There are a lot of random little things that happen that I never thought would happen. For example, having another job at a grocery store. I worked at a store during high school and thereafter swore that I would not do it again. Four years after that, I found myself working at a grocery store.
Speaking of jobs I never thought I'd have (and never wanted to have), one of those happened when I was unhappily employed at McDonalds for some years. Needless to say, that experience reminded me why I didn't want that in the first place and it also served me with motivation to never get that low again.
Ha, but that is another story entirely...
Back to the point at hand. another random thing happens to fall onto this blog of mine. I never would have imagined that I would be writing a long term blog, mostly because my mind and my attention tends to wander away from things before too long. Hell, I wouldn't even have thought that I write up a whopping 300 posts for said blog neither. And yet here it is, plain as day, and I am still writing for it today.
300 posts!
Either that is a little bit of dedication or perhaps a sign that I end up with nothing better to do more often then not? Hmm...
Anyway, I was surprised to have read that my favorite former WWE Diva, Victoria (who claimed to have retired some months ago), has resurfaced recently in TNA Wrestling under her real name (Lisa Marie Varon, pictured above). And my god does she look hot! It looks like her MMA training got her back into top shape!
What? Don't judge! I am only human...
Now as much as I think TNA is a weird paradox of a wrestling company, I have to admit that the former Victoria's appearance there has sparked my interests in that strange place to a certain degree. In my opinion, it is about damn time they got some REAL talent in their so called women's division!
On the subject of wrestling, I just got my first wrestling Blu-Ray disk (WrestleMania 25) and my thoughts? It really isn't worth the extra money in my opinion, I mean the only thing that really seems to stand out is the onscreen graphics. Is that worth shelling out an extra $10? It is a mistake I won't be repeating twice, that's for certain.
But what did make the purchase worth its coin were a few great matches. For starters, the pre-WrestleMania tag match for the Unified Tag Team titles was awesome! I hadn't had the chance to see Carlito and his real life brother Primo tagging before, but they are a pretty solid team. And their opponents, John Morrison and The Miz, were their usual awesome selves. I liked that team! But I suppose the WWE felt their run as a tag team had come to an end, which I hope means they won't fall into the same hole like a lot of broken up teams (meaning failed solo runs).
What was so very sad is the fact that this unified tag title match managed not to make it onto the actual show itself. I agree with what was said by others here on the net, in that those involved must not have been too thrilled not to have made it onto the biggest WWE show of the year.
The Money in the Bank ladder match wasn't as bad as I heard, even though the winner of the match is a repeat of last year (CM Punk). Surprising to me was how Kofi Kingston was absolutely amazing! I think he was rivaling Shelton Benjamin in the insane spots department, though the "Gold Standard" had his share of holy shit moments, too. Personally, I'd love to see both he (Kofi) and Shelton Benjamin mix it up in the future.
But the biggest draw for me was the Shawn Michaels versus Undertaker match. Ever since this event, I've been reading about just how great a match these two guys had. And needless to say, my interest was tickled. And after watching it, I can wholly agree with what people have said!
Everything from the pre-match promo video to the match itself, man the whole thing just gave me goosebumps! There literally wasn't a dull moment in the match from bell to bell! What took me by surprise was actually seeing a great Undertaker match (his matches tend to be a bit on the slow side usually). But both he and HBK stepped up their respective games that night and it easily can join the short list of favorite matches in my book.
Last thing to write about is focusing on Suikoden, which I have picked up on PSN a short time back. Yes I did have the PSP version with both the first and second games. But it was all in Japanese! I can't read it and playing a RPG you can't read just doesn't end up being a fun experience (at least not for me).
What has been a bitch is actually trying to recall things about the game (like where and how to recruit the 108 characters) and I think I've been doing okay so far. One screw up in the road was Pahn's death, which I prevented before, but was very, very ill prepared for this time around.
Regardless, it has been a fun experience to be able to relive this classic RPG. Everything from the full scale wars to the castle itself... oh the memories...
Next up for me is Wild Arms... I still got a bone to pick with the original version!
Oh and a funny story in relation to Wild Arms. I actually bought the original game twice, the reason being was the first time around just pissed me off. You see, I didn't realize you could switch between characters and in doing so, use their abilities (bombs, the little rat, etc). So after just barely starting up into the game, I was terminally stuck! And it didn't take long before I swore (figuratively and literally) that I would not touch such a shit game again!
Imagine how stupid I felt the second time around? It just goes to show, it would be wise to sometimes read the game manual from time to time...
As I mentioned in my previous writing, I just picked up the new UFC game and have been playing that fairly often since. Needless to say, I am fairly impressed with just how much better a game it is compared with the other old UFC games. And while the game is interesting and all, there are just a few things that have been bugging me.
