Just 1 More Level

The Year Of Diablo

2013-05-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Today marks the One Year Anniversary for Diablo 3, the third installment in the Diablo franchise created by developers Blizzard Entertainment. Unlike the rest of internet, I actually enjoy this game. I am an avid player of all three installments and have beaten each of them numerous times, including the first Diablo on PC AND Playstation X (the "X" is for all of you true gamers). I have not been disappointed with the game as a whole, although there will always be things that "I" would have done differently but seeing as I am not a game developer I have to take them as they are, or not play them at all.
Many who bring up Diablo 3 can either expect an immediate hatred or be bashed for not liking Torchlight 2 more. Rarely, do you find those that support and enjoy the game and you know what, that's fine with me. I would rather play a game with people who enjoy it than with people who are simply going to raze hell about it (sound familiar League of Legends players?). Speaking of Torchlight 2, just remember where the game gets its roots from, DIABLO! Also, I prefer to have specific classes that not only act and fight different but also LOOK different. The character models in Torchlight are quite bland and generic compared to the quality and evolution of each class in Diablo 3. Don't get me wrong, I very much enjoy Torchlight 2 but they are very different games with the same basis. And yes, this is probably contradictory to my previous article but these are two complete games with countless hours of loot and enemies to find (and one is spawned from the other so they knew what they were getting into when they started this). Now, Torchlight 2 is less expensive than Diablo 3 but I also was able to purchase Diablo with trade-in credit instead of paying full price for it, so there wasn't much of a difference to me on the cost.
Let us not dwell on the endless discussion and differences between two amazing games any longer because this article is already in favor of one title in particular. Let us instead talk of the big "issues" many have cried over when it comes to the new additions in Diablo 3. "ALWAYS ONLINE" and "AUCTION HOUSE" are the main things I want to address. Humor me for a moment and look at the date....May 15, 2013. 2013!!!!! That's right! We live in a world driven by the internet! Tell me the last time your smart phone wasn't hooked up to WI-FI or 3G? It was boring, right? Your phone was simply a phone, not a computer. So, why does anyone gripe when a computer game has to always require an internet connection? The only time you may not have the internet in this day is either during a power outage (which means your computer probably isn't working) or someone EMP'd the grid while you were playing Call Of Duty. ALWAYS ONLINE helps the companies log all entries, cheats and hacks, transactions, playtime, and the likes. Which means, they are watching out for the players AND making sure their game is working properly. If I can't play without an internet connection then I am most likely playing my original XBOX or Dreamcast, which don't even have servers anymore.
As for the AUCTION HOUSE, well, who said you had to use it? I'm sorry....I didn't hear you...who? That's right! No one! It's optional, just like all the different difficulty settings in Torchlight 2, no one is making you play on those game modes but that doesn't mean it isn't there for you to try either. The AH is a gamble, honestly. You sell what you can and buy what you can. I know grinding is boring but truly, what have you been doing the entire game? Just restart the story on the next Monster Power level when you beat it until it's completed, then bump it up again. Each run through and setting will increase the cash flow and loot drops. I mean, I don't play the Dynasty Warriors games for their in-depth stories and characters, I play it so I can become a walking Man-Mower. Well, those things don't hurt either. I can't say I actually payed too much attention to the "story" in Torchlight but I am aware it exists. Whereas Diablo has a story spanning three games and I can recall most of it, mostly due to the fact that it is fantastic as well as grim dark.
Seeing as Diablo 3 is now One, we should give thanks to all of it's "good" qualities. We thank you for all the advanced and in-depth patches you have brought to us for no extra charge. We thank you for giving us five unique characters with ten voice actors to supply both male and female counterparts (Not to mention the Monk is voiced by the guy who voices Lu Bu from Dynasty Warriors AND who ironically voices Garen from League of Legends). We thank you for the versus mode...Just kidding! Bring in a Horde Mode with waves of enemies, loot, and experience! I want to fight with my friends, not against them. CO-OP!!!! Ehem, we thank you for the enchanting and malevolent story with intense boss fights and rampant tragedy. But mostly, we thank you for allowing the Demon Hunter to use melee weapons effectively....I mean, CROSSBOW, CROSSBOW, CROSSBOW, FLIP, FLIP, FLIP, CROSSBOW, CROSSBOW, CROSSBOW!!!!!
In all seriousness, I merely want to thank the series for being good at what it is: a dungeon delving, hack and slash, monster fest of loot! Complete with a story! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DIABLO 3!

...LFG ENGINEER CANNON BUILD LEVEL 52 NO NOOBZ....

Halves Of A Whole

2013-05-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning, minions! The P1L9R1M is back from his wayward travels, this time bringing light to an unexpected revelation. Now, like many of you, I have played many games that were simply amazing yet also lacking. How can this be!? Well, it's quite simple, you aren't playing a whole game. Hear me out! Walk the P1L9R1M's path as I enlighten you about the "Halves of a Whole."

Of course, this could happen with many games, but I have to "work" and be a good little "civilian" so I cannot bring you a full list of such half games. The two in particular I want to reveal are "The Haunted: Hells Reach" and "God Mode." By now, I am sure many of you have at least heard of God Mode whereas I am sure almost none of you know what The Haunted: Hells Reach is. Haunted, unfortunately, never released on console as it was destined to be (it was purchased by THQ, we now miss them dearly). It solely exists on the PC, haunting the Steam players with its ingenious and entertaining gameplay. First, I must talk about God Mode though, or else this journey will seem like one of those Quinten Tarantino films.

God Mode. The plot is simple: reclaim your God hood by defeating the magically melee hordes of Hades with your modern day firearms and supernatural powers, in third-person deliciousness I know, IT'S CADAVERIFIC!!!! Before even delving into one of these mazes, you can play dolly dress up with your cadaver of a character, tweaking the clothes (which has no function but at least it's an option), the firearms (which is the main thing to purchase with your blood money), and the oaths (similar to the Skulls from Halo, which increase your acquired money and experience all the while making the game hate you even more). Currently, there are six levels, half of which have bosses at the end while the other half has an extreme trial for you to outlast. Along with each level, you are taunted by your guide through Hades (who reminds me an awful lot of HIM from Powerpuff Girls...not that I've ever watched that show). Each level adds variety while your weapons, powers, and oaths spice it up. Not leveling fast enough? Turn up the difficulty and get rewarded for your stupidity...uh, bravery! (As it should be when you play on a harder difficulty *cough* Diablo *cough*). But here's the best part, when you actually complete a level you are allowed into a vault where infinite money spawns...the timer and friendly fire should not alarm you at all. So, where is the bad? Well, for only being a $10 game, there isn't much. It really comes down to the idea already being done before, such as The Haunted: Hells Reach.

Haunted is a third-person shooter based on survival during what I can only discern as a demonic uprising/human apocalypse. You choose one of the four playable characters, each with their own colorful quotes (SATAN IS A BITCH!), then you choose which stage you wish to outlast your enemies on. The stages are fairly large, each with their own unique nooks and cranny's and super weapons hidden about. The game is played in waves, each wave increasing in enemy difficulty and variations. Sounds easy? Wrong! You can't even play on anything past Easy, minions! THIS. GAME. HATES. YOU! But wait! There's more! During each wave, a random soulstone pops up that, if not destroyed quickly, will temporarily cause some level wide catastrophe such as a thunderstorm, flies, meteor storm, falling boulders, fog, hurricanes, acid rain, and fire eruptions! While you battle against the various enemy hordes (which can spawn ANYWHERE THEY DAMN WELL PLEASE) you will also accrue experience, which will eventually drop an upgrade box from an enemy. You can then pick it up, upgrading whatever weapon you were currently holding. The choice of weapons are simple: melee, pistol, shotgun, or machine gun. These advance in powerful and awesome ways such as a mace Hawkman would be proud of and a throwing blade that even the Predator would be begging you for candy! You want more!? How about multiple game modes, including versus where the player can spawn enemies wherever they like and even take control of them! You get what you pay for, and I only payed $20 for it.

Now, we get to the point. The Haunted: Hells Reach costs twice as much as God Mode but also included more game modes and enemy types as well as weapons. Yet, God Mode has character customization and persistent level ups and it is half the cost. As my co-op comrade Outlaw told me "God Mode has what Haunted needs AND Haunted has what God Mode needs." The point is, why do we make games that don't seem finished or feel lacking? In a perfect gaming world, I would put the two games together! Start topside, battling hordes and dodging cataclysms, then descend and battle bigger foes and bosses until you reach the final boss, gunning it down like the BITCH it is! Don't get me wrong! I enjoy both games, and I actually bought God Mode on both Steam and XBLA however I honestly enjoy Haunted more due to its ingenuity and sheer chaos, even though it doesn't have persistent levels and equipment. It just feels like these are "halves" of a "whole." I play one, thinking the other should have the perks from this one, or vice versa. It's maddening and I had to bring it to the attention of my fellow gamers.

The only other games that remind me of this game type are Dawn of War 2's Last Stand game mode (also THQ) and Gears of Wars Horde Mode. Unfortunately, Firefight was taken out of Halo 4 and for that they lose points. Go back to Reach and ODST, where you don't need Master Chief and the campaigns are better (mainly because I don't have some stupid hologram stopping me every five seconds because she is a GLITCH). With that, I am off! I shall bring more enlightenment from my journeys. Until then, don't forget to save often and frequent, minions! Because, the game hates you!

-P1L9R1M

Heartland Gaming Expo 2013

2013-05-04T21:03:00.001-05:00

The University of Tulsa hosted the Heartland Gaming Expo last weekend. John and myself went in to check it out, but when we were able to get there...the main day was over. So unfortunately there wasn't much to see; that was a benefit though. Why? Because we were able to chat with the developers about what they were making for the event itself.

Oh, I should probably explain what this convention just happens to be, right? Yeah. That's what I was thinking too. PARTY TIME! Cake and beer everywhere...wait...this got derailed. Ahem. So convention. About gaming. Okay, got it. I'm back.

Heartland brings the talents of the Midwest together for a showing of the games they are making. Various voting categories were available to compete in, which was nice about going on Sunday. The winner of the People's Choice and Overall Runner Up were both there with two completely different games. The overall winner wasn't there Sunday, but it was still a blast to see the others.

