Graphics: 4.25/5 The venues and the Rock Den and stuff like that look pretty good. Vibrant in color, and pretty cool. The thing is, the animations are sort of sad... I KNOW that they are LEGO's but I mean, still. That, and the drummer doesn't play along to the beat of any song at all - only the bass pedal does..
Sound: 4/5 LEGO Rock Band has a strange soundtrack. For every good song, there is 1 or 2 songs that suck. For instance, (This is my opinion of course) you've got "Fire", but then you've got "Ride a White Swan" and "Make Me Smile". There's "Ghostbusters", but there's also "Naive" - you can see where I'm going with this. LEGO Rock Band has a lot of GREAT songs and new bands to the Rock Band platform. You can also do an export for $10 on the PS3 and 360, but it should be known that you can't choose which songs you want to keep, and which you want to delete, as the file (1.28 GB, by the way) is just one hunka hunka burnin' HDD space.
Fun: 3.75/5 LEGO Rock Band is a pretty fun experience, but I can't help but think this is really a $50 - or really $60 if you pay for the export - track pack. The story is pretty fun to play through - and the cut scenes and Rock Den stuff is pretty cool. You can also use DLC you bought for Rock Band 1/2 in this game, but it should be known that only songs that past an "E" for Everyone filter will get in. For instance, I have 434 songs downloaded. When I went to make a setlist, it said I had 168. So yeah, while DLC from Rock Band 1/2 will work, not all of it does, as this is a family friendly game. LEGO Rock Band is a decent game that is well worth anybody's time that's a fan of music games... I just think this game will be much more popular for its real target audience - children.
Pros: Some great new bands, cool "new" experience
Cons: Unable to choose which bands you don't want in the export, some terrible unknown bands/songs, not all Rock Band songs work, seems like a 'kiddy track pack'
3.75/5
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Game Review (Rock Band - iPhone/iPod Touch)
Rock Band has been ported to the iP's. I was pretty excited when I found out about this thing, and downloaded it as quickly as I could. This is my review.
Graphics: 4/5 Looks really good at the menus and everything. In-game, there is simply a loop at the top of the song being played, but it's not accurate.
Sound: 4/5 A pretty good soundtrack, although there are some songs that are so overplayed I'd rather die than play them. Cool thing is, you can purchase 2-song packs for $1 each.
Control: 2.5/5 The game is not a joy to play for the most part. If your timing is perfect, it seems you will STILL miss notes, and quite often when you hit two notes at once, they won't hit at the same time, even if you tap at the same time.
Fun: 3/5 Rock Band for the iPhone/iPod could be a good game, but the control ruins it. You'll find yourself missing notes when it's not your fault, and it is just very frustrating. Also, to go from medium to hard (there is no expert) is a huge step. Just saying.
Graphics: 4/5 Looks really good at the menus and everything. In-game, there is simply a loop at the top of the song being played, but it's not accurate.
Sound: 4/5 A pretty good soundtrack, although there are some songs that are so overplayed I'd rather die than play them. Cool thing is, you can purchase 2-song packs for $1 each.
Control: 2.5/5 The game is not a joy to play for the most part. If your timing is perfect, it seems you will STILL miss notes, and quite often when you hit two notes at once, they won't hit at the same time, even if you tap at the same time.
Fun: 3/5 Rock Band for the iPhone/iPod could be a good game, but the control ruins it. You'll find yourself missing notes when it's not your fault, and it is just very frustrating. Also, to go from medium to hard (there is no expert) is a huge step. Just saying.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Food Review (Black Jack Taco from Taco Bell)
So! Taco Bell has something "new", eh? Nah. They don't. The Black Jack was a huge let down, I must say. Why? The sauce that's on it is the same sauce they use on their Cheesy Gordita Crunch... I was expecting something new, but it wasn't. That's not to say it's bad, but it's not a new item. It's just the Cheesy Gordita Crunch's grandson. It doesn't have an extra layer of cheese, or a soft layer of a taco shell. For only 89 cents, it's hard to not recommend this. But if you have a Cheesy Gordita Crunch at your Taco Bell, definitely go with that. It is MUCH better.
3.5/5
+: Good if you don't have a Cheesy Gordita Crunch on your menu, 89 cents.
-: Pointless really if you do have the Cheesy Gordita Crunch at your location.
3.5/5
+: Good if you don't have a Cheesy Gordita Crunch on your menu, 89 cents.
-: Pointless really if you do have the Cheesy Gordita Crunch at your location.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hardware Review (LG CF360 Cell Phone)
I got this phone last week for about $18 after a mail-in rebate. It came out earlier this year, so the price has dropped considerably. The box the phone is included in features a couple free Napster downloads, a battery, a charger, a screen wiper velvet thing, and a screen protector that is completely useless because its size is that of an iPhone, so you'd have to cut it and shape it yourself.
This will be a pretty long review so bear with me. If you don't want to read, and you'd rather see a video review, check out the one I did here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1O65hajBoY [Although this written review will probably be a lot more informative]
The CF360 comes in 2 colors - red and blue. As you can see from my video review, - if you watched it - mine is red. It isn't completely red, it's just trimmed, the same goes for blue. The phone slides open, and before sliding open, the phone almost looks like an MP3 player. I don't care for the way the buttons look, but after sliding it open, the phone looks much better. The numbers and all that look pretty sharp. On the other side of the phone, the CF360 has a smooth, slick, almost rubbery texture and appearance. This is nice for a few reasons - it's less likely to scratch, slip out of your hands if they are sweaty, and will probably absorb some of the blow if you were to drop it from a short height. Also on the back of the phone is a 1.3 megapixel camera. While it seems its getting a bad rep for being of 'terrible quality', I think the pictures look alright. The video on the other hand doesn't look great at all, and the audio isn't great either. Still, this isn't a camera, it's a cell phone, so if you get desperate or something / are without a camera, this would work decently enough.
Now, about the phone's features... the one thing that really frustrates me the most about this phone probably is the fact that you can't make your own ring tone unless you buy one or connect to a computer via a USB cable, which doesn't come with the camera, and will run you about $15. The phone's menu is also very easy to navigate, and virtually anyone can learn most of this phone inside out in a matter of a day at most. The outside of the phone also has a few buttons, including the now pretty basic easy-access camera button, a volume +/-, a MicroSD card slot for whatever you want, and the basic charger port which can also be used with a wired headset. It should also be known that this phone works with Blue Tooth. That's about all there is to know about the CF360. If you have any questions, comment my YouTube video, or message me on there.
4/5
Pros: Cheap phone in terms of price, solid feeling while still being light-weight, a nice material on most of the phone that basically makes the need for a case unnecessary.
Cons: AT&T... not the best phone service, can't customize ring tones, camera isn't very good for video.
Overall, the CF360 makes a solid basic phone.
This will be a pretty long review so bear with me. If you don't want to read, and you'd rather see a video review, check out the one I did here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1O65hajBoY [Although this written review will probably be a lot more informative]
The CF360 comes in 2 colors - red and blue. As you can see from my video review, - if you watched it - mine is red. It isn't completely red, it's just trimmed, the same goes for blue. The phone slides open, and before sliding open, the phone almost looks like an MP3 player. I don't care for the way the buttons look, but after sliding it open, the phone looks much better. The numbers and all that look pretty sharp. On the other side of the phone, the CF360 has a smooth, slick, almost rubbery texture and appearance. This is nice for a few reasons - it's less likely to scratch, slip out of your hands if they are sweaty, and will probably absorb some of the blow if you were to drop it from a short height. Also on the back of the phone is a 1.3 megapixel camera. While it seems its getting a bad rep for being of 'terrible quality', I think the pictures look alright. The video on the other hand doesn't look great at all, and the audio isn't great either. Still, this isn't a camera, it's a cell phone, so if you get desperate or something / are without a camera, this would work decently enough.
Now, about the phone's features... the one thing that really frustrates me the most about this phone probably is the fact that you can't make your own ring tone unless you buy one or connect to a computer via a USB cable, which doesn't come with the camera, and will run you about $15. The phone's menu is also very easy to navigate, and virtually anyone can learn most of this phone inside out in a matter of a day at most. The outside of the phone also has a few buttons, including the now pretty basic easy-access camera button, a volume +/-, a MicroSD card slot for whatever you want, and the basic charger port which can also be used with a wired headset. It should also be known that this phone works with Blue Tooth. That's about all there is to know about the CF360. If you have any questions, comment my YouTube video, or message me on there.
4/5
Pros: Cheap phone in terms of price, solid feeling while still being light-weight, a nice material on most of the phone that basically makes the need for a case unnecessary.
Cons: AT&T... not the best phone service, can't customize ring tones, camera isn't very good for video.
Overall, the CF360 makes a solid basic phone.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Game Review (The Beatles: Rock Band - 360)
Graphics: 4.5/5 The backgrounds and dreamscapes and the overall look of the band is really great. The dreamscapes are really vivid and colorful, and the members look a lot like themselves. My only real problem with any of this is when you use "Beatlemania", and the 'highway' turns yellow... it can make it difficult to play drums.
Sound: 4.5/5 TB:RB has a solid soundtrack, no doubt, with songs that are great to play, including "Back in the USSR", "Day Tripper", "Helter Skelter", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band", and many more. However, I can't help but notice there are a number of songs that seem to be sort of random inclusions, while great songs like "Eleanor Rigby" and "Hey Jude" are left off disc, forcing anyone interested to pay separately.
Difficulty: 3.5/5 TB:RB isn't a very difficult game, and that was to be expected. There are some surprisingly tricky songs on guitar, and a few somewhat hard songs and sections on drums, but really, this game is what it was thought to be. I'm actually thankful there aren't random not-even-there notes added to the tracks to make them more difficult. *cough* Activision.
Fun: 4.25/5 The Beatles: Rock Band, while probably well worth the $60 just for the experience, might not actually be worth it in the long run. The setlist of 45 songs is mostly great, with a few downers in the set, but the majority of the songs are really fun to play and/or at least listen to, and the backgrounds are all really cool. The menus look good, and there are - I believe - never-before-seen videos and photos, which are unlocked by doing well on songs. If you are a huge, huge, HUGE Beatles fan, this will be an instapurchase with no regrets. However, if you are just a fan, you might soon might wonder why you thought buying this was a good idea. There will be DLC weekly, according to HMX, so that will give this game virtually endless replayability for anybody that gets it.
4.25/5
Pros: A good 85% of the setlist is enjoyable to play, graphics are very good, it's the Beatles.
Cons: Some of the songs added on-disc seem random, only 45 songs, it's the Beatles. This could be a con to anyone that <3's difficulty. :P
Sound: 4.5/5 TB:RB has a solid soundtrack, no doubt, with songs that are great to play, including "Back in the USSR", "Day Tripper", "Helter Skelter", "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band", and many more. However, I can't help but notice there are a number of songs that seem to be sort of random inclusions, while great songs like "Eleanor Rigby" and "Hey Jude" are left off disc, forcing anyone interested to pay separately.
Difficulty: 3.5/5 TB:RB isn't a very difficult game, and that was to be expected. There are some surprisingly tricky songs on guitar, and a few somewhat hard songs and sections on drums, but really, this game is what it was thought to be. I'm actually thankful there aren't random not-even-there notes added to the tracks to make them more difficult. *cough* Activision.
Fun: 4.25/5 The Beatles: Rock Band, while probably well worth the $60 just for the experience, might not actually be worth it in the long run. The setlist of 45 songs is mostly great, with a few downers in the set, but the majority of the songs are really fun to play and/or at least listen to, and the backgrounds are all really cool. The menus look good, and there are - I believe - never-before-seen videos and photos, which are unlocked by doing well on songs. If you are a huge, huge, HUGE Beatles fan, this will be an instapurchase with no regrets. However, if you are just a fan, you might soon might wonder why you thought buying this was a good idea. There will be DLC weekly, according to HMX, so that will give this game virtually endless replayability for anybody that gets it.
4.25/5
Pros: A good 85% of the setlist is enjoyable to play, graphics are very good, it's the Beatles.
Cons: Some of the songs added on-disc seem random, only 45 songs, it's the Beatles. This could be a con to anyone that <3's difficulty. :P
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
DLC Review ( Rock Band - Week of 8/25 )
I might just start doing this again when I feel like it... this week, Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Billy Idol, and a new single from Jet were released. I only bought Tom Petty and Billy Idol, and these are my GUITAR and DRUM reviews for each song. (I will edit as I play the songs.)
-GUITAR-
"Mony, Mony": 3/5 Just genuinely not a fun song on guitar. There isn't much of it in the song, and you don't do much. It's alright, but I wasn't expecting this song to be real great fun anyway... on any instrument except for maybe the singer.
"Rebel Yell": 4.5/5 This was one of my favorites in Guitar Hero: World Tour, and I got it without hesitation - as with the other songs this week that I got. A great song that makes the guitarist feel involved, unlike "Mony, Mony". I really recommend this song.
