My discussion with Casey and oh yeah we talk about Star Wars… Read on!

Shawn says:
what did you think of the new star wars movie?

Casey says:
Well, Shawn, I have to say that I am a fan of the old Star Wars movies and not so much of the new ones. I became and instant fan of this movie in the theater. It was back to classic action sequences with a simple plot and some cool characters. Obi-Wan Ken obi just took guys to town and Anakin wasn’t as whiny as in the real prequel films. I think that the action was well done, what with being like

Casey says:
those old adventure films that the other Star Wars movies were based on. The lack of an opening crawl was really my only nitpick, but it’s not that big of a deal. There was plenty of comedy throughout and yea. . .I liked it.

Shawn says:
You know aside from Boba Fett not being in it or any Rancors, or Sand People come on the music was kind of not very Star Wars at one point it seemed I was hearing Halo music in a Star Wars movie. I mean come on you got Halo in my Star Wars. Overall I had many laughs the action was good a lot of people on hating on it what do you think about that?

Casey says:
I don’t know what to think of it. I enjoyed it, so I was surprised to learn that many of my buddies and fellow Star Wars fanboys didn’t enjoy it as well. They said they found Asoka annoying, but I thought she was refreshing to the story and yea, she was cool.
Casey says:
Critics wouldn’t love a new Star Wars movie. . .they are sick of the saga, really.

Shawn says:
I liked it a lot I was thinking I was going to hate it. Shock it did not suck. That Asoka was small time when it comes to a pain in my ass on our current Star Wars movie I think of Jar Jar and what a little baby back bitch they made Vader seem all crying and what knot.
Shawn says:
thats how they end star wars wtf?!

Casey says:
Yea, seriously, I would have much rather gone with a Shakespearean-type villain. Like Macbeth. . .he is the fuckin’ most perfect tragic figure ever. Someone who lusts power and kills his friend so get it shall ultimately fall do to their own lust for power
Casey says:
what Episode III taught us was that sensitive people can get manipulated by evil dudes? fuck that

Shawn says:
kind of ruined the Vader I knew and loved. I mean you grow watching Star Wars and nobody fucks with Vader or your ass gets chocked and episode 1-3 sticks it’s head out and wow. 1 was decent, 2 sucked I mean wow how can star wars suck this hard? Then you have 3 which was somewhat bittersweet and a big F U to the fans. I mean look at Indiana Jones come on!
Shawn says:
This flick kinda takes back some cooness of Vader.

Casey says:
no kidding
Casey says:
makes him totally uncool

Shawn says:
This gives me more reason to want to see the live action Star Wars TV show if it ever happens.
I mean we need something we don’t know is going to happen. We need that element of surprise in Star Wars.
Shawn says:
Luke finding out Vader is his farther was the biggest holy shit moment in Star Wars, more shocking then Ewoks kicking ass.

Casey says:
I think this time before Episode III and Episode IV is a fertile playground for good storytelling that can really fix the problems of the prequel trilogy.
Casey says:
For example: Take the sensitive Vader at the end of Episode III, and turn him into the ruthless bastard we saw in Epiosde IV.
Casey says:
Make him the biggest fuckin asshole in the galaxy.

Shawn says:
nuff said Casey.

Oh yeah don't mess with lord Vader!

Now for what are you playing Auguest Addition!

Damn girl you get yo game on!

It is I Shawn for yet another what are you playing. I am currently playing everyones favorite football game you know it you love it Madden 09 well it is the only football game so take it or leave it.  Now what is my verdict on this game? Get this game. I have been also spending time on the popular shooter Unreal 3 on the Xbox 360. I was thinking of trying out the PS3 version first but now after playing the 360 version I think I would have trouble switching controls at this point in time. Other then that in the hand held department been playing a lot of Contra 4 as that game is the soul reason I bought a DS Lite in the first place. So hope you enjoyed this weeks what are you playing for there will be more to come. Oh and on a side note check out Star Wars the Force Unleashed it is very good and so satisfying to throw a Tie Fighter at the a ton of Storm Troopers.

What are you playing this week July Edition!

This week I’ve been playing a lot of games from one of my favorite game companies Square-Enix. I am still playing the world ends with you and been playing a lot of Final Fantasy Tactics A2 the latest in the Tactics games from Square-Enix. If you played the GBA version it’s a lot like that just with less annoying judges while they are still there it’s less of a hassle. While the World ends with you is an entire new IP for Square-Enix. This game is very strange and very addictive as it takes some time getting used to the battle system. After a couple hours you become an expert at fighting on both screens. A game like the world Ends with you makes me want to see more new games from Square-Enix. While I am looking forward to the new DS version of Final Fantasy 4 my favorite Final Fantasy game in the series. That and the Dragon Quest game coming to the DS which will be awesome. Well you guys take care . Shawn out!

