Missing You, Crash Bandicoot

 

 As a New Year's Eve special, I wanted to delve into everything Crash Bandicoot. Back when I was younger, the three major games I played religiously were Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Being dedicated to the classics, it is really hard for me to accept the games are morphing, and not for the better. I watched Spyro get a complete makeover into something I would never associate with Spyro the Dragon and turned into a little kids' toy collection. I recently played Sonic: Generations and thought I liked it at first, until I raged so hard after failing to beat the final boss that I swore against any other new Sonic games. 

Now Crash Bandicoot has also come under some unfortunate changes, changes that most diehard Bandicoot fans are aware of, and unhappy with. I played Crash Bandicoot up until Crash Bash and after that I didn't go any further. I can't really tell you why. Crash Bash came out in 2000. Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex came out after that and I dunno why but I never picked it up. At that time my family was moving around a lot and I can imagine we didn't get to unpack all of our crap every single time we moved. I think this was a time I fell out of video games for a bit, too. From what I understand, after the Wrath of Cortex, the games started to really go downhill. Recently, I tried a demo for Mind Over Mutant and absolutely hated it. The gameplay is all wrong and totally destroys the classic feel of a Crash Bandicoot game. Needless to say, I was pissed.

The design of Crash himself sort of fell below a cheesy level. It is really hard to describe in words, it is really something you  have to look at side by side. 

Old Crash

New Crash

Obviously, you can see the difference. Old Crash doesn't look as pretty or well-dressed. He has broad shoulders and means business. On the other hand, the new Crash has rolled up pants and is a lot skinnier than Old Crash. In other words, New Crash looks like a total pussy. If you think that can whoop Cortex, uh, you're wrong. I just do not like the new Crash, okay. He looks too nice, like I could trip him in a crowd and he would apologize for bumping into me. That is not what Crash is about.

The design of the game and characters got lazy and it is like they lost interest in the game. They were supposed to release a new Crash Team Racing in 2010 on PS3, but it got cancelled. I can't imagine how they could have messed that up. Crash Team Racing will always forever be one of my favorite racing games. All those Nintendo fans out there can play their MarioKart while all us Sony fans stick to Twisted Metal and Crash Team Racing.

I found this game online; it is actually an online Crash Bandicoot game handmade and is loyal to the original, early games. You can check it out here. It's not amazing, but it is something to help reminisce when emulators aren't available. Or when you are bored in class.

I cannot say I will ever want to pick up the latest Crash Bandicoot game because of the way the games have turned out along with the characters. I am loyal to such games as Crash, Crash 2, Crash Bash, and Crash Warped. I leave you with a video from Game Informer's website depicting Crash in Real Life.

Why Am I So Damn Impatient?

I know it's been awhile since I have written...anything. School and work have consumed me, but it's nice to jump back into things and get a grip on how it used to be. Needless to say, I've been missing the gaming world.



Something I have been thinking about a lot is what games are being released soon and how I feel about them. The most recent purchase I have made in relation to gaming was via Steam for a huge pack of the Painkiller games (damn Halloween sale...). Don't judge. I just really enjoy a good, ridiculous FPS with a multitude of equally-ridiculous weapons, tearing ass into a map and shooting up a shit ton of zombie-whatchamacallits. It's a good release sometimes and I like to have my Painkiller game series on hand, ESPECIALLY for finals week and the week leading up to finals.



1. Bioshock Infinite

I played part of Bioshock 2 on PC and loved it. Unfortunately, the only way I could play it was on my ex-boyfriend's computer and...well I don't have access to that anymore so I never got to finish it. I've been too lazy and poor to pick it up on my own computer or Xbox. From what I played, I was impressed. I am a sucker for a good narrative in a video game, hence my obsession with Jackie Estacado and The Darkness series. The story in Bioshock was so unique that it drew me in. At times, it was even a little scary (you know what part I'm talking about). Despite my limited contact with the Bioshock series, I am very intrigued by Bioshock Infinite and what I have seen and read. Its release date is set for February 26 this coming spring and it really has almost nothing to do with the previous Bioshock games, story-wise. Hey, I'm okay with that. I guess my opinion is obsolete considering I did not heavily play the earlier games, but the Silent Hill games were not entirely connected either and I still possess a love-hate relationship with those (it's complicated...). I saw the trailer for Bioshock Infinite and just knew I had to try this game out. Something about it tugged at me. This happens a lot when I first see a game trailer. I will know immediately whether or not I want to try out this game. You know what the best part is? When we get it in early at Family Video, I can check it out for a week before its official release date....muwhahaha.



2. Tomb Raider

I wrote an article on this game awhile back for Metal Arcade. Memories of Tomb Raider go back all the way to when the Butler at her mansion would following you around with his rickety tray and I spent a good couple hours locking him in rooms and trying to run away from him (I swear there's a reference to this in the second Sherlock Holmes movie). I used to watch my Dad play the old Tomb Raiders on our Playstation and shit looked hard, so it took me awhile to actually want to try myself. So Tomb Raider is a big part of my gaming childhood. A lot of people are giving this new game shit because basically Lara Croft is going to be seen at a time in her life when she wasn't always badass, when shit went wrong sometimes, and she wasn't as nimble as she is now. I like the idea of the story, delving into a time when she was just starting out. It makes her character feel more real. It brings her story to life. Me being a lover of the narrative, this absolutely draws me in because it is unique. This game is set to release next Spring.



3. Metro: Last Light

Let's be real here, I am a sucker for post-apocalyptic video games. Zombie games in particular have lost their thrill for me after I wasn't too happy about Dead Island. But the post-apocalyptic society intrigues me. I played Metro 2033 awhile ago and (unsurprisingly) fell in love with the story and the atmosphere of the game. Metro: Last Light takes place in 2034 and the stations below ground are fighting over a doomsday device, which would ultimately signify who has the biggest cock...basically shit's going to break out and crazy will leak from the walls in every corridor. This game won't be out until March, but hopefully it is as good as the first.



