Cyborgcow.net

It’s been a long time since I updated any details about games, and I’ve played thru (and beaten) a lot of stuff lately

NINTENDO DS

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin
I came back to this game due to a lack of new DS games to play and my personal desire to complete the side missions I had previously ignored.
So all of the side missions are complete besides 3 of them, and I’m fairly certain that I won’t bother with the game in the future.
As I stated earlier, it was an incredible game and I’ll mos def be picking up the 3rd Castlevania on the DS (Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia) which got an 85 out of 100 from MetaCritic’s average review scores.

Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
Now complete in both the regular mode and the “Julius Mode”, I’m extremely pleased with this game as it fits the usually perfect 2D Castlevania format very well.
I was surprised by the replayability of Dawn of Sorrow with the Julius Mode, which allowed me to instantly switch from Julius to Alucard or Yoko. I was a bit disappointed the extra mode didn’t feature the regular game’s menu that offers customizing and equipping of different weapons or skills and didn’t offer a status bar that stated how far you were from your next level or numbers of your strength/defense etc, but given it’s an extra mode to offer replayability, I can’t complain. One other annoyance is the occasional need to level grind before boss fights, but that’s too minor to cause much concern.
A few things I did particularly enjoy about Julius Mode is that you didn’t have to use the stylus after boss battled to draw a symbol on the screen, and you didn’t have to worry about status effects such as poison or curse.
Very strong game most worth a purchase for any DS owner that can appreciate a 2D action game with RPG elements.

PLAYSTATION 3

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune
About 4 or 5 months ago, an AZHP member (Flygod) let me borrow this game along with Lair so that I could give them a try. Although I was aware that Sony had produced an Uncharted and PS3 pack, I didn’t expect a whole lot as I knew the game was one of the PS3’s early titles (launch title possibly) and I hadn’t heard too much about it.
Perhaps I had a lack of notice is because although I appreciated Naughty Dog’s published games (Crash Bandicoot/Jaxx), I wasn’t a big fan of them due to my lack of interest in platforming games.
Either way, this game turned out to be one of the best games I’ve played in a long time!
It’s a 3rd person action/platformer (similar to Tomb Raider or Prince of Persia) featuring a character named Nathan Drake who is looking for the treasure and history behind his ancestor Sir Francis Drake.
The action and battles include firefights using a cover system (similar to Gears of War) and is quite polished and easy to control.
The story is compelling and with the incredible quality voice acting and graphics, seems to flow like you’re playing a movie.
I’ve beaten this game 3 times already and continued to enjoy it.
My only complaint is a big one. The trophy system is extremely buggy, as there has been two occasions where I’ve received a medal (in game trophy) and the PSN trophy didn’t go thru correctly. The most frustrating part is I beat the game in “Crushing Mode” which is EXTREMELY difficult and although I received the medal, I didn’t receive the trophy. It’s the last trophy I need to earn in the game which allows me to unlock the Platinum trophy as well for a complete master of the game.
Although I have so many good things to say about the game and it’s story, going thru Crushing Mode again to unlock the trophy will be very frustrating; but considering the work I’ve put in thus far, I don’t feel as if I can abandon my desire to get 100% and I will do so.
I’ve read online about it, and I’m not the only one to have the problem. A few believe that you have to avoid any manual saves and just let the autosave do it’s job.
78% complete on trophies. Only “Crushing Mode” gold trophy left and my platinum should follow that automatically.

Pixeljunk Eden
Though this was one of the first games I bought from the PSN, I dismissed it after an hour or two as not being on the same level as my favorite Pixeljunk game to date, Pixeljunk Monsters.
Although I still don’t believe it’s near as fun as Monsters, it’s a different genre and is quite pleasant.
Although it’s tough to categorize Pixeljunk Eden in a genre, I’d have to say it’s a 2D puzzle platform game where you must jump and swing from abstract colored and shaped plants while collecting pollen to bud more plants. The objective is to acquire the “Spectras” of the level by reaching extremely high grounds thru pollen collection and swinging from plant to plant.
I’ve beaten the first 3 stages (out of 10 total before the expansion pack which I don’t own) and I’ve completed each one of the stages to 100%.
I will continue to play this game to it’s full extent and aim for my typical desire for 100% on trophies.
I’m continuously impressed by the Pixeljunk publishers and I’m looking forward to Pixeljunk Shooter on the PSN later this year.

