The Spoilertastic Quickview - Batman: Arkham Origins

Comic book video games are hardly considered shining examples of quality, but 2009's Batman: Arkham Asylum and it's sequel, Batman: Arkham City, were delightful exceptions to the rule. The series was praised for it's gratifying predator mechanics combined with fluid and fast-paced action, all serving to top off the adventures of one of the most iconic caped crusaders fiction.

Origins tells the story of Bruce Wayne as a fledgling vigilante, some years before the events of the first two games. Two years after Bruce first takes flight as Batman, a riot at Blackgate prison prompts him to investigate, leading him to discover that the notorious criminal known as "Black Mask" has placed a large bounty on his head.

Despite the prequel setting, the Caped Crusader retains many of his tools and abilities as before. At the same time, the Bruce Wayne we see here is still approaching his prime and gives us a good look at what an "immature" Batman would look like. 10 assassins have been hired to take a crack at the bounty, and each encounter is more memorable than the last. Each boss battle is an action packed affair, rewarding quick thinking fighters with cinematic flair. Bane was a particular stand out, whose role in the plot more than redeemed his underwhelming appearance in Arkham Asylum.

There are a few shortcomings to make note of, many of which can be found in the structure of the plot. One of the biggest disappointments in the plot was the abrupt change to the Black Mask subplot. What begins as a face off between a new Batman and a less known villain becomes just another Batman-chase-Joker deal. The level design and game progression is tightly paced from mid-game onward, but it can come off as a little redundant just because it's a been there done that plot (Spoiler alert: A big spray painted sign of 'Joker's Madhouse'). Also, we were informed of 10 assassin's, but the absence of Shiva and Deadshot is impossible to ignore.   

The story itself has it's moments, but unfortunately the game wasn't the huge step up that City was from Asylum. That's not to say this was a bad thing, however. Every good element from the previous titles remains as solid as ever, whether it's stealthily stalking armed guards one by one, or being in the thick of a street brawl. If you loved the Arkham series, this has some of the coolest moments the series ever had. But if players are looking for a huge change, this is not the place to look.

Generating opinions - a Primer

So, you've decided to form an opinion, eh? Good for you! Opinions provide multiple perspectives on any topic and sometimes even strengthen facts if discussed in an effective, unbiased atmosphere. However, in this day and age of anonymous internet, media controversy and aggravated individuals, opinions are very dangerous things to have at times.
This post is just what I think is the best way to go about expressing one's own opinion while disagreeing with others.

First of all, ensure that you fully understand all opposing opinions, in addition to your own. It's very important to know that not being familiar with opposite viewpoints means you're not all that familiar to your own. This is great knowledge to have, especially if this particular opinion has a direct impact on your way of living.

Secondly, remain open minded to ideas offered by other opinions. Just because others won't agree with you 100%, it doesn't mean there aren't some ideas worth taking on board.
For example, there are many religions on this planet. However, there are times when their ideologies share parallels, and there are times when just hearing their ideas make the opposing views of others all the more apparent.
The same can be said in relation to religions and secular communities. Atheists may not live as the religious do, but altruistic values can be shared by many people.

Third, be constantly aware of hypocrisy! This is very tricky, as sometimes we act inconsistently without being aware of it. People that are very vocal about their views often find themselves being pointed out as hypocrites and it's just embarrassing. However, if you ever find yourself caught in the act, be humble and accept the criticism and learn from it.

And my final point: Don't be quick to judge a person based on their opinion. One person's belief and actions are not necessarily representative of every person on the planet that has that same belief. This misinformation can cause frustration, which may end up causing you to become flustered when expressing your side of a debate, reducing you to a misrepresentation of your own view...whether you realize it or not.

Human's are an incredibly diverse bunch, and hearing what we all have to say on any particular subject is a perfect way of experiencing that diversity. We should appreciate this diversity as much as we can, while at the same time enriching our own lives with an increase of perspective.

DmC: Devil May Cry

The reboot of the much loved Devil May Cry series not only lives up it's reputation of high energy demon slaying and challenging gameplay, it also exceeds the previous games through it's more refined story telling and accessibility to newer players

While Dante's redesign had done nothing but stir up division in the fanbase, the game's story will engage you in his growth over the course of the story.
The narrative opens with this new Dante living a hedonistic lifestyle of booze, nightclubs and sleazy sex. Oh, and killing demon's on the side. But it's after he meets the young witch Kat that he finds new purpose for his life, and the powers from inside of him.

The story is told effectively through cinematic cutscenes and artwork cutouts, and the voice acting is largely consistent. Unfortunately, good as the story as it was, it started to fall flat and rushed towards the end, which is a shame considering how engaging some of the characters can be.
The story is told with a more serious tone, unlike the B-movie narrative style of DMC games past. The dialogue contains a substantial amount of coarse language as well, contrasting with what was used in the past.
That's not to say that the dialogue is never witty, however. Deep down, Dante is still the same kickass demon hunter that he always was. His attitude is more displayed in his actions, instead of his words this time around.

Along the way, you meet both new and old characters, each with a distinct trait that fits the gritty atmosphere of the city they inhabit. The demon lord Mundus is now a corporate tyrant and every bit as evil as his DMC1 counterpart, and Vergil is the dedicated head of a liberation group but no less power hungry than he was in DMC3. 