"Won't Back Down": 4.25/5 It's a very easy song, I got an FC on my first attempt as with "Mony, Mony", but it's pretty fun... unlike "Mony, Mony". I love listening to this song, and I like playing it now, too.
"Runnin' Down a Dream": 4.75/5 Great song! Probably over-tiered, but this is easily my favorite song I bought this week. It's not only fun to play everything outside the solo, the solo is challenging and a lot of fun. Definitely worth the $2.
-DRUMS-
*Will review when I play on this instrument.*
-GUITAR-
"Mony, Mony": 3/5 Just genuinely not a fun song on guitar. There isn't much of it in the song, and you don't do much. It's alright, but I wasn't expecting this song to be real great fun anyway... on any instrument except for maybe the singer.
"Rebel Yell": 4.5/5 This was one of my favorites in Guitar Hero: World Tour, and I got it without hesitation - as with the other songs this week that I got. A great song that makes the guitarist feel involved, unlike "Mony, Mony". I really recommend this song.
"Won't Back Down": 4.25/5 It's a very easy song, I got an FC on my first attempt as with "Mony, Mony", but it's pretty fun... unlike "Mony, Mony". I love listening to this song, and I like playing it now, too.
"Runnin' Down a Dream": 4.75/5 Great song! Probably over-tiered, but this is easily my favorite song I bought this week. It's not only fun to play everything outside the solo, the solo is challenging and a lot of fun. Definitely worth the $2.
-DRUMS-
*Will review when I play on this instrument.*
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
DVD Review (The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season)
It's been awhile. Season 12 is finally on DVD. I was skeptical, but after watching the season, I can say I was very pleasantly surprised.
---
[*] indicates a "Season Great/Epicsode"
Treehouse of Horror XI: 4/5
G-G-Ghost D-D-Dad: 4.25/5 Homer eats broccoli and dies. Homer is told to do one good deed before being accepted into heaven.
Scary Tales Can Come True: 3.75/5 Bart and Lisa are thrown into the woods by Homer and Marge with only a fairy tale book to guide them through.
Night of the Dolphin: 4.25/5 Dolphins get revenge on Springfield, and summon all humans to the sea so dolphins can live back on land.
A Tale of Two Springfields: 4.25/5
A new area code splits Springfield in two and Homer becomes mayor. The members of New Springfield aren't happy with what he's doing, and move to Olde Springfield, leaving only the Simpsons in the New Springfield. To combine the Springfields into one, Homer gets The Who to play in his half of the city.
Insane Clown Poppy: 3/5
Krusty meets his daughter, and is soon seen gambling. He gambles away his daughter's violin, and he and Homer try to get into Fat Tony's hideout to get the violin back.
Lisa the Tree Hugger: 3.5/5
Lisa stays in a large redwood tree that is threatened to get cut down. The stays up in it for a night of protest, but decides to leave. The next morning, the tree is struck by lightning and Lisa is presumed dead.
[*]Homer vs. Dignity: 4.5/5
Homer is paid large sums of money by Mr. Burns to embarrass himself, but changes his ways with a little encouragement from Lisa.
[Will review episodes as I watch.]
[*]The Computer Wore Menace Shoes: 4.5/5
Homer gets a new computer and decided to create his own website under the name Mr. X. His gossip and news site gets spread around really quick and is soon wanted by police. This is a really good episode in my opinion, but most of the ending is just sort of stupid in my opinion.
[*]The Great Money Caper: 4.75/5
Homer and Bart decide to grift after realizing their magic act wasn't working. They soon get "caught" and learn their lesson.
[*]Skinner's Sense of Snow: 5/5
The only school to be open during a massive snowday, the whole school gets snowed in, forcing Skinner to take charge. The students revolt, and Skinner gets serious. Meanwhile, Flanders and Homer attempt to free the school.
[*]HOMR: 5/5
Homer discovers he has a crayon in his brain and decides to have it removed. He becomes smarter but learns he was better off less intelligent. He has the crayon placed back in his brain.
Pokey Mom: 4.25/5
Marge takes in an ex-con who is a very talented artist. Meanwhile, Homer becomes a chiropractor and attempts to patent his own device.
[*]Worst Episode Ever: 4.5/5
After Comic Book Guy has a heart attack, Bart and Milhouse take over his store, Android's Dungeon. Bart and Milhouse soon discover a secret room with hidden tapes. Meanwhile, Comic Book Guy dates Agnes Skinner.
Tennis the Menace: 4.25/5
Marge and Homer decide to join a doubles tournament for tennis, but Marge dumps Homer for it. Homer then recruits Lisa. Homer and Lisa face Marge and Bart in the tournament, but they get replaced by professional tennis players.
Day of the Jackanapes: 4.25/5
Sideshow Bob gets back out of prison and decides to set up another scheme. This time, one that will kill both Bart and Krusty. This is probably my favorite Sideshow Bob episode, besides "Krusty Gets Busted"
[*]New Kids on the Blecch: 4.5/5
Bart, Nelson, Milhouse, and Ralph get recruited to be in a boy band called Party Posse. Lisa realizes that the music videos the guys star in is giving subliminal messages.
Hungry, Hungry Homer: 3.75/5
Homer protests the future possible movement of the Springfield Isotopes to Albuquerque by starving himself outside the stadium.
-Will review as I watch-
[*]Bye, Bye Nerdie: 4.5/5
Lisa discovers that sweat from nerds attracts bullyism. Meanwhile, Homer realizes how dangerous things can be in an everyday household for a baby.
Simpson Safari: 4/5
Homer wins a trip to Africa after winning one. While there, the Simpsons encounter a professor that makes monkeys dig for diamonds.
[*]Trilogy of Error: 4.75/5
Homer gets rushed to a hospital for a dismembered finger, Lisa needs to get to her school science fair, and Bart gets involved in a fireworks problem with Fat Tony. The whole episode follows the three parts to show how it all unfolds.
I'm Goin' to Praiseland: 4/5
Homer and Ned open a place called Praiseland in memory of Ned's deceased wife, Maude. Ned and Homer believe Maude's statue tells people what their lives will be like when they die.
[*]Children of a Lesser Clod: 4.75/5
Homer opens up a daycare service after Rod and Todd recommend it. Because of this, Bart and Lisa get jealous of the attention the kids are receiving from Homer, and come up with a plan to show everyone who Homer really is.
[*]Simpsons Tall Tales: 4.5/5
This episode features 3 tall tales - Paul Bunyan, Connie Appleseed, and Tom and Huck. While I didn't particularly care for Paul Bunyan, Tom and Huck was okay, and Connie Appleseed was very funny.
---
The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season is one HELL of a season - completely underrated - and, in my opinion, better than seasons 11 and 10, and even 9 and 8. The bonus features are alright, as usual. 24 minutes of deleted scenes on the fourth disc, best Comic Book Guy moments from up until 2001, Butterfinger commercials and a Red Rooster one from 2000/2001, and a Simpsons Fanfest from 200...1 I think? And, as always, there is also commentary on every episode.
As far as the boxing is concerned, Season 12 is a bit better than eleven. The discs are easier to get out of the box, and the material sleeve that the discs go in is a little more scratch resistant. The Comic Book Guy head you see on the box, as with season eleven, can be taken off. There is only bit of that peely-glue stuff to take off.
Overall, as I said, this is a great season, and is probably my favorite season since season 7, or maybe 8... I'm probably one of VERY few to say this, but I just really thoroughly enjoyed most of this season. It started slow, but it really got going, and the Simpsons Tall Tales and Trilogy of Error episodes were a great little change. I really recommend this season.
4.5/5
Pros: Several awesome episodes, I counted 11 "epicsodes" out of 21 episodes... that is a really good ratio. Also some pretty cool bonus features.
Cons: The box, while slightly improved, is still pretty subpar. The first disc for the most part doesn't have very good episodes... that's really about it.
And now we wait for season 13...
---
[*] indicates a "Season Great/Epicsode"
Treehouse of Horror XI: 4/5
G-G-Ghost D-D-Dad: 4.25/5 Homer eats broccoli and dies. Homer is told to do one good deed before being accepted into heaven.
Scary Tales Can Come True: 3.75/5 Bart and Lisa are thrown into the woods by Homer and Marge with only a fairy tale book to guide them through.
Night of the Dolphin: 4.25/5 Dolphins get revenge on Springfield, and summon all humans to the sea so dolphins can live back on land.
A Tale of Two Springfields: 4.25/5
A new area code splits Springfield in two and Homer becomes mayor. The members of New Springfield aren't happy with what he's doing, and move to Olde Springfield, leaving only the Simpsons in the New Springfield. To combine the Springfields into one, Homer gets The Who to play in his half of the city.
Insane Clown Poppy: 3/5
Krusty meets his daughter, and is soon seen gambling. He gambles away his daughter's violin, and he and Homer try to get into Fat Tony's hideout to get the violin back.
Lisa the Tree Hugger: 3.5/5
Lisa stays in a large redwood tree that is threatened to get cut down. The stays up in it for a night of protest, but decides to leave. The next morning, the tree is struck by lightning and Lisa is presumed dead.
[*]Homer vs. Dignity: 4.5/5
Homer is paid large sums of money by Mr. Burns to embarrass himself, but changes his ways with a little encouragement from Lisa.
[Will review episodes as I watch.]
[*]The Computer Wore Menace Shoes: 4.5/5
Homer gets a new computer and decided to create his own website under the name Mr. X. His gossip and news site gets spread around really quick and is soon wanted by police. This is a really good episode in my opinion, but most of the ending is just sort of stupid in my opinion.
[*]The Great Money Caper: 4.75/5
Homer and Bart decide to grift after realizing their magic act wasn't working. They soon get "caught" and learn their lesson.
[*]Skinner's Sense of Snow: 5/5
The only school to be open during a massive snowday, the whole school gets snowed in, forcing Skinner to take charge. The students revolt, and Skinner gets serious. Meanwhile, Flanders and Homer attempt to free the school.
[*]HOMR: 5/5
Homer discovers he has a crayon in his brain and decides to have it removed. He becomes smarter but learns he was better off less intelligent. He has the crayon placed back in his brain.
Pokey Mom: 4.25/5
Marge takes in an ex-con who is a very talented artist. Meanwhile, Homer becomes a chiropractor and attempts to patent his own device.
[*]Worst Episode Ever: 4.5/5
After Comic Book Guy has a heart attack, Bart and Milhouse take over his store, Android's Dungeon. Bart and Milhouse soon discover a secret room with hidden tapes. Meanwhile, Comic Book Guy dates Agnes Skinner.
Tennis the Menace: 4.25/5
Marge and Homer decide to join a doubles tournament for tennis, but Marge dumps Homer for it. Homer then recruits Lisa. Homer and Lisa face Marge and Bart in the tournament, but they get replaced by professional tennis players.
Day of the Jackanapes: 4.25/5
Sideshow Bob gets back out of prison and decides to set up another scheme. This time, one that will kill both Bart and Krusty. This is probably my favorite Sideshow Bob episode, besides "Krusty Gets Busted"
[*]New Kids on the Blecch: 4.5/5
Bart, Nelson, Milhouse, and Ralph get recruited to be in a boy band called Party Posse. Lisa realizes that the music videos the guys star in is giving subliminal messages.
Hungry, Hungry Homer: 3.75/5
Homer protests the future possible movement of the Springfield Isotopes to Albuquerque by starving himself outside the stadium.
-Will review as I watch-
[*]Bye, Bye Nerdie: 4.5/5
Lisa discovers that sweat from nerds attracts bullyism. Meanwhile, Homer realizes how dangerous things can be in an everyday household for a baby.
Simpson Safari: 4/5
Homer wins a trip to Africa after winning one. While there, the Simpsons encounter a professor that makes monkeys dig for diamonds.
[*]Trilogy of Error: 4.75/5
Homer gets rushed to a hospital for a dismembered finger, Lisa needs to get to her school science fair, and Bart gets involved in a fireworks problem with Fat Tony. The whole episode follows the three parts to show how it all unfolds.
I'm Goin' to Praiseland: 4/5
Homer and Ned open a place called Praiseland in memory of Ned's deceased wife, Maude. Ned and Homer believe Maude's statue tells people what their lives will be like when they die.
[*]Children of a Lesser Clod: 4.75/5
Homer opens up a daycare service after Rod and Todd recommend it. Because of this, Bart and Lisa get jealous of the attention the kids are receiving from Homer, and come up with a plan to show everyone who Homer really is.
[*]Simpsons Tall Tales: 4.5/5
This episode features 3 tall tales - Paul Bunyan, Connie Appleseed, and Tom and Huck. While I didn't particularly care for Paul Bunyan, Tom and Huck was okay, and Connie Appleseed was very funny.
---
The Simpsons: The Complete Twelfth Season is one HELL of a season - completely underrated - and, in my opinion, better than seasons 11 and 10, and even 9 and 8. The bonus features are alright, as usual. 24 minutes of deleted scenes on the fourth disc, best Comic Book Guy moments from up until 2001, Butterfinger commercials and a Red Rooster one from 2000/2001, and a Simpsons Fanfest from 200...1 I think? And, as always, there is also commentary on every episode.
