Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Retro Video Game Review - Mega Man (NES)
Hi, my name is Daniel Kenmar (aka DragonbornRito). I will be posting video reviews for Everything, Reviewed. I hope you enjoy.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Game Review: Bioshock Infinite (PC)
"Booker, Are you afraid of God?"
"No. But I'm afraid of you."
I've always loved a good, complex story. Two of my favorite movies of all time are The Prestige, and Inception. Which if you've seen, you know these are very intricate and complicated movies. Bioshock Infinite's story might not stack up to these examples, but it has no shortage of complexity. Immediately upon beating the game I rushed to the forums of gaming sites to see all the theories behind the ending. I saw some things that I had missed, as the ending throws EVERYTHING at you at once, so it's quite hard to take it all in immediately. I saw theory after well-thought out theory, and there was plenty of controversy to be had. This alone to me, was the thing that made the game so special. A modern game that compares to it well, is Alan Wake. Scour the internet for more than 10 minutes about the game and you'll be waist deep in fan theories about it's climax. Infinite is the same way.
By this point, you know that Ken Levine has set the bar for gripping twists in video game stories. So, in possibly his last entrance to the series, has he done it again? Well, I can't say. But what would be the bigger twist now, if there was a twist, or wasn't one? What if the twist was that there wasn't a twist at all? Nah, I'm only kidding, of course there's a twist. And it will probably floor you. I can't get into all that, so I'll move on to giving you an idea of what this game is all about.
It's 1912. Well, 1912 in an alternate reality. You are Booker DeWitt, and you start with one seemingly simple goal : Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt. The problem is, Booker doesn't really know who the girl is, sparing a few minor details. There's another problem. This girl just happens to be being held prisoner in a floating city in the clouds. There's clearly some sci-fi craziness going on here. The true wonder here though, is how believable this utopia is. I found myself at certain times wondering, "Is this really possible?" From the townsfolk, to the scenery and advertisements, Columbia feels like a fully fleshed out city from the early 1900's. It just happens to be floating in the sky. The city itself, like Rapture before it, is the true star here. It inspires awe, while delivering chills all-the-same. The characters are beautifully brought to life and acted, and Elizabeth ranks among the best female character ever in a video game. I truly enjoyed my time playing with her by my side, and at no time did it ever feel like I was babysitting, she was truly helpful and never in the way.
The story is still the main driving force in the series, and I would argue especially with this one. Even the underlying themes in Columbia are deep, ranging from racism to sexism to religion. The antagonist of the game, Zachary Hale Comstock or "The Prophet", has created a utopia, or dystopia, based on his ideals, which aren't always so pure. The racism in Infinite shocked me, as I wasn't expecting it at all. It plays a central part of the underlying war between the Prophet's army and the "Vox" populi, the rebels so to speak, led by Daisy Fitzroy, a black woman trying to free her people of oppression. The founding father's are looked upon as gods in Columbia, and even the patriots, large robotic chain-gun wielding enemies, are modeled after George Washington. Interestingly enough, Lincoln is hated, presumably for freeing the slaves, and John Wilkes Booth is another idol of Columbia. The lore is deeply woven into every bit of Columbia, and the voxophones (audio logs found around Columbia) were a joy to find and listen to as they really helped flesh out some of the more vague parts of the lore.
I had read in other reviews before I started the game, that the combat was the major downfall and most people were rushing through to get to the next story segment. I never really felt this way. There were certainly times where combat was quite annoying and seemed put thrown in to artificially lengthen the game, but by the end I was having a blast with all my vigor abilites. I was actively looking for enemies so I could set up a new trap or try out a new vigor combination. Like in previous Bioshock games, the combat consists of your typical running and shooting, and magical abilities ; now called vigors. Most of my time, I was using Vigors and only shooting when neccessary. Although the shooting in this game is spot on. Guns truly feel powerful, and a headshot is devastating. Enemies react to gunfire very satisfyingly and I never really felt like I was being cheated by an enemy taking too little damage. Then enters Elizabeth, a pyschic beast who can bend environments to her will, which makes for some interesting strategies in the harder battles the game offers.
Which brings me to the enemies. There are a few different types to hit on. You have your basic infantry units, who are just gun weilding soldiers. Next in the chain, are the Patriots. Large, almost humorous, robotic replicas of George Washington. After that, you have the Handyman, which is basically Infinite's version of a Big Daddy. Though way faster and more agile. Every encounter with these enemies was both fun, and terrifying. Then lastly, there's the Songbird. A huge mechanical bird tasked with guarding Elizabeth from leaving her tower. After breaking Elizabeth out, Songbird is not one bit happy and pursues you throughout the game. This led to some very intense moments when Songbird would show up out of nowhere just to terrify me. Even the Songbird has a deep, though hidden, back-story and I felt pity for it rather than dislike. There is the occasional boss battle, but nothing really stood out. Combat worked for me, the enemies were fun and ridiculous, and the AI companionship was miraculously well done.
