Lost In Thought

I’m still having trouble wrapping my head around the ending to Mass Effect 3. Since my last post I’ve made zero progress in articulating my feelings regarding it. So I’m just going to come out and say it, and if it results in an eventually mega-post, so be it.

The ending to Mass Effect 3 was awful.

I mean REALLY awful.

So awful in fact that not only does it ruin the game, it ruins the whole series. I see what they were trying to do from a literary standpoint, but the result is a mass failure. It almost feels like they were rushed, or that they didn’t have an ending in mind when they started Shepard’s story.

I’ll probably get one more post out of this before I move on with my life.

At least the multiplayer portion of the game is entertaining.

A Minor Update

I beat Mass Effect 3. I’ll write more substantially on it. A small post about it has blown up and I don’t think I’ll have it done any time soon. Oh well. I’ve to start supper, as I forgot to do it earlier. Oops. Maybe I’ll post some more tonight, but more than likely it’ll be tomorrow. Until then.

Dread

On my the precipice, I can feel it in my bones. In just a few more missions I’ll have beaten Mass Effect 3. I’m scared. I don’t know how I’ll take the ending in context, since I accidentally spoiled some specifics of the ending. Soon it will be done.

Instead of just complete this saga and bringing my Shepard’s saga to an end, I’m dicking around with the multiplayer. You know what? The multiplayer portion of the game is actually decent. Its superfluous, but still its decent. I’ve actually had fun playing with randoms on Xbox Live.

Next time I post I’ll have beaten the game. Here’s hoping its not as bad as people have been making it out to be.

Roleplay

The Mass Effect RPG series is one where I actually roleplay. My FemShep is fiercely loyal of her allies, dislikes authority, is unforgiving of stupid decision, and REALLY likes to collect model star ships for her cabin. She rolls as a paragon, but has a hot streak of renegade.

This connection I’ve created to this character I’ve played for THREE WHOLE FUCKING games is crazy, and I love it. Its very rare in videogames for you to actually have a choice in how your character goes about their tasks. Too bad that the ending of the game supposedly completely ignores what you’ve done with your character during the series.

I’m really hoping the ending isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. On the plus side, the DLC providing an extended cut of the ending will be coming out in the next few months to “personalise” the ending more.

I’ll write about my feeling further when I finally beat the game.

Nothing New To Share

I worked for 8 hours, I ate Shepherd’s Pie, and I listened to the Bombcast. My feet hurt.

That was my whole day.

Oh, and Caine’s Arcade!

This brought a tear to my eye, a tear of joy.

Now to bed.

Another Mass Effect 3 Post

So by now everyone has heard about the terrible ending of Mass Effect 3. I’ve avoided spoilers about it, wanting to experience it myself. At this time, I think I’m maybe 1/3rd of the way through the game, and so far I’m liking the story. It has a great sense of the epic, and the only thing I can really complain about is that there is no sense of urgency. Between missions I waste my time doing meaningless sidequests and the war just stops. I can take my time because once I activate the next “main quest” mission the war continues. Its a little ridiculous.

I’m dreading the ending though and I hope that its not as bad as the internet fanboys have made it.

An Uneventful Trip

I went to the US for the first time in 2 years yesterday. It was suffice to say absolutely terrible. We should have never went on Good Friday. We had a two hour wait at the border/ It felt like the entirety of Quebec had made their way to Plattsburgh, NY. Crowds of rude Frenchmen filled the malls, and the Walmart. It wouldn’t have been so bad if they hadn’t been rude, or maybe if there was just less of them.

Nothing went as planned. We had originally went across in order to buy groceries since we had heard about some good deals at the area supermarkets. Next time I go, I’ll go on a day that’s less busy.

A Very Long Weekend

I’ve got the next four days off from work. I go back to the shop on Tuesday. I’ll be glad to be off my feet for the entire time. My job really takes its toll on my feet and ankles. Probably because of my weight. Oh well.

Mass Effect 3 Initial Impressions

I started Mass Effect 3 last night, and its another Mass Effect game. My only issue is that my FemShep has been recast with a different actress. My FemShep from ME2 couldn’t be properly imported, and instead produced some sort of freak. It was sad really. I’m just going to play through this game with the default FemShep as she looks similar to the model I used in the previous games in the series.

Major issues with the initial part of the game. For the entirety of the opening cinema, the lip sync was off. It was distracting and took me completely out of the set up.

I caved and bought the controversial DLC, “From Ashes”, since it supposedly has payoff for those invested in the series mythology. I have yet to reach the point where I can pursue this quest line.

I’ll write more once I’ve played more.

