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General | Posted 9 years agoJust to get the old ones off the table. If I have anything else, I'll put it here.
God, did I really write this all those years ago? Did I DRAW this stuff all those years ago?
Haven't changed much content wise. I like it that way though.
God, did I really write this all those years ago? Did I DRAW this stuff all those years ago?
Haven't changed much content wise. I like it that way though.
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Review
General | Posted 15 years agoOK, time to roll out the New Year with a new review! Assassin's Creed # Brotherhood!
Now, I've always been a fan of the Assassin's Creed series since the first one. I think Ubisoft can be considered the kings when it comes to free running, but Faith from Mirror's Edge comes in a very close second. I have followed the story of Altair to Ezio, so let's take a look at Ubisoft Montreal's latest title!
The game starts off right where we left off, literally, right where we left off. For those of you who haven't completed the second game, I will say this. We start at the Vatican where our returning hero, Ezio Auditore da Firenze has had a very strange encounter and is rescued by his uncle Mario and brought back to his family's home at Monteriggioni, your base in the last game. Ezio is reunited with friends from the last game such as his sister Claudia, his mother Maria, and even Niccolo Machiavelli (I'm still surprised that he was even in the game at all! Awesome!) Suddenly after a love scene with the Countessa of Forli, Catharine Sforza, cannons thunder! Monteriggioni is under attack from the papal army! For those who played the last game, the pope, Rodorigo Borgia (known as Pope Alexander, who did actually exist) has sent his son Ceasare and daughter Lucrezia to wreak havoc on your town and you are shot, only to fall unconscious.
Ezio wakes up in Rome, intent on killing those who have taken everything from him, must band together with his friends and allies as well as potential assassin recruits to overpower the Borgia and restore liberty and peace to Rome.
Meanwhile in the real world outside the control of the Animus, our hero Desmond Miles has somehow found himself in Italy (I suppose the truck he was stuffed in was also a boat) after being flushed out from their previous hideout by the Templars only to hide at the old Auditore villa. Desmond's been feeling very odd over the last month or so, and is starting to see things, dubbed the 'Bleeding Effect' in-game. Desmond is starting to act and move more like an Assassin, but is starting to draw many parallels to Ezio, frequently replacing pronouns like 'he' with 'me', or 'I'. Now under the cover of an old relic, Desmond and his friends Shaun Hastings, Rebecca Crane and his first ally Lucy Stillman must uncover the locations of secret temples before the Templars do and save the world.
GAMEPLAY
This, at its heart is the same Assassin's Creed you know and love. The controls are the same as ever. Ezio's moves are still fresh from the first game with the addition of new tricks. Making its debut in the AC series is the 'Killstreak' function which occurs after you have beaten an enemy several times and employ a gory assassination move. Simply by highlighting your next enemy and hitting the attack button, Ezio automatically targets and instantaneously dispatches that foe. Beware though, this cycle can be broken should an enemy hit you, ruining your ultimate bad-ass moment. Ezio also hefts additional weapons such as the Bastard Sword, a Crossbow and the Spadone, each of which takes a long time to get an assassination streak going, but once you do, look out!
Once you dispatch your foes like in the last game, you can optionally choose to loot the bodies of people that you have killed. Doing this can net you some cash, but it might also let you pick up medicine and ammunition for ranged weapons. I never had to buy medicine ONCE, and once my ammo for one ranged weapon was gone, I could switch to another quite easily, even if it did take a couple of hits to bring them down.
I found that when I could do it, I would always use ranged weapons to take down my enemies, and there is no shortage of ranged weapons in this game. You start out with your hidden pistol, which is loud but gets the job done; throwing knives which become obsolete later in the game but is good to have as a backup, poison which can now be launched from your glove which puts enemies into those enjoyable little pre-death spasms, and once you get the crossbow, you cannot be stopped. Totally silent, one-hit kill for any target, and quite easy to pick up more ammo if you kill a rooftop archer, and sometimes even foot soldiers with spears will have these for some reason. It might be odd, but hey I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Also while I'm on the subject of ranged weaponry, the AI in this game is totally near-sighted when it comes to me taking down targets. A guard could be on a separate rooftop say, two buildings away in the more crowded areas of Rome, I shoot a guard with my crossbow and doesn't even make an effort to come look for me. Not a debilitating feature, but some responsiveness would have been nice and would have made the game more challenging.
What's new about this game is the addition of Assassin recruits. Ezio informs Machiavelli that in order to fight the Borgia, you will need to recruit more people. Civilian Rescue missions will frequently pop up, but once you save those people, you can induct them into the order where an RPG style system will allow you to upgrade them and send them on contracts all over Europe where you can get money from them. These recruits can also be of use to you in the campaign because some objectives will require you to remain undetected by your target. You can call on recruits to take down the enemy (and by the way, nothing is more subtle than riding on a horse in broad daylight, jumping off and stabbing guys in the neck). On the flipside, I was honestly surprised when one of my assassins leapt from a bale of hay on the ground, grabbed an enemy and dragged him to a straw death. What the hell was my assassin doing in a random bale of hay? Wishful thinking?
By this time I realized that there are assassins everywhere. That rooftop garden? There's assassins in there. That well over there? There's an assassin. That bale of hay? Two of them. We're in the middle of nowhere? I can get them to fucking teleport in.
Assassin recruits really become useful when you also have to kill Borgia captains to burn down towers scattered all around the city. These captains are also totally wussies because they run at the first sign of danger LAUGHING at you as soon as they slip away, but I always got the upper hand in the end when my recruit jumped from the water to drag my target to a watery doom. Awesome.
Rome itself is the largest city ever featured in an Assassin's Creed game. It trades off not having multiple towns, but by the end of the game it will have taken several days to explore all of Rome's corners. You won't have to explore many parts of the city until the middle to later Memory Sequences, and that's before you start rebuilding the whole city which involves renovating Blacksmiths, Art Shops, Banks and even Aqueducts and Tunnels. Horses are now able to be ridden in the city just because the whole place is that big! To be fair, you can take contracts from your friend Leonardo da Vinci to destroy war machines like tanks, machine guns and even a bomber which will involve you going to another town in Italy. These missions are awesome because they, of all things, allow vehicular combat in an Assassin's Creed game! This was awesome beyond anything I could have imagined because Ubisoft has managed to bring the great inventor's machines to life if they had worked five hundred years ago.
