Anyone get The Old Republic yet? Thoughts on it if you have? Going to get it if you haven't?

Yeah I don't know how many people will see this, but I needed to get the news out somehow. I just downloaded and played To the Moon, an interactive story, this morning. WOW!! Only word I can use to describe it. I was laughing out loud for much of the dialogue and I even shed a tear at the end of this beautiful story. The game is simply a masterpiece of storytelling in my humble opinion. The game only lasts about 4 hours, but it only costs $12 US. That is like going to the movies, but actually interacting with it for double the time. Plus you can go back for more if you want. The game can be found reviewed here on GS, but I feel they only give it a 8/10 because of the lack of gameplay elements. I feel it deserves at least a 9 since it isn't exactly meant to focus on the gameplay. The game is all about the story, featuring outstanding dialogue that either rings true to real world views and dilemmas or makes you laugh, as well as the outstanding soundtrack. The GS review has a link to the website where it can be found, but I will also include it here. The site also has a 1 hour free trial if you want to try it before you buy it. This tale is totally worth the money, however, and why not spend a few bucks in support of the indie game maker?

Yeah so I haven't blogged inn a very very long time so I figured I would throw one together since it's my birthday today! I am a solid 24 years old. Woo! I hope everyone is well.

Hey all. Just beat Uncharted 2. It was pretty freakin' sweet. Can't wait for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood to come out. School sucks, but I'm doing very well. I'm eating Reese's Pieces. A better blog is on the way and will arrive this weekend.

...that I love NIS and Gust. They really get it right. I am playing Atelier Iris for the first time and am loving it. There is just something about their games that makes me all happy-go-lucky (I'm usually like that anyways but the games don't hurt :P ). Ar Tonelico was the same way. The games definitely only appeal to a more anime-oriented crowd, but the humor, music, and just overall light-heartedness of each game just makes it such a pleasure to play. Don't get me wrong, I love a good dark story as much as the next guy (Heavy Rain and Dragon Age: Origins come to mind as the most recent ones I've played). All I'm saying is as a change in pace from all the modern Final Fantasies (except for maybe IX), the Bethesda games, and the shooters of today it's nice to pick up a game that just makes you laugh and smile. :D

This blog has been 5 months in the making. My life is now for the most part in order, so I finally had the time to throw this list and a video together. I know the vid is pretty bad (since I use Windows Video Maker it can only be bad), but I will put more time into the FFIX one and hopefully it will look and sound better.

I find it very easy to point out problems with the FF8 soundtrack. It uses the Eyes on Me and Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec themes far too much. Not that these themes are bad, but it almost seems like Uematsu lost originality for this soundtrack. Don't get me wrong, I like the soundtrack as a whole, but it lacks the standout songs that drive the other soundtracks in the series.

#10 (tie) - The Mission & The Landing - These tracks are very similar to each other. Solid buildup at the beginning and good use of tempo to show urgency. Sweet songs.

#9 - Maybe I'm a Lion - I love and hate this song. It really isn't original or anything. It just sounds cool.

#8 - Fisherman's Horizon - I almost didn't put this song on my list, but it has grown quite a bit on me. Hearing the piano collections version didn't hurt either. A nice melody that fits the locale beautifully.

#7 - Love Grows - Even though I said the Eyes on Me theme was overused, I still like it. I think I like this version of it the best. It was either this one or Julia which I like a lot also.

#6 - Truth - Building off of the last song, this is my favorite version of the whole harpsichord, Latin-like chanting theme. Overall I think these themes fit the environment of the game very well.

#5 - The Castle - This is one of my favorite dungeon themes throughout the series. It sets the mood through the use of one of the game's themes which is amazing. There are like 5 different awesome parts throughout this song.

#4 - Waltz for the Moon - I didn't want to put this song in here. I feel that the scene i which this song appears really makes the song memorable. I don't care though. Still a sweet part of the game.

#3 - The Extreme - A great boss battle track. Not the best in the series by any means, but definitely the best in this game.

#2 - Liberi Fatali - Had to have this song in here too. Another one really made by the scene it appears in, but still freakin sweet.

#1 - Man with the Machine Gun - In my opinion the best standard battle theme in the series. Gets repetitive really quick, but still reminds me of a cool futuristic jungle beat.

FF8 overall is a very solid soundtrack, especially in the battle theme department. I would like it much better though if it had more variety and a few tracks that were more memorable like Aerith's theme and the main theme from FF7 and a few from FF9 that I'll cover next time. 'til then, cya later!

Yep, so I have been infected by this new strain of the tag virus. Kylts failed to wash his hands after he blogged and got his tag all over me. Oh well...I already did the whole 10 things blog last time so I'll do the shuffle music one this time. Enjoy the insanity!

The Shuffle tagg thingy tagg thing

1. Put Your iTunes (or other music player) on Shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. You must write down the name of the song no matter how silly it sounds!
4. Put any comments in brackets after the song name.
5. Tag at least 10 friends. Anyone tagged has to do the same, because fun pointlessness spreads like a virus.

iPod > Songs > All Songs > Shuffle.... right let's go.

