I just found this online and decided to share the fun. Enjoy.
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Posts that GamerSoC commented in.
The *SoCs’ “Blocked Tweets”
Here are all the tweets that were “blocked” by SOPA and/or PIPA during yesterday’s protest.
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Metroid: Other M
At least one of the trailers I saw for this made me interested in the game. It was like a return to the classic gameplay of the old Metroid games, just in 3D and a few enhancements!
Boy was I disappointed.
I don’t mind them giving Samus a backstory, but when they turn her into a angst-ridden character desperate for the chance to redeem herself from some past mistake, I have problems. I also have problems when she goes into the game with all of her suit’s weapons, but won’t use them because the man she’s trying to seek redemption from (and also happens to be the commander of the mission) won’t let her.
Really? Samus has to seek permission to be the awesome bounty hunter she already is now? I’m sorry, that’s an EPIC FAIL on the developer’s side.
About the only thing this game has going for it is the graphics, which are pretty good (though I still like Prime 3′s better). Other than that, I really couldn’t stand this game.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
I have been a fan of the Metroid Prime series since I tried the first one years ago on the GameCube. As I posted then, it was my first real foray into first-person shooters and it was awesome. Then I took on the Ing in Metroid Prime 2: Echoes.
Metroid Prime 3: Corruption is an awesome final game, and I can say that without having seen the end of it. It builds on the first two and adds in some Wii capabilities that weren’t available in the previous games and it really immerses you in the world of Samus Aran.
At first I was a little annoyed at the “grab the handle, pull, twist, push” sequences to open doors, but I realized later that little things like that that really pull you into the game. It makes it more fully immersive than always shooting the door with the right weapon.
I was also unsure of the talking, but seeing as they kept Samus mute and let the other characters just tell her what to do, it kept up the feel of previous games. In the first two, your suit’s computer would tell you what to do and where to go, but with the addition of these other characters, it seems more realistic to have these other characters explain things and give objectives. It also fits better with the storyline.
The story is that the Federation is finally having some success fighting against Phazon enhanced Space Pirates. Then, Dark Samus (aka Metroid Prime) returns and launches an attack that threatens to stop the Federation cold. Samus, and a few other bounty hunters are dispatched to several different planets in response. Samus is the only one to return.
Anyway, it is an awesome game and definitely worth buying.
MPD Mondays: New Years Resolutions
[CynicSoC: Shouldn’t this be last week’s post?]
[TechSoC: Maybe… but SoC’s being slow about posting things. Notice how WebSoC Wednesday was posted on Thursday and TuneSoC Thursday was just posted a few minutes ago? 
]
[CynicSoC: Ah, true. So I guess we’re doomed to be a week behind now… ]
[TechSoC: But we’re also getting weekly posts. 
]
[CynicSoC: SoC will burn out by next Monday. *louder, for everyone to hear* I’m taking bets on how long SoC lasts on this new posting schedule. ]
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Wigfast, Dolven-view Provisioner in LOTRO, says…
I shall one day sell Goblin-heads as trophies.
Kmart’s 404 Page is Full of AWESOME!
Best 404 page in all of everdom!
[GamerSoC: Also, useful for all the young kids out there who don’t know the way to make an NES work.]
See it in action here.
Idea for Portal 3?
Seeing how Portal 2 was inspired by elements Tag: The Power of Paint, maybe Portal 3 will take some inspiration from this video.
Chrono Trigger
This is definitely one of the best RPGs ever made. Engaging plot, multiple endings, and the newer versions (PSX and DS) have a few more extras thrown in as well. Even though it was originally released for the SNES it’s just as much fun to play today as it was then.
I’ve started the game several times in the past, but I only just finished it a couple days ago on my DS. I can honestly say that I love every bit of this game. One of my favorite things is the way your actions in the side quests change things in the throughout the game’s timeline. For example, if you do the quest that helps Fiona plant the forest in the past, the desert in the present becomes a forest. If you defeat Ozzie in the past, the monster town is friendly in the present, instead of hostile.
I also like Magus’ character story alot. When you first meet him, he’s known as the Fiendlord, leading an army of monsters to destroy the humans. As the story progresses, you come to find out that he is a lot more complex. He wasn’t trying to destroy the world, but instead was trying to destroy Lavos, the final boss, who is also responsible for separating him from his family.
Anyway, it’s an awesome game and of you are a fan of RPGs, you should definitely make sure to play this sometime. Even if you’re not an RPG fan, try it and you may like it.
New Super Mario Bros.
When I first got this, I thought it was going to be basically, an upgraded version of the original Super Mario Bros. I’m glad I was wrong. There’s a lot more to it, and it is an amazing game. One of the best for the DS, that I’ve played.
Here’s the breakdown.
Characters
The characters are the same as always: Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser. Bowser Jr. is also one of the main characters, and actually seems to be the one with the master plan now.
Story
As with the old Mario games, this one has no story beyond rescuing the princess who’s been taken yet again by Bowser Jr.
