Ruined Glory

FIVE of my FAVOURITE games so far this year. Bioshock Infinite,...

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:52:10 -0400

FIVE of my FAVOURITE games so far this year. Bioshock Infinite, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, Fire Emblem Awakening & the unexpected God of War: Ascension.

There’s other good games too but y’know. This is what it is so far.

FIVE GAMES I’m super excited for this year. Pokemon X/Y,...

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:45:00 -0400

FIVE GAMES I’m super excited for this year. Pokemon X/Y, The Last Of Us, Beyond: Two Souls, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn & The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past 2 ( at least that’s what it’s being called right now. )

My body is ready.

I’m DYING

Wed, 22 May 2013 01:00:53 -0400

I’m DYING

Photo

Wed, 22 May 2013 00:50:14 -0400

brianmichaelbendis: Spider-Man by John Romita Jr.

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:45:24 -0400

brianmichaelbendis:

Spider-Man by John Romita Jr.

MOVIE REVIEW: STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:16:17 -0400

“Science fiction done right.”

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is the next instalment in the blockbuster franchise starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana & Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s a film that takes what has been set before & further establishes itself as the best thing to happen to Star Trek in a very long time.

INTO DARKNESS without getting too much into the story is all about Kirk, Spock & the crew of the USS Enterprise going on a manhunt across the galaxy to obtain a high valued individual. To compare it accurately this second film felt very much like The Empire Strikes Back of Star Trek in feeling. It’s darker, the stakes are higher & the characters are naturally progressed in logical ways.

The dynamic between Kirk & Spock also feels like it’s been organically evolving since we’ve last seen the two brilliant captains butt heads. The integral message, at least for me, was a story about legacy & what an individual is willing to do to protect those they love. It’s all about family which could be interpreted as the crew of the Enterprise & I loved the execution overall.

The first film was very much an origin story that co-existed amongst the detailed mythos of the Star Trek legacy & this film further enhances that notion to full effect. It’s clever how Abrams & friends connected this film to the original storyline while never feeling stupid or downright ridiculous. The film works for longtime fans & newcomers as well which is a smart way to go with a film of this scope.

But a story is only as good as the villain, in this case? That couldn’t be more true.

The villain of this story is played by Benedict Cumberbatch & I really won’t go too much into detail due to his character being the most interesting of the batch. Let’s just say he’s a superhuman who really wants to get vengeance on Star Fleet, that’s all you should know going in. What gets revealed was what I thought was going to happen but it didn’t detract from his character one bit, he’s badass.

This film also features far more fan service then the first film with the inclusions of some key integral players to the Star Trek legacy. One of my problems with the film is the plot, while good, is a bit predictable or at least it was for me. But it doesn’t detract from this storyline at all. My other slight problem is the inclusion of Alice Eve as Dr.Carol Marcus, she kinda felt forced into the story. Also this film features ANOTHER “Villain gets captured but it’s all apart of his plan” scenario scheme. Just like The Dark Knight, Skyfall & The Avengers, but I’m just saying.

I also dig this film ‘cause it felt like Mass Effect 2 in someways or maybe that’s just me.

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS is a satisfying & entertaining voyage into the wonderful re-imagining of the STAR TREK mythos. The dynamic between Kirk & Spock, themes of legacy & family as well as Benedict Cumberbatch as the mysterious villain made for one hell of a flick.

It’s the kind of film that anyone can enjoy & I highly suggest you go check it out. It’s full of action, drama & a few moments that’ll definitely tug at your emotional heartstrings. Overall, INTO DARKNESS is science fiction done right.

PROS

Satisfying sequel
Kirk, Spock & Cumberbatch’s mysterious villain steal the show
Integral additions of the mythos = better everything
Emotionally engaging & feels like natural progression
Special effects & action scenes are sweet

CONS

Alice Eve’s character felt a bit underdeveloped
Plot is a bit predictable ( At least I found it to be )
“Villain wants to get caught scheme” has been done to death

By: MILAN JEGENJAN
Email: AscendancyMilan@hotmail.com

as a child i knew sumthin was up wit this scene

Thu, 16 May 2013 03:05:38 -0400

as a child i knew sumthin was up wit this scene

I finally decided to cave in & buy MONSTER HUNTER 3 ULTIMATE...

