I've recently gotten into a new show on Netflix, called Strange Empire. I don't normally care for the kind of 'cowboy vs. indian' style show, but this one is actually very good.
The basic premise of the show is that travelers are ambushed by 'indians', and all the men killed. This forces the women to accept help from a seedy man that had previous been burned by them. The acting is great, and the characters' personalities are both unique and perfect for the show.
I would recommend this for an adult audience though. The setting is Jamestown, where a whore house has been set up. While the plot doesn't revolve around this, it is one of the more base structures of it. The plot is more character based, which is what I enjoy.
Overall, it's a good show that does not rely on sketchy setting or nature problems, but rather on human problems. There's no fantasy or sci-fi, and is very much on the realistic side. Just a warning, there is adult scenes, including violence and partial nudity.
Read it Before you Steal it!
This work by Afyvarra is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Review. Show all posts
Tuesday, 9 June 2015
Saturday, 11 April 2015
Writing Excuses
One of my favorite authors is Brandon Sanderson, and for many years he, along with Dan Wells, Howard Taylor, and Mary Robinette Kowal, have been hosting a podcast called Writing Excuses, all about writing. I recently started listening to it, and I'm hooked.
All the authors are knowledgeable about their craft, and about others. It's amazing to hear how often they can quote other authors, without any hesitation or indication that they're reading off of anything. They also use their own works quite often, including stories about their own mistakes and beginnings. It's great to hear, to bring them back down to human level from where we placed them as gods of the writing world.
They give great advice, often addressing listeners as new writers, as most listeners probably are, or if not, they understand the challenges of a new writer. The speakers sound natural and humorous, so it's easier to listen to than a lecture. Each podcast is also only fifteen minutes long, so they pack each episode full of advice and anecdotes, and concentrate exactly on what the subject is for the week. It's like a concentrated dose of a classroom lecture.
Their main piece of advice is always "keep writing". Like any authors, they know that the only way to get better is to always be writing. They say to scrap almost everything you first write, either because it'll only be practice, or you'll be too attached to it to make the changes that need to be made. Maybe what you scrap, whether it's a plot point, a character or a witty line, can be used later in the series, or even in another book.
So far, my favorite piece of advice has been about beginnings. They say to not worry too much about your beginning, not when your first write it. Because that beginning that you first write will probably either get deleted, or get moved so that it's not longer your beginning. In fact, the beginning could be the very last thing you write. As someone who has always struggled with how to start, this is great. Now I just need to learn how to end things.
All the authors are knowledgeable about their craft, and about others. It's amazing to hear how often they can quote other authors, without any hesitation or indication that they're reading off of anything. They also use their own works quite often, including stories about their own mistakes and beginnings. It's great to hear, to bring them back down to human level from where we placed them as gods of the writing world.
They give great advice, often addressing listeners as new writers, as most listeners probably are, or if not, they understand the challenges of a new writer. The speakers sound natural and humorous, so it's easier to listen to than a lecture. Each podcast is also only fifteen minutes long, so they pack each episode full of advice and anecdotes, and concentrate exactly on what the subject is for the week. It's like a concentrated dose of a classroom lecture.
Their main piece of advice is always "keep writing". Like any authors, they know that the only way to get better is to always be writing. They say to scrap almost everything you first write, either because it'll only be practice, or you'll be too attached to it to make the changes that need to be made. Maybe what you scrap, whether it's a plot point, a character or a witty line, can be used later in the series, or even in another book.
So far, my favorite piece of advice has been about beginnings. They say to not worry too much about your beginning, not when your first write it. Because that beginning that you first write will probably either get deleted, or get moved so that it's not longer your beginning. In fact, the beginning could be the very last thing you write. As someone who has always struggled with how to start, this is great. Now I just need to learn how to end things.
Gardens of the Moon review
I am still a couple hundred pages off from finishing this book, but I can already tell that I am hooked. I didn't feel this way for most of the book, however.
Gardens of the Moon, the first book in the Malazon Book of the Fallen series, is by far the most confusing book I have ever read. The author, Steven Erikson, even admits that it's confusing, and it's exactly what he intended. He didn't want to have to lead the reader by the hand through the book, and decided to plop them right down in the middle of everything. All the while, the time skips forward every couple hundred pages or so, and it's difficult to tell what side everyone is on, if they're on a side at all. I don't know whether to applaud his bravery at trying this, or toss the book across the room.
I'm glad I kept with it though. I have experience with books like this, and I trusted that it would get better. It did. A lot of this book relies on the reader to figure stuff out on their own. It treats them like an intelligent thinking being, and after my initial irritation, I really appreciated this.
One reason for this confusion is the narrator. It's so far in the third person omnipresent that it jumps from mind to mind within a single paragraph. Most of the time that I see this in a novel, it's sporadic and unintentional. It's when the chapter is in the POV of one character, but a few times we get the feelings or thoughts of another, just because it's handy for the plot or to keep the reader informed. In Gardens of the Moon, if there is a character mentioned, we know how it feels. This can be both very confusing, as most people are not used to it, but also very handy. We get most of our information this way, either from direct thoughts from characters, or by being able to see the connection between two characters. The narrator is so deep, that it's very rare to actually hear the narrator's voice. I would say that 95% of the story is told by the characters. This includes plot, for what is going on now, and what has happened thousands of years before the story even started.
Gardens of the Moon is meant for an advanced reader, one willing to take on a challenge. It starts off being very difficult and confusing, but once the reader starts to understand, the book is very enjoyable.
Gardens of the Moon, the first book in the Malazon Book of the Fallen series, is by far the most confusing book I have ever read. The author, Steven Erikson, even admits that it's confusing, and it's exactly what he intended. He didn't want to have to lead the reader by the hand through the book, and decided to plop them right down in the middle of everything. All the while, the time skips forward every couple hundred pages or so, and it's difficult to tell what side everyone is on, if they're on a side at all. I don't know whether to applaud his bravery at trying this, or toss the book across the room.
I'm glad I kept with it though. I have experience with books like this, and I trusted that it would get better. It did. A lot of this book relies on the reader to figure stuff out on their own. It treats them like an intelligent thinking being, and after my initial irritation, I really appreciated this.
One reason for this confusion is the narrator. It's so far in the third person omnipresent that it jumps from mind to mind within a single paragraph. Most of the time that I see this in a novel, it's sporadic and unintentional. It's when the chapter is in the POV of one character, but a few times we get the feelings or thoughts of another, just because it's handy for the plot or to keep the reader informed. In Gardens of the Moon, if there is a character mentioned, we know how it feels. This can be both very confusing, as most people are not used to it, but also very handy. We get most of our information this way, either from direct thoughts from characters, or by being able to see the connection between two characters. The narrator is so deep, that it's very rare to actually hear the narrator's voice. I would say that 95% of the story is told by the characters. This includes plot, for what is going on now, and what has happened thousands of years before the story even started.
Gardens of the Moon is meant for an advanced reader, one willing to take on a challenge. It starts off being very difficult and confusing, but once the reader starts to understand, the book is very enjoyable.
Eragon Review
Get ready for a whole ton of reviews as I try and catch up on them! First off, the Eragon series!
