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Elder Scrolls MMO Announced – GameInformer June Cover

Phaethon — Thu, 03 May 2012 22:45:37 +0000

Well GI Editor-in-Chief Adam McNamara said he didn’t think we’d be able to guess what game would be the cover feature in the June issue of GameInformer. He was right about me at least. So It’s not Half Life 3, but at this point we’ve all come to realize that no magazine will ever reveal it. It’ll just show up one day, with suitcases and an apology.

Part of me is wondering if this means that we’ll lose the traditional Single-Player only RPGs we’ve all grown so accustomed to. The other part simply doesn’t care. As far as game mechanics and visual representation goes, Skyrim and the other games have already been Single-Player MMOs. I will however say that I’m not ready to pay for a subscription to get the same addiction I could get for one flat price.

More details over at GameInformer

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Interview: Behind the Conan O’Brien Rap Anthem

Apost — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:03:58 +0000

Apost Khan interviews his longtime friend and co-star Asoka in the video sensation that has landed him in some sweet limelight.

Apost: You’ve been supporting Conan for a long time now. When did your die hard fandom begin?

Asoka: During the “Late Night” days. I use to stay up late and watch his show during high school. Could have used streaming back then. (laughs)

Apost: Yep no Hulu Plus made for some tired mornings back then.

Asoka: oh yeah! (laughs) But it was worth it. I always felt he was the funniest late night talk show host.

Apost: You were very vocal during the whole Leno conflict as well.

Asoka: We were already working on the song before that happened. We actually put it out a day or two before the conflict with Leno occurred. But like most people, I was sad to see that situation go down. But he bounced back!

Apost: So it was more of a perfect storm then? Everything happening all at once.

Asoka: Yeah, the timing was spooky. Someone working on the show actually told me that even they thought it was one of the first support videos. Which was kind of cool.

Apost: It is always good to know that the people working on the show are taking interest in what you’re doing. How did that feel, to have them reach out to you after the song came out?

Asoka: It was an honor man. I actually reached out to them and some of them responded. I didn’t think I was going to get a response. But it was a beautiful feeling. It’s just surreal, you know?

Apost: I could imagine.

Asoka: Like I’ve been watching this show for years… and the people behind the product have actually heard my music. It’s just wild. It’s a blessing.

Apost: How have other fans of the show responded to the song and video? The community as a whole.

Asoka: They’ve been really supportive. Most fans always say: Conan needs to hear this! Or This should be on Conan’s show! I love it!

Apost: Thats great to hear!

Asoka: And at this point in my career… really everything is just word of mouth. The song got thousands of hits alone on you tube and we just put out the video for it, which is in the thousands as well.

Apost: Previously we collaborated on a Mario themed music video for your Mario themed track. What draws you to create your art around things you are a fan of?

Asoka: Well basically… As an artist, music is our expression of thought. It’s what we do, I write down lyrics almost every day. Even if it’s just a little scribble here or there. And a lot of times my music is self reflective and can sometimes be heavy. Sometimes it’s nice to just take a break and have fun with it creatively and incorporate the things that I like or am a fan off. You know. Like we grew up on Mario, most of us who were born in the 80’s. I still play Mario to this day. (laughs) It’s a part of our culture. And the Conan song came up because I was going through some hardships and… It was a tough time in my life. But you know how they say laughter is the best medicine? That’s kind of what that was. I would watch Conan and for that one hour I would forget about every thing and just enjoy the show, and laugh.

Apost: Personally I really like that about your work. It is refreshing. Most artists seem to be too egotistical to admit being a fan of anything but themselves. I think it helps people connect with you more on a personal level. It makes you more than a product. More than an image. It gives the fans something tangible.

Asoka: Thanks man, I appreciate that. I definitely think with social media and how things are today… We can’t pretend to be one dimensional.

Apost: I agree.

Asoka: And that’s one thing I always take pride in with my music. It’s well balanced. If I want to do a song about Mario… I’m going to do it. If I want to do a song about what’s going on in the world. I’ll do it . I think (Joe) Budden said it best, “Music is just what feelings sound like.”

Apost: You’ve also recorded a theme song in the past for the professional wrestler Sonjat Dutt. With that as well as the Conan song and video and the Mario song and video, you are reaching out to audiences that may not be big time hip-hop fans. Is that something you were conscious of before recording those songs?

Asoka: I don’t feel that’s necessarily the case. When I do those kind of songs, I’m still reaching the hip hop heads. Just in a different market. If you like wrestling… that doesn’t mean you don’t like hip hop. You know what I mean? Some of these wrestlers are like the biggest hip hop fans. So when I do something like this, out of the ordinary, I’m just reaching hip hop fans through a different channel, a different route. I’ll give you a good example of this… When you go to a hip hop show, everybody is passing out CDs. You get out of the club and you might have ten CDs on you. But I can go to a wrestling show, talk to the fans, and give them my CD there. At the end of the night, I bet that CD gets heard before any of the CDs people might have gotten at the hip hop shows.

Apost: I meant that more people than just hip-hop heads would be listening to and watching those videos…

Asoka: Yeah, I definitely agree with you on that too. People who normally wouldn’t listen to hip hop might enjoy those kind of songs too, because it’s about something they enjoy as well.

