Demon’s Souls (two down.. many more to go!)

After ditching my original character (the thief class) and playing as a knight instead the game has gotten a lot more less stressful, its still however ultimately unforgiving but at least now i have a better chance. i’d read somewhere that the best thing to do is just redo levels for items and souls but i really didn’t want to, soon enough i had no choice. its definitely helped me level up  my attributes and collect up a satisfying haul of weapons and items, and surprisingly it doesn’t feel repetitive because i’m concentrating on a few worlds and not just the same one each time. i have met a few level bosses but only managed to kill two of them (the phalanx and the armour spider) – the tower knight is next. normally i wouldn’t post more than once on one game but demon’s souls seems to be one of the hardest and unforgiving games ever. not helping my progression in the game is the fact i have another stack of new games to get through over the next few weeks so i won’t be seeing the end in sight for quite some time. one thing is for sure even with the constant brutality and crushing defeats its still one of the best and most original games i have played in years so i probably will keep blogging about it for some time to come.

I met these guys in stonefang tunnel, easy to dispatch when on their own but tough as nails when in a group – creepy too.

I died ..and died ..and died some more (or “how the first level of Demon’s Souls played out”)

Its only my second day of playing demons souls but its already been one of the most challenging games i have ever played, i would have played it sooner but i could never find it any game shops – perhaps its the difficulty level?. it took about ten times of dying until i managed to get to and slay the first demon in the game. its funny because i read that it was going to be tough and that it would take a long long time to finish but i thought they were just exaggerations. as tough and annoying as it is when you die without a save checkpoint its still probably one of the best surprise games i have played in a long time. my first character was a thief because i figured all the agility and sneaking would give me an advantage over the others but i totally got massacred over and over again, finally i built a new character this time a knight and the game is less brutal. given the difficulty of the game and lack of save points it should be quite an experience – i’ll get around to reviewing it in the near future.

Splatterhouse: game review (PS3/360)

for those of you who remember the original game which was released in 1988 you will be in no way surprised to see that the series has recently been resurrected with new life and a lot of new blood. originally splatterhouse was criticized for being too violent and controversy soon surrounded the game in many countries, resulting in the game being toned down for some regions. though it had such a frosty reception from some groups it was an instant hit with gamers in both arcades and on home consoles leading to another two games being made soon after. the gorey hacking and slashing seen in splatterhouse is one of the earliest examples of survival horror as we know it and if it had not been for the series its possible that the survival horror genre may not have gained as much ground as it has in the past decade.

the story though similar to the original game is written by gordon rennie (judge dredd, necronauts, warhammer fantasy). when jennifer willis is invited to the house of the estranged Dr. for an interview her boyfriend rick taylor being the protective type tags along. for whatever quirky reason rick choses that night to propose to jennifer but he doesn’t get far, attacked by west jennifer gets kidnapped and rick is left for dead. during the commotion rick knocks over an ancient sarcophagus containing a mask which calls out to him telling him it will save his life and jennifers if he puts it on. with no other choice and the life force rapidly draining from his body he puts on the mask, instantly his body starts to change leaving him in the form of a large muscular beast who feeds on the blood of others to survive.

the gameplay plays a lot like the original in that you have to hack through and pulverize the many creatures you meet on your journey to rescue jenny from the clutches of the evil Dr. west. this of course is easily done because rick is for all intended purposes the hulk, and so the mayhem begins. the controls are simply enough and at the start bashing buttons will result in a guaranteed kill but bashing buttons will only get you so far because as the game progresses you will need to adapt and learn new combo’s in order to survive. executing special moves though incredibly violent and disturbing can be great fun and once learned serve rick well in his task. the terror mask that rick wears requires blood in order to reach its full potential so you get a certain amount for each creature killed, the blood collected can then be used to buy extra moves that level the playing field even more for rick.