I've been interested in this book series for many years, but I finally picked it up a few month ago. It is a young adult novel, so I went in knowing this and expecting much less than I actually got.
Eragon, the first book in the series, was the first book by the author, Christopher Paolini, which he started to write at the age of fifteen. For a first novel, at the age that he wrote it at, it is very impressive. The writing itself improves as the series continues and the plot is developed and thought out (to an extent). The first book reads as if a teenager wrote exactly what they wanted to read, which since it's aimed toward a younger reader, is for the best. For anyone used to more sophisticated and elaborate novels, this series is not for them. It's an easy and enjoyable read, without the headaches that accompany the novels that require a flow chart to follow.
However enjoyable the book is though, it's also predictable. The series is heavily influenced by other high fantasy novels and tropes. It barely deviates away from the stereotypical creatures of fantasy: The humans, the elves, the dragons, the dwarves and the humanoid beasts. It reminds me a lot of Lord of the Rings in this way, but makes up for it with the plot.
The plot itself is not original. It's the basic "unexpected hero becomes extraordinary, and is expected to fight and defeat the villain". What makes it different is that this is not the whole story. When one thinks of dragon riders, if they have even heard of the Eragon series, it will likely pop into their head. This is part of the over arcing story, but under the front cover are unique characters, exciting adventures, and unexpected turns, all of which are tied up in a neat ending, which, I admit, tugs at the heart strings.
Eragon is a great series to read as a child or young adult. It rounds out the high fantasy that Tolkien started, but with a much more immersive world and relatable characters.
I've been interested in this book series for many years, but I finally picked it up a few month ago. It is a young adult novel, so I went in knowing this and expecting much less than I actually got.
Eragon, the first book in the series, was the first book by the author, Christopher Paolini, which he started to write at the age of fifteen. For a first novel, at the age that he wrote it at, it is very impressive. The writing itself improves as the series continues and the plot is developed and thought out (to an extent). The first book reads as if a teenager wrote exactly what they wanted to read, which since it's aimed toward a younger reader, is for the best. For anyone used to more sophisticated and elaborate novels, this series is not for them. It's an easy and enjoyable read, without the headaches that accompany the novels that require a flow chart to follow.
However enjoyable the book is though, it's also predictable. The series is heavily influenced by other high fantasy novels and tropes. It barely deviates away from the stereotypical creatures of fantasy: The humans, the elves, the dragons, the dwarves and the humanoid beasts. It reminds me a lot of Lord of the Rings in this way, but makes up for it with the plot.
The plot itself is not original. It's the basic "unexpected hero becomes extraordinary, and is expected to fight and defeat the villain". What makes it different is that this is not the whole story. When one thinks of dragon riders, if they have even heard of the Eragon series, it will likely pop into their head. This is part of the over arcing story, but under the front cover are unique characters, exciting adventures, and unexpected turns, all of which are tied up in a neat ending, which, I admit, tugs at the heart strings.
Eragon is a great series to read as a child or young adult. It rounds out the high fantasy that Tolkien started, but with a much more immersive world and relatable characters.
Friday, 19 December 2014
The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies *SPOILERS*
So yesterday my boyfriend and I went to go see the final Hobbit movie. Aside from the row of guys in front of us with a running commentary, I really enjoyed the movie. I know a lot of people complain about it, but I believe that the good outweigh the bad.
One of the biggest complaints I've heard (aside from it being split into three movies), is that it's comical. This is true, I suppose. But the movie is based of a kid's book. The book is comical and childish. Of course, parents these days would say that it's way too graphic for kids, but that's because most parents these days are paranoid idiots that think that any little bit of violence will turn their child into a monster. Furthermore, there is very little violence in the book, not until the spider scene. Even then, the actual battle of the five armies is condensed to a few pages, with very little details except for scenes that are actually away from the battle.
I can see why anyone who has not read the book will think that the movie is comical, especially when compared to The Lord of the Rings movies. But keep in mind that the Lord of the Rings books were written for adults, along with just about all his other work. The Hobbit was meant for kids. But of course, who knew that, right? Most people must have been expecting something more along the lines of Lord of the Rings. And, about it might not seem like it, Peter Jackson gave them so much more than the book does.
First off, There is no Legolas and Tauriel in the book. Their little story wasn't needed in the movie. It was to add a bit of romance, and nothing else. Tolkien had not a bit of romance in The Hobbit, and I actually preferred it that way. I guess Jackson was trying to bring in a greater audience, such as girlfriends and females that would not normally see the movies.
Then there is the whole scene near the end of the movie with Fili, Kili and Thorin. This was perhaps my favorite scene, because it's only briefly skimmed over in the book. (Major spoilers ahead) As I said, in the book the final battle is very short. There's barely any details, and what there is isn't violent. In the movie, Jackson went into detail about the death of Fili and Kili, and how Thorin killed the Orc leader (who's name is slipping my mind right now), then died too. I think this was brilliantly done.
When people complain about it the comedic relief. That is, the three Ogres in the first movie, the barrel escape in the second movie, and Dain and his dwarf army in the third movie. All these are in the book though, and are very important scenes that Jackson could not cut out, and could never be forgiven if he changed them into something more serious. These scenes defined the book as a children's novel, and although the movie is not meant for kids, you cannot just cut out such important scenes.
So I would give the movie a 4/5, I suppose. I still love Lord of the Rings the best, but the Hobbit has more action and more comic relief, which I love. I can look forward to having a Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie marathon soon!
One of the biggest complaints I've heard (aside from it being split into three movies), is that it's comical. This is true, I suppose. But the movie is based of a kid's book. The book is comical and childish. Of course, parents these days would say that it's way too graphic for kids, but that's because most parents these days are paranoid idiots that think that any little bit of violence will turn their child into a monster. Furthermore, there is very little violence in the book, not until the spider scene. Even then, the actual battle of the five armies is condensed to a few pages, with very little details except for scenes that are actually away from the battle.
I can see why anyone who has not read the book will think that the movie is comical, especially when compared to The Lord of the Rings movies. But keep in mind that the Lord of the Rings books were written for adults, along with just about all his other work. The Hobbit was meant for kids. But of course, who knew that, right? Most people must have been expecting something more along the lines of Lord of the Rings. And, about it might not seem like it, Peter Jackson gave them so much more than the book does.
First off, There is no Legolas and Tauriel in the book. Their little story wasn't needed in the movie. It was to add a bit of romance, and nothing else. Tolkien had not a bit of romance in The Hobbit, and I actually preferred it that way. I guess Jackson was trying to bring in a greater audience, such as girlfriends and females that would not normally see the movies.
Then there is the whole scene near the end of the movie with Fili, Kili and Thorin. This was perhaps my favorite scene, because it's only briefly skimmed over in the book. (Major spoilers ahead) As I said, in the book the final battle is very short. There's barely any details, and what there is isn't violent. In the movie, Jackson went into detail about the death of Fili and Kili, and how Thorin killed the Orc leader (who's name is slipping my mind right now), then died too. I think this was brilliantly done.
