Ice Climber Needs of a Revival!!

As most of you may know, Kid Icarus: Uprising released not even a month ago on the next gen portable Nintendo 3DS. A revival no one, not even Nintendo, saw coming in its future. Some screamed, others fainted, most were shocked into skepticism and the real question always was: How is Nintendo going to pull it off? Fans rejoiced and from the user base it not only sold good but it was a delayed revival well worth the wait. So why couldn't Nintendo pull it off again?

Of all the franchises that deserve a revival from Nintendo's history, there is only one that deserves it more than all others. Ice Climbers. Other than appearing in the hit series, Super Smash Bros., and a port on the GameBoy Advance, Ice Climbers have been absent since the Nintendo Entertainment System over twenty years ago!

It's debatable really, it's either you loved it or hated it. Most people took the latter but many new aged gamers would never understand the appeal and opportunity Ice Climbers once brought us. Sure, Super Mario Bros. and Legend of Zelda were no brainers and technically were the only games you needed, but cult classics were everywhere at the time as this is definitely one of them.

If Project Sora can take Kid Icarus on the NES and overhaul it to Uprising's high standards, then imagine what a developer like Good Feel or Intelligent Systems could pull off? Surely it's a "hit and miss" procedure to predict exactly what, but Ice Climbers could be turned into virtually anything. A collect-athon a la Super Mario Galaxy or just a plain old adventure game like Legend of Zelda or Star Fox Adventures.

Aiming for a handheld audience like Kid Icarus's revival did (to play it safe of course), we might one day see it come true. It's no secret that the game may be a turn off to even developers who normally are willing to work with Nintendo's franchises but maybe, just maybe, someday a developer or even Nintendo themselves will step to the plate!

Super Mario RPG

Over a decade has passed since my older brother beat the SNES epic, Super Mario RPG. I downloaded this bad boy the day it released on Nintendo's Virtual Console service and haven't had the patience to full beat it. The thought I always had retail games to be played and the thought of grinding worried me, I never came to my senses to completing it.

The characters are something to shine. Mario, Peach and Bowser team up with newcomers Mallow and Geno to take down the world's new threat Smithy. Dialogue wise it's excellent. I love everyone's back story specifically Geno's. The ride wasn't too long and the difficulty was never out in the open. Basically Mario RPG isn't difficult.

Though after Smithy, I found the ending to be the best part. While every other major event was great, it never felt so good to beat an RPG in my entire life. I love this game. Everything is virtually perfect as Square did a superb job. Well, everything that has nothing to do with the platforming that is.

Modern Warfare 2

Day 3


After reaching level 70 I've come to a conclusion that, aside from the hackers, this is a really fun first person shooter as I found learning to quick scope to be a really fun journey. The gun balance is okay while the variety is immense. Some guns are easier to use than others and some attachments are better suited to your play style.

The maps are even better. Out of the sixteen maps only around two or three are on my shit list. The other thirteen are incredibly fun to discover as the layouts are genius. I also love the variety in terms of different locations. Estate features some broken down storage buildings and a fancy log cabin to run around in. Sure, it doesn't totally grasp you the idea people actually lived there days before you came along but it's still great.

The game modes are fun as well even if they are cliche or even sometimes boring. Maining Search and Destroy the entire time I had with this game felt sort of tedious at times. Not as fun as Black Ops, and I found myself bored easily the quicker I got great at it. I went to Domination and even Sabotage sometimes but not very often. Third Person Team Tactical would have been fun if the community wasn't as dead.

And the last thing I can say about the overall online is the terrible community. Not even the trash talkers are a problem these days, it's the hackers. If someone is advertising colorful text in your face, they're using an aimbot. I hate aimbots with a passion and while they're annoying other hacks are even worse such as the instant knife kill. That hack is where someone, from any distance, can knife and kill you as if they were right next to you. And don't get me started on people who are de-ranking people...

While I love the offline single player and Spec Ops, I've had the least fun with the offline. Maybe it was the cheaters or even the the small community? Or was it the lag or even the poor community? The online isn't bad but it is overshadowed by its side by side options. The next time you see me playing this bad boy will be when I come to claim that Platinum trophy.

Day 2

For being level 67, I'm nearly done with my online mission and I have to say I'm having a blast. Up until just recently, I was trying to avoid the casual quickscoping, One Man Army, and noobtubing trend, but I've learn if you don't go with it, you're at a very distant disadvantage. I grew frustrated, while getting better as time went on. Though back then I quit playing for personal reasons and lost my potential skill. However much was even there to begin with.

Ditching the Throwing Knife altogether, I've grown accustomed to C4 and Claymores. With explosives, I've found people rarely discover them in time to react. The grenade launcher with One Man Army can provide unlimited ammo which can lead to a surplus of kills.

Though, I've noticed some pretty terrible hacks. The first I've noticed, is the one where people let everyone jump high into the air. I find this hack to be fun for everyone. No one is invincible and it's all equal. Though, few people allow it so they are the only one who is jumping high. The other, is the knife hack. I find it to be despicable due to the fact that it's overpowered and obvious. Whether you're far away, or in close range, they swing their knife in your vicinity and you die.


