Games to Play and Games to Beat in 2013

So with the new year coming, there are so many things to do... and among them are playing and beating old school video games.

Why old school games? Well, I don't have any current gen systems, and I really don't plan on buying one any time soon. Maybe when I make a little bit more money... but until then, old school is all I got.

And it's not like that's a bad thing...

Games to Beat

Super Mario Bros. 2: I beat Lost Levels, but I never beat the one with the vegetables and stuff.
Donkey Kong Country 3: I've beaten it once just because, but this is such an inferior DKC game in my opinion. I'm gonna suffer through it again...
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past: I'm probably gonna save this for last... I've beat it once, and I struggle to beat this game for a 2nd time
Donkey Kong 64: I've never beat this. I only remember getting lost and whatnot. maybe now I'll actually beat it.
Diddy Kong Racing: for the hell of it
Super Castlevania 4: aka Super Chainslvania 4 (link to video)
Super Mario RPG: I really try to enjoy RPGs, but for the most part, they fall apart when the opponent dodges my attack and then kills me in one move... but I'll try this again...
Fire Emblem My new phone is almost practically a Game Boy Advance SP, and I'll be looking to beat the GBA edition(s) of Fire Emblem. Perhaps Advance Wars as well.

Games to Play

Sega Genesis

Ranger X
World of Illusion
Super Street Fighter 2 (it had Expert Mode. If you like running through arcade modes, then you may or may not appreciate it.)

Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

Plok
Battletoads in Battlemaniacs
Lost Vikings
Axelay
Secret of Mana (supposedly it's an action RPG, so maybe I'll enjoy it. Maybe.)

Apex Preparedness

So, how prepared for Apex am I?

As prepared as I could possibly be.

My bags are (mostly) packed and (almost) ready to go.
I've got travel figured out for the most part.
I'm equipped with everything I could possibly need (I hope).

Now that I've got all the logistics out of the way, how well do I think I'm going to do?

Well, they say that you are only as good as the people you play, and... well, I'm better than everyone that I play... but that's not saying much considering that they don't go to tournaments. I, myself, haven't been to a tournament since 2009. And I did pretty bad in it.

Regardless, I'm diving head first into Apex with a dream to bring about some upsets.

I've entered three events, Brawl singles, Smash 64 singles, and the All-Brawl event.

The one event that I'm probably most prepared for is the All-Brawl event. I know all the items. I know all the stages (except Hanenbow, because the general consensus is that Hannebow is gayer than Rainbow Road. I've literally only played on the level in a multiplaye bout twice in my life. The first time it was seen, it got an immediate quit because of how gay that level actually is. And I shall remain ignorant when it comes to Hannebow. You can tell me nothing about that level. I don't know what game it comes from, nor do I care.). I play with items consistently (because I honestly feel that Brawl is a considerably better game with items on, unlike Melee or Smash 64, where those games are amazing with or without items), and I've seen almost all the random shit that could possibly happen with items (except Ganon's insane item use, apparently). So for that tourney, I'm ready. Even if it's only 2 lives for 2 minutes on a random stage with a random character against 3 other players. It's cool. I'm ready.

Smash 64 is a game that I play relatively consistently on my computer, and I find that game better than Brawl because of the hitstun. If I haven't already told you, the lack of hitstun in Brawl is now officially the biggest thing that kept me from entering the few and far in between Brawl tourneys that I could have entered in 2010. Still, I'm only as good as the people you play, and while I have experience playing the game online and I know that people are on some entirely new shit in that game, I only really play one person consistently, and I'm far beyond him, so that's moot. Still, Smash 64 is the only Smash game that I hadn't entered a tournament for, so I felt the need to finally enter one.

And then there was Brawl. It's the biggest tourney there, with, like, over 400 entrants or something like that, and a $8000 pot with 1st place getting $3750. 7th and 8th place score $200. That's still a lot of money.

And I'm going for it. With a platinum controller and a fist full of dreams, I'm going for it. I'll face the realities of the situation if I lose. I'm not going to eliminate myself from contention just because of how much I haven't played this game compared to how much others have. Someone will have to eliminate me from contention. Period.

Like I said, I'm as ready as I am going to be. My only weakness is the game itself. The one thing that I have been able to do is train my mindset for this tournament, and it is trained well. I'm totally focused, and there is absolutely nothing holding me back from bringing my S-rank game.

So with all that said.... I'm going MetaKnight. No reason not to. BUT! If my tournament life looks hopeless at any point, I'm going Sonic. Period. My last Brawl tournament match Has to be me going Sonic. It is only fitting...

So Yeah.
Apex.
Final Tournament. (probably)
Smash 64.
Brawl.
MetaKnight.
Sonic.
Hype.
Let's Go.

The Adventures of Mark Wins 5: "Free-ness"

So I definitely enjoyed the complete shit out of my two days off (Thursday and Friday).

Wednesday night, I saw a free screening of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World at Hudson River Park. Pier 63 for those who like details.

Scott Pilgrim X World is still one of the greatest movies of all time. I'm glad I saw it again, as I was able to see interesting details that I get to notice in the first time viewing because it's a first time viewing... Like I didn't notice the reason Kim's every reaction to Scott the first go.

