Our Honest View

By Gabriel Roderick

So today I visited a friend's town seeing as it was raining and what not in my town.

By: Adam Zimmerman

It was very exciting to see another town and the different people, fruit and layout of the town.

We decided since it was raining in reality that we would go on a trip in her town to a island where we would go and catch fish to get "metal", the island's currency and other neat things. My friend whom I was visiting had gone to the island a few times before where she had taken a boat over to the island. The captain Kappn likes to sing and tell stories, when I went with her he seemed a little jealous of us going together...Oh Well.

Anyways on the island after doing some fishing misadventures we got some metals then went to go to a rental place. The nice guy gave me a axe, fishing rod, net, and even a diving suit. You might want to debate on the items you borrow seeing as they take space in you're pockets. Once you fill up you can visit a box in the island's landing room where you can deposit you're items to be picked up later at the dock upon returning.

It's important to add them to this box or you'll loose them! Upon going diving you can swim really fast and find awesome bottom dwellers and even get stung by jellyfish! Diving is simple. Dive down and swim towards darker areas and BAM you caught something.

Don't wanna go swimming? No big deal, there is about 4 other mini games you can play to get metals and of course chop down coconut trees with you're axe!

I suggest on a rainy day in reality or in you're town go visit a friend, steal some useful items then go on a trip together!

Adam's Earlier Review:

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If I were to simply state what you do in Animal Crossing, most people would think it sounds like one of the most boring games ever created, and the description alone makes many people not even want to give it a try. Those people are missing one of the most charming and addicting experiences in gaming.

Admittedly Animal Crossing isn’t for everyone.

If your idea of the perfect game only involves blowing peoples heads off then this is not the game for you. New Leaf will do absolutely nothing to sway those that don’t want to spend days, weeks, or months talking to animals and searching for every possible bug/fish/fossil/piece of art to complete your collection, but it retains the series’ trademark charm that makes tasks that are seemingly boring so much fun and addicting.

New Leaf essentially takes the best parts of the previous entries in the series and combines them into one game. All the bug catching, fishing, fossil hunting, art collecting, and home decorating return (I assure you that it is a lot more fun than that sounds). You get a great sense of accomplishment when you complete the museums collections. The city from City Folk has been changed and moved closer to you, with the stores that were in the city now apart of Main Street. The tropical island that you could visit in the original game with the help of a GameBoy Advance returns, luckily without the need for an extra system and connecting cable this time. There are certain fish and bugs that can only be found on the island. Also on the island are mini games called tours that allow you to earn special island currency to buy items like special island themed furniture, or a wetsuit, which allows you to swim for the first time in the series. Swimming further allows you to catch special “deep sea” creatures such as clams, sea urchins, lobsters, etc.

Where New Leaf really separates itself from its predecessors is your role within the town. From the moment you step off the train, you assume the role of mayor. I enjoyed having much more say in how the town is constructed. The only real customization in previous entries involved you personal look and your home décor.

Though this is still very much a part of New Leaf, you have many more things to customize this time around. New town ordinances allow you to tailor the game to your preferred play style a bit. If you play mostly at night you can chose the “night owl” ordinance which will make characters sleep in later and stores open later, but stay awake/open much later as well. The reverse is true for the “early bird” ordinance. Two other ordinances make it so that you will either get more money for everything you do or keep your town looking good by watering the flowers for you, picking weeds, and keeping trash out of the water. Public works projects are also part of your duties. They involve raising money for things like another bridge, a water fountain, or an additional floor for the museum. Your duties as mayor don’t fundamentally change the way you play the game, but they do give you more choices to make and a lot more to spend your money on..

Yet another interesting new addition to the game is the integration of 3DS play coins. Regular stuff like tools, furniture, and clothing are still bought with bells, the series regular currency, but play coins are used to purchase fortune cookies. These cookies may or may not contain a lucky ticket, which can be redeemed for special Nintendo-themed items. Nintendo enthusiasts will absolutely love these items as they include, but are certainly not limited to the Triforce, a Mario Kart go-kart, Captain Olimar’s ship from Pikmin, and a Samus helmet.

Animal Crossing GameCube - Image 4

Even after spending more than 20 with the game in a 4 day period (I did mention it can be quite addicting earlier), new happenings in my town kept exciting me. New characters would move in, new shops would open up on Main Street, new tours would be unlocked on the island. While none of these events are game altering, getting to know a new character or getting new places to explore or spend your money is always good.

Visiting a other player’s town is fun as well. You can check out how they designed their homes, see what characters live in their town and meet them. For instance in my town I have a dog dressed as a mummy, 2 tigers, and penguin, and another bird. My daughter on the other hand has a cat, and elephant, a much angrier looking penguin than mine, and 2 other characters. Also when you go to someone else’s town you can grab whatever fruits are native to their town to add them to your own. The tours on the island can also be done with friends where the challenge gets scaled to the number of people taking part.

