Worst. Blog. Ever.

2012-01-22T09:16:00.000-08:00

2012: The Year of Resident Evil?

2002 was a banner year for the Resident Evil franchise. That year saw the release of the Gamecube remake of the original game, the first live action movie, the Gameboy Color Resident Evil Gaiden, and an all-new prequel to the series in the form of the Gamecube game Resident Evil Zero.

The sheer scope and variety of these releases led me to name 2002 as the finest year in Resident Evil history. However, is 2012 going to dethrone it one decade later? Here's why I think so.

Resident Evil Revelations

The fun starts next month, as the new 3DS game, Resident Evil Revelations, is set to hit here in America on February 7th. (We're actually going to be the last place in the world to get it, but oh well..) Taking place in between RE4 and RE5, series fans will see the return of Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield on a mission for the BSAA, the same group that Chris and Sheva work for in RE5.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

This should be pretty interesting. Taking place during the T-virus outbreak in RE2 and RE3, REORC is a third-person shooter that will allow the player to take on missions for the Umbrella Security Service (USS). Players will be destroying evidence, killing survivors, etc., all while having the option of doing it with three co-op friends.

Resident Evil Damnation

Damnation is the sequel to the 2008 CG movie Degeneration, so it does fall into the same universe as the video games. Not much is known about this so far, but it will once again involve Leon and Claire (best known for their roles in RE2), and will take place (at least partially) in Europe. I really liked Degeneration, so I'm looking forward to this. Here's hoping we know more about it soon.

Resident Evil: Retribution

The fifth movie in the live action movie series is set to release on September 14th of this year. Game characters making their debut in this one are said to be Ada Wong, Leon Kennedy, and Barry Burton. While many game fans don't like the films, I don't mind them. The first one was pretty good, the second was kind of a dud, but the third and fourth installments were decent enough. Milla Jovovich will once again reprise her role as Alice, along with some old friends who we've thought were dead for a long time.

Resident Evil 6

Last, but certainly not least, is November 20th's Resident Evil 6. The trailer for it recently came out, shocking everybody by bringing back what seems to be zombies. I was actually half expecting this, since I always thought it was funny that the RE series started to veer away from having zombies right when the whole "zombie" craze started. The game takes place ten years after the outbreak in Raccoon City, and will finally bring together Chris Redfield and Leon Kennedy, who have never appeared in the same RE game before (storyline wise). RE6 will also see the return of Sherry Birkin, also known as the little girl from RE2.

Best thing about this list? These are just the things that we know about. It's only January. Who knows what Capcom has up their sleeve. An all-new RE adventure for the PS Vita or the Wii U? Only time will tell. Also, be sure to check out some RE characters in the upcoming Vita port of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

If every ten years we have an RE year this big, 2022 should be something to behold. Until then, enjoy the biggest year in Resident Evil history.

2012-01-04T09:19:00.000-08:00

2012 Preview: The Games

While this year promises to be a compelling one for the movie goer, what about the gamer in us all? These are my Big Five for the 2012.

Halo 4 (360)

After the superb Halo Reach and tenth anniversary remake of the original game, Master Chief is back in action for the start of a new trilogy. Now all we need is Microsoft to announce when it will come out (my bet is on late September) so I know what week to take off...

Resident Evil Revelations (3DS)

It's basically Resident Evil 6, looks to be trying to make Resident Evil scary again, and stars Jill and Chris. I was fortunate enough to pre-order this from Amazon when the price was still $40, so no $50 3DS games for me...

Animal Crossing (3DS)

I like collecting things, and Animal Crossing games, at their core, are all about doing just that. Maybe that's why I've spent so many hours of my life playing the last two versions. Really looking forward to the 3DS one, since it looks to be a much needed shakeup for the series. Not to mention Animal Crossing games simply work better on handhelds.

Bioshock Infinite (PC, PS3, 360)

The third game in the Bioshock franchise looks to have very little to do with the first two entries, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the finest looking games I've ever seen. If you have a PS3, it sounds like that may be the version to get, as Irrational Games has promised Move support and even a free copy of the original Bioshock game on the same disc.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss (Vita)

Uncharted 3 was my favorite game of 2011 (that I've played so far, at least). Developer Naughty Dog has hinted that we won't see an Uncharted 4 for some time. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see it until the PS4 comes out. Therefore, we need to enjoy what little of Nathan Drake we will see until then, via the new prequel game for the upcoming Vita, and the short comic book miniseries by DC Comics. Looking forward to more adventures from Nathan Drake next month.

You know it's a big year when a Metal Gear game doesn't make the cut. Not to mention the Tomb Raider reboot, Soul Calibur V, Twisted Metal, Street Fighter X Tekken, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, Silent Hill Downpour, Mass Effect 3, The Last of Us, Diablo 3, etc. Just remember, these are the ones I am hyped up about the most. Only time will tell which ones are actually the best.

2012-01-02T14:13:00.000-08:00

2012 Preview: The Films

First off, check out the new blog layout! I really like it. On the right side, you'll find a poll to vote in. Please do! You'll also find my top five video game hot list, which is a list of the top five games I am looking forward to.

Speaking of looking forward to stuff, 2012 is fixing to be one of the best years for movies in a long time. It could even top 2008, which saw Cloverfield, Quantum of Solace, Hellboy 2, The Dark Knight, Indiana Jones 4, Incredible Hulk, and Iron Man.

2012 is going to be a pretty full year. Here are the movies that have me the most hyped:

Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance

Say what you want about the original. I actually liked it, and this one looks a lot better. A Ghost Rider who pisses fire? The guy who played Raiden in the original Mortal Kombat movie is in it? Yeah, I'll buy a ticket.

The Avengers

The culmination of all the Marvel Studios films that have been releasing in the last four years. For the first time ever, superhero fans will be able to see the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, the Hulk, etc. in the same movie. Seriously, how cool is this going to be?

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace 3D

I haven't completely bought into this "3D" stuff. Avatar and Resident Evil looked cool, but Harry Potter and Hugo weren't really enhanced by it. However, if it puts Star Wars films back in theaters, I'm there. Lucasfilms is set to release one film a year in 3D, so we get to look forward to a Star Wars experience in theaters for the next six years. Badass.

Amazing Spider-Man

With all the hype that surrounded the original Spider-Man film in 2002, it's incredible to think about how little press this reboot is getting. From what we've seen so far, Amazing Spider-Man looks like it's Batman Begins meets Spidey. Can't be a bad thing. And how cool is that poster?

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight is one of the best comic book films of all time (I actually think it's #2 behind Kick-Ass). However, once a comic book film series hits its third chapter, things start to sour. We've seen it with Superman 3, X-Men, and Spider-Man. Will Chris Nolan's Midas Touch work with The Dark Knight Rises? I'm confident that it will, although the trailer that debuted last month wasn't that good. Of course, Spider-Man 3's trailer was pretty good, and that was the weakest of those three movies, so I guess we'll see about Batman's fate this July...

These aren't the only movies that I'll see this year. There's still The Hobbit, The Devil Inside, Resident Evil: Retribution, Titanic 3D, The Hunger Games, etc. However, if I had to pick my five, these would be it.

2012-01-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

One of the worst posts ever.

What was I thinking in my last entry? I forgot three (3!) of my favorite movies of 2011. This post is dedicated to Harry Potter, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Green Hornet.

What a way to start the year off..well, might as well post a picture of Luna Lovegood..

EDIT: And I forgot the also superb new Muppets movie. I really screwed the pooch on this one...

2012-01-01T07:10:00.000-08:00

Best of 2011

2011 was a great year for entertainment. The Star Wars series finally arrived on Blu-ray, my (and a lot of other people's) interest in comic books was reinvigorated by the DC Comics New 52, and this Fall saw one of the best seasons in gaming history. Usually I have a series of posts about my favorite media in 2011, but this year I'll keep it short.

Best Video Game

In a year full of stellar releases, Uncharted 3 was the best of the bunch. Uncharted has quickly become one of my favorite franchises of all time, mixing great gameplay with stories that you actually care about. Each installment has improved on its predecessor, and the third entry was no exception. I also really liked Portal 2, Zelda: Skyward Sword, and Killzone 3. Some day I'll actually beat them. Oh, and I bought Rayman: Origins on Black Friday, but haven't played it yet...

Best Movie

This was a tough one. I "liked" a lot of films this year, but didn't really "love" any of them. I'll go with Paranormal Activity 3, as it's a series I've enjoyed for quite a long time. I remember thinking that they pulled a "Metal Gear Solid 2" on us, as in, most of the footage they released prior to the film coming out never made it into the final cut (probably on purpose). Also liked Captain America and Hugo in 2011.

I'm really looking forward to a lot of things in 2012. Expect a post about that soon. Until next time!

2011-07-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

Why haven't I posted on here since July 3rd? I've started writing at a site called Buy Poe. Any video game thoughts I have are generally going to go there, unless it's something strictly opinion based, like my top five Sunday lists.

I've already written four articles, so please check them out here. Make comments, too!

In other news, the Pirates are 47-43 at the All-Star break, and are one game out of first place. It's funny, but I have mixed feelings about them doing well. On one hand, it's nice to be vindicated, as I've been saying for the last few years that the franchise is heading in the right direction. However, to me, part of the allure of being a Pirates fan was the rebellious nature of cheering for a team that had lost for almost two decades. It's weird that being a Pirates fan is the new "in" thing now.

However, anyone who knows me knows that I've been a fan for years, so I doubt I'll be suspected of just jumping on the bandwagon this year.

In related news, the Pirates have sent three men to said All-Star game. I'm really looking forward to seeing Andrew McCutchen play while the whole world is watching.

Til next time!

2011-07-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

New List, Among Other Things

First off, how about the Pittsburgh Pirates? They sit 1.5 games out of first place, with nine very winnable games in a row coming up. The most exciting thing about it is that they continue to do it without a lot of players who are currently injured. This month will be a huge one for them.

Also, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D has finally come out. I just got it yesterday, as I had Amazon ship it to me. So far, I love it. While reviews out there are killing it for not having much content in it, that doesn't really bother me. Being a handheld, it's a perfect game to boot up, play a quick match, and then turn off. While there can be framerate issues sometimes, it hasn't really gotten in my way. Plus, any game that lets me play as Wesker is okay with me. I haven't touched the included Revelations demo yet, either. Will have to check that out soon.

Now that RE3DS has graduated from my (semi) weekly list, here's the new one:

5. Dead Rising 2: Off the Record (PS3, 360)

I'm a big fan of the Dead Rising games, and am looking forward to paying through DR2 through the eyes of Frank West. It definitely looks cool, but I wish they would have made it part of the actual DR canon instead of a, "what-if" scenario.

4. The House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut (PS3)

I wonder if there's a way that House of the Dead 4 could be included with this? That game still hasn't seen a console release.

3. No More Heroes: Hero's Paradise (PS3)

It's very odd that the 360 version of this remake isn't making it to North American shores. Oh well, I was going to play it on the PS3 for Move control, anyway.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

Speaking of motion controls, I still have to pick up a Motion Plus for the Wii before this game comes out...

1. Animal Crossing 3DS

Really hoping this comes out this holiday season. In the meantime, I'll keep plugging along at the Wii version.

Go Pirates. Til next time!

2011-06-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

No list today, since I haven't posted since last Sunday. It wouldn't have changed this week anyway. Hard to believe that the seventh month of the year is almost upon us. I'm really looking forward to the 2012 year, as this time next year my life has a chance to be drastically different. Well, everyone's does, but mine especially. More on that at a later date.

Anyway, last Sunday the Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS remake came out. It's nice to finally own my own 3DS game. I'm at the Shadow Temple right now. This will be interesting, as I usually stop playing once I get the Water Temple over with. Obviously, I've beaten the game a few times, but since I probably have a minor case of ADHD, I tend to lose interest in games pretty easily (even if it is one of the best games of all time).

My impressions so far are that Nintendo nailed it. The graphics look nice, and I love the gyroscope aiming for the bow and arrow. I even have the 3D effect on a lot. While I turn it off often when I think I'll be using the gyroscope to aim, I always leave it on during cutscenes, and while running around Hyrule Field.

The touchscreen is also a big plus. No more is pressing Start a constant thing. Now, with just a few taps, you're equipping Iron Boots. I love it. It's nice to have a handheld version of a game I grew up with. Bring on Star Fox 3DS!

This is the beginning of a great line of software for the 3DS, as this upcoming week will mark the release of Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D. While the game itself looks pretty cool, it also will include a demo of next year's Resident Evil Revelations. Some thought that Resident Evil 5 might be the end of the series. But, with Mercenaries, Operation Raccoon City, Revelations, and the movie sequel to Degeneration, Damnation on the way, RE fans have a lot to gear up for. Even the Milla Jovovich movie series is planning on a fifth entry.

Also, are the Pirates Satanists? They have been a good team this year, at 39-38 (be sure to read my articles about them at Sports Haze), but have lost seven Sunday games in a row. Ouch.

However, had you told me preseason that Ryan Doumit, Ross Ohlendorf, Evan Meek, Pedro Alvarez, and Chris Snyder would all miss significant time due to injury, yet Pittsburgh would still stand at 39-38, I would have taken it in a heartbeat. Let's see how they do coming off of another injury, this one to Jose Tabata.

Finally, my PS3 went out. It got the yellow light of death a few months ago, but I had it fixed by a local PA guy for around $60. This time, however, I'm letting Sony handle it. It broke Thursday night, with my GameFly rented Duke Nukem Forever disc stuck inside of it! I already got the coffin they sent me on Saturday (via Fedex blah), so here's hoping the turn around continues to go swiftly. Until then it's 360 games. Like Dead Rising 2, and Half-Life 2. Bring it.

Til next time!

2011-06-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

The Return of the Sunday List

Back in the day, I used to have a Sunday list of the top five games that I was looking forward to playing. Today, I restart that list. The only criteria is that it has to be officially announced, and have a screenshot. Here goes nothing...

5. Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, 3DS- This game won't be on the list too long, as it releases next week. Capcom took the battle modes from the past two games in the RE series and made a full game out of it. Looks cool enough, especially with old favorites like Barry Burton and Claire Redfield being playable.

4. The House of the Dead: Overkill Extended Cut, PS3- My favorite game from 2009 arrives in HD form, sporting Move support and two new levels. Hopefully this one sells well, and we get an Overkill 2.

3. No More Heroes 2: Hero's Paradise, PS3- A better version of one of the most underrated games ever. I almost imported the UK version of this, but I'll wait until August for the USA release. I hope this gets more people interested in a great series. Maybe we'll get a third entry?

2. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Wii- I'm currently roaming my way around a 3D version of Ocarina of Time, but this holiday season, the last great Wii game will be a brand new Zelda title. Well, unless The Last Story releases next year...

1. Animal Crossing 3D, 3DS- I can't help it. I love collecting things, and Animal Crossing games are all about collecting. I'm hoping this releases this December, but we'll see.

So, there it is. By the way, one game that would have been on this list had it not released today was the aforementioned Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake for the 3DS. I've beaten the second dungeon, and am working on planting as many of the bean seeds as possible before moving on.

It's the first game I've bought via retail on Day One since last September's Halo Reach. I normally rent games with Blockbuster or GameFly, but every so often one comes along that I have to buy. That's going to be another criteria for this list. Yes, games like Uncharted 3 are must plays, but I can wait until that is available to rent to play. On the other hand, I'll be at my local Wal*Mart the day Animal Crossing comes out, which will probably be on a Sunday at midnight.

Anyway, I'll have more on Zelda 3DS at a later date.

Til next time!

2011-06-17T14:22:00.000-07:00

E3 2011 Part Four: Multiplatform

I've covered Sony. Nintendo. Some small company called Microsoft. However, there were plenty of games at E3 that will appear on a number of consoles/platforms. Which ones impressed me the most? Check it out:

Battlefield 3

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 looks like a fun game. However, everything I see about BF3 looks like it will be the better title. We'll find out for sure this Fall, though. Plus, this game is eventually coming to the Wii U. A Director's Cut, maybe?

Tomb Raider

I talked about this a little bit when I recapped the Microsoft conference. I like the new look of the Tomb Raider series. I actually stepped into the franchise with the gameplay reboot that was Tomb Raider Legend, and enjoyed the remake of the original adventure on the Wii. However, this new game looks to take Tomb Raider in a whole new direction, which can't be a bad thing.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

Curt Schilling's video game company is making one fine looking game. A combination of Oblivion and God of War? I'm in.

Batman: Arkham City

The sequel to one of the best comic book games of all time looks to greatly expand on the experience we got in the first game. Plus, we get to play as Catwoman. That's what I'm talking about. This one is also going to hit the Wii U sometime next year, so once again, will they add missions? We'll see.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Usually, when I look at screenshots of a good looking game, I think, "Wow, that's cool." When I look at screens for Skyrim, I say, "Are you kidding me?" The odds of me actually beating this game are about 5%, but I definitely want to check it out when it releases.

Overstrike

I'm always up for new IP's and this one looks interesting. You know Insomniac Games knows how to make games (Ratchet and Clank).

