Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Introduction

Assalamualaikum and hi to fanatic gamer, non gamer, gamer to be, so called gamer, pro gamer, newbie gamer and all kind of gamer as well. Okay first and foremost, this one blog of mine is about games. Specifically, VIDEO GAMES. Not that lame board games or monopoly-like games but a computer generated images of visual compact with extreme graphic and tremendous epic hand-controlled games which requires quick reflex, critical thinking and also high skills. Sounds really mouthful isn't it?

Online dictionary Merriam Webster (2016) defines video games as an electronic game in which players control images on a television or computer screen. It basically means that anything on a screen (phone's screen, TV's screen, laptop's screen and etc) that is controlled by human can be considered as video games.

There are of course pros and cons of video games. Some say it is good, some say otherwise. Here is my opinions on the pros and cons of video games.

PROS

1. Enhance problem solving skills

When you play a video game, there are a lot of obstacles and puzzles as you play through the game. Therefore, you need to think creatively in order to overcome every obstacle and puzzles. Science has proven it! Study shows that children who spent their time playing video games are often better in solving problems compared to those who aren't. This situation is not limited to only children but also adults.

2. Fast and quick reflex

There are many video games that require a really quick and fast reflex. For example, shooter games requires one to reflex fast or you will be killed by the enemy. This fast reflex or reaction is crucial in real life where there will be a lot of unpredictable events in someone's life. So yes, playing video games actually helps you in your real life.

CONS

1. Expensive

Even though some of the video games are cheap, for instance games in smartphone or 2 dimensional (2D) games, most of the video games are still expensive. This is especially for video games that use game console and TV as a platform. For example, SONY Playstation or also known as PS, are all expensive. Expensive in term of the console itself and also the price of the game disc. A PS4 console is worth around RM 1,700 while a blue-ray disc for a PS4 game is about RM200 to RM 300. You better be ready to empty your wallet if you want to enjoy playing a PS4

2. Too attached

Playing video games is undeniably good but there are times when people get too attached to it. They forget to eat, sleep, get a bath, socialize with other people and in most extreme cases, they die because of too much playing video games. It is indeed a rare case but yes it happened. There are also side effects where a player might get depression, reduced productivity, dehydration, obesity and many more from obsessively playing video games. So be sure to set the limit of how much time you spent, playing the video games.

Lastly, video games are just video games. Whether it will benefit or harm you, that depends solely on yourself. Play the video game and don't let the video games play you. Please be acknowledge that all of the list I've made on my my blog is totally from my own experience of playing video games. If someone has other opinions, feel free to share.

Tuesday, 8 March 2016

Top 5 Story Line

Video games aren't just about controlling images on the screen. Just like movies, it has plots, characters, struggles, moral values, scripts, actors act. So here goes my top 5 games with the best story line.

No 5. Call of Duty : Modern Warfare

Why? Because it has a strong plot for an action first person shooter game. The story line split into two where first you are playing as a US Marine and secondly as a British Commando. The story then entwined in the mid game and then joined together for a fantastic climax. Also at the end of the game, the story end with the protagonist of the game almost died but merely saved by a single handgun bullet that make it so epic.

No 4. Silent Hill 4: The Room

Why? Because the story line itself is so horrifying for a horror game. Yes it is a horror game so it must be horrifying but I'm not talking about the ghost, the images whatsoever. It is the story about a child become corrupted by a so called orphan house that is actually a cult house that use children as their tools. This child, named Walter Sullivan become so wicked that he turned to a serial killer at a young age where he killed his victim in various ways and carve a number on their bodies as a signature and then he vanished. Yeah he just vanished into thin air and no trace have of him been found. And now he's back, to haunt you as you are trapped in your on room. Even the story itself is haunting me.

No 3. Yakuza

Why? Firstly this game is about Yakuza (Japanese gangster) where it has a high obedience of hierarchy. The protagonist, in order to save his foster brother (they grew up together at a orphanage) take the blame for his brother when his brother killed their own boss. The incident happen when their boss tried to rape his brother girlfriend and his brother accidentally killed their boss while try to defend her. He went to prison for 10 years for a crime he never commits and been treat as a traitor, only to know that his brother dumped his girlfriend and betrayed their brotherhood to become top member of the Yakuza family. The rest of the story, is REVENGE!

