Have you ever heard a song that just stood out in a positive way, only to discover that the artist behind it has done songs you didn't like before. That is what this list is for. Keep in mind, this is my opinion. If an artist you like is on this list, don't get offended. It won't change my opinion and it will only ruin your day. Also, these songs were released as hits, so no fan favorite unknown song from the album, I don't own an album from any of these artist. I am also adding links to YouTube for anyone curious to listen to them. With that out of the way, lets dive in with something a bit more obvious.
#10- Savages by Theory of a Deadman- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRKBGBSSaYg
Theory of a Deadman is a poor man's Nickelback... Which is a poor man's Rock music. I will give Theory of a Deadman one thing, at least they made a song I legitimately like. Savages feels less like Nickelback and more like Godsmack. I don't know if it is the haunting guitar work, the guitar solo, or the fact that Alice Cooper contributes to this song. Lyrically, it is nothing special, but the tone sets up a mood for adrenaline, aggression, and hints at a good time. While the rest of the songs feel like something a drunk guy would sing at a karaoke night, Savages feels like a song that should be enjoyed at a Rock concert.
#9- Ghost of Beverly Drive by Death Cab for Cutie- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srvcc8izHSU
I have never been a fan of Death Cab for Cutie. I have found the mellow feeling and acoustic work they are known for to be boring. People have tried to get me to like them, but failed. Until Ghost of Beverly Drive came out. I did not believe they were the ones behind this song when I heard it. I thought it was a new Pop Punk band or an Indie singer. This the smart use of being mellow, but also being interesting with the electric guitar instead of acoustic and a very effective drum rhythm backing the whole thing up. It is not lyrically different from Death Cab for Cutie's other work, but I can relate to it a little more since it goes into always going back on your mistakes. It is a song I didn't think could exist, but happy it does.
#8- Rollin' by Limp Bizkit- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYnFIRc0k6E
The early 2000s were not the best times for Metal. While we did get Korn and Papa Roach, we also got the Limp Bizkit and it is really the only time they could have been popular. They were vulgar, over the top, and more violent then they should've been. They did a reunion tour, but that is all I have heard. However, this song was fun when you found the edited version (which is the version I am sharing) and the riff work is actually good. Not to mention, it is the only song that showed the band did have potential to do more than they did. It is a song to just move along and not get in a fight... At least not with Limp Bizkit... Wow! Who taught Fred Durst how to spell? ... Moving on...
#7- Where Is the Love by The Black Eyed Peas- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpYeekQkAdc
Good Grief! The Black Eyed Peas were just awful, weren't they? Well, almost the worst, but still glad they are gone. This song does still have a level of relevance. It is not the strongest in terms of a tune, but I feel it was made to focus on the lyrics. It is a song about love, and shows how all sides are guilty of that. Why is that bad? It isn't, but we do ignore it at times. Before getting any more potential, Justin Timberlake saves the song like Alice Cooper saved Savages. His chorus for the song helps it stand out and it hasn't been forgotten since I have first heard it in my younger years.
#6- Big Girls Don't Cry by Fergie- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agrXgrAgQ0U
Speaking of The Black Eyed Peas, Will.I.Am has had an awful solo career and Fergie has been almost just as bad. Fergie is basically the Michael Bay of music, she only had one strong song and even my Rock and Metal buddies agree, Big Girls Don't Cry is a beautiful song. If this was the first song I have heard from Fergie, I would think she was a genius, then instantly regret it after hearing the rest of her uninspiring garbage. The song mostly highlights how hard it is to break off a relationship, from the perspective of the person breaking off the relationship, not the person with the broken heart. HOW MANY SONGS DO THAT? Not a lot, at least not at the emotion Fergie gives us. Seriously, I wanted more of this from Fergie, NOT FERGALICIOUS!!!
#5- Sound of Madness by Shinedown- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGt-8adyabk
Shinedown is kind o heartbreaking for me to talk about. When I first heard them, I liked them. Then I heard more and more and liked less and less. Nowadays I view them as a one trick pony, except the Sound of Madness album. During that time, they had a lead guitarist that was very heavy on blues playing and adding that style to a heavy tone is what made the entire album stand out, but Sound of Madness (the title song) is the best song on the album, hands down. Imagine if Metallica did a song with Eric Clapton, that is Sound of Madness. This creates a very dark tone and smart us atmosphere around it, making it a great song for either stress relief or working out. Not to mention the guitar work and riff. I learned it on guitar and it does get people excited when they hear it.
My top 4 are not songs I like more than the rest of the songs listed, some I may like less. I did the order based on the quality of the songs, and my opinion of the artist in question. With that in mind, my top 4 are all going to hurt to admit.
#4 Style by Taylor Swift- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CmadmM5cOk
5 years ago, I made a list of least favorite artist of all time and Taylor Swift was number 1 on that list. I found her whiny, annoying, and repetitive. Since then, other artist have come out that proved me wrong and it could be worse, because Taylor Swift released Style. Style is a song about just looking about a cute couple. Taylor Swift went from a girl crying about heartbreak to just enjoying the good moments and looking nice with your significant other. People tried to tell me she matured when she went to Pop music, but I didn't believe it until Style came out. I would endure We are Never Getting Back Together, Mean, Love Story, and Bad Blood again if she released another song with the level of maturity she showed with Style.
#3- Closer by The Chainsmokers feat. Halsey- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT2_F-1esPk
I am not and EDM fan. If you have told me the guys behind #Selfie was still making music and popular, I would have laughed and punched you in the throat for telling such a lie. While songs like #Selfie and Don't Let Me Down are lifeless, they did release Roses and Paris which are both okay... But I can't help but love Closer. I have no idea why! Lyrically, it is over complicated and the music behind it is boring. Not to mention I am not a fan of Halsey and the member of The Chainsmokers can't sing at all. The message is one thing I was attracted to though. It is a song about enjoying the moment. Don't think about the future too hard, enjoy where you are now. Don't focus on getting older. It is a song that shouldn't work, but does. I did share the lyric video, because it is better. Trust me.
#2- Best Song Ever by One Direction- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz8nbL6iKT4
One Direction was not the New British Wave we needed. They were uninspiring and boring over all. I am happy they are breaking up, but by the end of it all, I couldn't help but hope someone other than Zayn tries a solo work or does more in music, because this song was good for all the best reasons. It is telling a story about a specific event, it has great music for dancing, and it was vague in all the right areas. I am even having a hard time writing while listening to it because I want to start dancing. It was a toss up between this and Perfect, but Perfect is basically their version of Style and I like it less than this one.
#1- The Feeling by Justin Bieber feat. Halsey- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYj4l5Xntt0
I NEVER wanted to like a Justin Bieber song! From his beginning with Baby to the current day, he has only shown how much of an immature little $#!* he is. So, why is The Feeling such a mature song? Did he writes this? Someone tell me he didn't write this! It wasn't as big as his other songs on the album he produced, but this is the best song he has ever released. Hello again, Halsey, and welcome back to a song I didn't want to like, but do. This is a song about the internal debate on whether you love a person, or just love being with someone. The same kid that release Sorry and What Do You Mean the same year, released this. This song ask the question we all need to ask when a relation is in trouble and needs to be evaluated. It is a depressing tune with the song ,but it fits the message. Asking yourself that question is hard and puts you in a tough situation, I speak from experience. I didn't think I would ever like a song from an unlikable source, but I was surprised and I do enjoy it... Sorry...
