tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-385732802024-02-19T10:55:29.334-05:00Writer's Blog!The Official Blog of Ryan KeyworthRyan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-59254293876458713192014-10-30T14:36:00.000-04:002014-10-30T14:37:25.889-04:00Dragon Age Keep Open Beta Impressions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXQo89gRJ0tlYgCzfWxAEJr3kQRPm2iSPluiBe-Yhb0KK73AodLMEGCYhtRV5drIeY20UHuXzo9H1mfN8pMTKTmDjdBtnj7ljsi5yVpVhyfWgG9RgA12KAv_k7bsI1yrbx3Ut/s1600/DAIlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzXQo89gRJ0tlYgCzfWxAEJr3kQRPm2iSPluiBe-Yhb0KK73AodLMEGCYhtRV5drIeY20UHuXzo9H1mfN8pMTKTmDjdBtnj7ljsi5yVpVhyfWgG9RgA12KAv_k7bsI1yrbx3Ut/s1600/DAIlogo.png" height="147" width="320" /></a></div>
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Dragon Age Inquisition is only weeks away, and Bioware has
finally launched the open beta for the Dragon Age Keep. Unlike previous Bioware
releases, Dragon Age Inquisition will not feature a save game import feature. At
least, not in the traditional way. Instead of porting a save file over from
Dragon Age 2 into Dragon Age Inquisition, players will establish their world
state via the Keep, an online app that allows you to upload save games from
previous Dragon Age releases, and tracks those decisions for later use in
Inquisition. For those who may have not played previous entries in the Dragon
Age saga, the Keep allows you to make choices and establish your in-universe continuity
the way you would like to see it. Once you are satisfied with your world state,
whether by uploading or customizing, you will then be able to transfer that
data into Inquisition when it is released on November 19<sup>th</sup>. </div>
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The Keep seeks to solve two problems. The first is carrying
over save files from one console generation to the next. The second is to solve several import bugs
that occurred throughout the series. This pleases me, as nothing was more
frustrating to me as a player than having everyone in Kirkwall tell me that my
Grey Warden sacrificed his life to end the Blight, when in fact, he did not. </div>
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Yesterday, the open beta for the Keep went live, allowing
players to get their hands on the app and test it out. In order to get a full
impression of what the Keep’s general capabilities are in terms of customizing
the world state, I decided to try and rebuild it from the ground up, as opposed
to uploading a save file from a previous play through.</div>
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Overall, the Keep is
a very fine tool to use in crafting your own save game. It looks pretty, and
has a simple to use interface. Choices can be made quite easily, and the logic
of the system is on point. As I tried to recreate my own world state, it would
frequently stop and make sure I was making accurate decisions, as some of the
choices I was customizing interfered with the default set up. Fortunately, one
click is all it takes to fix the problem, and the choices are readjusted
accordingly.</div>
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One aspect I really liked about the Keep is that when your
world state is finalized, you can watch a little “previously on” type video
that explains with greater context everything that transpired along your world
state, narrated by none other than storyteller supreme, Varric Tethras. Having
Varric narrate the video was a nice touch, and made it feel less like an
application, and more like a piece of the lore. It’s almost as if Varric is
sitting around a fire and telling a story.</div>
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I did have a few problems with Keep. When customizing your
Grey Warden, it seems odd that you are not allowed to change his/her name. The
only way to go into the Keep with a name of your choosing is to upload your
save game to Origin, then sync your Origin account with Keep. It’s a massive
headache when it should be as simple as “What was the Warden’s name?” Likewise,
you are unable to a give a name to your dog. If I start Inquisition and they
refer to my dog as Barkspawn instead of Wrex, I’ll be pissed the hell off. Mostly
because Barkspawn is a stupid name.</div>
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Another oddity in the Keep is that some choices are
extremely specific, covering nearly every possible outcome and nuance. For
example, did you tell Filda that her son, Ruck was dead despite the fact that
he was alive? Did you tell her the truth? Did you kill Ruck and tell her the truth?
Did you kill Ruck and lie? Literally every outcome is covered in that option. Meanwhile,
the Landsmeet does not cover whether or not you got Anora’s support, or if she
betrayed you. It breaks it down to, “Is Alistair king or not?” Okay that is an
exaggeration, as it does ask specifically how Loghain died (in a duel with
Alistair on mine), but it seems like big details are being left out.</div>
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If you played Awakening, you may be surprised to see that
there is absolutely no mention of most of your party members or their fates.
While Nathaniel and Ohgren are covered in detail, no one else is. We know that
Anders and Justice show up again as one being in Dragon Age 2, so covering
their fates in the Keep doesn’t matter (well, not until DA2 that is), but what
about Sigrun, Velanna, and even Varel? All of these characters can either live
or die depending on your choices. Not tracking those choices basically means we
will never see or hear from them again. I can understand Varel not being
covered somewhat. The chances of seeing him again are extremely low considering
his voice actor, Robin Sachs, tragically passed away. Velanna and Sigrun on the
other hand were companions. It would nice to meet up with them at some point in
the future. If this is the final version of the Keep, we sadly never will.</div>
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Overall, the Keep is a very nice tool for building your
world state in preparation for Dragon Age Inquisition. While I would certainly
like Bioware to tackle my objections, even if they don’t it’s not the end of
the world. It should be interesting to see what awaits players in Inquisition,
and the Keep offers us a tiny glimpse of what that may be.</div>
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Pros:<br />
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Simple and Easy to use (for the most part)<br />
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Typically very specific with choices and options<br />
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Varric narration is a nice touch<br />
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Cool artwork<br />
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Solves continuity disrupting bugs such as the fate of the
Warden in DA2<br />
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Cons:<br />
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Unable to name the Grey Warden, Hawke, or Dog<br />
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Could use some background music<br />
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Some decisions seem simplified<br />
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No information on the fate of Varel, Velanna, or Sigrun</div>
Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-54723311934661279932014-05-04T22:11:00.000-04:002014-05-04T22:11:25.046-04:00Runners Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuLMuHQtDv8QTyL4bkAlVVdQ3UmDSqviM5PJSzDfb2hK_H8Rqga775-2HUW41A1qxhz7p9chr3npY1e0E4gmGFrrAci7nAK6L3xY-U8z8Cm7CS1yW1D0af_EMmSoKsOVhCrMG/s1600/runners_badgoods_index.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDuLMuHQtDv8QTyL4bkAlVVdQ3UmDSqviM5PJSzDfb2hK_H8Rqga775-2HUW41A1qxhz7p9chr3npY1e0E4gmGFrrAci7nAK6L3xY-U8z8Cm7CS1yW1D0af_EMmSoKsOVhCrMG/s1600/runners_badgoods_index.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
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Last weekend, I was lucky enough to attend C2E2, Chicago’s
coolest comic book convention. Now, I
love C2E2 and I try to visit it in some form every year. Of course, my favorite part of any con is
artist alley. I love rubbing shoulders
with fellow independent creators, making new contacts, and finding some hidden treasures. This year, I found one such treasure. That treasure is a science fiction graphic
novel series called Runners.</div>
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Runners is about a group of space aged smugglers, desperately
trying to make a not so honest living in a not so honest galaxy. The crew is made up of the gruff Captain Roka,
his easily angered, yet pragmatic second in command Ril, the young recruit with
a kick ass glowing arm, Bocce, the gleeful, gambling sharpshooter Cember, the
enormous stone like warrior Bennesaud, and the amnesiac stowaway Sky. Together, they try to make their way in the
galaxy. Sadly, they aren’t very good at
it, because they constantly find themselves in heaps of trouble.</div>
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To put it simply, Runners is a fantastic comic. The stories for the first two graphic novels,
Bad Goods and the Big Snow Job, are fun, exciting and extremely clever. Sean Wang (who is not just the writer, but
also the artist), manages to craft a story that is witty and engaging, with a kooky
and all too loveable cast of characters.
While each installment features a standalone adventure, Wang manages to
also foreshadow some farther reaching story elements, interweave the tale with
some great character moments, and pepper in some intense and thrilling action
sequences. </div>
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To make it even better, Runners has some truly incredible
artwork. The character designs are rich with detail, yet clean and
polished. Not only that, but all of the
alien designs are so weird, so fascinating and so otherworldly. I can honestly say that I have never seen
such cool and interesting alien designs.
One of my favorites is Cember. He’s
a happy go lucky marksman who has a set of tentacles for legs, and a set of 5
or so eyes that wrap completely around his head. It’s such a cool and creative design, just
like every character in Runners.</div>
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Another thing I love about Runners is how jam packed full of
content the graphic novels are. When you
pick up a volume of Runners, you aren’t just getting a great story. In the last pages of both volumes, Wang includes
all sorts of extras, including a short story, concept designs, pinups, and even
a translation guide to help you pronounce all the crazy sci-fi alien
names. If you pronounced the name Cember
like KEM-ber, you’re doing it wrong.</div>
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Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Runners. Sure, there are a few flaws. The color work in the second volume is a bit
drab at times, particularly during the opening gun battle. A few major characters (Bocce and Bennesaud)
haven’t had much to do thus far into the tale, leaving me a little cold towards
them. Other than those minor nitpicks,
Runners is one hell of a comic!</div>
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With its cast of unique characters, fun and clever storytelling,
pulse pounding action, a witty sense of humor, and some incredible artwork,
Runners celebrates sci-fi geekdom with big ol’ stupid looking grin on its
face. With a seemingly effortless craftsmanship,
Sean Wang delivers a science fiction adventure that is more fun than any comic
has the right to be. And comics are
pretty damn fun. The biggest flaw
Runners suffers from is the fact that there is no third volume to start
reading. Well…. not yet anyways. </div>
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If you love epic sci-fi action, elaborate alien creatures,
rich new worlds, and cool star ships, I suggest you hop on over to<a href="http://runnersuniverse.com/"> http://runnersuniverse.com/</a> and start
reading it now! You won’t regret it! </div>
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I give Runners a 9.5 out of 10.</div>
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PS: Anyone else get the
Twilight Zone reference in the publisher name?
I dig it.</div>
Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-53421197330434958832014-01-14T00:00:00.000-05:002014-01-14T09:03:10.515-05:00San Diego Comic Con Drops Weekend Passes, Raises Prices<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgQiRv-xQuogo4IbSM_Lviqb2Rb3skOEzv3-VxFunDyvwsR8Hz5k1rcU31WYK5cLfNDy-X6R_lMTrwu58knrkBBnG50JQWBj5Mo9y9lObmpUgU7aNPdbfanBvhg7jBPiw_7vM/s1600/cci_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPgQiRv-xQuogo4IbSM_Lviqb2Rb3skOEzv3-VxFunDyvwsR8Hz5k1rcU31WYK5cLfNDy-X6R_lMTrwu58knrkBBnG50JQWBj5Mo9y9lObmpUgU7aNPdbfanBvhg7jBPiw_7vM/s1600/cci_logo.png" height="320" width="268" /></a></div>
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Ah, San Diego Comic Con. A veritable heaven to all nerds, geeks, cosplayers, and entertainment enthusiasts. Every year, fanboys and fangirls from all walks of life gather for five days of celebrating everything pop culture. Comic books, movies, video games, you name it, you can probably find it at Comic Con. The preparations for one of the greatest entertainment expos on Earth (and other planets as well) should be bursting with feelings of excitement, not riddled with stress and confusion. Comic Con decided to change that, and a lot of other things as well. It was recently announced that SDCC would not only be raising the prices for their tickets, but will also no longer be offering weekend passes to the event.<br />
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For the record, SDCC is one of the hardest conventions to get tickets to. How hard, you may ask? For last year's show, tickets sold out completely in approximately an hour and a half. Yeah. Tickets were sold out before some of us even knew they were on sale. The theory behind removing weekend passes is to get more tickets out there to more fans who may otherwise not be able to go to the show due to the speed in which tickets sell out. Certainly a noble enough goal, but my question is this: is it even worth it?<br />
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Let's start by looking at the logistics of the scenario for someone like me. See, I'm just some average Joe living in the Midwest who, like anyone desiring to traverse across the country to SDCC, loves comics, movies and everything else offered at the convention. I would love to go! In fact, I've already been to a few conventions. The biggest is C2E2, which is an enormous show. So big, that after three days I still left Chicago feeling like I just scratched the surface of what C2E2 had to offer.<br />
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I once had a chat with a well known, professional comic book artist. I'd rather not mention his name for fear of coming across like a pretentious name dropper, and he may not want to be associated with a blathering buffoon such as myself. Anyway, we discussed the size and scope of some of the more popular conventions. According to the artist, SDCC is like ten C2E2s. Just hearing him say that made me feel overwhelmed. If SDCC is ten times larger than C2E2, and only has an additional day and half to experience the whole show... Hell, an entire weekend isn't enough, let alone one day! <br />
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It's almost more like a teaser than anything. Imagine going to the premiere restaurant in town. You wait in line for several hours, pay thousands of dollars, and are only permitted to eat an appetizer. You don't just want an appetizer after all that! You want the whole meal! For a guy like me, Mr. Average Joe, aka The Blathering Buffoon, spending almost $1,000 just ain't worth one day. I would definitely consider that for a whole weekend, because if I'm spending that kind of money, I want to get the most out of my experience. <br />
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It is true that SDCC is not prohibiting fans from going an entire weekend. Technically, you can purchase tickets for each individual day of the show. The problem is that weekend passes would be sold at a cheaper price point than buying each individual daily ticket. You would save about $10-15, generally speaking. Not only that, but holding a weekend pass also granted you access to the preview night.<br />
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Preview Night is a long held comic book convention tradition that gives VIP, and Weekend Pass ticket holders access to the show before anyone else. It's a smaller, quieter look at the show floor, and has always been granted as a reward for fans who want to see the whole show. <br />
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Technically, Preview Night is still around, but with strings attached. You see, to get access to Preview Night, you need to purchase individual tickets for Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the increased prices, and no discounted cost for purchasing the now extinct weekend pass. Only then do attendees have the opportunity to purchase the Preview Night ticket. Yes, even more money out of your wallet. <br />
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Odds are, you're already spending close to $1,000 on travel, hotel and food. Tickets for the whole show, including Preview Night will come to $200. That's a $20 price increase total. That might not sound so bad, but for a lot people, $20 can go a long way. Of course, I have never been to SDCC, so all of this is based on the traditional practices of other comic book conventions. I have heard that folks have always needed to pay extra for Preview Night at SDCC, but seeing as how I have never been, I really wouldn't know for sure.<br />
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According to SDCC, the cancellation of the weekend pass is because it is, "repetitive and often lead to people purchasing a 4-day badge despite not needing to attend everyday." So... people do not need four days to see everything Comic Con has to offer? Riiiiiight. So why does SDCC go on for four days then? How come I can see everything I need to in four days at SDCC, but the much smaller C2E2, I miss 40% of the show, and I have three days. That is a load of bull crap of the stinkiest kind. You mean to tell me that there is someone who purchases a weekend pass, walks in one day and says, "Man I wish I didn't get a weekend pass. There is nothing to do at SDCC today!" I suppose it's true that people don't <b>need </b>to go for every day, but then again, they don't <b>need </b>to go to San Diego Comic Con at all, do they? Are you guys going to cancel the show? Didn't think so.<br />
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I sincerely question the motivations behind SDCC's move here. On paper, it might seem like they are trying to benefit more fans by getting them into SDCC, but in reality, the only people they are truly benefiting here is themselves. Increased prices with no way of cutting costs for attendees, and not offering weekend passes to ensure they get the most bang for their buck... It just feels like yet another business succumbing to the seduction of greed, because that $20 price raise translates to 2.6 million dollars of increased revenue to SDCC. They will get that money too, because so many people want to go to the convention, it doesn't matter if you decide its not worth the trip, someone will take your place, and maybe that guy feels like he got screwed in the end.<br />
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I predict people will spend more money they can afford just to go to San Diego Comic Con for one day, only to be denied the experience they deserve, and walk away disappointed, maybe even enraged. Meanwhile, the figureheads behind Comic Con International will be soaking in the couple extra millions they just made off of a bunch of suckers. The worst part is, SDCC is so big, and attendance to the show is so coveted, they will get away with it, and potentially set a new standard for other conventions as well. This could be the first step in the death of the weekend pass as we know it. Which sucks, because big conventions like SDCC and even C2E2 need a whole weekend to let us enjoy all the fun and spectacle that these great conventions have to offer.<br />
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So what do you guys think? Do you agree or disagree with my perspective on SDCC and their decision to remove the weekend pass? Or am I just a blathering buffoon? Leave comments below and let me know what you think!Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-28738081326356495662014-01-11T11:00:00.000-05:002014-01-13T11:05:54.004-05:00I'm Back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcjzavAVM6TEeCC34bZqIvebROdTowKvz11Rq405OFIZY4OmxQ6mzfCmTsZTTq2Es_YbFnsiD0f80fy4C0uv7DJv7wP5rbPnVQI_UhamTCzmi3NlaESC5Bf2ea7Un8qBKcjZ3/s1600/RyanWebSitePic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcjzavAVM6TEeCC34bZqIvebROdTowKvz11Rq405OFIZY4OmxQ6mzfCmTsZTTq2Es_YbFnsiD0f80fy4C0uv7DJv7wP5rbPnVQI_UhamTCzmi3NlaESC5Bf2ea7Un8qBKcjZ3/s1600/RyanWebSitePic.jpg" width="140" /></a></div>
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Greetings internet! It has been way too long. I suppose I have a bit of explaining to do. Yes, I have been gone a long time. Considering the last post I made on this blog was over a year ago, and frankly, my posts prior to that were few and far between, I can imagine that many folks out there thought I was gone for good. To be honest, I thought I was as well. <br />
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You see, before I stopped writing, I had a bit of a... let's call it a "creative crisis." My comic seemed to be withering into nothingness, my editing jobs had dried up, most of the contacts I had made all but disappeared, and I could no longer foresee a scenario where I could make any profit on my writing. It wasn't long before my passion began to fade.<br />
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I tried various other avenues of publishing my words, ones that would surely offer more money making potential. However, as I began to dedicate all of my writing towards those newer, more lucrative endeavors, I had unintentionally wondered into a cage. I found that I could no longer write what I wanted to write about, in the way I wanted to write.<br />
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I don't mean to sound ungrateful, or unappreciative of these jobs I took on. Many of these gigs were for very close friends of mine, and the last thing I mean to say is that I didn't want to work with them, because that is not the case. The fact remained that I was writing for them, and not for myself. In fact, that is giving myself far too much credit. In truth, I was writing for money, and essentially turned myself into the literary equivalent of a prostitute. <br />
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The more I continued down this path, the more confined I began to feel. Like a fly caught in a spider's web, the more I struggled, the more ensnared I became. And soon, I began to lose faith. The more I wrote, the less I cared. Hollow had I become in my creative pursuits, and soon I simply could write no more.<br />
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During this period, I also had thousands of other forces at work in my life, further distracting me from my ambitions. Chief among them was the most powerful force on Earth: love. An absolutely amazing woman had entered my life (she drew the above cartoon of me!), and it was only a matter of time before we were engaged. The future lingered in my mind more than ever, and I had to do something to earn enough money for us to realize such a future. <br />
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I took a job working in retail. Yeah, that's right. I sold out to the man. But you know what? It wasn't all bad. I found the work surprisingly engaging. The job I took was surprisingly physical, offering up quite an exercise routine. Lifting, jogging, stretching, squatting, that sort of thing. In fact, I've lost a lot of weight and put on some serious muscles, bra. <br />
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Eventually, the job that was fresh, new and exciting took a turn for the mundane and repetitive. One day (like.. two days ago), I had a revelation, and not of something cool like the flux capacitor. No, my revelation was much more... depressing...<br />
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Every day I go into to work I feel a portion of my soul being sapped away. I spend 5 nights a week doing the exact same thing that I have been doing for almost a year. More hours of my life are spent with my co-workers than with my fiancee. I get to go inside from 30 degree weather, right back into 30 degree weather (I work in the meat and frozen food department). <br />
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I realized on that day, that I was in Hell... a frozen over Hell, and the blue light special of the day was my soul. I was reminded of a quote from none other than Bill Murray from <i>Groundhog Day</i>. "It's going to be cold... it's going to grey... and it's going to last you the rest of your life."<br />
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Okay, so yes I am exaggerating a bit, but the point is, I really don't want to work in retail. Sure my bosses are nice, my coworkers are cool, and it pays the bills, but it is ultimately not what I want to do. Nor is any other job that would fit into the category of "9 to 5." I want to write. And so, here I am. Back with a vengeance, and ready to get back to what I love most.<br />
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I am taking my blog very seriously this time around. Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, expect a new update. I plan on having plenty of new content this time around. Sure, I'll still have the articles, opinion columns, and reviews, but I also want to include some new stuff, and I can't wait to show you what I have planned. Every article posted will be shared on each social network I am a part of, and if that's not good enough, you can now subscribe to my blog to get the latest and greatest the second it's available.<br />
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And so, I will leave you with one last sentiment. Something I have said to many up and coming writers and artists at conventions, but had seemed to have forgotten myself. Stop waiting. Start creating. Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-55368576649943237672012-10-19T20:54:00.001-04:002012-10-20T11:34:18.590-04:00Let the Kids Trick or Treat for St. Jude!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everybody! I would like to draw your attention to a little charity auction going on right now. My good buddy Stephen Bryant of SRB Productions is putting on a charity to help raise money to fight against childhood cancer and other illnesses. He has established a nice auction filled with great artwork, comics, books, and jewelry from many talented individuals, including yours truly.<br />
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I have put up a lot featuring a signed issue of Star Crossed Galaxy #1, as well as three exclusive, never before offered prints! You can check it out <a href="http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/4961/auctions/5484/auction_items/108199">here</a>, or check out the other stellar items up for auction <a href="http://www.32auctions.com/organizations/4961/auctions/5484">right here</a>. As stated, all items from my lot will be signed by me. If you are wondering what the auction is all about, check out this interview with the man behind the curtain, <a href="http://www.pcmtechhelp.com/2012/10/19/comic-arts-halloween-online-auction-for-st-jude-charity/">Stephen Bryant</a>! </div>
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Thanks to everyone who bids, or at least spreads the word. It is for a great cause, and it's something that I am very passionate about. I wouldn't help out if I weren't. The auction ends October 31st, so you have plenty of time to bid. If you want to that is. Just know, these kids desperately need your help (cue super sad Sarah McLachlan music). </div>
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In other news, I will be at <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CB0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.detroitfanfare.com%2F&ei=vMOCUIrBOZTYyAHguYHgDQ&usg=AFQjCNF-sAFri_sB3CaAgrm1_rjr1I9VoQ">Detroit Fanfare</a> next weekend (October 26-28). I will be selling copies of Star Crossed Galaxy #1 and Twilight Pop Presents #3. I do not have too many copies, so if you want to stop by and purchase a copy, be there quick! Also, make sure to say hi to my table partner, <a href="http://rosemariemcclain.blogspot.com/">Rose McClain</a>, and take a ganders at her excellent artwork. She is absolutely amazing. </div>
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Two news updates, 6 plugs, 25 godzillion links later, and we've reached the end of this update. Thanks everybody for paying attention (I say to an empty room). Stay safe and awesome, and keep visiting da blag! </div>
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Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-74448123151371895892012-09-28T09:34:00.000-04:002012-09-28T09:35:50.379-04:00Where Have I Been?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I know I haven't been around much, but there's a good reason. I am now an official contributor of PCM Tech Help Show. If you like my articles and reviews, check me out there. I am literally doing the same thing at PCM that I do here, only now I get paid. <a href="http://www.pcmtechhelp.com/">Check it out here</a>!<br />
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The big question is, where does that leave my blog? From now on, the blog will be used mostly for news on Star Crossed Galaxy, and for anything going on with my life that I feel like posting. Or anything that would not be totally appropriate for PCM. Like if I rant about parking meters, or something.<br />
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But today, I would like to take a minute to announce that I will officially be heading up to Detroit Fanfare from October 26-28. I will be in artist alley selling copies of SCG, as well as Twilight Pop Presents. If you are up that way, make sure to stop by and say hi. <br />
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Well that's all for now. Make sure to stay healthy and happy my followers! <br />
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Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-54156193377224204682012-07-15T18:07:00.000-04:002014-10-26T08:26:19.682-04:00Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut Thoughts<br />
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Proof that cupcakes win every </span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">argument</span></span></h2>
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Mass Effect 3 was released back in March, and with it came a
furious tempest of outrage aimed at the ending to the would-be great sci-fi
epic. Mass Effect 3’s ending was
littered with plot holes, narrative inconsistencies, confusion, bleakness, and
disrespect to the fans and the lore that came before it. Now, Bioware has the right to shit on their
game if they want to, but the fans understandably outraged over an ending that
not only destroyed the entire galaxy, but also abolished every choice you have
ever made for your Commander Shepard, right down to the character’s gender
(“The Shepard?” Fuck that). Due to the
sheer power of the outcry, Bioware elected to calm the storm and release a new
extended ending. This ending would
feature additional cutscenes and epilogues that would further expand and
clarify the existing ending rather than change it. But considering how utterly horrific the
original ending was, would that be enough?<o:p></o:p></div>
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As it turns out, Bioware did not simply clarify their
ending. They did in fact change the
ending, however, the changed it by working within the confines of what was
already there. The truth of the matter
is that ME3’s original ending set out to destroy the universe, abolish your
choices and end the franchise on a ridiculous Adam and Eve reference. What other purpose does the revelation of the
asari goddess being a prothean serve?
