Favorite Game Series: "Kingdom Hearts"

Favorite Game Series: "Kingdom Hearts"

I love this series. I've literally bought game systems based around these games. That may sound obsessive, but it is totally obsessive. I don't know if this is my all time favorite series, but it's pretty darn high on my list. For those who don't know, "Kingdom Hearts" follows Sora, a seemingly normal teenage boy, as he goes to different Disney and Final Fantasy themed worlds to defeat the Heartless. Later games would expand on the themes and ideas of the first, adding different worlds, characters, and enemies. The first remains my favorite (with the sequel and "Birth By Sleep" coming in right behind it) because it really struck me with its originality. Who would have thought that the admittedly odd combination of Square Enix and Disney would form such consistently good games? My favorite part is finding out which films and characters will be featured in the next installment. I also generally love action RPG's, and this series contains some of the better ones. The characters are always a blast to meet, and the worlds always make you feel as though you've entered the movies. The fighting mechanics, though they vary by game, are always solid. I consistently enjoy every game, and I know I'm not the only one who does. This game deserves the praise that it gets, and I hope it continues for a while (even if the story gets more and more convoluted with each passing iteration).

Anime Corner: "Cardcaptor Sakura"

This show was the major reason that I started watching anime in the first place. It also sparked a soft spot in my heart for magical girl shows. I don't know why I loved it so much, but I did and still do. The show follows Sakura Kinomoto, an elementary school girl who discovers that she has special powers and must save the world from magical cards that she accidentally released. Along the way, she is aided by her friends Tomoyo, Li, and Kero. I grew up watching "Cardcaptors", the dubbed version of the show. I apologize, but I didn't know any better at the time. After a few years passed, I watched the original. Having seen that and after rewatching an episode of the dub, I realize that the dub is terrible. They give everyone voices that don't fit their characters at all. The way that they attempt to Americanize the show is just sad, and their attempts at English versions of Japanese language sayings and formalities just don't work. They renamed almost all of the characters and removed way too much of the content. In the original, Sakura and Li originally start bonding over the fact that they both have a crush on Sakura's brother's friend Yukito (Julian in the dub). Since Americans can't deal with homosexuality in their children's TV shows, this entire subplot was removed. They also took out Tomoyo's loving admiration of Sakura. This makes their entire relationship feel wrong. They don't really feel like the closest of friends anymore, and Tomoyo ends up coming off as kind of spoiled and entitled instead of endearing and cute. It's unfortunate because Tomoyo is my favorite character in the original. If I haven't made myself abundantly clear, watch the original and not the dub. The original is a well-written and sweet show with good characters, great animation, and fast-paced action scenes. To be clear, I'm usually not against dubs; it just really doesn't work here.

Great Songs From Lousy Musicals: "Get Out And Stay Out"

Here's where the title of this segment gets put to the test. I loved "9 to 5: The Musical" when I saw it, but other people didn't. Looking back on it now, I can see the flaws that they were pointing out, but the show was still so much fun that I didn't (and still don't) care. This is the big 11 O'Clock Number from the show. One of the biggest issues with the show for me, especially now, was the music. I loved it then, and I love it now, but it's for different reasons. All of the music itself is good, but the lyrical content is severely lacking. There's a lot of use of slant rhyme and repetition. There are also points where you can kind of tell the Dolly was having trouble coming up with lyrics. While this song does suffer from some of those problems, the power and performance overcome those issues to make it great. The song is sung by Judy (played on the cast album by personal favorite Stephanie J. Block), who, up to this point, has been somewhat shy and withdrawn. She was used to be walked on and taken advantage of, and this song is her finally growing the backbone she so long desired. The song starts out slow and, as I've said before that most songs should do, grows more powerful as Judy becomes more confident. Stephanie J. Block jokes that she created a new audition for girls, and that could not be more true. This is pretty much the quintessential 11 O'Clock Number. The whole soundtrack is good, but this is the one that brings the house down.

Listocracy: "Top 8 Most Underrated Video Games"

These are my personal top eight video games that I think more people should know about and play. Whether it was because of bad marketing, lack of interest, or weak critical reception, these game just never got the love that they deserved. I put these games in order based on how well-known the game is compared to how good it is. This is limited only to games that I have played, but if you have any of your own suggestions as to what else could or should be on this list, feel free to let me know.

8. Earthbound (SNES)

This one is so low on the list because it is slowly coming into the spotlight thanks to games like the "Super Smash Bros." series. You play as Ness, a young boy with psychic powers, who sets out to save the world from being destroyed by the evil entity Giygas. It's a fun, quirky game with good comedic writing and some emotional scenes, including the stomach-turning final battle. My only problem with this game is that it can be almost unfairly hard at times, but it does feel rewarding when you finally persevere.

7. Jet Set Radio Future (X Box)

This is another one that seems to be getting more recognition through crossover games. You play as a multitude of members of a rollerblading street gang as they try to protect their turf and Japan while also avoiding being captured by the police. I'm focusing on the sequel because that's the one I've played more. It has fun gameplay, a great soundtrack, and a style all its own (or at least it was until cel shading became more popular). The original is great, too, but the sequel managed to work out some of the kinks and have better overall presentation.

6. Mischief Makers (N64)

Here's a game that was almost completely centered around one gimmick: grabbing and shaking things. Yet, it somehow works. You play as Marina, a cyborg maid, who is tasked with saving her creator, Professor Theo, from the Empire (no, not that Empire) on the strange planet of Clancer. The game isn't very long (unless you're going for 100% completion), but the unique gameplay mechanics and interesting presentation keep this game fun and nice to look at. Also, some of the bosses can get pretty tough (especially if you're trying to get the Golden Gems).

