day? Or are you just going through the motions?

These questions are more rhetorical than anything but I'm putting them out there because, well, I ask myself these kinds of questions. And, if I'm being honest with myself, I don't really like the answers. The most important question is: am I doing anything to try and change the answers? I often find myself talking about the things I want to do, things I want to see, and places I want to go. But there comes a point where I need to figure out how to stop talking about it and start being about it. Corny and cliched, I know. But it's true! I have to do a better job of making things happen. For example, I want a better job, so I need to be more active in trying to find one. I want to travel, well I need to make plans, save money, and get a passport. You get the idea.

I also want to write more on my blog, and not just about all the joys of games, movies, and music. I seem to have forgotten the "my life" part of my header.

inFamous 2: Karma trailer

2011-02-25T11:39:00.002-06:00

Video Games | inFAMOUS 2 | Exclusive Karma Trailer HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

Luckily this game doesn't come out until June, so my backlog should either be small or non-existant. This trailer got me pumped for the game unlike any other trailer for the game has before. I hope the karma decisions are tough ones and no so black and white like the first game.

Dragon Age II had me at the title screen

2011-02-22T23:28:00.004-06:00

I played the highly anticipated (for me, anyway) demo of Dragon Age II. I loved every minute of it. I'm one of those people who loved Dragon Age: Origins even with all of it's technical faults. It was massive and very addicting once you got past the beginning of the game.

Dragon Age II has made some pretty big changes, the most noticeable ones coming in the visual department. The graphics still aren't mind blowing but they are so much better. The frame rate (which was only a big problem for the PS3 version) is also MUCH better. The game just runs smoother and looks better all around. The battle system also seems to be a bit more fast paced and even more action oriented, which I have no problem with. You still have the radial wheel you can pull up every now and then to pause battle but the combat is just a bit faster. Another change comes in the way conversations are held. For those who have played (or are playing in my case) Mass Effect, you will recognize the dialog wheel is very similar. The pause menu is also very similar. It seems like Bioware wanted to make Dragon Age II more cinematic as well, taking another page from Mass Effect 2.

The demo was excellent and I will be buying this game on day 1 because I already know I'm going to get my money's worth. My problem, and I don't know if you can actually call it a "problem", is that I'm not very far into Mass Effect 2. I've only played it for 10 hours and, ideally, I would want to be done with it before I jump into Dragon Age II. Here's my plan of action (I am such a nerd): finish up Dead Space 2. I only have 2 chapters left and I'm hoping they don't keep me much longer. I love the game (I think it's better than the first) but I'm ready to get back on Mass Effect 2. Next, hit Mass Effect 2 hard. Dragon Age II comes out March 8th. I've heard Mass Effect 2 isn't that long of a game so maybe I can make it by the 8th. If not, it's really not that big of a deal. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time a game has sat on the shelf waiting to be played until I beat the game before it.

Looks like Bioware is taking more of my money.

Dead Island

2011-02-17T01:41:00.003-06:00

The beautiful (is that the right word?) debut trailer for a game where a vacation goes horribly wrong.

Zombies are kind of played out. They made a surge back to popularity with everything being zombified and I just got sick of it. But this is kind of different. I have no idea how this game will play but I'm completely intrigued because of this cinematic trailer. The infected little girl being at the center of the video really set a more serious, gruesome mood. Children just have that effect. It's the same thing in Dead Space 2.

I wonder what the gameplay will be like? A lot of running away, melee combat? I think it would be disappointing if it was just another zombie shooter. It doesn't look like it would be though. I guess time will tell.

Noob Saibot isn't playing any games!

2011-02-16T08:06:00.002-06:00

Noob Saibot has been revealed (along with Sindel and Jade) for the new Mortal Kombat game. He will be kicking ass and then his shadow will be kicking more ass.

I'm actually looking forward to this a little bit more than Marvel vs. Capcom 3 because I've always been kind of a MK nerd since the first game dropped. I hope this game lives up to some of the hype. It's looking better than any Mortal Kombat in a long time, probably the best since the 2nd or 3rd game.

Marvel vs. Capcam 3: FTW gametrailers review

2011-02-16T08:04:00.002-06:00

If this is anything to go by, the game looks like it's going to be a blast.

Video Games | Marvel vs Capcom 3: FTW | Review HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

3 weeks

2011-02-12T00:44:00.004-06:00

It's been almost three weeks since my last post. Damn! If I'm being completely honest with you, I actually forgot I had a blog until tonight. I think there are a few reasons for this:

I've been reading and gaming more (Dead Space 2 is amazing)
I've been reading more blogs while completely forsaking my own
I have a new lady in my life (yes!). I've been spending time with her and get this, I can actually be with her because she was SINGLE when I met her. Miracles do happen.
Working (or spending time not working trying to find a new job)

I think those are pretty good reasons for neglecting my blog, don't you? There used to be a time where I posted all the time, multiple posts a day. I need to try and get back to something like that. I need to start doing reviews again, posting about music, and just the everyday stupid or boring stuff that happens to me.

One of my main blogging goals for 2011:

RECORD A NEW JUNLEE PRESENTS...

This has to happen. I'm determined to make a new one. I'll definitely have a lot to talk about. I'm sure my last one doesn't even work anymore. I'm a podcasting failure. :(

No worries, though. I'm going to try to post more and get my ass on a microphone. That's all there is to it.

Mileena is going to cause me to break a controller...