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

I have a feeling that I'm going to play this game for about a hundred hours. Enough said.

Soul Calibur V

Soul Calibur is my favorite fighting game series, so I'll always look forward to a new one. I wonder what guest star we'll see this time? We've seen it in Soul Calibur 2 (Link, Heihachi, Spawn) and Soul Calibur 4 (Yoda, Darth Vader, Starkiller), and in the PSP and Wii Soul titles (Kratos, Lloyd Irving).

I'm sure I forgot some. Yes, Modern Warfare 3 looks good, and it should be solid. However, like I said, Battlefield 3 is looking better. The new Assassin's Creed and Bioshock's look awesome, but I need to get caught up on those franchises to get excited about the new ones. Also, there's Sonic Generations, but I'll wait and see on that one. If it's as good as Sonic Colors and Sonic 4, fans will love it.

And so ends my E3 coverage. Honestly, this was one of the best shows I've seen, and definitely got me excited about what is to come. The video game industry is one that is always changing. It's nice to be able to sit back and watch it unfold. I can't wait to see what game developers have in store for us next.

Til next time!

2011-06-14T15:48:00.000-07:00

E3 2011 Part Three: Nintendo

Part three of my E3 recap will focus on the last of the big companies, this one in the form of the Big N. I thought Nintendo had a strong showing last year, and this year was even better. So, what did they show us this year?

3DS Games. Lots of them.

We saw new trailers for games we knew about, like Resident Evil Revelations, Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Star Fox 3DS, Animal Crossing 3DS, and Kid Icarus. We were also shown games we had never seen before, such as Super Mario 3DS, Paper Mario, and Luigi's Mansion 2.. EVERY one of these games I just listed looked good. Yes, the 3DS doesn't have too many games to play right now, but looking at Nintendo's E3 lineup will get any owner of the new handheld excited.

Super Mario 3DS looks like another great Mario title.

Never got around to playing the first one, but Luigi's Mansion 2 is looking good so far.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Nintendo made it official. After much speculation that the latest Zelda game would be heading to their new console next year, Nintendo announced that Skyward Sword would indeed be a Wii title. And how cute does Zelda look in it?

Other Zelda Stuff

A downloadable Four Swords game for free? A 25th anniversary Zelda themed concert tour? A gold Wii remote when Skyward Sword comes out? Good play, Nintendo.

Oh, the Zelda series did make one other appearance at E3, and I'm not talking about the Zelda-themed level in Super Mario 3DS.

Another New Toy

Of course, the big news at E3 this year was the unveiling of a brand new Nintendo system. To read more about it, visit IGN's write up about it here. It's called the Wii U. Basically, it's an HD powered console, with a controller that looks a lot like a tablet. The controller has a massive screen on it, one that will allow you to stop playing on your TV and play a full console game on it. It's not a portable device; the controller has to be in the vicinity of the console. However, being able to play Smash Bros while I watch a ballgame will definitely be cool.

While the Wii U may have some quirks to iron out, I'm loving it so far. It'll have the Nintendo franchises, of course, but is also being backed by some big-time developers. EA has already said that Battlefield 3 will come out for it, and Batman: Arkham City will be out for the Wii U.

A few things that Nintendo didn't tell us were how much the Wii U would be, and when it would come out. Some speculate that we could see it within the first half of next year, but since Nintendo didn't show us any actual games on it, I was actually thinking it would be Fall 2012. As for how much, I'm guessing it will be in the $300 to $350 range, but we'll see.

Heck, don't tell Nintendo, but if they give us a Zelda game that looks like the HD concept they showed us last week, I'll pay a lot more than $350.

Nintendo was definitely the best of the three big companies, although I thought all three of them showed us some cool stuff. My next post will talk about the multiplatform games that we saw (and there were a ton of good ones).

Til next time!

2011-06-12T13:45:00.000-07:00

E3 2011 Part Two: Sony

Yesterday, I chronicled what I thought of Microsoft's showing. Today, I tackle Sony.

The biggest announcement coming from Sony was the price of the Playstation Vita. The Vita is their next handheld, and is releasing this Fall. It looks pretty sensational. Not only does it have the ability to put out impressive visuals, it also has a touch screen, and even a touch pad on the back of the device. The two joysticks will help immensely, as well. While they were demoing the upcoming Uncharted prequel for it, I thought to myself, "this thing looks like it's going to be $800." Turns out I was wrong. About $500-$550 wrong, to be exact.

The Vita will come in two flavors- a WIFI only model, and one that is 3G enabled. The WIFI only Vita will be $250, and the AT&T 3G one will be $300. Sony definitely learned from their past mistakes with the PS3's original price, putting a price tag on the Vita that a lot of people will be able to afford. Personally, I'm on board. The Uncharted game looks really good on it, as does Rune, an action RPG that will allow you to pause the game on the Vita and keep playing on the PS3 seamlessly. I've also heard that Sound Shapes, a music-based platform title, is looking pretty good. Plus the fact that a lot of developers are on it is exciting. A new Bioshock game has even been announced for it. I have mine preordered from Amazon already.

Sony showed off NBA 2K12's Move support. I was disappointed in the lackluster Move controls of last year's title, so it's good news that they are working to make this version's better. Kobe Bryant himself even came on stage to demo it, although I'm sure he'd rather be on the court nowadays than on an E3 stage.

I was a little bummed that Sony didn't have any new news for us on the Playstation Suite. PS Suite will be an app available to Playstation licensed tablets and smartphones (like the Xperia Play) that will allow gamers to download Playstation content, such as PS1 classics. It was one of the things I was hoping to hear more on at E3, but it looks like we'll have to wait and see what Sony has planned for us.

Oh, Sony also had Infamous 2, which just released last week. I beat the first one, and thought it was decent enough, so I'll definitely check out the sequel at some point. Other sequels on display were Resistance 3 and Sly Cooper 4. Both looked pretty impressive, although I need to play the previous games in the series before I get too excited about them.

Uncharted 3 looks amazing. The only reason I'm not looking forward to it as much as everyone else is because I haven't beaten the second one yet! After I do, the third entry in one of the best new series of this video game generation will definitely be high on my list. You can also put Bioshock Infinite in that category. One day, I'll complete Bioshock 2, and Infinite will be on my mind. Until then...

All in all, it was a very good showing for Sony. While they didn't blow the roof off the place with a bunch of unexpected announcements, they had a strong lineup, and the Vita only costing $250 is a big plus. Tomorrow, I will talk about what I thought of Nintendo's E3. Here's a hint: they won last year's, and I think they defended their crown successfully.

Until next time!

2011-06-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

Well, another E3 has come and gone. E3 week has always been a special time for me. I remember skipping school back in high school to sit around a computer with two of my friends while we downloaded videos via dial-up all day.

Of course, times are different now. We're able to download trailers in mere seconds with broadband internet, and G4TV had live coverage of all the major press conferences throughout the week. So, what were my thoughts on E3 2011? Pretty good show all around, if you ask me. Here were the highlights:

Microsoft

Microsoft's press conference was decent enough. They showed us some Gears stuff, although I was disappointed that they opened with Modern Warfare 3, which is a multiplatform game. Now, I'm all for a hardware company showing off a multiplatform game if you're version is going to have an exclusive, a la Sony explaining that NBA 2K12's Move support won't be half-baked this time around. However, showing us like ten minutes of a Campaign level that we'll see on PS3, then trying to rationalize it by saying that the downloadable multiplayer maps will be available first on the 360 just doesn't cut it. I thought the same thing when they showed Tomb Raider.

Either way, both MW3 and the Tomb Raider reboot still looked great on the 360. Also, while I've long thought that the Gears of War games are overrated, I still enjoy them, and the third one should be another solid entry.

Then we had Star Wars Kinect. While people who played the demo reported that the controls were a bit clunky, the game's not finished yet. Here's hoping the game plays to the level of it's visuals, because I really like the look.

I have to admit, the Kinect stuff they showed was pretty cool. I love how we'll be able to select our convo options in Mass Effect 3 by just saying them, and Ghost Recon's gun customization looks to be a load easier thanks to the accessory. Want to customize a gun for long range attacks? Simply say, "optimize for range," and the game does it for you. While it's probably not enough to make me want to go buy a Kinect, those who already have it have a neat alternative way to play.

Well, there was Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary. A remake of one of my favorite games, complete with online and all the bells and whistles. I'm there.

Speaking of Halo, yeah, there was Halo 4. I'm really looking forward to this, for obvious reasons. The start of a new trilogy, from a new developer, with a new story arc. Where will Master Chief's adventures take him this time? Can't wait to hear more on this. I loved how the Halo music had a sense of dread in it at the end of the trailer.

So Microsoft had a pretty good showing, but I did think that they were the weakest of the three. The next few days I'll post about what I thought of the other two big companies, plus some other things. I might even hand out awards!

Til next time!

2011-06-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

The Future Is Tomorrow

"This one...a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things."

That may be all well and good, Master Yoda, but let's face it. Tomorrow is all about the future, in more ways than one. Not only is the first round of the MLB Draft tomorrow (read more about that in my article here), but tomorrow is also the start of E3, aka the Electronic Entertainment Expo. For those not in the know, basically this is the show that all the big names in video games unveil their upcoming products.

It all starts tomorrow at 12:30PM, when Microsoft starts it's press conference. I expect some big Kinect news, and Gears of War 3 to have a big showing. But what else am I looking to see at this year's show? Here are my top five.

Give Me a Reason To Kinect, Microsoft

Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect released last Fall. While I love new gadgets and hardware, I haven't had a reason to buy one just yet. Tomorrow, I expect MS to have a strong Kinect presence. How about showing us a ton of that Star Wars game coming out for it? A good Star Wars game for the Kinect would be all I would need to purchase it.

We Fly High, No Lie...

The last great game for the Wii (maybe) should be fully revealed during Nintendo's conference on Tuesday. I love the look of it so far. The art direction looks to be a combination of both Ocarina of Time and the Wind Waker.

3DS Games

I went over my top upcoming 3DS games in a post last week. I want to see a lot on them, plus games I didn't mention, such as Star Fox 64 DS, and Kid Icarus. Oh, and some game called Super Mario 3DS...

Next Generation Portable

Hopefully Sony announces a release date and a price for their upcoming handheld. After seeing pics of Uncharted on it, I'm in. While we're at it, let's get some more PS1 classics announced for the Xperia Play.

Project Cafe News

While I don't foresee the Big N releasing pricing and a due date for their upcoming HD system, I do expect it to be completely unveiled on Tuesday. Maybe a new Pikmin for it as a launch title? A new Smash title shown off?

This year's E3 is shaping up to be one of the biggest shows in years. This list could have easily been five spots longer- and that's just the stuff that we know about. E3 is always filled with surprises, so hopefully we see a lot this year as well. Keep checking back to see what I thought of everything. Thanks for reading!

Until next time!

2011-05-31T08:53:00.000-07:00

A Whole New World

Remember back in school when the guy with Tetris on his calculator was cool? Things are different now. The stuff we can do with our phones nowadays would have amazed us just ten years ago. We can unlock our cars, and even turn them on, from hundreds of miles away. And now, thanks to Sony, we can play Crash Bandicoot on them.

Of course, I am talking about the Playstation Phone, aka the Xperia Play, and hopefully Crash isn't the last PS1 classic that will be available for it.

I've been looking to upgrade my phone from my old Palm Pre for a few months now, so when Verizon sent me an email saying I could have the brand new Play for just $150, I jumped on it. For those not in the know, the Play features a slide-out gamepad that makes playing games on your phone easier than ever.

The D-pad and face buttons are tremendous on it. The shoulder buttons seem fine, but I haven't played any games that really use them that much yet. It also has two touch plates that take the place of joysticks. Those..well, let's just say I hope most games completely ignore them.

Playing Crash on it feels like second nature. It controls perfectly, plus there's just something about hitting an app on your phone and seeing the old PS1 booting screen load up. All in all, I'm glad I got the Play. It's just like the 3DS. While there isn't too much on it yet, we know there will be better things on the horizon; the heavily anticipated Minecraft being one of them.

Keep in mind, this is my first Droid phone, so while there are probably phones out there that can do more than the Play, let's face it... The Play was built for someone like me. It probably won't replace the 3DS, and the upcoming NGP from Sony (called the Vita?). That's not the point, though. The point is, there are places you can take your phone that would frown upon you pulling out your 3DS. Would I get fired at work if I got caught playing Zelda on 3DS? No, but if I'm playing through Syphon Filter on my Play, a simple button press and it looks like I'm just reading a text.

Now it's time for Sony to do their part. We need more than just Crash and Syphon (us USA gamers don't even have Syphon...yet). At E3 next week, I expect a huge Play presence. I want to see Resident Evil and Silent Hill and Final Fantasy 7. How about not just old games? How about a brand new Metal Gear Solid spinoff for it? One could only hope. I'd also like to see Sony change their minds about it not being integrated with the Playstation Network, but I may be SOL there.

Well, that's all for now. Keep checking back for more updates. I can't believe we are only a week away from E3. I'll have a post about what I'm looking forward to seeing soon.

Until next time!

2011-05-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

Back For the First Time

A lot of things have happened since Saturday, January 31st, 2009. Friends have come and gone. Nintendo's hold over the video game industry has waned, but looks to be making a strong comeback very soon. The Pittsburgh Pirates have lost a lot of games, but the future is definitely bright. However, the most significant thing that has happened lately? I'm back.

Well, I haven't gone anywhere. I still have the same job (for a great company) and live at the same place (where they filmed scenes from this movie), but this blog is back. Hopefully for good. I'll be talking about basically anything that's on my mind, whether it be movies, games, sports, etc.

So, what's been going on in my life as of late? My life has been pretty stagnant recently, but it's gotten a little more exciting thanks to two new handhelds.

The Power of the Sun In the Palm of My Hand

Last week, I finally got my hands on a Nintendo 3DS. I found a Like New version (complete with registration form and everything!) on Ebay for only $188 (originally $250). The 3DS is the newest version of Nintendo's popular handheld. I'm not sure how they did it, but the 3DS is capable of playing games in stereoscopic 3D without the aid of glasses. While I don't own any games for it just yet, I did rent Super Street Fighter IV. It played (and looked) tremendous, and was really fun to take online. GameFly is mailing me Ridge Racer 3D next, so I'll let everyone know what I thought of that as soon as I play it.

So far, the coolest thing about the 3DS has been the included Augmented Reality cards. By laying these cards down on a table and looking at them through the 3DS, your living room is turned into a virtual battlefield. You really have to see it to believe it, and I'm really looking forward to games coming out that take full advantage of this tech.

Let's face it, though. Anyone who bought a 3DS didn't do it for the current titles available for it. They bought it for what's coming. (Well, I wanted to get one ASAP since my DSi has been broken since last winter, so now I can play original DS games again). Either way, here are the games on the 3DS horizon that I can't wait for.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

One of the best games of all time available to you wherever you go, with enhancements and 3D graphics? I have it preordered.

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D

Capcom has taken the bonus games from the last two Resident Evil games and made a full fledged game out of it. Looks pretty cool. Plus you'll be able to shoot AND run...AT THE SAME TIME!

Mario Kart 3DS

Another Nintendo system, another Mario Kart game. The last two have been really good, so I'm looking for more of the same.

Animal Crossing 3DS

It's no secret that I love Animal Crossing games. People have even tried to use it against me in arguments. The series works better on a handheld device, so hopefully we get a release date very soon.

Resident Evil Revelations

We know next to nothing about this game, save that it stars Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine, takes place before Resident Evil 5, and that it looks sweet.

Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D Edition

Speaking of looking sweet, are you kidding me? All I can say is wow. Another classic game is reborn in 3D form. Also, here is a well-done comparison between this game, its PS2 original, and the PSP Metal Gear Solid games.

I was also going to get into my recent acquisition of the Xperia Play, aka the Playstation Phone, but this post ran a bit long, so I'll leave it here. Thanks for reading this blog post, and please tell your friends about it! I plan on updating this a lot, but it's easier when I know people are actually reading it (or at least skimming through it).

Until next time!

2009-01-31T07:32:00.001-08:00

Best Film of 2008

I know all two of you who actually read this have been eagerly awaiting my top theatrical picks for last year. And well, now that it is the last day of the first month of 2009, I figure now is as good a time as any to post them up. Here goes nothing!

5. Hellboy 2

With a bigger budget and more imagination, Hellboy returned to theaters in 2008, with great results. Some may feel that the other creatures in the film overshadowed Big Red, but I feel that the universe that was created in the original movie was greatly expanded for the better in the second one.

4. Iron Man

The forgotten Marvel character won't be forgotten anymore. Some say this is the best comic book film of 2008, but it just ranks fourth on my illustrious list. While the second film is rumored to be more emotional than this one, the overall fun factor of Iron Man earns it a spot on many a list for 2008.

3. Quantum of Solace

Whether or not Quantum was better than Casino Royale or not isn't really relevant. What is relevant is that we finally got a Bond film that was a direct sequel to the last one, and that James Bond once again proved that the soft lover boy days are over. This Bond is actually tough.