Worms
Everyone and their mother has played or at least seen the Worms series, as the games have been produced since the early 1990’s. The most recent release (PSN and previously 360) is no different than the usual.
There’s nothing new about this particular Worms game, and it’s very scaled down compared to “Armageddon” or “World Party” but does offer Online play with up to 4 players and voice chat support.
It’s fun and then becomes painfully bland after an hour or two of total gameplay.
100% complete on trophies complete.
I won’t return to this game unless to occasionally play a local multiplayer game with a friend or two.

The Last Guy
The best selling PSN game in Japan never really hit the states with much hype or enthusiasm. As one of my first PSN purchases, this game (like Pixeljunk Eden) was on the back burner for a while to more intriguing games.
The Last Guy is a 2D puzzle platform game with a top down perspective that looks extremely similar to Google Maps on Landscape view where your objective is collect a large number of people from landscapes, buildings and landmarks and get a target number of them to an escape zone before the alloted time runs out.
The rescued people follow you in a long line that reminds you of the old cell phone Snake games and you must keep them safe on the way to the escape zone.
In your way stands multiple different types of zombies, each with their own attention spans and attack functions.
I had completed the first 5 or so levels with casual interest but deleted my game save and started anew due to added trophy support. It’s good to see a game released over a year ago get extra added support to give it more attention. Other developers should follow this example and do the same (coughSonyEntertainmentHOTSHOTSGOLFcough)
Currently at 17% of the trophies, I have a long way to go. Many of the trophies are relevant only to an add on pack also offered recently for an extra $2 to $3.

Crash Commando
This is Soldat with updated graphics for the console market.
It’s a fast paced 2D multiplayer shooter with jetpacks.
Although the graphics are better and there are vehicles available, I liked Soldat better due to superior control with keyboard and mouse.
I played thru the training missions and did a tiny bit of online multiplayer.
14% on trophies. Not sure I’ll spend much time on this game in the future.

Magic Ball
Magic Ball = Breakout on crack
Vertical breakout/pong with destroyable landscapes and powerups such as multi balls, machine guns, iron balls and more.
It’s fun for one playthru
85% on trophies and I’ll come back to it only to finish off the 2 trophies I haven’t got yet.

Wheel of Fortune
Self explanatory.
It’s fun playing local multiplayer games with others in the same room, but playing against the stupid CPU is no good and playing online gives people the opportunity to cheat via Google on a nearby computer.
100% on trophies and I won’t bother again unless I’m with a few friends and some beers.

Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer
European developed horizontal Shmup with typical powerups and necessary dodging skills similar to Gradius or R-Type games.
Although the graphics are great for a Shmup, the gameplay and weapons are average at best.
0% on trophies due to lack of play. Will play in the future when I’ve completed more compelling games.

Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars
What a title!
From the little bit of this game I’ve played thus far, it seems like a lot of fun.
It’s a multiplayer 3rd person game where you play soccer using vehicles to hit the balls around a futuristic arena with speed upgrades and a few attack and dodge moves.
Barely touched it so far.
0% on trophies due to lack of play. Will play in the future when I’ve completed other games.

Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic
Fighting game with a Super Smash Brothers feel that uses the SixAxis to do special moves.
It’s average at best.
Luckily I didn’t pay for it and got it free when Sprint sponsored the game free to download for 1 week.
19% on trophies so far. I will play in the future to experience a bit more when I’ve completed more compelling games.

Look for me online

-FrankCastleAZ

Check it out:

http://www.myspace.com/windows?homepage=forsakenisdead

For once, downloading free music is supporting the artist!!! Download it now, then send this link to everyone you know!!!!

