jakeescape-blog

[jakeescape-blog]

watch out for this, i'm doing a reboot

I'll delete this pretty soon, the blog I mean. I know this just started, but it was getting difficult to manage so many things at once.

I'll make further posts here for updates. You're all totally rad people, hopefully I can turn this into something more manageable and let you all enjoy the ramblings of some random dude. 

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 15 - Post a screenshot from the game you’re playing right now.

I've been playing and trying to beat Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 for a really long time now. I'm still in the middle of the game and haven't seen any ending for it.

The characters and stories are so well written it's ridiculous. I pretty much never thought I'd enjoy a game when for the majority of the time you're hanging out with your friends and going to school.

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 14 - Current (or most recent) gaming wallpaper.

This is both my current and most recent wallpaper; I figured I would just post my whole desktop. The Legend of Zelda series is my favorite series out of anything I've ever played. It holds a special meaning to me, which probably explains my exceptionally high review scores of any Zelda game I've ever played. A lot of the time I switch around wallpapers, but they're almost always Zelda themed.

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 13 - A game you’ve played more than five times.

I've played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time way more than five times. Like most people, this was my first 3D Zelda experience. When I got my hands on my first Nintendo 64 copy I played it at least three times, the first time being the most fresh time. Everything being so new and the dungeons even managing to scare me (especially anything that had to do with those ReDeads).

Now, as it's been ported (the Nintendo Gamecube, Wii), edited (Master Quest) and even remade (Ocarina of Time 3D) my play count has grown tremendously. Now I can navigate the fields effortlessly, I know exactly where to get those secret Gold Skulltulas are, and I know exactly what I need to do to navigate through that cursed Water Temple. This is definitely with my favorite games of all time, and I can only see myself playing it more and more as time goes on.

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 12 - A game everyone should play.

I'm giving this one to the game Eversion. It's a Windows game made by Zaratustra and is actually quite simple. It's a side-scrolling platformer that only needs you to jump and Evert. The game starts out simple enough, letting you get used to the controls in a really happy, bubbly environment. As you Evert through the specific points on each stage, the atmosphere of the level will change slightly, slowly getting a little less bubbly and a lot more serious.

It can be quite difficult, especially if you're going for the true ending of the game by collecting all of the gems on each level; it is definitely worth it though. You can all find the game on Steam, by the way.

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 11 - Gaming system of choice.

My gaming system of choice is actually a portable system; the second in the family of the dual screen series, the Nintendo DS Lite. I was already in love with the GameBoy Advance, and giving me the ability to play those games and play even more, potentially stronger games was amazing. The GBA housed some of my favorite portable games (The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Golden Sun 1 & 2, Pokemon RSE) while introducing me to games that would only further my love of the system (The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Rondo of Swords, Radiant Historia, Pokemon DPPt).

Of course, it's also a somewhat social system, with the ability to chat with others via Pictochat (which had the potential to be used for more than just phallic objects) and with the great wifi additions to many of the DS games.

The system itself eventually got an enormous library, that's even still growing today. I've gotten so many hours worth of fun on this thing, and there's no reason it shouldn't be at the top of my favorites list.

[jakeescape-blog]

It seems an article on gameindustry.biz made the claim that the Wii U would not even be as powerful as current generation consoles (XBox 360 and PS3) and would only fall behind when the next generation of consoles comes out.

This is a video where the complete technical specs of the Wii U are both described and compared to both the XBox 360 and PS3, clearly blowing them both out of the water. Don't expect the Wii U to fall behind at all.

Check out youtube channels ReviewTechUSA and BROD3O.

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 10 - Best gameplay.

How can I pick anything other than Kingdom Hearts? This game has, hands down, my favorite gameplay. It takes all of my favorite elements from any RPG and blends them in with a live action system. They mesh so well; the games are just super fun.

As the series went on, the gameplay only got better. Being able to go with brute strength and use mostly physical attacks while splashing in a variety of spells both offensive and defensive; it's just a great time. Offering so many possibilities and powerful attacks/spells, everyone can find their own way to play the game. 

I simply adore it.

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 9 - Saddest game scene. (MASSIVE RADIANT HISTORIA SPOILERS)

After playing through the game, I only got more sad as the game went on and events revealed themselves. Stocke was really Ernst, a chosen sacrifice for the Granorg Royal Family's ritual to stop desertification. Heiss wanted nothing more than to stop this atrocious deed, so that people wouldn't be forced to sacrifice themselves for the good of the world, and maybe get to keep living their lives.