2011-01-21T16:55:00.002-06:00

Watching this Mileena trailer for the new Mortal Kombat, coming out April 19th, tells me one thing. This bitch hasn't changed at all! She's always been one of the cheapest characters in MK history and this video doesn't change that opinion at all.

Video Games | Mortal Kombat | Mileena Gameplay Trailer HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

You see those obnoxious air combos? I always liked playing as Mileena back in the day because she was easy to play with and easy to be cheap with (take that how you want) but I hated playing against her for the same reasons.

Andrew Garfield as the new Spider-Man

2011-01-13T17:51:00.003-06:00

If any of you have seen The Social Network (great movie) then you will recognize our new Spider-Man (which, for the unknowing out there, is being rebooted). Many fans have been skeptical, me included, but not so much now thanks to the sleek new design for the costume:

I love it! It looks much more "hand made" than the previous costume, almost like it was made out of basketballs. Also, Garfield's leaner build looks better for Spider-Man, in my opinion, than Toby Maguire's stockier build. Judging from this picture, it looks like he got his ass kicked. Perhaps by the Lizard, as it's been reported that he's going to be the main villain for the movie.

Going broke for games

2011-01-13T13:15:00.003-06:00

2011 is seriously going to rape my bank account. I just looked up all of the upcoming releases and I was floored by the amount of must buy games that are coming out so soon. Half of them are coming out in the next three months and 3 of them are coming out this month!

LittleBigPlanet 2
Mass Effect 2
Dead Space 2

All three of these come out this month (the first two next week!) and they are all must buy games for me. *le sigh* Not to mention Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 and Killzone 3 come out in February. Not to mention Dragon Age 2, Mortal Kombat, and Batman: Arkham City all come out before the middle of the year. That leaves many other huge titles like Uncharted 3, The Last Guardian, Mass Effect 3, and Infamous 2 coming at in the latter half of the year. And that's not even counting the games that sneak up and interest one until they're already released. Also, I'm just counting the games for my PS3. What about Wii? *checks upcoming Wii titles* Oh ok, good. The Wii line up for 2011 is shit. Whew!

I've already apologized to my bank account in advance.

Phoenix laying the smack down on bitches

2011-01-07T14:23:00.000-06:00

Video Games | Marvel vs Capcom 3: FTW | CES 11: Phoenix Trailer HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

This walkthrough video just sold Dead Space 2 to me

2011-01-06T16:30:00.002-06:00

Not that I wasn't going to buy the game anyway but this video really made it a day one purchase. Incredible!

Video Games | Dead Space 2 | Train Station Single-Player Walkthrough HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

Why was this 6 minute walkthrough video better than the entire game of Resident Evil 5? How intense that was, especially the last part. Of course, the guy playing is showing off a bit with all the different varieties of using stasis and weapons but I know it won't be that easy in the heat of battle. Isaac hanging upside down fighting for his life is brilliant. Also, the train sequence, trying to glide towards the other cart? What!

Need. In. My. Life.

Killzone 3 trailer lays on the epic

2011-01-06T16:07:00.006-06:00

This is exactly the kind of trailer this game needed. Grand in scale and dramatic.

Video Games | Killzone 3 | CES 11: Story Trailer HD

Xbox 360 | PlayStation 3 | Nintendo Wii | PC Games

You all should know by now that the FPS genre isn't my favorite. But I will be playing this game, just like I did the second one, for the sheer spectacle of it all. And if the story can muster up a little drama on the way (I hope Rico dies. Please?!) then I'm all for it.

Naughty Dog teasing Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception 11 months out...so wrong

2010-12-28T19:48:00.004-06:00

I love Naughty Dog and the Uncharted series but dropping these little teaser videos is dirty. The game is 11 months away and it's looking this good. Drake and Sully are trying to escape a burning building somewhere in France. Watch:

Beautiful. See the details? Like the wallpaper peeling. And the lighting is fantastic as are the animations (like Nate actually side stepping a dead body). I can't wait to see Nathan in the desert. I know it's going to be visually as well as cinematically incredible. I can't wait to play it on my TV.

Besides the brilliant visual and amazing set pieces that accompany these games, they're just fun to play. The running and gunning, the platforming, and funny and realistic banter between characters. It all adds to the charm, fun, and overall brilliance of these games. The first game was really good and fun but the second game took it to whole other level. I expect the third to be even better.

Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-25T18:40:00.002-06:00

I hope everybody reading this has had a great Christmas. I know I have and am still having one.

Merry Christmas!!! :D

Thieving ass bitches

2010-12-13T22:19:00.004-06:00

Know what I think of people who steal other people's property? They're worthless ass individuals who apparently can't get shit of their own so they feel the need to take things that others have paid for with their own money. I'm heated on the topic of thieves right now because, about a couple weeks ago, some bitch ass thief stole my iPod Touch at work. Yes, somebody I work with stole my iPod Touch right from under my nose. I say that because I was their the day/night it happened.

I actually made the mistake of leaving it in my back desk over a two day period when I was off. I thought for sure that somebody was going to take it. But, when I got there in the morning, it was still there. I noticed the battery was about dead so I turned it off and put it back in the desk with the intention to pick it up when I got off work. After I clocked out for the day, I went back to the desk and opened it up. My iPod wasn't where I left it. I searched all throughout that thing thinking maybe I misplaced it but I knew better. I knew exactly where I had put it and could even remember hearing the sound it made when I dropped it back in the desk that morning. Who the could have done? Who would have done it? I mean, really? Somebody I work with? There have been so many times in my life where my trust in people has taken hit after hit and now this happens. It makes me feel like I can't trust hardly anybody sometimes.