Music & Sounds
The music is a good mix of remade classics (the underground theme and the castle theme from the original) and the sound effects are par for the course in a Mario game.
Gameplay & Controls
This is where the differences really come to play. In addition to the requisite Starman, Super Mushroom and Fire Flower, there is also a Mega Mushroom, that makes Mario the height of the screen and able to walk through just about anything, the Mini Mushroom, which shrinks Mario to half his small size granting access to small passages and giving him the ability to float further in air, and the Koopa Shell, which gives Mario a koopa shell and allows him to slide across of the floor just like a shell that has been kicked, only you can control how long he slides.
Also, in addition to the regular coins and red coins, there is also 3 star coins in each stage. These can be used to open new paths on the map and at the end of the game to buy some nostalgic backgrounds.
There is also a Mario vs. Luigi mode that I haven’t had the chance to play yet, and a bunch of Mini games as well.
Fun
I would say that this game is definitely one of the most fun Mario games I’ve ever played. It’s not quite as much fun as Super Mario RPG (and seeing as I’m an RPG fanatic nothing may ever be that much fun), but it’s close.
I knew there was a reason I never saw this in the used games sections in the game stores I visited. Now I know why: it’s an awesome game. Be sure to pick it up if you get the chance.
Half-Life
I know I’m way behind the times, but I’ve just now finished playing through Half-Life. Not Half-Life 2, but the original one. Yeah. Like I said, behind the times.
Anyway, it was a pretty fun game for a shooter. The story is better than most shooters. The graphics, while nothing special now are still decent for their age. It’s a well put together game and I may actually try to play through it again on a harder level.
I got this game a couple years ago in the Platinum Collection so I have all of the expansions for it as well. I’ll be posting about them as I finish them.
Portal
Ever since I saw a demo video for this game about a year and a half ago, I’ve been wanting to play it. I found the game that it was based on, Narbacular Drop, and beat it in short order. Now, for Father’s Day, Ashley bought the game Portal so I’ve finally been able to play through it!
Booyah!
The whole idea is that you use the portal gun to create two portals to solve the puzzles in the rooms they put you in. For example, you have to exit a door that is across a pit you can’t jump over. How do you get there? Open one portal on the wall next to you and another on a wall across the pit then walk through the portal. Viola! You win!
Of course, this also means you can do infinite loops. Open one portal in the ceiling and one in the floor, then jump in. You’ll fall forever. This was similar to the idea behind my favorite puzzle, the one with increasingly high platforms in a tall room with acid on the floor. You create a portal on the lowest one and in the floor of the pit next to the entrance area. Jump in the pit and you come flying out of the platform, high enough to open a portal on the next highest platform, so that when you fall back through the portal you just flew out of, you’ll shoot out the new one on the second platform.
That was just pure fun.
Portal is an awesome game and it’s one of the few games I actually liked to watch the credits. This is because of the freakin’ hilarious song that plays in the background. In fact, it was funny enough that VGCats did a flash animation based on it. Check it out.
It’s an extremely fun and challenging game and the gameplay is great for all ages. A few of the things that the computer says are kinda creepy and might not be okay for kids, but it was only creepy, not filthy or raunchy.
Super Mario Sunshine
Third time’s the charm. It took me three tries to beat this game. That means that I started to play, lost interest, came back and started a new game, lost interest again, then finally came back and finished the game.
The story revolves around a Mario look-a-like, called Shadow Mario, who is making a mess of Isle Delfino, site of Princess Peach’s and Mario’s vacation. In doing so, he’s also ruining Mario’s good name. With the help of the FLUDD, Mario is out to set the record straight.
The FLUDD was a good addition to the gameplay. Suddenly, those jumps you normally can’t make are reachable. Enemies can be stunned or pushed off thin walkways from a distance. But it is limited to the water in the tank. The additional nozzles make it really fun, though. Hover, rocket or turbo boost with them.
The reason that I lost interest is because it’s a bit more kiddie than previous Mario platformers. That and the many “Secret” levels. Secret levels are areas where you don’t get your FLUDD and have to run through increasingly difficult levels Mario 64 style. They are fun, but a few are a bit more difficult than they should be.
Anyway, it’s a decent game, but it’s by no means the best Mario game ever. IMO, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars still holds the golden Mario cap for that.
Lord of the Rings Online: New Account Woes – Day 11
So… in 11 days, I got how many responses to my account troubles with Lord of the Rings Online? None. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Nothing.
This is why I call their account support the worst I have ever experienced.
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Brain Age
As of right now, my brain age is 24. How do I know this? The DS game Brain Age told me.
Brain Age is a different kind of game. It doesn’t have a plot, or even increasingly hard puzzles to solve (except for sudoku). Instead, you are “training” your brain to think faster and clearer by playing each of the training games for a few minutes each day. Based on your speed and accuracy, it calculates how old your brain is. Brain Age also compares your file to other players’ files on the cartridge and gives you tips on how to train your brain without the game.
It really is an interesting game. I like it a lot. Ashley’s enjoying it too.
