Blog, Blog, Bloq

 Recently, I have been inspired to return to the Horror-esque Shooter series, Gears of War. This inspiration came from watching Ray Narvaez Jr. stream the first two games with Andy Cortez on Twitch. So thanks for that. And to put it bluntly, the experience so far has been phenomenal. These games about the war on Sera and the horrors that have come out of it are truly ones that stand the test of time. With only minor issues in gameplay segments, the Gears of War franchise was able to be this standout franchise during its heyday because of the heart and emotion that exists within. And I think that all starts with the first game in the series.  So, I decided to play Gears of War: Ultimate Edition over the original because I have actually never played the Ultimate Edition, despite having access to it. While some elements may differ, it has also been over ten years since I touched the original. And from what I remember, the stuff that felt familiar was correct, and the changes made...

 It is time play to games fast once again. Awesome Games Done Quick is currently underway and there have already been some entertaining runs. Jet Set Radio Future Any% (Xbox) ran by Yomsa with 7thace and Twinkachu on commentary showcased some really sick movement and a secret boss that was only discovered in the past couple of years. The Cult Classic Horror game Clock Tower (Super Famicom) S Ending was ran by Ecdycis and portrayed a great use of Text Box and Item manipulation that allowed for many long sequences to be bypassed while getting the game's coveted secret ending. Not to mention the treat that was the Glitched D ending incentive that was utilizing the same tech in order to beat the game in under three minutes while showing how you can save all your friends in the process.  These are just two of the many runs that have already gone on through the first day and part of the second day. And that train is not gonna stop for the rest of the week either. While I love doing ...

 There are many things to enjoy when playing video games, but the one for players like me is finishing everything the game has to offer. This bar can mean different things depending on the console era as achievements or trophies serve as this benchmark for this specific hobby. Letting us know when the time is up on the experience. Even this simple joy does not extend into all the possible genres as we have our comforts and preferred playstyles. Ultimately, it depends on whether or not that game is for you or if the grind is truly worth it. I'll take you through some of my completions and my current fancy to give an idea of how this joy can shift into a chore the more you play it.  One of my favorite completions thus far has been for the original Xbox remaster, Voodoo Vince. A 3D platformer about a Voodoo doll in a New Orleans-esque setting trying to save his owner. The appeal of the game is the setting and the wise-cracking Vince. Nothing too crazy, but I played the game as a ...