Why else is the Stargazer scene necessary? And what other reason would they strip away
any reference to Commander Shepard by referring to him/her simply as “The
Shepard?” Why else would the Mass Relays
explode if not to cause a catastrophic event in every single system? Why else is it necessary to separate the
Normandy crew from the rest of the galaxy, if it is not consumed by hundreds if
not thousands of supernovas? Thankfully,
the ending is now much less grim and apocalyptic and actually commits to
stopping the Reapers.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There is not a whole lot that has changed in the EC, but what
has changed is dramatically different and has a massive impact on the emotions
you feel at the end of the game.
Firstly, the EMS requirements have been lowered to an achievable
level. Now, every single ending option
is available to you and your Shepard’s without having to resort to
multiplayer. As much as I appreciate this
change I can’t help but remember that Bioware promised this was going to be the
case at launch. Among some other changes
were new cutscenes that expanded the battle for Earth slightly, including an
especially excellent scene involving the chosen love interest. Also included is a stronger, more effective
confrontation with Harbinger. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The Catalyst has also been rewritten to actually make some
sense. Before, the Catalyst was an
artificial entity inhabiting the Citadel and controlling the Reapers. Obviously this creates a massive plot hole in
ME1. If the Catalyst is the Citadel, why
do the Reapers need Sovereign to open the relay in the first installment? Now, the Catalyst is the collective
consciousness of the Reapers (which was my theory! Woot!!!).
The Catalyst scene has been rewritten quite dramatically. Not only can Shepard argue with the Star-brat’s
logic, but the space toddler even admits to its own logical flaws. It also provides further insight to the
Reapers, the Crucible and all of the choices you can make for the ending. One other addition to this scene is a new
ending. The much requested “Screw you
Catalyst,” ending now exists. However,
this ending results in the utter destruction of this cycle, paving way for the
next cycle to finish the job we started.
Basically, the original ending is now the new ending. Control, destroy and synthesis are also explained
in greater detail by the Catalyst, and each have a unique epilogue sequence
that explain the result of your choice. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In my opinion, the Extended Cut does its job. Sure there are still tons of plot holes,
retcons, and a host of other problems, but at least there are no inbred
colonies. It’s not perfect, hell it
isn’t even particularly good, but it does its job. Had Mass Effect 3 shipped with this ending,
the fans may have simply said, “Well that was kind of sucky. But oh well.
Let’s start over and play again!”
However, the original ending was, in my opinion, an insult to the most
loyal of fans. It was like cutting off a
limb. This extended cut merely attempts
to put a band aid on and act like it’s all better. Sadly, the leg is still gone and there is
nothing you can do to repair the damage.
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Overall, ME3’s extended end fixes what it set out to
fix. The real problems throughout ME3
are still present. Just a little bit
more closure was added… sort of. The
biggest problem I have with the EC is that it still refuses to commit to
whether or not Shepard is alive. That
was easily the biggest gripe people had with the original ending, and yet,
Shepard’s status is still up in the air.
I don’t think Bioware realizes the power Shepard’s fate has on
players. If Shepard stood up and dusted
him/herself off, this whole debacle would be over. Fans would accept what they can’t change and
move on. Instead, Bioware continues to
force us to write the ending in our heads, without even bothering to give us compensation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Does my score of Mass Effect 3 change now that the EC has
fixed a few major gripes in the ending?
No, because it doesn’t fix the major gripes with the entire game. My biggest issues with ME3 had nothing to do
with the ending. They were the auto
dialog, the lack of closure, the useless characters that go nowhere, the
horrifically bad dialog and reputation systems, the lack of player agency
throughout the game, no consequences for any choice you ever made; I could go
on and on. None of these problems were
fixed in any substantial way. When I
beat ME3 with this extended ending, I feel exactly the same as I did when I
beat the game the first time. Disappointed. Still, both ME3 and the EC have some high
points. I recommend getting the EC
simply because it’s free. Just don’t be
surprised if you still feel like you overpaid.
Mass Effect 3, you still get a 7 out of 10. Enjoy it.
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And one last note to my readers, don’t be expecting me to
review any more Bioware games or DLC. I
think I’m pretty much done with them. I
know many of my readers jumped on thanks to my ludicrous amount of Mass Effect
articles. I may be done with Bioware,
but I hope you guys stick around. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-81747882528161767672012-06-11T21:36:00.000-04:002012-06-11T21:36:49.130-04:00Prometheus Review<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We Have Found God. Turns Out He’s a
10 Foot Tall </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Steroid Addicted</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fester Addams.</span></div>
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I know I am not the only one on the internet who hates
prequels. In concept, a prequel is about
as pointless as it gets. The common
prequel starts off with an established piece of backstory from whatever it is
prequeling, and then proceeds to take the viewer right up to the earliest
events of the original story. So it’s
basically telling a story that we already know with an ending we’ve already
seen. What a waste of time. When I heard that Prometheus was a prequel to
the prolific Alien franchise, I was disheartened. However, if you hate prequels like me, put
your fears to rest. Prometheus is not a prequel to Alien. Prometheus is in fact its own story.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Prometheus is about the search for the origin of human
kind. All across the world, ancient
civilizations mapped out the existence of a distant planet. This planet may be the home of an alien race
that created human kind. Our old
friends, the Weyalnd-Yutani Corp, decide to lead an expedition of scientists,
botanists, biologists, geologists and all other kind of ists to make contact
with these ancient aliens we call “the Engineers”, and perhaps discover the
answer to the most puzzling question of all time; “Why?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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To be quite honest, the story to Prometheus is a mess. It’s a hot mess of ideas thrown together,
cobbled up in a big dripping ball, and then lunged into the air, breaking off into
sludgy disgusting pieces as it cascades to the ground. Not that I can blame studio executives for
getting excited upon reading the outline because the story foundation of
Prometheus is solid. What it lacks is
logic, believability and characters that aren’t all too dumb to live. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Every character is supposedly an expert in their field, so how
the hell do these “experts” end up doing exactly the opposite of what any <b>real </b>expert in their field would do?! Here’s a hypothetical example. Imagine a fireman trying to put out a fire
with whiskey. That’s pretty much the way
these “experts” think. There is no way
in hell any of these people are experts.
They are too stupid. Not to
mention the main character Dr. Elizabeth Shaw.
For someone who claims to believe in God she sure does everything she can
to prove he doesn’t exist. Shaw is
religious only because the script says so.
How can I believe in characters like this? It’s sad that the most realistic character in
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<o:p></o:p>Beyond the horrible characters, Prometheus also just spits
in the face of logic at every turn. “Hey
guys, we may be on an alien world but the air is 100% breathable according to
our sensors. If it’s all the same to you
guys, I’m going to ignore the fact that we are on an alien world and take off
my helmet and breathe in potential contaminants, bacteria, and contagions that
may not be able to be detected by our Earth technology.” Yeah, these smart dudes take off their helmets
just because it’s fun, and then they are actually allowed back in their ship,
ignoring the fact that these people may be contaminated. Then the best part happens: everyone is
shocked that people start getting sick.
Idiots. It’s hard to feel bad for
characters that bring every bad thing on themselves by making stupid decisions.</div>
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Prometheus is not all bad though. It is masterfully filmed, featuring some
excellent cinematography, brilliant effects and an undeniably stirring
ambience. The movie is perfectly paced
and is extremely tense. Prometheus may
have a bad script, but that does not prevent it from delivering on its chills
and scares. It really is a beautiful
movie. That and the acting is
terrific. I give special props to
Michael Fassbender, who plays the android David, serving as a care taker of
sorts for the crew. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Prometheus suffers from a weak story that was clearly under
thought, or simply underdeveloped. The characters
are too stupid to inspire even a single semblance of pity, leaving Prometheus
to be a hollow and emotionless experience.
The story also asks way too many questions while offering absolutely
zero answers, once again leaving the audience unsatisfied. However, it is successful in its thrills,
chills, creeps, and scares. Prometheus
also features one of the most intensely visceral scenes produced in modern
cinema. A scene that is brutally
memorable, perhaps even iconic, and certainly worthy of being placed right next
to the original Alien’s first chest bursting scene. Prometheus will be long remembered for this
sequence alone. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Overall, Prometheus is a fun and thrilling adventure. Though it wants to be more, it ultimately
amounts to a mindless yet entertaining sci-fi thriller. It’s not nearly as good as Alien or Aliens,
but it is miles beyond Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection. It has a lot of great ideas, but the execution
leaves them dangling around like flies stuck in a spider’s web. It’s not cohesive, but it is a fair
effort. Perhaps Scott’s eyes were just a
tad too big for his stomach on this one.
Either way, his filmmaking ability is still in top shape. The narrative… well… that’s another
story… I give Prometheus a 7.5 out
10. It’s disappointing, but not
terrible. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-487578288111026292012-05-08T15:46:00.001-04:002012-05-08T16:22:42.520-04:00The Avengers Review<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WFBTuzkFWUu5ZLeEEDShsR-h83L3Ah9WEm2r9YkP10CPuqGPGWCFZMebfJeR2Jn6rqT2GmR8L6wJrrOlZWlIuNxaXBF5uBfaOtramWywGcoDnkppnYU0FvvSx9oil3vIzu5C/s1600/The-Avengers-2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WFBTuzkFWUu5ZLeEEDShsR-h83L3Ah9WEm2r9YkP10CPuqGPGWCFZMebfJeR2Jn6rqT2GmR8L6wJrrOlZWlIuNxaXBF5uBfaOtramWywGcoDnkppnYU0FvvSx9oil3vIzu5C/s320/The-Avengers-2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We all knew this day was coming. Ever since the end of the credit roll in Iron
Man back in 2008, we all knew that one day, The Avengers would assemble. That day has now come. However, gathering these heroes together is
no easy feat, as The Avengers is not simply its own movie, nor is it simply the
continuation of five movies that came before it. It is also a movie that carries the weight of
four separate film franchises on its shoulders.
The task ahead is not easy, not to mention the scale of the hype that
has been building for four long years.
The Avengers could only go two ways.
Either it was going to be the greatest super hero film of all time, or
it was going to be the most disappointing film venture in the history of
cinema. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When I review a movie, I try not to nitpick. What I try to do is analyze what the movie
did right or wrong from a more academic level.
That’s kind of the problem with Avengers. I cannot think of any one thing this movie
did that was fundamentally wrong. I
could nitpick, but even that which I would nitpick is just me reaching. Of course, this makes for one hell of a movie
going experience! The Avengers really
does deliver on the hype in a way that almost defies logic. You would think that if any Marvel movie was
terrible, it would be Avengers. And yet,
Avengers manages to be so good, that some of the other Marvel movies seem to
lose their luster. Yeah. It’s that good. Then again I am a Marvel fanboy, so maybe I
am biased.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In Avengers, Loki has returned from his exile to conquer
Earth. Armed with his mysterious staff
that has the power to control minds and an army of Chitauri (if you are
Marvel-savvy you know that means Skrulls) he is bent on subjugating the world’s
population to bow down before him. We
Earth folk have other plans. Nick Fury,
agent of SHIELD has assembled a team of extraordinary individuals to take Loki
and his army head on, and show him why attacking Earth was the biggest mistake
he has ever made. That is, of course if
the team can take a break from fighting each other. At face value, you think its standard
superhero team movie fare, until you realize that you have never seen a real
superhero team movie. In the X-Men
movies, was there ever a character that was even remotely relevant beyond
Wolverine? Was teamwork ever
emphasized? No. There was no teamwork or unity in the X-Men
movies. It was all about Wolverine and
how the team can help him accomplish the task.
If someone were to ask me who the main character is in the Avengers, I
would say it is the Avengers. Everyone
gets their shot at the limelight and each teammate is the main character of
their own story.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Right out of the gate, Avengers starts strong with the
introduction of Loki. He has changed a
bit since his days on Asgard. No longer
is he the tortured adopted brother desperately seeking Daddy’s approval. Now he is a dastardly, sadistic super
villain. In fact, he is a classic super
villain. You know the one who breaks off
and starts to monologue even when he totally shouldn’t (which serves up one of
the funniest moments in movie history mind you). He is much more like his comic book
counterpart in Avengers than he was in Thor.
It is definitely interesting to see this level of character development
from the villain. Interesting and
exciting. As the movie continues, it
just keeps getting better and better.
Each character gets their own individual introduction, bringing the
audience up to speed on who they are and what their powers and problems are.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Joss Whedon, the man we know as the that really underrated
director dude who graced television with such cult classics as Buffy the
Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly (and his directorial debut in the movie
follow up Serenity), handles Avengers with a masterful touch. His background in character driven drama is well
suited for this epic, and Whedon never skimps on character or drama. In fact, the best part of Avengers is its
clear understanding of the characters.
Whedon knows each member of the team.
He knows their strengths and their weaknesses. But most of all, he knows what makes them who
they are. The conflicts that each hero
has with each other are not only natural and organic, but usually quite tense. There is no situation where a character dislikes
another simply because the plot needs him to.
When these characters dislike each other it’s because they are simply incompatible. A perfect example is the relationship between
Captain America and Iron Man. These two
simply cannot, will not and do not get along.
And yet despite it all, they all have a common goal, common ground they
can all stand on. It is this story that
is most interesting, the quest for these heroes to find common ground, despite
the fact that they do not like each other.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Beyond the engrossing character drama, Avengers also has a
great sense of humor. Like most of
Whedon’s work, Avengers does not take itself too seriously. In fact, this movie is sometimes so funny,
that it is hard to hear some follow up jokes and dialog because you (and the
audience in my case) will be laughing so hard.
Even more interesting is that each character has their own comedic shtick. Iron Man has his sarcasm and over the top
personality. Banner has this geeky
awkwardness that invoikes laughs and sympathy.
Cap is this fish out of water who does not always understand the cheeky
pop culture references. And then we have
Thor who has this boisterous charm. “You
are petty. And tiny.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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The action in Avengers is top notch. It’s kind of like Michael Bay’s action, only
much more coherent and way more creative.
