Bioshock 2 - final thoughts

I finished up Bioshock 2 the other night and I must say that my initial impressions held throughout the rest of the game.  In the end, Bioshock 2 simply had no chance to have the same sort of impact as the original.  The first Bioshock was video gaming as an art form, creating an atmosphere unlike any other game before it.  Once that sense of wonder and awe was uncovered, there was no way a 2nd act could have the same sort of impact.  Bioshock's game play was very solid and the sequel builds on that and even improves it in some ways.  The story is well told and makes you care about the outcome.  The graphics and voice acting are superb.  I have not a single complaint about the quality level of this game.  It's just that in the end, it is basically Bioshock redux without the sense of awe.  And that definitely matters.

On a scale of 1-10, I'd rate Bioshock 2 around an 8.8.  Definitely worth playing, just don't expect to have that same sort of original Bioshock experience all over again.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Happy Valentine's Day to my beautiful wife Barb and my lovely daughters Jessica and Laurel.  And, of course, my Mom and sister Beth.

I love you with all of my heart!

Guys, be good to your ladies today and every day.

Bioshock 2 impressions

I have put 6-7 hours into Bioshock 2 and have played enough to have a definite take on the the game thus far.  My initial, first impression is that it was overly familiar.  It didn't seem different enough from the original Bioshock.  It seemed more like Bioshock 1.5.   Now in my opinion, the original Bioshock is one of the all time great games, so that's not exactly a rip-job when I say it is familiar to the first game.  But part of the charm of the first game was the wonder and awe of seeing Rapture for the 1st time.  It was a mind-blowing experience to see the undersea world, along with the 50's era decor and the terrific soundtrack.  The atmosphere in the game was something that was staggering and also staggeringly new.  Bioshock 2 has the same terrific atmosphere, but alas, it is no longer new.  Rapture is still a glory to behold; the new areas are spectacular and you even get to go outside for some oceanic exploration.  But the initial jolt you felt from the first game, that freshness, is gone no matter how brilliantly this game recreates Rapture.

I was really disappointed to hear that you played as a "Big Daddy" in the sequel, but I am happy to announce that the control is almost the exact same as in the 1st game.  You don't feel like a huge lumbering giant as you make your way through the game, you basically have the same movement as in the original Bioshock.  Except now you have a huge drill on the end of your right hand.  And it's nasty on the enemies.

Speaking of the enemies, the splicers are back in full force.  They are a little tougher and smarter this time around and there are a few new variations.  But the real bad-asses are the Big Sisters, who stalks you when you save little sisters.  The Big Sisters are very formidable.  They are as tough (or tougher) than a Big Daddy but are also lightning fast.  And once one sets upon you, it will not stop until one of you is dead.  I have yet to decide if these parts of the game are thrilling or a pain in the ass.  Maybe a bit of both.

You still get to use Plasmids and upgrade weapons as in the first game.  The weapons have some new additions, such as a rivet gun and a spear gun.  There are new Plasmids to choose from as well and deciding which ones to use and which ones to ignore is one of the more intriguing aspects of the game.  Decision making becomes very important as you make your way through the game and the enemies get harder and harder.

The story is (so far) intriguing and well-told.  Once again you discover recordings throughout the game which fill you in on the details of what has happened in Rapture.  I am eager to see what the future has in store for me and the little sisters.

Bioshock 2 is extremely well made.  What it suffers for in lack of originality it works very hard to make up for in production values.  They are first-rate all the way.  I'll have final thoughts on Bioshock 2 as well as a tentative grade for it when I complete the game.

Sens Land Cullen

The Senators acquired C Matt Cullen from the Carolina Hurricanes yesterday in exchange for D Alex Picard and their 2nd round draft pick this year. They also placed F Jonathan Cheechoo on waivers. He cleared today and was assigned to the Binghamton Senators of the AHL.

Cullen's 40 points in 60 games will provide a huge upgrade on Cheechoo's 5 goal 9 assist output, and add to the Senators already deep forward corps. He brings speed, versatility and scoring touch, and should provide a healthy boost to the team's 30th ranked PP. By all accounts, Cheechoo is a class guy and great teammate, but it's clear his best days are long behind him. He also carries a hefty $3.0M price tag this year and next. The additional cap space offsets Cullen's salary this year, and can be used towards re-upping UFA D Anton Volchenkov next year.