Apost: Its always good to be inclusive.

Asoka: I don’t do songs like that too often, it has to be something that I REALLY enjoy and like. But as far as what you’re saying I agree. It’s just thinking outside of the box (when it comes to hip hop)

Apost: What all went into the creation of the Conan video?

Asoka: Oh man, it took me forever to do that video! (laughs)

Apost: (laughs)

Asoka: Because I do everything myself. From story boarding, to lighting, to shooting, to editing/post production… Everything! It took me almost a year to piece that video together. We had to re-shoot the video about three times because the lighting wasn’t right on the green screen. It was a learning process. But with something like the Conan video, it was always fun. I had a few friends who helped out with the video and that made it that much better. My buddy Big Santa Pimp is in the video, he’s the one doing the adlibs on there. We also had my buddy Chad dress up like The Flaming C, a character form Conan’s show. Basically Conan’s Super Hero alter ego. (laughs) And professional wrestler Colt Cabana did a shout out for Conan on there too!

Apost: I think a lot of people take that for granted. Just how much work goes into a music video like that.

Asoka: Yeah, most definitely. The littlest things can take hours to perfect. But now… because I’m more familiar with it. I think I could do it a lot quicker. But everything was home grown on here man.

Apost: Nice! After watching the video and seeing what a good job you guys all did, it made me want to do my own song and video for Attack Of The Show! (laughs)

Asoka: (laughs) That would be sick! I love Attack of the Show! I miss Olivia Munn though.

Apost: (laughs) Personally I I think Candice is much better!

Asoka: I hear you, but you know what I’m saying. (laughs)

Apost: Well before we wrap up. What can the fans expect on the horizon from Asoka? (Besides being featured on the re-release of my debut album “Orator Colossus” dropping in May that fans can download at www.avillain.com)

Asoka: (laughs) I actually just put out a new single with Stat Quo. It’s called “For My Soul“ and it’s off my upcoming album titled “Heart Of A Lion“ that will be out in late August. Before then, I’m thinking about wrapping up the “Before The Legend series“.

Apost: Sounds like people need to check that out ASAP. Like the cheap plug I threw in there?

Asoka: (laughs) yeah. Yeah, and that song just went into rotation on VH1! And it’s online on my website too! ReliveHipHop.com

Apost: Well it sounds like you have a bright year ahead of you. Any last words for your fans or people reading this?

Asoka: Yeah, I gotta thank the fans man! They’re as essential to what I do as the actual music! And for those that are new you can keep up with me at ReliveHipHop.com or on Twitter.com/TheAsoka or Facebook.com/Asoka213 or even on Youtube.com/AsokaTV. And thanks for the opportunity to you guys too!

TNA Lockdown 2012 Review

Apost — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 20:30:34 +0000

Lockdown always stands out as one of TNA’s best PPV’s year in and year out. On the heels of a quality Victory Road PPV could TNA continue its upward momentum? This month we already saw an incredible Wrestlemania. Could TNA match or top that? Lets find out.

MATCH ONE – LETHAL LOCKDOWN

This wasn’t the best match but it was a great way to start off the PPV. As usual, having this many people in a caged ring lead to the match being a bit of a cluster f***, with it being hard to tell just exactly what was going on at times. It was really entertaining after the past few months to see Garett take the brutal beating he received. That alone made this match worth watching, despite the lack of any big spots and a really weak ending. - 3 out of 5 stars

MATCH TWO – MOTOR CITY MACHINE GUNS VS SAMOA JOE & MAGNUS

This match turned out to be a pretty big disappointment. I was expecting the Guns to go all out in their return, but they played things really safe and conservative. Everything felt a little sloppy and disjointed. I think it is becoming clear that Sabin is the Marty Jannetty of this group. When Alex Shelley and Samoa Joe are involved in a match I expect better than this. - 2.5 out of 5 stars

MATCH THREE – ROBBIE E VS DEVON

What a God awful match. Thankfully it was mercifully quick. Without Bully Ray, Devon is unwatchable. TNA needs to realize this and stop trying to push Devon down our throats. No one buys him as a singles champion. NO ONE. You are just making the TV Title, which already held little value, look even more worthless. - 1 out of 5 Stars

MATCH FOUR – VELVET SKY VS GAIL KIM

We all know Velvet isn’t exactly the most talented worker in the business but this match was probably the best performance she has ever put on. I’ve always said that Gail Kim could carry anyone to a decent match and that holds up here. Overall a decent KO match that featured a nice high risk spot that nearly killed Gail.

Footnote: TNA needs to stop with the B.S. endings. You can have a heel go over a face clean once in a while. Not every heel victory has to end in nonsense.

