Blog Post XIV

Ninja Gaiden II

Okay, so before I start talking about this game, THIS VIDEO should pretty much sum it up for you.

Okay, so let me just level with you for a second here. This game is gory, violent and oh, so very, VERY difficult. Like. Ragequit worthy difficult.

This game is a fast paced chop-em-up type. The story-line seems rather redundant in the face of chopping off other people's limbs and gorging your weapon in blood.

Just like how in Prototype 2, this game is really just a good stress reliever if you just want to rip someone apart. However, not long after "just playing" it, its pretty common to get frustrated. The enemies in this game can be very difficult/near impossible sometimes.

There's really not much else to tell that's extremely important to underline, so like my last posts I'll just satisfy your need for content with these gifs!

As the end of the year draws to an end, this is my final blog post! Thank you to all who have cared to view, comment, or follow my posts!! Have a great summer!

(who knows, maybe I'll get bored and write some more stuff? ;B  )

Blog Post XIII

Kingdom Hearts 2

"A scattered dream that's like a far off memory...

..A far off memory that's like a scattered dream."

Kingdom Hearts 2 is probably one of the best games I've ever played. It's packed with an amazing plot twist and familiar Disney characters that only make the game better.

In here, you play as two main characters Roxas and Sora. As you play through, you gain the aid of Goofy and Donald in order to take down the evil Organization XIII and the malicious abominations known as heartless. 

This malignant group has spread its corruption in the story lines of many other Disney movies such as:

Aladdin

Mickey Mouse

Beauty and the Beast

Hercules

The Little Mermaid

Mulan

The Lion King

But that's not all! Many other games/movies have been incorporated. Games like Final Fantasy VII or Tron have been included as well.

When fighting against the Organization, Sora and Roxas use a very different kind of weapon - something that is known as the Keyblade. These weapons come in all different shapes and sizes, but are nonetheless used to defeat evil and unlock the gates between worlds.

Although this is the second game in the series (Kingdom Hearts 3 has already been announced!!) It is not completely necessary to play the first one in order to know what's going on - but it does help.

I know this game seems a little abstract because of the use of Disney characters, but honestly, this game is revolutionary. As I said before, this game has an excellent plot-twist, and it does very well in keeping the player interested.

This about ties it up for Kingdom Hearts 2, but there is so much more left open to figure out. I leave it up to my fellow viewers to play and truly see how much fun this game can be.

To give you more of an idea, I'll add in the game TRAILER and some extra gifs.

Blog Post XII

Yeah...

...I'm pretty nerdy..

But really though, just let me rant about this game for a second c:

Okay.

Here it goes..

This game.

Is.

AWESOME.

Seriously, this is actually a really fun game. If you like fast paced action and fighting against an enemy, this is the game for you.

It's a lot like Soul Caliber or Street Fighter to the extreme.

So the story behind this game is that it is actually over a manga book series called Naruto. They also televised the series, and it's pretty notorious and a high ranking classic.

In the game, you get to play as a majority of the players you see in the show.

Each of these characters has special abilities or 'Jutsu'

 -- Much like Street Fighter, but more powerful spells. --

There is a story mode to the game, but the real focus was on player vs. player match ups.

Just like how people play Super Smash Bros. to see who has more skill, people will also play Naruto to do the same.

Battles are ridiculously intense and fun, especially among other friends.

There's nothing you want to do more than just mop the floor with them. The closer the game normally the more fun you'll have though.

I definitely recommend this game to people who have either watched Naruto, or if you've enjoyed playing Soul Caliber or Street Fighter.

That's all for this week, and I'll be back next Friday for more blog posts about the vidja!

 (If you know what I mean c;   )  

Blog Post XI

Okay, So I'm gonna change it up a little bit.
Today I'm going to talk about a MMO that has gotten pretty popular over the last few years.

League of Legends ('League' for short)is a live action strategy game in which the objective is to take over the enemies Nexus or 'home base'. 

In League, you play as a summoner controlling a certain warrior. It's easier to think of it like a puppet-master and his puppets. 

There are a few things to note really fast at this point. 

The game itself is totally free to play!

The game offers in-store purchases, but they don't give any sort of handicap to the people who spend real money on the game. 

After you create your account and log in, one can select a multitude of game modes.

Most players will generally play 5v5 games which can last around 45 minutes.

There is a vast multitude of champions to choose from.

