TNA iMPACT (PS3) Review

Admittedly, I don’t watch anything from TNA and little of any wrestling for a matter of fact but I still do keep in touch with wrestling game releases since I got my hands on the first Smackdown! game for the Playstation and we’ve come a long way in terms of graphics since then but in terms of overall quality, they have still not found a perfect formula for a good wrestling game yet and TNA iMPACT which happens to be Midway’s first title for TNA is soooo bad that I doubt there’d be a second and I hope not so I won’t have to go through this shit again.

What are the problems that I have with the game:

• The storyline (you go to Mexico and they have a WELL BUILT wrestling ring in place of a chicken farm? That’s stupid. Voice acting’s ridiculous for whatever character model you end up picking and you can’t really have much freedom to adjust your character’s face and physique. And that also isn’t the stupidest thing among a list of very stupid things in the story mode. Well, if it makes you feel any better, WWE have their Katy Vick storyline to match this garbage!
• The controls are ridiculous. Having to move the analog stick rapidly to escape a pin? Wow! I’m not the only one facing difficulties with the pin system. Go on to game forums, lots of people will tell you ‘different techniques’ to escape a pin when it should be FECKING SIMPLE! And bloody hell, I’m in a wrestling games, how many combos do you want me to memorize? Most of us could barely perform the same moves twice for pete’s sake! Don’t believe me? Check out GameTrailer or Gamefaq’s boards. Smackdown! still did it the best with O + Directional buttons = moves while O + Directional buttons [vs groggy opponent] = power moves. This is ridiculous.
• Submission mini game. Last time I checked, you’re supposed to wear down a particular part in a body and then apply a submission hold to enter a mini game where you’re supposed to press the buttons faster than your opponent but WTF?! NOTHING EVER HAPPENS! I did that to some crap ass Mexican in my first match for 20 over times and still shit happened. Thought I couldn’t win the match by submission, so I did in the TNA iMPACT arena on my debut and still couldn’t win on submission.
• Limited number of moves. Okay, in their defense, moves like Angle Slam and Canadian Destroyer can be unlocked but you’d think I want to repeat all the shit moves to gain 1,000,000 points just to unlock those moves? I’ll be bored dead repeating those moves before reaching 500,00 points. I want them in the beginning! Motherf**ker!
• Loading time’s a real b****. After installing 4.8 GBs for half an hour, you expect quick loading time, right? But no, you still need to wait A LOT! I’d rather take a dump than play this dump.
• It’s sad that I can’t progress in story mode using my favorite TNA stars like Sting, AJ, Samoa and Kurt thanks to this ridiculous story mode. You’d think I would spend a bulk of my money to play as my favorite TNA wrestlers in a story mode to make me feel as if I am Kurt Angle or Booker T or Christian Cage or Samoa Joe, wouldn’t you? Well, Midway and TNA thought you wanted to play as Suicide. *rolleyes* And though you get to play as them online and in Exhibition but come on, you’d think that some of us would like to have a good single player story mode to go through : /
• No blood, limited roster, limited choice of weapons : (

Thank you TNA but I think you’ve commited gaming SUICIDE!

Rating: 1.5/5

Positives: – Authentic graphics that make you feel you are in the arena at certain points

Negatives: – The rest of the game

Status: Completed 25 percent of story mode and returned it the next day out of disgust. No point torturing myself just to complete a game to put on my GameTag.

The Bourne Conspiracy

Ever since The Bourne Identity was released, I’ve been a fan; a fan of the Bourne series, a fan of its movies and a fan of Jason Bourne. So when I knew that the Bourne Conspiracy was released for the Playstation 3, I knew that I just had to play it. And with that, here’s my mini-review of the game:

The good: Stunning sound, good soundtrack, decent extras, interactive cut scenes, follows closely to the Bourne Identity film

The bad: Graphics aren’t up to par, repetitive button mashing during hand-to-hand combat, mediocre gun play and camera work, no Matt Damon, very short game, very LONG load time

The ugly: There is no ugly.

