tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56227626632394162952024-02-20T04:18:31.588-08:00Unexpected ParcelMedia Reviews, Musings on Life and Unexpected Tomfoolery Guaranteed.
Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-49637720462416394052017-12-31T20:13:00.003-08:002017-12-31T20:13:52.332-08:00My Father's Eulogy<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We are gathered today to celebrate the life, and mourn the
death, of my father; Garry Flatt. These words may not be easy to speak to you
today through my pain, but they were easy to write, because they are directly
from my heart. I hope to honor the man who made me who I am today and who
taught me what it means to be a father. None of the words I could write here
could do him justice, but I will endeavor to earn this privilege.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Who was Garry Flatt? The short version is easy; he was a
husband, father, son, veteran, and a grandfather. He was a lover of animals, a
goofball for his grandkids, a role model, my personal hero, and as I’ve learned
over the last few days, apparently a high school home economics savant. Dad
loved World of Warcraft, TV and Movies, old country songs, reading, and making
sure his yard was always perfect. ALWAYS. These things don’t tell you the story
of my father though, they are just the highlights of the man he was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My Dad was not a perfect man; but he always sought to
overcome his flaws and never stopped trying despite all of the many hurdles
that life placed in his way. Despite these flaws, he was one of the greatest
men I’ve ever known and likely the best I will ever meet. My father was the
kind of man who would go down the street 20 times in a week to help an older
man who was confused about where he was, trim a neighbor’s trees, or offer to
help you do just about anything while expecting nothing in return. If someone’s
appliance broke down, he was there. If your car quit running in the middle of
nowhere, he was there. If you couldn’t make it your next paycheck and needed a
loan, he was there. This is the man my father was and who he taught us all to
be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My brothers and I learned about marriage by watching my
mother and father, with all the good and bad that comes with it. They weren’t
the romantic comedy version of a happy marriage; their love was messy and
sometimes filled with arguments, but it was a real love the kind filled with
imperfections that make it work to stay together. Dad was the kind of man that
would grump and complain, drive my Mom crazy, but always be sure he remembered
her birthday or mother’s day and made damn sure we did as well. My father
worked hard to be a good Dad and husband, my Mom worked hard at putting up with
him sometimes, and after 41 years of marriage they celebrated last month they
taught us that marriage was the kind of work that was worth it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Considering the words I’ve shared with you already, it should
come as no surprise that Garry Flatt was a fantastic father. If we ever wanted
for anything in life, I wasn’t aware of it, and my father went out of his way
to fill us with so many happy memories that I experienced the kind of childhood
some only dream of. He loved us so much that he left his life’s calling, the
only job he ever loved in the military, just to be with us more. It wasn’t
until I was grown of course that I understood this, I just thought that my
experience was a normal one. I didn’t know that some people, including my
father, had terrible and sometimes abusive fathers. I debated on mentioning
that fact today, but I did so you can truly understand my father: he rose above
it; he broke the cycle. Instead of teaching us about a closed fist he taught us
the importance of honoring your word, being kind to others, and the value of
hard work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Whether he was sick, hurt, or still recovering from surgery,
it didn’t matter; Dad would be at work or mowing the yard the second he thought
he could get away with it. Sometimes he taught us the meaning of hard work even
when we didn’t always appreciate the lesson. There was no such thing as a snow
day with my father once we had jobs. We lived out in the country on poorly
plowed roads AND our driveway happens to be a hill. One time my father trekked
up our hill and across the road to attach a come along to the tree and pull our
car onto the main road. At least once in the snow we all CARRIED a car out of
the driveway, just to insure we could not miss work. If my Dad was able to
speak to us today the first thing he might tell me is that I should be at work
right now, not here fussing over him. That was the Master Sergeant in him, and
it stayed with him until the day he died. It is the reason that all of us boys
work so hard to provide for our families and even though we may not have always
learned the lessons with smiles on our faces, we wouldn’t be the same men
without them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">However good a father he was, he was an even better
grandfather. He loved his grandchildren from the minute they were born and in
return they all thought he was a superhero. From birth he showered them with
love, spoiled them with gifts, and always made sure when they visited he had
plenty of WW candies to hand out. Dad wasn’t afraid to get down on all fours
and play with the kids either, even though he had severe and painful cramps all
the time, he would be laying on the floor of the play room coloring or building
legos. To all of them he gave a precious gift; the love of a grandfather that
would have done anything for them and a man they could all look up to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Today there is a huge hole in all of us where my father was
just days ago and I don’t know that we will ever truly recover. My heart is
shattered knowing that I will never see my Dad light up like a kid at Christmas
as he watched his children and grandchildren open their gifts or buy way too
many fireworks on the Fourth of July (at least once managing to catch them all
on fire in a paper grocery bag). When I walk into my childhood home I see his
memory everywhere now. I see it in the swing that he climbed perilously high in
an enormous tree to tie to a branch when we were children; the same swing that
just months ago he pushed his grandkids way too high on. That swing might be
the epitome of my father: his sense of pride in his work and the stubborn
perfectionist in him that managed to make the knots that lasted over 20 years
and the desire to always see his loved ones happy. For me though I’ll always
see him on the back porch, drip drying on our metal chairs after we swam in the
pool and talking with me and still guiding me after 35 years of my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you look around you today you will see the lives my father
has touched. There are people in this room that have driven hundreds of miles
to say goodbye to my father; some of them that knew him in highschool over 40
years ago and yet he left an imprint on their lives.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My family and I put together a memorial website where people
could share stories and pictures of my father, and one man that my father was a
platoon sergeant of 30 years ago contacted us to let us know that the
leadership of my father, providing the same lessons he imparted us, made him a
better man and that the country needed more men and leaders like him. As of
this morning over twelve hundred people have visited this page to pay their
respects to my father because he was the kind of person who made that
impression on you, whether you only met him once or were his flesh and blood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My father is gone, but his legacy will live on in his
grandchildren and sons. Whenever we take pride in our work, you will see our
father. When we help someone in need, without thought of our own gain, you will
see my father. Every time we love with our whole hearts, keep our word, or
stand up for what is right when nobody else will; you will see my father. I
can’t stand here and tell you that my Dad is in a better place, but I can tell
you without a doubt he left this world a better place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I will spend the rest of
my life trying to be the man he showed me how to be. In the words of Conway
Twitty:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Every person carves his spot<br />
And fills the hole with light.<br />
And I pray someday I might<br />
Light as bright as he<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I love you Dad. Goodbye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-34014929191740842442017-12-06T11:00:00.002-08:002017-12-06T11:01:23.059-08:00The Game Awards 2017: Prediction and PicksThis might be an odd place to do this, but I didn't want to make a long post on Social Media and instead decided to put this on my long dormant blog for my random writings. I'm very excited for The Game Awards 2017 as they feel like a celebration of my favorite hobby and the best games of the year. You can go <a href="http://thegameawards.com/">here</a> to choose your picks and see the nominees and below you can see a pick of my favorites and my predictions to actually win in their individual categories. I'm going to go in reverse order as to retain a little suspense about my Game of the Year (although you all already know what I picked.)<br />
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There will be a few categories that I can't vote or predict on because I simply haven't played them or don't hugely follow Esports; namely Best Chinese Game, Best Esports Team, Best Student Game, and Best Esports Player.<br />
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<strong>Best Debut Indie Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Cuphead</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Cuphead</strong><br />
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I really like Golf Story, but I think Cuphead is a slam dunk here as it is widely regarded as a fantastically soul crushing platformer.<br />
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<strong>Trending Gamer</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Andrea Rene</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Andrea Rene</strong><br />
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Steven Spohn has done fantastic things with AbleGamers, but as this represents who has had a banner year in the media of gaming I think it has to go to Andrea. In 2017 she launched her own all girl podcast (along a fantastic group of ladies), joined Kinda Funny as a contractor in my favorite ongoing gaming news show, and did a great job hosting the Nintendo World Championships.<br />
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<strong>Best Independent Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Cuphead</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Cuphead</strong><br />
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For the reasons picked above I have to pick Cuphead, but Pyre was a masterpiece of a game that I think everyone should play.<br />
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<strong>Most Anticipated Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Last of Us Part II</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Red Dead Redemption II</strong><br />
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Wow, what a list of nominees here; I can't wait to play all of them. If I had to pick for the upcoming year it would be Red Dead Redemption II, as I feel that Last of Us won't see the light of day in 2018. However, listing all these games together, I have to go with one of my favorite games of all time for my personal vote. I think Red Dead will get the actual vote though.<br />
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<strong> Best Multiplayer</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Destiny 2</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds</strong><br />
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This was another tough category. Personally I love the heck out of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but didn't think it belonged on this list as it is a remake. I really want to give Splatoon 2 the nod also, as I feel like Salmon Run was one of my favorite game modes of the year, but I have to give my personal pick to Destiny 2 for the fantastic campaign and coop that the series brings to consoles. I think PubG is a clear winner vote wise here, as it made waves in the PC arena and became a phenomenon.<br />
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<strong>Best Sports Racing Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Forza Motorsport 7</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - FIFA 18</strong><br />
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This may be a cheat to vote on for me, as I haven't played any of these extensively, but Forza Motorsport 7 is absolutely amazing, especially on an Xbox One X. While I prefer the Forza Horizon series, it is widely regarded as the best racer out there, and with good reason. However, people lose it for FIFA and if I had to bet it would be on soccer here.<br />
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<strong>Best Strategy Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle</strong><br />
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Halo Wars 2 was a lot of fun, but it seems like not many people played it and Tooth and Tail flew under everyone's radar as an indie game. However, Kingdom Battle surprised absolutely everyone in a drastic turn of nearly universally panned and then critically acclaimed within a span of months. I absolutely loved the game and so it is no surprise it is both my vote and prediction.<br />
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<strong>Best Family Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Super Mario Odyssey</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Super Mario Odyssey</strong><br />
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Quite frankly Super Mario Odyssey deserves everything it is nominated for, and since I truly believe another fantastic Nintendo game will be taking home the Game of the Year, I feel people are going to throw their vote here to give it a very deserved award.<br />
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<strong>Best Fighting Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - ARMS</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Injustice 2</strong><br />
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I'm not a huge fighting game fan, aside from arena brawlers like Super Smash Brothers. It takes a rare fighting game to make me buy it, but that is exactly what ARMS did and I love everything about the game. Even so I can clearly see what makes Injustice 2 special, and with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles making their debut in the game next year, I just might have to pick it up too.<br />
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<strong>Best Role Playing Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Final Fantasy XV</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Persona 5</strong><br />
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To be fair I haven't played a Persona game before, but I know this one was critically and commercially loved by gamers and critics alike. FFXV barely missed the cutoff last year for these awards, but I think that after a year of support it absolutely shines and deserves my personal nod. I am a fan of the series though, so take that as you will.<br />
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<strong>Best Action Adventure</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Horizon Zero Dawn</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild</strong><br />
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Legend of Zelda is a masterpiece and deserves every award it gets, but I desperately want to give Horizon Zero Dawn a nod and I don't think it'll get it otherwise. If not for Zelda I think it would beat out Super Mario Odyssey for my Game of the Year, as it is one of the best games I've played this console generation.<br />
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<strong>Best Action Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Destiny 2</strong><br />
<strong>My Prediction - Wolfenstein II</strong><br />
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I haven't gotten around to Wolfenstein II yet, but I know that it is well loved and is supposed to have a stellar campaign. The category in general is a very odd one with the nominees ranging all over, but I think that Destiny 2 is my clear winner here. Destiny simply feels absolutely spot on with the controls, sound design, and the weight of the world.<br />
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<strong>Best VR / AR Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - N/A</strong><br />
<strong>My Prediction - Resident Evil 7: Biohazard</strong><br />
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I didn't play any of these because I don't have a fancy future helmet, but just the fact that they made Resident Evil work in VR is a testament to itself. Knowing how the games media feel about this game I think they will want to honor it somewhere, and this seems the most likely place.<br />
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<strong>Best Handheld Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Metroid Samus Returns</strong><br />
<strong>My Prediction - Metroid Samus Returns</strong><br />
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I played and enjoyed every game on this nominee list, but Samus Aran needed to be back in a new 2D adventure and here she is. Turns out it was exactly what everyone has wanted and was an absolute joy to play.<br />
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<strong>Best Mobile Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Super Mario Run</strong><br />
<strong>My Prediction - Super Mario Run</strong><br />
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While there was a lot of controversy about Super Mario Run's price point (which I agreed with the price whole heartedly), you can't deny the game is a ton of fun to play. I never thought they could encapsulate the Mario experience to one finger press and a cell phone, but they pulled it off. The release of a hearty expansion later in the year brought me back to play another chunk of hours, something I don't usually do on mobile.<br />
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<strong>Best Ongoing Game</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Overwatch</strong><br />
<strong>My Prediction - Grand Theft Auto Online</strong><br />
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GTA Online is the gift that keeps on giving for Rockstar and I would be very surprised if it wasn't honored here. For my dollar though Overwatch is one of the best Multiplayer games I've ever played and the constant support and updates with beloved characters from Blizzard make this one an easy pick for me.<br />
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<strong>Games For Impact</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - N/A</strong><br />
<strong>My Prediction - Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice</strong><br />
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I haven't played any games on this list, so I can't exactly have a pick. However, from what I've heard Hellblade looks like a triple A game done independently that tackles a tough issue in mental health. The game looks amazing graphically and is supposed to have a stellar sound design. I think it is a clear winner here.<br />
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<strong>Best Performance</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Ashly Burch as Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Ashly Burch as Aloy in Horizon Zero Dawn</strong><br />
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Aloy is the best new character in video games and I think that Ashly did a phenomenal job helping to bring her to life.<br />
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<strong>Best Audio Design</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Super Mario Odyssey</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Super Mario Odyssey</strong><br />
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Who doesn't love the familiar sounds of Super Mario Odyssey? With the iconic beeps and boops of generations of gameplays, not to mention the familiar woo-hoo of a gaming icon, how could you not pick this game?<br />
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<strong>Best Score / Music</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Super Mario Odyssey</strong><br />
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Super Mario Odyssey had some fantastic tracks, but I was captivated by the music in Zelda. The stable theme, main theme, and the extended Kass ballad are some of the best pieces of music in the franchise, expertly blending old and new.<br />
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<strong>Best Art Direction</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Cuphead</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Cuphead</strong><br />
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How can you pick anything else? Love it or hate it Cuphead is wholly unique with a fantastic art style harkening back to cartoons of old and lovingly hand crafted which made it instantly stand out on announcement.<br />
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<strong>Best Narrative</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - Horizon Zero Dawn</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction - Horizon Zero Dawn</strong><br />
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What do you get when you mix a powerful female protagonist, robot dinosaurs, and a post apocalyptic world covered in beauty? Apparently one of the best narratives in video games this side of Last of Us. <br />
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<strong>Best Game Direction</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction -Super Mario Odyssey</strong><br />
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You can't really go wrong with either of these games as they are both polished to a fine shine and have fantastic design. Personally I felt the way they designed Zelda should revolutionize the open world genre, but Mario has every block placed meticulously where it should be. This is a tough one.<br />
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<strong>Game of the Year</strong><br />
<strong>My Pick - The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild</strong><br />
<strong>Prediction -The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild</strong><br />
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Was there ever any doubt? Breath of the Wild is, without hyperbole, my favorite game I've ever played. It is my desert island game and I never seem to tire of visiting this world. I don't usually revisit games often because there always is something new to play, but I've consistently gone back to this game over and over again throughout this year to squeeze every drop out of it and can't wait to play Champion's Ballad soon. The art, music and design of this game are some of the best I've seen in gaming and it deserves every word of praise it has gotten this year.<br />
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So there you have it, my picks and predictions for the The Game Awards of 2017. Let me know what your picks and predictions are in the comments below.<br />
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Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-3844315693018411092013-07-28T22:34:00.000-07:002013-07-28T22:34:16.485-07:00Video Game Review: Animal Crossing New Leaf (3DS)The newest iteration of Animal Crossing hits the 3DS. Is it worth firing up the addictive collect-a-thon again?<br />
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<b>Animal Crossing</b> is an oddity among games in the fact
that there is no clear thing to point out and say: “This is why this
game is fun.” On paper, a game about a charming town filled with talking
animals and mortgage-collecting raccoons doesn’t sound like the kind of
thing that would keep gamers enthralled. That’s just what ends up
happening though, as you find yourself settling into the relaxing pace
of the game that encourages you to simply spend your time how you wish,
and gets under your skin with a collect-a-thon that will leave
completionists panting and a level of customization that appeals to most
any gamer. Chances are, if you’re a gamer that doesn’t always have to
be firing a digital gun, you’ll find plenty to like in <b>Animal Crossing: New Leaf</b>, which is easily the best entry in the series to date.<br />
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As you begin your game, you’ll answer a few simple questions that
determine your gender and what you look like, assign your town a name,
pick a map for your town, and be deposited by train into the center of a
group of adorable talking animals who, in confusion, declare you their
new mayor. While being in control of the town as mayor is new, what
follows is not: you’ll be given a tent by Tom Nook and later dumped into
a sizable mortgage that you’ll be tasked with paying off. Nothing about
that sentence sounds appealing, but you’ll find yourself quickly
earning money by fishing, catching bugs and butterflies, and doing a
fair amount of shaking trees. Collecting furniture to customize your
house will become your new priority in life and keeping your town happy
is something that every good mayor wants. For those unfamiliar with the
game, events all take place in real time; night in your real life is
night in your digital town and different days will bring certain events.
Christmas and other such holidays are celebrated in the game, and the
seasons change as well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/animal-crossing-new-leaf-tom-nook-3ds-screenshot.jpg"><img alt="animal crossing new leaf tom nook 3ds screenshot Review: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)" class=" wp-image-48071 " height="329" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/animal-crossing-new-leaf-tom-nook-3ds-screenshot.jpg" title="Review: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)" width="585" /></a><br />
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He may look cute, but this raccoon will OWN you.</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
As the new big shot mayor you’ll be granted an assistant that will
let you know what the townies want and advise you in your day to day
duties. At first there isn’t much to being mayor, as you have to pay off
a down payment on your house first and get the 100% approval of
everyone in town. Once you do these tasks though you’ll be free to start
improving upon your town by opening up projects. These projects can be
anything from a brand new town fountain to a police station and most of
the buildings have some real effect on your town. Either way it will
serve to keep your furry townsfolk happy and keep you looking like the
best mayor around these parts.<br />
<br />
Being mayor isn’t the only new addition to the series as shortly
after you begin playing the former mayor, Tortimer himself, will
introduce you to the island that he has gone into retirement on. The
island is even more relaxing than city life, if that was possible, and
often hosts rare fish and bugs that will quickly fill your bank account.