In past Bioshock entries, the game has tended to flicker out in the final acts. This is not the case with Infinite. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The game builds and builds until the final moments when everything is thrown on you at once. Some people hated that everything was all laid out in one spot, but I personally loved it. It's been almost a week now, and I'm still listening to spoiler-casts, reading forums and discussing the story with other gamers. This to me, is the tell of a truly good story. If I have any complaints about the game, it would likely be the complete lack of puzzles. The game truly is just blasting your way from one cutscene to the next, for better or worse. Still, I have to consider that puzzles might have just gotten in the way. I was always dying to get to the next story segment, and a really hard puzzle slowing me down would have likely only deterred me.
I was continuously surprised throughout the game, as there was always some cool new easter egg or scenery, or event around the next corner. I would play Infinite again, and I will, which is something I rarely do. I wanna see all the little things I may have missed, and re-watch some of the more beautiful scenes. I will keep this game around for a very long time. Long story short : Bioshock Infinite is one the best games in recent years.
Final Verdict
- Darrell
"No. But I'm afraid of you."
 |
| Welcome to Columbia. |
I've always loved a good, complex story. Two of my favorite movies of all time are The Prestige, and Inception. Which if you've seen, you know these are very intricate and complicated movies. Bioshock Infinite's story might not stack up to these examples, but it has no shortage of complexity. Immediately upon beating the game I rushed to the forums of gaming sites to see all the theories behind the ending. I saw some things that I had missed, as the ending throws EVERYTHING at you at once, so it's quite hard to take it all in immediately. I saw theory after well-thought out theory, and there was plenty of controversy to be had. This alone to me, was the thing that made the game so special. A modern game that compares to it well, is Alan Wake. Scour the internet for more than 10 minutes about the game and you'll be waist deep in fan theories about it's climax. Infinite is the same way.
By this point, you know that Ken Levine has set the bar for gripping twists in video game stories. So, in possibly his last entrance to the series, has he done it again? Well, I can't say. But what would be the bigger twist now, if there was a twist, or wasn't one? What if the twist was that there wasn't a twist at all? Nah, I'm only kidding, of course there's a twist. And it will probably floor you. I can't get into all that, so I'll move on to giving you an idea of what this game is all about.
 |
| Columbia is one of the most fully realized settings ever put into a video game. |
It's 1912. Well, 1912 in an alternate reality. You are Booker DeWitt, and you start with one seemingly simple goal : Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt. The problem is, Booker doesn't really know who the girl is, sparing a few minor details. There's another problem. This girl just happens to be being held prisoner in a floating city in the clouds. There's clearly some sci-fi craziness going on here. The true wonder here though, is how believable this utopia is. I found myself at certain times wondering, "Is this really possible?" From the townsfolk, to the scenery and advertisements, Columbia feels like a fully fleshed out city from the early 1900's. It just happens to be floating in the sky. The city itself, like Rapture before it, is the true star here. It inspires awe, while delivering chills all-the-same. The characters are beautifully brought to life and acted, and Elizabeth ranks among the best female character ever in a video game. I truly enjoyed my time playing with her by my side, and at no time did it ever feel like I was babysitting, she was truly helpful and never in the way.
 |
| It takes a while before Elizabeth warms up to her kidnapper. |
 |
| Bioshock Infinite's story relies heavily on sci-fi staples such as alternate realities. |
I had read in other reviews before I started the game, that the combat was the major downfall and most people were rushing through to get to the next story segment. I never really felt this way. There were certainly times where combat was quite annoying and seemed put thrown in to artificially lengthen the game, but by the end I was having a blast with all my vigor abilites. I was actively looking for enemies so I could set up a new trap or try out a new vigor combination. Like in previous Bioshock games, the combat consists of your typical running and shooting, and magical abilities ; now called vigors. Most of my time, I was using Vigors and only shooting when neccessary. Although the shooting in this game is spot on. Guns truly feel powerful, and a headshot is devastating. Enemies react to gunfire very satisfyingly and I never really felt like I was being cheated by an enemy taking too little damage. Then enters Elizabeth, a pyschic beast who can bend environments to her will, which makes for some interesting strategies in the harder battles the game offers.