No 2. God of War 3

Why? This game is all about revenge. The protagonist, Kratos, a former Spartan general and a fallen god rages across the Mount of Olympus in order to complete his one and only mission; kill Zeus. Along his mission, it reveal the relationship between him and Zeus, Hercules, Hades and many more gods. This story line tells the player about the long history of the earth from the perspective of the Greek mythology while in the same time shows that love is the greatest feeling someone could has; even greater than hatred and revenge. Even in the midst of battle, love is still around, still.

No 1. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Why? A warrior who sacrificed his life on a battlefield is known as a hero, a patriot. However, what if a warrior dies on a battlefield sacrificing not only his life but his dignity, his honor? What do we call him then? I would say a true patriot. In this game, The Boss sacrifices her life, her name, her dignity, her honor, her everything for the country she loves and in return, she gained nothing. Yes literally nothing and in fact, everyone in her country knows her as a traitor, a defector, a betrayer. This the one and only game that made me cry. Yes I did cried, I admit it. The fact that how much someone can sacrifice his everything for his country is really touching. That is a true patriotism.

Monday, 7 March 2016

Top 5 Villains

When we talk about villain, it is usually the bad guys. We are the good guys so we destroy the bad guys. That is the basic logic of it but sometimes, video games create villains that we kinda like them and destroying or defeating them is bringing a bad feeling for us. So here is my list of the top 5 villains.

No 5. Jack Crauser (Resident Evil 4)

Why? Because this guy is so good handling his combat knife that sometimes it may seem inhuman. Yes inhuman. It dazzles my eyes and I feel like please show me more of your skill I promise I wont hurt you. But I still defeated him and finish the game anyway. If you want to see his knife skills check this link here.

No 4. Pagan Min (FarCry 4)

Why? The setting of the game is near the mountains of Himalaya and I'm sure it is very cold there but this guy, man he is wearing a bright pink suit! If we put the outfit aside, his personality is so significant in this game. I can say that it is charming. His manner in when he speaks is very gentle, even when his action is brutal. He's on my list since he charmed me, well maybe not literally. Check his action right here.

No 3. Goro Majima (Yakuza series

Why? Even in the wicked world of yakuza, this guy take crazy to the maximum level. Nut, wicked, crazy, freak, mad and yes, that is the definition of him (he's being called as Mad Dog Majima). Okay lets put aside his madness for while and we can see that he is a very smart and sharp person. So sharp that he can predict some future events by observing his surrounding and surprisingly, on the tiniest thing that we've miss easily. So because of that he's worth to be on the list.

No 2. Vaas Montego (Far Cry 3)

Why? Because if you ever wanted to know the definition and example of insanity, this guy is the answer. He is a totally out of control and insane pirate leader in the game and believe me, you'll be charmed too. Just like Pagan Min form FarCry 4, Vaas too speaks in a very gentle and soft manner that we can say it is contradict with his brute action. This contradiction however has created a villain that is so charming.

No 1. Joker (Batman Arkham Origins)

Why? It is true to his name, Joker really do likes to joke around. Even when he is facing his one and true enemy, Batman, his joke still never fail to amaze me. The way he laughs, he speaks, he acts, he smiles give me a chilling yet pleasurable feelings down my spine. For this reason, this guy is really the top on my list for villain in video games. Check his video here.

Top 5 Saddest Death

Just like movies, there are also deaths in video games. Sometimes, the death of a certain character is so saddening that it strike deep in my heart and makes me cry. Yes, there are a few deaths in video game that actually makes me cry. So here's my top 5 list

No. 5: Death of "Motor Mouth" Chopper

(Ace Combat 4: The Unsung War)

Why? Through his name, we know that this guy surely talks a lot. I mean he talk all the time through the game. However, during an incident, one of the crew were nearly hit by a missile and he came forward and took the missile instead. His sacrifice make it so saddening as the whole squadron did a "flight of honor" to honor his death. At the same time his conversation in the game was played one after another to remember him.

