I’m determined to not leave a month blank without posts.  I was going to write a scathing review of New Moon, but seeing as how I haven’t seen New Moon yet, I can’t really do that.  I will when I do though.

I’m almost done with college applications …as in I still need to write all my essays.  They shouldn’t be too bad though; I wrote my Governor’s School essays the morning of the day I had to hand my application in, so writing on the day of the deadline should be okay …I hope.  Well I’ll see.

Last thing: here’s a link to my friend’s blog: The Adventures of a Scrabble Dunce. She has some interesting posts that are worth checking out.

I’m rather surprised that my visitor count is still kind of high.  I don’t know who finds my blog, but kudos to you anonymous blog readers.

I’d just like to share the link to a brilliant satire written by my friend Devon:

A Modern Modest Proposal

My favorite tidbits:

“These people do not want to assimilate and live in harmony with native Americans.”

“I believe an appropriate punishment for breaking the law would be cutting the offender’s tongue out of his mouth; this will certainly provide motivation for others to follow it.”

This is a random poem I wrote based on a prompt of a poem title being “follow the rainbow.”
—
FOLLOW THE RAINBOW

In the countries throughout
Where freedom should reign.
There stands yet a blockage
Impeding our way.

We march and we fight
For the sake of our hearts,
Hoping that someday
Equality starts.

Be aware of our plight
And may our pride show.
One day we’ll be free
Follow the rainbow.

I’m reviving my Runescape blog, yet again, though I intend for it to be permanent this time.  New article: Attempting Quests Co-Op

Wow.  That’s all I can say about KH 358/2.  After beating the game in a week and a half, which is a record time for me, I can honestly say that it’s one of the best games I’ve ever played.  If it weren’t for Fire Emblem 7, it would be the best.

KH 358/2 follows the storyline of Roxas from when he’s created, through his time at the Organization, and finally ending where KH2 starts.  The two things I love most about 358/2 are the gameplay and the storyline.  I really liked the emphasis on exploration, which is an aspect absent from many games I’ve played.  The storyline was also fantastic; I really felt myself bonding with the three main characters (Axel/Roxas/Xion) to the point where I cried at the end (stop laughing it was a good ending).  In addition, I enjoyed how there was always something to work towards, which in this case were new panels which would enhance Roxas’s character and his keyblade (I was always antsy to get a better gear).  Plus, I really like how you can continue playing the game after it ends.  Right now I’m redoing a bunch of missions that I haven’t gotten 100% for yet, and with my new Zero Gear Keyblade, most of them are ridiculously easy.  It’s always fun to go back through the game with pwnsome equipment XD.

Did I mention the graphics for cutscenes are remarkable?

If there’s one thing I would complain about in 358/2, it’s the pacing.  The game is set up in days, with each mission you complete finishing off a day.  The first …10-20 days were all tutorials, and while they were nice so that a player could thoroughly understand the controls, they got a little boring after awhile.  Also, it seemed like the beginning was stretched out too much.  I spent a ridiculous amount of time in the first two worlds – Twilight Town and Agrabah – and then it seemed like I was going to new worlds every 30 days.  The end also seemed to rush by extremely fast, with the plot truly picking up around day 300, and everything seemed to speed by after that point.  Also, it seemed like the last boss fights – the ones against Xion and Riku – were ridiculously easy compared to other bosses (and I was on standard mode), but that’s just a minor trifle.  Ok I lied, there’s one more thing I didn’t like: some storylines of the worlds were never resolved.  The one in Beast’s Castle was left on a cliffhanger (that annoyed me a lot), and the a plot that was started in Wonderland (the queen hunting for four things), was never really explained.  However, all the good parts of the game made up for those small complaints I had for it.

Overall, I loved KH 358/2.  I would highly recommend this game to anyone who is/isn’t a KH fan.

Oh yea: don’t ask me to play co-op.  I use an emulator, so I kind of can’t, haha.

Moving on to Scribblenauts.  I’ve been highly anticipating Scribblenauts ever since word of it appeared in Nintendo Power, and I can say that it’s lived up to all my hopes.  I love exploring different interactions with objects on the environment, which makes Scribblenauts a truly unique puzzle game.  Basically, to play the game, you have to write words, which will then appear in object form in the game, and use them to get through levels and collect “starites.”  It’s a really interesting twist on the classic puzzle game, so I would also highly recommend Scribblenauts to anyone, puzzle fan/gamer fan/not.  It may look kind of kiddy-like, but the gameplay is well worth it.

That’s all for now in my gaming life.  Last note: Golden Sun DS is also coming out soon!  Yes!!

Apologies for the lack of updates.  I’ve barely had any time to do much of anything now that school’s started.  Speaking of which I still need to start my homework, but instead I’m blogging.  Figures.

Anyway, I had a random thought as I was in the car in an hour (damn SAT classes).  I find it hard to improv and/or play anything on the piano that isn’t strictly written out for me.  I’m so used to playing everything that’s put in front of me as a sheet of music.  Take it away and ask me to play something from my mind, and I’m slightly lost.  Well it’s not like I sit there staring at the keys, but I can’t really play anything …really creative I suppose.  My right hand has gotten better at improv actually, but my left hand is still stuck on playing octaves and standard chords.  I can’t really get it to do anything else without knowing what to do.

