Dueling Archetype

MOVIE: Pacific Rim

2013-07-14T17:08:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for a movie that features giant robots all of my life; but this movie not only delivers awesome mechs, it also features giant monsters, which borrow inspiration from icons like Godzilla, that threaten all of humanity, and throws machines and monsters into a cinematic showdown of epic proportions.

Directed by Guillermo Del Toro, who is known for movies such as Hellboy and Pan's Labyrinth, Pacific Rim is about the invasion of inter-dimensional creatures known as Kaiju (Japanese for "Giant Beast") that arrived through a portal beneath the Pacific Ocean. After conventional military weapons prove to be inefficient, the nations of the world pool together resources and construct giant mechs known as Jaegers (German for "hunter") to fight the Kaiju. There's more to the story but that is the basic premise behind Pacific Rim, and I'm not one to spoil things.

This was the first trailer released. I got so HYPED off of it!

For a film that lots of people are dismissing as just a stupid block buster, assuming that those same people ON THE INTERNET aren't just a bunch of trolls, this movie is actually very good!

"Oh, but the story is going to be so stupid.": It's a film about giant robots beating giant monsters to death; what more do you need?

"The science won't add up or match up to happens in real life!": It's a movie about BIG ROBOTS AND MONSTERS; if that stuff could exist we would have seen it already.

"The acting isn't good": Sure, the acting might not be the best or win any Oscar Awards, but it certainly doesn't take away from the product over all. Bad acting won't make the fight scenes any less enjoyable.

I'm kind of worried now that some people just don't know how to enjoy something good that is right in front of them.

This trailer reveals a lot more, but doesn't spoil too much.

I can't really say that this movie is the best thing ever made; it's not perfect, nothing ever really is. It could have been better, but it is still so good! In my opinion, Pacific Rim is better than all three of the Transformers movies combined. The biggest problem I have is that for some reason not many people are excited for this as I have anticipated. And for reasons unknown, Pacific Rim's main competition is Grown Ups 2. How many of you guys grew up watching Power Rangers? I'll admit, I didn't like Power Rangers as much as most kids back when I was young, but I always thought that the Mega Zords were cool. How many of you watch mecha anime? Oh, right, the trolls are too busy comparing Pacific Rim to Neon Genesis Evengelion for anyone to actually care about it being something new and a movie of it's own.

Guillermo Del Toro grew up watching kaiju films and mecha anime, not including Neon Genesis Evangelion. While he certainly took inspiration from the shows and movies he watched and also implemented homages that knowledgeable fans of the genres can recognize, Del Toro stated that he wasn't going to reference anything and that the designs for his Kaju and Jeagers are created for his own movie. In a time when people are complaining about nothing being original or that something is just based off of something else or that the movies coming out are simply film adaptations of books, people are failing to accept Pacific Rim as an original franchise, a title that stands completely by its self. Del Toro crafted this film from his heart, so that he can see something that he loves and show it to the rest of the world. I admire him for that, but I'm disappointed that the rest of the world doesn't appreciate it. Instead, the robots are competing against an "All-Star Cast of comedians" and apathy.

For some reason, Coyote Tango was the least to leave an impression on me.

With three arms and one eye, Crimson Typhoon had one of the most eccentric but original designs.

Striker Eureka, compared to the other Jaegers in terms of stats, is completely over powered.

Gypsy Danger with a simple and charming heroic design brawls with the Kaiju to protect earth.

Initially I wasn't too fond of Cherno Alpha's design, but after watching the film I grew really attached to him.

I really like the music that plays for the main trailer...

The first thing that I heard about this film was that "The voice of GLaDOS is in this movie." That same evening I checked out the original trailer which was the only one at the time and I knew I was going to watch this movie. Ellen McLain, the voice actor for GLaDOS from the video game Portal, lends her voice for Gypsy Danger's computer AI. I saw Pacific Rim in IMAX 3D; it was the first time I've seen a movie in that quality, but for what I paid it was worth it! Whether you're a seasoned fan of Kaiju films or Mecha anime or just like the idea of seeing a movie about giant robots and monster, you are going to love this film. With the amount of work, effort, and love put into this movie, Pacific Rim is definitely worth seeing it on the BIG screen!

MOVIE: Wreck-It Ralph

2013-02-06T19:34:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a while since I've last posted. In the past months I've been trying to get some things done and have also been quite busy with other projects. Between the goals I am striving to accomplish and the handful of projects I have yet to finish, I regret that the focus on my blog has lowered in priority. There are plenty of things I'd love to talk about but finding time to sit down and carefully think about what to say and how to say it hasn't been easy. But today, I decided to take a step back from every thing else for just a little while and write a new post.

Other than not writing a new post in a whole month, it's been quite a long time since I've seen a really great movie in the theaters. Over the weekend I finally got to see the film I was anticipating since last year: Wreck-It Ralph. Now, I know I am practically three whole months late with just barely watching this film, but at least I was able to see it in a theater before its release on DVD and Blu-Ray; better yet, I got to see it with my family.

I admit that my expectations for this film were not very high when it was first announced. The trailers had current pop-culture songs that I had heard too many times in very unfavorable circumstances, I had a feeling that the story might not impress me and the plot would be no more significant than a children's cartoon with a cheesy moral strung at the end, and most of all, although the idea featuring official video game characters was interesting, I hoped that the film would not have to rely on those cameos alone to carry on the story. As the film's release to theaters neared my pessimism slowly dwindled and I actually became curious to see the movie and to find out how it delivers. One of my friends saw it before me and wanted to discuss film, but I asked him not spoil any of the important plot points as I planned to watch Wreck-It Ralph eventually. Three months after the initial theatrical release I was greatly impressed with the work. Maybe I am just easily impressed at times, but Wreck-It Ralph is far better than what I had expected out of it.

Wreck-It Ralph is a 3D animated film about a video game antagonist, named Wreck-It Ralph, who is tired of playing as the bad guy because he is feared and unappreciated by the other characters in his video game world. Determined to prove that he can be just as good as the good guy, Fix-It Felix, he leaves his own video game world and dives into the dangers of different video games to earn his title as a hero. Wreck-It Ralph was created by Disney Animation Studios with a similar style to an earlier film, Tangled. Pixar was not involved with production of this film, which is really impressive since the animation is smooth, beautiful, and lively, but is also a 3D CGI animation, which is what Pixar is notable for. The different [video game] characters are well written and animated, and since they originate from different eras and genres in gaming, each is stylized with a unique look and personality as well as their own story which makes them highly likable. Although we weren't able to see as many video game worlds as I had anticipated, each world that we visited was interesting to look, including the surge protector itself. I've heard some complaints about being restricted to very few worlds, namely the "Candy land", Sugar Rush, but this restriction on the game jumping actually works to the story's advantage as it not only drives the plot but we also see a great deal of Disney's original characters interacting with a specific environment. In addition to a more defined exploration of a whole new world, this also allows the audience a greater chance to become more invested with these new characters they are presented with. The movie's phenomenal soundtrack also strengthened the emotional delivery tenfold with appropriate scene themes and leitmotifs building up tension to an incredible climax.

As I said before, I worried about the cameos; and so it turns out that this film implements the cameos of official video game characters quite well. Sure, they used characters like Zangief, Dr. Robotnik, Boswer, and Clyde the Ghost, but they were not needed to actually carry the story along. The cameos are probably the strongest point made in the advertisement for Wreck-It Ralph, which is genius because the posters and trailers immediately inform the audience that the movie is about video games. (The actual video games themselves.) After watching the film, I looked up some videos about Wreck-It Ralph and lots of people wished that their familiar favorites had played a larger role in the story. But I want to remind everyone that this movie is all about Disney's Original Characters and that the focus is around Ralph and his friends, not Sonic and his rivals. Cameos proved to be great advertising and are lots of fun, but the vast amount of hidden video game culture references should not outshine the well written story this movie tells.

One last thing I would like to add concerning the video game cameos, although I am a big Mario fan, I am glad that he did not make an appearance in Wreck-It Ralph. (He is mentioned, but not shown.) I did not grow up playing Sonic games and as a result I'm not very fond of Sonic the Hedgehog. (It also doesn't help that some percentages of his fan base sort of tarnishes his image.) Even if Sonic wasn't given much screen time, along with the rest of the cameos, that actually earned him some respect from me. Sonic the Hedgehog's role is to appear for a short moment to deliver an important PSA to the characters in universe. Admittedly, I believe that Mario would not be able to deliver the same message with same kind of importance. The cameos did not overstay their welcome and that really works in the film's favor. Also, Mario's face isn't plastered on screen for the sake of a quick cash grab.

Overall, Wreck-It Ralph is a touching story. It is funny, but it isn't all about laughs. There are serious moments that can be very emotional and the plot eventually unfolds into something big. You don't need to much about video games in order to enjoy this story, but the more knowledgeable you are with your video gaming trivia and history, the better chances you have of catching the many subtle references which can make watching this movie more fun.

Megaman's 25th Anniversary + Game review: SFxMM

2012-12-31T00:13:00.000-08:00

2012 was not kind to Arm Cannon users...

So, here we are 25 years later. Megaman is officially 25 years old and I just want to take a moment to talk about my favorite video game hero and what he has gone through. But first, let's take a quick look at his legacy.

That video is five years old. Obviously. That video showcased the main line Megaman games, the "important" games for every Megaman series. Forget that Battle Network, Zero, ZX, and all the rest of the Megaman series are SPIN OFFS of the ORIGINAL MEGAMAN SERIES. Megaman today is practically just a name now, sort of like how there are MANY "The Legend of Zelda" games. It's a Legacy. Megaman here, Megaman there. Tron here, Tron there. The name passes down, and that's all that matters. Right? [But I'll get back to this sometime in the future.]

Let me tell you Capcom and Megaman. Since that time, 5 years ago, the times have been very harsh for my favorite hero. It's depressing. Since then there have been 3 major Megaman games cancelled, including an MMO and the highly anticipated and longly awaited sequel: Megaman Legends 3. Not to mention, that in addition to the cancellation of major Megaman projects, X was not even allowed to rest in peace or be put down with a shred of his remaining dignity!

It seems like all we can do is just ask the same questions: "Capcom, what the heck is going on? WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Megaman's 25th Anniversary officially began on December 17th, and I know I'm a little late to the party... well, actually, I'm not, because there was no party! But anyways, before 2013 officially kicks off, I'm going to take some time to talk about Megaman and his "25th Anniversary". Which brings me to my game review of Megaman versus-, I mean, STREET FIGHTER X MEGAMAN!!!

Street Fighter x Megaman is a fangame created by Seow Zong Hui, a Singaporean fan of Megaman. It was officially released as a free download through Capcom via the Capcom Unity website on December 17th. The game pits Megaman against 8 Street Fighter characters, each with their own levels and enemies inspired by their own themes. Defeating each fighter grants Megaman a new weapon just as traditional Megaman games have allowed Megaman to copy the Robot Master's powers in the past. All of the animations are solid and the boss fights are actually quite impressive presenting a fresh unique look when it comes down to it. Music uses tunes from classic Megaman titles combined with the theme songs of their respective fighters.

