Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

After years of waiting fans finally get their hands on MGSV - sort of. Ground Zeroes is a prologue to the main game titled The Phantom Pain and is a separate game serving as both a demo and a plot set up. It gives players a taste of what MGSV will have in store for them. While the prologue does not contain the much touted dinamic time and weather change, it does off a wide open space to conduct Snake(aka BigBoss)'s operation. Only one map is available in Ground Zeroes: a Marine Base on a Cuban island where some of his comrades are being held prisoner. 

The plot for this story mission is straight forward, but the players' options are unlimited toward how they approach the objectives. Right from the start there is freedom to roam the entire base. Exploring is rewarded with secondary goals like other escaped prisoners and hidden items such as tape recordings which can be listened to in game and from the main menu. The controls are an improved form of the MGS4 and Peace Walker ones which have included ways to make a quick escape such as diving, sprinting, and jumping. Interrogation is back which can gain you important intel about your surroundings, where hidden caches of weapons are located, or where secondary objectives can be found. 

Players once again have freedom to choose between lethal and non-lethal methods to eliminated their enemies, but knocked out sentries can be roused. So choose wisely. Driving vehicles is another big addition to gameplay. Along with the open world, it should make for interesting tactical opportunities. 

New gadgets are at Snake's disposal as well. The iDroid replaces the once familiar Soloton Radar from previous titles, but rather than be a map in the corner it is brought up with a separate menu and displays tactical information such as known enemy locations, security cameras, armored vehicles, etcetera after Snake is made aware of them either by sight or interrogating a sentry. The binoculars are more useful than ever allowing Snake to "tag" enemies and objects of interest which can then be kept track of throughout the mission. Snake can also "sense" nearby enemies similarly to MGS4. A first aid spray has replaced the all too familiar ration and is accessed when Snake is severely injured. There is no health bar either which makes every tactical decision that more important. 

Upon completing the story mission, side missions are unlocked which still take place in the same base but at different times of the day to give players a taste of daylight sneaking. 

So far there is no word on whether the prologue will be included in V or remain separate. The Phantom Pain is yet to have a release date, but I'm sure that the taste from Ground Zeroes will only increase our appetite for the main course.

Bad Anime Night - Defenders of Space

After a long hiatus, Beanie is Back! An evil race of Blue Aliens attacks the Earth Colony of Aurora. The only hope is a couple of teenagers and a giant robot! Can Beanie last in what is one of the worst animes he's ever watched. Be on the listen and be on the lookout!

Beanie Teaser Trailer

After the events of Power On, Beanie attempts to have a bit of rest, but is called in on an urgent task to begin his long awaited review show. I filmed this shortly after watching Clerks, hence the homage at the start. Due to technical difficulties the actual review is behind schedule, so I decided to use the episodes opening as a teaser for the new series. The episode should be up before the end of July. Special Thanks to Dizzy Lizzy for portraying the postal worker. The music heard is the "Twisted Nerve" from Kill Bill Part 1. The ending sound clip is the game over screen from Metal Gear.

Review Requests

With the season 1 finale (hopefully) close at hand, it is time to start thinking of the future. In the fall, Power On will be back with a vengeance. The episodes will actually have reviews in them. I know! Exciting right? So I'm going to ask if there are any reviews that my viewers would like to see. Any game, any movie, any TV show. Now keep in mind that I may or may not be able to capture footage for some. Either way, they will be done in some capacity. So please, if you have anything you want to get reviewed by Beanie or Random Ninja post in the comments.

Demo Review - Infamous 2 and Red Faction: Armageddon

Since the PlayStation Store has returned from it's hiatus dealing with the hacking incident, I have downloaded a few demos and have played some. Here is basically a reactionary posting detailing my initial reaction to Infamous 2 and Red Faction: Armageddon.


Red Faction: Armageddon
I have not been much of a Red Faction fan in the past, I'm sorry to say. That is mainly due to a lack of exposure to the games themselves. To my knowledge, I haven't actually played any of them for one reason or another; however, I did download this demo, and without any preconceptions I think I can give an honest review on the gameplay and the quality of the game itself (well at least the demo)
Right from the get-go we see our protagonist being run out of town and forced to escape into the sewers--nice. Every game needs a sewer level, don't you think? Well, to be fair, it's not a typical sewer level. You are definitely under ground. You are quickly introduced to the controls, which I have to applaud the designers on. A fairly straightforward design keeps it simple enough for anyone to play, but still has enough variety to keep the action interesting. The left analogue stick is for movement--forward, backward, and side-to-side. Pressing the left stick enables your character to sprint. The right stick is for looking up, down, and left to right. Pressing the right stick initiates a melee attack. I've always been a little confused by this in games--to me melee attack should be one of the shoulder buttons. Speaking of...L1 allows you to take aim with your selected weapon and R1 (more affectionately known as the trigger) is for firing said weapon. There is a new game mechanic introduced called "Nanites" which by way of R2 produces a shockwave attack--either in a "Hulk smash!" kind of way or in a directional attack--which will send your enemies flying and damage your surroundings. By using L2 the "Nanites" reconstruct demolished structures. In order to accomplish this the player must hold down L2 and keep the "stream" in the direction of the desired reconstruction. This is only a temporary reconstruction, lasting long enough for the player to proceed. Now for the face buttons. The d-pad is used to select weapons--one being allotted to each direction--making in-fight weapon switching quick-paced and simple without needing to take the player out of the action. The triangle crouches the player, while the X button makes them jump. Circle enables you to dodge attacks by rolling either forward, backward, or side-to-side depending on which direction with the Left stick the player is moving. Square is the action button as well as allowing the player to reload their selected weapon. Among the weapons presented in the demo are your standard assault riffle--a staple of action games, a magnet gun which fires twice--once for the anchor and once for the reciever (during the demo I actually found little use for this apart from gleefully sending enemies flying into the distance--yet strangely it is currently the highest user voted weapon on Red Faction's website,) a grenade launcher which fires remotely detonated sticky grenades--it was gratifying to come across an enemy, fire the grenade and see their "Oh, Sh**!" faces just before you detonate the charge (which is done by pressing the action button,) and finally my personal favorite, the singularity cannon--a gun which fires miniature black holes! I'm not joking, it is a gun that fires mini-black holes! Upon impact a spacial singularity is created, sucking in everything within its radius until is explodes. I found it very useful when ambushed by a horde of enemies.
I familiarized myself with the controls quite rapidly, and was very comfortable as I moved through the sewer tunnels. Not being familiar with the series, I don't know if the enemies were new to the game or were staples. They reminded me of the monsters in the Doom or Duke Nukem games of old--kind of demonic/insect/alien looking creatures coming to eat your lunch. Eventually you reach a point where your character enters a power suit. I'm not sure what it was called, but it was your standard armored suit complete with machine guns and missiles. Once in it you have to run a gauntlet of metal structures and oncoming monsters.
The destruction engine (sorry, I'm not familiar with its actual name) from Guerrilla is back, and with the added ability to reconstruct the environments as well, it is better than ever. A few times I found myself wondering around, just to see what I could put back together. All-in-all, the demo had decent action, amazing graphics, great controls, and ok voice acting; but was pretty straight forward. There were no twists nor turns from the presented path--or if there were, they only led to more ammo. Although it is just a demo, maybe there will be a bit more variety in the actual game. Red Faction: Armageddon is Random Ninja Approved. Based on the demo I'd give it at least a 4 out of 5.