4. Prey 2

I first picked up Prey by accident at a local video games store because it was so cheap. I was told it would suit my style, so I gave it a whirl. Okay so I loved it. Somehow it reminded me of a Native American version of Jackie Estacado and though a little twisted, the story was pretty interesting...I'll tell you the first part. Native-American-Jackie is at some bar on a reservation trying to talk to this girl (Native-American-Jenny...?) whom he is in love with apparently and while at the bar, a UFO attacks...The alien ship is pretty gruesome and it's all about getting off the ship alive. When I saw they were making a second one, I was pretty stoked. The date for this one is TBA2013, but I am sure it will be worth the wait.



5. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2

I know this list was supposed to be for games I was excited about but...this one just irks me so much I have to throw a game in that I want to bitch about.

I am a dedicated player of the Castlevania series. I spent countless hours playing Castlevania: Symphony of the Night when I was younger and when I saw they were making a new and 3D version of Castlevania, I was extremely thrilled. I rented it on the first day it came out. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow bit the big one. I sat there and nearly broke my controller because I raged SO much. I could barely make it through the first boss because it was so flipping hard. It had reached a difficulty that swiped the fun out of it for me. I could barely advance to the next area and I wasn't even CLOSE to the castle. Even the older Castlevania's weren't THIS hard. I replayed every area nearly ten times before I beat it. It was just taking way too much time for how long this game actually was, so I said "Fuck this." So now they are coming out with a second game and they couldn't even have the decency to rename it...like Castlevania:blahblahblah. Just tacked on...Lords of Shadow 2...yeah that's creative. Really makes me want to pick that beast up again.. .Alright done with that bit of babble.

So, though I expected more out of the Xbox gaming world, I guess there are some reasons to be excited for this next year. I haven't even looked at the PC games coming out (next post) and to be frank, I am more excited about that. I do not spend as much time on my Xbox as I used to...it's all PC now.

WTF: Silent Hill: Revelations (SPOILERS)

Okay, ready to hear me bitch? I am actually going to start out quite positive. For those who know me, I was going into this movie as critical as ever. After the first film fucked up, I can say I was eager to see how this one would turn out. I haven't played completely through the third game, but I did read a very detailed plot summary to check out the ending and whatnot. So I went into the movie knowing what to expect, basically, what to look for and compare and contrast.

I am going to be completely honest, the beginning of the movie really drew me in. The action was intense and the creatures of Silent Hill were wicked in the best way possible. That same fear I felt playing Silent Hill at night, with the lights turned off and surround sound system on, was the same intensity I felt during the movie. The fact that this film even came close to capturing that fear really impressed me. The first film hardly scared me at all, and it seemed too light and feathery. This movie, just in terms of lighting, was more dark and gory. I loved it.

The ending, well the ending is where things are supposed to get real fucked up. But in this film, this is where the film FUCKS up. It seems like they put all this passion and hard work into the first part of the movie, and as it winded down, they just wanted to get it done and over with. In the game, there is the coolest part when Heather vomits up the evil deity in fetus form and Claudia eats it and births the new evil deity. Heather must defeat it. So cool, right?

Well, this is how the film ends. Apparently, it is announced that Pyramid Head is Alessa's guardian (Alessa is the evil part of Heather and creator of the Darkness in Silent Hill). Claudia, who never ate a fetus that Heather NEVER vomited, turns into a creature after touching this golden key with the Silent Hill crest on it, and proceeds to whack the shit out of Heather. Pyramid Head steps in and blocks the hit and fights for Heather.

BULLSHIT! Pyramid Head is not a fucking guardian, saint, or anything of the sort! Pyramid Head is a manifestation of James' guilt of his wife's death  from the second game! He is BAD! Bad bad bad! By doing this, they may as well have chopped off Pyramid Head's penis and gave him a pillow to throw around rather than his blade. The boss fight lasted...oh not even two minutes...and I swear it looked like a bitch-slap fight. Even the decapitation wasn't that cool. I sat through all of this depressing shit to watch a couple of creatures bitch-slap each other? And watch a badass symbol of Silent Hill become a pussy? Vincent, who dies in the game, survives in the movie and becomes Heather's new boy toy. All is happy...bleh.

Douglas, the private investigator, hardly played a role. In the game, he has a huge role and makes it all the way to the final scene. In the film, they killed him off almost immediately and I sat there wondering, "Why even introduce him if you aren't going to develop his character?" It was completely senseless. People who haven't played the game are probably wondering, "Who the hell was that and why was he in this movie?" If only they knew...Even if you took it as a movie by itself, he looks like he won a walk-on role in some cheesy internet contest.

BUT...the movie quickly made up for it at the VERY end. Heather and Vincent are walking out of Silent Hill, and despite endangering her life for her father, she seems completely and oddly cool with the fact that he decided to stay in Silent Hill to look for his wife (from the first film). As they are walking, they flag down a semi and hitch a ride with the driver. He introduces himself as Travis Grady. I nearly jumped out of my seat.


I let out a hearty laugh...no one else laughed. Travis Grady was the semi driver from Silent Hill Homecoming who picked up Alex Shepard to bring him into town. The next one had me really laugh.


I notice as they are driving, sirens are coming in the distance. I just figured they were going to investigate all of the deaths and weirdness of Silent Hill. Lo and behold, in between these sirens was a prison bus. Fuck yeah! I threw my head back in laughter...and no one else laughed. I wanted to turn around and say, "Come ON guys! It's that bus! From the last Silent Hill game!" It was Murphy's prison bus from Silent Hill Downpour, which cleverly explained the discontinued falling ash in that game (the ash stopped falling when Heather and everyone escaped and the creature was defeated). In Downpour, it is only fog and the "otherworld" never shows itself. It was this film that made it make sense to me. It blew my mind, and I applaud them for that.

Overall, I am pretty satisfied. Despite the pussy fight and ending, the very ending left a good taste in my mouth and the intensity of the fear and creature design blew the first Silent Hill out of the water. As a diehard Silent Hill gamer, I can openly say I highly recommend this movie to other gamers. It is quite entertaining when you aren't analyzing the shit out of it.

Drunken Thoughts on World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria

Please excuse all spelling errors. It's not my fault. Well, nevermind, it is my fault. 

