• 7Mar 13

  I think there is a third wall...

  Yo, or Hello.

  How is everyone on this site these days? Since the merger between Giant Bomb and CBS I've been visiting the old Gamespot more, mainly for a nostalgic boost, but also to check up on things. I the one thing I've notice, other then the lack of active users on my Friend list/ tracker list, is how stupid Fithteen year-old me was. God, read over my old post is embrassing! Obviously this is the case for most people, and at times I wonder why I haven't storm though these old blogs deleting the posts. Buy hey, it's nostalgic.
  
  I don't know what the point is to what I'm writing. I don't know why I'm writing at the moment...
  
  Well I guess to the last couple of active users on this site, here some stuff! Awesome! - Also side note I realize that people move on and have lives... I sure do.
  
  Game of the Year

  I know this is late but I started to write a Game of the Year list of the Hoildays but I had some freelance work on work on for the first of the month. I realize I haven't finished the last couple of years lists, I should rethink how I apporach these list for this year. Anyway... There is a sad twist to this years list. I didn't get to play many games this year that I deem worthy of the title '2013's Game of the Year,' so no XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Asuras Wrath, Sleeping Dogs, Dishonored, Syndicate, or Far Cry 3. Although I do own a lot of these games. Hopefully Ill get around to playing them this year, hopefully I've started to slowly work through 'Sleepy Dogs' (Sleeping Dogs). Anyway on to my top five Games of the Year! Yes sadly only five;

  Number Five - K-ON! Houkago Live!! HD Version

  I love K-ON! and I realize that I'm obsessed with the IP. Not only do I own the Limited Edition Version of the K-ON! Movie and all the albums, I now own both versions of the game and with good reason. Ignoring the fact that this is part of the K-ON! fanchise, K-ON! Houkago Live!! HD Version is a fun rhythm game in the vein of a Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA. Where players must react to on screen prompts to a song rhythms in order to successfully perform them.

  Number Four - FTL: Faster Than Light

  Oh, FTL. The was a time durning last year where I was coach surfing for a couple of months, weird time, and late at night when I had nothing to do I would just open up my laptop and play hours of FTL.

  Number Three - Tokyo Jungle

  Tokyo Jungle you mix my love of Japan with my love of ridiculous things. Name another game where you can play as Polar Bear running around a decimated Shibuya chasing Dinosaurs. I love this game... Oh, I'm going to go and play it now!

  Number Two - Journey

  Journey had always been on my radar since its announcement at E3 2010. I feel deeply in love with the aesthetic I had no idea what the gameplay was going to be other than taking a Journey. But I never thoguht I would take a Journey... (I'll go now). With all seriousness, I never thought I would encounter a wonderful social experiment that would make me deeply consider how people could interact online. Playing through Journey and experiencing it with another player that I had no, if any, communication with and creating a weird and wonderful bond with this player through only a handful of chirps. And its amazing to think that this bond was strong enough to bum me out when the other play left the game, and its even incredible to think that I cared out another player whos PSN name was xXxSM0K3W33d4L1F3420xXx (Or something alongs thoughs lines).

  And the winner...

  Number One - The Walking Dead

  For someone who doesnt have much or very little interest in the Walking Dead franchise or has never really been big into the zombie genre that has sprung up over the last couple of years. Im surprised that this would be my game of the year, but from the story to the characters, go team Kenny, to the choices the game presents you with I found an though provoking exprence that won't of trade for the world.

  At one point in this game I made a decision that I regret so badly for about twenty minutes, I sat at my desk considering restarting the game and changing the decision and after a while I just had to suck it up and push on. I can't talk about this game without spoiling it so I'll stop.

  So well done to The Walking Dead you join the ranks of 2009's winner Borderlands, 2010's winner Mass Effect 2 and 2011's winner The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

  • Posted Mar 7, 2013 5:00 pm GMT
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• 4Jan 12

  Simons Personal Top 10 Games of the Year for 2011

  Another year… Woo! This year I had two films win awards, I've move in my own place, started universty, began to learn Japanese, and went insane for about a hour, yeah! That was one busy year. So how is Gamespot these days? The posting UI looks pretty... So as you guess it that one time of year where I return to the community to post a one sided Game of the Year list and then leave again. So for those of you who don't know I like to share what I think were some of the best games of this year. This isn't finshed yet, I just wanted to post it now and refine it later.
  