There probably isn't much that I can say about this game alone, other than "it's good". Honestly, it is a good game and is very well crafted for a fan work. It's simple, fun, and appealing and it does a great job of drawing influences from both the Megaman and the Street Fighter franchise. References are thrown throughout the game, gameplay emulates a real Megaman quite accurately, and every Boss has their own "SUPER" meter that fills up when they are hit so that they can attack using their Super Attacks.

One glitch I encountered. I-It's not like I needed that E-Tank!

Of course, it's not the most amazing thing ever made. SFxMM might have some glitches, one of which causes dropped items like extra lives to drop within a wall rendering it unreachable. The game might also play slowly; however, I actually attribute the terrible slowdown and ear butchering sound blending to my own computer, since just about everyone else I've seen seems to be able to play it smoothly on their computer.

If you want to play the game you can download it from here: http://www.capcom-unity.com/mega_man

You can also watch Two Best Friends Play Street Fighter x Megaman as they share in their keen insight. Although, it will spoil most of the surprises as they do clear most of the levels.

As good as it is, Street Fighter x Megaman is far from the greatest thing to happen to Megaman, much less, a fulfilling way to celebrate his 25th Anniversary. But, that's just it. It's not the game's fault, it's the context of the situation. Capcom as of late has really been disappointing many people and it seems like they are just toying with the hearts of Megaman fans as they nickle and dime the Street Fighter Audience with their Street Figher x Tekken DLC, that was already on the disk. An 8Bit crossover game that they didn't even create does not make up for a cancelled sequel people have waited over a decade for! But I do congratulate the guys who made SFxMM and I'm happy that their hard work gained recognition. It's sad to see Capcom continue on like this because when I was younger I admired that company for producing high quality games. But now, most people believe that they've lived long enough to become a villain. I hope that they will eventually change back to how they used to be. As Matt and Pat said, this game is just a roller coaster of emotions for Megaman fans, and I don't think the ride is going to end.

I saw this image many months ago. Tragic.

When I first saw this I thought this was some bad fan art. To my horror, it's official artwork.

I guess 2012 just wasn't a good year for Arm Cannon users. I doubt Samus had any luck receiving a Happy Birthday. There is a lot more I'd like to talk about, but I will have to save those topics for another day. In the future I will review some other Megaman games and talk more about Megaman, but in the mean time here is some of the 25th Anniversary Music made to commemorate Megaman. [At least the music is good.]

Until next time, I'll try to enjoy the remainder of Megaman's 25th Anniversary. Happy New Years Everyone...

It's... It's X-OVER!!!

GAME(S): Merry Gear Solid/Merry Gear Solid 2

2012-12-24T20:53:00.000-08:00

It's been quite a while since I have played one of my favorite seasonal games. It's the MERRY GEAR SOLID SERIES! That's right, this holiday season, it's about MERRY GEAR. Not that incredibly lethal bipedal nuclear missile launching tank, METAL GEAR!

METAL GEAR SOLID is one of my favorite games and every time when Christmas is nearing I like to open up a parody game called MERRY GEAR SOLID. Created by Arthur Lee and Duncan Roberts, Merry Gear Solid is an obvious parody of the original Playstation game but modeled with an entire Christmas themed story around it. There are two games in this series: the first is titled Secret Santa, and the second is titled The Ghosts of Christmas Past. Both games capture a sense of the original stealth game requiring the player to sneak through the building unnoticed, but they also make many references to the real video game series and even break the fourth wall intentionally [with a couple of C4 Explosives.]

Merry Gear Solid: Secret Santa:
The first game uses the basic sneak-by "guards" and knock on walls mechanics with an overhead view of the map. It also uses a similar Item/Inventory system that the original MGS uses. Items hidden throughout the building allow the player to sneak past the children in order to reach the Christmas Tree and deliver the presents undetected. You will play as Santa Claus himself in this title.

Merry Gear Solid 2: Ghosts of Christmas Past:
The second game is actually made better. It is more fleshed out, is slightly more complicated, has more features than the first game, and plays almost as a full-length game of its own. MSG2:GoCP uses the basic sneak-by "guards" and knock on walls mechanics with an overhead view of the map, with a similar Item/Inventory system as the original MGS game, but this time it also features the Radar Map in the corner of the screen that shows you the enemies' field of vision. MGS2:GoCP also features even more items than the first game, Boss Encounters, and plenty of references to the actual Metal Gear Series and some of Hideo Kojima's other works. In this game you will play as snake, dressed up like Santa Claus.

I found out about these games years ago and since then I've played them during the Christmas Season. I downloaded played through the second game first and eventually I downloaded and played through the second one. Although I played the second game before the first, I was still able to enjoy the story. Even though MGS:Secret Santa is short, details from that game are crucial to the story of MGS: Ghost of Christmas Past, so I highly recommend playing the games in order. Although, I also highly recommend playing the REAL METAL GEAR SOLID GAMES first to get a greater laugh out of all of the jokes they throw at you. Unless you follow Kojima's works closely, most of the allusions will fly over your head. Regardless, I trust that you may still find the game enjoyable whether or not you've played the Metal Gear games.

Snake? Snake?! SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!!!!!

Both games, as well as some other games, can be downloaded for free from this website: http://www.superfundungeonrun.com/?page_id=256

Old Spice Saved the World

2012-12-24T16:19:00.001-08:00

4 1/2 Weeks later we are still here, and the world is saved thanks to the power of Old Spice Deodorant Sticks and Friendship.

The Marketing department for Old Spice Deodorant products have done a great job in the past in making some clever advertisements to catch consumers' attention, and this year when it was said that the world was going to end they did not hold back. Instead, Old Spice gave the people hope for the dawn of a new day in the form of a 16-bit flash game. It was a mission against the clock to carve more time into the Mayan calendar.

Instead of a traditional commercial, Old Spice made a flash game starring the retired basketball player Dikembe Mutombo with the responsibility of saving the world. Released in the middle of November of 2012, Dikembe Mutombo's 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World provided players with a new level to play each week. Each level had its own game play and story providing as a social commentary on current trends in popular culture and despite the obvious pop culture references, Dikembe Mutombo's 4 1/2 Weeks to Save the World is actually a quite enjoyable video game. Although this game isn't highly polished or crafted like a major title, it is funny, the sprites are detailed beautifully, and the music is enjoyable.

The final level is designed like a level of the shooter game Raiden.

Every level is a separate game that makes remarks about trends that are popular right now; a Korean dance song is keeping citizens of the U.S. distracted from voting, the influx of vampire romance fiction in the entertainment industry is too high, and internet memes are rampaging out of control. In the end, we are saved, we are still alive, and all of the characters from the game come together to sing in one last song: a parody of We are the World.

This is basically what the game is about.

But there are also some positives...

If the game was played before December 21st of 2012, the total score a player earned every time they completed a level was added to a pool of points that every player earned collectively as the clock was ticking. These points were used to "carve additional time into the Mayan Calendar" to postpone the destruction of the world. December 21st already past and the game seemed to do its job at keeping us alive. Unfortunately, it only added 15 Months into the calendar. [If only we had played more and added more time.] The game can still be played but the scores are no longer being tracked and written down.

Isn't this around the time you'll have to start paying for the Mass Effect 3 Ending?

If only I could be so grossly incandescent.

And let us not forget one of the most heartfelt sacrifices ever made. May we continue to play and enjoy this game in memory of one of our fallen friends.

R.I.P. in Peace ;_;

GAME: Cave Story

2012-11-12T14:51:00.004-08:00

And now time for something completely different, which is similar to a few other well known games, yet retains such a unique feel of its own. It's Doukutsu Monogatari! I mean, Cave Story!

Legend has it that this game was created by one single man, Daisuke Amaya, who wasn't even specially trained in the many set of skill that are pulled together to create great video games. He wasn't a professional writer, heck, he didn't even know how to read or write music, and yet this game has some of the most memorable and catchy tunes I have ever heard. Even if that story turns out being fake, well, we are still left with an incredible story, a Cave Story.

Cave Story is an action platformer video game that was inspired by other classic NES games such as Megaman, Metroid, and Castlevania. Few similarities can be seen through the gameplay, yet Cave Story manages to capture its own feel and a slightly different style of play. It's a game about jumping and shooting... downward, and upward as well.

You play as boy robot. (But you don't know that, yet, because you woke up with AMNESIA!) You make your way out of the small cave that you found yourself in and you find a small village of bunny-like creatures called Mimigas. Turns out that there is an mad doctor who is kidnapping these people one by one and it's up to you to help them out.

I'll say that the story itself is quite engaging. Sure, it's a simple game at first but then you'll find yourself moving along just to find out what happens next. By the end of the game, you would have talked to many characters for such a small game and there will be several things happening at once in the plot. Though the game itself is quite linear, in terms of the levels you will play through, the game has multiple story endings, each affected by the responses that you give to characters in the game. In addition to the linearity, there aren't really any side quests, which helps the plot move along a lot faster. Pretty much every favor you carry out moves things along. Just as a forewarning, this game does feature quite a bit of back tracking.

Cave Story's gameplay is solid. As the boy robot with a gun, you can jump and shoot in both directions, aim upwards, and shoot down from above while you are in the air. Throughout the game you can find other weapons to utilize in your arsenal. The main mechanic that made this game stand out apart from the rest is the "Level" system. When you defeat enemies they drop Doritos, and eating these Doritos offers grants your weapon Double XP. Gain enough Experience for your weapons and they'll become more powerful. However, this "Level up System isn't simply a "nowhere but up" kind of deal.

Taking damage has more consequences than simply losing HP. Your weapons are also downgraded slightly and will "Level Down" if enough damage is taken and enough Doritos are thrown up in the process. (No, you cannot pick up barfed out food and eat it again. This isn't Sonic the Hedgehog.) But not to worry. Although the game is quite challenging, it's a very forgiving game. Some of the bosses aren't hard to defeat and they even spawn minor enemies that still drop Doritos for your weakened weapons and Hearts for your weakened body. But remember, this game is still challenging, and it'd be unwise to not save often as you will start out from your last saved state if you die. Making it through the stages is probably where most of the difficulty comes from as they are usually crowded by many enemies and there are many environmental hazards scattered throughout the game, especially in the later stages.

I recommend this game to everyone, especially since it's FREE! [It's a free game, and it's a great game.] That right, this game is a freeware game; well, at least the original is free. You can download the original version of the game, the version that I played, from this website. Cave Story is available for purchase in the remastered versions Cave Story+ [On the Nintendo eShop, Wiiware, and Valve's Steam Store] and Cave Story 3D [For Nintendo 3DS].

I still wonder why this game is called Cave Story.

Team Fortress 2 : Halloween Event 2012 Review

2012-11-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

By now the excitement surrounding the Halloween Event has begun to die down and by the time you read this it might already be over. Yes, Halloween already passed, we are one week into November, we should probably stop thinking about Halloween and candy and start thinking about the best, next holiday, but I just want to share a little more on how my experience with the Halloween event was by reviewing each map.

The Scream Fortress Halloween Event is finally over and it's time to move onto doing other things and get ready for the ~~best~~ next holiday [in the U.S.]; but before I move on, a review of the maps and my experience with the whole event in general.