One thing that has been an absolute bitch to learn is the submission holds and basically everything related to ground work. I've gone through the tutorials a few times and it helps, but it just doesn't provide enough information for my liking.
This does not become that big of a deal in the beginning, I mean you can basically take out much of the early competition with just straight up striking. But once you start to near the top 10 fighters, you will quickly learn (as I did) that it will take far more then a few punches and kicks to win the title.
I will say this about the game though; it sure is a far cry from the wrestling games that THQ has been putting out these past many years. The challenge this game presents, even on the lowest possible difficulty level, is just unreal.
Then again, it could just be the fact that I am terrible when it comes to fighting games...
One other gripe from me is the lack of variety in the create-a-fighter mode. As I've stated in the past, I am a fiend when it comes to creating people/stuff and the more choices there are, the better in my book. And while UFC 2009 does have its share of choices, overall it just feels so shallow. Maybe it would serve better to give a bit more freedom in shaping the actual physical appearance of your created fighter?
I suppose, at the end of the day, any real changes are being saved for the next inevitable game. I mean if a game is even moderately successful, then it is almost a guarantee that a sequel is not far away. Besides, how else can a company justify a sequel without the mandatory updates, upgrades and all that other jazz?
It makes me wonder though... will this game support downloadable content? New fighters perhaps? That could be a litle extreme, considering how many fighters this game is packing already. Then again, more old school UFC fighters could switch things up a bit too. Besides that, personally I'd like to see perhaps more arenas added? Surely it ends up being nothing more then a background to the actual fight, but still. Its all in the small details!
Overall it is a fun game in my book and unless you are a prodigy, it will take quite a bit of time and patience to learn the ins and outs of the game. And it will help if you are into Mixed Martial Arts, that way a lot of this stuff will make a lot more sense.
What the hell is rubber guard...?
As the title implies, I am indeed concentrated these days or more specifically, on gaming. PS3 gaming. I've been checking out what I can and I am enjoying having this new system of mine. I must be enjoying it because I really have not turned my Xbox 360 on in about a week or so now.
Outside of games such as Disgaea 3 and Little Big Planet, I have been playing the new UFC 2009: Undisputed and Burnout Paradise. While the latter two games are also on Xbox 360, I have been enjoying it on the PS3 no less.
UFC has been an interesting experience for me, especially with trying to learn the ins and outs of the game. I wish I could write about how much I dominated the competition and how I am a living, breathing example of what a true Ultimate Fighter is. But I'll be honest here: I've gotten knocked out and submitted on numerous occasions already.
Despite getting my ass handed to me (Street Fighter 4 laid a meaner whooping on my ass then this game), UFC 2009 is still a fairly fun game and knocking out your opponent is satisfying (TKOs are even better!).
As for Burnout Paradise, I know it isn't a new game and considering I bought it as a Greatest Hit, it has been around for a while I know. Still, considering how I've never fared well in racing games, I am surprised to find myself enjoying this game as much as I am.
While I have not ventured online, offline I have enjoyed the tasks you are given throughout the city. The Marked Man events are a bitch, especially when getting sandwiched between both enemy vehicles and being plowed into everything bolted down or otherwise.
My other favorite task would be Road Rage, which as the name should imply, you are tasked with taking out an ever increasing number of rival drivers in a set amount of time. All of this while speeding through the city. It is madness and the further along you get, the more aggressive the other drivers become. As I've learned, it would be best and wisest to be prepared to be launched and slammed a lot after obtaining your Class C License.
I don't know what it is, its just something about playing these games on the PS3... it just feels right. Maybe just having that familiar controller shape in my hands just does it. All the memories of past conquests, all of those victories and defeats just bring back those good old memories of yesterday (and yesteryear in some cases). It feels like home. It feels like I've been away for a long time and at last I've come back. Oh yes, the connection has been almost spiritual to a certain extent.
I am a dork!
It is amazing to me, the things a person can happen across out here on the internet. An example would be this picture of Faith, the main character from Mirror's Edge. This, amongst the many other pictures in this set, were very interesting and pretty spot on I thought.
By the looks of it all, with it being so professional and all, I almost thought there was a movie being made of the game. But alas, that is not the case and it would seem as though that this is just a photo shoot.
Then again, in this day and age where comic books and video games seem to be landing into theaters faster then ever, a Mirror's Edge movie could be entirely possible.
What is strange to me (unrelated to the stuff previous) is how pasting this picture onto this entry seems to have confined my wording into the same width as the picture above. Talk about being blog unfriendly!
Oh well, it was all worth it in the end I suppose. It would be interesting to see someone try to do something like this with a Final Fantasy...