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:44:35 -0400

I finally decided to cave in & buy MONSTER HUNTER 3 ULTIMATE for the NINTENDO 3DS. I thought it would be a game that would be completely unplayable by yourself but then I remembered, oh yeah! I beat motherfuckin’ Demon’s & Dark Souls!

So far it’s a deeply engaging & rewarding experience. Hunting these giant monsters & having to learn their body language in order to determine if I’m winning is awesome. There isn’t a feeling like it when you’re going toe to toe with some giant creature & you’re punishing one another in a test of endurance.

So far I’d say it’s one of my favourite 3DS games & one of the best games I’ve played all year, right up there with Bioshock Infinite & Fire Emblem Awakening & of course Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. It’s just plain fun overall.

My only gripe is no multiplayer online but I hope next years Monster Hunter 4 will remedy this but until then I think my gaming addiction will be satisfied with this game alone. I fucking love the Switch Axe, it’s basically a giant axe that you can alter into a gigantic sword mid swing which allows different combat styles & elemental properties to be used against your foes.

Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate is a great game for 3DS owners, if you’re looking for a challenge & a refreshing change of pace, look no further than this. Just be prepared to sink some time into this one, it’s a great game.

TOP 5 DLC GAMES

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:48:20 -0400

This is my list of the TOP 5 Downloadable Content for various videogames. Enjoy!

5. inFamous 2: Festival of Blood

First up is the DLC expansion for one of my favorite games of the HD generation, inFamous 2. Festival of Blood takes place in an alternate storyline where Cole faces off against Bloody Mary & her legion of vampires.

After Cole is bitten & is told he must kill Bloody Mary before dawn in order to save his own soul or suffer for the rest of eternity, the fun begins. With a host of new powers ranging from turning into bats or new weapons like the cross this DLC focuses on taking the formula & enhancing it to new heights.

Festival of Blood is amazing, fun & most of all memorable. If you’re a Playstation 3 owner or are looking for more inFamous 2, I don’t blame you, then look no further than this. You’re a freaking vampire that controls electricity! Come on!

4. The Elder Scrolls IV: The Shivering Isles

The Shivering Isles is the best expansion for one of the best games in the RPG genre, Oblivion. In this DLC the player is taken away from Tamirel & put in the realm of the Daedric Prince of Madness, Sheogorath.

In this DLC you play the protege to Sheogorath & are tasked with helping the mad lord in defeating the Daedric Prince of Order. The Shivering Isles is basically if The Elder Scrolls & Alice in Wonderland got mixed into one amazing experience.

Throw in new environments, armours, quests, enemies, story lines, characters & you’ve got a winning combination for hours of fun. Really what you’re getting is just more Elder Scrolls & that’s never a bad thing. Any fan of RPG’s must play this DLC, it’s just that well made.

3. Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker

Next up is arguably the best DLC expansion the Mass Effect series has ever had, Lair of the Shadow Broker. This DLC not only expands one of the greatest videogames of all time but it finally allows players to uncover the secrets surrounding the mysterious Shadow Broker as well.

Throw in some amazing chasing sequences through futuristic space cities, a badass boss battle & the return of the iconic fan favourite Liara T’Soni & you’ve got the recipe for an amazing experience.

Not only is the storyline compelling but the pay off at the end of it is one of the greatest twists in Mass Effect’s history. This is quality storytelling & anyone who loves Mass Effect is obligated to play this, it’s fantastic.

2. Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare

Red Dead Redemption stands as the pivotal experience for open world games in the HD generation. It’s beautiful environments, wonderful cast of characters & satisfying storyline made this game one of the best videogames I’ve ever played.

So what could make a masterful game even better? Zombies. A shit ton of zombies.

Undead Nightmare works because it takes John Marston & throws him into a much more comedic role while fending off hordes of ravenous zombies in the good ‘ol Wild West. The storyline while not amazing is still fun, memorable & ties in well with the setting of this world while still realizing it’s potential to be a big parody of itself.

There’s also bounty quests to find missing persons as well as being able to hunt & ride the four horses of the apocalypse. You can also wrangle Sasquatch’s like their sheep & that’s awesome. Undead Nightmare is plain fun & acts a refreshing yet respectable addition to a beautiful game. Play it.

1. Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad Of Gay Tony

Instead of saying “Episodes from Liberty City” which would entail The Lost & Damned as well I decided to focus solely on The Ballad Of Gay Tony. What makes The Ballad work so well is that it takes a pre-existing world, in this case the absolute breathtaking Liberty City, & injects a new hero with a cast of wonderful characters & just soars.

The main character is Luis Lopez, a Dominican bodyguard who works for “Gay” Tony Prince, a club owner of popular straight & gay clubs across Liberty City. Luis stands as one of my favorite characters in the GTA mythos by being both believable, charming, badass & overall efficient with his particular skill set.

From a gameplay perspective The Ballad Of Gay Tony utilizes everything that makes GTAIV great & expands them into ridiculous mission structures that feel more like San Andreas than anything else. You’ll parachute out of burning buildings, hijack subway cars, manage clubs, fight in underground circuits, perform drug deals & blow a ton of shit up.

This is Rockstar Games firing on all cylinders from beginning to end by offering the absolute pinnacle of DLC for videogames. While everything else on this list is great & each offers amazing experiences, The Ballad Of Gay Tony stands as not only my favourite DLC expansion but quite possibly my favourite campaign in a Grand Theft Auto game.

I love Luis Lopez as a character, I love Gay Tony, I love every character that brings this ridiculous world to life but keeps itself grounded enough to stay true to the GTA name. It’s stuff like this that reminds me why I love videogames & it’s DLC’s like this that I have no problem forking extra cash over to enjoy in order to further the already amazing experience that is Grand Theft Auto IV.

The Ballad Of Gay Tony sings like nothing else & that’s why it’s my favourite DLC for any game, at least so far. Play it & love it. I hope you enjoyed my list & follow if you’d like to see more articles such as this one.

Thank you! Seriously play The Ballad Of Gay Tony.

By: Milan Jegenjan

Email: AscendancyMilan@hotmail.com

MOVIE REVIEW: IRONMAN 3

Fri, 03 May 2013 03:52:00 -0400

“A polarizing yet entertaining experience.”

IRONMAN 3 has me divided to say the least. One part of me loves the film for embracing Tony Stark & creating a superior film to the forgettable IRONMAN 2. On the other hand there’s certain liberties that are taken with the plot that near ruined the entire experience for me.

I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say IRONMAN 3 is a polarizing yet entertaining experience.

The flick takes place after the events of THE AVENGERS. After saving New York, falling through a wormhole & eating shwarma with a thunder god, Tony is a bit rattled after all. The film displays a darker & more complicated Tony Stark but balances it surprisingly well with the witty narcissistic humor that has become a integral part of the franchise.

The entire feel of the film rides from being ultra serious to laughably comedic in a span of seconds. This helps the film from being too brooding or moody but it also hurts it at times with the humor becoming almost too forced as well. Whereas the first IRONMAN was very much about a man redeeming himself due to his regrets, IRONMAN 3 is much more about the fear of human advancement.

It’s by no means a bad film, in fact I enjoyed the film quite a bit. I found the film to be light years ahead of IRONMAN 2 in every aspect. My worries seemed to be erased that IRONMAN 3 wouldn’t deliver & I eased into my seat eagerly anticipating my fanboy dream of Tony facing The Mandarin.

Without spoiling anything for those who haven’t seen the film, The Mandarin was a colossal disappointment. It was so infuriating that I almost felt like walking out of the theater to put it politely. The portrayal of The Mandarin in this film left me with the most bitter of bitter tastes, the only thing worse than this was Deadpool in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

It’s such a disservice & disrespectful reveal of The Mandarin that it made the rest of the film almost difficult to watch after it. I feel as if people who know the mythos of Ironman & The Mandarin will be disappointed beyond belief, but if you are not a comic fan or know nothing you’ll probably accept it.

The Mandarin is supposed to be the Joker to Ironman’s Batman basically. It’s the great battle between science & free thinking vs mysticism & religion, a clash of ideologies that makes for wonderful storytelling. The Mandarin however is horrible, laughable, pathetic & downright aggravating. It’s the single moment in this film where the entire audience will either go of two ways.

It will either ruin the film for you or you won’t care/know & you’ll roll with it.

As for the rest of the cast, it’s pretty solid across the board. Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Pots is great, Don Cheadle as Rhodes/War Machine is fine if a little under-utilized. The other major character is Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian.

