This week has been relatively uneventful for the most part. I was going to play some Wolfenstein and help Jeff get closer to not taking a shot of gin (still think he just needs to man up...look at Ryan take it like a pro), but sadly, no one in town had a copy available for rent. It would seem that, at least on the rental market, that game is doing exceptionally well. I had debated picking up a copy of King of Fighters XII, but I haven't heard anything good about the game at all. Even considered a copy of BlazBlue, but none of the rental places even have that. Therefore, I went with the better option: re-rent Batman and S-rank dat hoe, then stop by Best Buy to pick up a game from the discount bin. Which game? Well, the only one that seemed like something I would enjoy: Warriors Orochi 2.
ME...ENEMY...DEFEAT!Say what you will about the Warriors franchise, but I dig them. Part of it is the loot whore in me. Part of it is because I know how to rape Chaos mode, which I'm more than positive most people who complain about the game wouldn't last a minute in. The main thing for this generation is achievements...obviously. Warriors Orochi 2 has some very time-consuming achievements, yet it's time that I'm not spending doing much else, so fuck it. Plus, I don't think anyone can complain when the game only cost $15. Needless to say, I'm a little disappointed in some of the additions to the game, as they don't honestly do much extra. I haven't even tapped into their potentials, and I've already got a level 99 character in one playthrough and obtained a Level 4 weapon. In order to do that, you gotta run through Chaos mode. I was a bit disappointed at how dumbed down Chaos mode felt. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I already understood how most of the systems in the Orochi series work, so I was able to get to a high level with great setups early on. Oh well, it's fun and I'm enjoying it.
Batman's face is about how I felt going through all those 3-medal Combat Challenges runs.Aside from that, I've just been jamming on Shadow Complex, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and the occasional rounds of Small Arms. I've got one achievement left for Shadow Complex, and I'll have my sweet S-rank. I just don't feel like leveling up right now. lol Meanwhile, I've got five achievements for Batman, which are just Predator challenge medals, that stupid Mano-A-Mano one, and beating the game on Hard. I should be able to get those done soon enough, but it'll probably mean another rental of the game to finish it off. As for Small Arms, I picked it up because it's only 400 points and I had some spare MSP laying around on the account. The game is pretty enjoyable, and I don't typically enjoy things that are in the vein of Super Smash Bros. However, this game is just a good, fun little thing to jump into and blast away for a little bit. The Challenge Mode can be frustrating as shit, and anyone who has gotten 50 kills in the Challenge Mode is basically a God in my eyes at this point (but maybe I'm just really bad at the game, who knows).
Into Eternity's The Incurable Tragedy The rest of my time has been invested into listening to a shitload of music. I went by Hastings the other day and picked up Into Eternity's The Incurable Tragedy, which is an INCREDIBLE CD. Lots of textures between death metal/metalcore/prog metal/power metal, Stu Block shows a ton of range with his voice, and the instrumental work is so dead-on. Unfortunately, I don't dig the way that Steve Bolognese's hi-hat sounds (makes it sound like a drum machine), and there seems to be a couple of moments where I questioned the editing jobs of the tracks. Other than that, though, it's a great disc to jam in the car while I'm flying down the highway to work in the afternoons.
Taproot's Gift Meanwhile, as I was leaving the store, I passed by a discount CD bin, and an old favorite of mine that has been FUBAR for a while was laying there: Taproot's Gift. That album was really great upon release, and it was only $6. I picked that up, and man...those guys really had a lot going for them. The use of seven-strings for that low-end crunch while still not trying to be the rap-rock that everyone else was doing (except on one or two tracks), the incredible lyrics, solid backend, pounding drums... Man, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed that album. I found myself being 16 all over again, and it was great. If you've never taken a listen to the excellence of that album, I would suggest a listen. Steven Richards' voice is not for everyone, as it can be a bit whiny again, but songs like "Smile", "Again & Again", and the personal meaning I hold with a song like "i" just can't be beat.
Chevelle's Sci-Fi Crimes I also picked up Chevelle's new album, Sci-Fi Crimes. I didn't really enjoy Vena Sera much, but that's because the Chevelle I like is found on This Type of Thinking... and Point #1. Sci-Fi Crimes feels like a good mixture of all that, but I keep feeling like Point #1 is the best comparison to this. There's an underwritten and slightly raw sound to a lot of what's going on, the big bass drops aren't as present, the guitar work has more chord progression and a feel like Point #1, and the vocals definitely made me think of their debut disc more than anything in recent memory. While I still think This Type of Thinking... was their best work so far, Sci-Fi Crimes is definitely better than anything they offered with Wonder What's Next and Vena Sera. If you dig good modern rock, I'd give it a listen and see if you wanna pick it up. It was $10 at Best Buy, so I said "fuck it".
