I guess I should be honest, so I'll start this off by saying I've written many reviews in the past, but thought them too shallow and critical to post anywhere public; and then, earlier this week, I thought: "Wait a second... the WHOLE INTERNET is shallow and critical!" and so here I am. However, I have made this review brain-friendly, and witty with a side-helping of intelligence. Honest. Some say I have a natural knack for writing... well, they would be correct. Come on guys, this is the internet; one must be allowed to be a completely baseless bigot from time to time.
Anyhow, the thing I am reviewing today is an infamous game called "Don't Starve". Basically, it is a survival ordeal in which you are playing as Wilson. P. Higgsbury, an intrepid scientist whom has a knack for making dim-witted comments about things such as nature and animals while pertaining the brilliance of Albert Einstein. Pretty odd mix, I know. In this flawlessly executed Tim-Burton style survive-the-night, wilderness game, you collect many otherwise useless objects in order to craft amazing-ness with naught but a right click.
The game mechanics? Simple: collect things, survive the night. And most importantly, don't starve. Easier said than done, believe me. Anyway, what makes this game so addictive? It could be the fact that the music is so alluringly classical while still hosting today's vibe, or it could be the confrontation between poor Wilson and a pack of relentless hounds. Who knows? But one thing's for certain:
You won't stop at day one.
It is like a downward spiral. For instance, if you happen to get particularly absorbed in an otherwise meaningless television program, and watch four seasons of the bloody thing in a mere day, you would settle on the fact that you have no friends, no social life, and no understanding of how to be a normal, properly-functional human being, and then carry on, begrudgingly watching your life waste away in the form of dull, cheap entertainment. With this game, you acknowledge all those things and love it. Why? Because you can craft Science out of thin air and make an axe out of a piece of flint and sticks, that's why.
May I remind you that gamers complain all the time about a lack of creativity due to so many game companies bringing out games that clash with the originality factors, and yet there is this piece of gold lying around? Don't Starve could satisfy most, if not all, gamers for a good week - and that's talking general. The infinite things you can do in this game are second to none! You fight, you build a base, you make sure your territory is yours to all the outsiders trying their best to sneak in when your back is turned and you make fires - now who doesn't love those things?
I tell you, the first time I was introduced to this game was by a close friend of mine; I saw him playing it and didn't think much of it. Upon first glance, it actually looked dull. I can't believe I could have been so inaccurate. But anyways, he was talking about the fundamental brilliance of the game, while I listened half-heartedly, and came away rather unimpressed; later that month, my boyfriend had a free copy of the bloody thing, so I took it on board as my own (yes, after he offered, calm down). I didn't dare try it for a couple of days - of course, I wasn't afraid to, but I just wasn't interested enough to pick it up. But when the man kept asking if I'd touched it yet, I soon found myself feeling guilty. I caved and turned it on, Steam booting up rather nicely (on the topic of Steam, I also like the fact that Don't Starve is in a dispensable window, meaning you can still chat without messing around with that stupid tab key) as I did so. The start menu was generic, though I got a giggle out of Wilson's profile (I had seen the characters button and was curious, but since I'd only just started, there was only Wilson available) and I liked the art style of the game from what I'd seen. And then the start up process of the game. The part in which that cigar-smoking bastard Maxwell comes out of nowhere and mocks you, thinking he's so cool (then promptly disappears before Wilson can unleash the power of science on his sorry ass) before leaving you to collect your bearings and keep yourself alive.
Brilliant. Gold star for you, Maxxy.
Moving away from the basic outline of the game, let's take a look at the character selection of this game: a Gentleman Scientist, a pyromaniac, an old-school librarian, a brawn-before-brain wise-craker, a uselessly stupid mime, a dead girl and the sister of the dead girl. Not to mention a sweet little beep-box, and a totally-high, old man. You're set for all kinds of ridiculous fan content there, and possibly some of the most original character lines - by titles alone, since the game does little to develop them, honestly - ever.