Killian is a technological genius that has reached prominence through the use of the technological virus known as Extremis. To sum it up easily, Extremis is the super soldier solution to the weakness of humanity. It’s a man made virus that attacks the brains repair centers & recreates the human body into a bio-organic supercomputer capable of wonderful or terrible things.

It’s also one of the best IRONMAN stories ever written & I’m glad it was used as the source material for the film, even if it’s not fully utilized to it’s potential. Pearce plays the part he’s given to full effect even if there are some liberties & reveals that I’m not quite fond of in the end either.

I just feel as if IRONMAN 3 is going to be the film that will divide fans into two separate groups. It’s a film that shines brilliantly with ease but harms it’s own integrity for no other reasons then to add twists that don’t need to exist.

At least the final battle is kinda cool.

IRONMAN 3 is a polarizing experience that shines brilliantly while embracing it’s comedic roots in order to deliver a crowd pleasing performance. The action, special effects & clever nods to it’s post-Avengers situation are great which in turn makes for a fun movie.

But the colossal disappointment of The Mandarin will either ruin the entire film for fans of the comics or be remembered as a putrid blight on a otherwise good movie. It’s still not better then the first IRONMAN, but it definitely stands above the forgettable IRONMAN 2.

To sum up IRONMAN 3 it’s as if a master class chef cooked you an amazing meal but ended up sneezing into the food. It’s still great food but you can’t help but feel let down that he well sneezed in it. You’ll see what I mean.

But it’s still a good movie that inevitably shoots itself in the foot for no reason other than to offer a pointless plot twist. So take that with a grain of salt.

PROS

Robert Downey Jr.
Great special effects & action sequences
Tons of variety in the IRONMAN suit department
Comedic yet serious
Great post credits scene

CONS

The Mandarin ( In every sense )
Comedy at times feels forced
Rhodes/Iron Patriot under-utilized
Extremis could’ve been used better
Better than IRONMAN 2, but still can’t beat IRONMAN
Polarizing experience that will divide fans

By: MILAN JEGENJAN
Email: AscendancyMilan@hotmail.com

the-absolute-best-gifs: This post has been featured on a...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:24:23 -0400

the-absolute-best-gifs:

This post has been featured on a 1000notes.com blog.

cas-get-into-my-ass: “Leo had slammed his hand on the...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:14:36 -0400

cas-get-into-my-ass:

“Leo had slammed his hand on the table countless times and he moved his hand further and he crushed a crystal cordial glass. Blood was dripping down his hand. He never broke character. He kept going. He was in such a zone. It was very intense. He required stitches.”

WHERE

IS

HIS

OSCAR

Photo

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:13:32 -0400

the-absolute-funniest-posts: This post has been featured on...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:13:07 -0400

the-absolute-funniest-posts:

This post has been featured on a 1000notes.com blog.

Lately I don’t feel like I’m apart of anyone’s lives who are close to me. I feel...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 01:04:12 -0400

Lately I don’t feel like I’m apart of anyone’s lives who are close to me. I feel like I’m drifting farther away every single day & what seemed to start as a paranoia is becoming a painful reality. I’m not saying it’s everyone’s fault & I’m not to be blamed, I’m not that good of a person to begin with. I find more solace in fiction than anything else around me, but I’ve always been that way.

I keep being told by those who’ve experienced more of life that I’m just in a stage of my “life” where you begin to define who you’ll be for the remainder of your existence. I just feel like I’m defined to exist far away from anyone else. I want to be the outgoing guy that I used to be known for but as time goes on I become far more secluded then I’d like to admit.

But that’s the story of me so far it seems. I guess if you push hard enough, the world will eventually just push you back. It seems to come down to that one question I always ask myself these days. Should I just embrace that I’m different now & I don’t belong here anymore? I doubt it would even change much anyways. Friendship has always been a thing that takes two to keep it going.

But lately it just doesn’t feel worth it anymore. I’m lost & I feel far away, I hate this feeling. There’s only a few people that I feel are actually people I consider friends beyond the safety net of convincing myself otherwise. I know I have a mind that is full of imagination, which probably explains why when I sleep it feels like days pass by as I live lives of people that I write about. I just don’t fit into whatever it was I had to begin with.

