Gunslinger’s Clearing

Well, I haven’t been on here in forever, but I’m busy as hell. I’ve finally realized I don’t have time to keep up with a blog and work and relationship and life, etc. So, for now, I’m suspending new posts. Hope everyone understands All 3 of you that read this Oh yeah, as a last hurrah, Bioshock’s a 10. Buy it. I’ll post on rare occasions, but I’ll probably see you guys on MySpace.

Well, hello again, loyal reader.  Or maybe readers.  Anyway, I have some updates for your drooling, toothy gaming addiction!  Not just gaming either.  Today, the first MOVIE review on Gunslingers-Inc!  So without further ado…

  9/10

Well, hooray for slingers of both guns and webs.  Finally went to see a movie in the theater yesterday.  Spiderman 3 was pretty damn kickass.  I’ve gotta say, the CG was great, the fight scenes were awesome, Venom was almost as cool as he should have been.  Now, for the complaints.  I’ll keep it brief, I promise   1) The movie took entirely too long to get rolling.  After an hour or so, it finally started to get really good.  2) Three villians?  The Sandman WAS pretty cool, especially the CG fight scenes, but his story seemed to get lost with both the Hobgoblin and Venom taking up most of the villain time.  And finally 3)  Peter Parker needs to quit with the sad faces!  He cried at least three times during this movie.  People are at their ugliest when crying.  And he wasn’t far from his ugliest to start with.  Dry it up, Spidey!   All in all however, the story was pretty good, but the fights and effects were righteous.  Both Symbiote Spidey and Venom were just f’in awesome.  Go see!  Now!

In gaming news, I’ve got a couple for ya today.  The Gunslinger’s been busy, and actually with video games!  So off we go…

 7/10

F.E.A.R. stands for First Encounter Assault Recon.  In this PC-port FPS, you are part of a top-secret government agency investigating paranormal activity.  Yes, like X-Files with grenade launchers.  That’s all I can say about the story without really messing it up.  The graphics are very pretty.  Physics are solid, and gameplay is pretty fun.  The single player campaign is a little slow for my tastes, often your time is spent wandering around cramped buildings, waiting for something freaky to happen, feeling lost.  A nice waypoint system seems to be in order.  However the multiplayer is good, clean fun.  Standard gametypes, deathmatch, CTF, etc.  Nothing spectacular, but solid nonetheless.  However, with games like ShadowRun and Bioshock just over the horizon, really, I would save your money.

 10/10

Oh, beloved Mario.  How many hours of my life have I wasted, smashing blocks and abusing turtles?  Well, it’s about 40 more now.  Super Paper Mario is NOT your average Mario game.  Side-scrolling, enemy stomping goodness, yes.  But this is an RPG.  If you’ve never played a Paper Mario game, you’re missing out.  Collect items, level up, gain new abilities, go on side-quests, and waste your coins in the arcade!  All kinds of distractions to keep you busy, as if the story wasn’t enough.  The evil Count Bleck is trying to fulfill prophecy by ending all worlds, and all dimensions.  And of course, Mario is the only one who can save them!  You’ll join forces with three other classic Mario characters (who I won’t name), to put an end to Bleck’s reign of terror.  Well, the graphics are simple, but vibrant, the levels are innovative, and the variety of things to do is amazing.  Put simply, have a Wii?  Buy this game!

 6/10

Ah, Red Steel.  I had such high hopes for you.  A Yakuza-slashing, bullet-riddled bloodbath of an FPS.  Sounds good, no?  No.  The story makes little sense, the graphics are comparable to a Gamecube launch title (yuck) and the game is laden with glitches.  Its only redeeming factor is the multiplayer, which reminds me of 007: GoldenEye for the N64.  I spent several hours here, and enjoyed the majority of it.  The controls take some getting used to, but it improves once you raise the sensitivity of the WiiMote.  If only there had been online multiplayer, but Nintendo continues to stumble in that field.  Well, I guess we can hope for future games…

And that, kiddies, is another installment of Gaming with Gunslingers.  I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.  We’ll have plenty to talk about next time, like Bioshock and ShadowRun, probably Forza Motorsport 2, and maybe even a little Cooking Mama!  See you then!

Well, since I’ve had 3 or 4 people now telling me how I need to update my website, I’ll take a few minutes out of my day to do so.  By the by, if you haven’t heard, the 360 croaked AGAIN.  That makes repair number 4.  Hip hip hooray.  Also, I’ve been working a LOT, so there aren’t that many games today.  But we’ll give it a shot anyway.  Buckle up, kiddies!