As far as the boxing is concerned, Season 12 is a bit better than eleven. The discs are easier to get out of the box, and the material sleeve that the discs go in is a little more scratch resistant. The Comic Book Guy head you see on the box, as with season eleven, can be taken off. There is only bit of that peely-glue stuff to take off.
Overall, as I said, this is a great season, and is probably my favorite season since season 7, or maybe 8... I'm probably one of VERY few to say this, but I just really thoroughly enjoyed most of this season. It started slow, but it really got going, and the Simpsons Tall Tales and Trilogy of Error episodes were a great little change. I really recommend this season.
4.5/5
Pros: Several awesome episodes, I counted 11 "epicsodes" out of 21 episodes... that is a really good ratio. Also some pretty cool bonus features.
Cons: The box, while slightly improved, is still pretty subpar. The first disc for the most part doesn't have very good episodes... that's really about it.
And now we wait for season 13...
Friday, July 31, 2009
My Wisdom Tooth Extraction Experience
The day was July 30th 2009 - extraction day. I walked into the dentist's office to sign in and my mom quickly found out that instead of our insurance covering 80% of the surgery, it would only cover about 50%. My mom was pretty pissed, and had to charge about $860 to her credit card. Then we sat in the waiting room, for about five to ten minutes... I forget, I was just really anxious. Then a woman came out with a "goody bag" as she called it, and handed it to my mom while explaining what was inside. After that, I was taken back, and laid in a chair. The same woman asked if I wanted laughing gas. I reluctantly said yes, and didn't mind it for a little while, until I started feeling a little awkward, at which point I took it off... I just didn't like the feeling. A few minutes later, the surgeon came in with the anesthesiologist. I got monitors put on my chest and index finger, and I started to feel a little more anxious. At that point, the surgeon asked me how I felt, and I replied, "I'm just a little anxious." he exclaimed that was completely normal, and he continued to work on the IV. He put the needle in my arm, which was barely a pinch, taped the needle down, and turned on the juice. I asked him, "Will I fall asleep in a few seconds?" and he said, "It will probably be more like a minute." I really don't remember a single thing after that. It was like they say everywhere - in what seemed like a blink, I woke up to a nurse putting lip balm on my lips saying they were chapped... then I remember a few other sketchy scenes. For instance, me attempting to stand up and nearly collapsing. I was given a wheelchair, and wheeled out to my car. From then on, I regained full conciousness.
On the way home, my mom stopped at CVS and picked up chocolate milk, vanilla ice cream, and root beer float ice cream, as well as put in my prescriptions, which included Amoxocillin (the antibiotic I used as a precaution to a possible infection) Vicodin, (a painkiller, of course) and Ibuprofen. (Which is mainly an anti-inflammatory, but it has some painkiller stuff in it. It's basic name is Motrin.) When I got home, my chin, bottom lip, and ears were all completely numb. It was difficult, but I managed to have ice cream and take my meds.
Currently, I'm laying in bed at 1:36 A.M. on day one. I feel alright, but my bottom right extraction area is not feeling too good. While the other three seem to be doing great, this one is having issues. First, when I look at it, it seems to be the only one that has a little hole - gasp - like a dry socket. It also continuously keeps bleeding, even if I use gauze... it doesn't seem to want to clot. I'll see what happens tomorrow, and if the blood doesn't clot and I keep bleeding, I'll likely have to go back to the dentist/surgeon... I don't know what they'll have to do - maybe stitch it or give me clove oil gauze - but I'm not expecting anything too bad. I think I've been through the worst part, and it really wasn't even all that bad. I was really anxious about the whole fact that I'd be asleep during the procedure, paranoid about not knowing what would happen, if I'd wake up, if I'd have an allergic reaction, all that nonsense. Well, everything went fine... so far.
A couple hours ago my surgeon called me on the phone, Dr. Schneider, and asked how I was doing. I said I was fine, (which I am, not really lying.) and he just said that while today may have been painful, tomorrow will be worse, and I'd only get better from then on. While this is true, that's only true if you DON'T have a dry socket... which I think I may... but it's too early to tell. I'll keep you updated.
On the way home, my mom stopped at CVS and picked up chocolate milk, vanilla ice cream, and root beer float ice cream, as well as put in my prescriptions, which included Amoxocillin (the antibiotic I used as a precaution to a possible infection) Vicodin, (a painkiller, of course) and Ibuprofen. (Which is mainly an anti-inflammatory, but it has some painkiller stuff in it. It's basic name is Motrin.) When I got home, my chin, bottom lip, and ears were all completely numb. It was difficult, but I managed to have ice cream and take my meds.
Currently, I'm laying in bed at 1:36 A.M. on day one. I feel alright, but my bottom right extraction area is not feeling too good. While the other three seem to be doing great, this one is having issues. First, when I look at it, it seems to be the only one that has a little hole - gasp - like a dry socket. It also continuously keeps bleeding, even if I use gauze... it doesn't seem to want to clot. I'll see what happens tomorrow, and if the blood doesn't clot and I keep bleeding, I'll likely have to go back to the dentist/surgeon... I don't know what they'll have to do - maybe stitch it or give me clove oil gauze - but I'm not expecting anything too bad. I think I've been through the worst part, and it really wasn't even all that bad. I was really anxious about the whole fact that I'd be asleep during the procedure, paranoid about not knowing what would happen, if I'd wake up, if I'd have an allergic reaction, all that nonsense. Well, everything went fine... so far.
A couple hours ago my surgeon called me on the phone, Dr. Schneider, and asked how I was doing. I said I was fine, (which I am, not really lying.) and he just said that while today may have been painful, tomorrow will be worse, and I'd only get better from then on. While this is true, that's only true if you DON'T have a dry socket... which I think I may... but it's too early to tell. I'll keep you updated.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Hardware Review (Sony Vaio NW150J Laptop)
I got this laptop a couple days ago after realizing I had enough graduation money to get it, and read a lot of positive reviews. There are a few things about this laptop I dislike, but mostly, I'm pleased. First, it costs $799 at Best Buy, but you'll end up spending about $1000 if you get Anti-Virus, taxes, and a warranty. That's a decent deal for this thing, and it has a Blu-Ray player for the same price as a similar laptop by Sony. Here's the catch - that laptop was preloaded with Microsoft Office, but it didn't have a Blu-Ray player. The laptop screen itself is something like 720P, and the Blu-Ray discs look very good on it. One pretty big downfall is the fact that the audio/video sync gets screwed up every now and then. How do you fix it? Pause and play, or stop and play. Sort of annoying, but easy to fix.
The screen itself is, I believe, 15.5 inches, which is great for me. i just like a big screen on a laptop. The keyboard is probably the best I've ever used on a laptop. The keys are raised as if it were a desktop's keyboard, and it's much easier for me to type quick and efficiently.
The HDD is about 320GB, I forget the exact amount, and the RAM is a very nice 3.8 GB. While mostly everything about this laptop is great, there are a few flaws. The audio/video sync as I stated earlier is one thing, and the other two are as follows. First, the battery is SUPPOSED to last 5 hours according to the advertisement. It actually lasts a little over 2. Now THAT is serious false advertising. The BIGGEST flaw about this laptop, and the reason why I think this laptop was only $799, is the terrible video card. I went to systemrequirementslab.com and found out that I can't run very many new-age games because my videocard is just crap. The worst part? It is NOT replacable. Sony soldered the puppy in, so it's permanent. A definite bummer if you plan on using your laptop for games as I planned to. Guess I should have looked into it more.
Overall, the Sony Vaio NW150J/S laptop is pretty much ideal if you are business person. Weighs a little over 6 pounds, looks great, has a blu-ray player for potential trips to wherever, and it's a very reasonable price. I have only had it for maybe half a week, but so far, no problems, and a good amount of praise. Worth a look into.
4.5/5
Pros: Lots of RAM, big screen, nice looking, nice keyboard, Blu-Ray!
Cons: Terrible irreplaceable video card, false advertising about the battery which is pretty poor, audio/video sync is occasionally off on Blu-Ray movies.
???: I'll never get over this... why can't the video card be swapped!?
The screen itself is, I believe, 15.5 inches, which is great for me. i just like a big screen on a laptop. The keyboard is probably the best I've ever used on a laptop. The keys are raised as if it were a desktop's keyboard, and it's much easier for me to type quick and efficiently.
The HDD is about 320GB, I forget the exact amount, and the RAM is a very nice 3.8 GB. While mostly everything about this laptop is great, there are a few flaws. The audio/video sync as I stated earlier is one thing, and the other two are as follows. First, the battery is SUPPOSED to last 5 hours according to the advertisement. It actually lasts a little over 2. Now THAT is serious false advertising. The BIGGEST flaw about this laptop, and the reason why I think this laptop was only $799, is the terrible video card. I went to systemrequirementslab.com and found out that I can't run very many new-age games because my videocard is just crap. The worst part? It is NOT replacable. Sony soldered the puppy in, so it's permanent. A definite bummer if you plan on using your laptop for games as I planned to. Guess I should have looked into it more.
Overall, the Sony Vaio NW150J/S laptop is pretty much ideal if you are business person. Weighs a little over 6 pounds, looks great, has a blu-ray player for potential trips to wherever, and it's a very reasonable price. I have only had it for maybe half a week, but so far, no problems, and a good amount of praise. Worth a look into.
4.5/5
Pros: Lots of RAM, big screen, nice looking, nice keyboard, Blu-Ray!
Cons: Terrible irreplaceable video card, false advertising about the battery which is pretty poor, audio/video sync is occasionally off on Blu-Ray movies.
???: I'll never get over this... why can't the video card be swapped!?
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Game Review (Counter-Strike: Source - PC)
Graphics: 4.5/5 While it does vary depending on the map, (Whether it is user or Valve created) for the most part, the graphics look really good, especially since considering this game was released so long ago. They aren't mindblowing, but they are nice and sharp. A downfall is the lag that seems inevitable when there is a lot of stuff going on at once, or when there are several people on screen at once.
Sound: 3.5/5 Pretty average. The BOT dialogue is alright, but they really do just repeat themselves over and over again after a short while. The guns don't sound very good, either. Not terrible sound, but not award winning.
Control: 4/5 A classic PC FPS. WASD to look, mouse to move/strafe/shoot. Other letters on the keyboard also have different uses. Not much to say, but it really is nice to finally play a shooter away from the 360.
Fun: 4.25/5 CS:S is a fun game for a number of reasons. First off, although it doesn't really affect the fun factor at all, it is pretty inexpensive at $20. Secondly, there are a solid number of sites where you can download some new maps to play with other people and/or bots. There are SEVERAL great maps, including ones that emulate The Simpsons's own Springfield, a pool, office, et cetera. While the game takes some getting used to, (It is difficult to play online. Everyone seems to get insta-kills... look it up.) CS:S is a nice change from a console FPS. It is old, but now it is only twenty bucks, you can download it digitally, it has a fanbase that seems to be running VERY strong, and the gameplay is virtually endless with the number of free maps available. Definitely recommend this game.
4.25/5
Sound: 3.5/5 Pretty average. The BOT dialogue is alright, but they really do just repeat themselves over and over again after a short while. The guns don't sound very good, either. Not terrible sound, but not award winning.
Control: 4/5 A classic PC FPS. WASD to look, mouse to move/strafe/shoot. Other letters on the keyboard also have different uses. Not much to say, but it really is nice to finally play a shooter away from the 360.
Fun: 4.25/5 CS:S is a fun game for a number of reasons. First off, although it doesn't really affect the fun factor at all, it is pretty inexpensive at $20. Secondly, there are a solid number of sites where you can download some new maps to play with other people and/or bots. There are SEVERAL great maps, including ones that emulate The Simpsons's own Springfield, a pool, office, et cetera. While the game takes some getting used to, (It is difficult to play online. Everyone seems to get insta-kills... look it up.) CS:S is a nice change from a console FPS. It is old, but now it is only twenty bucks, you can download it digitally, it has a fanbase that seems to be running VERY strong, and the gameplay is virtually endless with the number of free maps available. Definitely recommend this game.
4.25/5
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Drink Review (WoW Game Fuel)
The Blue Stuff:
4.25/5
Really is pretty good. It has a color similar to voltage, it smells a lot like Pepsi Blue did, and it really does taste what I imagine Voltage, Super Nova, and Revolution would taste like if mixed. I'm pretty sure that's what this essentially is. Pretty good, but nothing really DIFFERENT.
The Orange Stuff
4.75/5
It's the good old Game Fuel! This is the same formula as the Halo 3 Game Fuel was that came out a couple years ago now. Has that great taste with the aftertaste of almost cotton candy. Mmm...
Looks like the Horde wins in this battle.