Day 1

Let me just say this now. This is not really my first time playing Modern Warfare 2. I've had this game for some time now nearly getting a Platinum Trophy on it. While Spec Ops seems impossible to me, I completed the campaign 100% and now I'm onto the online.

Rather than World at War's and Modern Warfare 1's hacker infested servers, Modern Warfare 2 suffers from a lesser power. Quick scoping. Quick scoping is where a sniper aims down the scope very quickly and hits you with the bullet and most of the time it kills you. Instantly. Depending on the game mode you choose determines on how many quick scopers there are. Search and Destroy is overpopulated. Nearly 30% of the people you will encounter don't use a sniper.

Along with that is the overpowered grenade launchers and grenades. But those aren't really a problem and can be worked around. Along with that is a perk called One Man Army which enables the user to switch to any other custom class he desires whenever needed. Few people abuse this perk and obtain an unlimited amount of grenade launchers.

Currently I'm Level 54 and I'm only 16 levels away from being first prestige. I find this leveling process to take forever especially compared to it's predecessors/successors. I'm also learning to quick scope and recently unlocked the M9 + Tactical Knife, which is my favorite set up, period.

I find it to be so cool how you can knife instantly and how the animation looks with his arms crossed!

Minecraft Rant

Wow. Okay. Let me just say 2011, for me, was a very difficult and emotional year. A series of events happened and made me stop and analyze what's going on. Ranging from terrible to great, I had a fairly bipolar year, unfortunately. Gaming wise I was incredibly obsessed with Call of Duty Black Ops both on Wii and mainly PS3. Or basically Call of Duty in general. From Modern Warfare 1 to Modern Warfare 2 to Black Ops I played them all. Mainly gaming on my PS3 in 2011, my Wii and other consoles were neglected, which was a first.

All of which was a nice change from Nintendo (and there is nothing wrong with change mind you). But there is one game, out of the hundreds I played in 2011, that stood amongst them all with it's unparalleled glory. Minecraft.

Don't jump Jimmy!

Minecraft is, by far, the most innovative game in 2011. Maybe even the most innovative game ever crafted. (Pun intended.) The game doesn't have a storyline, where a cookie cutter character briefly explains the world around you and the threat that's going to end existence. Rather, you're automatically placed into a world, with no tutorials, no rules, no limit. Of course you have to know the basics on how to live but beyond that it is YOUR game to play it as YOU intend.

Minecraft has two words that are combined within it's name: Mine and craft. Mining is a big part of it's formula and something you have to do the first second you're thrown into the game. You harvest many materials and mine many minerals. Without this you would have nothing for shelter and nothing to keep yourself safe.

Crafting is an enormous part of Minecraft. In fact, most people prefer to just make their own creations than do anything else within Minecraft's vastly open world. Since it's release I've seen hundreds of awesome creations such as: elegant mansions, Bender from Futurama, and I, myself, made the Minecraft logo.

Explore the world before you and survive, or parish.

Minecraft sure is cute, right? Wrong. Exploring caves is absolute nerve suicide. After witnessing the wrath of zombies and skeletons you want out. Every enemy spawns in the darkness. Wherever there is darkness (even if it's in your own home), they will come. Silent Hill and Resident Evil are pretty scary but I've never blatantly screamed bloody murder when playing a video game until Minecraft. Weird demonic noises from nowhere, enemy's faces in your face when knocking down a wall, or even surprise attacks from behind.

Internet sensation Creepers are a different story. They're just as frightening as the others, but more at the same time. Walking near these suicidal maniacs makes them explode. Explosions hurt you. A lot. Hearing a "sssssssssss" noise before you either are mortally wounded or killed, will make anyone who is playing this game scream. They can also destroy your house if you're not careful. Leaving your door unlocked and one comes in, have fun getting him out. He only wants a hug...

Minecraft's music is flawless. The records you can play with in the Alpha version nowadays aren't too great. But the old music is immensely charming and catchy. After a hard days work and you're returning home, the music starts to play and it naturally puts a smile on your face. The score is perfect, in my honest opinion.

Sure, the 8-bit graphics may put some off, but trust me: Minecraft is the most fun any gamer could ever have. Nonbelievers such as myself had the awesome sauce that is Minecraft shoved down their throat.

Makes sense, right?

I remember walking in as my older brother was playing this "awesome game" on the computer. Naturally I paid little to no attention to what he's bragging about. Nodding my head to his statements and exaggerations and how I "would love this game." At first glance this "game" looked like a flash game he downloaded for free or another terrible MMORPG bore. I tried to persuade him my K/D in Black Ops is more important than watching you play a silly, stupid flash game. It wasn't a silly, stupid flash game.

No, it wasn't even close to a flash game you could Google and play in real time. Took 10 minutes of him gushing on how awesome and fun this game is. He thoroughly explained everything and how fun it is. Easy to pick up and play. And after that I had to play it!

After making world after world trying to get it just right, I finally did. 200 hours later and multiple updates, I was finally done. I joined the Minecraft bandwagon when it was still in its BETA. Nowadays there has been a complete overhaul to every aspect of the game. Improving everything the BETA was doing wrong.