HARVEST: Harvest is a King of The Hill game mode map and was introduced in the Halloween of 2009. The objective is to seize control of a capture point in the center of the map for a duration of 3 minutes. Harvest is the simplest of the other maps. Although there is a Halloween version of the map for the event it doesn't offer as much as the others. Halloween Harvest offers the Halloween decorations, exploding Pumpkins and even features the ghosts, but no Haunted Halloween Gifts or a Boss to fight. Still, Halloween Harvest is a charming map to play on with a simple design and aesthetic.

MANN MANOR: Mann Manor is an Attack/Defend Control Point game mode map was introduced in the Halloween of 2010. It is one of the most intricate maps designed for TF2 since it isn't simply symmetrical for both teams to navigate through the same way; RED and BLU sides of the map aren't mirrored. This map features Halloween Decorations, Exploding Pumpkins, the Horseless Headless Horsemann as the boss, and it was the first map to drop Haunted Halloween Gifts, which contain Halloween Masks. The map is elaborately designed, with BLU team's Spawn point beginning at one edge of the map, starting out from small shacks on the land, then leading to multiple entrances to reach the final Capture Point located within Redmond's Mansion. For BLU players, the first two capture points are quite easy to reach, but the final capture point is always the most difficult as the entrances are small and make it easier for RED Pyros, Soldiers, Engineers, and even Heavies to kill any incoming BLU team members.
As for the Boss, Headless Horseless Horsemann is a ruthless killer. He is a neutral Character and will attack any player regardless of what team they are assigned to. Headless Horseless Horsemann turns Team Fortress 2 into an extreme game of Tag. Although HHH prefers to decapitate nearby players, he can and will focus on a player even if they are far away. Whenever a player is targeted by HHH, that player is tagged as "IT" and can Melee a player on the opposing team to tag them as it, otherwise it is inevitable decapitation by the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Head taker. [Bonk! Atomic Punch will only save you for a few seconds. You can't even melee attack in that state so you're good as gone.] Defeating Horseless Headless Horsemann rewards you with 2 different achievements and 2 different Achievement items. The first achievement is Sleepy Holl0WND, getting credit for killing HHH and rewards you with the Horseless Headless Horsemann's Head, a Pumpkin Head Hat which can only be seen on Halloween or on a Full Moon. The second achievement is Gored!, which can only be obtained by executing a finishing melee attack upon HHH and it rewards you with 1 Unusual Haunted Scrap Metal. Fighting Horseless Headless Horsemann can be a frustrating experience especially if both teams aren't cooperating to defeat him, but it's not the worst of circumstances since HHH will remain on the map until he is defeated. Regardless, Mann Manor is an enjoyable map for it's game mode type, the many decorations, and the overall theme of the map is quite nice to look at.

EYEADUCT: Eyaduct is a King of the Hill game mode map and was introduced in the Halloween of 2011. This map is a "Haunted" version of the map Viaduct. Like the last King of the Hill Map, RED and BLU sides are mirrored and the objective is to seize control of the capture point in the center of the map. As a Halloween Map, Eyaduct features the Halloween decorations, exploding pumpkins, and Haunted Halloween Gifts, this time containing a Halloween Costume Piece. Each class has their own 3 piece costume set. With a new map a new boss is introduced; both teams get to fight Monoculus!
Monoculus is more difficult to defeat than the Horseless Headless Horsemann because unlike the previous boss he will only remains on the map for a limited time. After a minute and a half Monoculus will leave the field regardless of whether or not he has been defeated. With that said, attempts to defeat him will be frustrating if both teams aren't cooperating. Monoculus won't go around the map to chase you, so this is not an extreme game of Tag, however, he accurately fires powerful eyeball rockets at players within his sight, so be prepared to face many respawns if you aren't careful.
What I love about this map is that it's almost two different maps! Eyaduct also features an "Underworld" and a "Loot island". Since Monoculus flies around the map, he teleports from one side to the other after a certain amount of damage is dealt and he does this several times throughout the fight. Each time he teleports, he leaves behind a portal leading to "the underworld" which players can jump into. Jumping into the portal to the Underworld will take you to a haunted dimension that slowly drains your health. Escaping the underworld by jumping across tiny plots of land in an undead sea to reach a door back to the normal world will grant the player an Ubercharge. Hitting Monoculus under this Ubercharge will stun him, allowing players to deal greater damage to the boss. When Monoculus is defeated, The Bombinomicon will be left behind with another portal leading to the underworld taking players to Loot Island instead. Defeating Monoculus offers 1 achievement for defeating him and the Monoculus as a hat which can only be seen on Halloween or on a Full Moon. Reaching Loot Island and escaping it offers its own achievement and rewards players with The Bombomicon badge, which can be seen at any time.
The map is easy to navigate through and as a result finding Haunted Halloween Gifts is easy on this map. It is a fun King of the Hill map especially since it is a reskin of the first King of the Hill map. The Monoculus battle is interesting and visiting underworld is quite an experience. Fighting Monoculus can be a frustrating experience if both teams aren't cooperating but that doesn't mean that this map isn't worth playing.

Ghost Fort: Ghost Fort is a King of the Hill game mode map and was added this year, Halloween 2012. Ghost Fort is actually a Halloween version of the map Lakeside and was the main attraction for this year's Scream Fortress. The Map features Halloween Decorations, exploding pumpkins, Haunted Halloween Gifts containing the newly added Halloween Spells and Voodoo-Cursed Parts (craft material items), the new boss Merasmus, and a bottomless pit environmental hazard! (Yes, the Bottomless pit alone is definitely worth jumping into and checking it out... even if you'll end up jumping into it on accident.) Lakeside/Ghost Fort is a challenging King of the Hill Map as it gives the advantage to players on the center of the map the advantage of higher ground and ammo and medkits are scarce in this map.
Fighting Merasmus is definitely a challenge and attempting to defeat him is more frustrating than the previous bosses by far. In the first place, like Monoculus, Meramus only remains on the map for about a minute and a half. Not all of the classes deal the same amount of damage to him; for some reason the sniper class is able to deal 1080 Damage with a fully charged shot from the Huntsman Bow. [And using the Sniper Class equipped with Huntsman is really the most effective method to defeat the Magician Merasmus. just trust me on this.] So, you have to get both teams to cooperate, convince everyone to use the exact same class and weapon, and you have to do it all under a short time period. Good luck with that. The preparation is a lot longer than actually fighting him, even if the prep shouldn't last the whole game. Fortunately those human errors are probably the most frustrating part of the entire battle, but Merasmus' attacks are still quite annoying.
The wizard's attacks are powerful and can reach a long range and he also floats around the entire map. You are only really safe if you remain in the spawn room. He swings his staff, shoots magic to light players on fire, throws bombs all around him, and he can even change your character's head into a bomb! Running into Merasmus with a bomb for a head will grant you an Ubercharge and will also stun Merasmus. More frustrating than his attacks are his hiding abilities. When Merasmus has suffered enough damage, he will transform into an out of place prop on the map and will also place extra decoy props all over the map. As he hides he heals and this just eats up time on the clock. In other words, Merasmus made TF2 into an extreme game of Hide-and-Seek. The Key to defeating him is cooperation, efficient attacks, being able to find him in while he is hiding as soon as possible, and of course not dying.
Although the Merasmus boss battle was quite frustrating, Ghost Fort makes it all up by being an incredibly fun map to play on. Lakeside was a fun map to play on, but it got even better with the Halloween theme. The bottomless pit, the Haunted Halloween Gifts, the bottomless pit, the Skull island on the background, and even the bottomless pit! But main thing that set this map apart from the previous KOTH maps is the wheel of fate. Whenever a team captures the control point, a random spell will be casted upon the players. Either Big Head, Small Head, Ubercharge, Krits, etc. Sometimes, the roulette will land on the card that makes all of the live players dance with Merasmus to a parody of Michael Jackson's The Thriller! [My favorite combo of Wheel of Fate Spells is the High Jump + Low Gravity... while I am a Scout!]
Defeating Merasmus only rewards 1 achievement. When he is defeated, he drops the Bombinomicon, again, with a portal leading to Skull Island (Previously known as Loot Island.). There you can pick up the Skull Island Topper, the Hat he wears. Escaping Skull Island [Before IT BLOWS UP] will reward you with 1 achievement and the hat. Despite the frustrating aspects of playing on Ghost Fort, it is a very fun map to play on, for either the cooperative boss fight or the competetive King of the Hill game. And remember, be careful when trying to pick up that full-sized medkit.

Wave 666: Wave 666 is a Mann vs. Machine game mode map, introduced this year, Scream Fotress 2012. It is a Halloween version of the MVM Map Coaltown, but it only features Halloween decorations and a night time environment. I only had a short chance to play this map, so I was not able to complete it. Mann Versus Machine is a challenging game mode already, but to be pit against 666 Zombies in a single wave is quite a fight. Instead of only being given $400 in credit for upgrades, you instead start off with $4000 for upgrades. Those upgrades helped me feel powerful, but the numbers were still overwhelming. I'd like to find a good team of people to conquer this map with.

Scream Fortress was more than just simply playing on a bunch of Halloween Themed maps. This was my first year playing through Halloween Goodness and it was quite interesting to see how players were acting this year. I certainly felt a little different. Three out of the Four Maps spawned Halloween Gifts. Even though the event is now over, it doesn't mean that the Maps will be gone, however the extra features such as the Halloween Gifts won't spawn and the Halloween Items will no longer drop. Eerie Crates and Halloween Spells and their effects have expired. These items made players act a little differently as they scrambled to collect as many items as they could. [That's the influence of a trending market for you.] 7 Voodoo parts could be crafted together to make a Pile of Cursed Souls and reaching into that pile gave you a Voodoo Cursed Soul of one of the 9 Mercenaries. Most people who continued playing on the Halloween Servers only did so to continue searching for Halloween Gifts when it was their turn to find one. I'm not saying this was a bad thing, it's just much different than the normal behavior people have when playing online; the reason they play is changed for this time. Still, despite the change in the atmosphere there was still some pretty good games that were had. It felt great when random people were able to get along on a server and it was especially beautiful when most of the players cooperated to defeat the bosses and agreed on whether or not to extend the map time or change to another. I had lots of fun and I enjoyed my time playing during the Halloween Event. If you were there, I hope you enjoyed your time too. If you weren't there, well, maybe you can join us next year, when we will be fighting the Horseless Headless Horsemann-LESS HORSE!!!

Halloween Themed Loadouts

2012-11-02T20:34:00.002-07:00

This post is just to showcase the loadouts for my classes.

*Scream Fortress 2012: Spectral Halloween Special

2012-11-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

Alright guys, for the past week I've been playing Team Fortress 2, enjoying the Halloween Update. It's lots of fun and I find it quite enjoyable for many reasons pertaining to its aesthetic appeal. I've also gotten plenty of items since I started playing when the update went live, which made it even more worthwhile providing a greater incentive to keep playing. I'll make another post to talk extensively about Team Fortress 2 another day, but I'm running a bit late to talk about how great the TF2 Halloween Event is! Fortunately, the event is live until the 8th of November so I'll try to talk about it as much as I can now.