4.25/5
Really is pretty good. It has a color similar to voltage, it smells a lot like Pepsi Blue did, and it really does taste what I imagine Voltage, Super Nova, and Revolution would taste like if mixed. I'm pretty sure that's what this essentially is. Pretty good, but nothing really DIFFERENT.
The Orange Stuff
4.75/5
It's the good old Game Fuel! This is the same formula as the Halo 3 Game Fuel was that came out a couple years ago now. Has that great taste with the aftertaste of almost cotton candy. Mmm...
Looks like the Horde wins in this battle.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Game Review (MLB 2K9 - 360)
Graphics: 3/5 Just bland. Besides the jerseys and the stadiums from a distance, most everything else is pretty bad. A huge majority of the players look nothing like their real life countrrparts, whacky animation is a mainstay, and the little puffs of dirt that float around are a very small but annoying eye sore. The menus really do look nice - at least.
Sound: 3.5/5 Gary Thorne and Mr. Phillips do the commentary this time around, replacing John Miller and Joe Morgan. They do a good job, but as expected, repeat a lot of lines over-and-over again. The soundtrack features some good songs, but there aren't many. Not a terrible sounding game, but not spectacular.
Control: 3.5/5 Meh. I don't mind the pitching as much as some do, I actually like it. The hitting is okay too, but the fielding is buggy. You will likely find yourself running past balls that should automatically be picked up. Pretty buggy, but managable.
Fun: 3.75/5 Despite these issues, MLB 2K9 is playable. Errors that were fixed also created new ones, but for the most part, 2K Sports really seemed to just mask the issues of the game with a slicker looking interface. The menu is nice and inviting and the Live Rosters are cool, but the game some what does lack in gameplay. While not very good, it's the only option for a simulation baseball game on the 360 until next year. While the game is a bit glitchy, it often times doesn't really affect plays in the field. In short, if you disliked previous installments of 2K games, you won't like this. Otherwise, I - flame away - almost actually encourage you to try this game and decide for yourself.
3.75/5
Pros: Nice menus, great stats.
Cons: Buggy/glitchy, still an MLB 2K game.
?: What baseball game will we get next year?
Sound: 3.5/5 Gary Thorne and Mr. Phillips do the commentary this time around, replacing John Miller and Joe Morgan. They do a good job, but as expected, repeat a lot of lines over-and-over again. The soundtrack features some good songs, but there aren't many. Not a terrible sounding game, but not spectacular.
Control: 3.5/5 Meh. I don't mind the pitching as much as some do, I actually like it. The hitting is okay too, but the fielding is buggy. You will likely find yourself running past balls that should automatically be picked up. Pretty buggy, but managable.
Fun: 3.75/5 Despite these issues, MLB 2K9 is playable. Errors that were fixed also created new ones, but for the most part, 2K Sports really seemed to just mask the issues of the game with a slicker looking interface. The menu is nice and inviting and the Live Rosters are cool, but the game some what does lack in gameplay. While not very good, it's the only option for a simulation baseball game on the 360 until next year. While the game is a bit glitchy, it often times doesn't really affect plays in the field. In short, if you disliked previous installments of 2K games, you won't like this. Otherwise, I - flame away - almost actually encourage you to try this game and decide for yourself.
3.75/5
Pros: Nice menus, great stats.
Cons: Buggy/glitchy, still an MLB 2K game.
?: What baseball game will we get next year?
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Game Review (Battlefield: 1943 - XBLA)
Graphics: 4.75/5 While they are nothing short of phenomenal - and the best looking game on XBLA - there are a few issues. Occasionally black bars will pop up and flash aroud on screen, and Ive also experienced some in-game freezes every couple games. Other than that though, very impressive. The graphics just about rival that of an Xbox 360 disc.
Sound: 4.5/5 Also very nice. The best part no doubt is when you hear a plane fly by overhead, although the tanks andmost everything else also sound very nice. Again, I should remind you this is an arcade game.
Control: 4.25/5 Like Call of Duty with a few subtle differences and button switches. You can't prone in this game, sadly, which is a shame for you snipers out there. Also, the weapon switching and grenade throwing may take a little bit of time to get 100% used to, but overall, managable.
Fun: 4.5/5 Battlefield: 1943 is just one hell of an Xbox LIVE "Arcade" title. Great graphics, surprising depth, and addictability... is that a word?However, the game isn't perfect. Being that it does cost 1200 MSP, and not 4800 MSP (Which would be the price equivalent of the average Xbox 360 disc.) you only get 3 maps, which are all great, don't exactly differ drastically. A fourth map is promised if XBL kills exceed 53 million, but it is Dogfight only. I.E., planes only. Nevertheless, the fact that you don't need to put anything in your disc tray to play this game is pretty cool, and the game itself is just fun, but not perfect. The game gets glitchy here and there, the hit detection isn't perfect, there are only three classes, (Rifleman, Infantryman, Scout) and the "in-depth stats" don't even display deaths or kill-death ratio. Despite these minor flaws, Battlefield: 1943 is a virtual must-have for FPS fans and XBLA fans alike. We can now only hope we get more maps for this game in the near future to keep it fresh, and hope we can have more games like this on the Arcade.
4.25/5
Pros: Only $15/1200 MSP, looks great, pretty addictive.
Cons: Not a LOT of depth, online only, how long will it last?
Sound: 4.5/5 Also very nice. The best part no doubt is when you hear a plane fly by overhead, although the tanks andmost everything else also sound very nice. Again, I should remind you this is an arcade game.
Control: 4.25/5 Like Call of Duty with a few subtle differences and button switches. You can't prone in this game, sadly, which is a shame for you snipers out there. Also, the weapon switching and grenade throwing may take a little bit of time to get 100% used to, but overall, managable.
Fun: 4.5/5 Battlefield: 1943 is just one hell of an Xbox LIVE "Arcade" title. Great graphics, surprising depth, and addictability... is that a word?However, the game isn't perfect. Being that it does cost 1200 MSP, and not 4800 MSP (Which would be the price equivalent of the average Xbox 360 disc.) you only get 3 maps, which are all great, don't exactly differ drastically. A fourth map is promised if XBL kills exceed 53 million, but it is Dogfight only. I.E., planes only. Nevertheless, the fact that you don't need to put anything in your disc tray to play this game is pretty cool, and the game itself is just fun, but not perfect. The game gets glitchy here and there, the hit detection isn't perfect, there are only three classes, (Rifleman, Infantryman, Scout) and the "in-depth stats" don't even display deaths or kill-death ratio. Despite these minor flaws, Battlefield: 1943 is a virtual must-have for FPS fans and XBLA fans alike. We can now only hope we get more maps for this game in the near future to keep it fresh, and hope we can have more games like this on the Arcade.
4.25/5
Pros: Only $15/1200 MSP, looks great, pretty addictive.
Cons: Not a LOT of depth, online only, how long will it last?
Friday, July 10, 2009
Game Review ( Guitar Hero: Smash Hits - 360 )
Graphics: 4/5 Do you remember what Guitar Hero World Tour looked like? Yeah - this game looks like that. Pretty decent, but what stands out are the venues that once again look very cool.
Sound and Control: Pointless to review, it's a Guitar Hero game.
Fun: 3.5/5 Guitar Hero Smash Hits (GH:SH) is a game you'd expect from Activision, who is basically milking this franchise for all it's worth. The soundtrack isn't spectacular, seeing as how a number of the songs are already in Rock Band on disc or as DLC, or are just terrible choices. Through the Fire and Flames is probably the most annoying song in the game for the simple fact that I had to play it enough on Guitar Hero 3 online with 7 year olde trying to play it on Expert. Overall, GH:SH just isn't a game you'll be playing for a long time at all. While it is cool to finally strum throgh a master track of "Free Bird", or push your vocal chords to the extreme on "Killer Queen", 48 songs for 60 dollars just isn't worth it, especially since - as I stated a few sentenced back - Rock Band already has a decent number of these songs. Smash Hits is an okay game, but it's no Rock Band - or even Guitar Hero: Metallica, for that matter.
3.5/5
Pros: All masters!
Cons: Not the greatest setlist, not many songs, Activi$ion milking the franchise cow.
Sound and Control: Pointless to review, it's a Guitar Hero game.
Fun: 3.5/5 Guitar Hero Smash Hits (GH:SH) is a game you'd expect from Activision, who is basically milking this franchise for all it's worth. The soundtrack isn't spectacular, seeing as how a number of the songs are already in Rock Band on disc or as DLC, or are just terrible choices. Through the Fire and Flames is probably the most annoying song in the game for the simple fact that I had to play it enough on Guitar Hero 3 online with 7 year olde trying to play it on Expert. Overall, GH:SH just isn't a game you'll be playing for a long time at all. While it is cool to finally strum throgh a master track of "Free Bird", or push your vocal chords to the extreme on "Killer Queen", 48 songs for 60 dollars just isn't worth it, especially since - as I stated a few sentenced back - Rock Band already has a decent number of these songs. Smash Hits is an okay game, but it's no Rock Band - or even Guitar Hero: Metallica, for that matter.
3.5/5
Pros: All masters!
Cons: Not the greatest setlist, not many songs, Activi$ion milking the franchise cow.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Gun Review ( M82 Double Eagle )
Price: $30-$40
Where: Amazon and other online retailers.
Sucks for: Marc Fennell
Because: He can't have one
I got this gun from Amazon.com and got it a few days later only paying a little bit for shipping. Out of the box I wasn't expecting anything unexpected - I had seen unboxings and reviews on YouTube. Basically, you get the gun, which looks great, has some weight to it, (only because concrete or metal was added for the "realistic effect") and feels nice, and a bunch of other litle things. First, you get a suppresor/silencer that doesn't do anything for quieting the gun itself, but enhancing how the gun looks in my opinion. Then you have the ACOG scope which really is crap. While it also enhances the appearance, like any of the other attatchments, to try and actually use it would be stupid. Another thing you get is a flash light that is actually pretty cool. People have complained in reviews about leaky batteries but O haven't had a problem with that, and the light is just bright and functions pretty well. Another attachment is the grip, which is all plastic. It doesn't do anything either, since the gun has no recoil to begin with obviously, but it's more comfortable to hold than the jagged rail without attachments on it. Finally, the last extra you get, and byfar the worst, is the laser. Why is this? For one thing, you basically have to build and put it on your gun yourself, which takes about a half hour, just to find out that it doesn't even work, and the "instructions" are pigeon English no one could ever understand. Pretty crappy.
Anyway, more about the guns visuals. The M82 is a take on a 552 Commando, and looks a lot like it, and is a 1:1 scale. There is also a foldable stock. I don't know what good that is because I'm a BB gun n00b, but I'll assume it's for storage. The clip you get with this gun is basically crap. It works fine, but it holds an abysmal 30-35 rounds, which is basically an F on an Airsoft gun's mag capacity report card unless it's a sniper or pistol. You will definitely want to buy a few spare clips, which cost only $5-$10 each. The battery you get to charge this thing is sort of also a pain. It's pretty fragile, and it's moderately frustrating trying to get it out of its covering. It also takes about 2-3 hours to charge and lasts for a good while.
Now, how the gun performs. I charged this up and took it outisde not expecting much. I shot a few rounds, I came to a quick conclusion that this gun has very inconsistent accuracy. Was I surprised? Of course not. After all, so paid only $35 for this thing. As I explained earlier, the clip empties in seconds, and can take up to about two minutes to reload. You get a "speed loader" with the gun, but it's like loading up a Civil War style musket, and it still takes a little while, which leads me to remind you wain that you should get an extra mag or two or three if you get this gun. There is also a hop-up feature as well as normal on this gun, but I saw virtually no difference between the two, so I peace mine on normal. Speaking of features, there is a safe, single shot automatic, and full automatic feature on this gun. Now while talking about SHOOTING the gun, let me tell you about the BB's you get with this gun - complete crap. I'm not sure if they are .12 or .20, but they break if you hit anything thats not somewhat cushy, I.E. a human or a couch. I managed to split a BB in half Davy Crockett style when I shot at a candle holder thing.
After this long review of M82 Double Eale bashing, I close by saying that this gun is well worth a purchase for first time buyers of an automatic airsoft gun, or someone who wants a decent gun for backyard wars. It's cheap in price, not all-too cheap in quality, looks really cool, and could easily be used as a prop in a video if you do that sort of thing. I haven't used the Double Eagle M83 or M85, but I know they look like an M4/M16 and G36C respectively. If you want any more info send me a message on XBL. My tag is in the right column.
4.25/5
Pros: Looks great, feels nice, cool attachments FTMP, cheap in price.
Cons: The attachments really are all useless, it's all plastic, won't last a long time most likely.
Other information: Uses 6mm BB's, .20g recommended, 240-260 FPS.
Where: Amazon and other online retailers.
