baylaust

Check out my current stance on the X-Box One, if you haven't already: http://kh13.com/forum/topic/55035-baylaust-reviews-x-box-one-announcement/

Wii U is still gaining its footing, it remains tobe seen if it can pick up. And while the X-Box One's conference was not good by any means, both it AND the PS4 have yet to be released. PLUS, E3's just around the corner for all three consoles. Reserve your judgement for until all three are out.

Alex flew through the air and landed face first on the ground. "...ow..." He picked himself up and looked around. It seemed like he was in a forest. At first glance it appeared perfectly normal, except for one thing, the sky was completely white, glowing. The trees seemed to be going on forever. He looked around more. "Marina? Jason? Alexia, Damian? Anyone?" Alex looked up to the sky, frustrated. "Can someone PLEASE tell me what's going on?! baylaust's computer was broken for about a week!" . . . Jason fell down and landed on one knee. With his hood over his face, he slowly stood up and calmly observed his surroundings. He was on an empty plane, green grass going on for as far as the eye could see. Nothing else was there. The sky above was pitch black, with small, violet bolts of electricity sometimes flickering across the sky. Jason looked down at his fist. "Trials, huh...?" He clenched his fist and began walking. "If it means getting my Keyblade back, then so be it..."

Well, the One is pretty much a PC with motion controls and less impressive specs, so...