Which brings me to the enemies. There are a few different types to hit on. You have your basic infantry units, who are just gun weilding soldiers. Next in the chain, are the Patriots. Large, almost humorous, robotic replicas of George Washington. After that, you have the Handyman, which is basically Infinite's version of a Big Daddy. Though way faster and more agile. Every encounter with these enemies was both fun, and terrifying. Then lastly, there's the Songbird. A huge mechanical bird tasked with guarding Elizabeth from leaving her tower. After breaking Elizabeth out, Songbird is not one bit happy and pursues you throughout the game. This led to some very intense moments when Songbird would show up out of nowhere just to terrify me. Even the Songbird has a deep, though hidden, back-story and I felt pity for it rather than dislike. There is the occasional boss battle, but nothing really stood out. Combat worked for me, the enemies were fun and ridiculous, and the AI companionship was miraculously well done.
 |
| You will build a true connection with Elizabeth and want desperately to protect her. |
In past Bioshock entries, the game has tended to flicker out in the final acts. This is not the case with Infinite. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The game builds and builds until the final moments when everything is thrown on you at once. Some people hated that everything was all laid out in one spot, but I personally loved it. It's been almost a week now, and I'm still listening to spoiler-casts, reading forums and discussing the story with other gamers. This to me, is the tell of a truly good story. If I have any complaints about the game, it would likely be the complete lack of puzzles. The game truly is just blasting your way from one cutscene to the next, for better or worse. Still, I have to consider that puzzles might have just gotten in the way. I was always dying to get to the next story segment, and a really hard puzzle slowing me down would have likely only deterred me.
I was continuously surprised throughout the game, as there was always some cool new easter egg or scenery, or event around the next corner. I would play Infinite again, and I will, which is something I rarely do. I wanna see all the little things I may have missed, and re-watch some of the more beautiful scenes. I will keep this game around for a very long time. Long story short : Bioshock Infinite is one the best games in recent years.
Final Verdict
- Darrell
Monday, July 8, 2013
Movie Review : Despicable Me 2
Hey guys!!! I would like to introduce myself! My name's Evan, I'm Darrell's cousin, and I like to write, which is probably why Darrell asked me to be another blogger on his review site. I also like to give my opinion, because I like to think I make an honest assessment of things that everyone around me could agree on. Well, let's get to it then! My review is on Despicable Me.....wait for it....2!
Ah, yes, the magic, splendor, and prices of the movie theater. We've all been there, standing in line to the next "big" blockbuster, the "scariest" horror movie, or the most "tragic" love story. Or in my case... the sequel to one of the most shockingly, funny CGIed movies of all time. In the first movie we learn the story of Dr. Gru, an evil, twisted, depressed villain protagonist that is trying his hardest to be the best villain in the world! The antagonist, of course, is Vector, a dimwitted, nerd, who's entirely too spoiled by his father. We also meet the lovable supporting characters which are the girls: Margo, the oldest; Edith, the middle; and lastly, Agnes, the cutest toddler of all time! And we can most definitely not forget about the minions, which are too many to be accounted for and named.
Gru is asked to be part of a secret agency as to which he accepts the offer of. While on assignment at the local mall, he and his partner are in search of a toxic chemical that alters the DNA structure of anything it touches. This alteration will be quite comical towards the end, but no give aways here!
The girls throughout the movie are trying their hardest to get Gru a mate, as well as his crazy neighbor from the previews. But almost undoubtedly, something catches one of the girls eye. Oh okay, who am I kidding, Margo falls in love. Which messes up the girls' quest to get Gru some love, or does it? Well that can only be discovered if you go and see it for yourself. The villains in this sequel are definitely not as funny as Vector, but collaboratively, I think
they add up to be closely ranked with him.
There will definitely be some surprising twists, but of course you will basically be able to expect them before they happen. It's been a while since I have seen a movie that just completely shocked me after every scene. But sometimes that's not a bad thing. In my opinion it allows me to grow closer to the characters and almost know what they're thinking and how they feel when they think it. You will love every character in this sequel. Some old, some new, some weird... but all are lovable in their own way.
In my honest opinion, if you loved the first one, then you should definitely go see this one before you can't, and have to wait months after before it's released on DVD/Blu-ray during Christmas! Now, I will be honest with you, I liked the first one more, but only because that's my own personal preference. I liked the first "Cars" better than the second, and I like every other original more than the sequel. But both Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 will definitely be classics. Now for my rating, and its an honest rating, disregarding my love for the first is a.........
When I looked at it in the angle of the fact that it is its own individual movie, it was amazing! I definitely suggest watching it ASAP!
The second begins a lot like the first, but instead of ruining a little kids day, Gru is working hard at making Agnes's birthday, the best yet! Its a nicely themed party with knights and unicorns and Fairy Godmothers? It will have you cooing and laughing all at the same time, only a couple of minutes in. Now I don't want to give too much away, but rather give you guys a quick idea of what it's about. The scenes to follow involve Gru, a
kidnapping, a red head, and some underwater turbulence.
they add up to be closely ranked with him.