When people complain about it the comedic relief. That is, the three Ogres in the first movie, the barrel escape in the second movie, and Dain and his dwarf army in the third movie. All these are in the book though, and are very important scenes that Jackson could not cut out, and could never be forgiven if he changed them into something more serious. These scenes defined the book as a children's novel, and although the movie is not meant for kids, you cannot just cut out such important scenes.
So I would give the movie a 4/5, I suppose. I still love Lord of the Rings the best, but the Hobbit has more action and more comic relief, which I love. I can look forward to having a Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movie marathon soon!
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
Warbreaker Review
It's been a while since I've done a review. Not because I haven't been reading, but just because I've been lazy. You really shouldn't expect much else from me...
But I recently finished a really good book, by none other than Brandon Sanderson. It's a stand alone book called Warbreaker
The magic system in this book revolves around something called Breaths. Every human is born with one, and it's basically their soul. People can live without one, but it makes the world dull and drab for them. In fact, those that have given their Breath away are called Drabs. People can collect Breaths, and use them to animate objects made from organic materials, such as twigs, grass, clothing, even corpses and bones.
As I've come to expect from Sanderson, the book is full of plot twists and unexpected surprises. You'll start to think you understand what will happen, or think you can trust one of the characters, then Bam! Everything changes. It really keeps you hooked on the book.
I hope he writes more in this world, though I expect that he's going to keep this as a stand alone novel. However, many of his books are connected, either by the same world or with characters. I feel like he's planning just one massive world, or somehow he's going to connect nearly every book he's written. He's already started to do this by having one character make a cameo in several of his books. I would be surprised if he didn't do something with this.
So in the end, I would definitely suggest Warbreaker for anyone who likes a thrilling book, that'll keep you thinking and constantly guessing about what will happen next.
But I recently finished a really good book, by none other than Brandon Sanderson. It's a stand alone book called Warbreaker
The magic system in this book revolves around something called Breaths. Every human is born with one, and it's basically their soul. People can live without one, but it makes the world dull and drab for them. In fact, those that have given their Breath away are called Drabs. People can collect Breaths, and use them to animate objects made from organic materials, such as twigs, grass, clothing, even corpses and bones.
As I've come to expect from Sanderson, the book is full of plot twists and unexpected surprises. You'll start to think you understand what will happen, or think you can trust one of the characters, then Bam! Everything changes. It really keeps you hooked on the book.
I hope he writes more in this world, though I expect that he's going to keep this as a stand alone novel. However, many of his books are connected, either by the same world or with characters. I feel like he's planning just one massive world, or somehow he's going to connect nearly every book he's written. He's already started to do this by having one character make a cameo in several of his books. I would be surprised if he didn't do something with this.
So in the end, I would definitely suggest Warbreaker for anyone who likes a thrilling book, that'll keep you thinking and constantly guessing about what will happen next.
Thursday, 2 October 2014
The Silmarillion review
It's been a while since I've done a review, and that's most;y because I've been slogging through The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien. I absolutely love The Lord of the Rings movies and the Hobbit, both the movies and the book, so I decided to give more of Tolkien's work a shot. I've already read the Fellowship of the Ring and got halfway through The Two Towers, but gave up when it got to the Frodo and Sam part. I've grown up quite a bit since then, so I figured I would be mature enough to read The Silmarillion.
Well, I wasn't wrong. It just took me a few weeks to read it. It's only 366 pages long. There's nothing actually wrong with it, and I was interested, but there was just so much going on. The whole book encompasses thousands of years, and at least two remakings of the world. There are so many people and names and places and events that I'm not really sure what happened. I could probably remember the more important things, but most of it has just been mixed together.
But of course, that's Tolkien. I remember The Lord of the Rings books being the same, and that's another reason why I stopped reading them. I always thought it was because I was so used to the movies that the books were just too different. But I think it's honestly just too much going on.
I might try to finish reading The Lord of the Rings later, especially now that a lot of events, at least from the movies, has been cleared up from The Silmarillion.
Well, I wasn't wrong. It just took me a few weeks to read it. It's only 366 pages long. There's nothing actually wrong with it, and I was interested, but there was just so much going on. The whole book encompasses thousands of years, and at least two remakings of the world. There are so many people and names and places and events that I'm not really sure what happened. I could probably remember the more important things, but most of it has just been mixed together.
But of course, that's Tolkien. I remember The Lord of the Rings books being the same, and that's another reason why I stopped reading them. I always thought it was because I was so used to the movies that the books were just too different. But I think it's honestly just too much going on.
I might try to finish reading The Lord of the Rings later, especially now that a lot of events, at least from the movies, has been cleared up from The Silmarillion.
Friday, 29 August 2014
Magic: The Gathering
Sorry for the dull posts for the last week or so. I've not been feeling well, and the worst symptom is just feeling sluggish. For the past couple days, everything I do saps my energy, from walking up the stairs to having a conversation. Today I'm just plain tired. I got a good eight hours of sleep, and it feels like I only got five. I've barely done anything, and have just been sitting around all day.
On the bright side, my manager felt so bad that I had to take the shift yesterday, that she gave me today and Monday off. Yay! I've informed her that I would like to work less, not that school is in, and I might sort of being seeing someone now. Everyone else is happy with that too, since everyone wants more hours. I'll just keep my minimum of sixteen hours a week, and just be available for up to twenty four.
Now that updates are all done with, let's have a review! Recently I've been introduced to a lot of games, so I have a lot to talk about. Let's start with a popular one, Magic: The Gathering.
If you have an ear in the nerd community, you've probably at least heard of this game. It's simply a luck-based strategy game. And by simply, I mean that's the simplest thing to categorize it as. Now I'm not too bad when it comes to strategy, though to be honest, most of my strategies in these types of games it to overwhelm my opponent with attacks. That doesn't work so well in this game.
It's the type of game where you need to see three turns ahead and know what your opponent will do. And of course, you need luck. If you have too much of one type of card, you can't do anything, while at the same time, if you have too little of the same type of card, you can do even less. I've definitely been on both sides of the spectrum on countless occasions.
So my verdict is: A good game, that's not too hard to learn, but definitely needs some dedication and interest in the subject. I would suggest it for anyone that likes strategy games, and whoever classifies themselves as a nerd.
On the bright side, my manager felt so bad that I had to take the shift yesterday, that she gave me today and Monday off. Yay! I've informed her that I would like to work less, not that school is in, and I might sort of being seeing someone now. Everyone else is happy with that too, since everyone wants more hours. I'll just keep my minimum of sixteen hours a week, and just be available for up to twenty four.
Now that updates are all done with, let's have a review! Recently I've been introduced to a lot of games, so I have a lot to talk about. Let's start with a popular one, Magic: The Gathering.
If you have an ear in the nerd community, you've probably at least heard of this game. It's simply a luck-based strategy game. And by simply, I mean that's the simplest thing to categorize it as. Now I'm not too bad when it comes to strategy, though to be honest, most of my strategies in these types of games it to overwhelm my opponent with attacks. That doesn't work so well in this game.
It's the type of game where you need to see three turns ahead and know what your opponent will do. And of course, you need luck. If you have too much of one type of card, you can't do anything, while at the same time, if you have too little of the same type of card, you can do even less. I've definitely been on both sides of the spectrum on countless occasions.