 8/10

I know, I know.  Only 8 for the best Xbox 360 game yet?  ZOMG!  Whatever.  It was pretty good.  The graphics ARE amazing, and the weapons are pretty damn cool.  But I just don’t get all the hype.  The story places you in the future, as a soldier in a diminishing army, fighting a losing battle against a race of subterranean aliens.  Crazy stuff.  All in all, the gameplay is pretty fun, and the multiplayer’s not bad, but I just don’t understand why people went so crazy for this one.

 7/10

Wow, a kid’s game?  Yes, yes.  Well, the other half has two kids, so once in a while, I actually manage to play a kid’s game.  This one is based on the popular Nickelodeon show, Avatar.  Which is actually a pretty good show, considering some of the mindless crap that is forced down kids’ throats these days.  (Not that my generation has room to talk)  Anyway.  The game takes you through many different missions, loosely related to the TV show.  As you progress, you learn new bending skills, and proceed to beat the snot out of your enemies.  Nothing too complicated, but fairly fun nonetheless.  Certainly, I’ve played worse kids games.

  8/10

The Wii weirdness continues!  In the vein of Wario Ware, this is another mini-game game.  The games are a little longer and more involved, albeit confusing at times.  Ranging from milking cows as fast as possible, to smacking around psychotic little bunnies (a la Whac-a-mole).  The graphics aren’t spectacular, but definitely serviceable.  My personal favorite games are the rail-shooters, where you are driven around the level, shooting plungers at hordes of angry bunnies.  Good stuff, believe it or not.  The game has a very twisted sense of humor, as do I, so it’s able to hold my attention, but the kids will LOVE this game.

 9/10

And now, let the true nerdiness begin!  Yes, I’m a DBZ geek.  Bite me.  This game is frickin awesome.  While just a little too complicated for a younger audience, your average gamer will have no problem learning the mechanics of this game.  The graphics look just like the TV show, and with over 100 playable characters, there’s no lack of variety.  Game modes range from the classic Story Mode, where you play through the entire DBZ series, and even a little GT, to World Tournaments and an interesting challenge mode.  The real fun is the tag battles, where you can have up to five characters on your team, and swap freely among them.  Chiao-tzu getting owned by Piccolo?  Swap to Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta, and blast his green ass into oblivion.  Also very interesting is the Wii version’s control scheme, where to pull off the super moves, like the Kamehameha, you actually move your hands like the characters do to trigger them.  My one complaint is that it takes some SERIOUS time to unlock all the characters, as you have to play through story mode repeatedly to get the right items.  If you have a Wii, and you like DBZ even a little, BUY THIS GAME!

So, we come again to the end of another episode…Hopefully next time, I’ll have the 360 back, and some new stuff to review.  In the meantime, just know that I work a lot, and don’t have much opportunity to sit down for an hour and write an entry.  BE FRICKIN PATIENT!  Cya next time!

Well kiddies, it’s been a while, I know.  Work sucks.  However, things in the gaming world are just peachy!  The Wii is performing swimmingly, and I even managed to get a good wireless router.  The Opera web browser on the console is pretty cool, even in it’s beta stage.  Flash enabled, fairly quick surfing, and simple to use.  That said, here goes.  In today’s post, we’ll be discussing several games - for the Wii, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, and Excite Truck.  For the Xbox 360, we have Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, Rainbow Six Vegas, and Star Trek: Legacy.

  10/10

Well, screw saving the best for last.  I just can’t do it.  This game is awesome.  Those who have played a few Zelda titles before will feel right at home, while those who are new to the series have some unexpected surprises in store.  This latest installment definitely has a more “grown-up” feel.  Gone are the cel-shaded graphics of the cartoonish Wind Waker, giving way to more gritty, dark art direction.  Without giving away too much, I can tell you that Link is once again on a quest to save Princess Zelda, and of course, the world.  This time, he will have to defeat the forces of Twilight and restore light to the land of Hyrule.  Along the way, you’ll discover new items like the Clawshot and Zora’s Armor, which will, of course, help you on your journey.  The dungeons are innovative and clever, and absolutely huge.  If you want a game to really immerse yourself in, this is it.

  6/10

I had high hopes for this game.  Being one of the only “medical” games on the market, it has a lot of potential.  Unfortunately, being basically an overhauled DS game hurt it quite a bit.  The story is basic.  You’re a rookie doctor, with a bad attitude.  All the other doctors are always yelling about how lazy you are.  However, after a few surgeries, you start to improve.  Anyway, the surgeries are the main focus.  While the Wii controls allow for a bit of error, they are never really explained very well during the game, leaving you wondering exactly what to do while your patient bleeds out on the table.  All in all, I’m a little disappointed.  Let this be a lesson, Nintendo!  Don’t port a game to your fancy new machine…build it from the ground up!