2. Cloverfield

All the mystery surrounding this film's release was well warranted, as the drama and intrigue really helped propel Cloverfield to one of 2008's best films. The story of a monster attack on New York City seen through the camcorder of an ordinary guy and his friends was one of the most intense film going experiences I've ever been to. Honestly, my #1 film earned that spot because of its replay value, but upon the first viewing of each movie, I liked Cloverfield better.

1. The Dark Knight

Arguably the best comic book adaptation ever, and defintiely the most hyped one since the original Superman, The Dark Knight added on the universe created in Batman Begins with a hero falling, a maniac with makeup, and a hero who is hated just as much as the criminals he is fighting. With great casting across the board, an epic story, and the drama of one of the stars tragically dying before he saw the final product, The Dark Knight truly shines as one of 2008's best. Now bring on Watchmen!!

2009-01-12T05:09:00.000-08:00

Blu-ray Release of the Year

Fresh off the naming of my game of the year for 2008 comes the best Blu-ray release of the year. Keep in mind that I only count films that you couldn't have gone to a theater and seen this year. So yeah, you might think that Cloverfield was the best film of 2008, but that movie's home release wouldn't be eligible for this award. However, Transformers finally getting a Blu-ray release would definitely be considered. Well, without any more delay...

7. Transformers

Say what you want about Michael Bay, but no one can argue that he knows how to do action. He proved that again in 2007 with the release of Transformers. Definitely his best movie, and one that looks really stunning in HD. Especially for those of us who only paid $10 for the Blu-ray on Black Friday!!!

6. Batman: Gotham Knight

The recent DC Universe direct-to-video movies have really been fantastic. They started with Superman: Doomsday, went on to tell the tale of the Justice League in New Frontier, and most recently came out with Batman's journey from novice to the Dark Knight in Gotham Knight. While this release was certainly the worst one of the three so far, these six interlocking stories all tell interesting yarns about Batman's various exploits early in his career. It was also nice to hear Kevin Conroy as Batman again.

5. Batman Begins

With all the hoopla over The Dark Knight this year, it's a little tough to believe that the original Batman Begins didn't even come close to reaching the hype that its successor did. Blame it on the release of Star Wars Episode III if you want, but for some reason, Batman's origin story and fight against Ras Al Ghul was missed by a lot of people. Hopefully those same people check out this gem on Blu-ray, which was released a few weeks before the sequel was.

4. Superman: Doomsday Special Edition

Way back on July 10th, I made a list of the top ten movies that I would like to see on Blu-ray. So far, the only film I had on that list that has come out for the HD media is Superman Doomsday. 2008's Special Edition of this epic movie about Superman's death and rebirth saw a Blu release, and looked stunning on it.

3. Resident Evil Degeneration

It wouldn't be a real year without some sort of Resident Evil media making it on one of these lists. While I still think they could have told this story via a spinoff game, Resident Evil Degeneration is still a well-done film. Having an exclusive Resident Evil 5 preview on the disc didn't hurt matters, either.

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas Collector's Edition

This movie really needed another home release. The DVD had been long out of print, and was really hard to find. Disney did not disappoint us in 2008, giving us both a standard DVD and a Blu-ray of this classic 1994 holiday tale.

1. Justice League: The New Frontier

Now, for the grand daddy of them all. Of the three recent DC Universe animated features, The New Frontier is clearly the best of all of them. Warner Bros can talk all they want about why they put the live action JLA film on hold, but if you ask me, it's because they knew they wouldn't be able to live up to what New Frontier already did. A must-buy for every comic book fan!

Do you realize that a DVD/Blu-ray featuring the Man of Steel has won this award the past three years? It started with the Ultimate Superman Collection a few years back, kept going with the original release of Superman Doomsday last year, and now this year, while not starring him as a solo hero, The New Frontier continues it. However, I can't recall any Supes releases in 2009, so we'll see if some unannounced project makes the cut. Maybe Justice League Volume 2 will come out and actually be in widescreen...

Well, there is another list down. One more to go (best theatrical release)! Now, some of you may be wondering where a few sets are. Like, where is Sarah Connor Season 1? Band of Brothers? Justice League Volume 1? Well, I haven't bought SC just yet, but I will. Band I have purchased, but haven't watched it yet. And as for JLA, well, it looks great, but the lack of widescreen support kept it off this list. I will see you next time for my last list of 2008!

2009-01-01T02:35:00.000-08:00

Continuation of yesterday's list.

What other games reigned supreme in 2008? The list concludes today!

5. Mario Kart Wii- Wii

Another Mario Kart game was released in 2008, and for my money, MK Wii is the best Kart ever. The graphics are really sharp, the online play is superb (wish they could patch it to include Wii Speak, though), and the Wii Wheel is flat-out great. I love doing tricks with it. Another good addition to the game were the motorcycles. I really enjoyed popping wheelies all day. This is a racer that no Wii owner should be without.

4. No More Heroes- Wii

Every now and then, a game comes along that is so unique that you have to give it some props. No More Heroes is such a game. While the story was hit or miss, the universe that was created was so nuts that it really makes you wonder what is in store for us gamers when the sequel comes out. Not to mention the really cool gameplay, which had you being able to decapitate multiple enemies at once, with a swing of the Wiimote. You really have to play it to understand why NMH is so cool. Thank God enough of us bought it to warrant another one...

3. Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix- PS3, 360

Another downloadable game makes the list, this time in the form of another remade classic. SSFIITHDR may be a mouthful to say, but no one is arguing that the gameplay of the most iconic fighter of all time still shines today. Also, with the HD polish, this game looks as good as ever. It's definitely a good way to get ready for the upcoming Street Fighter IV. Just remember, if you can get the PS3 version, spring for that one. As an owner of both, trust me. The 360 dpad joins the pinky toe as the most useless piece of equipment of all time.

2. Animal Crossing: City Folk- Wii

In December 2005, a game came out for the DS titled Animal Crossing Wild World. After receiving it for Christmas that year, I started to play, wondering what all the fuss was about. Fast forward three years later, and I was still playing it just as much as I did when it was released. That's the magic of the Animal Crossing series. You have to play everyday, or you know you will miss something cool. So, when I was finally able to play an AC game on my TV upon the release of the Wii version, it was a dream come true. Especially since said version comes with sharp graphics, new characters, holidays, and voice chat enabled online play. in 2005, the only game that could top ACWW was Resident Evil 4. This year, it took another game from one of my favorite series to outrank what was/is another great entry in the AC franchise.

1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots- PS3

There really was never a doubt. The latest (and last) mission in Solid Snake's life was detailed in MGS4. While some may complain over the anything-but-brief cutscenes, I would say that they really helped us connect with the legenday mercenary. MGS4 has it all. A great narrative, that explains all the things that we have been wondering about over the years, and comes to a satisfying conclusion. Stellar graphics that even let you zoom in during the in-game movies (no place for glitches to hide). Great gameplay that utilizes an over-the-shoulder camera (Resident Evil 4 really started something) for perfect aiming. And oh, by the way, it has a fantastic (read: FANTASTIC) online mode that will keep players coming back for years. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is a masterpiece in every definition of the word. If you don't have a PS3, start saving up. You won't find a better game on any other platform. And for all these people creaming over The Dark Knight (great film, not dissing it)...well.. MGS4 was the best piece of entertainment that was released in 2008, bar none.

Well, that does it for the best-of picks for this year. For video games, at least. The DVD/Blu-ray release and the theatrical film release are still up for grabs, which I will post starting tomorrow. Movies did well in 2008, but wow, was it a great year for video games. And to think of all the games I didn't include because I didn't buy them (Littlebigplanet, Call of Duty: World at War, Left 4 Dead, Wario Land Shake It!, de Blob), and the games that were good but didn't make the cut (House of the Dead Rebirth, Okami Wii) just means that I could have had a fifteen game list and it wouldn't have been enough. However, these ten gems were a cut above the rest, and that's why they made the list. See you tomorrow!

2008-12-31T03:42:00.001-08:00

Best of 2008

I realize it has been a long time since I have posted on this, but a lot of things got in the way, and I didn't want to rush anything. However, it's that time of year again, where I get to pick my favorite things from the year that was. This is the biggest reason why I even keep a blog, so I've been looking forward to this for a long time.

First things first, I think I will start with my favorite games of the year. I'll do what I did last year, and list games 6-10 today, and then I will post the top five tomorrow. Well, here we go...

10. Dr. Mario Online RX- Wii

It's funny, how I own all three video game systems, with tons of games for both, and here I was, spending countless hours playing this $10 download on the Wii. The single player modes are fun, but the real treat was the 1v1 online play. I still have to download Tetris Party for the Wii, but until then, this is a great puzzler to take up time.

9. Soul Calibur IV- PS3/360

My favorite fighting game series finally got another entry this year, with really good results. The addition of the three Star Wars characters was really cool (Vader's the best), especially after you were able to download the system exclusive character shortly after release. Although the gameplay was a lot like the previous games in the franchise, the graphics were really stellar. Plus, the addition of online play to the series was a big plus (although, man, am I bad online...) Both versions are good, but the PS3 gets the nod because of the better controls and the better default exclusive character (although any Star Wars fan worth his salt should plunk the $5 down to get Yoda anyway).

8. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe- PS3/360

One of the most surprising announcements of the year turned into a pretty fine game. There's just something about seeing characters that you grew up with from two different worlds finally duking it out. The story mode was really good, with pretty decent voice acting (except for Shang Tsung's...), and the special moves of the DC villains and heroes translated well to the fighting genre.

7. Super Smash Bros. Brawl- Wii

One of the most anticipated games in recent memory, and also one of the best. The inclusion of Solid Snake and Sonic was really, really cool, and the story mode was absolutely fantastic (until the final level!!!). There's just a lot of things to do and unlock. There's always something to strive for. And also, although it gets laggy sometimes, it's always fun to take it online and battle it out against the world.

6. MLB the Show 08- PS3

When Ken Griffey Baseball came out for the N64, gamers knew that a special baseball title had been released. Finally, finally, after all these years, another game has come out that rivals it. I have always wanted to play a 162 game season in a baseball game, and this is the title that I will do it with (only about 50 games away now). Great graphics, great physics, fantastic hitting and pitching, and perfect fielding. I probably played this game more this year than the other nine (for now).

Well, that is it for the first half. I will come back tomorrow (I hope) for the remaining five!!

2008-09-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

If I Were In Charge of Superman

If you read my last post, you would know that the Man of Steel is finally getting another movie series that has zero ties to any previous films. Now, if Warner Bros. called me up today, and asked me what I would do if put in charge of the franchise, what would I say? Here's a few examples...

1.Use his rogues gallery

Brainiac. Bizarro. Metallo. Darkseid. Doomsday. Superman has an impressive list of bad guys, but the only villains we have really seen in his films are Lex Luthor and General Zod. Don't get me wrong, I like those guys, and Luthor definitely needs to be a part of this new series, but Superman films can do so much more with his rogues. If it were up to me, I would have Lex in almost all of the films, but probably never as the main bad guy. Let him be the one responsible for creating Metallo and Bizarro. Let him almost kill Supes with some kryponite. But not as the main villain! And also, can we actually get the modern version of Lex in this one? Have him run Lexcorp the first time we see him, please!

2. Use the comics as inspiration

Superman has been around for seventy years for many reasons, one of them being that he has had many great stories written starring his character. Why not give us film versions of some of his greatest tales? Let us see him defend his ideals against the Elite in a remake of Action Comics #775. Hell, a retelling of Peace on Earth could even work, if you hire a smart enough writer (me!). And for crying out loud, give us the Death of Superman live action film that we all want. How awesome would a live action, big screen version of Supes vs Doomsday, with an epic Duel of the Fates-esque song blaring, be?

3. Tell at least one tale from his Smallville days

I doubt we will ever see the Man of Steel's origin told on the big screen ever again. For one, the original 1978 movie did that origin justice, and also, the show Smallville is currently on its eighth year of doing just that. So, they may not show Jor-el and Lara putting Kal-el in the ship, or Jon and Martha Kent finding it, but we do need to something from his earlier days. Here's an idea: why not have him using one of his powers in a selfish way, like using his strength in gym class, or his X-ray vision to cheat on a test, only for it to have bad repercussions for him later? Maybe he looks across at Pete Ross' paper, they both get only one part of the entire test wrong, but then Pete gets blamed for cheating and fails the test? That would be a great early lesson for him to learn about using his powers responsibly.

4. John Williams

Speaking of Duel of the Fates (mentioned under #3), why not bring the famous composer of like, every good movie ever made, back to the Superman franchise full-time? You know he would do it, and the soundtrack would only benefit from it. If nothing else, though, at least bring back his Superman March.

5. Let us see his power

And, last but not least, let us see how powerful the Last Son of Krypton really is. I want to see him lay into something in the new film series. Show him punching Darkseid or Doomsday so hard that the buildings around him tremble. Contrary to what the current films would lead you to believe; he does punch things. Let's see it, already!

If done correctly, a Superman movie series could hit on everything that makes him appealing, even after all these years. Let's see him visiting sick kids in Mozambique...but frustrated that he can't cure their illness himself. Let's see Jimmy Olsen and Lois Lane getting into trouble again and again. And why not show us a more sinister Lex Luthor, one who believes that he is the only one who can stop Superman, who he views as an alien menace? Whoever is in charge of the next series has to keep what the old movies did right, but also incorporate a lot of things that they either forgot or just didn't do. Here's hoping whoever it is knows what he is doing...

2008-08-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

The other half of the World's Finest is getting a reboot!

Part 1 of two!

The other day, Warner Bros announced plans for the future of their superhero movies. By the year 2011, we will see another Batman film, a reboot of Superman, and two other films based on their superhero properties.

While the other three movies should be exciting (especially if the two other projects are Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern), the one that piques my interest the most is the future reboot of the Man of Steel.

Superman has had a very good history on the small screen. An entire generation of folks was introduced to the character back when the George Reeves show was on, and nowadays, Smallville is about to enter its eight season, with the upcoming introduction of the DC characters Doomsday, Maxima, and the Legion of Superheroes.

However, the Man of Tomorrow's feature film franchise has been hit or miss. The first movie is an undeniable classic which still holds its own today. The John Williams soundtrack was historical, and the acting was topnotch. The second one, especially the recent Donner cut, was almost as good. However, like many comic book film series' after it, the third movie started the decline. It wasn't a complete train wreck, but it didn't have the same magic, and the fourth movie's cheesiness killed the Superman film property for twenty years.

In came Superman Returns. SR sports the best film score ever heard in a comic book movie. John Ottman took the best tunes from Williams' original score, and ran with it. I seriously listen to one of the songs everyday on my way to work. It plays during the "recharge" scene- which I also consider one of the best scenes in comic book film history. It was a pretty good film that did some things right.

However, SR made a few very noticeable mistakes. For one, it failed to give us the modern version of Superman's main villain, Lex Luthor. In the mid-80's, John Byrnes was given the reigns for the comic book, with great results. One of the best things he did was to turn Sexy Lexy into a corporate businessman who everyone looked up to- until the Last Son of Krypton showed up and the public stopped paying attention to him. Kevin Spacey was great as Luthor- but we needed the real one.

Speaking of Luthor, another thing about SR was that the universe it established was not really accessible for the rest of Superman's rogues gallery. I just couldn't see Brainiac, Darkseid, or Metallo living in it. Superman's villains are some of the best in comics. In my opinion, his are better top-down than Batman's are (although Batman's top three, Joker, Two-Face, and Scarecrow are the best one-two-three punch in comics). Whoever is put in charge of the reboot needs to realize that Superman doesn't have to be ultra realistic. He is an alien from a far off planet. Have some fun with him!

And, of course, the worst thing that SR did was Superkid. You know what I'm talking about. Superman should never have a kid, for many reasons. One being that a human and a Kryptonian simply can't have kids. Another being that he is the world's protector, and having his own child might divert his attention from being just that.

So, if Warner Bros called me tomorrow and asked me what I would do with this new franchise, what would I tell them? Well, this post is long enough, so I'll have to save for that another day. But it's a three day weekend, so I should be able to get to it sometime. Until next time!

2008-07-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

The belated Dark Knight post.

Well, it has been over a week since the newest Batman flick entered our lives. Did it live up to everything it could have been? I'd say so. Here are the pros and cons of the film (SPOILERS):

Pros

- The acting was phenomenal. Not just for a comic book movie, but in general. This may be the first comic book film where I actually like all the actors in it. And that says a lot.

- The music was just as good as in Batman Begins. It can't really touch the score that was used in Superman Returns (still the best film score for a comics based movie ever) but it does its job very well.

- The Batmobile gets blown up. This makes room for a new and improved one in the next film. I like the Tumbler as a vehicle, but a Batmobile has to be a little more stealthy than that.

- The Joker was written perfectly. Yes, Heath pulled it off well, but if you ask me, the writing is what made the character. For example, him not even being sure of what his actual origin is is taken directly from The Killing Joke by Alan Moore. If Mr. Moore actually smiles, he was smiling when he saw that scene.