Without wanting to dwell too much into the story, The Bourne Conspiracy tells the tale of Jason Bourne who suffers from amnesia and goes through a journey to find out who he really is and along the way, meets Marie who becomes his love interest – just like the movie. In the game, you’d play through a total of 11 levels which for the bulk of it, feel and pan out to be very repetitive with the exception of having one car chase level. Probably the most annoying thing about the game is its massive loading time required and it doesn’t occur seamlessly throughout the levels, you notice it and you get ANNOYED by it. Seems to make the installation pointless then if it requires such a long loading time.

Before we move to that, hand-to-hand combat has played a big role in the Bourne series with each installment having a bigger, badder villain for Jason Bourne to tackle and this game doesn’t fail in trying to catch the essence of the movie with quick takedowns once the “adrenaline meter” reaches a certain level. But in the end, in trying to fill up the meter, you’d have to resort to button mashing as the controls aren’t particularly responsive and you’d probably just jam between the Triangle and the Square buttons and hope for the best. While that in itself affects the excitement of the game, the camera work in the game is very frustrating – especially in the last level in a fist fight with the last boss-with the camera being in obscure angles blocking the view of where you and your opponent are at, having you to button mash and leave it to luck in beating your enemy down. There’s also its fair share of gun play which in my opinion, isn’t very exciting as well and becomes a bore after a while.

There’s one car chase in the game and while it’s been hammered left, right and centre in every review I’ve read, I actually liked that mission a lot. Yes, the cars are hard to control (using L1 and R1 buttons) and vehicles on the street seem to be immovable despite ramming straight into them, but I felt that the graphics looked best in this level as we rammed through cafes and objects en route to each highlight marker in the mission. In perspective, it felt like the Italian Job video game, only less annoying.

The sound and soundtrack is superb (in THX) and while I loved the interactive cut scenes which require a tap of a few buttons (be it to assassinate snipers, avoid takedowns or escape the police), I found it hard to enjoy the game on a second playing despite having decent extras (with the Concept Art being a worthwhile scan through and having Boss Fights and Cut Scenes viewable at any time upon collecting all passports in each mission) no thanks to the rough camera angles and repetitive gameplay.

Fans of the Bourne series will probably enjoy the game but I doubt it’d win any new fans over. Worth a rental if you ask me.

Final verdict: 3.5/5

Estimated time on game: 5 hours – 7 hours (finished it in 1 day)

Oh crap

It’s a sign that I’m going to face a bad semester when I’m already thinking of what video games I’m going to play during my next holidays before the semester has even started!

Well first things up, I’ll get THE BOURNE CONSPIRACY (PS3) = D

UCSI, here I come and here’s hoping for a great semester ahead.

Resistance: Fall of Man

The good: Stunning graphics and sound, variety of equally addictive levels in different backdrops, intelligent enemies, amount of unlockables makes you come back for more

The bad: The campaign’s story is not the best

The ugly: The Chimera

It took me five days to complete Resistance: Fall of Man and my word, I couldn’t have spent it any better. In a nutshell, if you are looking for a shooter to kill time with or if you are wondering if Resistance 2 will suit you, get this one.

Comprising of 30 levels, each different from the previous one, R: FOM offers non-stop action that would definitely satisfy the bloodlust of any fan of the genre. As I’ve mentioned, the game has stunning visuals and audio but what stood out for me was how aptly set the difficulty settings were. Easy mode is never as straightforward as some other games would have it. Enemies do not just stand there waiting for you to be shot – they hide for cover, they throw grenades at you or corner you when you dug for cover and certain levels can require lots of retries and with checkpoints far and few, you’d go through the game feeling tense but while you’d have to replay certain levels twice, that should not leave you feeling annoyed or frustrated as each level can be approached in different manners, with trial-an-error being the only way to get through some of the levels.

But as for the negative, the campaign’s story isn’t solid as it’s told from the perspective of a lady who tells the tale as it were in the past tense and with that, we never really get to know more and feel for the main character, Nathan Hale. I sincerely hope that this will be fixed for Resistance 2.