I don't have any real suspicions about who could have taken it. It could have been anybody there, I guess. I do have a little something. Right after I found out it was stolen, one of the girls I work with noticed me looking confused like I had lost something. She said "Jon, did you lose something"? I said "I didn't lose anything. My iPod Touch was stolen." As soon as I said that, one of our part-time grocery workers immediately started emptying out his pockets to let me know he wasn't the one who took it. I motioned toward him and said "I'm not accusing anybody, I'm just saying." Now, I didn't think anything of it at the time but isn't it a little bit odd that he automatically started emptying out his pockets right after I said my iPod had been stolen? Is it a case of "Doth protest too much"? I don't know. Even with my suspicions, I can't say anything. I have no proof and that raggedy ass place doesn't even have any cameras in the back. I know one thing, I won't be leaving anything that's worth anything lying around anywhere in that place.

One of the things I've found out about myself throughout life is that I like to learn lessons the hard way. This is just another one of those times.

My black friday/cyber monday goodies

2010-12-12T01:05:00.002-06:00

I didn't go out for Black Friday this year. Two reasons: I had to work that morning and I didn't feel like getting out with all those damn fools this year. That didn't stop me from shopping online, though! I ended up ravaging Amazon and here's what I came up with:

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International - A game I had no intention of buying but saw it for $29.99. Why not?
Valkyria Chronicles 2 - I've been wanting to get this game because I loved the first one so much but I wanted to wait for a price drop because I'm a cheap bastard. Amazon had it for $19.99. BAM!
Shutter Island (Blu-ray) - I loved the book and movie. The price was cut in half to $12.99. Yes, please!
Super Street Fighter 4 - Another game I wouldn't have bought except...$14.99? *adds to cart*

A couple other things I bought that weren't technically during BF/CM but still got wicked deals on:

Inception (Blu-ray) - LOVED this movie and would have bought it at regular price but was able to get it at $14.99 because of a credit. SCORE!!!
Donkey Kong Country Returns - Bought this gem for just $14.57 because I had some video game credit. I win.

I pretty much gave myself an early Christmas. It wasn't all about me, though. Don't tell her but mom is going to have a new digital camera. Lord knows she needed a new one. The one she has now is about as big as this Kleenex box sitting beside me (I've had a cold).

Donkey Kong Country Returns: My first impressions

2010-12-12T00:48:00.003-06:00

Remember back in the day when you used to be in school and you would think about getting home and playing video games? That's how I felt about Donkey Kong Country Returns today at work. I was thinking about how I was going to get home and play me some Donkey Kong! Being only the third Wii game I've played all year, I've got to hand it to Nintendo and Retro Studios. They've managed to bring all the charm and fun of the old Donkey Kong Country games into this new game and bring me back to being a (younger) kid again.

If you've played any of the DK games before then you know they're not about their stories. Somebody stole Donkey Kong's bananas. He wants them back. There's your story. There's a little bit more to it but that's really it. The basic formula is all here from platforming, collecting bananas, coins, rolling and jumping on baddies. While some fans might miss enemies like the Kremlins and a couple animal friends (the Rhino seems to be the only one back), the gameplay is top notch and the platforming is so fun. Also, mine carts are back! If there is one thing I miss it's Candy Kong. It's too bad Retro decided to leave her out and go for auto-saving instead.

We all know the Wii is underpowered (as Random J told us) but DKCR is a nice looking game and has terrific design and art style. Also, the controls work really well. I've just been using the Wii remote and nunchuk. You could turn the Wii remote sideways but I personally can't see why you would want to.

I've only been through the first two worlds but it's been a blast so far with some really cool moments already. The game is turning out to be quite difficult too. Good thing I'm able to stock up on them balloons.

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

2010-12-12T00:42:00.002-06:00

It was only a matter of time, right?

Video Games | Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception | VGA 10: Exclusive Debut Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Now you know those sand effects are going to be on POINT! We all saw what snow looked like in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. Naughty Dog knows their way around the PS3 hardware and I have no doubt Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception will be the best looking game the system has seen once it drops. I'm loving the new locale. Aside from the inevitable gorgeous graphics, stellar production and voice acting, I am hoping this game has a few new things as far as the gameplay goes. Also, the online was fun last game but I'm looking for ND to make it a lot better and more stable.

They might as well sign me up for pre-order right now.

Final Little Big Planet 2 box art

2010-12-02T18:47:00.003-06:00

After being pushed back from November to January, some people might've been upset with Media Molecule. I don't really understand why. If game developers need more time to make a game better, then I'm all for it. My interest in this game just got reinvigorated with this box art.

How can you not love that face?

Donkey Kong Country Returns

2010-11-15T19:25:00.001-06:00

Video Games | Donkey Kong Country Returns | Volcano Gameplay Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Have I mentioned I need this game in my life? I haven't? Well...

I need this game in my life!

Time to dust off the Wii and get some batteries.

Dragon Age II: Rise to power trailer

2010-11-04T21:59:00.000-05:00

Video Games | Dragon Age 2 | Rise to Power Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Day one bitches!

Dead Space 2 creepy lullaby trailer

2010-11-04T21:49:00.002-05:00

Video Games | Dead Space 2 | Lullaby Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

It doesn't match up to the "Twinkle, twinkle little star" trailer for the original Dead Space, but it still gets the job done. This game makes me want to go out and buy a surround sound system because I know the sound is going to be on POINT. The sound was one of the scariest parts of the first game and it was easily some of the best I've heard in a horror game.