Cons

- I called the fact that the Scarecrow wouldn't be in the film that long, but it doesn't mean I had to like it. Hopefully he can have a bigger role in the third one. Cillian Murphy manages to have the best line in the whole movie, though.

- Why go through all that "Batman doesn't kill people" stuff with him and The Joker, only to basically have him kill Two-Face at the end? Unless Two-Face isn't dead. But really, there's not too much they can do with that character anymore, as his origin was more or less told perfectly.

- The scene where Batman break's Sal's legs seemed a little thuggish to me. Like something The Punisher would do. I know he has done worse in the comics, but it's a little different in live action.

All in all, though, The Dark Knight was a great film. I still think that Cloverfield was/is the film of the year thus far, but TDK could beat it out once I get to examine both of them on Blu-ray. What I am really hoping, though, is that WB sees how well this movie is doing, and decides to bring more of its characters into the fold. I know there are films coming out based on Watchmen, Captain Marvel, and the Green Arrow, but what about another Superman, or a Wonder Woman, or Green Lantern and The Flash? Here's hoping they see the light of day soon!

2008-07-10T12:19:00.001-07:00

Screw the future- the PRESENT is Blu!!!

With my purchase of a Playstation 3 last month, I had two things in mind. Obviously, the main one was to play Metal Gear Solid 4. However, another really big reason why I wanted Sony's latest hardware was so I could finally play Blu-ray movies. Just this week, I purchased Batman Begins and Batman Gotham Knight, which both look stellar. There's also a few movies which I already own that I need to upgrade to the Blu format, but that is for another day. Today, I thought it would be exciting if I took ten movies that are a little old (as every new movie nowadays is getting a Blu version) and put them in a list. So, here are my top ten picks for films that need the Blu-ray treatment:

10. Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgandy

While most Will Ferrell movies are vastly overrated (Ricky Bobby comes to mind) this is one of the two (Elf being the other) that deserves all the praise it gets. It's hilarious, and it's already out in HD-DVD. Why not transfer it on over to the winning HD format? I'm sure it will happen eventually. Maybe when the talked about sequel hits us...

If I eat one piece of this *crap*, will you give me a blu release?

9. Scarface

Say hello to a Blu-ray release? Yes, the reviews of said disc would be annoyingly full of such quotes, but at least the final product would be awesome.

Me? I want what's coming to me. High definition, chico.

8. Field of Dreams

Kevin Costner's best has gotten the HD-DVD release already. This is the film that many consider the best sports movie of all time, so I doubt we will go too much longer without seeing a Blu release.

Is this heaven? No...it's blu-ray.

7. The Shrek Trilogy

This great CG film series that parodies the various fairy tales over the years is dying for a Blu gloss-over. The third one is getting a release in September. Let's hope the first two don't get ignored.

6. Superman: Doomsday

This great direct-to-video movie was released last year on standard DVD. Bruce Timm himself hinted at an HD-DVD release, but we never saw one. Now that Justice League: New Frontier and Batman Gotham Knight have been put on Blu-ray, why not go back and release this one on Blu? They are even re-releasing the original season of the animated Justice League cartoon on Blu, so a Doomsday Blu release should come soon after.

5. The Lord of the Rings

Call it a trilogy if you want, but I look at this as one big film. I can't say I went as ga-ga over these films as everyone else did, but they were still decent enough. The music was good, at least. At least they could fit the entire extended editions onto one disc this time around...

4. Indiana Jones Quadrilogy

Truth be told, I just watched these films for the first time right before Crystal Skull came out. However, I always knew I would like them, and I did. Releasing a boxset with all four of these movies would rock. Just don't release the original three in a boxset and make us buy the fourth one separately, like they did with Rambo...

3. Gladiator

One of my favorite films ever, Gladiator is dying for a Blu treatment. I actually can't believe this hasn't happened yet. In due time, I guess...

2. Titanic

Another one of my fav films, Titanic Blu has more or less been confirmed to happen. The HD-DVD version was actually scrapped to start work on this one. When it does, I'll be first in line. Also, this is another film that will benefit from being able to fit on one disc. No more changing the disc when the ship starts to sink.

1. The Star Wars Series

If there ever was a no-brainer for Blu-ray disc, it was this series. I can't wait to have all the lightsaber battles, epic soundtracks, dark side turns, and ultimate redemptions in one nice, bombastic, six movie set. These movies have yet to all be released in one big set, so it would be nice to have that instead of the rumored two sets of three movies each. I'm not sure when this would come out. Hopefully next year. However, when it does, everyone's invited for the initial viewing.

2008-07-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

For now, we will postpone my epic series of franchises that may no longer be with us. However, I will talk about a series that is just getting it's first sequel, and that is Christopher Nolan's film franchise. Batman Begins was released in 2005, just a few months after Revenge of the Sith. It took elements from many classic comic stories, such as Year One and The Long Halloween. Finally, we got to see Bruce Wayne's transition to Batman on the big screen, and a very scary villain in the Scarecrow get some screen time. Just about everything about the film was great, save for the very unstealth new Batmobile. It was a cool vehicle, but not really Batmanny.

One of my favorite parts of the film was the ending, which revealed The Joker as the next movie's main bad guy. There are great villains in comics. Lex Luthor, Metallo, Darkseid, the Green Goblin, etc. However, my vote for the best supervillain ever is The Joker. He very rarely seeks to dominate the world. He just wants to go on murderous rampages- and laugh while he does it.

While the next movie, titled The Dark Knight, is poised to dominate my blogspot next week, for now, what's on my mind is the newest DC animated film, Batman: Gotham Knight. This DVD bridges the gap between the two films in the Nolanverse, telling six interlocking stories with six different director's views. While this DVD is pretty awesome, I would say it is the worst of the three that DC has put out over the last two years (the others being Superman Doomsday and Justice League: New Frontier). I'm not saying it sucks- far from it- but it seems that right when you get into a story, it ends, and goes on to the next one. However, included on the DVD is a preview for the next animated movie, which will tell the origin of Wonder Womdan. Alfred Molina (Doc Ock in Spider-Man 2) will voice the God of War himself, Ares. Looks awesome.

One last thing- Batman Begins was just released on Blu-ray. It looks absolutely 100% better on the HD format- and I don't even have an HDMI TV. I don't care if you already have it on regular DVD- if you like this movie, get it. You even get the first six minutes of The Dark Knight as a bonus.

2008-06-24T15:04:00.000-07:00

The End of a Franchise? Part 2 in a Series!

In my last post, I talked about one series that may be over. Now it's time to move on to the next one. This is a series that hasn't been around for that long, but many (including me) hold in high regard. It's the crown jewel of a company, and it stars a guy in a green suit.

No, I didn't mean Link from The Legend of Zelda. Although that series is said to be getting a major overhaul for the next one. No, I was talking about the legendary Halo series, starring the enigmatic Master Chief.

History
Some say the first Halo game saved the Xbox., although I was way into Metal Gear Solid 2 to take notice right away. However, upon seeing the reviews and hearing all the praise for the game, I wanted to know more about this famous Master Chief who helped humanity fight an invading alien force named the Covenant. I eventually did get an Xbox in early 2003, and Halo was one of the first games I bought for it (after, of course, Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance). I immediately fell in love with the bad mouthed Marine Johnson, the comedic Grunts, and the M6D Pistol. Upon completing the game, I moved on to the multiplayer, and eventually held LAN parties with as many as eleven people. Hooking up four TV's and systems was a memory I won't soon forget.

As long as I have been a fan of Halo, there has been a Halo 2. The sequel's trailer had been revealed months before I bought the original game. So, when it finally released, I was at the midnight sale in the mall. The line was huge. I was there for a few hours. It was as long a line as I have seen for such movies like Star Wars Episode III, and movie tickets only go for about $8 a pop. All the people in the Halo 2 line were spending at least $50, which was very impressive. I specifically remember standing in the EB line, while the GameStop below us had very little people there. The employees of that store actually yelled up at the EB line, telling us that they had both editions of the game. Remember, at that time, EB and GameStop were still two different stores. However, I had to wait it out at EB, since I already had the game fully paid for.

Halo 2 added a lot of things. A new playable character, English speaking Covenant, dual wielding, vehicle jacking, and, most importantly, online play. No longer did I have to have ten people at my house to enjoy the multiplayer action. The story was also much improved, as it gave us some much needed insight on what the Covenant was thinking. It was awesome to see things from their perspective- something that was also explored in the novel based on the first game. However, some hated how anticlimactic the ending was. While a lot of players thought that the game was loading up the last level, it was actually loading up the end credits. Personally, I was happy when I saw that. Halo 2 was remored to be the last game in the series, but as soon as I saw how it ended, I knew that a Halo 3 was on the way.

The third game in the series was a surprise announcement at the 2006 E3. The debut trailer showed a Master Chief that was recieving cryptic messages from his AI friend, Cortana, who he had to leave behind at the end of the second game. The rest of the video featured more of the same great Halo music from Marty O'Donnell, and featured Master Chief on Earth, ready to take on the Covenant one last time. The tagline was, "Finish the Fight", and on September 25th, 2007, that's what we did. Another midnight showing later, and I sat in my room, and beat it in one sitting. It took me about ten hours, but it was worth it. The opening level was great, the visuals were awesome, and the ending is one of the best in gaming history, as it clears up all the loose ends, but also hints at what might be next. And, like always, the multiplayer is stellar, especially now that Team SWAT has been added.

Chances of seeing another one: 85%
Since Developer Bungie is no longer owned by Microsoft, that means that the big M$ won't be forcing them to pull Master Chief out of the fire again. However, Halo is their baby. It's the reason they are able to go out and do their own thing now. I would bet that we will eventually see a Halo 4, but not anytime soon. Halo 3 sold $250 million worth of merchandise in one day last year. And this is a game that is not popular in Japan, and only appearing on one system. You just don't say no whenever an idea for a sequel comes up. So, yes, Bungie may do their own thing now, but in a few years, don't be afraid to see Chief's cryo tube open up.

Until then, we can enjoy Halo Wars, the RTS being developed by Ensemble Studios. Ironic, because Bungie has stated the the original Halo was an RTS, very early in development. I guess everything always comes full circle. Anyway, that's another series that (for now) is no longer with us. Check back later for Part 3!!

2008-06-20T10:59:00.001-07:00

The End of a Franchise? Part One in a Series!

In my last post, I talked about what could very well be the last Metal Gear game. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is truly a milestone in entertainment, and a great way to end the series. As I stated earlier, Metal Gear is one franchise that seems to have ended over the last few years. So, for today, let's send MGS out with bang!

History
The Metal Gear series has had a soft spot in my heart since I played the original Solid circa early 2000. I honestly can't remember exactly when, but I do remember borrowing it off of a friend (who's prick brother clued me in on the Master Miller before I had even played it...) and loving every second of it. The visuals, the music, the gameplay, the voice acting. Everything was perfect. Then, when I first saw screens of the sequel, I went straight to the mall and bought my own copy of the original. Playing through it a second time was just as good as the first, and they hype leading up to the second game was almost insurmountable. Even the release of the Xbox and GameCube couldn't quell the anticipation for MGS2.

Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was finally released on November 12th, 2001, and I booted the game up, fully expecting to see what Solid Snake was up to this time around. I had already played the demo that was included with Zone of the Enders about four dozen times (seriously), so I pretty much knew the first part of the game off by heart. Being able to finally play past the first boss was very liberating. And that opening introduction is still one of the best in games. Upon completion of the opening level, however, the most confusing gaming moment of my life occurred. I no longer controlled Snake. I was playing as a new guy with blonde hair, named Raiden. While I never hated Raiden, I must admit, part of me felt a little betrayed when I found out that he would be the main playable character. However, Raiden ended up growing on me, and I completed MGS2 within a few days. The cliffhanger ending led a lot of us to believe that MGS3 was on the way, and would continue Snake's story as he went after the Patriots.

Well, not so fast. Yes, MGS3 did get unveiled, but the initial leaked trailer showed a Snake with one eye missing eating snakes and running from dogs in the middle of a jungle. Later trailers revealed that the game took place in the 1960's. This meant that, to everyone's surprise, the next MGS game starred Naked Snake, aka Big Boss, and was a prequel to the entire franchise. We got to see Big Boss' first big mission, him losing his eye, the tech that would eventually lead to Metal Gear being created, and his rivalry with the legendary soldier, The Boss. While I would have loved it if the game continued Solid Snake's tale, MGS3 ended up being the best of the series, with one of the best endings in entertainment history. It's direct sequel, Portable Ops on the PSP, was no slouch either.

Mere months after MGS3 came out, the next game in the series, MGS4, was announced. What followed was the climactic ending of one of the best franchises out there. Or was it?

Chances of seeing another One: 95%
While it was long thought that MGS4 would be all for the franchise, Kojima has other ideas. The Solid series is over, but Metal Gear will live on, as he says here. So, what will future titles involve? If it were up to me, I would put the events of the next game twenty years in the future, with all new characters and enemies. Solid Snake is spoken of as fondly as Big Boss was in the Solid series, and a whole new chain of events begins. Bring back one or two characters for Codec support for some fan service, and you have a winner. But first, remake Metal Gear 1 and 2 first, so we can see Solid Snake's first two missions in full 3D!! I think those are two games that are dying to be remade, but that's another topic, for another day...til next time!

2008-06-18T11:02:00.000-07:00

Metal Gear...it might be..

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge Metal Gear fan. It's where I get the first half of my name, after all. So, as you can imagine, June 12th was a big day for me, as it marked the release of the newest (and final?) MGS game, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.

From the opening (confusing) cutscene to the very long ending, MGS4 never ceases to amaze. The graphics are the best I've seen in a video game. The cutscenes are long, but in a good way. I never felt like skipping them (although I have in later playthroughs). The gameplay is a lot different than previous games in the series, but it does retain a lot of elements that has made the series so popular. Kind of like what Resident Evil 4 did for that franchise.

I'm really not going to go into too much depth. Let the professionals at IGN and GameSpot do that. That's why they get paid the big bucks. But really, if you have played the other games in the series, and have a PS3, you owe it to yourself to go out and buy this game. It's Solid Snake's final mission, after all...

Just a few comments, though. First things first, the main theme from the other games is nowhere to be heard of in this game. You know what I mean. The dramatic sounding theme that plays in the video for MGS2 if you don't press start right away. While I loved MGS4's music, it would have been nice to have that included, as it's been in the other games in some form. Well, maybe it is an unlockable ipod theme, but I haven't found it yet...

The boss fights were some of the best in the series, especially one late in the game that I won't reveal. The final fight is nice and epic, too.

Act 4 is one of the best levels in any game. Period. If, for some reason, you buy this game and don't like it very much, just keep playing until Act 4. You won't regret it.

As for the story, well, it is typical MGS affair, with a twist. Solid Snake is dying. For some reason, be it from the fact that he is a clone or from FoxDIE or whatever, he has aged very rapidly since we last saw him in MGS2. However, that hasn't stopped him and Otacon from trying to rid the world of nuclear threats and AI's that want to run the world. While he is visiting the grave of Big Boss, his "father", his old friend, Colonel Campbell, gives him one last mission- to exterminate Liquid Ocelot.

Liquid Snake, his clone brother, has completely taken over the body of Revolver Ocelot, and is hellbent on unleashing his nuclear armageddon. Needless to say, friends turn into foes, and vice versa. Those we thought were dead are alive, and old friends and enemies join the ranks of the dead. Nearly every MGS character from the three previous games has some sort of role in MGS4, as it ties up all the loose ends that have been around since the original Solid game in 1998....

It's serious when it needs to be, but also downright funny when it wants to be. One particular scene at the end of Act 4 will forever be one of my favorites, as a certain character finally succumbs and emotional music plays. Did I mention Act 4 is awesome? Pretty much, if Kojima had asked me what I wanted out of this game, something like Act 4 would have sprung to mind.

The online play is great! It takes what we had in MGS3 and Portable Ops and enhances it. What is especially exciting is that Konami has promised that the online mode that we currently have is just a prelude to what will eventually come. That's good news!

I won't say whether or not Solid Snake dies in this game, but if you ask me, this is it for him regardless. The Metal Gear series has to go in a different direction from here on out. Series creator Kojima has said that this is it for the Solid series, so we'll just have to wait to see what happens next. I'm thinking a new protaganist will take up the reins in the next game, and Solid Snake will be the legendary soldier that everyone talks fondly about, a la Big Boss in the Solid series. Also, here's hoping they go back and remake the first two Metal Gear's so we can see Snake's first two missions in full 3D.

However, if this really is the end, and we will see no more Metal Gear games, just think of all the franchises that have ended in the past few years. I could go on about what we have lost, but that topic is for another day. I want to try to have more than one post a month, after all! I think that is what I will do. Starting tomorrow, or the next day, or whenever I feel like starting this, I will start talking about the gaming and movie franchises that are over, and whether or not we will ever see them again in some form. Until then, I will see you on Metal Gear Online! My handle, like always, is SnakeWesker...

