Out.

It's new years and I'm going out! In my place, please watch this video and laugh yourself stupid, thanks!

Yakuza: Proof That PS2 Is Not Dead.

Even with the launch of the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii, it seems as if the Xbox, Playstation 2, and Gamecube are going the way of getting skipped over when it comes to a new title. Sony did announce that they are still going to make some new, exclusive titles for the PS2, and Yakuza seems to be one of those.

You play as a man named Kiryu Kazuma, who was climbing the ranks in the Yakuza corporate ladder, then did ten years in prison for murder. He is trying to get his life back when he is caught up in this plot that involves a young girl and a missing $100 million. This action title goes into the seedy underworld of the Yakuza organization which I would love to see more about. I haven't really heard much from this game, and the only pictures I saw in Playstation magazine were a bunch of dudes facing the main character, baseball bat in hand. One quote I couldn't have said better by Metacritic.com: "Kazuma can also "educate" delinquent debtors through visceral shakedowns by grabbing and smashing them against walls and tables, then delivering final skull-shattering blows when the Heat Gauge is maximized." Lovely thought.

I went online and found some screen shots and more than forty reviews on one site from companies and magazines from everywhere. The reviews ranged from Play Station magazine exclaiming "A long and riveting story, plenty of freedom and a fantastic battle system have earned it a spot on my all-time Playstation 2 top 10 list." [Sept 2006, p.52] They gave the game a 95 out of a possible 100. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Times Online (what are they doing reviewing video games?) said, "Roam around Tokyo, find some bad guys, see some load screens, a couple of cut-scenes, some more load screens, press some buttons in fight mode and so on." They gave it a 42 out of 100 Wow. Could they be more generic and bland about this game? That guy either wanted to bash that game because he is over 50 and thinks it is, "too violent," or he just didn't get into the game enough and was looking for something totally different.

Either way, it dropped on September 5th, and this game is definitely worth checking out of you like intense action, a deep plot, and know anything about Japanese mafia to understand how crazy they really are. I'll be picking this game up as soon as I finish Shadow of the Colossus and Drakengard 2, which may be days or months from now. I'll make sure to mention it again when it is in my hands.

P.s. I ordered my 360 on Xmas, as of today, it's in Ohio, I'll keep you updated.

Making Kids Less Lazy With Video games? No Way!

Yeah, you saw what I typed up there. Apparently, in the news today there was an article about a gym class in Georgia that uses Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) as a workout for high school students. The image of the screen is projected on the wall, and the music is projected through a speaker system. The school didn't even have to pay for the equipment because of private grants that they received. In high school, I had to do a dance class freshman year. I hated it with a passion. With DDR though, I wouldn't mind working out on that. DDR actually has a workout mode that you can set so even if you screw up some of the moves, the game still continues. This seems like a great idea to curb the increase of childhood obesity that has been hitting America very hard. Plus, the equipment isn't that expensive. ($40 for the game, $200 or so for the mats, and like $1,000 for a good projector) Really, that is all that is needed. If every high school, and maybe even middle school would do this, I bet there would be a lot more revenue for PlayStation 2 and DDR. Maybe they could even make a "High school" edition or something. There's some easy money for you, Sony.

Shadowing My Life.

On Christmas, I started playing Shadow of the Colossus. 20 minutes into game play, I was amazed that I hadn't seen it earlier. You start off as a boy with the mission to bring a girl back to life. The voices that you hear are really creepy and it gave a lot more interest to the game. You must defeat sixteen Colossi with a special sword. When they say Colossus, they really mean it. When they pop out from the ground, it made me think that there is no way the thing can be beaten. After some careful planning and seeing what it's weakness was, it's amazing how good you will feel after taking down even one of these beasts. It's really cheap, around $15 or so, and it is worth every penny. I was at the mall today and saw more than a few copies, so go out and buy it if you want a challenging, amazing looking game for the PS2. Later.

Convert Or Die.