So, this is something rather unusual for me. Normally I stick with movies and games that I play, and not general events and stuff like that. But, this IS a major thing in gaming right now, and I do have my thoughts on it, so I decided I'd talk about it. This will be less formal, and will more or less just be me discussing my thoughts, with a rating at the end of it all. Now, since the PS4 was announced, Microsoft has been building up this day for a while. The day that the next X-Box would be announced to the public. Given how long this console generation has been going on, and how much people want something new, expectations are understandably high. Well, the next generation of X-Box was announced today. Was it worth all the height, or is Microsoft going to lose the foothold it's had over the last generation? Well, here are my thoughts. A few things I'd like to clarify first. First, as usual, this is MY opinion, and your opinion may very well differ from mine. Second, my views are not finalized, as my opinion will likely change come E3? Third, this is my review of not only the CURRENT outlook of the console, but the announcement itself. And finally, while I will be the first to admit I prefer Sony over Microsoft, I am someone who not only enjoys the three major competitors in console gaming, but I own, play, and enjoy all three current generation consoles, so please don't accuse me of being biased for or against someone. These are just my overall thoughts. And on your part, please don't start any console wars. . . . Now, I'll start off with the name of the console itself. It was recently rumoured to be the X-Box Infinity, and unlike a lot of rumoured names, it was one that I actually liked. However, the name itself was revealedto be the X-Box "One." Now, not only am I not a fan of the name, but I find it absolutely hilarious that the name they went with was literally about as far away from "infinity" as they possibly could have gotten without naming it "Zero." Actually, now that I think about it, X-Box Zero wouldn't be a bad name. X-B0x. I'll save all the talk about specs and stuff for people who are far better at understanding those things than I am, so I'll just focus on the features. The controller itself seemed like a refined version of the 360 controller, and honestly, I find the design just... off. I can't really put my finger on it, but there's just something about it I don't like. It feels like there's too much unused space for what's a large controller. On the plus side, the Home button was moved away from the center so it doesn't get hit accidentally, and the d-pad appeares to be much more refined. To my knowledge, all these units will come with a Kinect 2. Which answered my first question of "Do people honestly still care about Kinect," but also leads into another thing: it's interesting why they would give the Kinect, a rather expensive piece of hardware, to the consumers for free. Well, here's the answer: without the Kinect, the X-Box One can't function. Literally. The extent of what this means is still unclear, but if it means exactly what it implies ("if your Kinect ever breaks or doesn't work, your console experience is boned"), this is a major problem in Microsoft's decision making. It's similar to how the Wii required a sensor bar to work, but the difference is that the Wii's motion control, though more limited, was more consistant and reliable than Kinect. Though it's definitely possible that they worked out the kinks for Kinect 2, so let's hope. Speaking of Kinect, damn near everything about this console relates back to Kinect somehow, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Using voice control, you can switch between playing games, watching TV, using the internet or Skype, and you can even multitask. Now obviously this was all staged for the announcement, but if these features work as well as Microsoft made them appear to work, then that's definitely something that has me intrigued. The console also comes with a Blu-Ray drive, which there is pretty much absolutely no downside to, so that's a welcome addition. However, all ofthis leads me to a MAJOR issue I had with not only the announcement, but what I've seen from the console so far, which was also something I was afraid of going into this announcement: the X-Box One is not a game console. Every generation of console has been about dedicated gaming experiences. In this current generation, this is still the case, but the PS3 and 360 ventured into also serving as entertainment centers. Despite this, though, they were still dedicated gaming experiences first, and entertainment centers second. The X-Box One, however, is shaping up to be an entertainment center first, and is seemingly putting gaming on the sidelines. It was talking all about motion and voice commands, all about featured applications, all about Kinect, all about telivision and sports, all about Microsoft Smartglass (which is still a thing, apparantly), but damn near nothing about games. It announced that 15 games would be available at launch, 8 of them being new franchises. Which is cool enough. But what games did they decide to show off the power of the One (which sounds so dumb to say, I'll just say) with? A bunch of EA Sports games, Forza Motorsport, and a new game from the creators of Alan Wake (which admittedly looked interesting). And what was the "big payoff" for the entire press conference? God damn Call of Duty. It wasn't even a new announcement, the game has already been announced. Sure, DLC will come to the One early, but that's the case for EVERY CoD. This isn't news. Now, I expect for plenty more to come for E3, so my views will likely change by then, but for a console announcement, Microsoft didn't bring anything big, or even really good, to the table in terms of games. Sadly, it doesn't get much better from here. One of the worst rumours going around for pretty much every next gen console was the fear of DRM, or as it's commonly known, "Always Online Functionality." The idea being, you need to have an internet connection to be able to play your games, which history has shown time and time again to be an absolutely horrible idea. Well thankfully, the X-Box One is not going to be always online, which is such good news. However, it fell to another pretty bad rumour, which was sadly true: the X-Box One is going to be trying to phase out used games. Now, I'll go a bit more in depth with this. It doesn't mean that it will be locking games from being used on multiple consoles. What it is, is that all video games have a mandatory installation (which from my experience on PS3, is rather a pain in the ass). This, however, means that once it's installed, you can play it without using the disc. Which seems cool enough, but comes at a bad price: that disc is locked to your console. If you sell it to Gamestop / EB Games, or even so much as lend it to a friend, you have to pay a mandatory fee to be allowed to play the game. This was a rumour that everyone assumed was false because "no one would be dumb enough to possibly think that's a good idea." Well, Microsoft went through with it, and that REALLY turns me off from buying their next console. Verdict So, with all that being said, I sadly thought that Microsoft's X-Box One announcement was: Bad! Don't get me wrong, this isn't mindless bashing. There's still some promise to be found here. The potential for voice and motion control to effectively change your experience with ease is something that holds a lot of potential, there are some refinements in the console and controller alike, and the promise of a decent starting library is never a bad thing. However, the lack of focus on games, Microsoft seemingly trying to focus more on TV, apps, and motion control than gaming, the lack of any surprises at the conference itself, and their downright idiotic decision to charge for used games, all take a severe toll on the announcement. There are a couple more weeks until E3, and a lot can change then, but if I had to make an impression now, my hopes are not very high. So, what do you think of the X-Box One? Was I too harsh or too leniant? Did I miss anything? Let me know? baylaust out.

There were also 2 rumours about how FFvsXIII was going to be turned into FFXV. And those turned out to be oh so true. I'd take any rumours regarding FFvsXIII with a grain of salt.

