After a marathon night of gaming, I finally finished GOW2, just in time for Tuesday's release of GOW3. GOW2 was all it was hyped up to be, an epic action game with great production values and a terrific story entwined with Greek mythology. I had a blast getting through this game. I think at some point I will go back and replay the original GOW just because it was so epic as well.
I still have yet to play the latest Borderlands DLC and am anxious to do so. Still, it may have to wait it's turn behind GOW3. And with Pete saying very good things about Heavy Rain, I am intrigued about that as well, especially since I could play that one with Barb. There are some really good games coming out soon, so I will be anxious for the reviews to begin trickling in.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Heavy Rain - First Take
My copy of Heavy Rain arrived late last week, and I've logged several hours of gameplay over the last couple of days. Rather than posting detailed impressions, I'm going to hold off in favour of a complete review when I finish the game. I'm about halfway done at this point and am so engrossed in the story that I don't want it to end. Another play through is already a given, probably immediately following this one. Joyce has been watching as though it's a movie (which it pretty much is) and the story has her hooked as well.
Heavy Rain is certainly not without its faults, but it more than makes up for it with a riveting story, and moments of sheer excitement and emotional impact. If you've read the reviews and are intrigued, then you shouldn't hesitate in picking it up. Just be aware that there's a lot of watching involved and the gameplay can be very passive, amounting to nothing more than filler or a button press or two to advance from one scene to the next. If you're a hard core, action oriented gamer, then Heavy Rain probably won't be your cup o' tea (though the action sequences are extremely well executed). It's also reputedly quite short, clocking in at 8-10 hours, so it would make a perfect rental if the prospect of multiple plays isn't of interest.
I was in the mood for something different, and Heavy Rain is filling the bill to a tee. More later...
Heavy Rain is certainly not without its faults, but it more than makes up for it with a riveting story, and moments of sheer excitement and emotional impact. If you've read the reviews and are intrigued, then you shouldn't hesitate in picking it up. Just be aware that there's a lot of watching involved and the gameplay can be very passive, amounting to nothing more than filler or a button press or two to advance from one scene to the next. If you're a hard core, action oriented gamer, then Heavy Rain probably won't be your cup o' tea (though the action sequences are extremely well executed). It's also reputedly quite short, clocking in at 8-10 hours, so it would make a perfect rental if the prospect of multiple plays isn't of interest.
I was in the mood for something different, and Heavy Rain is filling the bill to a tee. More later...
Thursday, March 11, 2010
A little update
-Barb and I finished season 4 of Dexter last night so we are all caught up. We are both still recovering from what was an absolute shocker of an ending. Neither of us saw it coming and it really has stuck with us both all day. Stunning is all I can say. I'm still not sure if I am mad about it or not. I guess the writers did their job well.
-God Or War III comes out next week. I have it pre-ordered from Amazon (with free release date delivery) along with the strategy guide. I got $10 off the game for having pre-ordered Bioshock 2 from Amazon earlier. It's a great way to get your games and save money. Now I am feverishly trying to finish God Of War II before GOWIII arrives. God Of War II such an excellent game in it's own right, I am trying not to rush too much so that I can savor it's quality as well. BTW, the reviews are coming in for GOWIII and as expected, they have been universal in their praise.
That's all for now. Enjoying the heck out of my iPhone and playing Words With Friends. I am down 2 games to none to Pete. I have buzzard's luck against him, but he is an excellent player as well. I'm not giving up, Pete!
Gaming Update
I finally returned to Borderlands the other day after a long break that dates back to the start of the Olympics. It's been a blast so far, but I have to admit that I find the gameplay is becoming a little tedious the further I get into it (currently Level 18). I hate to bail on it now but, at a minimum, I'm ready for a break. After a steady diet of Fallout and Borderlands over the last three months, it's time for something completely different (Python reference intended).
Enter Heavy Rain. This one arrived today, and I can't wait to dive into it over the weekend. I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but I really like what I've heard. And it's supposedly quite short, which would suit me just fine right now. Sounds like the kind of thing Joyce might get into watching - always a bonus.