Sucks for: Marc Fennell
Because: He can't have one
I got this gun from Amazon.com and got it a few days later only paying a little bit for shipping. Out of the box I wasn't expecting anything unexpected - I had seen unboxings and reviews on YouTube. Basically, you get the gun, which looks great, has some weight to it, (only because concrete or metal was added for the "realistic effect") and feels nice, and a bunch of other litle things. First, you get a suppresor/silencer that doesn't do anything for quieting the gun itself, but enhancing how the gun looks in my opinion. Then you have the ACOG scope which really is crap. While it also enhances the appearance, like any of the other attatchments, to try and actually use it would be stupid. Another thing you get is a flash light that is actually pretty cool. People have complained in reviews about leaky batteries but O haven't had a problem with that, and the light is just bright and functions pretty well. Another attachment is the grip, which is all plastic. It doesn't do anything either, since the gun has no recoil to begin with obviously, but it's more comfortable to hold than the jagged rail without attachments on it. Finally, the last extra you get, and byfar the worst, is the laser. Why is this? For one thing, you basically have to build and put it on your gun yourself, which takes about a half hour, just to find out that it doesn't even work, and the "instructions" are pigeon English no one could ever understand. Pretty crappy.
Anyway, more about the guns visuals. The M82 is a take on a 552 Commando, and looks a lot like it, and is a 1:1 scale. There is also a foldable stock. I don't know what good that is because I'm a BB gun n00b, but I'll assume it's for storage. The clip you get with this gun is basically crap. It works fine, but it holds an abysmal 30-35 rounds, which is basically an F on an Airsoft gun's mag capacity report card unless it's a sniper or pistol. You will definitely want to buy a few spare clips, which cost only $5-$10 each. The battery you get to charge this thing is sort of also a pain. It's pretty fragile, and it's moderately frustrating trying to get it out of its covering. It also takes about 2-3 hours to charge and lasts for a good while.
Now, how the gun performs. I charged this up and took it outisde not expecting much. I shot a few rounds, I came to a quick conclusion that this gun has very inconsistent accuracy. Was I surprised? Of course not. After all, so paid only $35 for this thing. As I explained earlier, the clip empties in seconds, and can take up to about two minutes to reload. You get a "speed loader" with the gun, but it's like loading up a Civil War style musket, and it still takes a little while, which leads me to remind you wain that you should get an extra mag or two or three if you get this gun. There is also a hop-up feature as well as normal on this gun, but I saw virtually no difference between the two, so I peace mine on normal. Speaking of features, there is a safe, single shot automatic, and full automatic feature on this gun. Now while talking about SHOOTING the gun, let me tell you about the BB's you get with this gun - complete crap. I'm not sure if they are .12 or .20, but they break if you hit anything thats not somewhat cushy, I.E. a human or a couch. I managed to split a BB in half Davy Crockett style when I shot at a candle holder thing.
After this long review of M82 Double Eale bashing, I close by saying that this gun is well worth a purchase for first time buyers of an automatic airsoft gun, or someone who wants a decent gun for backyard wars. It's cheap in price, not all-too cheap in quality, looks really cool, and could easily be used as a prop in a video if you do that sort of thing. I haven't used the Double Eagle M83 or M85, but I know they look like an M4/M16 and G36C respectively. If you want any more info send me a message on XBL. My tag is in the right column.
4.25/5
Pros: Looks great, feels nice, cool attachments FTMP, cheap in price.
Cons: The attachments really are all useless, it's all plastic, won't last a long time most likely.
Other information: Uses 6mm BB's, .20g recommended, 240-260 FPS.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Food Review ( Wendy's Buffalo, Asian, and BBQ boneless wings )
They had these awhile back and I am GLAD it has made its return.
Buffalo: 4.75/5 Mmm. Delicious. Add a little blue cheese and you'd think you were at a sit-in restaurant. Very tasty, although I don't recommend taking a whiff of them. It will clear your sinuses big time.
Honey BBQ: 4/5 Not the best flavor of sauce, and there was almost a milky after taste. Definitely my least favorite, but still pretty good.
Asian: 4.75/5 One tasty meal. The sweet and spicy combo makes this one the best of the three - slightly better than the buffalo. If you get any, and can take a LITTLE heat, this is the one you should go with.
It sucks that these are limited time only, but hey, maybe they'll become a mainstay like the Volcano Taco at Taco Bell. (Crying shame Taco Bell discontinued the Spicy Chicken Burrito.)
Buffalo: 4.75/5 Mmm. Delicious. Add a little blue cheese and you'd think you were at a sit-in restaurant. Very tasty, although I don't recommend taking a whiff of them. It will clear your sinuses big time.
Honey BBQ: 4/5 Not the best flavor of sauce, and there was almost a milky after taste. Definitely my least favorite, but still pretty good.
Asian: 4.75/5 One tasty meal. The sweet and spicy combo makes this one the best of the three - slightly better than the buffalo. If you get any, and can take a LITTLE heat, this is the one you should go with.
It sucks that these are limited time only, but hey, maybe they'll become a mainstay like the Volcano Taco at Taco Bell. (Crying shame Taco Bell discontinued the Spicy Chicken Burrito.)
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Food Review ( Taco Bell's Cheesy Potato Bacon Burrito )
Taco Bell has come out with yet another limited time item - this time around, there's BACON! Today I got this burrito after seeing a commercial for it yesterday. I must say, I wasn't impressed. For one thing, the burrito tasted like it was VERY salty. Also, there wasn't much bacon to be tasted. The texture overall wasn't very pleasent, either. It seemed as if the bacon kept getting stuck in my tonsils. Basically, it's a shame this burrito turned out the way it did. I once thought bacon made virtually everything better... I may have to rethink that.
3.25/5
Pros: Bacon...!, different.
Cons: The bacon isn't great, the flavor is that of mostly saltiness.
I would probably not buy this again. However, I would recommend at least TRYING it. It's cheap, and worlds different than the traditional Taco Bell flavor.
3.25/5
Pros: Bacon...!, different.
Cons: The bacon isn't great, the flavor is that of mostly saltiness.
I would probably not buy this again. However, I would recommend at least TRYING it. It's cheap, and worlds different than the traditional Taco Bell flavor.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Game Review ( NPPL Paintball 2009 - 360 )
Graphics: 2.75/5 The environments look okay and the bunkers look nice, but everything else is sad, including the character movements and MOSTLY the lag. The game slows down constantly in single player, especially so when you are sprinting across the field. Also, players pixelate and disappear after being shot, and the shadows are also pixelated and bizarre.
Sound: 2/5 The paintball guns shooting and splatting is all very satisfying, but hearing the same few lines repeated constantly, and the same few songs loop constantly just gets annoying in minutes.
Control: 3/5 The shooting of the paintball gun is very realistic and cool, but everything else is quite a failure. Your guy often won't prone when you want, it's difficult to sprint and turn, and the crosshairs turns very strangely.
Fun: 2.5/5 NPPL is just flawed. Very, very flawed. The Career Mode forces you to play 30+ tournaments on 30+ different maps, but you'll get bored and feel the redundancy in about a half hour. Unlocking stuff is cool, but a lot or it is just for show and doesn't really do anything. Speaking of not doing anything, let's look at the AI! Even on the "hardest difficulty", you can simply ditch the "precise tactics" of a realistic paintball experience and bum rush the A-holes, and it almost always works. There are also "skill points" you can buy for your teammates, and you can set-up a "pre-game plan", but none of that is even worth the time, because the game is just SO damn easy. NPPL PAINball should be the name of this game because it really will be just that - a pain - tryin to finish this 6-hour-got-boring-in-a-half-hour career. I don't even think the most hardcore of paintball fans will be playing this game for long. Simply put - not good.
2.5/5
Sound: 2/5 The paintball guns shooting and splatting is all very satisfying, but hearing the same few lines repeated constantly, and the same few songs loop constantly just gets annoying in minutes.
Control: 3/5 The shooting of the paintball gun is very realistic and cool, but everything else is quite a failure. Your guy often won't prone when you want, it's difficult to sprint and turn, and the crosshairs turns very strangely.
Fun: 2.5/5 NPPL is just flawed. Very, very flawed. The Career Mode forces you to play 30+ tournaments on 30+ different maps, but you'll get bored and feel the redundancy in about a half hour. Unlocking stuff is cool, but a lot or it is just for show and doesn't really do anything. Speaking of not doing anything, let's look at the AI! Even on the "hardest difficulty", you can simply ditch the "precise tactics" of a realistic paintball experience and bum rush the A-holes, and it almost always works. There are also "skill points" you can buy for your teammates, and you can set-up a "pre-game plan", but none of that is even worth the time, because the game is just SO damn easy. NPPL PAINball should be the name of this game because it really will be just that - a pain - tryin to finish this 6-hour-got-boring-in-a-half-hour career. I don't even think the most hardcore of paintball fans will be playing this game for long. Simply put - not good.
2.5/5
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Game Review ( World Series MLB Baseball - App Store )
Graphics: 3.25/5 3D graphics, some pretty nice animation, but there isn't much. characters look nothing like their ownselves, and there are only 4 generic parks to play in. at least we get official MLB jersies.
Sound: ?/5 Cant say, honestly because I didn't listen. I would think it'sprobably pretty generic and bland though, andwith no commentary.
Control: 4/5 Many reviewers despised the control, but i think it's pretty cool. you tilt your iPod/iPhone to bat and pitch. my only itch is with the fact that theball travels SUPERslow to the plate and it can end up in you striking out a bunch. My first game, though, I won 5-2 with 20 hits.
Fun: 3/5 There are a lot of things hinting at the developers laziness and lack of money. Only four stadiums, no ability to steal bases, a pointless season mode that tracks only your wins and losses, and apparently the MLBPA didn't want in on this game. AKA, there are NO player names which is probably the biggest problem with this game to me. Every player is simply called by position. (And pitchers are named "Starting pitcher", etc.) I do like a few things about this game. There is no fielding that the player controls except the runners - thank god. the fielding would probably be a bitch. If you want to play a baseball game on your iPod, get 9 Inning Baseball '09. it's cheaper and more fun, even if it doesn't have MLB teams.
3/5
Would not recommend purchasing for its current price of $6.99 unless there is a BIG update.
Sound: ?/5 Cant say, honestly because I didn't listen. I would think it'sprobably pretty generic and bland though, andwith no commentary.
Control: 4/5 Many reviewers despised the control, but i think it's pretty cool. you tilt your iPod/iPhone to bat and pitch. my only itch is with the fact that theball travels SUPERslow to the plate and it can end up in you striking out a bunch. My first game, though, I won 5-2 with 20 hits.
Fun: 3/5 There are a lot of things hinting at the developers laziness and lack of money. Only four stadiums, no ability to steal bases, a pointless season mode that tracks only your wins and losses, and apparently the MLBPA didn't want in on this game. AKA, there are NO player names which is probably the biggest problem with this game to me. Every player is simply called by position. (And pitchers are named "Starting pitcher", etc.) I do like a few things about this game. There is no fielding that the player controls except the runners - thank god. the fielding would probably be a bitch. If you want to play a baseball game on your iPod, get 9 Inning Baseball '09. it's cheaper and more fun, even if it doesn't have MLB teams.
3/5
Would not recommend purchasing for its current price of $6.99 unless there is a BIG update.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Game Review ( Halo Mythic Map Pack - 360 )
Assembly: 4/5 Assembly is virtually a Midship remake from Halo 2, with a bit of a Gemini feel, too. Although Bungie said nothing about Assembly supposedly being a remake, it most definitely is. While it's not a bad thing, I was caught off guard and wasn't too pleased at first. Assembly is a decent map, but expect to get shot in the back a lot on this map, seeing as how it's a round-like map.
Orbital: 5/5 Quite possibly my favorite Halo 3 map. Orbital is a great asymmetrical map that has a Star Wars feel to it. This map is great for Team Slayer and Capture the Flag. Not much else can be said but that it is quite epic. It also features a rocket launcher, sniper, and tricky crouch-jump area.
Sand Box: 4/5 In itself, Sand Box isn't fun or impressive. Playing this map in a playlist with Capture the Flag is completely trashy. When the opposing team is driving around the map on a Warthog while someone else is spawn camping with a Brute Chopper, it makes it virtually impossible to escape. However, Sand Box as a Forge map is better than Foundry for the simple fact that it has three levels. A monster air level, a bigger-than-Foundry under level, and a decent sized ground level. My main gripe about this map in Forge is that it the pieces are kind of ugly for the most part. Foundry's pieces are just more appealing.
The Mythic Map Pack, to me, isn't a very strong pack. Forging around on Sand Box is fun, but you can't really build a huge map on the "air" part of the map because of a lack of pieces. The biggest map I've made on Sand Box is a Vacant remake from Call of Duty 4. That barely worked. I recommend downloading this map pack if you're a huge Forge user or Halo 3 fan. Otherwise, you should probably wait until the price goes down.
4/5
Orbital: 5/5 Quite possibly my favorite Halo 3 map. Orbital is a great asymmetrical map that has a Star Wars feel to it. This map is great for Team Slayer and Capture the Flag. Not much else can be said but that it is quite epic. It also features a rocket launcher, sniper, and tricky crouch-jump area.