Combat is as visceral and satisfying as ever, thanks to updated sound effects and an upbeat heavy metal soundtrack composed by UK rock group Combichrist. Just like past DMC games, the game rewards players through stylish, well executed combos. This is made much easier thanks to the addition of Angel Lift and Demon Pull, giving you more control over the relentless demonic hoards that you encounter. Players are encouraged to mix up what weapons are used in combos by the traditional Style Meter, giving them more ranking points towards the final score of each mission.
But encouragement isn't needed, as DMC: Devil May Cry's combat is as fun to perform as it is to watch.

No matter how you feel about the reboot, fans of beat 'em up games should definitely give this title a chance to prove itself. And since this is a reboot with a larger focus on story, it looks like the games have a bright future ahead.

School shootings - A two way act of selfishness

I know it's been several weeks after the fact, but I think it's time to put in my two cents of the Sandy Hook shootings.

When I first found out about the horrific murders in Connecticut, my impulse reaction was to get mad and think, "How could someone be so cold?"
The media was exploding with stories about the killer, the deaths, and the ongoing debate over gun control in North America. The President of the USA gave a speech that afternoon.
But over time, I began to realize that we were forgetting the most important thing: This isn't a story about guns and murder. This is a story about a bunch of nameless individuals that will never be heard of again, completely overshadowed by our own debates and perceptions on the situation.

I don't know the names of the children or teachers that were killed, I don't know the life and mind of the killer. All I know is that these deaths have been reduced to a form of entertainment and gossip. We'll forever see the killer as some monster without a single speck of humanity inside of him, and we've decided to make that the focal point of this tragedy turned debate. And that's how he'll always be remembered. What I see is a lonely person that wished to be remembered, no matter the cost. And if we give this much attention to a school shooting, how much more when the next story focuses on the deaths of even more vulnerable people. All we're doing is encouraging murder, not preventing it.

I believe that every human is a nobody with their own set of issues and problems. Rather than quickly pass judgment, we should focus on what matters: the people involved.

Loosen Your Lips/Let in Some Sun

As part of my school program, I have been made a reporter for the school's newspaper. This paper is written for more than just the three campuses that are part of my school, but also the community around my campus as well. This means that finding something newsworthy is extremely important.

My first assignment, which I am currently still working on, involves reporting a program that's being cut. This is something that hasn't happened in a very long time (the last incident was well over 25 years ago), and has resulted in four members of faculty being laid off. To make matters worse, like my program, this program also provides service to the community to which our campus is located. Around 40 customers are serviced per week by the students in this program, and the laid off faculty have been working in my school long for over 20 years.

This is when things start to get shifty.
My job as a journalist requires me to interview several sources for my story, including faculty, students, and administration. Problem is, faculty and students have had no problem answering questions as to why the program was cut, but the administration have constantly dodged and evaded my attempts at making contact.

Think about it: the people that are about to lose their jobs and heartbroken students have no problem talking to a student from the outside, but administration decide to play "Watergate" with me?

A person with nothing to hide, won't.

Star Commentary: Headline Nov.21, 2012

In the Toronto Star, the front page story's headline asks the question "Should dog pay with his life for mauling girl?"

Here's a quick primer on the story:
Last August, a 7-year-old girl was playing in the backyard of her friend's house. Meanwhile, the family that lived in the house were dog sitting a rescued street dog named Panny, a German shepherd-collie mix. The 7 year old was attacked by the dog, resulting in facial injuries that required 40 stitches. As a result of the incident, the mother is pushing to get the dog euthanized during the court case this Thursday.

I see the situation like this: we don't have enough info on the situation to determine what's right.

First of all, we need to look from the side of the girl's mother. How many similar incidents has the dog been involved with in the past, and how recently? Does this sort of thing happen with this dog frequently?

From the perspective of the dog's owner, how long was the mother that was looking after the two girls away from the scene? Was it enough time to possibly provoke the dog into aggression? And can the victim of the attack weigh in on the situation to provide more perspective?

Anything is possible in this situation. Personally I have a dog that is easily provoked by a 12 year old friend of mine (once he pulled his tail), but his reaction wasn't as aggressive. Granted, he wasn't a street dog.

I don't want anything to die until we have enough information, and hopefully that'll turn up in court on Thursday.

Personal Post: Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is an occasion that is very dear to the hearts of many Canadians such as myself.

To some citizens the day is set aside to reflect on the loved ones that have become casualties of war, be it a war overseas or a war on crime right here in this city.

To others the day is for honouring the memory of the fallen soldiers from wars in the past, giving up their lives so that we can live in the world we do today.

To me this is a day to remember sacrifice of another kind: the sacrifice of time.

Like many people my age, I've grown up with things just being handed to me in life. Education is (for the most part) free, my tuition isn't ridiculously expensive, I have a decently paying job, my house has heating and food, I can be friends with whoever I want, and I can believe in whatever I want.

But the higher ups in society made all of this possible in my country because they took the time out of their personal lives to put these things in effect.

My generation like to generalize them and accuse them of any wrongdoing that happens, but many of them continue to fund the police, fire department and hospitals so that we can be secure.

To work really hard for people that aren't thankful is heartbreaking, yet some of these people do this every day.

So to them I say "Thank you. You shall be remembered."