So my verdict is: A good game, that's not too hard to learn, but definitely needs some dedication and interest in the subject. I would suggest it for anyone that likes strategy games, and whoever classifies themselves as a nerd.
Thursday, 7 August 2014
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar children review
I just finished reading another fantastic book, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. From now on, I'll just called it Peculiar Children, because the whole title is a mouthful.
This is a book that I saw once and found it interesting, but didn't buy. My friend happened to have it though, and offered to lend it to me when she was done. Thinking it would just be a quick read and a nice break from the large books I normally read, I happily accepted.
I went into it thinking it would be a young adult novel, aimed more toward children than actual young adults. After only a few chapters though, I realized this wasn't the case, as an child reading this would have nightmares. You see, this is a picture book. Each picture relates to the story, and many of them are of peculiar children. This means, quite often the pictures are creepy. The very first one you see inside the book is of a face behind a small flame. That's like opening your eyes at night and seeing nothing but darkness and a pair of eyes staring at you. Despite these pictures, the writing style is still aimed more toward a younger reader. Not that that's bad, of course. It's beautifully written, with the details being fleshed out and vivid, but not to the point of being boring. However, this also means the monsters in the story are very vivid too.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
The moment the grandpa died is when I realized that this book is much darker than I thought. It's one thing to kill off a character, but another to describe it so clearly. This is seen again near the end with another corpse.
So no, not a children's book at all, unless the child is mature enough to no longer be afraid of the dark, or see monsters in the shadows. Peculiar Children was, as I expected, a fast read, but after that it blew all my expectations. It's no wonder I'm suddenly seeing the book being sold everywhere. I would definitely recommend it to any of my friends.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Thirteen Years Later
Finally! I am elated that I can finally post a review on Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. This is the very first Zelda game that my sister and I played. This is the game that we named Link 'Zelda', because everyone has to do it at one point. This is the second video game that I ever played (Animal Crossing was the first).
I can't even be sure it was thirteen years ago. It might be fourteen, might be twelve. I was somewhere around seven or eight years old when my sister and I asked for a Gamecube for Christmas. Or, more like my sister had played Animal Crossing on a friend's Gamecube, then managed to convince me that I wanted to play it too. I should probably thank her for that, or else I probably would not have come to love video games as I have. Or, maybe I would have fallen in love with Playstation, or X-box. I'm glad it was Nintendo though.
If I remember correctly, I was the first one to turn Ocarina of Time on and play it. I didn't even manage to find the sword though, so I gave up, and later my sister found it. We struggled through the Deku Tree, somehow got through Dodongo's Cavern (I have no memory of this, so someone else probably did it for us), and eventually finished Jabu Jabu's Belly. It was magical to see Link all grown up. Until you leave the Temple of Time and suddenly REDEADS. It must have been years before we got any further.
Of course, the first few years we didn't have a memory card, so all of this was done over a few days, when we kept the Gamecube running constantly. I have to admire our dedication, and wonder how we even managed to turn it off and restart anew later on. Once we got a memory card, it was a breeze. Not that we really got any further. The Forest Temple was terrifying, the Fire Cavern was difficult, the Water Temple was impossible, and the Shower Temple was just one big NOPE. We never got farther than halfway through the Shadow Temple, at least not by ourselves. (Any time where someone outside of the family had to complete more than one temple for us doesn't count as actually completing the game.)
This time around, I'm proud to say that I actually beat Gohma myself. That's pathetic, I know. I suck at using the slingshot. My sister did half of Dodongo's Cavern and fought Dodongo himself. I did the whole Jabu Jabu's belly, including mini and full boss. I did most of the Earth Temple, while my sister fought the final Poe sister and killed Phantom Ganon. I did most of the Fire Temple, and my sister tried to beat Volvagia, but in the end I had to do it. I did the while Water Temple, but handed the controller off to my sister to kill the boss (who's name I cannot remember). I found the courage to do the bottom of the well, and later the Shadow Temple, while my sister beat Bongo Bongo (I did a rage quit after my first death). I navigated the Gerudo fortress, while my sister beat each of the thieves that strange up. I completed the Spirit temple and let my sister try the boss. She failed, and Twinrova became my favorite boss!
It seems like I did a lot, but my sister beat both Ganondorf and Ganon, since I suck at electricity ball tennis, and I did another rage quit after running out of arrows to fire at Ganon. So yes, quantity wise, I did most of the game, but my sister did most of the hardest parts. (Except for the Water Temple. God damned Water Temple.)
So this turned more into a review of my experiences with the game, but that's okay. That's basically what a game is, right? The graphics and gameplay don't matter, as long as you enjoy playing it. As you might have figured out, I've been playing it on a Gamecube, so although it's not the original, it's closer to the remake that just came out. I do believe the remake was made a bit easier in places such as the Forest Temple and the Water Temple, but that's just what I've heard. Either way, I'm happy to have played it in its original form.
I can't even be sure it was thirteen years ago. It might be fourteen, might be twelve. I was somewhere around seven or eight years old when my sister and I asked for a Gamecube for Christmas. Or, more like my sister had played Animal Crossing on a friend's Gamecube, then managed to convince me that I wanted to play it too. I should probably thank her for that, or else I probably would not have come to love video games as I have. Or, maybe I would have fallen in love with Playstation, or X-box. I'm glad it was Nintendo though.
If I remember correctly, I was the first one to turn Ocarina of Time on and play it. I didn't even manage to find the sword though, so I gave up, and later my sister found it. We struggled through the Deku Tree, somehow got through Dodongo's Cavern (I have no memory of this, so someone else probably did it for us), and eventually finished Jabu Jabu's Belly. It was magical to see Link all grown up. Until you leave the Temple of Time and suddenly REDEADS. It must have been years before we got any further.
Of course, the first few years we didn't have a memory card, so all of this was done over a few days, when we kept the Gamecube running constantly. I have to admire our dedication, and wonder how we even managed to turn it off and restart anew later on. Once we got a memory card, it was a breeze. Not that we really got any further. The Forest Temple was terrifying, the Fire Cavern was difficult, the Water Temple was impossible, and the Shower Temple was just one big NOPE. We never got farther than halfway through the Shadow Temple, at least not by ourselves. (Any time where someone outside of the family had to complete more than one temple for us doesn't count as actually completing the game.)
This time around, I'm proud to say that I actually beat Gohma myself. That's pathetic, I know. I suck at using the slingshot. My sister did half of Dodongo's Cavern and fought Dodongo himself. I did the whole Jabu Jabu's belly, including mini and full boss. I did most of the Earth Temple, while my sister fought the final Poe sister and killed Phantom Ganon. I did most of the Fire Temple, and my sister tried to beat Volvagia, but in the end I had to do it. I did the while Water Temple, but handed the controller off to my sister to kill the boss (who's name I cannot remember). I found the courage to do the bottom of the well, and later the Shadow Temple, while my sister beat Bongo Bongo (I did a rage quit after my first death). I navigated the Gerudo fortress, while my sister beat each of the thieves that strange up. I completed the Spirit temple and let my sister try the boss. She failed, and Twinrova became my favorite boss!