I state this now: I've never been much of a fan of Star Trek and I always assumed that, unless you've seen it from the beginning, the whole story just won't ever make that much sense. And it didn't to me and I never made any effort to trying and watch through the countless number of episodes across all of the different series.
Despite that, I have seen a few of the old movies (including the not-so-old-yet-not-so-new movies such as Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek: Nemesis). I've honestly liked those movies better then trying to pick up on the TV shows.
Cutting a long, drawn out story here that will likely bore the world to tears, I got curious when I heard this new movie would be a reboot.
And boy was it ever...
As I had told my girlfriend countless times after the movie was over, what I loved so much about the movie was the attention to detail and the fact that the characters felt real. Real as in they had emotions and thoughts and everything, rather then just being a bunch of people on a space ship. What was cool to me was getting to see how each of the crew got to be in the position they would end up being in for a very, very long time.
The movie itself had a fair amount of action to it and it was something to see such a big cast of well known (or at least people I ended up recognizing) in one movie (Karl Urban, Eric Bana, Simon Pegg and Winona Ryder, to name a few). It was like watching a sci-fi version of Ocean's Eleven!
Funny thing that came to my mind as the credits began to roll: Isn't it sad, despite the fact that all of these characters had such powerful personalities, they would all end up losing that as the characters grew older? Then again, considering how the movie panned out, maybe their lost of character would ultimately be avoided?
One can only hope...
PS: Best way for me to confuse myself with this odd little ditty: It was strange to see Slyar, posing as Spock, meeting Spock and having a conversation about life, feelings and all that jazz. How strange it would have to be to just walk into a place and see yourself standing there? Damn those space and time paradoxes!
Despite having some minor issues at first, I have been enjoying that which is the PS3. As a matter of fact, I haven't really even turned my Xbox on since getting that shiny piece of gaming power. While the Xbox does have it's advantages , the types of games on the PS3 have been nothing less then refreshing to me. For starters, the game on PSN called "Flower."
Flower can't ever claim to be the most complicated game ever made. It is so very simple, you just tilt your controller in the direction you wish to go and your flower petal will fly in that direction. But that isn't the allure that makes this stand out in my mind as much as it does.
The atmosphere of the game world and the choice of music, collectively, is just so calming and relaxing. It is unlike anything I've ever experienced in a video game before. And graphically? It is absolutely nothing less then beautiful in my honest opinion. The colors are vibrant and there are no hiccups in the frame rate at all. So if you are adversely affected by motion sickness, beware; this game flows as gracefully as the wind you command.
Next up is Little Big Planet, the evil drug that is cute as it is addictive.
I knew I wanted to play this game from almost the first time I ever heard of it. And I knew I would probably have fun with the level creating stuff. But what I didn't know was just how engaging and downright addictive this game could really be. My first attempt at making a level, which I named "Burn Baby Burn" may see the light of day.
What amazes me is what people have created in their homemade levels. I mean in the short time that I've had with the game so far, I've played through a pretty close recreation of a Mirror's Edge level. Plus I've even experienced a Ghost Busters level too and that was creative and equally interesting.
The last game I'll mention is Disgaea 3 or at least I would like to but there really isn't all that much to say. For the little time that I have spent playing it, it plays and feels and looks no different then the previous 2 games. My official verdict for the game may come a but later on, whenever I get around to actually putting in some time in the game. I am hoping that there is more to the game then it seems. I have always liked the Disgaea series, but change can be a good thing sometimes.
Yesterday was a rough, yet equally exciting day as I finally said good bye to my PS2. It has been with me for a very long time and it was sad to see it go in a way, but it was it's time for sure. It had been slowing down and it's ability to read disks just wasn't what it used to be. It was a little shaky too because my old PS2 started to even take a long time to load up games (this happened in GameStop of all places).
Maybe it was a sign?
Regardless, it was time and my PS3 destiny was going to be realized at long last. I especially regretting on my choice of getting a Xbox 360 after the issues I had in buying it and after my first (and hopefully last) encounter with the Red Rings of Death.
So now that the old has been cast out and the new has arisen to it's rightful place, what next? My first choice in games is Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice. It looks and feels and plays like all of the other Disgaea games, so at least there is something familiar.
What was irritating was not being able to add funds/points/whatever to my PSN account. Blah. I had to go out and buy one of those goddamn cards from 7-11. All of that extra headache to get Suikoden in English. I am considering on getting Wild Arms as well, I miss that game too.
It'll be interesting, come the holidays this year. Now I can be twice as broke as ever!
After waiting for the right opportunity for well over two years now, I think I may finally be taking that huge step at long last. Granted I am late the party, but still... it feels kind of good to finally be able to say that I am all but certain that I will be picking up a PS3 in the very near future.