More Top 10s to come. If you have any suggestion, let me know.
Wednesday, June 28, 2017
Friday, May 19, 2017
Movie Review: Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV
It is no secret I love the Final Fantasy franchise. Heck, I am one of the founders of a YouTube channel called, Final Fantasy Fanatics!
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZoBsGNKOYcel-tuTmozhjg
Which is why I put this movie off for so long. I watched it three times in order to get a full understanding of it and even watched special features on the Blu-Ray. I haven't done that for any other movie I have reviewed. Why did I do that? Because I wanted to back myself when I say, ignore Rotten Tomatoes. That 13% rating from the critics is not an accurate representation of this movie. Square Enix has released 3 feature length films; Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (which sucked), Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (which is a divisive movie depending on who you ask), and this movie, Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. It is personally, the best movie they have ever done. Let me explain the background of the film before going into Pros and Cons.
Background: This movie goes into detail behind the war between the two nations of Final Fantasy XV's world, Niflheim and Lucis. The Kingsglaive is a special military unit for Lucis that uses magic with the world's rules that also exist in the game and we see events take place from the prospective of members of the Kingsglaive.
Pros- Unlike The Spirits Within (That tried too hard to be it's own story) and Advent Children (technically a sequel to the video game, Final Fantasy VII), Kingsglaive is a companion movie to the Final Fantasy XV game. It shows us what we don't see in the movie during the first chapter of the game and it gives a further understanding of the impact and the toll it has on the main character in the game.
Instead of focusing on the main character, we look at a movie exclusive character named, Nyx Ulric, and he is a fantastic character. He is complex, there is emotion with him, and on top of it all, he has an incredible design. He looks like a hero. He is only in this movie, but I would have loved to see more of him.The characters you also see in the game are also really well written and stand out in their own way and all the character designs are unique.
The voice acting in this movie is top notch. Three big names gave there voices to the film; Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad lends his voice for Nyx, Lena Headley from Game of Thrones voices Lady Lunafreya, and Sean Bean voices King Regis (If you don't know who this is, go watch more movies). They all give fantastic performances and you feel the emotions they feel. That can be hard in an animated movie... Yes, this film is animated, not live action.
The animation is beautiful. This is one of the best visual films I have ever seen. This film can work by itself for that alone. It is pure eye candy and easy to watch. It even does a great job on areas I have seen other animated films struggle with. The characters look and feel realistic, the environments are distinct, and the action is fluid and natural. The animation style lends to the action and it is a fantastic experience to sit through. This makes the action in some live action movies look like a group of LARP (Live Action Role Playing) players. I love it, and the final fight is everything you would want in an action climax.
Cons- As good as Nyx is, the other movie exclusive characters are not as interesting. It is kind of hard to feel for them when you don't even see all their faces. All the cloaked Kingsglaive member might as well also wear a red shirt (Star Trek joke quota has been met) because it is hard to really get emotionally involved when things hit the fan for the minor characters. Of all the characters I wish I cared more about, it would have to be the Captain of the Glaive. His drive is not well fleshed out, he doesn't have a strong presence until the third act of the film, the only good part about him is his design.
I can understand someone who isn't interested in Final Fantasy XV not liking this movie. Since it is a companion film and not a prequel or sequel, it can be hard for someone who does not play any of the Final Fantasy games to get into the movie and get emotionally attached to any of the characters that are also in the game. Since it is part of a bigger story, casual audiences have a high chance of getting confused by the movie, because of the structure of it.
Final Thoughts: The reason I delayed talking about this movie, is because I am a part of the target audience. If you are curious about Final Fantasy and want to play the newest game in the franchise, I would recommend watching the movie first. If you want a movie for fun visuals, I could also recommend it. If you are a person that doesn't like video games and is not interested in Final Fantasy (you are missing out, by the way) then I can't recommend it. It is my favorite film from Square Enix, and since the movie comes from a video game company, It may be better suited for gamers to see it. If you are a Final Fantasy fan, check it out. If not, I'll leave it for you to decide if you want to see it or not.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZoBsGNKOYcel-tuTmozhjg
Which is why I put this movie off for so long. I watched it three times in order to get a full understanding of it and even watched special features on the Blu-Ray. I haven't done that for any other movie I have reviewed. Why did I do that? Because I wanted to back myself when I say, ignore Rotten Tomatoes. That 13% rating from the critics is not an accurate representation of this movie. Square Enix has released 3 feature length films; Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (which sucked), Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (which is a divisive movie depending on who you ask), and this movie, Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV. It is personally, the best movie they have ever done. Let me explain the background of the film before going into Pros and Cons.
Background: This movie goes into detail behind the war between the two nations of Final Fantasy XV's world, Niflheim and Lucis. The Kingsglaive is a special military unit for Lucis that uses magic with the world's rules that also exist in the game and we see events take place from the prospective of members of the Kingsglaive.
Pros- Unlike The Spirits Within (That tried too hard to be it's own story) and Advent Children (technically a sequel to the video game, Final Fantasy VII), Kingsglaive is a companion movie to the Final Fantasy XV game. It shows us what we don't see in the movie during the first chapter of the game and it gives a further understanding of the impact and the toll it has on the main character in the game.
Instead of focusing on the main character, we look at a movie exclusive character named, Nyx Ulric, and he is a fantastic character. He is complex, there is emotion with him, and on top of it all, he has an incredible design. He looks like a hero. He is only in this movie, but I would have loved to see more of him.The characters you also see in the game are also really well written and stand out in their own way and all the character designs are unique.
The voice acting in this movie is top notch. Three big names gave there voices to the film; Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad lends his voice for Nyx, Lena Headley from Game of Thrones voices Lady Lunafreya, and Sean Bean voices King Regis (If you don't know who this is, go watch more movies). They all give fantastic performances and you feel the emotions they feel. That can be hard in an animated movie... Yes, this film is animated, not live action.
The animation is beautiful. This is one of the best visual films I have ever seen. This film can work by itself for that alone. It is pure eye candy and easy to watch. It even does a great job on areas I have seen other animated films struggle with. The characters look and feel realistic, the environments are distinct, and the action is fluid and natural. The animation style lends to the action and it is a fantastic experience to sit through. This makes the action in some live action movies look like a group of LARP (Live Action Role Playing) players. I love it, and the final fight is everything you would want in an action climax.
Cons- As good as Nyx is, the other movie exclusive characters are not as interesting. It is kind of hard to feel for them when you don't even see all their faces. All the cloaked Kingsglaive member might as well also wear a red shirt (Star Trek joke quota has been met) because it is hard to really get emotionally involved when things hit the fan for the minor characters. Of all the characters I wish I cared more about, it would have to be the Captain of the Glaive. His drive is not well fleshed out, he doesn't have a strong presence until the third act of the film, the only good part about him is his design.
I can understand someone who isn't interested in Final Fantasy XV not liking this movie. Since it is a companion film and not a prequel or sequel, it can be hard for someone who does not play any of the Final Fantasy games to get into the movie and get emotionally attached to any of the characters that are also in the game. Since it is part of a bigger story, casual audiences have a high chance of getting confused by the movie, because of the structure of it.