By creative I mean the way that the action scenes are shot and by what
the characters do when they go toe to toe with the Skrulls (or each
other). There is one shot in particular when
the camera pans around the entire city during the climactic final battle that
showcases not only the geniuses of the cinematography (which is phenomenal by
the way) but also the brilliant use of the Avengers’ abilities and their
teamwork. It’s utterly genius. Very few directors can manage to pull off the
full spectrum of entertainment the way Joss Whedon can. Some are good with the drama, other the
action, still others with humor. Whedon
seems to be the master of all. And then
some. Lucky for us, the guy makes summer
blockbuster nerdfests. Joss Whedon is
this generation’s Steven Spielberg. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the part of my reviews where I usually talk about
what the movie did wrong. In this case,
I can’t, because as I said before, I cannot think of one thing that this movie
did legitimately wrong. That’s not to
say it’s perfect, because, what’s perfect?
It’s that I cannot imagine Avengers being any better. That is some significant praise. It is literally everything we fanboys were
hoping it would be. Now, I’m sure there
are some people out there who hate Avengers, for whatever reason, but come
on! Really?! This movie was amazing!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Avengers really is the greatest super hero movie of all
time. They are Earth’s mightiest heroes,
and this movie did them justice well beyond what I was expecting. Exhilarating action, a hilarious sense of
humor, a commitment to its characters, compelling drama, brilliant cinematography,
excellent music, razor sharp dialog, and fantastic performances contribute to
the extreme excellence of The Avengers.
It is literally the most fun I have ever had at a movie. I am not kidding when I say I was bouncing in
my seat with joy and excitement. And it’s
not just because of the fan service (which Avengers offers in spades). It’s just flat out entertaining as hell. I don’t mean to sink into clichés here, but
if you only see one movie this year, see The Avengers. And then go see it again. And make sure to stick around for the entire credits
to be done. You will be glad that you
did. I give The Avengers a 10 out of
10. In fact, I might give it an 11. <o:p></o:p></div>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-81750969603586882322012-04-18T18:43:00.003-04:002012-04-18T18:47:30.000-04:00C2E2: Friday Report!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUefuJK8vJjyB7Ay2Unec0jQTRrfbFa9LrUN0jV8jo7MEvaI02Xca99FixlL4CbFeeeH51A0Fmi7yIvHTh1YAo26yqlwcWnvGvDsGKoCnTrC9Zo2FV61z36b6fag_-3NPiaVj/s1600/C2E2_2012_Booth.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEUefuJK8vJjyB7Ay2Unec0jQTRrfbFa9LrUN0jV8jo7MEvaI02Xca99FixlL4CbFeeeH51A0Fmi7yIvHTh1YAo26yqlwcWnvGvDsGKoCnTrC9Zo2FV61z36b6fag_-3NPiaVj/s320/C2E2_2012_Booth.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732875584619516082" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Yup. It’s that time again. C2E2 has come and gone. Last year, C2E2 became my first comic convention that I actually participated in. It was a great show, and Star Crossed Galaxy and Twilight Pop Productions had a huge turnout. As for me, I was a rookie looking to drink all the knowledge and experience everyone else had to offer. This year, I was a little more seasoned. I had a better booth, more freebies and more products to sell. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> It all started on Friday morning. I didn’t sleep a wink the night before. I was nervous about oversleeping and missing the train. I also couldn’t stop thinking about if I had packed enough supplies for the show. After convincing myself that I was just fine, I ate a half a bowl of raisin bran, showered up and headed off to the train. Last year I went with my pal Andy, which made the trip go by rather quickly. This year I was going solo, and without my i-pod. I was pretty screwed. Fortunately, I was sitting next to a pretty cool guy and we chatted most of the way up. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eventually I made it into Chicago, and though I was not quite as idealistically enamored by the large cityscape as I was last year, I was equally overwhelmed. I was looking for Graham Cracker Comics which had a shuttle pick up just outside the building. I was told that Graham Cracker Comics was right across the street of Millennium Station. Of course, being in the big ass city all by your lonesome gets a tad intimidating. I ended up walking the totally wrong way, but by the time I realized I was going the opposite direction, I noticed the Sheraton Hotel was in sight. I stayed there last year, so I knew they had a shuttle pick up right outside the hotel. I figured heading that way was a better alternative to doubling back and searching for a comic shop that I have never been to. On my way to the Sheraton, some guy attempted to con me twice. Fortunately, I’m no sucker. I know a bullshit story when I hear one. It was actually kind of funny the second time he tried to con me, because it was only a minute or two after the first attempt. Either way, I was headed to the shuttle and nothing could stop me from getting there. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After arriving at the station, I went to my hotel room, which was attached to the convention center. A little advice, never stay at the hotel that is attached to the convention center. This trip became so expensive there was no way I was making a profit. My fault for procrastinating on a hotel. Anyways, I ended up getting lost trying to find my hotel, because McCormick is frigging huge! Seriously, it was like walking around the Citadel in Mass Effect. Actually, it kind of looked that at times too. Anyways, I finally checked in, got to my hotel room and unpacked. My initial plan was to check in and eat some lunch before heading down to the show floor. Sadly, getting lost in Chicago set me back a whole hour, and it was time to get to the show. I had to forego lunch for today. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At long last I made it to the show floor. I set my booth up and got know my neighbors. Antonio, Elvin, Bryan, you guys were awesome. All three were fantastic artists and awesome neighbors. I have been very fortunate that both of my C2E2 experiences have been with great neighbors. I hate the inevitability of one day having crappy ones. Either way, Friday was kind of a slow day. Not many sales or a whole lot of interest. Though there was this funny rumor that Shia Labeouf of Transformers and Indiana Jones 4 was there selling his comic in artist alley. Yeah, right. We got that dude who played Boomer in the old school Battlestar Galactica signing autographs, but a rising Hollywood pet managed to sneak into artist alley unnoticed? Give me a break. It was nothing but a goofy rumor that would soon become an urban legend. Most everyone discredited it because most people said they heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was starting to get bogged down in the weakness of Friday. I decided to take a trip around artist alley and introduce myself to the other artists. I ran into my old neighbors Stephen Bryant, Jeremy Dale, and Dave Crosland. It was great seeing all of them once again. I also ran into Enrica Jang, a fellow writer and editor working on an anthology dedicated to William Shakespeare (submission is incoming, I swear!). I also ran into a few newbies, Sean Bishop and Gabriela Sepulveda. Sean was selling his first comic, The Freeloader which is a very charming and fun little comic. Gabriela was selling her paintings and taking commissions. It was their first shows so I was interested in checking in and looking out for them. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that I was in the same position. Big congratulations to both of you. I met so many great people over the weekend I have actually lost track of who and when I met them. In fact, I could dedicate a whole post to the great people I met up at C2E2 (which I may actually do). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anyway, the show winded down. Friday turned out to be a horrifically bad day for me in terms of sales, but in terms of networking, it was excellent. Now that the first day was done, my number 1 priority was to get some gorram food. I had been awake for more than 36 straight hours with only a half bowl of cereal to sustain through the day. Fortunately, the hotel was just a brisk walk away from the show floor. I met with my dad and my little brother as they were just entering the hotel. My little brother loves comic cons, so I invited them up to the show for the weekend. We headed up to our hotel room. I was so dizzy that I fell getting off the elevator. Turns out that not eating anything for a whole day while running around near constantly has a bad effect on the body. Who knew? Anyways, we ordered some pizza a buffalo wings, watched the Red Wings game (in Chicago no less), and then I passed out near instantly. All in all, it was a good first day. But this was just the beginning...</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">PS: The picture above is a shot of my booth on Friday. It really sucked but it got as the weekend progressed. <o:p></o:p></p><p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-64086679108509108042012-04-11T23:14:00.002-04:002012-04-11T23:29:02.113-04:00Visit Me at C2E2 April 13-15<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGulqlouJGhvqc7CwfFESxg8JQ6QwSEd8o2SSZGh8FvZvZP0W39ZMxYPNPgeoL0Im7tqPfwiQ69MaZYRABx8gZZ2bNNgYkBvJ0HWNZaqOHOkqMG2aMywbrtqSj-tPJFEgCmH1G/s1600/c2e211.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGulqlouJGhvqc7CwfFESxg8JQ6QwSEd8o2SSZGh8FvZvZP0W39ZMxYPNPgeoL0Im7tqPfwiQ69MaZYRABx8gZZ2bNNgYkBvJ0HWNZaqOHOkqMG2aMywbrtqSj-tPJFEgCmH1G/s320/c2e211.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730351025151403410" /></a><br /><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Hey everybody! I thought I would pop in and say howdy. Also if any of you loyal readers (all 3 of ya) happen to be in Chicago this weekend, take note that I will also be there! Yes, I will be at C2E2 in Artist Alley this Friday through Sunday selling copies of my comic book series Star Crossed Galaxy. I will also be promoting TwilightPop Productions, selling copies of the most recent issue of TwilightPop Presents and just generally hanging around. </span></span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><br /></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">So if you happen to be in Chicago, or even at the show, stop by, say hi, purchase some good reads, and profess your love for my blog. Also I will freely sign anything. Mostly copies of my comics that I sell you, but I am willing to sign boobs like all great celebrities should. Moobs are okay too, as I am an equal </span>opportunity<span style="font-size: 100%;"> signer. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">So there you have it. C2E2 this weekend. I will be sitting in Artist Alley at table F19. And of course, I will absolutely write up a full report on how the show went when I return, just like last year. Hopefully I will meet some cool celebrities. Last year, I bumped into Ghost Hunter while he was on the phone and Badger from Firefly perused my table. It was cool. Now I must go and pack. I have way too much shit to do and not </span>nearly<span style="font-size: 100%;"> enough time to do it in. </span></span></div>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-76189395652010926552012-04-05T12:49:00.005-04:002014-10-26T08:26:19.689-04:00Mass Effect 3 DLC Epilogues Announced<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2GJg5DKdCQUcN_JMAxzoFukJPCsvIKZh_yeva9trv0nRPRg96RBZYHFxWTczzdSrjGKILEzEmdiw5Ys2W2KkiSgyX1Nh8CzLPwtbVHFTSKqDEc72T6B-bWJXDJwz2qlTRmMk/s1600/good-job-dumbass.jpg" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO2GJg5DKdCQUcN_JMAxzoFukJPCsvIKZh_yeva9trv0nRPRg96RBZYHFxWTczzdSrjGKILEzEmdiw5Ys2W2KkiSgyX1Nh8CzLPwtbVHFTSKqDEc72T6B-bWJXDJwz2qlTRmMk/s320/good-job-dumbass.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727961597946342178" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>Bioware announced today that they will be adding a new DLC extended ending to Mass Effect 3. This extending ending will add new cinematic sequences and epilogues for those looking for further closure to Shepard’s story. Any combat? No. Do we get to kill Harbinger? No. Does the Normandy crew get saved? No. Do we get to live happily ever after with our love interest? No. Do our choices matter? No. The only thing this DLC will do is explain the ending. Wow. That’s it? Good to know you were listening Bioware. If you were listening, you would know that clarification is not what we needed. We needed a real ending that fits consistently with Mass Effect and its lore. Clarification will not work, and this is why.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><b><span>The Final Battle</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>In case you don’t know, let me give you a brief rundown. Mass Effect has been a trilogy of games that have emphasized choice, individual freedom, and player empowerment. You are Commander Shepard, and throughout the trilogy, you the player force Shepard to make difficult choices that have an impact on the story as it moves through it three chapters. Imagine it like this: Mass Effect is a movie. Bioware represents the writers and producers. They have a story in place and have already built the sets, filled out the cast, and have everything they need to execute the greatest sci-fi epic ever. They just need a director. We, the players, are the director and we get to cast the main character and shape his personality throughout the trilogy. Mass Effect 3 is where it all comes to an end. Sort of…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>So here we are, at the end of the story, and therefore the end of an era. Shepard leads his massive army of thousands, maybe even millions of ships to duke it out with the Reapers, ancient immortal space machines bent on destroying all organic life in the galaxy. It’s us versus them, man versus machine and this will be the final battle of our time. If the Reapers win, the extinction of all organic life in this cycle is complete and will begin anew 50,000 years from now, but if we win, our civilization has a chance to live on and experience the very tomorrow every race before us has fought to achieve. The stakes are at the absolute highest in the history of trilogy, and the tension is so thick you can practically cut through it with a knife. So why then is the final climactic battle so… dull?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>In ME1, we had one Reaper and only a handful of human ships to fend off the Reaper invasion. The climactic battle for the Citadel was one of the most epic and thrilling moments in the entire game. ME2 lowered the stakes slightly. Instead of fighting for the future of all races, we were just fighting for humanity. However, with the very real threat of dying during the climactic suicide mission, and the battleground taking place on the enemy’s home turf, ME2 end battle turned out to be even more exciting and thrilling than ME1’s. It is actually quite a phenomenal feat to achieve considering the smaller scale of the battle in comparison to ME1’s. ME3 is similarly phenomenal in the sense that it is literally the biggest battle we will ever see in a video game, with everything on the line, and yet, it somehow manages to not only be the most boring mission in ME3, but also the most boring mission in the entire trilogy. Typically, you want your last battle to be the most memorable battle in the story. ME3’s final battle was surprisingly bland, uninspired and uncreative. When a battle against thousands upon thousands of nearly invincible Reapers fighting against an army of literally every race in the galaxy is dwarfed by ME2’s climax involving only a dozen specialists against a few hundred peons, something is dreadfully wrong. Tell me how a cut scene and an epilogue can fix this, because I would really like to know. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 100%; "><span><span>Fans want to earn their victory. We want the </span>satisfaction<span> of knowing that what we did mattered. We want a final battle that showcases our hard work and effort. You did it in Mass Effect 2. If we didn't get the armor upgrade, Jack was </span>toasted<span>. If we sent Garrus into the vent, he got his face blasted off (one </span>missile<span> too many I guess). If we didn't have Mordin's loyalty, he was </span>probably<span> going to die. You did this </span>throughout<span> ME3, why did you pick the epic climactic battle to cheap out? Our only objective was get to the beam. You should have had the squadmates take an </span>active<span> role in the end. Perhaps you are being swarmed by husks, and </span>the <span>only way to make it to the beam is for someone to hold them off. If you have Garrus he volunteers and </span>successfully<span> holds the enemies off (if you got his loyalty in ME2). If Garrus died in ME2, Vega would step in and die fending off the horde. Have a team of asari </span>vanguards<span> pull our ass out of tricky situation. Have a wall of krogan charge a brute. Show us that what we did mattered! But most off all, we </span>wanted<span> to kick Harbinger's ass. We should have the chance to fight and kill him. An epilogue and a cutscene is no replacement for gameplay. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><b>Pick a Color</b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>This of course brings us to the end choices. I’m not going to go into a huge explanation as to what happens, because I’m sure you’ve already done it. Shepard seems to have overcome nearly all of the obstacles that prevent from destroying the Reapers. Suddenly, Shepard is transported to some heavenly area where he speaks with this ghostly child-looking entity telling Shepard that the Reapers were the creation of this “Star Child.” He created the Reapers to prune the galaxy of all organic life because organics will always create synthetic machines that will eventually rebel against organics. By killing all organics with his synthetics, he prevents organics from being killed by synthetics. No really. He says this. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>So the Star Child’s motivations make no sense. Big deal. He’s the bad guy so he does not necessarily need to make sense. He just needs to be killed like the bad guy he is. There’s only one problem with that scenario. There is an implication that the Star Child is not necessarily the bad guy. In fact, the implication seems to be that <b>Commander Shepard</b> is the bad guy. The Reapers are doing their job, and this Star Child seems to performing a civil service to the galaxy as a whole. According to him, we need to be extinguished because organic life only destroys. He’s not wrong. We human beings are very destructive at times. But then again, he is also being hypocritical. Shepard probably should tell the Star Child that he is a massive hypocrite and extremely narrow minded. After all, the Geth, a synthetic race that once rebelled against their creators are presently helping Shepard and co. rid the galaxy of the Reapers. While the Star Child was accurate when he said that “The created will always rebel against their creators,” he seemed to miss the part where the created also made peace with the creators. My Shepard would tell the Star Child this and reject his reality. Does he? Nope. He listens quite intently and believes the little twerp. He doesn’t question the Star Child’s insane, circular logic. He doesn’t point out the obvious fallacies in his words. No Shepard just goes along with what this ghostly toddler says. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>Finally, the Star Child presents Shepard with three color coded choices. Option blue is become a Reaper, which is so anti-Shepard it’s not even funny. In fact, this is so against the morals and ideals of Commander Shepard, regardless of whether you are a Paragon or a Renegade, that it is beyond logic to include such an option in the first place. The theory is that if Shepard becomes a Reaper, he will be able to control the other Reapers and send them away, allowing the galaxy to live on until they return once again in 50,000 years. So basically, he’s telling you to surrender. You surrender yourself and allow the Reapers to escape to return to reap again another day. Of course to become a Reaper, Shepard needs to die because it’s not art if the hero lives. Next we have the Green Option, synthesis. This basically means that Shepard can choose to create a hybrid race of synthetic/organics, preventing all future wars because we will all be the same race and therefore have no quarrel with each other. Just like how it is on Earth now. We’re all humans and we never fight each other ever. The Alliance and Cerberus, both human organizations, never fight each other right? And the geth never fought each other for any reason either right? Turians and the Unification War, Wrex against the traditionalists among the krogan, the asari and that whole pure blood dilemma… These are civil wars being fought between the same races. Obviously we just need to synthesize them into one species to put an end to all these inter-species civil wars. I love this plan! I’m excited to be a part of it! Anyways, if you choose synthesis you must melt yourself down and spread your essence to the new synthesized race, killing you because it’s not art if the hero lives. Option Red destroys the Reapers, which seems like the right call considering the entire trilogy has been leading to that very end. However, destroying the Reapers will also destroy all synthetic life, including the recent allies, the Geth and your AI buddy, EDI. The result will also kill Shepard because he is partially synthetic due to his extensive cybernetic implants used to revive him in ME2. Now the quarians have the same level of cybernetic work done on them, but they should be fine because they aren’t Shepard. And Shepard needs to die because it’s not art if the hero lives. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>Now, the obvious option is kill the Reapers. Look if you chose joining the Reaper or synthesizing all life in the galaxy, you simply weren’t paying attention to the story. Shepard’s number one goal is to kill the Reapers. Whether you are a Paragon or a Renegade, the goal is always the same. Harbinger wanted to turn you into a Reaper in ME2, so by choosing that option, you will play right into their hands. Synthesis is essentially turning the galaxy into husks. Did you fight the Cannibals during the story or ME3? That was a race of human/batarin/robot hybrids. Sounds like synthesis to me. Does that sound like a fate that you want? Me neither. Either way, your choice doesn’t really matter. Regardless of your favorite color, Shepard dies, the mass relays explode, the galaxy is stranded in a Fallout 3 scenario, and your fellow companions, including your Shepard’s love interest, are stranded on an uncharted world where they can rebuild and repopulate. Yeah that’s right. Your love interest is going to need to become a baby farm for the future. Bioware is nothing if not classy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>Everything about this just wrong. All three of these choices betray the themes of Mass Effect. The themes of Mass Effect have always been individuality, unity, altruism, sacrifice and freedom. Though all of these choices represent sacrifice, none of the other themes chose to join the party. Not that it matters what you choose, everyone dies in some way no matter what. Out of curiosity, has anyone ever seen a movie where the entire universe died? No? Huh. I wonder why that is…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>It continues to get worse when you look at your three options and begin to evaluate how achieving these ends is even possible. What exactly is the purpose of destroy as an option? You think that the destroy option would be summed up by Shepard sitting down in front of the Star Child indignantly and saying, “Taste the wrath of army bitch!” Why is there a tube on the Citadel that destroys all Reapers after it gets blown up? What kind of sense does that make? Perhaps you are merely shooting a lock that opens the Citadel doors so that Hackett can take the Crucible and use it against the Reapers. That makes sense right? No it doesn’t make sense because the doors open, the Crucible fires and all mass relays are destroyed in every single ending regardless of your choice. On the topic of the Mass Relays, how the hell does killing the Reapers equate to destroying the Relays? Because they created the Relays? But if that’s true, why is it that all synthetic life is destroyed in the process? How is any of this possible? This makes no sense. