Flashback Fridays... Kinda

Since I'm doing this blog thingamagig, I will make it a point of posting a "classic," videogame review every Friday (if you do not know already, I write reviews on gamefaqs.com).

Since this is the first, I will start off with my first ever accepted review on that site; a review of Bleemcast! Tekken 3 for the Dreamcast. I had written two previous reviews that were rejected (for Tommy Lasorda Baseball and Sonic 3, both on the Genesis; I wrote reviews on both games that were accepted a couple of years later lol), thus I was mighty relieved when this review eventually was accepted.

Being one of my first reviews, especially being in Grade 11 in High School, it is a bit primitive in writing style compared to my later efforts, however I feel it to be ok still, even though it could be improved.

Anyways, enough of the rambling, here it is!

http://www.gamefaqs.com/dreamcast/566176-bleemcast-tekken-3/reviews/review-97190

"Don't be fooled by other Reviews, this game is still, and always will be, AMAZING!"

We all know the Bleem! story (well some of us do), and in the end, they jumped ship because they could no longer compete with the giants of video games (also though, because they were probably very immature about the whole Bleemcast! issue). Before they left though, they made a disc that enabled you to play Tekken 3 (For PSX) on your DC. All that was needed was a boot up disc (the Bleemcast! disc), and the Tekken 3 disc, and you were on your way. Thus, I will pretty much be reviewing Tekken 3. On to Game play!

NOTE**: I have no idea why this game has been given such bad reviews. It is an upgrade over playing it on the PSX in virtually every way.

Game play: 10/10

Namco is the King of fighters in terms of features, and game modes etc. You have your standard Arcade mode, and VS. mode. However, there is a team battle mode (one of the first games to have this mode), a Time Attack mode, a Survival mode, Tekken Force mode (which is essentially a platform game), and Tekken Ball mode (which is a refreshing change of modes {if you wish to change, the fighting in this game is what makes it good} in which you play beach volleyball, and if a special {or an attack that requires more than one button} attack is used, the ball will turn dangerous, and attack the person you are facing. Also, if the ball drops in for a point, then you also lose health). These modes are ALL fun to play. Is the story as good? Lets find out.

Story: 9/10

The Tekken story is not the same as other Tournament fighters (like SF or MK) where, "a bunch of warriors fight in a tournament to save the world." Each player has his or her own individual storyline, and each is very intricate, and pertains to the game. The reason it gets a 9 instead of a 10 is because the videos for each character (unlocked once you beat the game with them in Arcade) really have nothing to do with the storyline. Ah well, big deal. Controls next.

Controls: 7/10

The controls are what lack most in this game. Because it isn't an original PSX system etc., the programming must be off a bit, thus the controls **SOMETIMES** (not always like the other reviewers posted). Also though, if you try to do a move (on certain levels) that is flashy or takes a long time etc. (Ogre's fire breathing for example), the game will lag a bit (not really a control issue, but its related). Anyways, on to graphics.

Graphics: 9/10

The graphics in this game are astounding. Almost as good as Tekken tag. And for those who say that the graphics are no change form the PSX version... there is WORLDS of difference. They are MUCH sharper, the colours are more vibrant, and the motion is very fluid and there are no errors (unlike what other reviews say). On to Sound.

Sound: 10/10

Besides features etc, the best aspect of the game. This is the only game whose music is on my iPod (besides Total Annihilation, the score in that game is better than any other game ever ever ever). They are very upbeat, mainly dance/electronic music, with a touch of rock added in here and there. The fighters voices are usual voices for this genre; grunts, groans, screams etc. Now onto the final section, replay ability.

Replay ability: 10/10

Oh man, like all of Namco's fighting titles, the replay ability is up the wazoo. There is so much you can do to keep yourself busy (or if you are like me, beat everything in two nights, and just hone your skills) for weeks at a time. You can unlock every character's video, and you must beat Gon in Tekken ball mode to unlock him, and beat Dr. Boskonovitch in Tekken Force to unlock him. Not to mention you can play with your buddies for hours on end in VS and Team Battle.

Buy or rent:

#1. You will not find this disc anywhere to rent, you can only buy.
#2. The same applies with the Tekken 3 disc.
#3. Buy it. You won't be disappointed.


I still have no clue why people gave this game such a crummy rating (4 or 5 out of ten), while at the same time, they will rate Tekken 3 for PSX (which is this game. Exactly. There is no difference, except that this is better) a nine or ten out of ten. Namco did it again, and it shone with flying colours. Bleem! may be childish and immature (if you read their comments on the cover of the game case, you'll see what I mean), however I am glad that they were able to have gamers play this game on the DC. Kudos to you both Bleem!, and Namco, and shine on.