Final Thoughts: The reason I delayed talking about this movie, is because I am a part of the target audience. If you are curious about Final Fantasy and want to play the newest game in the franchise, I would recommend watching the movie first. If you want a movie for fun visuals, I could also recommend it. If you are a person that doesn't like video games and is not interested in Final Fantasy (you are missing out, by the way) then I can't recommend it. It is my favorite film from Square Enix, and since the movie comes from a video game company, It may be better suited for gamers to see it. If you are a Final Fantasy fan, check it out. If not, I'll leave it for you to decide if you want to see it or not.
Monday, April 10, 2017
An Immature Top 10 for Laughs
Inner Monologue:
Voice 1- What is wrong?
Voice 2- I don't know... I feel drained.
Voice 1- What? You need a sandwich or something.
Voice 2- No, emotionally drained. I have had zero ideas for the blog recently and I haven't been able to see any available movies for viewing and it's been some time since I did a really fun top 10.
Voice 1- What about the Death Battle list you did before.
Voice 2- That took research and a lot of other work to make an even fight. It wasn't as fun as I thought.
Voice 1- Maybe you need to vent out and do something different.
Voice 2- You know... I think I have something...
THE TOP 10 HOTTEST WOMEN IN VIDEO GAMES.
Yes, it is time to forget adulthood and go back to being a 13 year old boy, first hitting puberty and thinking about women and video games truly showed me a woman's beauty and appreciation.
This is a personal list and one for fun. All these women are from games I have played, so some that would be on your list will not be on mine. Forward all hate mail to dontcare@goscrewyourself.com (I have no idea if that is a real website). Let's get this list going. One more rule, one character per franchise. Otherwise the franchises in my top 2 would dominate the list in an unfair way. Let's get started. If you laughed, I'm glad. If you were aroused, you may want to get some help...
#10- Chun Li (Street Fighter)-
It was this or Cammy and personally, I like Chun Li's look and design more than Cammy's. Is it the outfit, the body (those thighs), her story, I think it's the hair. The twin bun is kind of cute to me. Not to mention when I was younger I had a thing for Asian chicks and that is also what boosted her onto the list. I am really going on previous Street Fighter game since I haven't played any after Street Fighter IV. I just have one more thing to say... Those Thighs...
#9- Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)-
What is that I hear? An angry reader is sending a hate comment for Lara Croft only being number 9 on my list? Yup, because Lara Croft was not a big part of my childhood. I played her games later, and recent games have played down the sex appeal and that is a good thing. Don't get me wrong, she is still a hottie. The outfit and all her poses go to good use. Not to mention her abilities and her figure has always been appealing to someone. Yeah, she's attractive for all the good reasons. I just like others more.
#8- Mai (King of Fighter/ Fatal Fury)-
Wow... I'm just trying to piss people off aren't I. I didn't play any of the good King of Fighters game until later one in life and I only know of the Fatal Fury anime movies thanks to Bennett the Sage. However, I fully understand the appeal and I find her drop dead gorgeous in the King of Fighters games. She is a fighter that uses her body as an advantage... Her entire martial arts style involves seduction. She is a sex symbol... and if I was a target of hers, I would die staring at her chest. Those breast are the breast of legend and video game history.
#7- Cassandra (Soul Calibur)-
I had to pick someone younger, Cassandra has more appeal to me than Ivy, even with Ivy's amazing rack. Cassandra has a more even and better toned body. Not to mention her dance like pose that has full movement. I find her to be the hottest in the franchise. I'm not ashamed. I found and played her when I was younger, she is still my main in the games she's in and I am always using her at least once.
#6- Lydia (Skyrim)-
She is the most loyal companion I have ever had while exploring Skyrim, and the most physically appealing. She has no facepaint, so I can enjoy her lovely face whenever I want, and even in armor, she obviously has a rocking body. She is fit and lean with curves in all the right places. Even parody channels on YouTube recognize this and have made videos about it. It is the one character I wish I could marry in the game, but she stayed by my side to the very end and Dovakiin could not ask for a more loyal and sexy ally.
#5- Cassie Cage (Mortal Kombat X)-
Imagine Sonya Blade in her prime and how beautiful she was. Now imagine her daughter. Yup, Cassie Cage is the daughter of Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage and lucky for us, she got hr mom's features and her dads humor. She is a fun and spunky gal that got everyone's attention with her charm and even her selfies (if you get that joke, you played the game). She's even a good character in the story mode. That is hard in a fighting game, and she plays a big roll. I'm not spoiling anything. Don't even ask.
#4- Helena (Dead or Alive)-
Forget the unnatural Asian girl with large breast, give me the French woman with the large breast, who shaves. This Blonde haired, blue eyed, business woman is successful in martial arts, running a company, and singing opera. She is the complete package. I am not ashamed to have the hots for her after playing Dead or Alive 3, and I worked hard to understand her move set and play with her in game. I was young and not as good as my brother, but whatever, I still got eye candy. In case anyone is wondering, I have not played any of the Extreme Beach Volleyball games and anyone who has should be ashamed of themselves.
#3- Princess Zelda (Legend of Zelda)-
This one is pure Nostalgia, I just don't care. I played Ocarina of Time for the first time when I was 10 years old and it was my goal to see her because my sister got to her and I saw her and she was my first pixel crush... With many more to follow. Yeah, I liked girls before I was supposed to. My parents had zero concern about my sexuality. Then Twilight Princess came out and she is the best she has ever looked in that game. The design is so good, they kept it in all future Super Smash Bros. games and let us all enjoy her appearance. He is the key definition of beautiful princess... Sorry, Peach... not sorry...
This list took awhile because of the struggle between my top 2. I love both these characters and constantly went back and forth between these 2 because of physical attraction and personality. Until this weekend, when I had an experience that cemented my decision.
#2- Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII)-
If I didn't make the one character per franchise rule, this would be mostly Final Fantasy, but I have decided on not only my favorite female character in the franchise, but the only character who can pull off multiple outfits of multiple styles. Lightning Returns has you playing dress up with hr and no matter what you put on her, she pulls it off beautifully. Get a woman that can pull off any look. Not only that, I find her loyalty to her loved ones to be hot as well. A loyal woman is the best woman and she proves her loyalty in more ways than one. Just play the Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy and see for yourself. Haters gonna Hate.
#1- Aqua (Kingdom Hearts)-
You understand the struggle now? Aqua and Lightning are designed by the same person, they are owned by the same company, they even have similar facial and body features. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! Anyways, I think Aqua is the hotter woman for a couple of reasons. 1, she is distinct in her personality and style. It is impossible to mistake her for another character. 2. The things she endures for her friends is hard to imagine for anyone to go through. Go play Birth By Sleep and 2.8 to understand. 3, I'm a little partial to Blue hair over Pink hair. I don't know why, I just think it is hotter. I know she is not everyone's number 1, but she is my number 1. It is my list. Aqua is a beautiful character that goes through so much and still holds on to hope due to her loyalty to her friends and duty, and that is sexy. Aqua is my number 1 for her looks, and her personality. She is the best of both worlds.
What are your favorite hot chicks in video games. For any woman who read this (I'd be shocked) who are your favorite hot guys in video games. Let's make this fair and even for all. See you next time.
Voice 1- What is wrong?
Voice 2- I don't know... I feel drained.
Voice 1- What? You need a sandwich or something.
Voice 2- No, emotionally drained. I have had zero ideas for the blog recently and I haven't been able to see any available movies for viewing and it's been some time since I did a really fun top 10.
Voice 1- What about the Death Battle list you did before.