Oh Man can you feel the Awesome? I sure can!

GTA4 or MGS4 huh decisions decisions?

A lot has been on my mind. I mean when you get asked to choose between GTA4 and MGS4 what do you do? I mean this is a popular question as the argument sizzles, and heats up I am here to end it here and now. With this I have played both beat them and enjoyed both very well. Now the presentation on both games are amazing.

Rockstar games and Hideo Kojima and his crew both outdid there selves on large scales. While MGS4 delivers what may be the final Metal Gear Solid game we play, while GTA4 welcomes us back to a world we have not been blown away from since 2001. Liberty City was such a rich and rewarding place filled with so many things blogs, TV stations, the always great radio and made you have the ability to do so much.

One of the finner features to GTA4 was all the great multi player modes something the PSP had for a while now. So it was nice to see it evolve at a higher level. MGS4 also didn’t back down on great multi play as both are great. While GTA4 beats MGS4 on the choices of modes, both are satisfying. It seems Kojima wanted to make the play experience more like a movie experience as some cut scenes are very long and delivers some answers fans of the series have been wondering? As I enjoyed the mini movie master piece as I later called them. Some of the saddest things I’ve seen in a game. The game for being by far the best PS3 game you will play for some time is a pretty freaking sad game, as it is filled with deep emotion and drama as the series has known and been no stranger to.

While Neko Belic is no solid snake he is a bad ass at that and he does kick substantial ass. He has a torn past and he plans to seek revenge and the past seems to follow him. Going to stripe clubs, playing darts, going bowling or just delivering some drugs it was always entertaining. You get asked to make choices and the game will accept how you make these choices. While you made these choices you always seemed tasked with pleasing all your friends. The more you hang out and bond the more the favors they would be willing to do for you. This is very simaler to the bonding and interaction you have to do in Persona 3 to gain more personas and get them more powerful. Not only that but you can also have a girlfriend in GTA as you can have not just one but at the same time this act applies to please them. They all have their rewards on what they can do for you. Health, Losing wanted stars and etc..

While I enjoyed both a lot the experience I felt when beating MGS4 was a experience like no other while I have enjoyed GTA4 a lot beating it didn’t give that sense of great of accomplishment as MGS4 delivered. On such a huge ground of cinemas as you beat the game you get a cut scene damn near 50 minutes and it is very amazing. Not how I saw the series ending but one I can accept and play again and again. Until then Ladies and Gents take care and on that note we cue the music.

I’m back in the atmosphere!

Hey everyone back from my very long and eventful hiatus. So now I decided I’d start off with a sports post. now I love sports and sports games. Just some stand out as instant classics. One is by far the greatest Hockey game ever made! The other is a futuristic baseball game. Both are fun and great to play with your friends. I will start with the Hockey game Blades of Steel.

Just Awesome!!

This is a must have if your a sports fan or somewhat of a fan of sports or games period! The games controls were easy to pick up and the AI was also good and challenging. If you played a friend the best part was you could start a fight. You would have to trigger the fight by bumping into the opposing player 3 times. Thus both players would start punching each other then then Ref would yell “FIGHT!” then the game turns into a fighting game.

Smells like time for a beat down!

The funny part about this game was if you won the fight the opposing player got benched. Ha Ha you gotta that! It is still the best hockey game while games like NHL 94 are also very good it’s got nothing on Blades of Steel.

Now the next game is Basewars by far one of the best games to play while you and the guys take a break from Halo 3 or COD4. It is baseball with robots. When you get out on a base your not really out. You get to fight over who stays on the base. This is when the insults start to fly while playing this game, and the laugher explodes.  You will laugh playing this game. Some players are a tank and all they can do is ram their enemies, while others have swords, guns, fly or even shoot their fist. This game is truly amazing. It’s amazing the wonders that were put on the amazing 8-bit nes.

Both these games are top notch and any classic gamer, sports fan, or nes fan like myself should be playing these games unless you already are then I tip my hat off to you sir. Now on that note we cue the music!

Gather around for a What are you playing.

 Well if you read my blog I will say wow … you are patient so now I will get on with a what are you playing this week. I am currently on break from school so as of now I have been pretty much consumed fighting Shadows in the Dark Hour as I level my persona’s in Persona 3. Which gets very excited for Persona 3 Fes which will add an extra 30 hours of addicting game play just what the doctor ordered. Now I have been spending most my dear sweet time with the DS more then anything else. While at the moment Persona is the one game I’ve spent the most time on within the last 72 hours.

