The Abyss and Heroes of Light

     Humanity is this careful balance between the light and the dark. We try to be good and do what's right but there is always something in the back of our minds, some primal urge, to do what is wrong. No one is above reproach. Not Suzy from down the street or even the Pope. This is just a flaw in humanity but not one that has to control us or consume us. No. For many there is always this looming darkness from whence they can't escape. Tendrils of ebony reach out pulling at the mind and puppet the body. We often use heroes or idols to show us the light. That perfect state of both mind and body that sets us above reproach from the forces that try to drag us down. Unfortunately some of these individuals are more corrupt then the forces they oppose. Power corrupts. This never changes. You can only be the light for you. It is only with in yourself that you can realize your potential for goodness and yes it will be different for everyone and that's fine. You don't have to live up to some stranger or societies expectations on good or bad. Society itself has corrupted these ideals. It is only you who can decide and change who you are. Others can help but it is entirely upon your own shoulders to change and make yourself better. Make no mistake though, as I said above we have to sustain this careful balance. Too much good can be just as bad as too much evil. We are beings of chaos after all.
     On the topic of chaos I bring to you a book I am in the process of reading called Hoodoopocalypse by Kim Wells. I am still in the early chapters of this book but I can tell you that it is very interesting. It's not often I see the apocalypse brought on by these forces. I wont spoil anything for you but if you like reading books set in and related to the deep south as well as some of the lesser known magics that reside here I suggest picking this up. Its a short read measuring only 174 pages but these pages are used extremely efficiently.
     No game adventures today. Games I'm currently playing: Guild Wars 2, Morrowind

The Apocalypse is Waiting

     My adventures as of late lead me down the path of nostalgia. After much conflict the realm of Morrowind opens once more and in I stride as a legend of the past. My absence has dulled my skills but my memory fails me not as I traverse few hurdles before digging in. The land of Morrowind is an apocalyptic style country. Home of the dark elves and ravaged by a fierce volcano. I will step off the boat to this new land a prisoner but how will they remember be. Will I be remembered as a Hero or Villain. Only time will tell.
     Many a fan was knocked to their knees this week as the trailer for Fallout 4 dropped. Money poured out of their pockets as they clamored to get pre-orders in. The trailer keeps faithful to the past few games. We are awed and inspired by the wastes. Of a future we dodged by some faint margin. But by one we still may suffer if we don't control ourselves better. Only time will tell whether the game will live up to its predecessors or just become a wasteland of money poorly spend and jobs swiftly destroyed.
     Often in life we bypass anything that makes us think. Much of our society is more than happy with mind numbing behaviors and the repeating of past mistakes. I'm sure if you are reading this that you have merely bumbled upon it or have followed some link dropping you here. If you do find yourself here I pose but a brief and easy challenge. Look into something that interests you. Once you've gain knowledge from that topic share it with someone else, anyone. Tell your parents, siblings, relatives, loved ones, a random person on the street. It could be anything. I prefer to look into topics about space. You may want to look into something different, may I suggest origins of the supernatural, like the dullahan or fairy mythologies. They can be quite the interesting read and you may not look at things like the headless horseman or Santa the same way ever again.
     What inspires you?    

Internal Wars and Societal Predation

     Be warned there is some cursing later down this post.    