Voice 2- That took research and a lot of other work to make an even fight. It wasn't as fun as I thought.
Voice 1- Maybe you need to vent out and do something different.
Voice 2- You know... I think I have something...
THE TOP 10 HOTTEST WOMEN IN VIDEO GAMES.
Yes, it is time to forget adulthood and go back to being a 13 year old boy, first hitting puberty and thinking about women and video games truly showed me a woman's beauty and appreciation.
This is a personal list and one for fun. All these women are from games I have played, so some that would be on your list will not be on mine. Forward all hate mail to dontcare@goscrewyourself.com (I have no idea if that is a real website). Let's get this list going. One more rule, one character per franchise. Otherwise the franchises in my top 2 would dominate the list in an unfair way. Let's get started. If you laughed, I'm glad. If you were aroused, you may want to get some help...
#10- Chun Li (Street Fighter)-
It was this or Cammy and personally, I like Chun Li's look and design more than Cammy's. Is it the outfit, the body (those thighs), her story, I think it's the hair. The twin bun is kind of cute to me. Not to mention when I was younger I had a thing for Asian chicks and that is also what boosted her onto the list. I am really going on previous Street Fighter game since I haven't played any after Street Fighter IV. I just have one more thing to say... Those Thighs...
#9- Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)-
What is that I hear? An angry reader is sending a hate comment for Lara Croft only being number 9 on my list? Yup, because Lara Croft was not a big part of my childhood. I played her games later, and recent games have played down the sex appeal and that is a good thing. Don't get me wrong, she is still a hottie. The outfit and all her poses go to good use. Not to mention her abilities and her figure has always been appealing to someone. Yeah, she's attractive for all the good reasons. I just like others more.
#8- Mai (King of Fighter/ Fatal Fury)-
Wow... I'm just trying to piss people off aren't I. I didn't play any of the good King of Fighters game until later one in life and I only know of the Fatal Fury anime movies thanks to Bennett the Sage. However, I fully understand the appeal and I find her drop dead gorgeous in the King of Fighters games. She is a fighter that uses her body as an advantage... Her entire martial arts style involves seduction. She is a sex symbol... and if I was a target of hers, I would die staring at her chest. Those breast are the breast of legend and video game history.
#7- Cassandra (Soul Calibur)-
I had to pick someone younger, Cassandra has more appeal to me than Ivy, even with Ivy's amazing rack. Cassandra has a more even and better toned body. Not to mention her dance like pose that has full movement. I find her to be the hottest in the franchise. I'm not ashamed. I found and played her when I was younger, she is still my main in the games she's in and I am always using her at least once.
#6- Lydia (Skyrim)-
She is the most loyal companion I have ever had while exploring Skyrim, and the most physically appealing. She has no facepaint, so I can enjoy her lovely face whenever I want, and even in armor, she obviously has a rocking body. She is fit and lean with curves in all the right places. Even parody channels on YouTube recognize this and have made videos about it. It is the one character I wish I could marry in the game, but she stayed by my side to the very end and Dovakiin could not ask for a more loyal and sexy ally.
#5- Cassie Cage (Mortal Kombat X)-
Imagine Sonya Blade in her prime and how beautiful she was. Now imagine her daughter. Yup, Cassie Cage is the daughter of Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage and lucky for us, she got hr mom's features and her dads humor. She is a fun and spunky gal that got everyone's attention with her charm and even her selfies (if you get that joke, you played the game). She's even a good character in the story mode. That is hard in a fighting game, and she plays a big roll. I'm not spoiling anything. Don't even ask.
#4- Helena (Dead or Alive)-
Forget the unnatural Asian girl with large breast, give me the French woman with the large breast, who shaves. This Blonde haired, blue eyed, business woman is successful in martial arts, running a company, and singing opera. She is the complete package. I am not ashamed to have the hots for her after playing Dead or Alive 3, and I worked hard to understand her move set and play with her in game. I was young and not as good as my brother, but whatever, I still got eye candy. In case anyone is wondering, I have not played any of the Extreme Beach Volleyball games and anyone who has should be ashamed of themselves.
#3- Princess Zelda (Legend of Zelda)-
This one is pure Nostalgia, I just don't care. I played Ocarina of Time for the first time when I was 10 years old and it was my goal to see her because my sister got to her and I saw her and she was my first pixel crush... With many more to follow. Yeah, I liked girls before I was supposed to. My parents had zero concern about my sexuality. Then Twilight Princess came out and she is the best she has ever looked in that game. The design is so good, they kept it in all future Super Smash Bros. games and let us all enjoy her appearance. He is the key definition of beautiful princess... Sorry, Peach... not sorry...
This list took awhile because of the struggle between my top 2. I love both these characters and constantly went back and forth between these 2 because of physical attraction and personality. Until this weekend, when I had an experience that cemented my decision.
#2- Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII)-
If I didn't make the one character per franchise rule, this would be mostly Final Fantasy, but I have decided on not only my favorite female character in the franchise, but the only character who can pull off multiple outfits of multiple styles. Lightning Returns has you playing dress up with hr and no matter what you put on her, she pulls it off beautifully. Get a woman that can pull off any look. Not only that, I find her loyalty to her loved ones to be hot as well. A loyal woman is the best woman and she proves her loyalty in more ways than one. Just play the Final Fantasy XIII Trilogy and see for yourself. Haters gonna Hate.
#1- Aqua (Kingdom Hearts)-
You understand the struggle now? Aqua and Lightning are designed by the same person, they are owned by the same company, they even have similar facial and body features. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! Anyways, I think Aqua is the hotter woman for a couple of reasons. 1, she is distinct in her personality and style. It is impossible to mistake her for another character. 2. The things she endures for her friends is hard to imagine for anyone to go through. Go play Birth By Sleep and 2.8 to understand. 3, I'm a little partial to Blue hair over Pink hair. I don't know why, I just think it is hotter. I know she is not everyone's number 1, but she is my number 1. It is my list. Aqua is a beautiful character that goes through so much and still holds on to hope due to her loyalty to her friends and duty, and that is sexy. Aqua is my number 1 for her looks, and her personality. She is the best of both worlds.
What are your favorite hot chicks in video games. For any woman who read this (I'd be shocked) who are your favorite hot guys in video games. Let's make this fair and even for all. See you next time.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
Top 5 Worst Video Game Side Quest
Being positive all the time is exhausting! Time to vent some frustration!
A side quest in a video game can either expand the world and be a fun break from the main story, or it can be a waste of time and you forget about it as soon as you are done. The worst side quest not only feel like a waste of time, but they also break the usual gameplay for something less endearing or enjoyable. Here are my personal top 5 worst side quest in video games.
This is a personal list and these are games I like, even with these side quest. If you don't agree with me, share with me what you think is the worst side quest. Let's get started.
#5- Blitzball (Final Fantasy X)
I love Final Fantasy as a whole. My Youtube channel is dedicated to the franchise for a reason. However, I do acknowledge that they are not all perfect. Final fantasy X in particular has only a couple side quest, and Blitzball feels like one of the biggest time killers. What do you see in the opening cutscene during the tutorial? We see action, a lot of movement, people getting hurt, it looks like Football or Soccer under water. That should be awesome. Instead, we get an over complicated and slow game that feels like it's only purpose was for the developers to try something new. We never saw something like this after X and it is for a good reason. It is the weakest part of an otherwise great game.