1. If someone says, "Is this okay?" You say

All Alone - Gorillaz (Probably because I told her the truth :P )

2. How would you describe yourself?

Broken - Seether ( Yeah I need to be fixed )

3. What do you like in a guy/girl?

Forgot About Dre - Dr. Dre ft. Eminem ( She must have forgotten about Dre years ago )

4. How do you feel today?

Baby Come Back - Hall & Oates ( My baby left me and I have yet to get over...oh wait, I'm good now! )

5. What is your life's purpose?

Where It's At - Beck ( I've been searching my whole life but I still can't find it!)

6. What is your motto?

Just What I Needed - The Cars ( I am just always satisfied )

7. What do your friends think of you?

You're Beautiful - James Blunt ( Yep that's about right:lol: )

8. What do you think of your parents?

Blurry - Puddle of Mudd ( Well, sometimes they make me mad but I love them! :P )

9. What do you think about very often?

Bleeding Love - Boyce Avenue ( Again with the loss of my girl :cry: )

10. What is 2 + 2?

When A Man Loves A Woman - Michael Bolton ( I thought that was 1 + 1 )

11. What do you think of your best friend?

Wings of a Butterfly - H.I.M. ( I got nothin for this one )

12. What do you think of the person you like?

Meant to Live - Switchfoot ( Yes, she is meant to live :P )

13. What is your life story?

Anyone Else But You - Michael Cera & Ellen Page ( Well I'm single so no )

14. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Hello McFly - Relient K ( I want to go back to the future! :P )

15. What do you think of when you see the person you like?

Anna Molly - Incubus ( That's her name...or maybe my love is an anomaly? )

16. What will you dance to at your wedding?

No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand ( Haha alright )

17. What will they play at your funeral?

Where is the Love - Black Eyed Peas ( :P )

18. What is your hobby/interest?

Dota - Bass Hunter ( Actually can't say I ever played it:D )

19. What is your biggest fear?

Breakdown - Breaking Benjamin ( :lol: )

20. What is your biggest secret?

Save Tonight - Eagle Eye Cherry ( Yep, I'm saving it and not telling it to anyone else! )

21. What do you think of your friends?

Wish You Were Here - Incubus ( I do, they are all home for the summer :cry: )

There you have it! I might tag some people or I might not since most people seem to hate getting tagged. Peace out homies!

WOO!! I'm now a whopping 23 years old! Hugs and baked goods for everyone!!

:D

...ME!

Yeah, so I finally got around to beating Heavy Rain this weekend and getting the platinum trophy (my first...YAY! :P ). The game is just beautiful. It definitely sets the standard for realism, not just for graphics but for pure emotion. It is so easy to become attached to the characters of the game because they are so real and not stereotypical (with the exception of maybe Blake who I think is just plain annoying). Unfortunately I don't think I'll be revisiting it unless I play through it with my mom (she started it with me, but we ran out of time to play together). Even with all the different choices and outcomes, replayability isn't that high unfortunately since the emphasis on the game is emotion and plot which really can't be replicated. Oh well...still an outstanding game in my opinion which I would give a 9.5/10. Has anyone played Indigo Prophecy? I'm thinking about getting it, but if it is just basically a cheaper, older version of Heavy Rain then I might pass. Anyone know?

Also my next PS3 venture will be Assassin's Creed II as I continue my never ending quest to catch up with the rest of the gaming community. As some of you I'm sure are aware I usually have another game going at the same time as the more current game. I turn to you all to pick which game I will be playing for either PS2 or PSX. I have started games in Persona 3 and Persona 4, but since I am a perfectionist I need to max all social links which takes a long time and lots of frustration. I'll be putting these off until I have more free time. I would love if you would all suggest one of the following games for me to start and the one with the most votes I'm gonna go with (a tie will get another blog with another vote). Here are your/my options:

PS2 - Ar tonelico II; Atelier Iris; Magna Carta; Odin Sphere; Okami; Sakura Wars: So long, my love; Tales of Legendia; Valkyrie Profile 2

PSX - Alundra; Grandia; Koudelka; Parasite Eve II; SaGa Frontier; Wild ARMs

Pick one! :D

On a completely unrelated note, I watched all of MLK Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and read some other great speeches such as the Gettysburg Address and JFK's Inaugural Address. I must say that these are just plain powerful. Why hasn't there been a speech like these recently? Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, Charles de Gaulle, Gandhi...all these men (women have made some great ones too, but they are all basically feminist movement related and I haven't really read up on them) made lasting impressions over the past 100 years. There hasn't been a great speech given in the past 20 years (since Ronald Reagan was President and he gave a few really good ones). I guess I should be happy since this could just mean there hasn't been an event requiring a great rallying speech, but then again we are at war and have been for almost a decade now. There have also been disasters such as 9/11 and the recent oil spill as well as the economic recession. No one person has really been able to rally the people like the speeches of old did, and I think we are due to have someone come in and leave a lasting impression.

So I'm cruisin' along in Persona 4 through the strip club level just dominating everything that is thrown at me. I get to the 7th floor where the lights get turned off. Took me a solid 3 hours of leveling and persona finding to get up to that point. Some b!tch casts death on my main character so instant game over and 3 hours of my life gone never to be recovered again. If this was about 10 years ago I would need to buy new controllers since my old ones would have broken from the impact of colliding with the bricks of my fireplace.

You know what...being mature isn't any fun at all. I'm gonna do it anyways!