Album cover: Michael

2010-11-04T19:55:00.004-05:00

I am diggin' the hell out of this cover. This shit is going to stand out like crazy on the shelf.

This comes with the announcement that there will be a new Michael Jackson album, released December 14th. The album will have all new material, including some of Michael's most recent recordings. The first single will be called "Breaking News", which was recording in 2007. A teaser for the album will be on the official website tomorrow (Friday the 5th), and the full song will be streaming on the site for a week, starting November 8th.

I know people will cry exploitation and all that stuff but I'm actually interested to hear these tracks. MJ always recorded a plethora of songs for his albums and we know he was recording in the past fews years before his death. I just hope the music is quality. It'd be a shame if it was crap.

UPDATE:

Man, I just heard "Breaking News". Some bullshit! I heard that some of this (or all of it?) might not be MJ singing. It's TRUE, at least for this song. It is NOT Michael singing on the track, any fan could tell the second he starts singing.

**** this shit.

This is Halloween

2010-10-25T19:37:00.009-05:00

I don't consider myself a Marilyn Manson fan but this cover of the Disney classic is awesome, accompanied by a great video.

Album face-off: Only by the Night vs. Come Around Sundown

2010-10-22T23:54:00.004-05:00

I've recently become a fan of Kings of Leon. Yeah, I know I'm late to the party. Aren't I always? Funny thing is, when "Use Somebody" started getting a lot of radio play, I hated it at first. I didn't like the lead singers voice for one. It seemed like one of those "forced rocker" voices. Kind of like Scott Stapp from Creed, except not nearly as terrible and cheesy. But then I started listening to them some more and I realized I was wrong.

It was around the time "Sex on Fire" came out. I love that song, it's one of my favorite off of Only by the Night. I gave the album a legitimate listen and I liked a lot of the songs but there were a few I didn't care for. After multiple listens, however, even the ones I didn't like started to grow on me. "Notion" is, and will forever be, my shit. Along with "Be Somebody". I started noticing there were several songs that I really loved. So it was no surprise that I was excited about their new album, Come Around Sundown. "Radioactive", as the lead single, is one of my favorites off the album. "No Money" might be my favorite song, followed very closely by "The Immortals." "The End" and "Pyro" are also great. It does have a different sound, though. I don't think it's quite as commercial as Only by the Night, but that's certainly not a bad thing. There just might not be as many hit singles. It's a consistently good album all the way through, something Only by the Night isn't, in my opinion. With that being said, I think the latter has a few more great songs, even though it's not as consistent. If that makes sense.

If I had to choose one over the other, I would probably go with Only by the Night, but by a slim margin. It's a testament to how much I love "Notion" when I started singing it right after listening to Come Around Sundown, which is a really good album by the way. I may be changing my tune as I listen to it more.

I really need to listen to their older stuff.

Awesome banner for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

2010-10-15T19:53:00.003-05:00

For those who read the book (and there are a few of you out there), you probably instantly recognize this scene from the incredibly memorable "Seven Potters" chapter. It should look amazing on the big screen.

Here's a bigger version.

Game review - Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep

2010-10-10T00:37:00.003-05:00

Tetsuya Nomura wasn't joking when he said Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep was just as important to the KH universe as KH1 & KH2. This isn't just some side story or spin off. BBS is a full blown Kingdom Hearts game with just as much, and maybe even more, story as 1 and 2. It does a great job of answering series long questions, tying things together, and offering up new questions and challenges for future games. I'm officially pumped for Kingdom Hearts 3.

Set 10 years before the events of Kingdom Hearts, Birth by Sleep tells the story of Terra, Ventus and Aqua. You play through each of their stories separately, with all of them being linked to each other. If you've played the previous games you'll immediately see similarities between these three and Sora, Riku and Kairi. Starting out, the three of them are students under Master Eraqus (voiced by the great Mark Hamill) and Terra and Aqua are training to be keyblade masters. To become a keyblade master, one has to pass a test called the Mark of Mastery. Ventus (or Ven) is still too young, but he's no slouch with the keyblade. Master Xehanort (voiced by Spock himself, Leonard Nimoy) is present during their examination, with intentions of his own. Aqua ends up being the only one to pass the exam because Terra was unable to keep his darkness in check. Soon afterwards, Master Xehanort disappears, and this is where our story gets cooking. Aqua and Terra have been sent off to find Master Xehanort because Eraqus is quite weary of what his old "friend" might be up to. They also have to fight a new enemy, the "Unversed". Ventus, on the other hand, isn't supposed to go anywhere (for reasons you'll have to find out on your own) and Aqua must be the one to track him down, as well as keep an eye on Terra.

One worry I had about playing through the story 3 times with the different characters is that I would get tired of it. But that wasn't the case at all. Yes, you do visit the same worlds each time and you do see some of the same scenes three times. But each story is different and you will see different scenes and get different perspectives and scenarios. I found myself excited to play as Aqua last because I knew I wouldn't be able to fully see how things panned out from the other stories until I played hers. It also helped that each character played different. Terra is slower and more powerful, Ven is quick and agile, and Aqua is good at magic and is more defensive. I found myself really enjoying playing as Aqua because of how you have to be more strategic and defensive with her.