Infamous 2
Now unlike with Red Faction, I have played the original Infamous. I loved the first game despite its flaws in controls. The stylized look to everything, really gave the appearance of a gritty superhero story--made all the better with the comic book-like panels in the cut-scenes. However, one of the best aspects, apart from it being a free-roam sandbox style game, was the karma meter. Based on your decisions during the story, you either received positive or negative karma, which in turn enabled you to have different powers--much like the Knights of the Old Republic series. Well all of the things I loved about the first game are back in the sequel...almost. It is still a free-roam sandbox game with an ever changing karma meter tracking either your rise to grace or your fall into darkness, and the comic-style panels are back as well. However, I am not sold on Cole's new look or voice. Cole is the main character, a messenger/delivery man who inadvertently destroyed a large chunk of Empire City (the game's equivalent to New York City) simultaneously gaining supernatural powers and killing thousands of people. In Infamous 2, Cole and his sidekick Zeke have traveled to the game's equivalent to New Orleans (sorry I can't remember the name) under the belief that Cole will acquire new powers which he will use to defeat a coming enemy called "The Beast"
The demo is quite expansive, allowing the player near-full range of Cole's abilities--at least the ones achieved in the first game plus a few new ones. Right from the start, I could tell that there would be a problem with the controls. It was also a problem with the first one. They are too sensitive. You barely press the left stick to move, and Cole has gone sprinting in that direction. The amount of pressure applied to the controls determines Cole's speed. Right stick moves the camera--unlike with Red Faction, Cole doesn't actually look in the direction you move the camera. In order to use Cole's lightning, you must press and hold L1 to aim. This is one of my preferred controller moves. The best example being in Metal Gear Solid 4, how the trigger (R1) was both the melee attack and weapon fire button, however, the weapon only fires if you hold down L1 as well. This allows the player to have more control over combat. Although that's where the game's controls similarities end. Cole does have a melee attack, but it is done by pressing the square button. rather than having a combination of buttons, one only needs to repeatedly bash the square button until a small gauge fills up. This represents the amp--which is a new weapon introduced in the game. To me it looks like a wicked bat that Cole used to bash his enemies. Once the gauge fills up, you can press the triangle button to perform a killing move (for lack of a better term) There are a few different ones and they are each awesome and acrobatic. The other face buttons used with L1 use different lightning attacks. A new move introduced is a way for Cole to move objects--much like Magneto--he can lift and hurl them using his electricity to generate magnetic fields. Cole is also a free climber, which is a big part of the game. He scales buildings and other structures with relative ease; however, it's not that easy and (at least in the first game) his climbing was too sensitive like the other controls--he would grab when you don't want him to.
The demo jumps around the story of the game--going between at 4 different mission and alternating whether Cole is good or evil. To start he's good and uses his powers to take down some thugs calling themselves the Militia while trying to find a shard that will grant him more powers. Once that is over, the demo skips to a later mission. Only this time, Cole is evil. His powers are slightly different to reflect his attitude. It is in this section that the players are introduced to the supernatural thugs--reavers(I think) After you stop a fight between the Militia and the Revers( sorry I'm not sure how it's supposed to be spelled) he is sent to rescue a kidnapped girl--though she looks likes she's in her 20s The girl leads you to her uncle, who is apparently leading a resistance against the Militia. After a few words, another monster called a devourer arrives. This guy is big--not the biggest thing Cole has ever fought, but large all the same and with a hard rocky hide which appears to be impervious to lightning; however, the inside of his mouth looks fleshy and vulnerable. Putting 2 and 2 together, I immediately began tossing lightning grenades into his roaring mouth until I killed the monster. After this victory, the demo shifts once again. Cole is good once more and is sent to retrieve some cases of medical supplies from the Militia. This section introduces another power called the ionic vortex. Using great amounts of power Cole can create an electric tornado which draws in enemies (and other things) and will usually destroy everything. The first time I activated it, I accidentally did it in the middle of a busy intersection. It looked amazing. Arcing lightning dances along the telephone lines as a swirling torrent sucked in all of the pedestrians and cars. It was over in a matter of seconds, but it wowed me. After collecting three of the cases I made for the fourth, and thinking that the demo would end soon I unleashed a vortex on a large contingent of Militia surrounding my prize. Again it was glorious, but I was correct, the demo ended with that.
I'm finding this one to be a tough call. While I love the concept of the game, the powers, the premise and the look and feel; I can't seem to get over my hang ups on the controls. They are just too sensitive. And for a game that has visceral action like this, maybe the sensitivity should have been toned down a bit. Not a lot--just a bit. The demo for 2 did seem to be more refined than the first, but on the whole, it had the same feel while I was running around. Even with my hang-ups I quickly acclimated to the control scheme and was quite adept at running about, jumping, and gliding through the air. Climbing is where I had the most trouble, but with more practice...
Anyway, based on the demo I give this game a solid 4 out of 5. It is Random Ninja Approved, but maybe they should reduce the sensitivity to the controls. Oh, and I typically don't like it when water kills your character--at least these give you a chance to get out, but really...

Keep an eye out for my next Demo Review, where I discuss LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean and Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls (the other 2 demos I downloaded)

(note: Images above are the official box art for the PS3 games.)