- 3.5 out of 5 stars

MATCH FIVE – CRIMSON VS MATT MORGAN

For the love of God, TNA STOP PUSHING CRIMSON. He has little to no in ring ability and is about as interesting as a block of ice. He is the definition of boring and his matches serve only as a good time for a bathroom break. He is not Goldberg. Stop trying to act like he is. He shouldn’t be undefeated, he should be jobbing. - 1.5 out of 5 stars

MATCH SIX – KURT ANGLE VS JEFF HARDY

A lot of people in the IWC were critical of Angle’s comments in which he said this match would be on par with the HHH vs. Undertaker match at Wrestlemania. Well I think Angle shut those people up pretty quick as this match delivered exactly what he promised. This match had it all. False finish after false finish, finishers being traded like it was a video game and a multitude of high risks spots closed out by a crazy Jeff Hardy spot from the top of the cage. Simply put a masterpiece. – 5 out of 5 stars

MATCH SEVEN – ODB & ERIC YOUNG VS ROSITA & SARITA

This is what TNA books after a five star match? Sarita deserves better. If you don’t want to keep the KO tag titles around then just get rid of them. Turning them into a joke just hurts your product. Comedy has its place in the biz but it should not come at the expense of your championship belts. - 1 out of 5 stars

MATCH EIGHT – JAMES STORM VS BOBBY ROODE

This was a masterpiece in storytelling. Perhaps even the best booked feud TNA has ever had. This had the feel of an old school 80’s personal vendetta steel cage match. Everything was bloody. Everything had meaning. Everything built to a fantastic crescendo and ended on a picture perfect note. An almost flawless match. I really hope this feud lasts a long while. - 4.5 out of 5 stars

OVERALL

Two fantastic matches that raised the level of this PPV up to something special, only to have that specialness diminished by poorly booked, unnecessary, underwhelming bouts. TNA seems to be headed back down the right track. They just need to fix a few more things and they could be back to the level of quality they were at a few years ago.

It is funny, isn’t it, that we’ve went how long without a five star match and now we’ve received two of them in the same month. I feel a new golden era may be upon us. Or at the least I hope so.

3 out of 5 stars

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Kinect Star Wars Video Review

Craigaleg — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 05:39:50 +0000

When motion control gaming took the world by storm, fans cried out for one thing; motion controlled lightsabers. Star Wars fans have been pretending to swing lightsabers for a long time, so adding a motion control game to reinforce that action was a no-brainer. Microsoft unveiled Kinect Star Wars at E3 to mixed response, promising to address the concerns before release. The result is the potential fun that could be had only managing to occasionally peek out through the technical issues.

That Menacing Phantom…

Kinect Star Wars features various modes with the overarching story of investigating the Jedi records, but the Jedi Destiny mode acts as the most character driven option. You assume the role of a Jedi Padawan on their way to Kashyyk for training, right in the middle of a Trandoshian invasion. You set off to discover the reason for the invasion and assist your master in quelling the threat in your quest to become a Jedi Knight.

Other modes have their own story, whether it’s the rancor that escapes and goes on a rampage or the unlikely janitor that rises to become a podracing professional. While the latter modes need no real explanation, the Jedi Destiny mode has an unexpectedly bland story for a campaign. Situations arise that are plucked straight from the movies and no attempt at producing anything unique is made. Considering this is the Star Wars franchise with a huge universe of lore, the story only manages to scratch the surface of potential.

Visually, Kinect Star Wars feels…lacking. Rough background textures adorn most of the environments and character models fail to impress up close. These distractions can hold back the greater cinematic moments, especially since the animation is the most appealing visual aspect. The Star Wars license is best used in providing a familiar soundtrack and authentic sounds of blaster fire and a lightsaber’s hum. Jennifer Hale even returns to voice her third Jedi Master, breathing a small amount of life into the dead husk that is the story.

This is my Lightsaber, There are Many Like It…

There are five total modes to choose from in Kinect Star Wars, with Jedi Destiny acting as the main campaign;

Jedi Destiny puts you behind a Jedi Padawan, using one hand to swing your lightsaber and the other to use the Force. You can also put one foot forward to close distance between you and your enemy and even jump to flip over them. The combat soon throws droidekas and dueling droids your way, which require more than a simple arm swing to overcome.

There are attempts to mix up these sequences with speeder bike chases and one on one duels. The duels usually involve trading off between blocking and attacking and do little more than that. There is even a Duel of Fates mode to hone your craft in dueling the tougher generals, working your way up to face off against the dark lord himself.

Though the mode has the right idea, the game fails to really capture your attention. The pacing wears thin after the first planet, and hacking through hallway after hallway loses appeal fast. You have no ability to target specific enemies, and the droideka lighting you up in the distance will have to get in line behind the measly battle droid that is a few steps away. The attempt to vary the gameplay with starship sequences and speeder bike chases outstay their welcome, and the faulty tracking oftentimes mistakes movements for dodging or fails to acknowledge your intentions altogether.

Vivacious Variety

The other three modes prove more entertaining than the base Jedi Destiny campaign:

Podracing puts you behind the “wheel” of your favorite vehicle. Pulling back with your right hand turns right, and pulling back with your left hand turns left. Pulling both hands back and pushing forward will boost, and raising your left or right hand will use an item from your loadout. The mode holds up well enough with six different tracks and multiple racers to choose from, but turning on a dime and careful handling are difficult to get the hang of for the tougher tracks.

Galactic Dance has you pitted against the franchises most notorious figures…in a dance off. Akin to Dance Central, you perform the moves listed on the flashcards and chain together combos for a high score. There is no practice mode and you are thrown right into the mix with little explanation. The game has trouble with tracking once again, but works well for the most part with multiple difficulties. The mode alone is worth playing just to see the emperor dancing to Deadmau5.