In my honest opinion, if you loved the first one, then you should definitely go see this one before you can't, and have to wait months after before it's released on DVD/Blu-ray during Christmas! Now, I will be honest with you, I liked the first one more, but only because that's my own personal preference. I liked the first "Cars" better than the second, and I like every other original more than the sequel. But both Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2 will definitely be classics. Now for my rating, and its an honest rating, disregarding my love for the first is a.........
When I looked at it in the angle of the fact that it is its own individual movie, it was amazing! I definitely suggest watching it ASAP!
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Game Review : The Last Of Us (PS3)
This has been a good week for me. I finally got some time to sit down and work through some of my backlog of games. It just so happens, that the first two I checked off, are the two biggest contenders for GOTY. Its been a pleasant 3 days of gaming. So onto the review for The Last of Us.
If I were to sit down and truly imagine what a real life "zombie" apocalypse would be like, I struggle to see how I could come anywhere close to the realism of The Last of Us. Naughty Dogs re-imagining of the typical end of the world trope has changed the way I look at video games as a medium. Not since Telltale Games unbelievable "The Walking Dead" episodic series have I felt such a connection to a video game's characters. Character progression? The Last of Us practically oozes it. A good, emotionally gripping story? One of the best I've ever seen, in any medium. Naughty Dog put so much detail into every inch of The Last of Us, that I have absolutely no problem in saying, The Last of Us is the most well-made video game I've ever played. And it isn't even close. It does so much right, that I don't even know where to begin, but I'll start where The Last Of Us really shines: environmental story-telling.
Everything in this world seems REAL. Existent. Joel and Ellie will have conversations about the simplest things. Walk past a barbecue grill, and Joel will explain to Ellie what they were used for in his day. Or passing an Ice Cream truck, Ellie might ask what it is. See, The Last Of Us takes place 20 years in the future. 2o years after the disease spread. Ellie is 14, and this destroyed desolate world, is the only one she has ever known. Joel was roughly 30 when the infection broke, so he's seen both worlds. He tells Ellie stories of how the world was before. This is all fluidly blended into the games exploration. Run through, and you'll likely miss some of the more touching moments the game has to offer. Naughty Dog not only reflects what a pandemic like this might actually be like, but also shines light on the stupid things we care about in these times. As I look at a poster of a model on the side of a decaying building, Ellie chimes in. "Why is she so skinny? I thought you had lots of food in your day?" "We did, some people just chose not to eat it. Some people liked looking that way." "That's stupid." Ellie intelligently responds. Stand still for a while and Ellie might pull out her joke book to lighten the mood. So many little moments like this make you feel like you really know these characters, and you genuinely share a connection with them. And these characters,.. wow. Naughty Dog has truly set the bar for animation and facial expression in video games. I swear Ellie's eyes are as real as you or mine. Every story sequence is so masterfully acted and crafted, that it's likely better than any movie you'll see this year.
Graphically, from facial animation to hair and environments, The Last of Us looks like a next generation game. It's baffling the amount of visual detail they were able to squeeze out of an 8 year old console. The Last of Us is nearly flawless in terms of technical glitches, albeit a few rare quips here and there. The environments are rich with history and detail, every abandoned house tells a story. The foliage is especially beautiful, particularly in the areas where nature has retaken ownership. Former parking lots are now covered in grass and trees. A once luxury hotel now has a swamp occupying the lobby. A school building now hosts a group of bandits. I could go on for a very long time. Just know, that so much care has been embedded into this game that it would be a travesty for Naughty Dog to not have their work experienced by everyone.
The story of The Last of Us stands among the greatest ever told in a video game. I honestly cant think of one that tops it, and the only one I can even consider coming close is the afore-mentioned Walking Dead series. If you're reading this, you likely have at least a vague idea of the story, so I won't dive too deep into it (It would be very hard to without spoiling anything anyway), but I'll give a vague outline. The majority of the story focuses on Joel, the protagonist, as he missions to safely transport Ellie, a girl who may well be the answer for everything as she is immune to the infection, to a group of doctors and scientists who believe she may hold the cure. Ellie is kinda thrown on Joel unexpectadly, and because of such, he is at first hesitant and reluctant. Their first few hours together are untrusting and awkward, but as the game progresses they slowly become more comfortable and begin to show small concerns for one another. The character progression from start to finish is absolutely amazing. This is championed by the amazing direction and voice acting. Even small side characters who you'll meet on your journey, are truly believable and unique with their own personalities. I was torn between rushing so I could get to that next story sequence I so craved to see, or to explore every inch in an environment and possibly find something useful or another conversation segment. Your journey will take you from Boston to Utah, across country, on everything from foot, to car, and horseback. You'll pass through several cities, towns, and nature regions along the way.