I won't say anymore about the story except that it is a good one. It's my favorite story of the KH games I've played so far and it ties in so well by the end. As far as individual stories go, Ven's might be my favorite but Terra's is also good. Aqua's isn't bad but she doesn't get hardly any interaction with Master Xehanort, who really is a great villain. Leonard Nimoy was awesome in this role. What I really like about this game is that, unlike KH1 & 2, the main story doesn't really take a back seat to all of the Disney stuff. Also, there is only ONE Final Fantasy character in the whole game. I won't say who, but I was kind of surprised. I like the original characters better, so I'm glad they cut back on the gimmicky FF cameos. Speaking of the characters, Ventus has to be my favorite. Jesse McCarney shines as his voice actor and he definitely sounds the most authentic out of the three. Aqua sounds OK most of the time but kind of stiff at other times. And Terra's VA is just not very good. The delivery was very flat and uninspired. It's a shame too because he is a good character with a good story. Mark Hamill can do no wrong and he's great once again as Master Eraqus. We also learn about a very interesting character, named Vanitas. He's extremely important to Ventus's story. Enough said.

The story is great, but what about the gameplay? I still wish there was more platforming like in the first game, and exploration is still missed. But the battle system is the best of the series, without a doubt. They pretty much took the best elements from both 1 & 2 while still implementing new mechanics. The results were fantastic. You never feel like you're just mashing the X button, like you were in KH2. You're given three different decks of command slots, where you can pick and choose which attacks, spells, and abilities best suit your playing style, and go from there. The command system really was a great idea. The third deck is for your shot lock commands, which are great when you're in a tight situation (which you will be in, more on that in a minute). Another new feature are the D-Links, which replace summons. Whenever you complete a world's story, the main character becomes a D-Link, where you share their abilities. It's kind of hit and miss, where some characters have great abilities and some are just decent. I used it sparingly. The battle system really shines later in the game once you have a lot of attacks equipped along with finishers and specials. Everything becomes so fast paced and it's almost chaos on the screen when there are a lot of enemies. It's really fun stuff.

There are other little new things, like the command board, which can be fun but I didn't play that much. The Mirage Arena is pretty cool. It's the place you go to play mini games, do arena battles, and play in the multiplayer. I can't comment on the latter, though, since I never experienced it. As always with this series, the music is great. It would have been nice if Utada Hikaru could have had a new song for this game but it's understandable why they couldn't have gotten her to do a new song. While the repeating tunes from the various worlds might get on some people's nerves, it didn't bother me. One major issue with this game, and the series for that matter, is the camera. For all the good Square-Enix has done with this game, they still can't get the camera right. It's truly frustrating at times, especially during a couple of boss fights. It wasn't a big enough issue to distract me from loving the game but it did annoy me greatly at times. Have I mentioned that the visuals are stunning? I might as well have been playing on the PS2. Amazing graphics for a handheld.

What's really great about this game, especially for fans of the series like myself, is how it ties everything from previous games together. While their roles aren't nearly as prominent as in other titles, Sora, Riku and Kairi do make appearances as their younger selves. Most of these scenes take place on Destiny Islands, which brought me way back to 2002. Speaking of Destiny Islands, you learn a few things about it as well. One big criticism of KH2 was it's difficulty and how it was too easy. Save a couple of bosses, I agree that KH2 really was pretty easy. You won't find any of that with Birth by Sleep. Don't be fooled by the ease at the beginning. This game gets hard the further you go, and every major (i.e. non Disney) boss fight is difficult. The final bosses for each story and the final boss for the overall game are extremely difficult and will have you replaying over and over (and over and over) again. You might even have to grind a few levels out to get good enough. I was playing on Proud for the entire time, so it might not be so hard on Standard difficulty. But eventhough the fights were difficult, they were mainly awesome and very satisfying. You really have to implement a balance of defense and offense. On the last bosses, it is really important to not be too aggressive or you will get slaughtered.

For my money, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is the best game in the series. It's not perfect. The camera is annoying, environments are often times barren, and level design and platforming need to be better in the future. But it's easy to forget about it's flaws when you're having so much fun. The battle system is a blast, the story is amazing, and the characters are great. Did I mention the game was gorgeous? Also, fans of the series, make sure you unlock the secret movie, Blank Points. It's a thing of beauty and strongly hints at what will probably be Kingdom Hearts 3. Let's just say Haley Joel Osmant did a lil' bit of voice work for this game, and in more roles than one. ;)

Pros:

Fantasic battle system
Great story and characters
Mostly solid music and voice acting
This game will have you wanting KH3 NOW!

Cons:

Frustrating camera, especially during some boss fights
Environments could be more lively

Final Score: 9/10

"Slimfug"...why not!

2010-10-03T20:51:00.003-05:00

When shit breaks down on me, and I can't fix it, I usually just upgrade. This happened with my computer a couple of years ago (got to thank the parentals for the graduation present) and I'm doing it now. Some people probably think it's stupid and a waste of money. What's happened, you ask?

The disc drive in my precious Playstation 3 is dead. Toasted. Finito. Lying in the tub with the hair dryer in the water. Here's the story:

I received a new blu-ray in the mail (Requiem For a Dream, if you're curious) and I wanted to watch it. I turned on my PS3, popped the movie in, and everything was running smooth as usual. I got to the menu for the movie and clicked on play. Two seconds afterward the screen just went black and I hear a lot of clicking sounds, like the lens is struggling to read the disc. It finally takes me back to the XMB and I'm sat thinking "WTF?!" I'm kind of panicking because, in the 3 years I've had my PS3, nothing bad has ever happened to it. I took the movie out, thinking it might have just been a bad copy of the disc. I put it back in and nothing. The PS3 doesn't even react to the fact that I just put the movie in. Getting increasingly worried, I tried other blu-rays and even some games. It was the same thing every time. Nothing happened when I put a disc in. It just shows the "loading" icon in the top right hand corner without actually recognizing the disc. DVDs and CDs wouldn't work either.

