--.:: The Man, the Myth, the Legend ::.--

• 5Jan 09

  New Years Belated

  Well a bit late by a couple of days, but have a very merry New Year! (Especially to all those who will actually read this message) Hopefully the next year brings new opportunities and triumphs, or something to that effect.

  Just a shorter entry this time around.

  • Posted Jan 5, 2009 7:26 pm PT
  • Category: Other
  • 2 Comments

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• 9Nov 08

  Person Found

  Well, the person has been found, although in a manner which seems to have caused a great deal of anguish for many individuals, especially for those closer to the situation at hand.

  The body of Brandon Crisp was discovered on November 5th (with the identity confirmed over the weekend) at the base of a tree between the 4th and 5th Oro Lines, an area just north east of Barrie Ontario. (Which is to the north of Toronto) Reports indicate that the cause of his end rests in trauma to the chest, possibly brought on through a fall from a tree. Police are currently undergoing further investigation to discover what occured between the last sighting and his end, along with the construction of a timeline.

  It appears there was no video game involvement in the event after all, outside of the initial altercation. However, the situation itself didn't have an ideal result given the end of the fellow in question.

  Speaking of questions, quite a few remain... But will answers be found? Would it even matter?

  • Posted Nov 9, 2008 6:26 pm PT
  • Category: News
  • 3 Comments

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• 19Oct 08

  Missing Person

  Gee, my first blog post on GameSpot in a great deal of time and its in regards to a topic such as this... Although highly unlikely, (I'm not even sure if anyone will read this, considering my lack of activity on GameSpot over the last year or so) but has anyone seen or have any information on this guy?

  Yeah, normally I'd try to stay away from these sorts of things but...

  Maybe I've grown soft.

  Well, now I'm off to consume some Ice Cream.

  • Posted Oct 19, 2008 4:16 pm PT
  • Category: People
  • 4 Comments

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• 24Nov 07

  Legend of Zelda Union Change Up

  It is Done.

  

  Union leadership has been changed.

  I have also realized my writing has decreased greatly in quality ever since my academic adventures began once again... Somewhat ironic really.

  Only 4 more stars to go in Super Mario Galaxy.

  • Posted Nov 24, 2007 9:39 pm PT
  • Category: General
  • 10 Comments

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• 3Sep 07

  Hooray for Fire Emblem

  An epic tale of strategy and war, the Fire Emblem series is a rather intriguing strategy role playing game. Different from most games, the characters that appear throughout the adventure are each unique and add his or her own respective tale to the main storyline despite the sense of finality provided when a character runs out of hit points. Upon the loss of said life points, most characters meet their end so to speak, creating a layer of intensity that is rarely seen in others games belonging to the same genre. To say I have become fond of the series would be a rather massive understatement.

  It is certainly a shame the games are so difficult to come by, literally becoming a quest in itself. I still hope to attain Fire Emblem 7 along with Path of Radiance, preferably before Goddess of Dawn is released in North America.

  

  Epic

  • Posted Sep 3, 2007 3:11 pm PT
  • Category: Games
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• 8Aug 07

  Promotion in The Legend of Zelda Union

  

  Well, I have recently been promoted to the role of leader in the Legend of Zelda Union. Having joined the union on my very first day as a member of GameSpot, (technically even earlier than that, since GameSpot counts the day after sign up as the first day) this is obviously quite the honor, although it also helps that the union is one fo the largest on GameSpot. Hopefully under my leadership the union will continue the unbridled success that has been present under the previous regimes. Nuck will still be around, so those who are worried about this change of leadership may find comfort in that, at least hopefully...

  It certainly feels a great deal of time has passed since the union first started under the leadership of the mythical Mister_Slice, back when unions were largely an unknown quality. Well I suppose not just largely, they were an unknown quantity at the time, being a brand new feature implemented on GameSpot. Ever since that fateful day, the union has seen a plethora of changes that have helped shape the union into what it is today. Now is no different, the union will continue to receive new features and changes that will hopefully provide a positive impact and help the union continue upon the road of success.