The mood is dark, there's no denying it. This isn't your typical video game happy story. People will die, people you care about. No one is safe. There is plenty of tragedy, but this is how this reality would be. You fight, or you die. You kill, or be killed. I'll add that I'm not one to get emotionally caught up in ANY medium. The Walking Dead is the only game, movie, etc, to ever make me shed real tears. That was, until I played the Last of Us. I made it through 90 percent of the game before it reached me. Near the end of the game, one simple, yet incredibly moving scene, completely broke me. And it wasn't a sad moment. It was a HAPPY moment. Right after one of the most hurtful moments in the game, after a heart-wrenching sequence, one small "light in the darkness" so to speak, turned me into a little boy. The mood is so bleak, and these characters go through so much, that when this beautiful yet small almost meaningless sequence occurred, I immediately had happy tears flowing down my cheeks. I felt what these characters must have felt, and for that Naughty Dog, I applaud you.
The combat is good. It's not the best I've played, but it works with the realism of the game. I had a blast with the stealth aspects of the combat. There are however, a lot of areas where stealth is basically impossible. Even then, combat works fine, it's fluid, and fun. Finding supplies, you can craft items such as health kits, shivs, bombs, etc. Weapons are also upgradeable through the use of tools and workbenches. I won't talk much about all these mechanics, as it goes pretty deep, and though while enjoyable, to me it was just a way of moving through the story and seeing everything. The difficulty on normal was rather easy, and I only encountered a few areas that I had to replay more than 3 or 4 times. Even dying isn't much of a pain since the game saves every few minutes, and load times after death are rather short.
The main enemies are really broken into 3 categories. Human, infected Humans called "Runners", and fully infected humans called "clickers" as the infection has caused them to go blind and rely on their sensitive hearing. Stand directly in front of a clicker, and they won't see you. Unless you make a noise. Though, if they hear you and charge you, they're one hit kills. This leads to some pretty intense moments in dark buildings and tunnels filled with these clickers as you try to quietly make your way through them. One wrong move, say you step on some broken glass, and you're dead. Still, I was somewhat disappointed that the game never really scared me. Even though this game is really an adventure survival game and not horror, I had heard people claiming it was a horror-survival. There are some very intense moments, for sure, but I was never truly terrified of enemies. But this is a very small gripe that technically isn't even a complaint as the game makes no claim of being a horror game.
If I do have one complaint about The Last of Us, it's that it had to end. Not to say it's a short game, I beat it in about 16 hours, which is amazingly long given the amount of detail throughout. You could probably rush through in 12, but you would miss out on so much of the little things that make this game so great. So play it, take your time, and savor it. You likely won't see another experience like this until the inevitable sequel. And if it's for PS4, we will all probably explode from the sheer awesomeness, because Naughty Dog just made one of the most beautiful looking, well playing, and incredibly acted games of all time on an 8 year old system
I tried to go into this game ignoring the hype ; I've seen the perfect scores from game sites. I wanted to ignore this and play this game and have my own experience and give the game what I felt it deserved, not based on what other people thought because everyone is different. But Naughty Dog has just showed us one more thing : That if you create a masterpiece, even the doubters will have to acknowledge it.
Final Verdict :
- Darrell
If I were to sit down and truly imagine what a real life "zombie" apocalypse would be like, I struggle to see how I could come anywhere close to the realism of The Last of Us. Naughty Dogs re-imagining of the typical end of the world trope has changed the way I look at video games as a medium. Not since Telltale Games unbelievable "The Walking Dead" episodic series have I felt such a connection to a video game's characters. Character progression? The Last of Us practically oozes it. A good, emotionally gripping story? One of the best I've ever seen, in any medium. Naughty Dog put so much detail into every inch of The Last of Us, that I have absolutely no problem in saying, The Last of Us is the most well-made video game I've ever played. And it isn't even close. It does so much right, that I don't even know where to begin, but I'll start where The Last Of Us really shines: environmental story-telling.
Everything in this world seems REAL. Existent. Joel and Ellie will have conversations about the simplest things. Walk past a barbecue grill, and Joel will explain to Ellie what they were used for in his day. Or passing an Ice Cream truck, Ellie might ask what it is. See, The Last Of Us takes place 20 years in the future. 2o years after the disease spread. Ellie is 14, and this destroyed desolate world, is the only one she has ever known. Joel was roughly 30 when the infection broke, so he's seen both worlds. He tells Ellie stories of how the world was before. This is all fluidly blended into the games exploration. Run through, and you'll likely miss some of the more touching moments the game has to offer. Naughty Dog not only reflects what a pandemic like this might actually be like, but also shines light on the stupid things we care about in these times. As I look at a poster of a model on the side of a decaying building, Ellie chimes in. "Why is she so skinny? I thought you had lots of food in your day?" "We did, some people just chose not to eat it. Some people liked looking that way." "That's stupid." Ellie intelligently responds. Stand still for a while and Ellie might pull out her joke book to lighten the mood. So many little moments like this make you feel like you really know these characters, and you genuinely share a connection with them. And these characters,.. wow. Naughty Dog has truly set the bar for animation and facial expression in video games. I swear Ellie's eyes are as real as you or mine. Every story sequence is so masterfully acted and crafted, that it's likely better than any movie you'll see this year.