I'm not sure what will follow HR, possibly a long awaited return to Bioshock, or maybe Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (another short one!) first. Then there's MLB '10. I cracked the seal on that one the other day and spent a considerable amount of time creating my custom player in RTTS, only to somehow lose everything I'd done! Grrrr. I'd also like get back and spend some more time with NFS Shift. Maybe there's a Mazda 3 in there somewhere... In any case, I'm ready for a little variety in my gaming life.
Enter Heavy Rain. This one arrived today, and I can't wait to dive into it over the weekend. I'm not entirely sure what to expect, but I really like what I've heard. And it's supposedly quite short, which would suit me just fine right now. Sounds like the kind of thing Joyce might get into watching - always a bonus.
I'm not sure what will follow HR, possibly a long awaited return to Bioshock, or maybe Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 (another short one!) first. Then there's MLB '10. I cracked the seal on that one the other day and spent a considerable amount of time creating my custom player in RTTS, only to somehow lose everything I'd done! Grrrr. I'd also like get back and spend some more time with NFS Shift. Maybe there's a Mazda 3 in there somewhere... In any case, I'm ready for a little variety in my gaming life.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
The 2010 NFL Draft: QB or not QB?
That is the question if you are the St. Louis Rams and finished an NFL-worst 1-15 (ouch!) in 2009. In fact, the Rams have won just 6 of their last 48 games, setting an NFL record for futility. Last year's rookie head coach (Steve Spagnuolo) and rookie GM (Billy Devaney) got a pass for having to deal with an old, underachieving roster that was basically bereft of talent, especially once injuries had their way with the team. This is the 2nd season for Spags and Devaney and probably will be the first under new ownership, if the team sale to Shahid Khan goes through as anticipated. The fan base is restless, to say the least, and wants to start seeing some results. But the task is daunting; turning around a 1-15 nightmare will require a massive roster turnover and will take time. And time is something that Spags and Devaney may not have a whole lot of.
After the college conference championship games this season, one man became the consensus "best player in the country." That man is Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. He had a lights-out senior season and is dominant on the front line, stout against the run and one heck of a pass rusher as well. As time has gone on, some have declared Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy to be his equal or even better, mostly based on how his game projects to the NFL. Still, the majority think Suh is the man. And with the Rams awful against the run last year and unable to muster any sort of consistent pass rush, he should be the no-brainer pick at #1, right?
Maybe not. Enter Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner. Bradford surprised many people when he decided to come back to Oklahoma in 2009; the thought was that if he had turned pro he more than likely would have been the first overall pick in the 2009 draft. But he returned to Oklahoma for a chance to win the national title. His hopes were quickly dashed when he injured his throwing shoulder not once, but twice during the season. After the second injury he shut down for the rest of the year to focus on rehab and announced he would enter the 2010 draft. Now his status is basically unknown. If he hadn't been injured, he would automatically be one of the top 5 players in the draft. His surgery went well, he is ahead of schedule in rehab and is throwing the ball 20-40 yards 100 times every other day. He will have his pro day workout in late March where he will be put through the ringer to see just how ready he is. And this is where the Rams are in the toughest of tough spots.
If Bradford throws well at the pro day workout and gets a clean bill of health from the doctors, what should the Rams do? Because as bad as the defense was last year, the offense was worse. And not only that, it was b-o-r-i-n-g. It was painful to watch and many fans simply chose not to as the year wore on. And while the old axiom may be that defense wins championships (and that's oversimplifying things, but that's a whole other blog), offense puts fans in the seats. A team can be mediocre as long as they are still somewhat fun to watch. But when they are dreadful, no one wants to pay any attention.
There is no doubt that QB is the premier position in the NFL. If you have no viable option at QB and have a chance to draft a player that you feel is a potential franchise QB, you do it. If Bradford had not been injured, I think the Rams would take him without a doubt. As it is now, I still think they are seriously considering making him the pick. If his pro day goes well, I have little doubt the Rams can convince themselves that Bradford is their guy. Devaney has already gone on record as saying that if a QB grades out close to the top, you take the QB even if he's not quite at the top. But passing on Suh is a risky proposition as well. Many Rams' fans are convinced he is the best player in the draft and that if you have the first pick then you must take the best player. Many are wary of Bradford not only because of his injury history but also because they feel he will have little impact on the team this year, especially with little talent around him. Meanwhile the thought is that Suh could instantly make the DL better by occupying 2 blockers and freeing up defensive end Chris Long.
