Malik
(10/12/09)
Just when you're down,
sometimes you can come right back up on top again. That's how
football seemed to go this weekend in Seattle.
Unfortunately, I missed
the majority of the game, but the Huskies were amazing. I mean they
came back, with under 3 minutes to play, from a 21-33 deficit and
won 36-33. Two touchdowns in under 30 seconds (around 2:55 and 2:38
left to play in the 4th quarter). It doesn't get much sweeter than
that. Once again, the Huskies won or came close. There have been no
complete destructions for the UW team this season, when they lose,
and the wins do have some major fighting involved. However, that
only makes the game so much sweeter to watch and read about when
they can battle an opponent to the final minutes and still come out
on top.
I think the only thing
worse than missing the majority of the game would be doing what my
father did. As a major UW fan, he just couldn't take anymore and
turned the game off in the later part of the fourth quarter. Then he
missed a major upset and one of UW's best come back victories of all
time.
Then there was the
Seahawks game on Sunday. Against a 2-2 team, the 1-3 'Hawks should
have fallen off like the trash they have been looking like. I mean
Hasselbeck came back, with his broken rib still a presence in the
game, and with an offensive line that should have been nothing short
of Hasselbeck's career ender. Instead, the O-line looked like they
realized what was going on; if they let Hasselbeck get hit, and if
it ended his season or career, they would have forever been hated in
Seattle. Each and every member of the line was looking at being an
eternal blight in the minds of Seahawk fans everywhere.
So, the O-line did the
only thing they should do; went out there and offered Hasselbeck the
protection he needed. He was protected from the blitz and even kept
safe when his broken frame went down the field a few times for a
short QB scramble rush. Hasselbeck survived and was able to throw
the ball as if he never missed a day and never had the agonizing
pain of a broken body.
When you add in the
defense playing like they wanted to give Hasselbeck a proper welcome
back present (a win), you have a great game. I mean the defense took
the ball away from Jacksonville every time they entered the red
zone, without allowing a single point. Of course, the first time the
Jaguars were in the redzone (their first drive of the game), the
Jags did give away any chance at scoring by going for it on 4th and
1 on the second yard line.
They could have, and
should have, scored three on that drive. I mean it would have tied
the game at that point at 3-3, but apparently greed came into play
and that may have been the perfect factor to destroy their morale
and leave them unable to play on the offense for the entire
remainder of the game. I mean the next seven possession for the Jags
were 3-and-out affairs that gave their punter too much time on the
field. Hell, they didn't even get a first down after 4 minutes left
in the first quarter until the second half. I think part of that was
the Jags just falling under too much pressure, but there was also
some amazing defense from the boys in blue. I mean the second half
saw a couple of other red zone entrances from the Jags, but those
quickly turned into turnovers, and shortly after they became
Seahawks touchdowns.
After starting the
season so poorly (not counting a shutout of the Rams...and honestly,
who can't beat the Rams this season), with a 1-3 record, this may be
the turning point for the 'Hawks. They now know what a great victory
tastes like (and 41-0 is a victory that probably leaves one hell of
an awesome after-taste). Assuming the O-line can keep Hasselbeck
safe and will continue what they did yesterday, this could be the
perfect turning point for the season. Few teams see the playoffs
after starting 1-3 (I think it's around only 19% of teams who start
that poor ever see the post-season), but I think the Seahawks, with
help from being in the abysmal NFC West, can do it.
Also, the game did have
one nice bit of stupid humor. I'm talking about
the intro of Owen Schmitt...in all his wondrous helmet smacking
glory. Nothing like a guy giving himself a nice head wound
before the game starts. The Seahawks won, and that's all that
matters...but sometimes I think I can see a hint of why there can be
so many problems. One of those hint being that the Seahawks seem to
disregard their own safety, and just ignore their own sanity, so
quickly.
Malik |
Malik
(10/13/09)
Not much to really say
today. I don't plan on buying any of the new Rock Band DLC. After
all, I'm picking up Brutal Legend today and that's enough new
entertainment and money spent. I need to keep enough things in
perspective, financially, and that means skipping some DLC from time
to time.
The one thing I
found funny, in regards to BL, is that Gamestop had a midnight
release for the game. This just seems out of place for a game that
is, at it's core, a Tim Schaffer game. I mean while some people love
what Double Fine brings to the gaming world, it's a small enough
following that the games are typically overshadowed. I mean we have
stuff like Uncharted 2, Halo: ODST, and the rest of the "crazy fall"
games. BL is just not a huge title.
