Hi everyone.

Long time no blog post.

I thought I'd share with you my latest itch that I need to scratch....RPGs. My history with RPGs has been rather simple...90% of RPGs that I have played and enjoyed the most are fantasty style RPGs like the Elder Scrolls, Two Worlds, The Bard's Tale, Wizardry, Wizards & Warriors, Baldur's Gate, etc...

But after completing Oblivion on the 360(simply awesome), I've had the itch to try more turn-based RPGs. So with that, I give you, the latest additions to my collections.

1) Blue Dragon came out exclusively on the 360 with mixed reviews but, this is the one I've started on so far, and I've been really, really enjoying it. The cut scenes are of really high quality. The story might be a little simple and more geared towards younger gamers but, I'm a kid at heart so that doesn't really bother me. I've heard that the game gets much better on disc 2...great because so far I'm liking disc 1. Blue Dragon will be the game I will be most focused on for the next little while.

2) Knights of the Old Republic is probably the title people will be sracthing their heads thinking "you've never played this before???" I love the Star Wars movies and games...this is a critically acclaimed title that I have yet to really experience other than a quick try many months ago. I'm thinking if I give it a "real" try that I'm going to love it. It's Bioware...enough said.

3) KOTOR II - why only play the original when you can play the sequel? Seriously, I picked this up for $9 CDN at Blockbuster. I thought it was a steal of a deal.

4) Jeanne D'Arc on PSP is seen more as a strategy RPG but I had to include because it has a terrific storyline...the Joan of Arc story with some interesting twists. The combat system is pretty cool and it's a perfect title when I'm in the portable gaming mood. Oh, and I'm also French, which kinda helps...there I said it.

So, right now, I'm playing Blue Dragon and Jeanne D'Arc and I'll have the KOTORs to tackle on afterwards...I'll probably see you all next year.

Happy Canada Day everyone!

Luc

Great timing...just as Metal Gear Solid 4 is released, I'm leveled up to "Snake Eater". Because of the lack of a PS3, I didn't get MGS4 but, I'm happily playing MGS Portable Ops on my PSP.

I can't help to feel that I'm a Gamespot underachiever due to the lack of badges in my profile....I only have four. If this was the boy scouts, I would suck!

Cheers and have a great weekend!

Luc

hi everyone.

In some sort of weird circumstance, I didn't spend a penny and I got my PSP. My wife and I decided to sell one of our old tube televisions on a local website where we live. All the dollar offers we were getting were below expectations but after a few days, I received an email from someone asking if I was interested in a trade for a PSP and some games.

My wife saw the email and she immediately told me to do the trade...and she did this for me because she is always supportive of my gaming (I know, I'm such a lucky man). In the end, I ended up getting the PSP, a memory stick and five games(Killzone, GTA Vice City Stories, Socom Fireteam Bravo 2, Tekken and some Dragonballz game). I've never been a fan of portable gaming but after my first night trying it out, I love this device. Lots of functionality, excellent graphics and I can't get over the sound quality.

Let's just say that I never expected to put this tv for sale and get an offer like this. I'm really glad the trade worked out.

Cheers!

Luc

Hi folks.

It's been a while since my last entry and to start off, I thought it would be fitting that I finally write my impressions of GTA IV. I realize that there are many people that have already finished the main story but the key to my enjoyment of the Grand Theft Auto series has always been to take my time. Not to keep you guessing, I'm about 38% in GTA IV.

Grand Theft Auto IV is by far, my favorite of the series and there are several reasons for this. Other than the satisfying leap in graphics, the new car and gun controls really make it easier to complete missions. In past GTA titles, sometimes I felt that I would have to redo missions because the controls weren't as accurate as they should have been.

The other thing has to do with the cinematic feel to the storyline and missions. I recently completed the "Three Leaf Clover" mission, which is the bank robbery at First Liberty Bank and it really blew me away. The moment when you arrive at the bank all guns drawn, followed by the cut scene of the police rushing to foil the crime...helicopter fyling overhead....just amazing! These little details really impact the overall experience of GTA IV.