Yes, precisely, I am drunk right now. And do you know how I got drunk? No, I DON'T do frat parties, I DON'T get trashed at the bar. No. I am with friends, drinking, as we watch YouTube videos like Team Fortress 2 parodies and Meet the Pyro (so good). Videos like Cyanide Happiness and game mod music videos (Oblivion, in particular). Potter Puppets and Skyrim raps. Yep, this is how I spend my Friday nights, if I am not playing World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria.

This is my first OFFICIAL experience playing World of Warcraft. I know...GASP! I began the starter edition over the summer and finally dropped the dollars to get Mists of Pandaria. Upon seeing the commercials, I had initially thought this game would be like Kung Fu Panda on crack. I actually have no idea why I even purcahsed the game. Maybe I needed something new. No, that can't be it. I just got Borderlands 2 for free, and I purchased Torchlight 2. And I pre-rented Dishonored, how can I possibly be bored?

Anyways, the game. Okay, I actually like World of Warcraft. I know people get all touchy about the subject, saying people who play WoW never shower, have no friends and no life except for on WoW. As I have come to find, this is NOT true. It's a pretty fun game, and I found myself spending countless hours on it very easily. Until you get fucking lost on a crazy twisted map and all you want to do is complete your objective so you can advance to level 10 and join the Alliance or the Horde and get on with your godforsaken WoW life...Jesus. Sorry, I am lost on a map right now as a level 7 Night Elf and it's really annoying because the map isn't that difficult...

Sorry. Yes, Alliance vs. Horde. I didn't realize how intense the rivalry was between Alliance and Horde until I saw some people smack-talking the Alliance on the public chat. And then I asked some of my Horde friends about the Alliance and they got all bent out of shape, saying Alliance are stuck up. It's like fucking liberals and conservatives (I'm Alliance). It's batshit insane...okay not that insane, but you know what I mean. WoW is a whole 'nother world with a whole 'nother set of responsibilities and friends and...dare I say...lovers. It's another life out there, and I find it absolutely amusing as all hell. That's why I keep playing. I love leveling, joining guilds, completing quests and finding new ones - shit, it's flipping entertaining. I have this need to level higher, get better weapons, better armor - fuck I haven't even done a raid yet! I'm still a n00b, but I love learning and getting more experience.

Did I mention, the panda's dance cracks me up every time? If only I could dance like a panda...

Perks of Working at a Video Store: Let's Talk "Dishonored"

Last night while working at my second job, I opened the drawer of the new releases (yet to be shelved for debut on Tuesday) and saw Dishonored. We, as employees, are allowed to rent out movies and video games before they are released, so I took it upon myself to take advantage of this opportunity. The only problem was, it was Sunday and it had to be back by Midnight tomorrow. And did I mention, it's free?

So yes, Dishonored. The premise of the game is, you're a guy who just got fucked over hard, and now the Empress is dead, you're getting framed for her murder and it's up to you to rescue the Empress's daughter, wherever the hell she may be. There is a God-like being called The Outsider who marks you and grants you supernatural powers, including things like possession and teleportation of a sort. Your abilities depend on the amount of mana you have, and what abilities you have depend on how many runes you find. So many runes buy you more abilities. In a time of the plague, the rats and fish are dangerous to you. The rats move in packs and you will see them gnawing on a corpse every once in a while. I was attacked by a pack of rats while trying to spin a wheel to open a door, which was a bitch, because every time they attacked me, I dropped the door.

The makeup of the environment is pretty cool, and includes steampunk-esque setting in the dank depression of a dark time. It's almost medieval--with a twist. You have a string of secret allies backing you up, who provide you weapons like crossbows and guns and swords. You are almost always carrying two weapons: more than likely a sword in the right hand, and in the left hand it can change anywhere from a weapon to an ability. With your creepy, iron mask, you are 100% badass.

From what I played, the story, setting and gameplay all rated pretty high in my book and I highly recommend this game to those interested in like Metro2033 and Fallout.

My Job Interview with Riot Games

I think it's safe to talk about this now. As most of you probably do not know, I applied for a Writer position with Riot Games a couple months ago. After forgetting about the application completely, I was emailed and asked to schedule a phone interview with another writer for Riot Games. It was 1AM when I got the email, and when I did, I ran around my apartment screaming like a little girl and jumping up and down on my bed...It's not every day a big-name video game company wants to interview you.

The days leading up to the interview were torture. I spent a lot of hours researching Riot Games...a.k.a playing A LOT of League of Legends. When the interview finally came around, I had constructed a board of interview questions and their answers, so that I could be prepared. This included in-depth research of questions Riot Games has asked candidates in the past. This was my dream job, and despite it being all the way out in bum fuck, California, I still wanted to gain the title "Riot Games Writer." Somehow, amidst all of my research, I forgot to look at the writing on Riot Games' website.

She told me immediately that everyone was really impressed with my resume cover.

She told me it had been circulating around the office and that people loved it. She also loved a quote from my rewrite writing sample, "Grab professionalism by the testes." I was so sure I had it. 

She called me and despite telling me in the email the interview would last 45 minutes, it only lasted about fifteen. And of course, they asked me about the voice of Riot Games writing on the website. I bullshit my way through it. 

Needless to say, I didn't get it. Then again, I didn't want to move all the way to California, but at the same time, it set me up for life and I know I want to be involved with video games somehow, some way. I could be like the other posts I read and bitch about how Riot Games doesn't know how to interview potential employees, how their system for hiring is skewed and the professionalism lacks. But truth is, I had a blast geeking out with the girl on the other end of the line. It's not every day I find someone to geek out with, let alone another female. We went into intense detail about Champions we use, the abilities we admire and Champions we hate. As a Riots employee, I could've gotten a loaded LoL account. I am not exactly sure what that means, but I have a pretty good idea, and just the thought of having that nearly blew my mind. I played against a Riot Employee the other day on LoL and he kicked my ass, probably because his account is LOADED. Despite failing the interview, I wouldn't have wanted to spend those fifteen or so minutes any different. 

 I am currently waiting to hear back about my internship application at Game Informer Magazine. Hey, not everyone can say they caught the attention of and interviewed with a national video game company. 

Borderlands 2 and Torchlight 2 Worth Everyone's Time

Okay, I know it has been a WHILE. I definitely caught the plague going around my university, but I'm back and with much to tell about the two games I had the pleasure of drowning myself in amidst the pool of mucus and a sea of tissues. 