Anyhow, before I bring this review down to a 'totally-biased' ending, I just want to mention the grueling adventure mode. Gamers often complain about having no challenges when it comes to competitive gaming, yet this adventure is bound to leave them sick to their stomachs with frustration; they'll want to win so badly, they will spend days, weeks, months, possibly even years, of their lives, trying their best to complete it, and feeling sorry for themselves when they can't. But I digress.
Anyway, the reasons (well, some of them - I don't want to keep you here for more than fifteen minutes, at most) that I believe Don't Starve is a fantastic game: you build a strong connection with your character. Believe me, once, I lasted for fifty eight days, and when I eventually got wiped out, I was so sad... the thought of Wilson dying and not coming back (I was out of sense - I truly didn't believe in the start-again option any longer) actually shocked me, and I had to take a moment to pull myself out of the "Oh-My-Goodness-My-Dear-Little-Scientist...-Gone" state of mind. Also, seriously now, the music is fantastic; the strong cello, oboe, clashy cymbals and sharp violin strikes are sure to make even the most irritable of people smile. It's been a while since a game hosted such genuine music - think back to the old Pokemon games with the battle music and the challenges music, or the old Sonic games in which only held the best soundtracks for games ever - and let's not forget the definite challenging proposition of the game:
Surviving.
That's all from me, my fellow readers - and seriously, pick up a copy of Don't Starve. You might find yourself just as sad as the rest of us, not being able to put it down even though you wish you could. Don't worry though, we gentle DS-folk welcome that gladly; we know what it's like to be so far off the deep end, you're genuinely attempting to make science machines out of the sorry excuse for equipment in your bedroom.
At least Wilson would be proud though.
Friday, 14 June 2013
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
I Guess I Should Be Honest But - Who You Are~
I guess I should be honest, but I've never understood why some parents take control of their children's lives and career choices. I mean, isn't it up to somebody, having a mind of their own, to be able to make choices that influence their life as a whole. Personally, it just doesn't strike me as right.
Now, me. I am lucky to have a mother who fully supports my choices (as far as my career path goes anyways) and is openly excited to see me achieve, and it makes me literally feel bad for others who don't have such a liberty; I know I'd feel cheated. Given a life of my own by my mother, and then I discover it was never really mine as soon as she starts taking control of my future and moulding it the way she wants it to be, regardless of what I enjoy, regardless of what I dislike and regardless of anything I ever say. It must feel terrible. Profession's a funny thing, and has a funny way of sneaking up on you, just when you thought you had your mind set on a particular goal. There's always something else, always the what if? of another possibility. And that is just one of the many things I am going to discuss in this blog entry.
Profession. Career. Lifestyle. They all mean the same thing, really, as they all have the prime factor in common: they influence your future and how you choose to live your life. For example, if somebody chooses not to have a profession of any kind, it shows in the way they act. They are often lazy, often dim-witted and often unmotivated and simply waiting to die. Which is all well and good, but wouldn't it be better to use your time on Earth for something good? The way I see it, you will always face situation in which you find yourself not wanting to do something, but you have to do it anyway. And so why not with a positive attitude, rather than a grumpy or negative one? You'll find that obligation gets a lot easier as you tackle it head-on with a smile, because smiling helps you forget why you even hated the idea of doing what you didn't want to do in the first place.
But what about if you have many ideas for careers and future goals? The answer, I've discovered over the course of three depressing weeks (more about that later), is simple: you have one life, and do doing all of those things is definitely an option. The only option. Because once you're done here, then what? Nothing, that's what. So if you want to be a singer, and an archaeologist then maybe a journalist... you go for it! Get those under your belt; live for what life is and do as many things as possible.
I recently hit a stump in my life in which had me down for ages, which is part of the reason I didn't update this blog for a while on end; I also hasn't written much at all, and my studies had reached a stand-still. Because I was worrying about my future. Yes, I know, blah blah blah, "you're only fifteen, you have plenty of time to think!", but it honestly felt like my life was ticking away in front of me, and that sent me into a panic. It wasn't even a fear of doing nothing that got me; it was the feeling of achieving nothing in my entire life, and it was incredibly big deal at that moment in time. Looking back now, I realise that I have plenty of time to make my decisions. I don't need to fret, and above all, I need to focus on getting the qualifications and grades that I need in order to be anything I want to be.