Sand Box: 4/5 In itself, Sand Box isn't fun or impressive. Playing this map in a playlist with Capture the Flag is completely trashy. When the opposing team is driving around the map on a Warthog while someone else is spawn camping with a Brute Chopper, it makes it virtually impossible to escape. However, Sand Box as a Forge map is better than Foundry for the simple fact that it has three levels. A monster air level, a bigger-than-Foundry under level, and a decent sized ground level. My main gripe about this map in Forge is that it the pieces are kind of ugly for the most part. Foundry's pieces are just more appealing.
The Mythic Map Pack, to me, isn't a very strong pack. Forging around on Sand Box is fun, but you can't really build a huge map on the "air" part of the map because of a lack of pieces. The biggest map I've made on Sand Box is a Vacant remake from Call of Duty 4. That barely worked. I recommend downloading this map pack if you're a huge Forge user or Halo 3 fan. Otherwise, you should probably wait until the price goes down.
4/5
Food Review ( Big Mac vs. Whopper )
It's been a very long debate - which is better? A Big Mac or a Whopper? I know there are many people that are saying, "Fast food burgers are disgusting", and frankly, if you're one of them, get the fuck out. But for those that are wondering what my take is, I can tell you for the most part it depends on what mood you're in. Overall, though, I'd say Big Mac is better than the regular Whopper. Ask me in the past, I'd probably say a Whopper was better than a Big Mac. I pick Big Mac because it's just more different than a Whopper is from a, say, Wendy's burger, in that they have the same contents. Not every hamburger has a thousand-island-like secret sauce. However, I'd probably say the Angry Whopper is better than the Big Mac.
Verdict: Big Mac
Verdict: Big Mac
Food Review ( Angry Whopper from Burger King )
I always love when Burger King has limited time things - they are usually great - with the exception of the burger shots... can you say POINTLESS? The Angry Whopper is a delicious Whopper with crispy onion-ring like things, a mysterious but tasty sweet-like sauce, and jalapenos on it. If you like spicy foods, I don't think I can recommend this more. I wish this was a mainstay on the Burger King menu.
4.75/5
+ Amazing!
- Doesn't last long... ='[
4.75/5
+ Amazing!
- Doesn't last long... ='[
Food Review ( Carne asada chipotle taco salad from Taco Bell )
I can just say off the bat I am more than unimpressed with this Taco Salad. For one thing, it is $5 - probably because of the fact "steak" is in it. That's all fine and good. Anyway, this is what this thing is if you don't know what a taco salad is. A taco shell, with beans and rice on the bottom, followed by a decent amount of steak, a LOT of lettuce, a few sprinklings of cheese, and a chipotle dressing. At 'only' 960 calories, this thing is of pretty decent size. My main problem is that it just isn't worth the $5 when there are several better things you can get off the 79, 89, 99c menus. Also, the chipotle just doesn't taste that great. It's hard to recommend - I don't think I'd be willing to buy this again.
Not recommended.
3.5/5 (Good to try once, maybe.)
Not recommended.
3.5/5 (Good to try once, maybe.)
Food Review (3,5,7 layer nachos from Taco Bell)
These came out awhile ago but I just now decided, "I really do have no life. Maybe I'll start reviewing "limited time" things from certain fast food restaurants. Off we go.
Three Layer Nachos: 4.75/5 For only 79 cents, you get nachos that have Taco Bell sauce, cheese, and beans on them. Very good, and not overwhelming. May very well be the best of the three nachos I can tell you right now.
Five Layer Nachos: 4.5/5 For a measly ten cents more, you can get the five layer nachos, which have what the three layer nachos have, including a Monterrey jack cheese and meat.
Seven Layer Nachos: 4/5 And for ten cents more than the five layer nachos are the over-done and not-so-yummy seven layer nachos. They have what the five layer nachos have plus sour cream and guacamole. The reason I don't care much for these nachos is that there is simply too much stuff on them, and not enough chips.
Overall, I strongly recommend the three and five layer nachos over the seven. Not to mention the Taco Bell guacamole is pretty runny and doesn't taste that great. Still, to get all three of these nachos for under $3 is a great value.
Three Layer Nachos: 4.75/5 For only 79 cents, you get nachos that have Taco Bell sauce, cheese, and beans on them. Very good, and not overwhelming. May very well be the best of the three nachos I can tell you right now.
Five Layer Nachos: 4.5/5 For a measly ten cents more, you can get the five layer nachos, which have what the three layer nachos have, including a Monterrey jack cheese and meat.
Seven Layer Nachos: 4/5 And for ten cents more than the five layer nachos are the over-done and not-so-yummy seven layer nachos. They have what the five layer nachos have plus sour cream and guacamole. The reason I don't care much for these nachos is that there is simply too much stuff on them, and not enough chips.
Overall, I strongly recommend the three and five layer nachos over the seven. Not to mention the Taco Bell guacamole is pretty runny and doesn't taste that great. Still, to get all three of these nachos for under $3 is a great value.
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Game Review ( GRID - 360 )
Graphics: 4.75/5 Completely fantastic. The cars, tracks, and sense of speed are remarkable. The game even runs great to boot. My only itch is with the in-car review mirrors. What's up with the PS1 graphics there? Anyway, as said, great looking game. Every car looks different inside, too.
Sound: 4.5/5 The cars sound unbelievable. Try putting on some headphones, put the volume up, and go in-car view. What a great experience. The engines and crashes and different surfaces you race on sound great. The flaw with the sound here for me are the tedious line repeats over your inter-com. The acting isn't good and there are only five lines of seems; all of which you hear in every race.
Control: 4.75/5 I could only wish I had the 360 wheel... still though, the game controls really great. Each car controls differently, too, better yet. Not much else can be said about the controls except that they are virtually perfect.
Fun: 4.75 So much can be said about this game - I'll try to keep it a little short here. First, it should be known that you start needing a certain amount of money to fix up your car. After a few races, you'll raise enough money to get to the meat of the game. This all really works out well because Codemasters gives you a chance to really get familiar with the game. As you race, you get money for new cars and Rep in three separate regions: The US, Europe, and Japan. Reputation gets you more races and a higher rank, buy more on that later. US type tracks are generally more intimate and city-based. You'll find yourself racing through San Francisco, Detroit, Long Beach, and Washington DC. On Europe, you race on more open-sided tracks - Indy car races aren't uncommon. And in Japan, you will me doing a lot of one-on-one races down mountain sides, and drift races/challenges. Basically, all three regions vary pretty well and give this game some staying power. Anyways, back to the career really quick. Not to really "spoil" what happens a few seasons in (there isn't a story anyway) but you will eventually get a teammate. This teammate can be hired and fired by you. Depending on price, you can get a skilled or unskilled player, agressive or passive racer, and so on. This gives the game even more depth. Overall, GRID has to be my favorite racing game in a long while, if not ever. Think Burnout and Gran Turismo; a game with depth, great graphics, cool crashes, and more. GRID truly is a must play of you haven't played it yet - racing fan or not.
4.75/5
Sound: 4.5/5 The cars sound unbelievable. Try putting on some headphones, put the volume up, and go in-car view. What a great experience. The engines and crashes and different surfaces you race on sound great. The flaw with the sound here for me are the tedious line repeats over your inter-com. The acting isn't good and there are only five lines of seems; all of which you hear in every race.
Control: 4.75/5 I could only wish I had the 360 wheel... still though, the game controls really great. Each car controls differently, too, better yet. Not much else can be said about the controls except that they are virtually perfect.
Fun: 4.75 So much can be said about this game - I'll try to keep it a little short here. First, it should be known that you start needing a certain amount of money to fix up your car. After a few races, you'll raise enough money to get to the meat of the game. This all really works out well because Codemasters gives you a chance to really get familiar with the game. As you race, you get money for new cars and Rep in three separate regions: The US, Europe, and Japan. Reputation gets you more races and a higher rank, buy more on that later. US type tracks are generally more intimate and city-based. You'll find yourself racing through San Francisco, Detroit, Long Beach, and Washington DC. On Europe, you race on more open-sided tracks - Indy car races aren't uncommon. And in Japan, you will me doing a lot of one-on-one races down mountain sides, and drift races/challenges. Basically, all three regions vary pretty well and give this game some staying power. Anyways, back to the career really quick. Not to really "spoil" what happens a few seasons in (there isn't a story anyway) but you will eventually get a teammate. This teammate can be hired and fired by you. Depending on price, you can get a skilled or unskilled player, agressive or passive racer, and so on. This gives the game even more depth. Overall, GRID has to be my favorite racing game in a long while, if not ever. Think Burnout and Gran Turismo; a game with depth, great graphics, cool crashes, and more. GRID truly is a must play of you haven't played it yet - racing fan or not.
4.75/5
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Game Review ( Quantum of Solace - 360 )
Graphics: 3.75/5 Explosions are cool and Bond looks a lot like Daniel Craig, but the fame can lag miserably with smoke on screen, and the graphics overall just aren't spectacular.
Sound: 4/5 Voice acting from Daniel Craig and nice overall, but the guns sound very... I don't know... arcade-y, and the lines repeated in multiplayer will likely lead to one killing thyself.
Control: 4/5 Almost exactly like Call of Duty 4, but with a behind-the-wall feature a la Rainbow Six Vegas. Works nicely. Only real problem for me is "wall sticking" when you don't want to.
Fun: 3.75/5 QoS is a pretty good game. It's a LOT like Call of Duty 4/5 with a few differences, and without the real drive to play. You can buy your guns, you don't level up with ranks. Really though, once you get the Hutchinson "shotgun", you'll molest anybody in the game. This "short ranged shot gun" is an auto-kill-in-one-shot machine... it may get the record for scrubbiest gun ever in any game. And you can silence it! Anyway, the maps in QoS made me chuckle. Not because they are bad, but there are maps that seem to be ripped from CoD 4 with slight modifications. Say hello to Countdown, Wet Works, and more! And, to my pleasent surprise, there is a map that looks quite a bit like a part of Facility from Goldeneye. Quantum of Solace doesn't get the reviews it deserves for the most part. It's got a fun single player, and the multiplayer is fun, too, despite virtually everyone using the damn Hutchinson "shotty". QoS is ideal as a play all week long rental, but I wouldn't pay more than, say, $25 for this game that just isn't that amazing.
Sound: 4/5 Voice acting from Daniel Craig and nice overall, but the guns sound very... I don't know... arcade-y, and the lines repeated in multiplayer will likely lead to one killing thyself.
Control: 4/5 Almost exactly like Call of Duty 4, but with a behind-the-wall feature a la Rainbow Six Vegas. Works nicely. Only real problem for me is "wall sticking" when you don't want to.
Fun: 3.75/5 QoS is a pretty good game. It's a LOT like Call of Duty 4/5 with a few differences, and without the real drive to play. You can buy your guns, you don't level up with ranks. Really though, once you get the Hutchinson "shotgun", you'll molest anybody in the game. This "short ranged shot gun" is an auto-kill-in-one-shot machine... it may get the record for scrubbiest gun ever in any game. And you can silence it! Anyway, the maps in QoS made me chuckle. Not because they are bad, but there are maps that seem to be ripped from CoD 4 with slight modifications. Say hello to Countdown, Wet Works, and more! And, to my pleasent surprise, there is a map that looks quite a bit like a part of Facility from Goldeneye. Quantum of Solace doesn't get the reviews it deserves for the most part. It's got a fun single player, and the multiplayer is fun, too, despite virtually everyone using the damn Hutchinson "shotty". QoS is ideal as a play all week long rental, but I wouldn't pay more than, say, $25 for this game that just isn't that amazing.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Game Review ( GTA IV: The Lost and Damned - 360 )
Graphics: 4/5 A step down from the core GTA IV game - only because there's an unnecessary film grain added in by Rockstar. Thankfully, it can be turned off. ( Go into the menu and turn "Noise Effect" off. )
Sound: 5/5 Better than the main game. The voice acting is great as usually, with some funny moments, the TV shows are funny, and the Liberty Rock songs are ace. "Funk #49", "Highway Star", "Run to the Hills", "Renegade", etc. Songs from the disc version of the game are also mixed in, and these songs can be heard on the radio even when you go back to Niko's story. Niceee.
Control: 4/5 To be honest, I don't like it much. Rockstar changed up the bike controls a bit to make them easier to control for the noobies and even more skilled players. I don't like it at all, mainly because on turns the bikes tend to spin out, when they never used to before. Also, it's harder to fall off your bike - you basically have to go top speed head-on into a wall or car to fall off.