Portal 2

Here we are, nearly 4 years later, and Portal 2 has hit the shelves for our consumption. In 2007, Valve wowed the gaming world with Portal - a short, first-person shooter/ platformer/ puzzle-solver hybrid game. The player took on the role of Chell, a test subject working for Aperture Science Laboratories. Under the close watch and guidance of a omniscient supercomputer called GLaDOS, Chell was made to move through logical obstacle courses with the aid of a portable portal generator device. Along the way she used weighted storage cubes to open doors via large buttons, and the two-way portal gun to zip around the testing arena. As the game progressed, the tests became more difficult, and Chell began to realize that GLaDOS was not completely sane. At one point, the supercomputer lured Chell into a certain death-trap; however, by now the player was quite adept at making quick portal placing decisions and escaped into the service areas of the lab. GLaDOS continued in her attempts to kill the player; but ultimately, Chell reached GLaDOS' chamber and dismantled her. In the ensuing explosion, Chell was knocked out and dragged away by some unknown figure without ever getting the cake that was promised her.


Fast forward to 2011. Portal 2 is released after a clever and highly successful promotional campaign including free play of the original and YouTube videos showing the new game play elements. The story in Portal 2 picks up an undetermined amount of time after the end of the original. Once again, the player takes up the role of Chell, who has been in a prolonged state of stasis since her defeat of GLaDOS. It is never explained in-game how she wound up in her room; however there is an online comic that bridges the gap between the games called Lab Rat. I suggest checking it out. Chell is awakened by the whole facility rumbling, she is introduced to a morality core named Wheatley, a bumbling incompetent fool. Right from the start, players are introduced to the major tone of the game: humor. Much of the dialogue is humorous, just like in the original Portal; however there are more voices besides GLaDOS this time around. Among the characters appearing in voice are Wheatley, Cave Johnson - Aperture's CEO, and GLaDOS. While avoiding spoilers I will attempt to explain the awesomesauce of the game.

While trying to escape the facility, Wheatly and Chell inadvertently awaken GLaDOS who was in a deep slumber - a sleep mode if you will. The vindictive computer then sends Chell back into the testing grounds, where she must go through tests even more difficult than before. Through her journey she will discover the origins of Aperture and abandoned sections of the lab. She will move through antiquated structures as well as the sleek futuristic ones familiar to players of the original. The plot is much more expansive; and just when the player thinks it's over, it's just beginning. On the whole, Portal 2's story is almost 2.5 times longer than that of the original. Delving the player deep into the world of Aperture science and why GLaDOS is the way she is.

Among the many new gameplay elements are hard light beams which can be used a bridges or walls, excursion tunnels which are like tractor beams, thermal discouragement beams - your standard deadly laser, and aerial faith plates which catapult the player and objects high into the air. These in combination with the cubes and portal gun add a whole new dimension to the puzzle-solving game. Of course the polite turrets make a return as well, and have a much bigger part than before as Chell moves through the bowels of Aperture Science Laboratories in her attempt to escape.


Along with the standard single-player story, Portal 2 also features an extensive multiplayer campaign. Players can connect either through their respective online networks (X-Box Live, PSN, etc) or through Steam on either PC or Mac to play with each other, or two players can play on the same system with split-screen co-op. The co-op storyline is separate from the single-player campaign (completing one is not required to play the other) While they are not directly linked, each mode is referenced during the other which does add to some form of cohesiveness to the overall game. In co-op, players will take control of two robots, Atlas and P-Body, who like Chell, are forced to test endlessly; however, unlike Chell, they cannot die. Oh, they can be destroyed, but players are not forced to restart from a checkpoint each time they are. The robots are instantly respawned close by, but their portals vanish. Vocal communication is not required to play co-op as the players can communicate with bot gestures such as waves, high fives, etc. or by using a marker they can place which is visible to the other player. Each bot also has a 2-way portal device, which enables the use of 4 total portals open at one time. Many of the tests require as many to successfully complete. In other words, 2 players are required. You cannot simply delve in by yourself. (actually I've been playing by myself using 2 controllers - some of the test are quite difficult like this, because timing needs to be perfect between the two bots to attain victory. Along the way, GLaDOS will taunt you, but admit that the two of you are forming an excellent partnership. This co-op campaign is also 2.5 times longer than the original Portal, making Portal 2 around 5 times longer than its predecessor.

Humor and logic fill the screen as Chell, or Atlas and P-Body run the gauntlet under the thumb of GLaDOS. Of course, there's a lot more to the game that I'm not telling. It is truly a sequel that surpasses the original in scope, plot, action, humor, and challenge. A must-play game. I love games that make you think. I've played through quite a few times already, and I'm still finding it challenging. That marks a good game.

Just like before, this game has many hidden secrets (Easter eggs if you will -apropos, I think) I will not discuss them, but just try something out of the ordinary and you may get a trophy/ achievement for it. If you get a feeling something is odd, out of place, or a coincidence; you're probably right and should grab it immediately. You never know what will happen. I know I'm going to be playing this game for a long time. This game is Random Ninja approved! Go out an buy if if you haven't already. It's fun for all ages; it's just good old fashioned fun.

Also, if you bought yours for the PS3, you can also play it on your Mac or PC over Steam for free, without needing the disc. The better deal in my opinion. Look for me over PSN as B-NiE, maybe we can play together.

Alpha's Magical Christmas

It's Christmas Day and Beanie wants to review a Christmas Special from his childhood. Bundle up and sip your cocoa as he presents his very first full review episode. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

(edit) Despite what the date says, this was posted Dec 25th. BlipTV was being touchy and not wanting to work. And the run time is just under 30 minutes, not 3 hours. I don't know what BlipTV's problem is.

You can also view this episode on my youtube channel in 3 parts.
http://www.youtube.com/therandomninja5

Tron: Legacy

I feel a great sense of both pride and alienation because of where I fall in my generation. Growing up I was exposed to awesome old movies like TRON, Flash Gordon, Conan, and the like. I remember them all with a feeling of nostalgia. Compared to my peers I feel that my childhood was awesome. My dad was a Trekker and a member of the KISS Army. Because of him I was exposed to awesome Science Fiction not just from the 80s but from the start. One of my favorite TV shows is the original Star Trek series and my two favorite movies are Flash Gordon and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. This is just a roundabout way of saying I'm a geek and damn proud of it.
As for the alienation, it seems that there aren't many others in my age group with this same upbringing of Star Trek, D&D, comic books and video games. Most of my peers I've been around have no knowledge of the awesome 80s movies, and music I grew up with. (Which is why I make it my sworn duty to educate people) I feel like I'm in a generation gap some times. I hang around with people older than me, because I feel more akin to them, when I talk to people my age or younger and find out they have no idea what I'm talking about I have to face palm... but enough about me.