Final verdict: 4/5

Top Spin 3

The good: Superb graphics, registered Grand Slam events and renowned players available, varying difficulty levels to suit both casual gamers and hardcore tennis fans

The bad: No Djokovic or Ivanovic, poor career mode, no commentary

The ugly: Seeing Maria Sharapova’s sweat soaked body

Make no mistake, Top Spin 3 should be on the wish list of every die-hard tennis fan but then, that’s the problem; for everyone else, a weekend’s rental should suffice. Starting things off with the positives, the graphics look amazing. The players look great and as matches progress, sweat can be seen pouring from their faces and shirts, there’s a great deal of detail in the design of the stadiums and it would take a while to absorb the beauty of the game before you can even start to think about the gameplay.

The game can be a little bit tough on newbies and it doesn’t help that the tutorials in Top Spin School aren’t that informative so it’d probably take you quite a while to learn the tricks of the trade via the ‘trial and error’ approach. Once you have mastered your moves, test them out in the available game modes, from the usual exhibition, career, tournament, and tutorial options, to online and offline multiplayer. Heck, I would think that picking up real tennis would be just as hard as this game, so why bother with the game? So you could use your favorite players in Career Mode?

Well that option is denied from you as you can only use your created player in Career Mode. And that’s my biggest problem with the game. Why on God’s name would I want to use my created player in career mode? I bought this game to play as Nadal or Federer! And Djokovic isn’t among the players in the roster due to contractual conflicts. In career mode, you start of as an amateur moving up the ranks in the junior league to professional level and then heading on to Legend status where you’d have to beat EIGHT legends and then WIN FOUR GRAND SLAMS CONSECUTIVELY to be a legend. One question, can’t winning four Grand Slams consecutively be integrated as one of the objectives to complete the Professional level? And the eight legends you’d have to beat include Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova! With all due respect, though with 3 Grand Slams between those two, they aren’t legends. Along down the line, you’d have to wonder if the developers had nothing to think off that they just had to think of something to lengthen the Career campaign that they just made you repeat what you did for the sake of it.

While the game looks great, there’s no commentary during matches and the crowd isn’t responsive during rallies to make it an absorbing affair but the game’s saving grace is the stunning graphics.

kobe8byrant’s tip: When creating a player, focus on developing the FOREHAND, BACKHAND, and RETURN. Don’t bother about VOLLEYING or STAMINA (you will not need it if you can end rallies quickly with your superb forehand and backhand). To give you a rough idea, Federer has a FOREHAND – 91 and he’s easily the best player in the game, so there you go.

Final verdict: Rent the game over the weekend. 3/5

Disclaimer: kobe8byrant does not play the Online Multiplayer mode to judge a game as he thinks that a great multiplayer mode comes from a great game and not the other way round. Besides, Multiplayer mode would only be fun if you could have bragging rights over your friends and not against sore losers who’d DC when they are losing a match.

Status: Game completed/RENTED

The (Not-so) Incredible Hulk

Let me start off by saying that I hated Ang Lee’s Hulk which was ridiculously slow-paced and dull to a point I was screaming within me “WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO HULK UP?!!!” What made it worse was the fact that the action scenes were very poor which added salt to the wound. It was, arguably, too smart for a comic book movie and for myself. This reboot however, was too silly and just as inadequate as Lee’s Hulk was for me. Let me tell you why:

1) The cast: – Edward Norton was very poor as Banner/Hulk. I would have liked to see more of a inner conflict within himself but that was not to be. Liv Tyler, though beautiful had little chemistry with Norton and the scene meant for comic relief in which Tyler walked off angrily from a taxi had me cringing and not laughing. Tim Roth was bad and not badass as he should have been. He had less of an agenda than Nick Nolte in the original Hulk and did less than what Nolte did in the Hulk, acting wise. Samuel Sterns (potential villain in the future Hulk films) had me rolling my eyes whenever he tried to be nerdy and over the top.