There's more to this than just translating the dialogue. For example, if they're going the extra mile, this could include redoing the lip syncing for Days and Re: CoM, which isn't as easy as it may seem. And like with every other KH game, the versions outside of Japan usually include some other refinements. There's also the profit side. Square probably thinks this is when the game will release most successfully. Also, keep in mind that this was just a small community event. They likely weren't showing off the full release, just what they had finished.

Well, let's see... Capcom has been a leading pioneer in DLC screwing over customers, such as on-disk DLC, and have effectively killed three of their franchises with the largest fanbases (Resident Evil, Megaman, Devil May Cry), two of the three dying due to Capcom attempting to "westernize" it and make as much money as possible. Square made a meh FF, a crap FF, and they take a long time to make some games. Next question?

(I'll reply later, but be careful on taking too much control in fights / making characters OP, Joe.)

Jason crossed his arms, stepping away from Athxson. He looked over at Vashle. "Forgive me if I'm not entirely trusting of the man who planned to destroy the entire universe. If you're vouching for him... fine. But if he pulls anything, it's on you." That's when the Dark Elementals came in. Dark Elementals? They're definitely different from the Barians, that's for certain. Jason took a few steps forward. "So, you're the ones who marked me for death...?" His hands opened up, and two glowing twin blades of light appeared in his hands, while an aura of darkness burned around his body. "Care to explain in further detail just what you have planned..." . . . Alex nooded at Marina, then turned back to Damian. "Hang on, bud! We've got a race to win!" With that, Marina and Alex blasted out of Twilight Town with their kids. After a while of traveling, they had set down at the Land of Departure. Alex and Damian got off, and Alex looked around, seeing the devestated castle. "Oh man..." Damian looked over at Alex. "What happened here?" Alex looked and saw several people inside the castle. "That's a good question." Alex drew his Keyblade.

Damian celebrated with Alexia, while Alex crossed his arms and looked down. "Yeah, I know they might be safer with us... but this still isn't something I'd prefer... but I guess that's the way it has to be." Alex then turned to the kids. "So, you two ready to go on your first official adventure?" Damian nodded. "You know it!" He turned to Alexia, and the two high-fived. Alex looked over at Marina. "So, Land of Departure, then?" . . . A dark corridor appeared in The Land of Departure, and the hooded Jason stepped out of it. He was immediately shattered by the sight of the world. The place that was once the closest thing he had to a home, had been completely devestated, with parts of the castle destroyed. Without wasting a second, he sprinted forward and ran into the castle. He saw, to his relief, that everyone inside appeared to be okay, However, he saw someone there that surprised him to no end. Athxson... Not knowing about Athxson's change in sides, Jason dashed forward with incredible speed, leaving a trail of black fire behind him. Everyone was caught off guard as Jason grabbed Athxson and smashed him against a wall, cracks appearing in it. Jason held him against the wall, with his right hand clenched into a first and burning with black flames. "Why. Are. You. Back?"

Check out my Iron Man 3 review: http://kh13.com/forum/topic/54564-baylaust-reviews-iron-man-3/