Not only that, but for the first time in the series North American
history, you’ll be able to play a variety of mini games that let you buy
goodies from the tourist shop on the island with medals you’ll win. The
mini games can even be played online once you’ve paid medals for the
privilege, with both friends whose codes you have and complete
strangers. While the games aren’t anything to write home about, mostly
just a race to collect bugs or collect a checklist of furniture, it
gives a welcome traditional game aspect to the series and something for
friends to do besides just running about town stealing your fruit.<br />
<br />
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_48072" style="width: 602px;">
<a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Animal-Crossing-3DS-mini-Game-Results.jpg"><img alt="Animal Crossing 3DS mini Game Results Review: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)" class="size-full wp-image-48072" height="329" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Animal-Crossing-3DS-mini-Game-Results.jpg" title="Review: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)" width="592" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text">
It’s fantastic that you can not only play with others, but even team up with those you don’t have friend codes for.</div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
<br /></div>
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Another welcome addition to the Animal Crossing formula is a <b>QR code scan</b>
that allows you to share customized tiles and clothes which adds a
whole new level to the community that naturally pops up about these
games. It’s also the most fully realized version yet, as players can
visit each other over the net as long as they are friends, or even visit
complete strangers towns whilst in a dream-like state. <b>StreetPass</b>
is used to good effect here as well, as every person you pass that
plays the game and has the function turned on, will have their house
show up in your game in a Homeowners Showcase area. Most pieces of
furniture in others houses, some hard to find in the game itself, are
able to be purchased in these home showcases. You can even use play
coins to buy fortune cookies in Nook’s store, which allows you to turn
in the tickets within to collect cool <b>Nintendo</b> themed
furniture and clothes. There are other additional touches here and
there: being able to give multiple donations to the museum at once, more
storage space available anywhere you travel, swimming that you can
unlock after visiting the island, and more that are small but welcome
touches to long time players.<br />
<br />
The same audio experience you’ve come to love within Animal Crossing
returns, with soothing, fitting tones gracing your town. Some fans may
cry fowl at the change to their favorite pooch musician KK Slider, who
now is a DJ that plays every night at a club you can unlock, as well as
shows up his normal time every Saturday with his usual guitar routine. I
found nothing to fret about though, as his remixed NES tunes and
original stuff is catchy and showing up on Saturday usually nets you a
copy of his latest song.<br />
<br />
Graphically the game looks impressive and using the 3D effect at
maximum adds a fantastic diorama effect to the town that seems to
enhance everything. Art direction is rock solid, as it’s always been,
and comes out extremely charming. Some players might be turned off by
the cutesy graphics, but it’s hard to decry them for that since it’s
always been a staple mainstay.<br />
<br />
If you’ve spent hundreds of hours exploring every nook and cranny of
your town in the past titles, it can sometimes be hard to recommend
Animal Crossing games. The small annoyances are still there, like
everything making you wait ’til tomorrow to finish. Cool new house
upgrade? Tomorrow. Island opening for the first time? Tomorrow. The
delay is understandable to maintain longevity, but it can get a bit
irritating when you are eager to progress. Luckily this title gives you
the most to do of any other game before it in the series, so the effect
is downplayed, but it’s certainly still there. Grind can occasionally
set in once you hit the long haul and aren’t making progress as rapid
fire as before, but for a game that keeps most average players hooked
for a full year it’s more than sufficient.<br />
<br />
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_48073" style="width: 650px;">
<a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/animal_LINK.jpg"><img alt="animal LINK Review: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)" class="size-full wp-image-48073" height="360" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/animal_LINK.jpg" title="Review: Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="wp-caption-text">
There is an insane amount to do, and Nintendo goodies to coax you along.</div>
</div>
<br />
There is so much to be covered, and quite a few cool surprises
awaiting players that would be easy to spoil. The game packs a
surprising amount of content for what at first may seem like a shallow
experience and it does so in such a way that is incredibly addictive.
Even now as I write this I’m thinking of what to make next within my
town, wondering if I remembered to deliver a present to one of my
townies and reminding myself to swing by the island later tonight for
some shark fishing.<br />
If you’ve never played an Animal Crossing the game is hard to truly
paint a good picture of, so find a way to get your hands on the game and
I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. For Animal Crossing veterans, know
that this is the definitive Animal Crossing and easily the best entry in
the series to date. Not only that, but it’s a fantastic addition to an
already killer 3DS lineup and something that you should pick up if your
even the least bit interested.<br />
<br />
<b>Score: 5 out of 5 </b><i><br /></i><br />
<br />
<i>A copy of this title was provided to Unexpected Parcel by the publisher for review purposes.</i>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-71754211736039151822013-07-28T22:22:00.003-07:002013-07-28T22:22:58.388-07:0010 Characters I'd Like to See in Smash Bros UOne of the great joys of waiting on a new Smash Brothers is the
rampant speculation and wishing for new characters to join the series. I
fall prey to this desire just like any other fan of the game, and have
come up with 10 characters I’d love to see in the newest iteration of
Smash. Without further ado, let’s get right to it.<br />
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<strong>Isaac: Golden Sun<a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/3DIsaac.jpg"><img alt="3DIsaac 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignright size-full wp-image-48941" height="337" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/3DIsaac.jpg" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="310" /></a></strong><br />
These characters don’t appear in my order of interest, but if they
did Isaac would be near the top. Of all the characters on my list, this
powerful adept from Golden Sun is one of my most wanted. The series of
original RPG’s from the developer Camelot, is one of Nintendo’s IPs that
is criminally underused, and while I won’t likely see a Golden Sun 4
anytime soon, I’ll settle for an appearance on Smash Brothers. Using
powerful magic of the element of Earth, he is a force to be reckoned
with and would fit perfectly in Smash’s line up of fighters. He could be
unique using magic and various Djinn as his attacks with a powerful
summon from the newest title on the DS as his Final Smash.<br />
Isaac is actually already featured in Smash Brothers Brawl as an
assist trophy, where he can briefly show up and tosses Psyenergy around,
much to your opponent’s chagrin. I think it’s time that he graduated to
full-fledged combatant in the next title.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>D</strong><a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Dillon_the_Last_Ranger_artwork.png"><img alt="Dillon the Last Ranger artwork 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-48943" height="353" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Dillon_the_Last_Ranger_artwork.png" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="288" /></a><strong>illon: Dillon’s Rolling Western</strong><br />
Dillon featured in a eShop game that married frantic action with
tower defense. While Dillon might not be the most obvious choice for the
mascot brawler, I do think he’d be a fantastic fit. From the very first
time I played Dillon’s Rolling Western his aesthetic design, moves and
the world he played in simply made him feel like a Nintendo mascot
character from the very start. His moves could be problematic, as he
mostly rolls in a nature akin to that of Sonic, but they could add
attacks not seen in the game using those formidable claws and
appearances of the towers you could build in his own title. His Final
Smash could even feature some of the characters from the sequel to the
original game coming out to help the Armadillo bounty hunter.<br />
Not only would Dillon be a great addition to the lineup, but I feel
that Nintendo needs to feature at least one character from their smaller
eShop games to show that they matter. It would bring a surge of
popularity to the brand and maybe even open it up for bigger expanded
games on future platforms. It’s an all-around win for everyone involved.
Make it happen Nintendo.<br />
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<br />
<strong>Shulk: Xenoblade<a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Shulk.png"><img alt="Shulk 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignright size-full wp-image-48944" height="305" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Shulk.png" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="190" /></a></strong> <strong>Chronicles</strong><br />
While the developers of this game aren’t owned by Nintendo, the game
company published the rare and fantastic RPG Xenoblade Chronicles. Shulk
seemed to be the typical plucky hero, but turned out to be a brave and
capable fighter that owned a mythical blade named the Monado. Shulk is
somewhat of a long shot to appear in the game I would imagine, but he is
one of the most requested characters from the Japanese players and that
is how Sonic was chosen as a fighter last time; so anything is
possible. Shulk could use the various powered attacks of the Monado, as
well as other skills that he gains throughout the game, to destroy his
opponents. His final smash could be the huge powered up version of the
Monado that he uses to take down the Mechon.<br />
Not only would this drive Japanese and North American RPG fans crazy,
but it would also do well to hype Monolith Soft’s next big exclusive on
the Wii U, the fantastic looking X.<br />
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<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Shovel_Knight_-_Temporary_Box_Art.jpg"><img alt="Shovel Knight Temporary Box Art 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-48945" height="325" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Shovel_Knight_-_Temporary_Box_Art.jpg" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="230" /></a>Shovel Knight</strong><br />
I know this is a bit of a long shot, since Sakurai said himself that
he wouldn’t be featuring a ton of third party characters. However, there
are a multitude of reasons why I think that this Kickstarter success
should earn a slot in the next Smash Brothers. First off Shovel Knight
is just plain cool and the game already seems to have reached a level of
quality seldom seen in platformers outside of Nintendo. Yacht Club
Games clearly has a deep love for Nintendo as their game is a virtual
love letter to games of the NES era AND the Wii U and 3DS are the only
consoles outside of PC/Mac that the game will be coming to. Sure there
are other Kickstarters that have similar love for Nintendo, but Shovel
Knight is arguably the most popular and well known.<br />
With his trusty shovel our knight could cut enemies down to size
featuring the move sets shown in various videos. Since I haven’t played
the game I really couldn’t come up with a Final Smash just yet, but I’m
sure the two companies can work together to make this epic. The final
reason that the character should make the game is the best one for
Nintendo. Putting Shovel Knight in would clearly state that Nintendo
supports indies and their games and end up in a massive boost to sales
of the game when it does hit those platforms. Showing such love to indie
developers, who have enjoyed a huge surge of popularity recently, could
only be good for Nintendo in the long run and could lead to more than a
few exclusives.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
<strong>Chrom: Fire Emblem Awakening<a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Chrom_FE13_Artwork.png"><img alt="Chrom FE13 Artwork 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignright size-full wp-image-48946" height="314" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Chrom_FE13_Artwork.png" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="169" /></a></strong><br />
We’ve had Marth, Roy and then Ike featured in all the different Smash
Brothers, so it’s time for my favorite character in Brawl, Ike, to step
aside and let Chrom take the stage. The Falchion wielding hero of the
newest iteration of Fire Emblem Awakening is arguably the best designed
and the most likable of any heroes that have come before. He is noble
and self-sacrificing, without being whiny and pretentious about it, and
is a strong warrior with a great aesthetic design. Seeing how Ike plays
is a clear indication of how Chrom could play, with a little more
dexterity added to the mix.<br />
This one is all but guaranteed I would assume, as the newest Fire
Emblem characters have seemed to always star in the game. While I’d hate
to see Ike go, Chrom is from a game that had great sales and because of
that is the arguably the most recognized character from the series.
I’ll be shocked if this one doesn’t happen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/200px-Geno_SMRPG.gif"><img alt="200px Geno SMRPG 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-48947" height="316" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/200px-Geno_SMRPG.gif" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="195" /></a>Geno: Super Mario RPG Legend of the Seven Stars</strong><br />
Ok, so I know this one is a long shot. Geno comes from the tried and
true Super Mario RPG from the SNES era, and has always been a fan
favorite. It was an odd team up between Nintendo and the company that
used to be Squaresoft, and it was so different from the Paper Mario and
Mario and Luigi games we have now, that it still stands a unique and
worthwhile game to this day. Geno was a star being who took the form of a
wooden doll that played a sage-like figure to Mario and crew. He was a
powerful ally that had an array of devestating moves, including the
highest damaging ability in the game: Geno Whirl. It’s not hard to
imagine Geno throwing out his variety of attacks with one of his more
powerful spells as a Final Smash.<br />
Unfortantely there seems to be a license problem with this character,
because Square Enix currently owns the copyright. There is a sliver of
hope though, Geno recently appeared as a cameo in Mario and Luigi
Superstar Saga where he starred as a host of a minigame. Heck, if we
can’t get Geno I’d even settle for Mallow. Fingers crossed.<br />
<br />
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<strong>Simon Belmont: Castlevania<a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Simon-Belmont-Castlevania-1.jpg"><img alt="Simon Belmont Castlevania 1 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignright size-full wp-image-48948" height="270" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Simon-Belmont-Castlevania-1.jpg" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="270" /></a></strong><br />
The original vampire slayer in the video game realm debuted in 1986,
and Simon Belmont didn’t even need swords or guns to take on all the
evil creatures; simply a whip. While this qualifies as another third
party character, it’s hard to imagine another character that screams
Nintendo as much as Simon Belmont. He helped to build the NES and was
the star of an essential game in it’s catalog of hits. With another NES
pillar recently announced in Mega Man, it’s hard not to hope for this
brave Belmont. Seeing him using his whip, knives and holy water to take
on the other Nintendo mascots would be a lot of gamers dream come true.<br />
This one isn’t that far fetched honestly. Konami has worked with
Masahiro Sakurai and team before, with Solid Snake being in the game
previously. I wouldn’t even mind if they replaced Snake with Simon since
the modern warrior has had his share in the spotlight. It’s time for a
Belmont to show all these sparkly vampires whose the boss.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<strong><a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Littlemac.jpg"><img alt="Littlemac 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-48949" height="267" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Littlemac.jpg" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="142" /></a></strong><br />
<strong>Little Mac: Punch Out</strong><br />
Little Mac is another character that featured in Smash Brothers Brawl
as an assist trophy. Seeing the short underdog spring to life in the
brawler and not being able to play him was more than I could bear. With
his small stature and can do attitude the boxer could take on all
comers, and with his uppercuts and jabs he could put a KO on the
toughest of opponents. I could even see the Final Smash he uses moving
into the old behind the shoulder view with the player taking shots at
all the other combatants.<br />
King Hippo would be another good choice for the franchise, but either
way it needs to be represented. After all how can you have a fighting
game without having your premier boxer?<br />
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<strong>Wonder Red: Wonderful 101<a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/the_wonderful_101.jpg"><img alt="the wonderful 101 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignright size-full wp-image-48950" height="235" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/the_wonderful_101.jpg" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="235" /></a></strong><br />
While I was tempted to toss Bayonetta on here, the newest super hero
from Platinum Games seemed like the perfect fit. While it might be
difficult to add in his followers in a meaningful way, it would be a
challenge I bet Nintendo and Namco Bandai would be up to. A Final Smash
could be a combination of all the heroes filling the screen and
performing the various super attacks in the game.<br />
This one probably won’t happen, but it has a better chance then some
on the list. It would not only promote the title and strengthen
Nintendo’s relationship with Platinum Games, but provide gamers a chance
to play with the protagonist of what looks to be a strong upcoming Wii U
title.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<strong><a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/oliver___ni_no_kuni_by_reaping_666-d662e37.png"><img alt="oliver ni no kuni by reaping 666 d662e37 10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-48951" height="336" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/oliver___ni_no_kuni_by_reaping_666-d662e37.png" title="10 Characters I Want to See In Smash Brothers Wii U / 3DS" width="183" /></a>Oliver: Ni No Kuni</strong><br />
This one is an entirely selfish entry. It isn’t far fetched to
believe that Namco Bandai, the studio tasked with developing the newest
Smash Brothers, would have a character from one of their games as a
challenger. While most people clamor for Pac-Man or a Tales fighter, I
can’t help but hope and wish for Oliver from Ni No Kuni. “But Daniel, Ni
No Kuni is a PS3 exclusive, why would they ever put him on the Wii U
and 3DS?” one might ask. To them I would say they were only partially
right. Ni No Kuni may have indeed been a PS3 exclusive here in the
States, but in Japan a DS version was released. Not only that, but
Nintendo has a strong relationship with Level 5. The developer is not
only responsible for the very popular Professor Layton games, but also
Inazuma Eleven: a game that overseas is a big deal.<br />
While the chances are still slim it’s hard not to hope for Oliver in the game. It was <a href="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/review-ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch-ps3/" target="_blank">clearly</a>
one of my favorite RPG’s of this generation and we need another mage
type character in the series. Seeing Oliver unleash a huge fireball as a
Final Smash would be my gaming dream come true.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
While I could have certainly expanded this list and added much more
characters, I wanted to keep it to a decent number of fighters that have
ties to Nintendo in some way. See anyone on the list you like? Does it
feature your favorite characters you’d like to see in Smash? Let us know
in the comments below who’d you like to see fill out the roster and
stay tuned to TheParanoidGamer as we bring you the latest on all things
Smash.Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-329850295201476562013-07-05T07:34:00.002-07:002013-07-05T07:34:33.722-07:00Movie Review: Life of PiMovies can be experiences unlike anything else. Film is a powerful medium that harnesses the power of a picture being worth a thousand words, and while some movies leverage that power to become simply great entertainment, sometimes a movie comes along that is a nearly formative experience. Life of Pi is just such a movie, one that instigated me to immediately purchase the book that came before the film. It is a film that I believe everyone should watch, regardless of whether or not you can fully grasp the underlying concepts.<br />
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Life of Pi is something I never had any interest in seeing really, the trailers I saw were brief and I hadn't heard anything about the movie. A friend, a man actually originally from India where the movie begins, told me that my son and I would really enjoy the movie and the accompanying adventure. I found it to rent in Redbox the other night and decided it was at least worth a dollar and some change to see if the man was correct.<br />
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At it's base the Life of Pi is a movie about a boy who calls himself Pi that has a rather extraordinary story to tell. Raised in India by parents with much wisdom, captivated by multiple religions and raised alongside a zoo that his family was responsible for. In a serious of events the young boy is lost at sea in the Pacific ocean, adrift on a lifeboat with only one companion; a fierce bengal tiger.<br />
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The movie is an utter visual tour-de-force with scenes and visions that are jaw dropping with vistas that border on the ethereal. Computer graphics really show how far they've come, with a CGI tiger that is as astoundingly real. Animals are tough to get right and the tiger is so well animated that for most of the movie you forget he is a computer construct altogether.<br />
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Genius visuals aside, Life of Pi is a movie that must be experienced to be understood and telling you anymore would be spoiling that experience for you. Suffice it to say that after the movie ends it will stick with you far after the credits. Life of Pi is a must see for all audiences and a film that has captured my heart and mind.<br />
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<b>Score: 5 out of 5 </b>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-87386811416414653732013-05-14T18:50:00.002-07:002013-05-14T18:50:46.348-07:00Book Review: Where Do the Animals Go When it Rains by Janet Crown<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Where Do the Animals Go When it Rains is a competent, if somewhat flawed amateur excursion into the world of children’s book that is full of love. Janet Crown and her children came together to make this book and it shows with a childish and whimsical look of where the different animals go to avoid the rain. The illustrations throughout the book are well done with simple yet classical design that resonated with both my children and kept them interested throughout the book as well as varying word fonts that popped on the page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are some problems with rhyming and flow within the narrative that really hinders the final experience in reaching a level beyond merely entertaining. While my children didn’t notice, there was more than one area where the rhyming previously established was completely abandoned in order to force the narrative into the structure. The break in the rhyme is jarring because it pulls you from a comfortable flow that you’ve established, especially when reading out loud to your children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This children’s book is filled with an obvious love and written with the care of a mother that collected bed time stories over the years and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>made in collaboration with her children. While it isn’t perfect, especially when it comes to the overall flow of the story, the real measure is that my 11 month old and my 7 year old both enjoyed the book, and my 7 year old has asked for it twice now for bedtime story. In my estimation there can be no higher complement from a child. You can probably find more well done, professional books out there, but there is a blossoming talent here that is tempered with clearly felt love that you can feel even as you read to your children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong>Score: 3 out of 5</strong><br />