 8/10

Ahh, nostalgia.  When I saw Excite Truck, I immediately thought of that childhood favorite, Excite Bike for the NES.  While the two ARE both racing games, that’s where the similarities end.  Excite Truck is crazy, furious, 4×4 racing over big tracks with big jumps.  Power-ups boost your speed, make you invincible, or even change the terrain.  This is great fun, and you can even listen to your own music from an SD card while you race!  My only complaint is probably my own fault, in all honesty.  The controls are a little hard to get used to.  The trucks feel pretty damn squirrely, and sometimes you can’t help but fly headlong into a wall.  However, as you unlock more trucks, it gets a little better.  But hell, if that’s my only complaint, then it’s not to shabby, eh?

 6/10

Yes, I know.  Girls in bikinis, playing volleyball.  What the hell would make me want to play such a superficial game?  Hmmm.  Actually, the volleyball is pretty fun.  But that’s about it.  I played the original on the Xbox, and liked it quite a bit, so I thought the sequel would be a good bet.  Nope.  This game is confusing.  And hard.  Did I mention confusing?  The volleyball is no longer the main focus of the game.  Instead, there are several different activities for your vacation, such as jet-skiing, gambling, or various watersports (not that kind of watersport, pervert).  The real bitch about it is, all the acheivements are based on making friends with other girls and collecting swimsuits.  I couldn’t even get one achievement after playing this game for two weeks.  The girls are all bitches, and picky about what you give them as presents.  They all have a favorite color, and if you don’t pick the right one for their present, they dislike you even more than before you tried.  Basically, a fun volleyball game, but social interaction of bikini-clad hotties eludes my grasp.

8/10

What’s that you say?  Finally, a shooter from the Gunslinger?  Yes, yes.  Good ol’ Tom Clancy.  Bringing us terrorists to shoot for many years now.  Rainbow Six: Vegas - the redeemer of a dying franchise.  After the last few RS games, I was ready to give it up, but this one has revived my interest.  Definitely NOT for beginners, this game is difficult.  Not because of things like controls, or confusing story, but because it’s fairly realistic.  One good shotgun blast, even from a decent distance, and you’re toast.  So it’s nice to have a couple of guys with you, to send into a room full of terrorists, before you head in yourself.  And with the Xbox 360 headset, you can actually yell at them to do it.  Also good is the multiplayer, where you have a persistent character that levels up and gets better as you play.  Sort of an RPG aspect, which is neat.  And if you have the Xbox Live Vision camera, you can even put your own face on your avatar.  Innovative and refreshing, but frickin hard.

7/10

The last one?  OMG!  I bet you never thought you’d get here.  First off, w00t for Star Trek.  This game is very pretty, and the battles (at least in HD) often look just like the show.  However, it is plagued by sluggish controls that usually leave you flying around in circles, trying to catch up with enemies that are flying around in circles.  As for content, it’s got it.  There’s got to be around 30 or so starships to choose from, 4 or 5 different alien species, all with their own ships, and you can have up to 4 ships at your command at one time.  But let me tell you.  4 of the best Federation ships are NO match for a single Borg Cube.  It’s amazing.  Anyway - if you’re a hardcore Trekkie, or just love space games, then sure, pick it up.  But if you have very little patience (like me) then just give it a rent.

 Well, there you have it, loyal reader.  If you actually read every word of that, then you deserve kudos.  Of course, I don’t have any kudos to hand out, so go ask someone else!  Next time, whenever that is, should be DBZ: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, and perhaps Gears of War or F.E.A.R.

So, I know it’s been a while, but I’m here again, so quitcherbitchin!    I did get my 360 back, with no issues so far.  Been playing Rainbow Six Vegas and Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, but not enough of either to review just yet.  Stay tuned.  The big news is that I’ve actually gotten my hands on a Wii!  I’ve been waiting for this for a long time now, and it’s finally here.  The thing is just plain fun.  Of course, I only have Wii Sports (included with the console) and Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, but I’m thoroughly engrossed in both.  The motion-sensitive controls are a little touchy, but surprisingly responsive.  If you haven’t played one yet, head to your local game shop and spend a few minutes messing around with it.  I’ve only had mine for 2 days now, so once again, be patient for reviews.  I’ll make sure to post with news as soon as I can.  But for now, go stand in line and buy one! 

