DEMO-ING DRAGON'S DOGMA

So recently there seems to have been a lot of slow-burn hype surrounding this new RPG from Capcom, Dragon's Dogma.  It was just released today, and seems to be getting good reviews.   I downloaded the demo on my PS3, and I'm sort of left wondering...did we play the same game?

THE RESEMBLANCE IS UNCANNY

I can't claim to have ever played Persona 3 due to my intense loathing for JRPGs, but now I kind of want to.  The columnists at Kotaku have uncovered some unsettling similarities between P3 and television cult favorite Buffy The Vampire Slayer.   From the sound of it, they're practically one and the same!   Well played, Kotaku...


Persona 3 Really Is Buffy The Vampire Slayer Down To The Smallest Characters 

(Though I have to admit, their assessment of Tara made me a little sad...maybe it's just that I've met Amber Benson, but I always loved her.)

AT A GLANCE - RAYMAN: ORIGINS

Ubisoft is trying to bring platforming back into the spotlight with a revival of their Playstation-era hero, Rayman.   The cartoony French mascot debuted in 1995 and enjoyed some popularity, he hasn't been seen in his own title almost a decade.   The Raving Rabbids series began as a Rayman game, but spun off into their own series, leaving Rayman behind.   Now he's back in a gorgeous retro-styled platformer that returns to the series' 2D roots.  It's been showered with accolades by reviewers and gamers alike since its release, becoming something of an underdog success story.  This week, Ubisoft put the game on sale for 50% off, and I decided to see what all the hype was about.

DIY MMO?

Just something interesting that I found via an acquaintance of mine that I thought I would share.  This is a pretty ambitious concept, to be honest.  It's a site that lets you create your own massively multiplayer online game, with full support, premade code, etc.  There is a "starter" world that you can edit, or you can start from scratch.   It's a little beyond my capabilities, I think, but it's still a cool idea.  Check it out!

MULTIVERSE - The MMO Development Program

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

I love Borderlands.  It's on my list of "games that never get old no matter how much I play them".   I love the world of Pandora, I love the cel-shaded art style, I love the over the top characters, and for fuck's sake I love the loot.  OH GOD, SO MUCH LOOT.   I have long since considered a craft project of making my own CL4P-TP "Claptrap" robot, and for years the text message chime on my phone was Claptrap's "HaHAAA!!!"   Needless to say, Borderlands 2 is incredibly high on my Must Buy list of upcoming games for this year.

INDIE SPOTLIGHT: DEAR ESTHER

Have you ever seen an art film or independent film where you're pretty sure no one actually likes it, they just pretend to in order to sound smart?   Honestly that's the only reason I can think of to explain the host of glowing reviews that Dear Esther has received since being released on Steam back in February.   While I would not say that Dear Esther is bad, or that I regret my experience playing it, I definitely would not shower it with praise like many reviewers seem to have.

SOMEONE SAY...TECHS-MECHS?

So there have been several new videos and  Piranha Games' upcoming BattleTech universe reboot, MechWarrior Online, and I have to be honest...they make me happy in my pants.   Those that know me know that I'm normally not one for playing online games, but with the announcement of TES:Online and now this?  This heathen may become a convert. 

SCROLL OF RESURRECTION

I had kind of given up on this blog, because after two months I didn't have any followers.   But now that seems kind of silly, given how little I advertised or spread word.   I posted to my friends and on a couple of websites, but I never really got word out there!   So I'm kicking the dust off here, and will be blogging again.   Still can't afford to review the newest and hottest games, but I definitely want to do some more indie and retro reviews, talk about topics that have piqued my interest, share funny or cool screenshots or shit I've found across the internet, and give my own spin on current gaming news.

So, what's sparking this resurrection, you probably didn't ask?   Well, now I am a part of something a little bigger than just this blog; a new independent podcast called The North/South Geek Show.  I am the South half, as I live in Florida.   My long time friend Ryan is the North half, residing in Ohio.   The N/S Geek Show is really just about two geeky buddies talking about geeky stuff.  Video games, movies, comics, whatever strikes our fancy.