While the original Tron came out before I was born, I was exposed to it because of my dad. We had it on VHS tape, and I would watch it along with Star Trek, Flash Gordon, Heavy Metal, and Robo Jox. I loved Science Fiction, and when I heard they were making a sequel to Tron, I freaked. Finally!

My dad and sister joined me at the theater where we saw the movie in 3d. But first we sat through 30 solid minutes of trailers. I know people joke about trailers , but it was seriously 30 minutes. There was a group of 3+ minute long trailers then there was the "please put on your 3d glasses" screen, followed by another group of 3+ minute long trailers. And finally, the movie began with possibly the best opening logo for Disney ever.

The movie itself, while have a paper thin and (frankly) predictable story, had awesome effects, superb acting, and a pumping soundtrack fitting for the mood. Everything had an 80s feel, from the source music in certain scenes, and the hammy (yet not over the top) acting. In one scene, Sam Flynn (Kevin Flynn's son) turns on the power in the arcade from the first movie. As the lights blink on, the dozens of games come to life echoing with the familiar jingles and sounds. But that's not where my geekout began. In the opening scene we see the original Tron poster on Sam's wall. Boom. Right from the get-go I was exploding with nostalgia.
And of course this movie is full of nostalgic moments for sci-fi fans. Disc battles, lightcycle battles, familiar sights, sounds, and... Bruce Boxlietner. Oh, yes Bruce Boxlietner reprises his role as Tron from the original. Oh...hell...yes! The look and feel of the movie (to me) had a sleek cyber punk look. Cyber punk being my favorite subgenre of Sci-Fi, I loved that. The costumes were great, the atmosphere was awe-inspiring, and the action was fun to watch.

Now before I seem like there was nothing at all to complain about, let me talk about what I saw as negatives.

There's barely any Bruce Boxleitner. He reprises his role as Tron, but only in brief flash back scenes. The computer generated face on younger Jeff Bridges(Kevin Flynn) is starkly noticeable. The plot is predictable; in my first screening I was literally able to speak the next lines of dialogue before the on screen actors did. Characters are set up, but then never seen nor heard from again. near the beginning we are introduced to the Encom board of directors who have ruined (gone in a completely selfish direction with) Flynn's company; among them is a smug programmer who really seems to be made out to be a great antagonist for Sam.... never seen again. And the plot revolves around the possibility that the villain, a digital copy of Kevin Flynn is bent on crossing into the real world and taking over. This (to me) raises the obvious question of how a digital being can exist in the real world (you know, without a projector or connection to the internet) We're just to assume it's possible with flynn's data disc. No explanation is given. There is a pretty thick analog for Kevin Flynn being God; he's called "the creator" and Sam (his son) arriving to save the world from CLU (the evil version of Flynn) some of this I don't mind, because technically Flynn did create (or at least laid the building blocks of) the Grid.

But I loved Tron: Legacy. I highly recommend seeing it. It is a fun ride from beginning to end (there's not much suspense, as I said it's predictable) The graphics are amazing, the acting is supurb, and it pays tribute to the original in so many ways. Finally a belated sequel worth seeing. Plus Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxlietner!

Day of the Ninja

The wind howls violently, and the air is filled with thousands of cherry blossom leaves, slowly drifting downward. Nestled in the Utagawa Mountains, a fortified temple stands watch over the world. Standing sentry atop the long stairway, a man in black robes peers to the distance. Another man approaches from behind and kneels.
"Master, I received your summons and arrived as soon as I could."
"You have done well, these past years at my side, 5." spoke the old man, "Such loyalty, and strength."
"I live to serve, master."
"And now it is time for your service to take you far away from this temple."
"Master?"
"I will be leaving this place soon, and I do not want you to spend your life wasting away within these walls."
"But master, you can't mean..."
"It is quite alright, 5." smiled the old master, now helping 5 to his feet, "I have lived a most fulfilling life. I have no remorse, no regrets."
Tears began to well in 5's eyes.
"Now, now, all is well, my child. I will always be with you."
The old master inhaled deeply and slowly began to walk away.
"But master, where will I go? What am I to do?"
"Follow your heart, my son, and all answers will be revealed." As if carried by the cherry blossoms, the old master disappeared into the night sky, leaving his humble student alone atop the steps.
For some time, 5 remained at the temple, wandering its vacant corridors. Staring at the zen garden where Master taught him his first lesson, his mind dwelt on his master's last request.
Eventually, 5 left the temple. Looking back one last time, he remembered all the years he'd spent there. It was his home, and Master was like a father to him. And now, what was there. Just emptiness.
Walking down the long stairway, he put the past behind him. He would probably never see it again. Finally reaching the bottom, he found himself in a city. People walked past without taking notice. Everyone was in a bustle, trying to buy and sell all manner of products. Many of them of low quality.
"Is there a way for someone to tell them of their futility?" 5 thought to himself.
"Man, don't buy that!" shouted a strange man in a tight skullcap, "It sucks, you should try this instead."
5 took notice of this man. Once he'd finished his verbal assault of the random pedestrian, 5 approached the man.
"Greetings," said 5, struggling to find a name for the man, "Beanie."
"Beanie?" replied the man, "heh, I like that. What can I help you with, Random Ninja?"
5 smiled at this moniker, "How would you like to help me? I think these people really need to hear what's good and bad about the things they buy."
"They need someone to tell them what they need to know. I know just how to do it."
"How?"
"The internet!"
Together, Random Ninja and Beanie started a blog site and produced videos telling their viewers the good, the bad, and the ugly about popular media.
That day would come to be known as the Day of the Ninja.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A NINJA

December 5th is the National Day of the Ninja. So here's a video depicting the everyday life of a ninja.

note. Blip.tv is being touchy again and I was forced to upload a lesser res version. for a better one check out my youtube channel www.youtube.com/therandomninja5