#4- Love Letter (Skyrim)
Most people probably have no idea what this side quest is. To put simple, a Nord Bard and a Dark Elf Archer are fighting over a woman and you have a choice to give her a letter and say who wrote it or not... That's it... We also don't really get much of a prize for doing it. The archer isn't that good and I don't even know what the Bard gives you because he is just a prick and he doesn't deserve her. In fact, it is probably best to just ignore them both and marry her yourself... I think I might do that next time. The reason it is so bad is because this is grown men fighting over her and it feels like High School Drama... In a fantasy game... About killing DRAGONS... I don't blame you if you have no idea what this side quest is, because if you are smart, you probably ignored it.
#3- Malo Mart (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
If you asked me what my favorite Zelda game is, it would have to be Ocarina of Time, but Twilight Princess is a close second in my book, because of the combat and great new characters. However, one side quest stopped me from loving it more than I do, and that is the Malo Mart side quest. All you do, is donate Rupees. Nothing else, and they are constantly asking for more and more rupees when ever you go back. I lost track of how much I donated and in the end, all it did was buy a market in the city area and you could now buy magic armor that ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU HAVE RUPEES!!! In the felt, it felt like a waste of time. At least the other side quest were fun... I also just realized Malo should not be able to run a store... He's like 5 years old...
#2- Escort Missions (In General)
I remember playing Fable on the original Xbox, and I did a couple side quest in that game, because an escort mission turned me away from doing any other side quest. It was saving a little boy from some monsters... The boy died in one hit and walked like there was a cinder block tied to his ankle. This is not the first time I have encountered this. Any game can be easily ruined by an escort mission whether it is a side quest or a main quest. I asked my friends before making this list what they thought was the worst side quest and they all mentioned an escort mission in one way or another. I can't think of a single person who has ever said, "Escort missions are the best part of the game." They are not. If someone says that to you, they are lying and want to see you suffer.
#1- The Strip Club (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
So in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, you can buy businesses and do side quest in order for them to provide income for you. sounds fun right? Some of them include advertisement, some of them involve scandal, but one in particular is just awful. Why? Because all you do is spend money... Yup... In order to make money from the strip club, you have to watch a poorly made pixel stripper dance for you and spend money until you spent enough. You could start the mission, walk away from the TV, order a pizza, use the bathroom, and play whatever mobile game you want, and it would not be done. I was a younger kid when I played this side mission (too young to be playing it to be honest) and my friend and I wanted to unlock it and make money off the strip club (because of immaturity), and we thought it would be fun to just watch the dancer... It wasn't and we were both bored because it took ten minutes and we lost more money than we were making... I haven't played any of the Grand Theft Auto games after Vice City, and while I do still play Vice City when I'm in the mood to explore a fictional Miami, I avoid doing this one, because it is boring, does nothing for the story in the long run, and feels like a complete waste of my time.
Side Note: I'm stepping away from music and movies for a short time (Mainly due to boredom) and putting a little focus on Video Games. Not for reasons to be more popular (That is far from the reason and it wouldn't work anyways), but because i want to explore and expand my thinking more.
A side quest in a video game can either expand the world and be a fun break from the main story, or it can be a waste of time and you forget about it as soon as you are done. The worst side quest not only feel like a waste of time, but they also break the usual gameplay for something less endearing or enjoyable. Here are my personal top 5 worst side quest in video games.
This is a personal list and these are games I like, even with these side quest. If you don't agree with me, share with me what you think is the worst side quest. Let's get started.
#5- Blitzball (Final Fantasy X)
I love Final Fantasy as a whole. My Youtube channel is dedicated to the franchise for a reason. However, I do acknowledge that they are not all perfect. Final fantasy X in particular has only a couple side quest, and Blitzball feels like one of the biggest time killers. What do you see in the opening cutscene during the tutorial? We see action, a lot of movement, people getting hurt, it looks like Football or Soccer under water. That should be awesome. Instead, we get an over complicated and slow game that feels like it's only purpose was for the developers to try something new. We never saw something like this after X and it is for a good reason. It is the weakest part of an otherwise great game.
#4- Love Letter (Skyrim)
Most people probably have no idea what this side quest is. To put simple, a Nord Bard and a Dark Elf Archer are fighting over a woman and you have a choice to give her a letter and say who wrote it or not... That's it... We also don't really get much of a prize for doing it. The archer isn't that good and I don't even know what the Bard gives you because he is just a prick and he doesn't deserve her. In fact, it is probably best to just ignore them both and marry her yourself... I think I might do that next time. The reason it is so bad is because this is grown men fighting over her and it feels like High School Drama... In a fantasy game... About killing DRAGONS... I don't blame you if you have no idea what this side quest is, because if you are smart, you probably ignored it.
#3- Malo Mart (Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess)
If you asked me what my favorite Zelda game is, it would have to be Ocarina of Time, but Twilight Princess is a close second in my book, because of the combat and great new characters. However, one side quest stopped me from loving it more than I do, and that is the Malo Mart side quest. All you do, is donate Rupees. Nothing else, and they are constantly asking for more and more rupees when ever you go back. I lost track of how much I donated and in the end, all it did was buy a market in the city area and you could now buy magic armor that ONLY WORKS WHEN YOU HAVE RUPEES!!! In the felt, it felt like a waste of time. At least the other side quest were fun... I also just realized Malo should not be able to run a store... He's like 5 years old...
#2- Escort Missions (In General)
I remember playing Fable on the original Xbox, and I did a couple side quest in that game, because an escort mission turned me away from doing any other side quest. It was saving a little boy from some monsters... The boy died in one hit and walked like there was a cinder block tied to his ankle. This is not the first time I have encountered this. Any game can be easily ruined by an escort mission whether it is a side quest or a main quest. I asked my friends before making this list what they thought was the worst side quest and they all mentioned an escort mission in one way or another. I can't think of a single person who has ever said, "Escort missions are the best part of the game." They are not. If someone says that to you, they are lying and want to see you suffer.
#1- The Strip Club (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
So in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, you can buy businesses and do side quest in order for them to provide income for you. sounds fun right? Some of them include advertisement, some of them involve scandal, but one in particular is just awful. Why? Because all you do is spend money... Yup... In order to make money from the strip club, you have to watch a poorly made pixel stripper dance for you and spend money until you spent enough. You could start the mission, walk away from the TV, order a pizza, use the bathroom, and play whatever mobile game you want, and it would not be done. I was a younger kid when I played this side mission (too young to be playing it to be honest) and my friend and I wanted to unlock it and make money off the strip club (because of immaturity), and we thought it would be fun to just watch the dancer... It wasn't and we were both bored because it took ten minutes and we lost more money than we were making... I haven't played any of the Grand Theft Auto games after Vice City, and while I do still play Vice City when I'm in the mood to explore a fictional Miami, I avoid doing this one, because it is boring, does nothing for the story in the long run, and feels like a complete waste of my time.
Side Note: I'm stepping away from music and movies for a short time (Mainly due to boredom) and putting a little focus on Video Games. Not for reasons to be more popular (That is far from the reason and it wouldn't work anyways), but because i want to explore and expand my thinking more.