So what's going down? TF2 is a team based first person shooter featuring different game modes and various maps to fit each one. In the "Scream Fortress" Event there are four custom event maps that feature pumpkins that explode when you fire at them [Killing 5 enemies in this manner unlocks an achievement.], Halloween decorations, a SPOOKY Ghost that lurks the map, which literally stuns your character into a state of fear, and "Haunted Halloween Gifts" that spawn in a random location on the map for a randomly selected player on the server to find. Three out of the four maps feature "Bosses" that appear from time to time and attack all players regardless of what team they belong to. Defeating the bosses rewards you with achievements and special items. Two of the maps are actually modded versions of "King of the Hill" game mode maps, so in case someone likes the layout of the map but don't want to bother with cooperating to defeat the bosses or looking for gifts, they can always join servers that feature the normal version of the map.

The recent Halloween Update included: 2 new Halloween maps, One of the them is a Mann Vs. Machine Map Featuring a wave of 666 [800] Zombies and the other is Ghost Fort (A mod of the map Lakeside), Merasmus as the Boss for that map, Voodoo-Cursed Items, (Craft Items that are included along with your Item Drops for the week), Halloween Spells that award Hats and Weapons with special Halloween effects, Eerie Crates (which require Eerie Keys to open them), and New Items that are available at the Mann Co. Store! But that's not all, Items from past Halloween Events such as the Costume Set Pieces return as items contained in the Gifts. Mann Manor, the Map that Features Horseless Headless Horsemann as the Boss, gives Class Masks as the items contained in the Haunted Halloween Gifts, and since the previous maps and their respective bosses are returning, achievements and achievement items from past events can be earned.

Each account as been awarded a Halloween Goodie Cauldron that gives the player a Halloween Seal Mask and one of the twenty-seven Halloween Costume Set Pieces upon use of the item; however, the Cauldron will expire when the event is over on November 8th if it is not used by then. Voodoo-Cursed Items can be fabricated into a "Pile of Souls". Reach into the Pile of Souls and pull out a random Voodoo-Cursed Soul, a Misc. Item that changes your class into a Zombie!

The new Ghost Fort Map is quite amusing; since it is a King of the Hill map, whenever a Team takes control of the Capture Point, "The Wheel of Fate" is spun, and a randomly chosen spell will affect the all of the players. Merasmus will change the size of your head, set you on fire, or grant your character increased stats for a short time. If you're [UN]Fortunate enough, Merasmus will pull all of the [Alive] Players and teleport everyone to the Capture Point to do the Thriller Dance!

Well, that's enough for now. I hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! I'll return to talk about Team Fortress 2 another time, so I'll just leave you all some screenshots to look at. Enjoy!

[I have edited this post: I reduced the number of Screenshot images that appear. Unfortunately, laying out the images is quite a pain and it's not very easy. This is the best that I could do, so for now, I'll leave it like this.]

GAME: Platformerman

2012-10-25T20:06:00.002-07:00

Talk about video games? Alright, I'll start off with something simple. Platforming games are one of my favorite genres of video games, the kinds where your character jumps from platform to platform while avoiding bottomless pits. These are games like Super Mario, Megaman, the original Ninja Gaiden. But here is a game that I downloaded a couple of years ago after a friend recommended it to me that I just recently dug up from some old files. Platformerman.

Yes, it's Platformerman, the game where you become Platformerman, a "man" who jumps from platform to platform, wall crawling up surfaces to rescue his friends and explode his enemies out of existence. And he does this in a race against time! Did I mention that he can blow things up along his path?

Platfromerman is a platforming style game that makes a statement about how video games don't necessarily require fancy "next generation" graphics to be enjoyable. When my friend told me about this game I laughed because it was obvious what kind of game it would be, the question on my mind was: "What does Platformerman look like? What kind of world does he trek?" At first I was slightly hesitant since I had to download the game (At the time I wasn't a fan of having to download flash games just to play them) but I gave it a chance anyways. To my surprise, Platformerman is just a cyan square. [For now] Everything in the game is made of square and there is no fancy world. Just a black void and gray squares.

The game runs smoothly and the controls are very responsive. The levels are quite challenging and I'd say that it is an enjoyable game. It also doesn't take very long to load. The version of the game beta I downloaded back then had 10 levels. The website is http://www.platformerman.com/ and here is a trailer for the game.

Just look at him go! That music is also very nice. [The game features no soundtrack.]

I like to imagine what he could really look like.

I recommend this game.

What can I even say?

2012-10-23T18:04:00.001-07:00

It's been a little over four months since my last post, and it feels awful. I'm not really quite sure what happened to me but it seems as if I suddenly just dropped everything. I remember having plenty of subjects I wanted to talk about, but when I'd sit down to write about them my head would almost go blank and it became difficult to choose what words to type. At the time I made lots of drafts of my posts but everything else started calling for my attention and distractions were [and are] inevitable. (Yu-Gi-Oh! is a distraction itself from other more "important" things.)

Right now I am going through a very strange time. I'm not sure what to do or say and it's almost as if I've completely lost my sense of time. Even with all of drafts of card reviews I was writing out, I didn't feel like talking about cards. To make things worse, I haven't really been dueling lately. I haven't bought any new cards this year, I went months at a time without having a real duel, restructuring my decks feels like such a chore, and I just started logging back into Dueling Network, reluctantly.

Maybe I should take a break from talking about cards... or maybe I just got done doing that. I feel like talking about video games, though it might get a bit confusing for you guys. (This blog was originally intended for talking about Yugioh.)

I don't know what to say, but I can tell you that no one should allow themselves to become apathetic to the point where their lives lack direction and activity. That is all, for now.

Card Review: Mind Control

2012-06-25T21:38:00.001-07:00

Earlier today I've had the pleasure of testing my patience with what might have been the most annoying person I have ever dueled, via Dueling Network. I probably would have written a noteworthy story for the duel, but the only that would have been interesting, or mindlessly amusing rather, is how this inexperience child freaked out over how I operated the dueling simulator, given he had the impression that he knew how to actually play. Beside the point, in that duel that I was just waiting to end quickly, the card that helped me finish off my opponent was a Spell Card called Mind Control.

So lets examine this useful card. Mind Control is a Normal Spell Card that allows you to gain control of one monster that your opponent controls until the end of the turn. Like any card, Mind Control has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. Its disadvantages include being a Spell Card and the fact that the Monster you gain control of cannot be Tributed or declare an Attack. Inherently, not much is lost especially considering that Mind Control is a great card for any tactical Duelist. (I say that Mind Control being a Spell Card is a disadvantage because it can easily be negated, will only be used once, only has Spell Speed 1, and you'd have to undergo a totally different card in order to use Mind Control in your Deck. If there is one thing I have learned in my Economics class, it is that "The Opportunity Cost is the next best thing lost"). The advantages that Mind Control has are not directly listed on the card, contrary to the draw backs the card carries.

In the original season of Yu-gi-oh!, that so many people remember from a decade ago, there was a card that was capable of taking control of an opponent's monster called Change of Heart. That card has long since been added to the Forbidden List due to it's potency and lack of restrictions/drawbacks other than lasting only one turn. Brain Control was a slightly watered-down version of Change of Heart, but it only required a cost of 800 Life Points. Mind Control was made to sort of emulate the effect of Change of Heart or Brain Control, but its restrictions, such as the monster card affected being unable to declare an attack balance it out for fair play. Although Mind Control cannot match the power of Change of Heart, it does have certain advantage over another card that manipulates your opponent's monsters to shift over to your command, Creature Swap. Mind Control does not require you to have a Monster on your side of the Field in order to use, and best of all (my favorite part of the card is that,) Mind Control is not restricted to only targeting Face-Up Monsters, unlike Brain Control, the Battle Position does not matter when using this card! Creature Swap does not allow the Monster Cards affected to change their Battle Position, but since Battle Position does not really matter, you can Flip Summon a Monster card that you gained control of through the use of this spell.

So what makes Mind Control so useful? For starters, sometimes all that stands in your way would be just one monster, one that might even have immunity to destruction by battle. Mind Control will allow you to move one of your obstacles out of your way in order to deal attacks. The Monster that you gain control of can even be used as Materials for a Fusion Summon, Ritual Summon, Synchro Summon, and even an Xyz Summon; so, although the monster cannot be tributed (for a tribute summon or for the cost of a card effect) it can still be used as a resource to build your arsenal. In the case of my duel Earlier today, I gained control of my opponents only monster, which was in Face-Down Defense Position, I Flip Summoned and used it as Synchro Material, and then I had an extra monster to attack with to finish the Duel; with that one play, I got rid of a monster and gained another in return.

Because of its potency, Mind Control is currently on the Limited List, which means only 1 Copy is allowed per Deck in the Advanced Format for tournament use. Mind Control is available in Gold Series 2 Booster Packs and is included along with the Warrior's Strike Structure Deck. I would consider this card a "Staple".

Read about Creature Swap in Action here!

Read to see Mind Control in a Duel here!

Envoy of the Beggining

2012-06-19T17:42:00.000-07:00

It's Summer, and that means that many people will have extra time on their hands to select a new past time to partake in. However, most that choose dueling as their new favorite activity will find themselves quickly overwhelmed. Without guidance, these people will have a difficult time learning how to duel and allow their skills to grow as their knowledge of the game expands. Sure, knowing the rules of the game is crucial, but it takes more than just knowing how each turn moves along to become a great duelist. A skilled duelist requires lots of experience, which is also important for any upcoming duelists that desire the ability to compete against others. Today I provide my advice to anyone seeking to learn more about this popular game or to anyone seeking to teach others how to get started as a duelist. Half of entire game is dependent on your deck building, so I will focus on that first.

What most new duelists have in common is that they are unsure about what kind of deck to use. It hardly makes a difference whether the newcomers to the game are people that used to collect cards a few years ago or people whom have never owned a single Yugioh trading card in their life. So much has changed in dueling since Yugi and his friends were the only stars on the show that fought with Duel Monsters, and so many new cards have been introduced that it is easy for anyone to become overwhelmed with the sheer number of possible selections. Nevertheless, the most important thing to remember is: Have fun, and enjoy the game with your friends. I cannot stress this enough, but the most important thing to remember is that dueling is all about having fun and enjoying the leisure time you share with your companions. So, with that in mind, lets help a new duelist build a their own deck.

[It is possible to Play Yugioh without needing to buy a single card, thanks to Dueling Network. However, for the sake of simplicity, let's also assume that the theoretical duelist in question has a decent amount of money to buy a few sets of cards and accessories.]

To get started, a player should seek what type of deck they would like to use. They can browse on the internet for popular cards or watch other players. (I highly recommend watching other people play first to see if it is something you would enjoy.) But, if a newcomer should start buying cards, the best place to start off with a deck: either a Starter Deck or a Structure Deck. Starter Decks contain a wide range cards but only provide a general taste of what dueling is really like; they are very basic and are meant for beginners. Structure Decks are more "structured", focusing on a group of Monster Cards with similar Types, Attributes, or play styles; Structure Decks are effective teaching tools for new comers because they can immediately show players how one card relates to another which can lead to powerful combos.