It seems like I did a lot, but my sister beat both Ganondorf and Ganon, since I suck at electricity ball tennis, and I did another rage quit after running out of arrows to fire at Ganon. So yes, quantity wise, I did most of the game, but my sister did most of the hardest parts. (Except for the Water Temple. God damned Water Temple.)
So this turned more into a review of my experiences with the game, but that's okay. That's basically what a game is, right? The graphics and gameplay don't matter, as long as you enjoy playing it. As you might have figured out, I've been playing it on a Gamecube, so although it's not the original, it's closer to the remake that just came out. I do believe the remake was made a bit easier in places such as the Forest Temple and the Water Temple, but that's just what I've heard. Either way, I'm happy to have played it in its original form.
Tuesday, 29 July 2014
Mirror Sight review
A long time ago I did a review on the Green Rider series, prior to reading the fourth book, Blackveil. Now I've just finished reading the fifth book, Mirror Sight, and I'm very excited to review it.
If you've read the previous review, you'll know that Kristen Britain is not my favorite author when it comes to prose and her actual writing. I love her because of her plots. This most recent book, however, was significantly better. There still are parts where I was mentally correcting and editing her work, but I tend to do that with most books.
And again, like in her previous books, the plot was the significant factor. She definitely upped her game in this recent book too, just as she did her writing. There is rarely a down moment, keeping her readers hooked until the very last page. Although I always believed these books were meant for young adults (ages 13 and older), I can see that it's progressed more into an adult fantasy. Not to say it's anywhere near in graphic sex scenes as George R. R. Martin, but it does include more romance than the average book I read.
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
And on the topic of Martin, this book is a close contender when it comes to character deaths. I don't think it's even possible to have as many as Martin, but it's the few that just want to make you cry. I'm not an emotional person. I'm normally happy when an author takes a different path and kills off nearly all the characters, or the main character. However, with every death in this book my heart dropped. Britain did a great job at connecting the reader to the characters, even if they were just a small element.
This book was full of surprises for me, but by far the biggest one was just finding it. Normally Britain takes forever to come out with new books, but either I wasn't paying attention to the time passing, or this one came out much sooner than I expected. I suppose she's getting more serious about writing now.
Thursday, 17 July 2014
The Amazing Spider Man 2 review
I finally got around to seeing The Amazing Spider Man 2! It was amazing.
First off, I'm going to just say that I will always love the newer Spider Man movies better than the old ones. I know the old ones stuck to the comic version better, but they were just cheesy. I hated Toby Maguire, and when you hate the main character, it kind of ruins the rest of the movies.
The new Spider Man movies, even if they don't quite stay true to the comic books, are just better. I think this is because Andrew Garfield actually has humor, and feeling, and everything that is needed to not be the stoic and boring character that Maguire was. Always smiling or having a stupid looking face is not good enough. In fact, I think the best scenes with Garfield are when you cannot even see his face.
But onto the actual movie. One of my favorite parts was the cameo of Stan Lee, and when he says 'I recognize that guy' upon seeing Spider Man. Just perfect. I think I was the only person in the theatre that laughed. Everything else was great, but that's what stuck with me.
Just a short review today. I never cared for Spider Man before, but it's now becoming one of my favorite super hero movies, right behind Iron Man and right before Thor.
First off, I'm going to just say that I will always love the newer Spider Man movies better than the old ones. I know the old ones stuck to the comic version better, but they were just cheesy. I hated Toby Maguire, and when you hate the main character, it kind of ruins the rest of the movies.
The new Spider Man movies, even if they don't quite stay true to the comic books, are just better. I think this is because Andrew Garfield actually has humor, and feeling, and everything that is needed to not be the stoic and boring character that Maguire was. Always smiling or having a stupid looking face is not good enough. In fact, I think the best scenes with Garfield are when you cannot even see his face.
But onto the actual movie. One of my favorite parts was the cameo of Stan Lee, and when he says 'I recognize that guy' upon seeing Spider Man. Just perfect. I think I was the only person in the theatre that laughed. Everything else was great, but that's what stuck with me.
Just a short review today. I never cared for Spider Man before, but it's now becoming one of my favorite super hero movies, right behind Iron Man and right before Thor.
Tuesday, 15 July 2014
Clone Wars review
So summer arrived this week. It's too hot. Too damn bloody hot. So I've been kind of avoiding my laptop. And by that, I mean I've been spending maybe an hour less on it than usual. I did manage to finish off the Clone Wars on Netflix though!
When I first started watching it, I was skeptical. I thought it would be some stupid spin off that was made simply to sate the need for more Star Wars. Actually, that's probably true. Still, it was done so well!
My favorite part, by far, are the clones. Unlike in the movies, they're given personalities, names and actual lives. Not to mention they can actually hit stuff with their blasters. It's almost heart rending to know what happens in the movies, and the clones are basically brain washed to join the dark side.
A near second for my favorite part is Asoka, the padawan of Anakin. She just so... Spunky. I hate to use such an archaic word, but it's all I can think of to describe her. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Of course, they had to get rid of her somehow before the end of the series, as she's not present in the movies. I thought she would be killed off, but near the end of the fifth series, she is caught up in a plot to bring down the Jedi order, and accused of planting a bomb that killed many. After being cast out of the Jedi Order, it's eventually revealed that it was someone else that planted the bomb. However, she could no longer trust the Jedi to trust her, so she just walks off into the sun set. I was hoping she would actually be promoted to a Jedi Knight, but I like this ending better. It means that she probably never died. Still leaves open the question as to why she never fought back, or never used her skills to fight the dark side during the times of the movies, but still, a good ending.
Even the graphics were pretty good. It's animated, so I expected it to be similar to cartoons of these days, the ones meant for little kids. These were somewhere between the old 2D style and the new overly 3D style, and it was perfect. It can be seen best during the fighting scenes, which are far better than anything the movies could have done.
All in all, I would definitely suggest it for anyone that enjoyed the movies, or even just likes science fiction type shows.
When I first started watching it, I was skeptical. I thought it would be some stupid spin off that was made simply to sate the need for more Star Wars. Actually, that's probably true. Still, it was done so well!
My favorite part, by far, are the clones. Unlike in the movies, they're given personalities, names and actual lives. Not to mention they can actually hit stuff with their blasters. It's almost heart rending to know what happens in the movies, and the clones are basically brain washed to join the dark side.
A near second for my favorite part is Asoka, the padawan of Anakin. She just so... Spunky. I hate to use such an archaic word, but it's all I can think of to describe her. *SPOILERS AHEAD* Of course, they had to get rid of her somehow before the end of the series, as she's not present in the movies. I thought she would be killed off, but near the end of the fifth series, she is caught up in a plot to bring down the Jedi order, and accused of planting a bomb that killed many. After being cast out of the Jedi Order, it's eventually revealed that it was someone else that planted the bomb. However, she could no longer trust the Jedi to trust her, so she just walks off into the sun set. I was hoping she would actually be promoted to a Jedi Knight, but I like this ending better. It means that she probably never died. Still leaves open the question as to why she never fought back, or never used her skills to fight the dark side during the times of the movies, but still, a good ending.