While John was playing the games themselves, I was asking questions about the work the dev put into the their games. I'm unaware of the total projects on display, but we got to play the following:

Project Land Mineded (Unreal Tournament)

Greywinter (Diablo)

Gun Mage (Contra)

Shotgun Wizard (not to be confused with above game) (Contra with quarter eating coin-op flair)

Pet Duck (Metroid/Castlevania/SmashTV)

Cannon Golf (Tig...Golf with Cannons)

Light Wars (Geometry Wars)

Each game had a clear understanding of the games that were pulled for inspiration. Most were done with Java or Java Script. Project Land Minded was the only one (that I remember) to use the a version of Unreal Engine. Even though the games were in their early stages of development; Heartland gave a pre determined amount of development time to the contestants, these were still interesting endeavors.

Overall my love of RPGs had me leaning more towards Greywater for the sole purpose of it being the only one there to experience. However, there were several flaws that were easy to point out; in addition to quick to cause problems. With more development time GW will likely be a title worthy of its "steampunk with Diablo" aspirations. While John and I were there at Greywater's booth a milestone was made. Team Sweepy (as the team was called. Named after a main character in GW as well) launched the twitter page for the "studio".

It was interesting to hear the responses whenever we asked what the plans were, post competition. Apparently we were the only ones thinking these projects were going to be more than just projects, because no one had a "strategy" for after Heartland was over. But it was all cool, hopefully we helped create some interest in finalizing the projects and releasing to the countless platforms out there.

I've also been talking extensively with the guy whose game won the People's Choice Award, Pet Duck (Emmett Cookson), and have established a good report with him on the creative side. Interested to see what comes from him next. If he has time to dive into another project after this one.

Sweet Sweet Success!

2013-05-03T10:01:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to take this time to thank a few people for Just1MoreLevel.com reaching a new milestone! 30,000 views! Apparently people enjoy the site enough to keep coming back and even spreading the word of what we do here.

Another milestone was attained with this...2 full years of operation! A mostly consistent stream of contant has been placed on thr site for a total of 263 (now 264) articles brought to you readers by Gambit, Michael, Barron and sometimes myself, Mr. Jeff aka Tridrakious.

Maybe proud is an understatement. Just1MoreLevel started out as my pet project to vocalize my opinions on the video game industry. Applying a layer of "gamer perspective" that I felt the major players in the games media were lacking. Over time however, J1ML became more than that. Evolving into a place to discuss anything and everything I was doing from personal life to school, but still being present with my gaming adventures.

In further evolution J1ML has started generating more reviews, video content, original stories, and so much more. It's also in the verge of launching an all new podcast called Pixel as the first joint project between MyBrainOnGames and Just1MoreLevel.com. Which is very fitting, because I got the final bit of momentum/excitement when my friend launched his blog a couple years ago.

All in all this has been a wonderful ride. One that saw many ups and downs, but ultimately witnessed myself getting stronger. As a writer, as a businessman, as a person.

So thank you to everyone who has helped with the milestones being crossed and here's to another 30,000 views and beyond!

Mid-Boss Nightmare

2013-04-29T23:59:00.001-05:00

What a crazy week it has been. Let's just say that I'm very happy to have Barron writing content for Just1MoreLevel, because I've been trying to get back to writing myself...just been swamped with all my projects.

One thing that I'm excited to announce is the official MyBrainOnGames and Just1MoreLevel podcast! Titled "Pixel"; after about thirty minutes of discussing the subject of a name. It's me talking alongside my brother in arms about the games we're playing. Styled like a walkthrough of sorts, but not in the since of guiding another player through the game. Just discussing the games we're playing concurrently. First series will focus on our time with Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones for the GBA.

Other than that, I'm thrilled to announce the new projects coming from J1ML, AYB, AYS and the brand spanking new network we're launching. However, I can't make those announcements yet. Sorry. But stay tuned here for when I do get to announce these wonders.

Hopefully you all have a wonderful day and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Good Idea, Bad Idea

2013-04-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Good morning, minions! So far, I have only lurked in the shadows and provided you with glorious stories of adventure and excitement but today is a new day and I have so many ideas and thoughts to share with all of you. First off, do not be fooled by my writing skills, I am a mad gamer in disguise! My XBL and Steam handles are under P1L9R1M, which you may also recognize from the site AllYourShow.com. I was brought into the fold some months ago and have been providing what skills I can to that amazing crew but my work and life schedule has prompted me to rarely be anywhere but work and home. So, Tridrakious has given me the opportunity to write and entertain on this site, Just1MoreLevel.com. So, without further hesitation or hindrance, let me entertain you once again.

The main reason behind this article is to talk about certain video games that have fallen off the radar and are ripe to reboot or be reborn. Now, some of you may not be familiar with the titles I am referring to so all I can say is, SHAME ON YOU! These certain titles brought me hours of entertainment and joy in my younger days and I believe we are in need of their services once again. Follow me on this wild journey as we take a walk down memory lane and attempt to breath life into the dusty graves they now sit.

The first title I want to talk about is RAMPAGE. The most amazing premise behind a game, take on the role of giant monsters, terrorize the cities and citizens, and eventually destroy the world! Climb buildings, eat people, kick tanks, and fight your fellow monsters! The original cast was George (a giant monkey/King Kong), Lizzie (a giant lizard/Godzilla), and Ralph (a giant wolf/Werewolf?). However, the Gamecube version ended up with numerous unlockable monsters for use to punish the world for its hubris.
I know, it sounds great, plus its a co-op and competitive game which is always a bonus. However, let me take this concept further by implementing many other video game ideas into Rampage's core. I say we mix Earth Defense Force, Katamari Demancy, and Spore together to make the most amazing single player, co-op, and multiplayer experience yet. Now, don't be scared or confused by my choices, let me explain the reason for my choices.
Earth Defense Force. I have played both versions released on the XBOX 360, and I have thoroughly enjoyed both. You are part of Earth's Defense Force (shocking, right!) and you are fighting on all fronts against an alien invasion that consists of giant robots, giant insects, huge robots, huge godzilla-mech type monsters, and motherships. The game is very well done to scale so the cities feel vast and tall, as well as destroyable. This fits in with the idea of "rampaging" through cities but no longer being limited to a side-scrolling style. Which brings me to the next title for inspiraton...
Katamari Demacy, the crazy game of pushing a small ball around and gathering any-and-everything in your path. Sounds boring but it's extremely fun, even with a timer on each level. However, what I loved the most was starting as big as a thumb tac then ending up collecting the all the planets and stars by the end. What I would like to see in a new Rampage is something similar. Start as a small monster, no bigger than a puppy maybe. You have to break and consume anything you can manage, such as eating shoes and trash or breaking sprinkler systems and mailboxes. Now that you understand those two concepts, let us talk about...
Spore, a game where you control a lifeforms genetic makeup, evolution, and civilization. The main choice behind this title was the genetic portion, as well as evolution techniques. Say you are a tiny monster, terrorizing a backyard. You eat some trash, which is toxic. Eat enough of it and you could gain the ability of toxicity also, spitting bile or emitting a stench that withers grass. You could gain abilities from everything you eat, creating a challenge for you to find all the specific consumables or abilities in each area. This way, not only do you grow physically but you also gain control over what your monster would end up like at the end. Each player would bring something different to the table, some breathing fire, others being able to eat even the most unhealthy items in the game.
So, there you have it! A new game created by imbuing an original classic with newer classics. A game with endless combinations and tons of unlockables, with in depth character creation, and with hours of entertainment (with or against your friends). I say it is time for a comeback of the ages. Let us RAMPAGE through the internet until some game developer steals our idea and makes us pay for it (figuratively and literally)(BUY ALL THE CHARACTER COMBOS EARLY - 10,000 MICROSOFT POINTS)(NOT INCLUDED IN SEASON PASS)(DISCLAIMER BY E.A.).

The second title I want to resurrect is ROAD RASH. A very simple idea: Race motorcycles in a circuit through cities and scenery...but with weapons! That's right, melee motorcycles! Ride your bike, wield your bat, crush your foes with speed and pain! The last time I saw this game was on Nintendo 64, and it wasn't the greatest version either. So, how do we bring this game back, you ask? Simple, we just do! There wasn't much to it in the first place, win a race, get a new bike, repeat. However, what I suggest is go more in depth in the skills of rider as well as complete motorcycle customization.
Not only would you get new bikes each race but you would also accrue money and experience points. Then, you could buy upgrades of all sorts cash, such as cosmetic options for your bike and your rider. With your exp, you can buy abilities and stat boosts which would consist of things like Toughness (so as not to be knocked off your bike easily/how much damage you take if you are knocked off), Agility (to dodge attacks and possibly steal their weapons from them), and Strength (how hard your hit). This way, the game would always be a constant challenge but lets not forget the ultimate way to win, the race itself. Finishing the race would give you more money but perhaps not as much experience, whereas battling it out grants more experience but little money.
I have a backup suggestion though. Should this idea not be warranted enough interest, I vote Borderlands inherits it. Then, they could create a separate game type within their own game using Bandits in a deadly race (FUNDED BY TORGUE MOTHERF*CKERS!). Red Dead Redemption had numerous game modes, why can't other games!? This could simply be a rendition of horse racing from Red Dead but altered to coincide with Borderlands logic (Logic...right!). This way, when you minions tire of being murdered horribly by Invincible bosses, you can take some laps and win some loot, all while gaining experience and having fun!

I must credit my fellow gamers (G.I. Jimbo, Ignimeo, and TheOutlaw) for suggesting certain aspects of this wild idea. I always keep an open ear for fantastic and interesting ideas that may not arise from normal, mundane conversations with "people." So, there you have it! Drink in the glorious gamer goodness but don't forget to reply with any additions or ideas of your own! We gamers must stick together and also guide the market towards good ideas...and not bad ideas.