Rancor Rampage has you assume the role of a rancor by hopping, charging, and stomping your way through one of four planets. A challenge mode will require you to perform specific actions for a boost in points, and fury mode will simply ask for you to survive the waves of enemies attempting to stop your tirade. Oddly enough, this proves to be the most enjoyable mode to play as trampling through buildings and hearing the one-liners of flying civilians never disappoint, and the leveling system will keep you coming back. Controlling the rancor’s movement can prove difficult, as you must either charge or slowly stomp your way to intended targets.

Buddy System

In all of the aforementioned modes, a co-operative option is available at any time. The hop-in, hop-out co-op is a nice touch and going through the game with a friend makes for a much better experience than flying solo. The benefit of having a second lightsaber to hack away at droids or fellow Rancor to assist in completing challenge objectives outshines the lacking AI or lonely experience. If you want to experience Kinect Star Wars at its best, it’s with a friend.

Each mode has a series a of unlocks or rewards for completing certain tasks, and provides incentive for completing everything offered. These usually involve completing each mode on a tougher difficulty or performing a specific task to unlock new characters or different difficulties. Placing first in a race can unlock a new podracer or completing a dance with five stars can unlock a new character. The varying objectives can be a chore to accomplish, and the reward is usually not worth the time invested.

Despite this attempt, Kinect Star Wars is much more of a party game than an actual solo experience. In most cases death is treated too lenient, oftentimes popping you right back into place for another run. It makes the game seem much simpler than it should be, as it rarely forces you to retrace your path from a checkpoint. Each mode will only last you a few hours before it’s all said and done…or if you collapse from exhaustion.

Overall

Kinect Star Wars fails to really capture what was desired. Technical issues with the Kinect and an overall uninspiring campaign drag the game below expectations. Though the less focused modes end up being the most entertaining, they won’t hold your attention long. Frustrating platforming, unresponsive controls, and repetitive battles make Kinect Star Wars one of those titles where glimpses of enjoyment get snuffed out for frustrating moments. It’s not a completely lost experience, but those looking for their pivotal Jedi experience will fall victim to a Jedi Mind trick…

Pros:

Multiple game modes offer different styles of gameplay
Star Wars license grants authentic sound
Hop in, hop out co-operative multiplayer for all features
Plenty of unlocks and varying difficulties

Cons:

Technical issues hold the Jedi mode back from any real greatness
Rough textures and little visual appeal
General control for each mode allows little precision
Jedi Destiny gameplay soon grows stale after the first planet

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Sonic 2 HD Alpha – Demo Impressions

Bastian — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 23:23:52 +0000

Sonic 2 HD is a fan-made, unofficial remake of Sonic 2 that’s been in development for over 4 years now. Up until a couple days ago, all we had was HD artwork and video demonstrations of the early game (along with some buggy demos). But now we finally get to try out a (mostly functional) alpha demo consisting of the first 2 levels; Emerald Hill Zone 1 and 2. And I am extremely happy to say that this game deserved all the hype it was getting from the Sonic community- it totally kicks ass.

All the graphics have been redone and enhanced to show what this game would be like if it were made in modern times instead of 20 years ago. They are of course HD, but they’re more than that. The animations and sprites feel so… natural. They belong together. It runs at a silky smooth 60 FPS and all the animations were hand-drawn, so that definitely helps the presentation. I would expect no better from Sega itself. And I DO expect no better from Sega- my faith in that company’s ability to produce good 2-dimensional Sonic games landed on spikes after trying Sonic 4. But more on that later.

The sound is also surprisingly top-notch. All the old sound effects are there and crystal clear. The remix of EH1+2′s music has a little too much going on at times though, and counters the nostalgia factor. In the original, the music was more in the background, but you could still listen to it. Now if feels like the music is standing right in front of me, obscuring my view of the game. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a good remix in it’s own right and it far from ruins the experience. I just don’t think it fits the gameplay as well as the original’s music did. That being said, I couldn’t imagine playing Sonic 2 HD with the old music because it would feel even more out of place. I think this game would benefit from more subtle and faithful remixes (depending on the level), as opposed to the orchestral-sounding sample we have in EH1+2 HD.

The physics engine is the most important aspect of any Sonic game in my opinion. If the physics suck, the game sucks. Plain and simple. Luckily, the team behind Sonic 2 HD stayed true to the original and didn’t fix what wasn’t broken like Sega did with Sonic 4. Everything you remember being able to do in the original, you can do in the remake. Even the little nuances like how fast you tap your spindashes to gain speed is there. I would actually be surprised if you couldn’t speedrun the remake exactly as you would the original. That is a HUGE compliment to this game’s designers.

That being said, there are some differences. The only ones I’ve found so far are 2 10-ring monitors- 1 in EH1:

And 1 in EH2:

Why were those added? I can only assume the team thought those areas needed more substance or rings, or maybe they just wanted leave their mark on the level design. Whatever the case, the extra monitors don’t have much of an effect on the way the zones play out.

The only other differences I noticed were presentational, like being able to go right into EH2 at the end of EH1, making the zones feel more connected.