To replace the Assassin Seal sub-quest from the last game, we are introduced to the Lairs of Romulus which is inhabited by some whack-jobs that wear pelts and worship Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, as a god. Once you get all of the goodies there, you will be allowed access to a secret set of armor and a weapon left behind by a certain backstabbing emperor-killing dude.
The game is not without its gripes though. My major complaint is with guard intelligence. This aspect has not changed.
'Oh, who is that over there who stabbed my friend in the neck? Oh, I'm just seeing things.'
In one mission, I stole the armor of a guard working for someone called the Banker. When I went outside, the guard's friends called me Luigi and treated me as their friend despite the fact that Ezio probably looks nothing like Luigi, probably doesn't have the same voice and has a physical difference from him. In another sequence where the French have invaded Rome, I stole another set of armor and waltzed right into their camp without them knowing. I'm not going to give you the conversation because it was an awesome easter egg!
I thought the modern-day Monteriggioni scenes were next to pointless because there was very little to do in the town other than to show how different it was in 2012, a couple of artifacts that needed to be collected, and some romance dialogue between Desmond and Lucy. They had NO impact in the story whatsoever.
There is a very strong chance that you won't be able to complete every single memory with Full Synch your first time around and will have to replay one. The timed Lair of Romulus ones were a real bitch to complete because on your first time through, you would have very little to no chance knowing the shortcuts that would maximize your speed through the level, but going back with better equipment would provide you with a better chance of full synch.
But overall, I think that the serious thing was that you could win the game using your ranged weaponry mostly. My hidden blade pretty much went forgotten as I could shoot enemies using my crossbow and find more ammo very easily, and with the large quivers that you get by doing Shop Quests (a real bastard I won't mention. I STILL haven't been able to get 'Faith') I barely had to shop at all, and I think those poor Dottores were sad I wasn't able to sample their finest leeches.
(Is it me or are leeches a HUGE motif in this game. I caught many references to leeches. I know that it's period accurate, but it's a running joke)
Finally, It's really the same game that we're playing here. There is no difference really, and Ubisoft has a reason why because they believe that numbered sequels belong to new assassins instead of new adventures of old ones. This hints to the fact that the next game might be about a new character, which is good because it keeps the series fresh, and the formula isn't bad. Let's see some change! Hit us with something new!
MULTIPLAYER
Now, I only recently completed the campaign and I wish that I could do some more Multiplaying, but I love it to death already. You're actually playing the role of an Abstergo Agent (The bad guys in the series run by the Knights Templar) who's learning to think and move like an Assassin so that they could fight one in the real world. You face off against other agents where you have to kill in complete secrecy, incognito if you will. Players are expected to sneak up on others and attack while still hidden. You could run right into your killer and not even know it until they slice your neck. This is pretty cool because this is one of the most innovative multiplayer forms I have ever seen in ANY video game and it is beautiful!
You start out as being incognito, and you are directed towards your contract by a compass which gets bigger as you approach your contract. When you get close, you can assassinate, but if you sprint, you have the risk of being discovered, and losing potential points in the process. Your quarry tries to escape by any means necessary by using Pursuit Breakers such as gates, disappearing platforms and equipment such as smoke bombs. You can also stun your enemy for a limited time, and once someone hides, your compass goes wild and you only a have a limited time to find them before they escape and your contract is lost. Take note that everything I have just said applies to the people hunting you as well.
You level up after earning enough experience points and are able to equip abilities and perks in a semi-Modern Warfare way such as death streaks, disguising where you take the form of another NPC or transform all NPCs into your character to further the deception, but beware, the better you do, the more likely you are to have multiple agents on your ass, making survival much more difficult, but the kicker is that anybody can be a great assassin. I took out opponents at twice my level and still came out smiling. As you level up, you can unlock more weapons and perks such as the crossbow, poison darts and a feature that allows to detect hidden targets, not to mention further upgrades which make your abilities last longer which really determines who wins or loses.
I only saw two downsides to this game-mode. A lot of people took to the rooftops, which made them hard to track because you are easy to spot to your prey and your pursuing agent. It totally ruined the feeling and made it more of a cat-mouse sort of game. Also, stunning your opponent only works if you press the button first, otherwise you are snapped by the neck. What also brought my piss to a boil is if your target has you in their sights from a rooftop and decide to end you, you cannot move and are killed instantly. I feel that I deserved a chance to at least save myself but I was subject to a lock-on death.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is probably the best one so far. The amount of content is staggering and I could tell the developers had a lot of fun making this game. While it is essentially a gussied-up version of the last Assassin's Creed, I feel that it was 60 dollars well spent and I will take any of you on in the multiplayer mode! The ending is worth all the effort because of the shocking revelation we receive and the Truth of what the miracle of life is.
Buy This Game! However, I recommend also having Assassin's Creed 2 so you will have a better understanding of what is going on. Hell, I recommend having the whole series because you get a full understanding of an excellent conspiracy theory series with hints of science fiction and mythology on steroids! I am surprised I have not seen any books based on this game! It would make a fantastic movie as long as it is not directed by Ewe Boll.
8.5/10
'GOOD BUY!'
Now, I've always been a fan of the Assassin's Creed series since the first one. I think Ubisoft can be considered the kings when it comes to free running, but Faith from Mirror's Edge comes in a very close second. I have followed the story of Altair to Ezio, so let's take a look at Ubisoft Montreal's latest title!
