This is not my article but I figured I share it. It sums up all the Nintendo games this year in a cute little bow.
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/2013-year-review-best-worst-nintendo-3ds-article-1.1550359
Here is the link.
I hope you enjoy it!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Friday, December 13, 2013
Video Game Characters: Part One!
Hello all!
I want to start an ongoing topic that I will cover over time. So this is Part One of my Characters segment where I talk about characters that I love and some that I hate. I won't get too philosophical with them because if I am being honest - I could talk about character personas for days. So I will keep these short and sweet! Hope you enjoy.
I am going to start with Mario!!!! Let's-a-go!
So, Mario is an amazing character. His plot is simple. He needs to save the princess - so he does. It's a great goal because it's easy to understand for kids and the game itself is complicated enough that it won't bore an adult. As Mario evolves throughout the games his story changes. In Super Mario Sunshine (which I feel is one of the more underrated games) he has to clean up Delphino because baby bowser impersonated him and destroyed the town. You do have to save the princess in the beginning but once you save her the game continues. Mario's constantly chasing Princess Peach gives the player a mission without burdening them with layers and layers of back story.
A character in the Mario series that I cannot stand is Toad. He's constantly getting into trouble and then Mario mistakes him for the princess all the time. The only series where he is actually useful is in Luigi's Mansion where, when you find him - he is a save point. Then you're thankful to have found Toad because that means that you can continue on and worry less about dying and losing data.
Link: Protector of Hyrule!
Link is a fantastic character because he demonstrates the wise hero. Link doesn't speak much in his series (I don't know if you've noticed..) and his tacit heroism is something that I greatly appreciate.
Frankly, I don't like the American dubbed voices as much as I like the Japanese ones. Titus? Sucked. Ichigo? Lame. I feel that Link wouldn't be as successful a character if he had some wacky American voice.
Link's silence also gives off a sense of mystery. All the characters in the series find him very mysterious and I think this mystery is the reason Link and Zelda still aren't a couple. If we imagine for a moment that Link is a real person - he is obviously very thoughtful and probably very timid or shy. This makes me think that he would have a difficult time with women because he wouldn't want to make her uncomfortable. So Link stays forever friend-zoned because he's too passive and willing to serve princess Zelda (even if it means life or death).
Paarthunax
This is a totally random character that I want to write about because - I feel this weird bond with him. So at the end of Skyrim you're supposed to kill Paarthunax for aiding in Alduin's regime. For whatever reason when I reached this mission I moved on and ignored it. I went back later - hoping to 100% the game and found myself with my bowstring drawn and unable to release the trigger. Why? I still don't know. This is what I think about the character.
For one, I don't trust The Blades. While I really want Max Von Sydow (Esbern) to like me (or he might exorcise me -- get it?) I don't feel connected to that group. Paarthunax's character to me seems resentful. He's the tragedy of Lucius Malfoy. He would do anything for his master, but when his master is gone he is left to face the crimes he committed. I feel like Paarthunax has redeeming qualities that make me like him. Also, I like talking to him because he has an awesome voice actor (who, oddly enough, is the voice of many many many Nintendo characters).
Do you have any characters that you love? Leave them in the comments below!
Also, tell me whether I should kill Paarthunax or not. I still can't decide.
See you next week and thanks for reading!!
I want to start an ongoing topic that I will cover over time. So this is Part One of my Characters segment where I talk about characters that I love and some that I hate. I won't get too philosophical with them because if I am being honest - I could talk about character personas for days. So I will keep these short and sweet! Hope you enjoy.
I am going to start with Mario!!!! Let's-a-go!
So, Mario is an amazing character. His plot is simple. He needs to save the princess - so he does. It's a great goal because it's easy to understand for kids and the game itself is complicated enough that it won't bore an adult. As Mario evolves throughout the games his story changes. In Super Mario Sunshine (which I feel is one of the more underrated games) he has to clean up Delphino because baby bowser impersonated him and destroyed the town. You do have to save the princess in the beginning but once you save her the game continues. Mario's constantly chasing Princess Peach gives the player a mission without burdening them with layers and layers of back story.
A character in the Mario series that I cannot stand is Toad. He's constantly getting into trouble and then Mario mistakes him for the princess all the time. The only series where he is actually useful is in Luigi's Mansion where, when you find him - he is a save point. Then you're thankful to have found Toad because that means that you can continue on and worry less about dying and losing data.
Link: Protector of Hyrule!
Link is a fantastic character because he demonstrates the wise hero. Link doesn't speak much in his series (I don't know if you've noticed..) and his tacit heroism is something that I greatly appreciate.
Frankly, I don't like the American dubbed voices as much as I like the Japanese ones. Titus? Sucked. Ichigo? Lame. I feel that Link wouldn't be as successful a character if he had some wacky American voice.
Link's silence also gives off a sense of mystery. All the characters in the series find him very mysterious and I think this mystery is the reason Link and Zelda still aren't a couple. If we imagine for a moment that Link is a real person - he is obviously very thoughtful and probably very timid or shy. This makes me think that he would have a difficult time with women because he wouldn't want to make her uncomfortable. So Link stays forever friend-zoned because he's too passive and willing to serve princess Zelda (even if it means life or death).