Our Honest Gives Animal Crossing: New Leaf a 9 out of 10. Detractors of the series will point to its lack of defined goals and gameplay, but they are completely missing the point of what makes Animal Crossing such an enjoyable experience. New Leaf takes the best parts of the first 2 console versions of the game and puts them into 1 great experience. They also addressed some of the minor problems. The game is a stress free experience that instead of focusing on stressful boss fights, combative multiplayer experiences, or really intense action of any kind, it instead focuses on clever humor, forming friendships with the residents of your town, and the Pokemon like gotta get em all mentality when it comes to fish, bugs, fossils, and art. It may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed every minute and can’t wait to go back to my little town.

Replay Value: Infinite

Similar Games:

FarVille Facebook - Image 5

Harvest Moon Another Wonderful Life Gamecube - Image 6

Sources:
Image 1: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/Animal-Crossing-animal-crossing-231227_1024_768.jpg)

Image 2: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/3500000/Animal-crossin-wii-animal-crossing-3545161-896-480.jpg)

Image 3: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/nintendoland/thumb/f/fd/AnimalCrossingShot.png/468px-AnimalCrossingShot.png)

Image 4: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/82/Animal_Crossing_Coverart.png)

Image 5: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VTJLQ9M6uZBUDZSFRhBuJyJMQtvRkpnoajw8MGVPVFbS9syW0JOkSssrqktkNurkmwCpx3BHsQrbt-35iI4osRPlLn-jTJI4Mg2WPyhgsGCBhZ1G6V63Jr6K5yIEFCMy1ZJHhXkFIcGD/s1600/28715.$.jpg)

Image 6: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://hmmeadow.net/images/gimgs/4019d1194771504-harvest-moon-another-wonderful-life-scan-ntsc-harvest_another.jpg)

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Review: "Man Of Steel" (2013) "Michael Shannon Steals The Man"

By: Gabriel Roderick

Something that Canvill couldn't really do till the end of the movie he begins to convince us he's a Superman. Granted it's big shoes to fill after Christoper Reeves. I was a little upset however that their was no Superman Cameo. You still have Brandon Routh, Tom Welling, and even Dean Cain ready and able to do a character cameo in this blockbuster! The rest of the cast kind of have to blend in to Clark and even Lois seems that she could have been better, but then again the origins of her depend more on Superman being Clark Kent a Daily Planet reporter!

This movie is one of the biggest science fictions pieces of work I've ever seen. Starting off with a visually masterpiece of Krypton. With beautiful suits and stunning scenery and even dragonfly like creatures to fly on. Though they seem so powerful it's no wonder their race was doomed! Anyways Clark is obviously a alien. However the rest of the film just seems kind of bland compared to the beginning. Especially when Clark flies is very outdated.

Snyder does this shot far away technique then zooms in on certain parts when something important happens but it seems like 2006 Superman! The ship Zod builds that tries to destroy the planet to rebuild Krypton look like something from a Michael Bay film but still the fact it destroys most of Metropolis was epic!

The plot of this movie takes nearly three hours to explain and gets very boring throughout! We go from Clark's birth to when he's in his thirties and he keeps having flashbacks of his youth learning from his foster parents on how he is different but the world with not believe in him, while Jor-El believed that Clark would be a god and the people would follow him.

Once learning about his past and heritage Clark is torn between being a hero or going back being a drifter saving people while just trying to get by. Lois and Clark by mistake find the Fortress of Solitude where in a matter of minutes Clark is ready to fly and has dubbed the suit.

Clark surrenders himself to the Zod's army when Earth NOT just Metropolis is put in harms way. He then learns his one and only weakness is anything that has Krypton's atmospheric chemistry, i.e weapons, and space ships! While that's a weakness for him, Earth is a weakness for Zod and his men because they've adopted to the other surroundings.

The battle scenes are pretty terrific with the slamming through ground or flying at each other. Though no super speed just super jumping. This gets me in to my point about Clark's character. Since he's torn which wasn't a good plot element I'm thinking because it inhabits his powers Clark actually ducks bullets. Then gets shot again and realizes it can't hurt him? However we see him struggling to hold up a oil rig, tired from fighitng and even almost miss grapping Lois when flying! Maybe this was to show how he had to move in order to save people though he files from the Fortress of Solitude to the other side of the planet in minutes!

Dude you're Superman you're suppose to be able to fly faster than the speed of light! This really bothered me! We even find out that Clark is the first natural born child in centuries since most are artificially created. Everyone that would ever have been born is stored in the civilian skull type deal and it is bonded with Clark's body. So he has at least 10,000 other souls bonded with his!

