Remember how i was raving about "BioShock" in my last entry? I've finished the game now, but my level of excitement still hasn't decreased. The entire experience was excellent, right up until the moment the credits began to roll. I would easily place the game in my Top Five list, and i recommend it to anyone and everyone that has yet to get their hands on it.
A few days after "BioShock," i made a conscious decision to park my ass on the couch and not move until i had finally put the finishing touches on "Final Fantasy XII." The fucking game came out last October, for Christ's sake, and despite sinking nearly 80 hours into it, i still hadn't finished. Armed with soda, a strategy guide, and my trusty blanket, i spent about an hour or so getting back into the groove and getting refreshed on the story before getting completely immersed, and i was watching the ending sequence some six hours later, and well past my bedtime. I still haven't decided where i would rank it on my list of favorite RPGs, but it's definitely somewhere near the top.
I've spent the last few days trudging back through the original "Halo," in anticipation of the forthcoming conclusion to the trilogy. After finishing it up this afternoon, i find myself wondering why the fanboys seem to prefer "Halo 2" over the groundbreaking original. Sure, the multiplayer component in the sequel was vastly improved, but it lacked the well-written and expertly-paced narrative in the single-player campaign.
Indeed, as i played through the first few levels of the second installment, i was once again reminded of my initial impression, that the developers had spent so much time and energy perfecting the multiplayer aspects of the game, that the single-player story was tossed in almost as an afterthought. I foresee myself having far less fun playing back through "Halo 2" than i did with the original. But it must be done.
*sigh*
Aside from the adventures of Spartan 117 (the Master Chief, for those that didn't catch that reference), i've finally begun to sink my teeth into "Blue Dragon." I had extremely high hopes for this one, coming from the creative minds behind one of my all-time favorite games, and i have to admit to being underwhelmed. Sure, the character design is great (provided that you're a fan of Akira Toriyama's art style), and the battle-system is about as old-school and traditional as it gets... but where the fuck is the STORY?!
That's the reason that people enjoy conventional Japanese-developed RPGs. They may not push the envelope or do much in the way of advancing the genre, but you can usually count on compelling characters and a well-written story, and thus far, "Blue Dragon" seems to have very little of either category. Reviewers have said that the game begins to pick up on the second disc, and i hope this is the case. Grinding out levels and experimenting with different job classes is fun, but when you have no motivation and feel no attachment to your characters, it makes for a pretty stale experience.
I've also been playing the multiplayer Beta for "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare." Sorry, fanboys, but this game runs circles around your precious "Halo 3." While i immensely enjoyed the "Halo 3" Beta a few months back, and am indeed looking forward to its release, it doesn't have near the depth or customization that "COD4" is bringing to the table. With only three maps, and the rank capped at Level 11, it's still possible to play for hours and hours on end without getting bored. And the visuals? Forget about it. They're only scratching the surface with the Beta, and i'm already more intrigued and impressed than with ANYTHING i've seen regarding Microsoft's unstoppable juggernaut.
This is probably the most game-centric entry i've ever posted. I'm such a nerd.
In other news, i've acquired a kitten. Her name is Special K, and while she is just about the cutest thing i've ever seen, her claws have been wreaking havoc on my legs. I suppose that comes with the territory.
"Guitar Hero" tonight at Champps. Hope to see some of you folks out there.
A few days after "BioShock," i made a conscious decision to park my ass on the couch and not move until i had finally put the finishing touches on "Final Fantasy XII." The fucking game came out last October, for Christ's sake, and despite sinking nearly 80 hours into it, i still hadn't finished. Armed with soda, a strategy guide, and my trusty blanket, i spent about an hour or so getting back into the groove and getting refreshed on the story before getting completely immersed, and i was watching the ending sequence some six hours later, and well past my bedtime. I still haven't decided where i would rank it on my list of favorite RPGs, but it's definitely somewhere near the top.
I've spent the last few days trudging back through the original "Halo," in anticipation of the forthcoming conclusion to the trilogy. After finishing it up this afternoon, i find myself wondering why the fanboys seem to prefer "Halo 2" over the groundbreaking original. Sure, the multiplayer component in the sequel was vastly improved, but it lacked the well-written and expertly-paced narrative in the single-player campaign.
Indeed, as i played through the first few levels of the second installment, i was once again reminded of my initial impression, that the developers had spent so much time and energy perfecting the multiplayer aspects of the game, that the single-player story was tossed in almost as an afterthought. I foresee myself having far less fun playing back through "Halo 2" than i did with the original. But it must be done.
*sigh*
Aside from the adventures of Spartan 117 (the Master Chief, for those that didn't catch that reference), i've finally begun to sink my teeth into "Blue Dragon." I had extremely high hopes for this one, coming from the creative minds behind one of my all-time favorite games, and i have to admit to being underwhelmed. Sure, the character design is great (provided that you're a fan of Akira Toriyama's art style), and the battle-system is about as old-school and traditional as it gets... but where the fuck is the STORY?!
That's the reason that people enjoy conventional Japanese-developed RPGs. They may not push the envelope or do much in the way of advancing the genre, but you can usually count on compelling characters and a well-written story, and thus far, "Blue Dragon" seems to have very little of either category. Reviewers have said that the game begins to pick up on the second disc, and i hope this is the case. Grinding out levels and experimenting with different job classes is fun, but when you have no motivation and feel no attachment to your characters, it makes for a pretty stale experience.
I've also been playing the multiplayer Beta for "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare." Sorry, fanboys, but this game runs circles around your precious "Halo 3." While i immensely enjoyed the "Halo 3" Beta a few months back, and am indeed looking forward to its release, it doesn't have near the depth or customization that "COD4" is bringing to the table. With only three maps, and the rank capped at Level 11, it's still possible to play for hours and hours on end without getting bored. And the visuals? Forget about it. They're only scratching the surface with the Beta, and i'm already more intrigued and impressed than with ANYTHING i've seen regarding Microsoft's unstoppable juggernaut.
This is probably the most game-centric entry i've ever posted. I'm such a nerd.
In other news, i've acquired a kitten. Her name is Special K, and while she is just about the cutest thing i've ever seen, her claws have been wreaking havoc on my legs. I suppose that comes with the territory.
"Guitar Hero" tonight at Champps. Hope to see some of you folks out there.
I like to think it was my own personal wish granted.
So you can thank me later.