Portal 2

It guess it goes without saying that Portal 2 was and is absolutely amazing

By now any gamer should have played, or know of, the original Portal. It was made half as a test of the source engine, half as an extra bit to be added into The Orange Box. Somehow, the popularity of this small title exploded, and you're hard pressed to find a gamer that HASN'T played Portal.

Portal 2 does a fantastic job bringing the same charm and originality that the original brought to the table. THe humor is great, the puzzles are challenging, and this return to Aperture Science's labs is more than worth your while.

Archer

Here's yet another gem available on the 'flix: Archer.

So maybe this show isn't as much as a "hidden gem" as some of the others, but season 1 is available for instant stream, so yeah.

If you are a fan of Adult Swim's old show Sealab 2021 and the short lived Frisky Dingo will love Archer (Sealab and Frisky were made by the same company, which sadly went out of business). Archer was created by a few of the same people from the former shows. It's much closer to Frisky Dingo in terms of art style and comedy delivery, but the craziness still remains.

For a plot summary, Sterling Archer, Codename "Duchess", is the best black ops field agent in the world... or at least he is extremely lucky when trying to get the job done. When not on the job, he is putting up with his boss, who is also his mother, and an office full of employees that don't care much for office etiquette. 

Give it a look if you're bored one day.

Duke Nukem 3D

Guess what I just found a copy of...

Oh yeah, baby.

Ok, so maybe I didn't find it so much as my brother got it from a friend, but the fact remains that this is awesome.

If you don't know what the hype behind Duke3D is (now that DNF is finally making it's debut in a few months), it's very similar to Doom in terms of gameplay (I will do a little blog about Doom soon :D). What that means, essentially, is find guns, kill bad guys, find more guns, kill more bad guys. I love games like this, where the only strategy is don't die. While I do enjoy FPSs like Call of Duty or Left4Dead, the frantic craziness of hundreds of bad guys against 1 rocket launcher toting super human is just wonderful. (sometimes not having a strategy to playing is the most fun).

In terms of what sets it apart from Doom, however, is the higher level of violence and political incorrectness. It was probably one of the only mainstream games with dancing strippers. It wasn't just an incredibly fun game... it was an experiment, pushing the boundries of what could and could not be accessible in video games. And I love every minute of it.

You Don't Know Jack

Here's another quick update. The wonderfully snarky You Don't Know Jack.

For those who don't know, You Don't Know Jack is a trivia game that basically makes fun of you throughout. The computer game was set up like a TV show, complete with the contestants starting in a "green room" setting while the assistant got various details, such as player names and length of the game.

The real fun begins when the host starts making wisecracks, not only at the expense of the questions, but at the expense of the players, be it based on their names, or their inability to answer a question correctly. The questions are unlike any other trivia game you've ever played as well; YDKJ is the ONLY trivia game to mix Shakespeare and Scooby Doo into the same question. If you really need an example, check out youtube or something.

Long story short, after years and years of no new game... they released a new You Don't Know Jack, and this time it's on all major platforms! 30 bucks will land you 73 "episodes" with 11 questions each on all major consoles. Those wishing to relive the experience on the PC can pick up the title for $20... quite a bargain!

Long story short again, I love love love love love love love love this game. I always have. And ever since the new one came out I've loved challenging my friends and family to ridiculous competition. Check it out!

Code Monkeys

I'm not going to say Code Monkeys is the greatest show ever, but the short-lived show it holds it's own as a ballsy attempt by G4 to make some original programming.

The show was created by Adam de la Peña, writer for Crank Yankers and Jimmy Kimmel Live, as well as creator of Minoriteam. If you don't know what any of those are... it doesn't matter.


The show revolves around Dave and Jerry, two programmers at the video game company GameaVision in the 1980's. The cartoon is, appropriately, made of pixilated characters much like those you would see in video games of the time. All manner of crazy things happen in the company, like a visit to a nazi camp, creation of the E.T. video game, and simply searching for the best weed in the world.


As the show revolves around video games, it features an astounding amount of video game references, both old and new. Any game fan should at least watch an episode or two, just to give it a shot. It is filled with a good amount of toilet humor, but there are quite a number of witty retorts to balance it out.