To top this all off, I bought some new sandals. Unfortunately, it seems people only believe in whole sizes, so they aren't wide enough for my feet. Needless to say, I need to get a shoe stretcher to them. Otherwise, they're pretty nice. I just wish the pain in my right foot would cut it out.
That's about it. Hopefully, by this time next week, I'll be two S-ranks richer, folks.
This week has been relatively uneventful for the most part. I was going to play some Wolfenstein and help Jeff get closer to not taking a shot of gin (still think he just needs to man up...look at Ryan take it like a pro), but sadly, no one in town had a copy available for rent. It would seem that, at least on the rental market, that game is doing exceptionally well. I had debated picking up a copy of King of Fighters XII, but I haven't heard anything good about the game at all. Even considered a copy of BlazBlue, but none of the rental places even have that. Therefore, I went with the better option: re-rent Batman and S-rank dat hoe, then stop by Best Buy to pick up a game from the discount bin. Which game? Well, the only one that seemed like something I would enjoy: Warriors Orochi 2.
ME...ENEMY...DEFEAT!Say what you will about the Warriors franchise, but I dig them. Part of it is the loot whore in me. Part of it is because I know how to rape Chaos mode, which I'm more than positive most people who complain about the game wouldn't last a minute in. The main thing for this generation is achievements...obviously. Warriors Orochi 2 has some very time-consuming achievements, yet it's time that I'm not spending doing much else, so fuck it. Plus, I don't think anyone can complain when the game only cost $15. Needless to say, I'm a little disappointed in some of the additions to the game, as they don't honestly do much extra. I haven't even tapped into their potentials, and I've already got a level 99 character in one playthrough and obtained a Level 4 weapon. In order to do that, you gotta run through Chaos mode. I was a bit disappointed at how dumbed down Chaos mode felt. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I already understood how most of the systems in the Orochi series work, so I was able to get to a high level with great setups early on. Oh well, it's fun and I'm enjoying it.
Batman's face is about how I felt going through all those 3-medal Combat Challenges runs.Aside from that, I've just been jamming on Shadow Complex, Batman: Arkham Asylum, and the occasional rounds of Small Arms. I've got one achievement left for Shadow Complex, and I'll have my sweet S-rank. I just don't feel like leveling up right now. lol Meanwhile, I've got five achievements for Batman, which are just Predator challenge medals, that stupid Mano-A-Mano one, and beating the game on Hard. I should be able to get those done soon enough, but it'll probably mean another rental of the game to finish it off. As for Small Arms, I picked it up because it's only 400 points and I had some spare MSP laying around on the account. The game is pretty enjoyable, and I don't typically enjoy things that are in the vein of Super Smash Bros. However, this game is just a good, fun little thing to jump into and blast away for a little bit. The Challenge Mode can be frustrating as shit, and anyone who has gotten 50 kills in the Challenge Mode is basically a God in my eyes at this point (but maybe I'm just really bad at the game, who knows).
Into Eternity's The Incurable Tragedy The rest of my time has been invested into listening to a shitload of music. I went by Hastings the other day and picked up Into Eternity's The Incurable Tragedy, which is an INCREDIBLE CD. Lots of textures between death metal/metalcore/prog metal/power metal, Stu Block shows a ton of range with his voice, and the instrumental work is so dead-on. Unfortunately, I don't dig the way that Steve Bolognese's hi-hat sounds (makes it sound like a drum machine), and there seems to be a couple of moments where I questioned the editing jobs of the tracks. Other than that, though, it's a great disc to jam in the car while I'm flying down the highway to work in the afternoons.
Taproot's Gift Meanwhile, as I was leaving the store, I passed by a discount CD bin, and an old favorite of mine that has been FUBAR for a while was laying there: Taproot's Gift. That album was really great upon release, and it was only $6. I picked that up, and man...those guys really had a lot going for them. The use of seven-strings for that low-end crunch while still not trying to be the rap-rock that everyone else was doing (except on one or two tracks), the incredible lyrics, solid backend, pounding drums... Man, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed that album. I found myself being 16 all over again, and it was great. If you've never taken a listen to the excellence of that album, I would suggest a listen. Steven Richards' voice is not for everyone, as it can be a bit whiny again, but songs like "Smile", "Again & Again", and the personal meaning I hold with a song like "i" just can't be beat.