Thursday night, I saw a free screening of Kick-Ass at Tompkins Square Park. And it was after a neat little performance by this jazz-samba(?)-hiphop hybrid band called... fuck. I don't remember their name... let me do a little research right quick... Mamarazzi. Their music is pretty cool. You should check 'em out.

Kick-Ass is probably the best superhero movie ever conceived. I think what makes this movie the best superhero movie is the realness of the movie and how I could relate to it in a sense. It was also ridiculously funny.

Friday, I got my check, then went to Roosevelt Island and just chilled with a spirit named Lola. (don't ask questions) Afterwards, I checked up on Brookville Park right quick (you should probably come to Brookville Park on Monday morning... there should be something... interesting... going on). And then I played some Scott Pilgrim, Pac-Man Championship DX, and Tekken 5 DR at my dude Jacko's house.

And today. I'm back at work. Ugh.

But it's cool for the most part. Like I said, I definitely enjoyed my days off. And I didn't have to spend much money to enjoy it.

It's nice to have money though. It really is. Even if I spent as little of it as possible. I'm not sure if the cost is worth it though.

I'm glad that I made the decision to fully enjoy my days off, especially while there's still some summer left in the city. Work was kicking my ass to the point where I stopped enjoying life and was starting to become a slave to the dollar. I was definitely losing freedom. Granted I still don't have it, but I'm slowing learning where I can take it back.

Now I just have to come up with a plan to get it all back. Or, you know... like, 80-something percent of it.

additionally.....


as far as this blog is concerned... it probably won't be making a full blown return until like October, when it gets too cold to give a fuck about going outside to do anything. Summer is my favorite season, and it's a great season to do things... except blog... especially when you got work and you're secretly working on other projects on the side.

so yeah... October-ish. I make a full blown return.

The Adventures of Mark Wins 4: The Hunt for Issue Number 226

It's been a bit since I went on an Adventure due to work.. *silence* at work... but yeah, kinda sorta been on one over the past two days. And it all started mostly because of this...

Well, I don't think that's how it started, but that right there was the main driving force of this adventure...

Like, my dude Jacko tells me via FaceBook that he has Issue #226. Obviously, I must collect it as well. It's not about 1-uping him. No, not at all. It's about being a Sonic fan and having Sonic Genesis as a part of my admittedly not-so-popping Sonic item collection. So I make it my goal of getting it. 

And I see the issue in the flesh too. I spin through a couple of pages but I don't actually read anything because I wish to read it myself when I own it. So I look, I gasp, and I put it down.

Said adventure actually kinda sorta starts due to being invited to go see the Green Lantern movie on a Monday night, which I felt just wasn't really good. It had its moments, but overall... it just wasn't good. You have a hero with a green ring that can pretty much do whatever the hell he wants with it, and like... I dunno, I feel like they didn't try hard enough. Whatever. 

So we come back home and I play Super Smash Bros. Brawl and I dominate... Which is good for me because I'm trying to go to Apex, a national Super Smash Bros. Brawl tournament, and the fact that I'm still leagues better than my friends let me know that my skills still have some kind of merit. In any event, after winning all but maybe 4 or 5 games, I play the Sonic Generations demo (see what I think about it here). Overall, I'm loving it... I just want more. I make a few more jokes about life, and then I leave for the night.

The next day (which would be yesterday), I wake up and run a few errands, including food shopping and stuff like that. After the food shopping, I go to Borders, looking for Issue #226. It's not there. Needless to say, I'm pissed. Sonic comics are there chilling, forever, but now everyone's a Sonic fan and wants Issue #226? Blow me, you're lying.... you're doing it for the money, but this is my life. And I'm upset. So boom, I'm about to make an emergency trip to the city to locate Issue #226, because this has to be in my possession, period.

Jacko decides to tag along as another friend of mine drops us off on the Ave, and we take a train from there. First, we end up at Midtown Comics, secretly located in the heart of Times Square. I search for Issue #226 there, but I find nothing. So I ask for help. They put me in the direction of the Sonic comics, but there is no Issue #226 in sight. Bullshit. Whatever.

We trek out to St. Mark's Comics, which is on St. Mark's Place, where almost everything just so happens to have my name on it. 

See?

Anyway, we get there, and I still can't find Issue #226. Sure enough, I ask for help finding it, and apparently it's "sold out." What the fuck. I don't understand why everyone's a Sonic fan all of a sudden. Whatever. 

So as Jacko is buying a few things out of the store, I take a look at Issue #225, however, and in the back of it, it clearly states that Issue #226 goes on sale the week of 07/05/11. In other words, Jacko got it early. Wow. So here I am, blowing blood vessels trying to find a comic book that shouldn't even be on the streets yet.... typically amazing, in my opinion. I resolve to snatching this comic up early next week. No games.