I sincerely hope you think your choices through too. I would be very pleased to see you - yes, YOU, reading this, right here, right now - as happy as possible. Because despite what people think, happiness is not gained through money and items and etcetera, etcetera, but out of love and cherishing what you already have. You learn to find value in the small things, and they end up being the very things that make you smile every day and want to carry on. And, if you're already in work, ask yourself, are you happy? Are you happy with what you're achieving? If the answer is "no" to either of these questions, then change it. Don't sit there and complain about your "crappy job", go out and change it, and make something out of that change: a better person. We are all in control of how happy we are, and how much of a good time we have, and only you can monitor that, even when things get harsh.
Value life, treasure the small things, because they will be the things to pick you up. Always.
Best of luck to you, fellow reader.
~Jess~
Now, me. I am lucky to have a mother who fully supports my choices (as far as my career path goes anyways) and is openly excited to see me achieve, and it makes me literally feel bad for others who don't have such a liberty; I know I'd feel cheated. Given a life of my own by my mother, and then I discover it was never really mine as soon as she starts taking control of my future and moulding it the way she wants it to be, regardless of what I enjoy, regardless of what I dislike and regardless of anything I ever say. It must feel terrible. Profession's a funny thing, and has a funny way of sneaking up on you, just when you thought you had your mind set on a particular goal. There's always something else, always the what if? of another possibility. And that is just one of the many things I am going to discuss in this blog entry.
Profession. Career. Lifestyle. They all mean the same thing, really, as they all have the prime factor in common: they influence your future and how you choose to live your life. For example, if somebody chooses not to have a profession of any kind, it shows in the way they act. They are often lazy, often dim-witted and often unmotivated and simply waiting to die. Which is all well and good, but wouldn't it be better to use your time on Earth for something good? The way I see it, you will always face situation in which you find yourself not wanting to do something, but you have to do it anyway. And so why not with a positive attitude, rather than a grumpy or negative one? You'll find that obligation gets a lot easier as you tackle it head-on with a smile, because smiling helps you forget why you even hated the idea of doing what you didn't want to do in the first place.
But what about if you have many ideas for careers and future goals? The answer, I've discovered over the course of three depressing weeks (more about that later), is simple: you have one life, and do doing all of those things is definitely an option. The only option. Because once you're done here, then what? Nothing, that's what. So if you want to be a singer, and an archaeologist then maybe a journalist... you go for it! Get those under your belt; live for what life is and do as many things as possible.
I recently hit a stump in my life in which had me down for ages, which is part of the reason I didn't update this blog for a while on end; I also hasn't written much at all, and my studies had reached a stand-still. Because I was worrying about my future. Yes, I know, blah blah blah, "you're only fifteen, you have plenty of time to think!", but it honestly felt like my life was ticking away in front of me, and that sent me into a panic. It wasn't even a fear of doing nothing that got me; it was the feeling of achieving nothing in my entire life, and it was incredibly big deal at that moment in time. Looking back now, I realise that I have plenty of time to make my decisions. I don't need to fret, and above all, I need to focus on getting the qualifications and grades that I need in order to be anything I want to be.
I sincerely hope you think your choices through too. I would be very pleased to see you - yes, YOU, reading this, right here, right now - as happy as possible. Because despite what people think, happiness is not gained through money and items and etcetera, etcetera, but out of love and cherishing what you already have. You learn to find value in the small things, and they end up being the very things that make you smile every day and want to carry on. And, if you're already in work, ask yourself, are you happy? Are you happy with what you're achieving? If the answer is "no" to either of these questions, then change it. Don't sit there and complain about your "crappy job", go out and change it, and make something out of that change: a better person. We are all in control of how happy we are, and how much of a good time we have, and only you can monitor that, even when things get harsh.
Value life, treasure the small things, because they will be the things to pick you up. Always.
Best of luck to you, fellow reader.
~Jess~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)