I have started a blog about my latest Final Fantasy VII game. Hooray! To anyone who cares to read about my goofy experiences and comments whilst playing video games, feel free to keep an eye on ff7ld.wordpress.com
That’s all for now.
Archive for March, 2009
Sean Connery is EVERYWHERE You Want to Be
March 30, 2009Good Lord, I do so love these epic weekends.
Well now, let’s see here. This has been quite a good week. And it entailed the most epic set of people ever assembled. Well, close, anyway. Four of my best college friends were here, I can’t really complain.
Alright. Alan arrived on Wednesday and just hung out that night. He was on Spring Break, and decided to spend the last half of it hanging out here. And who could blame him, really? Then, on Thursday, Finley’s little brother was brought to UNI, and Alan’s younger brother drove up, too. On top of that, Marissa stopped by to join the party. This made our group add up to 7, which just classifies as several people. We all went to Burger King that night, and discussed the pros–no cons really–of killing the smaller Finley, different ways to lose the game (which I just did, as did any readers), awkward high school happenings, and other things of that nature. We then went back to the dorms and watched Iron Man, which is always a good time.
Now, it must be said that for much of this time, I was playing Phantasy Star Universe: Ambitions of the Illuminus. I had a craving to play Phantasy Star Online and create my own character, and I had lost the disc for the game, so I bought the newer game in the series, which turned out to be a fantastic plan. On Thursday, I told Alan he should make a character, after he hung out with me whilst I played it for a few hours. He decided to make Sean Connery. This was the beginning of the PSU/Sean Connery-themed weekend.
So Friday, David, Alan, and I all went up to Ames to pick up Will. After a remarkably lively car ride back (I am used to rather quiet rides to and from Ames), we all packed into the room again–this time short several people, as everyone else had gone home to their respective houses or dorms–and once again started up PSU with Sean Connery. Will also shared the atrocious voice acting in the first PSU game. I am fairly certain we drove the actual inhabitants of the room crazy with our constant playing of the game…but hey, it was Sean Connery. We later went to the Pita Pit for dinner. I have grown to really enjoy that place, even if I get crazy nervous and self-conscious whilst ordering.
After playing a good deal more PSU (I think this was the point at which David pointed out that it was annoying), Will and I went back to my room to actually go to bed, as it was getting really late. My roommate was staying the night at a friend’s room, so she was not there–until the morning, when she came in to do her morning routine. Normally, I would not complain…but man her hairdryer is loud. And she turned the faucet on to its highest setting. I honestly find it kind of funny how loud it was. Anyway, after waking up very late (we obviously fell back asleep after she had left), we tromped on over to 4113 again and settled in for another day of PSU. Finley returned from home around the middle of the day, and David’s “sister”, Alenka also stopped by and hung out. Later, we were joined by Marissa, too. Surprisingly, instead of seeming super congested, this was just crazy fun. We booted up Soul Calibur IV and decided to make the most epic fight; Sean Connery versus Chuck Norris. After being highly amused at the various awkward attacks and the act of knocking other players’ clothes off, we decided it was time to make Samuel L. Jackson and Morgan Freeman, too. And after we grew tired of Soul Calibur, there was time for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. There is really nothing like epic Jigglypuff fights, I can say that.
That night went similarly to the night before. It got really late, so Will and I left, and we ended up staying up way later than we thought because we were engrossed in conversation (I actually don’t know what time it was–neither of us were wearing glasses, and there aren’t any major clocks in my room, just phones and Stephanie’s alarm clock, and I don’t know where that is). We woke up early-ish, though, and got lunch (as no one else was up yet), then we killed time with internet and guitar until David had to take Marissa to church and Will back to Ames.