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1

Last night I attended the midnight premier of the latest Harry Potter movie. My fiance being a huge fan of the series actually bought our tickets over a month in advance. we even arrived nearly four hours early. Around three hours before show time, they began letting patrons into the theater. There were many people dressed for the occasion. I saw people in shirts and sweaters displaying the colors of Gryffindor house, I myself wore a Slytherin t-shirt and my fiance wore a Hogwarts hoodie over a shirt proudly displaying the word "Muggle"There were even people in full regalia of wizard robes. One young girl was wearing what appeared to be the robes of Ravenclaw, though truthfully It was quite dark and I could not tell. As the fans shuffled in there was a mixture of false British accents and overjoyed shouts all around.
Close to an hour before showtime the patrons were treated to a different kind of performance when a fan stood and shouted, "Mudbloods aren't welcome here," so that the entire theater could here him. Another young man on the opposite side of the row stood and challenged him. In sight of the entire congregation, the two would-be wizards squared off at the foot of the screen. Neither in wizard robes, but both with wands. The Pure-blood on one side and the Muggle-born on the other.
With a flick of his wand the pure-blood shouted "Stupify!" and the Muggle-born flew backward into a pile of empty boxes. Though slightly disoriented, the Muggle-born stood and retaliated with his own spell, "Sectumsempre!" But the pure-blood reacted quickly.
"Protego!" and the spell was deflected into the screen. Almost simultaneously the duelists fired their next spells.
"Petrificus Totalis and Avarda Kedavra" were shouted in such close proximity that no one could tell who shouted what. There was a flash of green and the Pure-blood sank into the floor staring up to the ceiling with lifeless eyes. When the smoke cleared there was a thunderous roar of applause from the theater as the Muggle-born was hailed as a champion.
Finally it was midnight. The lights dimmed and the screen came to life; the familiar Warner Brothers logo appeared in the clouds and there was a shriek of joy from every corner of the theater. At long last after nearly a decade, the end of the saga had begun.
The movie, being split into two parts had more time to draw out scenes. Unlike the others which seemed to be rushed, this one could take a more steady pace. Which I feel really helped the foreboding feeling it was trying to make. There was more scope in the cinematography, showing depth in the world as Harry and his friends journey. Having the movie at a slower pace is not detrimental in the slightest. It gives the viewer a chance to see the world as it changes around the characters, as well as give ample time for character development and little moments, that fans of the books will enjoy just as much as the average movie-goer. Everything builds up to the climactic conclusion in part 2. Not to say that part 1 is without climax, there are several climactic moments which leave the audience on the edge of their seat and leave them wanting more.
While there are moments from the book not present in the movie, it leaves room for original ideas, which, while mentioned in the book, never actually are seen (read.) What is left in, only works for the better, character-wise and story-wise.
If anything this movie has a theme of Loss. Harry and his friends are still feeling the effects of the events from Half-Blood Prince. They are cut-off from everything they have come to know and love in the last six years at Hogwarts. They are on the run without a clue as to what they are supposed to be doing in carrying out Dumbleore's wishes. Once again, their friendship and resolve will be tested. Do they have what it takes to save the world? Are they on the right path? These are but a few of the questions swimming in their weary minds.
In the end, we have a look at what's to come. What will be in store for our heroes in part 2 with what has happened to them so far in part 1. You definitely get the sense of foreboding and loss while watching part 1.
The visuals as, always are beautiful and stunning, the characters are spot on, and the dialogue is straight out of the book. So far, this is possibly the closest book to movie transition ever made, and part 2 is still months away. J K Rowling's world has truly come to life and with nearly a decade of work, Hollywood has finally gotten something right. I thoroughly recommend seeing this movie, not only if you are a fan of the books or movies, but if you love movies, and love the pure escapism. You will be hard-pressed to find a more immersed movie-going experience.

Undead Redemption

Being that today is the Day of the Dead, I thought I would play a game fitting the season. But what to play? I want to play a Zombie survival game that is free roaming with an expansive area to wonder and run from the undead. Something like that awesome free roam western game, Red Dead Redemption...Hmm...What's this?


Oh My God, Yes!
My prayers have been answered. Rockstar Games has heard my plea and has given me a glorious thing. Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare is a short horror game available for download on the Playstation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Set within the storyoriginal game, this DLC's story takes place shortly after John Marston returns home from his adventure in the regular game. A terrible storm is brewing, and all across the land, the dead are rising from the grave to feast on the flesh of the living. Marston rides out to find an answer to "why?" Along the way, he runs into familiar faces from RDD as he battles with the unholy demon hordes of undead.

The controls handle exactly the same way as in the regular game, however, there is a less abundance of weapons and ammunition. Hundreds of zombies roam the land, and only a few dozen survivors can be found holed up in the once thriving towns. Not only are the recently deceased humans on the rampage, but the skies are filled with cursed bats, and the wilderness is home to undead animals seeking to devour anyone who still lives. You can even ride on undead horses.

The ambiance is amazing, and really fit the intended mood. A dark haze blankets the land, and the sun is rarely seen, with frequent rains and overcast days. And you never know when you'll run into a legion of undead. You need to stay on your toes at all times. Just because you can't see them, doesn't mean they're not there. Many times I found myself standing over the last zombie's body, when all of a sudden there's another fifty or so, springing up out of the ground!

Marston must roam the country, saving towns and helping the survivors. There is plenty to keep the player occupied, from fending off the zombie hordes to hunting down the elusive sasquatch, searching for buried treasure, and even breaking in the four horses of the apocalypse. Each with its own special power. War has the ability to smite your trampled enemies in hellfire, Pestilence is nearly impossible to kill, Famine never tires, and Death causes your trampled enemies' heads to explode!

With new weapons and outfits to find, the zombie apocalypse is a fun ride to enjoy, but be careful, because you might become a zombie yourself!
This game had me terrified and at the same time, reveling in its awesomeness.
It's a bit glitchy, but so was RDD. A great buy, $9.99 on PSN. Totally worth it. 10+ hours of gameplay; and as always with Rockstar Games, the ability to continue to free roam after the story mode ends, and that's always a good thing. It is possibly the best zombie game out there. Now, if only it were a full length game.
9/10

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow Limited Edition

Beanie and Francis open up their Castlevania: Lords of Shadow limited edition box and see what's inside.