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<em>A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-23662549168956706602013-05-03T18:55:00.000-07:002013-05-14T18:56:20.509-07:00Video Game Review: Black Rock Shooter (PSP/Vita)<div class="MsoNormal">
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Originally a PSP game, Black Rock Shooter has been released via PSN for both PSP and Vita and is an offshoot from the anime of the same name. Titular similarities aside they actually exist in separate universes, though both revolve around an amnesiac girl with glowing blue eyes and a gigantic gun who happens to share the name of the title to the game itself. Skinny, big eyes, dressed all in black, and riding a motorcycle: Black Rock Shooter is your typical anime bad ass girl intended to be cold and distant while kicking alien butt. The story itself is about an alien invasion that has whittled the human population down to a sparse twelve members, with BRS being their only real hope to save the day.</div>
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While the story had some interesting twists and turns, Black Rock Shooter herself never really evolves and is a mostly flat and uninteresting character. The same can be said for the rest of the twelve survivors, one of them literally being a walking, talking, hip-hop cliché. There were more than a few characters that had me grinding my teeth every time they had something to say. Luckily annoying voices don’t tend to go along with the dialogue as the whole game is voiced in Japanese and the voice acting is serviceable if not very well done.</div>
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It’s hard to condemn the game graphically as it’s a 20 dollar PSP game, but I’ve seen some impressive work with games like Final Fantasy Dissidia on the system. The technical restraints aren’t really the problem here so much as a lack of polish that extends throughout the experience. It doesn't help that all the baddies blend together and tend to be little more than small boxes with legs. What’s worse you’ll be fighting them while navigating lifeless environments splattered with grays blacks and browns. Bosses do stand out in the design sense, but everything outside of them and BRS herself is just bland and uninteresting graphically speaking.</div>
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Get used to those enemies. You'll be seeing them ALOT.</dd></dl>
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As with any game, gameplay is the true darling here, and at the outset it appears promising. Black Rock Shooter at first seems to be an interesting blend of RPG and third person shooter action. Enemies will dart towards you on the levels and upon contact you’ll launch into battle mode. Here you’ll aim the cursor and fire shots in third person mode, but you’ll be stuck in place. Dodging and blocking are also essential abilities and you’ll have to manage all of these carefully, as every movement will add to a overheat bar. Once it’s full you’ll be unable to do anything as enemies pummel you. At first the idea seems exciting and different, but it quickly grows stale and annoying. I understand that the idea is to time and use your dodges wisely, but punishing players for using defensive moves seems downright antagonistic. On top of that the actual shooting gets bland and all the leveling up you do never really adds to the excitement of battle. By the end of the game I had become absolutely bored with the slog of fighting little blue box after little blue box, with only bosses providing real challenge or substance.</div>
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Black Rock Shooter contains about six stages with six missions each, while bonus missions fill out the experience a bit. Mostly these are slogging through the same dreary environments killing a set number or enemies and the main missions usually involve chasing somebody, killing minibosses, or blowing up generators. Even the stages where you get to ride a motorcycle aren't enough of a break from the same old same old, which makes the entire game repetitive and uninteresting. There is about ten hours here, which is plenty for a downloadable experience and more than most gamers will want to play anyway.</div>
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At the end of the day Black Rock Shooter attempts to do something unique, but mostly fails, with brief glimpses of what could have been peeking through. Challenging boss battles and a few twists in the story don’t make up for the vast blandness of the game, and a lackluster protagonist doesn't help a bit. Unless you’re a hardcore fan of the anime or just are dying for a new game to play on PSP or Vita, steer clear of this game.</div>
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<strong>Score: 4 out of 10</strong></div>
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<em>A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em></div>
Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-75257584517599885182013-04-30T17:56:00.000-07:002013-04-30T18:04:14.336-07:00The Truth About Game ReviewsReviewing a game seems like a relatively cut and dry affair right? Play a video game, tell people how you felt about the video game, and give it a score based on your experience. These reviews give consumers a chance to read another person’s perspective on a game before it comes out, letting them know whether or not they should spend their hard earned money on the title. On its face that seems like a spectacularly simply idea that seems to be prone to people endlessly trying to further complicate it. While I’m no veteran on the topic, I’ve only been doing this for a site for around 2 years, I felt the need to speak up and tell you exactly what goes in to throwing that score up there from a reviewer's perspective. <img alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" data-mce-src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..." /><br />
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The whole process starts by going to a publisher of a game and asking for a review copy of the game. Typically sites that have been around for a while or that have had previous contact with a publisher are on their media list and will sometimes receive titles without even asking for them. Otherwise publishers and developers will look at your site, and particularly your Alexa score (essentially a scoring of how popular your site is on the net). If they judge that the exposure of your site is worth a copy of a game then they will either mail you a physical copy, or more common lately, send a digital download code.<br />
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If you receive an early copy of the game it’s usually under embargo which means that the reviewer can only release certain information at a given time. For instance: recently with Luigi’s Mansion I could talk about certain levels before the game came out in a preview, but could not divulge any information on how to solve puzzles or the location of hidden Boos. I was also given an embargo date that I could release the review for the game on, in this case days before the game was actually released. Often, if reviews have an embargo of an earlier date than the release, there are things you can’t talk about within it as well. Typically these are spoiler related and don’t pose a problem, but occasionally you can’t discuss things that might affect the score, negative or positive such as length. Playing the game, recording the merits and downfalls of the game, coming up with a score, and then writing a review are obvious next steps. Once approved through an editor and the embargo date arrives we are free to drop our review on the site.<br />
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Often on my blog I will receive review copies after a game has released in which case we are free to talk about and write a review whenever we can and fill it with whatever content we see fit. Other times, especially for fledgling blogs, we will actually buy the games with our own money and review it for the site. Either way upon completion and posting of the review a link is customarily sent to the publisher that provided the review code. However, it’s mostly the point after our review is posted and the masses begin to consume it, that I really want to discuss.<br />
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One of the top things that reviewers at our site and across the net hear most often is outrage against our reviews, whether positive or negative. If you give a score that’s too low than obviously you either didn’t play the game, suck at the game, or are just plain stupid. However, if you give the game a score that people feel is too high than obviously the publisher has bought the reviewer’s opinion with free games, monetary compensation, or even an exclusive earlier review than all other sites giving your website a massive boost in visits to your site, which of course can lead to more ad revenue. Certainly there have been instances on the net where it seems that this is likely the case, though most of it is rumor and conjunction with very little solid evidence. At the end of the day it comes down to the individual reviewer and site and how much pressure is put on them to give a positive score. I cannot speak for the majority of sites out there, but personally I feel this is a grave misunderstanding that I would like to shed a little more light on the matter personally.<br />
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I’ve never once been approached by a developer, publisher, or anyone else with a plea to raise my score for something. I’ve given some dismal scores down in the 3.5 range and all I received in return was an email thanking me for my review. Now again, I know that some other larger sites like IGN may have been pressured in the past into giving a better review, but honestly I don’t think it happens as much as so many people seem to think. In fact in my personal experience I’m more pressured to give a game a bad review, to the point where I sometimes find myself wishing to play a terrible game just so I won’t be called biased.<br />
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We’ve reached a point as a gaming community where the vocal majority seems to be plagued and overrun by cynical gamers that feel betrayed or angry with their chosen hobby. They roam the internet simply searching for a new reason to be dismayed, downtrodden, or angry and often refuse to believe that any good score or perfect score (as if there is such a thing) can be valid. I receive far more pressure from readers to score a game lower rather than higher, because I truly believe that in today’s culture it’s seen as better to tear something down than to build it up. Somehow it’s funnier to make fun of and hate everything and simply gets more views, than to enjoy it and praise the hard work that the developers put in. Loving or enjoying an experience that you played through, simply because a publisher gave you a free copy, is somehow considered the norm in all but the most extreme cases. Entire sites exist to be as harsh as possible to games with people like Yahtzee profiting on tearing a game to shreds, no matter how good it is. Along the way it seems that gamers have forgot that the reason they play games, the true reason I hope, is that they are fun. That they entertain us and encourage us, provide us with epic stories and battles, and provide an interactive medium unlike any other.<br />
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It’s no secret that I tend to score games I really enjoy high, with no fear of using a 10/10 type of a review score. Personally I feel that if a game is fun and does all of its technical work well and is a must buy, something like that deserves to be rewarded. Often this ends up with my credibility or competency as a critic and a writer being brought into question, and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect me and wasn’t frankly insulting. It’s disappointing to work hard on a review only to have others completely tear it apart simply because they don’t agree with it, most times when they haven’t even played the game themselves. How is it so different from someone you know, or even people you ask directly offline, what they thought of an experience? A review is simply an opinion, and depending on the reviewer certain criteria will change with review scores varying drastically. It’s ok to have a bad score for a game most people think is awesome or vice versa. If you love something you should be able to express that without a fear of what people think and without being accused of being bought off. Most times that simply isn’t the case and I don't know of a reviewer personally that has ever changed a review score because we want to continue receiving games or because we were asked by a developer.<br />
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I get it, the review system is broken. With developers and publishers counting on good reviews to get bonuses or to be able to bring home a decent paycheck to their family there will always be some sort of pressure, real or imagined. I wish that we could put out reviews without scores and then people could read them and judge whether they want to buy a game without deciding it based on an arbitrary score. How things are currently set up that’s an impossibility though, if you wish to receive review copies at all or to even remain relevant. The sad fact is, in order to continue to supply you with the most up to date reviews on the most current games we rely on review copies. There are so many times I’ve received a game I wouldn’t have bought otherwise, on a setting or type that I previously didn’t like or wouldn’t have liked, only to find it fantastic. Those sorts of things wouldn’t be possible if we had to buy all of our own games, and the site would suffer for it. If you’ll look among our reviews even now you’ll find plenty that were personally purchased by us, and you’ll also notice that it doesn’t reflect on our review score at all. We don’t somehow decide to score it lower because we bought a game ourselves. Vice versa you won’t find a higher score simply because we want to receive more free games and no publisher to my knowledge has ever cut us off for a bad review.<br />
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In all I ask the readers of this site and others to take a moment and simply read a review. Stop being so hung up on that number at the top of the page, because it’s really not that important. True it’s an numerical rating that is taken from an individual’s experience which sums up the entirety of the review, but it isn’t the be all end all. Instead read the entirety of the text, see what things the reviewer thought were bad or good and see if you agree. If not, that’s ok, because ultimately even though there are some things in a review that are universal it really all comes down to personal opinion. These people that many readers decide to tear down are gamers just like you, who love the medium. The only difference is we often also share a passion for writing as much as playing games and so we volunteer our time in order to bring you the latest and greatest news, articles, opinions and reviews.<br />
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In the end, if you take nothing else from this, please let me assure you on one thing. I want to be completely transparent when I promise you, our reader, personally that I will never alter a review score because of a publisher or developer opinion no matter what it might cost me. Nor will I change my scores for my fellow writers, editors or even my site admin. The day that I feel the need to do these things enough to consider it I will resign from writing reviews all together. Until that day expect my commitment to bringing you my opinions, reviews, and the latest news with a touch of humor and sarcasm here at The Unexpected Parcel.Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-49794054621378952382013-04-19T00:01:00.000-07:002013-04-30T17:59:58.125-07:00Video Game Review: Guacamelee! (PS3/Vita)There is no need to be coy; <strong>Guacamelee!</strong> is one of the finest games on the PlayStation Network.<br />
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Guacamelee is a game with a clear sense of character and it shows throughout the experience with Spanish influence dripping from every sweaty pore. Art, music, story and play all come together to tell the tale of a luchador out to rescue the woman he loves from an evil undead man named <strong>Carlos Calaca</strong>. To do so he’ll fight through bands of memorable and wacky enemies that follow the risen-again feind, from his deranged former lover to a gunslinger whose head is enveloped in flame. These crazy sensibilities resonate throughout, never taking itself too seriously for the content it presents.<br />
Indeed there are moments within the game’s dialogue and plot that are so cleverly written that they are literally laugh-out-loud funny, which is rather difficult in a medium that requires more concentration on button presses than context. And after you are done laughing along with the game's ridiculous script, keep an eye out for various posters and objects that run loving parodies and homage to gaming classics and newer titles alike.<br />
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Gameplay-wise, Guacamelee takes heavy inspiration from games like <strong>Metroid</strong> and <strong>Castlevania</strong>, making your way through a number of environments solving puzzles, fighting baddies and gaining power ups which will allow you to break colored blocks that correspond with each ability. Gaining new abilities lets you traverse new areas or backtrack through previously explored dungeons to get all the chests filled with gold and character power-ups. Some of these goodies are deviously hidden or guarded by puzzles that will cunning and precarious platforming abilities to get overcome. It’s hard to understate how clever some of the puzzles are, making very good use of character skills and the ability to quickly move between the Land of the Dead and World of the Living. For example, switching between these zones makes platforms appear and disappear, will often uncover non-player characters, disappearing walls, and other such things. Using it in conjunction with all your wrestling finesse while leaping between disappearing platforms is the stuff games are made for.<br />
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd">The characters are memorable and funny. Not seen here: funny.</dd></dl>
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With all that being said, you would think that navigating the environment and gaining power-ups might be the most attractive part of the game, but surely that's just the beginning. While puzzles, platforming and exploration are certainly a treat, it’s the combat that is the true star of the ring. It’s a little shocking it turns out that way, because at first the game’s combat feels very simplistic used to get through a dungeon, but once you start understanding that you can grapple and throw enemies in any direction, things will begin to get a little deeper. After a few simplistic punches, you can grab an enemy and aim him anywhere, tossing him into others as you would a bowling ball and set them up for brutal combos.<br />
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Guacamelee could have stopped there—tossing enemies into one another only to leap into them for an extra dose of body slam or daily helping of pile driver is certainly an attractive premise. However, each upgrade you come across plays a part in combat as well. For instance, an uppercut not only breaks certain blocks, but can be used to send an enemy skyward for further punishment or to gain extra height at the end of a jump.<br />
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Deeper still, you’ll find that some enemies will have shields corresponding with the color of one of your attacks, and in order to damage that enemy, you’ll first need to do the set them up with the proper primer and then continue your assault. You’ll also have to use the ability to shift between realms of reality to fight enemies that are just shades in one world, though they can still damage you on both planes of existence. Flipping between worlds, juggling combos in the air, breaking force fields with specific attacks while dodging like a madman—all of this adds up to engaging and challenging combat in what could otherwise be a rather dull title. In fact, even backtracking enthusiasts will have hard time passing up the chance to wallop enemies again re-exploring certain areas.<br />
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Guacamelee looks as good as it plays, with a unique art direction that meshes well with every inch of the game. Bright colors and vivid backgrounds call back to the beloved <strong>Samurai Jack</strong> with an obvious Spanish flair that permeates everything from the fantastically gaudy screens that flash upon power acquisition to the buildings and characters that inhabit the world. This is further tied together with upbeat music that would be at home strolling through agave fields or border towns. It can occasionally get a little repetitive if you spend too long in one location, but it’s diverse enough throughout the game that it's never grating.<br />
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Nods to classic and current games abound.</dd></dl>
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The only real downside to Guacamelee is its length, with the whole experience netting you around five hours of play. While that certainly doesn’t sound like much for the price, doing all the side quests and reaping the in-game rewards will greatly increase not only the game's length, but your enjoyment. If you’re a Trophy hunter, you’ll find your game time further lengthened with a Platinum for beating the game on Hard, a difficulty unlocked upon completing the story mode once through. Additionally, co-op is available on the P<strong>layStation 3</strong> version and provides even more time with the game, though solo will likely be the mode of choice.<br />
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Overall, Guacamelee is more than worth the admission price and gives you plenty of game if you decide to invest your time. To those that are adamant about rushing through it, you will surely find something to love in Drinkbox's latest, but missing out on some excellent exploration goodies, so slow down for Juan’s sake!<br />
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Drinkbox Studios are already well known for the highly-praised <strong>Tales from Space: About a Blob</strong>, but Guacamelee perfectly positions them on the posts for an elbow drop. With quirky art and story, a cast of memorable characters, constant nods to fans of video games, cleverly-written dialogue, expertly-designed platforming and puzzles, and surprisingly deep and engaging combat, it’s impossible not to recommend to just about everyone. The best part? Grabbing the PlayStation 3 version of the title nabs you the ultra-portable Vita version with Cross-Buy.<br />
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Simply put, if you own a current generation Sony console you should buy this game. Now.<br />
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<strong>Score: 9.5 out of 10</strong><br />
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<em>A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-40960475924079100792013-04-05T18:00:00.000-07:002013-04-30T18:02:44.370-07:00Video Game Review: God of War Ascencion (PS3)Kratos returns in a rage filled quest to free himself of his bond to Ares. Is it a quest worth taking?<img alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" data-mce-src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" src="http://www.theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..." /><br />
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I’ll be up front with you and tell you this is easily Kratos’ worst outing to date. God of War has always been one of my favorite action franchises and previously I’ve had nothing but good things to say about it. Though this latest entry into the franchise doesn’t stand shoulder to shoulder with the best the series has to offer, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t good. In fact there are moments within the game that hit all the right notes for a God of War title and it’s every bit as thrilling as the first time you swung the Blades of Chaos. Ultimately though the game falters under a barrage of confusingly prominent bugs tied to one particular artifact and a poorly paced first half that does disservice to the franchise.<br />