Paarthunax
This is a totally random character that I want to write about because - I feel this weird bond with him. So at the end of Skyrim you're supposed to kill Paarthunax for aiding in Alduin's regime. For whatever reason when I reached this mission I moved on and ignored it. I went back later - hoping to 100% the game and found myself with my bowstring drawn and unable to release the trigger. Why? I still don't know. This is what I think about the character.
For one, I don't trust The Blades. While I really want Max Von Sydow (Esbern) to like me (or he might exorcise me -- get it?) I don't feel connected to that group. Paarthunax's character to me seems resentful. He's the tragedy of Lucius Malfoy. He would do anything for his master, but when his master is gone he is left to face the crimes he committed. I feel like Paarthunax has redeeming qualities that make me like him. Also, I like talking to him because he has an awesome voice actor (who, oddly enough, is the voice of many many many Nintendo characters).
Do you have any characters that you love? Leave them in the comments below!
Also, tell me whether I should kill Paarthunax or not. I still can't decide.
See you next week and thanks for reading!!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Questionaire Answers - From me!
So I will be answering questions today from the questionnaire I made last week. :) I hope you enjoy!
1. How did YOU get started in gaming?
My cousin introduced me to Pokémon and Legend of Zelda when I was 6. I've been hooked ever since.
2. What is your favorite game?
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time.
3. What was the first game you ever played?
Probably Super Mario Bros. or Duck Hunt! I was pretty young.
4. Which console is your favorite? (Any console not just current ones)
N64 was probably my favorite console. Now my 3DS is a close second.
5. What was the first console you ever played on? (Pseudo-redundant.)
NES!
6. What game are you playing currently?
Pokémon X, Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds, and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon.
7. What's the next game you want to get OR what game that's coming out are you excited to get?
I want to finish Bioshock Infinite. And I want to buy and play Grand Theft Auto V.
8. What's your favorite movie/book turned into a game?
I think the Lego games are all pretty good games. I liked the Harry Potter ones a lot.
9. What's your favorite cutesy game?
Animal Crossing! Although I wouldn't say that this game is necessarily a childish game it definitely is very cute. :)
10. What is your favorite moment in a video game?
In the beginning of Bioshock Infinite when you are flying up into the sky and you're viewing Columbia and the giant statue. It took my breath away. It was definitely a beautiful moment.
11. What game (if any) has ever scared you so bad that you stopped playing. Whether for the day, week, or you never picked it back up again.
When Oblivion came out I began playing it and I was walking through a cave when the music started to get scary and all at once my torch went out and a zombie attacked me. I screamed and turned the game off without thinking. I didn't play it for a couple days after because I was so traumatized.
12. What game do you absolutely hate?
I did not like Super Mario Galaxy at all.
13. What game could you play over and over again?
Super Mario Sunshine, Skyrim, and Fable 2.
14. What games would you refer to a friend who has never played a video game? (Let's say that you want to leave this person with a positive response to video games.)
I think that Pokémon is definitely a good game for beginners but this decision definitely depends on the type of person.
I hope you enjoyed this questionnaire! Feel free to leave your responses in the comments! :)
1. How did YOU get started in gaming?
My cousin introduced me to Pokémon and Legend of Zelda when I was 6. I've been hooked ever since.
2. What is your favorite game?
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time.
3. What was the first game you ever played?
Probably Super Mario Bros. or Duck Hunt! I was pretty young.
4. Which console is your favorite? (Any console not just current ones)
N64 was probably my favorite console. Now my 3DS is a close second.
5. What was the first console you ever played on? (Pseudo-redundant.)
NES!
6. What game are you playing currently?
Pokémon X, Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds, and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon.
7. What's the next game you want to get OR what game that's coming out are you excited to get?
I want to finish Bioshock Infinite. And I want to buy and play Grand Theft Auto V.
8. What's your favorite movie/book turned into a game?
I think the Lego games are all pretty good games. I liked the Harry Potter ones a lot.
9. What's your favorite cutesy game?
Animal Crossing! Although I wouldn't say that this game is necessarily a childish game it definitely is very cute. :)
10. What is your favorite moment in a video game?
In the beginning of Bioshock Infinite when you are flying up into the sky and you're viewing Columbia and the giant statue. It took my breath away. It was definitely a beautiful moment.
11. What game (if any) has ever scared you so bad that you stopped playing. Whether for the day, week, or you never picked it back up again.
When Oblivion came out I began playing it and I was walking through a cave when the music started to get scary and all at once my torch went out and a zombie attacked me. I screamed and turned the game off without thinking. I didn't play it for a couple days after because I was so traumatized.
12. What game do you absolutely hate?
I did not like Super Mario Galaxy at all.
13. What game could you play over and over again?
Super Mario Sunshine, Skyrim, and Fable 2.
14. What games would you refer to a friend who has never played a video game? (Let's say that you want to leave this person with a positive response to video games.)