2008-05-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I got to see the new Indiana Jones film today. If I had to rank it, I would rank it ahead of Temple of Doom, but not quite as good as Raiders and Crusade. All in all, though, it was pretty awesome, with a lot of fun moments. I was expecting him to see Godzilla sneaking up from behind, though...

Another movie franchise has been revived, it seems. Star Wars started it all. The announcement of the prequels, and their success, paved the way for a revival of movie franchises that were long thought dead. Rambo, Terminator, Die Hard, Rocky...and I know I am probably forgetting some of them. The coolest thing is that all of these movies have at least been decent. Well, okay, I missed out on seeing Rambo earlier this year (I've already cut my penis off, I know I no longer deserve it) but I will check out the DVD when it releases next week. Either that, or I'll wait for the Director's Cut that is said to be a lot more violent. We'll see...

Speaking of Star Wars, yesterday, the 25th, marked the 31st anniversary of the release of the original film. Happy birthday to the best movie franchise of all time!! Until next time!!

2008-05-25T06:07:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since I made a post. Most of the time when I have a lapse like this, it's usually because I don't have much to talk about. However, that couldn't be farther from the truth. This post will be an attempt to catch up on all the things I have been up to this month...

Iron Man
On May 2nd, I braved the crowds to go and see the newest Marvel film, Iron Man. The showing that we wanted to go to was actually sold out, so we had to wait for the next one to start. I knew I should have Fandango'd it. However, halfway through the film, the fire alarm went out, and everyone had to leave. We got rain checks, which we used the week after. As for my thoughts on the movie as a whole, I thought it was pretty decent. It was definitely the best Marvel based movie since Spider-Man 2, and the Nick Fury scene after the credits hinted at some awesome possibilities later on the Marvel film franchise.

No More Heroes
I finished No More Heroes today. I have to say, it was pretty awesome. The story was kind of blah, but the gameplay and art direction were sweet. Also, there are two endings to the story, the regular ending and the "real" ending. So, I intend to beat it once again and see how the tale really ends. There were also some cool Star Wars references. Which can never be a bad thing...

Indiana Jones
Due to the impending release of the fourth Indiana Jones film, I watched the original three movies for the first time this week. If you are wondering, I thought The Last Crusade was the best, and Temple was the worst. Not that I didn't like it, but it is what it is. I'm seeing Crystal Skull today, so we'll see where that one ranks...

Okami
Best Buy had Okami Wii on sale last week, so I picked it up yesterday (having never played the PS2 original). I got to play about an hour of it today, and so far, it has been pretty awesome. The combat could be a little bit better, but I feel that it will get better once I get used to it. I'm loving the art style and the Celestial Brush, though.

Wii Fit/We Ski
Last, but not least, we have the controversial Wii Fit. I have to admit, even I was a little hesitant about this "game" when Nintendo announced it at last year's E3. And I'm almost never hesitant whenever they announce weird stuff, since it usually pans out good in the end. However, I'm always up for the next big Wii game, so upon seeing it at my local K-Mart, I picked it up (along with two extras to go up for sale on Ebay) along with the Balance Board compatible We Ski.

All I can say is that the Board is really cool. It's heavy. It doesn't feel like a cheap accessory by any means. The Wii Fit exercises that I have played are actually pretty fun. I like the Aerobics ones the best, although I have to rearrange my room a little bit so that I have enough space to do them all. Also, using the Board to ski in We Ski really is fun, and it will only get better once I shell out the $35 for the wireless nunchuck. Also, as for my Ebay endeavors.. I didn't do as good as I thought. All the other Wii Fit's on there have gone for around $150, but I only managed to make a little bit of money after it was all said and done. Oh well, can't win them all...until next time!

2008-04-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

Another Nintendo platform; another Mario Kart.

But this one is the best one ever. IMHO!!!

Ever since the Super NES, Nintendo has pushed a new Mario Kart game into retail. Some have been great, some have been okay, none of them have sucked. More or less, the object of the game is to select a character from Mario's Mushroom Kingdom, race, and win. It's a pretty light hearted affair. Gran Turismo this is not. However, it's arcade appeal is what draws people like me, who are generally not racing fans, to the tracks. I love that you can go from worst to first with the proper item pickup; and I have to accept the fact that sometimes you will be in first place the entire time, and lose it at the last second due to a timely blue shell. There have even been two Karts released in just the arcade, and they had Pac-Man as a playable character!

The last console entry, Mario Kart Double Dash for the GCN, was one of those that was "okay". The new courses were good, but I never liked the prospect of two characters on one cart. Ever. The coolest thing about this title was something that I never did- with the help of some broadband adapters, you could link up GCN's and have a little LAN party. That would have been sweet. Also, like Xbox Connect with Halo 1, somebody figured out how to turn Double Dash into the first Kart to go online, albeit not officially.

However, with the release of Mario Kart DS, the series went online the right way. Sure, it was only four players, but the fact that the DS version of the racer was online had everyone hopeful for what lied ahead in the inevitable Wii release.

Not only is Mario Kart Wii online, it is twelve player online! And yes, this is lag free. The new courses are awesome, for the most part, especially the Coconut Mall. And I love the music for the Maple Treeway. The character roster has also been expanded on. Back are old favs like Dry Bones, but new guys like Dry Bowser, Funky Kong, and Rosalina have entered the fracas. What else is new? Dirt bikes, for one. An option that I didn't think would be any good ends up being one of the best additions to the series. You can even pop wheelies on them!

Tricks are available to do off of ramps. Mii's can be seen watching the race as you speed by. Snaking has been cut down a ton. The online play is awesome. The Wii Wheel, which is a peripheral that came with the game, is weird at first, but now I can't see myself not using it. So yeah, if you like Mario Kart games, and you have a Wii, you have to pick this title up. Another great title for the Wii!!

2008-04-21T06:26:00.000-07:00

I was going to start this post with a blurb about how Mortal Kombat was a big part of my upbringing, but really, anyone my age who played video games growing up would say the same thing. So, screw that (at least for now), and let's talk about the newest MK game, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. Yeah, that's right; this Fall, Superman, Batman, and company will be matching wits against the best fighters from the MK universe. This is going to be good...

Yes, yes, it will be cool to see the Man of Steel and Scorpion squaring off; and the story mode should have some cool "Subspace Emissary" moments. However, with all that aside, it will just be nice to have a good game with DC characters in it. Justice League Heroes came the closest, and even that gets tiresome after awhile.

Ed Boon (the main man behind MK games) has stated that there will be twenty fighters- ten from each universe. Knowing this, I (tried) to develop my own roster, and this is what I came up with (note that Batman, Superman, Sub-Zero, and Scorpion have been confirmed):

Mortal Kombat
1. Scorpion
2. Sub-Zero
3. Lui Kang
4. Raiden
5. Johnny Cage
6. Sonya Blade
7. Jax
8. Reptile
9. Shang Tsung
10. Baraka

DC
1. Superman
2. Batman
3. Wonder Woman
4. Metallo
5. Brainiac
6. The Joker
7. Two Face
8. The Flash
9. Green Lantern
10. Darkseid

I just made this list, and I am already thinking of people I left out. No Catwoman? Kung Lao? Martian Manhunter? Ugh, Boon, you seriously can't make it twelve each? Here's hoping for at least some DLC action down the road...

Well, I am sure whatever the final roster is, there will be many cheers and jeers. Brawl had 35 characters in it, and there were still people complaining. The NCAA lets 65 teams into their basketball tourney, and the 66th and 67th teams still feel left out. Regardless of the final roster, it's looking like the next MK will be one to pay attention to. Until next time!

2008-03-24T05:33:00.000-07:00

"We face a threat big enough to wipe us off the Earth, and still we bicker about a mask...or a uniform."

Superman has many powers. Most of them come from his Kryptonian heritage- how this Earth's yellow sun effects him. However, some have come from his humble upbringing by his Earth parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent. Leadership is one of them- and it's something that the Justice League: The New Frontier DVD hits right on the head.

Last year, DC hit us with Superman Doomsday, a loose retelling of the popular graphic novel. This year, The New Frontier, based on the graphic novel of the same name, tells the tale of a time when superheroes, rather than being respected, are feared by the populace. Some heroes, like Superman, try to ease the government's fears, while others, like Wonder Woman and Batman, take very different approaches. Wonder Woman is as defiant as ever, especially when she gets into a heated argument with Superman in the beginning of the film. Should she have allowed rebel woman who had been abused and raped to kill their captors? Batman, of course, comes off as menacing as he usually is, basically threatening the Martian Manhunter if he tries anything funny. Funny how, of all the JLA members, Batman's the one with no superpowers to call his own, but ends up being the scary one...

Other members of the JLA are shown in great detail, like The Flash and Martian Manhunter. The Flash's choice of the color red for his uniform doesn't bode well with the Communism-fearing society, and Martian Manhunter's arrival on Earth leaves him guilt stricken, if not a little depressed.

However, Hal Jordan, the man who will become the Green Lantern, is given the best character development. We see him not wanting to shoot at Korean planes who are still unaware of the ceasefire at the end of the Korean War. However, moments later, he is forced to kill a young enemy soldier in a trench. We also see his rise in the Ferris corporation, a company that wants to send him on a mission to Mars. But, things go sour, and his trip to the red planet is cut short...

The main villain of the story is The Centre, an unknown but very powerful being that has been around as long as there has been an Earth. He has seen humanity's technology grow over the years, and fears that a nuclear war will take the Earth out. It decides that all humans should be eliminated. The Centre is so powerful that not even Superman can fight it alone. It is up to the JLA to settle their differences and fight for mankind's future.

Basically, this DVD is good. The animation is great, and the acting is very well-done. I believed everyone's voice. Superman's is great, and Batman's is good once you get used to it. However, the best voice was The Flash's, done by none other than Neil Patrick Harris. It was exactly how I always imagined his voice would sound like. And man, that Centre sure does sound like the Arbiter in Halo 2 and 3..

If you like the JLA, or any of the aforementioned superheroes, you should definitely check this title out. Also in the film are cameos by Robin, Green Arrow, Adam Strange, Aquaman, Supergirl, Elastic Man, the boy who will one day become Steel, and a heck of a lot more.

So, is it better than Doomsday? Not sure. I watched them both back to back the other day, and honestly can't tell you which one I like better. I will say, however, that Frontier doesn't seem as rushed as Doomsday was. That film would have been better if the portion of the tale would have been given some time to breathe. However, I liked the battles a lot better in Doomsday, and thought the two were equally as emotional, so it's basically a push.

What's next for DC's animated team? Batman: Gotham Knight, a collection of six stories that take place before the upcoming Dark Knight movie. This one is heavily influenced by Japanese anime artists, and looks insanely cool. Can't wait til it's released on July 8th!

2008-03-17T16:28:00.000-07:00

Now that I have had more than a week of online Smash under my belt, the lot of you are probably wondering how I am fairing. Well, I'll gladly tell you that I am doing a heck of a lot better than I thought I would. Solid Snake, to no one's surprise, is my main, with Mario and the two versions of Link picking up the slack if I start to suck. And yeah, I do use Sonic every now and then. However, I'm the Snakey one a good 90% of the time.

While every now and then I run into a player that is clearly better than me, I can more or less hold my own against a lot of my opponents.

One thing that does surprise me about this game, though, is that I am using the Wiimote + Nunchuck controller configuration. While I was waiting for this game, I would have bet money that I would end up using the GCN controller, but I tried both of them, and the Mote/Chuck combo works the best for me. I guess not buying Smash Bros Melee for the GCN paid off in the end...

2008-03-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, at about 1:30AM, I braved the snow and set out for my local Wal*Mart to nab the year's biggest title, Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo Wii. Unfortunately, the Mart closest to me didn't have it, so off to the next one it was- which delivered.

Avoiding that near tragedy, I went home as fast as the white powder would allow me to, and popped the disc in. Now, some may have hopped online and not looked back. However, I like to unlock all the characters and stages when I get a game like this, so I started the game's robust solo mode, entitled the Subspace Emissary.

In this mode, the story is told by beautiful rendered cutscenes that have no dialog (spoken, or otherwise) whatsoever. Basically, all Hell breaks loose, and it is up to the various characters in the game to deal with it. The story does a good job of not overusing any of the characters- every one of them has some sort of part to play to save the world. It reminded me a lot of a big comics crossover that DC would put together, that would include almost a lot, if not all, of their iconic creations. Some of these scenes (especially Snake's) were very memorable, and the ending boss fight lets you create a virtual dream team of video game characters. Who can argue with having Solid Snake, Mario, Luigi, Samus, Link, and Sonic fighting together?

There were only two disappointing parts of this mode. One, the final level is a massive maze, which slowly turns into a headache. It has some cool moments, but it was definitely a downer, for the most part. Another thing isn't really the fault of Nintendo, but I have it- Sonic is only in one of the cutscenes, towards the end, and only for a brief time. Don't get me wrong, he, like all the other fighters, has his moment in the spotlight, but it would have been nice to get him in on some action earlier in the tale. There is a part earlier in the game that has Mario and another guy fighting over a misunderstanding (NOT the part where he fights Kirby)- it would have been really cool if we could have replaced this guy with the blue blur. However, Sonic wasn't added to the game til very late, and we are lucky to have him in the game at all, so I'm not complaining. But man, imagine the possibilities...

As for the other modes, the Events (objective based missions, like "eat this guy as Pikachu") are sometimes really great, but sometimes annoying (kind of like Soul Calibur 2's solo mode). And, as of right now, I haven't played any online against strangers, as I have been making the effort to unlock the characters and stages (which I did!).

All in all, Super Smash Bros. Brawl has been really awesome. The fighters and stages are all great, the various modes are fun, and it even gives you demo's of Virtual Console titles! What's not to love?

2008-03-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

It's March, and we are already a week away from the biggest game of the year. Whether or not it is the best will be determined at a later date, however.

But anyway, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the Wii game that everyone who has a Wii will buy, is only seven short days away. It boasts an unreal roster that includes everyone's favorite Nintendo characters, as well as a few guests. Who would have ever thought that we would see Mario and Solid Snake in the same game? Or Link and Sonic duking it out? Brawl fulfills these fanhood dreams, and many, many more.

Since the first game came out on the Nintendo 64, the Smash series has been a huge hit. The sequel, Super Smash Bros. Melee, became the top-selling GCN game, with a ratio of three out of every four GCN owners owning it (me not being one of them, haha). I was in Halo mode at the time, and plus I had heard of the single player not being as deep, so I passed on it...

However, with the inclusion of online play, a single player mode that looks really good, and Solid freaking Snake, I'll be picking this baby up. The only thing cooler than seeing Solid Snake in the same game as legends like Mario, Luigi, and Link would be Darth Vader being in a Soul Calibur game. Oh wait...

2008-02-20T12:42:00.001-08:00

Been a while, hasn't it? I guess that mammoth Cloverfield post wiped me out for a few weeks. Well, what's half a month off? It happens to the best of us...

New TV shows spring up all the time. Some are decent, but most of them are canceled within the first year. However, one show that looks like it will have a long life is one that just started last month, and it is based on one of the best movie franchises ever. No, The Clone Wars doesn't start til later this year- I was talking about Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

I must admit, I was very wary of this show when it was first announced. It didn't really sound good. I hated how they were ignoring the third movie, especially now that the new movie trilogy will supposedly follow that film's timeline. I was also worried that the show would have a super lame "Terminator of the Week" premise. However, despite not sharing the same timeline as Rise of the Machines*, the show takes what we know from the first two films and runs with it. Once again, a terminator from the future is sent back to protect John- this time in the form of a cute High School girl. Her interactions with John, Sarah, and her fellow classmates never get dull. On the opposite end, Skynet, the AI that will eventually blow up the world, has also sent back various metal guys, some who have specific missions, and one particular one that is hellbent on killing Mr. Connor....

*Unless they do something crazy with the timeline plot device.

Arnold never looked this good...

Another plot point is an FBI agent named Ellison, who is always just one step behind Sarah and the gang as they venture to prevent Judgment Day from happening. As more episodes air, he keeps getting closer and closer, which should make their eventual meeting very interesting...

Really, the only thing that can stop this show is the lack of produced episodes. They only made nine of them because of the writer's strike, and Fox has said that more probably wouldn't air til Fall at the very earliest. Hopefully the show comes to a decent climax with its last three airings of this season. You can watch the show on Fox.com (usually how I do it), or catch it on Mondays at 9PM. If you like the movies, you'll like this show!

2008-01-30T11:40:00.000-08:00

Today, I saw my first film of the year- Cloverfield. Here are my very raw thoughts.

I had been looking forward to this film since I saw the cryptic teaser trailer before Transformers back in July, and man, it didn't disappoint. For those not in the know, this movie centers around a giant monster attacking New York City- but it is told through the eyes of a small group of regular people. One of them just happens to have a video camera; and that's where we get our footage. The military is called in, and just like Godzilla before it, the Cloverfield monster puts up a big fight. Personally, I don't know why they didn't just call Superman to take it out (they even mentioned him in the movie), but that's neither here nor there at the moment.