2) The action sequences – There were FOUR big action sequences, 2 were okay and two weren’t. The opening chase scene in Brazil was a B version of the Bourne Ultimatum’s chase scene in Morocco but the sequences in the factory and the campus were very well made and well choreographed. The battle royale between Hulk and Abomination was something that was taken out of the Transformers – loud but messy. Could have been better if you asked me.

3) Story – While Lee’s Hulk took itself too seriously for my liking, this version goes to the very opposite end of the spectrum by dumbing itself down for the audience and I am not sure if I like that. Too much style and no substance will leave you wanting for more. And while related to point 1, Edward Norton and Liv Tyler were given VERY LITTLE time together.

In comparisons with Lee’s Hulk, this is a tad better but in relations with Iron Man, this is a mere pretender. Iron Man had sharp wit and heart and stellar performances all round which this lacked and tried to make up with the BANG BANG BOOM BOOM but even so, the BANG and BOOM weren’t as loud as other movies of its genre. 3.5/5

Note: The GSC hall in Pavillion KICKED major ass in comparisons with Cheras Leisure Mall’s GSC. The RM 12 we pay for a premium? Well worth it in my humble opinion.

Get Smart

Get Smart is an 2008 film adaptation of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry’s hit 1960s spy parody television show, Get Smart. The film will star Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart and Anne Hathaway as Agent 99. Alan Arkin will play the Chief. Masi Oka, Terence Stamp, Dwayne ‘ The Rock ‘ Johnson and Dalip “The Great Khali” Singh will also star. Bernie Kopell, who played Siegfried in the original series, makes a cameo.

-Wikipedia

Well having not seen anything of the original TV series, I cannot really make any comparisons with the original TV series. While I still think that this may be one of the best comedies I’ve seen in the past two years, this movie isn’t all that great. The juicy bits have already been on the trailer and the rest of the jokes range from being lukewarm to ice cold. Seriously, has there been enough cheap shots at opinionated celebrities and President Bush? And I feel insulted with the flashbacks which serve to remind us of the running gags. Are we that stupid? Geez, do filmmakers ever make us think?!!

How would I rate this? I’d say that this probably ranks up there with the original Pink Panther flicks and one of the best in recent time. Better than Johnny English and Carell’s nailed the bumbling Clouseau that Steve Martin has bastardized in the “new” Pink Panther franchise. Arkin’s not bad but as a guy, Anne Hathaway has to be the main draw to part with six ringgit for the admission fee. She’s absolutely stunning and while she doesn’t try too hard, she draws your attention with ease (you’d know why ).

How can Megan Fox be hotter than that?!

I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a “Get Smarter” in the future and I think a little bit more polishing and more sense in the marketing/writing would be what is needed for us to get a comic gem. 3.5/5

OMFG

It’s the time of the year again,

You know? The one which drives me insane…..

Boy I wish it was over

So I could lie on my sofa

I have not a clue what I’m typing

But thought it’d be so cool with all the rhyming

Okay this is not a poem

I’ll stop this moment

Study a little more….

Till my eyes get sore….

XOXO

I HATE BUSINESS ECONOMICS AND COST AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING!! DIE DIE DIE!!!

Hey Daniel…

This post should have been written yesterday but due to my Economics exam which turned out to be so fucking hard to the extent that I was scrapping through each question cursing under my breathe and things didn’t help when my lecturer thinks of me as the best student in class and expects me to score full marks in tests! FUCK FUCK FUCK!!!!! My expectations prior to test: 30/30 My expectations after test: 24/30, I wasn’t able to write this post till now.

Hai Khoon called and asked if I could attend a Surian gathering this coming Saturday in Pavillion – it made my day on so many levels. Firstly, he was always my gay crush with Wei Cing being my other crush for reasons being that these two were made from the same mould – sugar, spice and everything nice – never had a bad thing to say to anyone, always eager and patient enough to help others and was always had time for me despite my shortcomings character-wise = D Secondly, I’ve not been in contact with the boy whom we used to tease Khoon Choy since the Seri Suria Awards Day ceremony 1 and a half years ago. I was always looking forward to seeing him but the only chance I had to meet him, I was away from my phone and missed Thein Yein’s call. Can’t wait!