There is a plethora of items on the fields of justice too!

Currently, there are 192 items available in game. 

The current count of champions right now is 124 - all with very different skill sets and abilities!

The Game seriously is a lot of fun, and I have spent 1,027 hours cumulative playing the game. That is 43 days.

I think that should establish some credibility.

It's great to play with friends, but be warned... This game has the potential to piss you off like no other.

If you end up downloading it, feel free to add my username: Ardicane

That's it for this blog post, and I'll see you on the fields of justice, Summoner!!

Blog Post X

SKYRIM!!

All you need to see, can be seen in the trailer HERE

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Simply put, Skyrim is the mother of all games.

The gamer can pretty much create and manipulate the game to whatever story line seems fit.

You know how some games are just notorious?

This game, like Smash Bros. Is clumped into that group.

(Seriously if you haven't heard of  Skyrim, get out.)

The game really is just freaking amazing.

Not only are the graphics themselves enticing...

 ...but the freedom as the character is empowering.

You don't like a certain somebody?

Welp.

You can go ahead and kill them.

Problem solved. *wipes hands*

As seen as a great feature in other games posted, levels and abilities can be leveled up.

There is so much you can do, and a plethora of skills that come into importance the more you play.

Things like:

Enchanting

Blacksmithing

Weapon Proficiency

Sneaking

Lockpicking

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...

If I have established any credibility whatsoever, you must play this game if you have not already.

Seriously.

Just play it.

Please.

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With that being said, that concludes my blog posts for this week!

I'll see you guys next Friday!!

Blog Post IX

Borderlands 2

Things are about to get badass...

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Borderlands is a first-person shoot 'em up multi-player game. 

It's full of endless enemies and phat loots -- perfect for endless hours of gameplay with your friends!

The main enemy here is Handsome Jack - the tyrant of hyperion.

He makes it his mission to open up the vault -- a treasure cache seemed to hold unbridled power and wealth.

To ensure the treasure as his own, he makes an effort to destroy any particular threats. This is where the main classes of the game come into play.

The game features 4 character classes each with completely different special abilities and talents at level 5.

Maya - The Siren: The mage class of the group. Her special move raises enemies into a sphere where they float helplessly in the air taking constant damage.

Zero - The Assassin: Can either be close quarters, or a mile away. Zero can replicate himself as a clone in order to sneak away, or get behind a target and do some serious damage.

Axton - The Commando: A tech-loving commander who focuses more on using automatic assault weaponry. Axton's special ability allows him to throw down a turret that targets and annihilates enemies. 

(probably my favorite c:  )

Salvador - The Gunzerker: Salvador walks into the room dual wielding guns practically invincible if played correctly. His special ability is what allows him to dual wield weapons, but he also regenerates health and somehow ammunition as well -- all while taking reduced damage of course.

With the seemingly endless upgrades and levels, the game can lasts as long as you make it!

I strongly suggest playing the game among friends, as any other game is more fun with more people.

Happy gaming! And be sure to avoid claptrap....

Blog Post VIII

SUPER SMASH BROS. MELEE!!!!!

Okay, who seriously hasn't played this game? If you have not, you deserve a slap in the face... Wake up!!

It's everywhere

It's great.

It is love..

...It is life.

So, throughout my blog, I've focused more on single player games, but I just had to mention this classic.

Super Smash Bros is played everywhere, and is always resorted to when challenging another gamer.

There are so many characters, and so many ways to play them!

This game has a story mode, but is normally only played to unlock the other characters for battle.

Focusing mainly on the player to player aspect of the game the more, the merrier! In virtually any situation, it's always a good idea to play this game.

For instance:

Can't decide where to get food? Name the bots and let them battle it out! The champion has earned the right to your consumerism!

Need to work on coordination and quick thinking? Of course! This game is all about acting and reacting to the other players actions. 

And of course, the more practical question of 'Am I procrastinating?' Maybe. But if you are, what better way to do it than by playing a few matches with some buddies?

Obviously, the game is very simple minded, but that doesn't stop it from being incredibly fun.

No matter what, I always find the time to relax with some friends, and engage in some friendly competition!

(definitely not because I'm procrastinating)

And.. Finally, one more thing to note.

Wombo Combos exist. (This youtube video is.. So. Very. Accurate.)

There is nothing better than seeing the demise of another player you just mopped the floor with.

With that being said, that's all for this week!