  Naturally though, all this would not be possible without the multitudes of members that have each left their distinct imprint upon the union, allowing it transcend past a simple "mini site" status and grow into a true community. I would like to thank all the members for all their contributions and hope that you continue to show your support for the Legend of Zelda Union.

  And if your not a member yet, what are you waiting for?

  • Posted Aug 8, 2007 2:26 pm PT
  • Category: General
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• 6Jul 07

  A Music Video for the Godfather Games

  My newest contribution to GameSpot in the genre of music videos. Due to the song's rather vast scope, it seemed to fit with the romanced gangster life portrayed through the Godfather series, not to mention the over the top violence featured in the video games created by EA.

  • Posted Jul 6, 2007 11:49 pm PT
  • Category: Music
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• 1Jul 07

  Favorite Games

  The following is a list of some of my personal favorite games. The games are not listed in any particular order and are not representative of what games I think are the best, simply games that I greatly enjoyed, despite various faults that may be present. Obviously, games listed here may also be considered by myself or yourself as one of the greatest games of all time as well, considering games that are given such monikers are usually enjoyable, being the greatest and all... At any rate, there is a further stipulation in the list, which is that the games eligible must have been released during the 64 bit era (Nintendo 64/Sony Playstation/Sega Saturn) or later. Most of the games I played before this era was in a state where logical analysis had not fully developed to a sizable quantity, not to mention I missed out on quite a few games. I am also excluding games that appeared outside of Nintendo consoles as I am not as familiar with games outside of the Nintendo brand. Not that I haven't played games on other systems, just that I am most familiar with Nintendo products due to my preference for the first party games that are created by the company. There are various worthwhile games on other systems I'm sure, they just haven't had the opportunity to provide an impact as the following titles.
  
  Super Mario 64
  The list begins with what is considered Mario's first foray into the realm of the 3D, becoming a true c.l.a.s.s.i.c in the process, worthy to be accounted under the main Mario series that includes acclaimed titles such as Super Mario Bros, Super Mario Bros. 3, and Super Mario World. This game set the bar for how to handle future 3D games that functioned with a free roam camera, a function that had been utilized poorly before Super Mario 64 leapt onto the scene. Super Mario 64 also spearheaded the incorporation of the joystick into home console gaming, revolutionizing movement in a 3D world in the process. These reasons may seem over reliant of the technicalities of Super Mario 64 instead of more personal factors, yet that is what caused this game to become a favorite of mine. These techniques allowed a 3D world environment that the player could explore completely under his or her volition. Exploration was further supplemented by the vibrant world of Mario, featuring various different worlds with various different secrets all linked together via Peach's castle. Ultimately, it was this game that drove my interest from a merely passive perspective to a more analytical perspective, fueling a desire to further delve into the video gaming world.
  
  Paper Mario
  Unlike Super Mario 64 which was seeped in technicalities and such, Paper Mario's inclusion on this list is based a great deal more on personal emotions and the game's personal symbolic meaning. To put it bluntly, Paper Mario has become a memento of my own childhood, which came to a rather abrupt end. The game was released in the twilight of those innocent days and told a tale of whimsical characters in a storybook tale featuring a tyrant (yet lovable) king, a clever damsel in distress, and brave odd hero. The game was filled with creativity and humor, while still delivering a solid rpg experience. At first, I was rather disappointed a the notion of playing a Mario game in which all the characters were Paper, seeming like a ludicrous idea at the time. Despite the initial disposition, I quickly grew to love the game for all its quirks and whimsical fantasy. I particularly enjoyed the more in depth exposition into Mario's world, a realm I had previously been very fond of and even am today. The world was taken beyond its cook cutter standards into a fully realized society, featuring various characters undergoing various activities. All this was bonded together into a storybook presentation, almost of a dreamlike quality. Right down to the beginning narrator, the game held to this dreamy storybook theme as Mario indulged in his quest, crossing deserts, meeting new teammates, and delving into volcanoes. Everything was possible and all was right, even in the final epic battle with evil. Now older, I seem to have come to the consensus that I can never play this game again, much as childhood can never be fully regained. These ideals of the past are simply that, ideals of the past and impossible to truly revisit. The game has become the ultimate example of nostalgia, even the start screen theme song sending various emotions flooding back. This may also serve as a reason why I find the game's sequel superior in every way.
  
  Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door
  If Paper Mario is a symbol of my childhood, then Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is the direct aftermath of that time period. The game is quite a bit different through comparison to its predecessor, featuring a deeper and more satisfying battle system, no matter what one's personal feelings are towards the game. The presentation is much more similar to a theatre performance then a storybook, with even the implication of a play based on the events of the game being created in the game's epilogue. The storyline itself is a great deal darker and more enigmatic then the original Paper Mario game as well. The site of the adventure is plagued by a dark past that lead to the destruction of a "perfect" world, although the details only come into one's knowledge as one progresses through the game. Nothing could be taken at face value as the plot unfolded, with events often taking some bizarre yet ingenious twists. Much as life often begins to fill more greatly with shades of gray as one expands beyond one's innocence, Thousand Year Door is a game with various meanings of varying evil and good. Bowser is no longer the main enemy, although he is an enemy while also serving as an ally. He did technically save Mario and company form certain destruction near the end of the game after all. He has also become quite the comical character, much more so then in the previous game. This can be said about Thousand Year Door as a whole, due to the increase in comedy, both less subtly and more so. While Paper Mario may have had one grinning, Thousand Year Door offers laughter at the various situation that the game provides. (Just think of near the beginning of the game, where while Mario is engaged in a conversation, one can view several of the local mafia members pummeling several gang members in a comical fashion.) Combined with the mystery, Thousand Year Door is beast of various blended qualities that provides a darker yet, more interesting take on the Mario world.
  
  The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
  This game's inclusion on this list should come as no surprise to any gaming inclined individual. Now, Ocarina of Time is great for a plethora of reasons that I'm sure many have ether utilized in the game's defense from individuals who are less then enamored with the game, or have heard others utilize for the same reason. Of course, these reasons do play a part in my great admiration of the game, yet I have several of my own reasons that seem to be rarely included when the quality of the game is discussed. Although the game play and innovation of the game is constantly praised, the storyline and presentation of the game is largely forgotten and/or under appreciated. This strikes much more on a personal level, as I have a great interest in the subject, that of which is time. Although on the surface the story of Ocarina of Time may seem rather typical for a Zelda game, (Bad guy kidnaps princess, heroes rescues princess after collecting various items, yada, yada, yada... ) individuals always seem to forget about one specific aspect of the storyline, time. The theme of time is heavily utilized for gameplay aspects, yet also features into the main storyline, forming a relationship with presentation in the process. Perhaps some of he most sentimental moments in the Zelda series comes through Adult Link's romp through the land he knew in his childhood, a preverbal trip down memory lane. Few gamers ever consider the notion of what Link must be feeling or thinking after seven years have literally been stolen from him, straight from a child to a man. When Link first reaches the foot of the Forest Temple, the camera focuses on the stump that Saria had sat on during his childhood. The sense of loss and the cruelty of time is a constant factor throughout the second portion of Ocarina of Time, summed on nicely in the game itself through Sheik's various statements and the warping songs that Link learns. When considering the game's sequel as well, Ocarina of Time becomes quite the story of a tragic hero, who by gaining some power over time loses influence with the rest of the world.
  
  The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
  Majora's Mask continues the story of its predecessor, yet is a great deal more bleak and apocalyptic with the moon threatening to crash into the world and all. The theme of isolation first touched upon in Ocarina of Time is in full presence in Majora's Mask, with Link's isolation reaching a new level with his Groundhog's Day cycle status. Link is an independent entity in Majora's Mask, with all the relationships he forms with the people of Termina limited to a three day expiration date. The characters themselves that Link interacts with are also much more compelling then in any previous Zelda game and any game in the series that has come since. Each character in the Bomber's Notebook has his or her own conundrum's that can be rather vast in scope. Throughout the three day cycle, one can delve into the character's own story, hopefully eventually solving their problems in the process. However, one will often require several cycle's worth of investigation in a character's story before solving the main problem, learning about the various facets of the character in the process. The whole situation often comes off as hopeless however, as no matter who one is helping, there are others meeting difficult consequences in the process. Time is eventually reset and it appears as if solutions were never even reached, as the problems return at full potency. While the time in Ocarina of Time had moved too greatly, the time in Majora's Mask is constantly static. Even if Link solves the problems of various characters, there is still that moon to contend with, which signals the coming the apocalypse. Even the name of the world "Termina" is similar to the world "terminal", which indicates the end. The game's whole premise may be attributed to a famous saying, "an individual true character is only revealed when faced with dark times" a phrase that blends well with the character driven plot of Majora's Mask. The only aspect of the game that truly irked me was the time limit, which is a concept of gaming I greatly despise, especially in a Zelda game which encourages vast amounts of exploration. Despite this, Majora's Mask is still a favorite, right down to when Link ventures back into the unknown world, engulfed by obscurity and alone...
  
