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Reviews Video Games

Minor videogame update

I’ve been a bit slack in the video game department lately. Well, slack may not be the right word, but I certainly haven’t stopped playing.

I’ve played a lot of Rock Band 2 since my return from Phenomenon. I’m very happy with the gameplay changes – playing solo in “Tour” mode, challenges and so forth make for a much richer experience. I’ve also dumped a ton of cash on DLC for the game, so I’m not anywhere near to being bored with it.

I also like the extended experience you get by linking to rockband.com. I think it’s very clever marketing, and am seriously considering getting miniatures made of my band members when I’m happy with the way I’ve styled the models. Stroke my vanity visit my profile, and feel free to link me if you have an RB account.

In other news, I downloaded a couple of demos recently (thanks to the purchase of a 120GB hard drive).

Resident Evil 5 is a really poor demo. You’re dropped in the middle of a firefight with zero instruction and expected to survive. I’m assured that the gameplay is not as impenetrable as the demo shows, so I’m willing to give it a second chance.

Red Faction sounds really good in review, but neither of my regular approaches to FPS (super stealth, or gung ho) seemed to work. Again, not sure if I’ll bother with the game.

Crackdown, on the other hand doesn’t seem quite so bad. I know the game’s pretty much been and gone, but I can’t afford to ride the wave the whole time. While I’m not generally a fan of sandbox games, this one seems to encourage my “can’t be fucked” approach to things. It worked in Fallout 3, and I think it may work enough to justify a purchase for Crackdown.

Finally, I’m beginning to feel the urge to play Jade Empire again. Well, since I already own it, I won’t have to spend any money…

What are you guys into these days?

Categories
Movies and TV Tabletop Games

GOLD: Episode 4 – Labyrinth of Madness

When Oliver’s interview airs, announcing the British team’s impending move to California, Jon decides he needs to get his game back by seeking out a dangerous back-alley game. Meanwhile, Richard tries to unite his team by getting them drunk, and Cissy learns some disturbing news about her job.

This is a great series, and I think it’s important to support media aimed at the gaming community, so please visit the website and watch the show. It’s available on the web, as well as by podcast [iTunes]. GOLD is independently produced, so if you can spare a little money, consider clicking on their donate button.

Categories
Food Reviews

Amazing BBQ experience at Braza!

Given that Leichhardt is at the heart of Sydney’s Italian dining experience, one would not necessarily expect to find a Brazillian restaurant located therein packed to the rafters. Nonetheless, Braza does a roaring trade — and with good reason.

Continue reading “Amazing BBQ experience at Braza!”
Categories
Movies and TV Reviews

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Given that I hadn’t really enjoyed the first Transformers film, I was pretty sure I couldn’t be bothered shelling out any money to see the sequel. I’m not sure why, but I just couldn’t buy into it. Nonetheless, last night I found myself at the local opening of Revenge of the Fallen.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Perhaps I had lowered my expectations (this was not Transformers, this was Michael Bay), perhaps there was something intrinsically better about this film, perhaps it was just Megan Fox in minute after minute of slow-motion goodness, but I had a pretty good time.

I’m not going to waste anybody’s time explaining the plot because it’s a pretty simple Race to Mount Doom style scenario. Sufficie to say that there is much shooting, fighting, and references to energon.

The script is typically great Michael Bay. Full of one liners and witticisms that are delivered at a rapid fire pace to make sure that you don’t realise exactly how crass it all is. There was a lot of toilet humour — not that I mind, but not exactly what I remember from the cartoon I watched as a kid.

The robot-on-robot ninja action was awesome. Optimus Prime breaking out double swords and taking on a small army of Decepticons was nothing short of spectacular.

One thing that did bug me was the sound mix, and I guess it grated on me watching the first one as well. It’s so loud to the point that individual sounds are not discernible from each other. That makes a lot of dialogue unintelligible, and much of the traditional “transforming” sound becomes lost in monstrous but vague industrial machinery noise.

In the end, if you’re either a fan of the first Transformers film, or Michael Bay in general, you will have a great time with Revenge of the Fallen.

Categories
Movies and TV Tabletop Games

GOLD: Episode 3 – Heart of the Enemy

Faced with the prospect of battling a reconfigured American team, Oliver Crane launches his British team into a new training program, creating a rift between himself and his lieutenant, Martha. Meanwhile, Jon presses Tim for information about his old team’s training, and Richard forces Sam to choose a character class for the tournament.

This is a great series, and I think it’s important to support media aimed at the gaming community, so please visit the website and watch the show. It’s available on the web, as well as by podcast [iTunes]. GOLD is independently produced, so if you can spare a little money, consider clicking on their donate button.