R.I.P. NBA Live (Now NBA Elite)

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NBA live is dead. EA Sports new nba franchise is NBA ELITE *link below*
http://kotaku.com/5548380/nba-live-is-now-nba-elite

In 2010 its cool to hate NBA live but believe it or not Live brought NBA games to the main stream. Before Live the main basketball game was NBA showdown(see Justins amazing video on it for gameplay) before NBA showdown we had series like "Lakers vs Celtics" & "Bulls vs Blazers." Dont get me wrong I love those games but they had a cult following. With EA introducing Live, the entire world became basketball fans.
EA started with a great commercial showing Tim Hardaway playing NBA Live, then Don Nelson grabbed it from him because he was ignoring the real game lol. NBA Live is the reason why im a gamer. I remember we played that game so much we use 2 turn off the calls, then play NBA Live street ball which became another game....CLASSIC.

Through out the genesis life cycle, NBA Live got better in every way every year. I remember playing LIVE 97 and thinking basketball games couldnt get any better than this... and to be honest I still think LIVE 97 is the best of its time. It did so much for Basketball Games(thats another post).

Once Live made the step to Playstation and Sega Saturn the problems started. Games like "In The Zone" started to rival the once king of the court. Shortly after 2K came out, Visual Concepts was right off the heels of making NBA Action 98 for the Saturn and learned alot from that project.

NBA 2k released on the dreamcast Fall 99....thats when NBA live died.

Years later, Live made several failed attempts to come back to the top. One of which was by adding Jordan(which was ruined when he came out of retirement to play for the wizards). One of LIVE'S most successful additions came in Live 03 when they added right stick dribble mechanics, then in Live 04 they added real life sneakers (LIVE 04has the best sneakers EVER!!!!!). Also the very next year EA made a dunk contest that was actually good(still the best dunk contest ever). All 3 moves that 2k eventually copied.

Thank you NBA LIVE for all the sweet memories & for taking basketball sims to a new level.







Star Wars Fans Do Epic Wins Or Fails?

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Once in a while I come across some videos on Youtube. These videos are usually fandubs and some are funny. But other just make me go why did you touch that. In this case here are certain videos, that made me go huh. Many of them made me giggle and laugh a little bit. Then some made me say man I wish I can kill you with a lightsaber. Check them out!

Lando The Nazi In this clip a Star Wars fan uses clips from other movies to make Han Solo, accussed Lando of being a Nazi. I did laugh at this one.


Qui Gon Jinn and Mace Windu in Return Of the Jedi - At the end of the clip Qui Gon and Mace return to look at Luke. Ummm Luke doesn't know these guys why would even try this. I'm not going to lie. I would put myself in this when I learn how to do.


Vader Makes Fun of Luke Just watch this scene. I laugh after the first time. Then it got annoying and pointless the second time.


Yoda Gay - Total Epic Fail.


The Real Mace Windu - Just pointless, just pointless. Even though I was dying to hear Mace say to Anakin, "Sit down Motherfucka."


Superman Saves Luke - Yes! Superman!


Soul Eater Monotone Princess (Wii)

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*Sigh* Japan has all the fun! I was watching Youtube and came across a Soul Eater game for the Wii. I'm not a huge gamer or anything but, the idea of playing a game with the Soul Eater cast is great. This game is called Soul Eater Monotone Princess. It looks ok. Anime Rules!!!!!!
You can check out our review here
/www.otakusandgeeks.com/akusandgeeks.com/2010/06/soul-eater-monotone-princess-wii-import.html

Rocket Knight Review

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Once again a classic game from the 16 bit world, is getting a whole new look on the PSN and Xbox Live. This time it's Rocket Knight and it's price is $14.99. Is the price worth the jet fuel?

Story - In Rocket Knight we follow Sparkster. He is the defender of the land of Zephyrus from ruthless animals. This time the invaders are the wolves, but however you still must face the lizard and the pigs from the previous game. Sparkster was farming and then boom the enemies come. Sparkster goes into his house and Up, Up & Away he goes.

Gameplay - The game is a 2.5D platformer. Rocket Knight has a variety of moves in his arsenal. Using his jet pack he is able to glide, double jump and give himself a boost. His weapons are a sword and gun. With his sword you are able to slash, spin move and using your jet back charge with your sword. Rocket Knight has a gun but I didn't find myself using it. That's because the core of the gameplay is focused on Sparkster's JetPack. This isn't a bad thing at all, in fact based on the level designs you'll need it.