But…why on earth did our Biology teacher had to come? Mind you, she’s one of the reasons why Chun Han and myself switched from our dreams from science related courses (or more specifically, Biology related courses) to other things. Well, for your sake, I’d put on a smiling face – just don’t try me with some sarcastic one liner or I’d unleash hell on you, Miss You-Know-Who.

Did anyone manage to get hold of Dicky and Kar Kay? Would be nice to say hi and catch up with them. Will make notes of things to say to Yee Yin, Kar Kay, Dicky, Kah Loon and Kiet Yeang if all fails so I won’t be wrongly accused of ‘acting polite.’

Guys….see you there X )

Long time no see….

Through a ton of excuses and ‘reasons,’ I’ve always had a tendency to miss any high school gatherings. And though I’d be the first to admit that my ole’ high and mighty self wasn’t a surefire way to win or keep any of my classmates back, I’ve unfortunately alienated myself from them which is a shame considering how great most of them are. Oh well, there’s always next time I suppose and I’ve come a long way since then. I’ve tried to cut down on the profanities (emphasis on TRIED) and again, I’ve tried not to be that short-fused or grumpy anymore since high school. But with that, I’m accused of ‘acting polite.’ I mean, I thought it was a good thing to be polite? And in any case, to the following people:

a) Wei Cing – hope to see you soon. Would love to interrogate you on Portsmouth (they have a great football club =P) and studies in Pompey land as well.

b) Chun Han – I’ll make you lose weight and then you won’t hate me so much eh. And sorry to say this but the monkeying Daniel has kind of retired and been put to bed. = P

c) Kiet Yeang – awww, why did you have to leave. Never really had a chance to talk to you about what you’ve been up to. And I swear I take the 10 year bet to learn Mandarin very seriously! Though, I’m kinda shocked that I have eight years left. It’s been two years since I met you guys? Awww…… And I apologize for shouting at you in form 5 (I have a whole lot of people to apologize to in that case).

d) Yee Yin – traditional Chinese medicine?!! So from STPM -> some animal course -> pharmacy -> herbs and spices? Best of luck though and I know we have history together, I’m sorry for it. My bad. Would have been nice to say it to your face though but oh well, you were held up with your other friends.

e) Gary – still jobless and college-less ah? Well I’m sure you’d do fine as a musician. And I promise, next time I see you, I’d speak more!! And I loved your blog:

It’s great to see that everyone have matured from the days we schooled together.
For example, Daniel is now thin and in good shape. Chun Hann is now bigger.

Well yeah la, everyone looks so different. How true?! I look thin and in good shape. *blushes* Though Chun Han’s fatter, not bigger. =P

f) Shien Wei and Thein Yein – Why can’t I see less of you guys?

g) Ko Wei – *cricket noises*

h) Kah Loon – still the same handsome kid in high school?! Ohhh, and the Seventeen magazine! I forgot to tease you about that!!!! Awww….next time, you won’t be that lucky.

i) Che Wei – still as energetic as well. It’s amazing how you and Kah Loon managed to get hold and remain friends with so many people as well

j) Wen Yee- We live so near, well the four storey swimming pool?! I WANT IN!!

k) Poni – still as beautiful as ever and it’s all Yin Ying’s fault that we got off the wrong start. Better not remind you if you don’t remember. And surprisingly for some odd reason, I managed to get the most out of you on that Saturday in terms or speaking time. Despite that fact we’ve not met since Form 1?! Wow!

l) Choon Fui – unfortunately me and you? Only the occasional hi-bye! I’m sorry, I should have put in more of an effort to speak to you. Same goes to Thiam Huat as well.

And guys, my e-mail doesn’t change! So stop saying that no one can reach me for any future events! *furious* = P It’s kobe8byrant@gmail.com and msn being @msn.com. I mean in college life, I don’t know when’s the next time I’ll meet you guys so I’d put in an extra effort to catch up with y’all now. Bah..we’ll see

And pictars!!!!!!

Me feels like I’m the odd one out…..

Damn retard lah my face….