Fun: 4.25/5 A great value at $20, but there are some issues. First, Johnny isn't exactly what you'd call a "likable" character. Niko was a naughty boy himself but Johnny is just... a dick - you'll know what I mean if you download TLaD. ( Which you should. ) The story doesn't suck you in a BUNCH, and the gang wars and races, while fun at first, are really just repetitive - especially if you play them a lot. The multiplayer is okay, but some modes ( Like Lone Biker ) throw you in the same starting point every round. It is definitely fun, but WHY the same spot? And finally - the weapons. The "mini-shotgun" as I call it and grenade launchers are great - it's just a shame they can't be used outisde of TLaD. Anyways yadda, yadda, yadda, TLaD is a good deal at $20 - despite there being a fully nude... guy. ( Yes, a penis. We see a penis. ) and there are a few pretty easy achievements. All you really have to do is beat the story and by then you'll have 250 achievement points. Did I mention the story was 10 hours or so long? And this DLC only costs $20? What are you waiting for exactly?
4.25/5
Sound: 5/5 Better than the main game. The voice acting is great as usually, with some funny moments, the TV shows are funny, and the Liberty Rock songs are ace. "Funk #49", "Highway Star", "Run to the Hills", "Renegade", etc. Songs from the disc version of the game are also mixed in, and these songs can be heard on the radio even when you go back to Niko's story. Niceee.
Control: 4/5 To be honest, I don't like it much. Rockstar changed up the bike controls a bit to make them easier to control for the noobies and even more skilled players. I don't like it at all, mainly because on turns the bikes tend to spin out, when they never used to before. Also, it's harder to fall off your bike - you basically have to go top speed head-on into a wall or car to fall off.
Fun: 4.25/5 A great value at $20, but there are some issues. First, Johnny isn't exactly what you'd call a "likable" character. Niko was a naughty boy himself but Johnny is just... a dick - you'll know what I mean if you download TLaD. ( Which you should. ) The story doesn't suck you in a BUNCH, and the gang wars and races, while fun at first, are really just repetitive - especially if you play them a lot. The multiplayer is okay, but some modes ( Like Lone Biker ) throw you in the same starting point every round. It is definitely fun, but WHY the same spot? And finally - the weapons. The "mini-shotgun" as I call it and grenade launchers are great - it's just a shame they can't be used outisde of TLaD. Anyways yadda, yadda, yadda, TLaD is a good deal at $20 - despite there being a fully nude... guy. ( Yes, a penis. We see a penis. ) and there are a few pretty easy achievements. All you really have to do is beat the story and by then you'll have 250 achievement points. Did I mention the story was 10 hours or so long? And this DLC only costs $20? What are you waiting for exactly?
4.25/5
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Game Review ( Rock Revolution - 360 )
Graphics: 3.25/5 Character models look decent, but really the only thing that makes the game somewhat attractive are the venues. Everything else is pretty terrible. The audience is the same looped over model, and the bassist and guitarists strum the same note all song, even whenthr instrument isn't being played. Worse yet is the singer, who sings without any movement or emotion - at least the drummer is better than the Guitar Hero drummer.
Sound: 3.5/5 40 tracks, and all but two are covers. It's really hard to judge the covers... Some are great, while some like Chop Suey and Spirit of the Radio ( Which uses two singers in the song at different times. ) are literally laughable. For the most part, the soundtrack is pretty "okay", covers and all. Major downfall is only having 40 songs.
Control: 3/5 Bizarre as can be. On guitar, the hammer ons just seem impossible to hit at times because of the way the fret board comes directly down at the speed it does. The drum layout: atrocious. I plugged in my Rock Band 2 set and decided to give Last Resort a go. Look, I can 5* songs like Kool Thing on Rock Band so I'm not slouch - needless to say I failed Last Resort in seconds. The seven pads for the Rock Revolution drums stay on screen and you're expected to play - not easy - especially since the bass pedal icon, instead of being a bar, is a round logo. Very weird, and hardly worth getting familiar with.
Fun: 3/5 The game is bad - but not as bad as people seem to think. It only costs $20 new, for 40 songs, to play on guitar. ( I believe drums are not even worth learning. ) Rock Revolution just seems like it wasn't made to contend with Rock Band and Guitar Hero. Instead, it feels like a beta test - and a pretty mediocre one at that.
Sound: 3.5/5 40 tracks, and all but two are covers. It's really hard to judge the covers... Some are great, while some like Chop Suey and Spirit of the Radio ( Which uses two singers in the song at different times. ) are literally laughable. For the most part, the soundtrack is pretty "okay", covers and all. Major downfall is only having 40 songs.
Control: 3/5 Bizarre as can be. On guitar, the hammer ons just seem impossible to hit at times because of the way the fret board comes directly down at the speed it does. The drum layout: atrocious. I plugged in my Rock Band 2 set and decided to give Last Resort a go. Look, I can 5* songs like Kool Thing on Rock Band so I'm not slouch - needless to say I failed Last Resort in seconds. The seven pads for the Rock Revolution drums stay on screen and you're expected to play - not easy - especially since the bass pedal icon, instead of being a bar, is a round logo. Very weird, and hardly worth getting familiar with.
Fun: 3/5 The game is bad - but not as bad as people seem to think. It only costs $20 new, for 40 songs, to play on guitar. ( I believe drums are not even worth learning. ) Rock Revolution just seems like it wasn't made to contend with Rock Band and Guitar Hero. Instead, it feels like a beta test - and a pretty mediocre one at that.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Game Review ( Mercenaries 2 - 360 )
Graphics: 3.75/5 Mostly unimpressive. While the game runs well for the most part, the game looks more like an Xbox 180 game than Xbox 360. Character models are decent, world looks meh... the fact that you can basically destroy anything you want is definitely cool, though. It's just a shame the framerate drops and there are some seriously weird graphical issues here and there. The explosions almost make up for it.
Sound: 3.25/5 Decent may be generous. Voice acting is average, and you will be hearing a lot of the same lines over and over again very quickly. The guns and explosions and the like are alright, buy again, not spectacular.
Control: 3.75/5 Its all fine and good and not much is too wrong with it... Well maybe a few things. Tanks control strangely, the camera feels strange, you hold A to drive - what is this a PS1 game? Seriously though, this game heavily reminds me of the game Star Wars Battlefront with the way it controls. Not a bad thing, but
it is different. Also, if you've layer Mercs 2, you'd better know your controller. This game is surprisingly deep and you might sort of want to learn how to do everything otherwise you'll get pwnd out of nowhere by an RPG while trying to figure out how to call your helicopter buddy.
Fun: 3.75/5 From what I've played, Mercs 2 is a good game. Somewhat repetitive, a lot of driving, difficult and seemingly impossible at times without a co op buddy, but the game is fun. May not be worth $60, but if you like blowing stuff up, this game is a must play. Unless you have someone to play with, don't buy this game because I think you'll find it to be more frustratingly easy ( Youll know what I mean ) than delightfully and overwhelmingly fun. Basically - rent it.
3.75/5
Sound: 3.25/5 Decent may be generous. Voice acting is average, and you will be hearing a lot of the same lines over and over again very quickly. The guns and explosions and the like are alright, buy again, not spectacular.
Control: 3.75/5 Its all fine and good and not much is too wrong with it... Well maybe a few things. Tanks control strangely, the camera feels strange, you hold A to drive - what is this a PS1 game? Seriously though, this game heavily reminds me of the game Star Wars Battlefront with the way it controls. Not a bad thing, but
it is different. Also, if you've layer Mercs 2, you'd better know your controller. This game is surprisingly deep and you might sort of want to learn how to do everything otherwise you'll get pwnd out of nowhere by an RPG while trying to figure out how to call your helicopter buddy.
Fun: 3.75/5 From what I've played, Mercs 2 is a good game. Somewhat repetitive, a lot of driving, difficult and seemingly impossible at times without a co op buddy, but the game is fun. May not be worth $60, but if you like blowing stuff up, this game is a must play. Unless you have someone to play with, don't buy this game because I think you'll find it to be more frustratingly easy ( Youll know what I mean ) than delightfully and overwhelmingly fun. Basically - rent it.
3.75/5
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Just got GameFly again.
I'll be posting a lot more reviews now that I got GameFly again.
Happy playing.
-Alex
Happy playing.
-Alex
Monday, January 12, 2009
Drink Review ( Recon Coffee NRG Cola )
This may very well be the most disgusting things I have ever tasted. It's coffee + cola + it's sugar free. The can looks cool, like camoflauge, so I got it. Boy do I regret it. The smell itself almost made me vomit. It smells like burning hair with rubbing alcohol. The taste? Oh god. Coke + coffee is a TERRIBLE mix. And THEN it's sugar free. This is the worst energy drink I've ever had byfar.
.25/5
Nice looking can.
.25/5
Nice looking can.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Game Review ( Gears of War 2 - 360 )
-Note: This will likely be my last review for a couple months.-
Graphics: 4.75/5 Near perfect - I noticed instantly the game looked sharper than in Gears of War, but there are also some things holding the game back. Mainly, the texture details don't come in quickly, and there are times at the start of multiplayer matches for instance, that your whole character looks like a blurry blob for a few seconds before the graphics load in. Not a big deal though, because the game looks great when it does load. Also, the game suffers from pretty terrible lag at times on Xbox LIVE matches. Sometimes the games run smoothly, and other times the matches are absolutely unplayable.
Sound: 4/5 The gun sounds seem to have been upgraded, ( The sniper sounds the most different ) but the dialogue really remains as it did in Gears 1. Cheesy, somewhat emotionless, and pretty average. That's not to say the game sounds bad, but the dialogue is very average for a game that overall actually sounds pretty good.
Control: 4.5/5 ONLY A 4.5? WTFZ?! I rate it this for a couple reasons. First, the shotgun is less effective in this game, and the direction it shoots is different. Also, the BoomShot is still like it was after the Gears 1 update. And finally, the sniper will not down players even if it is an active reload. Instead, it just does more damage. There are also issues with the camera after being knocked down by a smoke grenade. When your player is down and standing up, the camera gets all screwed up, and it just seems unfinished.
Fun: 4.5/5 It's pretty hard to effectively rate Gears of War 2 as it is now. The campaign is certainly fun and more entertaining than the first, but that won't take you forever to do. The multiplayer is (likely) what you bought this game for, and if you did, it's really a love it or hate it kind of thing. Some elements have been added that shouldn't have been, ( Mortars in multiplayer are pretty unfair, you have to admit, although they are fun to use. ) and some are welcome additions, such as the fixed sniper, and chainsaw duels. Basically, for anything you wanted fixed from Gears 1, something else got screwed up in Gears 2. The most aggravating thing though is what I stated earlier on - the lag/framerate issues. 5v5 in Gears 2?! SWEET! It kind of sucks to say that Epic didn't figure out how to keep the lag down while doing so. I mean, with a game as big as everyone knew this would be, and to make the matches 5v5 instead of 4v4 without making the connections at least DECENT was just stupid. If Epic couldn't pull off 5v5, they should have left it at 4v4 - I'd be fine with that. Overall, the multiplayer is decent fun, but the amount of B.S. and inconsistency really makes it frustrating for the hardcore gamer. It is also sometimes quite difficult to get into a matchmaking game. Often times you can sit in the multiplayer lobby for upwards of 10-20 minutes watching your game "Find Players"... then restart. The best new addition really has to be Horde mode, in which you and up to four other people can attack a horde of Locust that come in "waves", all the way up to 50. The game gets super intense, and it really is a blast. Basically, when Cliffy B said Gears of War 2 would be "Bigger, better, and more bad ass" than Gears 1, he forgot to also say "Gears 2 will be more laggy, inconsistent, and frustrating than ever before."
4.5/5
-Subject to change after an update or two.-
Graphics: 4.75/5 Near perfect - I noticed instantly the game looked sharper than in Gears of War, but there are also some things holding the game back. Mainly, the texture details don't come in quickly, and there are times at the start of multiplayer matches for instance, that your whole character looks like a blurry blob for a few seconds before the graphics load in. Not a big deal though, because the game looks great when it does load. Also, the game suffers from pretty terrible lag at times on Xbox LIVE matches. Sometimes the games run smoothly, and other times the matches are absolutely unplayable.
Sound: 4/5 The gun sounds seem to have been upgraded, ( The sniper sounds the most different ) but the dialogue really remains as it did in Gears 1. Cheesy, somewhat emotionless, and pretty average. That's not to say the game sounds bad, but the dialogue is very average for a game that overall actually sounds pretty good.
Control: 4.5/5 ONLY A 4.5? WTFZ?! I rate it this for a couple reasons. First, the shotgun is less effective in this game, and the direction it shoots is different. Also, the BoomShot is still like it was after the Gears 1 update. And finally, the sniper will not down players even if it is an active reload. Instead, it just does more damage. There are also issues with the camera after being knocked down by a smoke grenade. When your player is down and standing up, the camera gets all screwed up, and it just seems unfinished.