Since playing the first Borderlands game a long time ago, I couldn't feel anything gripping or memorable. I hadn't been as in to it as others were. Upon setting up the second Borderlands on my laptop, I was immediately pulled in to the story. Honestly, Handsome Jack (the main antagonist) really just pisses me off and I wanted to off him as soon as possible, and I held on to this drive to get through the game. Aside from that, the graphics were well-developed and the Phys-X engine did its job in creating an ease in play and sharper details. I could play Borderlands 2 for years with as many side quests that are offered throughout the game. But for this time around, I stuck to the main objectives just so I could properly review the game for Metal Arcade. 

I love the selection of guns. There's nothing I love more in a video game than testing out new weapons with each level up. Take a look at this actual gun in Borderlands 2. I can't wait until I stumble upon this bad boy. 

When I found out this was a real gun in Borderlands 2, I nearly lost it. Props to them for their sense of humor. It's a pretty badass gun with a hell of an annoying set of sound effects. Haha, very funny...

Overall, I haven't gotten sick of the game yet. It keeps me busy when I'm not busy with school, and the co-op is even more entertaining. I'm more of a single-player, but that's just me.

I pre-purchased Torchlight II and I am still trying to figure out if it is THAT much better than the first Torchlight. It got a lot of crap for being repetitive in a not-so-open world. I have to admit, Torchlight II has a lot more area available for exploration and it makes finding quests that much more entertaining. I find myself thinking Torchlight II is just as fun as the first one, especially now that you can play online or with friends. I have to say I am glad I chose to purchase this rather than Diablo III.

Torchlight 2 is LIVE

And so, it begins...

I Spotted a L4D Easter Egg in Cabin in the Woods Film!

Okay, this totally blew my mind and I didn't even realize what I was looking at at first. You have to notice, fast, because the scene passes fairly quick. I couldn't forget the bulbous pus-filled pouch in the middle of the Boomer's stomach and I almost didn't believe what I was seeing. But after doing research, my crazy observations were proven correct. The Boomer, from the famed Left for Dead series, is pictured in a scene in the new Cabin in the Woods, among many other famous monsters. There is talk of a witch and a tank, also, but I will have to watch the movie again to see. I can safely say this easter egg made my day because I actually SAW it before reading a post about it later.

To the left, you can see the twin girls from Stephen King's The Shining, but its hard to make out the others in this picture. Guess I'll have to see the movie again. I have a whole new level of respect for Joss Whedon. Oh and also...did I mention a chick makes out with a wolf head on the wall (and tries to make it look sexy...)?

UPDATE:

Witch and Tank here also: Now I HAVE to see it again!

Borderlands 2: Review Opportunity TAKEN

Through Metal Arcade, I have obtained the rare (and treasured) opportunity to review Borderlands 2 via NVIDIA. This means I get sent a download code for Steam and I play, not only as an everyday player, but analyzing all parts of the game, from particle effects to co-op experience. This also means I will blog about my experience from a first-person perspective aside from Metal Arcade's third-person professional review. So not only am I getting Torchlight II on Thursday, but now I've got another game on my agenda. And I can tell you, I am NOT complaining. Who can complain about HAVING to play games for an assignment? I am SO glad my work schedule is meager this week.

I played Borderlands a while ago when it first came out. I didn't have a proper PC or an Xbox 360 at the time, so I watched my boyfriend play and I played with him. I liked it, but didn't have the chance to really get into it. I've never played it on PC, but I imagine it isn't too different. Well, there are an abundance of posts coming, both on Borderlands 2 and Torchlight II. I am so thrilled, I could poop rainbows.

The Pre-Purchase of Torchlight II

Torchlight II is going to be $19.99, and I had to take advantage of this option, so I pre-purchased it for me and my boyfriend and I kept thinking to myself, "Wow, I would've spent all that on the new Sims 3 Supernatural (which I still want)." It's a great deal, and you'd be crazy not to jump on the bandwagon. Too bad Diablo III wasn't $19.99 or it would've been worth a try, but $60 to play an unsatisfactory game? No thanks.

I've been looking over the classes lately, and being a loyal Ranged player, I know I will more than likely start out with the Outlander class. There are three other classes: Embermage, Beserker and Engineer. From there I will probably move on to the Embermage. Of course I will try them all at some point. What I am most excited about are the new pets. Meet them all below.



The ferret is the cutest thing I've ever seen, but I am torn between that, the bulldog and the panther. I've used the wolf too much in the old Torchlight, but kudos to the enhanced graphics. The wolf looks a lot better than it did. I honestly can't wait for this game to be released so I can start playing it. Watching it sit in my Steam library is driving me nuts. At least I can pre-load it, so on release day I can just start playing, no hassle needed.

Needless to say, I will be blogging about my experience with Torchlight II as soon as it is released, I PROMISE. I will probably have a lot to say. Life has been crazy and video-game-less lately, working two jobs, three other writing jobs and my last semester at school. This NEEDS to change, hence the splurge. I am counting down the days.

If You Haven't Already...

There is a video circulating the internet, an infectious video of a song I can't seem to get out of my head. Needless to say, I am sure this is going to be the next big dance move since Soulja Boy. Okay, it's a pretty catchy song and the video is weird as hell. Gotta love it. I had to share and infect others.

A Better Understanding of My Life

Here is a video that better describes how I perceive my life, as I am sure many of you do if you are a gamer like me. This is related to my post a couple days ago. Enjoy.

Maximo: Ghosts To Glory Is the Hardest F#$@ing Game...EVER!

I purchased a PS2 controller recently because my pet rabbit chewed through the other one and I haven't been able to play my PS2 games since. It's a pretty shoddy controller, nothing special. I stumbled upon this game at the used video game shop, a game loosely based upon the (drumroll) Sega Genesis's Ghouls N' Ghosts. I was so thrilled I could hardly breathe. I raced home and played...and spent the next half hour screaming at the TV and slamming my fist onto the floor (I was too excited to hop back on the couch). This goddamn game is so goddamn hard.