Has anyone read any of the "Left Behind" books? Anyways, apparently there is going to be a video game based on the books which is sold at Walmart. The name of the game is Left Behind: Eternal Forces. It is the end of the world, and you are the good guys. Your mission is to either convert people (the little characters say "praise the lord" when you do this) or blow their non-christian heads off. It seems like this game is going to get more controversy than a lot of violent video games released in the past. Why? It has to do with christian propaganda and what is really going to happen when the world ends. Some faith leaders want Walmart to take the game off the shelves as soon as possible. I, on the other hand, really don't care. No one will buy this PC game unless they are already Christian and believe things like this. Like I have said before, anything in a video game is NOT going to change my mind on what reality is and the difference between it and something made up. I say to the makers of this game: go ahead, just because it portrays people dying because they don't want to be Christians is not going to make it real. We should know the difference and let freedom of speech actually be free.

Merry Xmas To Me.

So I hope everyone had a Merry Xmas; I sure did. I took all those WalMart cards that I get every year and put them towards something fun: A new next-gen console. The winner was the 360, only because they have them in stock and offer many more games for my age group than the Wii. Don't get me wrong, I am still going to get a Nintendo sometime in the not-too-far future, probably after I pay this off. So...what did everyone out there get for presents?

SNOWBALL FIGHT!

Today is my first day back from home, and I think it is snowing outside right now...awesome. After getting everything unpacked and set up, I began just browsing the Internet and came across a fun game that I think you guys would enjoy. I always liked snowball fight games online, and this one is no different. Snowball Fight is easy to learn, quick paced, and you get to smash down Snowmen as a penguin. I found it really fun to just target a snowman, pop off a few snowballs, and then duck back down before they can hit me. I got around 12,000 points before I finally got hit, so if anyone could beat that, let me know. There's also a few other games like Toy Factory and Candy Cane Race, but Snowball fight is definitely where a lot of the fun is at. later.

Going Home For Break.

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. With 2 hours of working out and signing out kids for the break, I've barely had time to sleep, let alone even go near my computer. I am going home tomorrow morning and should set up my desktop by tomorrow night. Look for an update then, thanks.

Maximo Is Amazing.

I finished Tekken last night, and I hadn't satisfied my video game lust for the night so I began playing Maximo Vs. Army of Zin. After watching a few cut scenes and reading a few reviews online, I knew that this was going to be a good game to play. I only played two or three stages last night, but it was amazing to say the least. There are so many fun hints and secrets that I found myself going back to previous levels so I could beat them even more. It was only about 8 dollars and the game looks really close to flawless, so anyone who needs a cheap Xmas gift for a gamer should check out this game. later

Nostalgia Time.

I've decided to put in this segment of nostalgia every now and then. I might talk about games and systems of the past that we might have forgotten about. I think the best feeling one can experience is when they were little and played a video game and loved it. They then forgot about it, but the second it was mentioned, they remember the game as if they played it yesterday and feel and urge to go out and find it. I keep having to go on E-Bay to find some of those old Super Nintendo games that I used to love to play.

Anyways, this time I am going to help you remember a little item called Game Genie. Remember that chunk of plastic that you had to stuff under a Super Nintendo game? Then you had to look in the code book to find the corresponding code to make the game easier to beat (like using invisibility or unlimited lives). If the game wasn't in the code book, there was no way you could get one because the Internet didn't exist when it first came out, or not nearly as many people had it as they do today. I liked Game Genie because when a game was impossible to beat ( more or less at a young age) a person still could experience what the rest of the game was like if it was too hard for them. In a way, Game Genie opened up an entire game to a person instead of a limited amount of levels that they could accomplish. So, here's to you, Game Genie, because I still own one but I never use it *wink wink*. Later.

Sore.

The last two days have been nothing but pain for me. Since I really couldn't play video games because of my hands cramping, I decided to work out. After 2 hours of basketball and another mile or so on a treadmill, I was dead tired. I had to wake up at 7 for an 8am Literature final. After that, I came back here and played a little Kirby action on the Nes. No matter what anyone says, Kirby is a great title. I also got some hands-on time with Zelda on the Gamecube. It is weird to say, but I think after seeing it on both the Wii and Gamecube, Nintendo's graphics have seemed to slip. it might have been the TV (Wii on an older screen, Gamecube on HDTV) but it looked as if more time was spend on the Gamecube version. Anyways, just wanted to point that out. I ran another 2.5 miles today and am on duty tonight so I am going to take a little cat nap before I have to work.