With a movie like this, that follows a character's point of view through a shaky cam (it's like watching E3!), you'll always get pros and cons. The biggest pro, in my opinion, is the intense realism that only a perspective like that can give you. It constantly reminded me of a first-person shooter (especially Doom 3, and the introduction of the Flood in Halo). It also reminded me a lot of Night of the Living Dead, which wasn't shot from the "person with a video camera" perspective, but that film's low budget and the fact that it also involves just a small group of ordinary people had me thinking of it throughout Cloverfield's 74 minutes.

Of course, the biggest con (at least for some people) is the fact that we don't know the facts. Yeah, yeah, I know that there were viral marketing campaigns that explained that the monster was awakened by a drink company looking to harvest a deep sea nectar. But what the marketing doesn't tell us is what happens after the events of the film. Do they ever take Cloverfield down?

According to what was heard after the credits, Operation Hammer Down doesn't kill it. And since the film was recovered, a nuclear attack is out of the question, as the EMP would have erased all of the camera's recordings. However, if such a monster was never destroyed, it could very well mean the end of all of us. At least, it'd be the end of life as we know it (much like if Doomsday was not stopped by Superman [Wow, two Superman references. All I need now is a Star Wars one]). So really, if the world was over, I doubt anyone would have been able to dig up the camcorder and recover the SD card (which would work in a Wii...if the Wii played movies...). I honestly wouldn't mind seeing another Cloverfield movie, but not a sequel. Rather, I think it would be cool if we saw a movie that was from the perspective of say, the Armed Forces, which would give us a better reading of what was going on, and could shed light on what happened after Hammer Down.

Edit: Seconds after I posted this I saw this article at IGN. Looks like we might get our different perspective after all...not the one I was looking for, but better than nothing.

Also, have you ever head of The Bloop? Read all about it here. Now that's nuts. And kind of scary...

As you can tell, I loved the film. While images of Halo, Doom, and Living Dead danced in my head, I also remember thinking that it shared some similarities to my last two "Movie of the Year" award winners- Children of Men and 28 Weeks Later. Don't be surprised if this film takes home the same award for 2008- although Bond and Batman might have a say in that.

And wow, that Beth looked good. Almost as good as Padme (told you I'd get the Star Wars reference in) Til next time!

2008-01-28T04:12:00.000-08:00

I never did do my "Upcoming games of 2008" post, huh? Well, I'm never one to hide my excitement when a new big game is almost here, so just stick around and you'll find out what I'm looking forward to the most. Today, however, I am going to talk about the newest addition to my Wii library- a little game called No More Heroes.

I've only been able to play through the first few levels so far. What I have seen so far has been pretty good. The visuals catch the stylistic approach throughout the overworld, and the combat, which is too easy at first, gets a lot deeper as you fight stronger enemies.

The best part of the game, however, is the assassination missions. See, the object of the game is too move your character from the world's number eleven ranked fighter to numero uno. By doing this, you must pay mission registration fees by doing oddjobs like mowing grass and killing crooked CEO's. Once you have enough for the next mission, though, the fun begins, as you cut a path through the boss' henchmen to face-off in a one on one melee. The bosses always have an interesting cutscene to introduce themselves, and the actual fight always ends up being pretty epic. I can't wait til the last one!

Like Lost Planet in 2007, No More Heroes is a good way to start the new year off. I'm not sure how long it will last, as I seem to be blowing through it pretty quickly, but what's there has been pretty good so far. Until next time!

2008-01-22T12:52:00.000-08:00

You've read my 2007 awards (all two of you) Which ones did I leave out?

Well, I am back on the saddle after a long absence. 2007 was a great year for entertainment. So great that even I may have unfairly snubbed some forms of it in my awards last week. Here are the main ones that stick out in my mind:

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Both of these games hail from some of my favorite series. They also have one other thing in common: I have yet to play them. While I always go into CoD games late, the really embarrassing one is not having played the latest Zelda. I really should be shot for not having done so, so if you see me on the street, do the deed. Just not in the face.

The next game I snubbed is one that I actually own, which is actually five games in one. Yes, Half-Life 2, Episode 1, Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2 pulled a Captain America and combined into one massive game called The Orange Box. While this compilation (which came close to including Half-Life 1, too) will almost certainly go down as one of my most played games of all time, I simply haven't played it enough to give it its just due. It's like when Oblivion came out, and critics wouldn't review it until like a month later. So no, I am not brain dead. Orange was and is great. It's just that I spent more time with the other ten games that I put on my list.

DVD wise, I really should have included Heartbreak and Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story. While my current work schedule doesn't allow me to watch Monday Night Raw anymore (and it's not the same watching a tape), good old HBK will always be my favorite wrestler. His 2007 DVD told his life story, from a wild boy to a devoted Christian, in epic detail. It also included some of his best matches, and was a great complement to the previously released From the Vault.

Welp, that is it for my snubs. Sadly, though, 2007 was such a good year for entertainment that I could make a "Which snubs did I snub?" list. However, these are the ones that really stuck out when I went over my awards. See you next time!

2008-01-13T10:50:00.000-08:00

2007's Best Game Part Two
No introductions. You know what this is.

5. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, Wii

The only game in the Prime series that hasn't taken me two years to beat. Not because it's too easy (although it was easier than MP2) but because I liked it the best of the three. Great graphics and Wii controls made this a must have for any Wii owner. Here's hoping the first two Primes get the Wii treatment as well.

4. Scarface: The World is Yours, Wii

I know this game came out last year for Xbox and PS2, but I never played it so that doesn't count. I also know that it does borrow a lot from Grand Theft Auto. However, it vastly improves one flaw found in the GTA games (unless San Andreas fixed it, never played that one). Tony Montana has a way better targeting system than Tommy Vercetti ever did, and the fact that you can play as everyone's favorite cracked out mobster is a huge plus.

3. Mass Effect, 360

The game that made me want to buy a 360 before there even was a 360. The makers of the best Star Wars game ever, Knights of the Old Republic, invented their own universe to play in, and made said universe look breathtaking. Also included is a great story, tons of side quests, and very believable voice acting. The best part about Mass Effect, though? It is just the first part of a trilogy.

2. Halo 3, 360

The biggest game of the year, and arguably the best. You know your game's good when it grosses $170 million the first day. The end of the Human-Covenant war was as epic as expected, and the "Return of the Jedi" like ending (see my Best Movies post for an explanation of that) left open the possibility of more games in the future. Not only that, the online multiplayer actually supported co-op missions this time around, and the deathmatch should keep gamers playing for years.

1. Super Mario Galaxy, Wii

Anyone who knows me knows what I like. Metal Gear, Resident Evil, Star Wars, Superman, Pitt Basketball, and Super Mario 64. The latter of those things finally got its spiritual sequel in 2007, with the release of Super Mario Galaxy. While no game (not even Zelda OoT) will ever beat 64 in terms of nostalgia for me, what Nintendo created for their newest console is quite possibly the best game to date (although I admit I'll have to wait a few years before I decide that title). From hopping from galaxy to galaxy, to smashing up Koopa's and Goomba's, to flying around the game's overworld, Galaxy does everything right. It's to Super Mario 64 what Twilight Princess was to Ocarina of Time. You may have more sentimental feelings towards the N64 iteration, but in the end, the Wii one may very well be the best. But that is another debate, for another time. For now, behold the game of the year!

Well, another year has gone by, and with it, another round of awards dished out by yours truly. Now, if you are reading this list and going, "Wait, where is...!?!", just wait a second before bad mouthing me. I know there are some deserving games (one in which I actually own) that are not on this list, and I intend to give them recognition as well. So, keep tuning in, as I will name the games that didn't make it, and explain the reason why they didn't. Until then!!

2008-01-12T14:10:00.000-08:00

Best of 2007: Best Game!! Part One of Three

Well, here is the moment all three of you have been waiting for. What is my pick for the game of the year? Who will take the spot that Gears of War held last year? During the next two days, I will post my top ten games of the year, and on the third day, I will talk about the big games for 2008. Today, I start with games ten through six. Enjoy!

10. Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, 360

The first big release of the year was also one of the best. While some complained over the length of the game, I found it to be just right, and the online play was cool for awhile. The best part, however, was the story, which really came together in the end. Here's hoping the rumored Lost Planet: Colonies actually happens.

9. Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, Wii

While not a "real" Resident Evil game, this lightgun inspired title took players through the various locales of the RE universe, and even showed us the downfall of Umbrella. Co-op play is a blast, but it'll always remain a mystery as to why they didn't include RE2 and Code: Veronica. Could there be an REUC2 in the near future?

8. NBA 2k8, 360/PS3

Year after year, 2K Sports dishes out the best sports game of the year. This year was no different. It was nice to see up and coming star Chris Paul on the cover, and the visuals and gameplay were as stellar as always.

7. Super Paper Mario, Wii

While Super Mario Galaxy was the big Mario title of the year (and deservedly so) another great release starring the fat red plumber hit the Wii this Spring, with fantastic results. Mario teams with old friends Luigi and Peach, as well as old foe Bowser, to take down a new villain hellbent on the world's destruction. Plus, all this is taking place in 2D platforming action. Sweet.

6. Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, Wii (duh)

One of the best games of all time (and my best game of 2005) was ported to the Wii this year, and got better. The motion controls actually make it possible to escape some of the enemies that used to take me out routinely on the GCN, PS2, and PC, and the Wiimote aiming is perfect. Perfect. If you have never played this game, move it up to the #1 spot. The only reason it's only #6 is because I played the heck out of the other three versions. After this release, however, I only have eyes for the Wii Edition.

That does it for the first half. Tune in tomorrow (hopefully) for the conclusion!

2008-01-09T11:02:00.001-08:00

Best Movie of 2007

Here it is. I went to see a lot of films this year. This is one of the only years in recent memory that I only missed a couple of "sorta look cool" films. I didn't miss any movies that I knew I wanted to see. So, here we go!!

First, the Runners-Up

The Simpsons Movie

The big screen debut of the classic TV series finally came to pass this year, after numerous rumors and speculation throughout the years. What we got was one of the funniest movies since Borat. Pigs wear human clothes, Ralph likes men now, and Marge finally swears. This is classic Simpsons. Anyone who is even remotely a fan of the show should check this out.

Live Free or Die Hard

I never would have thought that I'd be talking about a fourth Die Hard film. I thought the series was over. However, Bruce Willis and that guy that plays the Mac in those ads got together to make another one, and big Bruce says there's even a possibility of a fifth. While 2007's strangely named Live Free or Die Hard wasn't the best Die Hard, it was definitely the second best, which makes it a pretty good freaking film.

And the winner is...

28 Weeks Later

The sequel to the 2002 film hit earlier this year...with a bang. I thought the original film was really good until the military unit stepped in. Not that it was bad after that, but I wish they would have gone with their alternate ending and kept the film's story confined to just a few people. Anyway, Weeks keeps its great quality consistent throughout, showing us a man escaping from the infected during the outbreak in a very non-Superman like way (when you see the scene you'll know what I mean), something that may doom the entire globe just seven short months later. The infected have all starved to death, and most people believe the Rage virus that turns people into mindless murderers is gone.

With that in mind, the US Army helps the British citizens get back into their country, in an attempt to bring some normalcy back. However, a few people are stupid, and many others are completely inept, and the virus escapes. Now a small group of survivors (including Padme's hot assistant from Star Wars Episode II) must get to safety- from both the infected, and military units looking to exterminate any and all possible Rage carriers (which gave it a Half-Life feel, if you ask me).

Suspense and graphic violence ensues, all the way to the Return of the Jedi-esque there-could-be-more-but-if-the-series-ends-here-so-be-it ending (which Halo 3 also did in the video game world). Anyone who liked the first film should definitely check this one out, and if you ask me, you won't find a better movie that was released in 2007.

What to Look For in 2008

I seem to like films with dystopian futures. Children of Men won this very award last year, a film that showed a world where humans had lost the ability to procreate. However, what will 2008 hold for us movie goers? Well, the movie I am definitely looking forward to the most is The Dark Knight. The follow-up to the critically acclaimed Batman Begins, this time Batman must go one on one with his archnemesis, The Joker. The trailer was great, and the first six minutes of the film that was shown before I Am Legend IMAX viewings looked really fantastic. All we need now is another trailer that actually shows us Mr. Dent!

Another one that looks cool is also a comic book movie, this time from Marvel. Iron Man is releasing in early May, and from the looks of the stills and trailer, should be pretty good. Robert Downey Jr. looks natural as the title role, and Terence Howard is a really good actor, as he plays the man who will become War Machine.

Of course, this list wouldn't be complete without the movie that is releasing very soon. The movie that had enough big ones to release a trailer for it without even telling you what the film was called. This movie is Cloverfield, a story of a giant monster attacking New York City- seen through the eyes of ordinary people who just happen to have a camcorder.

While there are undoubtedly more films coming out this year that look good, those are the ones that sprang to my mind, and seriously, I wouldn't be surprised if my movie of the year was another movie coming out of nowhere. But until then, I have two 2007 awards done, and at least one more to go- so keep checking back!!

2008-01-07T06:05:00.000-08:00

No More Heroes Coming Early!!

The biggest game for the Wii this year will be Super Smash Bros. Brawl. There's no doubt about it. It seems that every Wii owner has February 10th (the game's release date) circled. However, another interesting game that I have talked about on this blog, called No More Heroes, was set to release mere days before Smash. That has all changed, as Ubisoft has announced that the game will now ship on January 22nd. The title's cover art has also been released, and looks pretty cool if you ask me.

Also, do not worry. I haven't forgotten about my other 2007 awards- so keep checking back. Until then!

2008-01-02T01:03:00.000-08:00

2007's Best DVD Release

Today is the day I announce my first award for 2007! I figured I would start off slowly with the best DVD release of the year, and work my way up to the real meat, day-by-day. For this award, I tried to stay away from theatrical movies being released for the format, and tried to only go with films that you could only see on DVD.

First, the Runners-Up

Spiderman 2.1

What many call the best entry in the acclaimed comic book trilogy got its own special release right before Spidey 3 came out. Spider-Man 2.1 added eight minutes of all new footage, including a very interesting scene featuring Harry and Peter at Peter's birthday party, and some additional action footage with Spidey and Doc Ock. It also included an all-new elevator scene, which I ended up liking just as much as the original. Also included as features was a very bad preview of the third film, an outtake reel including all of Hal Sparks' different elevator ad libs, and a featurette on the differences between the theatrical and 2.1 editions.

Resident Evil Resurrected Edition

Two movies for the price of one, with a new scene that builds up to the third film included? Wow, all it needs now is a boatload of extras. Oh, it has those too? The Resident Evil Resurrected Edition was a double pack that came with the first two RE movies, and included a really good preview of the third film. Another cool thing is that they put the two movies on one disc, and all the extras on the second disc. So, if you are having an RE marathon (which I plan to do, but not on this format...), you won't have to swap discs after the first film is over. Also, you can realize the irony of having the best (the first one) and the worst (although it's not bad, it is the worst) film in the series on the same DVD.

And the winner is...

Superman: Doomsday

Back when I was a wee lad at around six or seven years old, Superman died. I still remember the hubub of the event that shattered the comic universe. I remember one magazine doing a faux interview with him in his grave, and I still remember the cover of Superman #75- the tombstone that read, "Here Lies Earth's Greatest Hero". While I was only able to procure one of the actual issues of this story, the event would forever be a landmark for me. Fast forward fifteen years, and imagine my excitement when I heard that more or less the same people who brought us the great Superman and Batman cartoons of the 90's would be working on an animated story loosely based on the best-selling graphic novel of all time. That is what happened, and on September 18th, it became a reality. With good voice acting (for the most part), fantastic animation (save for the weird marks on the Man of Steel's face) and a great original story that borrows the good stuff from the comics, and adds or changes what needed to be to fit it all into 70 minutes. James Marsters (Spike in Buffy, Brainiac in Smallville) is a great Lex Luthor, as he too mourns the loss of his greatest foe. Another cool thing about this release is that it went for a PG-13 rating- so you'll hear a few minor cuss words, and they aren't afraid to show blood. The two main battle sequences are epic, especially the last one- which I won't spoil. It's a tremendous accomplishment, and that is why it is the DVD of the year.

What to Look For in 2008

Superman has successfully defended his "Best DVD Release" title. If you remember last year, the Superman Ultimate Collection, a collection of the six Superman movies, along with a crapload of special features (which I still pop in and watch, I haven't even finished it yet!) won, and this year, Doomsday won it all. Can the Man of Tomorrow win it again in 2008? Well, if he does, he'll have to share it. Barring any as-of-yet unannounced projects, the best DVD release of 2008 looks to be Justice League: The New Frontier, an animated film based on Darwyn Cooke's classic graphic novel of the same name. So far, everything I have seen has looked absolutely fantastic, especially the artwork and animation. This movie is even getting a Blu-ray and HD-DVD release, something that was hinted for Doomsday but never came to pass.