However Michael Shannon to the rescues! He is amazing as Zod and really believable! He fits the part that was paved in the original Superman movies. All Zod wanted to do was have Krypton pay for their crimes and rebuild a better Krypton! He is willing to kill all humans to make a superior Krypton planet. His facial expression to just way he spoke seemed like a evil leader granted this man was made for villain roles! Out of all the characters he fit his best and truly stole the show and I even at one point felt sorry for him, he watched all his people die and just wanted to rebuild his home.

Image 4:

He talks about that's what he was created for to be the General and protect his people no matter what. That's all he could do, it was per-determined. This speech was great because it just adds such depth to his character and you figured this would give Clark his chance to shine because it was made in essence to lead the people on Earth but nope he is still weaker than Zod even with a home field advantage.

Superman has no choice but to kill Zod to protect a family and sends the rest of the army back to the Phantom Zone. This finally adds depth to Superman, and we finally see the compassion and rage that he is torn between! The people begin to love Superman which he went with what Jor-El had always told him. Superman promises to protect Metropolis by being a reporter for the Daily Planet which if funny it took this long for it to happen! But promises to work with NOT for the army!

Image 5:

I like the idea that the joins the Daily Planet at the end because it gives Lois character development to go and find out who the man that saved who is. She learns his origins of Clark Kent and eventually his origins as Kal-El which intensifies their love because she is truly the only person who knows both sides to the man!

This film has a lot of references to God and Jesus. Clark even seems a Priest before turning himself into the police. We learn the "S" on his chest is his families crest and means hope. While Lois tells him on earth it's a "S" so call him Superman! Anyways Superman seems to have similarities for Jesus seeing as he was sent by his father to save the people for their past mistakes perhaps. Humans have as much dirty hands as Kryptons did.

Superman can also be seen as a God because he saved many people and innocent lives from Zod who could be seen as the devil, whose men where sent to the Phantom Zone which is like hell. Granted the similarities are small they are there!

Our Honest View gives Man Of Steel 7.9/10. Not the worse reboot but it plagued by the the fact that's a reboot of a amazing movie. The story is really wonky in trying to create the origins of Superman. The Krypton views are a masterpiece finally seeing the homeland of Superman. The hints at the other DC comic heroes out there is a sweet touch for building up a team up movie.

+ Krypton
+ Michael Shannon
+ DC hero hints

- Run Time
- Suit
- Flying

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Sources:
Image 1: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. ( http://sfappeal.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Man-of-Steel.jpg)

Image 2: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. (http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/51b8bdb069bedd4260000001-1525-1144/man-of-steel-kevin-costner-1.jpg)

Image 3: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. (http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2013/04/Justine/man-of-steel-trailer.jpg)

Image 4: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrVzKsTtxaowZZA7T19nItlP8C6b9wWMdEFjF5Ix4axL5lCO_FvmmDshkrIzvPTwGjt6DioWS28Eq9M2CRloekK_Vezw3ajSNxwaGi15a5xTV5v5yqTl0vOZ5gLY4J_QD0gHp9ZKyj-_5/s1600/superman-man-of-steel-new-images-from-the-movie+%282%29.jpg)

Image 5: Accessed On June 15th, 2013. (http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/i/2013/06/13/man-of-steel-box-office-02.jpg)

Friday, June 14, 2013

Preview: "Project X Zone" (2013) "Awakening Simulations"

By: Gabriel Roderick

**Video 1 Borrowed From NamcoBandaiGamesEU**

Sources: (All Rights Reserved)

Image 1: Accessed on June 7th, 2013 (http://operationrainfall.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/project_x_zone1.jpeg)

Video 1: Accessed on June 11th, 2013 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g71vEFYGiGc)

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Review: "This Is The End" (2013) "Real World: Franco's House."

By: Gabriel Roderick

**Video 1 Borrowed From roachster420**

This movie just hits all the right points though. For one you have Jay Baruchel coming to visit Seth Rogen and get high as usual. Why have two stoners together when you can put together 6 stoners in a huge amazing, FrancoType House.

Excuse my French but the "Shit hit's the fan" and the six remaining people are Danny McBride (Why), Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, James Franco, and Craig Robinson. I didn't really see how Jonah Hill fit into the mix besides the fact that he had stared in Superbad with Rogen.

They keep bringing up the fact that Hill and Baruchel hate each other even though this is suppose to be real life it's still great acting! During the apocalypse the game decides to film sequels to their hit movies, one of which would be a sequel of Pineapple Express in which Woody Harrelson played by Hill would be the villain.

Seeing as Hill is the only non-pot head that was funny they used Harrelson references seeing as Harrelson is a HUGE pot supporter. A cameo of him would have just added greatness to the film.

Let me write down some quick things I liked on the film, for one; the length. Months and months pass in the matter of a 1 hour and 45 minute movie! No real details left out seeing as the world ended and they manage to survive to a point!