It’s kind of a shame, to be honest.  If the only thing I can do is replicate what people have written, then what’s the good in that?  Anyone can copy things, but few can create something new.   I really wish I had more time to experiment with the piano more and mess around with chord progressions, but since I’m stuck with preparing classical pieces most of the time, I can’t really get innovative.  I do enjoy classical music, but there’s a part of me that wishes I could stop adhering to written music and just play what I feel like playing.

Written out of sudden inspiration by a song via Video Game Soundtracks on AOL Radio.  XD
–
Mortal

The wind is wisping
The sea is shining
The moon is showing
Everything but me

The leaves are falling
The trees are dying
The colds are chilling
Everything but me

My eyes are seeing
My ears are hearing
My hands are feeling
Everything but me

The world is turning
The time is coming
The night is claiming
Everything
And me

Writer’s block.  I’ve had it probably for a good 5+ years now, and it annoys me more and more every day that I lack the ability to think of anything to write about.  Even though I was young and naive when I first started writing crazily back in fifth grade, at least I had ideas, as cliche as they were.  Now I can’t even think of ideas, and the only things I can think of I scrap within minutes because they seem to be too cliche.  I am extremely jealous of one of my friends who has the ability to think of backstories for anything and everything (danbeestoh i want your skillz D:).

I know how to write in theory.  I know how I want to write.  Going about writing sites/blogs, reading guides on how to create good and uncliche characters, worlds, plots, etc.

I know I can write too.  Note I said I can write.  I did not say I can write well.  I realize that I’m far from being able to write well, as it will take years of experiencing writing and life in general to become a good writer who can hold her own in the world of literature.  Anyway, I know I can write.  School essays I’ve always written at the very very last minute (aka most of the time written on the morning of the day it’s due).  I do this due to part procrastination and also part because my best work comes out when I absolutely -need- to finish it.  I tend to write better when I’m pressed for time because then I spend less time worrying over every little sentence and just go with the flow of my mind.  I know it’s good to edit, but sometimes if I spend too much time worrying about editing, I end up worrying too much, and all of the sudden nothing seems good anymore, which results in me scrapping what I’ve written.  That’s happened a lot when I’ve attempted to overcome my writer’s block.

I haven’t found the spark yet, but I’m really hoping I will soon because I really miss the times when I was young and would just write, dream, and imagine for hours upon end.

My blog is now two years old.  Dang.  *deep breath* Here’s to many more years!

Here is some lols (all found thanks to the Impish Idea Forums except the chem test pics):

1. Twilight Review on Cracked.com – I don’t think I’ve read anything so funny in a long time, and I’ve read many funny things concerning Twilight.

2. More Twilight Lulz – A wonderful, concise, and accurate comic summarizing New Moon.

3. Whale Chem Test and Owl Chem Test – Courtesy of Perla.  I have never loled so much at one time.  I was almost crying.  If ANYONE does anything like this on a chem test, he/she will automatically become my hero.

4.

Oh Paolini.  You are so nerdy and amusing in a sad way.

I don’t really remember how I landed on Dragonica, but somehow I did, and it’s turning out to be a pretty interesting MMORPG.  It’s kind of like a 3D version of Maplestory (yea it is a side scroller).  The version for North America’s still in closed beta so I got the European version where everyone speaks in a British accent (which is a little amusing at times).  Anyway, here’s a list of pros and cons in my opinion of the game:

PROS
1. NO CLICK ATTACK!  YES! The combat system in this game is based on a main key for general combat and then key combinations for skills, kind of like Rakion but not PvP based.  That means some actual skill is involved in combat, not just spamming a key over and over again or clicking a monster.
2. Most everything is keyboard based (movement, dialogue, combat, etc).
3. Great mix of 3D environments and side scrolling.  You don’t really feel like the game’s a side scroller because you’re immersed in such a rich environment.
4. Three class advancements.  That’s more advancements than most MMOs I’ve played.
5. It’s free!

CONS
1. Quests are usually “kill x amount of monster” or “retrieve x number of items.”  It could be better.
2. The dialogue interface is kind of choppy.  Hitting space continues dialogue, but usually I hit space too many times and then I end up talking to the person again.
3. More beginner classes.  There’s only warrior, archer, mage, and thief.  It’s kind of limited.
4. Why does it seem like most F2P MMORPGs are going to the anime/kiddie-esque graphic styles?  I mean it’s cute yea, but it gets kind of overbearing after awhile.
5. Kind of a cliche storyline.  Oh well, I’ve given up expecting a game with an innovative story.

Note I’ve only played this MMO for a day, but it made a nice first impression on me.  Here’s a video of the cinematic trailer combined with shots of gameplay:

Wow, I’ve gone on a gaming post streak.  I’m doing other things in life besides gaming, really!