Absolutely. I'm not even going to waste my time with a review, I'm just going to share a few moments with you.
1) Truthfully, this one is all on me, but I think it was an omen. Early on, I was simply trying to master the controls. I was facing bullet-proof glass when I pressed the right bumper on my 360 controller to see what would happen. In my defense, the right trigger fires your weapon, and I didn't expect similar results from the bumper as well. That doesn't change the fact that I shot the glass and the bullet rebounded directly into my face. My character collapsed as a stirring bit of scripted narration began and I couldn't help but laugh.
2) At one point, I crept up behind one of the aliens. Now, one should never be able to sneak up behind an alien, but that's precisely what I did. As if that wasn't bad enough, I then killed said alien by shooting it.
A great many times.
And it never reacted.
It actually just sat there wagging its tail (I'm not making that up) while I killed it. Yes, the AI on this game is a bit lacking.
3) A particularly difficult stretch of the game repeatedly found me being massacred by multiple aliens while a fellow soldier stood nearby, speaking to our commander on the radio. He confidently assured the chief "We got this" while I was being ripped to shreds. This happened several times. After a while, it was no longer funny.
4) The graphics in this game are so lackluster that there were a couple of big moments that I failed to comprehend because I couldn't tell what had just happened. It was kind of like trying to decipher a small child's drawing, only with sound effects.
Okay, in all seriousness, let me say this: the people who made this game dumped enough material linked to the classic movie (Cameron's sequel, not Ridley Scott's dull original) to hold my interest. The sounds (the weapons, the motion tracker, the aliens themselves, etc.) are on point, as are the sets. And, though it is a lousy first-person shooter, it is just good enough to allow me to continue to play. So, in essence, it's not the worst game ever made, as many are saying, but it is a bad game that probably should have been a great game.
Now you know.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The Godzilla of Head Colds
Yeah, I'm sorry to say that there isn't much happening on the blog front today. I'm blaming this massive head cold. Hopefully you guys will understand. After all, I'm pretty sure my brain is currently dripping out of my nose.
Tomorrow will be different. I am not certain of this, but I'm definitely hopeful.
Tomorrow will be different. I am not certain of this, but I'm definitely hopeful.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Robot Combat League!
Sometimes I get pissed off at science. I was really hoping for a flying car or one of those hoverboards that Marty McFly rocked in Back to the Future III, but it just isn't happening. Some of the movies are cooler and video games have never been better, but flying cars and hoverboards are where it's at. Of course, I could settle for giant robots warring with one another on television, but let's be real: science just can't seem to win the big one.
Oh, wait a minute, this isn't such a lost cause after all.
Chris Jericho has come to Syfy, ladies and gentlemen, and he has come with badass robots in tow. Yes, these robots are flipping awesome, and yes, they throw down. The first episode was great and I'm eager for the second outing later tonight.
I was midway through the first episode when Alaina hit the scene, and it didn't take long for her to start begging me to start it over. We both thought the show was wicked, and the big fight at the end was a real winner.
Anyway, I could break the premise down in greater detail, or I could assure you that it's gnarly and hook you up with a link for the show's homepage. Check the page out, and if you haven't completely forgotten about your childhood, go ahead and watch the show too.
Oh, wait a minute, this isn't such a lost cause after all.
Chris Jericho has come to Syfy, ladies and gentlemen, and he has come with badass robots in tow. Yes, these robots are flipping awesome, and yes, they throw down. The first episode was great and I'm eager for the second outing later tonight.
I was midway through the first episode when Alaina hit the scene, and it didn't take long for her to start begging me to start it over. We both thought the show was wicked, and the big fight at the end was a real winner.
Anyway, I could break the premise down in greater detail, or I could assure you that it's gnarly and hook you up with a link for the show's homepage. Check the page out, and if you haven't completely forgotten about your childhood, go ahead and watch the show too.