Yep. That's right. I'm back, bitches. Although I'm not particularily active on the site anymore, I did genuinely miss doing reviews, as talking about movies is something I truly enjoy doing. So, I figured, what better movie to get back into doing reviews for, than the much anticipated Iron Man 3? This movie has the job of following up last year's brilliant Avengers, as well as kicking off Marvel's Phase 2, so a lot rides on this. This movie has it all: action, humour, superheroes, and something I've never seen in a movie before: a henchman who knows when to stop fighting and just go home before he gets blasted. But can it stand up to the hype, and critisism, it's recieved? Here's my review. Keep in mind that this is MY review. Your opinion may very well differ from mine. Story The movie follows Tony Stark, who has been struggling to move on from the events of The Avengers. Gods, aliens, and a near death experience have left Tony with severe Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and he spends all of his time building countless Iron Man suits, preparing for the worst. The worst comes when something called EXTREMIS, a "missing link" in human evolution that gives people incredible powers, is used to power terrorists, led by the mysterious Mandarin. When an attack from The Mandarin's forces brings Tony's world to a grinding halt and leaves him with absolutely nothing, Tony must fight and build his way back from the ashes to become Iron Man once more, get revenge, and protect what very little he has left to lose. This was a very interesting route for the Iron Man movies to take, and I found that for the most part, it worked. This is a very different Tony Stark from the one we've seen in the past; he's been deeply affected by the events of The Avengers, and his whole life revolves around keeping the people closest to him safe. Tony Stark grows far more here than he did over the course of Iron Man 2, and even The Avengers. With that being said, while the movie was definitely going for a more mature, dark, personal tone, I felt there were times where the humour could have been toned down. Now, don't get me wrong, I love humour, especially Marvel / Iron Man humour, but there were times in this movie where I felt that even Stark wouldn't be making quips at certain times. The series is more or less brought back to its roots in this movie. While Iron Man 2 was made to set up for The Avengers, and as a result became too crammed and silly, this is a more independent story, and it really does work. If you want a clearer sense of what the next Avengers will hold, you'll be disappointed, but if you just want a good story about Iron Man, you'll be right at home here. The movie also excels where the other two Iron Man movies have been pretty weak: action. While there isn't a ton of it, the action scenes here are far superior to the other two movies, and it all builds up to a climax that, unlike every Marvel movie other than Avengers, ISN'T a disappointment. Now, I feel I have to discuss this. At the beginning of the final act of the movie, there is a major plot twist regarding The Mandarin, which I won't spoil. This has had a lot of fans absolutely PISSED. Having seen the movie, I can definitely understand why fans of the comics would be outraged over it, and if that's your mindset walking into this movie, this twist will ruin the movie for you most likely. Having said that, I'm reviewing a movie, not an adaptation of a comic book, and in the context of the movie, it worked. Given all the buildup, the Mandarin was a missed opportunity, but something I could get over. I'll just leave it at that. Acting As per usual, Robert Downey Jr. absolutely kills it as Tony Stark, bringing heart and power into the role that many people felt has been missing from Iron Man 2. It's still unknown if Downey will be returning to play Iron Man again or not, as his contract expired with this movie. I'd love to see him play Stark forever, but if this is his last role as Iron Man, he left on a damn good note. The returning regulars, including Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, and a surprise cameo after the credits, all do a great job as well. The new cast, for the most part, do a great job as well. Guy Pearce brings a lot of charisma and passion into his role as Aldrich Killian, business rival and personal antagonist to Stark, who is somehow connected to the rise of EXTREMIS. Sir Ben Kingsley is menacing and intimidating in his performance as The Mandarin, creating the idea that this terrorist, while just one man, is someone who could bring the entire western world to its knees at the blink of an eye. Rebeca Hall's role in the movie, however, felt rather unnecessary and wasted. Presentation The Iron Man movies have always been visual marvels (pun intended), and Iron Man 3 doesn't make an exception. While it doesn't have the same scope as The Avengers, it's definitely the best looking of all the Iron Man movies, especially the visually astounding climax, and the use of a suit that can assemble itself piece by piece. Soundtrackwise, this is a far more mature score, for what is generally a far more mature movie. For the first time, I can't recall hearing an AC/DC song. Verdict So when all's said and done, I thought Iron Man 3 was: Great!! Much like Iron Man himself, Iron Man 3 has been upgraded in many ways from its predecessors: it's got all the amazing acting, all the heart, all the top notch presentation, and improved action from the previous movies. That being said, the villain was a missed opportunity with what is a polarizing twist, the tone is a bit confusing at times, and some performances were wasted. It doesn't reach the heights of The Avengers by any means, but it's without a doubt superior to Iron Man 2. If it's as good as the first, is a whole other debate in itself. What I can say is that, while it has its flaws, Marvel's Phase 2 is off to a great start. So, have you seen Iron Man 3? What did you think of it? Was I too harsh or too leniant? Did I miss anything? Let me know. baylaust out.

Should I review Iron Man 3 later today?