The game comes with 2 modes an Arcade Mode and Freeplay Mode. Arcade mode you will play the story in sequential order. There is also various difficulty as Normal and Hard Mode. In Hard Mode when it comes to boss fights it adds a strategy element. Players will have to discover the pattern and weakness of the boss, and defeat it. This can be a little annoying but it brings a refreshing element to the game. The boss battle ranges from easy to hard. I found the Forest Shredder to be a little annoying, but once you find out his pattern it was easy. Free Play mode you are able to play any chapters you want.

Gameplay Video



Graphics - The graphics is beautiful. The colors and backgrounds are a really nice update from the original game. I didn't find any frame rate issues with game. It has a nice cartoon feel to the game and which I expect from a game like Rocket Knight.

Sound - I LOVE the music in Rocket Knight. It feels like I'm playing an RPG, but it's not. There is no language voiceover work in this game. Instead we get a language of the animals and that brought realism to the setting.

Replay Value - Unless you want to collect the extra skins and get all the trophies/achievements, or be number one on the leaderboards. There is little replay value here.

Final Grade - Rocket Knight gets a B- great gameplay, graphics, sound, but little to offer as of terms of replay value. Plus $15 bucks for a 2 to 3 hour game is a litle overpriced.



My Favorite OC Remixes

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If you call yourself a gamer then that means you must be familiar with OC Remixes. For those who don't know what OC Remixes are. OCR is an non profit organization who preservers videogame music. They do re-arrangements and their own interpretation and it sounds beautiful. Here are some of my favorite songs they have done.

The Final Summoning From Final Fantasy X


Jenova Piano From Final Fantasy VII


Final Fantasy VII The Twelfth Commandment OC ReMix


Kingdom Hearts New Beginnings OC ReMix


The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (OC Remix)

Guile's Theme Fits Everything

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So here's something you'd never expect to see. Take Guile's theme from Street Fighter, place it in various movie and game scenes, and you get... this.
There really isn't a whole lot to say about them, since the title pretty much speaks for itself. So instead I'll just post a few of my favorites.


omg spoilurz


I'm not going to completely believe that Guile's theme can go with anything until I see it done with something like The Passion.

Boys Be... Review

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"Cherry blossoms, the reagle flowers that has witnessed countless encounters throughout the ages. Cherry blossoms - the short-lived blooms that have seen so many goodbyes. The blossoms will watch over this year's heartfelt emotions as well. And open their buds once more.... In Spring the season of new beginnings."- Kyoichi Kanzaki

Story - The story Boys Be... follows six high school students as they try to find the perfect mate. The series is 13 episodes long and each episode focuses on a specific character. This works very well because we get a lot of characterization. The main focus follows Kyoichi Kanzaki. Kyoichi Kanzaki is your typical "Nice Guy" he has a good heart, shy but not confident. Kyoichi Kanzaki likes his long time friend Chiharu Nitta. Chiharu Nitta is a track runner, smart and beautiful but very insecure. I don't like Chiharu (see Episode 7) I feel that see is ungrateful and blind. Other characters are Makoto Kurumizawa, Yoshihiko Kenjo, Yumi Kazama and Aki Mizutani. Makoto is the pervert out of the three boys, he collects data on all the girls in school for donuts. However he gradually matures as he starts pursuing his own relationship desires. Yoshihiko is the jock out of the 3 boys. However he is not the jock that all the girls go for. He is pretty laid back. We have the nice guy, the pervert and the jock for the boys. For the girls we have Yumi who would be the Otaku girl. Yumi loves cosplay., sci-fi and she will be called your typical geek. Chiharu is the athlete and Aki is the girly girl who starts off as boy crazy until episode 4. Each character goes through an insecurity that they must face in order to find a good mate. It really is a beautiful and poetic series. I enjoy how they show how the seasons intertwine with the theme of love. For instance Spring is the season of new beginnings. Summer break ups happen and so on. It's a great story that you must check out.

Voice Acting - Voice acting is pretty solid. Nothing that is over or melodramatic. I had no problem the acting. The acting in English and Japanese brings you in woonderfully. Watching it I felt that these were characters were real people, with these issues. No one breaks character. Makato character is my favorite one to see on screen.

Music - Be-Factory did the OST for the show and it's music to my ears. Piano, Strings, Violins are all here. They have some of the most poetic love themes I've heard in anime. The insert song "Memoria" in Episode 8 is one of my favorite J-Pop songs and song of the series. If you find the OST make sure you give it a listen.