The car ride back wasn’t bad. Good music, friendly conversation, an unusually warm car, and briefly napping on Will’s shoulder (David’s unbelievably loud music woke me up eventually). As usual, it was sad to see Will go (Note: to anyone who makes a snarky comment here, I will punch you–that aspect of the weekend, which was by far my favorite part, has been SERIOUSLY downplayed in this entry. I dunno what it was, but this was just a particularly sweet visit…and that definitely factored into the excellence of the weekend. And look, I didn‘t even go into it, that much. You know I sacrifice for you readers…), but there’s next weekend to look forward to (and believe me, I do). Finally, the car ride BACK was surprisingly enjoyable. I had mostly expected it to be all kinds of awkward, as I was certain I had angered David the night before. However, we just talked like friends (with the occasional David-style put-down, you know), and we listened to music. And when we got back–more of watching Alan play as Sean Connery, at least until he had to leave (thus concluding the epic PSU/Sean Connery-themed events of the weekend).
I finished off the evening by talking to Will and Alan (who had gotten home by this point) on AIM and working on my project for 3D. I finished the dang thing finally, and listened to the 3rd Wheel of Time audio book. It was a nice, relaxing evening, a good end to one of the best weekends I’ve had lately.
PLUS, my first class got cancelled today, leaving me the morning to make my Playstation emulator work with Final Fantasy 7, so now I’m playing through it with the characters named after my friends. There’s just nothing like seeing dialogue with familiar names.
More later, folks, perhaps when something equally delightful happens. It seems to be common these days.
(P.S. Finley, if you do indeed read this one, I do apologize that I didn’t write a paragraph about you here. I promise I will next time, you know I‘m good for it.)
Chiggety Check Yourself Before you Wriggety Wreck Yourself
March 24, 2009Because I do so love that phrase. It really has nothing to do with the entry, though.
Ah, it has indeed been a while since last I posted. Let’s see, let’s see.
Everything has pretty much been awesome. That sums it up pretty well, I think.
Classes, with a few exceptions, have been pretty delightful. 3D is destroying my brain with frustration (I shan’t go into the whole fiasco, as I am done being angry about it, but it is a tale of woe and teachers changing assignments THROUGHOUT the period given to work on them), and Soc. is really kicking my butt, but those things aside, I can’t complain too much (I actually can’t complain at all, I gave it up for Lent…look how well THAT’S going, haha…). I am especially enjoying Drawing, surprisingly enough, where I feel I am doing much better than last semester. Considering that I am actually trying this time, this is not a surprising development.
Socially, I also have no complaints. Relations with David have been reset to the kind of friendliness we had near the start of first semester, which is awesome. Finley is a delight as always. In fact, I need to talk about him extensively here, as he refuses to read these posts unless he is heavily discussed. He is, as always, quite awesome. His hair is long and flowing, reminiscent of one of those ridiculous men on the cover of romance novels (but in a good way), and his guitar skillz are unmatched, truly. He is also a button. But for serious, he is just as fantastic as usual. We are enjoying Religions of the World extensively–oh Robinson, your strange little off-topic discussions are so much fun for everyone.
I got to see Grace last week, which was wonderful. Good Lord, do I miss that girl, I am dearly hoping she’ll be around this summer so that we may annoy everyone with our squealing, girly, geekiness. We did not have a ton of time to hang out (nothing like the multi-day sessions of nerdiness from days of olde–playing Yu-Gi-Oh!, watching the Nightmare Before Christmas…throwing knives in my backyard to be like Will Turner…), but we rock-rocked-awn on, watching videos and eating pizza and all that jazz, plus we had the most delightful adventures on Friday. More on that later, when I talk about Spring Break.
Will is also great. Just in general, he is great, haha. This will sound awfully sappy, but we had our first weekend apart since meeting (“aw, boo hoo, Gilly”, I hear you say–well you can just can it, reader), which was very strange, I must say. He did get to visit on Saturday, though, and see the new house (again, more on that part later), and I know I will be seeing him the next TWO weekends, when he visits here this coming one and I drag him to Davenport with me to see Assumption’s musical the following one. In any case, things are just super on this front, and as usual in the last few posts, I simply couldn’t be happier.
(Wow, I didn’t notice before now. My best friend is named Grace, and my boyfriend is named Will. Will and Grace…)
NOW. Spring Break.