included with the steady line of kick and punch combo’s is the ability to wield melee weapons such as 2x4’s, baseball bats, iron bars and even chainsaws and shotguns – all work well on the various creatures and demons encountered throughout the game. borrowing from the original game seems to happen a lot but its more of a clear thought out homage than a lifeless reimagining, even side scrolling makes a few appearances in the game giving fans of the original series a warm feeling inside. i was surprised to see how much jumping had been incorporated into the game, rick has to jump across crumbling bridges and platforms – timed wrong its fatal because under some of this jumps can be spikes or all kinds of traps. the creatures themselves though cannon fodder for the most part are not really that smart and going at them fists first can usually work but the game has its fair share of level bosses or super creatures which require not only lighting fast button bashing but thinking too.

the game is built in the style of a graphic novel but it caught me completely by surprise when i realised it was done with cel-shading.. i’m not the biggest fan of the look but it actually suits this game really well. there are many levels in the game all varying in different styles and looks and they are each rendered so well that i found myself stopping to look and marvel at the carefully constructed level design and lighting. the sound design is deeply atmospheric thanks to the score being composed by howard dossin (afro samurai, baldur’s gate) and complements the game perfectly with its almost  nostalgic sound. when the action really takes off and during crucial battles the score is replaced by some of my favourite metal bands such as lamb of god, the haunted, mastodon and many more all lending some of their best tracks to the game.

so is the game that good? honestly i expected a few cheap thrills from splatterhouse, in short i didn’t expect much but i was wrong. the creatures are challenging enough once the game gets going and the platform puzzling elements all serve to slow you down just enough but not too much so that you are cursing the game. there were times when the fighting got so brutal that i doubted i’d ever get passed but once i upgraded my skills it was not a problem. in terms of replay value there is a lot of fun to be had, once skills are unlocked and the game finished it can be done again with those skills, there are a number of collectables to find such as audio journals from the deranged Dr. west and pictures dropped by jenny – trophies/achievements too are plentiful giving you that rewarded feeling a bit more than most games. even all 3 of the original games can be unlocked and fully played, if that’s not enough there is also a survival mode which really tests your skills.  i really enjoyed splatterhouse and it was a lot of fun but its not going to be everyone's liking, if you don’t like gore and ..more gore then you probably won’t like the game but its worth a rental at least and a definite play for fans of the franchise, after a full play through i’m giving splatterhouse an 8 out of 10.

Gran Turismo 5: in-depth review (PS3 exclusive)

Taking a whopping five years to fully develop gran turismo 5 is simply hands down the best racing game ever, normally i’d come to the conclusion on how good or bad a game was at the end of the review but instead i’m going to do a run down of the features of the game and why its a must own for ps3 racing fans. i originally wanted to review the game just after the launch in November but i got too caught up in racing goodness and wanted to get most of the trophies and win the events.

The original gran turismo series was spawned in the 90’s and upon playing it i was an instant fan. back then the method of play was simple, buy a cheap car and enter it into some low level races then use the money on said car to improve it for higher races and so it went. of course the option of a licence test was there too and in many cases you level up quicker by completing these tests  first, i tried to do this but i was too much of a crazy driver to apply the calm finesse needed to pass these tests instead i went straight for the races.

In gt5 its a different story, the licence tests are still there only this time i have the skills and quite calm to execute the complex manoeuvres needed to pass the tests. and this is where gran turismo starts to make the most sense, if you are not grown up enough to play the game properly then don’t complain when you get no where, it does require a mature enough approach especially with its professional learning curve.

Gaming Modes

gran turismo 5 is split up into two major modes with a number of other modes or events thrown in. the main mode is A-spec and this as you might imagine is the heart of the game, its you yourself racing against computer controlled opponents, at first its easier but as the game progresses your opponents become more aggressive and more skilful in their driving.

the second major mode is B-spec and this is more like a driving managers take on the game. the car is driven by the computer against the computer but you issue commands that determine the outcome of the race, at first i wasn’t at all interested in this because i thought of it as lazy and boring buts its not. B-spec offers its own rewards such as credits for buying and improving cars and even cars themselves which can be very necessary when competing in A-spec.

there are like i said a number of special events included in the game such as TopGear  challenge's (which are as you would imagine pretty zany) rally courses and races, mercedes AMG academy, Nascar racing, go Karting and many more – most of which get unlocked as you progress through the game.

