Being an avid Shinobi lover back on the Genesis (I played 2 and up...missed out on 1.) I couldn't get enough of it. A lone ninja (Joe Musashi) going off on an adventure that....I can't quite remember. No matter, it expanded pass the Genesis to what I believe was either Sega CD or that 32X crap. Neither I had. It really didn't make it's appearance again until the PS2 version which I remember Sega hyping up more than enough with the "SHINOBI'S BAK!!" commercial. Got it for christmas, fell in love with it. But most people will tell you to get Ninja Gaiden over Shinobi. I personally say get both and shut up. But what can be improved in the Shinobi series. Man where to start.
Don't that guy look familiar? No? Hiros anyone?
PROBLEMS the Biggest problem of all Shinobi games that me, my friends, and my sister joke about is....SHINOBI CANT SWIM! In real life, you can't be a damn ninja and not have some type of swimming abilities. I could understand in the original 3 on the Genesis and only to an extent. But when the PS2 version hit, I figure, "Shinobi should be able to swim on" *Drowns in water.* ".....". This sceneario is common. Especially on one of the many stages in the PS2 version where the stage is pretty much..covered in water. Granted it takes the fun out of the game if such a stage is implemented, but it just means a need for a better stage would arise if Shinobi could swim.
Granted, this problem I wouldn't complain about as it adds to the hardness of this game, but there have been times where I wish you had some type of halfway point. Yea. You know what i'm talking about. Especially on those long ass stages where you'll be near the end and BAM. Fall in a hole, drown, or killed...only to start allllllllllllllllllllllll the way at eht beginning of the stage. Such things can and WILL discourage people to stop playing for the rest of the day (or at least for a few hours.) You start at the beginning of a fight if you die at a boss, but no save point for actual stages? Come on sega.
Speaking of dying, the PS2 Shinobi (which i'll just call Shinobi from here on out.) well...feels too easy when there's infinite lives. I guess Sega figure if you die too many times and too far in a stage, you'll be too pissed off to play that many times. Not really me. Back on the original Shinobi, there were halfway points, certain amount of lives, stuff that'd make you risk your ninja ass to get. At least with lives, you can have a halfway point and when lives are gone, THEN you send us back to the beginning of the stage.
Now i'm sure most of you (or I hope) skipped the last Shinobi incarnation, Nightshade. Which was somewhat a sequal to Shinobi but only by the sword. The game itself was a rather letdown compared to the first one and the controls changed alittle (which..kinda didn't help.) I tried to like the game, but it just felt clunky, the story was boring, and without the "Tate" system introduced in Shinobi, the game was well...it felt dull. No need to go around looking for enemies or actually TRYING to build the sword's killing spree to prevent it from eating away from your health. Which leads me to...
The Tate system. When I first played it, I loved this system. It made you not sit around all willy nilly like looking around and that you had to keep moving if you didn't want the sword to eat away at your health. Not only that, once you unlocked Hotsuma's brother, Moritsune (I think that's right.) playing through the game with him made the sword eat away quicker. Then Joe Musashi, for old school memories, made players have infinite shuruikens (which were stronger used with Joe.) and the sword was secondary (not eating sword either.) I loved it and if we were talking a new Shinobi, lets throw it back in Sega.
granted i'm sure there's more to add for this series alone, I overall think it's already decent...just needs alittle work. But what do you guys think of the Shinobi Series as a whole? what else could be added and taken away?
Yep. No More Heroes has dropped from 50 to 30 (rather quick no?) and once again, Zak and Wiki suffered a price drop from 30 to 20. I can't complain as I have NMH already. Though i'm still lacking a Zak and Wiki. I shall pick it up now for sure.
EDIT: ALSO forgot to mention Bioshock dropped in price from 60 to 40 about 2 weeks ago. So for people like me, who kinda waits somtimes for price drops on the 360, you're good to go. Though this is worth the 60 bucks I assume.
So for those kids and kidlets who haven't picked them up or just well...curious and wanna waste some money, there you go. 2 decently great games with rather quick price drops and 1 that well...should be taken advantage of while it's still in the store.
So far, Gamegoblin has well...bitched anyone that really "wanted" to enter the persona 3 contest (and that post is here. Gamegoblin's win blog is right here) does it bother me? Not really. Just means Gamegoblin's got the game locked for himself. Though as much as people who know about it (and either cant buy it, interested but don't want to waste 30 bucks, or for your own masturbating/selling/whording reasons.) well..it'd be pretty bad to at least see an attempt from some of the people who seemed interested in the the first post about it. Granted, I don't expectt a gigantic turn out, we're a big enough community that we are nice to take some time to share the luv between us all.