  Killer 7
  After all that emotional babble and awe of the cruelness and vastness of time, comes Killer 7, a fantastic and frankly messed up game. Having played the game in late May/early June, Killer 7 is easily the most recent game on this list, if that means anything in the grand scheme of things. The game is flat out amazing, basking in a bizarre red pool of light. You play a guy who thinks he is seven ( actually possibly eight) guys, ranging from a wrestler armed with twin grenade launchers, to a woman in a tight dress which is always stained with blood who's special ability revolves around slitting her wrists in order to remove barriers. Yeah, puzzle solving takes on a whole different approach in Killer 7, that is guaranteed. Your comrades include a severed head named Susie and man in a gimp suit attached to a bungee cord who has his eyes sowed shut yet, often states how he believes he should be a male model and comments on the physics of various females... The enemies also share this oddity, being biological terrorists that have a thing for laughter and let loose blood in spectacular arrays, similar to the release of silly string or confetti. In regards to the laughter, I often felt as if it was coming from the main character's head for some reason... It has this quality to it that is both unnerving yet, oddly soothing... Oh and by the way, an old man in a wheel chair with a tank piercing sniper rifle and a guy in a business suit with green eyes are having a chess game throughout the whole thing, which if you haven't guessed yet, is crucial to the story, obviously. That is what sets Killer 7 apart from other games, its sheer originality and intelligence, or if you like, insanity. The story of Killer 7 is particularly complex and symbolic, displaying various concepts I have an interest in. The human mind, the contrast of opposing forces, politics in general, and various other intriguing factors are explored in Killer 7. The game's twisted take on events as well as its atmosphere is positively delightful, earning that "Mature" rating in the process in factors beyond violence and language. (Although there is a lot of that as well) If games such as Killer 7 were in greater abundance, surly the video game medium would be considered an art form by now. The game has also managed to garner a great deal of respect and admiration for SUDA51 on my part, causing a great deal of anticipation for his next title, No More Heroes. This is one of the few games where when a twisted smile appears on your face, you know it's a good thing.
  
  That's it, for now anyways. It obviously may change at any moment, although I doubt any of these games would suddenly be struck from the list.
  
  Honorable Mentions:
  Super Paper Mario
  Pokemon Gold/Silver
  Banjo-Tooie
  Super Smash Bros. Melee
  
  Ineligible Games that May Have Made the List:
  Age of Empires 2: The Age of Kings
  The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
  Tetris
  

  • Posted Jul 1, 2007 10:01 am PT
  • Category: Editorial
  • 4 Comments

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• 29Jun 07

  Game Ratings

  In light of GameSpot's new review system, specifically the scoring, being imposed on all users, I am unable to provide the correct ratings that I feel games deserve. I in fact, find a difference between games separated by .1 increments, hence I will now list the true scores for various games I rate in this blog from now on. I shall still give games a rating based on the new system, rounded to the closest interval, yet if one desires to discover what score I truly believe a game deserves, one can find said game with said score here. All games I rate after Killer 7, (which ironically, would fit on the new rating scale since the game attained a score of 9.0) shall be listed here regardless of score. This is more for personal reference really, as I find it can be intriguing comparing the scores of various games, discovering in the process what one enjoys in games and what one dislikes in games, learning more about games as a whole.