Monday, January 2, 2017
Top 5 Anticipated movies of 2017
I dropped the ball on my top 10s for December. So, I decided to do a top 5 to start the new year, because some pretty cool looking movies are coming out this year, and I am excited to see them. Here are my top 5 most anticipated film of 2017. This is a personal list and you don't have to agree. It is an opinion after all. Also, feel free to check out my new Youtube channel I have started with a buddy of mine. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZoBsGNKOYcel-tuTmozhjg
Let's move on:
#5- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
As I stated previously, I'm not as big of a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I did love Guardians of the Galaxy. It felt fresh and had some characters I actually cared about. Not to mention a fun soundtrack and some great action. I am hoping for a better villain with Vol. 2, because that is what Marvel films need more than anything else. Give us a good villain and I may actually love another Marvel movie.
#4- Wonder Woman
I am more of a DC Comics fan than Marvel, and even though Batman V. Superman was a bit of a disappointment for me, Wonder Woman could be a saving grace for the struggling film universe that DC is trying to establish. With a strong character like Wonder Woman and taking it back to her first visit to America during World War 1 can be not only interesting, but we could see some great action scenes and a stronger villain. Please don't get this wrong. Wonder Woman needs a life action movie that can really make a difference.
#3- The Mummy
The Branden Fraiser Mummy movies I can only view now a s a guilty pleasure, but with Tom Cruise and strong elements of both action and horror, this can be a great movie with thrills and fun. This is a movie Legendary Pictures is hoping to use to establish a universe of monsters, but I am hoping they do the right thing and make every movie it's own story with subtle connections instead of stories that require you to see them all to understand what is going on. Please do this right. With all the bad movies I have recently seen with classic monster movie characters, we need something good and fresh.
#2- Power Rangers
I was not expecting this, but the trailer for the film actually excited me. They are taking something that may not have aged that well, and putting a modern twist to it. Not only does the cast have my attention, but every element it the trailer has shown has given us something interesting. This feels more like a rebirth and not a remake. If it is going to be done, let it be done right and I will review it. I grew up with the original Power Rangers, so this is part of my childhood.
Honorable Mentions before we move forward-
HM #1- Beauty and the Beast- It looks interesting and they are doing some changes to the Disney classic, but too much things from the original keep me from getting excited. Please make it fresh enough and not something that will rely on Nostalgia like the Jungle Book did.
HM #2- Justice League- I love DC and I'm excited that we are getting this movie, but I haven't seen enough to get as excited for it as I have for other movies.
HM #3- Logan- I love most of the X-Men movies, and this should be a great farewell for Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart. I am waiting to see more before I get too excited this time though. I am playing it safe this time.
Now to the big one.
#1- Ghost in the Shell
I know, I know the controversy, but I have an argument against the whitewash accusation. The Japanese were also shown the same image that we saw at first and guess what they said? "She looks like the character." Let's put that crap aside and focus on everything else. This movie is already set to have some of the best Sci-Fi visuals I have ever seen. I don't care about the R-rating, or the casting controversy. I am still excited for this movie to come out. Anime to Live Action adaptations need a better example than Speed Racer, and if any story and movie can do that, let it be this one. Ghost in the Shell has enough intrigue and potential to give something that will surpass the stereotype and be a turning part for live action adaptations. That is why this is my number 1 most anticipated movie of 2017.
Let's move on:
#5- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
As I stated previously, I'm not as big of a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I did love Guardians of the Galaxy. It felt fresh and had some characters I actually cared about. Not to mention a fun soundtrack and some great action. I am hoping for a better villain with Vol. 2, because that is what Marvel films need more than anything else. Give us a good villain and I may actually love another Marvel movie.
#4- Wonder Woman
I am more of a DC Comics fan than Marvel, and even though Batman V. Superman was a bit of a disappointment for me, Wonder Woman could be a saving grace for the struggling film universe that DC is trying to establish. With a strong character like Wonder Woman and taking it back to her first visit to America during World War 1 can be not only interesting, but we could see some great action scenes and a stronger villain. Please don't get this wrong. Wonder Woman needs a life action movie that can really make a difference.
#3- The Mummy
The Branden Fraiser Mummy movies I can only view now a s a guilty pleasure, but with Tom Cruise and strong elements of both action and horror, this can be a great movie with thrills and fun. This is a movie Legendary Pictures is hoping to use to establish a universe of monsters, but I am hoping they do the right thing and make every movie it's own story with subtle connections instead of stories that require you to see them all to understand what is going on. Please do this right. With all the bad movies I have recently seen with classic monster movie characters, we need something good and fresh.
#2- Power Rangers
I was not expecting this, but the trailer for the film actually excited me. They are taking something that may not have aged that well, and putting a modern twist to it. Not only does the cast have my attention, but every element it the trailer has shown has given us something interesting. This feels more like a rebirth and not a remake. If it is going to be done, let it be done right and I will review it. I grew up with the original Power Rangers, so this is part of my childhood.
Honorable Mentions before we move forward-
HM #1- Beauty and the Beast- It looks interesting and they are doing some changes to the Disney classic, but too much things from the original keep me from getting excited. Please make it fresh enough and not something that will rely on Nostalgia like the Jungle Book did.
HM #2- Justice League- I love DC and I'm excited that we are getting this movie, but I haven't seen enough to get as excited for it as I have for other movies.
HM #3- Logan- I love most of the X-Men movies, and this should be a great farewell for Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart. I am waiting to see more before I get too excited this time though. I am playing it safe this time.
Now to the big one.
#1- Ghost in the Shell
I know, I know the controversy, but I have an argument against the whitewash accusation. The Japanese were also shown the same image that we saw at first and guess what they said? "She looks like the character." Let's put that crap aside and focus on everything else. This movie is already set to have some of the best Sci-Fi visuals I have ever seen. I don't care about the R-rating, or the casting controversy. I am still excited for this movie to come out. Anime to Live Action adaptations need a better example than Speed Racer, and if any story and movie can do that, let it be this one. Ghost in the Shell has enough intrigue and potential to give something that will surpass the stereotype and be a turning part for live action adaptations. That is why this is my number 1 most anticipated movie of 2017.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Top 10 Good Things About Modern Gaming
Well, it's December again and that time of year for love, compassion, good will towards men, and Top 10s that reminds us how good things can be.
Over the last couple of years I have heard a certain phrase get passed around the gaming community, "video games are not what they used to be." While that may be true in some cases, in others this is the best time to be a gamer.
Sometimes we focus more on what we had instead of what we have and that is the case. Nostalgia can blind us to what we believe to be good and ignore what is good now. So, here is 10 things that we take for granted today. These are the top 10 good things about modern gaming.
#10- DLC
Before everyone attacks me in the comments, let me explain. While I do acknowledge companies like EA and Capcom abuse DLC and treat it like the greedy companies they are, others can use DLC for good. Things that can add play-ability and optional items for a more personal experience. Fallout 3's Mothership Zeta is a good example, adding aliens to a world that is post-apocalypse gives the game a deeper science fiction feel and is a completely optional part of the game. This builds on the gaming experience and gives a reason to go back and replay a game you may have already beaten. Can it be abused? Yes, it can. Is it bad? No. As long as it isn't abused and forced on you, it is a fine way to expand a game.
#9- Indie Company Support
In the old days, it was hard for an indie company to stand out above others. Now, we are seeing Indie game be a huge part in gaming today. In fact, some of the most popular games right now are indie games. Games like Undertale, Stardew Valley, Five Nights at Freddy's, and Gangbeast wouldn't exist today if it wasn't for the support Indie developers get today. I may not be a PC gamer, but I still have a deep appreciation for what indie games mean for the world of gaming.