The only things that seem to bring me sanity these days are the same things that have sustained my absolute infinite appetite for imagination. Videogames, comic books, movies & a select few tv shows are some of the best things I look forward to. I’m socially awkward, but I’m emotionally distant as well. I’m incredibly charismatic one moment but I can suddenly switch to completely distant in what seems like an instant.

I just need to embrace the fact that what I want in life is something that only I can make happen & that’s it. But when you can’t tell up from down, right to sideways—-where the hell do you start? Until I figure that question out, I’ll just continue to take solace in the one huge burning spark that I have & probably always will have. I don’t want to give up on the magic, the wonder & the amazing things that exist in this world.

I don’t want to accept that “this is all this will be” & just work a job I hate. Or go to school for something just to say something blandly reassuring whenever someone decides to stack their accomplishments against mine. I’m proud of the fact that I have a tool that never shuts off, never falters & never backs down. It probably explains why I’ve become increasingly distant over the years as well.

Imagination is my one true love in this world & the ability to express all the wonder that comes with that is the most beautiful thing I can aspire to become. But it all starts with a leap into the unknown. I just have to convince myself to stop wondering where I’ll land & take solace in the fact that as long as I’m trying it could end up becoming something greater than the sum of my parts.

Regardless of the outcome, I can’t run from what I am. I just have to be willing & that’s it. I have to prove to myself more than anyone else that I’m worth all the trouble.

That’s the largest hurdle that stands in front of me & it’s been plaguing me my entire life. I know I can do this.

I just know it.

Photo

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:47:46 -0400

OPINION: WHY LUCASARTS CLOSING DOWN IS BOTH GOOD & BAD FOR STAR WARS

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 19:13:22 -0400

“The dawn or end of a new age for STAR WARS.”

In case you hadn’t noticed, LUCASARTS has officially been shut down today halting all projects the studio had going for it. For those of you that just clenched your Star Wars Slurpee cups, yeah that means STAR WARS 1313 is on hold for now.

But instead of looking at this negatively for the STAR WARS brand, I’m gonna try to be optimistic & think of what’s possible now. Lemme’ explain.

I’m just going to say from the get go that I’m not a massive STAR WARS fan. I like the lore & I do enjoy some of the properties apart of this franchise so I’m really someone who can look at this all unbiased. Yes this means whatever was being worked on is probably sitting on someone’s desktop unfinished & abandoned like a half-completed Sudoku puzzle.

But where does this leave the STAR WARS brand? What can spawn from this? I decided to look at this departure as a way to breathe new life into the series, by allowing new developers to bring their own ideas in as well.

Here’s a few ideas I’ve bounced around in my skull in the last couple of minutes.

1. Telltale + Star Wars = Awesome

First up why not allow other developers the chance to delve into the galaxy far far away? Telltale games are well known for their effort to keep the point & click adventure genre alive & profitable in today’s markets. Recently Telltale even won Game of the Year awards for their efforts on The Walking Dead, a comic book published by Image Comics.

The Walking Dead as a episodic videogame ended up becoming one of the highest selling, critically acclaimed & casual inviting experiences to gamers worldwide. It didn’t matter if you had no idea what was going on in the show or comics, if you enjoyed zombies & character drama it was made for you.

“Riveting choices like shooting first, combing Wookies or kissing your siblings.”

Now imagine the similar structure of choosing what happens in your own story but set in the world of Star Wars. Hell, the concept of Jedi & Sith are practically tailor fitted to the gaming archetype that Telltale excels at. Choosing between helping someone in dire need in the middle of a laser fight or simply making the story based around a fugitive escaping The Empire’s galactic grip would be awesome.

Maybe basing the story on the inevtiable Episodes VII, VIII & IX, or in the same timeline, could reel new fans into the universe. The story could take place after the Skywalker saga & the fallout of The Empire losing to the Rebels & their furry companions. What is that world like? Telltale could do it.

“Fairytales + Telltale + Werewolf main character = Yes Please.”

As we speak Telltale has already announced another episodic title based on the FABLES comic book series too. This is a developer that is capable of adapting pre-existing lore into exciting & emotionally engaging ways. Not to mention Telltale has shown interest in delving into Star Wars already, it’s practically a no-brainer all around for everyone involved to do it.

But what other kind of genres/developers could work? Let’s keep going.

2. Guerilla Games + Star Wars = Action Heaven

My next thought is why not take an accomplished developer of a popular shooter franchise & give them the reigns to make a badass action game? Well that’s where a developer like Guerilla Games comes in, who are known for their blockbuster KILLZONE series.