Final Grade - B+ Boy Be... is a must watch for Anime fans that are looking for something refreshing. I would of gave it an A but the ending made me say can we get another season.

CafePress.com (Justin's Clothing)

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This year the sis and I are going to the New York Anime/Comic Con. However we won't be in Cosplay. Instead we decided to represent our favorite shows, by wearing custom clothes. Cafepress.com is a wonderful site to get the job done. My brother order a beautiful Egyptian shirt of the Ankenaten the Egyptian Pharoah (since we are Ethiopian Egyptian). I love the quality so I figured let me give it a try. Here is just a little taste of the site, and what I'm ordering.

Second Summer Of Love Shirt

Justin - One of my Anime favorite shows is Eureka Seven and this is the first shirt I ordered. I love Renton and Eureka story and the picture is so wonderful.

Solider First Class

Justin - I love Cloud from FF7 even though he is a little emo for me. However I love that line Solider First Class.

Final Fantasy 13 Hat

Justin - I saw you can customize hats too so I did an Final Fantasy 13 one. The logo looks perfect.

Robotech Defense Force Logo Short Sleeve Shirt

Justin - Join the RDF squad.


RDF Hoodie in Black

Vampire Knight Fanfic Ch. 2

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As we last left off, I entered Cross Academy and met some interesting people. There is something about this place I can’t put my finger on. Although I have a feeling I will get my answer sooner than later.
2nd Day
(Insert song Beautiful Day by India. Arie)
Anime Angel: (singing the song) “…Wake up in the morning and get out of bed, start making a mental fist in my head, of all the things that I am grateful for. Early in the morning, dawn of a new day, new hopes, new dreams, new ways…”
(Hears knocks on the door and stops singing).
Anime Angel: Yes, who is it?
Yuki: It’s me Yuki. Is it okay for me to come in?
Anime Angel: Of course Yuki. Come on in.
(Yuki opens the door and steps inside).
Anime Angel: What’s that in your arms?
Yuki: This is your school uniform. You are now officially in the Day Class with Zero and I.
Anime Angel: Awesome I can’t wait.
Yuki: That’s good to hear. Most people aren’t very enthusiastic about school. You’re actually the first one I met who is like that.
Anime Angel: (I don’t know if I should take that as a compliment…). Well I just hope the class well treat me the same.
Yuki: Oh right aren’t you from America? Your not really accustomed to Japan yet are you?
Anime Angel: That’s correct. That’s why I’m kind of nervous about going to class. I can really be self conscious around people and new surroundings.
Yuki: Like I said to you last night, we don’t bite. Trust me the class is going to love you. Now put on this uniform and go to the chairman’s office in 20 minutes.
Anime Angel: Ok see you later.
(Yuki puts the clothes on the bed and closes the door. I look at the uniform folded on the bed. “I hope I can get along with everyone. Also (I clench my arms tight), I just hope nobody finds out about my secret, at least not yet”).
20 minutes later…
(I knock on the chairman’s door and the door opens).
Chairman: Wow Angel-kun. You look so kawaii!
Anime Angel: (Starts to blush) Th-ank you. Anyway Yuki said that I needed to come here. Did you want to talk to me about something?
Chairman: No need to be alert. I just wanted to tell you to have a wonderful first day here. And also a promotion.
Anime Angel: Promotion? But I don’t work for you.
Chairman: Well now you do. You are now a prefect for Cross Academy.
Anime Angel: (Don’t you have to mention to someone if they’re getting you a job? Will I really have time to do my studies and be a prefect?)
Outside in the courtyard, Yuki, Zero, and the chairman decided to fill me in on what being a prefect is all about and show me my new weapon.
Anime Angel: So are you telling me that I have to protect the Night Class from the Day Class because the Night Class is full of vampires?
Chairman: Yes I know it sounds strange but it is the truth.
Anime Angel: No it’s not that I don’t believe you; it’s because I do believe you. So Yuki and Zero have been protecting the Day and Night Class since the school opened?
Yuki: Yep.
Zero: …
Chairman: Well enough about that. Here is your new weapon.
Anime Angel: Oh My God!
(In the chairman’s hands were a bow and a sack full of arrows. How did he know I was an archer? It’s beautiful. Both the bow and arrows are a beautiful light blue).
Chairman: This is your weapon named Artemis
Anime Angel: Artemis.
Chairman: Take it.
(He hands me the weapon. And so I tried it out on a tree as my target. It was a bulls eye).
Chairman: Wow. That was…
Yuki: (glomping me) That was so cool Angel!
Anime Angel: Thanks.
Zero: I guess you’re not useless after all.
Anime Angel: So the man of no words finally speaks.
Yuki: Don’t be so rude Zero. I think it’s impressive. She will be a major help in the future.
Zero: Pff. Whatever. (To me). Don’t screw up.
Anime Angel: (Well our partnership got off to a rocky start). Thanks I will enjoy working with you too. (Rolls eyes).
Chairman: Don’t worry about him. He’s always in a sour mood. Come on we have to
class.
Anime Angel: Ok coming. (turns to chairman and bows) Thank you very much for everything. (turns and runs after Yuki)
Chairman: No problem. Oh and don’t forget you start working tonight! What a sweet girl.
Later that night
Anime Angel: (WTH. I haven’t been this tired since I had a bad nightmare about there being a sequal of Dragonball Evolution. Anyway I just hope I can stay awake.
Yuki: Yay! So here we are working as prefects. Oh here is your band so people will know you are a prefect.
Anime Angel: Thanks. (How in the hell is she so energetic? After the school day we had).
Zero: I don’t know why the Chairman wants you to work with us. I have no time for babysitting. I get enough of that from Yuki.
Anime Angel: (Zero you know you are very good looking, and smart, but right about know I want to punch you. But I’m too tired and I need my strength for later).
Yuki: Hey! (punch). It doesn’t matter now. She’s here and that’s that.
Zero: Pff whatever.
(Winds start to blow and I felt a sudden rush of energy).
Anime Angel (O.o Well Zero still doesn’t know the rules of being polite or subtlety). It’s fine Yuki. I will show him what I’m all about in a few seconds.
Zero: What do you…?
Anime Angel: Three, two, one…
(Girl screams)
Anime Angel: Told you so.
To Be Continued…