The game starts off right where we left off, literally, right where we left off. For those of you who haven't completed the second game, I will say this. We start at the Vatican where our returning hero, Ezio Auditore da Firenze has had a very strange encounter and is rescued by his uncle Mario and brought back to his family's home at Monteriggioni, your base in the last game. Ezio is reunited with friends from the last game such as his sister Claudia, his mother Maria, and even Niccolo Machiavelli (I'm still surprised that he was even in the game at all! Awesome!) Suddenly after a love scene with the Countessa of Forli, Catharine Sforza, cannons thunder! Monteriggioni is under attack from the papal army! For those who played the last game, the pope, Rodorigo Borgia (known as Pope Alexander, who did actually exist) has sent his son Ceasare and daughter Lucrezia to wreak havoc on your town and you are shot, only to fall unconscious.
Ezio wakes up in Rome, intent on killing those who have taken everything from him, must band together with his friends and allies as well as potential assassin recruits to overpower the Borgia and restore liberty and peace to Rome.
Meanwhile in the real world outside the control of the Animus, our hero Desmond Miles has somehow found himself in Italy (I suppose the truck he was stuffed in was also a boat) after being flushed out from their previous hideout by the Templars only to hide at the old Auditore villa. Desmond's been feeling very odd over the last month or so, and is starting to see things, dubbed the 'Bleeding Effect' in-game. Desmond is starting to act and move more like an Assassin, but is starting to draw many parallels to Ezio, frequently replacing pronouns like 'he' with 'me', or 'I'. Now under the cover of an old relic, Desmond and his friends Shaun Hastings, Rebecca Crane and his first ally Lucy Stillman must uncover the locations of secret temples before the Templars do and save the world.
GAMEPLAY
This, at its heart is the same Assassin's Creed you know and love. The controls are the same as ever. Ezio's moves are still fresh from the first game with the addition of new tricks. Making its debut in the AC series is the 'Killstreak' function which occurs after you have beaten an enemy several times and employ a gory assassination move. Simply by highlighting your next enemy and hitting the attack button, Ezio automatically targets and instantaneously dispatches that foe. Beware though, this cycle can be broken should an enemy hit you, ruining your ultimate bad-ass moment. Ezio also hefts additional weapons such as the Bastard Sword, a Crossbow and the Spadone, each of which takes a long time to get an assassination streak going, but once you do, look out!
Once you dispatch your foes like in the last game, you can optionally choose to loot the bodies of people that you have killed. Doing this can net you some cash, but it might also let you pick up medicine and ammunition for ranged weapons. I never had to buy medicine ONCE, and once my ammo for one ranged weapon was gone, I could switch to another quite easily, even if it did take a couple of hits to bring them down.
I found that when I could do it, I would always use ranged weapons to take down my enemies, and there is no shortage of ranged weapons in this game. You start out with your hidden pistol, which is loud but gets the job done; throwing knives which become obsolete later in the game but is good to have as a backup, poison which can now be launched from your glove which puts enemies into those enjoyable little pre-death spasms, and once you get the crossbow, you cannot be stopped. Totally silent, one-hit kill for any target, and quite easy to pick up more ammo if you kill a rooftop archer, and sometimes even foot soldiers with spears will have these for some reason. It might be odd, but hey I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Smoke 'em if you got 'em.
Also while I'm on the subject of ranged weaponry, the AI in this game is totally near-sighted when it comes to me taking down targets. A guard could be on a separate rooftop say, two buildings away in the more crowded areas of Rome, I shoot a guard with my crossbow and doesn't even make an effort to come look for me. Not a debilitating feature, but some responsiveness would have been nice and would have made the game more challenging.
What's new about this game is the addition of Assassin recruits. Ezio informs Machiavelli that in order to fight the Borgia, you will need to recruit more people. Civilian Rescue missions will frequently pop up, but once you save those people, you can induct them into the order where an RPG style system will allow you to upgrade them and send them on contracts all over Europe where you can get money from them. These recruits can also be of use to you in the campaign because some objectives will require you to remain undetected by your target. You can call on recruits to take down the enemy (and by the way, nothing is more subtle than riding on a horse in broad daylight, jumping off and stabbing guys in the neck). On the flipside, I was honestly surprised when one of my assassins leapt from a bale of hay on the ground, grabbed an enemy and dragged him to a straw death. What the hell was my assassin doing in a random bale of hay? Wishful thinking?
By this time I realized that there are assassins everywhere. That rooftop garden? There's assassins in there. That well over there? There's an assassin. That bale of hay? Two of them. We're in the middle of nowhere? I can get them to fucking teleport in.
Assassin recruits really become useful when you also have to kill Borgia captains to burn down towers scattered all around the city. These captains are also totally wussies because they run at the first sign of danger LAUGHING at you as soon as they slip away, but I always got the upper hand in the end when my recruit jumped from the water to drag my target to a watery doom. Awesome.
Rome itself is the largest city ever featured in an Assassin's Creed game. It trades off not having multiple towns, but by the end of the game it will have taken several days to explore all of Rome's corners. You won't have to explore many parts of the city until the middle to later Memory Sequences, and that's before you start rebuilding the whole city which involves renovating Blacksmiths, Art Shops, Banks and even Aqueducts and Tunnels. Horses are now able to be ridden in the city just because the whole place is that big! To be fair, you can take contracts from your friend Leonardo da Vinci to destroy war machines like tanks, machine guns and even a bomber which will involve you going to another town in Italy. These missions are awesome because they, of all things, allow vehicular combat in an Assassin's Creed game! This was awesome beyond anything I could have imagined because Ubisoft has managed to bring the great inventor's machines to life if they had worked five hundred years ago.
To replace the Assassin Seal sub-quest from the last game, we are introduced to the Lairs of Romulus which is inhabited by some whack-jobs that wear pelts and worship Romulus, the legendary founder of Rome, as a god. Once you get all of the goodies there, you will be allowed access to a secret set of armor and a weapon left behind by a certain backstabbing emperor-killing dude.
The game is not without its gripes though. My major complaint is with guard intelligence. This aspect has not changed.
'Oh, who is that over there who stabbed my friend in the neck? Oh, I'm just seeing things.'