[This was pretty much the "Choose Your Starter" of the 5D's Era; except, these weren't

Starter Decks. These are Structure Decks]

Alright, so once you've decided on what kind of deck you'd like to make (Be it, Spellcasters, Warriors, Machines, Fairies, or a deck of a certain Archetype) the next important part is researching the cards! That's right, great duelists actually take their time to study the cards that they will use and beyond! My advice to anyone who wants to play or just understand how the cards work is: "Read your cards at least four times before you use them." Sometimes the amount of ignorance some duelists display confounds me, but as G.I. Joe says, "Knowing is half the battle", and this is most certainly true (especially in dueling). Besides, reading a small trading card is nothing compared to reading long novels assigned as by school teachers. Understanding exactly what the card says is crucial to running your deck, and as long as you are able to explain to others precisely how it works, you are fine; but there is more! After learning how the cards work from the Starter/Structure Deck you bought function (For those of you who will use Dueling Network, instead of buying the Decks you can easily search online for the complete deck list) Look up other cards that might work well with your Deck. If some cards work better than others that you already use, you can always replace them. (Remember what the SIDE DECK is for! It is a pile of 15 cards that you can swap with your Main Deck in between duels, during a match.)

Now that a duelist has chosen their preferred deck type, they must also understand the premise or the goal that their deck should achieve and how it should be achieved. A player's deck may consist of one type or attribute, but the play style and mechanics of the deck may differ from an other player with a similar deck. Although there are other ways to win a duel besides reducing the opponent's Life Points down to zero, the most common method is indeed reduction of life points, mostly through battle. With that said, decks may achieve their goal by summoning Powerful monsters quickly, summoning many monsters to withstand a barrage of attacks, utilizing powerful attacks, holding high reserves in resources by having plenty of "draw power", negating attacks, effects, or cards and summons altogether, destroying opponents cards, etc.. You'll have to ask yourself what you want your deck to be capable of doing. Would you want powerful monsters to over power your enemies with physical force? (Beatdown: having high ATK) Or, would you like to use explosive cards that deconstruct the battle plans of your opponents? (Utilizing card effects that Destroy other Cards.) There are so many possibilities, but that is what overwhelms new players early on. The best thing to do is to narrow down the focus of your deck. A novice mistake that lots of people make is packing their deck with as many cards as possible: 60. The smaller the deck, a minimum of 40 Cards, increases the chances of drawing much needed cards. So, focus on what you want out of your deck, and build upon that premise. If you play more constructively, you will use cards that support your Monsters, but make sure they are efficient. If you play more destructively, you will use cards that ruin your opponent's deck, but makes sure that your own monster will still be able to support and protect you if something goes wrong.

After you've got a built deck, the next important step is to use it! But before you rush into any duel, it is crucial that you completely understand how the game works. A rule book and an interactive demo can only teach you so much, although it is a great start, but I highly recommend dueling against a friend whom already understands dueling quite well. Should such a friend not be available, you can always learn more about dueling online, through forums, or through my favorite source, The Yu-Gi-Oh! Wikia. There, you can read the official rulings for cards, read more about the mechanics of a duel with greater detail, and find out more about the different decks, booster packs, and archetypes that are available. Extensive studying and practice rounds earn you the experience you need to become a great duelist. The better guidance you have, the better your first impressions and experiences of dueling will be.

But always remember the most important part about dueling: Having fun. If the game isn't fun then it won't be engaging and it will just make everything worse. Having good friends to play with and teach you will certainly make things better, and if dueling is fun, you will find yourself "studying" cards without realizing that you are actually researching something. Remember the simple steps: Pick a deck you'd like to make/use, work on it, test it out with a friend who can teach you more rules on dueling, and always review your cards, your deck, and keep an eye out for other possible cards to add to your deck.

For the official rulebook, click here: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/rulebook/
For an tutorial on the rules, click here: http://www.yugioh-card.com/en/gameplay/demo.html

Card Review: Gorz, The Emissary of Darkness

2012-05-02T23:56:00.000-07:00

Time for another card review, but this time, of one of my personal favorite cards. Seriously, this card has been there for me in so many duels. I can almost associate it as my "duel spirit" or something of such significance since it appears in almost all of my duels. In almost every opening hand, he has volunteered to lead the assault. In fierce duels when I have expended my hand and my other monsters have fallen to other creatures slightly stronger than they, I have drawn him to aid me; and even just when my opponent believes that they can begin to overrun my life points with sheer force when I seem defenseless, he is there for me and comes to the rescue. He is, Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness.

So, let's examine this Dark Legend. Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness is a, DARK Attributed, Level 7 Fiend/Effect Type monster, fighting entire armies with 2700ATK and 2500DEF. Immediately Gorz shows to be impressively powerful Monster Card, and he even looks impressive in the artwork as well! But what really makes Gorz so grand is how he is invoked onto the field. Although you can Tribute 2 Monsters to Normal Summon him like any other card, his effect allows you to Special Summon him from your hand, but only under reckless conditions; this, however, is what makes him so interesting to use, in addition to his 1 of 2 Effects that activate as a result of his unique Special Summon.

While you control absolutely no cards on the field and you take Direct Damage, you can Special Summon Gorz from your hand. There are 2 Effects, and 2 Types of Damage; so each Effect is associated with the type of Damage taken after Gorz is successfully summoned. If you suffer Effect damage, you Gorz will also inflict the same amount of hurt right back to your opponent. If you suffer Battle Damage to Summon Gorz, which is commonly the case, he will not be alone; for the Emissary of Darkness will bring along his most trusted companion: Kaien.

[There she is... Isn't she beautiful?]

After deducting your Life Points due to Battle Damage, Gorz Special Summons 1 "Emissary of Darkness Tokem". This Monster was named "Kaien, the Emissary of Darkness" in the Yu-Gi-Oh! R manga and an official "Emissary of Darkness" Token Card was printed exclusively for Japan. I will refer to this card as Kaien.

Kaien is a LIGHT Attributed, Level 7, Fairy-Type TOKEN Monster Card with ?/? ATK/DEF. Her ATK/DEF are both determined by the amount of Battle Damage Taken after Gorz hit the field. Because of this, there is strategy into timing the utilization of Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness. Often times waiting for the heavier attack yields a greater reward in the form of a stronger TOKEN Monster, but this tactic increases the risk factor. Kaien being a TOKEN Monster just means that she will be treated as a Normal Monster while on the Field, but she can still be Tributed, Declare Attacks, defend, and even be used as Fusion, Ritual, and Synchro Material. With that said, Kaien can be just as useful, or even more effective, than her Male, Effect-Monster counterpart. Kaien tagging along with the fight only provides more flexibility in your options.

These Scenarios.

1) IN THE BEGINNING OF THE DUEL:Your first hand, is nothing but Monster Cards: A few too weak to survive the first turn and the rest are too strong to use at the moment, except for Gorz! End your first turn without having a single card on the field. Take a hit from your Opponent on their turn and you instantly have at least 1 Monster with 2700 ATK!

2) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DUEL: Or this one: You have no Spells or Traps. Your Opponent activates a Card Effect to wipe out any Monsters you would have had on the field. He attacks. Gorz springs into action from your hand! Usually, his high stats may intimidate the opponent from continuing their barrage of attacks.

3) NEAR THE END OF THE DUEL: Or, how about both of you are engaged in a fierce duel and you are both down to your dwindling decks. A tiny monster is just poking at you for the time being. When you draw Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness (if it was still in your Deck by this point in the Duel), the story completely changes! The possibilities are endless! (Not really...)

So, Gorz can instantly summon himself and another Powerful Monster, he can be easily summoned by other means such as Tribute Summon or by effects of other Cards, and he is practically a two for 1 card under highly risky conditions. Remember, you must not control ANY cards ON THE FIELD if you plan to instantly Summon it. This is the most important detail to remember when using this card. In many duels, Gorz alone can change the tide of battle. Because of his immense potency, he is on the Limited list which means that only 1 copy of the card is allowed per Deck. (How about that for a "Highlander" card?)

Many times I have used this card because many times he has been there for me. Even when I asked to borrow a deck from a friend at a party, I drew Gorz on my opening hand. Gorz can be fitted into almost any deck, as long has he doesn't compromise the functions of the deck. (Example: If using even 1 DARK monster would kill your deck, don't use Gorz.)

Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness was originally printed as a Promotional Card for the Yu-Gi-Oh! R manga, but is most commonly available in the Dark Legends Booster Blister Set, which includes 2 booster packs of 12 Cards each, as well as Gorz, the Emissary of Darkness itself. Trivia Fact: The Gorz cards included with the Dark Legends packs are all misprinted; since they are promo cards but have a silver seal instead of a golden seal on the lower left corner.

Card Review: Ceasefire

2012-04-07T16:31:00.005-07:00

Since I'm on the "Simple Cards are too complicated to understand to many duelists" mood, here is another one of my personal favorites that just makes so many people mad! I present to you Ceasfire! One of the most powerful cards that I have ever had in using. With only three sentences to explain its effects, this card somehow manages to throw so many duelists into confusion, skepticism, and even fits of rage that lead to them quitting.

So lets examine the terms of this card. Ceasefire is a Trap Card that inflicts 500 Points of Damage to your Opponent for every Effect Monster on the Field, including your own and your Opponent's. The only requirement to activate this card is that there is at least 1 Monster on the field. First, Ceasefire flips face up all Face-down monsters on the field, if any. If there happens to be only Face-Up Effect Monsters this card can still be Activated. In addition to flipping Face-up any Face-Down Monster Cards, Ceasefire prevents the Activation of Flip Effect Monsters, cards whose Effects only Activate at the moment that they are Flipped by Battle, Effect, or Position Change. Once all Monsters are Face-up, all Effect Monsters are counted and that Value is multiplied by 500 and then inflicted as Damage to your Opponent.

Simple enough, right? Well, many there are many misconceptions about this card whenever people do not read it correctly. People will think that there needs to be Face-down Monster Cards in order to activate this card. The real effect of this Card is the Last/Third Sentence of the Card; the First two sentences are added to increase the Card's Potency. Ceasefire wants to check ALL MONSTERS on the Field to see if they are Effect Monsters, the card's main variable. It would be much more simple to Flip all Monsters on the field (if any are even Face-down) and to look and check and then return them Face-down.

This card is so powerful that it is currently on the Limited List, and it doesn't seem like it will be freed from from that list any time soon. Since Effect Monsters are so common high amounts of Damage can be Inflicted. and with 10 Monster Card Zones in total on the Field, Ceasefire has the Potential to deal up to 5000 Points in Effect Damage. Ceasefire is recommended for Decks that can Summon many Effect Monsters quickly and is a great Side Deck Card to use against Decks that Summon many Effect Monsters. Ceasefire can also remove the dangers of cards like Morphing Jar, Ryko The Lightsworn Hunter, Man-Eater Bug, Needle Worm, and so forth since each of those Monsters are Flip Effect Monsters. Even if the Face-down cards were not Flip Effect Monsters, Ceasefire can also help you avoid taking Damage from Attacking strong defensive Monsters like Destiny Hero - Defender by revealing what cards they really are before rushing into battle. (Remember, all it needs to do is check ALL MONSTERS.) Ceasefire can be found in Structure Deck: Machina Mayhem as a Common Rarity card.

Card Review: Gachi Gachi Gantestu

2012-04-07T15:25:00.002-07:00

Time for another card review! But first off, I just have to say, this card is awesome. Hands down. Few cards come close to being as useful as this guy is. However, I seem to have a major problem with this card concerning just how everyone else sees it. The only reason I feel like talking about this card right now is because I just finished a duel with and narrow minded player that refused to accept the terms of this card. I present to you one of the Xyz Cards that was introduced along with last year's Starter Deck, Starter Deck 2011: Dawn of the Xyz, Gachi Gachi Gantetsu!

