Ty News Update

Ty Inc. has received my e-mail, and now I have to wait for their "review" of my request. I'm am sooooo F**KING NERVOUS right now. How am I going to study for my midterm now?

Putting on the brakes!

I might have to pull a 'U' turn. I just now decided to ask Ty Corp. for permission to use their two "Beanies" for the Experience videos. You know how that's gonna go. So I might (will) be going back to the drawing board again and do my Trails Top Threes and Video Reviews again. Maybe have me do the Experience videos now, oh god, NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Just thought I'd say. This sucks...

Oh yeah, no more videos til I get my clarification from Ty. Sorry friends... that's life.

Review number 87 Bazillion of Borderlands 2

Your not Badass yet:

What is there really to say about this game or the first one. Huge, open FPS RPG Co-op video game made by the gamer's favorite Gearbox Software. Borderlands 2 takes place a few years after the first one. Possibly the same amount of time apart from the first release. Now, you're have to be one of four new characters that somewhat replace the old-er characters for this game. Now, is this a game amazing for both previous and non fans? You'll find out soon.

Badass Hand cramp: 

We all had different thoughts on the style of the first Borderlands, some loved it and some thought it looked like crap. At first, I thought the graphics were cheap. After really playing the first one and this one, it grew on me a lot. It was great and the graphics were good back then, but that's one thing this game suffers from. The textures are a bit blurry, but only if you pay more than any divided attention to them. That may be the only way to put such a large game on one CD, but look at Skyrim. Sorry, these graphics really needed the upgrade, but the overall style is brilliant and takes you back to the style of Wind Waker. That's an awesome game people!

Some of the icy/snowy environment looks amazing with the bright and nice glaciers, snow, ice walls, and caverns. I don't remember if the first one had tundra or not, but it looks so good in this game. That said, that's all that looks well done and sticks out like a frostbitten trigger finger. That's supposed to be a good and bad thing, but I wish I few other things stood out. The UI has also been changed a little, which, I liked, but it's weird to get used to. It's better. Other than the small things, the game looks un-complain-able (derp), but an upgrade would have been great to be able rival other huge open world games. Borderlands 2 looks awesome for what it is, I love it.

Badass(hat) Jack:

We know that Borderlands has a place for prevalent humor slipped in anyway available. That's just about everywhere in this game. We all know and love our annoying, but always hilarious Claptrap, who really is just a very depressed robot. He is the first NCP you see other than your potential characters you can choose from, who also have their own share of humor and fun during the course of the game. Also, some other very familiar characters return like *cough* Angel and other Borderlanders. I know about Angel, lets not go in to that. NEW CHALLENGER: Handsome Jack is the new antagonist for Borderlands 2 and he is a jerk and  he laughs about it. He is your stereotypical corporate owning megalomaniac, with a bad and stupid sense of humor. Jack's throws us an entertaining bone once in a while, but he becomes very irritating later on just like many of our other favorite retro game "main bosses".

So the game premise goes: All four of the new choose-able characters are taking a nice ride on train, killing a boat, I mean a "train load" of enemies and trying to get to kill the Handsome Jackass, yeah. So then *EXPLOSION* pick your guy, and only he or she survived or just didn't need to be brought back from the boring afterlife. Anyway you then meet Angel for the "first" and then your character finds out who and what she really is. That's either duh, I knew that, oh yeah I forgot, or just derrrrrrp, okay! For me, it was oh yeah! Now you need to find the vault the contains something that could be really bad... and Jack has the keys to it! You got to stop him. At the beginning, I felt the story line was exactly the same, but things changed, I met some familiar faces and trekked on ward. Great job on all that Gearbox! *very non-sarcastic*

^Truth^

Badass amount of guns:

This game plays exactly the same as the first, but with more to do, things to find, places to discover, different enemies to kill, and many items to swap. They just added a new map pack and character pack, right? So what! Just like COD, no change can be good, just add a few things. Too much difference and lack of refinement would have really ruined the game. It's Borderlands V2 and it still fun, but the previous fans will enjoy it more because they know it well already. I did find this game to be much difficult for me, but that might from my lack of skill and the fact I chose, no no, Zer0 is awesome forget ya'll! One big change is the ability of Ammo Regen is only giving to the Gunzerker, which is alright seeing as they give you ammo with the trillions of boxes everywhere. It would have been easier to have everyone be able to unlock Ammo Regen, but that's Gearbox's choice. I was perturbed, but I didn't complain about it after I played for a while longer.

The characters are very similar to the ones in the first one. You got the Commando (Soldier) with a sentry turret, Siren with Phaselock (like ME's Singularity), Gunzerker (Bezerker) with dual wielding guns, and the Assassin with invisibility/damage increase. Each class upgrades and levels up exactly like the first game and the enemies level up the further you get in the game. So pick your guy and try to beat it. I'm not good at this game and there where some parts that got me kill a lot and the was really making me mad. I know it's not because of who I choose either. I love my Zer0. If I buy this game in future, it's because of him. Anyway, video game fetishes aside. This game ain't really for me and that's okay. For the seasoned veterans, you will either have not much trouble knowing what to do with enemies with skulls next then. I'm still learning. Great gameplay for the first fans, but be careful, non-RPG gamers.