Imagine the sexy graphics & pulse pounding action that Guerilla is known for but replace it with Stormtroopers & Droids. If Star Wars wants to get into the FPS genre again why not take one of the industries best & make them do it? Sure they’re busy with KILLZONE SHADOW FALL for PS4, but Lucas & Disney have money right?

“Look at that environment, now imagine it with Tons Tons with lasers strapped to their backs.”

If Guerilla is too busy with KILLZONE outsource development to Crytek, the guys behind the CRYSIS franchise. They’re already used to making games about cybernetic soldiers fighting giant aliens & other stuff across battlefields, so they could work too. Plus they could re-imagine the Stormtroopers & make them look way more badass then they are.

If not that give it to iD Software, the guys behind RAGE & DOOM. Really it’s a no brainer when it comes to this genre who they could use, there’s so many choices. I just want to dive out of a spaceship from orbit, land on a foreign landscape & start blasting dudes with laser guns. Imagine BATTLEFIELD in a sense sort of multiplayer with that Star Wars flare to it.

“A screenshot of STAR WARS: FIRST ASSAULT, a step in the right direction.”

Just the thought of you & your friends in customizable Stormtrooper armour getting into spaceships & blasting your foes to bits would be awesome. Imagine STARHAWK in a sense but with BATTLEFIELD as well. That would be a great Star Wars game, it makes perfect sense.

Let’s move on.

“MercurySteam + Star Wars = Jedi Sex Magic.”

You’re probably going, “What? The guys who made those action-heavy Castlevania games that were actually good?” Yeah those guys should do Star Wars. Not convinced? Remember STAR WARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHED? The first one was the highest selling Star Wars game of all time & featured a surprisingly good story with awesome combat & Force powers.

MercurySteam has already proven themselves by taking a beloved Japanese property & adapting it for Western audiences. What’s also cool is that the first LORDS OF SHADOW is the highest selling Castlevania game yet, so why not Star Wars? They’re already used to delivering a well told story that features a badass with an iconic weapon mowing down hordes of enemies, why not again?

“Star Wars action + MercurySteam = Awesome idea.”

Imagine a Jedi lost on a hostile planet forced to fend for them self against ravenous creatures & lost technology. You could bring in the adventuring elements of Lords of Shadow with collectibles & beautiful environments while introducing new species into Star Wars. Not to mention they could add puzzle solving gameplay with the use of Force powers that could evolve in new ways offering that “Metroidvania” style of exploration.

Tell an interesting story & have the player upgrade themselves using lost derelict technology that they find on this planet which would lead to an uncovering of a darker past. Imagine this Jedi reaching forgotten tombs that harken back to the inception of The Force. Investigating crashed Empire ships & listening to audio logs sorta like Bioshock of what the hell happened on this planet.

It would be amazing, it would be my perfect match made in heaven kind of game for Star Wars. You know it would be awesome. Finally my last option…

3. Just give it to Bioware.

My final option is really a no brainer, just let Bioware make a single player Star Wars game again. They already made STAR WARS: KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC, which is revered amongst fans as the best Star Wars licensed game anyways. Why not?

MASS EFFECT is pretty much KOTOR anyways just with shooter elements added in to make it more engaging. Allow the player to be a Jedi, Bounty Hunter or whatever else & introduce a new storyline with exciting characters. It would be fantastic & it’s really an obvious proven match to begin with.

“This but with more action, choices, customization & sexy time.”

So I hope I’ve maybe opened your eyes to some exciting possibilities that the Star Wars license could be used in the future. LucasArts is dead, but like Obi-Wan dying—-THE LEGACY CAN STILL LIVE ON! HNNNGHHHHH. ( Fight back the tears. )

I’m sorry, not really. You get the point. It would be awesome all around, especially the Mercury Steam idea. I hope everyone involved with Lucas Arts that was laid off finds more work & lives long ‘n’ prospers.

I mean the force be with you, Gandalf. Or they could just make this next game idea too….

I’M KIDDING. Relax. Have a great day & thanks for reading.

By: MILAN JEGENJAN

Email: AscendancyMilan@hotmail.com

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:38:01 -0400

OPINION: WHY THE WALKING DEAD'S SEASON 3 FINALE WAS HORRIBLE

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 00:31:10 -0400

“The above photo is me watching this finale, face palming.”