Logging Off,
P1L9R1M

Robot Chronicle I

2013-04-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Hero

Squalls of water fell upon the rain stricken window as the small red car slid helpless toward an out of control creek bed. The metal barrier emplaced to halt such incidents barely slowed the turbulent vehicle, only causing it to flip side over side and disappear into the torrential flood that was overtaking the once small creek. Yet, even though the car had stopped its chaotic journey, the young, blonde woman inside was still in great danger.

She flicked and poked every button she could think of to try and help her escape this stormy nightmare but nothing would alleviate the stress or muddy water. It was spewing in from every crevice of the car, through the door seams, the trunk, and even the venting. She had to think fast if she wanted to salvage at least her life. Before she could manage another move though, the car jolted hard and slammed her head into the steering wheel. She slowly lost consciousness, even though she was screaming and fighting from inside her own head. Then, all went black. No more cold water, no more panic, and no more pain.

The blonde, petite woman exploded awake as the cold and reality shocked her back to life. She was blinded by rain, and a very bright light. An unnaturally familiar voice startled her as her eyes tried to adjust. A firm, strong hand gripped her arm and lifted her up as if she weighed nothing, even in her drenched clothes. Emergency lights and sirens distracted her as her rescuer carried her to the ambulance. As she slid onto the stretcher, she strained all her being to catch a glimpse of just who had saved her from that watery grave.

He stood before her, the blue and red emergency lights bouncing around his perfectly built body. She recognized him now, knowing now why she thought the voice familiar. He was a H.E.R.O., a Human Emergency Response Operative robot. Built to be quick, strong, and more efficient than any normal human could ever be. He had proved his name this evening, saving another innocent from an untimely and excruciating death. Tonight, he was her hero.

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

"Great job tonight, H!" a man in a police uniform exclaimed to the robotic hero as he passed by. But, H did not feel like a hero. H felt more like a tool. He quickly engaged his built in thrusters and took off into the stormy sky, knowing all in that area were no longer in need of his services. His services, a demeaning word to explain his purpose and existence. H was built to save people from disasters, death, and despair but that was a luxury now. Now, thanks to all of the other H.E.R.O. bots, the world was rarely in peril. No more war, no more fighting, which in turn meant no more H.

He landed on the edge of a building with a light thud, adjusting his leg and feet sensors to balance him on the narrow ledge. H stared out at the city, scanning it for anything exciting and amazing. He found nothing more than a cat stuck in a tree and an old lady who had spilt her groceries while slipping in a puddle. H simulated what it would be like if those elements were magnified, events more suiting of his abilities, of his services. The cat in the tree would be an escaped lion from the zoo that was on a rampage, maiming and killing abroad with no stop in sight. H would fly down and do battle with the no free imprisoned beast, perhaps even taking battle damage himself in the mayhem. In the end, only one of them would walk away with all their circuits intact. As for the puddle, it could be a sinkhole out of control! Swallowing everything in sight! H would have to devise an elaborate plan to rescue all the people in its path all the while trying to ascertain how to slow the expansive crag. He would have to fly down into the planet and blast underground pathways that would fill the hole with lava, where upon he would find a water tower and dump it on the magma pool, creating new earth and saving everyone in turn!

A man screamed out as H broke the man's gun wielding arm during his mesmerizing day dream. H quickly scanned the man and his damaged limb then punched a hole in the face of the building, pulling a piece of rebar from it. H then tore the man's shirt and made a temporary splint for the arm. H then grabbed the deranged man and leaned in close to his face. "REMEMBER, CITIZEN. IT IS BETTER TO BE DAMAGED THAN TO BE DEAD. NEXT TIME YOU THREATEN TO SHOOT YOURSELF ON A LEDGE, I MAY NOT ARRIVE IN TIME TO STOP YOU."

H took the suicidal gun jumper to the street level and secured his apprehension. His praise was less this time, however. This time, the paramedics stared at H with questioning glances, whispering about the treatment H had placed upon this man. H took note but was too preoccupied with his next mission. This crisis, as many like it before, were merely a job for the lazy creators that gave birth to H. This H.E.R.O. model was destined for great things, to overshadow all of the other units built like him. H flew off from the gathered crowd of police and pedestrians, ignoring their calls for reprogramming and repair. H was off to find his destiny, as the humans called it, and nothing was going to stop him.

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

H rocketed through the night sky as the storms raged on, hurling bolts of lightning down up the world. H simulated a bolt of lightning coming into to contact with munitions factory. That simulation was quickly put on pause as an incoming video message filled his visor screen. It was a warning that a rogue H.E.R.O. unit was causing accidents and carnage, and that all Operatives were to engage and apprehend the malfunctioning bot. H processed the message and was elated. FINALLY! Finally, H would have his challenge. He would face this rogue Operative and dismantle it! He would destroy its erroneous adventure, in turn becoming a true hero!

H stopped his simulations due to an incoming airplane, one of the computer piloted versions. Without hesitation, H bolted over to the large craft, landing on the nose of the aircraft. "WHAT. IS. YOUR. PURPOSE?" the piloting interface messaging H asked. "I AM HERE TO PROTECT YOU. THERE IS A ROGUE OPERATIVE. YOU ARE A PRIME TARGET FOR ATTACK SHOULD IT BE IN THE AREA." The plane only responded with silence. H computed this as a sign of compliance as he walked along the top of the craft. "UNIT 747 ALERTED US TO YOUR LOCATION, OPERATIVE H-7." a familiar voice announced on H's visor.

H had been too occupied with simulations to notice the approaching Operatives as they landed on automated air bus. "MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!" H exclaimed excitedly. "HAVE YOU COME TO INTERCEPT THE ROGUE OPERATIVE TOO?" The other Operatives delayed in their response but then began to approach H quickly. "YOU ARE THE ROGUE, H-7" the middle one stated as the three rocket leapt upon H, pinning him to the roof. H was confused. He processed the variables and deduced the correct answer quite quickly. There was more than one rogue Operative! Of course! Perhaps some kind of virus or manufacturing error in the newer units. H's simulation was coming true! He would have his excursion and become a champion.

H flattened himself against the surface of the plane and, using the rain as a natural lubricant, slide his feet up under the middle Operative. With his foot boosters at maximum, H burned the tainted robot in half, his circuits charging and exciting as the others fried and deteriorated. With his feet free and the boosters at maximum, H carried the other two impostors into the tail of the plane, knocking them loose of his arms. Before H could compute his next move, one of the corrupt Operatives slammed into him, careening them both on top of the left wing of the plane.

The robot was wrapped around H from behind making it hard for H to gain an advantage on it. His boosters were running low and they were still very high in the air, he would need them should they come loose of the plane. The rogue bot was trying to overextend his limb capacities, crippling H if it succeeded. H chose to preserve himself at all costs, regardless if the plane or people suffered. If this virus was serious, then they would need him to save them.

H's arms were being pulled back, so he would have to use his feet first. H reared back and kicked hard into the top of the wet wing, knocking a small hole into it. The virus driven villain switched its tactics and began attack H's legs. With his hands free, H thrust down and tore a piece of steel, crushing it in both hands so it would resemble a spike. Then, he jabbed backwards. He needed only do this once since the face visor of the evil robot shattered in the first stab. Now offline, the unresponsive Operative slide off the wing, catching in the engine and exploding as its energy cells burst open.

"IT APPEARS THESE PEOPLE NEED A H.E.R.O." the last Operative messaged H as he boosted into view. H was narrowly hanging on the edge of the now destroyed wing by his left arm, his right arm unit damaged from the explosion, as was his visor cracked. H tracked the traitor as it flew beneath the plane and began to correct the unstable aircrafts trajectory. H knew this was a trick. This unit was merely altering the course so that it would hit a school or an endangered zoo, or worse! This unit would "save" these people and take the glory, condemning H and causing him to seem the perpetrator.

H would rather these people die than be pawns it a rogue Operatives evil scheme. Using the small amount of boosters he had left, H let go of the wing and checked the malicious machine from its position. The hit used the last amount of his fuel but it was enough. He had stuck his fist straight through the visor of the other unit, shutting it down in an instance. Now, he was freefalling. He was spinning out of control, with each glimpse being either the ground below or the doomed plane above. He deduced it was best to use the other Operative as a cushion, absorbing some of the shock in the process. This would increase his survival chances to fifteen percent, should he hit ground.

Even through the damaged visor, H could measure the distance to the earth below. The intervals were longer because of his out of control rotations but he could still adjust to it. Impact would be in TEN...EIGHT...SIX...FOUR...TWO....

Talon - Hornet's Nest (Battlefield 3 Clan Story)

2013-04-19T12:00:00.000-05:00

The snow fell quietly along the edge of the tall pines, the soft wind propelling the snowflakes around like miniature dancers. Yet, this beautiful display was but camouflage. Fore also among the trees were highly trained and efficient soldiers, mercenaries to be precise. Wearing a mixture of snow camo and ghillie suits, the men were invisible in this winter wonderland. But this wonderland was about to be a battlefield. These men were not here to throw snowballs, but hand grenades. Not build Frosty, but melt him. It was the calm before the snow, a firestorm.

The first man to make a move was the leader, Hawk. Hawk sported a G36C with a thermal A.C.O.G. scope, so as to spot his targets much easier, and to call them out for execution. However, right now he was using a pair of high powered binoculars to survey the area. The contract that they had been employed for was to cripple a fortress of Russian militants, steal or destroy the weapon caches, and free any prisoners they may have captive.

The fortress was newer than some of the previous sites Hawk had visited during other jobs. This was one was made from newer building materials and of a more modern design, which also meant it had modern security and weaponry safeguarding it. Hawk withdrew his binoculars and stared curiously at the structure. As large and well guarded the fortress may be, it was also very open. Now, this would be a problem for infantry, but not for airstrikes. Hawk chuckled to himself, then motioned for a nearby soldier to approach.

The soldier caught immediate sight of his superiors signal, and he began to carefully make his way to him. "Hawk?" the soldier asked through his white balaclava. "Spoof," Hawk replied in his British accent, recognizing the soldiers code name. "Radio Cowboy. Give him the best approach and strike method for penetrating and rattling this fortress." Spoof stared bewildered at Hawk for a moment, but before he could speak, another soldier broke the silence. "Hawk?" a large soldier positioned nearby asked. "Is this going to be another 'Hornets Nest?' The large soldier awaited for his superiors answer curiously. Hawk chuckled again. "Yes, Moo, it is," Hawk replied with an amused tone. Spoof stared at the two men amazed at what he was hearing.