I get online and search for the problem. Apparently it's not that uncommon, especially for systems bought around the same time (tail end of 2007). The lens is either dead or just dirty. I'm almost positive that it's dead because, if it was just dirty, wouldn't it still at least attempt to read the disc instead of not trying at all? I mean, literally, it's dead silent when I put a disc in. No sign of the lens even working. I tried to use the recovery menu and restore files and even the entire PS3 system (which takes it back to factory settings) and for some people, this has apparently worked. Not for me. So I had two options:

1) Try to fix/replace the drive myself

2) Send my PS3 to Sony for $150 and get a refurbished PS3 of the same kind (aka not the system I sent in).

I strongly believe I would only make things worse if I tried to replace the drive myself. I think I'm pretty tech savvy, but not this kind of tech savvy. I don't know anybody who could fix it for a low price, either. That left me with sending it to Sony. I understand why Sony doesn't do what Microsoft does and just fixes systems for free. Simple, the PS3 doesn't break down nearly as much as the 360. But still, I don't feel comfortable paying $150 for a service where, chances are, I won't even get back the system I originally sent in. I don't know this for a fact but this is what everybody (the accounts I've read about, anyway) who has dealt with this issue has said. So that leaves me with an option I haven't listed yet:

3) Buy a new PS3

I know some people will say "You're wasting your money, you could fix it yourself, send it to Sony, etc." (I'm looking at you BJ, who can apparently fix anything :P) But I decided, at the last second, to go with this option. Why? I want a new PS3. That's what it basically boils down to. I like new stuff. I never buy electronics used, if I can help it. If the PS3 was still $400-$600, then I would have sent it to Sony. $300, only (I know that means different things to different people) $150 more than what Sony charges for a fix, isn't that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things. The PS3 Slim (aka "Slimfug") is on it's way. Luckily, I'm addicted to Amazon and therefore own an Amazon Store Card. At least the money won't be coming out of my pocket instantly. Good thing I don't have any other credit cards. By the way, all of my saves are sitting safely inside of my flash drive.

Not only is it a new system, but it's also a more energy efficient system with more HDD space (160 GB) than what I had. Some people may not like the look of the system *coughJcough* but I actually don't think it's that bad. One positive, I don't have to worry about all the dust and fingerprints.

Album review: Maroon 5 - Hands All Over

2010-10-01T18:49:00.003-05:00

Maroon 5's new album kind of crept up on me. I knew of the two news songs, "Misery" and "Give a Little More", but I didn't really think much about it until it came out. I think part of that might have to do with their somewhat lackluster sophomore album, It Won't Be Soon Before Long. It had a handful of really good songs but, overall, it was pretty underwhelming. The band's third studio album, Hands All Over, is a big step up. Onto to track-by-track analysis!

1. Misery - The album opener is a funky little number and a great first single. It sets the tone perfectly immediately with the "Oh yeah!" The sound is very similar to a few of the funkier tracks from their last album.

2. Give a Little More - The first song is good, but this one is better. I love it! The chorus is crack and the grooves are on point. Adam Levine sings the verses with a swagger, making it sound like he's going to pounce on the hottest piece of ass he comes across. Great song!

3. Stutter - So far, the album is 3-3. This song was immediately stuck in my head, having me singing "You feel so good you make me sss-stuttuhh" in the cooler at work. The chorus is simple, but works tremendously. My favorite song, so far.

4. Don't Know Nothing - Compared to the first three tracks, this one doesn't stack up. That doesn't mean it's a bad song. I still like it but, for some reason, it works better in the truck than when I'm listening to it on my computer. Don't ask me why.

5. Never Gonna Leave This Bed - Along with "Stutter", this is a song that kind of goes back to their Songs About Jane sound while still infusing a little bit from their second album. It's a really good song with another addicting chorus I find myself singing. I also like the bridge.

6. I Can't Lie - Not an extraordinary song but it's one I find myself really liking because I can relate (I'm a sad sap). I also like the harmonies and simple piano throughout.

7. Hands All Over - I really like the title track but it had potential to be something great. It tries to sound like an 80s rock anthem and it almost succeeds. This song really needed some killer vocals, somebody like an Adam Lambert with the crazy rock wails and screams (especially towards the end). As it is, it's a little too controlled for what it's trying (I assume) to do. I love the guitar and the swagger, even if there needs to be a lot more. I still find myself singing the chorus, so still a thumbs up.

8. How - From the first second to the last second, I love this song to pieces. The chorus is amazing, and the second verse is my shit. This should definitely (definitely!) be a subsequent single. Again, relatable. Love.

9. Get Back In My Life - The beat was the first thing I noticed and I loved it. "Oooo ooo oooo" throughout is something so simple and it works wonders. I can't imagine the song without it. The bridge is awesome with the extra synth and Adam kills the vocals on it.