No .4: Death of Agro

(Shadow of Colossus)

Why? In this godforsaken land where player roamed in battle to the colossal shadows, this black horse named Agro was the only company. No other human was there and so the only one that player could rely on was Agro. Believe me, he never failed and disappoints the player. However, during the final stage, in order to cross a bridge, Agro leap forward and toss player to the other side of the bridge. Doing so had cost him his life. He fell from the bridge and the sight of him getting drown by the river is so heart wrenching especially when the player remember his loyalty and all the impossible journey that went together.

No. 3 Death of Dom

(Gears of War 3)

Why? In every war, in every battle, loyal companions are so hard to come by. Dom, your loyal sidekick sacrifices himself when he plunges a giant tank into the midst of a seemingly unwinnable battle in an attempt to sacrifice himself for the good of his friends and reunited with his deceased wife. The moment is saddening as Dom solemnly speaks to his wife and assures her that they will be together again.

Top 5 Brutal Scenes

In movie series of Final Destination and Saw, the scenes with blood are so brutal and horrifying. Well, the same ideas also adapted in video games. Some video games maker created some scenes in the game so brutal and gore that you can feel like you are the one being killed. So here goes my top 5 list for most brutal scene in video games

No. 5: Beheading by The Chainsaw (Resident Evil 4)

Why? This few second scenes of The Chainsaw beheads the player which act as Leon. The scene of Leon's head being separated with his body really makes the player stuttered. Maybe after several times, you will get used to it but still, it will give you a moment of shock when watching it.

No 4: Limbs Cut by Robot (Call of Duty: Black Ops 3)

Why? In this game where the player is battling an army of robots, there is a scene where the robots have captured you and the next thing you know is your limb are being cut one by one. The fact that make me horrified by this scene is that the robot does not have any feeling so it would feel nothing when cutting off any part of your body. With the scream and blood, owhh it will really give you a horrify moment with this scene!

No. 3: Beheading of Helios (God of War 3)

Why? Well beheading itself is a brutal thing to do but this one is done with BARE HANDS! Yes literally bare hands! Kratos pulled out Helios's head with his bare hand. I don't know about other people but beheading itself is one thing while beheading with bare hands is another thing. Try to imagine if it happens in real life and you'll realize how brutal it is.

Top 5 Addictive Games

Playing video games can be so addictive as the player might stay up until 5 am playing them while they have to wake up at 7 am for work. So here's my top 5 list for most addictive games.

No. 5 Plant vs Zombie 2

The first version of Plant vs Zombie is addictive enough but the sequel of it bring addictive to a new level. After the player finish a level I'm sure he will try the next level and the level after that. And even if he fail he will just give another try and another try until he realizes it's already 5 in the morning. Just one more level please and I promise I will go to sleep. Like I'm gonna believe that lies pfft.

No 4. Clash of Clans

This is the most played game in the mobile phone platform. With more than a billion players worldwide playing it online, this game is very addictive. From primary schools students to a middle class workers to corporate levels to celebrities to politicians, you name it. It have a really wide range of players across the globe and the contents of the game is too good to be ignored. Well I do remember playing it non-stop for a whole day while telling lies to myself that I'm gonna stop soon.

No. 3 Dota 2

Anyone who has tried to play it even once will be attached to it real soon. Well it sure does take time to learn about the methodology and mechanism of the game but once you can figure it out, you will be addicted to it. This game is free to play, easy to level, multi-national level, have a huge fan-base, very competitive and defeating your enemies is feeling so good thus it will make you playing it non-stop until you forget that you have dozens of assignments need to be completed.

No. 2 The Sims 4

Many would wonder why did I pick this game to be into my list. There are no actions, no explosions and of course no killing. In fact you are just walking around, have a chit chat and do your normal stuff you've been doing everyday. But it is actually a resemblance and persona of yourself. Playing this game can make you feel like you are having a second life and a second self. That is why some people including myself play this game to escape reality and be in a world of yourself. Might sounds pathetic, but billions of people do and it's true.

Top 5 Hardest Boss

There are normal enemies in video games, and there are also bosses. These bosses usually the kind of special enemies that you have to defeat in order to proceed through the game. So here's my list for top 5 hardest boss to fight in video games

No. 5 Ares (God of War)

Why? Ares is the original God of War and after the player defeated him with Kratos, Player then became the new God of War. But doing so is not an easy task, not at all. A player will have to fight through 4 levels with him and carefully plans the next moves as a single mistake will greatly cause miserable moment in the game. And if a player died at one of the level, they will need to start all over again. It took me almost 4 days to beat him only on normal level. Sigh.

