Am I Out of My Mind?!

I need to put a moratorium on new game purchases. Really, I need to or I'll never finish this quest.

A few recent editions over the last fews day:

Demon Souls (PS3)
Transformers: War for Cybertron (PS3)
The Saboteur (PS3)
Blade Kitten (PSN)
Shank (PSN)

Then there are the games I want for Christmas: Vanquish, Enslaved, Dead Rising 2, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2, Electric Boogaloo, and maybe Rock Band 3. Though Rock Band 3's additon of Pro Mode (and $150 guitar to play Pro Mode) keyboard, 3 part harmonies and two versions of each song (for color button pushers and Pro Mode aficionados) has been debating on whether or not my foray into the plastic instrument genre was a very expensive mistake...

Oy vey!

This crowbar is pretty frickin' sweet

Game Title: Half Life

Developed by: Valve

If you know games, you probably know or played Half Life. Originally released on the PC in 1998, Half Life was pretty revoluationary for it's time. I don't know much about it. I picked up the PS2 port and started playing.

You play as Gordon Freeman and scientist who's company accidentally opens a portal to another world/dimension. Then you fight some aliens.

I don't really know what's going on because after 3 hours of playing I quit for the night and forgot to fully save (I had been Quick Saving). So, the next day, no save file. I've gotten so use to my PS3 games auto saving that whenever I play a PS2 game I actually forget to save. It's annoying. It's not the first time (I'm looking at you, Ultimate Spider-Man).

So, Half Life will have to wait, because I got pissed I lost three hours or time and just decided to start Half Life 2 on The Orange Box. Look for a Half Life review sometime in the future.

Want to know more? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_(video_game)

Next Level: The Orange Box/Half Life 2, Half Life 2 episode 1, and Half Life 2 episode 2

Metal Thrashing Mad!!!

Title: Brutal Legend

Developed by: Double Fine

I'm starting this post off proclaiming my love for Jack Black (and my hatred for Jack White). I've dug Jack Black since the first time I saw him in Tim Burton's high underrated "Mars Attacks!" And, I worship at the alter of the D (that's Tenacious D for those of your with head trauma). Dude makes me laugh and I've styled my physique after his. I love singing "Master Exploder" on Rock Band.

So, you can imagine my excitement when Brutal Legend came out last year. It features Jack Black voicing uber-Roadie Eddie Riggs. It's developed by Tim Schaefer and his studio Double Fine, which gave the world the amazing and under appreciated "Pyschonauts." It has an amazing heavy metal soundtrack. The game features voices from Ozzy Osbourne, Lita Ford, Rob Halford, and Lemmy Killmeister. It takes place in a heavy metal world were music is used as a weapon or to heal wounds.

We begin with Eddie, wishing for the days when music was pure. His fellow roadie ask him if he means the 70s. Eddie reponse is this "no, earlier, like, the early 70s." It's Classic Schaefer humor right out of the gate. Eddie finds himself roadieing for a nu-rap/metal poser band called Kabbage Boy. He's built and elaborate set for them. During the show, the stage collapses and Eddie is killed. Blood drips onto his belt buckle, an awesome heavy metal demon skull, lights flash, and Eddie awakens transported to a magical realm. From there, he helps begin a rebellion to help overthrow the vile Lord Doviculous and introduce the people to the power of Metal!

This game is a ton of fun. You can drive around in your super hot rod, called the Deuce, mowing down baddies and looking for bound dragon, all while listening to tracks from The D, Anthrax, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and a ton of other Metal bands. The story is wacky and the graphics fit the fun.

Two complaints. The battles are done as a real-time strategy game. This is where you command fellow troops to attack and defend on the battlefield. I loathe RTS games. I've struggled through each battle.

The second complaint is a major one and now you find out that I did not finish this game. That is because once you reach 90% completion in the game, there is a bug that corrupts your save file if you save the game. I was 19 hours in and had just broken 90% complete and blammo! Stuck on the loading screen. Double Fine has released a patch but published EA has not released it. C'mon EA, get off your ass and fix my game so I can finish.