  Ratings: (Ordered by date)

  Pokemon Diamond(DS)- 9.1 (June 29, 2007)

  Super Mario Bros.(Wii)- 7.8 (July 31, 2007)

  Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest(Wii)- 7.5 (July 31, 2007)

  Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas(PC)- 8.7 (August 5, 2007)

  Star Wars: Episode 1 The Phantom Menace(PS)- 4.5 (August 5, 2007)

  Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones(GBA)- 9.2 (August 20, 2007)

  The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass(DS)- 9.2 (October 12, 2007)

  • Posted Jun 29, 2007 9:31 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 1 Comment

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• 20Jun 07

  The Trials of PC Gaming

  After holding off for quite awhile, I have finally attained Grand Theft Auto San Andreas, a game that had previously kept me at bay due to a large focus on this modern ideal of a "gangster". The factor that finally brought forth this desire for acquisition came from the large expanse of area that is said to be featured in the game. That certain thirst for exploration and adventure was able to combat the previously mentioned negative, not to mention the ability to customize the main character to a rather extensive degree.

  Yet, the saga does not end there however, as the PC itself has served as a large obstacle to hurdle. I do not own any of the other platforms that the game is available for, hence the PC became the only option. Alas, the keyboard and mouse seems ilsuited for such a game, even with the customizing options. Actually, my computer is cursed with a touch pad interface instead of a mouse, obviously causing an already dire situation to escalate into further dissolution. A controller for the PC can solve this unfortunate circumstance, yet that peripheral costs more then the game itself, essentially doubling the purchase cost. All these factors could be overcome though, if the stability of the game seemed more assured. Even on the lowest graphical setting, there still appears to be some lag in some instances. I intend to cause a lot of chaos in the game, with lag most likely becoming a common and large enemy.

  If problems continue, I suppose there will be no choice, but to return the game. Such a problem would not have existed on a console, a factor that further fuels my dislike of PC gaming. There are simply to many cumbersome aspects keeping this area of gaming from being worthwhile, a sad thing really. I suppose this may be the main reason for the decline in PC gaming as a whole, the increasing compleixty that bogs down otherwise potentially worthwhile products.

  • Posted Jun 20, 2007 6:32 pm PT
  • Category: Computers
  • 7 Comments

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• 13Mar 07

  Making Me An Offer I Can't Refuse

  
  Why must Wario fail me so, after abstaining from his one true genre for so long? Wario: Master of Disguise has received rather mediocre reviews and although the notion may seem somewhat naive all things considering, it has dissipated my desire for the game. Although the age old philosophy regarding video games states that one must play a game before passing final judgment, I am heavily inclined to just side with the reviews on this one. They usually are correct and it would seem rather ludicrous for all those critics to be off and feature such a difference to what the actual quality of the final product is.
  
  With that said, the next game to garner some interest from this individual is The Godfather: The Blackhand Edition for the Wii. Thanks to a recent discovery of the sheer quality of certain Mafia inspired films, (The Godfather Parts One and Two) I daresay I may have gained a slight interest in such organized crime..... from an artistic perspective of course. As fate would have it, a game focused on such a topic is soon to be released for the Wii. Judging by the renditions of the game for other systems, the game definitely has the potential to be an enjoyable experience. Hopefully it won't end up breaking my heart as a certain other game did. All this has put me in the mood for oranges.
  
  
  

  • Posted Mar 13, 2007 10:15 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
  • 8 Comments

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• 18Feb 07

  The Score so Far

  Well Term one has come and gone and I have finally required my marks
  from that ordeal. They are of course, below my satisfaction, but are
  an improvement from last year. So without further rambling......
  
  
  
  

  • Science- 83% (Probably should have conducted research for several
    assignments. More studying would have also helped, although overall I
    did rather well compared to the rest of the students.)
  • 
    
  • Career
    Studies- 93% (Although the goal is to have a plan for the future, I
    still have no idea on what I'm going to do after High school.
    It doesn't help that I dislike work ether, wishing to find someway
    making as much money as possible with as little work involved as
    possible.)
  • 
    
  • Civics- 97% (Basically a very basic
    introduction to law and politics. Alternated with Career Studies, with
    each course being a half credit of sorts.)
  • 
    
  • Religion- 91% (Sigh, the downfall of attending a Catholic school. My main criticism
    is that a Religion course must be taken each year, taking up a slot
    that could be used for something else. At least next year I can take
    World Religion instead.)
  • 
    
  • Latin- 88% (Must have
    done horrible on the exam. Sigh, French has destroyed any interest I
    could have in another language. Took this mostly for the history
    portion.)