     So today my adventures bring me along the darkest of paths. The paths of social interaction and internal strife. As a race we find ourselves heading down a path of destruction, but not by means of crime or war but by Social Darwinism. We use technology to consume information by the bucket loads. Much of this information is drown in blind ideals that upon original conception were promising and even helpful but now are wielded like swords and shields only used to strike down those that don't believe the same.
     I'm sure your asking what brings on such a post. It is not any one thing rather an over arching pattern I see. So many choose not to think for themselves, they choose not to discuss topics that may go against their own "beliefs". They lash out violently at non-existent slights. Society is in a downward spiral that no one person can fix. It can only be by effort of the masses to fix what we have so gleefully destroyed. Much of the focus on problems see to be these, self-image issues, politics, religion, feminism, ect. I don't use these to call out any one person or group but show them as some of the issue.
     Commercialized media bombards us with "ideal" forms that they dictate we conform to being. Commercials, posters, billboards, hell even the close size we ware are all forced to make us think lesser of ourselves. Politicians roam our landscape unchecked by all but those whom control their pocketbooks instead of the people they are meant to represent. Then the people themselves are blinded by some false ideal and "party boundaries" that are taboo to cross. Religion forces itself upon us trying to bend us to an ideology that is older than any one remaining society. How is Pastor John down the road at the baptist church or Reverend Jones or Father Smith supposed to tell me what men who have been dead for well over a 1000 years wanted us to do. Especially since they quote from a book translated so many times that the possibility of a 100% truth existing is impossible. Feminism is also dangerous. I'm all for empowering women. Hell yeah you want to do this or that go ahead. But don't go attacking someone because they make a joke that for whatever reason you think is inappropriate or the whole lets take over or all men are evil shtick. Men are no more or less evil than women. Have men done dumb shit over the history of humanity. Oh hell yes but be careful how you judge someone because that same person my one day hold your life in their hands.
     So basically we all need to stop and think. Have discussions amongst one another and just talk. Look into not only your own point of view but others as well. Broaden your horizons. Don't let society turn into a vicious hunt where those who don't conform are killed.

     Much of my gaming these past days have left me with not much in the way of adventure. So today a change in course to the Guild Wars 2 I return after a lengthy break. Much has changed in my absence and there is much exploring to do maybe a mighty dragon will fall to my blade this day or maybe I will become but a speck of dirt upon its claw. Who knows but you must find adventure in all that you do keep life interesting and never let it get you down. The night is always darkest before the dawn. Remember that and if you ever feel down, worried or troubled then find those whom you can call real friends and sit with them. Talk and try to alleviate your issues. A good hug and a small talk over some food or warm drinks can do for you in minutes what a lifetime of experience can teach you.

All Life is a Battlefield

     I find myself sitting at work today in search of new horizons. My current job keeps me but a sparse two days a week of employment and a meager, nigh non-existent income. I often find myself in combat versus the urges wrought by our capitalistic society. "Oh my what a shiny thing, I must have it" I think to myself. Then reality shield bashes me in the face, "But dear boy you have not the funds needed to pursue such frivolous things". Defeat stands at the feet of an economy where jobs are sparse and ones you can live on even more so.
     So what do I do I hunt. My prey, new employment. Sadly it is not like the days of old where on could simply walk into a business and request possible employment. No. To acquire employment one must become part of the faceless masses awash in a sea of under qualified or over qualified combatants all vying for that ever shrinking piece of pie we know as employment. My resume, sad. My experience, laudable. My aspirations, great, for I don't wish to become some faceless suit behind a desk making more money than he knows what to do with. NO! I desire only what is necessary to sustain a semi-comfortable living. Think of it more as survival. Can I feed myself, check. Can I keep shelter over my head, check. This is all I seek out of employment. This does not show however my true desire. What I want is to be able to make people happy in whatever way possible. Too many people see nothing but darkness in their lives. Society cripples everyone with self-image issues, political correctness, and a bevvy of other things that are ludicrous. Our senses are constantly onslaught with how we aren't good enough and how we will never be good enough. Here is what I have to say. Ignore them. I know it is difficult, trust me. Those whom torment you will lose power the less attention you give them. Find happiness in what you do. Whether its something as simple as writing or reading silly little blogs like this, watching Youtube after a hard days work, or even getting a hobby and quietly tinkering away. These are the things that will save you a lifetime of sadness. Get out. Hang with friends. Hug your parents/spouse/sibling/friend. Let someone know you care and they will show you they care too. It may not be in the same way that you express but they will show it in their own little way.
     Today my adventures lead me back to the pixels old. Morrowind calls to me and this eve I shall indulge. I wonder what adventures await me in those mountains. I wonder how many times I shall fall to the Cliffracer menace.

See you next time!