BTW All the movies and shows I preview on this blog (unless explicitly stated otherwise) are available on Netflix's instant stream. I'm also not limited to netflix reviews (I plan to talk about lots of medias) but that's what I've had on the mind recently! K bye!

Operation: Endgame

Looking for a fun, campy movie with comic actors, dark comedy and a lot of action? Look no further than Operation: Endgame.

Ever been in the mood to watch a bad movie for the sake of watching a bad movie? Thats what I was in the mood for... However, when I came across this and watched it, I was pleasantly surprised that this movie really wasn't all that bad.

For a short synopsis: Two teams of assassins in a secret government facility are turned against each other for reasons unknown, now they have to eliminate their oppositions and find a way out of the facility before it self destructs, eliminating any survivors and evidence the groups ever existed.

Each of the assassins are extremely unique and quirky, giving each a personality worth paying attention to. Even though they may not seem competent, they are each extremely deadly, making the standoff between the two teams exciting, and sometimes gruesome.

The script was constructed with the help of Donnie Darko writer/director Richard Kelly, which attributes to many of the dark elements of the movie. At the same time, it never really takes itself seriously, which means you'll be laughing the whole way through.

Operation: Endgame is not a blockbuster title that would win all sorts of awards... but it is a movie that aims to be fun and entertaining, and accomplishes it's goal with flying colors. Give it a shot. On Netflix, of course.

Here's another hidden gem on Netflix.

Fellas, if your lady-friend is bugging you to see a romantic comedy, I would suggest TiMER.

I'm gonna have a hard time explaining this one, it's better just watched, and you should just trust me. But if you really need a small discription: It's a very slightly alternate future/present day where a company, TiMER, has created a device that will tell the user the exact day and time they will meet their soul mate. But it will only start counting down if that special someone also has a TiMER. Sadly, Oona's TiMER has not yet started to count down, and she's getting anxious and frustrated in her search for love.

I know that may sound a bit too "romantic" for some people's taste, but there is more than enough comedy to satisfy even the most anti-chick-flick kinda viewer. It's the kind of awkward situation funny that's not so awkward that you'd want to stop watching. Think Arrested Development meets Friends.

Like I said, it's a very tough film to describe (I really don't like to spoil movies and such). If you're looking for a movie to watch with your special someone, or even just a break from the big name movies out there, give TiMER a shot.

Rocko on Netflix

This is a small update. I knew that Rocko's Modern Life Season 1 was on Netflix to stream. But I got bored this morning and decided to check it again... low and behold, Season 2.

I don't really care what anybody says. I may be 21 years old, but watching the cartoons I grew up with gives me such an incredibly good feeling. Oh, and in case you wanted to know, Angry Beavers Seasons 1 & 2 are on Netflix also. I'm off to watch more Rocko and relive my childhood... BYE!!!

I'm still betting on Duke

I don't care what anybody says. I am still betting on Duke.

So here's a quick history of me and Nukem; I grew up playing violent video games. I was introduced to Doom when it came out in 1993 (I was 4 years old). So when more violent video games come out, I'm there. Was introduced to Duke Nukem by my dad, but of course the family filter was turned on. Eventually I figured out the filter password and was introduced the even more violent, sexual, and vulgar side of the game. At first I was taken back, thinking "I should not be experiencing this, for I am but a wee child." But it came to a point where I realized they weren't doing all this to make it seem realistic; the game was set up in ridiculously vulgar ways for the fun of it. Yes, I figured that out when I was like 7. Bite me.

So through the years after, I see things about duke here and there in video game magazines and such. "Duke Nukem Forever is coming" "Be the next Duke Nukem" and all that other crap. Of course, I've got ADD, so while I was excited, it quickly passed. I watched as a few Duke "games" were released intermittently for consoles, but it wasn't the masterpiece that 3DRealms was promising. 

