PS Month: Playstation 4

PS Month: Playstation 3

It is often said that nothing lasts forever, not even the good times. Truer words have never been spoken. The Playstation 3 was the system that (temporarily) ended Sony's reign as King of the Consoles, returning the crown to Nintendo for a short while. The PS3 was most certainly the "end of an era" for the PS line of consoles, and I don't mean as the first Playstation console to NOT be the biggest seller of its generation.

PS Month: Playstation 2

The 1990's began with Nintendo on top of the gaming world, and ended with Sony in said position. The year 1998 saw the release of the first Sixth Generation console: the Sega Dreamcast. But it can be argued the Seventh Generation did not TRULY begin until the day the PS2 was released.

PS Month: The Original Playstation

In the year 1995, the console war between Sega and Nintendo was winding down, with Nintendo the clear and undisputed winner in Japan and North America, but with Sega the winner in Europe and Brazil. The Sega CD and the 32X proved to be fantastic flops, causing Nintendo to abandon their idea of a CD add-on for the SNES. This proved to be a big mistake; it meant they'd break their contract with Sony. To save face, Sony decided to enter the console market, and as they say, the rest is history...

The Last List Article: Ranking the Nintendo Systems

With Playstation month starting this Saturday, and the finale of this blog looming ever closer, it's time for me to write the LAST list article for this blog. This is the ranking for every Nintendo console ever. Onward...

Sonic Adventure: A Failure?

In the year 1998, the Sega Dreamcast was released to the excitement of fans all over the world. To prove the console's power, Sega released the then long awaited leap to 3D for their best-selling franchise: Sonic the Hedgehog. The big 3D debut's name was Sonic Adventure. But... was it a retrospective failure?

Remakes

My excitement for the FF7 Remake has considerably died down in  comparison to how excited I was in 2016, to the point I'm preparing myself to accept it's not coming. However, as I ruminate about the remake I'd been waiting a while for, a question popped up: what's the big deal about remakes?

EVO: Ranking the Bosses

In this blog entry I rank the bosses of the game EVO: The Search for Eden. I'm going from WORST to BEST. Let's go!

Announcing my YouTube Channel

I promised exciting news, and here it is. I'm sure some of you have noticed a few videos on this blog lately. Well, I made those. I've officially started a video game YouTube channel, where you'll see my Let's Plays and other video game related shows. I've already started a series called Awesome Levels, which I had been itching to start for YEARS now. So yes, be sure to subscribe so you can see my videos! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCckYWq5fRDpIgXe4MrmexwQ

Awesome Levels: Jungle Hijinx from Donkey Kong Country

On Ciri

I may be late to the party, but this is a blog entry I feel needed to be made. Netflix' latest casting call for the role of The Witcher's own Ciri (whom in the books/games is pale skinned, ashen haired, and green eyed) has stirred the Internet for all the wrong reasons. Rather than speculating which actress would fit the role best, we've once again entered the Culture Wars because the casting sheet has called for a BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) (read: nonwhite) actress. What's the big deal?

Let's Play EVO part 5: The Grind is Real

Let's Play EVO part 4: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Let's Play EVO part 2- A Fat Bastard

EVO Let's Play part 1- Why do jellyfish give meat?

A Sad Announcement

I've been blogging for five years now. I've had my ups and downs with this blog, and at the same time this blog has seen me through times both good and bad. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I'm hereby announcing that this blog has an end date: the last blog will be posted on or before January 5th, 2019.

I had been planning an end to this blog for two years now. I feel it's time for me to move on to bigger things. I'm planning something new, which will be announced SOON! Don't worry, we're still doing Playstation Month in December! That's still on!

So yes, it's high time I end this blog. Perhaps, in the future, I'll blog again...? Time will tell.

6 More ancient animals that could make great Pokemon

You know what this is. Let's get to it.

Dark Souls 3: Ranking the Burial Gifts

Yesterday we ranked the starting classes of Dark Souls 3, and today we're ranking the burial gifts. These are the items you can choose to start the game with, and today we're going through the trash to find the treasure. We're basing this list on how useful the item is in the overall game versus how quickly it can be obtained later on. We begin...