I myself am on the fence. I lean a bit towards Bradford, simply because there is more value in a QB and I thought he was an elite QB before the injury. If he checks out okay, then I think it is worth the gamble. At the very least his work ethic, character and leadership are unquestioned. He is a very accurate passer and has above-average arm strength. He interviewed very well at the combine and is seen as very intelligent. It is true that drafting QBs early is a risky business, but if you look back at past drafts, picking DTs early is no picnic either; many early picks have turned out to be duds. As good as Suh is, and make no mistake he is very good, there is no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL draft. Rams' fans will be in an uproar if the pick is Bradford and he is mediocre or especially if he hurts that shoulder again and Suh goes on to be a dominant presence. You can make a case for either player. The problem for the Rams is that they have to get this one right.
After the college conference championship games this season, one man became the consensus "best player in the country." That man is Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. He had a lights-out senior season and is dominant on the front line, stout against the run and one heck of a pass rusher as well. As time has gone on, some have declared Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy to be his equal or even better, mostly based on how his game projects to the NFL. Still, the majority think Suh is the man. And with the Rams awful against the run last year and unable to muster any sort of consistent pass rush, he should be the no-brainer pick at #1, right?
Maybe not. Enter Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner. Bradford surprised many people when he decided to come back to Oklahoma in 2009; the thought was that if he had turned pro he more than likely would have been the first overall pick in the 2009 draft. But he returned to Oklahoma for a chance to win the national title. His hopes were quickly dashed when he injured his throwing shoulder not once, but twice during the season. After the second injury he shut down for the rest of the year to focus on rehab and announced he would enter the 2010 draft. Now his status is basically unknown. If he hadn't been injured, he would automatically be one of the top 5 players in the draft. His surgery went well, he is ahead of schedule in rehab and is throwing the ball 20-40 yards 100 times every other day. He will have his pro day workout in late March where he will be put through the ringer to see just how ready he is. And this is where the Rams are in the toughest of tough spots.
If Bradford throws well at the pro day workout and gets a clean bill of health from the doctors, what should the Rams do? Because as bad as the defense was last year, the offense was worse. And not only that, it was b-o-r-i-n-g. It was painful to watch and many fans simply chose not to as the year wore on. And while the old axiom may be that defense wins championships (and that's oversimplifying things, but that's a whole other blog), offense puts fans in the seats. A team can be mediocre as long as they are still somewhat fun to watch. But when they are dreadful, no one wants to pay any attention.
There is no doubt that QB is the premier position in the NFL. If you have no viable option at QB and have a chance to draft a player that you feel is a potential franchise QB, you do it. If Bradford had not been injured, I think the Rams would take him without a doubt. As it is now, I still think they are seriously considering making him the pick. If his pro day goes well, I have little doubt the Rams can convince themselves that Bradford is their guy. Devaney has already gone on record as saying that if a QB grades out close to the top, you take the QB even if he's not quite at the top. But passing on Suh is a risky proposition as well. Many Rams' fans are convinced he is the best player in the draft and that if you have the first pick then you must take the best player. Many are wary of Bradford not only because of his injury history but also because they feel he will have little impact on the team this year, especially with little talent around him. Meanwhile the thought is that Suh could instantly make the DL better by occupying 2 blockers and freeing up defensive end Chris Long.
I myself am on the fence. I lean a bit towards Bradford, simply because there is more value in a QB and I thought he was an elite QB before the injury. If he checks out okay, then I think it is worth the gamble. At the very least his work ethic, character and leadership are unquestioned. He is a very accurate passer and has above-average arm strength. He interviewed very well at the combine and is seen as very intelligent. It is true that drafting QBs early is a risky business, but if you look back at past drafts, picking DTs early is no picnic either; many early picks have turned out to be duds. As good as Suh is, and make no mistake he is very good, there is no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL draft. Rams' fans will be in an uproar if the pick is Bradford and he is mediocre or especially if he hurts that shoulder again and Suh goes on to be a dominant presence. You can make a case for either player. The problem for the Rams is that they have to get this one right.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Mazda 3 Sport GT - First Impressions
I took delivery of my new Mazda 3 on Thursday, and bid a fond farewell to my faithful Subaru Legacy (much to the delight of Joyce's daughter, Heather). Mixed emotions to be sure, but at least I didn't have to leave the old girl on a dealer lot while I drove away.