Stocke knew what was coming though. As he learned about himself he knew what he had to do, and seeing all of the hope the future would bring he willingly gave his life to see those he loved happy. Despite everyone he loved telling him not to do it, Stocke went ahead with it anyways, giving up everything while promising to come back.

Guys it made me really sad. :(

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 8 - Best soundtrack.

Of course, I feel that music is a big part of any game. In the series Y's (sounds like "ease") they have done a very great job with it, most notably with Y's Seven. Featuring soft and more metal music accompanied by regular wind/string instruments, they compose a score that could even stand on its own. Songs like Innocent Primeval Breaker and Legend of the Five Great Dragons were amazing, and did a great job of making the game feel all the more exciting.

[jakeescape-blog]

Of course I'm telling you all about this, however late to the party I am. In these leaked CoroCoro scans, you see all this crazy new Pokemon Black 2/White 2 stuff! 

If you'll notice, we have new trainers and a new rival to boot. The game is still set in Unova, though being set 2 years later it's a more frozen Unova. Some of the areas have been updated, as well as the Unova Pokedex (It goes up to 300, including those of Psyduck, Riolu, and Metagross). In addition to the updated areas, there are new areas like Hiougi City, the starting city. It seems the place is equipped with shops and a Pokecenter too.

So it looks like this will be an actual sequel with a whole new story! Things like the construction in the desert will be finished and we'll most likely get to see the effects that Hilbert/Hilda had on the world (the original Black/White Trainers).

I got these images and information from serebii.net, which is keeping up with all of the information that comes along as soon as they can. I am just relaying the news here. Hopefully soon we'll know more as the game gets close to its Japan release date (June).

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 7 - Favorite game couple.

In case you haven't noticed yet, I'm a fan of the Castlevania series. Throughout the whole game of Portrait of Ruin, Jonathan and Charlotte work together and work off of each other to perform combos and watch out for enemies. I think I like them so much because in game, you can actually play as both simultaneously, literally doing piggy-back combos to take down bosses and solve puzzles.

At the same time, I liked the way both characters were written, and it becomes very clear that the two of them care for each other and genuinely want to keep the other safe.

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 6 - Most annoying character.

While I enjoyed Fi and her character role in Skyward Sword, that did not stop me from turning down the controller's volume so that she would stop butting in to tell me the probability of winning a battle or that my batteries would be dead soon.

At least she wasn't telling me how to open doors. >.>

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 5 - Game character you feel you are most like (or wish you were).

In Sands of Destruction there is Kyrie. He's really shy and soft-spoken, and lacks confidence in his abilities. There's not much he wouldn't do to keep the ones he loves happy, and despite his fears he'll do anything to protect what he loves at any cost. I would say I feel I am most like Kyrie, we share most of the same traits and even the same love for adorable little bears. 

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 4: Your Guilty Pleasure game

Total Distortion probably wins this. I'm not sure why I ever played it, nor am I sure why I continue playing it. It's the story of a music producer that goes into different realities and then finds out that they are all dominated by pop culture. So he dies and leaves you 3 million dollars and you are tasked with going to these different dimensions to revive pop culture and bring back music videos in your own dimension.

Of course, there are evil Guitar Warriors that are ruled by the Metal Lord that are bent on stopping you, so you have to defeat them in musical battles.

This game is awful, with probably the greatest game over screen ever. >.>

[jakeescape-blog]

Day 3 - A game that is underrated.

This was actually a toss up for me, between this game and Rondo of Swords. Though Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg won, because Rondo was more mind-numbingly difficult than anything. 

I feel like most people never even heard of the game, while the people that did know about it scoffed at it. It definitely did not deserve such scoffing, because it is all kinds of fun. Throughout the game you play as Billy Hatcher, a boy that gains a legendary chicken suit with power over all eggs. You'll grab giant eggs, roll them around, and use them to attack your enemies that are trying to break the egg; you also complete puzzles and do some platforming too.

Now, I'm aware that sounds incredibly silly, which it definitely is, but Sega built a strong game in this. Both the visuals and charming score are fitting of the game, and over all it has this adorable charm that kind of hooks you in. I honestly never understood why people didn't enjoy it; it was hard enough to challenge but easy enough to just be a good time and dominion over all eggs is a pretty awesome superpower. If any of you ever get the chance, try it! You can find it for like, five dollars now.

Tomorrow - Your guilty pleasure game. 

[jakeescape-blog]

April 6th, 2012

Wii:

Xenoblade Chronicles (US)

XBox 360:

Vidiot Game