Dark Souls 3: Ranking the Starting Classes

You read the title, you know what this is. We're going through ascending order, from worst to best.  To make this list the following were considered: starting gear, stats, and levels needed for stat allocation. We begin...

Reaction to the Jacksonville Shooting

I seldom do this (write two entries in one day) but the news of the Jacksonville massacre has left me stunned, saddened, and angry. It's not enough that there was a shooting, but that it happened during a video game tournament? Where people come together to play? Damn...

I'm not going to talk about gun control, gun safety, or anything similar. The bodies of the victims are now finally cold, as is the shooter's, who's killed himself. I'm at a loss for words over this. But I guess I'll share some of the best screenshots regarding this tragedy. You might not like these people (I'm certainly no fan of some of them) but what they've said deserves to be shared.

In times like this we need to set aside our politics, our agendas, and our personal biases. We need to come together in humanity and brotherhood, to comfort those who are grieving, who have lost somebody in this terrible event. Don't be like these people, who chose to use this tragedy for their political platforms and their virtue signaling. Let's be good to one another.

My Top 11 Characters for a Dragon Ball FighterZ Sequel

So I got Dragon Ball FighterZ for my birthday, and I loved it. I want a sequel, and I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels that way. These are 11 characters I want in a possible sequel to the game, presented in no particular order.

James Rolfe: An Analysis

It has been said that the work of a critic is easy; all you need to do is share your opinion on a work. Thanks to the Internet, it is ridiculously easy to become a critic; all you need is a Facebook page and boom, a platform to share your criticism. To gain an audience alone ought to be considered a feat all dream of, but there is ONE critic in gaming who's achieved the Holy Grail of criticism: James Rolfe.

My Bottom Eleven Pokemon Gym Leaders

These are the eleven Pokemon Gym Leaders whom I hate the most. Not because they're cheap, not because I have trouble beating them, but because they disappoint me. Some have embarassing rosters, while others offer no challenge whatsoever. In Ascending order...

Chrono Cross- Worthy Sequel?

The question of what makes a sequel truly worthy of its predecessor is one that has nagged me ever since I saw The Last Jedi. As I pondered that question, one game sprung to my mind: Chrono Cross, sequel to the legendary Chrono Trigger. It was not until today that I finally came to a conclusion regarding what makes a sequel truly worthy of its predecessor, which allowed me to measure up Cross' worthiness of following Trigger.

Five Year Anniversary

Has it really been five years? Jesus, it truly has. On this day I want to take a look back into how this blog evolved.

2013: The year I started writing! I remember I set myself up the challenge to write one entry every two days, which led to a very busy year. It was a time in my life where I was chronically unemployed, living with the folks, and being broke. But it was also my last year as a NEET, something which I am happy to have broken away from. I had two special months: October, where we counted down the top 11 heroes of gaming, and December, which was a Month of Final Fantasy. I fell short of my goal, but I got really sick that December. Bad stuff. But hey, I made it all the way to Final Fantasy 10!

2014: This year was one hell of a rollercoaster. I re-enrolled into college, so I spent from February-May without writing a damn thing. June I got back into the groove, going back into writing. Sadly I couldn't adhere to anything resembling a schedule. The death of my family's dog hit us all hard, so I couldn't write much. On July I got back my passion for writing, and I managed to write 12 entries. But then August came around, and GamerGate happened. From September-November I was practically all about GamerGate. Anyway, I capped off 2014 with Disgaea Month, which in my opinion wasn't as great as Final Fantasy Month, but with final exams and all that, I think I managed to make some good entries.

2015: I like to think of this as the year I finally found my voice. A bit of a rough start, I'll admit, but I think by April of that year I was starting to REALLY make some good entries! This was the year where I did many blogs I had been wanting to do since Day 1: a serious analysis of Princess Peach, my own countdown of the top 11 villains in gaming, etc. To bring this glorious year to a close, I did Nintendo Origins Month, which was my first (BUT NOT THE LAST) foray into analysing the way a company evolved through the years.