Along with that, there are 3 known secrets so far. When you play through the first time, you will probably notice that Tails is missing. I guess they haven’t worked out his AI yet. But you can still play as him after you beat the demo (as you can see in : when you get back to the start screen, hold B and press start to play as Tails! I also guess they haven’t worked out flying yet because that feature isn’t available either. Nevertheless, it’s pretty cool and gives you even more incentive to play through the demo again. Another element that must still be in development is the special stage- it’s noticeably absent in the alpha.

I’m not 100% sure how it’s unlocked, but Debug Mode is available as well, and is at least as fully functional as the original’s. I saw a video that showcases each secret, and it seems that getting the Perfect Bonus for 100% rings collected unlocks Debug Mode.

The other really cool secret allows you to play a work in progress of Hill Top Zone 1- a level you come across later in the game. I’m not exactly sure what unlocks this, and there doesn’t seem to be any legit documentation of how to unlock it on the internet. I could be wrong, so if you don’t want to waste time experimenting, I recommend you do some research of your own.

As a side note, if you let the start screen hang, credits will play over a video of 20+ uniquely colored Sonics running through the first level. They all behave slightly different, and it instantly makes me think of how cool that kind of multiplayer would be. I’m not so sure it would be mcuh fun in the original levels, but if some extra gameplay elements were added and custom level designs were possible… man, it could be really cool.

In conclusion, this alpha demo is awesome and definitely has me hyped for the official release, or the next demo (whichever comes first). Sonic 2 has fantastic level design and physics- if Sega really wants to please their long-time fans, they need to look at what made the originals so good. That doesn’t mean getting rid of newer features like the homing attack- I actually think the homing attack would be a fun additional feature in Sonic 2. But Sega, please oh please work on the physics. Sonic 4′s physics were nothing like the Genesis classics which Sonic 4 is supposed to be a continuation of. If Sonic 4 really is a sequel to Sonic 3 & Knuckles, convince us that it is, or call it something else. Because right now it looks like you just want to rip off your older fans. And maybe that’s all you really want to do to make that extra money. But Sonic 4 Episode 2 could be amazing. Please try harder.

Official Sonic 2 HD website

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WWE Wrestlemania 28 Review

Apost — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:43:20 +0000

There was a ton of hype surrounding this years Wrestlemania with the return of The Rock to the WWE universe, Taker’s streak on the line in the Hell In The Cell and two excellent looking World Title matches. Did Mania live up to this insane level of hype or fall flat like last years extravaganza? Time for you to find out.

Match 1 – Shamus vs Daniel Bryan

Disgraceful and shameful booking is on full display here. You charge $65 for an event and then you book the Heavyweight Title match to end in only 18 seconds? Words can’t describe how furious the crowd I was watching this with were at the end of this debacle. What in the hell were they thinking? 18 seconds for one of the most anticipated matches of the night yet you have plenty of time for skits with Deadliest Catch captains, a racist minstrel show skit by Clay and a musical performance by a crappy meth addict looking rapper who wont even have a career in music this time next year? Epic fail WWE. Epic f’n fail. - 0 out of 5 stars

Match 2 – Kane vs. Randy Orton

Pretty much the generic definition of a basic wrestling match, albeit a bit of a sloppy one. Nothing much to say other then this is about as good of a match as you could hope for considering the participants. To be fair, the end of the match did feature a nice spot, a bit of a rarity in Kane matches. - 2.5 out of 5 stars

Match 3 – Big Show vs. Cody Rhodes

Do you remember the hilarious promo Cody Rhodes cut about Big Show being a slang term for crap, well that pretty much sums up this match. Like anything involving the Big Show, it was boring, slow paced, filled with botches and ended poorly. Side not. When exactly did it become legal to use a clenched fist? Yet another reason I despise all Big Show matches. - 2 out of 5 stars

Match 4 – Maria Menounos & Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix & Eve

You typical WWE divas match, AKA lots of botches and sloppy work, though we did see one nice high risk, top rope move pulled off by Kelly Kelly. The only other thing of note in the match was that Maria was looking pretty damn attractive. Pretty crappy overall though and having a “celebrity” with no wrestling training go over your women’s champ kind of makes the belt worthless. Maybe next time how about you book someone other than your Champion to job to a celebrity. – 1.5 out of 5 stars

Match 5 – HHH vs. The Undertaker

With the streak on the line these two really stepped things up a notch for their Wrestlemania rematch. This was hands down the best match WWE has put on since the early 2000’s. This really did have the feel of a classic Attitude Era showdown, from the storytelling, to the raw brutality, to J.R.’s excellent commentary, to the hot crowd, this was picture perfect. I came into this match expecting very little and what HHH & Undertaker gave us far exceeded what I thought was even possible. Simply said, it was a thing of old school wrestling beauty. - 5 out of 5 stars

Match 6 – Team Laurinaitis vs. Team Teddy

If you despise Santino as much as I do than I have bad news for you, you will be just as disappointed to learn as I was yet again that Santino did not die in this match. One day, I keep telling myself, maybe just maybe. I kid, though I do hate his guts. On paper this match looked like a cluster **** of awfulness, yet it some how ended up not being all that bad. There were a few nice spots, everyone, other than Otunga, got some sort of highlight in and then it was over. The end was a bit weak but at least it didn’t turn into the comical farce we all envisioned. - 2.5 out of 5