So let's examine this support hulk. Gachi Gachi Gantetsu is an, EARTH Attributed, RANK 2 Rock/Xyz/Effect-Type Monster with only 500ATK points and 1800DEF points. He requires 2 Level 2 Monster Cards to be summoned. It might seem weak, but everyone seems to LOVE this card greatly. Honestly, almost everywhere I've been where duelists gather to duel and trade cards it seems like people beg to trade for this card! Why is it so good? Simple: its effect, its defensive capabilities, and accessibility.

Since Gachi's DEF is higher than his ATK, the primary strategy utilized when summoning him is to play him in Defense mode. At 1800 DEF, most monsters will have difficulty trying to knock down this guardian. However, Gachi really shines because of his simple Effect(s). Gachi's abilities are summarized with only two sentences, yet the duelist that just walked out on me after ignoring what I had to say managed to get confused with this card.

First Effect: If Gachi Gachi Gantetsu was to be destroyed, you can instead Detach 1 Xyz Material from him instead. This effect includes both heavy Battles and dangerous Card Effects. So, it is implied that you'd have try Destroying this guy three times for him to finally hit the Graveyard, and remember, those 1800DEF points are already high for many of the lower level Monsters. Second Effect: ALL Face-up Monsters that the controller currently controls gain 200 ATK/DEF for for each Xyz Material Attached to Gachi. Since Gachi requires 2 Monsters to be Summoned, he will have 2 Materials attached to him, and all monsters you won will initially gain a 400ATK/DEF Points Bonus. (2x200=400). The power boost may seem minuscule on paper, but sometimes those slight advantages can make all the difference. This is what really makes Gachi Gachi Gantetsu really useful for almost any Deck, especially the ones that utilize more Level 2 Monsters. Gachi does not exclude any Monster on your team to share his strength with, not even his own self. So, a fresh Gachi would actually have 900ATK and 2200DEF (assuming he has all of his Material) which makes him even more of a challenge to overcome.

Requiring only 2 Level 2 Monsters makes Gachi relatively easy to Xyz Summon. Without a specification on what types of Level 2 Monsters are required leaves it wide open for almost any Monsters. One of the more useful cards that I reviewed earlier that fits this role perfectly is Quillbolt Hedgehog, which can revive itself from the Graveyard as long as you control a Face-up Tuner Monster. Because of this, you can even build a Deck that can allow you to summon "Black or White" Cards from your Extra Deck. (Also, if you happen to use "Over-Tune" with Quillbolt Hedgehog by Overlaying it after you Used Quillbolt's effect, he will not be Removed From Play after being Detached.)

My opponent walked out on me because he refused to understand how the Effects of this simple 2 Sentence Monster Card worked. The ATK/DEF boost works for all FACE-UP MONSTERS on your side of the field, of course, if you Control Gachi. Since Gachi does not discriminate on Monster Card Type, Attribute, Level, Etc. Etc., that Effect will work on ALL Monsters, even himself. (He is a Monster, that is Face-Up, and under YOUR Control, right? Approved for Stimulus Package.) Had the card been written that "OTHER Face-Up Monsters..." then he'd be left without his heightened Defense. The second part that confused my opponent was the whole "Detach for Effects" principal. Traditionally, Most Xyz Monsters can only activate their Effects by Detaching a certain amount of Xyz Materials as the Cost. (This statement sounds so strange since Xyz Monsters are still very new in my mind.) Gachi Gachi Gantetsu does not need to Detach any Materials to grant his allies extra power. Had this been the case, the effect would have been useless since the text specifically measures the added strength based upon how many Materials Gachi has attached. Sadly, my opponent refused to see this. The only occasion that Gachi would ever Detach Materials from himself is when he is facing Destruction, and this is to save himself, and only himself; and since this Effect can only be triggered to that occasion, this Effect can be used even on your Opponent's Turn since it is not restricted to your own turn. (Note: that effect only prevents Destruction. Returning to hand/deck does not count as Destruction, but as "Leaving the field" Same is true for Removing from play/Banishment.) I feel that I have stressed the mechanics of this card long enough. It's a simple Card, yet, in Yugioh many complicated explanations are required to justify the workings of a card. Fellow Duelists, if you are ever facing disputes concerning this card, show your opponent this analysis. I hope that I have been able to clarify the game better.

So, to Summarize, Gachi Gachi Gantetsu is a great card because it is easy to Summon, difficult to Destroy, and boosts the strengths of your giving you a slight advantage over your opponent. Many times that extra little 400ATK boost hands the game over to controller of this bulky Xyz. The only problem, as I mentioned earlier, is that everyone seems to want this card. Gachi Gachi Gantetsu is only available in Starter Deck 2011: Dawn of the Xyz as one of the 3 Xyz Cards included with the Deck. Many Duelists are not really incited to go out and spend $10 on a deck for just one card, yet they can go out and hassle Duelists for it.

Card Review... Overview... SPELL CHRONICLE!

2012-04-03T17:23:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I recently started looking through my collection of cards again and while sorting through my main inventory of cards I stumbled upon, once again, a card that I just cannot seem to figure having a purpose... I'm serious! This card, initially, is terrible; but, it seems that every time I go back to reread its effect it perpetually worsens and changes into a more detrimental card... This card is Spell Chronicle.

So let's examine this infamous card. (Infamous in my eyes.) By examine, I literally mean, examine the text of the card word per word just to see how reckless it can be to use. Talking about this card really isn't high on my priorities, but it's been on my mind since I looked at it again and I just feel like getting it out of the way.

Spell Card /
Send all cards in your hand to the Graveyard. Select and remove from play 5 Spell or Trap Cards from your Deck. Each time your opponent activates a Spell Card, place 1 Chronicle Counter on this card. You can remove 2 Chronicle Counters from this card to have your opponent select 1 of the cards removed from play with this card's effect, and add it to your hand. When this card is removed from the field, you take 500 damage for each card that is still removed from play due to this card's effect.

So, off the bat, this Spell Card has a pretty lengthy description [to most players] judging by how squished together the text is printed on the card. Let's start off with the COST to use the card.

First sentence: "Send all cards in your hand to the Graveyard." That is quite a hefty cost, to require sending every card you have in your hand to the grave. Alright, there may be some cards that can utilize Discarding (from hand) to form combos, but the truth is that there is a difference between Sending a card and Discarding a card to the Graveyard. Granted, the Cost can be reduced by using as many cards in your hand as you possibly can before activating this. (Imagine using all cards in your hand except for 2: This spell and 1 extra card.) Of course, complications rise by having certain cards that cannot be used due to the circumstances that would come in handy later on. (A powerful Monster Card)

Next is what this card actually does. Spell Chronicle, after activating it, forces you to remove 5 Spell/Trap Cards from your deck. These cards are set aside in a 'Graveyard/Discard Pile beyond the Graveyard/Discard Pile' to be added to your hand through its effect. "Select and remove from play 5 Spell or Trap Cards from your Deck." How does Spell Chronicle Work? Some cards function by collecting Counters on themselves. Often, these counters can only be obtained by specific events in the duel: Summoning of Monsters, Activation of Card Effects, Etc. etc. (Many Spellcaster Type Monsters function by using Spell Counters, the most common type of card Counters that exist in the game.) Because Spell Chronicle uses special Counters called "Chronicle Counters", the only can collect the counters to use this card is by its own effect. "Each time your opponent activates a Spell Card, place 1 Chronicle Counter on this card."

Collecting Chronicle Counters is only possible when your Opponent Activates a Spell Card as long as Spell Chronicle is Face-up on the Field. One Spell Card Activation performed by your Opponent adds only 1 Chronicle Counter to your card. So, you've removed your 5 Spell/Trap Cards from your deck and you are waiting for your Card to rack up enough points to collect your cards set aside. But wait a minute, in order to add just 1 Card that was set aside from your hand, you must remove 2 Chronicle Counters from Spell Chronicle! [Math time: 1 Chronicle Counter = 2 Spell Card Activations from Opponent. 2 Counters needed for 1 Spell/Trap to add. You removed 5 Spells/Traps from your deck. In total, you'd have to collect 10 Chronicle Counters in order to completely take advantage of this card's effect. Leaving room for your opponent to activate 10 Spell Cards is much too risky. A complete Turn around can happen by then.] "You can remove 2 Chronicle Counters from this card to have your opponent select 1 of the cards removed from play with this card's effect, and add it to your hand." As if having to wait even longer to regain your own cards wasn't bad enough, you do not even get to choose which card to redeem.

So after all of that trouble to attempt manipulating your deck to your advantage in mid-duel, there is more! An extra drawback effect. "When this card is removed from the field, you take 500 damage for each card that is still removed from play due to this card's effect." So after going through all of the trouble of paying a high cost to try removing Cards from your Deck in hopes of being able to use them more effectively, potentially losing them for the rest of the duel if the plan fails, you may also suffer up to 2500 Points in Damage! Considering that this card is a Spell Card, or simply the fact that it is a Card in the world of Yugioh, Spell Chronicle is already in danger of being destroyed by cards like Mystical Space Typhoon. It does not matter how many Chronicle Counters this card had when it was destroyed: you are looking at 500 Points in damage for each Card you fail to redeem. (Your Opponent can be a jerk and not use any Spell Cards at all. You might as well take a direct hit.)

Surely this card must have a purpose, or is able to be used in SOME kind of deck. To be honest, there is one kind of deck that might be able to use it. Before I considered looking for tips on how to effectively use this card, I tried figuring out on my own a practical use for it. I couldn't figure it out. Apparently Spell Chronicle can be used in Macro Decks, Decks that focus on Removing from play Cards. Certain Macro Decks can use Monster Cards that are powered by the number of cards that have been removed from play. One recommendation is to use another card call Soul Absorption to cancel out Spell Chronicle's damaging effect by gaining Life Points by 500 for each card Removed.

Despite the small amount of card tips I've found on how to use Spell Chronicle, I still say that it is a pretty terrible card. It's very complicated to actually use and to completely understand just what this card does and how it works requires plenty of textual analysis. I haven't even seen Macro Decks, the one kind of deck that was recommended for using Spell Chronicle, did not need to use this card and would only provide just another variation of the build. Spell Chronicle is a scary card because it is so dangerous and highly impractical to use. It only has 5 sentences, but those 5 sentences compose one of the most complicated cards ever created.

Ascending a Tower of Heaven

2012-03-27T14:42:00.000-07:00

And now it is time for something completely different; but boy, do I just love finding awesome things on the internet! Recently I found a flash game called Tower of Heaven. It is challenging platformer game, but it is very short and has a simple story to follow it. In addition to being a simple game with a simple narrative, the music is great! I am a fan of video game soundtracks and the songs in Tower of Heaven are some of the best (chiptune) music I have ever heard. (They are probably the best chiptune only songs I have heard.)

To Set the mood here is my favorite song from the game.

Now, I don't want to spoil any story details because I'd like for you all to try playing this game, or at least to check it out if you find it too difficult and not worth your time. However, what made this game unique to me was its plot device to justify the increasing difficulty of its levels. In the game, you are assigned new laws to follow as you run through each level, and breaking those laws results in divine wrath. Overcoming these challenges made it much more satisfying to complete the game, especially with the story's touching ending.