Time to enjoy my birthday and spring break!!

Comments and questions are encouraged and of course, I'll see you next week for more discussion on the vidja.

Blog Post VII

Hey all! Hope you're ready for some more vidja game discussion!

For my first blog post this week I'll be talking about...

Fire Emblem!!!

(Path of Radiance)

For those of you who enjoy a good thinking and strategical game, this game is definitely for you!.

(You're welcome.)

So, exactly how does this game interest you? Well, allow me to elaborate.

For starters, this game is played in third person, and is essentially a giant chess match against the opponent.

In this sense, each companion you stumble upon (there are so many) has a different type of play-style and skill-set. With that being said, typically they fall into 5 generalized categories.

They are:

Ground Melee - These are typically your average joe warriors, however, are not to be underestimated. The main character Ike is an example. While they seem to start out rather weak, they can grow and develop into strong, core members of your party. Being melee fighters, these units stay up close and personal and can only attack one space away from the enemy.

Armored - Kind of tied with the ground melee units, armored fighters are the stocky, tank-like characters. They are slow, but have incredibly high defense and offense as well. Stick these guys in the front lines to block melee attackers from getting to your more vulnerable troops.

Mage - A typical mage one may think of originally. These units contain colossal power, but suffer from a lack of defense as well. It is best to strategically place these units a couple of squares away to attack other melee units (because they can't attack back) in order to weaken or deal the finishing blow.

Archer - Like mages, archers can attack from a range, but normally not as vast. Consequently they have higher defense, but will still suffer from other physical forms of damage.

Mounted - Typically your all-star members. Mounted units have a huuuuuuuge bonus to movement (duh). These units can be anything but the armor classification and as a result reciprocate damage tenfold. While you can reckless most of the time with the units, damage does pile up, and believe me... You do NOT  want these units to die.

Oh yeah.. Once your characters die, they are gone for good..

Not only does it make you wallow in your own guilt for letting them die, but the characters who they are supposed to get along with and support will not develop properly in the full story.

SO!

be sure to save often, because the reset button gets some pretty good use in this game. 

Unless, you know... you're a terrible leader and probably like melted ice cream and shaved kittens.

(you monster...)

Just a few more key elements include leveling up, class evolutions, weapon proficiency and use, and of course the gucci story line. 

And with that, you have 'Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance'
Slap it into your Gamecube and have a dandy ol' time!

Just be prepared to hit restart a lot!

HUZZAH!

Blog Post VI

PAPER mario!!

So i guess i kind of owe mario a spotlight since luigi got one earlier in my blog posts. 

seems pretty fair to me.

(Plus this has hardly any blood and gore, unlike [Prototype])

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I really like this game because it doesn't just have mario as the main character. 

In this game, you still play as mario, but you get to play as bowswer and peach as well.

the whole game is literally like a book with different perspectives and story-lines that all come together in the end.

additionally, you pick up special companions that help you get through various parts of the game..

...And the game is all 2d graphics!

The game design is actually really crucial to the gameplay.

You manipulate the graphics to get through obstacles that would otherwise be impossible.

(You can see this in the trailer I'll link below

Not to forget about the whole fighting sequence and what not.

Yep.

All of it is 2d.

I cant  really go into many more details otherwise it'll spoil all the fun of this glorious and strategical cartoon style game! 

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If you would really like to see what it's about, check out the trailer!

Paper Mario and the Thousand year door trailer

That's all for this week, but no need to... tear up about it..

(hah, get it? Like paper tear?)

(That was terrible, I'm sorry.)

I'll be coming back with more video games to talk about next week!

.

Blog Post V

      Surely everybody has desired to have the power of a god at some point in their lifetime. One can imagine running at unimaginable speeds, having the strength to pick up cars, being able to fly, or maybe even for some - transforming into whatever it is you want.

...And that's why I like the game [Prototype].

Oh yeah, and it's practically like fighting against zombies.

Hello, I'm here again not only because I have to be, but also because I could probably rant for hours about the vidja. 

For my first post this week, I think that this game is a little bit more interesting for those who appreciate a good story-line, god-like powers, and violence.. 

..Lots and lots of violence...

Okay, so for starters, you play a character named Alex Mercer. 

You have been taken to be experimented on by the strong militant army Blackwatch to become a super-soldier

(Blackwatch vs. Infected)

Why?

To fight the deadly infection imposed by yet another human experiment.