Another thing was the fact that there is about 30 cameos in the first twenty minutes of the film and everyone that's not the remaining six is presumed dead, expect well of course Emma Watson. Well not presumed as much as we see them fall into the pit of Hell. The end was great because every movie has a cast roll and of course being over the top as the film was the cast are all mentioned by who they played...THEMSELVES

This is great because it leaves you wondering the plot of why did these six live. It's funny that Jay points out the entire plot within the first forty five minutes but the details and rest of it don't go into work until the other stars realize it.

A possible nod at pot heads?

The acting is spot on seeing as we don't know if this is how they really are but presumably though the film I'm guessing that Franco is a weird nerd as McBride constantly calls him. Franco's house is full of props from his movie and he constantly makes references to his past films. Seeing as he seems the most successful of all the 6.

As I said before McBride's character of himself kind of ruins the film, he plays the same character as he does in every movie, seeing as this is a movie about the guys and how they really are. I was hoping he would get out of character but instead he's the same disgusting actor.

This movie is definitely vulgar. A lot of the dialogue is so awkward and reminds me a lot like the script to Superbad with jokes that kids tend to tell each other. Making the cast even more loveable.

Michael Cera is to blame a bit for this and his character in the film is so different than what the people thing of him as, that it makes him either loveable or hate-able. He reminds me a lot of Rogen's character from Superbad.They're either come off as the people you perceived them as or in Jonah
Hill's case not at all. He starts off pretending to be Jay's friend but really hates him which turns out to be his down fall. Jonah goes back and forth between a serious character and funny guy showing his transition in real life.

When it comes to playing yourself in a movie it really hasn't been done before in the fashion of which these guys have done it but the star power is definitely there and enforced.

The film has it's ultimate pit of irony as the fact that must actors record what's going on for me. They set up a video camera from Franco's collection, the same one used in a 127 Hours. It adds a bit of reality tv feel to it like you're watching Real World or something. This is a nod to them but also a slap calling the people on reality tv actors.

The ending to the film is truly one of the best films since when do comedy's have true morals? Well This is The End sure does. The group learns after some trials and tribulations that they must be better people in order to ascend to him Heaven. Though the morale of the movie which is there and good isn't introduced till the ending of the film and I think it should always be instilled early on.

The easiest is sacrifices, Jonah is killed after being possessed and trying to kill everyone. While McBride's fate is stuck on earth. When he finds out that everyone feels the same why I do, he becomes a cannibal and forms a group of them. A lot like a group in Mad Max. More movie references, anyways Franco sacrifices himself to the group of cannibals only to ascend to Heaven not before he flips off McBride and tells him to "Suck His Dick..He is then eaten.

Image 4:

Craig Robinson is sent to Heaven after battling a Gargoyle so the rest of the group could escape. While Jay is sent after apologizing to Seth for thinking he was better because he didn't live in LA. He tries to pull Seth up with him but God won't allow it, once Seth decides to stay and live with his sins he is brought back up just in time to defeat the huge Devil monster trying to eat them. They're rays of light cut the Devil's privates off which was very funny and they ascend together to the tune of "I Will Always Love You" really classy for best friends.

Once in Heaven they meet up with Robinson which has the best ending, telling Jay to think up something seeing as you can in Heaven he dreams that he and all the Angels have a dance party with non other than the BackStreet Boys, to "Everybody (BackStreet's Back).

Its funny because the movie not only nods at the work of many others and the actors great roles in films but also at the BackStreet Boys. The six of them are kind of a boy band who do drugs, entertains the people and have to pay for the bad stuff they did. They may have differences, may hate each other but they still perform well together. That to me is the deeper meaning of the movie.

Our Honest View gives This Is The End, 9.5/10. This isn't you're typical comedy movie, it's one you could constantly see and still laugh at the same parts each time. Each of the 6 remaining actors work so well off each other like a boy band. Plus the movie has some really good music like, Whitney Houston and the BackStreet Boys who are waiting to sing with Angels!

+ Run Time
+ Jay Baruchel
+ Music

- Danny McBride
- Morales

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Sources:

Image 1: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://www.ifc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/this-is-the-end-poster11.jpeg)

Video 1: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehNFPShWTsg)

Image 2: Accessed On June 12th, 2013(http://troycle.marvelousworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/This_is_the_End_-__1702986q.jpg)

Image 3: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/VLikVk8PYIl6OahLZR2djw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/movietalk/thisistheend-rihanna630-jpg_163225.jpg)

Image 4: Accessed On June 12th, 2013 (http://img.moviepilot.com/assets/tarantulaV2/project_images/1356092759_this_is_the_end-oo15.jpg)

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Review: "Animal Crossing: New Leaf" (2013) "Come On Across The Way And Visit."

By: Adam Zimmerman