No. 4 The End (Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater)

Why? He's known as father of modern sniping. In a moss jungle, defeating him seem to be impossible, unless if one can figure out how to track him. He has almost a complete camouflage that make him look like the bush itself, his parrot could locate the player's location, he can ridiculously regenerate using photosynthesis and of top of that, he can shoot the player sharply from an impossible range of the riffle. And god, this guy is a hundred years old but he run around the jungle like Usain Bolt and fighting him is so tiring.

No 3. Pyramid Head (Silent Hill 2)

Why? This unknown creature is a gruesome, horrifying, merciless enemy and the worst part is the player CANNOT defeat him. Yes you literally cannot defeat or kill him. One blow with his weapon can drain half of the player's life bar and another hit means game over. So how do you defeat him? Funnily, you just need to run around and dodge every hit he throws and after a period of time, he will just leave you alone and you can proceed with the game. But before that, of course you will die a hundred of times first.

Top 5 Open World Games

There are so many types of games. From first person shooter to massive multiplayer online to role playing game to 2 dimensional game to open world game. Open world game is a game where you are free to roam across the world, completing mission, doing quest and many more exiting events you can done. So here's my top 5 list on open world games.

No.5: Yakuza 4

Why? This game offers the best of martial arts experience where a player can battle across multiple types of self defense style. There are thousands of moves from all types of martial arts in the world and you can practice doing it, master it and use it against your opponent. In addition, this games also offers a good story line with superb plot and there are also a lot of side quest that you can complete that will make sure you are never bored while playing this game.

No 4. Bully: Canis Canem Edit

Why? This game offers one thing that is very rare where a player are playing as Jimmy Hopkins, a student in high school. You can run around picking up girls, pulling prank, run errand, picking up fights, have a scandal with the teacher and many more stuff you can think of as high school students. This game really is one of a kind and too bad they doesn't make any sequel for this game.

No. 3 Far Cry 4

Why? Far Cry 4 is considered the best of it's series so far as you can roam the mountains of Himalayas while hunting animals, conquering enemies' territories, crafting your own survival gears using stealth as fundamentals and what not. The world is so vast and there many ways of completing the game. As the story line differ depends on how you choose to progress. You can also cooperate with you friends to complete a certain hard missions and help you friends to complete his mission as well.

No. 2 GTA 5

Why? GTA 5 is considered the biggest open world game so far and it is so huge that I myself took more than 3 months to explore the whole world. Assassination, hanging out with friend, doing errand, pulling crazy stuff and what not, you name it, this game has it all! The vehicle in numerous as in the real world and you can also play online to battle against other players as well and on top of that, this game receives a lot of award as the best game in 2015. Go and have a try out this game, I would really recommend it.

Top 5 Best Characters

Antagonist or the main character is one of the significant part for every game. Just like movies and novels, the story of the game grows around the antagonist thus built up the plot. So the best main characters award goes to...

No. 5 Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza Series)

He is the rogue yakuza yet his personality dazzled even among the roughest yakuza and get him elected as the chairman of the Tojo Clan, which is the main yakuza family in Tokyo. Other than his personality, his physical strength is something unparalleled in the world of martial arts. A martial arts master in the game once mentioned that Kazuma's punch can stop a lion on it's track. Also during the second series of the game, there are parts where the player need to fight as Kazuma against a pair of tigers! Yes, real, hungry, furious, adult pair of tigers!

No. 4 Jimmy Hopkins (Bully)

One of the important traits about Jimmy is about how he mingles with people around him. He is rough and tough but in the same time, he respects everyone in his school including the fat ugly cafe cook. Even sometimes his teacher scolds him, they actually love him and pay him a lot attention. Other than that, girls are crazy about him too even though most of the times only crazy girls would go crazy on him. Put aside that personality, he can fight! Sometimes not really with his strength but who cares.