Okay, I've played hard games. I've played games that are hard for many different reasons, but this game just doesn't get better. First off, I think something is wrong with the controller. Last night my character ran all the time so escaping zombies when I didn't want to fight was easy. But today, he would walk...and run...and walk...and run...depending how I moved the analog. I raged and I raged. Next, my flying shields capability is supposed to be activated by pressing Circle, but it doesn't work. I raged and pressed off the analog button and there shot my flying shields?? So, my analog on/off button shoots my shields, which is in a ridiculously hard spot when in battle. Yes, I need a new controller, but that didn't stop me. I kept playing, instead using the D-Pad so that my character ran constantly. I felt I was doing better and getting the hang of things. Maximo really blows at combat. He throws a couple swings with his sword, and pauses before he can throw another one, which gives an open window for zombies and skeletons and the like to get a hit on me. Oh man, this makes me MAD! "Do what I tell you, mother@#$%#$!" The vulgarities increased with each death.

Unlike the old Ghouls N' Ghosts, Maximo only gives you one continue whereas G N' G was an infinite amount of continues. If it were not infinite, yes, it would be as hard as this game. In Maximo, there isn't much chance for a collection of lives either. It's "don't get hit" and you're safe. Yeah, good luck with that. It isn't a side scroller where all you have to do is look forward and behind and above for things coming at you, but zombies and ghosts/birds (that CANNOT be killed...) are coming at you from all directions. The damn red bird steals your money while the zombies and ghosts beat you silly.

It's great the music is remixed from the old G N' G, but it's not enough to calm my anger. First thing I am going to do is get a new controller and try again. Maybe if I have my flying shield, it won't be so goddamn tough.

Check out IGN's little blip on the game here
IGN Ranked it Number 6 in Top 10 Hardest PS2 Games

My Life is a Video Game

It's funny how after playing video games for so long, aspects of life become a video game. Have you seen the video where the guy is Mario Kart racing on the actual road with other cars? If you haven't, you can right here.

The fact of the matter is, we are so obsessed with video games that they have become a part of our every day lives. Awhile ago I wrote an article on how I turned my JCPenney job into a video game in order to help me succeed (despite hating it). With that frame of mind, I am still at the top of the high score list, so to speak. Last night, I came home from a weekend-long trip and found dozens of flies in my apartment that snuck in due to building construction. Last night, I created a new video game.

It's funny to think even at the age of 22, I'm still making up games. With a rolled-up Game Informer magazine in hand, I proceeded to ninja my way through the kitchen and living room, killing flies and keeping track of my score. When I was beckoned by my boyfriend to come sit down and eat, I couldn't stop. The feeling stirred up old feelings of when I was playing Ghouls N' Ghosts on Sega Genesis and HAD to beat this level/boss. It's the reason senseless games like Whack-A-Mole are so fun and annoying all at the same time. I HAVE to whack its damn head and boost my score!

My score was at 10, and I felt the fly population had been severely lowered and hunger drew me away from the game. The point is turning something into a game, even as an adult, can make it endurable. I know some people just SEE games in their every day lives, like sewers become part of Super Mario and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. And first aid kits remind you of L4D/L4D2. But I guess I like to think of my life as a video game because it's enjoyable to me, comforting. If I think about school as gaming levels, I don't feel so intimidated. After graduation this December, I don't think of it as graduating, but going on to the boss level to beat an extremely hard boss (aka Getting a Job). This may sound completely lame, because it's starting to sound lame to me as I type it, but that's how my mind works. It takes the anxiety, re-configures it, so that my mind can better interpret it. Where the "happily ever after" of the game is, I can't really tell you. It's like playing Ghouls N' Ghosts (okay, my favorite game as it's mentioned several times); when the hell is Arthur going to save the princess? It's not the first playthrough, and by that time I am sick of battling these monsters and beating levels. The end is too far off to see. Is there a midpoint? Maybe. But I haven't reached it yet, I am still leveling up, collecting rewards and money and experience. And let me tell you, this next boss is going to be a doozy. Yes, I just analyzed my life via video games...

 I don't know if other gamers have a habit of forming games out of every day events and actions, or if it's just something weird I like to do. But when you step back and look at your life, you start to realize there are a lot of damn games out there in real life being played by intelligent people, and if you don't get a strategy going or something, you'll be left with zero lives and no more "continues."

So Many Points, So Much Pressure

So, I re-signed up with Xbox Live Gold a while ago and they had began a new program where you can do certain things around your Xbox Live to earn Microsoft Points. Signing up was just one of those things (and the highest paid, I think). I think I did a few other things and ended up with 1190 points. I sat on this amount for a pretty long time, up until yesterday actually. See, some of the newer arcade games in the Game Marketplace were 1200 points and I was 10 away, just 10 points! It was only $4.99 to upgrade by 400 more points. Why not?

I sat on 1190 points for so long and I have no idea why. You'd think a gamer like me could spend those points in the blink of an eye, on Sonic the Hedgehog (I thought about it) or arcade classics. I already own quite a few of them, including Castle Crashers and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. I skimmed the Arcade Marketplace for cheap downloads, tried zillions of trials, but nothing tugged at my heart strings enough. At first, I looked for an entertaining multiplayer game, something like Snoopy's Flying Ace, and then I just looked for something, ANYTHING, that would appeal to me. I just could NOT settle on anything! Why is spending Points such a problem for me? Plenty of great games fell within range of my Microsoft Points, yet I couldn't rest until I found the perfect one. 

Well, I bought the 400 points for an extra $4.99. Now, my points are stuck at 1590, TEN Points away from 1600, which can be used to buy something like Dawnguard (if I HAD Skyrim, ugh). But maybe, just maybe I should wait until Fall...maybe some of the new games will be available on demand like Dishonored. But who knows if it will be a measly 1600 points, it could be as much as Skyrim (like 4600)! Am I wasting my time? Do I use it now, or save it for later? 

For now, I sit on the decision and weight out my options. 

It's Here, The Official Silent Hill: Revelations 3D Trailer

I am going to start off by saying it is so hard not to judge this movie already by what I have seen. I read through the Silent Hill 3 Wiki (since I have yet to beat this game). I am a little confused about the relation of the first movie with this movie, or if the intention is for them to be related at all.