2016: Boy, was this year rough. I started off in college, got my first job, then lost it. As far as entries go, I'm glad that this was my second most productive year. Of course we counted down the Top 11 best moments in Final Fantasy 7, and that's something I'm proud of. And of course we had Uncharted Month in December, which was fun for me to write. In many ways, a fine year for my blog, and a year of growth and development for me.

2017: The year I left for China. The year I thought for sure I would have to retire the blog. This was my LEAST productive year by far; we didn't even have a special month beyond Strange Men Month! Of course, I dedicate EVERY December to a special theme, and this year was no different. That said, this was my least productive year by far. Personally, I fear I may have "Jumped the Shark" in 2017; perhaps I needed that hiatus after all. But no matter how much I try, I can't keep away from writing on this blog; I love it too much.

Overall, I'm proud of this blog, and I do not regret at all that fateful August 2 of 2013, where by a dare I put pen to paper and wrote a blog entry on Pokemon. A blog entry I hope to one day rewrite with my new, more mature writing style!

The week I played Undertale

In August of 2016 I started my first job as a History teacher in a country school. It was a small school, housing grades 8-12, single building. By the time I was hired, though, the school was down to 65 kids total, all separated into five grades. On my second week working there the principal gave me a laptop computer, as per school policy. It was a crummy old thing, but it did come with Undertale.

It was a fun diversion for my lunch hours; after a busy morning, the game was like a godsend to me. In the morning I worked with the grade 9's, 11's, and 12's. Doing three grades in one day is NOT easy; imagine doing five a day EVERY DAY! And the grade 8's were THE WORST!

Anyway, I had Undertale. Every day after I ate my lunch I'd go to my classroom, boot up the game, and play it until ten minutes before class. After I clocked in I'd return to my classroom, put the comp away, and teach my classes.

I could tell whoever had the computer last had already played the game; when I fell down to the Underworld Flowey greeted me like he had seen me before. However, the previous owner certainly did not go the Genocie Route, as far as I could tell. Personally, I didn't make it very far; only as far as the Ice town and to Papyrus' boss fight.

Why didn't I got further? It's not that I dropped the game by choice; my job ended the next week. The school was losing kids daily; when once there were 65 kids, there were only 40. Then 35. On my last day of class, there were only 18 kids total. The school was closed down completely. My last two days were spent clearing up the classroom (wasn't mine anymore), stacking the books away. That was August 2016.

The first time I played Undertale I was trying to relax my mind for the busy afternoon that awaited me. The last time I played Undertale I was trying to keep my cool as my very first job was ending. Undertale will always remind me of that school, of those wonderful children, and that beautiful school that got closed down.

Why Didn't Pokemon Die Off?

In the year 1999, Pokemon was literally EVERYWHERE. Toys, card games, TV shows, a movie in theatres, TIME magazine's cover, the works. Exasperated parents kept telling themselves "this will fade away with time" and prepared their boxes to store away all the Pokemon memorabilia they spent ungodly amounts of hard earned money on for their kids. Nineteen years later, while not to the same extent as it was in the 90's, Pokemon is STILL huge. What happened?

The Golden Age of the JRPG

Often we RPG afficionados make reference to this "golden age" of the Japanese Role Playing Game, a time where JRPG's were at their peak in terms of quality. A time where, it seemed, EVERY JRPG was a hit and a guaranteed future classic. But when was this time, and what exactly made it so special?

Announcement- December is PlayStation Month

So my life is pretty hectic right now; I'm not in a good position career wise, and LOTS more issues I cannot share publicly, sorry. That's why updates have been non-existent lately. However, I'm not dead, and neither is this blog. 

I'm announcing that this December will be PlayStation Month. All month long we'll be looking at that highly celebrated family of consoles: the PlayStation. We'll be analyzing their impact on gaming culture, their highs and lows, and we'll be counting their Top 5 MUST-HAVE titles! The tentative schedule is as follows:

December 8: PlayStation 1

December 15: PlayStation 2

December 22: PlayStation 3

December 29: PlayStation 4

I hope you'll be joining me this December!