Chevelle's Sci-Fi Crimes I also picked up Chevelle's new album, Sci-Fi Crimes. I didn't really enjoy Vena Sera much, but that's because the Chevelle I like is found on This Type of Thinking... and Point #1. Sci-Fi Crimes feels like a good mixture of all that, but I keep feeling like Point #1 is the best comparison to this. There's an underwritten and slightly raw sound to a lot of what's going on, the big bass drops aren't as present, the guitar work has more chord progression and a feel like Point #1, and the vocals definitely made me think of their debut disc more than anything in recent memory. While I still think This Type of Thinking... was their best work so far, Sci-Fi Crimes is definitely better than anything they offered with Wonder What's Next and Vena Sera. If you dig good modern rock, I'd give it a listen and see if you wanna pick it up. It was $10 at Best Buy, so I said "fuck it".
To top this all off, I bought some new sandals. Unfortunately, it seems people only believe in whole sizes, so they aren't wide enough for my feet. Needless to say, I need to get a shoe stretcher to them. Otherwise, they're pretty nice. I just wish the pain in my right foot would cut it out.
That's about it. Hopefully, by this time next week, I'll be two S-ranks richer, folks.
It's a pity when you can't play want you want when you want, speaking of Batman: Arkham Asylum and Shadow Complex. Maybe I'll appreciate the games more when I do. I should be getting Shadow Complex before the end of the month. I really liked the demo, well both demos were very good.
I love Chevelle! My favorite radio station by where I live is presenting a free show sponsored by Bud Light and Chevelle is headlining. I wish I could go but you have to be 21. Sadly, I'm still a young one. Oh well, I'll just enjoy listening to the songs on the radio station. Cool update man.
@GamerGeek360: I got to see Chevelle with Finger Eleven in a local dive here, and both of them put on a great show - Finger Eleven more than Chevelle. I actually left four songs into Chevelle's set because I was pissed about seeing their set list at the soundboard. They weren't playing "Mia", which is THE song that got them any form of exposure back in the day. Those fans are, for the most part, still with the band to this day. When you don't play THE song that I can guarantee a fair number of people are coming to see, then I consider it a disrespect. Four albums of material to draw from, an hour worth of performing, and you cannot even come up and say "this is the song that started it all"? That's like Led Zeppelin coming out and not playing "Whole Lotta Love". Regardless, they sounded really good live. Sorry you won't get to see them.
I almost would've stopped listening to them had they not played "Get Some", which was the second song of their set. It was fucking awesome.
I envy your close-to-S-rank on Batman: Arkham Asylum. Well, I technically haven't beaten it yet *cough* "I am almost there!" *cough* but I don't think I could reach that even if i had. I am probably going to play it over again and I actually have found it slightly easy so far, so hard should not be that much of a problem. As for Shadow Complex.....tsk tsk....I don't know how I feel about that game. It keeps pissing me off; I ran into a glitch that forced me to play through it all over again and I was almost done!! Nonetheless, I am playing it again and trying to find all the items. I am almost done and I like it, it is just not all that people said it for. Still, it is awesome in many senses.
@RHCPfan24: I haven't had one single glitch in Shadow Complex yet, so I wouldn't know. That game is incredibly well-made. I haven't gone for any of the speed runs and what not yet, and I probably won't for quite a while. Nonetheless, it's an excellent game. However, unless some DLC comes out for it down the line...and I mean SIGNIFICANT DLC...then I don't see it being nearly as classic as something like Super Metroid of Castlevania SOTN. Still an excellent game, though.
Batman's Challenge mode had me screaming like Christian Bale on a movie set when no one was around. There are a couple of things I've found out about the combat (thanks to the challenges) that kind of bug me. For instance, how is it that a random thug will stand around for five or six seconds without any intention of hitting me, but the minute that I start to throw out a Batclaw to grapple some enemies, he can leap across the screen with his pipe and slam me at the exact perfect moment to where I can't counter? Meanwhile, there were also times where I would get hit and a combo ended, and as I tried to get my three hits in to get back on a track for a new combo, I would get fifty thousand fists coming from different directions at any point, all of which were impossible for me to actually counter...even if I had that counter button hit long before they were starting the punch. Other than that, though, the game is still fantastic, and I'll be doing my Hard runthrough over the course of Saturday and Sunday (more than likely).