Also planned for this year is a DC animated film based on the graphic novel Teen Titans: The Judas Contract. While I'd be lying if I said that I was a huge Teen Titans fan, the powers that be have said that as long as people buy these releases, they will continue making more them, and personally, I would love to fuel the fire that could give us films based on Kingdom Come and The Dark Knight Returns.

Speaking of the Dark Knight, he is also getting a DVD release this year, but not in the same vein as the first two I mentioned. A month before the new feature film arrives, an animated prequel to The Dark Knight, titled Batman: Gotham Knight will see a release, and will follow Batman through six original stories. Will we see the Scarecrow make an appearance? I'd say so- but we'll learn more on February 26th, as a sneak peak of this DVD will be on the Justice League: New Frontier disc.

Keep checking back this week for more of my yearly awards!!

2008-01-01T03:26:00.000-08:00

First Post of 2008

Well, it is almost time for me to post my yearly awards. This is one of my favorite things to do, and is actually a big reason why I brought this blog back when I did. However, like usual, there will be some games left out because I simply haven't played them yet. So, sorry Call of Duty 4 and Phantom Hourglass- I'll give you your due when I do play you.

I still haven't bought Phantom Hourglass, and I have never beaten A Link to the Past. I'm ashamed to call myself a big Zelda fan.

Now, I usually hate New Year's Resolutions, but this year, I thought it'd be great to post some of mine for the upcoming year. Here goes nothing:

1. Beat some of the nagging games I've been playing for years. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Skies of Arcadia Legends. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Super Mario Bros. 3. Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time. All of these titles are great games (some greater than others) that I have yet to complete. I hope to get on the ball with these this year (maybe even this month!).

2. Get all 120 stars in Super Mario Galaxy. Getting all the stars in Super Mario 64 took a lot of effort, and it seems that the same is true for the latest Wii Mario game. Hopefully I can get the job done this year!

3. To keep this blog updated throughout the year. I sometimes go on long stretches of not updating this blog. I plan on rectifying that this year.

4. To not buy a lot of stuff I won't use. I buy a lot of stuff that I either don't use, or don't use for quite a long time after said purchase. We'll see if I can keep my itchy trigger finger in wraps for 2008.

Well, I'm sure I'll be able to think of some others as soon as I post this, but we'll leave these up as my official ones. Stay tuned for my 2007 awards, and have a great first day of 2008!

2007-12-25T04:26:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas time, and I promised a top five list of my favorite Christmas TV specials/episodes. Without further ado...

5. Smallville, "Lexmas", 2005

Lex Luthor is shot and nearly killed, and his deceased Mother goes all "Spirit of Christmas Future" on him- showing him a pleasant future where Lana Lang is his wife, and him and Clark are friends rather than bitter enemies. However, something happens in that future that prevents Lex from going down the light path. Meanwhile, Chloe enlists the help of super speed demon Clark Kent to deliver presents to unfortunate little boys and girls. Clark meets up with a disgruntled Santa that contemplates suicide...but could it be the real Mr. Claus? This episode is by far my favorite of the series, and earns a spot on this exclusive list.

4. A Claymation Christmas Celebration, 1987

In 1987, Will Vinton Studios went through the painstaking task of making a TV special using clay. What we got was a classic show, hosted by two dinosaurs, and featuring the California Raisins singing Rudolph. Also, who could forget the penguins being festered by the skating walruses, and the camels butting in on the three kings?

3. Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, 1964

This is the longest running TV special (by one year), and with good reason. Also done with clay, this heartwarming tale of tolerance gave us the elf that wanted to be a dentist, the abominable snowman, that other snowman that sang "silver and gold" and looked like my old Science teacher, and, of course, Yukon Cornelius. Oh yeah, there was also a certain reindeer that had a funny nose that Santa ended up needing!

2. A Charlie Brown Christmas, 1965

Charlie Brown is fed up with the commercialization of the Christmas holiday. Even his dog, Snoopy, is too busy lighting up his doghouse to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. Who would have thought that good old Linus would have come through with the nativity story at the end? Along the way, Pig-Pen becomes the innkeeper, Snoopy does his dance for the first time, and Schroeder plays the best version of "Jingle Bells" ever.

1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 1966

Wow. That's three TV specials in a row that are considered timeless classics- all releasing within a year of each other! This one, and in my opinion, the best, is based on the Dr. Seuss book of the same name in which an exiled creature named The Grinch tries to stop the Christmas season from coming. He takes all the presents of the Who's- even the roast beast- but the season comes anyway. This is a classic story of redemption via the Christmas spirit, and that's why it's been turned into a major motion picture, and most recently a broadway show. However, those versions don't hold a candle to the original TV special, and that's why it's #1 on my list.

Well, another Christmas season has come and gone. Merry Christmas- until next time!!

2007-12-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

Not the Top Five List you're looking for...

I'm getting rid of the Sunday top five list. At least, I'm not going to make it weekly anymore. I think we will all survive if I just make it a bi-weekly thing. However, to make up for this lack of a list, I have come up with a new one- my top five holiday films. Please note that I said "films" and not TV specials, as I plan on doing a top five for those as well. Well, here goes nothing!

5. Elf, 2003

This is a Will Ferrell Christmas comedy about a human who thinks he's an elf- who then goes to New York City to find his real father. While Will Ferrell would go on to make Anchorman a year later (easily one of the funniest movies ever), he really hit the nail on the head with this heartfelt holiday film that everyone can enjoy.

4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, 2000

While the original cartoon was certainly better, this 2000 Jim Carrey remake is still notable. the story had to be lengthened to take up two hours, which helped flesh the plot out, and the special effects were superb. Plus, who can forget the "you're an idiot" scene?

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993

Does this count as a Christmas movie? While it stars the residents of Halloweentown, this film is all about said characters trying their hardest to put on a Christmas celebration, after their Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington, stumbles into Christmas Town and is amazed at what he sees. Featuring the best original music for a holiday film not starring a big green guy, and sweet looking stop motion animation, The Nightmare Before Christmas deserves a spot on any top five Christmas list...or Halloween list..the debate continues.

2. Christmas Vacation, 1989

The best of the Vacation movies, and unquestionably the most popular. Clark Griswold, played famously by Chevy Chase, wants to put on the perfect Christmas for the whole family- and he also wants his Christmas bonus so he can build a pool. Hilarity ensues, as he meets busty jewelry clerks, tries to put lights on his house, and has to deal with a wild squirrel. Oh, and he takes a supersonic sleigh ride.

1. A Christmas Story, 1983

All little Ralphie wants is a Red Ryder BB gun. That's it. However, he has been told by his mother that, with said gift, he would "shoot his eye out". So begins his quest to convince his parents, teacher, Santa, anyone, that he should have one. Bullies get beaten up, tongues get stuck to poles, and the Chinese turkey is ready to eat. A classic, especially since Ted Turner's various TV channels have been playing it nonstop on Christmas for years.

There ya have it. While this list would have been different had I included the various TV specials over the years, I feel that there are enough of those to warrant their own list. So, until then, Merry Christmas!

2007-12-09T12:36:00.000-08:00

The Sunday List is Back on Sunday, baby.

You know the drill. It's Sunday, it's the Top Five. Enjoy!

5. Pokemon Snap, Wii, Tomorrow!!!

If you read my post yesterday, you already know how I feel about this upcoming addition to the Wii Virtual Console. The Wii points have already been purchased- can't wait til tomorrow...

4. Endless Ocean, Wii, January

This Pokemon Snapish game moves up one spot from last week. It's such a beautiful looking game, and it will only be $30...

3. Devil May Cry 4, Xbox 360/PS3, February

The recent images and videos that IGN showed off this week almost knocked this game up a notch, but, in the end, DMC4 stayed idle. This game does look gorgeous, though, and we all know that the gameplay will be solid...and if it isn't, we'll know before the game releases, as Capcom announced a demo for both versions of this in early 2008...

2. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wii, February

Since I brought this list back, Smash has had the top spot. However, it falls to #2 this week. The daily updates were pretty solid this week, though, as it looks like the online mode is copying the game finder from Tetris DS and Mario Kart DS....

1. No More Heroes, Wii, February

This game is now out in Japan, and IGN's big preview got me all excited. The voiceovers sound great, the sense of style in the visuals is slick, and they say the combat is really great. That's all I needed to hear. Smash will most likely take the #1 spot back within the next few weeks, but for now, NMH is the game I am looking forward to the most...

What Got Cut?

New this week is the category called, "What Got Cut?". Basically, if you no longer see a game on this list, I'll explain why. This week's victim is Nights Journey of Dreams for the Wii.

So, why was this game cut? Simply because I'm probably not going to be able to play its predecessor before it releases, and well, I can't play sequels before their originals. One day, I'll either track down the Saturn version, or wait to see if the PS2 one comes to the USA. But, for now, Nights is off the list.

2007-12-08T11:36:00.000-08:00

Pokemon Snap is Back. Bytch.

Those who know me know that I love me some Pokemon Snap. It's easily my favorite game starring the little critters. Basically, the whole deal plays much like a lightgun game. Your character is on rails, and must take pics of the various Pocket Monster roaming around the level. Some are very easy to get, while others take some coercing.

Why am I bringing this up now? Because this Monday, Snap will be released on the Wii Virtual Console. How awesome is that? Hopefully, this game gets downloaded by enough people that Nintendo decides to do a proper Wii sequel. For now, though, we have to stick with the original.

The cool thing about this version is that it will allow players to send their friends pics that they take in the game. So, if you want a pic of Mew when I get him, let me know!!

One cool thing to note- Pokemon Snap helped inspire a very real looking hoax called Resident Evil Snap, in which players took control of a rookie STARS member tasked with the mission to take pics of Raccoon City's zombie infestation. It was just an April Fool's joke done by the now defunct Gaming Intelligence Agency. However, perhaps somebody at Tecmo took notice- as their Fatal Frame series, which had the gamer take pics of ghosties, debuted years later. The fourth title in the series will even come to the Wii...

2007-12-03T11:14:00.000-08:00

The Sunday List. On Monday.

I was busy kicking butt at UPS all day yesterday, so I didn't have time to do the weekly list. However, I will right that wrong right now. Here goes nothing...

5. Endless Ocean, Wii, January 21st

Bumping the Halo 3 Map Pack off the list is this interesting game coming out next month for the Wii. Basically, you swim around the ocean and interact with the sea life. It looks like a nice relaxing game, which is a far cry from what I usually play.

4. NiGHTS Journey of Dreams, Wii, December 18??

Some sites say this title has been delayed, and others say it is still priming for its release in a few weeks. While I won't play it until I find out the fate of the PS2 port of the original (whether it will come to the USA hasn't been revealed), this should be another great game for the Wii this holiday season. Assuming it doesn't get pushed to February, of course.

3. Devil May Cry 4, Xbox 360/PS3, February 5th

Would the Ninja Gaiden and God of War franchises be where they are today without the success of the original game in this series? Perhaps not. That's why a new installment of Devil May Cry is always newsworthy.

2. No More Heroes, Wii, February 5th

The Japanese release of this game is nearly upon us, and IGN has posted some new media. Some really cool videos made the cut, especially a pre-boss cutscene that included a really big sword. If it wasn't for Smash's daily updates, No More Heroes would be #1.

1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wii, February 10th

This week's list of daily Smash Bros. updates (at the official site) was, for the most part, uneventful. The biggest news we got was that they were bringing back some of the stages from previous games (not that that means much to me), and the Friends List system seems to be decent enough for Nintendo's fossilized online interface. Not complaining, though, as not every update can be as electrifying as the Sonic one...

2007-11-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

All atheists- take heed. Your pessimistic views of the world have now been debunked, as proof of a higher power is at hand.

Ok, that might be taking it a bit far, but Sierra's announcement of The Ghostbusters Video Game being official is the best news I've heard...maybe ever. If you haven't heard, the game will come out to all systems next Fall, with the four Ghostbusters themselves providing the voiceovers. Dan Akroyd is basically calling this the third film of the legendary series. A film that's been long overdue.

Ghostbusters, like Thundercats and Power Rangers, was a major part of my childhood, what with the two movies and the animated series. While the films were scary when I was a youngster, I eventually grew up and started understanding some of the funnier lines in the story (especially the one in the first film about the male member), which reinvented the experience for me.

With all the film franchises that have been revived over the years (Star Wars, Terminator, Rocky, Rambo, Indiana Jones, Die Hard, etc.), I (and millions like me) always dreamed of a third installment. When the videos of a very rough (but cool) game surfaced earlier this year, I was praying that it would become a reality someday. That day is today. Well, it was a week or so ago, but you know what I mean. Seriously, forget about Metal Gear Solid 4. This is my most anticipated game of 2008.

Ray, next time someone asks you if you're a God, you say "Yes!!".

What about the packs? What about the packs?

Of course, if the game didn't look stellar, my excitement would have been slightly waned, but luckily we don't have to worry about that. And, from the sounds of Game Informer's preview, the game should play pretty well. If nothing else, though, we know one thing- the story (penned by Harold Ramis (Egon) and Dan Akroyd (Ray)) will be great.

It's the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man...

He slimed me..

Not only will the 360 and PS3 get this game, but a more cartoony version will also be made for the Wii and PS2. The character models of this version look pretty snazzy, definitely a different look from the visuals on the more powerful systems. The Wii and PS2 one will also have a huge emphasis on multiplayer, with Ghostbusters vs. ghosts matches and even four player co-op. Yeah. Four player co-op Ghostbusters. I'm buying this for the 360 and the Wii.

A few years ago, Square Enix could have made an announcement as cool as this. If they would have announced a new RPG sequel to Final Fantasy VII, this is exactly how I would have felt. Now, the movie sequel, Advent Children, was still decent (although the story was weird) but what fans really wanted was a real successor. However, with The Ghostbusters Video Game, we have an instance where a universe is changing media in reverse- from movies to games- but this time, it looks like it's for the better.

Well, that's enough gushing for now. Stay tuned for my next post..although there's no way I could top this....I LOVE THIS TOOOOOOWWWWWWWNNNNNNNN!!!

2007-11-25T09:46:00.000-08:00

The Sunday List is back. This time for good.

Now that my blog is back, I figured this would be a good way to get back in the groove. For those who don't know, every Sunday I pick the top five games that I am looking forward to. The only big rule is that the target release date must be within three months (cut from the previous rule of six months). Well, without further ado...

5. Halo 3 Heroic Map Pack, Xbox 360, December 11th

Ok, I sort of cheated. While this isn't an actual game, it will make one of my favorite games of 2007 better. New maps are always a cool thing in the Halo games, and this new package looks like no exception.

The Standoff map is good for Slayer? Sounds good to me...

4. Devil May Cry 4, Xbox 360/PS3, February 5th

While I don't have much experience with this series, having only beaten the first one, I still can't deny how cool DMC4 looks.

3. NiGHTS Journey of Dreams, Wii, February

I've still yet to track down the original game, but the new installment for my favorite system looks spectacular. The art design alone makes me want to play it through.

I don't know what the heck is going on in this pic, but it looks cool.

2. No More Heroes, Wii, February 5th

Some games are just weird, and this is one of them. I love the visual look of the game, and who knows what they will think of with the Wiimote.

1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wii, February 10th

This is another entry in a series that I can't say I have a bunch of experience with, but anything that has Mario, Sonic, Link, Samus, and freaking Solid Snake in it has to be good.

Yeah, that's Dark Link. Yeah, this game's awesome.

2007-11-24T10:13:00.000-08:00

Enough waiting, my blog time is now.

This is just a quick post to say that my blog will be returning. I was going to wait until the site I will write for, Gamer Haze, is up, but due to coding issues and whatnot, the site has been delayed. However, my blog will live on, so check back for more posts!!

2007-09-29T10:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I know I haven't updated lately, more or less because I've been on the down and out. But anyway, I'm just posting here today to tell the three people who read this that this blog will be back- but prob not on this site. See, I have joined a new video game website (Gamer Haze), and as soon as that goes live, I'll be able to post a blog there. However, I don't see why I can't post everything on both sites, so be sure to stay tuned.

Well, that was a lot of rambling, but it got the job done. Until next time!

2007-08-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

I knew it would happen. And it did.

Yesterday, when I was making that big list of games I have to beat in order to play their series' next installment, I knew I would forget at least one, and I did. So- here it is.

Super Mario Sunshine

While not quite up to the standards set by the superb Super Mario 64, Sunshine was still a pretty awesome game. Yes, the FLUDD water gun thing was a little gimmicky, but it still had some cool options. Plus, the levels where the Dark Mario guy takes your FLUDD are worth Sunshine's price of admission by themselves. These levels are filled with classic hardcore platforming, and even have the original Super Mario Bros. music playing! I am pretty close to the end, so yeah, I must beat this game before the also awesome looking Super Mario Galaxy arrives...

See ya next time- or at least until I recall another title I have to complete...