What I find very appealing about this flash game is the quality of its craft. I actually found this game when I stumbled upon a "demake" of Super Smash Bros. called Super Smash Land. The purpose was to make a "Gameboy version/port of Super Smash Bros.", and watching the promotional video for that game actually made me believe that Tower of Heaven was some obscure Game Boy release that only a small fan base would have remembered, since a level was added to Super Smash Land that carried over elements from the original flash game.

But as it turns out, Tower of Heaven is only a couple of years old. The game can be played on Newgrounds and is available for download (for free) on the creator's website. The music is made by Flashygoodness. If you are a fan of good catchy video game music, flashgames, or platformer games, then this should be worth your time to look into. As I've said, it's a challenging game but it's short and possible to beat. And, remember to follow each of the Commandments... I mean, the Laws!

Card Review + Card Combo: Arcana Force 0 - The Fool / Arcana 0 Swap

2012-03-26T10:48:00.001-07:00

Here is a quick post to get some posting momentum started again. Here is a rather interesting card I'd like to talk about. The reason I'm deciding to do a card review AND a card combo in the same post is because both would be very short for posts on their own. .I obtained a long while back. Arcana Force Cards are and Archetype of Fairy Cards with two different effects for each of them, a good one and a bad one (to the player using them). The effect is

THE CARD
So let's examine this strange card. Arcana Force 0 - The Fool is a, LIGHT Attributed, Level 1 Fairy-Type Effect Monster with 0 ATK and 0 DEF. Since this card is so weak, what makes it so great? The answer is in its Effect(s). Initially, Arcana Force 0 is immune to battle, no matter what battle position it is in. But here's the catch, once The Fool is in Face-up Attack Position it cannot switch itself into Defense Position.

But, wouldn't that make itself more dangerous? Precisely, but this is where the Card Combo kicks in to make great use of this odd card; but first, you must know of 0's other effect(s).

Arcana Force is an archetype of cards that are based off of luck: Whenever a monster is SUMMONED (this detail is important for the combo) their effects force you to flip a coin. The result of the coin flip determine which Card effect the monster will use. With one being positive (Coin lands on Heads), and the other being negative (Coin lands on Tails), Arcana Force 0 - The Fool almost breaks the rules by inverting its own mechanic.

THE COMBO
To utilize the Arcana 0 Swap, you must SET (Play it into Face-down Defense Position) Arcana Force 0. You must wait for your opponent to attack your set monster. If they try attacking it, you will not need to worry unless your opponent's monster has special abilities such as Piercing Damage or Monster Card destroying Effects. This next part is when things become most confusing. When your Set Arcana Force 0 is attacked, it will FLIP into Face-up Defense position, but it technically WAS NOT SUMMONED; therefore, a coin flip will not be needed. (Remember, The Fool has a really nasty negative effect. By Setting this Monster Card and waiting for your Opponent to attack it you are removing the gamble of being burdened with a dangerous hole in your defenses.) Another thing to remember is how the card's Effect is written. The card clearly says that "This card cannot be changed to Defense Position." If you notice the keyword here, Arcana Force 0 was never CHANGED INTO Defense Position, so there will be no complication with the rulings right now.

Now that you have your Face-up Arcana Force 0 set up, you just need a card called Creature Swap. Creature Swap is a Spell Card that forces you and your Opponent to choose one of your own Monsters and switch control of them. In addition to switching Monsters, the swapped Monster Cards cannot change their battle positions for the remainder of the turn; so make sure to activate this card only when your Opponent Controls only Attack Position Monsters. Before Activating Creature Swap, change your Arcana Force - 0 into Face-up Attack Position. Switch 0 over to your Opponent.

The goal of this card is to create a hole into your Opponent's Defenses. When you trade the Arcana Monster over to your Opponent, you now have a significantly weak target to aim at. In addition, the card cannot be destroyed by battle, so all of your Monsters can attack it on the same turn. The only draw backs are that this combo may take some time to use, and can easily be stopped if your Opponent is stocked on Spell and Trap Cards. The other side effect of this combo is that you give your opponent another Monster Card that they can sacrifice for a more effective cause without compromise.

Both of these cards are available as Common Rarity cards and are easy to obtain. (Arcana Force 0 - The Fool is only found in The Light of Destruction Booster Pack, but Creature Swap can be obtained from many Decks.) In my experience, it is a fun combo to use and as long as it works it can interest even the one you are dueling.

Card Review: Trap Dustshoot

2012-02-23T23:23:00.002-08:00

From the story I just told you all yesterday, this is one bad Trap Card that was so powerful, it will be hit with the new Forbidden List this March!

So let's take examine the card that told me everything I needed to win! Trap Dustshoot is a Trap card that allows you to see your Opponent's Hand and choose a Monster Card for them to shuffle back into their deck; in order to activate it, though, your Opponent must have at least 4 Cards in their Hand. This means that this card is most effective at the start of the duel. You will often hear people complaining about how their opponent draws this card and sets it on the first turn. Later on in the duel, this cards begins to lose its effectiveness unless the opponent wields high draw power.

Trap Dustshoot is great, or shall I say, over powered, for two reasons: It reveals lots of information that isn't normally available to you, the cards in your oppoent's, and it also thwarts your opponent's strategy. Often times, your opponent may only have just one Monster Card available for Summoning in their hand; when this happens, it becomes difficult for them to make a comeback.

It's a simple card, not much to be said out of it except for the complaints that come about it. Simple but potent. Quick and deadly. I am reviewing this card now since it still holds some relevance and because this cards was the key to my victory; it prevented me from making a reckless mistake that would have cost me the duel.

Trivia: The character that appears in the Card's Art Work is named Cliff the Trap Remover. Although is name won't tell you, he is part of the Dark Scorpion Archetype.

Story: My Best Duel Ever!

2012-02-22T07:52:00.000-08:00

It’s story time! Today I am going to tell the tale of what may be the best duel I have ever won, on Dueling Network! Recently I have begun to duel on the popular website again, plus I updated my online deck to how it is built offline. So….. Are you ready for an epic story?

My duel begins on the third round of a match against a Gravekeepers deck. Gravekeepers are an archetype of DARK Attributed Spellcaster Monsters that rely on their home field (spell), Necrovalley, which shuts down access to the Graveyard; the unfortunate truth is that my deck depends greatly on what is my Graveyard so I was already at a disadvantage. Being on the third round, the score was 1 Win to 1 Win; I lost round 2 so I had the choice of going first.

[cough...]

On my first turn, I had managed to Synchro Summon Nitro Warrior, with 2800ATK, one of my best and strongest Monsters. I set Trap Dustshoot and Compulsory evacuation device and I ended my turn. My opponent begins her turn, and the card that foreshadowed the fate of the rest of the duel is revealed. I activated my Trap Dustshoot, which forces my opponent to show me their hand and I select 1 Monster in their hand to shuffle back into their hand. When she reveals her hand I discover that she has only 1 Monster in her hand and 5 Trap Cards: 1 Dark Illusion, 1 Rite of Spirit, 2 Dimensional Prisions, and 1 Starlight Road. She shuffles her only monster back into her hand and she sets all of her cards face down. Now that I know what cards she has face down, I am reluctant to attack.

Dimensional Prisons remove from play attack monsters, so not only would I lose Nitro Warrior but I would be unable to bring him back with a card like Monster Reborn. Starlight Road Negates a Card and/or Card Effect that would destroy 2 or more cards simultaneously; the Heavy Storm in my hand could have cleared her back row, but it would be Negated by Starlight Road, which would not only stop my Spell Card, but it would also allow my opponent to Special Summon a (“crippled”***) Stardust Dragon straight from her Extra Deck. Dark Illusion Negates and Destroys a Card and Card Effect that targets 1 face-up DARK Monster, and Rite of Spirit revives 1 Gravekeeper from the owner’s Graveyard. All was at a standoff for the next few turns, being that she was unable to Summon Monsters powerful enough to destroy my Nitro Warrior and that I was unable to safely attack.

[There is a storm is coming...]

Six turns passed by and I've drawn a Mystical Space Typhoon. My Nitro Warrior was lost when my opponent Summoned and Activated Gravekeeper's Descendant's Effect, which allows her to destroy any Card by Tributing 1 other Gravekeeper. Although I attempted to save my Nitro Warrior from the decendant's effect by activating the Effect of my Effect Veiler from, but she was lost due to the effect of my opponent's Dark Illusion. I probably should have used my Compulsory Evacuation Device instead of Effect Veiler. (You can observe me judging card rulings on image above.) My following turn is when things really get to heat up.

One of my friends was observing my duel as it was happening. He asked my why I had allowed my Opponent to take down one of my strongest Monsters. My excuse was that I was unable to completely focus due to to the "Heat of the Moment". As a response, he sent me a youtube link for the song Two Steps from Hell. I played it as I began my next turn and I knew what I had to do. I needed to use my trusty Debris Dragon in order to win, but my opponent held a Necrovalley. Even if I managed to summon a strong Monster, her Traps would easily take care of them. I had in my hand 1 Heavy Storm and 1 Mystical Space Typhoon, both Spell Cards are destroy Spell/Trap cards on the field. First I had to take care of Starlight Road, so I thought to myself what order my opponent may Set her Trap Cards to find the location of the hidden Starlight road. I made my choice; I chose a card to destroy, and I activated Mystical Space Typhoon first. Hesitant, my opponent took a moment to let my play sink in until she finally revealed that I had indeed hit the right card. Once the Starlight Road had been taken care of, she knew 'the storm' was coming and activated her Rite of Spirit card to take advantage of it. Heavy Storm took out her Field Spell and Trap Cards, but I also had to take advantage of my Compulsory Evacuation Device while I could; I 'bounced' back one of her Gravekeeper Recruiters.

[The Song Replays]

[I listened to this song replaying the whole time.]

So I managed to clear out my opponent's entire back row in one turn, but by that point I had not a single card on my side of the field. Now that I had finally gotten rid the obstacles my Monsters might have to overcome, it was time I made my move. I opened up by Summoning my Debris Dragon from my hand. I used his effect to Special Summon my Effect Veiler from my Graveyard in Attack Position! [Debris Dragon/LV 4/1000/2000] [Effect Veiler/LV 1/0/0] My friend, whom was observing the duel, questioned my motives for reviving my fallen 'Veiler'. Then I showed him up by activating Quillbolt Hedgehog's effect from my Graveyard; by having a Face-up Tuner-Monster on the field, it can revive itself. [Quillbolt Hedgehog/LV 2/800/800] By successfully Summoning a Monster back from my Graveyard, I Special Summoned Doppel Warrior from my hand. [Doppel Warrior/LV 2/800/800] Then after, I commenced to 'Tune' my Debris Dragon, Quillbolt Hedgehog, and Doppel Warrior on my field to Synchro Summon a Level 8 Dragon-Type Monster! (4+2+2=8) I Summoned Stardust Dragon. At this point my audience began to understand what was happening. After Stardust was Summoned, Doppel Warrior granted me 2 "Doppel Tokens" in Attack Position, each being Level 1, for using it as a Synchro Material Monster. I used my Effect Veiler waiting for my command to Synchro Summon for a Level 2 Monster, Formula Synchron; through his effect I drew Turbo Booster, and I commenced to 'Accel Synchro' for the strongest monster I can currently summon. In one turn, I managed to Synchro Summon the legendary Shooting Star Dragon!