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It’s almost impossible to discuss the setup of the plot without spoiling previous games, so if you haven’t played any of them yet: THAR BE SPOILERS AHEAD. With that out of the way I can tell you that this game takes place before Kratos dethrones Ares as the God of War and follows the Spartan warrior shortly after he is tricked into slaughtering his family. Having decided that he will destroy Ares for what he has done, the Furies capture Kratos and try to convince him to become the servant of Ares once again. Primordial beings predating the gods of Olympus, the Furies are three sisters who punish those that attempt to break a blood oath with the gods. As such you’ll start the games in chains, Kratos truly beaten for the time being. Of course the anti-hero escapes and all sorts of shenanigans follow.<br />
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd">For a man that's escaped hell so many times anyone who can do this to Kratos is scary.</dd></dl>
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The story is rather bare bones, with very little in the theme that adds to the character. There are some really nice moments here where we see Kratos deliver a line of dialogue that isn’t through bared teeth and guttural, where he shows more of his human side. Overall though the quest reads as a series of go here and do this moments with very little invested into the plot especially in the first half of the game. In this portion pacing is slow and very little plot development happens which hurts the flow of the game. There is also less of an investment here because we already know what will happen. Since it’s a prequel we know that Kratos must defeat the Furies, that he has to escape, and that he will go on to kill Ares. Not that the God of War series has ever been a bastion of storytelling and character development, but it has always had a very good sense of pacing and timing within its own myth.<br />
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Thankfully this is one of the finest additions to Kratos’ legacy as far as combat goes and when he faces foes the game truly shines. Nothing here revolutionizes the franchise, if you’ve not liked God of War in the past you probably won’t change your mind with this installment, but instead hones the combat system and polishes it making it the best combat in a God of War yet. Instead of having multiple weapons you’ll purely focus on the Blades of Chaos (as is proper), and the different elements that you can imbue them with. Proceeding through the game you will unlock several different elements, such as the Flames of Ares, that will not only alter your magic attacks, but indeed the physical attacks you can do. In addition each different element has a rage bar that you can fill, which when unleashed hits enemies with a special attack.<br />
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd">This goat man is about to have a bad day</dd></dl>
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Each elemental type also provides a different type of orb that drops when an enemy is killed with the rage mode, for instance Hades power drops health when enemies are destroyed. This adds variety to the move list, as they can be switched between mid attack, and hits a level of strategy due to having to determine what orb is needed most and how to kill enemies to maximize your gain. There are even secondary weapons that you can pick up that have a straight forward attack as well as a discard attack that is usually grandiose. Overall it seeks to do away with the repetitive feeling of combat and does so with a flourish becoming of Kratos himself.<br />
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The areas you’ll travel through are typically epic in scope with some stand outs, like the Furnace, being literally jaw dropping. This is offset oddly enough by some areas that are entirely bland and even backtracking that counts as whole chapters. Often enough you’ll have an odd feeling that the game is just check marking God of War boxes and going through the motions, then you’ll be hit with an entirely awesome sequence then dropped back into a humdrum environment again. This makes the game feel a little disconnected and the quality seems spontaneous rather than being the high shine that we are used to with the God of War franchise. It's worth noting though that the graphics in the newest God of War are nothing short of gorgeous. It's almost hard to believe that this level of fidelity is still being reached on current gen consoles.<br />
<br />
All of this is mostly redeemed in a second half of the game that gives you artifacts that further diversify gameplay and starts injecting more plot and awesome boss battles. The end boss, though not difficult, was one of the most epic encounters I’ve had in a while. It was cinematic and an awesome capper to the game that leaves you with a good taste in your mouth regardless of how you felt about the rest of the game. This is a good thing because a few events in particular, revolving around one of the aforementioned artifacts, will leave a very sour taste in your mouth.<br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 510px;" id="attachment_38115" style="width: 510px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/god-of-war-ascension-review-10.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/god-of-war-ascension-review-10.jpg"><img alt="The Amulet of Uroboros is a buggy mess" class="size-full wp-image-38115" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/god-of-war-ascension-review-10.jpg" height="281" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/god-of-war-ascension-review-10.jpg" width="500" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">The Amulet of Uroboros is a buggy mess</dd></dl>
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<br />
Around midway through the game, or a little before, you’ll receive the Amulet of Uroboros which gives you the power to decay or heal your environment. It was something that the team was proud to show off at E3 and sort of a featured part of the game in some aspects, so it’s baffling that it’s so blatantly unpolished. There is a part in Chapter 13, shortly after you receive the artifact, that you use the power to heal a ruined bridge. As you do so any sort of movement, and sometimes you don’t even have to move, will lock the camera in place. Because the camera is locked in place you can’t proceed, even if you do manage to make it through this area. The only way to fix this game breaking glitch is to restart the chapter completely. Granted, the chapter just starts prior to this, but it’s still a glaring problem that everyone I know who played the game encountered. How the testing team didn’t is beyond me.<br />
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In addition to that area I had similar things happen twice after that, once fixing an aqueduct and again fixing another piece of the environment. Again the camera got stuck, and I couldn’t switch the power off without restarting the chapter. Within these instances the chapter restart actually had me replaying a good chunk of content, and goes to show you why you probably shouldn’t pick your testers via a reality show.<br />
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The multiplayer portion of the game is almost a testamant to the idea that developers take away from the quality of the single player game by throwing on a multiplayer component. That seems to be the case here as none of the flaws that appear in the single player experience hit here. Instead what you'll find is a multiplayer mode that will keep you engaged and happy far after you've finished the main game. You'll control an avatar that pledges himself to one of the gods, though it allows you to change at any time and level each god independently. Each of the choices are essentially a class choice with some classes being support while others being focused on stealth. There are team death matches, team territory matches, and even a co-op horde like mode that will see you battling beside a friend for the rewards of the gods. All of this factors back into your avatar with experience and goals being hit that unlock new armor and magical attacks for a character.<br />
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I was a little surprised to be honest that the multiplayer game was as good as it was. It's pretty well balanced which each god being a viable choice and I only had one bout with dropout or lag and I believe it was because of another players connection. Overall it's a very solid addition to the franchise, one most people didn't see coming, but that actually outshines the single player portion.<br />
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<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 595px;" id="attachment_38114" style="width: 595px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/331509.png.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/331509.png.jpg"><img alt="Multiplayer is fast paced mayhem with great leveling up rewards" class=" wp-image-38114 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/331509.png.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/331509.png.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Multiplayer is fast paced mayhem with great leveling up rewards</dd></dl>
</div>
<br />
Aside from glaring bugs and a slowly paced first half of the game, Ascension has its moments of sheer epic action that the series is so known for. When it hits those highs, like the final boss battle, it reminds you why you play (and in my case love) the franchise in the first place. It helps the game’s case a lot that it has what, in my opinion, is some of the most versatile and strategic combat in a series that is already known for its fantastic battles. Throw onto that a fantastic multiplayer mode set in the universe of God of War, and those negatives start to fade a bit. If you don’t mind stomaching a few bugs and dealing with a stuttering level of quality, then you’ll probably enjoy joining Kratos on his latest jaunt for vengeance. However, if like me you’re expecting the high polish that you’ve seen in previous experiences, you’ll come away slightly disappointed.<br />
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<strong>Score 7.5 out of 10</strong>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-23333840286239693732013-03-25T20:53:00.001-07:002013-03-25T20:53:14.615-07:00Video Game Review: HarmoKnight (3DS)<div class="the-content">
The developers known for Pokemon are releasing a new game that
combines rhythm and auto-run platformers with a dash of adventure. Does
HarmoKnight live up to its pedigree?<br />
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HarmoKnight is a nice twist on a rhythm game, the likes of which I
haven’t played before. Of course I’m familiar with things like Guitar
Hero and even Rhythm Thief and Final Fantasy Theatrhythm, but
HarmoKnight is not quite like any of those games. Instead it takes a
side scrolling auto run game and combines it with the expertly timed
jumps of a platformer while introducing a story, overworld and
companions that would be at home in any RPG or adventure game. What you
end up with is a game that simply works on all its levels with a
potential for Nintendo that is hard to understate.<br />
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Your protagonist is Tempo, a spunky young kid who finds a magical
staff (that is literally a note staff) which belonged to the legendary
HarmoKnights, bygone protectors of his land. He is tasked by Master
Woodwin with taking it to the princess of the realm so she can find
someone worthy of wielding it, which will of course inevitably lead to
saving the world from the evil Noizoids. As you can tell, from the names
and the plot, HarmoKnight’s world is entirely built thematically around
music. It’s an obvious approach for a rhythm game that at first seems
entirely cliché, but once you’re done rolling your eyes you might
actually become a little taken by it. We’ve seen this before in games
like Brutal Legend, but this is a decidedly more cartoonish approach
that is based around multiple genres of music rather than just rock.
Most characters are named after some sort of instrument or musical term
and, if you look closely enough, the land itself is shaped like various
instruments and notes.<br />
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Though the story isn’t a masterpiece it moves the game along and I
for one found myself fond of Tempo and company by the end of the game.
Tempo in particular has certain moments of attitude, like a triumphant
laugh at the end of a boss battle, that feels like it fits in perfectly
with the mascot platform characters from bygone eras. It will really all
depend what you think of the cartoonish art design and graphics
alongside the musical motif that permeates the experience. This plays
well with the cartoonish art design and graphics within the game.
Everything is clean lines and filled with color, mimicking something you
would see on a Saturday morning cartoon. Some might be turned off by
what they feel is “kiddy”, but if you can look past that I think you’ll
find a mostly endearing world that sometimes just gets wrapped up in its
own premise.<br />
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<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37939" style="width: 595px;">
<a class="cboxElement" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/harmoknight-arte-001.jpg"><img alt="harmoknight arte 001 Review: HarmoKnight (3DS)" class=" wp-image-37939 " height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/harmoknight-arte-001.jpg" title="Review: HarmoKnight (3DS)" width="585" /></a>
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Run for cover bro gamers; not a gritty image or marine in sight.</div>
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You’ll pass through 7 worlds whose designs and level layouts are
inspired by various music genres. For instance: one of the worlds you’ll
journey through is all about rock and as such there are jutting guitar
shaped mountains and amps scattered about. Within each level in that
world you’ll focus on mastering original tracks that evoke that genre of
music. As previously stated, you’ll clear these levels typically by
auto running through them collecting notes and pressing B to jump and A
to strike enemies. Nailing notes will cause those notes to play and
there are also notes to be had by striking drum bushes or various other
things in the background. Enemies and obstacles will attempt to stop you
from reaching your goal by taking away your hearts. Losing all your
hearts ends up meaning starting all over, so giving the baddies a sound
walloping not only keeps you alive, but can also earn you additional
notes.<br />
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Instead of pounding you over the head with cues saying you hit a
perfect on that last note you will intrinsically be told through sound.
Striking an enemy a hair off will result in him being dispatched, but
you won’t get the satisfying strong note thud that you get from hitting
him with perfect timing. The same goes for hitting the drum bushes or
the chime leaves. While you can certainly beat the level through finely
honed reflexes alone, it’s listening to the rhythm of the song and
responding at the right moments that will let you perfect a level. There
are moments even when the camera pans in closely, which at first I
thought was a problem with the game. Turns out it’s so it’s harder to
see what’s coming, which tests your attention to patterns and rhythm and
leaves reflex by the wayside. When this happens it doesn’t last long,
but it certainly raises difficulty and makes sure you are paying
attention.<br />
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<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37940" style="width: 595px;">
<a class="cboxElement" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Harmo-Knight2.jpg"><img alt="Harmo Knight2 Review: HarmoKnight (3DS)" class=" wp-image-37940 " height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Harmo-Knight2.jpg" title="Review: HarmoKnight (3DS)" width="585" /></a>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
Hit those drum crabs just right and they’ll release delicious music.</div>
<div class="wp-caption-text">
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There are a few other types of levels that you’ll run into, primary
among them battle sequences. Within these, instead of just autorunning
and responding to the song and your environment, you will instead be
dodging things and attacking enemies to specific button sequences. If
you are fighting a boss it might ask you to hit 3 times then jump in a
specific rhythmic sequence or to dodge left, right, left than hit.
Successfully hitting these at the correct time will result in finishing
off your enemies and you winning the level. Along the way you’ll also
run into two companions who will join you in their quest, both of which
add new ways to interact with the level. One has a bow and will be like
nailing notes on Guitar Hero as she runs baddies scroll across and
hitting them with good timing will result in a satisfying connection
with the enemy. Another companion has drum sticks that he pummels
enemies with while a monkey that rides on his shoulders can damage
enemies with cymbals, each controlled by a specific button. The
companions are a welcome addition, and provide a bit of variety to
levels, but are used far too few times. I almost wish they would have
had a choice to play through as any of the characters and have
arrangements for each of them. It would have added longevity to the game
as well as allowing characters to play as they want. As it is they are
only featured on a handful of levels and it really is a shame.<br />
<br />
As you complete each level you’ll earn a ranking from it and a Royal
Note which is like a currency to unlock certain levels throughout the
game. Doing well in the levels will net you with a golden flower
blooming, which enables you to play back through the song at a faster
and more challenging pace. This is a good thing since the game overall
will come off as a little easy to rhythm fans with platforming skills
and you can mostly breeze through the main campaign with a few levels
towards the end that might hold you up. However, collecting all the
hidden song birds within some of the levels will lead players craving
greater challenges to hidden goodies. For those seeking even more to do
you’ll also unlock bonus stages that can be accessed via a level select
and these all feature Pokemon songs. The last song of the Pokemon track
on fast is absolutely devilish and will give even the most skilled of
players some trouble. All of this adds up to a game that is really easy
to pop in and play whenever you have some downtime and vastly increases
replaybility and portability. <br />
The tracks themselves are original compositions and they are mostly
well done video game music. Most genres are covered here, from more
jazzy affairs to rock anthems and carribean music with varied
compositions throughout. Of course, there are a few stand outs among
the songs with the island music and rock anthems being two of my
favorites. Overall the music matches the tone of the game well and if
you’re like me you will find yourself humming the tracks to yourself
long after you’ve powered off your 3DS.<br />
<br />
That being said I’m excited about what Nintendo COULD do with
HarmoKnight. With this game, they’ve essentially established a universe
that they can fill with everything musical. I could easily see them
supporting something like HarmoKnight for a long time with DLC of tracks
from their other blockbuster franchises. What Nintendophile wouldn’t
want to play through the Zelda theme in this way or play through some
Kirby themed worlds? Please keep in mind this isn’t in the works
currently, it’s just what I feel could be a natural extension of the
game (PLEASE NINTENDO. PLEASE!). Either way, don’t be surprised if we
see more of Tempo (assist trophy in the next Smash anyone?).<br />
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<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37941" style="width: 595px;">
<a class="cboxElement" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/harmoknight-map-80-levels-8-worlds-marching-band-to-rock-music-screenshot-3ds-eshop.jpg"><img alt="harmoknight map 80 levels 8 worlds marching band to rock music screenshot 3ds eshop Review: HarmoKnight (3DS)" class=" wp-image-37941 " height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/harmoknight-map-80-levels-8-worlds-marching-band-to-rock-music-screenshot-3ds-eshop.jpg" title="Review: HarmoKnight (3DS)" width="585" /></a>
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The overmap is evocative of games like Super Mario World</div>
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It’s unusual for a company to commit a studio like Game Freak to a
downloadable game, even if it is just a portion of the team. However,
it’s clear that Nintendo made a good call here as HarmoKnight is a gem
among these types of titles and honestly could have fit into a full
retail release if Nintendo saw fit to do so. As it is though it stands
as a fantastic value for the $15 dollar asking price. Not only is it a
high quality rhythm game, but it’s the first game in its genre I’d be
willing to recommend to fans outside the genre, mostly thanks to its
reflexive platforming. Endearing graphics, portable sensibilities,
hidden unlocks, and a high amount of polish make this download an easy
decision.<br />
<br />
Does HarmoKnight live up to its pedigree? Absolutely.<br />
<br />
<b>Score 9.5 out of 10</b><br />
<br />
<em>A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em><br />
</div>
Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-29458529836996142072013-03-21T10:22:00.001-07:002013-03-21T10:22:10.725-07:00Video Game Review: Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)For the first time since 2001, Luigi takes the spotlight in his own title. Is it worth the wait?<br />
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The game proper starts with Professor E. Gadd continuing his research
of ghosts, many of which are even helping the good Professor around his
lab. All that comes to a screeching halt when the Dark Moon, a
crystalline moon that hangs over Evershade Valley, shatters and turns
the ghosts hostile and mischievous. After retreating to a secret
bunker, Professor E. Gadd knows that there is only one person he can
call. No not the Ghostbusters! None other than the famous (okay not so
much) Luigi, who straps on the Poltergust 5000 and once again heads into
a mansion to battle the spirits of the dead and to restore the Dark
Moon.<br />
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For those that haven’t played the first Luigi’s Mansion (shame on
you), gameplay revolves around exploring a haunted mansion while using a
vacuum strapped to the plumber’s back to solve puzzles and catch
ghosts. Dark Moon has plenty of action when it comes to the catching of
ghosts, but the real draw here is exploring the various mansions’ every
nook and cranny. Using numerous devices and upgrades to the Poltergust
5000, you’ll solve puzzles across a variety of mansions this time with a
greater scope of enemies and upgrades. You’ll use your stroboscope to
stun ghosts, the vacuum for various tasks and the Dark Light to turn the
invisible visible. For instance you might use the vacuum to suck a
cocoon out of a giant web blocking your way towards an open flame that
you ignited earlier, which sends the web up in smoke and clears your
path. Another puzzle might have you seeking out a way to water a plant
and cause it’s petals to open so you can retrieve the key hidden within.<br />
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<a class="cboxElement" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Luigis-Mansion-Dark-Moon-11.jpg"><img alt="Luigis Mansion Dark Moon 11 Review: Luigis Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)" class=" wp-image-37852" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Luigis-Mansion-Dark-Moon-11.jpg" title="Review: Luigis Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)" width="585" /></a>
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Stretching the image does disservice to the games actual graphics which look fantastic in motion.</div>
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The game always encourages and rewards players who check in every
vase and vacuum every loose or dangling piece of cloth they can find.
Usually you’ll be rewarded with gold coins, bars or dollars that will go
towards giving you a better ranking at the end of the mission and
enable you to upgrade your Poltergust 5000. Often these upgrades make
the vacuum more powerful or enable your Dark Light to work longer.