I think that Pokémon is definitely a good game for beginners but this decision definitely depends on the type of person.
I hope you enjoyed this questionnaire! Feel free to leave your responses in the comments! :)
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
This week - MINECRAFT!
Hello friends!
This week I wanted to cover Minecraft because I believe it to be one of the best games of all time. While I wouldn't say Minecraft is one my favorite games, I think that the idea of it is something worth noting. My first exposure to this game was on the Xbox 360 because I attempted to get it on my PC but my computer's graphic card wasn't good enough. When it came out on Xbox 360 I immediately got it - hearing only good things about it online.
This game is magnificant for all types of gamers. Whether you like to play hard survival mode, peaceful, or be creative - it's perfect. My friend and I always play hard survival mode. The perks of playing survival mode is that the game stays interesting. You're constantly fighting for your life and scavenging to survive. Sperlunking in survival mode is definitely an adventure as well. From fighting off zombies, avoiding creepers, and getting lost in strongholds - this type of play is not for the easily scared. Although - if you listen to my friend and I play all you would hear is me/him screaming "CREEEEEEEPEEEEER!!!!"
Taking on the Enderdragon in The End was awesome! We took a couple hours and prepped and then secured the stronghold so that if we died we could easily come back and still be prepared to fight. Our strategy to take down the dragon was simple. I would destroy the crystals while my friend distracted the dragon. In the end - what is really difficult about all of it is the Endermen lurking around. I can't tell you how many of them swarmed me when we first entered because I was stupid enough to look around.
Creative mode is also great because it gives you the freedom to build anything you can imagine. I have seen a ton of amazing builds online and wish I had the patience to do something like that (or the time).
Minecraft is definitely a great game for all ages. It's easy to play and doesn't have the violence that some parents would find abhorrant in video games.
Also, if you're maybe a little older (this recommendation is definitely not suited for young children) Rooster Teeth has a hilarious series of videos made by their group of guys called Achievement Hunters called "Let's Play Minecraft". They release videos every Friday of the 6 of them playing Minecraft Xbox (sometimes on the PC as well) and each time have different mission for the episode. I watch this series every week because they have a lot of great ideas on how to make the game fun and keep it interesting. They create simulation arcade games, have competitions, and races to build things. I will say though, the reason it isn't suitable for children is because, if you know Rooster Teeth, it is not family-friendly. These guys cuss and make dirty jokes constantly through these videos. It's funny to those who don't mind it and get the humor. To people like - my mom - it's disgusting and obscene.
Anyways, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and I will see you next week!
Make sure to subscribe or follow.
Also, if you want to follow me on Twitter my account is @katieishh
Feel free to tweet me or comment below. <3
This week I wanted to cover Minecraft because I believe it to be one of the best games of all time. While I wouldn't say Minecraft is one my favorite games, I think that the idea of it is something worth noting. My first exposure to this game was on the Xbox 360 because I attempted to get it on my PC but my computer's graphic card wasn't good enough. When it came out on Xbox 360 I immediately got it - hearing only good things about it online.
This game is magnificant for all types of gamers. Whether you like to play hard survival mode, peaceful, or be creative - it's perfect. My friend and I always play hard survival mode. The perks of playing survival mode is that the game stays interesting. You're constantly fighting for your life and scavenging to survive. Sperlunking in survival mode is definitely an adventure as well. From fighting off zombies, avoiding creepers, and getting lost in strongholds - this type of play is not for the easily scared. Although - if you listen to my friend and I play all you would hear is me/him screaming "CREEEEEEEPEEEEER!!!!"
Taking on the Enderdragon in The End was awesome! We took a couple hours and prepped and then secured the stronghold so that if we died we could easily come back and still be prepared to fight. Our strategy to take down the dragon was simple. I would destroy the crystals while my friend distracted the dragon. In the end - what is really difficult about all of it is the Endermen lurking around. I can't tell you how many of them swarmed me when we first entered because I was stupid enough to look around.
Creative mode is also great because it gives you the freedom to build anything you can imagine. I have seen a ton of amazing builds online and wish I had the patience to do something like that (or the time).
Minecraft is definitely a great game for all ages. It's easy to play and doesn't have the violence that some parents would find abhorrant in video games.
Also, if you're maybe a little older (this recommendation is definitely not suited for young children) Rooster Teeth has a hilarious series of videos made by their group of guys called Achievement Hunters called "Let's Play Minecraft". They release videos every Friday of the 6 of them playing Minecraft Xbox (sometimes on the PC as well) and each time have different mission for the episode. I watch this series every week because they have a lot of great ideas on how to make the game fun and keep it interesting. They create simulation arcade games, have competitions, and races to build things. I will say though, the reason it isn't suitable for children is because, if you know Rooster Teeth, it is not family-friendly. These guys cuss and make dirty jokes constantly through these videos. It's funny to those who don't mind it and get the humor. To people like - my mom - it's disgusting and obscene.
Anyways, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and I will see you next week!
Make sure to subscribe or follow.
Also, if you want to follow me on Twitter my account is @katieishh
Feel free to tweet me or comment below. <3
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