On the other hand, I’m itching to get back into two other games I’ve been playing, specifically Kid Icarus Uprising, and Kingdoms of Amalur.

Jumping Into Mass Effect 3

So I’m going to start Mass Effect 3 tonight. I’ve been avoiding spoilers as much as possible, and don’t want to know WHAT the shitty ending is until I’ve experienced it myself. Like Soulcalibur, I’ve invested a good amount of time into the Mass Effect series, and specifically into my version of Shepard.

This investment almost lead me into replaying ME2, simply because I accidentally wandered down a romance path I hadn’t intended to take. I was hoping to maintain my relationship from the first game throughout the series, and failed miserably. Such is life.

An April Fool

This isn’t a joke or a prank, I’m back. My life sucks but so does everyone else's. I’ve not posted in TWO months, and its time for me to start again. I’m going to start posting semi-regularly while I figure out what to write. I need to do something with my time other than just work. I feel as if I’ve written all this before.

Tomorrow and every day after you will see at the very least a small inconsequential post from me. It’ll be about how my day was, or short fiction, or mini-reviews of whatever I’ve been reading/watching/playing/listening to.

So yeah, I’m back. Whatever.

A Lazy Sunday Afternoon…

I’m relaxing, watching movies. I’ll probably clean a little too. I’m currently watching a Russian Japanese Animated film called, “The First Squad”. It has been interesting so far, but I keep getting taken out of the story by live action mockumentary style segments interspersed between animated segments. They really break up the flow of an otherwise interesting animated feature.

Here’s a trailer of the film in question:

Nostalgia

Yesterday’s post reminded me of some fond memories. I spent a lot of time at that arcade during my CEGEP years, and now, almost 10 years (give or take) later, that arcade no longer exists. For years I went there. I specifically went there to play Soul Calibur 2, but I would also divide my time between GuitarFreaks, DrumMania, and DDR. I was also into the Initial D games for a bit at the time, and if I looked hard enough, I bet you I could locate one of my cards (for my car).

I miss those sorta carefree days, and wish I could go back.

Oh, today is my birthday. Hooray for me.

My Soul Still Burns

I had intended to post yesterday, but was too damn tired after working for what felt like a long, never ending day. I returned home, put up my feet, and didn’t move until I went to bed. Today was almost the same thing, but I just wanted to write; to get back in the habit of writing semi-regularly.

So Soulcalibur V came out today. I should know better, but I really really want it. From the GiantBomb Quicklook I just watched, it looks like more of the same. Here’s an embed of the video, watch and decide yourself:

 

I’ve always been a HUGE fan of the Soul series of fighters, starting with Soul Edge/Blade during the Playstation era. I was actually even decent at it at one point. There was a time back in CEGEP when I would frequent a local arcade just to play Soul Calibur 2. It was fun. I’d walk in, nod to some of the regulars, smack my token down, and then head into conquest mode just to mess with everyone. I very rarely played against other players, but when I did it was fun. I had at some point gotten into playing Cervantes, I’d win more often than most when I did. I have very fond memories of those times.

I miss those days.

On a side note, it drives me nuts that they’ve never been consistent with the titling. The switch between Soul Calibur and Soulcalibur is irritating. And "CALIBUR” isn’t even a real word. What’s the deal with that?

Wintertime Blues

Sorry for the lack of posts in the last month or so, I’ve been depressed. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who knows me, as I tend to feel this way during the winter months (and sometimes NOT during the winter months). More than likely non-diagnosed SADs, but I’ve come to terms with it over the years. These terrible irrational feelings were probably worst than they usual are due to good old family bullshit. I’m slowly coming out of my funk, and while still not 100%, I’m ready to start writing regularly again.

Sometime this week, I’m going to write about what I want to do this year, my goals, resolutions, and what not. Otherwise, until then I’ll just be writing to get back in the habit.

That’s all I’ve to say right now, I’m going to go play through the “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning” demo again, just to relax.

Good night, be back tomorrow.

I’ve Caught Something, Again…

Why do people always have to come to me and complain about how sick they are? All they’re doing is making me sick in the long and short. Not a happy camper at the moment, I’m all sore. Not happy AT ALL.

Late Exclamations of Celebration

I’m just doing a quick post to say to everyone, I wish you a (belated) Merry Christmas & Happy New Years. My internet was down for much of the holidays, and was only able to start accessing the internet as of Tuesday. Yesterday, I was too wiped out from working all day to do a proper post.

This isn’t a proper post, but it’ll do for now. I’m looking into my options, and I’m going to try and develop this into something a little more coherent this year. Or I just might let this continue to act as a quick online journal. Whatever.

Another placeholder tomorrow, and something a little more substantial this weekend.

G’night.