As you remember a couple of weeks ago I took my game geek status to a new level. I pre-ordered Too Human and lamented on how that pushed me over the edge from normal gamer to geek. Well it came and went. I got the game played the shit out of it and traded it in. This is a kind of misty eyed bookend nostalgia view of the game.
I played Too Human through twice. Once with mike as the commando on co-op multi and then once one single player with the defender. The game is rad. Rad rad rad. I loved every second of it but I do admit that there were some flaws.
The first giant flaw was there wasn't enough of it. there was only 4 levels and I played through them in 16 hours. When I finished I wasn't ready to quit I still wanted more. I wanted more gear, I wanted more ruiners most of all I wanted more of that delicious combat control style. Holding down the r trigger and pressing the right stick in which direction you want to shoot is such a natural ergonomic feeling way to shoot in this style of game that I am surprised shitty internet girls don't exploit it to become popular. I mean if something feels this good there has to be some way of bribing me into paying too much to watch it on a webcam. At the very least my seven hour game sessions were not marred by sore thumbs.
I know the lack of story and tutorials in co-op mode is a bit of a problem with mike. Actually it was a game killer problem for him so it might be of concern for some of you as well. I however played the single player mode as well so I got punched in the face with a million cut scenes and quit frankly got more than my fill of story. I still think It is a very cool idea for a game for the story to be optional like that. If you are choosing to play co-op with a friend you are choosing to forego the cut scene and total immersion style of the game. The ripped the narrative from your grasp and gave you nothing but lumps of glorious boner inducing combat.
One thing you must know is my opinion of trilogies is that usually in trilogies the first installment is wasted with boring introductions and too much character development and things don't get really fucking good untill the third installment. Think of how good the first lord of the rings would have been with out building your belief in that quasi homosexual hobbit bond and just cut to the epic battlescenes.
Nope too human didn't go there they took the delightful root of if you want to know more do research. There was a disclaimer on the Too Human website. They gave you a list of ways to prepare for the games launch. One item stated that if you wanted to know more about some of the characters you could read the norse mythology of which they are based on. It even had hot links to some very helpful stories.
I think the story was done perfectly it showed you characters told you their motivation and left it at that. Love it. There is nothing worse than video games that take a cliche character and ram it down your throat. Pretty much every fantasy character you can think of has been fully mapped in one media or another. I am very appreciative that this game didn't have the final fantasy disease. Oh look a new main character that is pretty much the same as the last one but guess what were are going to spend hours of cut scenes telling you what this character is about, GOODIE.
Don't get me wrong I pretend that I love story. I put in a modest effort and it takes me at least 4 hours of game-play to start skipping the story. On occasion though I will want to know more about the characters like their history and past feats and what really makes them tick. Thats what fucking wikipedia is for and not my valuable monster killing time.
I want to know more about a character I will go online and search their history. Like Dhalsim I recently went online and found out about his character. True it took me about 14 years to care enough to search it out but could you imagine how much street fighter would have suffered with hours of game-play being rededicated to character back story. It would have sucked then and it sucks now.
I want to move from that subject as me and mike have already argued the subject to death and I don't really want to re-live that with any of you... ever.
The best part of this game is the gear. Although my opinion might be swayed because I am a giant gear whore this game really hit the mark when it came to stuff. You pick up items by the ass load and although you do end up spending a lot of time in your inventory screen ever second of it is majestic. If it wasn't enough looking at comparing and juicing the stats on all the items you picked up you could also look at the blue prints you picked up of better items that you would have to pay to create. If after that point you still don't have a giant item erection you could just go back to "town" and shop for weapons armor and socket inserts and then jump right back into the story.
The look of the game is a mix of old norse mythology mixed with the classic fantasy armor mixed with futuristic robotics. What this means is you can make your character look like anything you want from a rubber jumpsuit ninja to giant armored to fuck knight to mega man to samus. Since you can also color your armor you actually really do look like mega man and samus. Which I did and it was awesome.
It may seem weird that I have already moved on from a game that I was in love with in less than two weeks. But let me tell you this even the sweetest game tastes sour when you play it for 27 hours in 8 days. Another interesting side note is that this game holds my record for unlocked achievements which is 32.
My final judgement of this game is 8.5 with marks docked solely for the shortness.
Too Human is Awesome
Cars and Songs Game
I design car ads every day. These ads require many different car photos. So I have a site bookmarked that has hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures of pretty much every type, model and year of car ever made. One day we were bored at work and decided to make a game where one of us picks a car photo for the other person, who then has to name a song that suits the photo. That person then chooses a car, etc.