Either way it’s an addictive gesture that ensures that you’ll be hooked
in finding every secret in every mansion.<br />
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It’s a good thing then that you won’t mind doing just that, as the
mansions themselves are well designed and each of them plays very well
off a central theme. Unlike the first game, where you are restricted to
one mansion with different themed rooms, Dark Moon packs in various
different mansions that all feel unique and bring with them different
sorts of ghosts, puzzles and other challenges. The rooms themselves are
not barren affairs either as they are usually absolutely packed to the
rafters with little details like various decorations and furniture. Most
of these items are not even essential to the main mission and almost
all of them are able to be interacted with in some way. These small
details turn it from simple level design to something more and lends a
sense of permanence to the mansion, like these places existed before you
arrived and will exist long after you’ve left.<br />
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Of course you won’t be just strolling from room to room enjoying the
view and thinking your way through puzzles. Along the way you’ll be
assaulted by a variety of ghosts who will seek to scare the pants off
poor Luigi and to keep you from advancing towards your goal of putting
the Dark Moon back together. The way you battle ghosts is simple enough:
you’ll flash them with your stroboscope which blinds them and then
you’ll use their vacuum to suck them up. Using your vacuum turns the
ghost fight into a tug of war where the ghost will pull you about the
room as you steady the analog stick in the opposite direction and hang
on until the ghost is sucked up. Often the ghosts will use varying
tactics like using sun glasses to keep you from flashing them, sneak up
on you invisibly, or even attack you with shovels. It’s your job to
figure out ways around these tactics so you can capture each spirit.<br />
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<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37853" style="width: 595px;">
<a class="cboxElement" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Luigi-Dark-Moon-Gameplay1.jpg"><img alt="Luigi Dark Moon Gameplay1 Review: Luigis Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)" class=" wp-image-37853 " height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Luigi-Dark-Moon-Gameplay1.jpg" title="Review: Luigis Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)" width="585" /></a>
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Watch out for ghost dog poo Luigi!</div>
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This is where one of my only contentions with the game comes into
play, because the actual ghost wrangling controls can take some getting
used to. While the controls are certainly simpler than the Gamecube’s
iteration, there still is an issue with the aiming. Since there isn’t a
second analog stick you’ll be using the Y and B buttons to look and aim
up and down respectively. Typically this doesn’t really cause a problem,
as Luigi automatically strafes while you play and most ghosts won’t
need to be aimed upwards at. Earlier in the game though it did cause
some issues where I took damage, simply because I couldn’t aim up or
down quickly enough. The game also supports the use of motion in order
to aim where tilting the 3DS slightly up or down adjusts the vacuum’s
direction. Actually, this makes aiming a breeze and works extremely
well; as long as you aren’t playing in 3D. As any 3DS owner can tell
you, moving about with the system will often cause you to lose that
sweet spot for the 3D effect, and the last thing you want in a heated
ghost battle is to suddenly see triple of the buggers. If you’re playing
in 2D however, it solves the aiming issue and is what I recommend
control wise.<br />
<br />
It’s really a shame that the easiest way to aim is by using 2D,
because the 3D effect is used very well within the game. Nintendo proves
once again they are masters at using this hardware for much more than
just having things jump out at you. The 3D lends a depth to each room
giving you the feeling that you are actually peering into a highly
detailed diorama through your screen and manipulating Luigi within. When
our erstwhile plumber turns towards the camera with his flashlight it
will flare out towards the player in a very cool effect. Simply put,
though 3D can often be a gimmick, when it works it really works and here
it can actually be pretty awesome. If you have no problems with the
aiming, or can overcome it easily, I highly recommend playing with 3D on
for this title. It’s one of the few times I felt it really added
something to the experience.<br />
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<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_37854" style="width: 595px;">
<a class="cboxElement" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/luigi3.jpg"><img alt="luigi3 Review: Luigis Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)" class=" wp-image-37854 " height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/luigi3.jpg" title="Review: Luigis Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)" width="585" /></a>
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Come on, who didn’t know there was going to be a graveyard?</div>
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Graphically speaking Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon isn’t the type of
hyper realistic looking game that will wow your friends, but it
certainly is a clean game that has a high amount of polish on it. The
game looks better than its Gamecube predecessor in almost every way and
even the darker areas burst with vibrant colors. Everything is smooth
and there are only a few jaggies that tend to all but disappear with
the 3D all the way up, which takes the edges off even more. What you end
up with is a title that looks great even running on the slightly
stretched XL screen. Essentially, Dark Moon looks like it didn’t cut any
corners in design and could easily be on a home console. Various other
effects, like the wispy smoke after your Dark Light burns out, are
strewn throughout the game and really just makes it all feel like a
really high quality experience.<br />
<br />
Though you’ll come for the gameplay and the graphics, you’ll stay
because of the overwhelming charm of the game. The mansions themselves
are chocked full of personality, as are the ghosts that inhabit them,
but it’s Luigi himself that brings the game to life and makes you want
to play it over and over. Personally, I’ve never really liked the
younger brother of the super variety, but in this game I found myself
grinning at Luigi’s actions through the whole game. While Mario is
always the typical hero that is rearing to leap into danger, Luigi
himself is a bit of a scaredy cat and prefers safety to epic quests and
princess saving. However, as one might tell you, it takes greater
bravery to do something even when truly afraid of it and, though Luigi
might be shaking in his boots, he takes the mansions on anyway. Luigi is
animated perfectly throughout the title, with small flourishes that you
might not even notice. As an example, when Luigi is first stepping foot
into a mansion he shakes slightly his feet pointed inward and his
stance protective. As he becomes more relaxed you’ll see it reflected in
his character. The various bumbling about he does, from falling through
a floor or screaming at a sudden scare, are just top notch and provide a
much needed levity to the younger brother. Throughout the experience
the phrases he says, including a shaky and unsure “Hello” into the
darkness, made me smile and imparted a character to Luigi that (dare I
say) his older brother doesn’t even possess.<br />
<br />
After you’ve bested the main storyline you still aren’t quite done
with your experience. My biggest gripe with the original title was that
it was far too short, and Nintendo seemed to take that to heart with
Dark Moon. Each mansion is broken up into a multitude of missions in
which you are ranked based on the time it took to beat, number of
treasures found and how much money you collected. In addition to trying
to get the best ranking on each level, you’ll find yourself hunting out
the various invisible Boos throughout the experience using the Dark
Light. This lends itself well to the portability of the game, as you can
pop in and try to best a previous mission or just enjoy your favorite
chunks of the game all over again. Each of the missions are able to be
bested in a shorter amount of time as you learn your way around the
mansion, which makes them all the better for a handheld system that you
are playing on the go.<br />
<br />
Even after you’ve seen 100 percent of the campaign there are various
multiplayer modes to partake in and the game even supports a download
play mode where you can play with multiple people, even if you have just
the one copy of the game. The three modes are a co-op battle up a tower
where teaming up in pairs and sticking together saves the day, a mode
where you hunt down a ghost dog, and a timed mode with each ghost
netting you more time. Having the game a little early made it
challenging to find anyone to play with online, but I persuaded a friend
to try out download play with me.<br />
<br />
I was very surprised and applaud Nintendo all the louder after the
experience. First and foremost we found that the download play actually
allowed my friend to play the game without the need for a host. After
the initial download he found himself able to play both online and local
modes and none of it seems to be a lesser version of the existing
multiplayer as far as we can tell. I didn’t get to experiment enough
with it, but if Nintendo intended this they deserve hearty praise. It
isn’t often that you’ll see something like that and it’s another barrier
removed in the way of just having fun with the game.<br />
<br />
The mode we tested out the most was the tower battle mode and it was a
lot of fun working up the tower as a team. The mode supports up to 4
players local or offline and I could certainly see how a couple more
players would make it even more fun. It’s worth mentioning that the
modes are also fully playable single player, though they do lose a bit
of their appeal without a group around.<br />
<br />
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<a class="cboxElement" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/luigismansion2.jpg"><img alt="luigismansion2 Review: Luigis Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)" class=" wp-image-37855 " height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/luigismansion2.jpg" title="Review: Luigis Mansion Dark Moon (3DS)" width="585" /></a>
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With four Luigi you can really pretend to be the Ghostbusters!</div>
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Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon does what Nintendo has always done best: at
its heart it’s simply fun. It can be immersive, graphically pretty, and
challenging, but it really all keeps coming down to just good old
fashioned fun. It’s one of the most charming games I’ve played with
exciting gameplay that ramps up in difficulty throughout the game and
fits perfectly in bite sized play throughs on the handheld. The game
simply looks great, sounds great, and exudes character from every moment
of it’s experience.<br />
<br />
Earlier this year Nintendo stated that this year would be known as
the Year of Luigi. With multiple titles coming out during the year
featuring Luigi in some way, Nintendo hopes to finally pull the green
overall-wearing plumber out of his brother’s enormous shadow. With
Luigi’s Mansion Dark Moon being the first of these releases, I’m pleased
to announced that the Year of Luigi is off to one heck of a start.<br />
<br />
<b>Score: 9.5 out of 10</b><br />
<br />
<em>A copy of this game was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-8720773241604400122013-03-13T18:24:00.004-07:002013-05-14T18:52:00.048-07:00Book Review: Oddities and Entities by Roland Allnach<div id="imcontent" style="margin-left: 12px;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oddities and Entities is a difficult book to categorize. It’s a collection of stories that truly don’t have any sort of exact genre, flipping between horror, suspense, drama and even a little romance between all of them. There is one thing that ties them all together though, and that is that every story in this collection certainly lives up to the books name; they are all odd. You’ll come to find that isn’t a bad thing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Something you’ll notice the minute you launch into the book is that the author is adept at weaving the English language together and expertly can describe characters and scenes. Each character in every story is unique and nowhere near cookie cutters and they feel like full-fledged people from the word go. I’m not telling you that you’ll care for all these people, some you’ll despise, but because of the excellent characterization everything that does happen to them is that much more poignant and tense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While it’s difficult to just drop the collection in a single genre, it’s safe to say that horror fans will be right at home with Mr. Allnach. There are some moments within the different tales that had me wincing at the gruesome display or behavior of the protagonists and antagonists, and anyone searching for happy endings should steer clear as all the stories in the collection are pretty dark. Don’t think that makes them all alike though, as nothing could be further from the truth. One of the great strengths of this novel is that each story is so different from the last, with wildly different sorts of “protagonists”, and unless you read spoilers online I’m sure you probably won’t guess how any of them would end. It’s not often I’m surprised as a reader anymore, but almost all of the author’s tales were deliciously unpredictable and had me turning the page eager to find out what happened next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a brief rundown of each story and what I thought of it, without giving you too many details on plot. I believe that finding out what each story is on your own gives you a more satisfying experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Boneview: This is a tale of a girl with a special power who has a lifelong relationship with a mysterious entity that haunts her life. Overall it’s probably my favorite of all the stories in the book, just narrowly edging out Appendage. There were parts of this story that sent chills up my spine and others that left me almost holding my breath waiting to see what happened. It’s a great ride, though I have to admit I was a little disappointed by the ending. To me it seemed extremely abrupt with a lack of explanation for some of went on. With such a fantastic build up it was just disappointing that the end kind of fizzled for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shift/Change: In this story you’ll follow a young man who works in a morgue that is trying to regain his memory. Various reprehensible people come to him with their problems and in the end there is a mystery that resonates throughout the story. However, I felt a little confused as to what exactly had happened when I finished the story. Admittedly sometimes less is more when it comes to story-telling, and I don’t want every detail explained to me, but it was pretty vague on the details. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My Other Me: I got Edgar Allan Poe vibes from this one as we explore the idea of duality of self and that maybe those voices we hear in our head aren’t really us in the common sense. This one is extremely twisted and odd, but it’s well written and I would bet money that nobody starting it would ever guess how it would end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Gray: If My Other Me was odd Gray takes it to a different level, when a man finds out he has a little grey thing living in his brain. The concept sounds ridiculous on its face, but as you read the story everything is explained and explored so well you can’t help but get on board. I found myself most taken with the characters in this book and some of the things they go through had me wincing. Great read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Elmer Phelps: A story about a pale and sickly young man who shares a strange destiny with his sister. Saying anything else about the plot would be a disservice, but this is one of the most twisted tales in the compilation with some scenes that are simply both brilliantly paced and described while being simultaneously deeply disturbed. It’s an explosive tale that ended unexpectedly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Appendage: For many this will be the award winner of the bunch and it’s truly a great read. It’s about a cynical older mercenary who is hired by his son to defend shipments that he ferries place to place. The one big rule? Don’t break the box. It’ll have you turning pages furiously to get to the end and Allnach’s characterization and writing really reach a new high in this story. The various relationships feel real due to great banter and dialogue making the whole thing play out vividly in your head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m tempted to rate each of these separately, as they all truly stand on their own. One of the author’s greatest strengths is the ability to write such different stories with different overarching themes and to explore extremely well written characters while expertly setting up the world around them. That being said the book is not perfect. There are a few pacing problems in a couple of the stories where the set up takes so long and is so in depth that the big pay-off at the end of the book feels weak in comparison. I’ve also found that Mr. Allnach seems to bring his stories to an end in what is sometimes an abrupt manner that leaves you with a lot of questions and a few answers. It’s good to want more after you finish the last page of the story, but being one offs I just have a lot of unanswered questions hanging in the air.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pacing issues aside this is one of the most unique collection of stories I’ve ever read. True, it’s often odd, disgusting and disturbed , but in the best of ways. You’ll find yourself more than eagerly tearing through the twisted tales and thinking of them long after the last page has been turned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>Score: 4 out of 5</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><em>A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em></em></span></div>
Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-68203612297264620282013-02-13T20:43:00.000-08:002013-03-13T18:27:35.799-07:00PlayStation Vita Vs. Nintendo 3DS: Which Handheld Should You Buy? Which portable is right for you? Well it certainly all depends on what you want to do with your device, and more importantly, what kind of games you want to experience. The article won’t be discussing tablets or smart phones, though they are a viable alternative of sorts to these systems. If you want to browse the net, read books, watch movies, listen to music or have access to a myriad of apps and bite size gaming than perhaps those options are best for you. Here though we will cover the more core systems that have some of those features, but their main focus is on gaming.<img alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..." /><br />
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Welcome to the HANDHELD DEATH MATCH WHERE ONLY ONE SHALL LEAVE THE VICTOR! Ok, that last bit was made up.<br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-size: large;" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Nintendo 3DS</b> </span><br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nintendo-3DS-XL-picture-1.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nintendo-3DS-XL-picture-1.jpg"><img alt="3DS and 3DS XL" class=" wp-image-37182 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nintendo-3DS-XL-picture-1.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Nintendo-3DS-XL-picture-1.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">3DS and 3DS XL</dd></dl>
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When we want to talk portable gaming and entertainment one name has to come before all others because of its strong history in this area: Nintendo. From Game Boy to the wildly successful DS system, Nintendo has been providing quality gaming on the go for longer than anyone else. The DS alone has sold over 153 million systems worldwide (!) with a whopping 59 million of that being sold in the Americas alone. The 3DS, Nintendo’s current outing, shows a slightly different story and got off to a rough start, but has really been picking up the pace lately. In fact, the latest sales figures over a year and 9 months of sales for 3DS we are sitting at a comfortable sale of 29 million units. The DS in the same time frame sold around 26 million. See that as you will, but I can’t see the 3DS ending up being anything but a sales success.<br />
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That doesn’t mean it’s right for you or even that it’s good though. What’s the verdict on it here and now in 2013? Glad you asked.<br />
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<b>Games</b><b> </b><br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-characters-artwork.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-characters-artwork.jpg"><img alt="Fire Emblem Awakening: One of my favorite series and newest entry is even easier to get into" class=" wp-image-37185 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-characters-artwork.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-characters-artwork.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Fire Emblem Awakening: One of my favorite series and newest entry is even easier to get into</dd></dl>
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Chances are if you are reading this right now one of the key components to your decision is the types of games each option holds, and why shouldn’t it be? After all games are what it’s all really about for gamers in the end; not loyalty to a brand name. With that being said the PS Vita and the 3DS are going to hold vastly different appeal for you within this category.<br />
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It is arguable that for many the biggest draw of a Nintendo handheld is, well, Nintendo. The most iconic faces in gaming reside on their systems; so if your thing is Mario, Zelda and Pokémon than you really don’t have to read much further than this bit do you? (Actually you probably aren’t reading at all since you’ve most likely had a 3DS firmly in hand for a while now). Does the system hold appeal outside of the big Nintendo franchises though? After all many gamers, though I am not one myself, feel that Nintendo games are a little outdated and kiddy for their tastes. So surely the system has nothing to offer them right? Not quite.<br />
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First of all if you haven’t played a lot of DS games, or have never touched one, there is a gigantic back catalog of games you can play right off the bat since 3DS plays all of the DS games. Some of the finest RPG’s found in this generation of gaming (yes even on consoles) are on the little system that could and it features smash hits from pretty much every other genre. Simply put there is something for everyone on the DS.<br />
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If we just look at 3DS the offers used to be pretty slim, but lately there are an embarrassment of riches of sorts for the right kind of gamer. Below are some of the bigger titles that have released on the handheld.<br />
<ul>
<li>Super Mario 3D Land</li>
<li>New Super Mario Brothers 2</li>
<li>Paper Mario Sticker Star</li>
<li>Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D (Remake)</li>
<li>Resident Evil Revelations (Being Ported to Consoles)</li>
<li>Resident Evil The Mercenaries 3D</li>
<li>Fire Emblem Awakening</li>
<li>Kid Icarus Uprising</li>
<li>Scribblenauts Unlimited</li>
<li>Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (Being ported to IOS)</li>
<li>Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask</li>
<li>Mario Kart 7</li>
</ul>
That isn’t a comprehensive list and one title is a remake of an older game while the two others are being ported to other gaming devices. Aside from the HD remake they are all experiences you can’t get outside of the 3DS and they are just a sampling of what’s out there. It also doesn’t include the multi-platform releases or the E Shop and some of the fantastic games you can get on there like Dillon’s Rolling Western, Crashmo, Pushmo, Sakura Samurai and a very healthy dose of Virtual Console which lets you play SNES, NES and Game Boy games through digital downloads.<br />
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Looking at the future releases of a console is often even more telling than what’s currently out there and because of some big announcements by Nintendo recently you certainly won’t be hurting for experiences. Below are just a couple of expected releases and the expected year that they will see release here on US shores.<br />
<ul>
<li>Castlevania Lords of Shadow (2013)</li>
<li>Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (2013)</li>
<li>Pokemon X and Y (2013)</li>
<li>Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon (2013)</li>
<li>Lego City Undercover (2013)</li>
<li>Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies (2013)</li>
<li>Project X Zone (2013)</li>
<li>Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney (2013)</li>
<li>Animal Crossing New Leaf (2013)</li>
<li>Unannounced Legend of Zelda (TBA)</li>
<li>Smash Brothers 3DS (TBA) </li>
</ul>
Again this isn’t a comprehensive list and I’m sure that fans can come up with more (feel free to share in the comments). As you can see the future of the system is strong ,with Nintendo also recently stating that it’s got a lot of stuff up its sleeves it hasn’t shown yet; some of which is coming this year. With its high quality first party titles and rising support from third parties, due to strong sales of the system, it’s an appealing line up. Admittedly, there is certainly a type of gamer represented more here, but it’s hard to look at this list and not find something to like. Whether or not these sorts of games are appealing to you is going to be a big piece of your purchase decision.<br />
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<b>Features</b><b> </b><br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/3ds-spec.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/3ds-spec.jpg"><img alt="3DS is big on games, Light on Features" class=" wp-image-37186 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/3ds-spec.jpg" height="418" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/3ds-spec.jpg" width="580" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">3DS is big on games, Light on Features</dd></dl>
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Before we launch into the other things the 3DS does, know that it is primarily a game playing device. It certainly has Netflix you can watch and a browser to surf the net, but these are nowhere near as good as what you can find on Vita and especially is dwarfed by tablets and smart phones. However, Nintendo does have a few features outside of playing game carts. Other than the aforementioned Netflix and a Nintendo Video that are nice distractions the 3DS comes packed with augmented reality games and a feature called StreetPass and SpotPass.<br />
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Now certainly they don’t sound like much, but when you pass by another gamer with a 3DS and both of you have StreetPass enabled you’ll not only get their Mii to help you in a little RPG lite game included with the system, but you can also receive various things from games you both have. These can be anything from new characters, levels, messages, items and so forth. It adds an element of community and fun to the system that takes full advantage of the Nintendo brand of charm and nostalgia. SpotPass is similar, but instead works by passing by Wi-Fi hotspots that will do a quick download of some sort to your system.<br />
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3DS also comes with a pair of pretty terrible cameras on inside and outside that allow you to take pictures in a not so glorious .3 mega pixels. As a consolation the photos are 3D and Nintendo has patched in the ability to shoot ten minutes of 3D video. There is a photo editor that comes with the system that, especially for children, is fun to tool with. In addition there is a program that lets you record and alter sound, similar to what the DSi had.<br />
