Japan 2017 - Sushi Dai

There are good things, there are great things, and then there are things that belong to a class of their own.

Food is no exception. There's just food that transcends the medium from nourishment to that of an art. Hong Kong showed it with Kau Kee's curry beef brisket noodles and Yat Lok's roast goose.

We've been looking forward to similar experiences since.

Tsukiji's Sushi Dai has been a must-visit on our mental list for a very long time. Chalk it up to documentaries like Jiro Dreams of Sushi (which we can probably never justify spending a good chunk of one's monthly salary on).

Anyway, we arrived in Osaka the night before, and took the shinkansen to Tokyo to meet our friends. They were flat out from travelling, but my girlfriend and I decided that we would power through the heavy rain and stick to the plan by heading for Tsukiji Market at three in the morning for sushi.

Was it worth the (three-hour) wait in the cold? Maybe. I can't really tell in hindsight. It is, however, the best sushi I've ever had by light-years.

I guess there's a lot of weird expectations our generation has about Japan. We grew up absorbing its cultural exports, and in a strange way we've probably subconsciously romanticized the idea that it's our foster country of sorts. Sushi, I suppose, was thus a fitting proper start to a nine-day adventure - and we knew we had to have it from the source.

Chutoro (Fatty Tuna)

Tai (Sea Bream)

Hotate (Scallop)

Akami (Lean Tuna)

Maki

Kinmedai (Golden Eye Snapper)

Taichiuo (Cutlass  Fish)

Ikura (Salmon Roe)

Sanma (Saury)

Bonus Piece: Chutoro (again), because this costs a lot in Manila.

Sushi Dai
Address: 5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, 中央区 Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Damage: Omakase Menu | JPY 4,000 (PHP 2,0000 | USD 39 | AUD 51)

Notes
Eat with your hands. Do as the locals do. The chef is a friendly fellow and, to our surprise, it seems that he has met his fair share of Filipinos as well.

Queue up early. If we had to do it again, we'd probably be there by 2:30am. Tsukiji is an interesting place. Bring snacks, if you need that energy boost.

Sushi Daiwa, which is literally next door, is run by the same family. Their queue is much shorter, but I'd still recommend getting there early.

Project Poseidon: Arena Not-So-Speedfarming in Gumballs & Dungeons

This post is slightly inspired by Arananthi's post, which shows how effective Dark spells can be when it's set up correctly.

This build also showcases the result of stacking obscene amounts of spell effect bonuses.

The Dungeon
This build will use the Arena as it remains the best gold farming location after the latest update. Furthermore, the F95 goal is always a great litmus test for any competent gumball team.

The Team
Fallen Angel (Main) is an oft overlooked gumball, if only because Canas presents a ton of amazing Magic-type gumballs in its roster. The Light and Darkness ability enhances any Light and Dark spells by a whopping 60% - a fantastic buff to some of the most useful crowd-clearing spells in the game such as Death Ripple as well as clutch heals like Divine Favor. When used as a main, Fallen Angel provides a Death Ripple scroll every other floor to ensure a steady supply of nasty firepower until the end. Using this gumball as a main also gives access to the first three tiers of the Demon title, thus granting significant Power bonuses (via Little Demon) at the tail end of the run.

Justice Herald's (Soul-Link 1) Steel-Like Body provides a passive +5 Defense and 15% HP recovery per floor. This greatly increases survivability in the dungeon's higher levels. This is a personal choice due to the ease-of-life benefits that the gumball provides - feel free to substitute any Melee gumball as preferred.

Hamster's (Soul-Link 2) Hoard provides the same main ability as Spy which lets players ignore slate guarding by enemy monsters. This is especially useful in higher floors where one might need to conserve spell scrolls by opening all slates before unleashing a singular devastating Death Ripple to clear everything in one shot. Hamster also has a 30% chance to create food each floor, which mostly provides permanent stat bonuses throughout the run. Over 90+ floors, these bonuses can add up pretty quickly.

Equipment
Take the Gloves of Dark Arbiter +6, as well as the Mixture of Light and Dark.

Strategy
Upon entering the dungeon, max the Treasure Seeker title.

Before F5, try to fill in the Magic Title as follows: Magic Apprentice (1*), Black Mage (1*), Conjuror (1*). This should help you have more than enough Death Ripples to easily clear the first Arena Fight.