I wish I could throw in so much more with this (like one of those Persona 3 Models I want.) but i'm broke just like most of you guys here so even I have my limits. Oh and uh...since the first date was pretty long to begin with, i'm cutting the date down to May 23, 2008. K? k
Speed Racer was something I always remember in the early (and good) beginnings of Cartoon Network. The show that was cheesy yet entertaining that I would never mind staying up late to watch. (and wish I had that Speed Racer lunchbox.) Hearing upon the movie was a YAY and a MEH all in 1. (a YEH if you must.)
The movie, which technically is out May 9. (...today.) My dad and I saw at the midnight showing. Going into the movie and months ahead I was pretty sceptical about it. Just like any other anime/game/tv show turned movie. I WILL say I left feeling rather happy and awesome on how the Wachowski brothers handled it. No, there's no silly crazy message behind it all. Just classic racing, dangerous racing companies trying to take over, and family drama if you must.
The story revovles around Speed Racer (nothing's changed.) and his wild obsession of wanting to race. Thank both his father and brother for such a thing. Wanting to be the best and beating his brother (who as most know, is "dead" by the time speed takes over the Mach 5.) on the title.
The beginning is rather smooth as it gives a nice little backdrop on Speed when he was younger along with his family's history before Speed's first race in the movie. The actual racing is balanced out with that, the off the road drama that goes on, and somewhat silly antics that Speed's younger brother, Spritle and chim chim, are known for in the actual show. Although their comedy antics are going to appeal more to the younger crowd, they did have a few that I enjoyed. The racing itself will feel over the top but rightly fit for a speed racer movie. Nothing TOO fancy yet nothing too dull. Hell the world already feels like a futuristic 70s movie with all the lights and updated technology yet the bright ass colors and already old school feel. I can't complain, things were done pretty right in the movie. John Goodman does an awesome job as playing Pops (but it's John Goodman..what'd you expect.), Emile Hirsh (I know it's wrong.) does quite well for Speed and well...EVERYONE does well playing the part. Racer X is mysterious yet still leads on to Speed just as he would in the anime.
Though I will say it's not all "for kids" as you'd think it'd be. There's a fair share of cursing in the movie (and only 1 actually bleeped out for comedic reasons I assume.) then moments after that bleep, Speed's trash talking with lines like "Get that weak shit off my track" something you wouldn't expect but does come out. As the movie went in deeper, Speed actually stops trying to be the kid who "tries to play fair and win" and simply realizes he needs to at least fight back some way. I really can't find a reason to complain about this movie.
Overall, I encourage people to see this. Of course along with Iron Man. Both movies do well kicking off the already hot lineup of summer movies. A few good Speed Racer TV reference (The original voice of the english version tv show makes an appearance in the beginning along with Speed doing the actual "Pose" shown below.) but I assume with movies like such, you'd expect to see references in some way or another. (I could be wrong, but I swear I saw a Racer X keychain during one of the fight scenes...but changed too quickly for me to really see it.) Go see it. Enjoy the little Speed Racer remix theme at the end as I did.
I joined Tomopop officially today (been watching the site since it's gone up.) and I love you guys for even creating a side site with info on models, garage kits and little figurine trinkets of all kinds. But after taking a browse today and seeing this, I completely love the Tomopop team.
Alright kids and kiddies. I think i've got a good little easy simple contest idea and since such an idea is thought up, this contest (Now just gonna be called "Project Festival") will begin today and last uhh...lets say a month and a week. (so for those too lazy, June 12th is the last day for entries.) So the requirements here Below:
- Can't own Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3. (Sorry current P3 owners. The idea of this contest is kinda to get new faces or simply people who missed out on the first game. Fair enough eh?)
- Open to any region (I seriously don't care where you live. Just make sure you know you're winning a American version of Fes. So boot it up, mod it up, whatever.)
I think that's really it. So what are you doing to win this copy? Well nothing serious. Show me how much you want this damn game. I don't care how you try to show me. Type, video, picture, whatever. As long as you add some type of words with whatever else you add, make me want to pass up this worthwhile and soon to be rare game. When you post the blog, make sure you have "Project Festival" in the header title. So that I know, whoever does the Cblog 4 the day knows, and so that well...I know who to even look out for.
So yes...you have till JUNE 12TH to turn in your entry.