  So here it goes…
  
  Simon's 2011's 2010's Game of the Year
  The game I played the most from last year.
  Pokemon HeartGold & SoulSilver
  
  Runners up;
  Just Cause 2
  K-ON! Hōkago Live!! (けいおん! 放課後ライブ!!)
  
  Simon's Personal Top 10 Games of the Year for 2011
  10. Battlefield 3
  Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC | Developer: EA Digital Illusions CE (DICE)
  Normally I would never buy a game just for its multiplayer but... Battlefield 3 is just madness. Name another game where you jump online take in the impressive visuals, the detail in the terrain as you run into a tunnel travelling to the frontline. When a helicopter flies into the tunnel hits a pillar and blows up.
  
  The multiplayer is just fun, it's something I can't explain you just need to play. Quickly the story; generic military story line with a few interesting narrative hooks, but beyond that we have seen it before.
  
  9. Mortal Kombat
  So... Street Fighter 4... Marvel vs. Capcom 3... I can finally call it... Fighting games are back! Mortal Kombat brings back its silly, over the top game play that has been missed in recent years. The ridiculous storyline that seamlessly blends cut scenes into game play.
  
  8. Gears of War 3
  Platform: Xbox 360 | Developer: Epic Software
  I've always had a love/ hate relationship with Gears of War. I got to late into the original Gears of War, by the time I played it everyone was playing Call of Duty 4, so I never spent any time in the competitive multiplayer, so I only really played the game for the story. For the most part I didn't enjoy Gears of War, mainly because I only play one half of the package, but the story was also lacking. When Gears 2 came around I found a much more enjoyable game, the story was better... It wasn't prefect but better. While I still can't get into the competitive multiplayer, I still find some enjoyment in the amazing survival mode, Horde. Now here comes Gears of War 3, the final game in the trilogy.
  
  It's surprising to see a game franchise conclude in an industry that has annualised sequels. While Gears 3 doesn't answer all the questions it does give a fair amount of closure to Delta squad, and it's hard to see another game with these set of characters.
  
  While Gears of War 3 doesn't break any new ground it just refines what Gears and Gears 2 lies out. Horde mode has been refined with a tower defence like component and a boss wave that deserves the name 'Boss Wave'. Every ten waves one of the games many giant or boss like enemies, some boss are bigger than the maps there in, spawn and wreak havoc... That is if they don't get stuck in the maps geometry...
  
  7. Bastion
  
  6. Shadows of the Dammed
  Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3 | Developer(s): 8-4 & Grasshopper Manufacture
  Being a fan of Suda 51's work, all the any from Killer 7 to More No Heroes, I couldn't wait to see what he's next project was... Wait! His next project will be collaboration with Shinji Mikami, best known as the father of Resident Evil... I don't know that sounds alright I guess… Wait! Also Akira Yamaoka, best known as the sound director on Silent Hill, is also working on this game... Sold!
  
  While I know not Shadows of the Dammed isn't for everyone, I still think this game is one of the funniest games of the year.
  
  5. Yakuza 4
  Platform: Playstation 3 | Developer: Amusement Vision
  I have never played a Yakuza game before playing four, I didn't really know what to expect, but what I found was a game with an interesting story, with fun and enjoyable combat mechanics, and an open world that has endless possibilities.
  
  As I said before I have never played a Yakuza game before playing four and I was surprised to find an in-depth 'previously on Yakuza' feature, that was essentially every cut scene from all the other games, that got me up to speed on the story so far. That is not to say that you need to have play the other games, for the most part you switch between three new characters and the main protagonist for the series. All the characters are surprisingly fleshed out by the end of the twenty hour story, and you really start to care about them. While the situation they're in isn't believable it's still an interesting story that kept my on seat from start to finish.
  
  Even the side-missions are worth searching for. Some of the missions open up story arcs that span entire portions of the game, and fill in some of information about the main characters. While the side-missions don't get the polish that the main story did. Side missions missed out on that fully voiced treatment, which is a shame but doesn't detract from the narrative. "Worth searching for", none of the side-missions are marked on any map and it's down you to explore the streets to find them.
  