90% in and I can say Brutal Legend is definitely worth the time. Just don't "Quit and Save" once you hit 90% complete. If you like Jack Black, Metal, and an awesomely original story, pick up Brutal Legend and bang your head!

Want to know more? http://www.brutallegend.com/home.action

Next Level: Half Life

Happy 15th Birthday, Sony Playstation

Now give me some of my life back, please.

We are Sex Bob-Omb!

Game Title: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game

Publisher: Ubisoft

If you follow the blog, you already know I am a Scott Pilgrim fan(atic). Have to books, a few plushies, a shirt, and saw the movie twice (once for free). So when this game was announced, I of course had to have it!

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game, is based on the comic, that spawned the film. However, the game, released to accompany the movie, is more related to the comic than the film, even though all feature the same characters. Confused yet. Please don't be because none of it really matters. What really matters is this game kicks ass!

Released on the Playstation Network and X-Box Marketplace so you won't find this in store, SPVTWTG features old school game play that harkens back to the days of Double Dragon and River City Ransom. You beat up bad guys, collect money, buy upgrades, and get that damn Anamanaguchi soundtrack stuck in your head for days (yes, it's that good).

You can play as Scott, Ramona, Stephen Stills, and/or Kim Pine. You can have up to four players at once trashing baddies, in off-line co-op, which is a blessing to me as I don't care for online multiplayer. So you and three of your nearest and dearest can get some good epic quality time in there.

Did I mention this game kicks ass? I played the hell out of this thing, 100% on the trophies baby! Finished the game with all four character, unlocked Mr. and Ms. Chau and random strikers, unlocked Nega Scott as the fifth playable character. You name it, I did it.

Also, old school charm are the codes you can enter at the start screen. Down, Up, Right, Down, Up Right, Down, Up, Right, Right, Right (or Dur, Dur, Durrr) turns all the baddies into zombies. There is also a nifty code that unlocks the Power of Love sword from the end of the game so you can use it at the beginning of each world and sub-world. A few other codes exist too but I will let you discover them on your own.

So, pick this up. It's $10. It's about 20-25 hours worth of game play to unlock everything. The graphics are amazing, the music tremendous, and like everything Scott Pilgrim, the overall experience is epic.

Next Level: Brutal Legend

By the Gods!

Game Title: God of War Collection

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

God of War. It's been around a few years now and it's one of the more popular series for the Playstation 2 and 3. I have and have beaten both God of War 1 and 2 on the PS2 when they were originally released. I remember enjoying them but finding them a bit difficult.

Last Fall, Sony released this HD collection, redoing GoW 1 and 2 in High-Def, in preparation for God of War 3, which would end the series. For some reason, I just needed these games in Hi-Def. It didn't matter that I already owned them and beat them, I need them amped up on whatever steroids gave Kratos his manly physique. Thanks for some extra Goozex points and the free trading on PS3 titles back in June, I picked this up.

God of War is the story of Kratos, who like to kill things, sometimes even Gods. He was tricked by Ares, the god of War, and became his kill puppet. Until he accidentally killed his wife and child. Kratos then decided he would kill Ares. And so, his journey begins to acquire the powers he needs to beat Ares. Can he succeed?! Well, since there are three games I would safely assume so.

These games are a lot of fun. You slice and dice demons and other supernatural creatures with your Blades of Chaos, powered by Athena herself. You power them up, learn new combos and are then able to slice and dice in new and interesting ways. Lots of blood and dismembered body parts. Yay!

Something has happened to these games though. I remember them being much more difficult than this play through. Maybe it is because I already played them, even though it was years ago, that I did better. I remembered getting to a few sections that I had trouble with initially and blew right through.

Except for the final battle with Ares at the end of GoW 1. Jesus, that was still a bitch and a half. I will man up and admit I had to switch to easy difficulty to finish the game.

So, God of War collection, I thank you for the fun times and the bolstering of my PS3 Trophy count.

Next Level: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game

Back from vacation. Entries coming

I should have been paying attention to my blog while I was on vacation. I missed something really cool and am now kicking myself.

Video game info coming soon.