Even the graphics were pretty good. It's animated, so I expected it to be similar to cartoons of these days, the ones meant for little kids. These were somewhere between the old 2D style and the new overly 3D style, and it was perfect. It can be seen best during the fighting scenes, which are far better than anything the movies could have done.
All in all, I would definitely suggest it for anyone that enjoyed the movies, or even just likes science fiction type shows.
Wednesday, 2 July 2014
Wickedly Good
Damn it, I did it again. To be fair, I don't even think I turned my laptop on yesterday, and today has been busy. I'm only just getting around to the blog now.
Anyway, I promised a post about Wicked, didn't I?
All I can say, is that it was amazing. Even my dad was raving about it, and he doesn't generally care for musicals. Of course, we were sitting all the way up in the nose bleeds, but it was still great. When more than four people sang together, it was hard to understand the lyrics. I'm not sure if that was just where we were sitting, or if it was the sound system. Maybe the signers were just out of sync. It's hard to say. Luckily, when it's only a few people, it was a lot easier to hear, and it was great. I'm not much for musicals either, but I enjoyed at least half the songs.
The main reason why I wanted to see the play was because I had read, and loved, the book it was based on. Now of course, since it was a live production, not everything followed the book. However, it did follow it better than most movies follow their books. It was severely downplayed on the violence and romance parts to make it family friendly, but that was okay. Those parts from the book I wasn't much interested in watching anyway.
Now, this list will include spoilers, as I'm going to point out the differences. (what I can remember, at least)
Book- Nessarose was born without arms, and therefore could not balance enough to walk
Play- Nessarose was born without the use of her legs
Book- Elphie and Nessarose have a younger brother, named Shell. He isn't too important, as far as I can remember
Play- Their mother dies giving birth to Nessarose, and therefore there is no son
Book- Elphie goes to school before Nessarose and proves herself as a very smart, capable and head strong young woman. Nessarose arrives later, and becomes the darling of the school
Play- Elphie accompanies Nessarose to the school to take care of her. It's implied that she would never have gone to school had it not been for her sister
Book- Fyrio (probably spelled wrong), is a Winky (also might be wrong), so as far as I remember, he had blue skin and diamond tattoos... or something like that
Play- Fyrio is a dashing young man that looks perfect human
Book- After something happens (I can't remember what), Elphie runs away from the school. She later goes back to see Mrs. Morrible, and finds her dead on the floor, beaten to death with a blunt object. She is found here and is accused of murder. It's later found out that it was actually Galinda that did this
Play- Elphie is tricked into giving wings to the monkeys, and after refusing to aid the Wizard, she is blamed for this mutilation and labelled as Wicked. At the very end, Galina has Mrs. Morrible arrested
Book- There is a large time lapse between when Elphie and Fyrio run away together, and when Elphie is found living in an abandoned castle. There is another time lapse between Fyrio leaving her, and her moving into said castle
Play- No time lapse. A day or two at most
Book- When she sees Dorthy coming for her, she also sees the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow. She scares the lion, rips the scare crow apart, and I can't remember about the Tin Man. She does not try to kill them
Play- Dorthy is accompanied by the Tin Man and the Lion
Book- At some point, Elphie has a son
Play- No son, or even pregnancy. I suppose the ending leaves it open for those possibilities though
Book- Elphie dies
Play- Elphie hides under a trap door, and is later found by Fyrio. They live happily ever after
Now there is a very good possibility that I was wrong about several things, or left other things out. It's been at least three years, probably closer to five, since I read the book. My memory is far from perfect, and I can't remember everything.
All in all, a beautiful musical. The costumes and props were the best part. Absolutely stunning, from the massive dragon above the stage, down to the simplest background. There were just so many details in everything. Unfortunately, we were so far away that the only way we could see the details was with the binoculars that my parents brought. Binoculars are hard to use with glasses...
I would definitely suggest anyone see this, as long as they have a hundred dollars or more to spare.
Anyway, I promised a post about Wicked, didn't I?
All I can say, is that it was amazing. Even my dad was raving about it, and he doesn't generally care for musicals. Of course, we were sitting all the way up in the nose bleeds, but it was still great. When more than four people sang together, it was hard to understand the lyrics. I'm not sure if that was just where we were sitting, or if it was the sound system. Maybe the signers were just out of sync. It's hard to say. Luckily, when it's only a few people, it was a lot easier to hear, and it was great. I'm not much for musicals either, but I enjoyed at least half the songs.
The main reason why I wanted to see the play was because I had read, and loved, the book it was based on. Now of course, since it was a live production, not everything followed the book. However, it did follow it better than most movies follow their books. It was severely downplayed on the violence and romance parts to make it family friendly, but that was okay. Those parts from the book I wasn't much interested in watching anyway.
Now, this list will include spoilers, as I'm going to point out the differences. (what I can remember, at least)
Book- Nessarose was born without arms, and therefore could not balance enough to walk
Play- Nessarose was born without the use of her legs
Book- Elphie and Nessarose have a younger brother, named Shell. He isn't too important, as far as I can remember
Play- Their mother dies giving birth to Nessarose, and therefore there is no son
Book- Elphie goes to school before Nessarose and proves herself as a very smart, capable and head strong young woman. Nessarose arrives later, and becomes the darling of the school
Play- Elphie accompanies Nessarose to the school to take care of her. It's implied that she would never have gone to school had it not been for her sister
Book- Fyrio (probably spelled wrong), is a Winky (also might be wrong), so as far as I remember, he had blue skin and diamond tattoos... or something like that
Play- Fyrio is a dashing young man that looks perfect human
Book- After something happens (I can't remember what), Elphie runs away from the school. She later goes back to see Mrs. Morrible, and finds her dead on the floor, beaten to death with a blunt object. She is found here and is accused of murder. It's later found out that it was actually Galinda that did this
Play- Elphie is tricked into giving wings to the monkeys, and after refusing to aid the Wizard, she is blamed for this mutilation and labelled as Wicked. At the very end, Galina has Mrs. Morrible arrested
Book- There is a large time lapse between when Elphie and Fyrio run away together, and when Elphie is found living in an abandoned castle. There is another time lapse between Fyrio leaving her, and her moving into said castle
Play- No time lapse. A day or two at most
Book- When she sees Dorthy coming for her, she also sees the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow. She scares the lion, rips the scare crow apart, and I can't remember about the Tin Man. She does not try to kill them
Play- Dorthy is accompanied by the Tin Man and the Lion
Book- At some point, Elphie has a son
Play- No son, or even pregnancy. I suppose the ending leaves it open for those possibilities though
Book- Elphie dies
Play- Elphie hides under a trap door, and is later found by Fyrio. They live happily ever after
Now there is a very good possibility that I was wrong about several things, or left other things out. It's been at least three years, probably closer to five, since I read the book. My memory is far from perfect, and I can't remember everything.
All in all, a beautiful musical. The costumes and props were the best part. Absolutely stunning, from the massive dragon above the stage, down to the simplest background. There were just so many details in everything. Unfortunately, we were so far away that the only way we could see the details was with the binoculars that my parents brought. Binoculars are hard to use with glasses...
I would definitely suggest anyone see this, as long as they have a hundred dollars or more to spare.