  Saying that this game gives you a lot to do is an understatement. The game is set in the busy and noisy streets of Kamurocho. In Kamurocho you can go and buy food, visit a host club, play poker, play roulette, play mah-jong, visit Club Sega, play pinball, go fishing, run a Dojo, enter tournaments, Karaoke, etc... The list goes on... and on. I never found a dull moment in this game, in-between mission I found myself at Club Sega playing on the arcade machines, or playing a game of Pachinko.
  
  The combat is ridiculous, and satisfying; I can't begin to express how fun it is. The combat flows nicely between enemy to enemy, and is easy to master.
  
  4. Deus Ex: Human Revolution
  Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC | Developer(s): Nixxes Software BV & Eidos Studios Montreal
  While I have fond memories of playing the original Dues Ex, from the number of ways to complete one objective to the story, I didn't know what to expect from Human Revolution. All the PR that was shown before the games release promised so much that I didn't believe that a game like this could stand a chance in a market saturated by mindless shooters. But while not all Human Revolutions features panned as well as they should of the game is still blows away any doubts that I had.
  
  Human Revolution keeps the multipath base format that the series is known for while updating it for new players. Each objective has a multiple to tackle it. The player could decide to sneak into the build though an air-vent, hack the turrets and wait for every enemy to be flushed out or he/she could decide to enter the building through the front door, guns blazing, and paint the walls red, it's up to the player.
  
  While the main storyline has some predicable twists, it's still worth playing but what shocked me the most was how interesting the world is. I found myself hacking, next to, every computer in the game just so I could read the e-mails so I could know more about the world. Characters in this game are largely forgettable; we don't spend enough time with the characters to get to know them before the story is driven pass them. The voice acting in this game is terrible, I found myself laughing at most of the characters, well… this really only applies to main cast. There are a few side characters that give a decent, if not brilliant, performance.
  
  3. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
  Platform: Playstation 3 | Developer: Naughty Dog
  While Uncharted 3 doesn't pack the punch that its predecessor did Drake's Deception still is one of the most enjoyable and visually impressive experience on the PS3. From the character driven story, which sees you drive deeper into Drake's and Sully's relationship, to the technically impressive set pieces Uncharted it something that needs to be seen.
  
  While I'll stop talking about the story, the Co-op mode is something special. I won't spoil it for anyone but it's worth playing through for the incredibly funny storyline. The Multiplayer returns refined and polished. This time around Naughty Dog has played to the strengths of Uncharted's climbing mechanic building multilayer maps that welcomes the traversal mechanic that the series is known for.
  
  2. Portal 2
  Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC | Developer: Valve Corporation
  Portal was one of those hidden gems of 2007. A game that I hold highly for its clever writing and unique game play.
  
  It's hard to fathom that Portal 2 can be any bit as good as Portal was, and it isn't... It's better than Portal in every way possible. From the epic storyline that will have to jump deep into that depths of Aperture Science, to the unforgettable characters. Wheatley played by Stephen Merchant and the CEO of Aperture Science himself Cave Johnson played by J.K. Simmons. Both Stephen Merchant and Simmons give unforgettable performances and carry the games brilliant story.
  
  The new game play mechanic, such as Thermal Discouragement Beam, Propulsion and Repulsion Gel, add new challenges to the formula without breaking the core mechanic... Portals.
  
  The Co-op is a wonderful surprise to Portal 2. While I haven't finished the co-op storyline yet, I still enjoy the technical challenging of having these puzzle that can facilitate four portals without feeling like I'm cheating the system.
  
  But you know what makes Portal 2 better than Portal, they improve on everything that Portal laid out, it still has the comedic time of a master... And it does all of this without making a single "the cake is a lie" joke throughout the entire game. Yay!
  
  And my Game of the Year 2011, is... Drum roll... Long pause for dramatic effect... Lets take a look at previous winners; 2009's winner was Borderlands, 2010's winner was Mass Effect 2 and 2011's winners is...
  
  1. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
  Platform: Xbox 360, PC | Developer: Bethesda Softworks
  I can't tell you how much I disliked Oblivion, from its dull combat to its repetitive dungeon design. Don't get me wrong I still appreciated what Oblivion was trying to achieve but it never quite hit the nail on the head, so to speak. With that said I could sit here for hours talking about how the magic system was ineffective, and the archery being broken and how I wish that this game was the open world epic it wanted to be. Thankfully I don't have to because Skyrim is the game you wanted when you played Oblivion, when you played Fallout. It fixes everything that was wrong with those games and goes the extra mile to improve on the formula set out by Bethesda.
  