First, the Wiki claims Heather Mason, from the third Silent Hill, is the reincarnation of the deity from the first game, but in the first movie the girl with black hair (their adopted daughter) was the reincarnation. Are we supposed to take this as a relation or completely separate? The girls look absolutely nothing alike. From the ending of the first movie, I took it as they were trapped in another dimension forever, like lost spirits. What confuses me is they used the same actor from the first movie for Harry Mason, so are they supposed to be connected? I am hoping the movie has some explanation.

At the conclusion of the first game, Harry Mason is given an adopted baby girl, which in turn becomes Heather Mason. I am hoping this is shown in the new movie at the beginning, as like a summary of what became of Harry after the disappearance of his other daughter and wife. Then that will at least make a little more sense to me.

The game's story line is pretty grotesque, including vomiting and swallowing fetuses to birth this new deity, and though it would be awesome if they went in that direction, I doubt they will. The main idea of Silent Hill 3 is Claudia is after Heather to use her to birth this new evil deity. Harry Mason actually dies in the game, but it is hard to say what becomes of him in the movie because it is noted that he is just missing. Vincent, the handsome sidekick she finds in the film also dies in the game and I am again intrigued on whether or not they will trail the dark story bit by bit.

I do like the creature design as it brings to life what I encountered in the game. I know Pyramid Head is a cool character and he's been in most of the games just because he's so badass, but again he makes no sense in this film because the second game's storyline never made an appearance in the films. He stems from the second game. Oh well. All I have to do is try not to pre-judge, and just go see it for myself.

Silent Hill Book Of Memories (PS Vita): Good or Bad?

I know a lot of people, fans, are upset about this, claiming it isn't like Silent Hill. It just needs to be clarified this is not a Silent Hill game, per say. It's a spin-off, a completely different game using the Silent Hill environment.

Silent Hill as an RPG is...troubling. It's no longer third-person or one-player, but co-op. I am still deciding myself if this is a good move or a bad move and how I feel about the interface of the game. At first reaction, I am excited because I love creating my own character in WoW and then adventuring off into the world carrying out quests, and when you change that world into the Silent Hill world, well I'm downright ecstatic.

On the other hand...the true Silent Hill fan in me is crying. What have you done with my Silent Hill? First Downpour was a huge letdown, after months of waiting, and now this, an RPG Silent Hill. No, it's not a Silent Hill game, BUT an RPG Silent Hill where you can create your own generic victim and trounce around Silent Hill battling the same creatures over and over. The horror has been taken out of Silent Hill and replaced with a new horror; Silent Hill is no longer scary! Maybe the rest of Youtube can sum up what I am trying to say:




As you can see, I am pretty torn. I think the Silent Hill lover in me has gone numb. The mourning process began a long time ago and I just sort of gave up after Downpour. Someone needs to start a completely new horror series that doesn't COMPLETELY SUCK BALLS! For once, I'd like a video game to scare me like Silent Hill used to. Currently, our society is struggling with the concept of "originality" in the media in terms of movies and video games. We keep making sequels, knock-off series, etc. Why won't someone use their brain and throw down an original concept that will scare the hell out of us? Zombies are overdone, ghosts haven't been used in the right way yet, and gory creatures from Hell need to have a seriously creative comeback. I admit, it's hard to depict ghosts as villains in video games without cheesing out. If you check out the video game I talked about in an earlier post, about being a 2-year old in a haunted house, that is what I am talking about. Creativity. All the paranormal games are I-Spy crap and point and click cheeseballs. I want action, terror, gore. I found this in Nightmare House 2, a Half-Life 2 mod. But I want MORE. How about that Japanese game, Fatal Frame? Now that's scary shit. I bought the second game for my Xbox 360 and it still scares the hell out of me, mostly because I play it at night with high volume and the lights turned off. That's what I am talking about. Squeeze out the American cheese from our video games, throw in some foreign folklore and create the story. I don't know if it's because Americans can't get scared anymore like we used to, or if our creativity sucks, but I am still looking for that new video game that really gives me a scare, to replace the hole in my heart where Silent Hill used to make its home.

Debut Clip From New Silent Hill: Revelations 3D

It is hard to tell what kind of film we are dealing with from this all-too-familiar clip from the upcoming Silent Hill: Revelations. We get it, nurses are scary and the first movie couldn't have driven that notion any harder. This may be my out-of-practice speaking, but I thought nurses only went quiet in the dark and that light attracted them just as much as noise? I distinctly remember having to turn my flashlight off while approaching a room and moving around in the dark (and hoping not to bump into anything) so that the "frozen" nurses in the room wouldn't be attracted. But maybe the fact the lights are flickering indicates "dim" quality of lighting and therefore is not strong enough to fully attract the nurses...

BAH! I say the room should be dark, like in the video games, and let's make life a little more difficult for the characters. Let them sit in darkness and the audience hang at the edge of their seats on every sound in the room and whether or not a nurse is approaching. Let everyone feel the tension that the video game emitted.

Well, this film is already ranking low for me as I have not seen anything too enticing. Nurses; it's been done in the first movie. Give me something that really makes me want to see the movie besides how the Silent Hill name can be more ridiculed.

Torchlight II, Where Are You?

Can you smell it? The release of Torchlight II is growing near, and I can hardly stay on my seat. Steam has offered pre-purchase sales already and it is taking all of my will power to not spend the rent money ($19.99 actually!) on a pre-purchase. I've gotten ridiculously cheap nowadays.

Anyways, the release date is still unknown, or, a.k.a. "when it's done." It's killing me! Since Diablo III was a total letdown (which I did NOT spend my money on), a lot of people are looking to the release of Torchlight II. Although, there is controversy over the new Co-op and Multiplayer options with the Always Online DRM that Diablo also has. I, on the other hand, can't wait to play this game with my friends and others, as I spent countless hours playing on my own! And I just pray it won't be as awful as the Diablo III Free Weekend experience...I think I played a total of 1-2 hours when the servers were working? I have a Beta Preview for you here for Torchlight II, if you didn't get the chance to play.



You know, after playing Torchlight, I can relate everything else I play back to that because Torchlight was my first experience with a game of its kind. For example, when I played Diablo III, I thought "Holy cow this is JUST like Torchlight!" in terms of its interface, its inventory etc. I just recently picked up World of Warcraft and it's the same reaction. Torchlight opened a dangerous door for me, and for that I am grateful. I know one came before the other and so forth, but it's the order I played them in that matters to me.