Fun: 4.5/5 It's pretty hard to effectively rate Gears of War 2 as it is now. The campaign is certainly fun and more entertaining than the first, but that won't take you forever to do. The multiplayer is (likely) what you bought this game for, and if you did, it's really a love it or hate it kind of thing. Some elements have been added that shouldn't have been, ( Mortars in multiplayer are pretty unfair, you have to admit, although they are fun to use. ) and some are welcome additions, such as the fixed sniper, and chainsaw duels. Basically, for anything you wanted fixed from Gears 1, something else got screwed up in Gears 2. The most aggravating thing though is what I stated earlier on - the lag/framerate issues. 5v5 in Gears 2?! SWEET! It kind of sucks to say that Epic didn't figure out how to keep the lag down while doing so. I mean, with a game as big as everyone knew this would be, and to make the matches 5v5 instead of 4v4 without making the connections at least DECENT was just stupid. If Epic couldn't pull off 5v5, they should have left it at 4v4 - I'd be fine with that. Overall, the multiplayer is decent fun, but the amount of B.S. and inconsistency really makes it frustrating for the hardcore gamer. It is also sometimes quite difficult to get into a matchmaking game. Often times you can sit in the multiplayer lobby for upwards of 10-20 minutes watching your game "Find Players"... then restart. The best new addition really has to be Horde mode, in which you and up to four other people can attack a horde of Locust that come in "waves", all the way up to 50. The game gets super intense, and it really is a blast. Basically, when Cliffy B said Gears of War 2 would be "Bigger, better, and more bad ass" than Gears 1, he forgot to also say "Gears 2 will be more laggy, inconsistent, and frustrating than ever before."
4.5/5
-Subject to change after an update or two.-
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Game Review ( Vigilante 8 Arcade - 360 Arcade )
Graphics: 3.75/5 Look good, like an average arcade game nowadays from Xbox Live, but the explosions look like powdered cheese flying everywhere, and the frame rate drops at times, sadly. The levels look great, though.
Sound: 4/5 If you remember Vigilante 2, this is the music from that. Memories flood in... also, there are car noises, explosions, and all of that... above average, and pretty good for an arcade game.
Control: 4.25/5 This broke the game for most people, but I got it right away. It is somewhat strange, but if you can't adjust quickly, you must not play many video games. The cars do feel "loose" and seem to turn freely, but it's not as bad as it's made out to seem. If you're skeptical, just download the demo.
Fun: 4/5 For $10, this seems like a fair purchase, and should be a no brainer for Vigilante 8 fans. Some old-school characters come back, you can "customize" your car, and there is one DLC pack coming out soon for 320 MSP including 2 new levels and a couple new cars. The camera angles are screwed up sometimes, there is lag on multiplayer, and some dislike the controls, but to me, this is a solid remake of a really great game. I recommend it more-so if you intend to play it alone / locally.
4/5
Sound: 4/5 If you remember Vigilante 2, this is the music from that. Memories flood in... also, there are car noises, explosions, and all of that... above average, and pretty good for an arcade game.
Control: 4.25/5 This broke the game for most people, but I got it right away. It is somewhat strange, but if you can't adjust quickly, you must not play many video games. The cars do feel "loose" and seem to turn freely, but it's not as bad as it's made out to seem. If you're skeptical, just download the demo.
Fun: 4/5 For $10, this seems like a fair purchase, and should be a no brainer for Vigilante 8 fans. Some old-school characters come back, you can "customize" your car, and there is one DLC pack coming out soon for 320 MSP including 2 new levels and a couple new cars. The camera angles are screwed up sometimes, there is lag on multiplayer, and some dislike the controls, but to me, this is a solid remake of a really great game. I recommend it more-so if you intend to play it alone / locally.
4/5
Game Review ( AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack - 360 )
Graphics: 4/5 Same as Rock Band 1, and so is the interface. Yeah - it's Rock Band 1, with 18 songs. Really simple. You can't make a character either, but why does it matter?
Sound: 5/5 Not all would really care for this pack because, as you can see, it's live, from 1992 at Donnington. Personally, I've almost exclusively heard AC/DC live, and live only. I think the songs sound great. There is also an over 10 minute version of Jailbreak that is actually surprisingly fun.
Control: 4.75/5 The charts are really good here. Thunderstruck has all hammer-ons for the intro in case you were wondering, but in Rock Band 1/2 with the transfer, only the green notes are hammer-ons, all else are strummed. I don't know of any more significant chart changes, but this one I noticed, and many disliked it. Personally, I play it much better this way because it helps with my timing, and it's more realistic. And ah yes, "Let There Be Rock" on expert drums is, indeed, a BITCH.
Fun: 5/5 Might just be the best $40 I've ever spent. You're spending just over $2 per song, for 18 songs, and over 99 minutes of music. And it's AC/DC, one of my very favorite bands. If you like AC/DC, this is well worth it. If you like playing guitar, this is well worth it. If you don't like AC/DC and play drums, this may not be worth it. I find the drums really fun to play, even though the charts are super simple for the most part. To me, this is a must buy.
5/5
( P.S. Watch out for "High Voltage" and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" on Expert guitar. That is all. )
Sound: 5/5 Not all would really care for this pack because, as you can see, it's live, from 1992 at Donnington. Personally, I've almost exclusively heard AC/DC live, and live only. I think the songs sound great. There is also an over 10 minute version of Jailbreak that is actually surprisingly fun.
Control: 4.75/5 The charts are really good here. Thunderstruck has all hammer-ons for the intro in case you were wondering, but in Rock Band 1/2 with the transfer, only the green notes are hammer-ons, all else are strummed. I don't know of any more significant chart changes, but this one I noticed, and many disliked it. Personally, I play it much better this way because it helps with my timing, and it's more realistic. And ah yes, "Let There Be Rock" on expert drums is, indeed, a BITCH.
Fun: 5/5 Might just be the best $40 I've ever spent. You're spending just over $2 per song, for 18 songs, and over 99 minutes of music. And it's AC/DC, one of my very favorite bands. If you like AC/DC, this is well worth it. If you like playing guitar, this is well worth it. If you don't like AC/DC and play drums, this may not be worth it. I find the drums really fun to play, even though the charts are super simple for the most part. To me, this is a must buy.
5/5
( P.S. Watch out for "High Voltage" and "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" on Expert guitar. That is all. )
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Game Review ( Guitar Hero: World Tour - 360 )
Graphics: 4/5 The venues look stunning - just about all of them really look good. Maybe not graphically, but just the way they're laid out. The audience is probably the most pitiful looking thing. There are duplicated of the same character standing in groups of five. Uhhh... As far as the band members, the drummer doesn't play to the beat of the music/hit every note most of the time as the Rock Band drummer does, and the characters don't feel real at all. They are emotionless on stage. Bummer.
Sound: 3.75/5 Once again, doesn't stack up to Rock Band. The Rock Band 2 set was just better overall. World Tour of course has some great songs, my favorites including the most obvious ones and a few others, but the majority of the songs are weak. And what's with the spanish songs like La Bamba? Really? Does that belong in a Guitar HERO game? Another thing that I wasn't expecting to see but would have liked to have seen ( or heard ) is the crowd singing along.
Control: 4/5 While most of the songs are a lot of fun to play on drums, I can't say the same about the guitar. While I know Neversoft likes to make songs "challenging" they do it in an unnecessary fashion. Neversoft has an eternal hard-on for using three button chords at least 50 times in nearly every song. It's not that it makes the song hard necessarily, but Neversoft thinks so, and it's just annoying and funny at the same time. The one big thing that people will be hating this game for quite a bit if they have Rock Band 2 drums is that they aren't velocity sensative in World Tour, and, more annoyingly, you have to use star power by hitting the yellow and blue pads at the same time. This can take getting used to for some people - it can be hard to do without breaking a combo.
Fun: 4/5 Overall, Guitar Hero: World Tour is not a bad game, but it's not what it was cracked up to be at all. The music maker isn't too fun, and you'll find yourself using it as a freestyle mode more than not, and there are very few interesting and fun songs up on GHTunes. The track list is fairly weak compared to Rock Band 2, the characters aren't realistic ( although there is great customization ) and the game just isn't as fun as Rock Band. While the menus and the like look great, it seems Neversoft may have spent more time with designing them than trying to find a few more fun songs to play in the game.
4/5
Sound: 3.75/5 Once again, doesn't stack up to Rock Band. The Rock Band 2 set was just better overall. World Tour of course has some great songs, my favorites including the most obvious ones and a few others, but the majority of the songs are weak. And what's with the spanish songs like La Bamba? Really? Does that belong in a Guitar HERO game? Another thing that I wasn't expecting to see but would have liked to have seen ( or heard ) is the crowd singing along.
Control: 4/5 While most of the songs are a lot of fun to play on drums, I can't say the same about the guitar. While I know Neversoft likes to make songs "challenging" they do it in an unnecessary fashion. Neversoft has an eternal hard-on for using three button chords at least 50 times in nearly every song. It's not that it makes the song hard necessarily, but Neversoft thinks so, and it's just annoying and funny at the same time. The one big thing that people will be hating this game for quite a bit if they have Rock Band 2 drums is that they aren't velocity sensative in World Tour, and, more annoyingly, you have to use star power by hitting the yellow and blue pads at the same time. This can take getting used to for some people - it can be hard to do without breaking a combo.
Fun: 4/5 Overall, Guitar Hero: World Tour is not a bad game, but it's not what it was cracked up to be at all. The music maker isn't too fun, and you'll find yourself using it as a freestyle mode more than not, and there are very few interesting and fun songs up on GHTunes. The track list is fairly weak compared to Rock Band 2, the characters aren't realistic ( although there is great customization ) and the game just isn't as fun as Rock Band. While the menus and the like look great, it seems Neversoft may have spent more time with designing them than trying to find a few more fun songs to play in the game.
4/5
Game Review ( Far Cry 2 - 360 )
Graphics: 4.5/5 The game looks great. Fantastic really. The single player world is HUGE, and there are very few loading times. The graphics in the game are what really bring this game to life.
Sound: 4.5/5 Some say the sound is the best part of FC2, and I disagree. It is really good, but the graphics and gameplay are much better. It would be better if your own character talked, but since there are a lot to choose from, I can see why it wasn't done.
Control: 4/5 Good, but not great. Actually very similar to Call of Duty 4 - and the controls aren' the only thing similar. Anyway, the layout is about the same except you can't prone, and the sprinting is a little more annoying in this game. It is impossible to make a sharp turn while sprinting, which can be frustrating especially on smaller multiplayer maps with a lot of stuff like Love Shacks.
Fun: 4.5/ Far Cry 2 is very underrated, and it has a strong fanbase for a reason. Far Cry 2 has a map maker in which you can make literally any map to your desire ( Unless you want to construct YOUR OWN buildings, seeing as how it's not possible. There is only a set of pre-made buildings, which is really SICKENING. ) but it takes about an hour or so to get really used to. The multiplayer is also, contrary to what many people say, is fantastic. There is definitely B.S. in there, I'll give them that, but what online shooter doesn't have that? For instance - you can shoot an RPG at a truck, and it won't blow it up in one shot -- nope -- it takes TWO hits, even if you shoot a guy on the turret on the back of the truck, he still won't die, and if he gets out and you then shoot the truck, it will say "so-and-so killed himself." That is certainly aggrivating. Also, the longer you wait to get the game, the more likely you are to get frustrated with it, seeing as you how you get "diamonds" when leveling up which are used to upgrade your primary and secondary weapons. While Far Cry 2 isn't perfect, the online play certainly needs to be experienced. Think of it as Team Fortress 2, but without the cartoony-look.
4.5/5
Sound: 4.5/5 Some say the sound is the best part of FC2, and I disagree. It is really good, but the graphics and gameplay are much better. It would be better if your own character talked, but since there are a lot to choose from, I can see why it wasn't done.
Control: 4/5 Good, but not great. Actually very similar to Call of Duty 4 - and the controls aren' the only thing similar. Anyway, the layout is about the same except you can't prone, and the sprinting is a little more annoying in this game. It is impossible to make a sharp turn while sprinting, which can be frustrating especially on smaller multiplayer maps with a lot of stuff like Love Shacks.
Fun: 4.5/ Far Cry 2 is very underrated, and it has a strong fanbase for a reason. Far Cry 2 has a map maker in which you can make literally any map to your desire ( Unless you want to construct YOUR OWN buildings, seeing as how it's not possible. There is only a set of pre-made buildings, which is really SICKENING. ) but it takes about an hour or so to get really used to. The multiplayer is also, contrary to what many people say, is fantastic. There is definitely B.S. in there, I'll give them that, but what online shooter doesn't have that? For instance - you can shoot an RPG at a truck, and it won't blow it up in one shot -- nope -- it takes TWO hits, even if you shoot a guy on the turret on the back of the truck, he still won't die, and if he gets out and you then shoot the truck, it will say "so-and-so killed himself." That is certainly aggrivating. Also, the longer you wait to get the game, the more likely you are to get frustrated with it, seeing as you how you get "diamonds" when leveling up which are used to upgrade your primary and secondary weapons. While Far Cry 2 isn't perfect, the online play certainly needs to be experienced. Think of it as Team Fortress 2, but without the cartoony-look.
4.5/5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