In one mission, I stole the armor of a guard working for someone called the Banker. When I went outside, the guard's friends called me Luigi and treated me as their friend despite the fact that Ezio probably looks nothing like Luigi, probably doesn't have the same voice and has a physical difference from him. In another sequence where the French have invaded Rome, I stole another set of armor and waltzed right into their camp without them knowing. I'm not going to give you the conversation because it was an awesome easter egg!
I thought the modern-day Monteriggioni scenes were next to pointless because there was very little to do in the town other than to show how different it was in 2012, a couple of artifacts that needed to be collected, and some romance dialogue between Desmond and Lucy. They had NO impact in the story whatsoever.
There is a very strong chance that you won't be able to complete every single memory with Full Synch your first time around and will have to replay one. The timed Lair of Romulus ones were a real bitch to complete because on your first time through, you would have very little to no chance knowing the shortcuts that would maximize your speed through the level, but going back with better equipment would provide you with a better chance of full synch.
But overall, I think that the serious thing was that you could win the game using your ranged weaponry mostly. My hidden blade pretty much went forgotten as I could shoot enemies using my crossbow and find more ammo very easily, and with the large quivers that you get by doing Shop Quests (a real bastard I won't mention. I STILL haven't been able to get 'Faith') I barely had to shop at all, and I think those poor Dottores were sad I wasn't able to sample their finest leeches.
(Is it me or are leeches a HUGE motif in this game. I caught many references to leeches. I know that it's period accurate, but it's a running joke)
Finally, It's really the same game that we're playing here. There is no difference really, and Ubisoft has a reason why because they believe that numbered sequels belong to new assassins instead of new adventures of old ones. This hints to the fact that the next game might be about a new character, which is good because it keeps the series fresh, and the formula isn't bad. Let's see some change! Hit us with something new!
MULTIPLAYER
Now, I only recently completed the campaign and I wish that I could do some more Multiplaying, but I love it to death already. You're actually playing the role of an Abstergo Agent (The bad guys in the series run by the Knights Templar) who's learning to think and move like an Assassin so that they could fight one in the real world. You face off against other agents where you have to kill in complete secrecy, incognito if you will. Players are expected to sneak up on others and attack while still hidden. You could run right into your killer and not even know it until they slice your neck. This is pretty cool because this is one of the most innovative multiplayer forms I have ever seen in ANY video game and it is beautiful!
You start out as being incognito, and you are directed towards your contract by a compass which gets bigger as you approach your contract. When you get close, you can assassinate, but if you sprint, you have the risk of being discovered, and losing potential points in the process. Your quarry tries to escape by any means necessary by using Pursuit Breakers such as gates, disappearing platforms and equipment such as smoke bombs. You can also stun your enemy for a limited time, and once someone hides, your compass goes wild and you only a have a limited time to find them before they escape and your contract is lost. Take note that everything I have just said applies to the people hunting you as well.
You level up after earning enough experience points and are able to equip abilities and perks in a semi-Modern Warfare way such as death streaks, disguising where you take the form of another NPC or transform all NPCs into your character to further the deception, but beware, the better you do, the more likely you are to have multiple agents on your ass, making survival much more difficult, but the kicker is that anybody can be a great assassin. I took out opponents at twice my level and still came out smiling. As you level up, you can unlock more weapons and perks such as the crossbow, poison darts and a feature that allows to detect hidden targets, not to mention further upgrades which make your abilities last longer which really determines who wins or loses.
I only saw two downsides to this game-mode. A lot of people took to the rooftops, which made them hard to track because you are easy to spot to your prey and your pursuing agent. It totally ruined the feeling and made it more of a cat-mouse sort of game. Also, stunning your opponent only works if you press the button first, otherwise you are snapped by the neck. What also brought my piss to a boil is if your target has you in their sights from a rooftop and decide to end you, you cannot move and are killed instantly. I feel that I deserved a chance to at least save myself but I was subject to a lock-on death.
BOTTOM LINE:
This is probably the best one so far. The amount of content is staggering and I could tell the developers had a lot of fun making this game. While it is essentially a gussied-up version of the last Assassin's Creed, I feel that it was 60 dollars well spent and I will take any of you on in the multiplayer mode! The ending is worth all the effort because of the shocking revelation we receive and the Truth of what the miracle of life is.
Buy This Game! However, I recommend also having Assassin's Creed 2 so you will have a better understanding of what is going on. Hell, I recommend having the whole series because you get a full understanding of an excellent conspiracy theory series with hints of science fiction and mythology on steroids! I am surprised I have not seen any books based on this game! It would make a fantastic movie as long as it is not directed by Ewe Boll.
8.5/10
'GOOD BUY!'
Character Creation Contest
General | Posted 15 years agoIt's official, I'm starting a contest on Fanfiction.net! This contest's grand prize involves an OC that someone writes about will earn a permanent spot within my series! There is a bit of writing involved, so be prepared, but here is the outline of the project
I am officially announcing my first contest. Anybody that is interested can message me about it. This contest is extended to fans of my work that would like a little extra recognition, namely a character of theirs (with praise to the creator) that would like to become a permanent character in my series! For anybody interested, the outline is below:
1. Write out a short biography of your character using a simple template:
Name:
Age:
Home:
Species:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Appearance:
Misc: (Extra information can be put here, but don't go overboard!)
2. A short composition will help me gauge how to place you. No more than 1,000 words and no less than 500 featuring your character in your own setting of choice! Please IM your composition and I will put it up for people to see. Consider this a way to get some extra publicity as well!
3. The prizes will be listed below:
1st place: Permanent character placement in series + Personally written short story
2nd place: Cameo Appearance + Personally written short story
3rd place: Personally written short story
Everyone who competes will get an honorable mention on my profile page! The contest will commence when I get at least ten entries!
Make your mark, guys! Have some fun! Sign up! You have nothing to lose!
Consider it guys! Wouldn't you like to be recognized for your work?