What resulted was OVER 6 HOURS OF PLAYING THIS GAME.
mike: ok your turn
dale: instantly
dale: ITS RAINING MEN
dale: GERRI HALLIWELL
mike: haha
dale: yours
mike: I Ran (So far away)
dale: HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
mike: HAHA
mike: ok here's yours
dale: HIGHWAY TO THE DANGERZONE
mike: hahahahahaha
dale: heres yours
mike: Led Zeppelin - Immigrant song
mike: (do you know it?)
dale: hahaha
dale: :|
dale: no i am unfamiliar with led zeppling
mike: haha well i wasn't sure if you knew the song because of its dumb title
mike: i always forget what it's called
dale: its the one thats like aaaaaaiiiiaaaaaaa aaaaa over the land of ice and snow
mike: hahaha yeah
dale: its my fave led song
mike: ok yours
dale: hahahaha the song i'm listening to right now
dale: jupiter room - digitalism
mike: hmm i dont know it
mike: youtube
dale: i am finding it
mike: is this it?
dale: hahahaha yeah
dale: here is yours
mike: SUGAR RAY, RPM
dale: hahaha fuck yea
mike: fuck why isn't THAT song in a burnout game
dale: that album is fucking amazing
dale: they only put in indie shit
dale: cause its cheaper
mike: if that came on when a race was starting i would lose it
dale: burnout always has such good music
dale: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjb7UD7jPqM&feature=related
dale: or this song
mike: HAHA I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND THAT
mike: i couldn't remember the name though
mike: look at the comments
mike: ROAD RASH 64!!
mike: oh right your turn
dale: raspberry
dale: fuck who sang that
mike: i mother earth
dale: really hmm
dale: yeah
dale: I WANT HIS SHIRT HAHAHAHAHAHHA
mike: who the main guy's?
dale: yes
dale: heres yours
dale: the best car ever
mike: hmmm
mike: millencolin - penguins & polar bears
mike: yours
dale: haha nice picture
dale: damn thats a toughie
mike: haha
dale: oh wait i know
dale: freshman
dale: bhahaha that song is just douchie enough
mike: freshmen
mike: like verve pipe?
dale: yeah
dale: hahahahah
mike: hahahahaha
mike: totally
mike: fits the actual car too
dale: haha
dale: yours
dale: haha
dale: i don't quite know what that box thing with the trees in it is
mike: haha
dale: house? atrium? vestuble? garag?
dale: where should i go for lunch
mike: choices?
dale: acutally i am going to taco time cantina
dale: to celebrate payday
dale: cause its always like 15 bucks
dale: cause their beers are 6 bucks
mike: taco time has beers?
dale: the cantinas do
dale: they even have daquiris
mike: crazy
mike: okay i see this picture as being a secret party room
dale: hahahaha
dale: how mrs doubtfire
mike: haha
dale: i need to go for lunch i am effin stahven
mike: k wait
mike: i am sending you one then go
mike: so you can think on it
dale: ya freekin hadon
mike: haha
mike: hahahahahahahahhaa
mike: ok lunch
dale: here is one for you
dale: back yet
dale: my answer
mike: hahaha wipeout
mike: my answer is rammstein amerika
mike: OR nine inch nails closer
mike: for the machinery feel
dale: hahahahahhahahahahha this is retarded
dale: yours
mike: hahaha alanis - ironic
mike: yours
dale: haha is that mine
mike: haha yeah
dale: really there is only one answer
dale: hold a tick
mike: ahahahahaha
mike: nice
dale: like that wierd intro
dale: "I SMELL YOUTH. VINTAGE YOUTH"
mike: haha yeah
mike: did you give me a car
dale: oh no, here
dale: oh wait i have the best song for that
mike: hahah for that?
mike: i wouldn't have gone with the atv thing
dale: yeah cause its so manly
mike: i would have gone with this
dale: thats too refined
dale: ok here is yours for real
mike: ok got one
dale: GOOD CHOICE
dale: haha i love that fucking song
mike: me too
mike: espec the beginning
mike: so nintendo-ish
mike: your car
dale: this is my song
mike: haha ok
dale: or
dale: your car
mike: haha
mike: my song
dale: haha nice i like that song too
mike: your car
dale: my song
mike: is this your song?