2007-08-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

Metroid Prime 2.5: Redemption

If you are like me, you can't play a game's sequel without first playing the one that came before it. Yes, there are some exceptions, but for the most part, I can't do it. For example, I never played Deus Ex: Invisible War because I never completed the first one. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is another game that almost met that same fate, but I was able to avert that today. I'm glad to announce that I finally beat Metroid Prime 2: Echoes!!! Normally, I wouldn't be so excited about simply completing a game, but this game has been a thorn in my side since it came out. I am now officially ready for Corruption. Of course, there are three other titles in this franchise that I have yet to complete, but those can wait for another day...

Yeah, watch your back, Dark Samus. I'll be kicking your butt next week...

This got me thinking about the other games that I must someday beat before their sequel/next installment is released...

NIGHTS into Dreams

I'm one of the few people I know who actually owns a Sega Saturn, so I was probably going to get this game eventually, but now that the Wii sequel has been announced (and looks great), this title is a must own.

Tomb Raider Legend

While a sequel to Legend hasn't been announced yet, the remake of the original Tomb Raider, Tomb Raider Anniversary, uses an enhanced engine, and is coming soon to the Wii. While the various puzzles look cool, any game that uses the Wii pointer to aim with is great in my book.

Call of Duty 3

No, Call of Duty 4's story will not pick off where CoD3 left off, but I never like to leave a game's predecessor unfinished. Developer Infinity Ward is back for the fourth installment, and so far, it looks pretty awesome. I'm always in the market for another great shooter, and Call of Duty's foray into modern warfare should be great.

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

I only like to have one Castlevania game going at a time, and the PSP remake of for the PSP looks like a dream come true. Plus, a handheld version of Symphony of the Night can't be a bad thing.

Tales of Symphonia

I always thought that this GCN title looked cool, but never got around to playing it. Now that the Wii game has been announced, it's a must-play. I'm always in the market for more Wii games...

Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops

Now comes the embarrassing part of this post. Yes, the Metal Gear series is definitely one of my top three favorite franchises, but I have yet to beat its latest installment, and must do so before Metal Gear Solid 4 is released. However, I have decided what I will do- the week before MGS4 comes out, I shall put all of the Solid games on Very Easy and just blow through them. MGS games are notorious for being insanely easy on that mode, so it shouldn't be too rough...

Well, looks like I have some work to do. Til next time!

2007-08-19T16:07:00.000-07:00

My Sunday list is now back.

Earlier this year, I had a weekly list of the five upcoming games that I was looking forward to the most. Today, I bring back that list. The rules are simple- it has to come out sometime in the next three months. This is to keep the list fresh, instead of having Resident Evil 5 and Metal Gear Solid 4 on top of the list for two years. And yes, these lists will be in order of preference. Well, without further ado...

5. Sonic Rush Adventure- DS

The original Sonic Rush was one of, if not the, best Sonic games out there (check out my review for it here), and I expect SRA to be just as good. Here's hoping Tails doesn't annoy us during boss fights this time around.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass- DS

When Nintendo first unveiled The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, many gamers wondered if we had seen the last of the Link that was featured in Wind Waker. He embarked on a big quest at the end of that game- to find the land that will become the new Hyrule. Will Link and Tetra complete their quest in PH? Japanese people already know, and we will early October.

3. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption- Wii

Another big Nintendo franchise on the list- this time for my fav system, the Wii. Corruption should do what Twilight Princess did- take an existing game engine, and make it thirty times cooler with the Wii controls. You've read how I feel about the Wii pointer, and this game is said to utilize it very well. Now all I have to do is beat MP2 before this one comes out...

2. MySims- Wii

I buy a lot of games, so I am constantly playing one, beating it (or not...), and basically never playing it again. However, every now and then, a game comes along that makes me want to keep playing it. For that reason, titles like Halo 2, Metal Gear Solid, Animal Crossing: Wild World, and any Resident Evil game will always be among my favorites. MySims has the look of just that kind of game. But really, it's biggest job is to keep me entertained until the inevitable Wii Animal Crossing...

1. Halo 3- 360

It's hard to believe, but Halo 3 is almost upon us. How will the Human-Covenant war end? How much arse will Sergeant Johnson kick? Will Master Chief die? How much productivity will this country lose on Sept. 25th?

There ya go. I should point out, though, that this list is not meant to diss any games that don't appear on it. Actually, there are at least three titles that are not on this list I will be buying, just not right away- those being Bioshock (360), Tiger Woods 08 (Wii), and Eternal Sonata (360). Anyway, sorry for the lack of posts all this month- but I hope to be back in full force after this. Until next time...

2007-07-30T03:29:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, eighteen years of waiting was finally over. The Simpsons Movie was thrust upon us, and holy crap did it rock. While the whole movie was littered with good jokes throughout, there were two scenes in particular that were hilariously funny. I won't ruin any of the movie for peeps who haven't seen the film yet, but all I gotta say is this- if you like the show (and really, who doesn't?), you'll love this movie!

Gotta love Spider-Pig...

Funny how, after all these years, The Simpsons is still going strong. Yes, 27 million people may no longer watch them every week (that number is down to eight million), but with this movie out (which will undoubtedly do well), the series lasting at least until 2009, and the sweet looking video game coming to all systems later this year, this franchise could last well into the next decade. That is, if the creators of it want it to...

Hit and Run was fun, but these characters look bad as 3D models. This game looks good, and actually looks like the show.

Until next time! I should have a post about the San Diego Comic-Con soon. Maybe even later today!

2007-07-21T14:49:00.000-07:00

Robots in Disguise.

I saw Transformers on Friday. I thought it was pretty good, although whether it was faithful to the source material is beyond me, having been only a minor fan of them when I was younger. Optimus Prime's voice was pretty awesome- it seriously may be my second favorite voice dubbing in a movie ever (James Earl Jones being the first). I was also impressed with how realistic the robots looked when they were next to real life stuff, like buildings and helicopters and whatnot. Star Wars may look impressive, but those are still fictional vehicles/etc in a fantastical world. Transformers took place here on Earth, where we don't see huge robots everyday. Perhaps this will pave the way for more robot movies. Zone of the Enders, maybe??

I was surprised that this film turned out as good as it did. It had three things going wrong for it before I even stepped into the theater- 1., It was a Michael Bay film, 2., It could have fallen into the "just for kids" black hole, and three, I really thought the previews for it sucked. However, the end product was pretty cool. Looking forward to the inevitable sequel!

2007-07-18T15:36:00.000-07:00

Today, I wrote my first review for MyGamer in months. It was on Scarface: The World is Yours for the Wii. Peep it here.

I didn't even tell them that I was doing this review; I just did it out of nowhere and posted it. I bet they'll be surprised...

2007-07-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

If the Year Ended Today....

We're now more than halfway through 2008. E3 has arrived, and with it, previews of the future of video games. However, in today's post, I want to look to the past. If the year ended today, which movies/games would take home my coveted year-end awards?

Best Game

Scarface: The World is Yours, Wii

I bought this game because I wanted to play some more Wii games, and IGN had given it a good review. I wasn't disappointed. While the motion control (for taunting and punching) isn't the best thing ever, the Wii's pointer makes all the difference, and the game's soundtrack is legendary. Also, Andre Sogliuzzio, who voiced the classic title character, has to go down as one of the best voice actors ever. If I didn't know better, I would have thought that Al Pacino himself reprised his role. Do I expect this to win my Game of the Year award at the end of 2008? I doubt it, but for the first half of '07, the world is Scarface's.

Say hello to the best game of the year so far...

Runner-up

Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition

Have you played this game? If you answered yes, and you were talking about the PS2, GCN, or PC versions, you answered wrong. You truly haven't played RE4 unless you have played the latest (and last?) iteration on the Nintendo Wii. The motion controls help for people like me who have never been able to mash buttons fast, and the Wii pointer adds its usual perfection.

Sorry, Emperor Palpatine. I'll never turn to the darkside.

Best Movie

Live Free or Die Hard

The Die Hard series is back...with a vengeance!! Has that joke been used before? Either way, Live Free or Die Hard was to the Die Hard series what Rocky Balboa was to its series- a new entry into a franchise that seemed to be dead, with a weird name and an aging hero. The only thing is- this movie was a lot better than Rocky Balboa (not a horrible film, though). Bruce Willis has even said that a fifth entry is not out of the question, so there may yet be some fuel in this tank.

Runner-up

28 Weeks Later

The first entry in this zombie (sorta) series was decent. Actually, I thought it was very good until the heroes met up with the army guys. After that, the film seemed to take a turn for the worse. However, this sequel improved upon the first a great deal, and even makes you wince a little bit- not at the violence (which can be brutal), but at the decisions that had to be made to prevent the outbreak from spreading (I can't say too much; don't want to give anything away). If you enjoyed the first one, there's really no reason to not see this one when it gets released on DVD.

While there are definitely other movies and games I have liked this year, nothing has been better than these gems. If I had to make a prediction of what game would take home my game of the year trophy, I would pick Halo 3. As for best movie, I actually expect Live Free or Die Hard to retain its title- but we'll see what The Simpsons Movie, Resident Evil Extinction, and Rush Hour 3 have in store for us. RE3 would definitely have a better chance of being the best if my lady Sienna Guillory was going to be in it- but having Ashanti in there certainly helps.

First, she doesn't fight Nemesis, and now she's not going to be in RE3? There goes my hopes of having Jill and Claire in the same movie....

Alas, that is it for today. I should have an E3 wrap-up post soon, so keep checking back!!

2007-07-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

E3 2007

Well, another E3 is upon us. I'm not going to get into minute details. Rather, I'll just point out the things that I thought were cool.

PSP Redesign

We all knew it was coming. The coolest thing, though, is that there's going to be a special edition Darth Vader one coming out this October, and packaged with the new Battlefront. I already have the OG PSP, but I may have to upgrade...now all I need is Crisis Core to come out.

Resident Evil 5

Chris is back, we're in Africa, and the game looks amazing. Easily my #1 game this E3; and we only got a minute's worth of footage. Can't wait til the full trailer is released on July 26th!!

It should be illegal for a game to look this good...

Halo 3

The best exclusive title I saw at the show. While I wish the trailer would have gone into the story more, the Campaign footage we saw looked incredible. IGN's walkthrough of the first level also sounded sweet. Co-op mode might let one guy play as the Chief, and one as the Arbiter? The only thing that would be better than that is MGS4 letting two players play as Snake and Raiden.

I'm SnakeWizzler. I'm good with the pistol (I wish I could have found a pic with a pistol...).

Metal Gear Solid 4

First things first, I was really glad to hear this trailer with English voices. That always makes the experience better. As for the actual video, I thought it was pretty decent. It's good to see some of the old characters back, especially Vamp. Can't wait to see how his fight with Raiden turns out...

Killzone 2

Personally, I wish they would have showed more of the gameplay, rather than showing the good guys riding on some air...thing. Even the MGS fan in me can't deny, though- this was the best PS3-only title at the show.

Halo Wars

Yes, the other Halo game was there as well, and looked spectacular.

Trust me, there are new screens for this game. I just can't find them. Check them out at xbox.com or something.

Assassin's Creed

This is the Gears of War of 2008. Once again, we have an original IP that I know will be good, but wasn't really geared up for it until it was almost upon us. The walkthrough that Ubisoft showed off was stunning. The fact that everything you see is interactive is the most impressive thing.

Super Mario Galaxy

All Nintendo had to do was show a one minute gameplay video of this game, and I was stoked. The bee suit looks pretty classic.

If this was anyone else, I might start to ask questions. But this is Mario, so it's cool.

The Wii Zapper/Wheel

Two series that are getting awesome looking Wii titles (Mario Kart, Resident Evil), are also getting cool accessories to play them with. The Wii Zapper looks to do the impossible by actually improving the already awesome Wii pointer, and the Wii Wheel seems to be the perfect way to enjoy the best racing series out there. Not only that, Mario Kart Wii will be online, just like its DS cousin. Stellar.

Mass Effect

Mass Effect has looked so good for so long, that I almost get bored when new media is released. What's the point of looking forward to a new trailer when you already know it will look incredible? It's not a sequel, so that takes away some of the suspense (for example, I get excited about a new MGS trailer because I want to see where the story will take us). This game has been high on my gush list for a long time, and it had another strong showing at E3.

Call of Duty 4

Apparently, Infinity Ward has been working on this game since Call of Duty 2, and it shows. Should be another good entry into an already good series.

While there were certainly other games that looked awesome, these are the ones that I thought were the best of the best. I'm disappointed that some games didn't show up (Final Fantasy 13, Animal Crossing Wii), but that's probably because most Japanese devs are looking to the TGS to show off their projects.

Anyway, I probably forgot something, so when I remember it, I'll post again. Til next time!

2007-07-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Wii Fly High. No Lie. You Know This.

Excuse the Wii-related pun. I couldn't resist.

Last November, as I sat at my local Wal*Mart waiting for the imminent release of Nintendo's new system, the Wii, I knew one thing- once I was done with Twilight Princess, the thing was going to sit there for a long time. Yes, I would play the occasional GameCube game on it (mainly Resident Evil titles), but there weren't too many of the white boxed games coming out that I really wanted. Sonic and the Secret Rings was a decent enough way for the blue guy to make his debut on the system- definitely better than the PS3/360 game, and a step in the right direction.

What? No fishing levels? Yeah, let's just try to forgot those ever happened...

However, in the last few months, the Wii has really started to gain some steam. You still can't find them in a lot of places (Nintendo's big store in NYC constantly sees lines of a few hundred), and with more games like this, you may not for a long time. Here are my favorite games that I have played on the Wii since April:

Super Paper Mario- Who says 2D console games are dead? The Viewtiful Joe series gave us two great games, and now Nintendo gives us SPM. Okay, three games isn't exactly a reinvention of the genre, but it's a start. Anyway, SPM takes the humor of the past Mario RPG's, mixes it with classic 2D Mario gameplay, and adds a few cool touches like the 2 and a half D camera angle, and the ability to play as more than one character. Since this was originally supposed to be a GameCube game, and ended up only coming out for the Wii, there isn't really too much Wii-specific stuff to do, but all of that is forgotten once the Goombas start getting squished. Everyone who owns a Wii really has no reason not to buy this game.

Although I like it, I've actually barely played this game (only for around five hours). Can't wait to get to this scene!

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07- Other than swinging a lightsaber, what is the first thing you thought of when Nintendo announced the Wii's motion sensing controller? Yeah, I said swinging a baseball bat too, but Tiger 07 takes another one of my favorite sports and makes it as interactive as you can get without actually picking up a club. Driving is awesome. Putting is actually possible. This is the perfect golf game- at least until Tiger 08 comes out next month.

I am Tiger Woods. On the Wii, that is.

Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition- One of the best games ever gets a Wiimake. Instead of relying on a clumsy joystick, I can use the Wii pointer. Instead of mashing the buttons really quick, I can just shake the Wiimote. I've now bought this game four times, but after experiencing the Wii's updated controls, I may never play any of the other versions again...

Screw motion control. Well, it's actually pretty cool, but the Wii's real ace-in-the-hole is that nifty pointer.

Scarface: The World is Yours- Well, here it is. While RE4Wii uses the pointer very well, Scarface uses it to absolute perfection. Perfect camera control? Yeah, once you get used to it. Being able to run sideways and cap off dead-on headshots? Oh yeah. Being able to see what would happen had Tony lived through the movie? Heck yeah. The best licensed soundtrack in video game history? See ya later, Gran Turismo 3. Scarface: The World is Yours has taken up a ton of my time lately. I haven't even beaten RE4Wii because of it. Seriously, not only is it currently the game I am playing most, it may actually be my favorite game for the system thus far.

You wanna play rough? OKAY!

Well, there they are. Those are the four Wii games that have me more or less living on the system lately. One thing to take notice is the fact that three of these games are actually available on competing systems, but are made better by the motion control and the Wii pointer (especially the pointer for the last two). It seems that Nintendo has done the impossible- it has made me want to buy multiplatform titles for their system. I'm even willing to give up Xbox Live play and Achievements to buy them on the Wii, and that's saying a lot. Last generation, I bought a total of two multiplatform games for the GameCube- NBA Street 3, for the Nintendo characters, and Soul Calibur 2, for Link. For the Wii, I have already bought three (well, two, as I have every version of RE4), and I plan on buying at least a few more this year (Tiger 08, Madden 08, Tomb Raider Anniversary, The Godfather). However, the future of the Wii is another topic, for another day.

What started out as Nintendo trying to "find their own niche" has turned into a phenomenon. Everyone seems to want one, as evidenced by the supply shortages (which some experts say could last until 2008). And, whenever a system gets popular, game developers will take notice. The Wii already has a bright future, what with Resident Evil Umbrella Chronicles, Super Mario Galaxy, and Soul Calibur Legends (and more) on the way, but that may only be the tip of the iceberg. Play-what? What's a 360? For now, the only thing I play at any length is the Wii....

2007-06-04T19:46:00.001-07:00

Tonight, our church softball played the only team that can touch us, and we won, 12-9. Now, we have eight straight games where we shouldn't even come close to losing. But, we'll see how it all plays out. Looking forward to another great season!