And here's what we got:
I’m quickly becoming a big fan of Double Fine Productions, and the wonderful stuff that’s coming wonderfully out of their wonderful hands. I didn’t get a chance to review Costume Quest when it came out (by which I mean I was too goddamned lazy) but I can say that it was easily one of the best Xbox Arcade games to come out in forever.
When the expansion for Costume Quest came out, I burned through it and found that Double Fine threw in an easter egg/achievement that advertised their new game (and subject of this review), Stacking.
With some interesting mechanics, and the Double Fine sense of humour, Stacking makes for an interesting addition to the Xbox Arcade.
So how was everyones Christmas? Good, I hope. Unless yours was anything like ours wherein the hot water and heating died on Christmas Day. We had to heat the place up with the stove tops. It was rustic.
Putting aside my moment of Little Tim, Theresa got me a present I’d have never thought to get myself. Hell, it was a gift I would have never guessed, as I’ve never exhibited that much outward desire for it. Now unless you’re not paying attention or you’re simple remedial, I am talking about the
Amazon Kindle.
I got my hands on a copy of Time Hollow because, lets be honest here, I’m a total sucker for time-travel stuff. I’ve been a fan of Doctor Who since it was introduced to me, I love movies like The Butterfly Effect, and I can have totally open debates on the different effects of time travel can have.
So when I found out about Time Hollow, I thought I’d give it the old college try, because along with Time Travel, I’m also a fan adventure/mystery games. You can refer to my gushing over Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice for examples therein.
Now I thought Time Hollow was going to be a fairly straight-forward mystery finder.
Yah, sometimes I’m just stupid like that.
Anyone who has talked to me about DS games will inevitably find out that I am a complete fanboy when it comes to what I call “The Lawyer Games.” This catchall title is used when talking about any of the Phoenix Wright or Apollo Justice games. I’ve talked about previous installments of the series, and so now that I find myself with a little time (shockingly) I thought that I should probably get off my ass and get to writing! Self-deprecating aside, I’ve always enjoyed the Ace Attorney series, but I honestly found this one to be a little lost. Well, a little lost until the end when the grand machinations of the writers come to fruition.
Self-deprecating, machinations, and fruition, all in two sentences. I think my brain is having some kind of vocabulistic everything-must-go sale. Of course then I go ahead and say something like vocabulistic, and all of my grammar street cred get’s shot to hell.
Anyways! Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney! Review! Commence!
What to say about Blindness? I went and saw it with Theresa when It came out in Canada (October 3rd, if anyone is wondering). We had seen previews for it months ago, and the idea intregued us both. At that point it fell off the map to anyone who wasn’t actively trying to follow it.
Apparently it was shown at the Cannes film festival to mixed reception. Reading reviews online does little to ease ones trepidation towards the film. It seems that Blindness is a movie that has those who love it, and others that feel that it was “like looking into the sky and having sand poured into your eyes.” I’ve had to think long and hard about what I really felt about it.
It had all the makings for a great film: a good premise, a fairly strong cast calling, some impressive cinematography, an excellent musical score, and a fair amount of detail. So what happened?
I really wish I could find a good quote from this book, but I assure you that every one of them is offensive and far too vivid. I’m serious in saying that this is the most blunt, graphic, degrading, disgusting, non-pornographic article I have ever read. The best part is that you can pick it up in Chapters. Right off the shelf. There isn’t even a disclaimer, though I’m being totally truthful that anyone who lets a minor read this should be shot. Now having said that this book is either the equivalent of a harlequin novel for women, or the most subtly brilliant thing I’ve read. To be honest, I think it’s both.