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>What about Control? This one actually makes the most sense, believe it or not. Being that the Citadel was built by the Reapers, as was the Collector Station, we can infer by way of inductive reasoning that the Citadel has the ability to melt down organics and transfer their essence or soul or whatever into a Reaper or Catalyst or whatever. The Collector Station could do this, so why not the Citadel? However, once the Reapers are under Shepard’s control and forced out of the system, we have one issue. Why do we need to use the Crucible? The job is done, the Reapers are defeated, and yet, the Crucible is still used, effectively destroying the Citadel (which means Shepard dies too, being that he is now the Catalyst) and the Reapers are still destroyed. Why bother adding Control as a choice at all? The Reapers are still killed by the Crucible, the Catalyst still blows up, and the galaxy is still fucked. Control literally has the exact same outcome as destroy, so why bother including it? <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>What about synthesis? Well the theory behind synthesis is that if Shepard is melted down and his essence is spread to all races in the galaxy, organic and synthetic alike, it will create a hybrid race that will never be at war with each other ever again. I already pointed out the fallacy in believing that just because you are one race, that means you will forever be at peace, but an even more damning question remains. How the fuck is this even possible? If the Reapers can turn people into other Reapers using the Citadel, it makes sense they could synthesize an individual using the same tech. After all, synthesis is basically the same as turning people into Husks. But could someone please explain to me how in the name of God distributing the essence of one guy can somehow turn organics into half machines? I can somewhat see how it may work to turn synthetics partially organic. You take the organic genetic code from Shepard and fuse it with a synthetic and viola, hybrid race! It’s stupid and the means of dispersing this essence to all synthetics makes less than zero sense, but I can see it as a possibility. But if I combine Shepard’s organic essence to other organics, what exactly is accomplished? How can you make a hybrid organics/synthetic being with only organic genes? You would think you are missing a key ingredient here. Of course, ME3’s ending was designed to be bittersweet, but they left out a key ingredient here as well. Bioware just can’t cook, I guess. This whole portion of the ending can in no way make sense at all, even with highly descriptive epilogues. Fail.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><b><span>Closure? Too Mainstream</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>No matter how you slice it, Mass Effect 3 is incomplete. When you write a story there is a method that really should be followed, no matter what story you are trying to make. This is called story structure, which is a fundamental rule set of writing a complete story. It doesn’t matter if you are writing an action story or a comedy, the story structure is the same. It is up to the writer to adapt the story structure to fit the needs of the particular genre. Every story has an introduction, rising action, climax, etc. The problem with Mass Effect 3 is that it has no denouement. The denouement is the point in the story where all remaining questions are answered, all loose ends are tied up and everything comes to a full and complete close. A perfect example of a text book denouement is ironically from Bioware itself. Dragon Age Origins had a perfect denouement. During the Coronation, Alistair becomes king (or maybe he doesn’t) and every major character tells you where they are going and how the story has changed them. You as a player can decide what direction your character heads in. It wraps up every character and plot point relevant to the story. It is a near perfect denouement in video game form. Also notice that Dragon Age had both a denouement and epilogues. Why? An epilogue is not a denouement, that’s why. Mass Effect 3 has no denouement, and from the sounds of things, it won’t be adding one. It has no closure. It leaves everything wide open and makes the players feel like nothing has been accomplished. The story does not end. It simply stops. It is incomplete. No epilogue can fix this, because a text epilogue is not a part of the story. Not really. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><b><span>Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes!</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>Another issue I have is that Shepard’s goal is changed in the last minute. The entire trilogy up to this moment has not been to stop the reapers. The goal was to save the galaxy. Destroying the Reapers is merely the means of achieving that goal. However, the ending makes sure that the galaxy is destroyed no matter what. Sure the next cycle can live on without the threat of a Reaper invasion, but Shepard was never fighting for them. He was fighting for this cycle, for humans, turians, asari, drell, elcor. He wasn’t fighting for the future of organics he was fighting for the future of his civilization. He fails. The galaxy is destroyed. That is why players keep saying the felt like Shepard lost, because he did. His mission was to save this galaxy, not the next. He failed to do so. Shepard lost the war with the Reapers, he just happened to take them down with him (sometimes). Sure, an epilogue could say that the galaxy is fine and still alive, but that simply introduces retcons and plot inconsistencies with the effects of a Mass Relay explosion, which is something that has already been retconned. Are you going to retcon the Relays in each game? Is that really making things better?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-size: 100%; font-weight: normal; "><span>Finally, the biggest sin Mass Effect 3’s ending commits is the fact that Bioware changes the rules on us in the last few minutes. When the Citadel blows up, it creates a giant singularity black hole thing that sucks the Normandy through and transports them, in all likelihood to either an alternate reality or an extremely distant galaxy, maybe even a new one created from the white hole the destruction of an entire galaxy would create. What? Sense when are black holes, alternate realities and intergalactic travel through time and space possible in Mass Effect? To this point we have only dealt with interstellar travel (interstellar meaning between stars) not intergalactic travel (between galaxies). Bioware changed the rules of the universe and how it works in the last few minutes of the game. I remember Bioware talking in their behind the scenes footage about how they spent the first year of development discussing what is possible and what is not in the ME IP. Concepts like time travel, alternate realities and intergalactic travel were abandoned early in the process. When you saw the Normandy is swallowed by the black hole, you were also witnessing the betrayal of the IP that is Mass Effect. The rules of the universe were turned upside down and altered for reasons that are as of right now, completely unknown. This cannot be changed and the damage will forever stain the franchise. This was Bioware’s biggest mistake in Mass Effect 3, one that almost certainly serves as a starting point for Mass Effect 4. Selling out your trilogy in favor of more money? Show me the artistic integrity in that.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><span><b><span >In Conclusion...</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; "><span><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">In the final 15 minutes of Mass Effect 3, the story retroactively abolishes all of the themes of the entire trilogy, feebly attempting to rewrite its own history while simultaneously destroying what we loved about the franchise. All the good deeds Shepard has done are erased. All of the hard choices he’s made are invalidated. The entire story of Mass Effect is rendered meaningless because it turns out that the story had no meaning. How can simple cut scenes and useless epilogues fix the fact the end of Mass Effect 3 rendered the entire trilogy meaningless? How do you intend to sell DLC with this ending in place? Bioware chose to double down on their pathetic excuse for an ending, hiding behind artistic integrity. Well I’m a writer too, and in my professional opinion, Mass Effect’s 3’s ending compromises the artistic integrity of the Mass Effect story. I find the game’s ending to be an insult to the art form that is writing. Maybe I’m not a great writer. I’m young and I am still learning, but I know the fundamentals of writing. I know how a good story ends. Claiming artistic integrity for an ending that nullifies the entire story is </span></span><b style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size:14.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height: 115%">offensive</span></b></span><span><span><span style="font-size: 100%; "> to the art of writing. Artistic integrity you say? Please. Mass Effect 3’s ending is where artistic integrity goes to die. Bioware, this extended cut ending was a bad move. Doing nothing would have been a wiser strategy. This situation will now continue to get worse. You should have listened to your fans, like you said you would. I know you're trying Bioware, but sometimes I wonder who are trying to impress. Is this Extended Cut </span>meant<span style="font-size: 100%; "> for the loyal </span>consumer</span><span style="font-size: 100%; "><span> base you alienated with your uninspired ending? Or is this just a PR stunt designed to make the fans look unreasonable in the eyes of the public? I guess we'll wait and see.</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-88042003846900207182012-03-24T13:26:00.001-04:002014-10-26T08:26:19.692-04:00Finally: Mass Effect 3 Review!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzX8kB9YwuDd8tFcWnNUjmZD1iDwEyveqhjtVz1WdKz0Y4D5soteSLD_PMUFSqxpqn5h1iVvZADc2YUr1Jylg7Ooc-wy1us5gqAjFGPmfYwXz7QDWvelB4WPnv-AXxbL_6cs1/s1600/223810-ME3ending.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzX8kB9YwuDd8tFcWnNUjmZD1iDwEyveqhjtVz1WdKz0Y4D5soteSLD_PMUFSqxpqn5h1iVvZADc2YUr1Jylg7Ooc-wy1us5gqAjFGPmfYwXz7QDWvelB4WPnv-AXxbL_6cs1/s320/223810-ME3ending.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723516723429798130" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Finally, enough time has passed for me to cool down and evaluate Mass Effect 3 with a clear head. It is no secret that the game has come under considerable fire lately, specifically over its ending. You can see that I have already written a few posts here that demonstrate both the best and worst of ME3. Mass Effect originally started out as a sci-fi action/RPG based on classic sci-fi films of the 70s and 80s. It was to take your hero, Commander Shepard across a trilogy of adventures, allowing you to make hard choices, the results of which would culminate in its third act. A lot of hype was built up around Mass Effect 3, as it carried the weight of not just one, but three games on its shoulders. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mass Effect 3 really is a great game, a great game that suffers from monumental problems. Problems that I never would have expected coming from Bioware, of all studios. In fact, I think Mass Effect 3 may very well have become a vessel of Bioware ineptitudes in many ways. It is also an example of their greatest triumphs. This is one of the reasons that Mass Effect 3 is hard to review. It is both a symbol of excellence, and sheer disappointment. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mass Effect 3 tells the final adventure of Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect trilogy. For years Shepard has fought against the Reapers, desperately trying to keep them out of this galaxy. Unfortunately, the Reapers have arrived, laying waste to entire planets and civilizations. Shepard sets out on a mission to unite the entire galaxy behind him and lead the largest military force ever assembled against the seemingly endless might of the Reapers. It has all come down to this. Everything you ever wanted to know about the galaxy will be explained… or not…<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mass Effect 3 tells an absolutely amazing story, filled with tension, sorrow, loss, emotion and hope. Unfortunately, this excellent story goes absolutely nowhere. Bioware promised that ME3 would answer all of your questions and give closure to the story and the characters. Instead, Mass Effect 3 provides little in the way of answers, but leaves us with more questions than we have ever had. The Reapers, the supposed primary villains of the story, are little more than window dressing. For all of their otherworldly mystique and terrifying awe, they really come off as just mindless chaos machines. The chaos they bring about is rarely seen. I always thought the Reapers were supposed to intelligent, cold, brutal exterminators, but they seem to be nothing but nonsensical drones. The way they are portrayed in ME3 is expanded on even less than either of the previous installments, in which the Reapers weren’t even within our galaxy. Their motivations are never clearly touched on, with the exception of an explanation that is so ludicrous it has to be a bold faced lie.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the elements of a Bioware game is their cast of deep and compelling characters. Not so much here in ME3. Though the cast is primarily made up of the cast of ME1, one of the most compelling casts of any Bioware game in my opinion, it is clear that your squad this time around is riding on the depth of the previous games. Ashley, Tali and the DLC character Javik are handled quite well. Each has excellent story arcs that really bring their characters full circle. Meanwhile, Liara and Garrus are pretty much just along for the ride. Garrus, once my second favorite ME squad members, has proven himself in ME3 to one of the most mishandled characters in any form of entertainment <b>ever</b>. Garrus was introduced in ME1 and had a really cool character arc. In ME2, his character reset himself and had to learn the same lesson all over again. In ME3, he has no character development whatsoever. He’s just there. His development over the three games was extremely poor, and beyond frustrating for me, considering he was one of my favorites. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Newcomer James Vega proves to be the weakest link. He starts out with so much promise. He’s reckless and impulsive and has a real up and at ‘em attitude. Sadly, after the first act ends, he completely stops being relevant at all. His character development pretty much stops at the middle of his arc. I can’t speak on how Kaidan is handled. I have heard that he has pretty much the same role as Ashley. If that is the case, then it is pretty obvious that Bioware wrote that particular role on the notion that most players left him on Virmire. The role seems more tailored to specifically fit Ashley, given her opinions on the Council races in ME1. If that is true, that is extremely unfortunate, as Kaidan deserved better. Overall, this is certainly Bioware’s most uneven cast of characters to date. It’s sad that such great characters like Liara and Garrus seemed so shoehorned into the plot. Bioware is capable of far better than this.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another classic Bioware element that was extremely mishandled was the dialog system. Not just the dialog wheel, mind you, the entire system. The amount of auto-dialog in this game is staggering. It seems like players no longer have any control over what Shepard says. In fact, the auto-dialog got so bad at one point, when the prompt came up, I sat there wondering why Shepard stopped speaking. I didn’t even notice the dialog wheel. Not only that, but you had only two options, nice guy response or mean guy response. There was no longer any neutral option. There were hardly any persuade/intimidates, or investigate options and you never made any big choices. I suppose you could make an argument that in ME1 and ME2 you were setting up the dominos and now comes the time to watch them fall down. I’m still not happy with the lack of player determined dialog. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The new reputation system completely nullifies the paragon/renegade system despite the fact that it is still there. I’m not even sure how the new rep system works, all I can figure is that they may as well have just left everything open to everyone and threw the entire concept of reputation and paragon/renegade in the trash. It would have saved a lot of time, money and resources while yielding the exact same results. The interrupts, a brilliant innovation in ME2, are now utterly pathetic. Before the interrupt system had Shepard take a direct action in the middle of a conversation. Sometimes, you would throw a guy out a window, or maybe you shoved someone out of the way of an oncoming bullet. This time, Shepard simply interrupts the conversation, forcing the dialog to its end. That is it. Out of all of the interrupts, there were only two where Shepard actually took a direct action, one for renegade, and one for paragon. What the hell Bioware?! Whatever happened to Mass Effect being our story? Whatever happened to no canon? Whatever happened to wildly different conclusions? The lack of consideration of player freedom is deeply concerning.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Over the course of the trilogy, Commander Shepard has made some brutally hard choices. Do you kill or spare the rachni? What about the Citadel Council? How many members of your suicide squad made it out of ME2 alive? Nearly all of the choices get a payoff, but more often than not, they fall a little flat. The choice involving the rachni has an extremely weak payoff, while the Citadel Council choice changes the landscape of the story in an interesting, albeit minor way. Other choices, like preserving the Collector base, result in simple changes in dialog, while choices like keeping or throwing out Maleon’s genophage cure has enormous ramifications. The biggest divergence seems to be centered around who is alive and who is your Shepard’s love interest. These choices do not necessarily have large impacts, but they do effect the story long term. One thing I can say is that for most of the game, it felt like the story was custom tailored to me, even if the choices I made did not amount to all that much. That is something I can appreciate. On the topic of that romantic subplot, I must confess, Bioware did an excellent job seeing this plot through. The romantic dialog is sweet, occasionally sexy, but most of all, very heartfelt. There are lots of nice touches when interacting with the love interest characters. Sometimes it’s as subtle as holding hands while talking, or a brief kiss on the shoulder. And not to sound creepy, but the kissing animation was really well done. It wasn’t over the top or awkward. It’s a little weird to me how much attention to detail they put on making a kiss look real, but in the end, it sold the scene. I applaud Bioware for actually telling a beautiful love story over the course of the Mass Effect saga. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the gameplay side, ME3 features a new and improved combat system. It’s much more akin to Gears of War, but that’s not all that bad. In fact, ME3 has some features that Gears does not, like the slick cover movement around corners. The combat is faster, more intense, and truly makes you feel like a soldier on the battlefield. Shepard is more mobile on the battlefield, able to perform more combat maneuvers, evasive actions and slick cover to cover movements. One of the problems I had in ME2 was that the combat was very stale and repetitive. Not so in ME3. Shepard is constantly being redirected into new areas, forced to overcome obstacles and puzzles. It really keeps you on your toes. One of my favorite bits involved a chase on the Citadel elevators. Even though the combat is really fun and exciting, there is just something wrong with the fact that combat outshines the narrative gameplay features like the dialog wheel. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The weapon modification system was one of the many talked about features, and I can’t say it delivers on all of its promises, but it’s still pretty cool. Throughout the game, you collect upgrades that you can plug into your gun on any weapon bench you find. Scopes, extra clips, damage enhancing barrels, you can collect quite a supply of upgrades that will change the functionality of your weapon. Just don’t expect them to do too much. In fact, some upgrades, like the shotgun bayonet, are purely cosmetic changes, offering very little in enhancing your weapons functionality. Overall, I like the system well enough. I wish they went a little further with it, but it is pretty cool as is. On a slightly related topic, the SPECTRE shooting range is such a nice touch. Again, I wish they took that one a bit further, but the fact that it is here at all is much appreciated.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But what about the RPG features? ME3 showed me that Bioware really has no clue how to craft an RPG anymore. The branching levels in their new stat progression are pretty cool, I won’t lie. It does give you opportunities to define your character in the way you like to play. On the other hand, many of the powers seem very nerfed. Adrenaline Rush was the end all be all soldier power in ME2. In ME3 it’s an obnoxious headache that really doesn’t even slow down time at all. The new powers are hit and miss. Frag grenades for soldiers? Yes please! Nova for Vanguards? Hell yes! Sentry turrets for Engineers? Gimme! Cluster grenades for Adepts? WTF?! Seriously, some of these powers are just damn lazy. Why give biotics grenades? That’s just stupid. The powers are supposed to enhance the character we design. If I play an Adept, I want a cool Adept power, not stupid grenade. Grenades are for non-biotics! You want a cool power for an Adept, I’ll give one. It’s called Syphon. It drains the defense powers from enemies and enhances your abilities, giving a +5% to all powers used. Bam! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Side quests suck too, by the way. The mining mini game is back, only not as boring, but twice as obnoxious. This is how a side quest works in ME3. You walk by a guy, he mentions that he lost something, it goes in your sloppily designed journal and then you go out and mine planets to find it. Don’t mine too much though because the Reapers will enter the star system and chase you out. After that, you are locked of the system out for a whole mission. It sounds kind of cool at first, but it wears out its welcome fast. N7 quests are enhanced, featuring actual stories this time. Basically, you are thrown in a multiplayer map and asked fend off waves of the enemies (just like multiplayer!) until the mission is done. Oh and you get war assets, which theoretically help you achieve the “best possible ending.” Except for the fact that all endings are nearly identical, leading the galaxy into some apocalyptic nightmare, meaning the war assets you spend 50% of the game collecting amount to jack shit. Yay.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All in all, ME3, does tell a very emotionally gripping story, one that I am not afraid to admit that I cried during. However, the emotion is meaningless as the game’s ending invalidates the entire Mass Effect universe. The RPG features range from shoddy to well done, the combat is solid, but not perfect, and the dialog and reputation system is completely fucked, to put it mildly. Mass Effect 3 doesn’t really feel like Mass Effect, not by a long shot. And when the game ends, you can’t help but feel depressed. And you’re not depressed because the story you loved has come to an end, you’re depressed in the same way that you are when you finish watching the movie The Road, that post-apocalyptic movie with Viggo Mortensen. At its best, the ending necessitates a DLC continuation. At its worst the ending embodies nihilism, genocide, hopelessness and leaves you wondering if Shepard was the good guy, or the most evil son of a bitch ever born. Mass Effect 3 is a good game, but it is far and away the weakest of the franchise. The intensity of the combat and the generally well presented story can’t save the game from all of its failures. Had this game come from a studio other than Bioware, or even if this were Mass Effect 1, I would give it a 9. But seeing as how ME3 breaks the most traditional Bioware conventions and ends the trilogy on its lowest note possible, I can’t honestly give this game that kind of score. Is it worth playing? Hell yes it is. Just make sure you have plenty of antidepressants around the house first. Seriously, this game is so depressing that I haven’t eaten in a week. I’ve lost ten pounds! Best diet plan ever.