Sitting at the dash of a transport chopper, listening to band called "Dragonforce," with his legs propped up, sat the pilot known as "Cowboy." He was actually jokingly referred to as "the Asian Cowboy" but only when the guys were poking fun at him. Dressed in heavy warm, yet militant clothing, the pilot did not wear a traditional helmet but an actual cowboy hat. The radio clicked in, ruining his awesome air rift. "Cowboy! This is Spoof, do you read?" the soldiers voice clicked through. Cowboy leaned forward, boots still propped up on the dash, clicking on the respond function. "This is Cowboy, Spoof. And, like I told you last mission, we can't leave until ALL the bad guys are dead." -click- "Well, then you best start that stallion, and the party! Hornet's Nest is a go! I repeat, Hornet's Nest is a go!" -click- Cowboy stared at the dash, puzzled for a moment. Then, with a yeehaw, he kicked on the engines and readied his bird, or unicorn.

The soldiers still lurked at the edge of the forest like reapers awaiting a plague to strike a town. As soon as the men heard the whirl of the Unicorn, Hawk signaled Spoof for another transmission. "Spoof," Hawk said urgently. "Make sure Lancer knows the situation, and tell him to be ready on my signal." Spoof nodded, while leaning on his M249, relaying the message to the soldier called Lancer. By the time Spoof ended transmission, the chopper cleared the edge of the tree line, heading towards the enemy fortress. The men watched, their adrenaline beginning to pump, while their grips tightened and their muscles tensed.

The soldier began to shift and uncover hidden equipment and vehicles, snowmobiles to be precise. The men waited to begin the engines until the first volley hit the fortified base, so as not to alert the enemy to their position. Cowboys job was simply to breach the defense for the infantry, as well as cause a distraction. And so, he did just that. The men could hear the guns begin to spin and missiles begin to fly, while they simultaneously started their own engines of war. Still, they waited. They knew that the first volley always had a delayed reaction. Then, they started to hear the pops of the small arms, then the heavier weapons began to fire.

Like a wave of metal, snow, and fury these soldiers raced out from their hiding place, tired of waiting and ready for battle. They had to hurry, Cowboy could only draw the enemy fire for so long before he might be brought down. They could see Cowboy piloting Unicorn nimbly, on the opposite side of the fortress. This would delay the notice of the fast attack approaching the enemy, or so they hoped. However, the men began to hear hisses of bullets coming their way, but it was few and far between. Then, they spotted the watch tower on the eastern border of the fortress, harboring a pair of snipers.

The scope intently watched the traveling soldiers swiftly maneuvering towards the enemy stronghold. It zoomed in closer and closer, flowing over each snowmobile. Just when the scope began to steady, it shifted towards a new target. A sniper tower in the eastern part of the stronghold. With a few corrections and calculations, the sniper readied his white L96. Then, with a squeeze, he let the round loose upon his target. And it found the target, and his comrade. Leaky's spotter and guardian stared in bewilderment at him, his balaclava with a painted smile on it showing the amusement. "Did you seriously just kill both of them in one shot!?" the smiling soldier asked. Leaky smirked in response. "It's not my fault they were standing in a line, Jolly!" he replied sarcastically. Jolly shook his head, then radioed the assaulting troops. "The snipers are down! I repeat, the snipers are eliminated!"

The mobile infantry were now nearing the fortress, with more haste now that the snipers were taken care of. They could see a large gouge in the exterior wall that would allow them to enter swiftly, but what awaited them they weren't sure. They could not worry though, Cowboy was beginning to run out of time. As soon as that realization popped, so did an rpg towards Cowboy. As dodgy as he was, Unicorn was struck in side, knocking the chopped out of control.

"Bail, Cowboy! Eject!" Moo yelled fiercely over the com. "Not yet!" Cowboy yelled. "I have an idea. Pick me up inside!" Moo was about to reply, but was stopped by the sight of the chopper recovering, then careening into the enemy fortress, explosions rocking both interior and exterior. "Shit!" an angry voice replied. "There goes our ride! And our only ethnic!" Hawk heard this and knew Redneck was trying to lighten the mood, but matters were beginning to turn grave. "Let's focus on the mission," Hawk shouted. "We can worry about exfil when the job is done!" With this said, the group gunned it through the gap in the walls, entering enemy territory.

They knew the layout. They knew that the exterior wall was a giant circle, with an interior loop being left open for trucks and the like. This also allowed them to travel effectively and efficiently around the complex. The idea was to breach the wall, split into two groups (Hawk and Rage would deal with the weapon caches while Moo and Spoof would be to search for POW's and HVT's). Unfortunately, their first priority was to rescue Cowboy, or so Moo thought. "Moo!" Hawk popped in on the com. "Continue the mission. We will secure Cowboy AFTER the job is completed." Spoof popped over the com before Moo could respond. "Sir, don't you think we should find Cowboy first?" Spoof questioned his superior in a cautious tone. "He knew the risks when he signed on," Hawk replied as cold as the snow around him. "Besides, even if we can't get out of here, we can at least complete the mission...for Cowboy's sake."

The two squads split up once inside the compound, both groups focused on their objectives. Moo and Spoof headed to the eastern side of the compound, while Hawk and Redneck took the western side. However, Hawk was torn as they entered the western side, where the carnage of the Unicorn lay, and the enemy had gathered. "Redneck," Hawk sparked over the com sharply. "Are you feeling particularly angry today?" Redneck smirked. "Yes, sir! Ready to rage!" "Good," Hawk replied. "We are going to need it if we are going to save Cowboy." Hawk could only hear excited laughter over the com as the two plowed into the enemies that had gathered, each dropping a grenade into the crowds they passed through.

Moo and Spoof slowed as they reached the entry point to the interior compound. As their engines went quiet, they could hear two explosions from the other side of the compound. Moments later, Hawk and Redneck raced past them, followed by two trucks with soldiers in it. "Keep going!" Hawk yelled as he weaved between the shots spamming the area. Before the two trucks could pass, Moo and Spoof knelt down. Moo threw a satchel into the road ahead of the trucks and Spoof braced his LMG. The first truck hurriedly chased the two original targets, but exploded as it drove over the det pack. Part of the truck went up, as the other half went backwards, no enemies emerging from the carnage. The second truck came to a halt just a few meters from where the other had exploded, but they did not have enough time exit before Spoof's gun chewed through the vehicle, terminating all the Russians inside.

Hawk and Redneck were now bogey-less and ready for round two. This time, they would fight on foot. Hawk let his snowmobile charge into a group of enemies as he bailed of, his German engineered weapon snatching the life from each target quickly. Redneck placed a charge pack on his steering column, then bailed off. Redneck raged at the sight of the snowmobile stopping short of his targets, that is, until they decided to take cover behind it. With a smirk, and a click, the other group was eliminated with a puff of fire and metal. Hawk walked over to Redneck and slapped him on the back of his head. "We are going to need those charges," he exclaimed. "Yeah," Redneck replied. "But it was cool." The two gathered themselves, then approached the wrecked chopper. Neither of them sure of what they might find.

After Moo and Spoof cleared out the aggressors, the two breached the door with excessive force. So excessive that the breached door was found stuck into the wall at the end of the corridor, having crushed four soldiers in its path. "Holy shit!" Spoof explained. "Yes," Moo replied. "I guess Hawk would say that this door is...smashing!" The two laughed momentarily but were surprised when a few soldiers rounded the corner at the end of the hall and began opening fire. "Damn!" Spoof yelled. "It's too bad we don't have another door to throw at them." Moo laughed, then shouted. "True, but I did bring this!" Moo pointed at the LAW on his back. "Be my guest!" Spoof yelled, spraying his machine gun down the corridor for suppression. Moo flipped out the weapon, readied, and fired. It seemed almost as if the moment he fired, the rocket was already at the end of the hall, or what used to be the end. "Let's move!" Moo yelled in a commanding tone. The two entered the building, beginning their search.

Hawk tried hard to move the twisted pieces of what used to be a helicopter, but he was struggling due to the fire and weight of the metal. Redneck however was throwing pieces to and fro, creating a whole separate pile of scrap on his own. They weren't finding anything. This angered Redneck, but gave Hawk hope. They searched while trying to keep watch, but they could not do both effectively. A voice broke their concentration . It was a Russian voice, one Hawk thought he heard yell "Over here!" As the two soldiers turned around, they faced ten armed Russian soldiers, who had apparently flanked them by some alternate route they had overlooked. "Hawk," Redneck asked calmly. "You sure we need all of our explosives?" Hawk eyed Redneck without moving. "What's you have in mind?" Hawk asked in his British tone. "Thermite, for the chopper wreckage," the big, angry man replied. Hawk laughed a little. He knew it was crazy, but it might work. "Alright," Hawk said coolly. "Let's do this."

Moo and Spoof moved from room to room, eliminating every hostile in sight. So far, they had found no HVT's, but they thought they were close to finding POW's. Each section was different from the last, and this one seemed familiar. Large empty rooms with fans and gas vents, rooms with tables and cutlery for human rending, and now cells. The men were pleased to have possible found something worthwhile. However, it seemed to the lock down controls for the cells were located in a central hub that each row was connected to. The hub was behind bullet proof glass and had at least five armed soldiers inside. Breaching was possible, but if the glass didn't give then the back blast could kill the two of them. The two stared down the hallway at the awaiting guards, whom had also spotted the two. Each group was plotting against the other. The two started to devise their plan.

"Wait!" Hawk signaled to Redneck. "Lancer." Redneck seemed puzzled by this response. "What about him?" Redneck asked. "Let's call it in," Hawk replied as if it was obvious. "Are you crazy? He could kill us if he misses!" Redneck exclaimed. "Well, we are probably dead either way. So let's show these bastards a good time." Hawk said with a smile. Hawk twitched to click his com, which was met by many angry Russian voices but luckily no gunfire. "Lancer..."Hawk waited. "Now!" Hawk and Redneck waited for a response, but there was nothing. The Russian soldiers were beginning to get restless with them, yelling and pointing their weapons. "Hurry up, Lancer!" Hawk shouted.