(Sounds like a great idea right?)

Problem is-

You don't want to be a lab rat. So what are you going to to naturally? 

Break out of course!

(You would think they would figure out testing on human subjects doesn't work out in their favor, right?

So, naturally as you escape, you are being chased by Blackwatch who constantly shoot and fire their weapons, yet you don't know why they don't do much damage..

You know nothing of your repressed power..

YET.

Yeah, yeah, whatever. Where's all the cool stuff I said in the beginning of the post?

Well when playing the game, this is all good and fun.. But explaining is quite a bit more boring. 

SO.

In order to spare you, I'll skip to the part where you start discovering awesome stuff!

You later discover that you have been injected with a genetically modified version of the virus.

As you develop your powers through various hard and strategical bosses, you basically mutate the virus to your own liking.. Which comes in pretty handy.

1. Claw Arm? That's pretty cool!

Yeah.. But it gets better.

2. Sword Arm? Hell. F-ing. Yes.

Probably the main one you'll use if you play.

3. Oh yeah, rockets? Pffft. 

Yep, you're virtually indestructible.

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4. Fall damage? 

Nah. No biggie.

This is actually pretty cool, because the higher you fall the more of a crater you make on impact.

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5. Super speed...

Cars don't stand a chance..  

6. Hurdles?

Yeah, let me just jump off this car real fast. Easy.

(Why not just be a track star?)

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Right, so there you have it!

I purposefully left out some powers as to not to spoil the whole surprise.

The game has a pretty solid story-line, and unlocking powers is a part of that.

Overall, [Prototype] is easily one of my favorite games..

Got some built up anger? Just go ahead and kill some zombies.

Like all the other games I've talked about I definitely recommend this one for the team.

Its just great.. So play it.

Blog Post IV

Castle Crashers!!!

This game is a freaking legend...

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So this is honestly my favorite game of all time! What's better than awesome 2D graphics, smashing bosses, and saving princesses?

NOTHING.

Castle Crashers is a game that everybody should play. 

I know you're probably thinking... "Seriously? This looks like a cartoon?" 

But all I can ask is for you to bear with me.

Coming from the same people who build the website Newgrounds; The Behemoth is who they partnered up with in order to make these games. 

(Seriously check out some of their stuff... After all, - 

their slogan is "Everything. By Everyone.")

With that said, allow me to discuss just the surface about this crazy-fun Xbox 360 game.

To begin, it's better to grab a couple of friends (1-4 players).

With this game, the more the merrier!

You start your journey as a knight enjoying a glorious feast of food and dance. 

Everything is going great! What could possibly go wrong? I mean.. It's not like some super evil villain is going to come out of nowhere and assault the kingdom for the King's jewel.

...Oh wait.. 

That does happen.

They stole your happiness.

Stole the kings jewel.

And kidnapped 4 princesses.

(Are you going to just sit there and take that?)

(Me when I wake up on a Monday ^)

PSH! Fat chance!

Time to suit up and plow through a horde of seemingly endless enemies, traverse vast landscapes, get phat loots, and reclaim what was taken from you!

All the while leveling up and spending talent points to customize the character you want to play! 

Castle Crashers is a pretty simple and straightforward game, but for some reason it is oddly addicting. Maybe it's the funny inter-woven comic relief found throughout, or just the simplicity of it all. No matter the reason, I always find some reason to come back to it.

As much as I wish the game was free, there really is worth the price. For $15 you can buy it on Steam (where you might have played Cry of Fear) or on the Xbox Live Arcade.

You can download the free trial on the arcade and give it a whirl!

As stated, the loot is phat, and the adventure is hilarious. 

I honestly can not stress enough how well made this game is. If you get the chance to play it, do it. You'll totally regret it if you don't.

To wrap things up for this week, enjoy this short little gif about the game!

--Happy Crashing!!