ENTRIES
1.Radar651, 'Radar Romanov'
2.Titan386, 'William Borne'
3.ARI4PHANTINEXX, "Jubei the Hedgewolf"
4.SpeedlionFF, "Speed the Fox"
5.Zane Cross, "Ignazio Russo"
I am officially announcing my first contest. Anybody that is interested can message me about it. This contest is extended to fans of my work that would like a little extra recognition, namely a character of theirs (with praise to the creator) that would like to become a permanent character in my series! For anybody interested, the outline is below:
1. Write out a short biography of your character using a simple template:
Name:
Age:
Home:
Species:
Likes:
Dislikes:
Appearance:
Misc: (Extra information can be put here, but don't go overboard!)
2. A short composition will help me gauge how to place you. No more than 1,000 words and no less than 500 featuring your character in your own setting of choice! Please IM your composition and I will put it up for people to see. Consider this a way to get some extra publicity as well!
3. The prizes will be listed below:
1st place: Permanent character placement in series + Personally written short story
2nd place: Cameo Appearance + Personally written short story
3rd place: Personally written short story
Everyone who competes will get an honorable mention on my profile page! The contest will commence when I get at least ten entries!
Make your mark, guys! Have some fun! Sign up! You have nothing to lose!
Consider it guys! Wouldn't you like to be recognized for your work?
ENTRIES
1.Radar651, 'Radar Romanov'
2.Titan386, 'William Borne'
3.ARI4PHANTINEXX, "Jubei the Hedgewolf"
4.SpeedlionFF, "Speed the Fox"
5.Zane Cross, "Ignazio Russo"
Kinect and Launch Titles Review
General | Posted 15 years agoJust in! Reviewing the IGN lists and I saw a mass review of all of Kinect's Launch titles! If you are on the fence about getting Kinect for the Xbox 360, read this article. It could change your mind!
I will be providing review score for every game including it's Worldwide Press Review Average! Behold!
1. Kinect Adventures:
-A game that was meant to show off the technological advances of the Kinect system will not last very long in terms of appeal, but does show some cool features like the motion sensors, and "living statues" that you animate with your body movement! They also speak with your voice too!
IGN Score: 6.5 "Passable"
-Decent Presentation, Family Friendly
-Graphics are OK, but mainly for kids
-Music is cool
-Gameplay is repetitive
-Lasting appeal is not long at all
Press Score: 6.7
2. Sonic Free Riders
-Surprisingly, this didn't suck. Sonic Free Riders demonstrates the technology of the Kinect through its use of body movements. Jumping will jump, kicking out will boost, and other physical movements. Voice acting has improved with an actual male playing Tails and an actual jerk playing Jet! The biggest thing is playing on a bike. This means you can actually sit down and play as if you're on a bike, hands like they're on handlebars and all!
IGN Score: 7.5 "Good"
-Menus are poor, but voice control is a good touch!
-Graphics are nice!
-The music, as always is awesome, but the spoken dialogue is hit and miss
-Motion controls take some practice, but once you're in, it's fun!
-With unlocks and multiplayer, you'll be playing this one for a while!
Press Score: 6.7
3. Dance Central
-This one is pretty cool! The main focus around Dance Central is the fact that YOU are dancing, not the game. Flashcards appear prompting you to complete a motion on varying degrees of difficulty, and with over 30 songs from hit artists (with more coming via DLC for sure), this game will put you off of DDR forever. This is arguably one of Kinect's killer apps for launch.
IGN Score: 8.0 "Impressive"
-Fluid design, takes some getting used to!
-Excellent design!
-Awesome choices of music like Rihana and Cascada are welcome! Voice work is a little weird, but in a good way.
-Nice controls and motion design make this an instant party hit
-More unlocks would have been nice, but difficulty levels will keep you playing.
Press Score: 8.2
4. Kinect Sports
-First and FOREMOST, this is NOT a WiiSports ripoff! This one goes a bit beyond that call of duty. Kinect Sports is an entirely new take on the concept of motion controlled sports. using your body and NOT a peripheral like the Wiimote was believed to be a tough concept to grasp, but it appears as if Kinect Sports has pulled it off. Appearing as a more Olympics based event than the casual setting of WiiSports, which will hopefully inspire some effort on the behalf of the player. You will sweat, you will cry, you will come back for more.
IGN Score: 8.0 "Impressive"
-Sleek interface design. As before, this will take some getting used to with motion controls.
-Graphics are clean; not bad, but the plastic world could turn a few off.
-Wait, WHAT?! Licensed fricking Soundtracks?!
-Accessible gameplay. The Kinect adapts pretty well and does a decent job for split-screen.
-Will last quite a while with families thanks to 16 minigames and 6 events!
Press Score: 7.3
5. Kinectimals
-DAAAAWWWWW!!! CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!! OK, this is the cutest game on Kinect! This is not an opinion! This is a fact! A fact, I say! As the title suggests, the game has you looking after an animal in a Nintendogs style. Despite this, these are cats. I have a feeling that this game was made for cat lovers. Over 30 furry felines can be adopted to do a number of cute things. You can stroke their cute ears, throw (and kick) balls they can cutely fetch, drive around on cute RC cars, and even teach them cute tricks! This is better done than said though, and a surprisingly solid narrative by none other than Invader Zim's Richard Horvitz seals the deal. MEN CAN SAY THINGS ARE CUTE!
IGN Score: 7.0 "Decent"
-Nice concept for a pet game. Menus are a pain and a half
-You'll be hypnotized by those big ol' eyes!
-Full voice-action work! Realistic cat sounds, and ambient island environments!
-Iffy motion controls kinda sully the experience.
-This is a game you will continuously pop back onto. Unlockable toys and environments will keep you going too!
Press Score: 7.2
6. Kinect Joy Ride
-This one was an average addition. Not terrible, but not noteworthy either. You probably might remember Joy Ride way back when Microsoft said the game was going to be free off XBL and payment would be through microtransactions to get new cars and equipment. Well, it's back and it has a price tag. Despite a facade of good graphics and fun gameplay, the steering is not minute and is Joy Ride's nail in the coffin. It's not the worst game I have ever seen, but there was so much potential that was not addressed. I was a bit let down here.