New Iron Man 3 Trailer Hits
There's a new Iron Man 3 trailer for you to enjoy, and it looks pretty damn slick. There's an awful lot going on here, so you may have to watch the trailer more than once to catch everything, but Iron Man 3 looks to be another winning entry in one of Marvel's most viable franchises. I don't know about you, but I'm stoked, even if Ben Kingsley is playing the Mandarin. That just doesn't work for me, but maybe the movie will find some way to sell me on that too.
Only time will tell, but what are you waiting for? Check out the latest Iron Man 3 trailer here!
Only time will tell, but what are you waiting for? Check out the latest Iron Man 3 trailer here!
Monday, March 4, 2013
The Walking Dead: Season 3, Episode 12 (Clear)
Warning:
This is as much of a recap as it is a review. Here there be SPOILERS . . .
In a bit of a surprise move, AMC made the decision to step away from the larger storyline at work just as Season 3 was gaining serious momentum. "Clear" is a harrowing episode that narrows the focus to Rick, Michonne, and Carl. Initially, I was skeptical of this decision, though I was excited to see the show zero in on three of the program's strongest assets. In the end, we finally found out what happened to Morgan, and The Walking Dead delivered another top-notch episode.
We didn't spend any time at the prison. We didn't spend any time in Woodbury. We didn't see The Governor, Andrea, and the only members of our merry band of survivors at the prison that we got to hang with were those mentioned in the first paragraph. This was a major departure and while the timing was a bit suspect, it didn't take long for me to realize that this was a solid decision.
Stepping away from the looming battle between Woodbury and the prison served many purposes, but none was as meaningful as finally bringing Rick and Michonne together. No, I don't mean that in a romantic way, but in the comics Rick and Michonne are a dangerous unit. They both have issues, but they trust one another and their relationship is one of The Walking Dead's biggest strengths. By the time "Clear" came to a close, I really felt that Rick had accepted Michonne as part of the team. Maybe I should say part of the family.
Either way, Carl was the biggest reason for this, and Chandler Riggs remains one of the show's biggest finds. I thought he did a fine job last night, and I do think he's one of the strongest performers on the program. I like the way his character is evolving, and while there are many areas where the show and the comics vary greatly, the relationship between Rick and his son is one of the key plot points that is totally consistent with the source material.
I did have issues with the geography, as I didn't think the group was anywhere near Rick's old stomping grounds, and I don't know precisely how far we were to assume that our trio had traveled. Regardless, a homecoming was in order, and we finally got to catch up with Morgan and see how he was holding up. Of course, this is The Walking Dead we're talking about, and Morgan wasn't doing so well. His story was a tragic one, and his interactions with Rick were as emotionally-charged as anything you're apt to see on television. Fantastic stuff c/o Lennie James. It was fitting to see Rick pitted against the man who saved him in the pilot, setting everything that has followed into motion. It was wise to encourage the audience to think upon just how much Rick has been through and how much all of it has changed him.
Equally rewarding was the side-mission Carl and Michonne went on, and the bonding that occurred in that brief window of time. This was a major episode for one of fandom's finest heroines, and Danai Gurira was incredible. She is working really hard to nail this part, and there is tremendous depth to the character. The role requires a lot on an emotional level, but that's not all. There's also the physicality and the ferocity that Michonne demands, and I think Danai has been game every step of the way.
The episode concluded with our little trio heading back to the prison with more guns, ammo, and a nifty new crossbow, all while Morgan continued with the life that he has chosen for himself. I wonder if we may see him again, for Rick surely gave him a lot to consider. Maybe it will sink in over time, and since distance apparently isn't an issue (and given the character's presence in the comics) I don't think that we've seen the last of Morgan. Rick seemed to have a better grip on things, and in spite of everything happening around him, he was downright normal at times. Maybe seeing how far Morgan has gone was a tonic of sorts for him.
The bookend bits with the backpacker were priceless. Grim, utterly depressing, and a perfect way to set the proper tone for the show. That close was classic The Walking Dead.
Yes, we're speeding along, zipping toward an imposing battle, and I'm not sure that The Walking Dead has ever been better. I was a huge fan of Jon Bernthal's work as Shane, and I was really worried that this season would suffer from his absence. There's still work to be done, and I have aired a few grievances, but AMC is working to provide us with something spectacular this season and I like their chances.