Match 7 – Chris Jericho vs. CM Punk

This match started off a bit slow and was clunky for the first quarter or so but then once the storyline aspect of the match was put on the backburner, things really started to heat up. From there we got some excellent counters and technical mat wrestling from these two future hall of famers. While this wasn’t quite the 5 star match these two are capable of putting on, it was still stellar and just a sliver of what is to come from this great feud. – 4.5 out of 5 stars

Match 8 – John Cena vs. The Rock

After sitting through a painfully embarrassing performance from Machine Gun Kelly, who really needs to be introduced to food, told about this magical thing called push ups and these other wondrous things called weights that one lifts in order to not have the body of a 14 year old starving Ethiopian child (sidebar: people please stop with the skinny jeans, enough is enough already) and then sitting though not one but two songs from the equally awful Flo Rida, we finally got to see what everyone paid for, wrestling. While perhaps over billed by WWE to the poit where even a 5 star match couldn’t even meet peoples enormous expectations this contest still delivered. False finished after false finish, finisher after finisher, and a surprise outcome all made this one of the most memorable contest in Wrestlemania history. Not the best match but still something that was pretty damn entertaining. - 4 out of 5 stars

Overall

This years Wrestlemania got off to a horrible start, with an undercard littered with sloppy, poorly booked matches, yet a sea change occurred midway through the 5 star HHH vs. Undertaker match that changed the whole tide of the event. I was conviced I’d be sitting here railing against yet another failed WWE PPV but instead I sit extolling its virtues, feeling something I havent felt in a very, very long time. Hope. Hope that this day marked a new chapter in WWE history. Hope that the disastrous PG era has finally run its course. Hope that Monday Night may be the first day in a new golden era. - Overall 3.5 out of 5

How do the ratings work?

ONE STAR = PURE GARBAGE

TWO STARS = BAD

THREE STARS = AVERAGE

FOUR STARS = GREAT

FIVE STARS = CLASSIC

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Angry Birds Space Review

Phaethon — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 23:05:29 +0000

Yes, we did just review Mass Effect 3 a while back. That was an epic game set in space. And yes, it too was soured by a disappointing ending (more on what that is later in the review). But dammit, Angry Birds Space has reinvigorated my pooping. So much so that I relish seeing that porcelain throne, and put a spring in my step, closing the door with gusto. Alright, enough of all this potty talk.

For veterans of the previous titles Angry Birds and the post release iterations Seasons and Rio this game will be a departure. Although the Appstore juggernaut has had a meteoric rise across mobile platforms, among a vocal group the series has grown stagnant and prone to boredom. Space attempts to remedy these criticisms by, well — going into space.

I could describe to you in detail why this game is different from the previous versions, but for 99 cents you can form your own opinions. What I will tell you is the biggest difference isn’t the things Birds’ antagonists have been most vocal about. The physics are even more in limbo than they were on Terra Firma. In the vacuum of space, some objects float forever, and some simply stop. This leads to some rage induced shouting, wherein which everyone can hear you scream.

But this time, the game’s most infuriating aspect leads to some of its most fun laden thrills. I’ve never tried hurling a bird. But if I did, I’d want to see it careening through the atmosphere of a small moon, slingshot across the accretion disc of a singularity, and then topple over a mountain of debris and pigs. That’s what I paid for. That’s what I want.

Now I promised a disappointing ending. Not BioWare levels of disappointment, but disappointment nonetheless. For your buck you’re given 60 stellar levels filled with some exciting retro-gaming throwback bonuses hidden in between. However, when that’s over you’re introduced to the “Danger Zone”. You’re given the first level as a teaser to how difficult it will be, and then asked to purchase these levels for an additional dollar.

I don’t know which is more relevant, my cheapness or Rovio’s moneygrubbingness (sp?). But I do know this: that second buck will last me longer than the first. The Danger Zone levels are catered to the top tier. People like me basically. I can three star an entire page of levels in one shitting (pun). I’m in the 99 percentile of all players across iOS devices. I’d like to think if Rovio came to me and told me the fate of the world depended on my beating their newest game and handed me an iPad and toilet bowl I would rise (or sit) to the occasion. These levels will take even me a while.

So there you have it. For what it’s worth, Angry Bird fans will love this game, although the game they came for will be over quickly. Should they stay for the Danger Zone, it will undoubtedly be an experience they’re not used to: a challenge.

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The Hunger Games Review

Apost — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:42:14 +0000

“Jennifer Lawrence just gave the best performance I’ve seen since Heath Ledger as The Joker…”

Those were the first words out of my mouth as I exited the theatre, amazed at what I had just seen. Truly, even if you have little interest in the movie itself, if you are a fan of the art form, you must see this for her performance alone. If she doesn’t win the Oscar for this role the Academy will have embarrassed themselves. The scene before Katniss enters the tube sent chills down my spine and solidified Jennifer among the acting elite. But the good news is, beyond her masterful performance, this was one of the best films I’ve seen in the past few years. No hyperbole, this movie was far better than anything that you saw released in all of 2011.

The film stays as close to the novel as possible despite having to condense certain things in order to contain all that content within the confines of a films timeframe. You have to take your hat off to the writers and the director for being able to condense things together while remaining true to the source material and, at the same time, creating something that those few filmgoers unfamiliar with the source material could easily follow.