Again with the dammit!  So, I got my Xbox 360 back from the shop last Monday, the 9th. That night, it locked up on me.  Ok, fine, whatever.  I thought I’d give it the benefit of a doubt.  Now, I’ve got three red lights again.  The console is inoperable.  This one’s GPU has died, apparently.  That’s what they get for sending me a refurb.  So, off it goes to Micro$oft, yet again.  I’ve politely requested (read: demanded) a brand new system.  We’ll see.  I did happen to get a little playtime in with a 360 game before it totally died, and a new DS game has been taking up the rest of my time, so here we go.

Lego Star Wars II is exactly what I thought it would be.  Fun.  I love Star Wars, and who doesn’t love Legos?  Little Lego Jedi, big Lego AT-AT’s and Star Destroyers, etc., etc.  And even better than the original Lego Star Wars, this one covers the original trilogy.  Yes, loyal reader, that means NO Jar-Jar Binks!  This game is definitely aimed at kids, but it gives the adults an excuse to play too.  One of the highlights is the drop-in drop-out multiplayer, where if Jason (Nichole’s son, 7) gets stuck, I just pop in, get him past the area, and drop out, for him to carry on his own.  Also fun are the multiplayer battles, where you try to see who can collect the most money in a set period of time.  If you don’t have kids, give it a rent, just for nostalgia’s sake.  If you have kids, it’s a definite buy.  8/10

And yes, TWO reviews in one!  Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime!  As we know, I love Dragon Quest.  This game is set in that world, and shares some of the same monsters and items, but really, that’s where the similarities end.  You play Rocket, a slime who lives in the town of Slimenia.  Your precious town is destroyed by the evil Plob and their huge tank.  So, naturally, you do what any self-respecting slime would do, and set off to take your revenge.  As you rescue your invertebrate buddies, new areas of the town are unlocked, as well as new items.  You finally gain the use of the Schleimann Tank, and that’s when things get interesting.  Tank battles are the best part of this game.  Running (sliding?) around your tank, gathering ammo to load the cannons, while fending off invading baddies.  Frantic fun.  And you earn all kinds of new ammo from the unblockable Spooklear Bomb to the Mirror Shield, which reflects the enemy’s ammo back at them.  Anyway.  The game is a little simplistic, but then, it’s a handheld game.  Good clean fun.  Give it a shot   8/10

HIP HIP!  My Xbox 360 will be back tomorrow!  I’m thrilled to pieces.  About damn time too!  But, in the one day off I have before it gets here, I thought I’d serve up a little Playstation 2 lovin’…in the form of God of War.  First off, I’ll let you know this is DEFINITELY a mature game.  We’ll get to why in a moment.  This is third-person action-adventure at its damn best.  Easily (IMHO) the best game ever to grace the PS2.  Graphics = Spectacular.  Sound design = Awesome.  Gameplay = Brilliant.  Story = Engrossing. 

All that said, let’s get to the meat of it.  You play Kratos.  A minion of Ares, and champion of the Spartans.  Having given your life to Ares in exchange for prowess in battle, you are led by the God of War to kill your own family.  Haunted by guilt and nightmares, you set off to destroy Ares.  Along the way, you’ll encounter mythical beasts such as the Hydra, Medusa, and Minotaur.  With your trusty swords (which happen to be fused to your arms via chains), and magic gifted to you by the other gods, you’ll lay waste to anyone or anything that stands in your way.  Disemboweling, beheading, or tearing asunder humans and demons alike.  I won’t reveal any more of the story, for fear of ruining it.  Just know that it’s awesome.  Also, if you play through the game on higher difficulty levels, the cutscenes reveal more of Kratos’ past.

I can’t really do this game justice in a blog.  Trust me.  At $20, you MUST play this game.  Especially if you’re bored of all the current new releases for the PS2 (like I am), this game will definitely divert your attention for a WHILE.

Alright, I know I usually only post on video games, but I happen to be a huge fan of Magic: the Gathering.  Just wanted to let all of you know that the new expansion, Time Spiral releases on Friday, Oct 6.  There’s definitely some good stuff in here, including lots of older mechanics, such as madness, flashback, shadow, and flanking.  The big news, however, is the addition of TimeShift cards, which are reprints of older cards, including powerhouses like Akroma, Angel of Wrath, and the Avatar of Woe.  Even some really old cards like Gaea’s Liege and Feldon’s Cane have been reprinted in the special 121-card set.  Each booster pack of Time Spiral will include the standard 15 cards, plus one TimeShifted card.  Check out CoolStuffInc for some of the lowest prices around on all of your collectible card game needs.  It’s the only site I ever shop for Magic.  And those links DEFINITELY contain spoilers, so if you want to be surprised, don’t click.