Anyway, I've
outgrown the whole midnight release concept. I never was into it
much to begin with, but I've really grown past it. Even as a kid, or
a 16 year old with a license and a car, I always had shit to do. I
mean when it comes to a midnight release, it usually just means
waiting until I get home from work or school the next day before I
can even play the thing I waited in line for while I could have been
enjoying some precious sleep. I guess some people do have different
schedules, but I just can't see forsaking sleep and all that for a
game. I also can't see having a potentially crap-tastic day the next
day just because I wanted to get something early and have no time to
actually enjoy it.
Of course, my
perspective on this could also be unique due to having a Gamestop
(or two) about a ten minute walk from my work. This means that I can
use my lunch break to grab the game and still be home at my normal
time and enjoying the game when I would have been enjoying it
anyway; after work. All with the bonus of not losing sleep.
Anyway, I'll try
to post some thoughts on the game tomorrow. As a Tim Schaffer,
metal, and Jack Black fan, I am hyped. I just hope the hype isn't
too strong since hyped games tend to burn me the worst.
Malik |
Malik
(10/14/09)
Maybe I was too hyped
for Brutal Legend. I only say that because the flaws seem to be more
obvious to me than the good parts. Still, I should say that this is
a great game, in many ways. In fact, it was also great when it was
called Zelda or GTA. After all, that is what this game is, in
essence. It's an open world game with some side quests and some
major missions/dungeons.
First off, the
largest flaw I've seen, at least in terms of enjoyment related
flaws, is the lack of a mini-map. Like with GTA, you have an obvious
destination for all your missions. GTA used large arrows or markers
on your map, and BL uses some large pillars of light you can see
from miles away. However, BL stops there and only offers a large map
to use if you need to check your location. However, this large map
is only called upon by pausing the game, while GTA would allow use
of the mini-map in the corner to always keep you on the level about
where you're headed. You do get a small guide of sorts, in a throw
back to the worst GTA clone ever made; The Getaway. Your car, when
you are in it, will use rear turn signals to signify where you
should head, but this doesn't mean shit when your flying at full
speed and a signal quickly turns from a direction to both brake
lights being lit up (meaning you must turn around). If you're on
foot or an animal (you can ride animals you find wandering around),
then all you have is your pause activated map and a pillar of light
to go off of.
The other large
flaw I've found is that the game seems to like to go crazy on the
controls from time to time. For example, you can run by clicking in
the left stick. This is great for either evading trouble or for
pulling off the awesome power slide attack...but it's not so good
when the game will also sometimes activate the run movement, in
which you have far less control and fewer attack options, when it
just feels like it. This happens most when you use target lock on a
foe while walking. For some reason, the game will sometimes trigger
a run at your new target, and this can quickly lead to death if
you're in a tight situation. If you're on a certain spider boss, you
can find death rather quickly when this happens.
Also, another
throw back to The Getaway is found in your lack of a life meter. You
don't know how hurt you are through a stat system, but rather you
know based on how the screen looks. If the screen is red, you're
almost dead. The problem is that certain enemies hit harder than
others, so a pale red may mean you're hurt sometimes, but it may
mean one hit more and you die at other times. Even against the same
hit from the same enemy type can be different when you're pale red
versus blood red on your screen. At least you only need to avoid
injury to heal (like shields in Halo) versus the "stand against a
wall like a stationary target" you find in The Getaway.
The other big
problem I foresee in my long term enjoyment is the lack of variety.
I'm talking about attacks and weapons. Zelda has the sub-weapons,
and GTA has new (and awesome) guns to find. BL just has your axe and
your guitar...and some new moves to learn and new attributes to add
to your weapons. However, you're always just swinging an axe and
causing fire and electrical attacks with your guitar. That's it. You
can power slide, and do some special combos as you progress...but
you'll never have that feeling of "wow" when you get the RPG in GTA
or the aww factor of finding the hook-shot in Zelda.
The final issue I
have, so far, is that the display is a little weak. I'm talking
about the camera angle that is the default when driving. Like with
GTA, I feel like the angle is just a little off of what you'll ever
want. However, this is at least a common 3rd person game issue,
especially in driving games. So, like with GTA4, I just have to
always remember to keep my thumb on the right stick so I can see
what I need to see.
As for the rest of
the game...it is a fun game. I mean the basic hack-n-slash with some
magic (guitar abilities) is fun on the most basic of levels. Plus,
there's enough animations to keep attacks looking pretty fresh for a
long time. Will it last me for the entire game? Who knows. However,
for now the attacks are awesome to see and simple, yet fun, to
perform.