IGN Score: 6.0 "Passable"
-Interface design is easy to use, but slow when you want to start a race
-Graphics are really great! It's not meant to be realistic, but it looks real pretty!
-James-Bond style tunes when you play! Not bad at all!
-Lots and lots of unlocks, but steering is terrible! The only real bad thing about the game.
-You'll play, but the most important stuff can be accessed fairly early into your play experience.
Press Score: 5.7
7. Adrenalin Misfits
-Oof, this one hurt my eyes. The character design is God-awful, giving me the impression of bastardized Ty: The Tasmanian Tiger characters. The scary thing is, this is best functional game on the Kinect! It works! The controls are fluid, there is little to no lag transition, but it is just boring! There is no inspired design, nothing to keep you playing, not much at all! It's your standard snowboarding game that you will never touch again.
IGN Score: 5.0 "Meh"
-No story or Career Mode. Great menus though.
-Character art makes you wanna hurl, but the environments are cool.
-Just don't let the characters talk at all...
-Functional, but boring gameplay.
-You'll only play this thing a few times.
Press Score: 5.0
And finally, the Kinect itself:
This is a decent piece of hardware for a first time release. This could very well evolve to the next level of controller-free gaming. The feel is futuristic by allowing you to use your hands and even your voice to control the entire thing. The device also functions as a video-conferencing device, allowing you to speak to your friend and see them at the same time. A welcome addition, plus the design is very nice! Just don't drop it...
Where it needs work is the user to machine interface. Sometimes there's a bit of lag between when you want it to do something, and the Kinect's voice functions is not limited to a single user, meaning that someone else can say something and it will do it. Also, the current library of games is small, but this is likely to change eventually. Also, a $150 price tag will probably alienate some potential buyers, but this too will likely change too, and Microsoft has no shortage of preorders.
IGN Score: 7.5 "Good"
To the doubters, in summary: IT DOESN'T SUCK!
*Please note, the Press Review Scores are Averaged out from multiple sources. The IGN scores are NOT averages desipte that they seem to be. For a more comprehensive review, please visit IGN or any other game review site for further info!
I will be providing review score for every game including it's Worldwide Press Review Average! Behold!
1. Kinect Adventures:
-A game that was meant to show off the technological advances of the Kinect system will not last very long in terms of appeal, but does show some cool features like the motion sensors, and "living statues" that you animate with your body movement! They also speak with your voice too!
IGN Score: 6.5 "Passable"
-Decent Presentation, Family Friendly
-Graphics are OK, but mainly for kids
-Music is cool
-Gameplay is repetitive
-Lasting appeal is not long at all
Press Score: 6.7
2. Sonic Free Riders
-Surprisingly, this didn't suck. Sonic Free Riders demonstrates the technology of the Kinect through its use of body movements. Jumping will jump, kicking out will boost, and other physical movements. Voice acting has improved with an actual male playing Tails and an actual jerk playing Jet! The biggest thing is playing on a bike. This means you can actually sit down and play as if you're on a bike, hands like they're on handlebars and all!
IGN Score: 7.5 "Good"
-Menus are poor, but voice control is a good touch!
-Graphics are nice!
-The music, as always is awesome, but the spoken dialogue is hit and miss
-Motion controls take some practice, but once you're in, it's fun!
-With unlocks and multiplayer, you'll be playing this one for a while!
Press Score: 6.7
3. Dance Central
-This one is pretty cool! The main focus around Dance Central is the fact that YOU are dancing, not the game. Flashcards appear prompting you to complete a motion on varying degrees of difficulty, and with over 30 songs from hit artists (with more coming via DLC for sure), this game will put you off of DDR forever. This is arguably one of Kinect's killer apps for launch.
IGN Score: 8.0 "Impressive"
-Fluid design, takes some getting used to!
-Excellent design!
-Awesome choices of music like Rihana and Cascada are welcome! Voice work is a little weird, but in a good way.
-Nice controls and motion design make this an instant party hit
-More unlocks would have been nice, but difficulty levels will keep you playing.
Press Score: 8.2
4. Kinect Sports
-First and FOREMOST, this is NOT a WiiSports ripoff! This one goes a bit beyond that call of duty. Kinect Sports is an entirely new take on the concept of motion controlled sports. using your body and NOT a peripheral like the Wiimote was believed to be a tough concept to grasp, but it appears as if Kinect Sports has pulled it off. Appearing as a more Olympics based event than the casual setting of WiiSports, which will hopefully inspire some effort on the behalf of the player. You will sweat, you will cry, you will come back for more.
IGN Score: 8.0 "Impressive"
-Sleek interface design. As before, this will take some getting used to with motion controls.
-Graphics are clean; not bad, but the plastic world could turn a few off.
-Wait, WHAT?! Licensed fricking Soundtracks?!
-Accessible gameplay. The Kinect adapts pretty well and does a decent job for split-screen.
-Will last quite a while with families thanks to 16 minigames and 6 events!
Press Score: 7.3
5. Kinectimals
-DAAAAWWWWW!!! CUTENESS OVERLOAD!!! OK, this is the cutest game on Kinect! This is not an opinion! This is a fact! A fact, I say! As the title suggests, the game has you looking after an animal in a Nintendogs style. Despite this, these are cats. I have a feeling that this game was made for cat lovers. Over 30 furry felines can be adopted to do a number of cute things. You can stroke their cute ears, throw (and kick) balls they can cutely fetch, drive around on cute RC cars, and even teach them cute tricks! This is better done than said though, and a surprisingly solid narrative by none other than Invader Zim's Richard Horvitz seals the deal. MEN CAN SAY THINGS ARE CUTE!
IGN Score: 7.0 "Decent"
-Nice concept for a pet game. Menus are a pain and a half
-You'll be hypnotized by those big ol' eyes!
-Full voice-action work! Realistic cat sounds, and ambient island environments!
-Iffy motion controls kinda sully the experience.
-This is a game you will continuously pop back onto. Unlockable toys and environments will keep you going too!