"Paper beats Rock!" Spoof said with a mocking tone. "I win. You go." Moo smirked in response. "Actually, grenade beats paper! You go!" Spoofs jaw dropped behind his balaclava. "Fine," he said in an irritated tone. "But next time, you are up no matter what." Spoof and Moo had been playing this game in plain sight of the now bewildered enemy troops. Spoof began to stroll towards the glass, as Moo crept behind the wall. Spoof reached the glass, where he began to rummage through his pack. He pulled out a detonator, a small brick of C-4, another brick of C-4, a detonator, and some duct tape. The troops behind the glass were frozen in place at the sight of this. Suddenly, they opened fire on the glass, bullets impacting on the glass hurriedly but to no effect. This made Spoof work even faster, but he maintained his creative spirit. He tape the C-4 a foot apart from each other, and put a crescent strip below it, each brick held by two crossed pieces of tape. From Spoof's eyes, it looked like a smiley face. To the enemy, a bad day at the office. Spoof jogged away from the glass, while he readied the detonator. He nodded to Moo, who nodded back. CLICK!

Hawk and Redneck stood in place, frozen more from the cold than from fear. "You know, he better hurry up," Redneck said with an agitated voice. "Or I may very well let these guys kill me from boredom." The two didn't have to wait any longer though. A whirring noise startled the enemies, but not nearly as much as the outer wall exploding in on them, knocking the two soldiers down as well. As the two recovered from rubble and smoke, a tank crunched into view. The mounted machine gun on top manned by Jolly, who waved excitedly as he sprayed the remaining enemies with rounds. "WHAT THE HELL TOOK YOU SO LONG!!!" Redneck yelled at them. "Sorry about that, Red," Lancer's voice crackled through. "Had to give these boys a lift." Hawk dusted off his gun and shook his head. "Next time, a simple response will do," Hawk said staring at the tank. "Now, we have a mission to do. Lancer, Leaky, and Jolly will patrol the grounds for hostiles and Cowboy. We will continue as planned. Move out!"

Moo and Spoof once again stared at the devastation they had created. "Did you know people could liquefy?" Spoof asked Moo in disbelief. "I guess he couldn't handle the pressure," Moo said with a chuckle. The two laughed their way into the hub, trying to make sense of what was left. "I hope we didn't kill EVERYONE," Spoof said in alarmed tone as he surveyed the damage. Moo fumbled with the control panel, or what was left of it. "I can only get one cell block open," he stated. "Let's hope there are only people there." The two moved into the now unlocked cell block, where it was very quiet. "Now!" an American voice yelled, just as two men from either side sprang out of their cells on the two soldiers.

Moo struck at the first man with the butt of his gun, but missed. The man ducked down, but threw his fist high, stunning Moo. Spoof managed to grapple with the other man, who was wearing what seemed to be prison clothes. As they locked up, Spoof caught a glimpse of a tattoo on the man's arm, AC DF. It was probably his number for the prison. This concentration left Spoof forgetful of the situation, and he quickly tossed over the man's back and disarmed. The man who stunned Moo was caught by surprise as Moo ducked down as well, then tackled him. As Moo wrestled with the man, he noticed his clothes. "Wait!" Moo yelled. "We are here to rescue you!" The man paused in his struggle, as if reluctant to hear another American voice. Moo had the man's arms in his grips and noticed an odd tattoo, P1L9R1M. It must be his prisoner number.

"So, let me get this straight," Spoof replied. "You guys are both Americans, from separate mercenary organizations, and you both were contracted to clean out this place? That's suicide! We have at least eight men, and A LOT of toys." The two tired, American prisoners laughed together. "Actually," the one tattooed P1L9R1M replied in a deep voice. "We weren't supposed to survive. It was a suicide mission, but the pay was huge if we pulled it off. He and I are the only ones left from our original groups." The one tattooed AC DF smiled and said, "At least we wouldn't have to split much of the pay if we survived!" Moo and Spoof stared at the suicidal men, then shook their heads with laughter. An explosion shook them to their senses, as well as a sudden transmission. "Rendezvous at the LZ," Hawk barked over the com. "Things are heating up out here. Finish your sweep and meet us outside." As soon as the transmission ended, the former prisoners got dressed, and followed the other two men out.

Outside, the area was indeed heating up. Reinforcements were beginning to emerge from the snow capped forest. Infantry, trucks, and...tanks. "Tanks!" Leaky exclaimed, pointing out their location to Lancer, who was maneuvering their tank in response. "We can take them," Lancer replied calmly. 'Just keep the rpg's off of me!" He relayed this over the com so all could be aware of the situation. Each soldier began to post up on whatever cover and high ground they could find. Leaky exited the tank and took a post up in a spider hole created by the earlier bombardment. "Alright, men," Hawk sparked over the com. "Since our bird is down, let's try and eliminate drivers without compromising the vehicles. Understood?" Each of the men clicked responded in unison, "Understood, sir!"

Each soldier sported a "T" on their shoulders. These men were "Talon," the weapons of birds or prey. These birds were hungry, and their prey was approaching. Each man ruffled their feathers and readied their beaks to strike. Fast, furious, and frightening, these soldiers would crush these reinforcements with lightning speed and deadly accuracy. "Talon!" Hawk yelled out. "Strike!" Each soldier swooped on the wall and struck their claws deep in the enemy, piercing their bodies with force and ferocity.

Lancer lurked behind the walls, trying to feel out his enemy. The outer wall ahead of him exploded, but the damage was nil to the heavily armored beast. However, he knew that the other soldiers wouldn't be so lucky. He punched the controls and busted out into the open, immediately targeting the first tank in sight. This one had fired it's shot at the wall, which gave Lancer the advantage. He fired a shell, rocking the tank but still advancing. The shell crushed the barrel of the opposing tank, practically taking it out of the fight. Lancer continued on, maneuvering as Jolly reloaded the chamber. The next tank lie in between them and the advancing forces, an uphill battle as well. Lancer decided to carve a vertical path through the group, and punch the other tank in the face as well. "Jolly!" Lancer shouted. "Get your happy ass up there and clear me a path!" Jolly's mask smiled happily as he climbed up to man the gun.

The hatch opened atop of the tank, with Jolly shuffling up to ready the machine gun. Bullets began to spray his way, but his reply soon silenced the sender. A few shots spanged toward him from a few snowmobiles. As he turned to execute them, the closest one was thrown from his snowmobile by a sniper round, as were the next three. Leaky, he thought to himself. Just as many fell, many replaced them. Jolly happily cleared a swath through the crowd of angry Russians, laughing all the way.

Leaky peered through his scope, covering the happy gunner as he plowed toward another target. Soon, Leaky started to receive fire. This, was sniper fire though. Leaky shifted into cover better, but did not run. He peered through the scope, searching for his target. Another shot, close than the last, whisked by. Still, he searched. Pay off! He spotted the other sniper, knelt by a tree, next to a tank. Leaky risked being fired upon by the tank, even if he got the sniper. This was the same tank Jolly was paving towards though. Provide overwatch until they destroy the tank, then kill the sniper. It was a crazy plan, but Leaky felt confident. Another shot whisked by, still Leaky braced. "Push, Jolly!" Leaky yelled over the com.

Any of the troops getting past Jolly were immediately cut down by his fellow mates on the wall. He was cutting through a sea of metal and snow, and leaving behind blood and fire. He laughed in a jolly manner, but was cut short by a bullet biting through his shoulder. He slumped hard but continued to spray the machine gun on his enemies.

Leaky saw the sniper shoot Jolly. Leaky knew it could have been avoided, and realized it could have been avoided. And so, he steadied his aim, found his target, and shot him...in the groin. Leaky smiled as he watched the bastard squirm, but Leaky frowned when he saw the tank begin to shift in his direction. Leaky watched through the scope as it halted its barrel pointing at him. An explosion rocked his vision, but he was not dead. Lancer had finally made it. He had blasted the enemy tank in the side of the barrel, exploding its own shell and destroying the mobile armor. "I got the sniper, Jolly," Leaky said only half excited. "I'm sorry it wasn't sooner." The com crackled in response, "Me too! The son of a bitch shot my canteen! Scared the hell out of me." Leaky gasped in relief and laughed heavily, then resumed his long range terror with a smile.

A tank shot startled everyone, especially Lancer whose tank was struck by it. The shot cleaved the treads and most of the wheels, crippling their mobility. Lancer frantically searched for the tank that shot him, then spotted it in disbelief. It was sitting outside of the western wall! "Tank on western wall!" Lancer yelled over the com as he positioned the turret to return fire. Lancer caught site of Jolly's mask for a moment and laughed. That damn smile never fails to lighten the mood. Lancer fired the shell, and missed.

Hawk watched as the wall closest to him tore away from where it stood, nearly knocking him over. Lancer had missed, and what's worse, the tank could see Hawk. "Balls!" Hawk muttered as he scrambled to get clear of the tank. He could hear the tank whirring as it began to climb into the inner portion of the wall. It was chasing him, and he had nothing to take it out with. The others began to see the armored menace squeak into view, which meant it could see them. "Moo!" Hawk yelled over the com. "Get that bloody thing the hell off of me!"

Moo peered back as he reloaded his SCAR, his eyes widening. Before he could reach for his LAW, P1L9R1M snatched it and leapt down towards it, running towards its hind. Moo laughed in amazement, especially because he had indeed made it behind the tank without it noticing. "Nimble fucker," Moo said with a smirk. P1L9R1M readied the weapon as he watched the tank's rear begin to move away. He thought to himself "ROCKET BE TRUE!" and fired. P1L9R1M's eyes immediately shot to Moo. "You forgot to reload it!?" he yelled angrily. The tank now gaining on Hawk even more. Suddenly, the tank was struck from above, stopping the vehicle in its tracks with and explosive thud.