 |
| The facial expressions alone tell the feelings of each character. |
Graphically, from facial animation to hair and environments, The Last of Us looks like a next generation game. It's baffling the amount of visual detail they were able to squeeze out of an 8 year old console. The Last of Us is nearly flawless in terms of technical glitches, albeit a few rare quips here and there. The environments are rich with history and detail, every abandoned house tells a story. The foliage is especially beautiful, particularly in the areas where nature has retaken ownership. Former parking lots are now covered in grass and trees. A once luxury hotel now has a swamp occupying the lobby. A school building now hosts a group of bandits. I could go on for a very long time. Just know, that so much care has been embedded into this game that it would be a travesty for Naughty Dog to not have their work experienced by everyone.
 |
| The environments just beg to be explored. |
The story of The Last of Us stands among the greatest ever told in a video game. I honestly cant think of one that tops it, and the only one I can even consider coming close is the afore-mentioned Walking Dead series. If you're reading this, you likely have at least a vague idea of the story, so I won't dive too deep into it (It would be very hard to without spoiling anything anyway), but I'll give a vague outline. The majority of the story focuses on Joel, the protagonist, as he missions to safely transport Ellie, a girl who may well be the answer for everything as she is immune to the infection, to a group of doctors and scientists who believe she may hold the cure. Ellie is kinda thrown on Joel unexpectadly, and because of such, he is at first hesitant and reluctant. Their first few hours together are untrusting and awkward, but as the game progresses they slowly become more comfortable and begin to show small concerns for one another. The character progression from start to finish is absolutely amazing. This is championed by the amazing direction and voice acting. Even small side characters who you'll meet on your journey, are truly believable and unique with their own personalities. I was torn between rushing so I could get to that next story sequence I so craved to see, or to explore every inch in an environment and possibly find something useful or another conversation segment. Your journey will take you from Boston to Utah, across country, on everything from foot, to car, and horseback. You'll pass through several cities, towns, and nature regions along the way.
The mood is dark, there's no denying it. This isn't your typical video game happy story. People will die, people you care about. No one is safe. There is plenty of tragedy, but this is how this reality would be. You fight, or you die. You kill, or be killed. I'll add that I'm not one to get emotionally caught up in ANY medium. The Walking Dead is the only game, movie, etc, to ever make me shed real tears. That was, until I played the Last of Us. I made it through 90 percent of the game before it reached me. Near the end of the game, one simple, yet incredibly moving scene, completely broke me. And it wasn't a sad moment. It was a HAPPY moment. Right after one of the most hurtful moments in the game, after a heart-wrenching sequence, one small "light in the darkness" so to speak, turned me into a little boy. The mood is so bleak, and these characters go through so much, that when this beautiful yet small almost meaningless sequence occurred, I immediately had happy tears flowing down my cheeks. I felt what these characters must have felt, and for that Naughty Dog, I applaud you.
 |
| Naughty Dog excels in visual story-telling. |
The combat is good. It's not the best I've played, but it works with the realism of the game. I had a blast with the stealth aspects of the combat. There are however, a lot of areas where stealth is basically impossible. Even then, combat works fine, it's fluid, and fun. Finding supplies, you can craft items such as health kits, shivs, bombs, etc. Weapons are also upgradeable through the use of tools and workbenches. I won't talk much about all these mechanics, as it goes pretty deep, and though while enjoyable, to me it was just a way of moving through the story and seeing everything. The difficulty on normal was rather easy, and I only encountered a few areas that I had to replay more than 3 or 4 times. Even dying isn't much of a pain since the game saves every few minutes, and load times after death are rather short.
The main enemies are really broken into 3 categories. Human, infected Humans called "Runners", and fully infected humans called "clickers" as the infection has caused them to go blind and rely on their sensitive hearing. Stand directly in front of a clicker, and they won't see you. Unless you make a noise. Though, if they hear you and charge you, they're one hit kills. This leads to some pretty intense moments in dark buildings and tunnels filled with these clickers as you try to quietly make your way through them. One wrong move, say you step on some broken glass, and you're dead. Still, I was somewhat disappointed that the game never really scared me. Even though this game is really an adventure survival game and not horror, I had heard people claiming it was a horror-survival. There are some very intense moments, for sure, but I was never truly terrified of enemies. But this is a very small gripe that technically isn't even a complaint as the game makes no claim of being a horror game.