Despite some issues I've had in the past, GameStop has a deal going on right now that I am finding almost impossible to resist. All I need to do is trade in my aged PS2 and three games and just like that, they take off $100 from a 80 Gig PS3. Considering the price of that particular system is normally $399, it makes a considerable difference.
I'd like to hit up a few of the old PS1 games (Suikoden and Wild Arms immediately come to mind) and I'd also like to try and pick up into some of the new stuff too (LittleBigPlanet, Disgaea 3, Resistance, KillZone to name a few).
Probably the biggest reason for this push towards getting this system also ties into the fact that I'd like to play Final Fantasy XIII (whenever that gets released) and especially Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Yes, I know FFXIII will be hitting the Xbox 360 as well, but really... from everything I've read, it sounds to me like the game will hit the PS3 much sooner then on the Xbox.
On top of that, I'd love to watch the extended version of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children on Blu-ray...
So much for Square-Enix and not doing sequels to their RPGs huh? I suppose Final Fantasy X-2 did it's duty after all. Still, wow... I am surprised as I am excited about this. In the same way FFX-2 worked out (for me), I can enjoy the chance to see where these characters have gone in the years since.
After the ending of Final Fantasy IV, the Lunarian Moon leaves the Blue Planet's orbit and peace is enjoyed. However, 17 years later, the Lunarian Moon returns to orbit and monsters begin to reappear all across the land.
- Cecil (Paladin) and Rosa (White Mage) become to King and Queen of Baron. They also have a son by the name of Ceodore.
- Edward (the spoony Bard) becomes King of Damcyan.
- Yang (Monk) becomes King of Fabul.
- Kain (Dragoon) decides to follow in the path of his friend Cecil and secludes himself away from the world. He begins to train atop Mt. Ordeals, in hopes of shedding the darkness within.
- Rydia (Summoner) have been working towards rebuilding the town of Mist, which was destroyed early on in Final Fantasy IV.
- Edge (Ninja Prince) is now King of Eblan. He also assists in the rebuilding of the town of Mist.
- Palom & Porom (Black Mage & White Mage), the rascal twins, are grown up now. However, they are not as close as they once were. Palom has taken more of a rebellious path, while his sister Porom has taken to protecting the Elders.
Plus there are a lot of new characters too, but eh... I felt like sticking to the peoples I know for now. What will be interesting is to see how this game is released. As I understand it, it will be broken up into different sections and released piece by piece. I think each of the major characters will have their own sections. Hmmm... this sequel looks and sounds interesting and all, yes. But it sounds like it could end up being a little pricey.
One more Final Fantasy related tidbit, there will also be a Sequel to My Life as King, appropriately named "My Life as a Darklord." Now you play as the daughter of the Darklord and you are tasked with setting up traps and whatever other dastardly deeds necessary to to prevent the Heroes from reaching your crystal.
I kind of enjoyed the first game, even though it was pretty simple and frustrating at the same time. Maybe I'll try this one out?
X-Men Origins: Wolverine was, simply put, pretty damn good and a step up from the previous movies. It is an interesting take on Wolverine's origins. I am also glad to see Hugh Jackman is really becoming a better Wolverine and to me he looks better and better at it with each passing film. Liev Schreiber also plays a convincing Victor Creed a.k.a. Sabretooth.
And as with all X-Men movies, there were a ton of cameo appearances such as Emma Frost (White Queen), Remy LeBeau (Gambit), Fred Dukes (Blob), Chris Bradley (Bolt), John Wraith (Kestrel), David North (Agent Zero aka Maverick), Scott Summers (Cyclops) and even Professor Xavier returns!
I liked the overall story telling in this one, it plays out much better then the previous three movies in my opinion. With the story being able to focus on onto one character, there goes a lot of detail into the making of the man that would eventually become Wolverine. I suppose it is a lot easier to have a central focus, rather then trying to tell a story with a whole team (and then some) of mutants running about.
What did surprise me was how Wolverine did not go full on berserk at all during the movie. I would have thought, given several key incidents, would have driven him mad. But that aspect of him was played down and I guess they wanted to keep clear the differences between himself and his brother, Victor.
Of all the cameos, it was awesome to finally see Gambit enter the mix. It was too bad the character couldn't have made it in one of the previous movies, over one of those generic no-name mutants. It was also good to see Wade Wilson aka Deadpool appear too. Ryan Reynolds plays the character very well too.
Overall, I felt this was much more worth the time and money to see then the previous three X-Men films. It never felt like a train wreck and by the time the film ended, I felt satisfied rather then cheated (damn you Elektra!).
There are a lot of random little things that happen that I never thought would happen. For example, having another job at a grocery store. I worked at a store during high school and thereafter swore that I would not do it again. Four years after that, I found myself working at a grocery store.