Press Score: 7.2
6. Kinect Joy Ride
-This one was an average addition. Not terrible, but not noteworthy either. You probably might remember Joy Ride way back when Microsoft said the game was going to be free off XBL and payment would be through microtransactions to get new cars and equipment. Well, it's back and it has a price tag. Despite a facade of good graphics and fun gameplay, the steering is not minute and is Joy Ride's nail in the coffin. It's not the worst game I have ever seen, but there was so much potential that was not addressed. I was a bit let down here.
IGN Score: 6.0 "Passable"
-Interface design is easy to use, but slow when you want to start a race
-Graphics are really great! It's not meant to be realistic, but it looks real pretty!
-James-Bond style tunes when you play! Not bad at all!
-Lots and lots of unlocks, but steering is terrible! The only real bad thing about the game.
-You'll play, but the most important stuff can be accessed fairly early into your play experience.
Press Score: 5.7
7. Adrenalin Misfits
-Oof, this one hurt my eyes. The character design is God-awful, giving me the impression of bastardized Ty: The Tasmanian Tiger characters. The scary thing is, this is best functional game on the Kinect! It works! The controls are fluid, there is little to no lag transition, but it is just boring! There is no inspired design, nothing to keep you playing, not much at all! It's your standard snowboarding game that you will never touch again.
IGN Score: 5.0 "Meh"
-No story or Career Mode. Great menus though.
-Character art makes you wanna hurl, but the environments are cool.
-Just don't let the characters talk at all...
-Functional, but boring gameplay.
-You'll only play this thing a few times.
Press Score: 5.0
And finally, the Kinect itself:
This is a decent piece of hardware for a first time release. This could very well evolve to the next level of controller-free gaming. The feel is futuristic by allowing you to use your hands and even your voice to control the entire thing. The device also functions as a video-conferencing device, allowing you to speak to your friend and see them at the same time. A welcome addition, plus the design is very nice! Just don't drop it...
Where it needs work is the user to machine interface. Sometimes there's a bit of lag between when you want it to do something, and the Kinect's voice functions is not limited to a single user, meaning that someone else can say something and it will do it. Also, the current library of games is small, but this is likely to change eventually. Also, a $150 price tag will probably alienate some potential buyers, but this too will likely change too, and Microsoft has no shortage of preorders.
IGN Score: 7.5 "Good"
To the doubters, in summary: IT DOESN'T SUCK!
*Please note, the Press Review Scores are Averaged out from multiple sources. The IGN scores are NOT averages desipte that they seem to be. For a more comprehensive review, please visit IGN or any other game review site for further info!
Ugh...
General | Posted 15 years agoLost the contest. Didn't even place. Feeling slightly bad as I have a midterm at the end of this week and an assignment due in two days. Usually would take in better stride.
Well, gotta get started on my peer review.
Well, gotta get started on my peer review.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
General | Posted 15 years agoToday is the Canadian celebration of Thanksgiving! To all of my Canadian friends, have fun with your family and tell them you love them! Be thankful that you have them, even if they do get on your nerves.
To my American brethren separated from me not by twenty minutes, I love you all too! I shall be making another journal entry in November commemorating the 2010 celebration of the American Thanksgiving!
be thankful, love yourselves and each other, and for God's sake, let's chow!
To my American brethren separated from me not by twenty minutes, I love you all too! I shall be making another journal entry in November commemorating the 2010 celebration of the American Thanksgiving!
be thankful, love yourselves and each other, and for God's sake, let's chow!
Humans vs. Zombies
General | Posted 15 years agoWhat's going on?
Today, I enlisted into an army like no other. It was an army intent on holding back the zombie apocalypse, which has finally gripped our fair city of Windsor, Ontario!
My university's doing this thing over the course of two weeks where we have to fight "zombies". We are fair game all over the university, and every so often, we are allowed to bring our NERF guns into the mix. I met some interesting people. Unfortunately, no furries among them. Not that I asked, anyway.
Hell yes it was fun, but I am feeling a little winded. Need a rest...and a stiff drink.
On another note, as you know, I am starting a new book, Deception, which goes back to my main storyline, after some time of spin-offs! It's, in my opinion, my most adult fic yet, in more ways than one...
Anyway, check it out if you get the chance. I have two chapters up now, but a third is due any time now!
Today, I enlisted into an army like no other. It was an army intent on holding back the zombie apocalypse, which has finally gripped our fair city of Windsor, Ontario!
My university's doing this thing over the course of two weeks where we have to fight "zombies". We are fair game all over the university, and every so often, we are allowed to bring our NERF guns into the mix. I met some interesting people. Unfortunately, no furries among them. Not that I asked, anyway.
Hell yes it was fun, but I am feeling a little winded. Need a rest...and a stiff drink.
On another note, as you know, I am starting a new book, Deception, which goes back to my main storyline, after some time of spin-offs! It's, in my opinion, my most adult fic yet, in more ways than one...
Anyway, check it out if you get the chance. I have two chapters up now, but a third is due any time now!
New Avatar
General | Posted 15 years agoHey, was experimenting in GIMP and I made this thing off a sketch! Pretty neat, huh?
Exams in May
General | Posted 15 years agoOi, as if I needed enough in my final year. Now, I have the "pleasure" of belonging to a special AP program in school where we have to take exams in May. Normally I wouldn't have an issue in this, but these exams are scattered over two weeks, at most, 2 papers a day, as long as two hours thirty minutes. I really...really hate IB at this point.
Have a good one.
C.
Have a good one.
C.
AC2
General | Posted 16 years agoI just finished Assassin's Creed 2 today. What...The..Fuck...
That's all I'm saying.
That's all I'm saying.
Meme Mania!
General | Posted 16 years agoTry this out guys! Copy and paste! Show the world the real you!
- When did you start drawing?
I started out as a real young Michaelangello drawing on the walls with reayons. It wasn't necesarilly that medium. Sometimes I used a penny. Yeah, I worked my way up from there.
- Which hand do you use for drawing?
Right
- Which is easier to draw - male or female?