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The 3DS battery hits around 3-5 hours of straight gameplay and up to 8 playing your original DS games. The XL gets more battery life though how much more is debatable. I’ve read in numerous places that it adds roughly 2 hours of gameplay though I’ve also read that it’s exactly the same as 3DS. I have never played one so I can’t confirm or deny, but if you want to get the most battery than XL is your guy. Either way this is nowhere near as impressive as the DS’ 10 hours of game time and a bit of a let down honestly considering the base model is roughly the same battery life as Vita which is far more powerful.<br />
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The biggest feature that the 3DS boasts (which ironically is the least attractive to many) is the 3D. You can adjust a slider and experience the games in full blown 3D without the need for glasses. Personally I had no headaches playing the system for long periods of time like some and I thought that it certainly added something to certain games, but it wasn’t a mind blowing experience. Just a neat gimmick that honestly I could do without, but if 3D is important for you look no further because you can only get glasses free 3D on the 3DS.<br />
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Overall when it comes to features, it’s like I said before: 3DS is for playing video games mostly. If you want to experience other types of media out there than your probably better off looking elsewhere.<br />
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<b>Value</b><br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire_emblem_3ds_bundle_thumb.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire_emblem_3ds_bundle_thumb.jpg"><img alt="The newest 3DS bundle is both sexy and a great deal. $199 for a game and 3DS plus 4GB SD" class="size-full wp-image-37189" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire_emblem_3ds_bundle_thumb.jpg" height="332" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire_emblem_3ds_bundle_thumb.jpg" width="529" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">The newest 3DS bundle is both sexy and a great deal. $199 for a game and 3DS plus 4GB SD</dd></dl>
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This is the last category for each system and possibly the most important for the budget minded consumer (i.e. me). The 3DS is an attractive proposition at the price (though it wasn’t always that way) and comes in two separate models to choose from.<br />
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Original flavor 3DS is $169.99 and comes with a 2GB SD card along with a stylish charger stand and augmented reality cards to play mini games with. The great thing about the package is it is literally a pick up and play console with no extra expenses besides perhaps a game and later on a case to hold the system.<br />
The 3DS XL retails for $199.99 and is simply a bigger version of the 3DS, though it certainly has a more aesthetically pleasing look to it and the form factor is just much more comfortable to hold. There are slight issues with resolution as the pixels per are the same which simply means the graphics stretch to fit the screen and you will see a slight difference between the two with the 3DS winning out. Battery life with the XL has been reported to be larger with the 3DS XL and the buttons, analog, and strip along the bottom are all higher quality than the base modle. It also comes with the AR cards and a charger, though a stand is not included this go around and you’ll also get a 4GB card rather than the standard 2GB on the original system. (If you are in the UK Nintendo made a baffling decision not to include a charger at all with XL so there is something to consider if you're outside the States).<br />
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Speaking of storage space the 3DS uses the dirt cheap storage of SD and SDHC cards, the latter of which can reach up to 32 GB in size. When we get to the Vita you’ll understand why this might be the deciding factor for more than a few folks.<br />
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<span data-mce-style="font-size: large;" style="font-size: medium;"><b>PlayStation Vita</b> </span><br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/5805867126_929c94209e_z.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/5805867126_929c94209e_z.jpg"><img alt="PlayStation Vita: So sexy." class=" wp-image-37183 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/5805867126_929c94209e_z.jpg" height="467" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/5805867126_929c94209e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">PlayStation Vita: So sexy.</dd></dl>
</div>
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Playing against Nintendo in the handheld market has always been a losing venture, but PlayStation has hung in there like a champ with the original PSP. Personally I felt the system had a lot going for it with more full bodied console style games as well as a lot of great niche RPG games. It never garnered the attention that the DS did with only 71 million systems sold worldwide, not that those numbers are anything to sneeze at. Sony’s uphill battle here has always been selling a more expensive handheld that can do more, but that just didn’t have as much third party support or the pick up and play sensibilities of its competition. Does PS Vita solve these things and deal a knockout punch to 3DS this time around? Let’s find out shall we.<br />
<br />
<b>Games</b><br />
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<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 595px;" id="attachment_37184" style="width: 595px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/psv-gravity-ss7.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/psv-gravity-ss7.jpg"><img alt="Gravity Rush is a unique game on PSV and shows the clear graphical disparity between handhelds" class=" wp-image-37184 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/psv-gravity-ss7.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/psv-gravity-ss7.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Gravity Rush is a unique game on PSV and shows the clear graphical disparity between handhelds</dd></dl>
</div>
Again the lifeblood of any console, portable or otherwise, games are what makes a system. PS Vita is a beefier system, which will cover why in the features section below, but what it means for us is that we can have more robust and in depth experiences closer to what the console can do. Here are the bigger games that have been released thus far.<br />
<ul>
<li>Resistance Burning Skies</li>
<li>Gravity Rush</li>
<li>Little Big Planet Vita</li>
<li>Uncharted Golden Abyss</li>
<li>Persona 4</li>
<li>Escape Plan</li>
<li>Disgaea 3</li>
<li>Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified</li>
<li>Assassin’s Creed Liberation </li>
</ul>
Like the 3DS I didn’t list titles that were ports that could be found elsewhere. It’s worthy to note that the PSV has a lot of these and they are probably the better looking and performing ports when it comes to portables. I also didn’t mention the crazy amount of PS2 and PS1 games that you could download onto your Vita from the PSN or cross play games like Sly Cooper 4 and All Stars because you can play them on your PlayStation 3.<br />
<br />
Again a certain type of gamer is represented here: one who values the more graphically inclined games that have bigger names and more console like experiences. Especially if you own a PlayStation 3 and want to play every game in their respective franchises than you can stop reading, you’ve found your portable. It’s worthy to note that at least one game on that list, Call of Duty, was universally panned by critics as a terrible game so maybe don’t count that one.<br />
<br />
Looking at the future of what’s been announced for the PlayStation Vita is where things get slightly more grim for the system.<br />
<ul>
<li>Tearaway (2013)</li>
<li>Soul Sacrifice (2013)</li>
<li>Killzone Mercenary (2013)</li>
<li>God Eater 2 (2013)</li>
<li>Dragons Crown (TBA)</li>
<li>Phantasy Star Online 2 (TBA)</li>
<li>Ratchet and Clank QForce (TBA) </li>
</ul>
As you can see there isn’t a lot here announced and much of it isn’t clear whether it’s coming out this year or the next. This was mostly due to the fact that Sony completely ignored their handheld in their E3 press conference and hasn’t really announced much since. There may be a bunch of stuff currently unannounced that we will see at this year’s E3, but going off what’s here it’s slim. Overall the PlayStation Vita appeals to a different crowd than the 3DS, but a lack of support from third parties and indeed Sony itself is concerning to say the least.<br />
<br />
Still there are several experiences on these lists that will last you a long time and I’ve heard Persona 4, even though it’s a port, is not to be missed.<br />
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<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
<b>Features</b><b> <a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/800px-PlayStation_Vita_Layout.svg_.png" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/800px-PlayStation_Vita_Layout.svg_.png"><img alt="800px-PlayStation_Vita_Layout.svg" class="aligncenter wp-image-37187" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/800px-PlayStation_Vita_Layout.svg_.png" height="239" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/800px-PlayStation_Vita_Layout.svg_.png" width="585" /></a></b></div>
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This is where the PlayStation Vita is obviously superior to the 3DS in many ways. First off the bat, and most importantly to many, the portable has two analog sticks. This means that more traditional camera controls can be implemented bringing our portable experience closer to the console version and just allowing more forms of input. In addition the PS Vita boasts a super sexy OLED capacitive touchscreen, two cameras (front and rear), rear touchscreen and a bevy of motion sensing and facial tracking suites. What does all this mean? Games will look better, control better, and have a lot more inputs than the 3DS.<br />
<br />
The PS Vita is also cross compatible with the PS3 with a few games even being able to use it for a controller (Little Big Planet 2 and All Stars) and some games you are able to play directly against your PS3 brethren even though you are currently jamming on the Vita (All Stars). Cross game saves are also a great feature that exists for a couple of games that allows you to take your save with you and one network id is used across all systems so trophies carry over as well. Cross Play lets you buy a copy of one game and automatically get another so there is a much higher degree of the two systems connecting than say the 3DS and the Wii U.<br />
<br />
Like the 3DS the cameras are a terrible quality with .3 megapixel resolution. The PS Vita is also capable of augmented reality though it doesn’t need the cards included with the 3DS and is, by all reports, superior in its execution to Nintendo’s. It also does Facebook, Skype, Netflix, Twitter, and Foursquare as well as Music Unlimited, Flickr, YouTube, Hulu Plus and Crackle. 3DS was also promised Hulu Plus, but it has yet to appear even though promised in 2012. As you can see if you want to do more than just game than you’ve found your system. As long as you don’t want to do it at long stretches away from your home, as the battery is officially stated from Sony for 3-5 hours of gameplay. That doesn’t allow for extended periods of play away from a charger, so if you take your handheld on long trips it’s something to take into consideration.<br />
All around the PlayStation Vita can just do more and thanks to its OLED screen looks really sexy doing it. The form factor is impressive and aesthetically it looks more mature and svelte than its competition.<br />
<br />
<b>Value</b><br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/psplus.png" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/psplus.png"><img alt="PS Plus makes the whole package more palatable" class=" wp-image-37188 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/psplus.png" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/psplus.png" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">PS Plus makes the whole package more palatable</dd></dl>
</div>
At first glance the PlayStation Vita is a fantastic price as you are getting a lot of features for your buck. In fact, when the price was announced at last year’s E3 it was to raucous applause (real this time).<br />
<br />
There are two different SKUs of the PlayStation Vita. The first is Wi Fi only and can be yours for just $249.99 or you can go with the 3G version (with an applicable data plan through AT&T) for $299.99. With the amount of things that the system can do that is closer to a smart phone or tablet (assuming you don’t have one of these) it’s an attractive price when you add in the fact that it’s also a powerful gaming machine.<br />
Add to this the recent announcement of PS Plus on the PlayStation Vita and the whole package becomes that much more attractive. For $17.99 for 3 months or $49.99 for a full year you get hundreds of dollars of free games which you can download to your PSV and the membership works on both your PS3 and your Vita. Currently games like Gravity Rush, Uncharted and others are available free of charge during subscription. True, you lose these games if you lapse service though paying again will re-enable you to play and download them. If you’re a huge PlayStation fan this is just a no brainer and was the smartest thing Sony has done since the Vita’s release.<br />
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It isn’t all sunshine and lollipops for the Vita though. The biggest hidden cost and catch when it comes to the PSV is Sony’s baffling decision to go with proprietary storage again. Memory is just so much more expensive than something like SD and the biggest size, 32gb will set you back a whopping hundred dollars. That is staggering when you consider I can buy an entire terabyte of HD space for the same amount. It was the worst decision Sony could have made and significantly raises the cost threshold. With 3DS you get a fully capable system ready to go out of the box with plenty of space and easily (and more importantly cheaply) acquired extra memory. While PS Plus is a fantastic deal you have to store those games somewhere and since the cost of the memory is so high you’ll often find yourself using your PS3 as an impromptu storage unit swapping games back and forth to take them with you.<br />
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<b>Verdict and Analysis</b><br />
There really is no verdict here. If you read the above descriptions and you found one system more appealing than the other than you’ve got your answer. Really it’s going to come down to what kind of gamer you are and what kind of experience you want to have with your handheld.<br />
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However, I’d feel like I was copping out a bit if I didn’t give some kind of verdict, so what I will do here is give you<b> MY</b> opinion. Keep in mind this doesn’t mean that this is where you will end up on the spectrum. If you like the opposite system better than don’t take it as a personal insult or affront to your life that I like the other one. I’m happy if you're happy. That being said for me personally there is a clear winner. Here is how it breaks down for me:<br />
<br />
<b>PlayStation Vita</b><br />
<br />
Pros: Better controls, more functionality, console type experiences, PS Plus, Better screen/aesthetics<br />
Cons: Terribly priced memory, Not much support for system, Long load times for handheld, Not as many games<br />
<br />
<b>Nintendo 3DS</b><br />
<br />
Pros: Lots of games, lots of support, more exclusives, more portable than PSV, DS Backwards Compatible massive selection of games<br />
Cons: Not as much functionality, not as good of screen, only one analog stick<br />
<br />
<span data-mce-style="font-size: medium;" style="font-size: small;"><b>Winner: Nintendo 3DS</b></span><br />
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There are several reasons that I think that, for me, the 3DS is a more attractive handheld. First and foremost there are just more games I want to play on the system with Fire Emblem being up there as one of my most anticipated; add to that a portable Smash Brothers and it’s kind of hard to compete with. I’m not as big into Mario, though I enjoy the series it doesn’t drive my purchases, but Zelda and things like Project X Zone is hard to turn away from. In addition I didn’t get to play as much DS as I’d have liked when I owned one due to finances, so I’d love to dig into the beefy back catalog that exists there.<br />
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I owned a 3DS at one point and vastly enjoyed things like StreetPass and SpotPass as well as liking a stupid RPG mini game called Find Mii way more than I should. The system had to be sold last year in order to pay an electric bill during some dark financial times, but it impressed me enough that I wanted it back.<br />
<br />
Value wise for the $199 XL model I plan on eventually purchasing it’s just more of an out of the box type of system. With the Vita your baseline cost is at least another $50 to the price if you want a ok sized memory card so realistically you are looking at $300 for a system (though there are bundles out there that have a 4GB in them for $250). For me one of the biggest drawbacks of the Vita system is the ridiculously priced memory and I think many would agree.<br />
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Nintendo is also really good at offering separate experiences on their handheld than they do their consoles. What this means is you get games you can’t play anywhere else and it makes the system have more exclusives by default. Much of what’s on Vita thus far is exactly what’s on a PS3, for better or worse. Don’t get me wrong, I only own a PS3 and am a huge Sony fan. I think they have the best console exclusives out there as far as the two bigger systems go. However, their handheld suffers from lackluster ports and slightly watered down experiences that aren’t even done by the same developer that made the game so big on consoles.<br />
<br />
Another big negative to me is Sony's apparent lack of interest in truly supporting the handheld. Last years E3 they had a chance to blow us out of the water, but instead showed two pictures of some games titles and then All-Stars, which is also playable on PS3. They devoted nearly 30 minutes to the Harry Potter book, but they couldn't take the time to blow it out for their struggling handheld. Nintendo didn't do much better at E3, but has since rectified that with a bevy of announcements through Nintendo Direct. Sony has still been mostly silent regarding their handheld and that doesn't bode well.<br />
<br />
Overall it goes back to my first point: It’s all about the games. I don’t follow a brand and never have, I just follow the games I want to play wherever they lead me. The 3DS just has more of those types of experiences that hold value to me.<br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/getalong.png" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/getalong.png"><img alt="Can't we gamers all just get along?" class="size-full wp-image-37191" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/getalong.png" height="451" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/getalong.png" width="626" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Can't we gamers all just get along?</dd></dl>
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So there you are. Which system do you plan on buying (or already own)? Any of the games above your most anticipated? Hit us up in the comments. Just try and be nice, no flame wars about what system is better. The wonderful thing about individuality is we all have things we prefer over others. It doesn’t mean the other gamers point of view is an less valid to that person. Remember: 3DS or PSV we are all gamers.Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-56694259893672583542013-02-13T20:40:00.004-08:002013-03-13T18:25:26.209-07:00Book Review: Legend of Zelda Hyrule HistoriaSkipping merrily to my mail box (as I am wont to do from time to time) I was surprised to find a mysterious package. Intrigued I took the package inside, carefully sliced open the tape (in case of bomb) and peered into the box like I was expecting Anthrax to explode all over my face.<img alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..." /><br />
Instead imagine my pleasant surprise at seeing this instead of Anthrax:<br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hyrule-historia-on-sale-trailer.png" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hyrule-historia-on-sale-trailer.png"><img alt="Dun...dun...da....DUUNNN!" class=" wp-image-37278 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hyrule-historia-on-sale-trailer.png" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/hyrule-historia-on-sale-trailer.png" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Dun...dun...da....DUUNNN!</dd></dl>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
Indeed, that is the current New York Times Bestseller (no kidding) Legend of Zelda Hyrule Historia. I’d preordered and paid for it early last year and had forgot about it in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Either way it was a happy surprise and I decided to share with you guys what’s so special about it.<br />
First of all the price is just fantastic right now. <a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Legend-Zelda-Hyrule-Historia/dp/1616550414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360809092&sr=8-1&keywords=legend+of+zelda+hyrule+historia" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Legend-Zelda-Hyrule-Historia/dp/1616550414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1360809092&sr=8-1&keywords=legend+of+zelda+hyrule+historia" target="_blank">Amazon</a> currently is selling the very well made hardbound book for only 20 bucks. Even with shipping you are looking at getting this for only 24 dollars or so depending upon your location, which is an utter steal if you ask me. Amazon's price states it was slashed from $34.99 so no telling how long the sale would last.<br />
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The first thing that will hit you upon opening the box is just how pretty the cover looks. In this case judging a book by its cover is doing it no disservice as the gold embossed letters and symbols atop the deep Link green makes a book that just begs to be set out on your coffee table for all to see. Or your toilet stand, if that’s where you want to put it…..heathen.<br />
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The book is a "Wonder Twins Powers Activate" sort of a team up between Dark Horse and Nintendo. It’s the same book fans are sure to have heard of with the long awaited timeline of Zelda games and it’s meticulously and skillfully translated down to the smallest note on a scribbled drawing. Pages are a heavy and glossy material with a bigger layout similar to what you would see in an Atlas book. Filling those pages is tidbits about all the different Zelda games, a myriad of sketches and artwork (including rare glimpses at originally Miyamoto drawn graph paper dungeons), the aforementioned timeline and a pretty cool manga that is a prequel to Skyward Sword.<br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/original.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/original.jpg"><img alt="The manga is a little darker than Zelda's normal tone. Just look at Link rocking that six pack, torture or no!" class=" wp-image-37279 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/original.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/original.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">The manga is a little darker than Zelda's normal tone. Just look at Link rocking that six pack, torture or no!</dd></dl>
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All told Skyward Sword takes up a good chunk of the book and is easily the most represented series here. Surely the other series get talked about and you see plenty of material from them, but probably a good third of the book is all about the latest Zelda. Since this was the 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary book and Skyward Sword was just being released its completely understandable they wanted to focus on their new star, however it does leave you wanting to see more of the other games represented.<br />
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Of course you have the vaunted timeline that has been argued about in parent’s basements everywhere, which actually has three different splits in its timeline during Ocarina of Time. Two of those were often theorized by fans, the young Link timeline and the older Link timeline, but there is a third where our hero actually loses to Ganon. What’s here is pretty well and logically put together and it’s obvious that Nintendo put quite a bit of thought into this. Sure, the most hardcore fans will find inconsistencies, but to most of us it’s a great roadmap and interesting information to say the least.<br />
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The artwork included here ranges from standard character mock ups to absolutely stunning concept art. It’s a shame that some of the pictures are so small though as I would have loved whole page spreads on some of the material, but it works well enough within the context. At times you’ll find yourself straining a bit to read the tinier notes from developers about different things yet in the end the book utterly delivers on giving you a sneak peek behind the curtain.<br />
<br />
This book is very well put together and a great value for even the most casual Zelda fans. If you are a hardcore fan of Link and company then you need to absolutely order this book now as there is a lot of worth here and it’s easily an excellent collectible at a great price.<br />
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<strong>Score: 5 out of 5</strong>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-74478594585591343862013-02-13T20:27:00.001-08:002013-03-13T18:27:56.092-07:00Video Game Review: Fire Emblem Awakening (3DS)<em></em>Fire Emblem Awakening is the latest in the Nintendo developed, character driven strategy RPG. It also happens to be the best entry into an already excellent series.<img alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..." /><br />
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Fire Emblem has always been a bit of a niche gaming series, mostly due to its uncompromising difficulty and character permadeath. After spending 20 hours leveling and growing attached to a character, one false move could lead you to losing one of your greatest assets. While I’ve personally always enjoyed the games, it’s never really hit it big and certainly has never been a huge series for Nintendo here in North America. In fact, the reason they originally even decided to bring the series to the US was fans response to the Marth and Roy characters in Super Smash Brothers Melee. Prior releases have always been regulated to the word of mouth and smaller ads in gaming magazines. With Awakening the series takes one giant step into the spotlight, in what I predict will make gaming fans everywhere pay attention and not just the hardcore min/max SRPG crowd.<br />
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Permadeath can certainly add a level of tenseness and personal danger to combat that you don't get in SRPG games where you can just pop your character back to life in the next battle. However, it isn’t for everyone and can be highly discouraging to even the most hardcore player. Sometimes an unlucky critical or the smallest of wrong moves in the later battles can have you replaying over an hour of carefully made tactical decisions. For people who may not have the most time in the world, or those who have always been intimidated by the series, have I got good news for you. Intelligent Systems has added a casual mode this go around that turns off permadeath for your characters. They could have done this by just making it easy mode, but understand that some people just want the challenge without losing hours of gameplay. So not only can you pick your difficulty level, but you can also choose whether to play with permadeath letting you dictate the terms of your play.<br />