THE WALKING DEAD is a superb comic book boasting intelligent story telling with nail biting white knuckle tension. It’s a comic about the characters, their relationships to one another & that dreadful feeling of what lurks beyond.

Although I’ve had problems before with THE WALKING DEAD in it’s live action incarnation, I’ve let certain creative liberties go. For example Sophia taking up half a season only to be gunned down in a barn was ridiculously wasteful & stupid. Not to mention she’s still alive in the comics, but I stayed optimistic & decided to follow along regardless with the show because I love The Governor arc.

“Worst filler plot point ever.”

So coming into the finale & being an avid fan of the comic I was excited to see certain story plot points turn out. When I heard that the infamous Issue #48 was going to portrayed in live action I was excited beyond belief. For those of you know unaware, without spoiling it, a lot of people die in horrific ways. It’s also the issue where The Governor’s story arc ends & the entire series takes a dramatic shift in story telling for the better.

What we got instead was a half-assed plot to kill Rick’s group, Andrea fiddling with her toes & the prison becoming an old folks home. Look I understand that you need to change certain plot points to keep the series interesting for people like myself who are aware of what happens, but seriously? I mean I loved how Shane lived past Atlanta in the tv show & became the main villain of Season 2.

I actually prefer Shane in the show over the comics because it’s an interesting dynamic that I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would. The reason being was because the character was utilized into becoming a tragic figure that we could sympathize, love & hate all at once. So when the showdown happened & Rick stabs Shane it was a moment of tension & dramatic pay off.

Instead in the comics where Shane just tries to kill Rick in the first camp Rick finds his family at & well Carl just shoots him ‘n’ that’s it.

The problem with the Season 3 finale is that it’s, to put it lightly, a massive missed opportunity. There were some highlights for sure in the finale that I did enjoy however. I enjoyed Carl’s instinct to execute another young kid because he won’t take chances like his father did, that was awesome. I also found it somewhat interesting for The Governor to open fire on his own citizens in a fit of rage, that was unexpected & interesting.

However there were a few hugely disappointing story aspects that are now going to take much longer to happen then they should. Certain characters die in the comics at this point in the story because they have no more reason for existing anymore. I loved that in the comic because it showed that Kirkman & Adlard are capable of shedding so much of what they built but eventually brought in even more interesting people into the story.

“Thankfully Carl is still the best character in both the show & comics.”

Having everyone survive was a huge let down because the shows creators promised, “Huge change for the group” or something like that. They did keep their promise however, by instead of killing off anyone we love…they added another 20-30 people into the prison. The reason THE WALKING DEAD is so interesting to read at least is because the cast has distinct personalities that readers latch to. The torn Rick, silent Michonne or justice driven Carl—-it all works.

I don’t want 20-30 elderly people & small children being added to the cast. It’s hard enough to care about this cast to begin with. I’m looking at you Beth.

“Season 4 now with more awkward staring scenes while Beth sings.”

By having The Governor live & keeping the group in the prison seriously shows that the show’s producers are afraid of moving on too fast. But what can you expect when they made Hershel’s farm last an entire season when in the comics it’s barely a few issues? It’s ridiculous. The other reason why this whole situation sucks?

It makes The Governor look like a stumbling idiot.

The Governor in the comics at this point is a force of nature that ruins Rick & his loved ones in horrible ways. It’s this point in the story that The Governor proves that he’s a better leader then Rick & successfully drives the cast out of the prison with sheer force. Remember how Lori just sort of died when that random prisoner decided to release zombies & whatever? In the comics during this assault Lori gets gunned down in horror.

Oh yeah, the baby dies too in the comics at this point. Lori’s body crushes Judith from the impact & Rick watches helplessly in horror as his wife & daughter are murdered. But instead Lori just sort of dies & Judith is fine. It shows that the producers are afraid to push the envelope into taboo territory, which is one of the comics major strengths.

The courage to present bold ideas & storytelling.

The show suffers from staying in the same location far longer then they should & drawing out characters until they become irritable. The Governor killing all his soldiers & just driving away into the sunset with his two bff’s is weak. There’s no resolution, not to mention Guv clearly doesn’t go back to Woodbury because Rick gets there well later on & Guv is not there.