              

 On the other games that get rewared with my dear sweet time of playing with them, are Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates I know it’s a long title but this game is everything epic. I’ve spent more time on mutiplay then single play as the level cap in the game is 50. I am at the moment 44 as my warrior still has many dungions and loot to gather I look forward to yet another quest which I will soon take apon.

Now today I picked up Ninja Gaiden Dragon Swords. Now this game made my day today. I will say this if you don’t like this game you hate all things good. The Stylus filled gameplay and very stunning graphics make me wonder how far can the DS get pushed on cutting edge games and amazing gameplay. I spent 2 hours on it today and I’m hooked. I am just lucky that there is yet another Ninja Gaiden game coming out this year. 

Until then we cue the music enjoy.

Turok the bad the ugly and the shit!

Hey Hey everybody It’s me Shawn for yet another post. This time I will be reviewing Turok for the 360. Now Turok has been around for some time, just by far it’s best game in it’s series was Turok was Turok 2 Seeds of Evil. Now this transition from whats now considered classic to next gen. So how does the game hold up? Well it starts out as you are Turok the lone Indian who has a dark past. You came out of a group known as the Lone Wolfs now you are on a task force to kill the Lones Wolf Leader Kain. You and your team get’s hit by space debre that sends you and your teams space craft crashing into an unknown planet.

Here we go …

The results are not so good for your team aside from one fellow comrade our utterly destroyed. So you and your fellow comrade who quickly find out the planet is filled with Dinosaurs oh my!! This also has some of the worst dialogue in a game I’ve seen in some time. I’ll give you an example ” Hey that’s a Dinosaur!” Thanks for pointing that out fellow comrade. Another one is “I hate you Turok!” which makes me think I couldn’t agree more about this game, aside from that I could put up with the game for no more than an hour at a time. As the game looks god awful I mean come on take advantage of the Unreal technology here! As you progress in the game you will get encounters of flashbacks from when you once worked with Kain. You will quickly find out kains men and kain are on this dino infested planet.

Damn we got us some Dinosaurs!!

The problem I had with this game is aside from the bad visuals, shitty  dialogue and even worse controls. After playing non-stop shooters on the 360 this is not how it should look or feel. Not to mention the more you progress the more you hate the main character Turok. He is a real D-bag just, as much your fellow comrade who doesn’t hide his hatred for you is even more of a D-bag in this lack luster of a game. No I won’t even go as far as to call this a game because that would give games as a whole a bad rep. No this is pure garbage filth! The mutiplayer will make you feel brain dead and very much out of place, I suggest doing this. After playing countless COD4 and H3 I know how a shooter should be. I mean how can you make a game so bad where you wish the main character would be devoured by some raptors. Which would make the game some what of a comic relief for me but no I don’t get that

instead I get Turok the over confident dino hunter with a dark past.

That’s just great now don’t that beat all. The sad part is I can see a sequel for this game easy. because enough people will be dumb enough to think to themselves ” Hey I played Turok once and it was not that bad.” Yeah not that bad, but not that good either. There are some moments that seem to take a page from games like RE4 and God of War with the active buttons push for when you have close encounters with Raptors. Just it’s been done and done better, alot better. It’s getting dull real quick. In the end Turok is a waste of time, money and you shouldn’t play this game. I wouldn’t even wish this game to fall into the hands of my enemies because that’d just be messed up! until then this is Shawn out!

How more people adopt gaming into their lifes.

 

When it’s game time it’s pain time! 

 Is it just me or are more people adapting to what seems to a growth in our gaming culture? As a kid and now Adult I still love and enjoy games and the distance places they take me to where I can find my zen. You know frag the shit out of that sniper on Call of Duty 4 you know the one.  Just as I think of it not even half the amount of people now played video games as much as today.

        I recall I’d go to a friends house we would play either nes or snes then go outside later and play. Just it was not all devoted to gaming but it seems in todays world that’s not the case. Our youth is picking up on games faster and taking them down with ease as 10 years ago it was just starting to unfoil. We were getting the fondations to set up the big picture.

         The rise of the internet was our big leap as we made great strides in. Then we had our very first console to go online the Sega Dreamcast with it’s built in 56K Modem. This was once again setting up the big picture. This would lead to the PS2 having online gaming and the ever so popular Xbox Live.  PC also already had years on the consoles but it’s growth is substantial with games like WoW that has celebrities talking about it’s 10 million subscribers. I mean who can say no to Mr.T and William Shatner?

        With Xbox live it’s great and it’s getting better with the millions of subscribers it has as well. It’s service has set a foundation of what most gamers compare other online services to like Sony’s Playsation Nework.