P.S. No more finals so I'm going to be a video game/ workout junkie for the week. Later.

Mini-Game Madness.

Whenever I get a game to play, everything in it must be beaten before I can go on to a new title. I don't know why I am like this, but I feel as if I'll never feel satisfied until every aspect of a game is completed . Look at Timesplitters 3 for example. They have some of the best mini-games, and there is certainly not a shortage of them. Some can be beaten the first time around, then there are the ones that take a dedicated weekend to beat just one. I enjoy this because it really adds to the whole of the game and makes it a better buy. I've beaten about 95% of Timesplitters 3, but now I am on to a bigger challenge. After destroying Tekken: Tag Tournament for the last week or so, I unlocked Tekken Bowling. Talk about frustrating and addicting at the same time. You must bowl more then a 260 to get in to the next stage, and I haven't broken 200 yet. I'll be on a good run, 5 or 6 strikes in a row, then I'll screw up and almost throw the PS2 controller in frustration. I can't go for more then an hour without playing it and trying to beat it again. Since there is nothing to be done until Monday morning for finals, it looks like bowling will be on the venue. Later.

What Would Be Better.

Since I destroyed all of my finals today, I got to thinking about what I am going to do over Christmas break. I am going to get a new next gen console, but which one is the best? I am torn between the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox 360 since the Playstation 3 is going to be out of my range for some time.

The 360 has a lot going for it. You can play all older Xbox games on it, and it has been out for a year so the price isn't that bad. In addition, I can trade in my Original Xbox for some more money taken off of it. Xbox also has the rights to Gears of War, which would be a really good reason to buy the 360. Microsoft made a really good product, and hopefully I can get one some time before Spring semester kicks in.

The Nintendo Wii also has a lot of options to offer. I don't care that it doesn't have a DVD player, I can use the Playstation 2 or go get one for like $50 at Walmart. The games look alright, but they are nothing too special. Zelda looks promising as a great game and the price for the console and Zelda still isn't that expensive. The part I love the most: Nintendo letting you purchase all the nostalgic games FOREVER. If I get a Wii, there will be maybe one game for it that I buy (Zelda) and the rest would be Nintendo and Super Nintendo games. Let's face it, those games were the best, and there won't be ANYTHING that was as great as the Super Nintendo for quite some time.

Slacking.

I'm sorry I've been slacking, but it is indeed finals week starting up. I'm thinking about writing a great post tomorrow night so stay tuned, thanks.

Horray Money.

YAAAAAAAAY! I made 90 dollars selling my busted ass Sidekick II on E-Bay. What should I buy for games, hmmmm. Any suggestions?

Sleep Kills.

Well, I have done it. I go to lay down for a few minutes and end up missing both the Nip/ Tuck finale and turning off any games that I had on that were NOT saved. I wish I knew what I was doing when I took that nap because it definitely did more harm then good. Well anyways, I played Mark of Kri for the first time today. It is an older game (2002) but it still has some appeal. It's all about a man that must go out and prove his manhood by ripping apart many, many people with a sword or bare hands. It is fun watching the dramatic kill scenes, but it moves so slowly and without purpose, I don't see myself finishing this game for a long while. Tekken Tag Tournament was next. I enjoyed using 2 team members to take on all comers, but my wrists kill after only a few rounds. I must be pushing on the buttons too hard or something. I unlocked a few characters, but I am going to get them all before I quit that game. I don't really have all that much going on this week so I might play Maximo and get into Shadow of The Colossus before break comes. later.

Tranced Out.

Oh am I tired. Last night we had the R.A. banquet. It was amazing; the food, the drinks, all that good stuff. We then had a hypnotist come up and screw with some of us. I was one of those kids. The hour and a half show was a blur since I remember barely anything about it. Apparently I fooled around with the kid next to me and jumped off stage and shook my ass for about 60 people. Great, just great. Anyways, I am dead tired. i beat Drakengard and immediately popped in Tekken Tag Tournament. It was nice to switch to a new game after playing nothing but Drakengard for the last month. I'll let you know how that and The Mark of Kri go. Later.