Toys R Us- A Memory

So with Toys R Us, a store that specialized in toys (and which formed an integral part of millions of people's childhoods) closing yesterday, I've decided to share a memory from that store.

It was around the year 2000, during the second year of Pokemania. Toys R Us was the place to be if you were a Pokemon fanatic thanks to the Pokemon League, a special activity hosted every Saturday where kids could join up and play the Pokemon Trading Card Game. My little brother and I were obsessed with Pokemon, and we both played the TCG. We weren't good at it, though. We were also from a family with a tight budget, so our funds to buy the cards were limited. But we were happy.

One particular Saturday we were playing Pokemon TCG in Toys R Us. The place was PACKED! Every hallway there were kids playing Pokemon TCG, trading cards, battling it out with Pokemon cards. And from the speakers one could listen to the Pokemon anime soundtrack 2 B A Master. It was great.

One November evening of that same year, as we were out shopping at Toys R Us for my little brother's birthday gift, I caught sight of a game. Not just any game, but one I wanted for a while now: Pokemon Gold. I was SHOCKED! I begged my mom to buy it for me, and she obliged. We brought that game home, and I played the SHIT out of it! I remember my first Starter: Totodile. I've played and re-played Pokemon Gold hundreds of times, to the point it's become the second Pokemon game I've replayed the most. For the record, the Pokemon game I've replayed most is Pokemon Red.

And that's my memory.

The Top 5 Most Annoying Wild Pokemon to Catch

You read the title, you know what this is. We'll be going in ascending order, counting down to the most annoying wild Pokemon to catch, EVER!

6 Games I want Remade

You read the title, you know what this is. In no particular order...

Positive Effects of Gaming in my Life

You've read the title, you know what this is. Here are 5 POSITIVE effects gaming has had in my life:

In Memoriam- John Peter Bain

Born on 8-July-1985, passed away on 24-May-2018. A month and a half shy of his thirty fourth birthday. Better known by his online aliases: TheCynicalBrit, TotalBuiscuit. Tireless consumer advocate, highly respected game critic, loving husband. he will be dearly missed by his fans, his supporters, his audience, his friends and family.

The good die young.

If they Win- Stormcloacks of Skyrim

Two sides in a civil war: neither is truly good nor truly evil. Both have their strong points and their weaknesses, their heroes and their bastards. In Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, we are presented with a civil war of such magnitude between the Empire of Tamriel and the rebel Stormcloacks. Today though, no analysis of this situation; only a hypothetical look into the implications of a Stormcloack victory.

Act Raiser 2- A Word

When Act Raiser was released in 1990, it gained some minor fame for its blending of simplified Sim style gameplay with some passable and challenging platforming hack and slash. The game was good, but not great; it earned enough to spawn a sequel. That sequel, Act Raiser 2, has been derided as one of the most disappointing sequels in gaming. But was it? Is Act Raiser 2 a disappointment?

My Favorite Boss Fights of All Time

You've read the title, you know what this is. These are my top 5 Boss Battles of ALL TIME. Let's do this.

A Quick PSA

Yes, gaming is great fun and all, but here's a few tips from me to you so you can enjoy a healthy gaming life.

Between the Lines- Stardew Valley's Joja Company

There is no politics involved here; only the cold, hard facts. If you are pro-capitalism, this blog entry will challenge your beliefs and make you wholly uncomfortable. You have been warned.

Stardew Valley is one of the most relaxing games I'v ever played. It's bright, cheery, soothing, and of course, fun. But a bone of contention among the fandom, and gamers as a whole, lays in the game's criticism of capitalism via the Joja Company. The game presents Joja as a soulless, greedy megacorp that has its hands in the pockets of both government as well as local economies. I'm not here to argue that this presentation is fair; I'm here to present the real life inspirations for this company.