  
  Overall Average- 89%
  
  
  
  Now for this semester;
  
  
  
  

  • History-
    (It feels so long since I have had a proper History forbidden
    areas that will be covered are both World Wars, allowing this forbidden
    bepotentially very interesting, especially with the teacher.)
  • 
    
  • English- (Always an odd experience.
    The room is really out there, considering its a portable. Who's idea
    was it to teach English in a portable anyway? First time I've been in
    one of those things since a portion of Gym over a year ago. Oddly
    nostalgic......)
  • 
    
  • Business- ( Hmmm,
    an interesting course to say the least. There are five girls with
    quadruple the amount of guys, or maybe a bit more. One of the former
    are rather intriguing to say the least. Errrrr..... I should probably focus on the actual academics more.)
  • 
    
  • Math-
    (This year I should actually pay attention, at least for the first bit.
    Teacher seems to have quite a positive outlook, only time will tell if
    it stays that way... Some carry over people from my business course,
    including those of particular intrigue.)

  
  To complicate matters, courses for next year are to be chosen soon, I think I'm going to go with these;
  
  
  
  

  • English
  • Math
  • World Religion
  • Anthropology, Sociology, and Psychology
  • History to the 16th century
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Introduction to Canadian Law

  
  I guess I'm posting this in case anyone has any words of wisdom, on anything really.
  
  
  
  Oh and I recently downloaded Kirby's Adventure via the Wii's Virtual Console service. The game was originally released for the nes. I'm finding it to be very enjoyable so far.
  
  
  

  • Posted Feb 18, 2007 12:58 am PT
  • Category: General
  • 7 Comments

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• 30Jan 07

  Mario Kart 64............. And Other Matters...

  Yesterday, I downloaded the Nintendo 64 hit, Mario Kart 64 via Nintendo's Virtual Console service. This acquisition marks my second virtual console game (the first being The Legend of Zelda) and the first Nintendo 64 game to be downloaded. As luck would have it, one of my comrades came over yesterday and we indulged in arguably Mario Kart 64's greatest attribute, the multiplayer. All in all, the Virtual Console version seems to be a faithful recreation of this classic entry in the Mario Kart series. Although the sound does seem to be a bit "wonky" at times, (mostly in the choose your game menu) its not really noticeable and I am unsure if this was not present in the original game. Its certainly not as bad as some people would have you believe at least.
  
  Oh and examination is basically over with a new term starting rather soon. (This statement alone constitutes this entry being placed in the general category.)
  

  • Posted Jan 30, 2007 4:44 pm PT
  • Category: General
  • 10 Comments

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• 25Jan 07

  Exams Coupled with a Need to Harvest

  
  Over the last few days, I have begun playing Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life a great deal. Don't let the title fool you, it is quite a sinister game, in that the prospect of farming and conversing with NPCs will keep one coming back again, and again, and again, and again................. and again. There are quite a few other games that I must finish and have been neglecting due to said sinister game. I have not even properly started The Legend of Zelda: Collectors Edition, having only played around with one of the Wind Waker demos and watched the short videos that were included on the disk. The Wii version of the Legend of Zelda still remains unfinished, but I have a good idea of where it is leading (how could one not?) and decided to give it a score. GT Pro Series has only been played twice, both times a horrendous experience game wise. Guess having Harvest Moon command free time is not all bad.
  