#8- Revived Classics
If anyone wants to play classic games, you can still do it. Not only do we have used game stores around that still have classic games available for purchase, but you can download them onto your modern consoles. You want an old Zelda, Mario, Final Fantasy? You can find it. This is something that makes it easier to find old games you may have forgotten and can revisit. It may be hard to find some games, but it is easier now than it ever has been.
#7- Visuals and Graphics
You can not tell me that games looked better 10 years ago than they do today. Old day visuals in the early generations of games can actually hurt your eyes and be really distracting from the games. Angry Video Game Nerd makes fun of game visual before actually talking about the game play. Video Games today can be a visual art style by themselves today. Games like The Last of Us, Bioshock, and the recent Final Fantasy XV are just a couple examples of beautiful games. Not only realistic looking games, but also cartoon and anime style looks also exist in games. 2D games have never looked as good as they do today. It may not be the most important part of gaming, but it does help to be able to look at you game.
#6- Console Options
Let's go back in time to where the arcades all had big consoles that only had one game. you put in a quarter and was able to play until game over, then you had to put in another quarter. Fast forward to home consoles and we had the Atari 2600 and the Commodore 64. Neither one really stood out from one another and it didn't matter too much which one you had since games back then were limited by the technology. Now let's jump forward to the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was the console that revolutionized gaming, but didn't have much competition. SNES and Sega Genesis are what happened next and that is where it all started for Console Options. Something about that has carried over to every generation after that one. Today, the options for consoles are huge and they all have exclusive games. Not only that, but PCs have become a bigger thing in gaming and they even make them for gaming now. PlayStation has The Last of Us and The Last Guardian, Xbox has Gears of War and Halo, Nintendo is still around with Mario and Legend of Zelda, and PC has Civilizations and Sims. It is a friendly competition between companies, and a cut throat competition among fans.
#5- Online Multiplayer
Now, I don't think it replaces local multiplayer, but I must give respect to the online multiplayer feature. I have friends and family that I don't live close to, and I may want to play with them. I can do that now. I can connect with people I know online and play with them while they are in another state. That is really cool. Do people abuse this too? Yes. You can encounter people you don't know and they can be kind of jerks or the typical 12 year old kid who did something with my mom last night (you know the joke), but if used right, it helps maintain a good relationship with people who don't live close by.
#4- Expansions and Patches
Imagine back in the SNES or N64 days, you got a game that wasn't finished or had a lot of bugs and glitches. That was all you got and you couldn't get the game fixed. Today, if a game had a serious bug or glitch, companies can release a patch that can fix the problem and expand the game to add more content for a game you already paid for. Blizzard is known for this with fixing the Diablo III server issue in a day and later released expansions that made the game even better. This is the perk to gaming today and helps to further the experience to gaming.
#3- Voice Acting
Remember when we would just read text and struggle to understand what they were saying and how names were pronounced. If not, Dorkly did a video about it, look it up on YouTube. Nowadays, we have voice actors that help us understand how names are pronounce and also understand character personalities, and it is actually really good voice acting. Voice actors like Nolan North, Christopher Sabat, and Johnny Young Bosh have all kept up careers by going into Video Games and have proven to make the character even more likable. In fact, the recent Final fantasy XV has some of the best voice acting I have heard in recent memory while the Uncharted games are also praised for there voice acting. It may be seen as a minor thing, but for me, it is another way to be further involved in the game.
#2- Deep Storytelling
Before the SNES, storytelling wasn't a part of gaming. Mario's story was just, "The princess has been kidnapped. Go save her." At least if you didn't read the game manual. Today, the game tells the whole story. It is even deeper now than it has ever been. The Bioshock series has had some of the best storytelling in media and most of the Final Fantasy series is famous for the stories. Even games from the early days like Legend of Zelda have stepped up the storytelling. It is a great time to be a gamer who enjoys a good story at the same time.
#1- Variety
We have the biggest variety of games we have ever seen. Not only among home consoles and PCs, but even mobile games have stepped up from the simple Solitare or Snake. There are Puzzle Games, Fighting Games, Racing Games, 2D platformers, 3D platformers, RPGs, the list goes on and on. Everyone can play a video game nowadays, even Grandma and Grandpa can play video games and have fun. There is something for all ages. It got even bigger when Virtual Reality came into play and formed more ways to play games. I have even expanded myself into trying new types of games and even enjoying a large number of them.It is the best part of modern gaming and the variety is what gets more and more people into gaming.
Are there bad things about modern gaming? Yes, there are, but that shouldn't distract us from the good things as well. In fact, let us use the bad in order to appreciate the good things.
Over the last couple of years I have heard a certain phrase get passed around the gaming community, "video games are not what they used to be." While that may be true in some cases, in others this is the best time to be a gamer.
Sometimes we focus more on what we had instead of what we have and that is the case. Nostalgia can blind us to what we believe to be good and ignore what is good now. So, here is 10 things that we take for granted today. These are the top 10 good things about modern gaming.
#10- DLC
Before everyone attacks me in the comments, let me explain. While I do acknowledge companies like EA and Capcom abuse DLC and treat it like the greedy companies they are, others can use DLC for good. Things that can add play-ability and optional items for a more personal experience. Fallout 3's Mothership Zeta is a good example, adding aliens to a world that is post-apocalypse gives the game a deeper science fiction feel and is a completely optional part of the game. This builds on the gaming experience and gives a reason to go back and replay a game you may have already beaten. Can it be abused? Yes, it can. Is it bad? No. As long as it isn't abused and forced on you, it is a fine way to expand a game.
#9- Indie Company Support
In the old days, it was hard for an indie company to stand out above others. Now, we are seeing Indie game be a huge part in gaming today. In fact, some of the most popular games right now are indie games. Games like Undertale, Stardew Valley, Five Nights at Freddy's, and Gangbeast wouldn't exist today if it wasn't for the support Indie developers get today. I may not be a PC gamer, but I still have a deep appreciation for what indie games mean for the world of gaming.
#8- Revived Classics
If anyone wants to play classic games, you can still do it. Not only do we have used game stores around that still have classic games available for purchase, but you can download them onto your modern consoles. You want an old Zelda, Mario, Final Fantasy? You can find it. This is something that makes it easier to find old games you may have forgotten and can revisit. It may be hard to find some games, but it is easier now than it ever has been.
#7- Visuals and Graphics
You can not tell me that games looked better 10 years ago than they do today. Old day visuals in the early generations of games can actually hurt your eyes and be really distracting from the games. Angry Video Game Nerd makes fun of game visual before actually talking about the game play. Video Games today can be a visual art style by themselves today. Games like The Last of Us, Bioshock, and the recent Final Fantasy XV are just a couple examples of beautiful games. Not only realistic looking games, but also cartoon and anime style looks also exist in games. 2D games have never looked as good as they do today. It may not be the most important part of gaming, but it does help to be able to look at you game.
#6- Console Options
Let's go back in time to where the arcades all had big consoles that only had one game. you put in a quarter and was able to play until game over, then you had to put in another quarter. Fast forward to home consoles and we had the Atari 2600 and the Commodore 64. Neither one really stood out from one another and it didn't matter too much which one you had since games back then were limited by the technology. Now let's jump forward to the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was the console that revolutionized gaming, but didn't have much competition. SNES and Sega Genesis are what happened next and that is where it all started for Console Options. Something about that has carried over to every generation after that one. Today, the options for consoles are huge and they all have exclusive games. Not only that, but PCs have become a bigger thing in gaming and they even make them for gaming now. PlayStation has The Last of Us and The Last Guardian, Xbox has Gears of War and Halo, Nintendo is still around with Mario and Legend of Zelda, and PC has Civilizations and Sims. It is a friendly competition between companies, and a cut throat competition among fans.