Badass looting:

I've read a few reviews that complained about the amount of loot in this game. I say, so what? This game might have more loot than Diablo (I really don't know), but that's a good thing. Some people feel that adding just a bunch of worthless crap is just a plea to add more wasted hours of gameplay. Don't worry everyone, I understand why so much loot to go over is a good thing. For one thing it's going to respawn all the white and green weapons again so you can run around grabbing a selling guns to buy the really good stuff. I really wish you could have a item junk pile and just sell the "Junk Pile" to the vending machines. Hey Randy, there's an idea for you in Borderlands 3. You know they are gonna make one. It also makes you the gamer work for your game and get the 100% completion, if your so insane. So, ever too much loot? Well, not for this game or any other as well made as this game.

Abraham Lincoln approves!

Your're one Badass Moth...

Borderlands 2 is just another Borderlands in the same exact way, with a few upgrades and gameplay tweaks that make it bigger and better than the first one. The cell shaded style is an awesome combination with the epic scenery. The story is surprisingly different and great. The humor is funny, but gets a little annoying. The gameplay is for the previous fans of Borderlands. I suggest that fans of first one should buy it now if you haven't already and play it! People new to this need to play or have played the first one in order to survive the increasingly dangerous world of Pandora. Not a big change and not very open to new players, Borderlands 2 earns a 4 and half eggs out of 6. It's not a bad score, it's a could have improved more, but didn't necessarily need to.

Oh, yeah the driving is fun, but nothing too special or new.

You know whatz funny?

Doing something different than you originally intended. Same for me. For now on, no more Video Reviews. I will still write them, but no more videos until someone is all like, "Hey ACE (that's me), u shuld doo vidoe revoos agan!" And I'll be all like, "Ya, shur budy I weel!". I will still do my bad "Experience" videos. Cuz I liek to do them more. Mostly stopping this cuz video reviews take maybe a full 24 hours of work from recording, editing, and rendering. Plus I got schools and doing Video reviews and Experience viders takes a toll. You might see TTT's again on a monthly bases for now... but not this month. It is wut it is.

HEAR MEH!

http://www.youtube.com/user/OstracizedGamer/videos?flow=grid&view=0

BUY!

Stoopid VIDOES

http://www.youtube.com/user/OstracizedGamer/videos

What u thank?

Death is only the beginning. A Darksiders 2 Review.

In the beginning:

The Darksiders games puts you in the saddle of two of "The Four Horsemen" featured in the Bible's and a bunch of other mythology. The game first gave you wielding wrecking sword of War sent to Earth to fight demons that had taken over after humanities destruction during the apocalypse. Now in the second installment, the revered scythes of the Grim Reaper (or Death as he is referred to) are yours to find out the reason for his brother's betrayal and bring humanity back to life. You heard that right, bring us back!

As most of us real hardcore gamers know, THQ is not the biggest money making game publisher right now. In fact, in recent news they have reported major losses. Many people speculate that Red Faction: Armageddon's sales records did not help. Those are not the kind of sales record anyone wanted to record either. Darksiders 2 won't save that sinking ship entirely, but depending on how it is, it may either plug some major holes or hand drill them some new ones. Lets take a look at this second game universe, shall we?

The first 7 days of creation:

The Darksiders games have a distinctive yet familiar style, of everything, to them. Some characters/enemies can be much larger and taller than others, often carrying huge weapons that other average characters could not wield, except for most in Final Fantasy and other, uh, unique games. Mainly from Japan, but also this game seemingly open with endless appearing worlds, relevant musical changes from world to world, land to land, and dungeon to dungeon. The art also has a cartoonist and yet trying to appear as imaginable to exist out side the comprehension of humanity. Darksiders 2, being included as looking the same way the first, looks the same. Which actually, it would have been interesting to see a different graphics style for each different horseman, but that's just me. Darksiders 2 has the combined visual style of God of War and Legend of Zelda (I saw it stated, but I thought of it first) and not just in appearance either.

All the styles in the list above are all a great fit for Darksiders 2. It looks great, big, and open for all exploration; until you fall off and Death's majestic wings foof out and guide you back to land. The one tinsy wee little thing that keeps the game weighed just a bit down are the slightly dated graphics. They look exactly the same compared to the first game, but you can see that the games epic-ness as escalated in Darksiders 2. Making the use of the newer graphics 2 years later seem like an anal complaint. *cough*Battlefield players*cough* The musical score in that game sends you right to Hell when it appears to be Heave and vice versa. The music soothes and pumps you up in everyplace you travel. The game features little drawings in the initial loading screens. Then after the short 15 sec loading time the game menu pops out with some interesting view shots of Death. When you hit continue, the camera turns around and go ahead playing. That's something that actually blew my mind when I saw it. Coz I've never seen it before! You wont get too confused, unless your only into realistic looking games; then live a little and look at something new.