Other Features

photo mode

being a photographer its no surprise that photo mode is probably one of my favourite added features to the game. this mode allows you to shoot your car either on the track or in a location mode that shows of the beautiful graphics that truly do the cars justice. photo mode gives you the option to choose between shooting modes and to generally experiment with very similar controls as you would find on a real SLR camera .

course maker

included is a fairly standard track editor which allows you to modify sections of a track or to simply build your own but given the amount of courses already available its not really needed.

arcade mode

plenty of racing fun to be had here be it local 2 player one on one racing, one player time trials or even drift trials.

online mode

the game boasts 16 player races, chat & lobbies, an online photo gallery where you can share your images or even your tracks and even a garage which can be used to share or exchange cars with other gt5 players.

The Cars

cars in the game are sorted into two categories premium and standard, no points for guessing what the difference here is. premium cars have detailed interiors and can be used in photo locations – in short they look stunning inside as well as out. standard cars are cars which look great on the outside but have no interior, standard cars are either won or bought in the used car dealership while premium are bought brand new for a lot of credits in the new dealership – very straight forward.

the number of cars in the game is a staggering 1000 with almost 200 of them being premium models. each car not only looks amazing but they are modelled so close to the real thing that they drive and perform as they would in real life. being no stranger to luxury cars offline i tested many of the top cars in the game to see just how well they performed to their real life counterparts and the results were as you would expect. Ferraris, Mercedes, BMW’s, Audi’s and many sports cars all looked like sounded like and drove like the real deal. the work put into the cars is phenomenal but it doesn’t end there. gran turismo games have always allowed the player to tune and customize their favourite cars be it in looks or pure speed. this time around it seems easier to tune a specific car from a purring kitten into a roaring lion, and you will need to if you plan on winning races.

Graphics

the graphics are astounding and probably the best i have seen on any system or console. the cars kick up spray as they race along a wet track, mist hangs in the air as cars cut through it at high speed, the sun and clouds reflect not only on the car exterior but also on the interior making it look so close to the real thing that sometimes on long endurance races i’d forget i wasn’t driving in real life. the new physics engine may not be to everyone's liking when it comes to damage, as the game progresses the cars take on more damage both cosmetically and physically – sparks will fly, dents will appear, exhaust fumes blacken the paintwork and even tires will wear out all of this completing the ultra realistic wonder of the game.

Sound

sound is a crucial part of the game and it wins here too. everything has been fine tuned to sound just as it should, the first thing i noticed about the sound was i could actually tell the difference between a V6 or a V8 engine. the sound of each car is simply put clear and distinct, cars not only sound like they do but they change depending on how you tune or modify them. the music included in the game is surprisingly fantastic with a huge selection of rock/jazz/pop and a bunch of other tunes, for the first few days i used classical but then i took advantage of the games ability to read the games off your ps3 and i let it synch up to my 320gb ps3 – there were a few issues with repeat and shuffling songs but all in all it works.

Conclusion

inclosing there really are not enough great things i can say about this game, i expected a nice little racing game to keep me busy for a few days maybe weeks but now its getting daily plays and my stack of new releases are just building up – most of them unplayed. gran turismo 5 is a game that takes time patience and even more time, its got a steep yet fun learning curve and you won’t be earning that dream car on your first few plays. i have been playing it ever since it was released on November 24th of 2010 and its only recently that i bought up most of the super cars by spending an insane amount of money. if you want a simple enough racing game then pick up one of the need 4 speed titles but if you want a real game that is challenging and rewarding at the same time then go for this. it may only be a racing game but its got so much on offer that if played right you will get hundreds of hours worth of play from it.

i’m giving gran turismo 5 a much deserved 10 out of 10 – it may have a minor flaw here or there but it does what its supposed to do with unprecedented style and elegance all beautifully wrapped up in the body of a fuel injected dream machine.

