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• 26Sep 09

  Life, Love and Leveling Up

  

  Haven't updated in over two years, where does the time go? New jobs, new games, new friends...or something like that. Currently I am trying to enjoy Scribblenauts. Awful controls and a desire to just "win" has kept me from really branching out and exploring the many ways to beat each level, which in its essence is the purpose of the game...using your imagination.

  

  Recently completed Batman: AA and before that Prototype, both pretty good games, but quickly finished and will remain on the shelf except for a brief return during a boring day or to show off to a friend.

  

  Fallout 3, wow, brought me back from the depths of gaming mediocrity. Fallout 3 was fun enough to never use a strategy guide, except for getting completely lost once or twice. Exploration at its finest and a completely difference experience every time. Play as good or evil, as best as any game I suppose could implement it. Just grabbing a gun and wandering into the wasteland is deliciously exciting.

  One time I ran across The Roach King who played no part of the storyline at all, but apparently is a guy who could control giant Rad Roaches, had a throat of junk and didn't want any part of me. Another trip brought me about a hidden valley full of trees and one which spoke...sorry, even spoilers have an expiration date.

  

  Unrelated to games, my exotic frog collection has increase nth fold and a nano saltwater tank distract me briefly from gaming when capable, as does "women" and a full time job. Oh the days of being back in college.

  -Murdock out

  • Posted Sep 26, 2009 8:47 pm GMT
  • Category: General
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• 29Mar 07

  Rockstar's Bully is Underrated

  Bully joined my PS2 collection in early March thanks to an unwanted birthday. Due to a fascination with Final Fantasy 12, a borrowed copy of God of War and now Freedom Fighters, it had the potential to go un-played for quite some time, but I'm happy (so far) that I tore off the plastic wrapping.

  ..

  Everything that Rockstar touches isn't gold and while I love the GTA series, they've done alot to bring unwanted heat to gaming and seem to have persistent issues with some gameplay and quality within their games. That being said, they're games are still flippin' great and Bully is quickly finding a place in my heart besides Psychonauts, Shadow of the Colossus, and Kingdom Hearts II. There is alot of character, personality and production that went into this game and it's a shame to see it go unnoticed.

  Rockstar decided to stray away from the completely tactless humor, boosted the graphics and shrunk the explorable world into something that is much more, personal. All your schoolmates have names and each has a relatively distinct personality. Sure you have generic looking Jock 1 and Greaser 2, but there is only one of each, they have a look to themselves and I find myself going "Oh crap, there's Bif again" just as one might were they living on campus and in town.

  The story is a little quirky at times, but has so far made me L-O-L enough times to set it apart from most titles I've played. The dialogue is interesting and the characters are all varied in their personalities outside of their intended stereotype giving them life you rarely find outside of a well made RPG. Jimmy Hopkins is a character for the ages whom is a believable bad boy, but never too over the top. He's a selfish jerk, but still has compassion, just as a boy his age would.

  ..

  Due to the fact this post is far longer than anyone will ever care to read, I'll wrap up. The music is wonderful, very atmospheric and original when it could've been some generic rock or other nonsense for the mainstream masses. The colors are vivid and spot on for the setting. Extra missions and collecting are in place, but never excessive and each accessible, a small glint on objects to attract your attention doesn't hurt either.

  Bully is quickly becoming a truly great game and welcome addition to my library.

  • Posted Mar 29, 2007 11:15 pm GMT
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• 22Aug 06

  Wind Waker Animated Short

  
  Ganon's Monologue is a short animated flash film I made back in 2003 for Newgrounds.com. If you like it, vote me a fiver.
  
  
  
  It features word for word Ganon's speech before Link and his final battle in the Wind Waker. I was surprised at the depth and emotion that was put into it. If you were ignorant enough to be turned off by the cel shaded look or simply didn't finish it you'd know that Ganon doesn't spout some generic, cliched nonsense about how he'll "Beat Link" or "Lay the smack down". It's what sold me on the true quality of the Wind Waker.
  
  
  
  The audio is in Korean (I thought it was Japanese) when I made it, but it gives it some flair, even if when translated...it's not even close to what is being said. Few should notice and to those that do, I apologize. It's not the best, but I tried to mimic the artwork style as best I could, not bad for a first attempt at flash. I really would like to go back and animate that seagull..oh well.
  
  Yes, the moon from Majora's Mask makes a cameo. The runtime is a little over a minute and took about a month of on and off work to complete.
  
  
  • Posted Aug 22, 2006 7:16 am GMT
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