Alex breathed out as the hooded figured vanished. If there was any doubt about him and Marina getting involved again, those doubts were gone now. "They said something about the Land of Departure. We have to make sure everyone's alright!" Alex went to summon his Glider, but he stopped himself. "Now, the question is..." He then looked at the locked door of his and Marina's room. "...what do we do about them?" Damian's head was in a pillow, growling with frustration. "I know, right?! We can help them, but they won't trust us!"

(Alex didn't jump up. He was with Marina the entire time.)

Alex looked down and sighed. "Look, Alexia... maybe one day, you two will be fighters, maybe you'll be able to defend yourselves, I don't know. But right now... I don't want you two to be in harm's way. Now-" Alex suddenly looked up, and grabbed onto Alexia. "GET DOWN!!!" He threw the two of them onto the ground as half the mansion was blown to hell. Damian had quickly clued in, and hurled himself into the ground as well. Alex quickly got himself up and ran to a nearby closet, opening it up and grabbing a black, zip-up sweater. Unlike his last one, though, this one had practical uses; inspired by when his last sweater got torched by Marina's gloves, Marina had sewn him a new sweater, made of fireproof and heatproof fabric. Alex threw it on in a second and ran to his kids again. "Both of you, go into mine and Marina's room, and lock the door! Don't let ANYONE in unless it's me or your mom!" Damian stepped forward. "But dad, we can help!" Alex turned and placed his hands on Damian and Alexia's shoulders. "You say you want to be a hero, right? Well, the first thing a hero does is know what to protect. Right now, priority is keeping you and your sister safe. Got it?" Damian looked down at the ground. "Now, go!" Damian and Alexia turned and ran into their parents' room. Alex, meanwhile, turned and looked down the stairs at Marina. He jumped into the air and landed beside her, looking around at the burning mansion, and then at the hooded people floating above them. Light began gathering in his hand as his fist clenched and knuckles cracked. "I hope you know that you're paying for the damages." He swung his arm to the side, and his Keyblade materialized, glowing brightly. "Now... get out!" Alex swung his Keyblade, and a crescent of light shot out of it, flying at the hooded people.

I remember FFX, and all of the hours I devoted to playing and experiencing it. I also remember FFX-2, and all of the hours I devoted to trying to forget it ever existed.

(Kay. I honestly didn't know how to respond because I wasn't expecting that at all.)

Jason kneeled on one knee, breathing somewhat heavily. Small bits of black electricity discharged out of him, and he looked at his hand, clenching his fist. The lack electricity began to gather in his fist. "A lesson for the next time we meet..." Jason swung his hand to the side, and all the black electricity blasted out of his hand, hitting the building behind him. "...don't waste my time with darkness." A dark corridor enveloped Jason. . . . Alex folded his arms. "Yeah, Alexia, that IS true..." He strolled up the stairs and sat down beside his kids. "I got involved with fighting and war when I was 14. Marina, actually, was involved with war even before I was. And you know what? After all of that fighting... I can only think of two good things that came out of it all. I met your mom. And without her, I wouldn't have you two. But other than that, fighting from that young an age... I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. And that's the truth. And especially not on my own kids." Damian then piped in. "Come on, I bet we could help you out a ton." Alex smiled. "Yeah, I bet you two could. You are the kids of the two most awesome fighters in the universe, after all. But that's not the point. You and your mother are the most important things in the world to me, and I don't want anything to happen to you. Maybe we'll train you to defend yourselves, that's something your mom and I still have to go over. But I really don't want you to get involved in all this violence. That is, IF it happens."

I'm surprised too. Really here only part time. Been more active in the last week than in the last 5 months combined.