Also, the plot and
general writing is great. I mean Tim Schaffer is a great writer who
knows what he wants to say. The metal clichés are in full effect.
There is humor aplenty, and not too many down times. I mean you have
enough dialogue to keep the game entertaining without any lulls.
Plus, when you add in voice acting from Jack Black, as the
protagonist (I think he's called Eddie, but I call him Jack Black)
and Ozzy as the shop keeper (well, more of a special guardian of the
gods of rock, who keeps you outfitted with new gear), you have great
potential. Just entering the shop and hearing Ozzy bitch about you
bugging him again, is priceless. Plus, there's enough dialogue, just
for something as simple as visiting the forge (where Ozzy "works"),
that I've yet to hear the same introduction/entrance dialogue twice.
Also, the writing
and acting can become beyond awesome in a few places. I'll just say
that the opening (when you load up the game, don't press start until
you're told to) from when you load the game to when you finally have
control is some of the best Tim Schaffer and/or Jack Black I've
seen. Just the dialogue where Jack Black (in character) discusses
the problems of modern metal with a fellow roadie struck me in a
special and familiar place.
The talent goes
beyond Ozzy and Jack Black, but it also runs deeper with one hell of
an awesome soundtrack. Like with GTA, you have a radio in your car.
However, to make it better, you can control what song is on the
radio and what songs will never be played in the car again. Then you
have situational music (like when facing bosses) that is always
metal that fits the situation. The only problem with the music, so
far, is that Kickstart My Heart (Motley Crew) is not metal. However,
with how much metal is debated now-a-days, it's all the same. The
only true soundtrack problem would be if you didn't like metal...in
which case, I don't see why you'd play a game all about the
stereotypes of metal culture and mythos. It's just too bad that no
Metallica could be on the soundtrack, to round out the thrash genre
with the included Slayer, Anthrax, and Megadeth.
I guess I do have
one more problem, with something that was not included. I'm talking
about instructions or tutorials. For example, the instructions for
the power slide, when you purchase that move, are incomplete. Then
you can find dragons that have been imprisoned...and you have no
clue how to free them (only that you must). I mean the game doesn't
tell you shit. So, to be honest, this is a game that you shouldn't
feel ashamed about if you must check out some FAQs or message
boards. At least most of the unmentioned information is pretty
obvious...most of it.
Anyway, I'll
probably have more to say when I've experienced more of the game. I
mean there's some sort of RTS system I've yet to encounter. I also
have more missions to try and solos to find...think of a solo as a
song on the ocarina in Zelda, with a special effect for each one you
find (including the standard Zelda one to summon your ride).
So far, I'd say
that this is a "definite buy" type of game, at least for metal fans
with a sense of humor or for Tim Schaffer fans who like metal. I
just have some fears of longevity.
Malik |
Malik
(10/16/09)
Next week will see
the long awaited Queen pack on Rock Band. It's been known for
quite some time that Queen was coming in October with a huge ten
pack. So, this should come as no surprise. Also, considering how
things tend to normally go with RB DLC, it's no surprise that a big
pack or album (which this almost feels like...like a greatest hits
album of sorts, for guitar, bass, and drum based Queen songs) is
coming alone. There's no other songs added in.
On a subject
change, I caught Zombieland last night. I'm a bit late to this
party, since the movie has been around for a little while now.
However, I have to say that this is one of the best comedies I've
seen in a long time. I cannot honestly remember the last time I saw
a movie this funny in theaters.
Between the
casting choice, the style of humor, and the definite homage to
zombie flicks, this movie really does a hell of a job keeping the
audience entertained for the whole movie. I cannot think of any
scene that really felt dragged out or bogged down in any way. The
movie was just good through the entire run time. I also must say
that this is possibly my favorite usage of zombies in movies...even
overtaking Shaun of the Dead.
On a final note
for today, I'm still playing Brutal Legend. However, I've been more
focused on side quests and collections than on the main plot. I
haven't continued the plot beyond a single cut scene since my first
day of playing. I'm, hopefully, still early in the game. However,
with how fun the side quests are, it's easy to forget to get back to
the main game.
Anyway, this post
is somewhat short, since I've way too overwhelmed with
responsibilities today. Hopefully I'll have a short post on Monday,
since that means I have nothing to botch about with the Huskies (UW)
or Seahawks games.
Malik |
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