At first, I didn't end off my reviews with my traditional "post a quote that is humourous and/or integral to the game without spoiling," and take note that due to Gamefaqs default language of US English, I cannot use spelling and the like of Canadian English! :(

That's all, will post more of my VG stuff here and there, so keep an eye open; Peace!

Wife Swap Analysis

 

    Wife Swap is a reality television show that highlights two families who have the mothers switched around (both are sent to each other’s households to live with their respective families) and they must live in these households for two weeks. The first week is an observation week, where the mothers also must take on the duties of each other, while the second week is a week where they are permitted to implement their own rules of the household, as well as having their “host,” families follow their rules as well. Of course, the show is constructed in a manner that borders on farce, which calls into action just how “real,” the show actually is.

    Regardless, the show is actually highly anthropological, almost a human version of Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee study, just televised! The inherent differences of the majority of the families on this show, display just how different each family unit is, as well as how challenging it can be for an outsider to truly and fully acclimatise themselves into their host families. With the show being titled “Wife Swap,” however, it is only natural that the meat of each show is the mother of each family and how they can assert their dominance/feminism.

    On that note, the show is actually quite positive in my opinion, in the display of the female and their roles in their families/society. To begin, the females may be thrust into the subordinate role of “quiet housewife,” at first though they are able to be the dominant wife of the household, just a week later. This dynamic of both sides of the spectrum of women in the family unit, makes this show stand out amongst other reality shows, as it displays this notion of black and white that can occur between families.

    More so than black and white, is the notion of many different views of the nuclear family; the families are “happy,” with their own mothers, the sense of a patriarchy is there as the fathers of both families are the flag on the top of the mountain of each family and the women are judged on the traditional notions; the notion that they are judged on their success (the more wealthy mother in the subject episode, is the cooler, more socially “with it,” of the two mothers), cleanliness = “goodness,” (the less clean, harder working mother is seen as inherently crazy or evil, also reinforced by the fact that she will kill the house pet for food), and finally the notion that their respective houses are a reflection of the women (with drab and few clothes, the harder working mother is seen as less caring and not dependant on appearances, while with a stocked wardrobe of highly-priced clothing, the more wealthy mother is seen as materialistic and more mindful of the quality of their lives).

    The episode in question was moderately entertaining and even though there were moments of dubiousness in terms of reality, the episode displayed the massive differences between families that different in region, class and possessions.

Crookyln Analysis

    Crooklyn is a 1994 Spike Lee Film that takes place in New York in the early 1970s (most-likely 1973). The film is centered around a lower-middle class black family, and their various struggles with everyday life (the family is based on Spike Lee’s own family). There is emphasis placed on the daughter (Troy, played by Zelda Harris) especially, as she is the only girl in a house that is filled with five children.

    Troy is often overlooked in the house, as she is the second youngest, and the only female. Her interests seem to be secondary to her brothers, and as a result she has to resort to dishonest (though not necessarily “evil,” or illegal) actions in order to achieve what she desires, such as stealing from the local convenience store (as she is not given money to do so), or stuffing her shirt to make her appear as having breasts (which most nine year-olds have not developed yet).

    In today’s modern family, situations like this are few and far between as almost always, all children in a family are treated equally, however Crooklyn in my opinion accurately reflects the way females were treated at the time the film is set (not necessarily how a female is treated in a family setting, merely how women were treated in society; the workforce, on television, in the media). Surrounded by males, the woman slips through the cracks, and less time is spent on them, while the woman herself struggles to develop her own persona/life. While this struggle takes place though, Troy never forgets who she is, and what her background is.

    Even with her struggles, as well as having a Hispanic (Puerto Rican?) friend whose hair every girl in the neighbourhood is envious of, Troy never forgets that she is a black girl in a lower-middle class family. Spike Lee accurately portrays the depiction of the black female as Bell Hooks states in her notion of the “Oppositional Gaze.” Troy never desires to look as her Hispanic friend does (though it can be argued that someone of Hispanic heritage is not inherently “white,” as many forms of media have no doubt portrayed) and she asserts herself as female, avoiding to play in any of the games her brothers play.

    Crooklyn is an enjoyable film to view and is especially worthwhile for students who are studying cinema; I feel it should be required viewing. Spike Lee has a knack for accurately portraying the black community and his films include many concepts that film students will no doubt come across.