Spring Break was last week and BOY, are my arms tired. …Wait, no. Boy, was it bizarre. Haha. See, my parents decided to buy a new house, so they spent the last two months packing for the move. I arrived home just in time to finish packing MY stuff and move on Friday, just two days before going back to UNI. The week leading up to the big shindig was strange and semi-chaotic. Almost everything in the house was in boxes, so we really had no kitchen, living room, dining room, computer room, or basement. We consumed lots of sammiches and fast food, and my parents took off work to finish the last few boxing duties. I, on the other hand, got to fill out summer job applications, pack the stuff under my bed, and generally seclude myself in my room, where my cats were trapped for later capturing convenience. The only real inconvenience, though, was the losing of internet Thursday night. It’s not like it was that big of a deal–or shouldn’t have been–but for one who stays up so late talking on AIM, it was a ridiculous, minor crisis. Thank God for texting and Facebook messaging.
Wednesday I went to catch up with my piano teacher, then I scuttled over to Assumption to watch a rehearsal for West Side Story. It is looking promising–though I am hoping the band gets a little more refined by the time the performance rolls around. I was thoroughly impressed with accents–not only are none of them from New York, but none of them are Puerto Rican, and with such good accents, I was nearly convinced of both. However, as great as Brady and Jessica are at singing, and as great as an actress as Jess is turning out to be (sorry Brady, you are good, but you are still Jesus, I’m afraid), Seth and Kathleen are so going to steal the show as Anita and Bernardo. Their chemistry is amazing, and they are both hilarious and wonderfully talented. This is not bias, I promise.
Friday was the move. Grace came to help, as did both of my aunts and a slew of movers. Grace, Aunt Sue and I were in charge of cat wrangling, which means that after Mom and I managed to somehow trap the cats unhappily in the bathroom in the old house, the three of us had to later return and take the miserable felines OUT of the tiny room and cram them into even tinier cages. They were not happy, and that is a vast understatement. At least the caged part shook them up so much that when we put them in the NEW house’s bathroom, they were too shocked to try and escape while we exited the room and shut the door. After that, Grace and I ran back and forth between the houses, grabbing forgotten items and cleaning up for the new owners. And then we arranged my room that night, making it look as decent as possible without any accessories, belongings, or a bed (since I got a new daybed for the room and it wasn’t going to arrive until Saturday).
Saturday, Will visited, which means he, too, got shanghaied into lifting heavy things and putting items on very tall shelves (as all the women putting them away were quite short, especially in comparison). However, there was much gaming to be had (I do love me some Phantasy Star Universe: Ambitions of the Illuminus–character creation for YES), as well as Food Network watching and lounging on my awesome new bed (much to the worry of my mother, I must say). Plus sandwiches. I have a new love of wheat bread, mounds of cheddar and swiss, and roast beef.
I got back to school on Sunday (and it was so nice to have internet again), and finished off the break with a nice, relaxing evening. It was a good week, I must say. I’m looking forward to getting back home and painting my drab, white room, though.
Oh, I am starting various comic projects. I think Grace is writing a short script for me to work on, plus I am doing a comic strip-type webcomic with Will about Phantasy Star II, and I am going to FINALLY start Cursed as a weekly webcomic. Hopefully. I’ve been doing a lot of concept work, figuring out exactly how I’m going to draw the characters, which has been very fun. Everyone finally looks unique, I do believe.
I think that is all for now. More later, plus probably a review of Uncharted, as I realize I never said anything about that wonderful, wonderful game.
Review: Bioshock (Game)
March 24, 2009Yup, here’s another one comin’ atcha.
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Title: Bioshock
Platform: Xbox 360
Summary: “Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?” Enter the world of Rapture, an undersea city built by Andrew Ryan for the success of elbow grease and the common man. But this ideal city is not as it is described, nor as it appears. From the moment you–a man named Jack–step out of the bathysphere, the oppressive air of Rapture’s dark secrets set upon you. Use genetic reengineering to give yourself supernatural powers, fend off the deranged citizens of the lost city, and watch and wait for the terrifying groaning of Big Daddies just down that shadowy hallway, all while trying to make sense of the flashes of memory that come to you. And pay close attention to the words of Andrew Ryan, would you kindly? Things are not as they seem.