So what the hell did he do? He just drove off to do what exactly? Gather more soldiers? Herd zombies? It’s pointless & kills all tension now. He’s powerless not to mention there being no showdown between Rick & Governor that would have pleased fans the world over.

“You have no power here!”

They pretty much pull a Saruman on The Governor by removing all story progression, interest & dramatic pay off that he could have brought to the table. It’s why in the comics at this point Kirkman killed off the character, because he served his purpose.

“The Governor, looking like Snake from Escape From New York.”

So The Governor was a stupid let down, there’s no climatic fight besides Glenn & freaking Maggie just shooting the ground because they’re horrible shots. Rick decides to open an old folks home & then there’s the biggest problem with the finale.

Andrea’s death.

“I’m just here to make bad decisions.”

It’s no surprise to many that fans hate Andrea in the show about as much as Lori. The Andrea that is displayed here is stupid, pointless & accomplishes literally nothing in the span of a season. It breaks my heart because Andrea is my favorite female character in the comics, who is also STILL alive too. Having her die here was meant to just please the masses because the producers realized they screwed such a wonderful character to the point of no return.

So seeing Andrea fumble with her feet to grab pliers has got to be one of the most cumbersome & annoying sequences in the show yet. I was screaming at my tv as Andrea was TALKING TO MILTON INSTEAD OF GRABBING THE ONLY THING THAT COULD SAVE HER. Then Andrea decides to think, “Oh right I need to grab those pliers” as soon as Milton turns.

Then she gets bitten & dies. Sigh.

“The real Andrea is the female version of Rick Grimes.”

Andrea in the comic books is a completely different character. She’s badass, resourceful & is the best sharpshooter in the entire cast thus far. Andrea in the comics protects the entire group from hordes of walkers by herself, not to mention wiping out entire groups of bad guys with just her sniper rifle. Killing off the character without allowing her space to redeem herself was lazy & ridiculously bad leading to forced dramatic pay off that fell on deaf ears.

Because nobody liked her thanks to how they used her.

You know there’s shit wrong with a show when people care more about T-Dog, a character that doesn’t exist in the comics, dies & has a better send off then one of the most beloved in the series. Seeing Andrea die is like going to a restaurant, buying the most expensive thing on the menu & throwing it on the ground & stomping on it.

“Sad but totally true.”

It’s a waste of such a rich & amazing character. At this point in the show, the experience is borderline ruined for me. I understand that this is an alternate storyline to the comic book but they are pulling the farm off all over again. By staying in a location that has become far too familiar & not progressing these characters in new & exciting ways I’m afraid the show will sizzle out in due time.

I was hoping the next season was going to deal with the horrors of insecurity. The feeling of having no home, no idea on how to move on & hating yourself for not being able to protect the ones you loved. It’s lazy & if THE WALKING DEAD ever wants to prove that it’s a show that can shed it’s skin & become even better, there’s certain things that need to be kept like the source material.

“The smartest person in the group, sadly.”

Overall, THE WALKING DEAD’s Season 3 finale is a massive letdown that proves it’s afraid to change the status norm in order to milk the franchise for all it’s worth. Andrea dying is like playing Halo & watching someone pick up the Rocket Launcher only to walk off a ledge & fall to their death. It’s pointless, wasteful & doesn’t honor the strengths of the source material.

The Governor has long outstayed his welcome & I can’t wait until Rick has to start hunting for adult diapers for all the old people he decided to bring in. Because what’s better then complaining the entire time that you barely have enough food to keep a small group of people well fed? Bringing in another 30 mouths to feed.

Good job Rick! At least I still have the comic book to look forward to, because this was the worst season finale yet for the series. Let’s hope a new show runner can bring it back from the brink.

Or else we’ll be in Season 5 by the time The Governor dies & Rick decides to leave the prison. I hope nobody at AMC just read that, I don’t want to give them even worse ideas.

Thanks for reading.

By MILAN JEGENJAN

Email: AscendancyMilan@hotmail.com

"If you’ve been living under a rock or are probably a girl you should know that BIOSHOCK INFINITE has finally been released" even if you're joking, that's a stupid thing to say.

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 22:49:14 -0400

Yes yes I know, many girls have already replied to the article & are offended. To apologize, I edited that part out & restructured it. Sorry ladies, hope you enjoy it now.