Don't worry, I wouldn't leave you with just that. I've also got gameplay videos with two VERY annoying British men playing co-op, just to get an idea of what it looks like.

Again, I just can't wait to play. I just wish I knew WHEN I could play. The fact they are keeping the price at $19.99 makes me leap for joy, because as you all know, many a times a college student has gone broke for the price of a video game. The graphics in the video look great and sharper than in the original. Character design has improved as well as the number of classes and pets to choose from. I'm a girl, and I love the part of choosing the pet. It tickles my cuddly side. I don't know about you, but I am most looking forward to the weapons. I have a cuddly side, yes, but I do love my weapons. All in all, the sooner Torchlight II can get its butt released, the sooner I can put off the rest of the world for a little while.

Word On The Street: Diablo III Failed Miserably

Okay so I've been sniffing around the internet lately and I have come across a TON of articles, blogs and comments negatively speaking about Diablo III. Boy, am I glad I didn't spend $60 and go broke for that. So, what's going on? Check out some of the Facebook comments under their status stating they released the patch.

Well Folks, the tribe has spoken. And this is just Facebook under Diablo's official page. On top of this, there are various blog posts and websites stating some of the same upsets. Yes, some people are being asinine or senseless and complaining about way too much, but these are the consumers. They put out the cash for the games. They affect the outcome of Blizzard's success. If they are unhappy, their unhappiness will spread among other fans before the upset with Blizzard becomes the central emotion in relation to the company. So when someone sees a Diablo 4 (if attempted), it won't have as many buyers. Or, if I dare say, any product by Blizzard in the future. Despite the reasons, unhappiness is unhappiness and from the looks of it right now, unhappiness is taking over.

I think Blizzard could've done better. It's not about being a hater or anything like that, but about the fact that Blizzard's audience had high expectations for Diablo III and those expectations were not met. The server problems experienced during the Free Play weekend and opening day were sort of expected, but it seems the problems persist. I would be mad if I spent all that money on a game and was dissatisfied extremely. Especially college students, who barely have any money!

I wonder how Blizzard plans to respond to all of the negative comments, or if they will respond at all? I hope they respond. Check out this article I just found today: http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Diablo-3-Player-Count-Dives-By-65-According-Gametrics-44420.html#.T_xfe_61FCo.facebook

Looking at this data, Blizzard isn't looking too swell. Too bad I'm too wrapped up in World of Warcraft to boycott them.

All we can do is wait; wait and see what Blizzard will do and wait for another mind-blowing game, maybe like Torchlight 2 or some of the favorites announced at E3.

Pyramid Head, Nurses and Silent Hill: Revelations 3D....Oh No...

Unfortunately (and oddly enough...) Silent Hill Revelations does not yet have an official trailer...or even a teaser...so I smell a trainwreck? The Hobbit isn't released until December and it already has a full trailer.

I can't get my panties in a bunch just yet. Though this whole production process has been a delayed mess, I still have hope that this movie will be much better than the first. If you didn't see the first, here's a trailer to give you an idea.


  Ok, so that movie was pretty good...if you didn't play the video game. If you played the game and are a loyal Silent Hill fan like myself, I am sure you were enraged. Everything was done...WRONG! No! No! No! Here's an example:
Pyramid Head: we know and love him, right? If you didn't play the games, he seems like an epic and terrifying character to have in the movie. But us gamers, oh we know better. See, Pyramid Head exists because he is the collection of James' supposed guilt over Laura's death (his wife). It is the torment and dark feelings that reside within himself. So...without James Sunderland, there is no Pyramid Head! It's like they just threw Pyramid Head in there and said "Hey, that's sweet dude!" Seriously...

Anyways, enough of that. I am an optimist, and I am hoping this next movie is more loyal to the true Silent Hill fans, as they have promised. Of course, I will have to see it in theaters, make my call and of course probably blog about it on here.

Just so you know, you will hear a lot from me on here about Silent Hill.

Something To Make You Smile: TF2 Musical

Okay so maybe The Little Mermaid was my favorite Disney movie from back in the day when Pixar wasn't popular, but add Team Fortress 2 into the mix and it is unforgettable. Check out this short film made in Valve's Source Filmmaker, which is still in beta, and tell me your day doesn't look a little more brighter.

Alice: Madness Returns Made Me Go Mad

Alice: Madness Returns beholds an incredible environment with such a distinct art style. The people in London are twisted and Tim-Burton-like while the different worlds of Alice's psyche (aka Wonderland) each lend a theme along with imaginative enemies and landscapes. Despite the dazzling art style of Alice: Madness Returns, gameplay is not as great as I had hoped. Let me begin by saying you've better be more than skilled at jumping onto platforms of all kinds, or you'll never make it past the first world. I'm not kidding. Maybe 90% of this game is determined by how well you can jump and/or float onto a platform. No doubt you will spend countless hours screaming at Alice and beating your computer at your failed attempts of trying to land perfectly. Hey, here's a fun fact. I discovered a game glitch where once you spawn, the W button appears stuck (though it isn't) and she will keep running forward until you beat on the W button a few times. I fell quite a bit due to this glitch, and it kept happening; it didn't happen ALL the time, but every now and then after spawning. And it pissed me off. Something else: when I first played the game last summer, I discovered another glitch. I think it was just after I bought the game after it was released, so this has probably been fixed since then. Upon the first major boss fight, you must use your umbrella shield to redirect fireballs into the enemy. In this glitch, the umbrella button, well...didn't work. At the time, I had no idea what was wrong or thought maybe I was pressing the wrong button. After meticulous research, I discovered others were having the same problem and maneuvered my way around dreadful instructions in order to fix the problem. I am proud to say I did some computer-science-manipulations (which is funny, considering I am a Communications major), and made it happen. I am still proud of that moment. Since then, I've had to buy a new computer and start all over again from scratch and was worried I'd have to conquer that glitch again. But I didn't, because I'm not sure I could work that magic again. With the constant rage-quitting and a sore wrist from beating the computer desk with my fist, and my mouth tired of stringing curse words, I still can say I hope to finish Alice: Madness Returns in one piece. After a while, I got a hang of the jumping and floating and landing. The combat isn't too hard and the puzzles are measly.  Overall, I loved the story, character design and environment of the game. I can handle jumping onto platforms any day if it means being surrounded by a gruesome version of a childhood fairytale. During some cut scenes, the art style changed into something like this. It's dark and I love it. Character design hardly disappointed me and I felt thrilled to see what came next. For instance, take the zombie guards of the Queen of Hearts. Just so cool and they tie right in to the story, since they were killed in the first Alice. Like I mentioned earlier, this game takes a certain amount of skill, senseless skill, but a skill needed to advance in Alice: Madness Returns, and I think I find myself only playing to finish the story rather than enjoy the constant jumping from platform to platform. It's about timing and if your computer lags a little, well good luck. Some games you can play laggy, but not this one. I play it for the story, and the art.