Jackass 3D

Utilizing state-of-the-art 3D cameras and high speed slow-motion, Jackass is considerably the best 3D movie of all time, if no THE best movie of all time. Unlike other 3D movies which use the technology as a gimmick to have things appear to fly out at the audience "whoa, that hand looks like it's coming out at me!" Jackass does not. In Jackass, there is more play with perspective and depth of field. Making object appear either closer or further away than they actually are. That is how 3D should be treated.
Have you ever wanted to see someone getting slapped in the face with a mackerel in super slo-mo? I have. Have you ever wanted to see someone get knocked over by a giant hand? I have. While much of the movie is filled with childish stunts and immature gags, there is a deeper meaning. Spreading a message of good natured feelings, there is no hate, nor malice anywhere to be found in this movie. It is filled with a childlike innocence and brotherly love. The Jackasses are retaining that innocence of childhood, playing as we all did as children. It is the paramount of escapism that we as a society desperately need. Harmless fun.
There is no conflict, no great task to undertake, no damsel to rescue, only laughs to be shared and fun to be had. They bring us back to a simpler time, when we were children. Playing and laughing together as we pushed our friend down a hill into a questionable nasty pond or frolicked naked through a field. I did these things, and you did too. It is the embodiment of the never grow old mentality. Not in the sense that you should never mature and live your life. We've seen these guys when they're not goofing around, leading normal lives, many of them are very successful in their careers outside of Jackass. No, what I mean, is that you should retain your childhood innocence in some way, whether it be goofing around with your buddies or just doing something nostalgic and meaningful to yourself. That is what Jackass is really about, Memories of a better time. I highly recommend this movie. And don't give me that crap about imitatible acts. When I was a kid I did much of the very same stuff, and that was long before jackass was around. I will not lie, there is a lot of peni in this movie, and you should take caution if you're uncomfortable around that, but lets be honest. By this time in your life your bound to have already seen at least one.
Go see this movie!

Big News

I was planning on waiting until after the series finale of Power On to debut the new format video series but I've already got two episode raring to go. So I've decided to push up the release date on the new episodes to next week. Actually the first was supposed to be up this week, but work got in the way. Be on the listen and be on the lookout for the new and improved Random Ninja Attack!

Power On - Episode 5 "What Sweeps The Mind"

At last the long awaited episode 5 of the hit web series Power On.

Investigative journalist Weston Harris tracks down a lead in a case involving mysterious events and strange sightings. Where will his search lead him?

The Last Airbender

I recently just saw the movie based on the popular nicktoon "Avatar: The Last Airbender." Let me be the first to say that this movie is vastly underrated by others. It is a great movie, Now it does have flaws but none of them are deal breakers in my book. Especially when you keep in mind that this movie is intended for younger audiences. There are a few things that will take people by surprise, and these were explained in an interview with director M. Night Shayamalan. One major thing that differs between the show and the movie is that in the movie the names are pronounced correctly whereas in the cartoon they are not.
I actually heard people complaining the reverse. No offense intended (well maybe a little) these people belong to the uneducated masses. These were not children either. They were adults. These are probably the same people who think that China and Japan are the same country.
The movie itself had action a little adventure, some romance, and the best special effects so far this year. The actors were perfectly cast, fully embodying the characters they personafied. The story remained true to the original apart from certain things which were not problematic. The Last Airbender movie was basically an abridged version of season 1 of the show. Keeping to the key points of the overall plot while glancing over or omitting unnecessary adventures (things that contribute in no way at all to the plot)
There are a few things that could have been done better: there was one scene where exposition was uncomfortably spouted out hastily and was shot entirely in close-up. This scene should have been a medium shot and with a better paced delivery. Another scene that should've been done better (this is a bit of a spoiler) Aang (pronounced with and extended short a sound) turns to Zuko and says, "we could be friends" and then the scene cuts to something else abruptly. It should have either zoomed out slowly revealing Zuko's reaction or panned slowly to do the same, or even had a close up of Zuko's reaction. But no, there is no shot of Zuko's reaction. Apart from that, I would've enjoyed a more steady calm pace to the production, but again, I have to keep in mind the movie is intended for younger audiences and they have shorter attention spans than I do. (I can sit through Seven Samurai without needing the intermission to stretch my legs.) If the movie was 2 hours rather than 1 1/2 it would've had more time to flesh out everything, as it was, it was a bit rushed at times, but it did manage to fit an entire season into that 1 1/2 hours, and for that I am impressed.
The artistic design is amazing, taking different approach than the show, while still keeping the same themes. Fire nation wears reds and their dress is similar to that of feudal era Japan. Earth nation wears greens and browns with styles similar to Ancient China. Water nation dresses in blues and dresses in both Inuit garb and Norwegian fair. And the Air nomads dress as Tibetan monks with oranges and yellows. The fire nation's ships have a mechanical industrial feel whereas the other ships seen are made of wood as those of the sailing age. Character designs are true to the source material but have their own style. Zuko for instance appears as he does in season 2 rather than his appearance in season 1. Katara's hair is down, and the Fire lord has short hair, which suits the actors. Another thing that may take people aback is that the Water nation are all Caucasian rather than "Inuit" as in the show. The Earth nation are all Southeast Asian, and the Fire nation are Asian-Indian. The Air Nomads are mix between many ethnicities.
While the story may not seem as compelling to adult audiences, remember it is for children and is based on a children's show. The people who complain about it are ignorant of this fact and of the show itself. For instance, I've heard in other reviews that the show was referred to as an anime. Which is incorrect. The show is American made, though it is done in a Japanimation style, it is a nicktoon, written by Americans (hence the mispronunciations,etc) This movie is actually well done, with amazing actors especially Shaun Toub as Iroh. I really do hope that M. Night Shyamalan makes the other two to complete the story. The Last Airbender is a great movie and should be viewed in the manner it was intended. I'm actually planning on seeing it again, and maybe for a 3rd time, who knows. I suggest this movie not only to fans of the show but to casual viewers as well. Though keep in mind, you won't be getting the whole story. For that you'd need to watch the series.
Go see it, now!

recent games

This is an impromptu attack because I'm bored waiting for a video to load on another site (the spoony experiment){go check it out, hilarious}
anywhay...
Where was I, oh yes. I've been on vacation the last few weeks and apart from hitting the beach I played some of the newer videogame titles that have hit the shelves in the last month. I've only just gotten to them and have been busy with other things so I've only gotten ahold of 4 games. Red Dead Redemption, Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, Iron Man 2, and Mod Nation Racers.

MNR has been out for a little while but I finally got my hands on it. I haven't beaten yet, but I would like to give a brief rundown on it. For those who don't know. MNR was made by the same team that brought you Little Big Planet. But this is not a mischief filled platformer, it is a racing game. To be more precise, It is a cart (or kart) racing game. Akin to Mario Kart and the like. Which means that not only are you racing on wacky courses with jumps, rings of fire, water hazards, and other nasty squish-you obstacles, but there are weapons and items that you can use on your opponents. These range from hyperboosters, to missiles. Yet there's a limited number of weapons. All in all there are 4(not including the powered up versions) boosters, rockets, lightning, and shock waves. The lower level of these are ok for close combat but the power ups are what you need for long distance destruction. If you're falling behind on the polls, try collecting an item and see what happens. Unfortunately there's no difference in appearance for the items on the track. They all look like purple spheres, But they are necessary in some races. So far the races have had 12 positions. That means that there are 11 other drivers collecting weapons and aiming them at you. Lap 3 usually becomes a frenzy of rockets and shock waves with someone trying to boost through the carnage. Many times I've lost at the finish line because of a salvo launched behind me, but that's also the fun of the game. You never know whether you're going to win are explode at the home stretch.
Along with the fast-paced, trigger-happy tracks, MNR offers a creation system (much like LBP) where you can customize your Mod(character) your Kart, and even custom make your own courses using the exact same engine that the designers used. Hours will be spent tweaking every little detail, or you can just make the track itself and have the game auto populate it. It basically picks the obstacles, and decoration placement at random. Try it out for a spin. You just may enjoy it.
MNR has both online and offline multi-player so you can have fun blowing your friends up and stealing the gold medal(or whatever you get for winning) All in all it is an enjoyable and addicting game.