I Almost Want Homework.

Today, and yesterday have been the most boring two days of my life. I'm not on duty, I don't feel like driving 2 hours home, I have no homework nor finals, and I don't feel like spending money. Solution? Play video games all damn day. I thought it would be awesome to just sit in my wife beater and shorts, eat Chinese food and play Drakengard or maybe tinker with Scarface a little. Wrong. After about 3 hours in, my hands started to cramp and I just gave up. I wish there was something else to do, maybe I could clean, but I'm out of here in 2 weeks so I guess I can save it till then. On a good note though, one of the girls at the desk was too hungover to work so I'm picking up her desk shift hours from 10pm to 2am so I can get paid for doing nothing. Score! Hopefully with the extra cash I'm making and selling a few things on E-bay, I can finally afford one of the next-gen consoles I have been pining after. Later.

<3 Discount Bin.

Since I got my 2 paychecks today (finally) I decided to deposit them and then go to the local Gamestop and see of they had anything good. After looking for a few minutes on the walls, I found nothing I wanted for the prices the were offering. Who is going to pay 40 dollars for a copy of Shadow of the Colossus? (I got it used for $17). So I was just about to leave, then I remembered that all of these places have a bin of games $9.99 and under. Believe me, this thing was packed with a couple hundred games. I found Mark of Kri for PS2 for 4 dollars and Tekken Tag Tournament for 7 I believe. Not too shabby. Funny thing is, my PS2 collection is growing so rapidly. I think I already have 8 or 9 games for the system and I've only had it operational for a month now. Anyways, if I start playing them soon, I'll tell you how they are. I'm still playing Drakengard; it's just a little addicting. later.

Snap, Crackle, Pop...My Wrists.

After years of playing video games, I am finally seeing the effects they have done to my wrists. It sounds like a cement mixer when I rotate my wrists, and I know for sure that it's not a good thing. The only reason it's probably bad is because I'm an English major on top of it. In an average day, I must write 2 or 3 multi page papers and then top; it off with a few hours of video game goodness. Luckily, all my papers are done so I can now fully dedicate myself to Xbox and PS2...lovely. Anyways, I hope everyone already bought everything for xmas, and I hope there were a lot of trips to Gamestop or Eb for it. Later.

Street Fighter Tournament.

Tonight, I hosted a Street Fighter II tournament program. It was for anyone, and like 15 or so kids entered. It was double elimination until the last 3 fights, which were for four kids. I bought like 30 bucks of food for the winner, and there were happy to play for it. It was a really good competition and it came down right to the very end. It didn't take that long, only like a half hour or so. Anyways, my hand feels crippled form playing Drakengard so much in the past few days. Eh, it's worth it. Later.

Crazy People.

I went to the mall yesterday, and boy was it packed. I mean LOTS of people searching for the right presents for friends and loved ones. I went to go see what they had in stock because I was taking a break from finishing some finals. Both EB and Game stop were packed with people. Everyone was buying consoles, games, trading in things...it was a mad house. There were four lines with about 10 people in each, not including the people just looking for games. I managed to find two great games. Shadow of the Colossus and Maximo Vs. Army of Zin. For both of them, I paid like 20 dollars. not a bad deal at all. both of those games were hailed at one point as a great new game and now were in the bargain bin. I knew they had some good titles accidentally thrown in there. I also found the original Raw Vs. Smackdown for Frank for something like 14 dollars. All I know is that I'm happy for doing my shopping early and I don't have to go back to that place until they get some new stock in and the people have left. Later.

Boring Time Down Here.

Well, I'm down here in the office, and since I can't be near my
computer, I might as well type something from my sidekick. I just know
you're dying to hear what I have to say, so here goes. Life is pretty
boring right now, everyone has gone home so this place is pretty quiet.
I love it when it is like this because there are no porblems and no
drunk knock and runs at 4 in the morning. I'm here till 2am, so I think
the kids who are drunk will be passed out by then...hopefully. Anways,
hope you have a good night, after that "almost hurricane" it makes me
glad that I have an excuse to play kirby on nintendo.mmmmmmm that's some
good fun. Later.