Male. I am much better with the bulkier build. i need to master the slender form of the fairer sex.
- Which is easier to draw - long hair or short hair?
Short. Hate long, I hate it, I hate it.
- Is it easier to draw the head facing towards the right or the left?
either is easy to me
- Is it easier to draw the side view of the face or the front view?
I'm alright with both. Anything else is beyond me.
- What do you have problems in drawing?
I have problems with proportions sometimes. I also need to work on breasts and backsides. Also a female face.
- What do you like to draw?
Anything with weaponry in it.
- Are you a traditional artist or a digital artist?
Traditional.
- Where do you start drawing from?
The face. I work from there.
- What is your drawing habit that you are aware of?
I always draw people doing something, very rarely I just draw them just, like sitting around.
- Any tips for coloring/shading?
Don't be afraid to experiment
- How long does it take to finish a piece of art?
DA few hours.
- What music do you listen to while you draw?
Anything that sounds good. Really it depends on what I am drawing.
- How long does it take you to come up with an idea?
Fairly quickly!
- Your favorite drawing utensils?
pencil or pen.
- Your favorite color/the color that you use a lot?
browns and reds mostly
- Your favorite style(s)?
really varies from time to time.
- Are you satisfied with your current art?
I am never satisfied!
- What kind of artist are you aiming for?
A concept artist for video games.
- When did you start drawing?
I started out as a real young Michaelangello drawing on the walls with reayons. It wasn't necesarilly that medium. Sometimes I used a penny. Yeah, I worked my way up from there.
- Which hand do you use for drawing?
Right
- Which is easier to draw - male or female?
Male. I am much better with the bulkier build. i need to master the slender form of the fairer sex.
- Which is easier to draw - long hair or short hair?
Short. Hate long, I hate it, I hate it.
- Is it easier to draw the head facing towards the right or the left?
either is easy to me
- Is it easier to draw the side view of the face or the front view?
I'm alright with both. Anything else is beyond me.
- What do you have problems in drawing?
I have problems with proportions sometimes. I also need to work on breasts and backsides. Also a female face.
- What do you like to draw?
Anything with weaponry in it.
- Are you a traditional artist or a digital artist?
Traditional.
- Where do you start drawing from?
The face. I work from there.
- What is your drawing habit that you are aware of?
I always draw people doing something, very rarely I just draw them just, like sitting around.
- Any tips for coloring/shading?
Don't be afraid to experiment
- How long does it take to finish a piece of art?
DA few hours.
- What music do you listen to while you draw?
Anything that sounds good. Really it depends on what I am drawing.
- How long does it take you to come up with an idea?
Fairly quickly!
- Your favorite drawing utensils?
pencil or pen.
- Your favorite color/the color that you use a lot?
browns and reds mostly
- Your favorite style(s)?
really varies from time to time.
- Are you satisfied with your current art?
I am never satisfied!
- What kind of artist are you aiming for?
A concept artist for video games.
Awesome...just awesome...
General | Posted 16 years agoJust was searching my gamertag. i found this definition on Urban Dctionary. I think it's pretty awesome I didn't know this existed.
n00binator 19 up, 4 down
a 1337 person who makes and individiual, who may not be a n00b, look like a n00b. This person is one who is extremely 1337. This term excludes h4x0rs.
Player 1: Man, who was that h4x0r that pwn3d j00?
Player 2: That's not a h4x0r, that's teh n00binator!
get this def on a mug
by Uncle Ben Nov 27, 2004 share this
Now I feel like some sorta messiah!
n00binator 19 up, 4 down
a 1337 person who makes and individiual, who may not be a n00b, look like a n00b. This person is one who is extremely 1337. This term excludes h4x0rs.
Player 1: Man, who was that h4x0r that pwn3d j00?
Player 2: That's not a h4x0r, that's teh n00binator!
get this def on a mug
by Uncle Ben Nov 27, 2004 share this
Now I feel like some sorta messiah!
THE TABLET, THE TABLET!
General | Posted 16 years agoMy first post on FA. Wow...imagine the euphoria as I do this. Well not really, it feels like any other site with a journal. AND WITH THAT WE'RE OFF!
Good morning ladies and germs. I write to you all today because I have lept forward in computing status. I have finally got my hands on a laptop computer!
Well, not exactly. It's a tablet PC really, a sexy Fujistu 5020 Model D tablet. Despite its antiquity she's a good computer, only a few years old. She boasts a 40 gig hard drive which (I am sad to say) is more than my desktop. Yeah, Sadness
She has a neat stylus which, in theory, will help me with precision computer art! I've already done some doodles in the notepad, and I am looking forward to Photoshop! That's right all! Soon you won't be seeing me draw pencil shades anymore, but full blown images rendered with extraordinary detail. I hope.
Also, an IR keyboard will enable me with 30 feet of FREEDOM! (freedom!)
I'll send some pictures with the new webcam. I have to thank the man who gave me the sacred tablet, a neurosurgeon and very good family friend who simply wanted to give it to me. I can't truly thank him enough for what he has done, and my eternal gratitude goes to him. At least until she falls apart on me! >:3
Good morning ladies and germs. I write to you all today because I have lept forward in computing status. I have finally got my hands on a laptop computer!
Well, not exactly. It's a tablet PC really, a sexy Fujistu 5020 Model D tablet. Despite its antiquity she's a good computer, only a few years old. She boasts a 40 gig hard drive which (I am sad to say) is more than my desktop. Yeah, Sadness
She has a neat stylus which, in theory, will help me with precision computer art! I've already done some doodles in the notepad, and I am looking forward to Photoshop! That's right all! Soon you won't be seeing me draw pencil shades anymore, but full blown images rendered with extraordinary detail. I hope.
Also, an IR keyboard will enable me with 30 feet of FREEDOM! (freedom!)
I'll send some pictures with the new webcam. I have to thank the man who gave me the sacred tablet, a neurosurgeon and very good family friend who simply wanted to give it to me. I can't truly thank him enough for what he has done, and my eternal gratitude goes to him. At least until she falls apart on me! >:3