RDD is a western for the ages. The most expansive and engrossing western game ever. Made by the studio that brought you Grand Theft Auto, you are place in the rough years of the early 20th century, where industry was taking over, and there was less and less need for pioneers and cowboys. You play as John Marsten - a former outlaw who is contracted by the government to take down his former posse. The land is so enormous that you can easily get lost. But not only that, it is beautifully designed. From the variety of landscape and sky effects you can spend hours just gazing into the distance. From dry desert, to the plains, to a snow covered forest, you will have lots to see. But don't get lost in thought, because you never know when a grizzly or a bandito will attack you. The random encounters give a whole new level of gameplay that not many other games offer. The music sounds like its straight from a spaghetti western and really transports you into that world. The dead eye system (which slows down time and allows you to take more accurate shots) works with all weapons and not just the revolver. There's also more variety of weapons than in other western games as well. However the weapon menu does not pause the game, so make sure you're out of the line of fire when you change weapons or you could find yourself laying face up.
Not all random encounters are dangerous, some are just people who want a ride into town or even to reward you for your good deeds. There is an honor system (that is similar to the fame system in infamous) however it does not change the outcome of the game nor the missions, so there's no real incentive to be good. There is a wanted system, much like in GTA4, and the combat is similar as well. And of course like most Rockstar games, you can keep playing after you've beaten it, and with the random encounters, saloons, and even bounty missions there's enough to peak your interest for a long time to come.
But the game is not without faults. Among the top are: cannot swim, duel mode sucks, authorities come way too fast once you've done something wrong(by accident) seriously I walked into a town and everybody and their grama was shooting at me. So I shot back and Bam, I'm the one who get chased by the sherif. By I digress. The dueling system is flawed. You are encouraged to win non-lethally by way of shooting their gun from their hand or their hat off their head; however, there are some duels where that is impossible. I tried several times to win non-lethally, and every time I died. So I had to just pump them fill of lead. I could go on but I've got a few more games to discuss in this attack.

Before I get to the best game I played recently, lets discuss the worst. Iron Man 2.
Now don't get me wrong, I love Iron Man. I love the movie I love Iron man 2 the movie, but I am greatly disappointed in the game. Before I discuss the bad, I will talk about the good.
The game does not follow the movie (yes I find this a good thing) it is an adventure that takes place sometime after the events fo the movie, So You may need some knowledge of the movie (but not much) A few characters from the movie appear in the game, but most of the characters are either new or movie-like versions of comic characters. That's one of the things I love about the game, they take classic icons from the comics and use the designs from the movies to make them fit in that universe. The voices are done by the actors from the movies, so they have the same mannerisms. And you can play as either Iron Man or War Machine. SHIELD Helicarrier!
Now for the bad: I'm going to come out and say this. The designers put no effort into this game. The controls are all over the place. It takes too many buttons to do things and even then, the directional controls with the camera and flight controls are awful. It is difficult to lock on target. While you can press a button and lock, it doesn't always lock on the nearest target, nor does it lock onto targets directly behind. The game seems short, compared to other super hero games. One of my biggest problems is that it is not free-roam. In my opinion super hero games should be free-roam, where you as the hero scour the city and answer the call for help. But no. this is a straight up mission-by-mission game. Now for the biggest problem. The graphics SUCK. Where were the designers. Not at work obviously. I mean this game is not PS3 quality. First gen PS2 maybe.
For years the rift between PS3 and PS2 versions of games has been wide, but this is ridiculous. I'm glad I just rented this game and didn't buy it. I would be totally miffed if I paid $60+ for this piece of trash.
Ok. now don't you all get mad. I do kind of enjoy playing this game. I mean, I'm flying around, cracking skulls as Iron Man or War Machine. Now that's at least something. But they should have left this game in the oven a bit longer.
Now make it free roam, include things from this game like the hellicarrier - make it a fully explorable environment. Fly around and save people from things and bad guys and stuff.

Now I will talk some about the best game I've played recently. MGSPW.
I plan on doing a more extensive review, but heres a short version.
Aside from having the usual problems with PSP games (the control limitations ) Kojima Productions has outdone themselves once again. Pushing the technology to the limits and beyond. This is the most extensive PSP game ever made. Now before you say "that's not that impressive" keep this in mind. A UMD disc is a 1/4 the size of a normal one and no where near has the data storage of a modern bluray disc, yet PW has more content than MGS4. Can you believe that.
While the story is on the short side(compared to the other games) it is engrossing and filled with intrigue. You play as Big Boss in a MGS3 sequel. BB has been busy recruiting a mercenary army when he is contacted by Galvez who wants him to pursue a mysterious military that has invaded their country. On his mission, BB uncovers the new Metal Gear code named Peace Walker.
I'm not going to get too in depth with this, but the game continues after the story mode. There are dozens of side missions and missions where you send troops into battle. With an ever growing tech tree, you can play to your strengths and use the right tool for the right job. If you're a MGS fan, you definitely want to play this. It IS an official game in the series, directed by famed series creator Hideo Kojima. There's soo much in this game, that I could just go on and on, but I'll save that for another time. Needless to say, It was a very enjoyable escape that I have been hard-pressed to put down. Hours of stealth action await gamers who get their sneaky mits on Peace Walker. I strongly advise getting this game, not just for MGS fans but any gamer. It is an experience like no other. So Snake in, play with a friend. Oh, I forgot, the entire game is co-op-able. Is that a word. It is now "co-op-able" copy write Random Ninja Attack (june 26, 2010) You can play every mission in the game in co-op, that is amazing and a first for MGS. I hope it is a light of things to come from the awesome team at Kojima Productions.