With all these people moving in online gaming and if not going to a lan party. All of a sudden the Lan party is the hip thing now Halo anyone?  That and everyone is getting in now it’s not just a male dominate world in gaming now. While games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band set up everyone to hop in who is not a gamer but wants to have a quick good time. Those games give you that, or amazing story telling those turn to Bioshock. Just also with the growth and how much our culture has adopted it we also get the bad.

 It seems every big murder done by anyone from the ages of 11-30. Get blamed on violent video games. As it will flood our news, also we also have more movies getting made from games then ever. Hitman, Dead or Alive, Doom and the successful Resident Evil. It’s not just News and movies it’s also comics as well and more of a natural thing. Our culture just loves games and it will continue to grow. 
                           
  Until then this is Shawn out!

Impressions on Advance Wars Days of Ruin

 I’ve been spending alot of my dear sweet time on the 4th installment of Advance Wars DoR it’s so now, I’m going to give you my impressions after playing the previous installments.  So with out futher due lets get started here.

Ahhh you want McDonalds?

 

Now first of all say good bye to Andy, Sami and Max for they are no longer in this game. Now it’s all about Will, Brenner and Lin as the story is pretty grim and more story driven then previous installments. The story is a huge meteor strike hit earth and killed almost everyone on earth so now surviors lie in thosands at that. Will wakes up in a pile of wreckage and realizes not must people survived, later Will gets saved by Brenner of the 12th battalion. After that you go on various rescue missions or just searching for surviors or just food. The grim setting is a whole new look and new setting something I didn’t think nintendo could pull off with it’s once little kid friendly war game from before.

 

The new units make things feel more tactial then ever before. Don’t get me wrong AW has always lied on it’s tactics just some units make the option of capturing a building far away to secure it for futher base advancements or getting near by citys and factorys for quick loot and ability to make units faster. During the battles I find myself constantly using the bikes which is basically your average infantry unit now with more moving space power so you can capture buildings faster then ever. Some of the other great units include the Anti Tank as you you will use this alot the more you play. It is a must for the new super tank called the War Tank, with the Neo Tank gone, it is basically the same tank different name.

 

Epic indeed! 

 

The mutiplay has always been a huge factor to this series and it got even better. The ability to go online is quite epic or just trade maps as you can hold up to 51 maps in your game very impressive. Last night I played my friend who I shall call Belmont, had a two hour battle which I rose as the victor of course! Just one thing is tough about mutiplay is that in order to use a CO power you have to have him in a unit on the field, and no if he/she gets destroyed you do not lose the game. The same rules applie destroy all the units or capture he/she HQ building. Just if you do Mutiplay use fog of war makes it even more fun adds that element of surprise then seeing what your buddie makes and then countering to his weakness and so forth.

 

While the single play is good you can’t use CO’s during the single play only mutiplay. Also you can’t buy maps, or CO’s from before so that might be a shock to fans of the series. Overall the game is great and top notch and best reason to have a DS bar none.

Until then this is Shawn out!

 

 

Final Fantasy IV it’s not just a game it’s a masterpiece

 

  

 Hey everyone I like to talk about a game you may know as Final Fantasy IV which came out in 1991 developed and published by Square now Square Enix. They released it the North America as Final Fantasy II, which would later get cleared up in some of the many remakes on Final Fantasy Chronicals as Final Fantasy II is really Final Fantasy IV. It would later get made Wonder Swan Color and the GBA.

Active Time Battle very ahead of it’s time.

 Just this was a game way ahead of it’s time. It brough big inovations to gaming, with character development as the story starts as you are a dark knight named Cecil from the city of Barron. You soon set apon a quest filled with struggles heart break and one hell of a ride. What made this game so great was the (ATB also known as Active time Battle.) This was a huge ground braking moment for Final Fantasy as it’s been used in many more Final Fantasy games. You go out to find Crystals and fight the evil Goblez, with the help of Kain Cecil’s friend, his lover, and ryida a summor, and many others you meet later like a Ninja Prince named Edge, a very powerful monk named Yang. Oh and of course how could it be a Final Fantasy game with out the ever so classic Cid as your airship pilot.

Just Epic nuff said!

 The music also has always been a big part of the success of this francise and how they tell you a story. Once again the music is top notch it seems every Final Fantasy game they out do themselves. The Presentaion was another great thing with it’s serious moments to it’s silly humor. This game was nothing but amazing. I didn’t just play this game oh no I played this game with a passion. Yes this game is by far my favorite Final Fantasy game. I mean the fact that you can fly to the flipping moon screams PLAY ME!

 Now with the DS version out in Japan I just hope they launch a North American launch soon that way I can get sucked in and enjoy the ride. The game is nothing but breath taking while the grahics may not be what you usually see now in a game for it’s time it was the one game to rule them all. This is by far one of the greatest games of time and on that we cue the music, take care everyone shawn out