Jason made up his mind. He turned to Lambda and rubbed her hair. "Do me a favour when I'm gone. Alex and Marina? Cherish them. Regardless of what's happened to you, the memories are still there, and I don't have to know them well to know that you couldn't ask for two better parents." Jason stood up. "As for me..." He turned around to Lambda sitting beside him, and everyone else in the background celebrating. "This world doesn't have anything for me. This time doesn't. But I'm here anyway, alive. I'm nothing more than a shadow appearing somewhere that it shouldn't, so that is what I will be from now on. A shadow. I'll live my life protecting those who can't protect themselves, I'll live fighting, and I'll die when my time comes. That is the fate the worlds have decided for me, so that is the life I will lead. A shadow, fighting from the shadows to protect others, and if when I die, no one recognizes or acknowledges me... so be it." He placed his hood back over his head, covering his face in shadow. "Now... give them my regards." Jason closed his eyes and casually let himself fall forward, plummeting off the Land of Departure. As he fell, he opened his eyes and extended his hand. A dark corridor appeared below him and he fell into it, the corridor vanishing after he entered it. Jason appeared in Hollow Bastion once more. He looked around the empty streets for a moment. Joe could be anywhere, either still held captive or having escaped a while ago. Finding him won't be much an issue. But before that... I have a message for the Barians. Jason looked around for a moment. "If any of you are watching, I'd like it if you came out. We have a lot to discuss..." . . . Alex watched Marina enter the garage, smiling as she walked away. He then sighed and spoke in a loud voice. "You know, you two should really work on your stealth skills if you want to keep listening in on private conversations." He walked to the main hall where Damian and Alexia were at the top of the stairs, caught red handed. For a moment, neither of the twins spoke. Then, Damian piped up. "It was her idea." Alexia then smacked him on the shoulder. Alex closed his eyes and shook his head, though he still had a smile on his face. "Look, I won't rat you out to your mother. But I want you two to listen to me. I don't know how much you heard, but there's some stuff happening. We don't know if it's serious or not, but it could be. But whatever happens - and I want you to listen to me on this one - I don't want you two getting yourselves involved."

Alex placed his hand on Marina's leg. Despite the stress on him, he had a reassuring smile. "Marina, calm down, 'kay? Yeah, we'll prepare, we'll make sure we're ready for whatever comes, but it's too early to panic. We have what Jason didn't: a warning. We know that they're coming, so we'll be prepared for whatever they have to throw at us. You've always been fantastic with making spheres, and when I put my mind to it, I can be too fast for anyone to be able to touch. Plus, been hittin' the gym lately." Alex gave a flex of his arm, making Marina slightly giggle. "See? What have I always said? No matter how bad things get, at the end of the day, we always pull through. And we'll do it again if we have to." "As for the kids... well, far as I know, they don't have Keyblades, so I guess that means they won't be in any direct danger. Still... wouldn't hurt to think of something to protect them." Damian and Alexia were still on top of the stairs. Damian turned to his sister, and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Yeah, we'll be just fine. No matter what happens, mom and dad can take on anything." Damian then playfully hit Alexia's shoulder. "And besides, if they get themselves caught by someone, then we'll just have to go and save them ourselves!"

Huh. I pictured the headquarters looking more like this.

Jason maintained his serious expression as Marina inspected his blade. "I didn't know that they could do this, either. I always believed Keyblades were unbreakable. It took him seconds to leave me without my Keyblade. Whether I can repair it or not, I also don't know, but I don't need it to be able to fight. Now, if, and when, they come for you two, unlike me, you'll know what they can do, and you'll be more prepared than I was. They may be powerful, but you two aren't pushovers either." "Still, be careful. If whoever visited you was one of them, then they know where you live. And unlike me..." Jason's eyes briefly moved out of the room, looking up the stairs. Only for a split second, but enough to make Damian and Alexia aware that he knew they were evesdropping. He looked back at Alex and Marina. "...you two have something to protect." Jason turned and created a dark corridor. "Now, I'm going to go and investigate what happened with Joe." "Wait!" Alex stepped forward a bit. "Are you sure it's safe to go alone, knowing what's out there? Is it safe for US to be alone?" Jason stopped for a moment, without looking back. "Alex, remember when we were on Destiny Islands, and you didn't know what had happened to Marina? What was the last thing you said to her, even when you didn't know where she was?" Alex looked down. "Even if we aren't together, I'll always be at your side." Jason nodded. "If you two are ever in danger, you won't be fighting alone. That you can believe." Jason then stepped through the corridor of darkness, and it vanished. Alex turned to Marina. "...well, crap."