Only a few things get lost in translation. For instance, those who have not read The Hunger Games may be a bit confused by the whole opening segment with the cat, being unaware of Buttercups back-story. The importance of the mockingjay and the mockingjay pin are also lost in the film translation, which is all right for those of us in the know, but may be problematic for the uninitiated later down the line. The level of abject poverty and the significance of Peeta tossing Katniss the burnt bread is also a bit fuzzy in the film, but again, is given enough screen time to satisfy die hard fans.

One of the best features of the film for those of who have read the novel, is the expansion of the universe, the peak behind the curtain. In the book we know the Gamemakers are pulling the strings and setting up traps, like the fireballs, but here we see into the control room. We get a peak at the machine in action, as well as the personalities of those in charge. This aspect of the film not only makes the movie more compelling but it also enriches the universe for avid readers of the series.

The style in which they shot the action sequences is also something to be applauded. Often in PG films we get ridiculous looking fighting, where knifes and swords pierce flesh yet leave no cuts and draw no blood. Fighting that completely takes you out of the film and shatters your suspension of disbelief. Here the brutality of The Huger Games and the vicious hand to hand killings are captured via close up shaky-cam shots, with the gruesome violence happening slightly off screen with blood splattering into frame to convey the horrifying slaughter. This gives the viewer the same emotional retention a vicious kill in an R rated film would wield, while keeping the deaths tame enough to keep the film PG-13. Which is a pretty big achievement to say the least.

The visuals of the film were also impressive. The Capital looks as rich and lavish as you imagined it would and the people appear just as strange. Effie Trinket for one was the stuff of nightmares. Beyond that everything else was pitch perfect. From the training sequence, to the girl on fire scene, to the friendship with Rue, everything was spot on. Fans will not be disappointed.

Bottom-line, this film is incredibly. If you haven’t seen it yet, you need to ASAP. As a matter of fact you should do what I did. Go watch the movie, read back through the book, then go see the movie a second time. It is that damn good. I for one, can’t wait for the sequels.

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Journey Review (PSN)

Craigaleg — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:25:53 +0000

WATCH THE VIDEO REVIEW

It’s hard to put a game like Journey into words. Journey is much more of an experience than an actual game. There are no leaderboards, no kill/death ratio, and no competitive multiplayer. Much like That Game Company’s previous titles of Flower or Flow, its much more about an interactive world that evokes emotion rather than something that is meant to be challenging and adrenaline inducing. Journey continues that trend, by providing a beautiful simplicity in a market strewn with high scores and complexity.

You begin the game plopped into the middle of a desert. There is no spoken dialogue and not a word of text. All you are given is a goal, a mountain in the distance with a beacon of light adorning its peak. Each segment of the game is broken up to reveal a little about the world around you through tapestries depicting events that shaped the realm to its current state. While a basis is established for the backstory, much of Journey is left to self interpretation. Your nameless entity passes by lands filled with graves, living organisms that respond to your pulse, and intimidating robotic monstrosities that attack you on sight; it’s an expansive and mysterious world that pushes you forward to discover what is next.

The overall mystery drives you forward, but the visual appeal of Journey will have you engrossed in the game from start to finish. Every segment of the game is akin to walking through a painting, ranging from vast deserts to a frozen wasteland. In addition to the gorgeous cel-shaded polish, subtle touches like the free-floating scarf and resonating trail your character leaves in the sand help make Journey one of the best looking downloadable titles to grace the PS3. Accenting the amazing look is a thoughtfully crafted soundtrack. Each melody compliments its surroundings, adding to the haunting and beautiful scenery you explore.

Gameplay is stripped down to the basics, with one button to jump and another to send out a pulse that ignites life around you, which expands depending on how long you hold the button down. Your scarf acts as your gauge for how far and long you can sustain a jump, and this gauge is recharged by the lively cloth scattered around the path. The scarf can be further extended by discovering enchanted cloth scattered around the levels. The game boils down to a platformer, with a few stealth segments and environmental hazards mixed between. Despite the limited variety, the simplicity of using cloth to boost jumps and encouragement to string glides together to gracefully soar along the path never loses appeal.

Co-operative play is automatically incorporated as soon as you drop into the world. There is no voice chat, and the most interaction you can have are small song notes that you can send out with the pulse. Staying close together will recharge your scarf, encouraging you to take on Journey with a friend at your side. With no notification of a player joining, it’s as if you stumble upon a fellow traveler along the road and embark together toward your goal. There is even a list of all the players you encountered at the end credits, adding names to the faces you encountered along the way. The anonymity is a nice touch, and with those experienced players on their fifth run through, it can feel like a wary traveler is guiding you to your destination.

While Journey is a wonderfully crafted experience, the simplicity has its drawbacks. For a $15 price tag and game that has been in development since 2009, Journey is a short-lived experience; clocking in at around 2 and a half hours depending on your play style. The camera for the game is tied to the six axis controller in addition to the right thumbstick, and movement of your controller as you scratch your head can distort your camera from its original position.