No 3. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7: Advent Children)

Before K-pop invades Malaysia, J-pop was here first and I still remember those days. Cloud Strife is one of the evergreen idol of the J-pop trend. His bishonen (means beautiful men) style is what made him into my top ten list. Please don't get me wrong I'm a straight guy because that hair of his is just a tiny part of it. He does have a really big, fancy, every-boy-dream type of a sword and a nice bike. Does he fight? Well of course he do and he is so good at it to top it off.

No. 2 Big Boss (Metal Gear Series)

No gamer in this world would've never heard of the Big Boss's name. This Hideo Kojima's masterpiece stands on the very center of Metal Gear Solid series and act as the pillar of the plot. Big Boss or also known as Snake is one of a kind super soldier that went through numerous kind of impossible missions; missions that only he and he alone can completed. Well other than that, he sure is tough. Bullet to the eye, broken legs and arms, infections, robotic warfare, swarmed by hornets, poisoned, drowned, you name it. He survived it all.

Top 5 Horror Games

If movies has comedy, fiction, sci-fi, romantic and so on, so do games. This time, the scope is about horror games. Well even horror in movies and in games are still horror, the experience is different. This is because in games, you are controlling the character not just watching it. What will happen to the character, live or die depend solely on you. So check my top 5 list for horror games

No. 5 Forbidden Siren

This game took place in an isolated area in Japan called Hanuda where the religious belief is so strong. After an earthquake, the local religion leader try resurrect a god through a ceremony. The 'Siren' is the god's call, summoning Hanuda's residents to immerse themselves in the red water, thus creating an army of subordinates called shibito or corpse people. The shibito then go killing and converting any remaining humans left in Hanuda. The worst part is the shibito can kill while you cannot kill them and the only option left is to run. Run and run until and run until you fall, and then you too, will die.

No. 4 Rule of Rose

The creepy part about this game is you are being haunted by a group of children. Not just your normal every day children but murderer children. However, the plot of this game is actually prequel which mean it is a flashback. Players are actually playing as the younger self of the character, experiencing her horrifying memories when she was younger. Beware, as the kid might come out of nowhere and you might not see the light of tomorrow.

No. 3 Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly

This game is considered as one of the most scariest game ever created, despite it is very old. Yeah it was created in 2003 for Playstation2 but remembering the experience of playing it can still give me a goosebumps all over my body. It is set in an abandoned village in isolated Japan area and player are playing as a twin sisters, exploring the village and battling against fierce ghost. Weapon? Well all you have is a camera. Yes a camera. You need to capture the ghost image to kill it and the number differ depend on the level of ghost you are facing. Feel like using your camera to take a photo? Be careful though as ghost might appear on your screen.

No. 2 Until Dawn

True to its name, you have to wait until dawn to be safe because during the night, numerous ghost will come haunting and try to kill mercilessly. The only problem is, you will never see dawn, unless you finish the game. One of the hardest thing is decision as in this game, you are force to make decision that will challenge your humanity, morality and your insanity. For example, your girlfriend and your friend is about to die at the same time, so who will you choose to save? Both decision will have a great consequences later in the game and in your life as well. Or you can wait and let yourself get killed instead and wait for the dawn to come, which will never happen.

Credit

All pictures and videos on my post are not mine as I did copy it from other multiple sources from the internet. Here is my list of reference for the photos and videos

1. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ab/Silent2002.jpg/250px-Silent2002.jpg

2. http://199.101.98.242/media/images/151002-Yakuza_(USA)-1.jpg

3. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/8b/God_of_War_III_cover_art.jpg

4. http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/d/d2/Metal-gear-solid-3-snake-eater-limited-edition-strategy-guide-001.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120522021203

5. http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/10/104544/3981877-resident-evil-jack-krauser.jpg

6. http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Far-Cry-4-Pagan-Min.jpg

7. http://gematsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Yakuza-Kiwami_11-27-15_001.jpg

8. http://movies.mxdwn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/farcry3VAAS.jpg

9. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JnQrVKNvqqI/maxresdefault.jpg

10. https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_liuVYRykcg/maxresdefault.jpg

11. http://snarfed.org/agro_canyon.jpg

12. http://www.thewallpapers.org/photo/33022/gears3_Portrait_Dom_1080.jpg