This is as much of a recap as it is a review. Here there be SPOILERS . . .
In a bit of a surprise move, AMC made the decision to step away from the larger storyline at work just as Season 3 was gaining serious momentum. "Clear" is a harrowing episode that narrows the focus to Rick, Michonne, and Carl. Initially, I was skeptical of this decision, though I was excited to see the show zero in on three of the program's strongest assets. In the end, we finally found out what happened to Morgan, and The Walking Dead delivered another top-notch episode.
We didn't spend any time at the prison. We didn't spend any time in Woodbury. We didn't see The Governor, Andrea, and the only members of our merry band of survivors at the prison that we got to hang with were those mentioned in the first paragraph. This was a major departure and while the timing was a bit suspect, it didn't take long for me to realize that this was a solid decision.
Stepping away from the looming battle between Woodbury and the prison served many purposes, but none was as meaningful as finally bringing Rick and Michonne together. No, I don't mean that in a romantic way, but in the comics Rick and Michonne are a dangerous unit. They both have issues, but they trust one another and their relationship is one of The Walking Dead's biggest strengths. By the time "Clear" came to a close, I really felt that Rick had accepted Michonne as part of the team. Maybe I should say part of the family.
Either way, Carl was the biggest reason for this, and Chandler Riggs remains one of the show's biggest finds. I thought he did a fine job last night, and I do think he's one of the strongest performers on the program. I like the way his character is evolving, and while there are many areas where the show and the comics vary greatly, the relationship between Rick and his son is one of the key plot points that is totally consistent with the source material.
I did have issues with the geography, as I didn't think the group was anywhere near Rick's old stomping grounds, and I don't know precisely how far we were to assume that our trio had traveled. Regardless, a homecoming was in order, and we finally got to catch up with Morgan and see how he was holding up. Of course, this is The Walking Dead we're talking about, and Morgan wasn't doing so well. His story was a tragic one, and his interactions with Rick were as emotionally-charged as anything you're apt to see on television. Fantastic stuff c/o Lennie James. It was fitting to see Rick pitted against the man who saved him in the pilot, setting everything that has followed into motion. It was wise to encourage the audience to think upon just how much Rick has been through and how much all of it has changed him.
Equally rewarding was the side-mission Carl and Michonne went on, and the bonding that occurred in that brief window of time. This was a major episode for one of fandom's finest heroines, and Danai Gurira was incredible. She is working really hard to nail this part, and there is tremendous depth to the character. The role requires a lot on an emotional level, but that's not all. There's also the physicality and the ferocity that Michonne demands, and I think Danai has been game every step of the way.
The episode concluded with our little trio heading back to the prison with more guns, ammo, and a nifty new crossbow, all while Morgan continued with the life that he has chosen for himself. I wonder if we may see him again, for Rick surely gave him a lot to consider. Maybe it will sink in over time, and since distance apparently isn't an issue (and given the character's presence in the comics) I don't think that we've seen the last of Morgan. Rick seemed to have a better grip on things, and in spite of everything happening around him, he was downright normal at times. Maybe seeing how far Morgan has gone was a tonic of sorts for him.
The bookend bits with the backpacker were priceless. Grim, utterly depressing, and a perfect way to set the proper tone for the show. That close was classic The Walking Dead.
Yes, we're speeding along, zipping toward an imposing battle, and I'm not sure that The Walking Dead has ever been better. I was a huge fan of Jon Bernthal's work as Shane, and I was really worried that this season would suffer from his absence. There's still work to be done, and I have aired a few grievances, but AMC is working to provide us with something spectacular this season and I like their chances.