As is often the case with a new vehicle, excitement is balanced with a certain period of adjustment. The Mazda is a class below the Subaru size-wise, and that became immediately apparent. The cabin space is more compressed (though not claustrophobically so) and the main cargo area isn't large enough to fit a guitar without dropping one of the rear seats back. You gain some of that space back in height by the ability to stack cargo. There's obviously also some compromise in rear leg room in a smaller car. On the plus side, the shorter length fits more comfortably in the garage.
The other major adjustment is shifting (pardon the pun) from a manual to automatic transmission. The '3' comes equipped with a 5 speed "Sport Mode" automatic which, in real terms, provides the ability to control the shift points of the transmission. The concept sounds great in principle, but I was underwhelmed with it when I drove the 6-7km home from the dealership. It wasn't until last night that I realized the shift points on the Mazda were one gear below those on the Subaru. At that point, everything clicked. It's still like some weird hybrid of manual and automatic but, man, is it fun! The HP and torque are essentially the same as the Legacy, but the car is much lighter. That results in a whole lot of zippedty-do-dah.
One of the deciding factors in choosing the Mazda over a Subaru Impreza was the feature set. Buying a Mazda is like ordering cable TV - every group of options has another set that's a prerequisite. In my case, I really wanted Bluetooth, GPS and a premium sound system because I didn't want to deal with after-market upgrades (though I'm sure it would have been much less expensive that way). Of course those options only come with the highest options package, so you end up with a fully tricked out vehicle, which is both a blessing and a curse. Lots of features means lots of controls (including those mounted on the steering wheel), and you have to be able to see them all in the dark, right? At night, this thing lights up like the Griswald's on Christmas Eve. It's simultaneously impressive, and garish. And speaking of night driving, not only are the headlights auto leveling, they're really freakin' bright! I swear they'd restore sight to a blind man.
I'm pretty impressed with the tech capabilities so far. The on-board GPS is nice, if a little small, and the sound system has good clarity and wallop. Bluetooth setup is pretty straightforward, and voice recognition is a welcome touch. I had little difficulty pairing my iPhone or Joyce's LG mobile, and I actually had Slacker Radio streaming from my iPhone through the Mazda's sound system this afternoon. Cool! I haven't activated the six month free subscription to Sirius radio yet, but I'm looking forward to that, too.
The GT-E also comes with automatic keyless entry and start. For the uninitiated, like me, this means that your car "keys" remain in your pocket (or purse as the case may be). Pardon me, but that's just fookin' weird. The keyless entry is actually pretty cool, as is the way the power driver's seat auto adjusts on entry, but the push button start is just plain foreign. There's something about inserting the key and turning on the ignition that's intrinsically part of the driving experience. And shutting down the car and walking away all with the key in my pocket still feels odd, not necessarily in a good way.
It's only been 48 hours, but I'm really excited by this little car so far. And "little" truly is the operative word, especially compared to what I'm used to. The Mazda 3 is a great little runabout, and the 2.5L engine will handle highway driving with aplomb. But as an only vehicle it's a little on the small side, even for a "single'" couple like us. We're already starting to think about replacing Joyce's 2005 Kia Spectra with a small SUV in a couple of years. It would be a perfect complement to the '3'.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
MLB 10: The Show
I picked this up today for the PS3, trading in the '09 version in the process. I pre-ordered it because you get 6 classic stadiums for no additional cost, though it appears as though they won't be available until May. Early impressions from others say that it plays a lot like last year's game but with improvements, such as better ball physics and a refined Road To The Show mode. I won't be getting too much playing time any time soon, but will give impressions when I can.
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