mike: nice
dale: i can't be sure but road warrior might be one of the best movies ever made
mike: i also would have accepted this
dale: fuck i can't wait till death race
dale: heres your car
mike: my song
mike: hahaha
dale: THERES BITCHES EVERYWHERE
dale: I actually kinda like nelly
mike: i hated him
mike: then 50 cent came around
mike: and i realized nelly wasn't that bad
dale: i really hated him at first but i like the music he has
dale: and it sounds like he sings instead of talks
dale: its really bouncy
mike: his songs are definitely catchy
mike: YOUR CAR
dale: i actually realized i don't hate rap as much as i hate the music
dale: cause i really like speed tech rap
dale: this is the song
dale: your car
mike: hmm okay
mike: my song
dale: hahaha
dale: nice
mike: YOUR CAR
dale: okay
mike: hahahaha good song
mike: VANCE FINANCE
dale: your car
mike: MY SONG
dale: hahaha good pick terrible song
dale: haha
mike: haha
mike: no way the best version of the song
mike: YOUR CAR
dale: MY SONG
mike: hahahahaha
mike: so good
dale: yeah
dale: instantly thought of it
dale: your car
mike: ooooh
mike: got one
dale: hahahah perfect
mike: your car
dale: hahah oh i found the best car ever
mike: ok i'll use it one next
dale: oh shit wait my song
dale: okay here is yours
mike: HAHAHA
mike: nice
dale: hahahahahahahaha
dale: of course
mike: yeah haha
mike: i couldn't resist
dale: hahaha that was like the money one i was like too obvious but gotta
dale: i am leaving now though
mike: haha
mike: time for one more or no
dale: always time for one more
dale: we've got to be close to out of cars
mike: it's amazing just HOW MANY there are
mike: not that one
mike: just want to share how ugly it is
dale: hahahaha
mike: HAHAHAHA
mike: OH GOD
mike: HAHAHAHAHAHA
mike: i should have just linked this one but i had to show the suits haha
dale: hahahahaha kaaablaaaaam
mike: hahahaha
mike: i'm glad we wasted ALL DAY DOING THIS
dale: or this
dale: hahahaha
dale: me too
dale: such a good idea
mike: DR WHO
mike: BY FAR
mike: okay i'm posting all this
Team Fortress 2 / Looney Tunes
dale: second thought don't give the game a second chance that is fucking retarded
mike: haha
dale: jesus christ
dale: even TEAM fortress has more than that
dale: and thats like the most base multiplayer game i can think of
mike: haha i actually really like the idea of team fortress, the different classes, the varying objectives
mike: its just too chaotic for my tastes
dale: its just to simple and cartoony for my tastes
dale: it feels like a looney toons game
dale: with the level design and stuff too
mike: yeah its very cartoony
dale: haha that would be so rad if it was looney toons
mike: but i really REALLY like the class separation
mike: like how it's not just different weapons
mike: it's different run speed, health, everything
mike: i was hoping it would be more like this in BC
mike: plus the spy
mike: the spy is so rad
mike: haha
dale: medic = wile e coyote
soldier = sheep dog
heavy = taz
flame thrower = daffy duck
sniper is = bugs bunny
dale: spy = sylvester
mike: hahah they should make a mod
dale: no no soldier is elmer fudd
dale: hahah
mike: hahahah yes
mike: and flamethrower is foghorn leghorn
mike: same body shape
mike: scout is roadrunner
dale: no thats the grenader
dale: fog horn grenade
mike: haha okay
dale: i like daffy as the pyro
mike: he would be good yeah
mike: bugs as the sniper though?
dale: because of the mumbled speech
mike: bugs would be a good scout
dale: yeah the hat
dale: hahaha
dale: true
mike: hmmm
mike: ok bugs as one of those
dale: YOSEMITY AS THE SNIPER
mike: who would be the other
dale: NO AS THE ENGINEER
mike: hahaha no you cant
mike: YES
mike: SPY SAPPING MAH SENTRY!
dale: hahaha
mike: tweety as sniper
mike: hahaha
mike: its totally tweety
mike: ps here's our post
dale: hahahaha
dale: fuck i hate tweety
mike: haha he would be great as the sniper though
mike: giant hat
mike: giant gun
dale: haha yeah is that everyone then
dale: or porky pig
mike: nahhh tweety is better
dale: hahaha
Sooooooo I'm a geek
I've been playing video games since grade three, age 8 which is 21 years ago. I've been a giant fan of video games in general since Barry showed me his Sega Mastersystem in his dank basement. 
We played Safari Hunter and Wonder Boy cross legged on a TV that still had dials. I have missed more hours of sleep than one can count over the years and am ashamed to admit that I have missed both getting drunk and having sex in favor of playing video games instead. That said there was one thing I never considered myself. I never thought I was a Gamer Geek.
Thats not to say that other people didn't think that of me. There are probably still a couple of ex-girlfriends who clench their teeth when they talk about video games because of me. Also there was that thing of my parents having to hide the ninetendo hookups after busting me at three in the morning. To me however that was all regular it came with the territory I mean games are awesome. Now I have to admit it, I cannot deny any longer, I Dale De Ruiter am a video game addict but I love it.
Why the sudden change of heart? Why admit it now instead of gradeschool when friends would accuse me of using them to play ninetendo and not really being their friend? It's totally true by the way, you guys were tools but you had ninetendo what can I say. The reason I admit it now is more of a Final straw. It wasn't something giant and momentous that made me realize it was sort of one last little thing.
I Pre-ordered Too Human for the XBox 360.
Sure you can say its a smart move securing a very exciting title that I want to make sure is there when my clammy fat hands are ready to waste life away. To be honest though the real reason I pre-ordered this Silicon Knights delight is that if you do you get bonus armor sets. THE ONLY REASON I PRE-ORDERED TO HUMAN WAS FOR MORE GEAR.
I've been playing more video games over the last year than ever before. It could have to do with my being done school and having more free time and the fact I can play whenever I want because there is a separate room so I never have to worry about roommate-tv-usage. It could also be due to the fact that I work part time at Blockbuster and get free game rentals. Yet another reason could be mike convincing me to aquire Live and the Orange Box to play team fortress with him. Although Team Fortress is pretty shitty I have logged over 10 days online play for Call OF Duty 4. All I know is I am getting fatter and singler with every tick of clock. Its ok though because I get extra armor and I'm serious when I say that makes everything OK.
I should exercise more, I should go out more, I should make more friends but I definitely NEED to play more video games.