  Mario Kart 64 is supposedly coming to the Virtual Console next Monday, with the News Channel finally arriving this Saturday. Both will require some attention. Not to metion the whole exam thing going on right now, bloated tests that are worth 20% to 30% of one's final mark. Not too bad when one considers the amount such tests are worth in University, yet they as well require some attention, which is one of the reasons I am not frequenting GameSpot regularly and won't be for at least another week. Once I'm done with this semester I'm planning on playing through the Collector's Edition version of Oot. (Most likely followed up by MM) I am tempted to start into that game early though and it does transcend the need to farm, especially since I did not plan on seeing that game all the way through. (I'm not a fan of the ending) I am disappointed that Nintendo downgraded Oot over time, resorting to changing Ganondorf's blood to green and other such nonsense. When Oot comes out for the Virtual Console, it will hopefully be the original, Islamic chanting and all.
  

  • Posted Jan 25, 2007 10:08 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 2 Comments

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• 17Jan 07

  The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition

  Through an interesting turn of events, I have recently attained The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition. The prospect of replaying Oot on my Wii using a GameCube controller is perhaps the best reason in my opinion to own this disk yet, MM, Loz, and Aol are present as well making the disk all the more better. Of course now, perhaps I should not have bought Loz over the virtual console, (I still have yet to complete it) though at $5.00, it was not too great a loss. I nearly own all the games in series in some form now that Aol is within my possession. Only La is needed and I will have every game in the series in some form.
  
  
  

  • Posted Jan 17, 2007 6:50 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 5 Comments

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• 12Jan 07

  Of 07 and Cherry Sours

  Well the future is here, although it sure does feel rather familiar with little dramatic changes. Personally, I was hoping for a lot more neon lights to make a presence this year. Of course, its still early in the game so to speak, but the lack of neon lights so far is rather off putting when one is hoping for a large amount of neon lights in 2007. At any rate, this year feels like 2002 with a dash of 2005. Oddly enough, 2 and 5=7, so take that as you will. 2006 seemed to be a lot like 2003, so this is not the first occurrence of a year seeming rather familiar. I have recently rediscovered Cherry Sours however, allowing this whole business of reminiscent years to be taken much easily. They truly are a delicious snack and even factored prominently within my Thursday, which had a large focus on cherries for some reason. Cherry Sours are by no means cherries however, they are a rather sour candy, yet the name cannot be for naught....
  
  Getting to things actually video game related, GameSpot's recent review of WarioWare: Smooth Moves is rather odd. It seems as if GameSpot is trying to win back Wii fans and perhaps make up for the Twilight Princess review. Although this may cause some Wii fans to sway back to GameSpot, the Zelda community has been absolutely ravaged after the review. Really, Only the Legend of Zelda Union and the Twilight Princess Union have truly survived, which can be attributed to their sheer size. Now, the review is not the end all cause, but it did at least factor into the banning of many Zelda fans who were less then pleased with the review, or at least that is what I assume. Others have left the site for greener grass on the other side of the field so to speak. Its quite a shame that people such as Link_Soul have now left GameSpot, willingly or not.
  
  Well, on the bright side, I made another music video, although I'm not sure if too many people will like it. Its the sort of video that I really enjoy along with the music, but I can have rather odd taste at select times, at least when compared to the general population. It was still fun to experiment with a lot of the effects that Window's Movie Maker offers.
  
  Alas, exams for first semester are quickly approaching and I have projects due soon. Sigh.
  
  

  • Posted Jan 12, 2007 9:38 pm PT
  • Category: General
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• 25Dec 06

  The Game Plan

  Well, Christmas has come, bringing with it an assortment of presents and focus on all things jolly. My area has yet to receive snow however, which is quite odd considering Canada is not one to go without snow at this time of the year. This year I also found myself making my Christmas purchases on Christmas eve, that makes three years in a row. I've found one can find some relatively good dvds for less then $10, quite convenient indeed.
  
  So I suppose one may wonder what I received for Christmas. Well, those that are particularly astute will have realized the very recent addition of two new games to my collection and my now playing lists. Those two games are Yoshi's Island DS which I am currently enjoying a great deal and ...GT Pro Series for the Wii.............. yeah.........
  
  Outside of Video games, I received two new music CDs, a Queen CD which considerably bolsters my previously rather pathetic music collection for such a great band and a Greatest Hits CD of Donovan. I'm also supposedly finally going to get an ipod early one in 2007. Thanks to the Wii, my batteries can no longer be pooled to my CD player. There was also a collection games, think Chess and dominoes, a gift card, and a few shirts.
  