Final Fantasy 8- Five Points of Brilliance

When it came out, Final Fantasy 8 was quickly (and unfairly) unfavorably compared to its predecessor, Final Fantasy 7. Of course following what many hailed as the greatest game of all time is no easy task, and wether FF8 is as good as FF7 is up for debate. There is no question that FF8 is fundamentally flawed, and many of these flaws bring the game down considerably. But I have compiled a short list of five elements that underscore the BRILLIANCE of FF8, and why it deserves to be hailed as one of the finest RPG's of AT LEAST the PS1 era.

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim- A Smoking Gun! Saadia vs the Alik'r

In Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim there is a side quest that, on its surface, seems to employ the old trope of He Said She Said; you don't know who's telling you the truth, and yet you still have to pick a side. Neutrality is no option. I speak of the side quest In My Time of Need, a sidequest that, until recently, had no clear cut answer. But I have found in  game what I believe to be the "smoking gun" that can put to rest this issue once and for all.

Games I've Dropped

In my life I have played many, many, MANY games. I've beaten some, and some I've yet to beat. Some games, however, I have abandoned either due to extreme boredom or due to high inconvenience. This is a short list of five games I've dropped, and why.

Remembering Monster Rancher

Monster Rancher was a series of games with a simple premise: raising monsters and battling them. However, the series had a gimmick that was nothing short of BRILLIANT; monsters were obtained by reading REAL LIFE CD's you owned on the Playstation. On paper it sound silly, and in fact this day and age it sounds sillier. But back in the late 90's-early 2000's, this idea was BRILLIANT.

Trope Analysis- Doomed Hometown

The Doomed Hometown is a story element, or Trope, wherein the destruction of a city or town that the hero is attached to one way or another serves as the catalyst to begin or otherwise inform the Hero's Journey. The Trope can be done well just as it can be done TERRIBLY, no matter the medium. This includes video games, of course. But what is it about the Trope that makes it so pervasive? Today, we talk about this.

Should a Game Developer's Political Stance Affect how you Enjoy their Work?

You've read the title, and now I'm here to give you the answer to that question. However, the answer may be difficult for you to hear, so be forewarned. That answer is: it depends on you.

Announcement

So I haven't blogged in a while. Sorry about that, I was on vacation. Anyway, I'm back and ready to talk games again!

This year promises to be very busy for me, so you'll see a decrease in content, much like during 2017. However, you can be sure I'll strive to bring you no less than four blogs per month, with of course December being a themed month. This December's theme hasn't been decided yet, and the abject failure of Strange Men Month has left me cautious about what I should talk about. However, I AM dedicating energy to it, no worries!

I've been playing some old school games lately, and I'm hooked on this old classic called Tales of Phantasia. You can expect a character analysis and a story analysis of this game this year! I also want to start doing trope analyses, where I analyze certain video game tropes, how they work, WHY they work, and which games use them properly. In particular I am interested in the Doomed Hometown trope, wherein the destruction of the main hero's home town propels said hero on their quest.

Character analyses are a must, of course. No planned characters yet, but I'm still looking. 

Finally, I want to make a blog entry on what I think would make a great Fallout 5. I'm thinking that blog will be released around...September? Probably. Plenty to look forward to this year!

RPG: Good Idea, Bad Idea

The following is a list of things that RPG's typically do, giving a contrast of doing it well (Good Idea) versus doing it badly (Bad Idea). I will also give examples of games that apply the Good or Bad ideas. On with the list!

My Top 5 RPG Franchises (that are NOT Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest)

Yup, you've read the title, you know what you're getting. However, before we start, here's a few rules:

1. A franchise MUST have more than one game in the series, excluding remakes.
2. SRPG's and Action RPG's are NOT permitted, so no Kingdom Hearts, Disgaea, etc.
3. Eastern and Western RPG's ARE permitted.
4. Spiritual trilogies DO NOT COUNT, so no Soul Blazer-Illusion of Gaia-Terranigma!

Let's begin!

My Top 5 Favorite Consoles

Welp, you've read the title, so you know what you're getting. Here's my list!

2017 in Review- Gaming

It's been...rough. I will not mince words, 2017 has NOT been a good year. And I mean in general. Still, it pays to look back at 2017 and see the good, the bad, and the just plain UGLY. Let's begin...