10. Just a Feeling - So simple. That's how to describe this track. It's one of my favorites because of it. I could listen to this on long drives or just chilling at the computer and not get sick of it. The beat is so smooth and relaxing. The chorus makes me happy. I'm not sure why, it's just the way it's sung. "It's just a feeeeelin'..." during the breakdown is my shit. Love this damn song.

11. Runaway - I wasn't too sure about this song at first, and then the chorus kicked in. It's definitely the highlight of the track. Not too much else to say about it. I like it.

12. Out of Goodbyes (feat. Lady Antebellum) - Did we really have to have the only song on the album I don't like that much as the (official) last track? Adam Levine doesn't really do country that well, I'm afraid. This reminded me of The Script's album, where they went a little bit country on their last track, except I loved that song. I loved it because of how sincere it sounded, but this song just falls flat and is straight up boring. I skip it everytime.

13. The Air That I Breathe (Bonus track) - Luckily, I bought the album on iTunes which came with a bonus track (and even more with the deluxe version). This isn't one of the best on the album but it's decent and it's a bonus. I really like the chorus and how it ends with "...it's too late for sorreeeeeeeeeeeeey". Adam hits some pretty big notes at the end, as well. Pretty impressive.

With only one real stinker on the album, this is a big upgrade from It Won't Be Soon Before Long. Most of the songs are great, with some being truly exceptional. It's tough to pick a favorite, but my major highlights (in no order) would have to be:

Misery
How ☆
Never Gonna Leave This Bed
Get Back In My Life ☆
Give a Little More
Stutter ☆
Just a Feeling ☆
Hands All Over

It's a great effort from a band that kind of got away from themselves on their last record. This one is a nice balance of their first two albums. I've tried to get away from decimals, and if I still gave them out, this album would get an 8.5. But since I don't do that anymore, I'll just round up. I really do love the album.

Album score: 9/10

Giving myself options

2010-09-30T00:13:00.002-05:00

I've always thought it was a good idea to keep my options open when it comes to work but, until now, I've never actually followed through with that thought. That ended last night when I applied for a few new jobs. Of course, this wouldn't even be an issue if I was happy with where I'm already working.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be getting a paycheck in a shitty economy. But getting the paycheck is where my happiness ends. It took me a long time to finally realize that retail is just not for me. I never feel like I'm doing anything worthwhile and I don't have the patience for the people. I have also found out that I like more structure than a retail environment can give me. And lastly, eventhough it is a paycheck, my motivation constantly takes a hit when I'm reminded of my wage. It's always nice to have money. But there will be a time and a point where I will want to move out of my parents house, get a new car (been ridin' dirty with my truck since I started driving!), and do things like travel. The only thing I could possibly pull off right now would be the car and even that would be a major struggle.

On top of all of that, I want to be able to actually utilize the degree I worked hard for and took student loans out for. This goes back to the feeling of not doing anything worthwhile. With all of this on my mind, I updated my resume and started looking. Like I said, I applied for a few jobs last night. From here on out I'm always going to be on the prowl. I'm the kind of person that would feel bad for leaving a job I haven't been working that long, especially if my manager is a good guy (which he is). This is part of a flaw I have, though: I don't think about me enough. I constantly find myself putting other people's happiness or feelings ahead of my own. I think that's a good quality for someone to have, but you also have to have a balance. Think about what you want, and think about how to better yourself. I need to start doing that more or I won't ever get anywhere.

10 minutes of BioShock Infinite

2010-09-21T16:47:00.002-05:00

This video is so f**king incredible it's almost cruel. We don't get this until 2012? It's gonna be a long wait.

This was a little too scripted to make me think it's genuine gameplay but my goodness. Blown away! Everything looks fantastic. I can't even come up with the words that would do this video justice. The air rails, the floating city environment, the graphics, the raven thing at the end, Elizabeth and her powers, I could go on.

This video is amazing, but it's kind of mean to show us all of this knowing the game doesn't come out for another 1 1/2 years - 2 years.

*le sigh*

Devil May Cry...reboot?

2010-09-16T00:34:00.003-05:00

Or rebirth, whatever you want to call it, this is completely out of left (and every other direction) field. I don't think I'm the only one who thought the next DMC game would be DMC5 and either carry on with Nero's story (there's still questions there) or do something else with the original Dante. Instead, it looks like we're getting something completely different. And I mean different.

Video Games | Devil May Cry | TGS 10: Debut Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Capcom has got some balls, I'll give them that. But I don't know. I'm not opposed to change but this is...so different. The character design is obviously the biggest change and I'm not sure what to think about it. It's an incredibly risky move to completely overhaul a huge fan favorite such as Dante. But I guess it wouldn't be a "rebirth" without some, albeit huge, changes.

I'm interested in the game but it's more of a "how are they going to do this" kind of interest. We'll just have to wait and see.

Balls, Capcom. Titanium balls.

Awesome new Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 trailer

2010-09-09T21:33:00.001-05:00

Viewtiful Joe riding Amaterasu is freaking WIN!

Gametrailers reviews Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep

2010-09-08T15:08:00.003-05:00

Video Games | Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep | Review

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

I need this game in my life. Gamestop is selling an exclusive PSP bundle for this game and I can tell you right now: I will be buying it very, very soon. Add this game, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Valkyria Chronicles 2, the God of War games, etc. and this looks like a really good investment for me.

Unfortunately, the bundle is exclusive to Gamestop, otherwise I would just put it on my store card at Amazon. Oh well, I'll still be getting it.

Soon.

InFAMOUS 2...Cole just threw a truck at 'em!