  Well, I'm going to spend most of my Christmas break re-playing Twilight Princess. Afterwards, I plan to play Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door again. There is something about the Paper Mario series that keeps me coming back despite having beaten them quite a few times before. Furthermore, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door is one of my favorite games of the last generation, second only to Twilight Princess. I really do hope that Nintendo releases Super Mario RPG for the virtual console soon, considering that the Paper Mario games were spiritual sequels to it and I would like to finally get a chance to play it. I'm also looking forward to Super Paper Mario greatly, really liking what I have seen of the game so far. Although I am a bit worried that due to the platforming aspect, the game's story won't be as great as previous Paper Mario stories. Platformers made by Nintendo tend to have, how should I put this..... non existent story. It would be a shame if Nintendo took such a route with Super Paper Mario as it was the story segments that I enjoyed most in previous Paper Mario games.
  
  Oh and if Nintendo thinks Metroid Prime 3 will tide me over early on in 2007, they are sorely mistaken. I don't like the Metriod series to same degree I like many other series. The games are high quality and Samus is an awesome character and all that, (the atmosphere in Metroid Prime was great in the sense that you were all alone) but I did not find myself having too much fun playing the games or at least not the amount some others seem to have. ( Metroid Prime was the highest scoring game on Game Cube here on GameSpot) At any rate, I won't be getting the next Metroid suffice to say and I hope Nintendo does not put too much faith in it and forget about other titles such as Super Paper Mario.
  

  • Posted Dec 25, 2006 6:46 pm PT
  • Category: Opinion
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• 21Dec 06

  Tribute to Twilight Princess

  
  
  WARNING, MAJOR SPOILERS IN VIDEO.
  
  Hope it conveys at least a bit of the awesomeness of Twilight Princess.
  
  Its quite a shame GameSpot didn't think Twilight Princess was good enough to win best action/adventure game.
  

  • Posted Dec 21, 2006 6:42 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 5 Comments

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• 17Dec 06

  Onward to 2007

  Its quite the event, riding around Hyrule field in Tp. I just started a second file on Tp and I am still awe struck by how epic the field is and its large size. Really, this is only the second time that Hyrule has been featured in 3d, (WW does not count, all that water negates any presence Hyrule had) so perhaps it should not come as a surprise that it would have such a effect, yet that does not make it any less impressive. There have been a lot of complaints about the game and many suggestions to "improve" the next Zelda. 90% of the suggestions would most likely backfire, seriously, an MMO? What good would such a game achieve? How about the thought of making Zelda the main controllable character? Did we learn nothing from the CD-I games?
  
  I guess my point in regards to Zelda is that at the end of the day,  its all about the thrill of adventure.
  
  In other news, I've been at GameSpot for about a year now, although that would be shorter if the Legend of Zelda Union had moved. Of course, that did not happen and will not happen, for obvious reasons. GameSpot has been attaining a lot of hate for their reviews lately. If you go to any other site, the mention of GameSpot will incite a wrath like no other. This does not bother me, but those that dislike the games that have been on the receiving end of the questionable reviews seem to be accumulating at this site. Worse yet, many members have since disappeared for various reasons.
  
  At any rate, those that are still displeased with the reviews that some games have received should sound off on the reader's choice for 2006.
  

  • Posted Dec 17, 2006 4:45 pm PT
  • Category: General
  • 4 Comments

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• 6Dec 06

  The Roots of a Legend

  
  
  I purchased the original Legend of Zelda from Nintendo's Virtual Console service via the use of Wii points. (500 to be precise.) I never had the opportunity to fully play the epic title and decided to make it my first of what is sure to be many online purchases from Nintendo. As it stands, it is no surprise that there are Zelda fans complaining about recent Zelda titles being easy. Even Alttp was relatively easy by comparison, or it may just be that I am not use to the movement of Link as well as only being able to thrust the sword forward. Considering this was released early on for the Nes, the quality is surprising and the special aurora that the other Zelda games have is clearly present.
  
  Should be fun.
  

  • Posted Dec 6, 2006 6:37 pm PT
  • Category: Games
  • 6 Comments

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