  As I hinted at in a previous paragraph, I took issue with Oblivion's ineffective magic, and archery mechanics. While the combat in Skyrim is still dull if you stick to just the melee side of the tree, at least Bethesda has fixed that magic and archery so they are now reliable means of attack. Overall combat fells tighter and enjoyable, while yes it gets dull after awhile, encountering an enemy is no longer a pain and that a massive improvement over Oblivion and even Fallout.
  
  Skyrim's world is so detailed. There is always something to do, and you can easily get lost exploring the world or just listening to the people that inhabit the many towns and cities. I found myself spending hours exploring the world finding new towns and cities', listening to the townsfolk as they argue about what faction is more loyal to the empire. Chopping wood, hunting deer, playing tag with some playful children, etc... Starting in a three hour long side quest that has me exploring a dig site to tracking down a powerful artefact. I could go on for hours about the detail that went into the world and the fiction but I'll start to spoil what's so amazing about this game.
  
  While the main storyline was never my main focus while I was exploring Skyrim, I found the side mission, or quest lines whatever you want to call them, are just as fleshed out as the main story. As I mention the three hour quest that I randomly encounter travelling through one of the many cities, the whole game is full with these polished and refined quests lines that are worth digging for.
  
  Overall Skyrim is the game I've wanted Bethesda to make since playing Oblivion back in 2006, and they have nailed it. Like I said the world, the combat, the quest lines are what make this game my game of the year for 2011.
  
  Just to note, I've only play three hours of the PC version and the rest of the hundred hours plus on the Xbox 360 version I haven't touch the Playstation 3 version, but from what I can tell is just plain broken.
  
  Honorable Mentions
  These games didn't quite make my Game of the Year list but are still worth mentioning.
  
  Aban Hawkins & the 1000 SPIKES
  Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
  Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary
  L.A Noire
  Monster Tale
  Total War: Shogun 2
  Okabu
  Pokemon Trading Card Game Online
  
  And there you go my Games of the Year for 2011. Another year, another reason to write about video games... If anyone read this what were your games of the year?

  • Posted Jan 4, 2012 7:34 pm GMT
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• 21Apr 11

  High-school of the Dead and other Anime Reviews...

  Hi,
  
  Um... I should be writing a script for film I'm making but after a long depressing week and a few beers all I could do is sit back and read/ watch my collection of Manga and Anime. And since I have an uncontrollable need to write I through I would write a review... Well not a review, since reviews are always miss interpreted as fact... So... thoughts on a few of the Anime I've been watching.

  High-school of the Dead.

  Zombies and high-school students, ya! No but all sarcastic thoughts a side I had really high hopes for this series and while it doesn't break the mold High-School of the Dead is worth look. I Would like to note at the time of writing my copy of the Manga hasn't arrived yet because Amazon are taking the sweet time shipping it, so any criticism I may give is tailored to the Anime adaption.

  The story follows a group of high-school students in the present day Japan at the start of sudden zombie outbreak, soon find themselves fighting for survival as the whole of humanity breaks down behind them. The story while does get silly at points with over the top characters and shots, for the most part High-school of the Dead is surprisingly well written. The show does a good job of showing the collapse of humanities infrastructure. The characters are interesting and develop well. The group of High-school students consist of Takashi Komuro, the unofficial lead of the group. Rei Miyamoto, I'LL FINISH THIS OFF LATER.

  Quickly I want to talk about the character design, why does every female character need to have huge breasts? It annoys me, that every single female character need to have stupidly big breasts. For an example early on in the series (around episode three) Saya, who until this point, was show as one of the strongest characters (emotionally) out the group finally breaks down and loses it. I was really choked up at this scene to see this character, this stubborn and arrogant character reduced to tears, until the every next shot was a close up of her chest... Wow, High-school of the dead, thanks for sucking all the dramatic tension out of the room. Although these shots are littered throughout the series and this is the only one I can remember destroying the tension of the scene. Although I don't know why I was surprised at the tone of the show after the... reveling opening credits.

  • Posted Apr 21, 2011 5:27 pm GMT
  • Category: Movies
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