All of the Talon soldiers stopped and stared, trying to make sense of what just happened. Moo looked at P1L9R1M and asked, "Ghost rocket?" Then, they all saw the culprit. A solider stood at the edge of one of the balcony's near the roof. It was Cowboy! "Hey!" he yelled, covered in ash and blood. "Did you know you missed some Javelins!?" All of the soldiers cheered for the return of their fellow soldier. Hawk shook his head at the sight of the soldier. "You sure gave us one hell of a scare," he said harshly. "But I'm bloody glad to see you!" Hawk saluted Cowboy, who in return nodded. "Let's finish this up and go home, boys!" Hawk echoed on everyone's radios.

The Talon soldiers began to move out from the walls, clearing out the remaining enemies, as well as securing Jolly and Lancer. "Well, the tank is screwed," Lancer said with a disappointed tone. "Hey, don't worry, man," Moo said with a laugh. "We all fire prematurely now and again!" Lancer laughed at the big man. The men left the ruined tank and began to scout for working vehicles as well as stragglers and supplies. They managed to recover one, half intact troop transport truck. As they began to load up, Cowboy stared out at the fortress. Hawk stood next to him, both surveying the battlefield. "Oh! I almost forgot!" Cowboy excitedly said. He fumbled through his pack and pulled out a detonator, then handed to Hawk. Hawk looked at Cowboy, confused. "It's a gift," Cowboy said with smile. "You didn't leave me, and I am grateful for that. However, I did leave them a gift." Hawk looked down at the detonator and smiled warmly.

AC DF walked up and snatched the detonator from Hawk's hands, eyeing him hard. "It's only right that a prisoner have the honor," AC said bluntly. "After all, we aren't getting paid for this seeing as you rescued us." Hawk eyed him back, but with light in his eyes. "If you join us," he stated. "Then pay wouldn't be a problem." AC smiled at the unfamiliar British mercenary leader. "Shake on it?" AC asked. Hawk and AC confirmed the agreement, with an explosion. They had shook on the detonator, the fortress now collapsing in on itself as high explosives ate it from the inside out. "I think you're going to fit in alright," Hawk said with a chuckle. "Saddle up! We are going home, men!"

The birds of prey gathered and migrated back to their nest, with new additions to the flock. The Talon mercenaries were once again the dominate hunters in a world full of prey, bait, and predators.

The Chained Gargoyle

2013-04-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

The Chained Gargoyle

Dusk began to dwindle as nightfall overtook the quiet coastal village, the shadows beginning to crawl out from their hiding places. These dark movements crept and clawed atop any area they could, protruding from the crevices they are banished to during the sunlit hours. The sun glimmered its last beam, then was swallowed up by the mountainous horizon looming in the distance. Without the sun, the shadows were once more allowed to rule, dancing and engulfing everything they could touch. There is one place though that the shadows cannot penetrate, no matter how hard they try. The cathedral.

The building seemed equally as large to the mountains as did the mountains to the cathedral but the cathedral never grew dark like the mountains would. The cathedral was a holy place, a pure place. This is where the Saints dwell and pray, those who would filter the darkness out from the light, from the world and from mans bodies and souls. As bright and pure as this place may seem to be though, a sinister being still lurks around its sturdy and ornate walls. A winged beast that preys on all manner of flesh and bone, that knows no form of honor or love. It strikes with powerful speed and strength and with an unrelenting hatred. A creature known as a Gargoyle...

The shadows had now come to a rest in the outside world, beyond the well illuminated windows of the massive church. As the shadows finally lay sated and quiet, a noise broke the still air. A shudder and crack atop the large exterior of the chapel, almost as if the building was falling apart. Yet, it was not the building nor any pertinent part of it, but a foreigner, an intruder. A thing cursed by the warm, sun filled hours of the day. Cursed to become immobile and helpless when not in coexistence with the shadows. Of course, this curse could be used as a blessing as well, keeping oneself asleep and sealed away from danger until the best time for hunting and travel. Every gargoyle knew these rules, since their very birth in the darkness away from the ruling rays of the sun. However, the sun was gone, and the beast was hungry.

With a dusty explosion, the beast burst from its shell of stone, crashing down on a lower portion of the roof. Its eyes did not have to adjust for there was no light to blind it, only the gracing cold touch of the darkness. Without delay the winged terror swooped down from the building, scanning for its next meal. It was not long before he found his victim, he was a skilled, aged hunter after all. An open pasture ripe with cattle would suffice for this evening, although he may have to eat quite a few to quench his hunger due to his long sleep cycles. Cycles that kept him safe, and kept the denizens of the village afraid.

With no further thought, he rose up high and swelled his chest and arms, then dove. He dove from the height of the cathedral, gaining speed very quick. This would leave no room for escape as well as ensuring a killing blow. And, as he skewered the walking beef with his clawed feet, he was indeed proven right. The animal felt nothing as he lanced and carried it away. He carried it to his usual spot on the mountain peaks, a place with a view. It was a perfect vantage point to strike over the entire land, which he would surely have to do to survive the next rest.

As he picked the carcass clean, he couldn't help but feel sorrowful...and alone. And that was simply due to the fact that the monstrous beast was, he was the last of his kind. He slept in long turns to protect himself, he prayed on cattle and animals to not threaten or scare any of the villagers. He had had enough slaughter in the previous centuries that he grew weary of war and battle, yet his kind was too blind to see their error. They all perished, slowly but inevitably. This gargoyle, the last, had only been lucky as to not be slain or captured during sleep, and he wasn't going to take any chances. His luck had run out though.

A sharp pain seared through the once stone beasts left wing, pinning it to the ground. He thrashed back and was nearly blinded by the amount of light filling the area. Torches. Held by the armed men from the village below, whom had watched and waited. They had learned his patterns of sleep and slaughter, all the while the beast thinking himself clever and benevolent. Yet, they knew not his reason for only taking the cattle, they had forgotten the fear but had kept the hatred. A hate that fueled their attack now as more spears and bolas fell upon the enormous creature, but these things would only slow it. Only the sun could solidify its downfall, ending its prolonged tyranny.

The gargoyle splintered their weapons and traps as it attempted escape but reality was sinking in, his wing was damaged. With the first blow crippling him, he would have no choice but to try and cover ground on foot. The humans were blocking the pass however, leaving only one option, flightless or not. The beast roared, so deep it trembled the ground and the men's nerves, and then it dove off the cliff face, bolas and spears following his extreme maneuver. As he leapt, he tucked his wings back, keeping them protected from the imminent impact to come. Very shortly, the one-winged demon slammed against a shelf on the rock face, sending him into a tumble crashing through brush and boulders alike.

Finally, the damaging dive had ended, leaving the monster bruised and battered but not broken. He knew they wouldn't be far behind, and his trail was not hard to see. Slowly, he began to trot towards the town, hoping to cut straight through and make it to the coast. If he could get to the water, he could use the darkness and waves to hide. Unfortunately, it had been a long time since he had traveled by land and he was losing valuable time. At the rate he was going, the sun would be up before he made it to the coast. He picked up the pace, flapping his wings to the best of their extent hoping they would boost his speed.

As he neared the town he could see movement, men darting back and forth amongst the shadows. More torches and the gleams of weapons could be seen now and again, which did not settle his nerves any more. Just as this fact presented itself, the cavalry that had surprised him were gaining. He was the last of his kind and yet he swore not to harm any more of them, no more battle. So, he would keep moving, keep flying, whatever it took to survive and prove that he was better than a monster. He halted for a moment and gathered his thoughts and strength. Then, he pulled the remaining spear from his wing, gritting his large teeth tightly. He worked the wings back and forth for a few seconds as he began to run, allowing the wings to gain some wind under them. Then, he began his ascent, albeit painful and troublesome.

He approached the town quickly but his altitude was faltering. He was not high enough nor was he staying stable and the buildings were approaching fast. With one last flap, the worn beast had nearly scathed the tops of the village homes but he would not be able to clear the church or evade it. He did not have enough time so he simply braced and grappled into the side of the building, scarring the outside of it with his claws. He gripped the building hard, hopping to and from ledges and statues alike to gain ground. The next statue he grabbed did not sustain his build though, and the two careened toward the ground. They both slammed into the ground with the force of tidal wave but only one of them shattered. The other was stunned.

The shadows did their best to protect him but the light was seeking him out, scattering the darkness in swathes. The beast knew that the light approached but he was so tired now. The one meal he secured was only enough for this excursion, anything beyond this point would be a miracle. His muscles were weak but lifted the brute up once again, allowing him to inspect his surroundings. He was in the cemetery, the place where they put the remains of their dead. He had always admired the idea of having a place to visit your deceased kin, that would be a fitting place for the last gargoyle.

Looking over the area, the beast noticed the destroyed statue, and something else. Closer he crept as the shadows hid the scene from him, and they did so on purpose. They wished to hide the accident before him, the body of a Priestess from the chapel. Crushed in his fall beneath the weeping statue. She was an innocent and he had caused her demise, accident or not. His wings sagged and his knees faltered as he stared in horror. Of all the deaths he had caused, this was the worst. Caused by a monster attempting to escape its well deserved and overdue fate. He slumped to the ground as his muscles tensed and strained with a rage of confusion and anguish. No more running. No more fighting. Just one more rest.

It took the villagers little time to find the beast and his victim, her body exposed as the debris had been displaced by the beast. But the scene called out differently to the war driven men, they saw a murder. They saw exactly what they had always seen from these creatures and this time they would have their vengeance. From within their ranks, a hooded character emerged. It approached the beast slowly but without hesitation. From within their robes they pulled out a small box with a simple design to it. However, upon opening the box, rays of light began to flood the area. The hooded person withdrew a pendant emitting an immense amount of light, making the beast cringe as it sealed him inside of his now forming stone tomb. The villagers cheered as the demon writhed and howled as the light encased his body in solid stone.

Soon, there was no light, there was no sound, there was nothing. The beast was entombed in stone for the last time, sealing his fate...And he was okay with that. He was ready to dream with no worry of awakening. He would no longer be hunted or hated, just simply a memory of what once was. He could not see as the pendant was placed upon his neck, making sure he would never break free from his stone prison. He could not hear as the decided what to do with his body. He could not feel as they carried him to the cliff side and tossed his statuesque frame into the deep, cold waters. There was simply nothing.

