Mass Effect: a novel idea

I was supposed to read Drew Karpyshyn’s Mass Effect: Ascension before I played Mass Effect 2. If you didn’t either you didn’t miss much. Ascension doesn’t rise to the heights of excitement and intrigue that Revelation reached. But then again, how could it? It’s sandwiched between two epic video games. It does have a few redeeming qualities and I still like Karpyshn’s work.

MadWorld is a dud world

A Sega game on a Nintendo system would have been weird back when this game would have been good. Now it’s just a run of the mill violent game with a bad soundtrack that makes the main character do some weird butt dance when he’s not throwing people into machines and spraying their blood all over the screen.

XKCD: Abandon all hope ye who enter

For the love of everything holy and sacred read the alt text! Also, watch out for rule 34.

Dark Tower VI, the worst of the series?

King has stumbled with Songs of Susannah, but like his precious tower he has not fallen.

Bioshock 2: You’re not my real dad!

Bioshock 2 is one of those games that you were either apprehensive about or excited to see, depending on how much faith you have in the video game industry. While the game play and setting is what we remember from Bioshock, the story falls short in Rapture’s second installment.

Godfather II: Just another sandbox game

For anyone who has read the book or seen Godfather II, and let’s be honest, if you haven’t you’re not playing this game, you may be in a for a few surprises. Whatever you do, don’t read the book or watch the movie within six months before playing this game. Don’t do it. As a matter of fact, don’t play any game based on a movie shortly before or after seeing said movie. Consuming the same storyline across mediums without providing ample time for digestion between will always lead to despair and indigestion.
The plot compliments the film nicely while allowing you to be the Don you want to be without stomping all over Mario Puzo’s grave.

Speaking of being Don, the chain of command is a little bizarre to say the least. Again, in reference to the movie or book, once Michael Corleone takes over he ships out to Vegas, divides up the Corleone’s New York territory amongst his favorite underlings. Low and behold when you come on the scene the underlings aren’t getting along. So good old Michael tells you he’s putting you in charge of the olive business and tasks you with cleaning up New York. Read: kill everyone. Here’s where things get fishy.

General Mish-Mash: Podcasting with poorly drawn Potatoes

Stuff. You talk about it. Sometimes you wish other people talked about it too. Well, we are other people. Presenting the first Faceplant podcast, General Mish-Mash episode 1! We hit some of the hottest topics in the universe today, such as why hammocks are awesome. Seriously. But we also talk about how 3d games will be invading our lives and making them more….expensive? Speaking of expensive, Tophat freaks out and explains why Modern Warfare 2′s DLC is the devil and we’re all idiots. We also hit on some other big games such as Borderlands and Left 4 Dead 2, but really sink our teeth into what makes Mass Effect 2 great. And terrible. And also, kinda ehhh. With quick hits on game remakes, developers mailing it in, and many reasons why Enosh sucks, you can’t afford not to listen. Enjoy! (The voice we referred to as “Peck” is actually “Tophat”. Don’t ask.)

General Mish-Mash Episode 1 mp3 style

The stakes of remakes

Having a popular idea from the past remade into something for today’s 18 to 25 demographic is not a new idea, but isn’t it getting a little out of hand? With more and more video game developers repackaging old games from two generations ago with a steep $35 price tag, where do we cross the line between a new gaming experience and getting ripped off?