What I've Been Up To

In my absence, I didn't do much, quite frankly but I'd like to share what I've been doing and that is... watching The Amazing World Of Gumball. Or Gumball, in short. So, why this and not Spongebob? As of late, the new episodes of Spongebob looks like his on crack. The jokes are fast but rarely hilarious and the grossness factor has been taken up a notch (Not good in my books). 

Why do I favour Gumball then? The 2D & 3D styles are mixed very well in the show and it completely fits the weird and wacky town of Elmore where residents from all walks of life, well... reside. From the T-Rex known as Tina to Gumball's eccentric classmate Banana Joe, the characters never cease to entertain.

Gumball (The blue cat) and his classmates

The episodes are pretty well done, backed up by some terrific voice acting from the cast that further flesh out the Gumball's world. Some episodes even feature subtle references to other pop culture works of art (Episodes such as The Helmet and The Colossus).

From the wide roster of characters in Gumball, my absolute favourites are:

#1: Anais, Gumball's four-year-old genius sister

Because she's adorable and often advises Gumball what not to do (obviously, he doesn't listen)

#2: Darwin, the family pet fish that sprouted arms & legs and joined the Wattersons

Because he's innocent, loyal and very naive

#3: Bobert, just 'cause

As far as cartoons go, this is the only show I'm watching and it's my favourite right now.   

I'm Back

That's right. I'm back from my 4-month hiatus. Last year, I was busy with SPM, essentially, Malaysia's O Levels. After that, I guess I was pretty much a lazy bum bum for the most part of the holidays. But, now that I'm back and kicking with a whole new, very personalised theme (the 'Dreamers' theme of last year has been done away), I'll start posting again, reviews, stories (both fictional and non-fictional) and other stuff. So, stay tuned!

The 74th

     Hey readers and stalkers alike, I'm sorry for leaving you guys in the dark and all. As you may or may not know, I am the Chief Editor for The Malay College Magazine 2012, 74th Edition. With a brand new team and a bold new direction, this year, we are going to make a change. Going for a lifestyle feel and a much more elegant look, this year's magazine is set to be the best in all it's 74 years of glory. So, here's the First Official Reveal.

Video Game Review: Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes

     This review is not the one that it needs but the one that is deserves. Given the title, Lego Batman 2: DC Superheroes is not just another Lego game and is certainly not just another Batman game. At first, I was skeptical, DC Superheroes? In June, I thought Traveller's Tales (Developer) was going to shoehorn every DC Superhero without the slightest context just to add more characters, cuteness and replay value. Fast-forward to August, how wrong I was.

Arkham City style posters

     Characters talk this time around. One might expect everything to go awry as we're so accustomed to the gibberish-speaking minifigures but the voice acting works wonders along with the witty dialogue. The least one would expect when the industry's best voice actors are lending their talent such as Troy Baker (The Last Of Us, Bioshock Infinite) and Nolan North (The Uncharted series, every other game you've played).

     The story is one of the highlights. Even at the beginning, Batman and Robin have their hands full with classic villains running amok and spreading fear throughout the brick-filled Gotham. The game does a good job at introducing established characters from other DC Comics as the narrative progresses and they fit perfectly in Batman's world. One of the best moments is when the Justice League show up in the wet streets of Gotham to rain down justice. There's still the tongue-in-cheek humour that we've come to expect from a Lego game and it is abundant. There's even a reference to the Dark Knight's outing last year, Batman: Arkham City. By the end of the story, I've only completed less than a third of the game.

Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman in Lego form

Green Lantern and The Flash in the Batcave

     The other two thirds of the game lies in Gotham itself. Gone are the signature hub worlds, you are then treated to an entirely open city where you have the freedom to explore. The city is full of puzzles to solve that nets you gold and red bricks to unlock various characters and cheats. Puzzles are simple enough to accomodate younger players. Famous villains are also found among the common rabble of street thugs wielding pies and giant mallets.

A whole city to explore at your will

     The game does have a few minor flaws, though. Flying around the city as Superman or in a vehicle can prove to be a bit of a struggle in tight corners. The dynamic split-screen can also be quite wacky but that can be easily remedied with a quick change of settings. As a whole, the overall package is superb and full of content that will keep you coming back for more. Rating: 9.5/10

Save Gotham as the Caped Crusader... and friends!

Video Game Review: Mass Effect 3

     Being the epic finale to conclude Commander Shepard's story, the expectations from fans and critics are extremely high. Can Bioware (Developer) deliver? I'm happy to say that Mass Effect 3 not only surpasses both of its predecessors, it's one of the best games of this year, hands down.

     The superbly crafted story keeps you on your toes from start to finish. The characters that you meet throughout the game are very well fleshed out. Each teammate or enemy has their own backstory, to uncover it, just engage in a dialogue. Lengthy conversations don't even feel cumbersome as the voice acting is top-notch and full of emotion despite the noticeable weird lip-sync. Though, the lip-sync has seen some improvement and character models move more organically than their robot-like nature in previous Mass Effect games. Danger lurks in all corners of the galaxy as the Reapers descend and wage war with every known species since their massive build-up in previous games. The story will tug at your heartstrings from time to time as anyone can die in this final chapter. One of the pivotal moments is the romantic scene where you truly start to feel attached to your love interest that you'll try your best to save the galaxy from total annihilation and come back safe in the final few hours, it's not just for the trophy this time. All of this culminates in a beautifully woven narrative that's one of the best of this year.

The fate of the galaxy is in your hands

     As an RPG, Mass Effect 3 isn't as complicated as Mass Effect and isn't as barren as Mass Effect 2 in terms of the RPG elements. It has just the right amount of customisation that it welcomes new players and still keeps veteran of RPG satisfied. Combat has seen a vast improvement as Commander Shepard is more nimble than he has ever been as new mechanics are introduced such as combat rolls, the satisfying heavy melee and the improved cover system. Alternating shooting dudes in the head and pulling off an omni-blade kill is as satisfying and addicting as ever. Enemies are varied and gradually increase in difficulty as the game progresses. So, that omni-blade might not be used as frequently in the later parts of the game.

Shepard using the omni-blade to dispatch his foe

Shepard doing battle with a Reaper

     Just when you thought it was over, Mass Effect 3 is the first in the series to introduce a multiplayer mode that's surprisingly addicting . The multiplayer is fully co-op so there won't be 13-year-olds screaming at you at the other and of the globe. After months of the completion of the story mode, I still find myself coming back to bask in the rich multiplayer.

Work together to defend the galaxy!

     I've said it once and I'll say it again, Mass Effect 3 is one of the year's best. The gameplay is fun, the story is masterfully presented and the ending is perfect. It's surely a prime candidate for the prestigious Game Of The Year award. Rating: 10/10

Commander Shepard and his squad