My Game Statistics So Far..

A-spec level: 25     B- spec level: 29

Game Progress: 79%

Current Credits: 7,424,105

Total Wins: 464

No. of Cars Owned: 139

Trophies Earned: 52%

Total Distance Driven: 23,933.4km

Gran Turismo 5 cars on eBay

Gran turismo 5 was for myself and most ps3 owners a first day buy. for those of you not in the know its a racing simulator made exclusively for the ps3, the team who developed the game worked on a number of other GT games for every console sony have released since their initial launch back in 1994.

The game has a learning curve that starts off straight forward enough but the final set of races require more than just driving skills alone, they require fine tuning cars to perfection some cases this involves tuning the car for each specific track. of course to even come close to finishing these races one must possess the cars themselves and this is where eBay comes in. ordinarily cars can be earned by winning races or by simply buying them with the credit won from races. the developers included a trading feature this time which allows online users to gift each other cars but some people are starting to exploit this feature to make real cash. i didn’t believe this at first until i took a trip over to eBay, .co.uk didn’t have much listed apart from a few gift cards but .com was a whole other story.

The vast majority of the cars start between two and five dollars but there are some ridiculously priced ones that are advertised from as much as fifty to three hundred dollars. who would buy these cars? people who bought the game of course. don’t get me wrong i like the idea of a gifting system between users but not for profit. i have yet to use the feature myself because i’m almost finished the game and i got there by just persisting and choosing the right cars and tune-ups. its probably just a phase while the game is still popular but these eBay styled deals are starting to pop up on gaming forums and sites all over the internet.

My top 10 albums of the year

1. Rob Zombie: hillbilly deluxe 2
2. Disturbed: asylum
3. Katy Perry: teenage dream
4. Eyes set to kill: broken frames
5. Apocalyptica: 7th symphony
6. Korn: III remember who you are
7. Stone Sour: audio secrecy
8. Angelspit: hideous and perfect
9. Hawthorne Heights: skeletons
10. Coheed & Cambria: year of the black rainbow

All mentioned are albums that were released in 2010. it wasn’t the best year for music so i ended up listening to a lot of previously released work.

Last.FM: lisatiffanypaws

My top 10 movies of the year

1. Inception
2. Alice in Wonderland
3. Shutter Island
4. Kick Ass
5. From Paris with Love
6. Eclipse
7. The A-Team
8. Machete
9. Hot Tub Time Machine
10. The Crazies

My top 10 games of the year

1. Dead Rising 2
2. Assassins Creed: brotherhood
3. Red Dead Redemption
4. Gran Turismo 5
5. Castlevania: lords of shadow
6. GTA: episodes from liberty city
7. Guitar Hero: warriors of rock
8. Fallout: new vegas
9. R.u.s.e
10. Heavy Rain

My favourite photo’s of the year

2010 was a very busy year for me but i still managed to capture some great images either through work or just out and about. every year i go through the majority of what i snapped choosing my favourite's for prints or stock , below is just a sample of what i like to call my best of the year. all images of course are copyrighted and i appreciate any feedback or comments – thanks.

The Irish air corps screaming overhead at the bray air spectacular.

Samuell Beckett bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava.

Painting the body by light. thanks to James my model.

Dublin city hall, Eire.

Bike terminal on Stephens green. a common sight now around the city.

The beginning of and end result of a new hobby.

Over 20,000 people participate in pride 2010.

Copyright © LisaTiffanyPhotography - All rights reserved.

Happy New Year 2011!

Happy New Year to you!
May every great new day
Bring you sweet surprises
A happiness buffet.
Happy New Year to you,
And when the new year’s done,
May the next year be even better,
Full of pleasure, joy and fun.

lisatiffany x