Blog Post III

L̴̛͇̻͚͇͈̥͝u̷̧̙̼̱̱̯̝̬̞̳̖̗̯͘̕į̶̞̹̰́͘͢g̸̬͓͈͖̕͘į͈͈̳̰͉̺'̶̸̡̛̘̥̭̫͚̜̦̳̦̬͠s̶̡͖͙͙̝̟̳͔̬̮͎̲̝̜̥̟̙͢ ̦̪͚̰́̕̕̕̕M̸̢̭͉͖̭̱̮̥̻̺̗̯̰̮͇̀͘͟a̷̵̧̫̬̘̩͉̝̼͎͉̠̼͕͜͠n̶̨̡̡̺̺̣͈s̛҉̷̼̪͍̲̗̩͇̱͎͈̫͜i̳̗̟̱̼̣̩͠͝o͏҉͕̺̦̠̫̜͉͚͖̗̣̝̳ͅń̷̢̛͓̺̦̜̮̜͉̻̯̘̥̞͕͚͉̟ͅ

(Luigi's Mansion)

And they say that Luigi doesn't deserve the spotlight...

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Back too more creepy stuff huh? 

Eh... Nope. Not really.

Luigi's Mansion isn't really about jump scares and crazed murderers like the game I previously covered Cry of Fear.

Nah.

It's Nintendo, they wouldn't be able to get away with it...

Luigi's Mansion is a third person point-of-view game with a lot of twists and turns. After first entering the haunted mansion in search of Mario, Luigi quickly realizes as he's surrounded by ghosts that he's nowhere near prepared to handle this situation. He huddles up in the fetal position and waits for his fate among the ghosts...

...And that's when Professor E. Gad comes into play.

He storms in on a vacuum like something right out of Ghost busters.

After a few minutes of a tutorial, Luigi finds himself back in the haunted mansion ready to take on the ghosts with his newly equipped Poltergust 3000.

One after another, slowly you eliminate the ghosts within the mansion.

Be warned though, not all ghosts are the same.. Some are more powerful than others. 

Buuuuut that's for you to figure out.

Luigi gains confidence, and pretty soon, the mansion begins to find its light again. All is starting to look up after all, right?

Oh wait... You haven't forgotten about Mario... Have you?

Maybe Luigi should just have the spotlight for a while?

Blog Post II

Jak and Daxter Trilogy

Holy guacamole... This game is just legendary, that's all you need to know.

Blogs over.

Done.

(If only it were that simple, right?)

This game blew my goddamn mind a kid growing up. The picture to the left refers to the very first game in the series, and you can tell it kind of looks cartoon-ish, but don't let that throw you off. 

As you proceed throughout the blog, I'll be discussing some of the differences between the first one from the second and third, while trying to make it interesting for those who don't know what the hell I'm talking about.

(Trust me it'll totally be worth)

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The first game was awesome. As the starter for a trilogy, they did really well in making the game fun and easy to learn, as well as challenging when it needed to be. You didn't have blatant words or characters yelling at you and telling you where to go or what to do all the time. That's annoying,and you just sit in your seat death gripping the controller the whole time.

"Hey! Push up on the controller to go forward!"

"Yeah, I get it.."

Now push square to break the box!"

"Yes, I understand that!"

"Open up the menu to look at your bags!"

(Most accurate description ever am I right?)

The series as a whole did a really good job in allowing the player figure out what it was they needed to do, which adds a lot more fun to the game play itself. Overall, the first game was already pretty brilliant.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

See what I really love about this game design really involves the second and third one. They knew that the kids who played Jak & Daxter were getting older, and the second one was released two years later.

(Get ready, this is gonna be good) 

 

SHAZAM!

Just looking at the two covers you can Jak had hit puberty somewhere in that two years. 

But really though, this game brings in the Grand Theft Auto experience with the introduction of guns, gun mods, stealing hovercrafts, profanity, and just killing people.. Well.. Because you can.

They introduced multiple new abilities and play styles, and I just.. Couldn't. Even.

(If this game was Starbucks, I would be the whitest girl in the world.)

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

And finally, we arrive at the last game of the series, Jak 3.

MIND = BLOWN

 Just take a second and appreciate it.

Like it

LOVE IT.

While a lot of the concepts from Jak 2 carry over, it still brings up even more new stuff. Now you get to take on various bandits with all new weapon models and upgrades. You get to drive weaponized motor vehicles, each having their own unique trait. And of course there is the one other major thing introduced here, but I wouldn't want to spoil such a treat!  I can't tell you how many hours I spent on this game... Ohhhh the memories *wipes tear from eye*

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While Jak and Daxter started off young and pretty innocent, it really is amazing on how the developers evolved not only the game, but the characters and their stories as well. I would highly recommend this game to anybody who likes to play the vidja. 

I could rant for pages and pages about it, but like said, all you need to know is that this game is legendary.

Blogs over.

Done.