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What’s so great about this is that it lets even newer gamers to the strategy RPG genre be able to ease into the series and simply enjoy the story if they want, while simultaneously giving the more hardcore players the chance to play the most difficult Fire Emblem that they remember. Even with permadeath turned off on the harder difficulties you will need to bring your absolute A game, so don’t think this is a play for the kiddie crowd. However, it does open up the series in a genuinely encouraging way that opens arms to thousands of new gamers who have never tried it before. Essentially it lets Fire Emblem take a big step forward in terms of accessibility, without sacrificing it’s hardcore cred.<br />
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For those unfamiliar with Fire Emblem (and I hope there are a lot of new players to the series) the stories usually are more political in nature invoking a sort of Game of Thrones feel to the whole affair. The stories are usually really well done, with Awakening being no exception, from the first person perspective opening to the fantastic ending. You’ll actually control your own character that Chrom, Prince of the Halidom of Ylisse, finds unconscious in a field with no recollection of who you are exactly (you have amnesia like all good heroes).<br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening_004.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening_004.jpg"><img alt="Customization is on the light side, but it's great to have your own avatar." class="size-full wp-image-37292" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening_004.jpg" height="480" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening_004.jpg" width="640" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Customization is on the light side, but it's great to have your own avatar.</dd></dl>
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You’ll create your character at the outset with a choice of gender and a few different choices of hair style, face type and size. In addition you’ll choose your strengths and faults stat wise which leads to bonuses or penalties to whatever you choose. However, you won’t choose class at the outset as everybody defaults to the Tactician class. Never fear though, as you level you’ll gain access to every class in the game beside the plot and character specific ones and you can build your avatar as you see fit.<br />
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For the uninitiated, strategy RPGs retain the story that is so prevalent in the standard RPG while stripping the extra dungeons and running about overhead maps and gets straight to the battle. At the outset of each you’ll arm your characters, pick which ones complement the map and your strategies, and deploy them to the battle. You and your enemy will take turns moving and taking place in combat with a paper/rock/scissors element to it. Basically sword beats ax, which beats lance, which beats sword, while magic will wipe out armored characters and can be leveraged against elemental weaknesses some characters have. Archers naturally do better against flying targets and will take them down in an instance.<br />
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You’ll encounter these weapons through chests on the map or more likely rewards from combat. Equipping your character with the right weapons and coordinating their attacks to best leverage their strength and keep them alive is part of the thrill of the strategy genre. Min/max RPG players will be in heaven as there is a number of stats within weapons, characters themselves, and enemies to revel in while standard players can still have a strong grasp of tactics and a mastery of the field, if not perhaps the strongest character ever.<br />
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The characters themselves are really the star of the show, more so than even in previous Fire Emblems. You’ll find yourself growing attached to certain characters at the outset of course, but you’ll quickly have a hard time finding your favorite as each new character adds something and there seems to be a type of character to appeal to everybody here. You have the noble and courageous Chrom, the arrogant but likable Vaike, and deadly assassins who simply dig candy. Within the battles themselves you can pair up characters to add stat boosts to the active character which you can switch back and forth who is actually battling. The backup fighter will then always be near the chosen character and will sometimes defend the player from an attack or add extra firepower to wipe an enemy unit out. You can get these same effects from simply fighting side to side or back to back with other units and every time you do you’ll find yourself building support levels with characters.<br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-1.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-1.jpg"><img alt="Awakening's heroes are well written, if a bit cliche." class=" wp-image-37293 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-1.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-1.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Awakening's heroes are well written, if a bit cliche.</dd></dl>
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These support levels lead to conversations between the characters that are absolutely entertaining, touching, and legitimately funny. The conversations might not seem like much, but they give every character a real sense of personality and make them feel more like real people then cardboard cut outs you send out to die. Especially when playing in permadeath, it makes every battle more tense because you simply like the people you are playing with. You can min/max and try to get the most out of your stats sure, but I highly recommend just playing with the characters you find interesting as it makes the game utterly tense and enjoyable. In the end I felt more bonded with these characters then I have in long epic RPG’s that I’ve spent dozens more hours on.<br />
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The endearing character traits aren’t the only reasons you want to build support though. Male and female fighters can build to the highest S support level and upon doing so will marry each other. S Level support characters are utterly devastating on the battle field with extra stats given to each other and combined can be unstoppable. The real treasure here though, and a reason you will want to marry off everyone you can, is each pairing of eligible characters will result in a child that you can actually recruit to do battle with you. Each of the children will adopt traits of the mother and father enabling them to have different classes available, different stats and stat growth, and best of all different skills; some of which aren’t available via any other normal means. It may sound odd at first, I myself wondered if I would have toddlers fighting bad guys, but indeed the troops you get are in their teens and capable warriors (don’t worry it’s explained and explained well).<br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Fire-Emblem-Awakening-Splash-Image2.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Fire-Emblem-Awakening-Splash-Image2.jpg"><img alt="This is just the beginning. Battles get far more difficult later on." class=" wp-image-37294 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Fire-Emblem-Awakening-Splash-Image2.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Fire-Emblem-Awakening-Splash-Image2.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">This is just the beginning. Battles get far more difficult later on.</dd></dl>
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Awakening has another hidden strength in its ability to let you utterly customize your experience: beyond just your marriages, children and character created avatar. Battle animations can be turned off for a minimalist approach, text can sped up or skipped altogether, watching enemie's turns can be skipped, and there is an accompanying toggle for just about everything else you could want. Inventory in the game could have been extremely difficult with all the characters, and though it occasionally does take some juggling to get the best out of your warriors, the game has some great options for managing it all. You can automatically store every characters inventory if you don’t want to sort through them individually, make the system optimize characters inventory if you don’t want to fuss with it, and even top off your spell books or weapons (since they all have limited uses and will break eventually). It’s really common sense stuff that just makes the game easier to play basically removing obstacles to your fun.<br />
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As if an epic quest, gripping strategic battles, marriages and offspring, custom avatars and endearing characters wasn’t enough Fire Emblem Awakening has even more to offer through its Street Pass, Spot Pass, and DLC offerings. Street Pass lets you round up a gang of your favorite characters and led by your avatar sent out into passing gamers systems. People receiving your group can buy items from them, chat with them, recruit them or test their mettle in battle against your group. Upon winning you can even recruit other’s avatars as one of your 20 bonus characters and free of charge to boot. Of course you could just pay for that privilege, but why take the easy way out?<br />
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Spot Pass lets Nintendo set you up with goodies in the form of extra maps, items and characters. There are a ton of included characters from past Fire Emblem’s and it’s a real treat to fans to be able battle and recruit the leaders of these bonus parties. You can also buy and earn their unique weapons that they battled with in past games and they tend to be powerful in their own right giving you a leg up in combat. On top of that are DLC packs (the first being free till March 6<sup>th</sup>) that introduce the most legendary of the characters like Roy and Marth from Smash Brothers fame. Further DLC can be purchased and will include not only bonus characters but new original characters with exclusive items and characters. All of these battles builds your online reputation which is basically your cred. Going up against a fellow Fire Emblem player you can instantly shake in your boots when you see a high number.<br />
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-3ds-screenshots-20.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-3ds-screenshots-20.jpg"><img alt="The gorgeous cutscenes will have you wishing the whole game looked like this." class=" wp-image-37295 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-3ds-screenshots-20.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/fire-emblem-awakening-3ds-screenshots-20.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">The gorgeous cutscenes will have you wishing the whole game looked like this.</dd></dl>
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Fire Emblem Awakening is overall a pretty game with great character design and fantastic cut scenes that look like moving manga scenes. Graphics are well done if limited by the 3DS slight lack of graphical power. What's here is more than serviceable, but it bears mentioning. The 3D actually adds quite a bit to the experience in my opinion, allowing the characters to pop from the backgrounds and giving a sense of depth to the battlefield. Sound is well done and while you might not find yourself humming the music, it certainly serves its purpose with some epic sweeping tunes in the mix. Battle sounds are satisfying and the different effects have good oomph that goes along with the well done animations. I do have one nitpick thing that bothers me, though I understand it’s a design decision. WHERE ARE ALL OF MY GUY’S AND GAL’S FEET?!? Seriously every characters feet end in little nubs even though the character art shows them with feet (albeit small ones). It can be a distracting, if small thing, but it’s certainly worth noting. There is of course a certain amount of grinding here, but it never really feels excessive. Because of the attractive class changes available through leveling up, the support conversations and the myriad of other small rewards the system is really good at doling out, you never quite feel like it’s a chore.<br />
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The hardest thing about playing Fire Emblem Awakening was trying to find something bad to say about it. There is just tons of high quality content that is easy to access and allows even the most timid among us gamers to experience the great gaming series. Polish is abundant in everything within the game with attention being paid to the smallest of things like being able to customize your menus and manage your inventory without headache. Even without the extra Spot Pass and Street Pass features and DLC this is an utterly complete package and the aforementioned features just serve to add a feel of community to what has always been an isolated single player experience.<br />
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Succinctly put this game is a system seller and if you only ever played this and maybe one other game on the 3DS it would be worth a purchase. If you have even the slightest interest in this series and have always been hesitant to play now is the chance to jump in with the best in the series and experience one of the finest games in the Nintendo 3DS’ growing library. Join me in the world of Fire Emblem; you won’t regret it.<br />
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<strong>Score: 9.8 out of 10</strong>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-80692568853854799072013-02-05T22:32:00.001-08:002013-03-13T18:28:40.298-07:00Logan's Poem<div style="text-align: left;">
Logan finally got to be Zebra of the Week, which he has been eagerly awaiting all year. This is a special week that focuses completely on Logan. He gets to show his favorite books, toys, tell stories and his friends make him a special book. On Wednesday we had to write a poem or letter about Logan for his school and send it to be read aloud. Here it is, be easy on me it was late when I wrote it.<br />
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Logan's Poem</div>
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Did you ever wonder<br />
What you might see<br />
If you looked through the eyes<br />
Of a father like me<br />
<br />
If you could understand<br />
The wonder and fun<br />
If you could know how it felt<br />
To have Logan as a son<br />
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First thing about Logan<br />
That you should know<br />
His hearts as big as the moon<br />
Though times it won't show<br />
<br />
Because sometimes it won't<br />
He'll say unkind words<br />
He'll kick and he'll punch<br />
Be mean and absurd<br />
<br />
Then he'll feel bad<br />
It's his big heart you see<br />
After the mean goes away<br />
He's sorry as can be<br />
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His hearts filled with love<br />
For his mother and sister<br />
His friends and his Dad<br />
(That's the Flatt you call Mr.)<br />
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Logan's more than his temper<br />
On that you'll agree<br />
When you know what I know<br />
When you see what I see<br />
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He likes to play Legos<br />
They're his favorite you know<br />
And he'd build to the sky<br />
If I'd just let him go<br />
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Logan's creative and funny<br />
He can often be silly<br />
He gets it from me<br />
I'm both willy and nilly<br />
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He likes playing video games<br />
(Like any young boy)<br />
Watches cartoons and colors<br />
Has adventures with toys<br />
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Like you he gets angry<br />
but more it's sad thats not showing<br />
Please be patient with him<br />
he's still learning and growing<br />
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If theres one thing I know<br />
(and of Logan know a lot)<br />
It's that theres no greater treasure<br />
Than the one that he's got<br />
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It's called imagination<br />
Big dreams to fit his large heart<br />
Just like his favorite legos<br />
All of these things are his parts<br />
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Put them together<br />
And you'll see what I see<br />
That no matter his fears<br />
He is precious to me<br />
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I could travel this world forever<br />
And would not find a one<br />
Who I'm proud of, love and cherish<br />
More than Logan my son<br />
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<b>I love you buddy ~ Dad</b></div>
Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-27276359430967548152013-01-30T20:34:00.002-08:002013-02-03T19:12:44.835-08:00Video Game Review: Ni No Kuni Wrath of the White Witch (PS3)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Ni No Kuni finally comes to US shores and it was worth every minute of waiting.<img alt="" class="mceWPmore mceItemNoResize" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins/wordpress/img/trans.gif" title="More..." />
<a name='more'></a><br /><br />The first thing you’ll notice about Level 5’s newest game is that it’s utterly gorgeous. Even those that don’t enjoy the art style of animation giant Studio Ghibli, have to see the beauty in the lush environments and vivid colors that fill every inch of the world. Not only that, but the world is simply packed with intricate details like individual plates and pots; or the various objects filling a home or a shop. In response the world feels lived in instead of created and it results in one of the most engaging, charming, and endearing worlds I've ever crossed within a game. There is even a book for wizards within your menu that has various stories, spells, alchemy creation formulas and information regarding familiars. It’s a great read with some engaging and funny stuff and just another example how Level 5 fleshes out the world.<br /><div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
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<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Every inch of the game is dripping personality.</dd></dl>
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You’ll be filling the shoes of Oliver, who is a refreshing departure from the angsty pretty boy warriors we've grown to expect. See Oliver is just a boy, a child who, after a tragedy, deeply mourns and yet is provided with the chance to right this wrong by a stuffed toy brought to life named Drippy. Drippy is from another land, a magical one, where people in both worlds have soul mates that can look or behave like one another and if something is done to one of the soul mates it affects the other. In this way Oliver has a chance to reverse fate and find an answer for his mourning.<br /><br />The world into which Oliver, and by extension you, journeys is a fantastical one filled with colorful monsters, anthropomorphic animals, puns and jokes galore and stunning environments. After being introduced to each new area I promise you will find at least one location that simply makes your jaw drop with how well it’s developed and filled with life. The endearing world of Ni No Kuni is under attack by a being named Shadar and an evil queen who have outlawed magic. Oliver is talented in multiple areas of magic and sets out on his quest to grow powerful enough to defeat Shadar and free this world.<br /><br />He won’t be alone though. As Oliver you’ll control various creatures called familiars, which at their base are essentially Pokemon. After a certain point in the story you’ll be able to serenade a familiar and catch them to begin training. Each character has three slots that they can fill with these magical beings and whether they participate in battle or not they gain experience and levels. After a certain amount of experience each familiar has 3 levels of evolution to go through. The first is linear and you can’t choose, but for the final evolution you’ll be picking between two different types. One might focus on defense while the other attack and both learn different skills.<br /><div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Ni-No-Kuni-battle.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Ni-No-Kuni-battle.jpg"><img alt="Battles are fast paced, in depth and approachable" class=" wp-image-37008 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Ni-No-Kuni-battle.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Ni-No-Kuni-battle.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Battles are fast paced, in depth and approachable</dd></dl>
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During combat you’ll use your familiars to do battle, though you can certainly sling spells yourself if you so choose. Once you select a familiar and send it out though it replaces Oliver and you control the creature itself. You can move freely about the battle space and choose attacks that are on a timer, though you still use MP to power those attacks. Oliver and his familiars share HP and MP so damage done to one affects both and you’ll find yourself tactically switching between familiars and Oliver to stay healed up and keep your force in fighting shape. Each familiar also has a stamina gauge that goes down as they are deployed so you’ll need to develop a well-balanced fighting force to switch between whenever one familiar is all tuckered out.<br /><br /> These systems, combined with the fact that there is a paper, rock scissors element between all the familiars in addition to elemental strengths and weaknesses, add an impressive level of depth that is approachable yet nuanced. At first you can certainly take most battles just jamming on the X button, but eventually you’ll be slowly guided into the idea of playing familiars to their strength. It’s an excellent system that adds a large amount of player customization. My brother and I are playing through the game at the same time and our teams and approaches couldn't be more different, though both are entirely viable. This melds a Pokemon like catch em' all fever with the more nuanced storytelling and progression associated with a more traditional JRPG. In short it’s utter magic.<br /><br /> You’ll navigate the world on an old school map with a top down perspective where you will see enemies on the screen. Thankfully Level 5 went with being able to choose your battles instead of random encounters and it just makes the experience that much more gratifying. Enemies will notice you and rush you or run depending on your level and you can sneak up on them giving you an advantage in battle (though they can certainly do the same to you). Just like any good RPG the over world is littered with secrets and surprises left for you to survive. Due to the aforementioned endearing world and the stunning environments you won’t mind searching every nook and cranny of Ni No Kuni’s world.<br /><div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch_hd_wallpaper.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch_hd_wallpaper.jpg"><img alt="Look at the art. LOOK AT IT!" class=" wp-image-37009 " data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch_hd_wallpaper.jpg" height="329" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch_hd_wallpaper.jpg" width="585" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">Look at the art. LOOK AT IT!</dd></dl>
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It’s not just the obvious stuff that makes Ni No Kuni fantastic, but the little things that often go unsung. For instance, the menu is instantly accessible with zero load time with a simple press of the triangle button. Everything is laid out with little clutter within the menu, and though there is certainly plenty to see and do within, its organized so as not to be overwhelming. Pressing another button instantly brings up a map with no loading that makes the whole experience flow more organically and doesn't make you dread taking a peek at where you are. Small concessions abound like glowing spots to indicate quest givers and locations of quest; fear not however because in the options you can turn such hints off if you so wish.<br /><br /> An easily accessible journal with filters that let you sort through what you have left to finished makes completing the tasks easier. Even your save spot will let you know what you were in the process of doing and even where you might have been heading on the main story to point you in the right direction after extended periods of not playing (good luck with that: the not playing I mean). In short everything possible is done to make your experience smoother and more enjoyable by taking care of those rough edges that you might find in other games of this genre.<br /><br /> Best of all is the side quest system that fills the aforementioned journal. Whenever you complete a side quest in the game you will receive stamps that will go onto a merit card you have. The tougher the task the more stamps you get in addition to a reward such as armor or money. As you fill the cards up they can be turned in for rewards that affect your character and the game. They might range from hiking up your walking speed to getting a discount in stores. For some reason I am hopelessly addicted to the stamp system and it is yet another driving force within the game. I’m convinced if we had a stamp system in real life everyone would be WAY nicer.<br /><br /> There is so much to do and see in Ni No Kuni that it’s hard to discuss it all here without ruining certain surprises that I’d rather you experience for yourself. There is a crafting system that is fairly simple to wrap your head around. Littered across the over world are spots that shine where you can gather ingredients for alchemy later in the game and you can follow formulas or mix and match to create treats for your familiars, weapons, armor, badges and more. Audio is also something that Level 5 and the folks at Studio Ghibli didn't skimp on. Music is sweeping and fits the game perfectly, the main theme being one of my favorite gaming themes in recent years. Voice work, typically a downside to these sorts of games, is extremely well done and was given an extraordinary amount of attention down to people you may only hear once.<br /><br /> So there must not be anything at all wrong with the game right? Well there are a few minor issues that some might take issue with. First and foremost is how difficult it can sometimes be to capture a familiar that you want. See, unlike Pokemon, you don’t get a chance to catch it every time with varying degrees of success. Instead you just fight the monsters and take them out. Sometimes a familiar will pop back up ready to be tamed, but you’ll find yourself playing battle after battle trying to win a familiar you want. Once I caught one as soon as I met the creature, but other times I spent well over an hour just trying to get one to be able to be caught. It adds a little bit of grinding to something that otherwise is evenly paced and flows extremely well so it’s exceptionally notable. Some may also take issue with the various puns and at times eye rolling turn of phrase. For instance there is a large cat king that people refer to as “Your Meowjesty” and various other such wordplay. It didn't really bother me, certainly it felt like just another quirk to the world, but I could see it getting on others nerves.<br /><div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter">
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<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a data-mce-href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ninokn.jpg" href="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ninokn.jpg"><img alt="The overworld is filled with secrets to be found and as beautiful as it is you'll want to see every inch" class="size-full wp-image-37020" data-mce-src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ninokn.jpg" height="308" src="http://theparanoidgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/ninokn.jpg" width="600" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd">The overworld is filled with secrets to be found and as beautiful as it is you'll want to see every inch</dd></dl>