Lord of the Rings Online: New Account Woes
I have discovered the company with the single worst support department in all of everdom: Turbine!
I have tried to start a new account with them about a dozen times. Do I have a new account? No. Just a pair of error numbers.
I looked up the error numbers in their FAQ and did what it said. Any luck? No. Still can’t play the game.
I tried chatting with their tech support online chat. Were they any help? Nope. They just said it’s an account management department problem and that the account management department is unavailable today – even though the website says that they are supposed to be available today.
I’ve emailed them now and am waiting for a response. Unfortunately, I’ve read that it can take weeks for a response – and that was from before the holiday season.
I’m a bit cheesed off at this. I will keep you updated on the progress of this situation.
Preview: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. is one of the best games on the Nintendo 64. Super Smash Bros. Melee is one of the best games for the GameCube. It follows logic that Super Smash Bros. Brawl will be one of the best games for the Wii. It’s already shaping up that way.
The developer is doing an excellent job marketing this game by posting a new blog every weekday since May of this year until the game is released with new info about one aspect of the game. Game modes, characters, items, stages, music… it’s all on their site. There’s even a few details on little things like the trophies and stickers you can get in the game.
The new characters look sweet. I’ll post my views on each in detail sometime in the future, but for now, I’ll just say I’m glad that it’s no longer just Nintendo’s characters that are involved. A few of the new items look freakin’ sweet while others I’ll just have to try before I can comment. The stages are beautiful and much more interactive than SSBM’s stages. Not to mention that you can build your own stages in SSBB! Online Wi-Fi capabilities will be fun. I always hoped SSBM would get that. Oh well.
This just looks like it’s going to be a freakin’ awesome game! I can’t wait to play it!
24: The Game
I’m a big fan of 24. Sure it’s not realistic how much Jack Bauer does in one day, but it’s a TV show for crying out loud. It doesn’t have to be realistic. Anyway, the game is just shy of being as much fun to play as the show is to watch.
The biggest problem is the camera. The camera is clunky and unwieldy, but it only becomes a problem on occasion. At least it did for me. I do love how it will occasionally show a second view like the show would. IE: When you’re coming up on an important area, the main screen will shrink and move a little making room for a second picture that could be an enemy’s view of the door you’re about to go through or the reading on a heat detection grid or the conversation between a few terrorists that are hunting for you.
The story is pretty cool. It depicts what happened between season 2 and season 3: Jack and Chase meeting and becoming partners, Kim working at CTU, whatever happened to Max (the guy that Mandy called after attacking President Palmer at the end of Season 2).
One of the best things about this game is that all the actors from the show did their characters voices for the game. So Jack is voiced by Keifer, Kim by Elisha, etc. A whole freaking lot better than most TV/Movie games that use wannabe soundalikes.
I beat this game early on in 2007 and I’m going through to unlock all the unlockables now. Overall I think it’s a great game.
NOTE: Parents may not want their kids to play this since it does involve killing people and, less importantly, does include some bad language. It’s just like the show as far as content goes.
Final Fantasy XII
Well, I’ve been playing FFXII for a while now, thanks to GameznFlix. I love the game so far, but it is not my favorite Final Fantasy by far. Here’s why.
Battles. I like the new battle system, but I like the old style better. Bring back FFIX’s battle system please!
Viera. Most guys would not list them as a problem, but they seem to have never learned how to put on more than lingerie. As a guy who tries to avoid this, it’s annoying how much I have to look away from the screen while playing this game. Especially, where I’m at in the story.
Quickenings and Summonings. I liked Overdrives and Trances better than these. I mean, why must they become unusable after I’ve cast a single healing spell? Kinda kills my idea for bringing out the big guns for the end of the battle with the boss.
The game’s not all bad. Here’s a few things I like about it.
Ivalice. I loved this FF world from FFTA. It’s so diverse and full of potential.
Maps. I actually love how there is no more Overworld map and Area maps, but, instead, one big map that everything is connected to. If you want to go from Rabanastre to Jahara, you don’t suddenly grow to the size of the town and walk across the world in a few steps, but you actually have to fight your way through the Giza Plains and Ozmone Plain.
Licenses. I really loved the versatility of the spheres in FFX and this just takes it one step further! I love being able to make any of my characters into any class (IE: Black or White Mage, Fighter, etc.).
Right now I’ve just left the Viera village in the Forest by the Ozmone Plain and I’m looking for yet another of the long-eared race. Wish me luck!
Lux
Lux is a game for anyone who likes the board game Risk. Lux is a multi-platform, fully customizable, turn-based strategy game based on the classic board game. You can make your own maps, control how the card set values increase, set up a continent bonus increase per round, and even create your own AIs to play against. If all this weren’t enough, you can also download maps and AIs from the the interweb for even more fun (though to do this requires a full version of the game).
You can download the demo at www.sillysoft.net. The full version is only $25 and is very much worth it. I highly recommend this game. It gets a 4.5 out of 5.
NOTE (2011): This was originally part of a duo of posts I called the “Double Shot”. This was “Double Shot Part 2″.