Friday, March 1, 2013
The World's Smallest Jerichoholic
 |
| Yes, he's playing WWE '13 |
The little guy is glued to the screen when it's on. He claps. He says "uh-oh" a lot, and he raises his arm triumphantly when someone he likes wins a match. Incidentally, he picked up the raising his arm bit from a Steve Austin feature we watched on Netflix, so he celebrates a victory in Texas Rattlesnake fashion. He doesn't understand why we can't fast-forward through the commercials (we like our DVR a lot) and he gets very frustrated, repeatedly grabbing the remote control and crying out for Jericho during each and every commercial break. Ah, the cries for Jericho. That might be the strangest part.
As a child, I started off with Hogan and Macho, and then in the late 80s and early 90s, I was all about Ric Flair. Chris Jericho hit my radar in a big way when he went heel in WCW, and when he become a WWE superstar, he quickly became my favorite. Has been ever since. Yet I wasn't about to force Jericho on my kids (yes, even my girls, Alaina and Taryn, ages 7 and 5, are wrestling fans) and I thought it would be a little strange for my little fella to be rooting for a heel anyway--which Jericho was working as when my main man Ash started taking interest. So, my wife and I got him a big stuffed Cena and basically pushed Cena and Sheamus on him. I guess he could tell who the old man was pulling for, however, and he followed suit.
Asher frequently wakes us with his "Jericho" nonsense, and he will gladly club either of us in the face with a remote control while saying it just to make sure we get the hint. He could watch Jericho 24/7, and I've lost count of how many times he has watched the Jericho set the WWE put out a few years ago. Trust me, we're both eager for the next one.
Now, he's also saying Cena, Ryback, and Big Show these days, so he is branching out, but he remains the world's smallest Jerichoholic. It's a little strange perhaps, and he's much better at picking up moves than adhering to the "don't do this for your own safety" warnings the WWE frequently dishes out, but it's also pretty adorable. And the kids has taste. Jericho's surprise return at the Royal Rumble took us all by surprise, and I don't know if I have ever seen the little guy so transfixed. Not only that, but Jericho is doing some of his best work ever, and while most of his finest stretches came as a heel, he's killing it as a face these days.
Who knows? Maybe it's time to buy the little guy a stuffed Y2J . . .
Bonus: In a strange coincidence, Chris Jericho has a son named Ash, which is what my wife and I call Asher. Now, we didn't name our son after his son, but I think Chris and I are both fans of the Evil Dead franchise. My wife isn't, and she didn't realize why I was so quick to agree when she suggested Asher as a name and noted we could call him "Ash" for short.
"It's alive! It's alive!"
Here's some intriguing news on the film front: there's a revisionist Frankenstein film in the works, and Harry Potter himself is circling the part of Igor.
Adding to the intrigue, the man who provided the script is none other than Max Landis, son of legendary director John Landis. The role of Igor is integral to his version of the Mary Shelley classic, and Daniel Radcliffe was quick to dismiss the notion that the picture would be anything resembling a faithful adaption.
The property has yielded many movies over the years, none more impressive than the 1931 original. Many of my favorites have been films that strayed from the material, so I'm curious to see what Landis has to offer, and the notion of Radcliffe taking on a central role is enticing. I thought he did a stellar job in 2012's The Woman in Black, which was vastly underrated.
I'm a fan of the classics, and the industry mostly consists of recycling anyway, so if and when this Frankenstein hits the screen, I'll be there. It sounds like something new and different, and maybe it's time for a fresh take on a familiar favorite.
Adding to the intrigue, the man who provided the script is none other than Max Landis, son of legendary director John Landis. The role of Igor is integral to his version of the Mary Shelley classic, and Daniel Radcliffe was quick to dismiss the notion that the picture would be anything resembling a faithful adaption.
The property has yielded many movies over the years, none more impressive than the 1931 original. Many of my favorites have been films that strayed from the material, so I'm curious to see what Landis has to offer, and the notion of Radcliffe taking on a central role is enticing. I thought he did a stellar job in 2012's The Woman in Black, which was vastly underrated.
I'm a fan of the classics, and the industry mostly consists of recycling anyway, so if and when this Frankenstein hits the screen, I'll be there. It sounds like something new and different, and maybe it's time for a fresh take on a familiar favorite.
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