Thursday, 26 June 2014
The Guild review
I hit my elbow on my door handle and now there's a bump that definitely should not be there... Ow. Anyway, review time!
I watched this show a while ago, but it was just so great that I had to watch it again. It's called The Guild, and it's just perfect for a gamer nerd. It revolves around the life of a female gamer, who goes by her character name, Codex, and how she copes with real life. Each season is only one episode long, but each episode is about an hour long. It was originally created for Youtube, but gain so much popularity that now it's on Netflix, along with many other websites or devices.
The plot is sweet and simple. Take someone who spends most of their day on the computer and stick them in real life. It's sadly so similar to my own life, except I have a tad more social skills... Just a tad. It finished after the sixth season, which was rather disappointing, but also made sense. Like I said, the plot was simple, so there really wasn't much left to do. Better to end on a good note than to wither out.
The acting got progressively better as the season went on. The main actor was pretty good from the beginning, and the rest were fairly decent, but there are times you just wince. Still better than Twilight. In addition, there are some pretty famous and respected people that appear, including Will Wheaton, Neil Gaiman and Stan Lee.
The cinematography was surprisingly good, considering it started out as a Youtube series. They never did anything too special until the third or fourth episode, and then you see the work in special effects and costumes.
Not much else to say. It's a quick watch, maybe one full day or a couple nights. I would definitely suggest it to anyone who's even a remote nerd, or just into the socially awkward type of shows/movies.
I watched this show a while ago, but it was just so great that I had to watch it again. It's called The Guild, and it's just perfect for a gamer nerd. It revolves around the life of a female gamer, who goes by her character name, Codex, and how she copes with real life. Each season is only one episode long, but each episode is about an hour long. It was originally created for Youtube, but gain so much popularity that now it's on Netflix, along with many other websites or devices.
The plot is sweet and simple. Take someone who spends most of their day on the computer and stick them in real life. It's sadly so similar to my own life, except I have a tad more social skills... Just a tad. It finished after the sixth season, which was rather disappointing, but also made sense. Like I said, the plot was simple, so there really wasn't much left to do. Better to end on a good note than to wither out.
The acting got progressively better as the season went on. The main actor was pretty good from the beginning, and the rest were fairly decent, but there are times you just wince. Still better than Twilight. In addition, there are some pretty famous and respected people that appear, including Will Wheaton, Neil Gaiman and Stan Lee.
The cinematography was surprisingly good, considering it started out as a Youtube series. They never did anything too special until the third or fourth episode, and then you see the work in special effects and costumes.
Not much else to say. It's a quick watch, maybe one full day or a couple nights. I would definitely suggest it to anyone who's even a remote nerd, or just into the socially awkward type of shows/movies.
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
Super Mario Bros. Wii U
Wow, it didn't take me long to break my promise about posting on time. In my defense, the internet was down all of Monday and most of Tuesday. It finally came up right before I was going to head off to bed, and after two days of no internet, I had other things to catch up on. It was a horrible couple of weeks.
I just realized that I never did a review for Super Mario Bros. Wii U. It was a free game I got with this deal Nintendo is having. I bought the Mario Kart 8 and got a free download of one of four games. I picked Super Mario Bros. because it's great with one person, or with four. I needed a new game that I could play with friends, and this was perfect.
So far it's only been my sister and me playing. We're pretty bad... I've never been very good at Super Mario Bros, and I didn't expect this one to be any different. But I'm getting better! It took us forever to lean how to run, and we're still really bad at picking stuff up. On average we need to play a course at least three times before we get through it, and most often than not, it can take us up to ten, if not twenty tries. We've both over 20 restarts, and I'll admit, most of my sister's are because I accidentally killed her... But I'm getting better at that too! I don't bounce on her head in the game as often...
But it's fun. Kind of frustrating, but fun. The only other times I've played this game has been at a friend's house, so it's nice to have one at home that I can play for more than a couple hours.
I just realized that I never did a review for Super Mario Bros. Wii U. It was a free game I got with this deal Nintendo is having. I bought the Mario Kart 8 and got a free download of one of four games. I picked Super Mario Bros. because it's great with one person, or with four. I needed a new game that I could play with friends, and this was perfect.
So far it's only been my sister and me playing. We're pretty bad... I've never been very good at Super Mario Bros, and I didn't expect this one to be any different. But I'm getting better! It took us forever to lean how to run, and we're still really bad at picking stuff up. On average we need to play a course at least three times before we get through it, and most often than not, it can take us up to ten, if not twenty tries. We've both over 20 restarts, and I'll admit, most of my sister's are because I accidentally killed her... But I'm getting better at that too! I don't bounce on her head in the game as often...
But it's fun. Kind of frustrating, but fun. The only other times I've played this game has been at a friend's house, so it's nice to have one at home that I can play for more than a couple hours.
Tuesday, 3 June 2014
Mario Kart 8
A lot of exciting things are coming up in the next few weeks, so look out for some real updates. Unfortunately, this week has been fairly slow. I did however buy a new video game!
Nintendo was having this amazing sale, where if you bought Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U, you get a free game. The Mario Kart game is amazing. The graphics are better than just about an other game I've played. It took forever to load, but that's mostly because my internet is crap, and I hadn't done an update on my Wii U for months. Once in the game, it still takes a while between courses to load, but that's all because of the graphics.
The courses themselves are all really well done. They're longer than in the previous games, though many of them are similar. I can see pieces taken from the Wii or gamecube games, and I recognize some from the original game.
And the best part, which I actually thought would be the worst, is the anti gravity. The screen turns with the car, so you don't even notice, but it makes the tracks even more beautiful and interesting.
The flying, or gliding, is a little confusing. It took my sister and me awhile to figure out how it works, and even then it's a little hard to control.
And for my free game I debated for weeks on what to get. The options were Super Mario Bros. U, Pikmin 3, Legend of Zelda: Windwaker HD, and Wii Party U. I already have Windwaker, and Pikmin doesn't really speak to me, so my choice was between Super Mario Bros. and Wii Party. I eventually went with the Mario one, and it's loading now.
For anyone planning on buying this offer, I would suggest getting the hard copy of the game. It's a lot easier to load, and you'll have the code for the free game instantly. I had to wait until the next day for the free code, and I was freaking out last night, thinking that I wasn't going to get it.
Nintendo was having this amazing sale, where if you bought Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U, you get a free game. The Mario Kart game is amazing. The graphics are better than just about an other game I've played. It took forever to load, but that's mostly because my internet is crap, and I hadn't done an update on my Wii U for months. Once in the game, it still takes a while between courses to load, but that's all because of the graphics.
The courses themselves are all really well done. They're longer than in the previous games, though many of them are similar. I can see pieces taken from the Wii or gamecube games, and I recognize some from the original game.
And the best part, which I actually thought would be the worst, is the anti gravity. The screen turns with the car, so you don't even notice, but it makes the tracks even more beautiful and interesting.
The flying, or gliding, is a little confusing. It took my sister and me awhile to figure out how it works, and even then it's a little hard to control.