Found it earlier thanks to Anime news network. I'm sure (and I know) there's many variations of the Three Kingdoms books be it through TV shows, the actual made book, and anime series loosely based off it. The actual anime itself is a joint production of a Chinese animation company (Beijing Glorious Animation Co.) and a Japanese company producing. (Future Planet Co) A small excerpt from the article:
More details of a new joint Chinese-Japanese anime adaptation of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel classic were revealed at The 4th China International Cartoon and Animation Festival in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou on April 28. The novel depicts the tumultuous warring period of second-century China and the political intrigue between the different factions. The 52-episode television adaptation will begin broadcasting in China and Japan in June and finish production at the end of the year.
Can't say i'm interested. But I just hope this is better than other loose based Three Kingdom animes (coughikkitousencough). We'll see....we'll see.
All I say is, it's about fucking time. Though as some people were saying in the coments, what the hell is the point of putting wifi in the game if we're still going to Toys R Us (a pretty much dead retail store.) to trade them wirelessly? Granted alot easier than "Link cables", but it still requires me to be unlazy and get out the house. I feel bad for those with no Toys R us nearby. (as I myself have to take the metro to the closest one doing the event.)
It's things like this (and the secret announcements) that make people revert to hacks and whatnot just to get the legendary event only Pokemon.
Well...soon. [Sorry I hate big ass stretched pics.]
Because I have mine (yay me.) and i'm in a very VERY good mood for whatever reason. (and I work at Best Buy...so that means easy access to the other 3 not bought.) I feel like actually....giving 1 away. Granted i'm poor so you'll have to wait till I get payed next week. But not only do you have to wait on that, I kinda suck for contest ideas. While I will be thinking of some, feel free to spread the love and give me ideas. I'm willing to look if it's alot better than the nonsense I think up.
I'm not sure when i'll post up the contest but it should be soon. Like before I get payday soon. So keep a lookout.
Also...someone want to inform me on the font used in pics on most of the dtoid pics? like the ones on the front page? I'd love to use it but I unno the font.
Also...the Fes opening. I love it too much and well...the song was in the soundtrack that came with Persona 3.
just a small excerpt from the article if you're too lazy to read:
The American film production company DreamWorks has revealed that it has licensed the rights to adapt Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell cyber-police manga into a 3D live-action film. The story of an elite paramilitary unit in future Japan has already been adapted into three animated films and two television anime series. DreamWorks has released the second animated Ghost in the Shell film, Innocence, in North America. DreamWorks also released Millennium Actress and produced Transformers, another live-action science-fiction film with Japanese roots.
Jamie Moss (same guy who scripted that Street Kings movie.) is writing the script for the movie and Steven Spielberg is supposed to direct (or so I assume since...it's what he does.)
Being a big fan of Ghost in the Shell, I hope this turns out well once the release draws closer. Cause we all know how live action stuff from games and anime are. Lately there seems to be a small increase of how well it is but not by much.
Alias: Shin Oni
Age: 20
Location: Maryland
I've been gaming since 3 years old. I really don't remember but so much but the NES, Gameboy, and Game Gear were my best friends for games. I enjoyed many times playing Mario, Sonic, Teenage Muntant Ninja Turtles, and other random games. My biggest memory back in the day was when my dad actually bought a SNES to our house on Christmas. Still one of my best memories for christmas and gaming as it's pushed me further into playing games.
If anything, I thank my father the most for getting me into gaming. Cause he was a casual gamer back in the early 90s. Which easily lead me, my half brothers, and my sister to become avid gamers. Though out of all my siblings, i'm easily the one who sticks with games the most. As years passed, I've gone from scrub, to newb, to noob, to yadda yadda. My mom has no problem whatsoever playing games. My stepmom's probably the only idiot out of the parents who has a problem with it. My dad has that "meh" feeling towards it.
Lately i've been buying more games than playing them. I really don't have a all time favorite game. I'd mainly say Chrono Trigger as it's helped me get into RPGs back on the SNES. (cept even then, Chrono Trigger was the only RPG I played till PSX where FFVII and Xenogears took over.) I'm a big person into fighters (Mainly Tekken and Street Fighter.) and always up for new games if it's interesting.
Systems Owned: PS2
PS1
Wii
Xbox 360
Dreamcast
Snes
Nes
Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS Lite
Sony PSP
Currently Playing: Arcana Heart
Rainbow Six: Vegas 1.5
Dynasty Warrior 6
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Eternal Sonata
Super Smash Bros. Brawl
Phoenix Wright: Justice for All