Past, Present, and Dragons

     Today I dove deep into the clutter that I call my room. I combat dust and piles of stuff. Things from the past consume this space in a seemly endless void of what once was. I find amongst my many papers, handouts, and old assignments, stories of old. Things I wrote either as assignments for the one creative writing class I could actually take or things I would jot down whilst a professor would go on about this thing or that. Because of a recent illness my adventure had to be cut short as to not force a relapse but interesting things I found. A rare poem I wrote about a Ronin. A sort of space opera that I only completed the first few chapters of. Many fond memories and many painful ones.
     These past years have been hard. Life swings and swings hard. Many times have I been knocked down thinking I couldn't get back up. Hiding the pain that would often torment me. Trying to be strong for those that couldn't. Trying to show compassion, concealing rage in situations where I had no power to help the situation. The thing is I always got back up. I always get back up. No matter how hard I'm hit, how tough the struggle I persevere. I have to, if I don't they who will. We grow weak and complacent in an era that is wrought with perceived slights. A teen here gets called a name then the next day kills themselves never to think of the harm they inflict to those around them. We have be come a society of self-centered people and no one wants to stand on there own or take responsibility. Life is tough. Its far tougher than most people realize and what people don't understand is that everything is not just handed to you. Sometimes you have to take a few Haymakers to win the fight. Sometimes you have to get knocked down before you can truly stand. But when you do, you realize that life is a thing worth living. Bullies come and go as do victories, losses, loved ones, and even memories. Life takes much...but life also gives as much back you just have to be willing to reach out and grasp what is put before you.
     My best advice is to always get back up. Dust yourself off and keep moving. Stagnation and self loathing are our greatest enemies and only when you can clearly see what the problem is can you move forward and address it. Stay strong. Chin up.
     In other adventures my brother got me Dragon Age: Inquisition for my birthday. I am about 30 hours in...yes you read that right 3 0 hours and I don't even think that I'm half way. I know what you're thinking though, "Oh that is just a bunch of filler no way can the game be fun and that long". Well I will agree that there is a lot of what could be considered "filler", many many side quests but they aren't just thrown together things they fell like they belong. The story is interesting I played Dragon Age: Origins but I haven't played any others so many of the Dragon Age 2 jokes and references are lost on me but that's okay I enjoy them anyway. The part of the game that I find most enjoyable though is the inner character interactions. Your party members will occasionally talk amongst one another and often times to rather comical ends. I will abstain from a final verdict on this game until I finish it but it is promising so far.

If there is anything you would like to see. Games, stories, ect. Drop a comment here and I will try to accommodate.

New Beginnings

      Well much time has passed since last I laid fingers to keys and brought forth my adventures. My last great adventure which has cost me many a year and much of my sanity has finally come to an end so I turn once again to here a medium of which to post my thoughts and bring you once more my adventures.
       This post will be a relatively short update of my current situation. After the darkest of storms, better known as college, I find my self in temporarily calm seas. I find myself "educated" at least that is what the piece of paper says. I find myself looking toward new horizons and back at old potentials. I am currently looking for a new job. My current one is fine but I find that I am in need of employment that will at least cover health insurance. Hopefully such opportunity will soon arise but until then I act, cautiously trying to avoid disastrous illness as much has wrought my family in the past few years. A few years back shortly after this blog went silent I was in a car wreck that messed up my back and knees. These past few years have been hard but one must always persevere. I now have a degree....it's in English but tis a degree none the less.
       I hope to sharpen my writing skills once more upon this medium for the experience that it brings. I know few if any ever watched this and that is fine but I will try and continue to write. If I happen to brighten someones day in the process than that is good enough for me. If not then I am terribly sorry. Soon I hope to lean into new areas more open to the masses to try to bring happiness.

       Even though my days have been dark I have not stopped and always continue to move. I have many more video games under my belt than I had before and hope to once again start bringing back some reviews and adventures. As for me this evening brings back an adventure of old. We bring forth our armaments to fight the monovision menace. Iron Brigade was a game I played several years back and loved to death. It was fun and different from much of what I've played. The largest downside of the game was that it was possessed by the evil demon known as Games for Windows Live which would never allow me to connect properly to my friends. But the tides of battle always turn eventually and Double Fine finally got their game back and it now plays with Steam supported Multiplayer so fingers cross. Also for anyone interested it is on sale for but a few dollars on Steam right now so if you've never had the chance to play this gem I suggest jumping on it!