Well that's what I've been up to (apart form looking for a job, and dealing with family matters) but expect a few more things to come in the next week, until then, be careful when you walk down that dark path because you never know when you may walk into... a RANDOM NINJA ATTACK!!!

Attack on Gamer

Gamer is probably the best video game movie ever made. (so far) Why? Because it's not based on a video game. It has elements from games and also plays on society's interest and fear of total control. Yet it is not entirely original either.

WARNING! This text review WILL contain spoilers.

In Gamer, technology has advanced so that people can participate in online social and war games not by controlling digital avatars but by controlling living breathing people. Players can make these people do anything that they want. The inventer of the tech and the "games," Ken Castle, has become the richest man in the world. Thousands if not millions of people play his "games"

The two games he has produced are a social sim called Society and a brutal shooter called Slayers. In Society, people control the actions of their "avatars" in whatever sick and twisted ways they desire. They can force these people to rave, take drugs, imbibe alcohol, and even have sex against their will. The "avatars" while in the "game" have no control over their actions - total control is given to the "players" at what I can only expect is quite a sum of money. Total control is achieved with nanites which replace the "avatar's" brain cells and give the "players" a direct link through an IP address. Much like a computer that connects with the internet today. Frankly this sounds very much like SOP (Son's of the Patriots) from Metal Gear Solid 4, but I digress. While in control over the "avatars" the "players" can customize their appearance; which includes: outfits, hair, make-up, accessories, and anything else. Let me just say that these "players" are sick.

Slayers is more recent. In this game, "players" control death row inmates in a game akin to most shooters of today ( ie Army of Two, Gears of War, etc.) where they control and kill living beings using a traditional third person camera. In this "game" the "players" control these convicts for their freedom. IF the convicts can survive 30 matches, they will be freed from their sentence. "Players" can purchase upgrades for their "avatars" such as new weapons and body armor to ensure that their "avatar" survives. But when it comes down to it, its up to the "players" to ensure their "avatar" lives. One such "player" is Simon who controls the "avatar" Kable. Together they are only a few matches away from freedom. It turns out that "Kable" was framed so to speak, and is getting much further than Castle expected. Castle decides to kill Kable by any means necessary.

Not everyone is content with the Control developed by Ken Castle, in fact, there is a resistance cell calling themselves Humanz who are attempting to spread the truth about Castle's Control. Other characters include a talkshow host who is at first skeptical but realizes the truth and decides to help. Wait a minute...

A futuristic world, where convicts play in a game to win their freedom, yet the entire truth is kept from the public, and the one man who may win was framed. The creator of the game wants to kill that man just at the finish line, and there is a resistance group trying to go public with the truth and person working in television helps out. There's just something familiar about this plot. There's another story almost just like that. What was it? >cough< The Running Man.

That's right. Gamer is in fact an updated version of The Running Man which was originally written by Steven King under a pseudonym. The Running Man, for those who don't know, was about a man who was a helicopter pilot sent to prison for the massacre of innocent civilians, which he was framed of. After escaping, he runs into a woman who works in television, who believes the false charges. He is captured again, but this time is given the opportunity to participate in the world's most popular game show called The Running Man - which has criminals running through a maze in an abandoned city while being pursued and promising their freedom upon winning. During his run, he is chased by Stalkers who are trying to kill him and his fellow "contestants" which includes his friends from prison and the woman. They all know that he is innocent, and there is even a resistance group which is trying to show that the media is hiding the truth from the public. When it becomes evident that Ben Richards - the running man, is going to win, the media fake his death. However, Richards, manages to fight his way and confront the media and the creator of the game show, Killian, all the while exposing the truth about his so called crime and what the media has been doing.

Lets juxtapose this with Gamer. Kable - real name Tillman, was part of the early experiments of Castle's nanex control system. Castle controlled Tillman into killing someone, which gave Tillman a spot on death row. Castle then creates a game that grants prisoners their freedom if they win. Tillman does surprisingly well, and Castle sends in people specifically to kill him. A television hostess gets thrown into the fray when she decides to help Tillman and the resistance who are attempting to uncover Castles plot to control the entire world with his nanites. Along the way, they uncover the truth about Tillman's "crime", but not after Castle fakes Tillman's death when he was just seconds away from freedom. Tillman fights his way into Castle's HQ and confronts him, and with the help of the Hostess, reveals the truth to the world. Gamer, like The Running Man, ends with our hero killing the creator and freeing everyone from his control.

There are a few points in Gamer not from The Running Man, such as: the hero having a family on the outside which he is desperately trying to get to. And the whole Take over the world thing (of course) - in The Running Man, the world is already controlled by the media. Also the nanite control thing, which as I said, is more akin to Metal Gear. But it would make sense to get some inspiration from action shooter games. The use of save points, and an awesome heads up display for the "players" gives a sense of a real game that one might play. However, in this game you only get one life. (man that would have been a good tag line for this movie) It's mine now, you can't take it.

Visually, this movie is amazing. Society has bright high chroma colors and gives the feeling of a pop-style game, yet in Slayers the colors are muted, much more subdued and gritty, which really works for shooter games. High-tech and current tech weapons and equipment ad to the feel, as well as the customization of the "avatars"

This movie delves into the disturbing hobbies of gamers, and as a gamer myself, I am sad to say that there are people out their like that. I REALLY wanted the fat guy to get killed. I try to imagine that he did, what with the death squad showing up at his apartment.

Unlike The Running Man, Gamer shows a much more utopian future, but with the same problems. All in all, both movies are amazing, and culturally relevant to the times at which they were released. The Running Man, came at a time where game shows were king and everyone wanted the next awesome show with out-of-this-world gimmicks and outrageous contestants. Gamer was appropriate for its time due to the recent boom in video games.

But I think that both stem from the ideas introduced in one literary classic. That being, George Orwell's 1984. In which a utopian society is ruled by a totalitarian government by way of mass fear and constant monitoring. Everyone is constantly being watched by "Big Brother" and we must all think happy thoughts, or else we will disappear. FOUR FINGERS!

Anyway before I ramble on too long (too late) I must say that Gamer is an excellent retelling of an already great movie. It is The Running Man of this generation.

Power On - Episode 2 "Assassin's Creed II: Master Assassin Editon"

BEANiE returns to find that Francis is still playing dragon age origins. But BEANiE has a surprise, he's just returned from the videogame store with a large package. What could it be? He's going to tell you.

KB's Muzak Corner

KB returns to his room to find Francis listening to his ipod. Francis then insults KB's taste in music. This inspires KB to make his own show to show Francis he knows his stuff.