Now, the big question is....does it deserve the 10 it was given by Gamespot and IGN? Maybe, maybe not... The only reason I'm blogging about that particular aspect is that it seems to be a sore spot for many readers. Some magazines and website rated it a 10 and personally, I'm not going to argue against that because I really feel it deserves to be the highest rated Grand Theft Auto game partly due to some of the improvements I previously mentionned. As long as these websites and magazines are consistent with their rating system.

Here's where I will complain and this is directed at the Official Xbox Magazine (OXM). OXM, you rated Fight Night Rd 3 a 10/10 and in the same issue you rated Oblivion with a 9.5. I wasn't a big fan of that decision but again, I was willing to overlook it because reviews are opinions and at the time, I felt you were being consistent. Then, last year, you rated Bioshock, Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 with a perfect 10/10.

Bioshock was a masterpiece...I love the story, graphics and it screams of quality. However, both endings leave to be desired. Oh, and for a first person shooter, there's no multiplayer...hmmm, a 10...ok next?

Halo 3 had a "ho-hum" single player campaign but with 4 player coop. It had decent graphics and a very deep multiplayer experience. I really feel that Halo 3 is NOT the next generation leap that most expected. It is the title that is the most overrated in 2007. Again, a 10 in OXM.

And finally, COD4...well, I'll leave Call of Duty 4 alone because it's as close to a 10 as any game deserves.

So, two of the above titles (Halo 3 and Bioshock) have shortcomings but yet you(OXM), chose to overlook these flaws and give these a 10. I have to also add that if you rated Halo 3 a 10/10, the Elder Scrolls Oblivion certainly deserves a "perfect" 10 as well. You can probably tell, I am NOT a Halo fan by any stretch but I do love Bioshock.

Now, here comes GTA IV with its massive world, much improved controls and deeper storyline...the very definition of a NEXT GEN leap...OXM scores it a 9.5/10??? Hardly seems consistent or fair. Someone has to explain to me why OXM has been so forgiving with First Person Shooters but not titles like Oblivion or GTA IV.

Final note - I tried the GRID demo downloaded from XBL and I highly recommend trying it. It looks and plays great!

Cheers!

Luc

hi everyone.

So, I've decided to go on a "game buying freeze" in order to play games I've been wanting to finish for the longest time. Now that I have GTA IV, I figure I have enough games to tide me over the entire summer. There's also a list of older titles on Xbox and Gamecube that I've wanted to finish as well. Here's a brief overview of games I'll be trying to finish over the next few months. For Xbox 360 titles, the goal is also to maximize the number of achievements I can unlock. Yes, I'm that type of gamer!

1 - GTA IV (360) - finished

2- Two Worlds (360)

3 - Splinter Cell Double Agent (360)

4 - Stuntman Ignition (360)

5 - Jeanne D'Arc (PSP)

6 - Test Drive Unlimited (360)

7 - Jade Empire (Xbox)

8 - Resident Evil 4 (Gcube)

9 - Just Cause (360)

10 - Hitman Contracts (Xbox)

11 - Resident Evil 0 (Gcube)

12 - Killzone Liberation (PSP)

13 - Marvel Ultimate Alliance (360)

14 - Forza 2 (360)

15 - Spiderman Friend or Foe (360)

16 - Knights of the Old Republic (Xbox)

17 - GTA Vice City Stories (PSP)

18 - The Club (360)

19 - Blacksite Area 51 (360)

20 - Need for Speed Pro Street (360)

21 - Blue Dragon (360)

22- Mercernaries (Xbox)

Phew! I'm tired just looking at all of these titles.

Hi Folks.

I hope you're all ready for the weekend. To start things off, my review for Medal of Honor Airborne is out for you to read. As always, let me know what you think.

Cheers,

General Luc