Alex Picard will not be missed. He has decent raw ability but seems to lack the hockey IQ to go with it. His roster spot will easily be filled by former first rounder Brian Lee for the next couple of games until Erik Karlsson returns from injury after the Olympic break.

I'm marginally surprised that Bryan Murray is loading up for the playoffs, but it's hard to argue as the Sens have won 13 of their last 14 and knocked off all of the top dogs in the Eastern Conference along the way (including a crazy 6-5 regulation win over the Caps on Thurs. night). If the team is serious about taking a run, Murray will probably look to add a top 4 D by the Mar. 3rd trade deadline. The way Cory Clouston has this team playing, they could make some noise in the playoffs provided they continue to get solid goaltending from Brian Elliott (or Pascal Leclaire). However, that could prove to be a pretty big 'if'.

Finished Darksiders

A solid action title with some fiendish puzzles.  Some RPG-lite elements included in the game, including decisions on what power-ups to emphasize as you proceed through the game.  I must confess I would have never been able to figure out some of the puzzles without the use of an FAQ.  The game was quite lengthy for an action title, a good 18-20 hours altogether.

So all in all, it was a fun game that gives you plenty of bang for your buck.  The game is nothing revolutionary by any means, but it delivers solid action.  If I was to rate Darksiders on a scale of 1-10, it would be somewhere around an 8.

Now on to Bioshock 2...

New owner for the St. Louis Rams?

According the the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Rosenbloom family, current owners of the St. Louis Rams, have reached an agreement to sell the team to Illinois businessmen Shahid Khan.  Mr. Khan has agreed to buy the Rosenbloom's 60% share of the team and, if need be, the remaining 40% of the team from minority owner from Stan Kroenke.  All that remains is for the sale to be finalized and for Mr. Khan to be approved by 75% of the NFL owners.  Mr. Khan has made his money in the auto parts manufacturing business and his company is reported to have revenue of over $2 billion annually.

This is potentially wonderful news as Mr. Khan is said to be a Rams fan who has attended quite a few games and, more importantly, is committed to keeping the team in St. Louis.  There remains the issue of the stadium; the Rams' dome is becoming more outdated by the minute, even though it is only 15 years old.  There is an escape clause in the lease that says the lease can be voided if the stadium is not among the top 25% of the NFL's stadiums in 2015.  It is already in the bottom half of the stadiums and it is doubtful any sort of face lift could improve it enough.  But it is thought that the Rosenblooms have received assurances from Mr. Khan that he is willing to work through the issue.  The Rosenblooms were emphatic that they wanted to sell to an owner that was intent on keeping the team in St. Louis for the long haul and it looks like they were true to their word.  St. Louis fans should be very grateful to them and, it appears, to Mr. Khan.

Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz, one of the best sports columnists in the country, has been following this story for a long time and he broke the news today.  For more of his thoughts, check out his blog here.  Serious kudos to Mr. Miklasz for his fine work.

Bioshock 2 - delay of game

I have decided that before I dive into Bioshock 2 that I am going to finish Darksiders, otherwise I may never get back to it.  I want to give Bioshock 2 uninterrupted attention and I want to be able to not have any unfinished business that might make me rush through it a bit.  With Dante's Inferno getting such mediocre reviews, Darksiders will fill my action-game needs for the time being.  I have already gone back and gotten past the part where my last game was stuck.  I must issue a mea culpa here; it appears as though the game itself did not have any sort of glitch.  My brain, however, apparently did.  After a bit of a layoff, I was confused on what I had and had not completed.  I went back and replayed the entire area again and did some things I missed before.

I have no idea how much further I have to go but it shouldn't be too much longer.  Then Bioshock 2 will get the attention it deserves.  After that I will either re-attempt to get into Dragon Age: Origins (Mass Effect 2 has convinced me to try it again) or perhaps the latest DLC for Borderlands will be available.