5. The World Ends With You (DS)

This is probably the best game involving fashion that I've ever played. You play as Neku, a loner in Japan, who gets pulled into the mysterious "Reaper's Game" and must work with complete strangers in order to win. This game has a style and presentation that I really haven't seen in many other games (and never this well executed). The gameplay, which involves you controlling characters on both screens at the same time during battles, keeps things fast-paced and fun. The story is great and keeps you guessing to the very end, and the music is very memorable.

4. Um Jammer Lammy (PS1)

Speaking of memorable music, this game has it in spades. A spin-off of the "PaRappa the Rapper" series, you play as Lammy, the shy guitarist of the band MilkCan, who must find her way through ridiculous circumstances and make it to her band's concert on time. This game is, in my opinion, the pinnacle of the "PaRappa" series. The gameplay is the same as those games, but executed much better, and there's a variety of different modes to play, including a two-player campaign. You can even unlock PaRappa himself. When playing as him, all the songs changes from their original forms into almost completely different rap-themed songs, effectively doubling the game's length. It's still extremely short, but that just means that it doesn't overstay its welcome. 

3. Okami (PS2 / Wii)

This game is art. You play as the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu as she tries to restore the world as it's being destroyed by the evil spirit Orochi. This game's most notable quality is it's presentation. Everything is done in a style similar to Japanese watercolor, leading to a beautiful game. The gameplay is also great, and the Celestial Brush that you use to fight enemies and repair the world is a brilliant innovation. You also have a huge overworld to explore and tons of interesting characters to interact with. The game is somewhat easy, but it's still an experience worth having.

2. Psychonauts (X Box / PS2)

This is probably the game on the list that I've played through in its entirety the most amount of times (besides "Um Jammer Lammy", but you can beat that game in one sitting). You play as Raz, a young boy who has run away from the circus in order to join a psychic summer camp and hone his powers. This game is hilarious. The writing is sharp, and the delivery is always perfect. The characters are all individuals with their own problems and storylines. The gameplay is fun, and using all of the psychic powers at your disposal is always a blast. Entering people's minds to see what their inner workings look like is such an interesting premise, and I want to see it explored more in a sequel that may never come to fruition.

1. Brave Fencer Musashi (PS1)

This game is my childhood. You play as Musashi, a hero of legend called into a new dimension in order to help the Allucaneet Kingdom fight back against the Thirstquencher Empire. The writing is funny with just the right amount of drama and cheesiness, the characters are quirky and charming, and the gameplay is fun and fast-paced. The only reason that this isn't the number one most played game on this list is that I somehow managed to lose my copy of the game a few years ago. I recently bought a new one, and the game totally holds up after all these years. This game garnered a sequel that was released many years later, but it was nowhere near as good. Everyone should play this game, and I don't know why it isn't more popular.

Nostalgia Factor: "Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!"

I've played this game so many times. I can literally blow through it in a day or two at this point, and I have pretty much memorized how to get 100% completion without even thinking about it. Either way, I will probably be playing this game again soon enough. You play as Spyro the Dragon, who has been pulled into a new dimension in order to help fight Ripto, a small and evil sorcerer who wants to take over the land of Avalar. The gameplay is intuitive and fun, the writing is sharp and funny, and the music will almost definitely get stuck in your head. That's all well and good, but the real fun in this game comes from the characters. Each world that Spyro enters through the gates scattered around Avalar contains differing types of beings, each with their own cultures and personalities. My personal favorites are the monks from Colossus. Their accents and chanting make them quite memorable, not to mention that they have some of the best lines in the game. Also of note are the water wizards from Mystic Marsh and the fauns from Fracture Hills. This game is very well put together. Even now, there are some points that can get difficult, but almost never frustrating. You always know that it was your own lack of skill or reflexes that led to your loss. It's almost never the fault of the game itself, which is a sign of good game design and programming. This game just never gets old for me.

Best Worst Movies: "The Room"

Ever wondered what would happen if someone with absolutely no talent was given enough funding to produce a movie? Ever wonder what would happen if that same person also starred in, directed, and wrote said movie? If you said yes, then "The Room" will answer all of your questions. Tommy Wiseau directs, produces, writes, and stars in this film about Johnny, a man whose fiancee begins cheating on him with his best friend. Almost every single flaw in this movie can be traced back to Wiseau. His acting is hilariously atrocious. He goes through the entire movie without really changing his expression, and his accent is so thick and indeterminate that he could just be spouting nonsense (which is not far from the truth), and it would make just as much sense. The other actors aren't much better, but, then again, they didn't have much to work with. The script is very repetitive, yet it somehow still manages to not give us information that we, as viewers, want and need. Relatively important characters and plot points show up and disappear completely unintroduced and unexplained, people do and say random things that make even less sense in context, and the audience gets beat over the head with the same couple of scenes over and over. For example, Lisa, Johnny's fiancee, talks to her mother about not wanting to marry Johnny several times. Nothing new is added to each scene to make it any different from the last (except for the revelation that Lisa's mother has breast cancer, but that's only brought up once and is never mentioned again). Drama ends up becoming funny because of how poorly executed it is, and the lack of actual compassion that the viewer feels for the characters leaves you with nothing to do but laugh at them. This is another great movie to snark at with friends, just make sure that you're ready for long and uncomfortable sex scenes with terrible original music playing in the background.