Review: Assassin's Creed

With Assassin's Creed: Revelations on the horizon, I figured I'd go back and review the original.  Even better, my girlfriend, Opp1123, has volunteered to write this review for me.  So without further ado, take it away, hon!

Publisher: Ubisoft
Rating: Mature
Content: blood, strong language, and violence
System(s) Compatible: Windows PC, Playstation 3, XBox360

I had initially become interested in playing Assassin's Creed when Brotherhood had come out but due to lack of compatible systems I was unable to play. The ease of getting into the controls is makes it a game that can be picked up by just about anyone. It includes a basic tutorial that explains movement which is the perfect length of time and introduces the next abilities as they become available again.

The overall gameplay is excellent, however many of the tasks or quests that are given to the character are repetitive and can get old. What makes up for the repetitive nature of these tasks is the storyline. I have yet to finish the game but I can see a rich storyline being threaded into the gameplay. It contains aspects of character development, plot development, and constructions the scenes of the two stories so that the viewer can understand what is happening.

The most fascinating aspect about this game are the historical aspects that are interwoven into a fictional plot. While purusing the interenet I found quite a few people offended by the fact that people were portrayed in certain ways, such as the fact that the assassin's are middle eastern. What they are missing by pointing this out is that much of what occurred during the crusades include invading towns, plundering them, raping them women, and then leaving them essentially deserted. This may not have happened in Jerusalem and the other cities mentioned but it had happened in other locations. Essentially the clash between the Knights Templar and the Assassin's is over land and a pervasive religious symbol.

Part of the reason the storyline is so rich and successful is that it was created:

"Inspired by historical events and characters. This work of fiction was designed, developed, and produced by a multicultural team of various religious faiths and beliefs."

Note: Video game rating is according to the information posted on the ESRB website; information on crusades was learned in a course on Chaucer
For your Enjoyment:
Opening Cinematic
The Website

The Great Censorship Dilemma

My, what big teeth you have!

One thing that regularly bugs me is the when a game (or other entertainment media) is censored in a way that degrades the overall experience of the selected media.  Movies do this, music on the radio does this, TV does this, and video games do it too.  For the wayward youth, censorship is a real bummer.  It's a road block to everything those boring adults don't want them to see.  But with some entertainment, the content loses something when it gets edited.  Various companies are making inroads into bridging the gap, but at what cost?  How far is too far?  Should the entertainment industries be playing parent?

Update: Retail Surveys are Job Security!

I received quite a bit of support and visibility over my retail survey post.  As such, I figured I'd give my readers an update as to what has happened since.  I also want to comment on the comments that I received, as well.

Introduction: Opp1123

Greetings, it is I, the infamous 'guinea pig' girlfriend. I will be posting a review later on next week for Assassin's Creed and eventually a review to look into how the Sims developed from the initial game to the most recent game(s) on PC, Nintendo DS, and gamecube.

To give a little background on myself I studied Philosophy with minors in Psychology and English Literature in college. I hope I will be attending graduate school in the future for psychology. Much of this background heavily influences my opinions and perspectives about gaming and other issues.

Genres: sandbox, RPGs, MMO, racing, action/adventure
Consoles: PC, XBOX360, PS2, Gamecube, Nintendo DS
 Games Recently Played: Assassin's Creed, Katamari Damacy, World of Warcraft
If you are interested in checking out any of the others games that are in my library here is my raptr profile

If you're curious about the gamer tag I constructed it from the Fibonacci sequence which is a mathematical number that can be found in nature (ex. flower).

Review: Stretch Panic

Platform: PS2

Rating: T for Teen, Mild Animated Violence, Suggestive Themes

Publisher: Treasure

Genre: None of the Above

Price: $1.49 at Gamestop, Amazon,  Ebay

Now, this is a game that I find is impossible to classify.  It's bizarre, it leaves you questioning your sanity, and it's a riot to play.  Beating up the seven deadly sins has never been this politically incorrect...or this fun!

5 Wii games for the hardcore gaming crowd

It's no secret that Nintendo maintains a family friendly image.  The level of marketing to the parents of young children feels like the brunt of Nintendo's marketing budget. With the lack of Pandora's Tower and Fatal Frame 4 in the US, it's very easy to dismiss Nintendo as yet another greedy corporation who only cares about where they can make the most money.  Even so, Nintendo still pays attention to their core audience in some form or another.  Whether you believe it or not, the Wii has several games that cater to the interests of the hardcore gamer.  Here's 5 of them that you should be interested in:

Silent Hill Downour's Latest Trailer

Konami released another trailer for the upcoming Silent Hill: Downpour.  Let's just say that I am disappoint.

Really? Korn in my Silent Hill?  I like Korn as much as the next guy, but this is a bit ridiculous.  There's a reason why Akira Yamaoka left Konami for Grasshopper Manufacture.  S*** like this is why.

Retail Surveys are job security!

In the current economy, almost every retailer out there has an online survey on the receipt asking for your feedback about your shopping experience.  Not many people realize how much an employee's job depends on customers filling out those surveys.

Collector's Edition Goodies: We don't want any more crap!

One thing that has always bugged me about video game collector's editions is the glut of useless crap that they tack on, and the hype that gets attached to it.  Most of the bonus goodies are poorly made, fall apart easily, and we're told that "limited" quantities were made to attempt to bolster the inherent value.  Thankfully, not every publisher falls into this trap, and I'd like to see the industry learn from their example.

Review: Mortal Kombat (2011)

Rating: M for Mature

Platform: Xbox 360, PS3

Genre: Fighting

Game Reviewed on: Xbox 360

I have many fond memories of playing Mortal Kombat in the local arcade. It was over the top, gratuitously violent, and adults hated it. Of course, a game as violent as Mortal Kombat will always draw the ire of politicians and advocacy groups. That and the downward spiral of Midway Games forced the MK series to withdraw from the spotlight. This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I love the new MK so very much.