This has been the journey so far...

So War gets thrown in jail for 100 years following the End War. He is charged for his "crimes" and the Charred Council tells the other three horsemen of his fate. Death does not agree, as he believes War is the most honorable of them all and would never prematurely begin the Apocalypse and gets pretty mad. He feels  that these actions are a conspiracy and defies the Council's orders. That's where the player comes in; you must set out a provide proof of War's innocence. Death also plans to resurrect humanity during that time, so that is first things first. I assure of the accuracy of the story, even I have not played the first game or completely followed precisely. Go Wikipedia!

This fairly decent and complex story line takes a few turns to keep the interest abound. Just for reference it has a linear story, with an abundance of character dialogue that is more informative than game changing. Darsiders 2 features many side quests to complete to learn more about the particular universe(s) of both games. Most of the NPC characters have a good partial development, seeing as your not really talking to one person all the time. Death has a nicely flushed out personal story of how he became chosen to be Death and past event with main antagonist. The voice actor is also very good at taming the scariness and adding a bit of elegance to his rage. Those Canadians really now how to talk the talk. Darksiders 2 forms a decently good story with character development only where it is crucial.

The Man Comes Around

"And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder. One of the four beasts saying, 'Come and see.' and I saw, and behold a white horse"

Darksiders 2 gives you the scythes of Death, literally and with some secondary weapon choices as well. Ranging from Fast Attack Gauntlets and Claws to Slow Attack very large Battle Axes and Hammers. Sadly you can't choose to have single scythe like in Dante's Inferno. Speaking of which, I think Death might still have a beef with Dante for killing him and stealing his first scythe. Anyway this game plays very familiar and on par with typical Hack and Slash games. So you may say, "Well, why is this game any different?" If you look closely while playing, you may notice a bit of obviously present God of War gameplay. That's not all it is, in fact, Darksiders 2 starts out that way then begins a noticeable triple game hybridization. First, you start with a base of God of War. Next step, add a frosting layer of Zelda. The last step is to add a dash of Diablo and there have a gameplay recipe for the Darksiders 2 cupcake, OF DEATH!!! Now how does this taste?

Surprising fresh, entertaining and, very challenging. The Hack and Slash, upgrading, weapon systems, and abundance of diverse and constant enemies are all inspired from God of War. It's very typical, boring, and really difficult all the time! The game takes a cover of side quests, dungeons and puzzles from the LoZ games (well, more so the newer ones). The platforming  elements are also taken from previously stated games. One little issue is the climbing obstacles can be difficult to find at times. Along with that, there is Raven or Crow that is supposed to guide you to your next location. He works outside, but find your own way through dungeons. Might as well sell him for gold. Most of the puzzles are aggravating when spending ten minutes going back and forth just to find the solution was right in front of your mask! Lastly, the dash of Diablo is the crap ton-o-weapons everywhere and the loot, loot, loot! Which is a good brain exercise to see what you need or don't to sell of drop for a better loot. That mish-mash is so prefect and cool, it's awesome stuff, until it's time to jump through a golden hoop. If you can find it...

(Good) Rant Time

Is there not an 100 percent original idea for a game anymore? I mean Portal was a hybridization of fps, physic based, and puzzles perfectly slid together. So, that's our gaming future, a infinite combo of game genres and sub-genres. There is a lot out there and really sub-genres are only hybrids anyway, right? In a way hybridization is in all video games and that's how it's been and will always be. I know there might be some combos that just don't work, yet. That will be the real next test for developers, find any combinations of game genres and try fit them together. More and more will happen like this. So either a game will be a disaster or just okay to amazing. To reiterate, I mean, a gamer would be able to sit down with a game and name a group of games this mashes together. Like I have said before, we'll just have to wait and see. End rant...

In the end of all things

Darsiders 2 gives you Death and puts you between Heaven and Hell just to find the truth. Ever feel like doing that? I do. Anyway, this game layers of few other games and arranges them in a way that makes this particular game, easy to enjoy, challenging to play and familiar to the conservative part of many gamers. So this is easy to suggest a nice long 5 night or Gamefly rent because it's long. I believe if you like *deep breath*

RPGs, Action Adventure, Hack and Slash, Loot games, Epics, Story driven, or just cool looking games, just get it! Although not perfect, it's good and you will have many sweaty hand cramping hours with it. Darksiders 2 earns a 5 out of 6 fried eggs. Get it? Cause they're all dead! (Sic) sense of humor, I know.

"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts. And I looked, and behold a pale horse, and his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him."

Choosing time...

My "Let's Plays" are going to be called Experience and the first game is Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason. Now I uploaded 2 versions of the same gameplay. One with Ooie the Ostrich "experiencing" the and one is with me and him playing it "together". I will go with number of likes to deiced which one is better and that one I will continue, forever.... Videos with just Ooie will be out less frequent then with me and him. It is what it is and it don't sound like much sense, but to me it is, sorry for that. CHOOOOSE!!!

The other version is on YouTube also.