Well until next time!

In the Borderlands.....Prepare for the Hunt.

   Hello readers I know I know I promised that you would have an update by the end of last week. But I was overwhelmed with school work and other things going on over here but I did make some time to play Borderlands. So lets get this started. Borderlands is set on the planet Pandora a wasteland of a planet similar to the planet setting in the anime Trigun or similar to the post-apocolyptic wasteland of Fallout 3 but unlike Fallout 3 it is less serious visually using an art style similar to the FarCry games.

    Borderlands is for XBox 360, PS3, and PC giving all range of game players options. The game starts out allowing you to choose 1 of 4 playable characters and gives you the ability to co-op with up to 4 friends via system link or two split screen.

   So from left to right first you have Roland as the Soldier. Roland is your normal assault gun using shotgun toting character. His special technique the Scorpio Turret is a standard burst fire machine gun turret with shielding out to either side allowing for cover for all who need it. Roland is a great character to play he's well rounded with the ability to mod his health, shields, and turrent. His various abilities can make him anything from your teams tank to your teams support healer.
   Next we come to Lilith as the Siren with her special ability phasewalk she can become invisible and move at very quick speeds causing an energy blast/wave when going in and out of the move. Lilith specialty is elemental weapons this means that she is not limited to any specific weapon type but she does to considerable damage with elemental weapons making her a spectacular support character as she can do considerable damage to any enemy given the appropriate element. She is also a good solo character but because of the need to swap weapons to do considerable damage she may be left vulnerable in a fire fight.
   Onward and on to the little guy with the big gun we have Mordecai as the Hunter. Mordecai is your resident sniper specializing in sniper rifles and revolvers and with his special ability/pet bloodwing a bird that will attack near-by foes. Mordecai's abilities allow him to upgrade his accuracy, mag size, and bloodwing skills but in doing so leaves him extremely vulnerable to close combat enemies limiting his (very effective) weapon choices. To make up for this deficite I suggest either leveling up your assault rifle or smg skill for the closer combat. Now Mordecai excels most of all at support for your group not so much as your healer or your tank or your stealth character but as your long range support stopping most enemies from getting anywhere near your group.
   And finally we have Brick as himself. Brick is your heavy arms character specializing in rocket launchers and "his fists" as the game loves to tell you. Brick's special skill is Berserk this skill makes you highly resistant to all damage, it also makes you extremely fast but you are limited to using your fist. Now while in Berserk you think bah what good are your fists well there as good as any rocket to the face says I. This is your tank of the group no doubt about it as he by far has the best health and is most difficult to take out. Now while rockets and your fists are a fun combo the max ammo capacity for rockets is lacking and even with high def and health once you run out of rockets your fists will only bring you so far (in bricks case maybe a mile or two) so I think assault rifles or shotguns will be a good supplemental weapon.

Now I know what your thinking you've told us about the characters what about the weapons. Well you have a few different kinds of weapons that you can lvl up in those are Pistols (repeaters and revolvers), SMG's, Assault Rifles, Shotguns, Sniper Rifles, Rocket Launchers and Alien Weapons. Between all of theses weapons your liable to find hundreds or even thousands of variations of the different types of guns. Also yes you do have grenades and many variations of them. And for those who dont know this is an FPS RPG a true rarity.

Now I've given you bare minimum for your intro into the Borderlands. So here's the final scores.
Gameplay: 10/10 (outstanding gameplay very smooth)
Graphics: 9/10 (kinda stuns you if you dont know whats comming as its is an uncommon art type)
Story: 9/10 (the story is fun and you never really know what to expect)
Fun: 10/10 (this game is fun what can I tell ya)
Replay Value: 10/10 (even for the lone player you have to play it through at least 4 times and if your co-oping there is an infinate amount of replay value)


So theres some basics and review minus spoilers on Borderlands. Next week hopefully Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Well now that its taken me an hour and a half to write this I'm kinda tired so I leave you with this.
Yall have fun and keep good faith in your competitive game play and if you have any replys as I dont think the comments are working right here you can post a comment on my facebook here: FACEBOOK PAGE