Afterwards, I show Jacko a video game store that, apparently, is called "8 Bits and Up." I had been here before, but I didn't realize that this was 8 Bits and Up, a gaming store that I had heard so much about. It easily lives up to its rep, ousting GameStop as the better video game store easily. The store has games from all eras. All eras. We saw SNES games, Genesis games, Atari 2600 games, and other shit that we couldn't even identify. We're definitely going back next week... well, I am, and if Jacko's available, he's surely coming along... and I'm gonna get Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 and Virtua Fighter 4. Yes, on PS2. I'm not getting a PS3 yet, so relax. 

After that, we had an okay trip home. Upon the trip, Jacko let me have Issue #225, and I'm kinda mind blown by the result of that Issue... wow. I also read the beginning of this graphic novel involving Spiderman, Human Torch, and Iceman. Shit's hilarious...

And then I come home, back to regular life...

The End... for now...

VIDEO... OF THE FUCKING DAY!

Does this video look like a bitch?

Sonic Generations, Mortal Kombat 9, New Nintendo Console

SONIC GENERATIONS!

So I'm sure you saw the game play trailers of Sonic Generations by now. If you haven't, here's a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsEj-heCGbE

Edit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wuj-6T_ymqg&feature=player_embedded

For those not in the know, the story has to do with Modern Sonic being sent through time by some unknown enemy. He will eventually have to team up with his Classic counterpart and will go through a bunch of the "defining levels" all across the history of the Sonic games. Classic Sonic will play like Classic Sonic, with physics that attempt to emulate the classics... a spin dash. Yes. A real spin dash. He will also play in 2D. Modern Sonic will play like Modern Sonic, with homing attack and boosts, and will be in 3D. This sounds like it's going to be amazing combination of play styles.

My only worry at this point is the levels that Sega will select to put in the game. I worry that there will be, like 5 green levels in it, Oil Ocean won't be in it, Launch Base won't be in it, and Radical Highway won't be in it. I also feel like Carnival Night should definitely be in it, simply because of the heartache that Act 2 of that zone has cause many a Sonic fan. Still, it will be interesting to see 2D renditions of 3D levels and 3D renditions of 2D levels. I also hope to see more than enough Sonic Heroes levels get butchered. :-)

MOOR-TAL KOOMMMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!


Played Mortal Kombat 9 yesterday. Honestly, I feel like this is easily the best Mortal Kombat game by far, and from me, a guy who has despised MK, that saying quite a bit. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some people out there saying, "Hell no! This MK is trash! Especially compared to Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3!" But I see a ton of gameplay improvements in this game. Things that still bother me about MK, such as fatalities with the same value as a kick to the shin and the uniform attacks (everyone still has that same damn uppercut), but I feel like there's a whole lot more involved in the midst of the actual fight. The characters have a more individual feel amongst their normal attacks, and there are more options available with the addition of the super bar, such as powered up specials, combo breakers and the X-Ray Supers. I feel like the might is a more involved experience now. Of course, like I said, this clutter could be the reason an older fan might not like it, so I'm gonna try to find

MK9's Tag Mode is amazing. It got a 4 player mode within the tag mode, it has assists and tag attacks... AND THERE'S NOTHING, AND I MEAN NOTHING that allows the losing team to randomly make an overpowered comeback. The better team wins, and that's how it should be.

Overall, it's a fun game. I'm maining Sindel at the moment, I might pick up Smoke, and I might take this game semi-seriously.... definitely more so than X-Factor vs. Capcom 3.

A New Nintendo System is on the Horizon...


You might have heard that Nintendo is going to reveal a new video game console at E3 (which is in June, for those not in the know). Here's what I'm managed to gather about the system based on info around the internet (all of which may be 100% wrong, so take it with a grain of salt)

• The system will have backwards compatibility with the Wii. (but does that make it backwards compatible with GameCube games?)
• The controller will have a 6-inch HD screen on it. (controllers already cost an arm and a leg... do people really wanna buy a controller that cost an arm, a leg, and a kidney?)
• The system will be more powerful than PS3 or 360. (so that means HD... but will it have the same bland, uniform graphics of earth-like, unoriginal realism, or will Nintendo's happy colors look even more vibrant than before?)
• The system wants to "recapture" the "hardcore" audience. (1- Does this mean that F-Zero's coming back? 2- Why not just make games... for everyone? Like they used to? That's too hard, isn't it?)

On many of the websites I got the info from (via google, it's all there, and probably more), I noticed that people have claimed that the Wii's sales have been sluggish lately. Well no shit; Wii dominated sales for what, 2 - 4 years. I could see why sales would slow down (especially with the lack of decent, presentable, must-buy content... shhhhh) and why other system could have the opportunity to catch up (especially since said other systems have new, motion sensor equipped doohickies... shhhhhh) (or maybe it's because Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2 are the same price.... $49.99... shhhhhhh). Wii not being on top of sales per month anymore isn't that big of a deal considering the vast domination it held for a considerable period of time.


Oh well, whatever. Continue to hate Nintendo until the next system proves to give people reason to actually hate the system, at which point people will actually love Nintendo again. I want SNES 2. That would be amazing.


Well, this is running rather long. I'll stop right here. Within the next few blogs, I'll post up what I want to see from both Sonic Generations and the Next Nintendo Console.