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My Blog in Review: Part One

Hi all,


This is my first of what hopefully will be many reviews of my experiences and progression in blogging. I have been, as some returning readers may know,  only blogging for a short while now. About five days to be exact. So it is not my intention to exalt or disparage the art of the blog. No. Instead I intend to unwind my current progress with some thoughts on my experiences thus far.

Without further ado; I have attempted to maintain a stream posts that I had hoped would interest my intended audience. This is what I have been focused on, for the most part. I have tried to approach each and every post, besides the odd news update or club Nintendo automated share, with a mind for heartfelt writing. I have wanted to only post what I believe could both interest me, the writer, and you the reader. Who, you may ask, am I targeting? Well, first and most importantly gamers--of all shades, of all sizes, of all genders. Those interested in analyzing ( to a reasonable, leisure time degree) the merits of Ubisoft's approach in handling their monumental gaming franchises--such as Assassin's Creed.

Why I Am Excited About Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

Will you be setting sail this fall or has the Creed worn thin with this one.

 

Assassin's Creed 4 is the sixth game in the main series, if you only include its console releases. As such one would be forgiven for feeling fatigue setting in, especially since the series has shifted to a yearly release schedule. Though I hear the dissension and I can completely understand it, but I must disagree with those who are down on this particular release in the series. Why, you may ask, do I care about a franchise that seemingly has lost its way in more ways than one? Well, the sea you see, Is the reason.

Set sail with the Jackdaw 

I do still have my doubts, after all. When AC4 was first announced earlier this year, I was just as pessimistic as some of the detractors I have seen and heard from. I told myself that I had no intention of even listening to any AC4 news. But, here we are, only a few months later, and I can now say--after listening to a lot of the news that has been revealed-- that I am hopeful this entry in the series will live up to the potential espoused by the solid, personal favorite of mine, Assassin's Creed 2. Assassin's Creed 2 is, in my opinion, exemplary of the franchises capabilities; from its rich, expansive Italy, to its much improved variety over AC1, AC2 combines the open-ended structure of AC1 with an expansive narrative and a variety of gameplay. With AC2 in mind, what can we gauge from what little we know about AC4? The Jackdaw, which looks to be a symbol of freedom, liberation and a much welcomed return to Assassin's Creed 1 levels of open-ended gameplay. Running off of the ground-work, laid down in last years AC3, the open sea Caribbean expanse of AC4, looks to catalyze a, somewhat lost, sense of adventure. The heavily praised naval missions of Assassin's Creed 3 are proof that life on the Jackdaw will rouse the most cranky of fans, as the open sea is rife with mystery and adventure.

To Next Gen or Not to Next Gen?

PS4 VS. XBOX ONE, and All-Things-Future-Gen VS. Present: Part One

  

The next generation of gaming consoles are upon us. Do you have one reserved or are you pinning one to your wishlist for the future? Me, well I don't even think I'm ready for the next gen push. I have been enjoying this generation, and I do believe we have become jaded by the products of modern developmental cycles, to which there is a constant flow of big budget and small budget gems. As much as we(gamers), as fans of certain genres or franchises, love to think how crappy or inconsiderate developers are, we are, in fact, beneficiary's of a gaming revolution. To some extent we are at a point where it hasn't been better, at least in terms of  game production and skill in the designing phase.But the large budgets have caused the narrowing resolve of publishers to become pencil like. Though, I will argue that because of its relative youth, locked away potential and continuing growth the game's industry is still malleable, and, thus, we can hope, with the dawning of the next generation of consoles, to see fresh ideas. But that can wait. I have GTAV to play. Besides, the wealth of experience of the current gen(PS3 and Xbox360) developers will provide evidence of the kind of relative future performance of the next gen consoles.    

Check out Sakura Samurai via Club Nintendo

Check out Sakura Samurai via Club Nintendo 

So I just redeem my Club Nintendo Elite status reward. I decided to go with Sakura Samurai, seeing as how it was generally well received, and I couldn't  care any less about getting the calenders...so, yeah. Hopefully after giving it a real go I can post some of my thoughts on it.

Image: From Nintendo.com; http://sakurasamurai.nintendo.com/character.html, used for critique/review purposes.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

 I have been playing Shin Megami Tensei IV for the past couple of weeks, and I do believe I will be penning a review for this wonderful title.The narrative thus far is a suspenseful tease. There are a lot of things left under-wraps that I hope will be addressed. But the story is, in my opinion, interesting and it keeps you pushing forward, even in the wake of what is, by modern standards, a tough cookie to crack.  Now I won't go on about the punishing difficulty being a negative, but I will say potential purchasers should be aware that there is a fair

bit of challenge (read: challenge and not unreasonable difficulty). Though once you get a hang of the ins and outs of the press turn system, of previous Shin Megami Tensei series fame, you will be able to appreciate the very unassuming complexity of the streamlined, quick paced combat system--you will be greatly invigorated and truly begin to enjoy the game for the sense of achievement and thrill it can provide.    

So It Begins...

Hi all,

This is The Vaunted Gamer here. This will be my first step into the "blogosphere", and I am hoping to conjure up interesting posts filled to the brim with personal and objective incite into the world of video games ,and whatever else catches my attention. So, I am grateful to those who will leave feedback and incite of their own--whether they agree or disagree with me, have fruitful thoughts on left out possibilities or just want to say Hi. I want to encourage any level of communication and discussion that isn't harmful or hateful to individuals or groups willing to engage in open-dialogue.

I intend for my blog to give my thoughts on video games I have played, experienced or have some future interest of testing and or keeping tabs on. All and all, I do not claim to be a professional journalist--for now, anyways--but I do have a great deal of what one could call "passion" for gaming and I, for some time, have contemplated writing on the subject--its art, its fanfare, its culture, its negativity, its positives and in general its intrigue. Why do we play? Why do I enjoy a romp of FarCry3, or a case or two or three of L.A. Noire?