Somehow...some way...the beast could see. It seemed only moments but he could nonetheless see. What he saw though was worse than dreams though, it was the darkness of the ocean. He was not sure how he could see but something had changed. The pendants light no longer hurt his eyes but there it still rested around his monstrous body, as did the chains they wrapped around him. Now, it was just him and his thoughts. He could not move yet he could see and slightly hear. So, he would watch and he would reflect upon his life because that was all he could do.

He watched as the ocean life became acclimated to his presence. Some creatures visited thanks to his light, others due to his bodies unique shape, and others to hunt on the ones who were simply curious. He watched as little fish were eaten by bigger fish, and bigger fish were eaten by even larger creatures. Yet, as time went on, he saw the larger predators wither and die, and he saw as the body would fall upon the sand covered floor and become food and shelter for the little ones. He even saw a little fish outsmart a larger fish by luring it into a deadly coral reef.

He began to reflect on these things, comparing these events to ones in his own life. At one point, he was the biggest fish preying on the large and small. But then, he was lured and trapped by the smaller fish. Ironic that as elaborate and complicated as he thought things to be, they were very simple. He had been a necessary evil at one point but then also a point of triumph for the little fish, the men of his time. Now, he was just a retreat and wonderment for the little fish. He took solace in being useful and entertaining for the marine life around him.

Time passed. The waves crashed, the ocean floor changed, and his familiar aquatic visitors came and went. He grew saddened by the loss of so many unique and innocent creatures due to numerous events all the while he was forced to watch and wait. He wondered when it would end. The water had been receding in the recent years, or decades, maybe centuries. He wasn't sure yet he was sure things were changing. He could feel the stone shell shrinking or dissipating, they were withering just as the waters were.

As the waters began to pull and return from where he rested, he too was moved by the currents. On one particular night, during a raging storm, he was sucked out into the deeper waters, then hurled against the very cliff he was thrown from. The stone shattered around him, leaving him tattered and wet atop the cold rocks on the edge of the sea. He lay there, staring up at the sky fearing to move. He feared that, even though he was free, his body was broken.

Dawn broke upon his body and he winced as rays touched his skin. It was in this moment he realized everything was different. No tightness of his body, no blinded sight, and no more sleep. He was awake and anew. A voice shuddered him fully into consciousness as he attempted to understand what was happening. "Sir! Are you hurt!?" A woman's voice yelled. The beast jolted up and looked around for the man she spoke of. As his eyes adjusted to the light he could see a familiar attire, one a Priestess would wear.

"Quickly! Before you catch a death of cold!" She beckoned him from atop a stairway made from stones leading down to the water's edge. He extended a hand...not a claw. He began to shiver as his new body became accustomed to cold and sunshine, to the ocean air and every other sense he had forgotten. He felt lighter too and smaller, nearly the same size as the Priestess. As he glanced down as his new feet he caught a reflection in a pool of water, a human reflection.

A presence startled his study of the unfamiliar face in the puddle. The Priestess held out a cloak and placed it upon his shoulders, wrapping him tightly in it. "Come now, let me take care of you," she said softly. "You look as if you have suffered enough." The once bestial eyes filled with tears. Tears of gratitude and happiness, tears for the fact that he did not deserve this body and life. Tears, that he would make the most of his new life. He was once cursed, now blessed. And he could rest easy...because all of the monsters were gone.

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones Mini-Review

2013-04-17T00:06:00.001-05:00

Haven't done a Mini-Review in a while. Hell, just posted up my first full review in countless months; God of War Ascension to be exact. So anyways, I sat down to play through Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones with my great friend John. Crazy thing happen though, I had casually started playing SS again a week before he said he was thinking about playing it. So after chatting about it for a couple days we went from the beginning and developed a podcast series called Pixel to document our progression through the fantasy world Magvel.

Players take control of a party on a constantly shifting landscape for battle. The first 4 to 5 stages are essentially tutorial missions. Learning what your characters can do and learn what they are equipped with, because if someone dies...they are dead forever. Sure you can restart from the beginning, but in later stages; that becomes an issue of if the player wants to spend hours replaying certain battles to keep people from meeting their untimely end. Which I found myself doing quite a bit of. However I quit once battles started pushing 45+ minutes. The early stages will are very easy, but don't let that fool you. Fire Emblem is known for being a difficult series and The Sacred Stones will push your knowledge of the characters at your command, the landscape that war is being raged on and just how well you know the enemy standing against.

A fully engaging battle system lays out in front of the player; while the overall plot and story is fairly non-existent. There are aspects in battle that helps to give layering to the story's below average presentation. I liked some of the support conversations, because they helped a few characters get the spot light they weren't when the "campaign" attempted to make something happened. However, most of the time I would stomach about 2 or 3 back and forth windows of dialog before just skimming through the rest. The Sacred Stones doesn't have an overly complicated story, it essentially does it job in keepjng the player with something to do or strive for an end goal.

With a campaign that leaves so much to be desired, but provides an unparalleled battle system (for this type of genre that is) that evolves as the game travels to its close. I highly recommend gamers of all shades give Sacred Stones a chance. You can find on the Nintendo eShop on the 3DS or find it fairly mid range at a local store (if they sell GBA games).

SCORE: 7/10

God of War: Ascension Review

2013-04-15T17:07:00.001-05:00

God of War is a franchise that was built around telling a story wrapped in Greek mythology/lore and visceral combat. In typical fashion Ascension gives the player control over Kratos as he seeks revenge against the gods for countless acts of lying and essentially “pulling the wool over the eyes” of Kratos; all in the game of strengthening the grip the Gods of Olympus have over mankind. Ascension plays very much the same as other God of War titles; all while telling a story that takes place before the events of the entire series. Before the blood oath was broken, before the war on Ares came about. Before Kratos became the God slayer. One area that drew up some major concern was the added multiplayer, but it actually turned out to be phenomenal. But more on that aspect later.

By far Ascension has the best combat in the franchise; simply amazing how this series just gets better with every new installment. Sony Santa Monica ditched trying to make more weapons in an attempt to broaden the arsenal of Kratos. However, The Blades of Chaos are all you need. Enhancing them is really the only logical step needed; which is exactly what you can do in Ascension. Leveling them up individually, layered with magic gathered throughout the story. This becomes so satisfying when applying your experience in battle! For the simple fact that combos have NEVER BEEN MORE FLUID AND SATISFYING! Seriously, Kratos seems so agile…kinda like Hulk had a baby with a howler monkey, that in turn invented its own crazy fluid massacre filled dance moves. One piece of the God of War pie happens to be the magnificent set pieces. Everything, always feels so incredibly epic. In all aspects of the word. Scale and scope is tremendous and while games such as DMC allows the player to control the camera directly, Ascension followed the traditional God of War style of "WE WILL SHOW YOU WHAT WE WANT YOU TO SEE”. Anywho, realizing you’re just a speck on the back of a mountain sized creature…jaw dropping. Especially when that creature is moving and shifting the landscape continuously as enemies’ rain in…to disembowel you. This does present one problem. Kratos can…and WILL get lost in the mob from time to time. But you could adjust to it and once you start to "expect it" there problem somewhat goes away. Pacing was right on key as well, never forcing the player to spend too much time haphazardly grinding or platforming.

Speaking of the aforementioned “epic”-ness, all of the sounds coming from…well…everything/everywhere just exudes a brilliance that embodies God of War. Such passion is easily detectable throughout Ascension. As Kratos interacts with the world around him it responds with great auditory feedback. There’s never a moment of wasted sound; especially with the music, powerful orchestral beats whenever in battle, but then turn softer whenever the mood deems it fit. Next to gameplay God of War has become known for the incredible audio prowess of Sony Santa Monica studios. Pulling in a full set orchestra to make the soundtrack. Don’t think the sounds of battle aren’t amazing as well. Tearing through flesh, moving stone around, using enemies as shields/battering rams/weapons against other beasties match the visceral gameplay perfectly. Transitioning this to the spoken dialog works out fantastically as well. Kratos doesn’t run around just yelling at people and all the other characters have amazingly wonderful vocal work.

Now this game is ugly….Because it is a hardcore, bloody, gory, grotesque mess of body parts flying in all directions while Kratos is ripping through the wave after wave of death crazed badies. Wait, you all didn't think i meant bad...did you? Anyway, this game looks stunning in so many regards. Kratos comes across as the most real he has ever been. Asthetically speaking Ascension paints a tremendous world based on ancient Greece. The only problem is tied to the combat. Kratos is the "Ghost of Sparta" his skin makes it easy to lose him when the camera pans out to show off the jawdropping vistas. That being said though, Ascension is one of the best looking games on the PlayStation 3. Which is usual for this franchise.

This is an origin story for Kratos. Before any of the events from the previous games have happened. An interesting dilemma occurs here however. The story in Ascension is solid...on the good side of that even. On it's own it holds up, obviously it is stronger in conjunction with all the other games. Which is where the dilemma appears. This game has an unbelieveable amount of backstory build up. Meeting characters that never stepped foot into the world of Kratos' Greek epic and attempting to craft a compelling story that hopes you have (but also have not) played any of the previous God of War games. As someone who has played them all...including Betrayal...*shaking head* this makes for a little bit of mistaken identity (I guess thats how you would classify it). Chains of Olympus was the origin story before Ascension. There just seems to be conflict with the what happened before the events of the first game.

Of all Sony's franchises, God of War has always been one of the strongest for replaying several times over. From all the collectibles, to unlocking modes outside of the single player campaign and even "behind the scenes" videos. If you were good enough you could find a 1 800 number that you could call to hear Kratos. In this installment it is no different. Expect to be playing Ascension well past the end credits. Either mopping up trophies (Make a 1000 Hit Combo), going through the "Challenge Tower" or just wanting to blow off steam from a stressful day. You likely won't get everything the first time through. So you'll be getting plenty of bang for your buck.