I don't see how you enjoy small arms, after about 30 minutes of it I realized I had just gotten cheated out of my $5 because I had played the demo and it was good but when I bought the game I realized that the whole game is just what the demo had over and over again with nothing really unique added at all. The challenge mode is quite the feat though I have only managed 7 kills before I gave up. I envy that youhaven't run into a glitch yet but if you haven't run through the proving grounds yet your sure to find one, I know about half the time in the proving grounds I would touch the ground and go flying through it and get stuck.
@jakob187: I do love Shadow Complex in many ways it is just, damn, that bug really changed my opinion of the game. If I didn't run into it, I probably would feel the same. And about Batman, I do find some aspects of combat like you mentioned annoying, yes. I have run into the problem a few times. Nonetheless, the combat looks so beautiful and is mostly intuitive for the most part that I can forgive it. It really is a wonderful game.
@PureRok: BAH! I don't need no stinking spreadsheet. My brain already runs Excel at all times! LOL I use Wei Yan because the knockback on that fireball is awesome. However, I don't know who I'm going to use as my second and third characters. I'm thinking Orochi (unless they've changed him from the last game, his True Musou is ballin'!) and Xiahou Dun (his True Musou is really great basic crowd control). I have to have two more maxed out, as Orochi 2's achievements call for you to complete all Dream Mode and Story Mode scenarios on every difficulty! That's a LOT of work!!! lol
@Metroid545: I made it through the Proving Grounds stuff just fine. I've still got at least two more playthroughs for level 50, though, so anything could happen!!! = /
Also, I've only got two achievements left on Batman now. Finished all the challenges last night. Now I just need to beat the game on Hard and get that stupid Mano-A-Mano achievement. WOOT!!!
I saw the thread title and clicked it thinkin' "I wonder if this is related to Wei Yan..." so I just wanted to say HELL YES to the Warriors series. Never really played Warriors Orochi though. Don't you pick three people to switch from in the battle or something? I didn't like that. Last one I played was DW6 which I enjoyed but was disappointed with some of the changes they made like the combo system, weapons changes, and mirrored movesets. They should change all that stuff back IMO. They messed up my Zhou Tai and Xiahou Dun :(
" I saw the thread title and clicked it thinkin' "I wonder if this is related to Wei Yan..." so I just wanted to say HELL YES to the Warriors series. Never really played Warriors Orochi though. Don't you pick three people to switch from in the battle or something? I didn't like that. Last one I played was DW6 which I enjoyed but was disappointed with some of the changes they made like the combo system, weapons changes, and mirrored movesets. They should change all that stuff back IMO. They messed up my Zhou Tai and Xiahou Dun :( "
I enjoy Xiahou Dun on Orochi 2, which is weird since I've NEVER liked playing with him. Nonetheless, I feel comforted in knowing that at least two people got the title of my blog!!!
Switching between the three characters isn't that bad, and Chaos mode on the higher levels can be quite challenging...enough that you'll need three life bars to switch between. LOL Nonetheless, if the person you are controlling dies, then that's it. End of level. Therefore, it's not like the three character setup is overpowered at all. You can pick the games up for a relatively low cost ($10 -$20), so it's worth checking them out if you are into the Warriors stuff.
I'm still cheesed about Samurai Warriors 3 going exclusive to the Wii! BULLSHIT, PEOPLE!!! BIG BULLSHIT!!!
@jakob187: Ah, I was under the impression that you had to lose all 3 characters to fail. Yeah, I will probably pick it up sometime soon. Haven't had my fix of a Warriors game in quite some time so....dude wait, what? Samurai Warriors is going to the Wii?! Wtf? I have a Wii and that's still lame.
@MrGetBonus: Yep. Samurai Warriors 3 is Wii-exclusive. Such bullshit, man. I mean, from what I'm to understand, they finally made some form of graphical improvements in Dynasty Warriors 6...and then they are going to DOWNGRADE another franchise?! WTF?! I'm especially sad because I like the Samurai Warriors games more than all of them. = /
@jakob187: Actually, you need to have specific characters at level 99, and specific characters with 50 proficiency to unlock certain Dream Mode levels, as well as a certain amount of total levels and proficiency to unlock one other.
You basically need a spreadsheet if you want to know exactly how long it's going to take you to unlock those levels.
@jakob187: I just about died when I read that you were an Into Eternity fan. Good call, sir.
And I can completely relate to having a soft spot for some Warriors action, there's some great stress relief to be had by just hitting a button and watching thousands upon thousands of people die, while gaining mad levels. Those games do a great job of giving you masses of satisfaction in a weirdly short period of time, which probably isn't a bad thing -- just never step back and actually think about what you're playing or the magic will die! Haha.
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