[From 0 Monsters, to 1 Shooting Star and a Doppel Token in 1 Turn]

Shooting Star Dragon has many effects. One of its effects allows it to potentially attack multiple times in one turn. I activated its effect: By revealing the top 5 Cards of my Deck, for each Tuner-Monster I reveal, it can attack that number of times. On the first turn I Summoned him, Shooting Star revealed 2 Tuner-Monsters. I shuffled my deck and Started attacking. I managed to cut down most of my opponent's life points on that turn. I used one of my tokens and the spare Turbo Booster in my hand to rid my opponent of any field presence she might have by the time I ended my turn. I finished off this epic turn by activating Pot of Avarice; I drew Mind Control and Fiend's Sanctuary.

[Metal Fiend Token... Just to be safe]

My opponent then started her turn. She discarded a Gravekeeper's Commandant to add 1 Necrovalley from her Deck to her Hand. She activated her field Spell and Removed From Play 1 Stardust Dragon from her Extra Deck to Special Summon from her hand 1 Malefic Stardust Dragon from her hand. She Set the only other Monster in her hand to try to raise her defenses. My turn followed. I drew a Trap card and Set it. I activated from my hand my Mind Control Card to possess her Face-down Monster to lower her defenses. Shooting Star Dragon Revealed 2 Tuner-Monster from the top of my deck; he finished the game for me with the next two attacks, perfectly depleting my opponent's Life Points to 0.

[Using Fiend's Sanctuary probably made no impact on the duel]

[The Final Attack]

[End of Duel!]

So there you have it. It was a duel that tested my skills as a duelist and my deck. I found it enjoyable because I won in a very impressive manner and I overcame many obstacles over the course of a single turn. Some duels are worth telling stories about and this one is no exception. Tell me what you guys think.

***A "Crippled Stardust Dragon" is a Stardust Dragon that was Special Summoned by the effect of Starlight Road. If a Synchro Monster is Special Summoned from the Extra Deck without properly being Synchro Summoned, it cannot be Summoned by other means, like Monster Reborn, once it has left the field. In the case of a Crippled Stardust, if he is tributed to activate his effect, he will not be able to Special Summon himself from the Graveyard on the upcoming End Phase.

New content to come!

2012-02-18T23:43:00.000-08:00

For the past few days I've been busy and I still have some things to clear up; but soon I shall be posting more reviews on cards. So please excuse delays on my posts. I hope you have all enjoyed what I've posted and look forward to my future posts.

Card Combo: OVER-TUNE!

2012-02-14T23:06:00.000-08:00

Good evening everyone! I hope you guys are all having a great Valentine's Day, or at least a decent day and night. Today, as a special treat I will share one of my favorite card combos. I call it the "Over-Tune!". The goal of "Over-Tuning" is to Special Summon an Xyz Monster from the Extra Deck by utilizing at least 1 Tuner Monster; in this case, my "Iconic 'Over-Tune'" uses Debris Dragon, a Tuner Monster I reviewed before. This combo will allow you to summon any Rank 4 Xyz monster as a direct result of using only your Normal Summon. The name "Over-Tune" is derived from a popular phrase out of two of the Yu-Gi-Oh! shows, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's and Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal; "Over", from "Overlay", how the character's describe the stacking of Xyz Material when Summoning an Xyz Monster, and "Tune" from "Tuning", what the characters claim happens when they are Summoning a Synchro Monster. (Tuner Monsters will transform into Tuning rings that represent their own Levels, depending on what Level they are, to resonate with the other Monsters to change into a Synchro. If I ever mention that Synchro Monsters are sounds, or that they are made of noise, this is where that idea comes from.)

So let's pull off an incredible strategy. To pull off this combo, you will need 1 Debris Dragon in your hand, 1 Level 4 Monster with less than 500ATK, and any Rank 4 Xyz Monster in your Extra Deck. For convenience, I will use Destiny Hero - Defender as the Level 4 Monster and Number 39: Utopia as the Xyz Monster. Not only are these cards that I reviewed already, but this is how I generally make my play when I duel.

First off, the other Level 4 Monster (Destiny Hero - Defender) must be in your Graveyard and you need your Debris Dragon in your hand. On your turn, you can Normal Summon the Debris Dragon and Special Summon Defender with the Effect. Defender will be Summoned in Attack Position, which is risky but worth the next monster to come. Normally Debris Dragon would be used to Synchro Summon a Monster, but it can never use another Level 4 Monster as a Synchro Material, however, it has no restriction against using another Level 4 Monster as an Xyz Material. Upon the dragon's Normal Summon, you would have already brought out 2 Monster Cards, just the Requirements for your Xyz Monster. At this point, simply Xyz Summon the Monster using Debris Dragon and the Monster he summoned (while shouting dramatically "I Over-Tune my Level 4 Debris Dragon and my Level 4 [2nd Monster] to Xyz Summon my [Rank 4 Xyz]!")

The advantages to this combo are abundant. Although there are are 3 cards that are technically needed to pull off this tactic, it may even feel like you only need one! In fact, this strategy can even work if you have not a single card on the field! (Debris is in your hand, Defender's in the Graveyard, and Utopia isn't even part of the Main Deck! All you need is 2 unoccupied Monster Zones.) The strategy I just explained is simple because you can use it to summon an Xyz Monster that only requires just 2 Monsters, but you can expand it to an Xyz that requires 3 Monsters if you already have a third Level 4 Monster on the field! This tactic also provides an alternative exchange your weaker monsters for a stronger one. Even if these monsters are not directly used to Xyz Summon, some duelists will be resourceful and crafty enough to use the monsters for other kinds of summons.

As great of a combo as this is, it is still not perfect. It is still vulnerable to many of the cards that can destroy or send Monsters out of the field. Ultimately, if your opponent is stocked with Spells and Traps, your Debris Dragon or the Xyz Monster you are attempting to Summon is still in danger. Using cards like Heavy Storm or Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Spells and Traps is advised for good measure. This card also heavily relies on the second Level 4 Monster existing in the Graveyard.

You may use this combo freely without having to credit me (The_Duelist); I only ask that if you do, refer to it as "OVER-TUNE" when you use this combo.

Card Review: Summoner Monk

2012-02-13T23:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a card that is useful for many decks, but is often hard to come by. With an incredibly useful effect, this card opens up the possibilities for many combinations to bring forth bigger, stronger, and more powerful monsters!

So let's examine this master evocator of monsters. Summoner Monk is a, DARK Attributed, Level 4 Spellcaster/Effect Monster with 800 ATK and 1600 DEF. Clearly not made to battle, especially because he immediately switches to the defensive upon summoning. (Unless Flip Summoned.) 800 ATK is very low for a Level 4 Monster, so it is probably a good thing that he switches to defense mode anyways. What makes this card so special is that he can Special Summon any other Level 4 Monster from your deck, at the expense of 1 Spell Card from your hand; the monster MUST be Level 4. The Monster Special Summoned by this effect cannot attack the turn the effect is used, and the effect is limited to being allowed only once. Those drawbacks are minor trade offs for being able to Summon Rank 4 Xyz Monsters like Number 39: Utopia, or Synchro Summoning Monsters if the aforementioned Special Summoned card was a Tuner.

Summoner Monk fits best in decks that use many Level 4 Monsters and expendable Spell Cards. Because it is a DARK monster, Summoner Monk may be used to fit the costs of lots of Card Effects that affect DARK Monster, like Allure of Darkness, which calls to remove 1 DARK Monster from your hand.

Summoner Monk is another example of a highly potent card as it was once restricted to only 1 card per deck on the Limited List, but is now Semi-Limited which means that 2 copies are allowed per deck. The reason that Summoner Monk's cost is a Spell Card is that the deck he is included in is a Spell oriented Deck. A great card but often difficult to come across. They are very reliable when added to certain decks, and so they are valuable.

Card Review: Number 39: Utopia

2012-02-12T23:20:00.000-08:00

Recently I made an overview of the 4 Ace Cards held by the main protagonists of each Yu-Gi-Oh! show. Number 39: Utopia is used by Yuma Tsukumo and is also the cover card for Starter Deck: 2011: Dawn of the Xyz. Even now, Number: 39 Utopia is probably the only reason that people are buying the new Starter Deck, save for a few new and good cards that are included with the deck itself. Personally I really like Number 39: Utopia because of it's artwork and significance in the new Yu-Gi-Oh! show. He looks like a noble warrior that is ready to defend anyone.

So let's examine this defender from the other side of the universe! Number 39: Utopia is a, LIGHT Attributed, RANK* 4 Monster/Xyz/Effect monster with 2500ATK and 2000DEF, just like the other iconic 'Legendaries'. 'Utopia' is a very defensive Card; even with 2500ATK points, there are many cards that can still defeat it in battle. To cope with this, his effect allows him to Negate Attacks, by using its "Xyz Material" (dubbed in the show as "Overlay Units"), the monsters used to Summon for the Summoning of Utopia. Under normal conditions, he will be able to Negate 2 attacks; it doesn't matter who is the one attacking. In most cases, Utopia will not have to Negate ALL attacks since this effect is optional, and for anything to actually pose a real threat, your opponent's monster would have to be 2500ATK Points strong or stronger or possess a deadly effect like that of Ally of Justice Catastor to make you expend an Xyz Material. Utopia can protect the user from 2 attacks, but I would like to say that he can actually block a total of 3 attacks!

The theoretical third attack that Utopia can black is derived from his draw back effect. The unfortunate drawback is that if he is attacked (attacked=/=attacks) by an opponent's monster whilst having no Xyz Material to shield himself with, he will be destroyed. Basically, without his powers, Utopia can die with his own effect; although, upon will self destruct, the monster that attacked him will not be able to attack again for the turn, unless another effect will permit it to do so. So imagine 3 Blue-Eyes White Dragons on your opponent's side of the field; all you have is a fresh Number 39: Utopia on your side. Blue-Eyes 1 and 2 attack, you Negate both attacks by detaching 1 Xyz Material for each attack. (Since the effect does not say "Once per turn", it is implied that you may use it multiple times on the same turn.) Now that Utopia is unguarded, the last Dragon attacks, but Utopia takes one for the team. The battle is nullified and you won't have to suffer from battle damage since the last Blue-Eyes will not be able to attack again.

Being only Rank 4, this card is relatively easy to summon because most of the useful cards utilized in many decks tend to be Level 4. Overall, it is a good card that is both useful and fun to use.

This card recently received an evolved form that is more aggressive, in the new booster pack. In other trivia, Number 39: Utopia looks like the Lancelot Knightmare mech from the Anime Code Geass.

*RANK is a status that Xyz monsters operate by. Instead of using Levels that are lined from the right side above the card art, Ranks are lined from the left side above the card art. Rank is represented by golden stars in black orbs, as opposed to yellow stars in red orbs for Level. Rank and Level are NOT the same, and any Xyz Monster technically has no Level (but still may not be used as a Synchro Material Monster, until a card that specifically says so is made).