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Ni No Kuni is an experience that is simply a masterpiece. One of those games that, minor annoyances aside, are polished till they shine with every aspect of aesthetics and gameplay coming together to create something spectacular. While it does have a few tiny blemishes, it is one of the most shining examples of the genre. There was a lot of care and love given to every aspect of the game and it shows in an outstanding final experience, which is why it earns a perfect score. Simply put Ni No Kuni is one of the best RPGs this generation and indeed one of the finest I've ever played.</span></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Score: 10/10 </strong></span></span></div>
Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-1945133208589517232013-01-30T20:30:00.000-08:002013-02-03T19:55:43.484-08:00Rant: Violence and Video Games - The Eternal Debate<div class="comment-text">
The whole “video games cause violence” discussion at this point is just exhausting to me. <br />
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Gaming companies, gamers, developers, publishers, and people outside the interest of gaming such as psychiatrists and therapists have all debunked the notion that violence and violent video games are tied hand in hand. <br />
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It seems no matter how many studies are done proving that video games and violence aren’t linked that every time something happens people completely ignorant of the video game culture, and the people that make up that culture, point their fingers and say obviously stuff like Call of Duty and Halo make us all vicious trained assassins.<br />
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First of all I’ve been gaming since I was 3. I play some of the most violent games, games where giant blades are rammed through mystical creatures eyes while blood fountains everywhere. I’ve shot up people in an airport as a terrorist in COD, I’ve played an evil demon that controls a dungeon, I’ve digitally sliced and diced every kind of baddie (and sometimes not so baddie) you can imagine over the years. However, I’ve never done real life violence (other than get in a few fights in high school but who doesnt?) and haven’t once even thought of shooting up a school.<br />
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I've also heard that the games train killers. If that's true I should be a crackshot from all the FPS I've played. Since all these people obviously know what they are talking about that means that one button automatically reloads the gun, one button auto aims it (with a correct feature thrown in), and one button fires right? I mean that's how it is in video games so it must translate directly to real life. Come on folks get real here. I couldn't shoot a gun to save my life, no matter how many times I've directed Master Chief to.<br />
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It’s not like I’m the minority. Gaming is a multi billion dollar industry that reaches millions of people from all ages and walks of life. If there were really an intrinsic link between the terrible violence we saw at Sandy Hook and our chosen hobby than surely this world would be utter chaos and the geeks, nerds and gamers would reign utter chaos down upon this world everyday.<br />
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But we don’t. You know who shoot children? Government and bloggers and everyone else, would you like to know the secret? It isn’t gamers, it isn’t people who own guns, and it isn’t somebody who watches violent movies or listens to rap music. It’s either utter sociopaths who were demented from day one that our mental institutions and psychologists failed or it’s some degraded violent little shit whose parents couldn’t have cared less about teaching him to be a decent human being.<br />
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What happened to just good old fashioned crazy? That utterly seems the case here. Are we not just allowed to call somebody crazy anymore? Does there have to be one thing we point to? Sometimes people are just fucked up, pardon my language. We can never, will never, understand why that idiot (I refuse to credit him by name for his terror) did what he did. He took that to the grave with him. <br />
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It wasn’t video games though.</div>
Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-15110541228852772892013-01-11T07:04:00.001-08:002013-02-03T19:55:43.477-08:00Rant: Fathers In MediaPardon me while I climb on to my soapbox for a while. Well, my figurative soapbox as I don't have a physical one to do so with. In fact, those are really hard to come by anymore; seriously when's the last time you've seen a wooden soap box? I digress though.<br />
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Lately I've grown more and more irritated by a fathers portrayal in media, especially in the sitcom variety. Perhaps it's that I've grown to be nearly wholly defined by my role as a dad or perhaps it's just something that has been weighing on me a little more heavily since becoming the father of a new baby. Either way, it bugs the hell out of me that fathers are shown as little more than bumbling buffons who wouldn't know the first thing about raising their children, or for that matter do anything right. <br />
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I get it that it can be funny to see the archetypal father figure bumble about like Homer Simpson having no clue who his kids even are, let alone how to do anything on his own without messing it up. But do we have to have them represented in such a way in every single sitcom out there? I'm not a person who lets things like this standardly get to them and I'm nowhere near easily offended, but after a while it begins to grate on a person. This all came to a head for me when a recent diaper commercial centered around the idea that, "Hey our diapers are so sturdy that you could leave your children with their Dad and it could last the whole time filled to the brim while they neglect their babies so they can watch football".<br />
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See I change diapers, I read bed time stories, I go to their activities, I sing kids to sleep, I play with them in the floor, wash them, feed them, clothe them, listen to them, love them through their faults, deal with issues at school, discipline, nuture and clean up their puke and poop all day long. It is no longer the woman's sole duty to take care of children, to stay home and play the nuturing mother and spouse, and it irritates me that this stereotype is still hanging on. Women want equality and mostly have it and yet here we are still pretending like they do all the housework and do all the child rearing while the father acts like a complete fool who is lucky to get dressed without her everyday.<br />
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Listen, I don't mind showing a wife in a intelligent and commanding matter as a person that has it all together. There are days I would absolutely fall apart without my wife there to help me to keep our chaos under control. However, by representing husbands, and more importantly fathers, in this role for so many years it has done a great disservice to the father figurehead. As a whole it's degraded and derided the role a father plays and has led to an ultimate lack of respect for any sort of authority or intelligence he has. If sitcoms weren't bad enough we have stand up comedians, and even diaper commercials to tell everyone how stupid and neglectful we are. <br />
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So what right? I mean it really doesn't affect us in any true manner right? Wrong. It's often been assumed while my child was being born that I shouldn't be in the room with my wife during ultrasounds, that I shouldn't come to a baby shower (where I have just as much stake in the child), that I don't need the time off from work when my kid is born....I mean after all I'm just the dad. Do you see what I mean folks? Maybe in the 50s, 60s, 70s and perhaps even the 80's this is how it was; the man went to work and made the money and the woman took care of the kids and the dishes. When the man got home he wasn't to be bothered with trivial things like how the carpet sharks in his household did during the day or that little Billy learned to walk.<br />
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This is 2013 folks. Let's get it together and have at least one male father in SOMETHING shown as a loving individual who is intelligent and cares about his kids development.<br />
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/end rant<br />
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<br />Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-4384802703634729962012-12-24T14:54:00.000-08:002013-02-03T20:05:22.416-08:00A Gamers Twas The Night Before Christmas <div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Twas the Night Before Christmas, and all through the house</div>
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Were the sounds of gaming consoles, and the clicking of mouse<br />
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My children were nestled all snug in their bed</div>
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Which meant violent video games soon could be played</div>
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My wife went to bed early so you know what that means</div>
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I sat down with a controller and turned on the TV </div>
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After pwning some noobs in the latest death match</div>
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And playing some single player after downloading a patch</div>
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As I was slaying a boss had him flashing and red</div>
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A thump from the fireplace had me turning my head </div>
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There was ol' Santa dusting off all the soot</div>
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and with two kicks of his feet threw off his boots</div>
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He leapt over the couch and as I stared in amazement</div>
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Produced a custom controller said "Player Two me, let's do this” </div>
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His headshots how accurate, his melee how gory</div>
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His skills in drifting with blue sparks the stuff of legend and story</div>
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He had a gaming face that was jolly and wholesome</div>
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His tongue all stuck out in concentration while focused </div>
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After several sessions he looked at his watch and he plainly announced</div>
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It's three hours past Midnight and I have to bounce</div>
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He gave me a fist bump and started to leave</div>
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Before snapping his fingers "I almost forgot these" </div>
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Out of his bag he produced this year’s best games</div>
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From every system and he called them by name</div>
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Here's Halo, Walking Dead , Dark Souls and Journey</div>
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Now Xenoblade, Guild Wars 2, Darksiders and Mass Effect 3 </div>
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Finishing his work he placed a finger aside of his nose</div>
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And with a nod of his head up the chimney he rose</div>
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In his sled he leapt to his team gave a whistle</div>
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And away they all flew like a team-killing missile </div>
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But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight</div>
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Merry Christmas to all have an awesome game night!</div>
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Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-38056055299930339972012-12-14T01:04:00.003-08:002013-02-03T20:06:13.667-08:00Movie Review: The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey 3DWhen the trailer for the Hobbit originally came out (you know, the one with all the baritone dwarves) I was as excited as any geek or nerd that has read the books. As the movie's release approached though I began to get a little worried. There was movie nerd controversy over the way the movie was shot, it was being filmed in 3D, and then it was announced that there would be not one, not two, but three whole movies based around a children's novel. I began to suspect and then know that we would be treated to an odd looking film where spears popped out at the screen to wow 3D fans and the story would be bloated and changed from the original form so Hollywood could make more money.<br />
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I'm glad I was wrong.<br />
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The Hobbit is easily the equal of the Fellowship of the Ring and in parts much better. Sure, it isn't quite the same as the Lord of the Rings movies. You see, The Hobbit has never been as serious as those books, in fact it was written as a children's story. So yes, the fare is a little more light and indeed there is even comedy in here. It's lighter all around actually with much more colorful scenery and beautiful vistas not yet consumed by darkness. The darkness is rising of course, but it has yet to consume Middle Earth and we get to see a land untorn and in a state of peace.<br />
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Of course there are sweeping battle scenes and action a plenty in the movie and it's with some of these scenes I find the greatest offense. Often, in order to make our dwarves (and especially Thorin) formidable, pieces of the book are turned into battles that never took place. At first I took issue with this, but then realized that The Hobbit just might not have translated as well without them added. Overall it doesn't take away from the experience, and while Tolkien purists might roll their eyes, they'll enjoy it just as much as a new person being introduced to Middle Earth for the first time.<br />
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Other than that certain scenes are pulled directly from the book and will be sure to leave you grinning ear to ear. The festive and rowdy dinner party, songs that were in the book, and the shining star of the movie: the scene where Bilbo meets Golem and finds the ring. Honestly, the whole thing is brilliant and you'll easily forget that Golem is simply CG. As in the movies Andy Serkis is just pure gold here.<br />
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He isn't the only actor that does spot on though. Martin Freeman's Bilbo is as close to the picture as you can get (albeit a little skinnier). He plays well of the older Bilbo that is done by Ian Holm and the way he portrays the famous hobbit is nothing short of brilliant. Thorin gets plenty of screen time, they even made him his own nemesis to hound him in the movie, and overall he is going to be the new favorite of many movie goers. Quite simply, he is an utter badass throughout the flick. <br />
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The other dwarves don't get as much to shine with only 5 or so dwarves given true personality throughout the film. Of course we have two more films to fix this, and they were established overall very well during the dinner scene. A lot of critics are lambasting the beginning of the movie as slow and boring, but I couldn't disagree more. It was a brilliant set up that didn't seem to drag on at all.<br />
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As a last mention the 3D was extremely well done. Honestly, I don't think I've seen 3D utilized this well since Avatar. Instead of things popping out at you all the time it was used to enhance the scenery and bring you one step closer to stepping into Middle Earth. There were scenes in Bilbo's house looking out the windows that were nothing short of awesome in 3D with the added depth.<br />
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Overall, The Hobbit is an unmitigated success that may get a few things wrong, but mostly Peter Jackson just nails it once again. Sweeping vistas, exciting battle scenes, great character interaction; it's all here. The only real bad thing about the movie is now I have to wait for the other!<br />
<b><br />Score: 4 out of 5</b>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-81592397914289835142012-12-13T19:37:00.000-08:002013-05-14T18:51:27.578-07:00Book Review: The Seven Markets by David HoffmanThe Seven Markets back cover blurb sets up a very basic premise and leaves you to the discover the rest. Within those lines you will find the hint of things to come, the promise of a marvelous adventure and that matches the book perfectly. Mr. Hoffman has created a world that is at once detailed enough that the words dance off the page and through your imagination, yet vague enough that it leaves you with a sense of wonder through nearly the entire experience.<br />
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I am extremely hesitant to divulge much more information about the plot of the book than the blurb does itself, as I feel that the discovery of what The Seven Markets is about is one of the greatest wonders of the book. However, I shall extol enough so that the average reader, not intrigued by the description fashioned on the back of the book, will be sure to pick up the novel. We start our story with a female protagonist named Ellie MacReady as she stumbles upon a flier for something that she has only heard of in stories from her Papa, and is considered by most to be legend. Once every hundred years, for three days only, the Market will appear. It is said The Market holds all sorts of wonders to be sampled, from exotic food to equally exotic items and it’s streets are walked by fantastical creatures of all shape and size.<br />
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The Market then is the perfect place for adventure and danger to ensue and ensue it does. Like I previously stated I hesitate to describe much more in plot than that, however I shall endeavor to further entice those not interested thus far. If you might like princes, princesses, dragons, brave swordsman, warriors in mechanical suits, stellar pacing and great character development than this book is surely for you. The Seven Markets has so much to do and see and is filled with a sense of wonder I haven’t experienced since I read the Harry Potter novels (not that there is much in common here beyond that sense of wonder.) It seems there is always something new to see around every corner and it’s experienced at such a pace that it’s hard to put down the book when you pick it up. The author does a phenomenal job of having very little to no filler in the book, with every paragraph seeking to further develop characters or leading you through the book at a thrilling pace.<br />
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There are times within the novel though you’ll find it feels a bit disjointed due to abrupt jumps in the time frame within the novel. Usually these spaces of time are substantial and we are left with much to discover and learn about what might have happened to our protagonists in the time between. At first I felt a bit put off by these transitions, wonderful characters would appear and disappear within the same chapters made to seemingly not be seen from again. As a wonderful compliment to Mr. Hoffman though I will say that he has a knack for creating instantly likeable characters that simply breathe life through their every word, some of which could carry a novel all their own. You could see my distress when such characters would disappear and be replaced within the chapter by yet another likeable disappearing character.<br />
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Fear not though, these jumps while initially confusing, are a fantastic way of making sure that the plot never stales. There is always something new to learn about our characters and a desire to learn where they’ve been drives every page turn. Just when you think that the author has slipped up and discarded random plot points or forgot about characters he draws it all together in the last few chapters, and while he may not answer all our questions, confronts enough of them that you put the book down feeling satisfied yet wanting more. It’s difficult to belabor or complain of this point because it’s kind of like saying that meal was fantastic I just wish that I had more of it.<br />
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David Hoffman accomplishes something grand with his first novel that some seasoned writers never do; he’s created a world and a fiction that is instantly intriguing and with depth that practically begs for hundreds of stories to be told within its setting. Though sometimes the book can feel disjointed overall it serves a higher purpose of creating a book that is filled to the brim with so much that you would be hard pressed to find a person who enjoys Sci Fi or Fantasy that can’t find something to like about this novel. Indeed there are times where it feels that perhaps there is too much going on in the book, but it all ends with an explosive last hundred pages that leaves you utterly satiated, but hungry for more; just like that delicious meal we talked about earlier.<br />
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Simply put, The Seven Markets is a very well told story and one of the finest books I’ve read this year. When my year’s reading log contains books like Wise Man’s Fear from Patrick Rothfuss and Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson than you know that Seven Markets is something truly special and not to be missed. Buy it, you won’t be disappointed.<br />
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<b>Score: 5 out of 5 </b><br />
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<em>A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-26178681595133822632012-12-11T19:37:00.001-08:002013-05-14T18:51:35.592-07:00Book Review: Playing at the World by Jon PetersonAt 720 pages in length and weighing enough to use in case of zombie apocalypse as a bludgeoning tool, Playing at the World is an immense book. it is filled with the history that examines how Dungeons and Dragons came to be, the strategy games that came before, and the utter lasting effect that all of these play experiences have on our media today. The author goes into every facet in incredible depth with the most minute of details being brought to light. This is both the books greatest asset and it's weakest. To those seeking the origins of their favorite role playing game and want to know every little detail than this combination of knowledge will be an utter godsend. However, to those approaching from the outside in with an interest in the topic and the need to read a good book will be intimidated and put off by the sheer amount of content and it's delivery.<br />
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When Playing at the World grabs your interest it truly does with intriguing and little known facts that give us glimpses into the foundation of some of our favorite works. There are answers in this book to questions you didn't even know you wanted the answer to: until you read the question that is. Intriguing things like the naming of various classes, the idea of hit points and twenty sided dice, where the dungeon master steps in, what truly came before Dungeons and Dragons and who created it and why? All of these are answered in detail leaving no stone unturned. The amount of research alone that went into this book alone is impressive, but collecting it and combining it into a decently written book is downright awesome.<br />
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However, as I stated before the entry fee into such a glimpse into the history of our gaming culture is a high one indeed. The intro alone goes into such minutia that it becomes redundant, stating out in pages of information what you will read at a later time, detailing every chapter. There are times within the book that the writing become incredibly dry and is more attuned to reading the phone book than an interesting history written by an engaging author.<br />
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That being said there are also times where the book absolutely soars and the passion shown by Mr. Peterson absolutely shines through. These moments within the book, the ones that are interesting to read and provide incredible insight into a wonderful pasttime, make the read absolutely worth it. By the time you reach the end you'll be glad you stuck it out and all the more rich because of it. <br />
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Also, this book will come in super handy as a improvised bludgeoning tool if need be. Something for everyone!<br />
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<b>Score: 3.5 out of 5 </b><br />
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<em>A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622762663239416295.post-7336156978433743782012-12-11T19:08:00.002-08:002013-05-14T18:51:40.815-07:00Book Review: Cozy Classics Pride and Prejudice by Holman WangIt's not often we find ourselves truly examining or appreciating the board books that we read our young children and babies. Usually they are either purely educational or entertainment with bright colorful pictures usually focusing on first words, colors or some zany story. In this sense Cozy Classics is a breath of fresh air and an idea that executes flawlessly.<br />
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Taking the classics, such as the first two available books Pride and Prejudice and Moby Dick, in twelve simple words the authors boil down the essence of the story and distill it in an easy to understand format geared toward the little ones. Bringing classic literature to infants would be great by itself, but the fantastic visual accompaniment is what gives the books a distinctive look and feel.<br />
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On each page you'll find illustrations of a needle-felted variety. Various dolls and set pieces are lovingly lighted and pictured depicting various scenes from the classic. The scenes themselves are usually set up well and clear from just looking at them what is going on. Even the overall quality of the book itself is outstanding, every page is heavy and completely baby slobber repellant.<br />
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In another nice move the book itself is fashioned after an actual novel. Most book boards tend to be small and square or long and rectangular while with Cozy Classics the spine and everything about the book mimics an actual novel. Intentional or not I found it to be a fantastic touch to an already world class experience.<br />
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I have two children, a 6 year old boy and a 4 and a half month baby girl. Pride and Prejudice was the book I received by mail and my daughter was instantly entranced by the well done pictures of the dolls. In fact, still building depth perception, she continually tried to take the dolls out of the pages; the quality is that good. To maintain her attention is impressive enough and the lovingly stitched pictures did just that.<br />
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My older son, still working on reading in school, was thrilled to be able to read the entirety of the book to his little sister. Not only that, but the pictures and gist of the story had left him intrigued to learn more about the book himself and led to me giving him a more beefy outline of the story until he can read it on his own.<br />
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Cozy Classics sets out to bring classics to our children and raise both the narrative and physical quality of board books. I can say without hesitation that they have succeeded splendidly. With Christmas coming up I can think of few better gifts for someone's new bundle of joy or tenacious toddler than the gift of classic literature in such a lovable little package. <br />
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<b>Score: 5 out of 5</b><br />
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<em>A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.</em>Daniel Flatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13269861432245078652noreply@blogger.com0