Respects

I want to wish my buddy, Jay, a very, very Happy Birthday! Enjoy it, man!

On a separate note, I want to recognize the men and women that have given their lives for the freedoms that I enjoy. But today isn't just to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on. It's a day to thank those who are still fighting for our freedom, and are part of the reason we are still safe.

One of those people, even those he isn't in the service anymore, is my dad. He was and still is a Marine, and he fought on this country's behalf. Actually, I'd like to think that he fought on my behalf, and that he is the reason that I am still alive, as well as why I enjoy those freedoms I mentioned earlier.



I called my dad earlier and wished him the best day possible, and he thanked me for remembering what today is really about. I have to agree with him that we have to realize why we celebrate days like these; not that barbecuing isn't awesome, but why do you do it?

Anyway, I wanted to take some time to write this out. I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day!

P.S.

I'd also like to give a shout-out to my girlfriend's brother who joined the National Guard late last year. If you pray, say a little something for him so he stays in good health! Thanks, Joe!

Marvel vs. Capcom 3

Growing up, I loved going to arcades and playing the games. Every time I saw one, I’d rush to it and ask my parents for some quarters. I remember being so elated to play games like Time Crisis, Area 51, and House of the Dead. Those days of asking my parents for quarters are over, but arcades are still around like Dick Clark (I know! I was shocked, too!). There was one game I remember playing that kept my attention and always made my arcade experiences.

Marvel vs. Capcom 2 was a combination powerhouse of my favorite characters into one game. From MegaMan to Iron Man and Ryu to Wolverine, I enjoyed every minute of it. Using combos with the backup characters, I was able to amp up my game play.

So you can imagine my excitement when I saw the teaser trailer for Marvel vs. Capcom 3: The Fate of Two Worlds. I never knew the game to have a specific storyline, and I always assumed that it was just a marketing scheme to give more attention to the more popular characters of both universes. I can’t really go into depth about the story because professional reviewers haven’t explored the game in-depth yet. I only read snippets, but I put a few dollars toward reserving my copy. ;-)

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 drops Spring 2011 (date is uncertain), and it should bring back some fan favorites; along with new faces. I’ll keep you all updated as more information on it becomes available. One thing is for sure; I’ll be at the midnight release if there is one!

Gaming, believing

-V

Mass Effect review

When someone mentions RPG, my mind automatically goes to the long and arduous Final Fantasy series. I have no problem with the series; I just have no patience when it comes to running around an open world and talking to strangers, especially when I have no idea what I’m looking for.

With that in mind, I recently discovered Mass Effect for the Xbox 360. It was released in 2007 under BioWare Corp., EA Games, and Microsoft Game Studios. I originally thought it was boring after spending a summer watching my roommate play it. All I saw were the conversations that the main character had with others, but I couldn’t figure out what was going on. Now that I’ve been playing the game for a few weeks, I see what my roommate was talking about.

Mass Effect is set one hundred and twenty eight years into the future. Humanity has discovered ancient artifacts on Mars that advance their technology and allow faster-than-light travel (FTL). Humans make contact with alien races and ally with them in a massive, ancient space station known as the Citadel. It serves as a United Nations of sorts, as well as the center for galactic civilization.

The main character, Sheppard (you can choose skin color, gender, and overall appearance at the beginning of the game), is the primary candidate to prove humanity deserves a spot on the Citadel council. Tensions rise when one of the most trusted agents of the Council goes rogue and is bent on universal domination. It’s up to Sheppard to build a team of experiences soldiers and mercenaries to hunt him down and stop him by any means necessary.

The game is completely interactive, and the outcome to certain situations is solely based on your decisions. With each good or bad choice you make, you get points toward that end result, and depending on how many of each choice you make will determine how other characters treat you during game play.

Along with the main plot, there are side quests that you can embark on in the most advanced ship in the galaxy. I have to say that the upgradeable characters and weapons throughout the game intrigued me. I have yet to finish playing the game, but I’m close, and the folks at BioWare Corp. have done a fantastical job in integrating graphics and sound with story and dialogue to make an absolutely stunning game.

For an involved storyline and open-choice game play, I give this game a 8 out of 10!

Gaming, believing…

V