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> As it is called Mass Effect <b><span style="font-size:14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%">3</span></b>, as in the third act of one story, one would expect that the same themes, atmosphere and gameplay mechanics should be maintained from previous installments. Mass Effect 3 throws out nearly everything the fans from ME1 and/or ME2 have come to love about the series, and clearly focuses on building a new audience completely separate from Bioware’s core fanbase. The game starts incredibly strong, weakens in its second act, picks up again in its third and then commits franchise suicide at the end. As excellent as much of this game is, Mass Effect 3 abandons far too much of what the series stands for. Things like choice, freedom, hope and unity are all abandoned in the third game for reasons no one is quite sure of. I give Mass Effect 3 a score of 7 out of 10. It pains me more than you could ever know to give such a score to Mass Effect 3, but I have to remain true to myself and my opinions. I should note that I gave both Mass Effect 1 and 2 a rating of 9.5 out of 10. That was on a different blog though, one that is long gone. And before I go, I would like to leave you all with a quote from my Mass Effect 3 is Going to Suck series of articles written back in July 2011:<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">“Let’s say for the sake of argument, that ME3 story disappoints the wider audience.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">It’s filled with plot holes, inconsistencies, ass-pulls, and baffling character derailments and has an ending like The Matrix Revolutions.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The gamers who play Mass Effect for the story all walk away with negative opinions.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The game is further streamlined to be a Gears of War clone, so the RPG fans walk away with a negative opinion, but the game features enough RPG elements and conversations to cause the shooter boys to walk away with a negative opinion as well.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Most of the characters and plots unfold in a way that screams it was written in an attempt to please the hater crowd, leaving the fans with a negative opinion and the haters (shockingly) still hate it.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Fans who would be pleased with just seeing their favorite characters back are disappointed with their lack of screen time and relevance and also have a negative opinion.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">EA demands multiplayer, so many of the core fan base do not even pick the game up.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">Those who do buy the game feel EA is responsible for all of its problems and its fall from grace.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">The negative opinions catch up to Bioware and ME3 has some of the worst reviews a Bioware game has ever had.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "> </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; ">New players who were interested no longer are, and sales are in general, are very disappointing.</span>”<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">God I hate it when I’m right…</span><o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-87981941682958123002012-03-21T22:06:00.003-04:002012-03-22T10:17:10.357-04:00Defending Mass Effect 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6k-b8gw6KaebyrMZAlqx0Ahuwzk62KNmmbTDMQdEJVmQ_4ZLLGp5yQCvsOFPCYO5jBSSx2iodPwy-kNYmhEXonkT-6MwnntPvgCmX6LNlugDwmEsQufLnxuZqqZYaqeZ5T2y/s1600/223810-ME3ending.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii6k-b8gw6KaebyrMZAlqx0Ahuwzk62KNmmbTDMQdEJVmQ_4ZLLGp5yQCvsOFPCYO5jBSSx2iodPwy-kNYmhEXonkT-6MwnntPvgCmX6LNlugDwmEsQufLnxuZqqZYaqeZ5T2y/s320/223810-ME3ending.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722725345846511266" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-size: 100%;">Only days after writing an open letter to Bioware about how </span>disappointed<span style="font-size: 100%;"> I was with the ending of Mass Effect 3, here I am writing up a defense letter. Am I consistent or what? The truth is, I feel really bad for Bioware right now. Sure ME3's ending was confusing, </span>anticlimactic<span style="font-size: 100%;">, and </span>flat<span style="font-size: 100%;"> out </span>disappointing. When the two most popular interpretations for the endings are either a) a dream that does not exist in reality and therefore never happened, or b) completely illogical nonsense that makes no sense to anyone, there is a serious problem. </span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">However, the ending is not the only part of </span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; ">the</span><span style="font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-family: Georgia, serif; "> game. Mass Effect 3 is a great adventure nearly all the way through. I really enjoyed playing it.</span><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; "><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><br /></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">The reason I decided to write this defense letter was because I saw a Twitter post from Jessica Merizan, community manager at Bioware. On her tweet, she asked what the fans' favorite mission in ME3 was. I wanted to respond her because I have a pretty great story behind why my </span>favorite <span style="font-size: 100%;">mission in ME3 is my favorite. Sadly, those stupid tweets have such a limited amount of </span>characters, so I could not write what I felt needed to be said. Luckily, I am not limited on my blog, so I will write it here. Before I begin my tale about my favorite mission in ME3 and my defense of Bioware, I must warn any and all who read this. There be spoilers in this post. Pretty big ones too, so if you have not played ME3 to at least the start quarian/geth plot in the story, I suggest you move along now and preserve what is certainly the most compelling part of the game (at least to me). </span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">I woke up one morning looking to get through the krogan story arc once and for all. I was </span>frustrated<span style="font-size: 100%;"> at this point </span>because<span style="font-size: 100%;"> my favorite character, Ashley, had been stuck in a hospital since the end of Mars. I wanted to get her back on the Normandy where she belonged. A friend told me that if I finished the krogan plot and then </span>returned<span style="font-size: 100%;"> to the Citadel afterward, she would be back on my team. That was today's gaming goal. In order to </span>finish<span style="font-size: 100%;"> up the krogan plot, first I had to do a favor for Wrex. Now, we have all played Wrex's mission so I won't go into details, as that is not the part of </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> game I wish to discuss. However, we can all </span>remember<span style="font-size: 100%;"> that it was quite an emotional experience. I was never a huge fan of Grunt. I liked him, but I didn't love him. However, I was still very protective of him. Daddy issues I guess. I am not sure. Either way, when he got his full on Boromir moment, I was weeping. I went from liking Grunt, to loving </span>his<span style="font-size: 100%;"> sorry ass. And when Grunt </span>reemerged<span style="font-size: 100%;"> victorious, I cried even more, with happy tears this time. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">After that emotional end to a very cool mission, it was time to cure </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> genophage. This mission was so epic, so awesome, and so </span>emotionally<span style="font-size: 100%;"> moving in </span>more<span style="font-size: 100%;"> ways than one, I almost thought I was at the climax of </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> whole game. It was that </span>supercharged<span style="font-size: 100%;">. </span>When<span style="font-size: 100%;"> the mission ended, I was crying again. But I was also jazzed. Several of this game's best moments happen in this mission. "You've been a champion to the krogan people, a friend of clan Urdnot and a brother to me," Wrex says. And to top it all off, we get the sad, yet inspiring farewell to one of the best </span>characters<span style="font-size: 100%;"> in </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> ME universe, Mordin Solus. Again, I cried. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">At this point, I was emotionally drained. I just </span>wanted<span style="font-size: 100%;"> to quit. I needed a break from ME3 for at least the rest of </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> day. I decided to follow my friend's instruction and pick up Ashley so that I would have her for the next mission. Big mistake. I headed back to </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> Citadel only to find that Cerberus was </span>throwing<span style="font-size: 100%;"> a coup. I couldn't quit now, I had a galaxy to save. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">This was my favorite mission. The </span>Citadel<span style="font-size: 100%;"> Coup. The action was intense, the story was solid, the tension was at its peak, and I was already emotionally drained form </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> missions that came before. At one point in playing this mission, the batteries to my controller died. After a brief freak out, I </span>quickly<span style="font-size: 100%;"> leaped up and grabbed some </span>spare<span style="font-size: 100%;"> batteries, however, I couldn't swap them out. You see, due to my obsession with marathoning this game, I played the most tense, exciting and emotionally </span>gripping<span style="font-size: 100%;"> missions in rapid succession. This was like </span>swallowing<span style="font-size: 100%;"> 5 pounds of sugar, drinking a quart of coffee and then taking a hit of speed. My hands were shaking from all of </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> adrenaline, and as much as I tried, I </span>could<span style="font-size: 100%;"> not replace </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> batteries to my controller. My hands were literally shaking that bad. Thankfully, my little brother was watching me play, and he kindly </span>assisted<span style="font-size: 100%;"> me in my time of need.</span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">The Citadel Coup garnered a </span>physical <span style="font-size: 100%;">reaction from me unlike any game I have ever </span>played<span style="font-size: 100%;">, movie I have ever watched, or book I have ever read. Battling all of those Cerberus agents in a </span>familiar<span style="font-size: 100%;"> area, facing off with Kai Leng for </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> first time, Thane's epic biotic bitch slap, the confrontation with Ashley, a sad yet fitting goodbye to one of my personal favorite characters; all of it combined to make these the most </span>memorable<span style="font-size: 100%;"> </span>moments<span style="font-size: 100%;"> in ME3. And when it was all over, I had my two great loves back on the Normandy, Ashley and Elanor, where they </span>belonged<span style="font-size: 100%;">. Oh, you don't know who Elanor is? Oh yeah. That's my Revenant light machine gun. I loved the gun so much that I named her Elanor back in ME2. Yup. That may seem strange to you, but when your two favorite sci-fi stories are </span>Firefly<span style="font-size: 100%;"> and Farscape, you grow an affinity for naming fine </span>weaponry<span style="font-size: 100%;">. </span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span ><span style="font-size: 100%;">Amidst this ending debacle, I just </span>wanted<span style="font-size: 100%;"> to voice my appreciation for ME3. I already voiced my concern, but I have </span>always<span style="font-size: 100%;"> said, if you are going to cut someone, you may as well have the common </span>decency<span style="font-size: 100%;"> to put a </span>band-<span style="font-size: 100%;">aid on the wound. So here is your band-aid Bioware. ME3 was a </span>thrilling<span style="font-size: 100%;"> experience. No matter what happens, you gave me one of the most thrilling gaming experiences of my life, one that will not easily be outdone. Heck, maybe that is why I did not care for </span>the<span style="font-size: 100%;"> ending, b</span>ecause<span style="font-size: 100%;"> that Citadel Coup was </span>just<span style="font-size: 100%;"> so unbelievably impressive. Even you </span>couldn't<span style="font-size: 100%;"> out do that moment. That's not a bad thing, really. I'm sure some fans hated this mission, but for me, it was the best. So thanks Bioware for the Citadel Coup. </span></span></div>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-65382074149182901212012-03-17T21:40:00.003-04:002014-10-26T08:26:19.684-04:00A Letter to Bioware<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_MGTLlFkUPeU5aDe9Jdy_kqKXzJhoDGUf6fvveqfq8k1oe9DKK0Qbh6Fjcg0u_j8aCSu41INMSjXsmPy8x9EaucQqlsMg4xcz3zaDma8-oksiRKnxo1a2Ruy692HDfPDqyJO/s1600/EndofME3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_MGTLlFkUPeU5aDe9Jdy_kqKXzJhoDGUf6fvveqfq8k1oe9DKK0Qbh6Fjcg0u_j8aCSu41INMSjXsmPy8x9EaucQqlsMg4xcz3zaDma8-oksiRKnxo1a2Ruy692HDfPDqyJO/s320/EndofME3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721050676875060466" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Dear Bioware,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I just wanted to step in and voice my concerns for Mass Effect 3. I feel it is necessary that I give my opinions because I think that with all that has happened over the last few days, it would be good for you guys to hear from a clear head. There seem to be a lot of angry fans out there, and while I am not angry, I am disappointed. First of all, I would like to begin by saying that Mass Effect 3 was immensely enjoyable. It was brutally intense and the story was better written than I could have ever hoped. I also really appreciated the more emotional side to the story. I felt that ME2 was a bit emotionally shallow in comparison to ME1, but for ME3 I am not afraid to admit that I cried more than a few times. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That being said, the ending really was a kick in the head. To be honest, I’m not quite sure what was going on. It seemed like Shepard was being indoctrinated. If that is the case, I applaud the ending, at least to some degree. It was cool how you designed the dialog wheel to seem like the Paragon action was really a Renegade action. Or perhaps it was a Renegade action. Either way, the real problem I had with the ending is that it really wasn’t an ending. The story just stopped. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There was no resolution. In fact, I am not entirely sure if Shepard even beat the Reapers. Was it all just a hallucination brought about by indoctrination? Did we take back Earth? What about all of those people on the Citadel? Are they dead? What about all of the races Shepard united? Where do they go? What happened to them? With the Mass Relays being destroyed, if they even were actually destroyed, then are all of the alien races stranded on Earth? I found this to be particularly alienating because I literally just got the quarians their world back. Now, they’ve lost it again. That was very unsatisfying. The ending took the choices I made throughout the trilogy away, and frankly seemed like a betrayal of concept, at least to me. I know I am not a game designer or anything like that, but to me Mass Effect has always been about our Shepard and the impact his choices have on the galaxy and the people around him. In ME3’s ending, I felt like nothing Shepard did mattered. I felt like the galaxy was in a worse state than if the Reapers would have harvested everyone. Of course that is assuming they didn’t harvest everyone. The ending was quite confusing on this topic. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I am also really upset with the Normandy crashing on the jungle world scene. It looked as if you guys were going for some kind of rebuilding the universe, brave new world type ending, however, the implications of what would have to transpire I found very unpleasant. I chose Ashley as Shepard’s love interest (all the way back in ME1), so am I to believe that Ashley is now a baby making machine for the future of the human race while Shepard lies in rubble? I find that notion to be extremely unsettling. Even more so when you take into consideration that Ashley just got Shepard back. She clearly had some deep personal issues that sprouted from Shepard’s death at the beginning of ME2. Now that they have been resolved, Shepard is lost to her yet again. That is such a depressing and cynical thought. So much so that it goes against the more idyllic vision of the Mass Effect universe. In fact, I felt the ending was extremely cynical all around. Do we not deserve a better tomorrow? Perhaps that was intended however the reality of the situation is grim. With no Mass Relays and entire races cut off from their homes, are we to believe that all of the races wouldn’t devolve into barbarians fighting for the dominance of their new world? The krogan would. The krogan did. On the topic of the krogan, we spent the whole first act of the game trying to build a future for their race, only to have that future destroyed. The males of the krogan race were out fighting the battle on Earth while the females were left on Tuchanka in order to protect their future. Does this mean that the krogan are extinct regardless of our choice? In which case, Mordin’s sacrifice is completely meaningless. The krogan die off anyway. Again, that is cynical and depressing. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If Mass Effect 3 had a more traditional ending, Shepard destroying the Reapers, saving the galaxy and living happily ever after with his or her love interest, if desired by the player, the ending would have been much more satisfactory to the players. This doesn’t mean that it would be all butterflies and roses. Obviously sacrifices must be made to ensure that victory. Sacrifice and hard work. I recall that Mac Walters said that Mass Effect 3’s theme was victory through sacrifice. I didn’t feel like Shepard was victorious. I felt like he lost. In my opinion, the theme seems to be nothing matters. Perhaps that is why the ending put such a bitter taste in my mouth. Because nothing seemed to matter. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I think Shepard deserves some happiness and peace. He’s been through enough. Some people may like an ending where Shepard sacrifices himself for the greater good. I do not. I want to choose an ending where my hero lives. If other players like Shepard dying for the cause then that ending should also be viable. That is the ending they should choose. I would like to choose an ending more fitting for my Shepard. I really enjoyed all of the endings in ME2. Shepard can sacrifice himself in the suicide mission as well, but it is one of a few options. Shepard can also live if it is what the player desires. Why could we not get endings like that in ME3? You say that the canon story for Mass Effect is decided by the players, but the ending of Mass Effect 3 is a canon ending that was forced on us. We players have spent 5 years with our Shepard’s now, and it just seems so depressing that this is how it ends for him, and for us. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Personally, I think it would have been cool if you made an ending like Dragon Age Origins. Perhaps a victory ceremony on the Citadel or Earth. The Council (provided they are even alive) could present Shepard with some medal or special honor. Maybe even give players a choice on where Shepard might go. There is an empty seat on the Council for humanity after all. Just saying. All of the squad mates and major non-companions like Wrex and Anderson (provided they are alive) could be in attendance, allowing the player to talk with them and get closure on their character arcs. And for players that like Shepard dying in the end, why not create a funeral scene. Anderson and maybe whoever the player’s love interest is could say some nice words and give Shepard the sendoff he deserves. Sure it is complete and total fan service, but isn’t that what it’s all about? <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All in all, Mass Effect 3 is a fantastic game. You guys should all be very proud of the achievement that it is, even with all of the negativity around the endings. I loved every minute of Mass Effect 3, with one obvious exception. And it is not that the ending is bad, it simply feels incomplete and offers little variety for players who may not wish for the story to end in this way. Considering that the major most selling point of the series has been choice, it is somewhat distressing that the ending does not offer many choices beyond Shepard’s (and the galaxy’s) demise. In the event that the rumors of a DLC that will effectively end the tale of Shepard and Mass Effect are true, I wanted to share my thoughts. I loved Mass Effect 3. I just do not think it was the ending that neither Shepard nor the fans deserved. We all know that in reality, the whole galaxy would likely succumb to the Reapers. But that’s why we play video games. So we can escape the truths of reality and bask in the fantastic, experiencing a brighter tomorrow, if only for a few hours. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your time,<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ryan <o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-12486962519335998002012-02-12T01:34:00.001-05:002012-02-12T01:36:01.012-05:00Mass Effect 3 Demo Impressions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAC8rec8SFHLbsUTGLkEt-uLand4FfTk_X4jMwq_HMDJ3U1hKSisgVUfYJj1kCZfGbSPOL5VbmaEY2OHewgd_It91fUNQ0ehIDufK2TXMDSUkrGJrHQn8spnQ0IaGE124nEAH/s1600/screenshot-001-kaidan_shepard_liara-p.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAC8rec8SFHLbsUTGLkEt-uLand4FfTk_X4jMwq_HMDJ3U1hKSisgVUfYJj1kCZfGbSPOL5VbmaEY2OHewgd_It91fUNQ0ehIDufK2TXMDSUkrGJrHQn8spnQ0IaGE124nEAH/s320/screenshot-001-kaidan_shepard_liara-p.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708134175133779922" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Today I got a chance to try out the demo for Mass Effect 3, earlier than the Valentine’s Day release date. I would like to send out a big thank you to movie321456 at the Bioware Social Network for offering me the code. Thanks! Anyways, I have spent a great deal of time thinking about how Mass Effect 3 will turn out. I have had my ups and downs with it. One day, I think it’s going to be terrible and a massive disappointment. Other days, I think it will be the end all be all RPG of our time. It can go either way, after all, Bioware has a lot to deliver on, and many fans have lost faith in their ability to deliver the goods. A lot is riding on Mass Effect 3, which means that a lot is riding on this demo. So without further ado, let me offer my take on the demo. I have already given my perspective on the beta leak not too long ago, so I will avoid being redundant. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In case you were not aware, the demo features the opening on Earth and a portion of the mission on Sur’Kesh, the Salarian homeworld. All of the glitches and graphical hiccups from the beta leak are gone. The game runs silky smooth and the quality of the graphics are top notch. The official music is now in place, and I must say, it is quite impressive. All of the familiar themes are still around, which was a bit of a concern being that Jack Wall is not contributing to the soundtrack. The 80’s synth sound is more prominent than it was in ME2, while still maintaining the bombastic epicenes the sequel’s score provided. The song playing during the character creator is simply awesome. I want it on my I-Pod now!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">As far as visuals go, I have a minor gripe. The contrast is almost too much. Everything is just so dark and murky or grey and pasty. This is actually mostly good, as it gives the story a very somber gravitas, but they go a little far with the contrast. I created a custom Shepard with brown hair in the character creator, and thanks to the extreme contrast in the wider world of the in game graphics, my would be mildly tanned skinned, brown haired Shepard ended up looking like a creepy vampire with jet black hair. I can’t even imagine what the palest skin tone looks like in game. It would have to be an albino’s albino. Yeesh. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the topic of the character creator, Bioware stayed true to their word by adding a few new hairstyles for Shepard, both male and female. Male players may be disappointed that they did not add any new facial hair, however. Either way, most of the new hairstyles are not so great. They only add about four new hairstyles for both genders, and about half of them are pretty good. They have a boat load of new hair colors too. Purple, pink and an assorted other crazy colors are available for your rave-friendly Shepards. I did manage to duplicate my primary Shepard from ME1 and ME2. I am happy to say that he looks better than ever (except for the fact that his brown hair looks black and his normal skin tone looks pasty). If you are worried about your import, I can assure you that your Shepard should look just as good if not better than before, though you may need to tweak his skin tone and amp up the game’s brightness level.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now let’s talk about the combat. Bioware made some heavy boasts about the new combat, and while I can honestly say that the combat is better than ME2, I think the developers may have overhyped it a smidgen. Outside of the new combat rolls and snappier cover to cover movement, it plays virtually the same as ME2. That includes the clunkiness. Unfortunately, the combat is not nearly as smooth and polished as Bioware has touted. In fact, it is a bit clunkier thanks to all of the added jumping, rolling, and climbing, mostly because every cover based and evasive action is all done by pressing A. There were way too many times in my playthrough that I attempted to take cover only to roll in place while Cerberus soldiers shot at me. It was certainly frustrating, but no more frustrating than the similar problems encountered in ME2. Overall, the system is better simply because of the added evasive maneuvers Shepard has the ability to perform. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The enemies are much smarter than in the past. In ME2, they just kind of ran at you shooting, almost as if they wanted to die. In ME3, the enemies not only act like they really want to kill you, but they also would like to stay alive. Enemies will attack, flank, dodge and do whatever it takes to kill you and live to tell the tale. They are more aggressive and much tougher than before. Again, Bioware overhyped how hard they are. I didn’t have any real trouble with them. But then again, Bioware said that Normal was the new Veteran. I guess I can agree with that. I played on Normal and the game was about as challenging as Veteran in ME2. It was hard enough to be a challenge but not at the expense of the fun factor.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The biggest shortcoming this demo suffers from is the lack of RPG mechanics. That’s not to say that ME3 has no RPG elements, it’s just that the demo does everything in its power to make sure you don’t see them. You are allowed to collect upgrades, but you are never given an opportunity to use them in your weapons. You can find armor pieces, but the demo doesn’t allow you to wear them. You can level up your Shepard with the new and improved branching stat progression system, but you don’t have nearly enough points to get a clear sense of how good the system will actually be. You could try investing all of your points into a single ability, say concussive shot, but then, you would only have a fully upgraded and customized concussive shot, with no other abilities to speak of. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another source of frustration was the new weight system. In ME3, all of your weapons have a weight count. Each weapon has its own weight comparable to its power. For example, the Revenant Light Machine Gun will weigh far more than the standard issue Avenger Assault Rifle. The amount of weight you carry has a direct impact on your power cool-downs. The heavier your loadout, the longer your abilities take to cool-down. Go into battle with nothing but a pistol and you can expect your powers to cool-down almost instantaneously, but if you’re decked out like John Matrix, expect your abilities to cool-down about as slow as molasses. The system is a smart, elegant and perfectly balanced solution to the RPG/Shooter debate, and it allows caster classes, like Adepts, to use their powers much more frequently. So why is it frustrating? At the beginning of the demo, during the fall of Earth, Shepard has access to only two or three powers. A vanguard for example, will only have one point allocated to Charge, Incendiary Ammo, and his class power, Assault Mastery. This leaves you with only your charge to zerg your enemies. Obviously that isn’t very representative of the weight system. Things get worse when you visit Sur’kesh and your Shepard, regardless of his or her class, is decked from head to toe with a significant arsenal of four weapons. This drags the cool-down times, and forces you to play as a run and gun soldier, even if you play as a power heavy class like Engineer. Not only that, but there are no weapon lockers or upgrade benches to reconfigure your loadout, meaning your stuck playing Rambo in the jungles of Sur’Kesh. The weight system was one of many elements of ME3 I was eager to see firsthand. Alas, I will have to wait until March. Sigh.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I was also very disappointed with the dialog in the game. The entire Earth demo was nothing more than a giant cutscene intercut with combat segments. 90% of Shepard’s dialog was predetermined, leaving the player to simply watch as Shepard speaks lines you wish you chose for him/her. All in all, the first 30 minutes of the game features only four or five dialog prompts. This is incredibly worrisome. What is even more disturbing to me is the astoundingly limited choice in dialog options. It has literally boiled down to Paragon or Renegade, with no middle ground whatsoever. Each conversation only had two options with no opportunities to investigate. ME2 frequently had prompts that only featured two options, but most of the time you had at least three. To make things worse, many of these conversation prompts featured the exact same line of dialog regardless of whether you chose the top or bottom response. It was literally verbatim the same line! I was honestly wondering why Bioware even bothered putting dialog options in the game. This demo made me feel like Bioware no longer has an interest in player agency and would rather give Shepard his own personality. If this is a consequence of giving Shepard more emotion, I would rather they left him a block of wood with more things to say. And that’s coming from a guy who actively supports the idea of a more emotional Shepard. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All in all, the demo was a tad disappointing. This is not to say that Mass Effect 3 will also be disappointing. In fact, I think ME3 will be great. The problem with the demo is that it is completely non-representative of the Mass Effect 3 experience (at least, I hope it is). There are virtually no dialog options, no choices to make (no matter how small), not enough points to invest in the new stat progression system , there was no way to test out the new weight system causing player to be unable to properly test out the classes. There was no upgrading, no customizing, no exploration, and no real story either. I didn’t expect that all of these elements would be featured in the demo, but I am shocked that the only element that was featured was the combat. This had an adverse effect, as it only served to highlight how un-polished the combat really is. The combat was fun and an improvement over ME2, but it still can’t stand on its own. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The excellent graphics, brilliant cinematics, improved combat and amazing score can’t save the demo from being a disappointment. It is unfortunate that we humble fans couldn’t get a more fleshed out look at what ME3 might be like, but at least we know these RPG features <b>do</b> exist in the game, even if we can’t access them in the demo. Bioware has many of their hardcore fans concerned about ME3’s direction, and this demo isn’t doing them any favors. As for me, I remain on the fence. If the main game has more dialog options and a stronger sense of player agency then what the demo has offered, ME3 should be in good shape. That is under the assumption that the RPG features mentioned above and the story are well done. Here’s hoping.<o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-23653878321844637232012-02-05T14:57:00.005-05:002012-02-05T18:05:24.756-05:00The Woman in Black Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rjG8LQ_7kmA5D-9nlWUQJqbo0pItRUBxxFnUpB-AmodBLO48DvAWfbnqdcdYcQNgF7oFwVg99lGY8PL-uEzupTe2BhZUMgS34J7MkORs0hBK1FKiGXD5JO31r4Z_5dlH2FKB/s1600/bleh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 169px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0rjG8LQ_7kmA5D-9nlWUQJqbo0pItRUBxxFnUpB-AmodBLO48DvAWfbnqdcdYcQNgF7oFwVg99lGY8PL-uEzupTe2BhZUMgS34J7MkORs0hBK1FKiGXD5JO31r4Z_5dlH2FKB/s320/bleh.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705744260780548546" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div> <p class="MsoNormal">I don’t like horror movies. They never scare me. There have only been two horror movies that I have seen that genuinely freaked me out, The Thing and the original Evil Dead. That’s it. I normally like to shy away from creepers, slashers, chillers and freakers because of this. That being said, a friend asked me to accompany her to see this movie (which I admit, I never even heard of it until she asked) so I said, sure! Why not? The worst that could happen is that I get to write a review about the flick. And now, it is so.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Woman in Black isn’t so much a horror movie as it is a spooky thriller. It’s about some guy who stays in a haunted house for some reason. Honestly, I really don’t know what was going on. Harry Potter played some kind of lawyer, I think. He was trying to sell a haunted house. Maybe he was a realtor. I don’t know. Anyways, he stays in the house and it’s haunted. That’s really all you need to know. The house itself is occupied by the spirit of one of its previous tenants: The Woman in Black, a crazy ass ghost that has a penchant for murdering folk. And not just any folk. I won’t tell you her favorite target. You’ll just have to see it. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Anyways, Harry Potter aka Daniel Radcliffe plays our hero. I don’t remember his character’s name but I do remember that he is a widow raising his son all by his lonesome. Now, I know things were different back in 1800s or whenever the hell this story takes place, but I don’t have children, and I am about a biscuit older than Radcliffe. I found that strange. Then again, one of my friends had a kid at 17, so whatever. Anyways, he take this whole “sell this house job” so he can afford to raise his boy. Soon, he arrives in a spooky and isolated town and meets a whole ton of really creepy people. Aside from a near vacant story, this was my biggest problem with The Woman in Black. The townsfolk were so obviously creepy and portrayed so heavy handed, it was nearly laughable. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzHJ_IorlwQ&feature=related">This scene comes to mind</a>. Subtlety is obviously not a word that exists in this director’s vocabulary.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The story may be absent, but, it’s a haunted house movie. This of course means that the story can be forgiven as long as it’s spooky. And spooky it was. I give credit to the director here. Subtlety may not be in his vocabulary, but sometimes that’s a good thing. Many of the chills and scares come out of nowhere and hit in the face like a brick. And you know something, it frigging works. This movie was spine tingly spooky. The sight gags were genuinely creepy. Often times, they were so creative that I couldn’t help but smile. The middle act is where almost all of the creepiest shit happens. I wish the whole movie was a solid as the middle, but sadly, it was not. Even so, the creeps, chills, freaks, and scares are effective and abundant. Even those jump moments are effective here, which is hard to pull off. However, the director gets a little crazy having roughly 4 jump moments per act. Eventually, they wear thin and become predictable, removing the “jump” from the equation. Despite the director overcompensating with his shocks, the movie is grim, moody and filmed quite well. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Even with its successes, there are other issues I had with this movie. One problem I had was that I really didn’t care about what happened to Harry Potter. I never felt a connection to him. He was one dimensional and had shockingly little dialogue in the movie. That and Radcliffe’s performance essentially boiled down to him looking either freaked out or confused all the time. And to be very honest, Radcliffe’s freaked out face looks a little too similar to his confused face. So even though the chills and scares were highly effective, they would have been even better if I feared for the protagonist’s fate. I really didn’t. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One thing that made me chuckle was the visual design of the film. Old school England with a grey and blue color scheme? A little too close to the last few Potter films if you ask me. In fact, a scene early in the movie takes Radcliffe aboard a train, reminding us all too effectively of his previous role. It’s strange because this movie reeks of Radcliffe trying to distance himself from Potter by going darker, edgier and moodier, and yet, I found myself cracking jokes about how he had boarded the train to Hogwarts. Perhaps he should have tried playing a drug addict like all those other former child stars.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Woman in Black is hardly innovative or original. It’s formulaic in structure, and hollow in story. The lead character is bland and uninteresting and the town’s creepiness level is way too obvious to be considered anything but hilarious. The beginning will bore you, the ending will disappoint you, and yet, I walk away with a positive notion of the film. Its greatest success is its creepy middle act when Radcliffe spends the night in the haunted house with nothing but a dog and a spirit. And creepy it is. The spirit doesn’t hold back when terrorizing Radcliffe’s character, and frequently sneaks up on him when he least expects it. I wish the director was sitting next to me so I could pat him on the back for some of his creepy sight gags. It is actually quite obvious that the director had a lot of great ideas on how to scare the socks off of people. Everything else, not so much. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The Woman in Black is greater than the sum its parts and offers a surprisingly fun and chilling night in a spooky ass haunted house. I can’t recommend it to everyone, but if you like these kinds of movies or Daniel Radcliffe’s acting, then check it out. Me, I was surprised with it. Is it great? Hell no. Is it good? Not so much. Is it bad? No way. In a word, The Woman in Black is decent. And that is not always a bad thing. I give The Woman in Black and 6.5 out of 10. <o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-29002389804787390032012-02-01T18:45:00.002-05:002012-02-01T18:46:21.645-05:00I Made It!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0OUZNobAThuhXfWhAj6swjDuf3xMzzRHkNwzLc6gqu5gwfpJs2ZGhHuJgXyMCGxTyPCCwOm7fuH88jZgg-dm-Yo22p2tptz0ze0tFZTghHryrDoxA3E9osgie-8jlfHm1iwm/s1600/Spongebob-Happy-spongebob-squarepants-154897_338_432.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG0OUZNobAThuhXfWhAj6swjDuf3xMzzRHkNwzLc6gqu5gwfpJs2ZGhHuJgXyMCGxTyPCCwOm7fuH88jZgg-dm-Yo22p2tptz0ze0tFZTghHryrDoxA3E9osgie-8jlfHm1iwm/s320/Spongebob-Happy-spongebob-squarepants-154897_338_432.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704317747591837170" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">A funny thing happened to me this week. I became that which I have always wanted to become. A grizzly bear. Well, no. Not really. I didn’t become a bear. No. The truth is, that after years of trying to become a real writer, perfecting my craft, publishing a comic, and running this blog that is designed to make you inferior beings just a tad smarter, I have made it! Yes sir. I now feel comfortable calling myself an industry professional. An honest to God writer. How did this happen? I will tell you sir. I will tell you.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Only a few days ago, one of my posts made its way to a certain forum. Now I won’t go into detail about what the slightly disparaging post may have claimed about an upcoming threequel game. And out of sheer respect for the community, I won’t <b>B</b>other <b>S</b>aying <b>N</b>othing about who read the article. In any event, the post was panned and I received what essentially amounted to hate mail. No threats mind you, just a few petty insults, a bunch of dudes putting words in my mouth, and other dudes taking portions of my article completely out of context. And that’s how it happened. That’s how I became a real writer. I got hate.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You know, there is a certain level of satisfaction that comes with being infamous. Sadly, the infamy is mostly unwarranted spawned from a few folks who only read half an article, and everyone else simply jumped on board. Either way, it’s hate, and it’s mine. All mine baby. All mine. I’m admired for my detestability. High five if you can guess what movie that’s from. And no Google. That’s cheating. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been cheated, jipped, overpaid, underpaid, hired, fired, loved, hated, positively reviewed, negatively reviewed, I’ve sold, I’ve bought, I’ve divided, and I’ve conquered. If that doesn’t spell “PERFECTION” nothing does. Although my dreams of one day becoming a grizzly bear may never actualize, I will always be a writer. Whether you like it or not.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Oh, and to you out there who may naysay and flaunt about with your superiority complexes telling me that none of that means I’m a pro, you’re wrong. There is actually scientific evidence out there that supports the fact that I’m a pro. It’s a book written by Rob Leifield. He’s a scientist ya know. In anatomical studies. Heh. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now I bid thee farewell for now. Stay thirsty my friends. <o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-67042301124051990382012-01-28T18:24:00.003-05:002012-01-28T18:31:55.408-05:00Halo Reach Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18gLGN13q9c4HQlQOMh2nHOt2vfJPoPdSW4rN7-f_2Jk5ph8ka3n7uPVR2LmjPuwEw6li3bL3Rdhkjzi7vzitXdMrlS04XWORyWQS_aP54uLcuQUNnWVz9qvL0y9Xvc_DvxH6/s1600/halo-reach.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18gLGN13q9c4HQlQOMh2nHOt2vfJPoPdSW4rN7-f_2Jk5ph8ka3n7uPVR2LmjPuwEw6li3bL3Rdhkjzi7vzitXdMrlS04XWORyWQS_aP54uLcuQUNnWVz9qvL0y9Xvc_DvxH6/s320/halo-reach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702828668676323330" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Okay, so this review is roughly, a year and a half late, but I have a very good reason for that. I never played Halo Reach until recently. There is a good reason for that too. The reason I never played Halo Reach is because I despise the Halo franchise. Yes it’s true. A console-monger that doesn’t like Halo? Perish the thought. To me, anything post Halo: Combat Evolved was an exercise in redundancy, featuring standard shooter gameplay, a convoluted story, wimpy and uninteresting weapons, silly enemies and one of the worst protagonists in modern gaming. Again, Halo: Combat Evolved was new and fresh, and actually gave Master Chief some character, so that one isn’t bad. Every subsequent chapter, however, was. In any event, I managed to get a free copy of Halo Reach and decided to give it a shot. Nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to play.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Halo Reach, to me, is almost an anti-Halo game. Much like how an anti-hero performs heroic actions, but is still not exactly a hero, Halo Reach still has all the elements that make Halo great, but has fundamentally changed the foundation in a way that doesn’t simply revitalize the franchise, but transcends its predecessors. It’s strange, because the gameplay hasn’t changed at all. It’s still more or less, go here and shoot that. This gameplay style, while simple, can still be quite effective when executed properly. I never felt that previous Halo titles executed the gameplay quite as effective Reach does. What contributes to the success of the gameplay amounts to the sum of several minor changes, ranging from the way weapons feel when fired, to the non-regenerating health system. These changes intensify what would otherwise be boring and repetitive FPS basics. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In previous Halo games, the weapons fired like pellet guns, making it a little hard to tell of you were trying to kill your enemies, or play laser tag with them. Of course, the occasional silliness of the Covenant didn’t do much to help that debate. The second I took my first shot in Reach, I was literally stunned. The rifle kicked back like a mule, offering the visceral intensity that one would expect from a gun when blasting the brains out of an alien. I stared at the screen for a good few minutes and said, “What game is this?” That was not the only change either. Enemies in Halo Reach are actually threatening, believe it or not. The Elites finally live up to their namesake, carrying better weapons, higher hit points, stronger shields and smarter AI. Ah yes, AI. Decent AI is always tough to manage in any game, but here in Reach, they did a great job of creating enemies that not only want to kill, but would also like to survive. Enemies will pull back when they are getting defeated, as will your companions. The Covenant will flank you, out maneuver you, and kill the shit out of you whenever possible. Dying is much easier in Reach as well, now that Bungie abandoned the idea of regenerating health. Once you get shot and your health bar blinks red, you can’t simply run away and hang out until you heal up. No sir, you will need to scrounge for a medkit. This subtle difference in mechanics literally changes everything about how you play. You need to be more cautious and more alert; otherwise, it’s back to the checkpoint with you. The open sandbox level design also contributes to both you and your enemies’ tactics. Each area is very vast and wide, giving players opportunities to play around with some tactical play (like flanking maneuvers) but also gives you a sense of scale. Vehicles also have much better control than in previous Halo games, and the vehicular combat has always been one of the better executed elements of the Halo franchise. Adding better control to an already good system is always a plus. Each of these relatively minor changes in mechanics have a big impact on the gameplay, making Halo Reach the most intense and visceral Halo experience yet. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One significant change in the gameplay is the addition of the Armor Abilities. They are similar to Halo 3’s equipment feature, however, in Halo 3, the equipment was a one-time use only set up. The Armor Abilities in Reach are a long lasting tool in your arsenal, able to be used as long as you are in possession of it. Sprint, Stealth, Decoy, Jet Pack, etc. there are a multitude of cool abilities that complement the individual player and their style. Take me for example. I would describe my play style as fast and furious. I charge in first and blast my way through to where the enemies are thickest, killing everything in my path. Friends of mine have referred to me as a freight train. The downside of playing this way is that I tend to attract a lot of attention. Attention that usually takes the form of plasma grenades. With these new Armor Abilities, I can easily find a power that is customized to play style, in this case, Armor Lock, which is a strong shield that makes me invincible for a short period when activated. Very handy against grenades. Of course, it also renders me immobile, but at least I’m in a cool pose. The Armor Abilities in Halo Reach add yet another layer to the individuality and customizability for the player. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One of the most effective changes made in Halo Reach was the narrative. The single player campaign mode isn’t just Master Chief being awesome and laying waste to everything in his way. Nay, nay. Halo Reach tells a dark and somber tale about soldiers, war, and sacrifice. Halo Reach takes place on, you guessed it, Reach! Yes, the world that was decimated by the Covenant prior to the events of the first Halo. Reach tells that very story. You are Noble Six, the newest member of Noble Team, an elite unit of Spartans that are sent in only when situations are at their roughest. Noble Six may be a new member of the team, but he is far from a rookie. In fact, Six is likely the most experienced member of Noble Team, having achieved the rank of Lieutenant and the rating of Hyper-Lethal, one of only two Spartans to do so (gee, who could the other be). He has now been reassigned to Noble Team to investigate some disturbances on Reach. Of course, nobody in their right mind would send a unit of six Spartans to investigate, so there is obviously more going on than meets the eye. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The story is far more focused then any previous Halo game, offering up an action packed and emotionally driven narrative experience. Once again, Bungie wisely chooses to focus on a simple yet effective style of writing, offering up a fairly clear goal that quickly escalates into a much more difficult and dangerous effort. Bungie makes a lot of bold moves with this tale, some that I am sure will piss many fans off in some way, but it’s this level of boldness and unpredictability that escalates the story of Halo Reach to something quite unique. The story never gets convoluted or contrived, but instead allows the characters to sell the story. And make no mistake, there are actual characters in this game. Each one has their own personalities and traits. As the story progresses, you get to spend plenty of time with all of them, making the inevitability of Reach’s fate that much more impactful. By the time the story ends, you will care about each and every member of Noble team. This is thanks largely to the “team” mindset of Halo Reach. You are working as a unit the whole time, and each character has their own talents and expertise to bring to the table. Once these great characters have solidified their place in your heart, the results are devastating, shocking and heart wrenching. Given the fact that the planet of Reach is decimated before Halo 1 begins, I think it’s obvious that Halo Reach does not exactly end well. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One other aspect that makes Halo Reach’s story so effective is that Noble Six is fully customizable, right down to the chromosomes. That’s right, Noble Six can be female. Bungie doesn’t skimp out on the character either. Six is fully voiced, requiring both a male and female voice actor. It is also worth noting that Noble Six is bar none, Halo’s chattiest protagonist. Where the Rookie in ODST was a complete mute, and Master Chief had about 3 minutes of dialog spanning across 3 separate games, Six always has a comment to interject here and there. He doesn’t say much, but he talks way more than what I was expecting, which is good because the dialog and voice acting is awesome. Six’s armor can also be customized with many different pieces that can be purchased with credits. As you play the game and complete challenges, you will rank up and gain credits to buy armor pieces through the store. It doesn’t take much to get Six to stand out, and the armor you design is what Six will wear in all of the cut scenes. This is once again, a small modification for the franchise, but one that has a tremendous impact on the immersion.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">But what would a Halo game be without the multiplayer? Yes the multiplayer is back, featuring more of the same modes as previous entries, and a few new ones as well. Of course, we all know that Halo is the king of multiplayer, mostly because of the sheer amount of game modes they have. As far as multiplayer goes, it is mostly the same, but thanks to the gameplay changes, multiplayer in Halo Reach is superior to any other Halo game.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">One new addition to the multiplayer is Firefight. It is essentially, Halo’s take on Horde Mode. Waves of enemies cycle into the maps while you and your buddies defend yourselves and attempt to survive. As much fun as Firefight is, it’s not as good as Horde, and I think a lot of that is a result of the fact that Gears is cover based and Halo is not. I personally believe a Horde style game mode is best served in a cover based shooter. This is not to say that Firefight is bad. I’m just saying that defending positions is frustrating when you can’t take cover. Firefight is actually an immensely fun experience, especially on the Arcade setting. Infinite ammo, infinite respawns, and the craziest weapons in the game is what separates Arcade from the classic style. The only thing that stops you is the twenty minute time limit. I never played Firefight in ODST, but if I were a betting man, I would say that Reach blows ODST’s version out of the water. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course, everything else form Halo is here. Driving, shooting, killing, defending, being an absolute badass, etc. The difference between Reach and all other Halo games is that Reach finally picks apart their gameplay, and enhances it for the next generation, offering an intense and satisfying gaming experience, one that will be remembered well into the future. What shocks me most is that I am the one saying this. As I said, I have never been a huge Halo fan, but I am a huge fan of Halo Reach. Halo Reach is simple and effective, enhancing what needed to enhanced, and leaving be what remains excellent. Complete with exciting gunfights, beautifully colorful graphics, a well written story, exceptional multiplayer and wisely enhanced shooter elements, Halo Reach isn’t just a fantastic game, it’s the best Halo game yet. Perhaps that doesn’t mean much coming from me, a guy who didn’t care for more than half of the previous Halo games, but it’s hard to deny that Reach is the definition of excellence. We all know this is Bungie’s last Halo game, and what a way to go. Ending the franchise where the story began is not only fitting, but also brings the series full circle in a way Halo 3 was unable to. I give Halo Reach a 9.5 out of 10. <o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-11401814998245057372012-01-08T12:44:00.004-05:002012-01-08T13:01:27.775-05:00Star Crossed Galaxy #2 More Updates<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y0WDGYm29XclKimYJoPbzIPoE7H_HsbSQ8in8sqqGsePysQUiswDvqLLKjTc2oiZ101xls4u4JGJHMgvgJMjrRU6pGY9I3VLBVWuTwchrNjw-uGkEN-q7W2aHjzirq7AYLWD/s1600/Paige_Image.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Y0WDGYm29XclKimYJoPbzIPoE7H_HsbSQ8in8sqqGsePysQUiswDvqLLKjTc2oiZ101xls4u4JGJHMgvgJMjrRU6pGY9I3VLBVWuTwchrNjw-uGkEN-q7W2aHjzirq7AYLWD/s320/Paige_Image.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5695321660278020482" /></a><br />Okay, I know many fans have been waiting awhile for Star Crossed Galaxy #2, so I have good news! <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/MikeCampeau">Mike Campeau</a> of Krimson Kaine will be joining our team as the artist. The second issue should be on sale at C2E2, provided everything goes according to plan. So you guys won't have waiting much longer to see the story continue. <div><br /></div><div> But for those of you who are just too impatient, I have prepared a few shorts for you guys. Check out my deviantart page and read "<a href="http://ryankeymaster.deviantart.com/gallery/31710213">A Page in Time,</a>" a short story about Paige LaChance, you know, the girl with the shotgun from issue 1. Learn about the events that propelled her on a journey that would eventually lead her onto the Outlander. </div><div><br /></div><div>And while you are reading a "A Page in Time," check out "<a href="http://ryankeymaster.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d4lo67q">Personal Correspondence</a>," another short story told exclusively through e-mails. Here, you guys will get a sneak peek at a very prominent character in the Star Crossed Galaxy universe, who will be introduced in issue #2.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, I caved on got myself a Twitter. I guess I'm a twit now. Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Smells_Write">Twitter</a> if you're bored. I don't say much. Being new to Twitter is kind of like being a new student for your senior year of high school. Everybody knows everybody, but you don't know anybody, and nobody knows you. And nobody really cares what you have to say either. All those celebrities are popular kids. Not a huge fan of Twitter... yet...</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyways, that's it for now. If you're heaidng to C2E2, make sure to stop by and pick up a copy of Star Crossed Galaxy #1 and 2. </div><div> </div>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-29001131019022706082012-01-02T17:51:00.003-05:002012-01-02T17:53:32.895-05:00Tucker and Dale vs. Evil Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNSq9gQ10wbACB5IFLNpg1SU5po60e9bq9s4xqc40sLKv0NrUY_zAE9Nk1-4fNt-V9sNokSMY7P0IgzAmYMpkflrafl-RSKuEvyIPdIcfQXAXoTHZvXD4_xjfsj58YX_LZtAa/s1600/TuckerDaleEvil01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNSq9gQ10wbACB5IFLNpg1SU5po60e9bq9s4xqc40sLKv0NrUY_zAE9Nk1-4fNt-V9sNokSMY7P0IgzAmYMpkflrafl-RSKuEvyIPdIcfQXAXoTHZvXD4_xjfsj58YX_LZtAa/s320/TuckerDaleEvil01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693171599708120850" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Some days it’s hard not believe in fate. For a while now, I have been clamoring to see one of my favorite actors, Alan Tudyk in another movie. A few days ago I watched a little bit of The Rise of Planet of the Apes, and it reminded of how much I miss seeing Tyler Labine in Reaper. I also remember just last week, wondering when we are going to see any good comedies that aren’t obsessed with being raunchy. Lo and behold as I search Netflix to discover this strange looking movie called Tucker and Dale vs. Evil. I decided to watch it then and there. I was not disappointed.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is a horror comedy in the vein of Army of Darkness, Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland. It’s about lifelong best buddies Tucker (Firefly’s Alan Tudyk) and Dale (Reaper’s Tyler Labine) and a group of frat-house college douche bags. You see, the college D-Bags are going on a camping trip out in the middle of nowhere, but along the way, they run into some creepy ass hillbillies who are seemingly stalking them. Those hillbillies are in fact Tucker and Dale. The reason they seem to be stalking them is because Tucker just bought a cabin close to where the college kids are camping, and Dale is attracted to one of the female members of the group. After being royally freaked out, the college kids head to their camp, and Tucker and Dale to their cabin. After Tucker and Dale rescue one of the college kids from drowning in a lake, the others suspect that the loveable rednecks are in fact kidnapping her and trying to kill the rest of the group. From there, chaos ensues.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Tucker and Dale vs. Evil gets my seal of approval for being one for the funniest horror comedies I’ve ever seen. It also gets special props for telling an original story, rather than parodying an existing one. The story of Tucker and Dale unfolds in a truly bizarre and chaotic way, but it is also surprisingly plausible (well up until one little bit at the end). Tudyk and Labine own the screen. Their great chemistry really hits the gags home, but beyond the humor, they also bring a necessary heart to the characters they portray. While much of the movie does rely on the comedic talents of Tudyk and Labine, there are some softer, more sensitive moments between the two characters. Both actors manage to portray a wide range of emotions brilliantly, while still delivering the funny. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The humor isn’t the only draw to the movie. Slasher fans will be delighted to see the gorier side of Tucker and Dale, which features some of the most hilariously gruesome deaths I’ve seen. Many of the deaths are horrific, and just plain gross, but the reaction of Tucker and Dale will split your sides. Being that Tucker and Dale is a horror spoof, and a bit of a deconstruction of the haunted cabin horror stories, you can bet that some clichéd character deaths are pulled off in rather unconventional ways. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What I find most interesting about Tucker and Dale is its sheer intelligence. It isn’t just some goofy horror comedy. It is also a surprisingly smart commentary about the way our society views one another. The college kids look down on Tucker and Dale. You see these college kids see themselves as being so smart and civilized in comparison to the Tucker and Dale, the seemingly dirty and stupid hillbillies. In truth, Tucker and Dale are very intelligent (Dale even being a genius), and the so-called civilized college kids are the ones who need to be institutionalized. The themes explored in Tucker and Dale are surprisingly clever and insightful. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Of course, every movie, no matter how entertaining has its flaws. Although Tudyk and Labine are fantastic in their roles, the supporting cast is not so great. Many of the college kids’ acting talents range from not bad to forgettable. I should note that nobody does a terrible job, but some of them ham it up, while others kind of break even. The head college kid does a fine job, but portrays his sinister role with all the subtlety of a freight train. He’s like the son of Mike Dexter and Elizabeth Bathory, and the actor makes no effort to hide his psychological issues even early in the film. Of course, the so-so acting may also be an in-joke on the typical bad acting that is found in most slasher films, which would not surprise me in the least. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All in all, Tucker and Dale vs. Evil is equal parts funny, gruesome and sweet, believe it or not. You can’t help but feel bad for the loveable duo of Tucker and Dale as they are surrounded by such horribleness and persecuted for actions they didn’t commit. Considering the low budget horror movie vibe, it’s a surprisingly charming movie that is enjoyable from the first scene up until the end credits. From the opening few seconds of the movie, you will be shrieking with laughter, and later you’ll shriek from the gruesomeness, and then you will shriek for both! I give Tucker and Dale vs. Evil a 9 out of 10. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Oh yeah, and Happy New Year folks!<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pros<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fantastic acting from Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">You’ll laugh until you cry<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cleverly written<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Very well paced, not a minute is wasted, and each minute is enjoyable<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Gruesome death scenes that will please slasher movie fans<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Frequent funny twists in the plot that keeps you guessing<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cons<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some occasional so-so acting from the supporting cast (though this may be intentional) <o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-16212766702917054902011-11-19T08:15:00.002-05:002011-11-19T08:24:53.499-05:00An Ode to November<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMxnValxhyphenhyphen8nUkX_QFEgDwbZaZ0Jk0UKuIJ_PShsfQTyoeHKyoW8jOPeOCd_YtR6kX_rGH_pNbs3hoCPP0lLVUsnRpkVgLaCin1xkJOA3qRyNCZuNtyLRX1G7Tk8IUvABIZUp/s1600/art013.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMxnValxhyphenhyphen8nUkX_QFEgDwbZaZ0Jk0UKuIJ_PShsfQTyoeHKyoW8jOPeOCd_YtR6kX_rGH_pNbs3hoCPP0lLVUsnRpkVgLaCin1xkJOA3qRyNCZuNtyLRX1G7Tk8IUvABIZUp/s320/art013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676697315922605698" /></a><br />Wow, have I had an interesting month. It's been such an epic spectacle that I thought I would put my feelings into words and really show my appreciation for the massive impact this month has had on me. So without further ado, thank you November. Thank you for teaching me valuable lessons in such concepts as humility, but even more so, in torture. Thank you for showing me all the unique ways to crush a man’s soul, shatter his self-worth, and bring him to the brink of insanity. Thank you for showing me my new threshold for pain and especially thank you for showing me all the new and creative ways to use swear words. Thank you for showing me that sprinkling in a few good things here and there only serves to make the next act of viciousness that much more impactful. Thank you for showing me all the new smells, the new sensations and the new feeling in my stomach. You know, the one that won’t be going away anytime soon. And most of all, thanks for the feelings of dread on what may be around the next corner. After all, you’re not quite done with me yet, are you? So one last round of applause for November. Any person, creature, thing or intangible word that bears little practical meaning that can somehow amass so many people, events, accidents, crises, and various other horrible things in a mere twenty days deserves some kind of recognition. If I were a sadistic man, I would take the lessons you taught me and use them against others. I may even become famous. Sadly, I’m not a sadistic man. I’m a good person with simple desires and interests. So rather than torture others with the knowledge I've gained this month, I will patiently wait for these last ten or so days to end while you continue your reign of terror upon my soul. I only hope that December is not quite as cruel and brutal as you November. If he is though, he will most certainly use my hopes to his advantage. Thank you November. Now go fuck yourself.<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-18632699187945190342011-11-08T11:23:00.002-05:002011-11-08T11:26:01.397-05:00Batman Arkham City Review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW5HwMHPmPRjIY7sl-zMDqy5NN9s2s7c1gjShC65ztcje8QlCmBIfzUjGA6Y_UglRqgRpD18EfcgWfF7DFW4eKFfa5R8ipMizkv4wRtplRFDGdBEpDF3KSS-AAxjEn3x9Fh6-/s1600/batmanarkhamcityoxcgn.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrW5HwMHPmPRjIY7sl-zMDqy5NN9s2s7c1gjShC65ztcje8QlCmBIfzUjGA6Y_UglRqgRpD18EfcgWfF7DFW4eKFfa5R8ipMizkv4wRtplRFDGdBEpDF3KSS-AAxjEn3x9Fh6-/s320/batmanarkhamcityoxcgn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672662058694206674" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Batman Arkham Asylum was a huge surprise when it was released in 2009. It looked great, and it seemed like a Batman game that actually might not suck, which was pretty rare back then. In fact, Batman Vengeance is the only game that was any good. DC had a notably poor record for developing games based on their characters, so it’s easy to see why nobody would believe, but when the truth dawns, it dawns in fire. Sorry, I had to. Anyway, Arkham Asylum was probably the first excellent Batman game ever made. And when I say excellent, I mean setting a new bar for game developers. I would never have expected to see that come from a licensed game, much less a license that has struggled as hard as Batman has to create even a decent game. If Batman Arkham Asylum set a new standard for many action adventure games to come, the question is, can they outdo themselves?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I can’t say that Batman Arkham City is better than Arkham Asylum. It’s not because it’s bad, far from it. I just can’t say that Metal Gear Solid is better than Grand Theft Auto because they are so different. Arkham City is a totally different beast when compared to Arkham Asylum. It’s bigger, bolder, and much more ambitious. Instead of moving from one section of Arkham Asylum to the next, Batman is smack dab in the middle of Gotham City, albeit a closed off section of Gotham now known as Arkham City. That’s right folks, Arkham Asylum has been moved to the center of Gotham City and serves as an enormous prison for the criminally insane. The massive city has been divided into subdivisions each controlled by one of your favorite Bat-foes, and its all-out war for control of Arkham. Meanwhile, something is fishy with the new warden of Arkham City, the not-so-widely known psychological mastermind, Dr. Hugo Strange. Strange is a unique villain in Batman’s Rogue’s Gallery, as he is one of the very few enemies that are aware of Batman’s true identity. As such, Dr. Strange makes sure that Batman makes an appearance in Arkham City by way of going after Bruce Wayne. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The story in Arkham Asylum was one of the best Batman stories ever told. Arkham City features a story that is just as compelling and engrossing, but it’s much bigger and much darker. Almost every notable Bat-villain makes an appearance from the obvious guys like Joker, to the not so widely known foes like Deadshot. Each sporting new looks, and occasionally, entirely new takes on the characterizations. This is one of the best parts of the Arkham series. Seeing Rocksteady Studios’ take on each character is often times inspiring. Even characters that are so often tossed aside for being silly, like Penguin and The Riddler, get their personalities ret-conned turning them into significant threats. Whoever thought of turning Riddler into Jigsaw from the Saw series is a certified genius! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On the topic of The Riddler, everybody remembers the surprisingly addicting collection quest from Arkham Asylum right? Hunting Riddler trophies here in BAC has gone through a massive overhaul. Instead of simply figuring out how to get the trophy from whatever room it’s in, the new Riddler quest is far more worthy of Batman’s time. Now, each trophy can only be earned of a test of wits. The Riddler challenges the Dark Knight’s mind, body and spirit for each trophy. When you need to know how to find these trophies, you can’t just find a map this time. No, sir, that’s too easy. Instead, you have to find the Riddler’s informants, henchman that spy on the other gang leaders for the master of questions. You’ll need to interrogate his troops in order to solve his dark riddles. A quest that is easier said than done. As you collect more trophies, solve riddles, and complete challenges, you will eventually have an opportunity to rescue hostages from the big green meanie’s clutches. It is in these moments where you realize just how dangerous The Riddler truly is. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The combat has been altered slightly, and not all alterations are for the best. The combat speed seems to have been slowed down slightly and there are so many combo’s and special moves that’s it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Personally, I think there is way too much crap jammed into this enhanced combat and I personally believe it has become over complicated in many ways. I suppose saying this game has too much awesome isn’t the worst criticism you can get, but I found the combat in the first game to be perfect as it was. Also, the slower combat speed was nothing short of frustrating to me. I was a master of the combat in the first game. Now, I’m getting my ass kicked all over the park because of these two relatively minor changes. Not to mention that due to the over-stuffed fighting combos, the controls always seem to be against me. Normally I would say I just suck, but like I said, I was a master ass-kicker in Asylum. The only change is the slower speed and added combos (except for quick button gadgets, but that makes combat easier). Still, some people will probably transitions easier than I did to the combat, so that won’t be a negative for some. But even with these flaws, Arkham City still has a very fun, exciting and thoroughly satisfying combat system. One that makes you feel like the Dark Knight himself. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The new gliding system was added to Arkham City out of necessity due to the much larger city. Batman can not only glide, but he can also use his grapple gun to launch him up high into the sky in order to gain momentum and speed to sore through the city streets with haste. Patrol helicopters also provide a sort of public transportation, if you will. The ability to dive bomb from the air has many advantages, from building momentum in transit, to combat maneuvers and even assisting in solving a few riddles. All of these enhancements combine to create a travel experience that is just as fun as anything you else you’d expect to find in the game. And in the vastness of Arkham City, the new travel abilities are going to put to good use. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another new addition into Arkham City is the side quest feature, optional missions that expand not just the story of Arkham City, but also providing some closer to Arkham Asylum. For example, Bane is in Arkham City, but he is on a quest to hunt down and destroy the last remnants of Titan, the mutagenic goo from the first installment. There are other villains you’ll be battling in the side quests as well. Deadshot, Zsasz, and even the Mad Hatter are all out for Batman, and it’s up to you to stop them. The side quests are very well thought out side stories that emphasize a level of the detective play that the story campaign simply can’t provide. Most mission come to pretty satisfying conclusions and some even lay a hint or two regarding the future of the series. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The Challenge Maps make their return in Arkham City, but this time, you have the ability to play as multiple characters. Batman, Catwoman, Robin and as of just recently, Nightwing are all playable in the challenge maps (Catwoman even has her own campaign that intertwines with Batman’s story). The combat maps are just as awesome and challenging as ever, in fact more-so, with the new enemies introduced in BAC. The predator maps on the other hand, leave me a little disappointed. The best part of Arkham City is just how jammed packed it is in virtually every way. Sadly, this ends up hurting the predator maps. The maps are large and very dense, but are ultimately poorly laid out, especially in comparison to Arkham Asylum’s predator maps. The predator sections were my favorite parts of Arkham Asylum, now they are my least favorite here in the city. That is a testament to the power of level design as the predator play is almost completely unchanged. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another thing I want to note is the fantastic voice acting. Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill return as the Batman and Joker respectively, and they once again hit it out of the park. In my mind, these two are the best actors to portray these characters, and that can be said throughout the entire voice cast. The characters are absolutely flawless. I give special props to Maurice Lamarche as Mr. Freeze. His cold and almost mechanical performance give Freeze an ambience befitting to his namesake. Every time he speaks with his helmet on, I get chills. Couple that with the best boss fight and he becomes that best addition to the game. I never liked Mr. Freeze that much, not even in the 90’s toon. Now, he may have just graduated to one of favorite characters. Two-Face, who is my favorite Batman villain, finally makes an appearance, and although it is brief in comparison to Joker, Freeze, and even Penguin, it is definitely memorable, although it is also well beneath what the character deserves. Two-Face hangs out at the courthouse, reigning judgment on his foes as both the prosecution and the defense. Two-Face as he is portrayed in BAC may go down in history as the definitive characterization of the Gotham’s former white knight, which makes his small role all the more tragic.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All in all Batman Arkham City is well worth the price. Hours upon hours of entertainment can be found in this game, and its well-done entertainment at that. Like Gears of War 3, Batman Arkham City is bursting at the seams with exciting and fulfilling content that is sure to please for hours. There are so many puzzles, side stories and fan pleasing Easter Eggs that you may find yourself neglecting the main story for a while. I enjoyed every minute of this game, and when I finished it, I wanted to start it all over again. First I need to get those damn trophies. With its careful attention to detail, compelling story, faithful representation of the characters and mythos and its magnificently grim, gritty atmosphere, Batman’s Arkham series isn’t just the definitive Batman game, it is the definitive Batman story. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I give Batman Arkham City a 9.5 out of 10. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Pros<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The definitive version of Batman<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">A powerful and gripping story with excellent voice acting<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Masterful grasp of the characters, setting, and universe<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Fun and exciting combat<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Huge sandbox style city to explore<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Side quests, Riddler Collectibles, and Challenge maps offer hours of fun entertainment<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Jam packed with content<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Great graphics<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Excellent music<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Think of a Batman character. They’re probably in this game somewhere<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cons<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Combat changes sometimes serve as a liability<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Many Predator challenge maps could be designed a little better<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some characters don’t get the screen time they deserve (like Two-Face)<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So many actions that can be performed, sometimes controls get a little confused<o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-73807157235532726042011-11-06T21:04:00.003-05:002014-10-26T08:26:19.687-04:00Mass Effect 3 Beta Leak Impressions<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOA4IGkxyvO2FHb42XER5u3auBljcaBrLG6xSC5pyJ7fZ7y8JGzz9R_6w4RwXASet3Dg5BFHP48YQNjKCMGa-XfRVV7fzBTaZxyDSAG3-CTD2bPV9OLNkPMfzk1_uZ8E6Q7J03/s1600/17fqV.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOA4IGkxyvO2FHb42XER5u3auBljcaBrLG6xSC5pyJ7fZ7y8JGzz9R_6w4RwXASet3Dg5BFHP48YQNjKCMGa-XfRVV7fzBTaZxyDSAG3-CTD2bPV9OLNkPMfzk1_uZ8E6Q7J03/s320/17fqV.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672069271252421650" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Yesterday, Xbox 360 users who signed up for early access to Mass Effect 3 got a special treat. A Beta Demo of the highly anticipated threequel was leaked over Xbox Live and fully downloadable. The version was rough around the edges (very rough) but fans were still delighted to get early-early access to the final act in the prolific trilogy. I myself was unable to play the demo, but I have seen footage of it in its entirety. Since I have been incredibly vocal about my negative opinions of Mass Effect 2 and the way the series has been marketed since joining with EA, I thought it may be a good idea to offer some first impressions. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">All of the videos start off on the menu screen. One of the most memorable moments of ME1 was its unique menu. I remember listening to a haunting atmospheric melody as I stared at the horizon of a distant planet. Upon hitting the start button, I was transported to a screen that slowly cycled through the story’s cast of characters. ME2’s menu wasn’t so memorable. We stared at space debris and were then shifted to screen inside a Cerberus ship. It was boring and really didn’t set a space-opera vibe like the original did, but the computer screen menu worked well for what Bioware wanted to accomplish. ME3 combines the two, showcasing the horizon of a distant planet Earth as hundreds of Reapers descend on the world playing music similar to ME1. Pressing start transported the player to a computer screen nearly identical to the one of ME2, this time with an Alliance décor. It’s the best of both worlds that sets a grim tone for Shepard’s final adventure. I liked that Bioware opted to showcase their commitment to bringing the trilogy full circle just in their menu screen, but ME3 won’t win fans over by what happens outside the game.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Upon starting the single player campaign (God I hate that I have to specify that!) players will be taken to the usual character creator where they can customize their Shepard to their personal specifications. After that, you choose the in-game settings. It’s here where much controversy has been founded. ME3 features 3 play styles, Action Mode, Story Mode and RPG Mode. Action Mode is a setting that emphasizes the action TPS gameplay and auto-selects all dialog options and decisions as well as auto level-ups your Shepard. This mode is likely geared towards new players who have not touched a Mass Effect yet, so it’s no big deal that the ability to make tough choices has been removed as these players have already demonstrated a considerable lack of good decision making skills. Next is the story which handicaps the combat difficulty so that you can enjoy the tale that unfolds in ME3. This mode also allows you to make all conversation and decision choices you wish. Finally, there is RPG mode, which may as well be called Mass Effect Mode, as it is the optimal way to play Mass Effect 3 as it has been designed. Choices and dialog are up to the players, you manually level Shepard up and the combat is not scaled back in any way.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Obviously these new modes are not being well received by fans. Many see this “Action Mode” as dumbing down the game, even after repeated promises from Bioware that the RPG elements, depth, and complexity of gameplay will make a triumphant return. The truth is this: Yup! Action Mode is a dumbed down version of Mass Effect 3, but let’s look at the big picture here. Would you rather have a dumbed down option for the TPS crowd, or would you rather Bioware pander to the TPS crowd on a universal level and dumb down the gameplay for everyone? My vote goes for the former. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After that is out of the way, the game begins. I won’t go into too much detail in order to preserve the sanctity of the single player experience, but I will say that this leak was potentially the best thing to happen to Bioware in their marketing campaign, which is the number 1 reason I believe this leak was not intentional. The graphics look astounding, even in this rough state. The cinematic presentation is better than ever and the sound (when it worked) was amazing. The dialog and voice acting was occasionally off, but the exchanges between Shepard and his mentor David Anderson are excellent. The dreaded, “We fight or we die, that’s the plan,” line is shockingly not just stock trailer dialog. It’s actually spoken in the game, and even more shocking, the line doesn’t come off as hokey or cheesy. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The gameplay looked about the same as Mass Effect 2, however, the combat animations such as running, rolling, and taking cover looks stiff and often times, quite ridiculous. The diving and rolling are unnaturally over the top, which is especially bad for a game that has had a strong commitment to presenting the game realistically. I also think the gameplay is moving too fast. What I mean by that is that the game speed moves at a very jarringly unnatural speed. That word again. Unnatural. I don’t like that ME3’s gameplay makes me say unnatural when talking about two different things. I also don’t like the “You’re too retarded to play this game” helper icons. A little icon pops up telling you to Follow Anderson until you leave Earth. Follow Anderson? Thank God you told me that one because I never would have guessed I should follow the guy who is constantly saying, “This way!” and “Come on!” By the way, there is only one path to walk here. I couldn’t avoid following Anderson even if I wanted to. Fortunately, these helper icons can be disabled, and it is possible that they are only present because it’s the tutorial. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Either way, nobody plays Mass Effect for the gameplay (right Action Mode?) which brings me to the story. Man oh man, the story is looking good. We open with Shepard stuck on Earth awaiting his hearing with the Alliance Military Defense Committee. The hearing is tossed out the window upon the discovery of a large invasion force of unknown origin heading towards Earth. The committee wants Shepard to answer one question, “Is it the Reapers?” That question answers itself in a matter of moments. From then on, it’s a quest to escape Earth on the Normandy before the Reapers eradicate Shepard and his friends. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">After the Earth portion is finished, the game leaps to the inside of the Normandy’s Kodiak shuttle where Shep and co. are prepping for a new mission. They are on their way to Sur’Kesh to have a sit down with the Salarians. Shepard and his crew are joined by Urdnot Wrex to save a host of Krogan females. The return of Wrex is every bit as awesome as it should be and what’s even better is when we run into more than a few familiar Salarians along the way. This is the same demo showcased over and over again ever since E3, so everybody knows Cerberus shows up to be massive pains in the booty. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Even in this short view of the story, it’s obvious that there is a much darker tone. Not manufactured dark like Mass Effect 2 was, but legitimately dark and dangerous. There is a strong sense of desperation in the air. I think the moment that really hits the dark and desperate vibe is when Shepard and Anderson turn around to watch the surveillance video of the Reapers invading Earth, a clever nod to the earliest moments of ME1. One thing that I was thoroughly impressed with was the way the missions were paced. They weren’t overlong with exposition like ME1 nor did they just throw Shepard in the middle of a battlefield upon touching down like in ME2. They carefully built up the necessary tension and story beats while not boring the player to death. It was just right. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Another topic worth noting is the impact of your choices and how they may affect ME3. I can tell you right now that this brief demo showcased more potential variation in ME3 than all of ME2. Within the first few minutes we will be introduced to the Virmire Survivor and Sur’Kesh is all over the park. Wrex, Mordin, Garrus and someone else all show up to assist Shepard in retrieving the female Krogan. I feel as if I can let out a sigh of relief after seeing the amount of people showcased that may not actually be alive come ME3. That being said, it’s also nice seeing squad members acknowledging one another in the way they did in this demo. I won’t go into details.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Among some of the other highlights was our first look at James Vega. We don’t see much of him, but it’s clear that he has a certain amount of reverence for Shepard. Vega is big and tattooed, which has been a source of mockery from the fans, and he sounds like Freddie Prinze Jr. is his voice actor. At least to me. We also get to see the first meeting between Shepard and Ashley (no Kaidan in this demo) which had an awkward vibe to it, proving that the events on Horizon won’t be brushed aside and that the e-mail was likely outside of cannon for those of us who romanced the snarky warrior woman. There was also a demo on the multiplayer, which I watched and was astonished with how slow, empty, sleep inducing and dull it was. I had a feeling it was going to be a Horde rip-off, but this was just lazy and uninspired in my humblest of opinions. Maybe it will be a bit more exciting at launch. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Even though the gameplay segments had me a bit nervous, I was very impressed with the story, presentation, and character interactions. It’s rough around the edges, very brief, and the Earth segment had very little dialog options, but you can still get a pretty good impression of what is in store for fans of the franchise. I have to admit, many of my fears have been alleviated, but I’m still concerned about the finished product. After viewing this demo, I feel very comfortable preordering the collector’s edition again, but I am remaining wary of the possibility of a huge embarrassing failure. Good or bad, Mass Effect 3 will likely own my soul for the entire month of March in 2012. If it’s good, probably even longer. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Update 11-7: Bioware's leak turned out even worse then initially expected. It looks like some dude in Russia was actually able to hack the beta demo somehow and managed to pull specific story details, including a full and complete synopsis of the game's entire story line. Also included were details on characters, death scenes, weapons, powers, customization upgrades and the origins of the Reapers. Practically the whole game has leaked onto the net months before the release date. Bioware made an official statement saying that although much of the information revealed is not fully accurate and has changed in some form, it's close enough to ruin the story experience for fans. Bioware is strongly encouraging fans to avoid reading the information if they are deeply invested in the story experience. Yikes. Sounds pretty bad to me. I didn't read any of the info myself, but one minor spoiler did slip out on the forums that I am a little concerned about. Hopefully that is one of the changes that Bioware made to the final product. Personally, I just hope that there is no mention of the Beings of Light anywhere in that synopsis. Because that idea was stupid.</p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38573280.post-1074581099496562412011-10-10T22:29:00.002-04:002014-10-26T08:26:19.679-04:00Mass Effect 3 Multiplayer Confirmed<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1FS8aDRcHsBHYIhLFBst26-PrvPBZ_UXlmBOAcAFgkvhthUqfjUlcrs69EMJhKEu5o9jEaSy0m0eD4JwBGjwchefWG32LhDbhlsoxIU38z5it6FTzVUmt1fOjnCC5V0nKi5s/s1600/memult2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix1FS8aDRcHsBHYIhLFBst26-PrvPBZ_UXlmBOAcAFgkvhthUqfjUlcrs69EMJhKEu5o9jEaSy0m0eD4JwBGjwchefWG32LhDbhlsoxIU38z5it6FTzVUmt1fOjnCC5V0nKi5s/s320/memult2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662056394725178706" /></a><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Bioware’s worst kept secret has finally been revealed.<span> </span>Mass Effect 3 now officially has multiplayer.<span> </span>After all of the double talk and reassurance from the developers of the contrary, it’s easy to see that the fan base (most especially the hardcore fans) have had negative reaction to the news.<span> </span>The Bioware Social Network is ablaze with anger and frustration, YouTube and Facebook have piles upon piles of negative comments, and even website’s like IGN have been verbalizing their disdain for the concept.<span> </span><span> </span>Only hours after the word was spilled form Casey Hudson, Project Director of the Mass Effect franchise, the Bioware development team has already done truckloads of damage control.<span> </span>In some cases, developers almost seemed to be begging fans not to cancel their preorders.<span> </span>Why on Earth would Bioware put something this controversial in their game?<span> </span>This isn’t even polarizing; in fact, it seems to have united fans more than ever.<span> </span>Multiplayer for Mass Effect 3 is a bad, BAD idea.<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The fact of the matter is some games just don’t fit well with multiplayer.<span> </span>Why Bioware decided to allocate time, money and resources to what is sure to be an extremely expensive gameplay component that will go largely unused is beyond me.<span> </span>Dead Space 2 is a prime example of a single player game being muddled by a useless and unnecessary multiplayer component.<span> </span>Bioshock 2 is another.<span> </span>Mass Effect 3 will almost surely be even worse, as the core experience to the Mass Effect series is the story of Commander Shepard, the choices he makes and the impact those choices have on the galaxy and his relationships.<span> </span>Call me crazy but I find it unlikely that any co-op component included in Mass Effect 3 can capture this element.<span> </span>Mostly because only one person could possibly play as Shepard.<span> </span>I suppose the optimum question is will I even play as Shepard in the multiplayer?<span> </span>I have no interest in playing anyone other than Commander Shepard during the course of the Mass Effect storyline, unless they are small bits like when players took control of Joker for a minor sequence in ME2.<span> </span>I imagine that 95% percent of players feel the same way, mostly made up of those who have played a previous Mass Effect title.<span> </span>So if nobody who plays Mass Effect 3 will want to play as anyone other than Shepard, who is going to play the 4 player co-op mode?<span> </span>That’s probably a really good question that Bioware should have asked themselves during the development phase of production.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What I find most distressing in this case is Bioware’s sheer lack of honesty and integrity when it came to handling the multiplayer rumors.<span> </span>The developers did everything they could to persuade fans that there was no multiplayer at all, though never overtly turning the notion down.<span> </span>When news broke today, it certainly felt like one of the biggest “Fuck You's” in gaming history.<span> </span>Very few fans truly desired any form of multiplayer, as the franchise has been a single player story up until today.<span> </span>Most players who are willing to try it out would have been just fine without its inclusion.<span> </span>It seems that once again, Bioware has just created another rift between them and their dwindling loyal fan base.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In the bustle of skepticism surrounding Mass Effect 3 and Bioware’s future, I find myself reminded of Dragon Age 2.<span> </span>Dragon Age Origins, if you recall, was marketed to the loyalist of loyal fans of Bioware.<span> </span>A throwback to their Baldur’s Gate days, Dragon Age: Origins was a critical darling, a commercial success, and an instant fan favorite.<span> </span>Dragon Age 2 was created for a more God of War crowd and less Dragon Age Origins.<span> </span>The game was clearly designed for a brand new demographic, but marketed to the fans of the original title.<span> </span>Fans reacted very negatively to the changes to the franchise, and critics were mixed on the result. <span> </span>Mass Effect 3 seems to be repeating this cycle. <span> </span>Mass Effect 3 no longer remotely resembles Mass Effect 1 and it is apparent that the series has lost its vision and shifted its focus.<span> </span>Why Bioware seems to shift their target demographic from game to game is confounding.<span> </span>With Mass Effect 3 enhancing their shooter elements, introducing on-rails gameplay, downplaying the RPG features and now adding multiplayer, the final act of my once favorite video game franchise is looking more like Gears of War than ever.<span> </span>If I want to play Gears of War, I’m not going to pick up Mass Effect.<span> </span>I’ll play Gears of War.<span> </span>Not to mention that Bioware really shouldn’t be attempting to steal the thunder away from Gears of War 3, which was about as close to flawless as any game can get.<span> </span>Somehow I doubt that Mass Effect 3 will be quite as polished.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Will multiplayer ruin Mass Effect 3?<span> </span>It’s possible, but probably not.<span> </span>Could it ruin Bioware?<span> </span>This is actually way more likely.<span> </span>In fact it already has in many ways.<span> </span>Over the past two years or so, Bioware’s reputation has been tarnished with their constant double talk, the Happy Dance (when someone dances around a question in a way that does not answer the question and is designed to keep as many people as happy as possible.<span> </span>I coined this term during the last Presidential election), and their attempts to silence criticism from their fans and critics (remember that Metacritic fiasco).<span> </span>Not to mention the amount of money that will be wasted if nobody uses the co-op.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">On that topic, what would happen if Bioware poured tons of money into a feature that nobody used?<span> </span>Dead Space suffered this fate, and last month, Visceral Games closed their doors for good.<span> </span>Perhaps that is merely a coincidence, but big corporations like EA hate money going to waste.<span> </span>Even if adding multiplayer was the bigwigs at EAs’ grand plan, Bioware will take the hit.<span> </span>If Mass Effect 3 sells poorly, I wouldn’t be surprised if EA shut the Edmonton Studio down and moved all available resources to Austin to continue supporting SWTOR.<span> </span>Adding multiplayer to Mass Effect 3 may have very well been the dumbest move Bioware has ever made.<span> </span>One that could prove to be quite costly.<span> </span>Personally, I’m too invested in Mass Effect to quit now, but this could prove to be my last Bioware game.<span> </span>Mass Effect 3 has officially dropped from topping my list of most anticipated games.<span> </span>Congratulations to Skyrim to dethroning the king.<span> </span>At least Bethesda doesn’t piss on their loyal fan base.<o:p></o:p></p>Ryan Keyworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11621938315512887034noreply@blogger.com2