If I do have one complaint about The Last of Us, it's that it had to end. Not to say it's a short game, I beat it in about 16 hours, which is amazingly long given the amount of detail throughout. You could probably rush through in 12, but you would miss out on so much of the little things that make this game so great. So play it, take your time, and savor it. You likely won't see another experience like this until the inevitable sequel. And if it's for PS4, we will all probably explode from the sheer awesomeness, because Naughty Dog just made one of the most beautiful looking, well playing, and incredibly acted games of all time on an 8 year old system
I tried to go into this game ignoring the hype ; I've seen the perfect scores from game sites. I wanted to ignore this and play this game and have my own experience and give the game what I felt it deserved, not based on what other people thought because everyone is different. But Naughty Dog has just showed us one more thing : That if you create a masterpiece, even the doubters will have to acknowledge it.
Final Verdict :
- Darrell
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Movie Review: The Impossible
The Impossible is about one family and there TRUE story of survival and even though it's revolves around a natural disaster, that's not what this movie is. It's not about a tsunami or how cool they could make it look on screen, it's about the complete terror these people felt, the despair it brought, the lives it ruined, and the people it affected. And even though it tells the story of one family, its about many more.
The first thing we see after the tsunami hits is Maria (Naomi Watts) and Lucas (Tom Holland) being swept away and debris violently crashing into them. In my opinion that scene was realistic and probably the most frightening to watch. The scene following was pretty disturbing to watch as well, it takes place after most of the water washes back into the ocean and Maria is walking in front of Lucas through shallow murky water when Lucas notices a piece of flesh and muscle ripped away from his mothers thigh. He is alarmed by the sight and stops and whispers "Mama". When she turns around her shirt is torn and he sees her exposed breast and blood just beneath it from where she was stabbed in the chest by a branch. He turns away from her and she fixes her shirt but he still can't force himself to turn back around and look at her. He tells her he can't see her like that, so she tells him to walk in front of her. The emotion in that one single moment gave me chills.
What really made the movie for me was the acting. Every actor and actress in this movie, even the kids, knew exactly what their characters were feeling and they showed it really well with their facial expressions when they were scared or hurt, in their tears when they were crying, the look in their eyes, and in their overall demeanor. There was one scene in particular where Henry (Ewan McGregor) broke down crying on the phone as he was trying to tell his family back home that he couldn't find his wife and son. The emotion he showed at that moment was enough to break your heart. And the scene where Lucas reunites with his brothers makes you feel happy inside and you almost feel like crying with joy. The best acting however, came from Naomi Watts. She not only thought she lost her family, but she was badly injured as well and she really portrayed the part perfectly. This entire movie was full of different emotions and you experienced every one of them with them as if you were part of their family.
Pros: Acting at its Best/ Breathtaking Disaster Scene/ Human Emotion/ Realistic Setting
Cons: none
8 out of 10
~Tiffany
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
5 Horror Gems You Probably Haven't Seen
Halloween is just a few days off, and if you're like me, you love this time of year. Everyone loves watching horror movies on Halloween, but lately, good horror movies are hard to come by. So, mainstream movies aside, I've decided to put together a list of the best horror movies in recent years that you probably haven't seen.
Low-budget, some bad acting, and hate-able characters couldn't keep me from enjoying this fun little flick. Fan of Ghost Hunters? Maybe Ghost Adventures? Well Grave Encounters depicts what you wish would happen when those morons beckon ghosts to make their presence known. In the found footage style made popular by The Blair Witch Project and recently, Paranormal Activity, G.E puts a new spin on the genre. Taking elements that already exist, with shows like Ghost Hunters, and thrusting apparition after apparition into the viewers face. The movie follows some film-makers making a new tv show called, what else, Grave Encounters. The acts they put on are purposely fake, as they are actors within the movie itself, making their own show. But once things start happening that isn't a part of the show, their true colors show, and the real fun begins. The star of this movie is the Asylum itself where it's filmed. The atmosphere makes the movie seem even more genuine, and makes this one of my favorite found footage type films I've seen.