Wreck-It Ralph Will Be My New Favorite Pixar Movie

I've got one word for you: Zangief. Not only is Zangief my favorite character from Street Fighter, but he and many other video game characters come to life in this new pixar film, Wreck-It Ralph, due out in theaters this November. Other characters include Dr. Robotnik, Bowser, Pac Man Ghost, A Zombie (who looks remarkably similar to the zombies from House of the Dead), Neff from Altered Beast, and so many more! If you are a gamer, like me, and have been gaming for years, I guarantee this movie has slipped in more than a few video game innuendos. I just cannot believe they got the rights to use the characters; it is surprising but thrilling, because now I get to see Dr. Robotnik in a Villain Support group, like a person, rather than an evil man wanting to take over everything, no longer seen as a 2D (in most cases) graphic I needed to destroy.

Wreck-It Ralph is a villain who participates in the Villain Support Group and decides one day that he has had enough. While jumping video game worlds, he accidentally releases a digital villain who has nastier plans than any of them. While meeting very familiar characters along the way, Ralph must defeat the villain and come to an awareness of his own villain-life. Be sure to go to Fix It Felix Jr to play the arcade game from the movie. Like Toy Story did with kids' toys, Wreck-It Ralph will be sure to warm the hearts of gamers everywhere.

I bet I will be able to find more gaming innuendos than you!

Ubisoft's "Watch Dogs" Trailer Leaves Me Speechless

When I was shown this ten minute game play trailer, I seriously thought it was still a cut scene. What Ubisoft has done with this game is incredible, so much that sometimes I forget I am playing a video game. It is a computer nerd's paradise, a game of hacking and from the game play trailer, it is quite the power. There are a lot of versatile, unscripted events in this game and the people in the game react to your actions. Let's just say it is a hacking-version of Grand Theft Auto. Dubbed maybe the best game play trailer at E3 this year, it has taken the words from my mouth and left me speechless. I can only leave you with the trailer itself.

Why You Should Give Tomb Raider Another Chance

Wow, just look at the evolution of our young Lara Croft over a number of installments. Video game graphics sure have come a long way, leaning towards realistic. No longer are video games made without the thought of "how do we make this look real?" The first Lara Croft possessed an impossible figure while Lara Croft 2013 has a more realistic body. Hey, even her breasts look natural, aside from the freakish (yet most men found it an appealing characteristic of Croft) bazoongas from earlier games. Fun fact: In the movie Tomb Raider, did you know Angelina Jolie had to wear extra pads under her bra to make her boobs as big as Lara Croft's?

Moving away from the topic of the horrible casting job of Angelina Jolie for that role, the debut trailer for Tomb Raider: Crossroads was released via E3 2012 May 31. Croft finds herself stranded on an island after a shipwreck, her crew missing. She must brush up on her survival skills in order to combat the animals and people of the island in order to survive and save her crew. Check it out for yourself.

This game, unlike the others, is a new take on the series and starts at the beginning, before Lara got her moves and solid stamina. In this installment, Lara is just a young girl out to battle the world, alone and maybe a little frightened. What I like about this game already is the empathy I feel for Lara that I did not feel in other games. To me, Lara Croft was badass. She didn't need my empathy or anything before this. She knew what she was doing, Lara could handle it, always. But now, she is maybe around my age, struggling to survive in an adventure that goes way beyond her skills and you know what? I feel for her. Just like I really felt Jackie's pain in The Darkness, it connected me to the story and made me feel more involved. This is what really draws me in to a video game, the emotional connection to a story. But we will have to see when it comes out next Spring (we hope). It was delayed in order to perfect new additions to this specific installment. Tomb Raider: Crossroads is due out March 5, 2013. Meanwhile, here is who SHOULD play Lara Croft in a movie (Olivia Wilde).

E3 2012's "Dishonored" Debut Gameplay Trailer

Can you smell it? E3 season is here! Trailers are leaking everywhere and there is even more to come once E3 rolls around next week, June 5 to 7.

While I was perusing through new video game content on Youtube, I came upon this gem. A Bethesda game titled, Dishonored. It takes place in a neo-Victorian time period, and heavily embedded with a steampunk style. It was not just the time period and choice of stealth gaming style that drew me in, but the zombies, violent rats and alien machinery? In these terms, I'll let "alien" mean "strange." Bethesda has it scheduled for debut in October of this year.

You play Corvo Atano, an ex- bodyguard for the Empress who was framed for her assassination. Lucky for you, Corvo possesses vast supernatural powers. The game is in open-world format, so wandering and exploring is a must. Such locations include the Isles, Pandyssian Continent, and the city of Dunwall. Weapons range from swords, daggers, guns (pistols and muskets, though). Corvo can also freeze time, possess animals,  summon plague animals (like the rats in the gameplay trailer), and teleport. There is another supernatural being that exists in the world, known as part-angel, part-devil and is the creator of all magic. This is the being who offered Corvo vengeance in prison, thus his magical powers were born.

The oddities in this game and the originality in its narrative make me intrigued. I can say, I want to play this game. It caters to my supernatural taste in video games and sounds like a game I could spend hours playing. The Darkness, being my favorite game series, lacks one thing: length. Maybe I will enjoy this game as much as The Darkness, only it will allow me Skyrim-length hours of gameplay. What a dream!