#5- Online Multiplayer
Now, I don't think it replaces local multiplayer, but I must give respect to the online multiplayer feature. I have friends and family that I don't live close to, and I may want to play with them. I can do that now. I can connect with people I know online and play with them while they are in another state. That is really cool. Do people abuse this too? Yes. You can encounter people you don't know and they can be kind of jerks or the typical 12 year old kid who did something with my mom last night (you know the joke), but if used right, it helps maintain a good relationship with people who don't live close by.
#4- Expansions and Patches
Imagine back in the SNES or N64 days, you got a game that wasn't finished or had a lot of bugs and glitches. That was all you got and you couldn't get the game fixed. Today, if a game had a serious bug or glitch, companies can release a patch that can fix the problem and expand the game to add more content for a game you already paid for. Blizzard is known for this with fixing the Diablo III server issue in a day and later released expansions that made the game even better. This is the perk to gaming today and helps to further the experience to gaming.
#3- Voice Acting
Remember when we would just read text and struggle to understand what they were saying and how names were pronounced. If not, Dorkly did a video about it, look it up on YouTube. Nowadays, we have voice actors that help us understand how names are pronounce and also understand character personalities, and it is actually really good voice acting. Voice actors like Nolan North, Christopher Sabat, and Johnny Young Bosh have all kept up careers by going into Video Games and have proven to make the character even more likable. In fact, the recent Final fantasy XV has some of the best voice acting I have heard in recent memory while the Uncharted games are also praised for there voice acting. It may be seen as a minor thing, but for me, it is another way to be further involved in the game.
#2- Deep Storytelling
Before the SNES, storytelling wasn't a part of gaming. Mario's story was just, "The princess has been kidnapped. Go save her." At least if you didn't read the game manual. Today, the game tells the whole story. It is even deeper now than it has ever been. The Bioshock series has had some of the best storytelling in media and most of the Final Fantasy series is famous for the stories. Even games from the early days like Legend of Zelda have stepped up the storytelling. It is a great time to be a gamer who enjoys a good story at the same time.
#1- Variety
We have the biggest variety of games we have ever seen. Not only among home consoles and PCs, but even mobile games have stepped up from the simple Solitare or Snake. There are Puzzle Games, Fighting Games, Racing Games, 2D platformers, 3D platformers, RPGs, the list goes on and on. Everyone can play a video game nowadays, even Grandma and Grandpa can play video games and have fun. There is something for all ages. It got even bigger when Virtual Reality came into play and formed more ways to play games. I have even expanded myself into trying new types of games and even enjoying a large number of them.It is the best part of modern gaming and the variety is what gets more and more people into gaming.
Are there bad things about modern gaming? Yes, there are, but that shouldn't distract us from the good things as well. In fact, let us use the bad in order to appreciate the good things.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Movie Review: Jaws (1975)
Sorry this is late. I do have a life outside of the blog. Sorry to finish Monster Month in November.
When it comes to horror movies, you usually think about directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Sam Raimi, John Carpenter... Rarely does the name, Steven Spielberg come to mind when people talk about Horror. I don't know if it is the changes in the genre or if it his work in Family Films or Adventure Films, but no one really thinks that he has a hand in Horror. Sad, because he wouldn't have the career he has today if it wasn't for a Horror movie. Jaws was one the movie that not only kick-started his career, but it also defined "Summer Blockbuster" and had such a huge impact on the audience that people didn't go in the water the same summer it came out in 1975. Has it aged well? Does it hold up?
The Pros- The use of practical effects is used at it's most effective and has aged incredibly well. There is high tension throughout, but still moments in between that are a bit more peaceful and let your body rest. That is something I appreciate from a Horror/Thriller movie because it gives you time to breath in between the tense moments, so you are not completely stressed by the end of it all. The cast does a great job capturing a natural reaction to the events that happen throughout the movie. We actually never get a full look at the entire shark. Not to mention how it actually is a realistic size to a real Great White Shark. This makes it feel more realistic. In fact, Spielberg himself never showed any of the actors the shark until the big reveal. The line, "We're going to need a bigger boat" wasn't in the script and it was the actor's actual reaction to the shark. The opening scene sets up the movie in a perfect light, instantly giving us a hint at what's to come. We see someone get grabbed and we don't see the shark. The opening scene alone is to get people nervous about going into the water. The cliches we see in Horror movies today, started here. This as influenced more films than any other in it's genre and beyond.
Warning- It's a scary movie. Just like with Super 8, but scarier and more tense. People were afraid to go in the water after watching it for a reason. I don't see this as a con, so I put it as more of a warning for anyone confused.
Final Thoughts- Whether you like Horror movies or not, Jaws has it's place in History and some of my personal favorite movies would not exist without it. Even after all the bad shark movies, sequel, and even porn parodies (don't bother, perverts), this movies stands above the rest over 40 years later. I highly recommend this movie during both summer and Halloween... And it made me thankful that I live in a land based state.
When it comes to horror movies, you usually think about directors like Alfred Hitchcock, Sam Raimi, John Carpenter... Rarely does the name, Steven Spielberg come to mind when people talk about Horror. I don't know if it is the changes in the genre or if it his work in Family Films or Adventure Films, but no one really thinks that he has a hand in Horror. Sad, because he wouldn't have the career he has today if it wasn't for a Horror movie. Jaws was one the movie that not only kick-started his career, but it also defined "Summer Blockbuster" and had such a huge impact on the audience that people didn't go in the water the same summer it came out in 1975. Has it aged well? Does it hold up?
The Pros- The use of practical effects is used at it's most effective and has aged incredibly well. There is high tension throughout, but still moments in between that are a bit more peaceful and let your body rest. That is something I appreciate from a Horror/Thriller movie because it gives you time to breath in between the tense moments, so you are not completely stressed by the end of it all. The cast does a great job capturing a natural reaction to the events that happen throughout the movie. We actually never get a full look at the entire shark. Not to mention how it actually is a realistic size to a real Great White Shark. This makes it feel more realistic. In fact, Spielberg himself never showed any of the actors the shark until the big reveal. The line, "We're going to need a bigger boat" wasn't in the script and it was the actor's actual reaction to the shark. The opening scene sets up the movie in a perfect light, instantly giving us a hint at what's to come. We see someone get grabbed and we don't see the shark. The opening scene alone is to get people nervous about going into the water. The cliches we see in Horror movies today, started here. This as influenced more films than any other in it's genre and beyond.
Warning- It's a scary movie. Just like with Super 8, but scarier and more tense. People were afraid to go in the water after watching it for a reason. I don't see this as a con, so I put it as more of a warning for anyone confused.
Final Thoughts- Whether you like Horror movies or not, Jaws has it's place in History and some of my personal favorite movies would not exist without it. Even after all the bad shark movies, sequel, and even porn parodies (don't bother, perverts), this movies stands above the rest over 40 years later. I highly recommend this movie during both summer and Halloween... And it made me thankful that I live in a land based state.
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