All communication is lost when a strange signal, that turns anyone who listens to it into homicidal maniacs, invades every tv, radio, and cellphone. Part romance, part black comedy, and part horror, The Signal is a unique mixture of different genres that seam together beautifully. Similar in those respects to, Shaun of the Dead, The Crazies, and Zombieland, there's also another feature that sets The Signal apart. The story is told in three parts, from three different perspectives. A woman, her husband, and a third man who she has fallen in love with and has been seeing behind her husband's back. It's a love triangle set amidst a world that is falling apart. The signal that is affecting people, has driven people to insanity, but surprisingly, they still have all their faculties. Meaning, that you don't know who is crazy and who isn't. They don't become zombies. They're seemingly normal people, with just very violent and insane tendencies at a moments notice. Sometimes someone you think is perfectly sane, turns out to be crazy, and vice-versa. The uniqueness of this film deems it worthy a watch, so give it a shot. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
This is actually my favorite movie to watch on Halloween. The whole movie takes place on Halloween, and focuses around 4 short stories. Throughout the movie, the stories interweave in a beautiful and intelligent way. The stories range from a group of teenagers investigating a local ghost legend, to a school principal who moonlights as a serial killer. The movie never takes itself too seriously, but still packs a few chills, and a good amount of laughs as well. The stories themselves would each make for a decent horror flick, but they way they come together makes it all the more awesome. The story jumps back and forth through different times of the night, so occasionally you'll catch a glimpse of events from the other stories taking place from a different perspective. It all makes for a good fun watch on Halloween or any other night of the year that you just want to experience that Halloween feeling.
Tucker & Dale is the Three's Company of horror. It all revolves around hilarious misunderstandings. And when I say hilarious, I mean hilarious. There were a few parts in this movie that made me tear up from laughing. The story revolves around two good ole country boys, Tucker and Dale, who simply want to get away to their newly purchased vacation cabin. The boys planned to spend a few days fixing up the place and making it into a respectable cabin, but when a few college kids show up, the plans get thrown out of whack. The college kids, seeing Tucker & Dale, immediately assume the worst. They MUST be crazy cannibal rednecks who want to muder and eat them. So they do what anyone else would do in their situation (not exactly). They try to take them out before they get taken out. However, Tucker & Dale know nothing about it and continue working on their cabin. To make matters worse for Tucker and Dale, is that as the kids try to kill them, they end up killing themselves without Tucker and Dale even realizing it. So, in a series of absolutely hilarious suicides and failed murder attempts, Tucker and Dale finally realize that they are being targeted. This doesn't help much, as they're actually a bunch of babies, but they finally get the courage to fight back. But the kids corpses keep filling up their yard, and the with the only witness to what's really going on knocked out, Tucker and Dale may have a tough time getting out of this situation.
And my favorite horror movie of all time. Imagine following Jason Voorhees around with a video camera as he explains the things he does. How does he walk so fast? How does he get that door to slam at just the right time? BTM follows Leslie Vernon, a lesser known Jason more-or-less. He gives us an inside look into what these horror icons do(if they really existed of course). BTM takes every horror cliche in the book and explains it in a way that's both hilarious and genius. The crew documenting becomes fascinated and drawn into Leslie's world all the way up until the moments when they have the difficult choice to stop Leslie or let him be. The movie is absolutely hilarious but so smart that it will make you never look at horror movies the same way again. Anytime I watch a Michael Myers film or Freddy film, I catch myself going, "Leslie showed me how you do that." The cast was great, and though low budget, remains my favorite horror of all time, and is also one of my favorite MOVIES of all time. If you haven't watched it, and are a fan or horrors at all, do it NOW. I have a friend who hates horror movies but loved BTM, so give it a try none-the-less.
Happy Halloween :D
-Darrell
Movie Review: Session 9
Session 9 begins with an asbestos cleaning company given the job of ridding the Danvers State Mental Institution of all the asbestos in the building. The tension between the members of the crew, Gordon, Phil, Hank, Mike, and Jeff, is high from the start. Gordon, the owner of the company, is having problems with his wife, Wendy, because of the stress of financial problems and of being a new parent. Phil, angry at Hank for stealing his girlfriend, has turned to marijuana. Jeff , youngest in the group and the nephew of Gordon, is the jokester of the group, when he is asked to check the breaker box in the basement he says he can't because he suffers from nyctophobia, a fear of the dark. Mike, a law-school dropout, finds an evidence box in the basement with taped sessions of Mary Hobbes, a patient with multiple personality disorder. She has 3 personalities, Billy, Princess, and Simon. During most of the film the doctor in the recording is trying to understand who Simon is and how he influences Mary. The doctor asks where each personality lives and is told that the Princess lives in the tongue because she talks a lot, Billy lives in the eyes because he sees everything, but since we haven't heard from Simon and the doctor can't get the other two personalities to talk about him, we don't know where he lives. Could it be that he isn't a personality at all but a demon of sorts?
Pros: Thrilling Atmosphere/ Realistic Story/ Enticing Back Story
Cons: Acting/ No Main Plot
Final Verdict: 4.5/10
~Tiffany
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