Legends Of Wrestlemania Review

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Legends Of Wrestlemania brought back some of the best moments in WWE history. Moments such as Hogan vs Andre The Giant, Hogan vs The Ultimate Warrior and many more. Legends Of Wrestlemania was made as a lover letter to the legends and the pay per view itself. However does this trip down memory lane worth the purchase? Or should we lay the Smackdown on this game?

Story - There isn't a story mode here in Legends Of Wrestlemania. However there is a mode called Relive, Re-imagine and Re-Do. In the Relive section you are able relive some of the great matches at Wrestlemania. Some matches are Hogan vs Andre The Giant, Bret Hart Vs Stone Cold, Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart and many more. Re-Imagine you choose a Wrestlemania match listed and it's completly different. For example they have Bret Hart vs Yokozua in a Steel Cage at WM9. Re-Do is just letting the other guy who lost win.

Gameplay - The gameplay in Legends Of Wrestlemania is very unique, but disappointing. Unlike Smackdown this gameplay has a lot of limitations. For one to do your finisher you have to go through a quick time event. If you press the wrong button you have to rebuild your finisher meter. That tends to be a pain in the ass, especially when you face human opponents. The controls feel very stiff and the action is very slow. There is also limitations in Match Types. For example the Hell In Cell you are not able to climb back up, after you come down. The ladder match is really limited it shouldn't be in the game. You can't hit the guy with the ladder when they are on the ground. How do you take something so basic as that out. The game is heavy on Quick Time Events. Irish whip them there is quick time of event. Here is an example video of the gameplay. There are a few good points you are able to import wrestlers on Smackdown Vs Raw to give you a bigger roster. Online play you have the same options but no Royal Rumble which would be cool. The created wrestler feels like a direct import from Smackdown.

Gameplay Video


Graphics - The graphics are the same as Samckdown Vs Raw. I find the fans and the stadium to be a little less good to look at. However Wrestlemania 10stadium is wonderful. The designs of certain guys like Hogan I felt were way to buff.

Sound - The sound is good. The music is always on point and you can have custom soundtracks. The broadcast team of J.R. and King are always on point especially in Re-Live mode. The crowd brings the chants when it's needed.

Replay Value - Unless you have a friend to play and do the wonderful Royal Rumble match. Legends Of Wrestlemania has little replay value. With clunky gameplay and not much modes to offer, you won't be returning.

Final Grade - Legends Of Wrestlemania gets a C- With a clunky controls and limitations this is a clear rental.