FTL: 2012 A Space Oddysey

So far, I've logged about forty five hours on FTL and I have to say, I have loved my time with the game.

FTL operates as a time filler and a comprehensive adventure all in one package for a very reasonable price. This game is best described as Star Trek meets tactical adventure. It occupies much of the same space as games like Binding of Isaac and Don't Starve, so if you've played those games you have a general gist of what this game's philosophy is, even though it has radically different game play. What they share in common is infinite replay value and endearingly addicting game play.

"Braking" the Event Horizon

As a gamer, I know that I must subscribe to a lot of different genres.  Action, puzzle, adventure, platformer, fighting, but one genre that I almost exclusively ignore is sports games.  It is no surprise, sports games are known for being extremely generic and they usually suck.  Also, I normally like to play games that allow me to do something that I am otherwise incapable of doing in the real world.  I mean I am certainly capable of playing football or basket ball, not so much slaying dragons with swords or shooting people in the face without risk of being shot myself.  There are a few sports games however that do intrigue me a bit more.  Racing games in particular definitely have things I cannot perform in reality (like drifting without fear).  Racing games also tend to suck apart from the party style of Mario Kart or the crazy arcade antics of Burnout.  Luckily, Forza Horizon has something much more to offer than simple realistic racing.

Haloes Aren't Always Divine

I have never been a huge Halo fan.  I liked the first game, it was a fun and interesting title for the first Xbox (didn't really shine until it's PC release later on).  Many gamers considered it a crowning accomplishment for the platform and some would dare say it revolutionized the FPS genre for console gaming.  I cannot say the same for its sequels.  I basically hated Halo 2, it wasn't as fun despite the addition of duel wielding.  I couldn't deny the online multiplayer, but I did not enjoy playing it and the story was not something I had been craving.  Halo 3 had even less of an impact on my appreciation for the franchise.  The multiplayer felt stale, and the story meant nothing to me already so I wasn't surprised by the flop ending.  Halo had always cast a dim shadow for me as a gamer.  Even after the 73 spin-off titles released ranging from RTS to squad-based shooters, I never felt myself interested in what the universe had to offer.

There is a Wha? Since When?

I cannot say for certain, but I feel as if I have been asleep for a decade and awoke to some unsettling news.  I guess I should not be as surprised as I am to discover that there is a 3rd game in the Final Fantasy XIII series that ISN'T FFXIIIVersus.  But...why?  I had heard nothing of this title (not that i was looking very deep into the information) and yet even now knowing that there is an impending conclusion to the FFXIII trilogy, I still cannot possibly imagine them finishing the game before Versus.  I mean, I want that god damned game way more than I want to see what happens to Lightning.  I get it, Lightning is hot, and probably the only damn reason half of the players stuck it out in FFXIII in the first place...and probably the same reason those people didn't stick it out for FFXIII-2.  But just because she is the focus on this title doesn't mean that it'll be any better.  But then...what will this game be like anyway?  All I have to go off of for now is this trailer.

My Eyes...

Well the world hasn't ended, but after what I've just seen, it might as well have.  Project X Zone released in Japan in October of this year bringing forth some of the most ridiculous visuals on the 3DS console I have ever laid eyes on, needless to say, my body was not ready.  Just check out this video:

Gift Giving This Season Made Easy

Getting gifts for people during the holidays always seems to be a chore.  But it doesn't have to be...I love getting people something amazingly unique for the holidays, something that they hopefully won't expect, but is at least vaguely related to their interests as a whole.  This is probably no easier to accomplish then with the Gamer.  Gamer's are so easy to shop for, basically stick to anything nerdy as balls and you've got yourself a great gift idea.  The problem however usually revolves around the price tag.  Everyone knows your roommate/boyfriend/brother/dude would love a PS Vita or a new TV as a gift, but not everyone has a spare $300-$5000 just laying around under the sofa cushions.  Its easy to settle on something like a t-shirt that says "i'm here to suck dick and play Skyrim, and I'm all out of Skyrim," but its so lame to buy shirts for people these days.  So if you are like me and are trying to give memorable gifts on a budget, here are a few ideas to keep things unique, under budget, and undeniably cool.

Get in the End Zone

Zone of the Enders was a fairly short lived video game franchise created by Hideo Kojima that garnered a lot of respect and hype when it was released on the PS2 back in 2001.  Since then a sequel, a prequel, an anime, and a newly remastered HD collection has spawned for gamers to enjoy.  I remember that I got my first taste of Z.O.E when i wanted very badly to play the demo of MGS2: Sons of Liberty some random PS2 title offered up on the wall at some game store.  I ended up purchasing Z.O.E with almost zero interest in the game itself, other than it's sleek robot combat appeal, I had almost assured myself that I wasn't going to like it before I had even opened the box.  I'm not going to lie either, I played the shit out of the MGS2 demo before it had even occurred to me that Z.O.E was still just sitting there waiting to be played.  At long last I had popped the game in, and to this day, treat it as one of the greatest treasures in gaming that I had the curtsey of discovering for myself.