God of War didn't seem to be the best candidate for adding a multiplayer component. Kratos just isn't the type of character to build a compelling/engaging deathmatch style around. Lucky, Sony saw something we didn't. Removing Kratos from the equation and allowing the player to create their own Greek badass. Mix God of War, Call of Duty, Power Stone and a dash of Soul Calibur and WHALAH! Ascensions multiplayer! You pick 1 of 4 Gods to pledge allegiance to, which gives you a weapon to specialize in, plus magic that is exclusive to that God, items/equipment that will have benefits to you based on the God you chose, and then level up. Your character levels up separately from your armor, weapons, abilities, skills and items. You spend your rank points on improving all of these further. There is so much to do and Sony announced that free updates will roll out to raise the level cap, add more weapons, armor, items, stages and more. Teamwork is also a must against some players. Working together can be crucial to winning. And don't try to go after revenge on your own too often. Know when you can't beat someone and get back up. Of course there are free for all matchs, 2v2, 4v4 team and points based modes. So plenty to do here as well. So satisfying to see that this component actually was greatly implemented. While there was several initial hiccups with getting into a match, due to server crashes, but before this review was done updates rolled out that fixed most of those problems.

Score : 9/10

Weekend Ramble

2013-04-14T13:20:00.001-05:00

For those of you that are long time readers of Just1MoreLevel.com you know that I'm always thinking of the next big thing. And my ambitions haven't let me down; which is why I keep it employed. However I run into issues with equipment...the all important gear to make what I think in my head reality.

This poses a problem for me, because I can't just plop down the money needed to get the equipment; to then make my ideas come to life in front of others. It ultimately brought down the budding Simply #1 Productions company I launched alongside a friend of mine exactly a year ago. Within that time I've really been pushing my business self.

In tow I was sacrificing my creative side. But it didn't seem problematic then, because a six year gap had formed since the last time I was "creative" and even then I wasn't happy with what I created and trashed it. Only one thing survived...the name...the character...Tridrakious. Built from a concept titled Thoria.

A video game that was so ambitious I ended up canning it. Due to developing systems that would work off of other systems to bring an entire world to life. Every character had a purpose, a life, a real existence. Time and seasons flowed; the player would have to think about which characters to bring along, because said player would have to send characters to other places to complete tasks.

Every...single...thing played off of each other. If you wanted to do more than just go from point A to point B you would have to design a strategy to hold off other nations and keep roguish factions from breaking trade lines and so much more.

Diving back into the creative process has been fun, even with trying to balance the business side of things; with knowing that creative work tends to go against almost every facet of business practices.

But anyway, this seems like it would make a good weekend series for J1ML. Let me know if you like it.

Mid-Boss Debut

2013-04-10T10:51:00.001-05:00

Alright, Wednesday's need some attention my friends. So I'm going to introduce the new Wednesday article on a Thursday. Makes perfect sense right? Okay, seriously. The reason this didn't get posted yesterday was due the actual product itself.

Yesterday, I was deep in the creation process for a new show that I'm creating with Taborius from All Your Base/Show and RawrBagels...you know him as the guy who wrote that article a few weeks back. But back on topic, we're developing a show that will be focused on the network that is under construction between Just1MoreLevel, All Your Show and All Your Base. The premise is a "documentary" about the business we're in and the shenanigans that occur along the way.

The foundation and initial pilot episode is set; as well as a time table for the filming. It's an exciting time for the network, because we have tremendous momentum and passionate gamers ready for the challenge of launching a true "Gamer Focused Entertainment Network". So stay tuned to Just1MoreLevel.com and AllYourShow.com for more details as they become available. Post up some suggestions in the comments below!

AYS Review: Omerta: City of Gangsters

2013-04-05T18:08:00.003-05:00

Well we at All Your Show finally got around to reviewing Omerta: City of Gangsters. Someone will be offended. If not, I don't think we tried hard enough. BRITS! Let's us know what you think in the comments below.

Just 1 More Topic Episode 17 - MARCH MADNESS!!!

2013-04-02T18:21:00.001-05:00

March has been crazy and I'm not talking about the basketball games going on. Nope, the insane amount of high quality game releases that hammered our wallets over the month. Find out what we thought of the insanity.

Buying Spree!

2013-03-31T22:25:00.001-05:00

So Vintage Stock was having their Easter Sale, buy 2 get 1 free and I went to all (minus one) of the local locations with my great friend John.

The games I bought are:

- Dark Cloud (PS2)

- MechAssault 2: Lone Wolf (Xbox)

- Wild Arms 4 (PS2)

- Samurai Legend Musashi (PS2)

- Baroque (Wii)

- Trace Memory (DS)

- Shiren: The Wanderer (Wii)

- Eat Lead (PS3)

- Tales of Legendia (PS2)

- Star Wars Knights kf the Old Republic (Xbox)

- Solar Eclipse (Saturn)

- Machine Head (Saturn)

Just 1 More Topic Episode 16 - Let's Get Personal

2013-03-26T18:41:00.001-05:00

All Your Show, All Your Base and Just 1 More Level has several aspects that go into them. Trying to find time is only a fraction of what we go through to get this network going. So let us know what you think of the episode in the comments below.

In a Breath...Mobile

2013-03-25T12:15:00.001-05:00

Right now I'm waiting on my car's oil change. Which has taken a long time, but I'm hungry. Listening to Fox News on the topic of Obama's economic plans will "lead the USA into the same problems facing the EU right now".

Ugh.

Politics...there is discussion by their "reporters" that Leno is being forced out because he is "too conservative". Has nothing to do with that fact that NBC sees the 15 million views that Jimmy Fallon gets on average through YouTube...which is 5x the size if Leno's viewer base.

Anyway, back to the games. I'm still grinding away at the God of War Ascension review, filmed Crysis 3's AYS review this past Saturday, converting Ni No Kuni, DMC, and Metal Gear Rising over to the J1ML scale. So stay tuned for all that

AYS Review: Tomb Raider

2013-03-23T10:18:00.001-05:00

Did the All Your Show team give Lara's new adventure a perfect score? Could this be yet another turd in the video game industry? Find out by following the link and watch the video to see what we thought of Tomb Raider's 2013 reboot.

Just 1 More Topic Episode EMERGENCY!

2013-03-20T17:32:00.003-05:00

Alright we're here to talk about the mess that has come up around the American government wanting to regulate video game industry over the violence that "causes" people to become serial killers. Yay! Past times! So just a little emergency episode of the show. Just 1 More Topic episode 15.

Tridrakious
All Your Base

Crazy, Crazy Week

2013-03-20T15:30:00.001-05:00

I'm gearing up to film Just 1 More Topic today. It's an emergency episode that is focused on the talk of renewing the violent video game regulation policies that were thrown out last year.

Also working on reviews for several games. Like converting Ni No Kuni over to Just1MoreLevel, God of War Ascension, PlayStation All Stars (haven't forgot about that one) and ready to assist in the Gears of War Judgement review.

Plus I'm developing a new show alongside AllYourShow and even launching a new podcast called Pixel with my great friend from MyBrainonGames John. It will be focused on the games we pick out of our collections and play alongside each other. The inaugural game? Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones for the GameBoy Advance. Both being played on 3DS, but mine is digital.

AYS REVIEW: NYKO 360 S Vent

2013-03-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

Tridrakious

Just 1 More Topic Episode 14 - All Things God of War! UPDATED

2013-03-13T17:59:00.001-05:00

The mobile upload wouldn't allow me to embed the video. Just had time to do that. Sorry for the inconvenience of the previous set up.

Prepping for God of War Ascension

2013-03-11T22:51:00.001-05:00

Alright, so I'm waiting on GameStop to open so I can pick up the newest installment in Kratos' stress relieving slaughter-fest. There is also a slight change in Just 1 More Topic that is being kicked around.

As you all know by now, Just1MoreLevel and All Your Show are developing a network centered around gaming. Built for media and entertainment in a way unlike anything before. Long time, personal experience being a gamer, but also having the minds of several different personalities coming together for the common good.

With that being said...there's a lot of trial and error that goes into this. We're experimenting with a multitude of content as I type this. So be looking for new stuff coming soon.

In the mean time, Just 1 More Topic is also experimenting with schedules, discussions and how to keep pressing the right buttons. As for this weeks J1MT episode, it'll be Taborius and myself talking about God of War Ascension and the impact it's made on the industry, but also Sony.

The New Guy

2013-03-09T12:50:00.003-06:00

Hello everyone! They call me Rawrbagels(real name Michael Morris) and I will be the newest addition to the Just One More Level review team. This post is just to give you quick perspective on me and my gaming background.

Well im 23 and have playing games since I was probably 5 or at least since I can pretty much remember. Ive owned Atari, Dreamcast, Super Nintendo, PlayStation, Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and Xbox 360. As well as being a big computer gaming guy. So even though I dont always cover the board ive played at least parts of most to all major series in gaming and if you think I have not played one you consider major lemme know and ill check it out! That being said Iike to think I am as qualified as most to do some game reviews and at least express my opinion on said games.

Real quick I will let you know my favorite game ever and how I plan on reviewing games in the future. My favorite game of all time is Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic. I personally believe you could not ask more of a single player experience that what that provided at the time. I also believe it helped change and redifine the entire RPG genre and set Bioware up for things like the Mass Effect series and Dragon Age Origins.(we will pretend like DA2 never happened)

But before I go I will give you a quick scale on 1-10 of how I rate games
1: horrible. Offensive to gaming. Games that seem to lack entertainment value to any group. This wont bee seen much.........hopefully
2-3: different levels of really bad. They could be for somebody, but not me or anybody I know. This is what I will give to most games I deem bottom of the barrel
4:bad game. Games that may have had a good idea or intention but fail to execute on some level. I will give this to most games I deem bad but can actually stand to finish.
5:so-so game. If it is just not for me or if there are too many technical issues. It could land here.
6-7:good game.different levels of enjoyment and technical aspects can land a game here in my book.
8-9: Great game! These are games that can go down as classics to be replayed again and again. Games I hope do not fade from memory.
10: Masterpiece. Games that I cannot ask more of. The type of thing I replay yearly. A very rare but always well deserved award in my book.

Btw I do give .5's such as a 7.5 for a pretty good game.

Well thats all for now.

One again this is Rawrbagels. See you next in my first review