CK's Monthly Highlights: REBOOT AND RELOADED

GAMES PLAYED

 

BAYONETTA

 

 

Move over Dante, there's a new bad *** in town.

 

The first thing you should know about Bayonetta is that the story is entirely unimportant. It makes no sense. At all. Period. There's something about two warring clans, one of witches and one of sages (Light vs. Dark -- yada yada yada). There's a "journalist" who inexplicably carries a grappling hook; an ancient god that's being resurrected; and, at one point, there's even a dance-off.

 

The character design and cutscene direction (and the story, to some extent) feel like something designed by horny, twelve-year-old boys. If the actual combat wasn't so refined, it might be hard to get past that. Fortunately, the combat is refined and easily outweighs the awkward kinky stuff. With lots of weapons, brilliant combat, multiple difficulties, and loads of unlockables, there are plenty of reasons to keep coming back to Bayonetta after the first playthrough. Just skip the cinematics.

 

SPIRIT TRACKS

 

 

Cel-shaded graphics in all its glory and on the DS no less.

 

Nintendo is creating a deep rut for the Zelda games by turning every new development since Ocarina of Time into a compilation of overused tropes. The fact that people liked the first N64 outing, for example, is no reason to include a magical instrument in every subsequent game. The same goes for the chatty sidekick, and (especially) the tradition of forcing Link to walk around and meet everyone in town before someone finally hands him a sword. Even the train in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, which seemed out of place when the game debuted, is a variant on the oft-repeated vehicle gimmick, including conveyances like Epona, the King of Red Lions, and the S.S. Linebeck.

 

Spirit Tracks is the most fun I've had with a Zelda game in a long time. It's not just a more concise work than the slow-paced Twilight Princess, it's also a much more enjoyable setting to inhabit. This is also a game in which Princess Zelda and Link share a sincere high-five. Now that is a tradition I wouldn't mind seeing continue.

 

INFAMOUS

 

 

Expect intense moments such as this in the game. Its spectacular ... and a little shocking too.

 

Okay, right at the top, let's get this out of the way -- electricity control is a terrible superpower. Sure, it's flashy, and makes for a great video game mechanic, but any crime fighter who could easily be bested by Dry Rubber Shoes Man simply shouldn't be tasked with the vigilant protection of a city and its inhabitants. Despite this obvious weakness, Sucker Punch's open-world action opus, inFamous, has a lot going for it. Rather than tumbling into the pitfalls often visited by sandbox action games (too repetitive, poorly balanced difficulty, no sense of direction, non-existent story), it takes the road less traveled, exhibiting an extraordinary amount of polish and attention to detail.

 

A few slight hiccups disrupt the seamless weave of action and motion Sucker Punch has crafted, the most puzzling of these being the extremely sparing use of music during gameplay. The rare, tedious side missions are made all the more unbearable when performed to near silence. The badass moments don't reach their badass zenith due to a lack of accompaniment. Also, Sparky's ledge magnetism doesn't always work as you might like, adhering you to a windowsill in the midst of an intense timed mission.

Still, these don't do much to tarnish an altogether brilliant gaming experience. The cityscape is beautiful, and free of load times and pop-ups. The plot is gripping and well paced. The gameplay is fluid, frantic and entirely enjoyable. The animations are butter smooth. The character and power progression is engrossing. However, in light of these achievements, inFamous' greatest contribution to the sandbox genre is how it finally gives an explanation as to why its protagonist can't swim.

 

 

 

SHERLOCK HOLMES

 

 

"What are these two wackos staring at me like that?!"

 

After finally catching serial killer and occult "sorcerer" Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case. But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partner's new fiancée and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues that will lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic - and the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler.

 

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG

 

 

"Pucker up baby!!!!"

 

A modern day retelling of the c-lassic story The Frog Prince. The Princess and the Frog finds the lives of arrogant, carefree Prince Naveen and hardworking waitress Tiana crossing paths. Prince Naveen is transformed into a frog by a conniving voodoo magician and Tiana, following suit, upon kissing the amphibian royalty. With the help of a trumpet-playing alligator, a Cajun firefly, and an old blind lady who lives in a boat in a tree,Naveen and Tiana must race to break the spell and fulfill their dreams.

 

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

 

 

Brad Pitt looking rather smug

 

In Nazi occupied France, young Jewish refugee Shosanna Dreyfus witnesses the slaughter of her family by Colonel Hans Landa. Narrowly escaping with her life, she plots her revenge several years later when German war hero Fredrick Zoller takes a rapid interest in her and arranges an illustrious movie premiere at the theater she now runs. With the promise of every major Nazi officer in attendance, the event catches the attention of the "Basterds", a group of Jewish-American guerilla soldiers led by the ruthless Lt. Aldo Raine. As the relentless executioners advance and the conspiring young girl's plans are set in motion, their paths will cross for a fateful evening that will shake the very annals of history.

 

 

 

GLORIOUS FOOD (Malaysian Edition) :P

 

 

A perfect start to the day. :P

 

Nasi lemak is a dish sold in Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Southern Thailand. In Kuala Lumpur, it is called the national dish, a national heritage of Malaysia. The version sold in the east coast of Malaysia, Terengganu and Kelantan is called Nasi Dagang although both dishes can usually be found sold side by side for breakfast. However, because of the Nasi Lemak's versatality in being able to be served in a variety of manners, it is now served and eaten any time of the day. There is a similar dish in Indonesia called nasi uduk.

 

 

So good, you'll be licking the plate clean.

 

Char kway teow, literally "stir-fried ricecake strips", is a popular noodle dish in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The dish was (and still is in some places in Malaysia) typically prepared at a hawker stall.

 

It is made from flat rice noodles (河粉 hé fěn in Mandarin Chinese) of approximately 1 cm or (in the north of Malaysia) about half a centimetre narrower in width, stir-fried over very high heat with light and dark soy sauce, chilli, a small quantity of belachan, tamarind juice, whole prawns, deshelled cockles, bean sprouts and liberally chopped up Chinese Chives.

 

Variants may include serving the dish with slices of Chinese Sausgae and fishcake, stir-fried with eggs, preferably duck's egg, or stir-fried with chopped up cuttle fish or cooked crab meat in addition to or in substitution of fresh whole prawns. It is stir-fried in pork fat, with crisp croutons of pork lard, giving it a characteristically rich taste. Most people prefer char kway teow to be served on fragrant piece of banana leaf (suitably washed).

 

 

Yes, that is how its done.

 

Don't try this at home, kids.

 

Teh tarik (literally pulled tea or 拉茶 in Mandarin) is a hot tea beverage which can be commonly found in restaurants, outdoor stalls and kopitiams in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. Its name is derived from the pouring process of "pulling" the drink during preparation. It is made from black tea and condensed milk.

 

Here's to an even more (*insert awesome word here*) year filled with great moments, surprises and controvesial moments!

 

Thanks for reading and have a great week! :)