And for my free game I debated for weeks on what to get. The options were Super Mario Bros. U, Pikmin 3, Legend of Zelda: Windwaker HD, and Wii Party U. I already have Windwaker, and Pikmin doesn't really speak to me, so my choice was between Super Mario Bros. and Wii Party. I eventually went with the Mario one, and it's loading now.
For anyone planning on buying this offer, I would suggest getting the hard copy of the game. It's a lot easier to load, and you'll have the code for the free game instantly. I had to wait until the next day for the free code, and I was freaking out last night, thinking that I wasn't going to get it.
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
Words of Radiance review
I just realized that I didn't do a review on one of my favorite books! Words of Radiance is the second book in the Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson. If you go back almost a year, you'll see a review for the first book. My opinions are basically the same; amazing plot, fantastic world and great characters.
The plot is, under everything, the basic 'save the world from the Apocalypse'. There is the time limit to get everything in order, and to train people for what is to come. This was seen only a bit in the first book, and now is the most important theme in the second book.
I've said this with all of Sanderson's works, and Words of Radiance is no different. The world building is just baffling. There is so much that's new and different from our world, but it all makes sense. Everything is beautiful and described with just enough detail to form an image, but not to lose the reader. It helps that many of the more important or detailed images are followed by pictures. So yes, this book has pictures.
And finally the characters. All of their voices are great, down to the smallest characters, who only appear for one chapter. In fact, I think it's those characters that have the best voice (though I have to admit that sometimes those characters can be a little boring.) There isn't to much development in the characters between the beginning and end, but most of that development was shown in the first book. What's more, in this book there are some chapters that go back to look at the past of one of the characters. In the first book it did the same with a different character. So I suppose you get the character development that way.
There are only two things I am a little nit picky about. The first one is something that I noticed in the first book, and that's when Sanderson slips into the omniscient narrator, meaning one chapter will be about one person, but once in a while the opinions of a different person will enter the narrative. This can be as simple as just noting the feelings or intentions of someone who isn't the main character at the time. It's not something that would be too obvious by most readers.
And then something I only noticed in this book. This one versus one battle scenes are... lacking. I think it was three times in the book, he said that the character just 'felt' what to do. I understand that battle scenes, especially one on one, can be very hard to write unless you actually know how to fight with a sword, or a spear, or whatever other weapon is being used. I'm just surprised, because I never saw, or at least never noticed it, in his other books. I think this might actually be the first time that he's done the one on one combats in a book.
All in all, a fantastic book. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy. It's similar to high fantasy, with a tiny bit of steampunk thrown in.
(I should also mention the humor. There were several times that I nearly burst out in laughter, and only stopped myself because I was in public.)
Wednesday, 21 May 2014
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag review
For Christmas I got Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. The moment I got home from my aunt and uncles place on Christmas Day, I started to play it, but I only had a few minutes before we had to go out for dinner. I have to admit, I haven't picked it up since. And technically I still haven't picked it up, my sister did.
First thing I noticed when I was playing was how hard it was to control. Bare in mind that I'm playing on the Wii U, and at that people I was still getting used to the controls for that console. Not to mention the game starts on a ship in the middle of a storm. I managed to get to the helm of the ship and got a few cannon blasts off before I had to leave. It was difficult.
My sister started playing it yesterday, and she had a lot more luck than I did. Not only did she manage to bomb the shit out of the other ships, but she has figured out almost all the controls while wandering aimlessly around an island. She hasn't gotten much farther in the plot, but hey, learning controls is always the first step.
Of course I have to mention the graphics. They are stunning. The most beautiful from any game I've ever played, and that's including Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The movement looks natural down to the smallest detail. I'm not sure how easy it is to play now, but with so many buttons on the Wii U, I can't believe it's too easy. So it's beautiful, but difficult.
I think what I really want to do is play it on a different console. I'd have to learn the next remote, but I think any remote is easier than the Wii U.
First thing I noticed when I was playing was how hard it was to control. Bare in mind that I'm playing on the Wii U, and at that people I was still getting used to the controls for that console. Not to mention the game starts on a ship in the middle of a storm. I managed to get to the helm of the ship and got a few cannon blasts off before I had to leave. It was difficult.
My sister started playing it yesterday, and she had a lot more luck than I did. Not only did she manage to bomb the shit out of the other ships, but she has figured out almost all the controls while wandering aimlessly around an island. She hasn't gotten much farther in the plot, but hey, learning controls is always the first step.
Of course I have to mention the graphics. They are stunning. The most beautiful from any game I've ever played, and that's including Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The movement looks natural down to the smallest detail. I'm not sure how easy it is to play now, but with so many buttons on the Wii U, I can't believe it's too easy. So it's beautiful, but difficult.
I think what I really want to do is play it on a different console. I'd have to learn the next remote, but I think any remote is easier than the Wii U.
Friday, 2 May 2014
The Paradise Review
Time for some Netflix reviews! I recently started, and finished, watching a show called The Paradise. It's been compared to Downton Abbey, but judging by the comments, it's better. I've never seen Downton Abbey, so I can't say whether I think that's true or not.
Anyway, it's a British show, set in the Victorian times. It follows the life of a young woman working in the first department store, called The Paradise. What I loved most about it was the costumes and props. Everything was so beautiful. Even the work uniforms, which were probably the most boring outfit in the show, were so much better than any work uniform these days. Then of course there are the accents. They all range from Scottish, to Irish, to British, and from all regions of Britain. I don't think there were more than two that were alike.
I can't say much about historical accuracy. As I said, I don't watch Downton Abbey, and I don't think I've seen any other shows set around this time period, so I don't have any references. However, everything seemed pretty accurate. The mannerisms and social standards are what most people would consider of the Victorian age, to that point that you just want to punch them in the face and tell them to relax.
The show only has one season, with eleven episodes (I think), so it's very short. I read that there is another season, just not on Netflix, then it was cancelled. Although I loved the show so far, I can't see it getting far. The plot has a good beginning, but I can tell that it would quickly peter out. I think their problem is that they crammed too much into the first season, so all the plot twists and exciting parts are already done. But still, I would say it's worth a watch! It ends before it can get boring (Though there are a few slow parts...)
Anyway, it's a British show, set in the Victorian times. It follows the life of a young woman working in the first department store, called The Paradise. What I loved most about it was the costumes and props. Everything was so beautiful. Even the work uniforms, which were probably the most boring outfit in the show, were so much better than any work uniform these days. Then of course there are the accents. They all range from Scottish, to Irish, to British, and from all regions of Britain. I don't think there were more than two that were alike.
I can't say much about historical accuracy. As I said, I don't watch Downton Abbey, and I don't think I've seen any other shows set around this time period, so I don't have any references. However, everything seemed pretty accurate. The mannerisms and social standards are what most people would consider of the Victorian age, to that point that you just want to punch them in the face and tell them to relax.
The show only has one season, with eleven episodes (I think), so it's very short. I read that there is another season, just not on Netflix, then it was cancelled. Although I loved the show so far, I can't see it getting far. The plot has a good beginning, but I can tell that it would quickly peter out. I think their problem is that they crammed too much into the first season, so all the plot twists and exciting parts are already done. But still, I would say it's worth a watch! It ends before it can get boring (Though there are a few slow parts...)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)