2010-09-05T11:04:00.002-05:00

InFAMOUS 2 just went up another notch in my day of release purchase list.

Video Games | inFAMOUS 2 | PAX 10: Behind Closed Doors Gameplay Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

The graphics and gameplay look great. And what the hell was that monster? Almost looks like something out of Silent Hill. The power to pick up cars (and probably damn near everything) looks really cool. Watching this video, it kind of reminds me of the leap Uncharted 2 made in the graphics department from the first game.

But holy CRAP, did you hear the music? That was one of the best parts of the video! It was like something out of a horror noir film. It kind of reminded me of the music from Shutter Island.

Apple TV...actually looking buyable?

2010-09-01T21:53:00.003-05:00

Apple held a conference today where Steve Jobs unveiled a new iPod Touch (of course, after I get one), new Nano's (which look weird), and new Shuffles. The Touch is exactly like the iPhone 4, minus the phone of course. Camera and everything. It would be cool if I would have waited for this new Touch but it's cool. I'm happy with what I have and it suits my wants and needs.

The biggest thing to come out of the conference had to be the new Apple TV. The price is now a very reasonable $99. That's $200 less than the old Apple TV. For many, including myself, it was immediately overlooked because of it's ridiculous price. $99 is very doable. Also, instead of being restricted to renting and buying shows/movies from Apple, Netflix is now available. This is surprising considering how much better of a deal Netflix is. And if you want to rent and buy from Apple, you can do that as well. It's nice to have options. Youtube is also implemented. What's also nice about Apple TV is the size of the box. I'm reading that it's about the size of two iPhones put together (approximately 80% smaller than the previous model). I wouldn't have to worry about having to make space, and it would look pretty nice around my black PS3.

It would be a nice alternative to renting and buying show/movies from the PS3 store, which I rarely use because of the prices. 99¢ for TV shows is really nice. So far, only FOX and ABC are the only networks on board. But, I imagine, more networks will get on the wagon. Apple has made such nice changes (price and Netflix FTW!) that all they have to do is promote it now and I'd imagine people will buy it. It looks to be a really nice addition to any TV set and living room for people into that kind of thing.

Gametrailers reviews Metriod: Other M

2010-08-28T19:09:00.003-05:00

Video Games | Metroid: Other M | Review

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Meh. Looks like another big Wii release that I've completely lost interest in. I'm not very keen on what they've done to the first person view. And if the voice acting on display in this video is any indication, Samus has the personality of a bush. Her voice is awful. They should have kept her silent.

Henshin A Go-Go Baby!

2010-08-20T19:01:00.005-05:00

Joe gets Viewtiful on bitches in Marvel Vs. Capcom 3:

Video Games | Marvel vs Capcom 3: FTW | GC 10: Viewtiful Joe Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Very nice. His supers aren't the greatest but his moves make up for it. He's quick and could be trouble to hit because he's a short little bastard.

Random customer interaction: what I wanted to say

2010-08-17T23:24:00.003-05:00

Customer: "You don't have it? That's the only reason I drove all the way over here! I guess I won't stop by this store next time I'm in town."

What I said: "Sorry about that, ma'am."

What I wanted to say: "Is that supposed to make me feel guilty? It's your own damn fault. We have a phone number, you should have called to see if we had what you wanted before driving all the way over here."

Dragon Age II debut trailer

2010-08-17T23:21:00.003-05:00

Video Games | Dragon Age 2 | GC 10: Debut Trailer HD

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Pumped. Pumped. PUMPED! Everybody and their mama knows the game isn't going to look nearly that good but it was still a cool video. I already know I'm going to be playing Hawke as a Mage. I can't help it, I just think a warrior would be too boring.

Day 1 purchase.

Mass Effect 2: Coming to the PS3

2010-08-17T11:28:00.002-05:00

F**kin' COOL! One must assume, along with the game coming to the PS3, that there will also be extra content and maybe enhancements. "Hours of bonus content" have already been promised by BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka, but it's unclear what that is right now. Honestly, bonus content and enhancements don't really matter as much as long as the game runs just as good as the 360 version. Anything else is just icing on the cake.

While this is awesome and I'll most certainly be buying it when it drops in January 2011, I'm also wondering how I'm going to play the original Mass Effect. That isn't coming to the PS3 because, as I understand it, it was published under Microsoft. I'll figure something out. Back to the good news: Mass Effect 3 will definitely come out for the PS3 now, whether as a timed exclusive or simultaneously with the 360 version.

Sweet.

What is BioShock Infinite

2010-08-14T11:59:00.002-05:00

After watching the debut trailer, a lot of people (me included) wanted to know what BioShock Infinite was about. I'm sure there will be many secrets we won't know until we finally play the game in 2012, but here's the premise:

"Set in 1912, BioShock Infinite introduces an entirely new narrative and gameplay experience that lifts players out of the familiar confines of Rapture and rockets them to Columbia, an immense city in the sky.

The player assumes the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, sent to the lost city to rescue Elizabeth, a young woman imprisoned there since childhood. He develops a relationship with Elizabeth, augmenting his abilities with hers so the pair may escape from a city that is literally falling from the sky. DeWitt must learn to fight foes in high-speed Sky-Line battles, engage in combat both indoors and amongst the clouds, and harness the power of dozens of new weapons and abilities."

It sounds very interesting to me and I already know there's going to be so much going on behind the scenes that we won't even know about until we play the game. With the team of the original BioShock developing this, I have confidence that this game is going to be great.