Though a short-lived experience, Journey is an unforgettable one. It’s one of the few games that can drop the mentality of defeating an enemy and exchange it for a straightforward adventure of pure enjoyment. It’s a title that sticks with you well after the credits roll, and the enticing world will soon draw you back in for another visit. If you are looking for a break from the typical, Journey will not disappoint.

Pros:

Visual masterpiece that melds flawlessly with soundtrack
Different experience and feel in co-op and single player
Every minute is as engrossing as the last

Cons:

Steep price for what is offered
Camera tied to six-axis tends to hurt more than help

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MLB 2K12 Review

Apost — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:00:10 +0000

For the past handful of years the team over at 2K Games have amassed mountains of praise for their NBA 2K series, raking in award after award for “sports game of the year” from various websites, publications and media outlets. Despite that overwhelming achievement, their baseball franchise has been, quite frankly, an embarrassment. For the better part of a decade MLB2K has been shamed by the infinitely superior MLB The Show series. Hell previous installments in the 2K baseball series were so terrible that playing them would have been an effective method of torture at Gitmo.

So the good news is, with the bar set so low, things could only get better. Perhaps that should have been the 2K12’s tagline.

“MLB 2K12: It Can’t Get Any Worse… Right?”

THE GOOD

We joke and mock but this years iteration truly is a distinct improvement over the last few years lackluster outings. The real shinning achievement of 2K12 is its presentation. The commentary found in 2K12 may very well be the best of its kind to date. Everything seems fresh and there is an insane amount of depth to it. Each at bat feels unique and the commentary flows freely with the game. I truly cannot say enough to express how great the commentary is.

On screen stat displays and overlays are also handled quite well and are impressively fleshed out. Seeing onscreen stats pop up detailing what a particular batter hits in a certain count for their career is pretty damn awesome. If 2K put this much time and effort into the actual game play the game would be immaculate.

The players and stadiums all look better, though they still look a bit off. The players also all still have a tendency to stare vacantly off into space in a creepy serial killer-esque fashion but both are far less noticeable distractions than in 2K11.

The well received gesture pitching returns as well (in full disclosure, being left-handed, I myself still find it incredibly frustrating) along with timed hitting and composure influenced pitching. If you abuse an effective pitch the AI will adapt and begin pummeling it. This adds a nice touch to the game that makes it feel a little less arcade-ish.

THE BAD

Unfortunately, pretty much everything else falls under this category as MLB 2K12 underperforms worse than the 2011 Mets.

The most glaring an annoying problem is the rampant frame rate issues. Nearly every foul ball and some far ones result in abrupt and jarring frame rate chaos. It is unacceptable in this day and age for any title to suffer such stutters, let alone a game made by a AAA studio that produces a nearly flawless NBA game year in and year out.

Frame rate issues are just the tip of the iceberg because like usual, MLB 2K is plagued with glitches. Base stealers often stop sprinting half way to the bag and begin a nice leisurely jog, leading to an epidemic of runners being thrown out.

Users will find themselves constantly getting screwed out of runs due to the tag-up system not working properly with a runner on third. On the flip side on defense that same cut off man system is also broken, as often you will have a runner hosed at the plate only to find your throw sailing weakly toward first base, as your cut off man is playing ridiculously out of position.

Advancing runners is also an exercise in frustration. Many times you will find yourself preloading a runner on first to head from first to home on a shot to the gap, only to find him stopping at third base, despite the facts that he would have easily scored and his icon clearly displayed an H for home.

Plan on doing a fantasy draft? Well I have some bad news for you. Say you are a big Red Sox fan like myself; so you pick the Sox as the team for your franchise and you decide you still would like to draft Big Papi as your DH. No problem right? Wrong! Low and behold as you go to set your lineups you notice something quite odd. Big Papi for some reason already has 29 homeruns despite the fact that you have yet to play a single game. Yep, that’s right, if you draft a player who already was a member of that team, his stats from last year carry over and anything you do gets added to them. That is a pretty damn big oversight.

Fielding transitions and animations are also extremely glitchy. Some look amazing while others look downright absurd. Reaction time is also an issue as often grounders that should be routine outs roll past uninterested fielders who make no attempt whatsoever to field the play.

The AI is also a problem as often you will find the computer, trailing late in a close game with runners in scoring position, allow their pitcher to bat, only to pull him before throwing a single pitch when they take the filed the following inning.

The AI issue also leaves the MY PLAYER feature a hot mess. As a pitcher the skipper will leave you out on the mound to get pummeled one game then pull you early in an outing when you’re pitching a gem.

One funny glitch appears during a double switch and has been dubbed “The Zombie Glitch”. I won’t spoil that one for you, so please do yourself a favor and youtube it.

The menu system is also still the same clunky mess as last year. I for the life of me do not understand why 2K still insists on using something so unnecessarily annoying and frustrating.

OVERALL

While better than previous entries in the franchise 2K12 is still a broken, arcade-ish, mixed bag. Perhaps it is time for 2K Games to take a page out of EA’s playbook and next year, instead of getting their teeth kicked in once again by MLB The Show, they should just take an extra year to fix all the glitches and build an acceptable baseball sim. Casual baseball fans might find some enjoyment here but die hard baseball fanatics will be less then pleased. 2K12 finally got called up to the show but it struck out watching and got sent back down to the minors.