My Opinion: Like Portal, this was a game I had heard much about prior to playing. In fact, without really realizing it, I had already seen one of the most crucial scenes as reenacted by someone on YouTube. Numerous webcomics had hailed Bioshock as brilliant, fascinating, and just plain awesome. So I decided it couldn’t hurt to ask for it for Christmas.
When I got to school after Christmas break, the game in tow, I sat down in my friends’ room (where my 360 is housed), popped it in the 360, and waited for the game to start up. I wasn’t actually sure what to expect–I knew the game looked dark. And Grace had informed me that it was downright terrifying, so I was initially concerned that this would be another Silent Hill situation for me–I love watching the game, but playing it leaves me paralyzed with fear.
However, after the first few bouts of terror, I began to really enjoy the game. The mechanics were so accessible and–well, powerful that I had no fear of the Splicers that assault you very near to the start of the game. Heck, just from a standpoint of controlling the character and using powers and weapons, the game succeeds remarkably well. Usually I am not too skilled with first person shooters, but despite having guns, Bioshock doesn’t feel like a FPS to me. Perhaps it is the use of plasmids, supernatural powers like shooting fire or freezing things, which are so effective at wiping out enemies efficiently and creatively, that makes the game not only run smoothly but keep it from feeling too much like a traditional survival horror game–which, I suppose, is what it can be considered. On top of that, it employs the use of finite ammo and EVE, the kind of energy that supports the use of plasmids (interesting note–your ability to use more and more plasmids is increased by another energy known as ADAM; interesting naming, isn’t it?). However, it is not hard to find ammo at all–not only is it just laying around the city but there are vending machines that spit out not only bullets and syringes of EVE but also first aid kits, food, and sometimes tools to help you hack the security bots stationed around the city.
Artistically, this game is downright gorgeous. Everything is designed in some mix between 1940s art deco and steampunk decor. The Splicers are dressed in old fashioned clothing, most donning eerie animal masks. The Big Daddies look like old fashioned divers–but with the brutal twist of having a gigantic drill or a riveter for a hand. The various Little Sisters that appear are delightfully creepy, what with their glowing eyes and strangely wise voices. And the attention to detail is remarkable. Running on different surfaces makes different noises. Water drips from the leaking ceilings and walls. Metal is rusted over, rooms are dismantled, ripped up, sometimes bloody. Ice melts when one uses Incinerate, anything standing in water is electrocuted when you use Electro Bolt. Opening drawers will disrupt an entire desk. Messages are scrawled on walls with God-knows-what. And there are a myriad of other details that can only be truly appreciated by playing the game. Even the use of radio messages, recording the thoughts and experiences of the residents of Rapture, enrich the gameplay and give an already unconventional FPS an entirely new depth.
The plot is just wonderful, too. I can’t say much without giving it away–and that is the last thing I want to do–but it is so fraught with twists and turns, especially for a game whose plot is mainly propelled via radio communication with other characters, that it will leave your head spinning in the best way. The choices you make throughought the game–picking up different messages, reading the walls, saving Little Sisters or throwing them by the wayside–will drastically affect your gameplay experience, making each play-through unique. Even the way you can kill is full of options. And keep in mind that these decisions you make will affect how the story ends.
Even with all these choices, Bioshock is not so open-ended that one gets lost. The menu screen is easy to navigate, providing the player with detailed maps, brief and more specific summaries of the goals at hand, hints if needed, as well as mounds of information on the ammo and weapons picked up, the different kinds of plasmids, and records of all the radio messages picked up.
I really can’t say any more. It is simply something that must be played, not read about. If you enjoy dark stories, terrifying experiences that do more to intrigue than scare away, and rich, mysterious atmosphere, Bioshock is the game for you. Go pick it up, would you kindly?
