Riddlethos » Magna Carta 2

A REAL game

Ethos — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 12:11:56 +0000

Do Big Sisters look like this?

While Riddles is gushing over his “All in the Family” licensed game what with big daddies and little sisters and big sisters and whatnot, I came across a cheap used copy of Magna Carta 2. If you’re a fan or begrudging reader of Scatter Storming, you’ve probably noticed me talking briefly but excitedly about it. So I popped it in last night for some classic JRPG gaming before I fell asleep. And y’know, the animations are stiff, the voice acting is mediocre at best, and the script is worse, but unlike something like Blue Dragon that just feels vapid, I found myself getting really into Magna Carta 2. Maybe it was the traditional leveling up system or the unbelievably clichéd girly boy hero who has amnesia and runs into the sexy busty princess, but there was a traditional charm that moved me from rolling my eyes to caring about what happened next. The battle system is real time and has some really interesting mechanics, and after hours of Mass Effect 2, it’s refreshing to sift through some good ol’ Japanese menus. Yet, it’s nice to see even the most minor of influences from the Western RPG sub-genre. Sidequests give out experience and…well…okay, so that’s the only influence I’ve noticed. Still, I’ve always liked that idea and it’s taken too long for JRPGs to adopt it. So anyway, the game has already opened up quite a bit for a traditional RPG, so if I don’t buy a piano today, I’m excited to play more of it.

Anyway, I’ve been good about turning my eye away from Final Fantasy XIII media and impressions, but I skimmed this post from Ryan Clements of IGN, because it didn’t seem to be so much about spoilers, but rather about his level of excitement from the viewpoint of a Final Fantasy fan. Worth the read if you’re on the edge of your seat for the game like I am. Anyway, back to more of Riddles’ Bioshock 2 drivel after this, so I apologize for that.

Scatter Storming. Issue #010 “10th Issue Extravaganza!!!”

Ethos — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:30:45 +0000

I’ll admit, this cover is pretty terrible even by my standards. Still! Let’s not focus on the bad because today we have reason to celebrate! For some disgusting and twisted reason, I have been able to churn out 10 of these ridiculous nonsense-filled bizarre-fests on a surprisingly timely schedule. So let’s continue into this triumphant issue with our heads high, our brains scattered, and our expectations low!

I wanna play more Mario Bros -
It’s the truth! I gotta say, that game is massively addicting. Even Nate Liles agrees. Take our text conversation from earlier today for example:

Nate Liles: NSMB is freaking amazing.
Ethos: Told ya! Non-stop awesomeness!
Nate Liles: AC2 is good too.
Ethos: So I hear. I don’t doubt it’s great, I’m just not interested.
Nate Liles: Wow. That’s rude. Go edit Kim Kardashian’s butt into my bedroom
Ethos: I’m on it.
Nate Liles: God, I hope so! She is a cutie with a booty

Perhaps that whole thing wasn’t relevant, but then again everything is relevant when Nate Liles is involved.

It’s now a day later! -
This is also true! I wrote that intro and first story yesterday. Since then, I’ve actually “beat” New Super Mario Bros Wii, but there are many levels I haven’t even played yet, and lots of star coins to collect. Hell, I might even write my first Riddlethos review for the mother fucker.

Review Controversy -
Continuing in that stream of thought, how would you guys like to see my reviews formatted? Riddlethos currently has a policy against numerical scores on reviews, but that doesn’t mean that I’m going to necessarily not have a score of some sort. Riddles has suggested a Ethometer of sorts. Thoughts?

Apparently Magna Carta 2 doesn’t suck -
I was skimmin’ ye olde RPGamer today and saw the review for Magna Carta 2. I just needed a reason to give this a try, and now I have it. I need to beat Dragon Age so I can move on. I’ll take a hack at it tonight!

I got some art assets I never showed you kids -
When I did that Zelda preview last week, I was later given access to some artwork. Most of it is floating around somewhere, but is it floating around WITH PATENTED ETHOS MS PAINT COMMENTARY?! I didn’t think so! So in honour of this, the 10th Issue Extravaganza, I bring you:

A Bunch Of Art Screens With Stupid Writing On It, And By A Bunch, I Mean Just Four.

Argh, I’m thrilled and all that Zelda gets to join in the fun, I’m just prepping myself for a lot of cringe worthy stereotypes.

Seriously, I just need to leave this one alone.

ZOH MY GOD, SPOILERZ.

Yup, no words.

That’s it! I had a few more screens, but I need to get to work, and this issue is already late enough. Look forward to many, many more beautiful Scatter Stormings!

Scatter Storming. Issue #003

Ethos — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:21:24 +0000

Alright! I held off on posting this in case the TGS Press Conference held anything. It didn’t. But that’s fine, I think Sony has one later “today”, and Riddles will be all over that. As for now, let’s get to my all-over-the-place brain.

SWEET! Lost Winds 2! -
What?! I didn’t know this game was coming out! Amazing! In my opinion, there are very, very few games that justify the Wii’s existence as a Wiimote-based console, but Lost Winds is one of them. It’s clever, has great art design, music that’s not entirely dissimilar to Shadow of the Colossus, and addicting controls. The first one was short and sweet, and come out pretty much around WiiWare’s launch. I remember hearing that the developers intended on making a sequel, but there was silence for a very long time. Although it was my homepage three years ago, I rarely check the Wii channel of IGN anymore, but I’m glad I decided to wander by the other day. This is absolutely reason to switch on that little white box again.

BUH? Magnacarta 2 -
What is this game? I’ve never heard of this game. What is this game? What? Is it supposed to be any good? Why didn’t anybody tell me about it? The screens look good. What? This looks like a major, epic JRPG release exclusive to the 360 and nobody told me about it! WHAT THE CRAP?!?! Maybe it’s supposed to suck, I heard the first one did. But still!

PRETTY! The Last Guardian footage -
There was some new footage shown at TGS. Meet the new footage, same as the old footage. Still, I obviously want this game. Off Screen video here.

PRESS RELEASED! Wii Price Cut Official-
Who cares? I just feel the need to post Nintendo news because I get press releases from them and so I feel special. Far more interesting was the inclusion of a November 15th release date of New Super Mario Bros. The only Wii retail game I intend on buying this entire year. Oops, except Excite Bots. That was this year. That game is STILL awesome.

THAT’S IT FOLKS! That’s all that’s swirling around in my mind at the moment. I’ve been back to work and off my sleeping schedule, but let’s hope that changes tomorrow and you see me back in my regular posting-complete-nonsense form! SUCK IT!