Metatron - Yin (Progressive House and Breaks)
1. DJ Remy - Unplugged
2. James Zabiela - Human
3. Cirez D - Horizons
4. Meat Katie and Elite Force - Divine (Infusion Rmx)
5. Infusion - Dead Souls
6. UNKLE - In a State (Sasha Instrumental)
7. Trafik - Thought Line (Hi Dives Spaced Rmx)
8. Rabbit in the Moon - OOBE (Decade mix)
9. Meat Katie - Night in Taipei
10. Jono Fernandez - Stitchface (Vandle Rmx)
11. Soul of Man - Override
12. Trafik - Indestructable (Instrumental)
13. Claude Vanstroke - Who's Afraid of Detroit (Stanton Warriors Rmx)
14. Infusion - Legacy - (Junkie XL Rmx)
15. ILS - Feed the Addiction (Progressive Mix)

I’ve started working on my own how-to database using Mediawiki as the engine. I’m hoping to be able to explain as much as I can about everything I know, however I’d like to do it efficiently. I’d also like to have the instructions based on the idea that anyone should be able to follow them from a base install of Centos 5.3 so I’ve replaced my music samples hard drive with a fresh drive for WMware Fusion to run. I’ll probally create Xen virtual machines so I can explore them more, and use them to give instructions on a wide variety of topics.

This will be very fun. :]

I am very fond of the desert and its cactus. They represent the virtues that derive from acclimating to a harsh, arid environment and prospering. Some day I would like to have my own Saguaro cactus, however they are quite expensive considering they are both a protected species and incredibly old. Such a symbol would serve to others as a visual representation of wealth, however a common onlooker would likely not see such a cactus as I see it: That I love the Sonoran Desert and all of its beauty.

It was a beautiful day full of fluffy clouds when my friend Aaron Z and I decided to just drive out into the desert. We took turns picking directions. When we came to a fork in the road, we would choose left, right, or straight ahead. We almost became stuck in some soft sand at one point. We came across a biker gang having a bbq about 40 miles along the highway on a side road that ended at a trash collection facility. All the while, I was enjoying the clouds as they moved across the sky; sometimes they merged and parted. I thought to myself that those little fluffy clouds were somehow the key to inner peace and tranquility. If only I could reach out to them and truly understand what they represented, however I could never reach them in my hybrid.

We eventually stumbled across the entrance to the Sonoran Desert and went for a short hike through the brush. The time of year was perfect and the temperature very comfortable. I was happy to spend time with my long time friend just wandering content knowing that as soon as the sun set, we would have to venture back home and I needed to savor as much of the experience as I could.

I don’t know how Aaron did all of the hiking in his sandals. I was prepared with multiple shoes and water, seeing as how I grew up playing in this desert as a child and as long as the basic necessities are addressed there was nothing to fear. Even if we somehow became lost, it was all part of wandering as a free soul with a free mind. I was experiencing clarity unlike any that I had experienced before and I was enjoying every moment of it.

The vastness of the desert is difficult to describe, however I created my first panorama of the desert from this very hill. You can see Aaron as a speck at the bottom left. I almost fell down the hill from tripping over my tripod.

As a young boy, I would often wander the desert surrounding South Mountain barefoot or on bike. To this day I recall experiencing the magnitude of life that persists in the desert, even as others tend to think that the desert is a lifeless biome. Indeed it is not! I have seen a family of Quail cross the dirt path, a Gila Monster wander by, and the birds and reptiles exploring the underbrush for food. I remember finding a cave along the mountain and to this day I have yet to find it again.

Today, most of that desert is gone. It was bulldozed before my very eyes so a prime housing development could take its place. This necessitates driving further into the dirt just to escape people. My connection to the desert exists on a plane of appreciative love. I still feel surprised when I find another creature, a sense of awe when I discover a 200 year old Saguaro, and humility when I consider that in the short time that humans have populated the deserts surrounding Phoenix, Arizona that constant development has not eradicated all of the beauty. The flowers I have seen on my trips are perhaps the most beautiful I have ever seen, yet to attempt to describe their beauty with a human language could never fully express the visions I hold so dear and close to my heart.

Someday others will see what I have seen, but for now it feels like it is too late. Children in the city no longer enjoy free open spaces. This is the price of progress and development, and I feel as though the last the adventurers.

Someday, would you ever wander into the desert and explore the magnitude of nature’s beauty?