Jason's profileFleppiePhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
|
November 17 Gears of WarHype can be a strange thing. Slowly releasing exciting information on upcoming games can boost it's succes exponentially or get your fans dissapointed in the end-product because the game was overhyped and expectations were just way too high to be able to fulfil them all. Just ask Peter Molyneux and his Black & White and Fable games. Both games were acually pretty good, but because lots of possibilites were mentioned which ultimately didn't end up in both games, people were sorely disspointed.
But as the hype around Gears of War reaches it's climax, it looks like this game is going to live up to the hype. I was able to get my copy early and everybody in the neighborhood of the console games had a copy in their hand. When I was standing in line @ the cashier, I noticed that the guy in front of me was buying a copy and the guy behind me in the line was going to buy a copy as well. Looks like a succes already.
And after playing through the first 2 chapters, I can honestly say that Epic has once again struck gold. It's not just the pretty graphics, though they really help. I have never seen rain done so good before. But again, it's not just the graphics, the game also controls like a dream. You can really feel that the controls were made with the console in mind. There are three shooters on the console which I love: Halo 1 & 2, the underappraciated Unreal Championship 2 and now this game. Why? Because you can really feel that these games were developed for the console from the ground up. And not ported from the pc like 99% of the shooters on the consoles. Granted, I haven't played all the ports, but I can almost guarantee you that you will get a better experience playing them on a ell-equipped pc. It is for this reason that I also never bought Halo for the pc.
But Gears of War, aaahh. Trash-talking marines that look like the terran space marines from Blizzard's starcraft. Interesting conversations between semi-interesting characters. They won't develop throughout the story, but they are quite fleshed out for a shooter and my guess is that if you pick up this game, you will not be picking it up for it's story. There are some scary moments a la resident evil in it, the most horrific screams I have heard since Silent Hill and the chainsaw....omg the chainsaw. I read so much about it, but there is some sadistic pleasure in the way the chain saw rips through your opponent, that truelly never gets old.
And there is something about the one-line spouting hero that you will grow to love. After all, if you are trying to shoot down a monster that is jumping all over the place, trying to get at your throat, and you finally shoot it down after missing 3 times with your shotgun and Marcus (the lead role) retorts with: F*ck You, the only thing you can say out loud at that moment is: Yeah, F*ck You! Or when you find yourself replying to your supporting cast, you know that the voice acting is just awesome. Some guy in the game goes: What the hell was that? And I go: Yeah! What the HELL was that!? Or he says: Did you see that? I automatically go: Yup. And Marcus goes: Yup, but I wish I hadn't. That'll get you grinning all the time. Speaking of supporting cast, they actually kill stuff and are intelligent, not something you find alot in these kidns of games.
Epic knows that gaming is all about timing (so is dancing, which explains why I love both so much, but that is for another blogpost) and it is implemented superbly. The waiting to pop up and shoot, the reloading, the way fright moments are timed, just great.
Epic alongside Blizzard has proven themelves enough to me that I'll buy their games without reading any review. Just look at their track record, all triple A titles. This game rocks! Go get it....on to Unreal Tournament 2007! Let's hope that they release the pc version at the same time a the ps3 version, or else I'll have to speed up my ps3 buying plans.  November 02 ThankfullsSometimes it's hard to come up with something you are thankful for every month, without repeating yourself over and over. But that's the whole point of finding something new you are thankful for, to keep a postive outlook on life. I think missed two or three months worth of thankfulls, so I'll try and make up for them with this post. I am thankfull to all those guaguanco/rumba/mambo/salsa/whatever you wanna call it singers/composers & performers for making a mountainload of awesome songs. And making songs for the sake of the songs, not as much as getting rich quick, but through hard work and quality products. It's still exhilirating when I sift through my collection of cd's. You won't belive the priceless cd's i have found at flea markets, selling for a mere 4 euros or less. The stuff of diamonds to me. This month's song is Quinto de Beethoven by Ismael Quintana & Cheo Feliciano, which I first heard (remixed) in the routine by Uforia dance company. Awesome song and I know I got even more good ones. Mambo rules, dance 4 life. Second thing I am extremely thankful for is that after almost 30 years, my parents still take the time to call me up and sing for my birthday. I owe too much to them and am glad they still support their slightly headstrong (read unbelievabley stubborn) son. And very thankful that my sis was here for my birthday and was here in mind, body and spirit. The third thankful piece has 2 parts. I am so thankful that I still get excited about on of my passions in my life... dancing. (the other two are Mautje & games, gotta mention the girlfriend  ) And I am thankful that after practicing at home and watching some very inspirational videoclips that got me all hyped, I had the opportunity to really dance after such a long time....and when I was least expecting it. The DJ that is normaly horrible, actually rocked the joint tonight...a bit. Thank you, I needed that. Que viva la Salsa..... |
|
|