After a while, it just kinda drifted into obscurity. Though there was a teaser trailer in 2001, it was just kinda whatever. It wasn't until December, 2007 that Duke Fever hit me really hard again. The release of a new teaser trailer, along with reports that the game was in high gear, and wouldn't be "too much" longer ("too much" being a year or 2, but it was almost for certain Duke would finally see the light of day)

Then it stopped when 3D Realms got the boot. I'm not gonna get into that argument, but either way you look at it, it was a sad day.

I get a text one morning, telling me to go to a website. "it's 8 in the morning. why" I ask "GEARBOX IS PICKING UP DUKE" I get receive back. Sure enough, online there's a broadcast of somebody of a whole line of people waiting to see the new duke reveal. Once I got to see what was on display, needless to say I nearly pissed myself.

They've come so far in their production, as well as given an ACTUAL release date for the game (which is something that couldn't be said about the game any other time in it's production) so believe me when I say that this delay doesn't bother me at all. Hell I've only just heard about the Balls of Steel special edition package! I WANT IT SO BAD

Always bet on Duke.

Mortal Kombat

I've never been a huge fan of fighting games. Sure, pop in Street Fighter, Soul Caliber or any other popular game and I'll play with you. I'll lose badly (or get really lucky with my button mashing) and I won't mind, but I've never been driven to get better, other than learn "the fire ball thingie" and spam down. Yes, spam down; that way the character will rapidly crouch for no reason, which is extremely funny.

Growing up however, one game has always, ALWAYS caught my attention. The gruesome, violent, and wildly uncalled for Mortal Kombat.

I don't know if it's just the ultra-violence that catches my attention... like I said, I've never been a huge fan of fighting games. Maybe it was the crazy Fatalities, the extra bit at the end of the match that somehow feels so powerful and exciting, the last chance in the match to add insult to injury. Even being on the receiving side of bloody finisher is so overwhelming in the best way.

I remember being but a wee lad in Wal-Mart, and seeing the game for the first time. I don't remember much, but I remember it was my first chance playing a fighting game. I honestly can't remember if the bloody violence was still on or turned off or anything, but there was something charming about the characters. Having realistic people, as opposed to cartoon characters, seemed to leave an impression on me. I wanted to play more. Plus, an icy ninja? Super cool.

So throughout the years, whenever I'd get a chance, I'd play Mortal Kombat. Growing up, my main source of playtime were the rare occasions the family went to Cici's Pizza, where they had UMK3. I'd pretty much always pic Sub Zero. Still don't entirely know why he stuck in  my mind so much, but I really love the little guy.

More recently my friends have gotten me to try the newer fighers like Street Fighter 4 and BlazBlue (I will always read that title as "blahhzzblue") but I cannot bring myself to be partial to them. One thing I don't like (and this is super minor, but it's something I just don't like) is the "press back to block" thing. I expect pressing backward to move me backward. I enjoy having block as a separate button. I digress... Besides that minor problem, I they just don't have the same kind of charm as Mortal Kombat. Maybe it's because MK doesn't try to take itself as seriously as the other fighters. What I mean is, it's a game based off of the fact you can punch somebody's head off or knock them into a pit of spikes. With SF4 and BB, you have to really be into fighting games and take time to learn everything about the game to enjoy it. With MK, you can learn to be really good if you want, but even completely inexperienced players will have fun mashing the buttons and watching red ooze from their opponents face... or their own.

Anyways, to the point: when I found out a new MK was coming out, one akin to the older titles, I was ecstatic. I mean, I did enjoy Deception and Armageddon (never really played Deadly Alliance) but were truly different games compared to their roots.

Playing the demo for the game was everything I'd hoped for. The fighting is gruesome; bits of flesh are periodically torn from the fighters body as the fight rages on. The fatalities are more violent and bloody as ever; Subby freezes his opponents lower half to walk over and rip off the top half, with bits of intestine hanging while bits of frozen spine protrude up from the motionless lower half. Johnny Cage doesn't just punch peoples heads off; he punches them off, rips the torso off of the legs, slams the torso down so the head pops up, and simply catches the head to hold out in front of him, smiling while dripping in the blood of his opponent.

So yes. I am excited about the new Mortal Kombat. Hell, I might even try to get good at this one.