Throughout the dungeon, work on the titles in this order: Dark Master (3*), Black Mage (3*), Dark Priest (0*), Conjurer (3*), Magic Apprentice (3*), Dark Priest (3* Power), Novice Warrior (1*), Warrior (1*), Magic Warrior (1*), Shadow Warrior (1*), Dark Arbiter (3* Attack, 3* Artifact Bonus, 3* HP, 3* Power - in this order), Dark Priest (3* MP, 3* HP), Fallen (1*), Inferior Demon (1*), Middle Demon (3*).

All other titles are optional after these - I prefer maximizing Power for my spells.

The titles provide incredible synergy for Dark Spells on top of having a very high Power stat. Two key spells will be buffed to incredible levels, summarized below:

Death Ripple
+60% damage (Fallen Angel ability)
+30% damage (Mixture of Dight and Dark with Fallen Angel bonus)
+40% damage (Dark Master)
+75% damage (Dark Priest)
+75% damage (Dark Arbiter)
+75% double damage chance (Dark Arbiter)
+50% double damage chance (Dark Priest)
+90% ignore resist (Dark Arbiter)
Total: +280% damage, +90% resist ignore, guaranteed double damage chance

Implosion
+60% damage (Fallen Angel ability)
+30% damage (Mixture of Dight and Dark with Fallen Angel bonus)
+40% damage (Dark Master)
+75% damage (Dark Priest)
+50% double damage chance (Dark Priest)
Total: +205% damage, +50% double damage chance

This does not take into account equipment bonuses, such as Nether Boots (+25% Death Ripple damage), Hades' Bottle of Soul (+30% Dark spell effects) or the Great Druid's Cloak (which provides a ridiculous +200% damage bonus for Death Ripple).

For scroll shops, stockpile the following spells as they're provide great utility throughout the run: Meteor Shower, Icicle, Earthquake, Electrostatic Field, Disrupting Ray, Divine Favor, Curse and (more) Death Ripples.

For the Depot, prioritize Burned Parchments and Eyeball Tinctures, in that order.

All the Arena fights can be dealt with via casting Curse or Icicle (as needed) followed by spamming Death Ripples to clear everything in the floor.

F30-40 bosses can be wrecked by Fireballs, Lightning Bolts and Meteor Showers, while the F50-60 bosses won't take more than a few Death Ripples to beat. F70-90 bosses can be slain using a combination of Disrupting Rays, Hexes, Implosions, and Burned Parchments.

Pros
All gumballs are available for free.

Perfect build for those who love arbitrarily large numbers.

Cons
Some skill (and focus) is required to ensure spell scrolls would last until the end of the run - not really a con for those who love the strategic aspect of the game.

Takes a bit longer than using the classic Howling team.

Final Thoughts

This build proves how versatile a properly built gumball team can be by providing a great alternative to free players for Arena farming.

Chapter 29

Life is a vast infinity of unknowns. (Taken at Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia)

Another year, another notch in my calendar.

Over the years, I've come to realize that very few things have grown as much in value as time. Severely limited and utterly irreplaceable, it's an oft overlooked moral imperative that we have to do as much good as we can in the world with what we have.

I suppose that's one of reasons why moving out has been one of the bigger decisions I've made in the past year. Time has grown increasingly important for me - which is inversely proportional to the omnipresent Filipino misfortune of Manila's slowly regressing traffic situation.

Eliminating the four-hour commute each day has done wonders for my well-being. That's easily twenty hours a week, eighty hours a month and eventually, 40 days a year. It's terrifying that people lose a month of their lives every year to meaningless travel. There's just so much value one gains back when time is saved. Less stress, more sleep and better opportunities to pursue one's fleeting interests - maybe that's one of the better gifts I've received in a very long time.

Oh, and the sometimes overwhelming sense of freedom of being (mostly) on one's own is just icing on the cake.

Despite everything, I'm glad to say I'm in a much better place. Heck, maybe things are even starting to look up.

Later!

Project Poseidon: Arena Speedfarming in Gumballs & Dungeons

Gumballs and Dungeons is a deceptively complex mobile game, with even more deceptively hidden features.

One of these is the Poseidon gumball, the second highest unlockable character next to Hades. As a Canas' Enlightenment player, Poseidon is a must have, but getting to the 38,000 point threshold for this Spending Returns reward will take some effort for non-whales like me.

The Dungeon
At an average of 120,000 gold per F95 run, the Arena is the best option for farming by a massive margin - up to six times more gold earned compared to other currently released dungeons. The most commonly used teams take an hour on average to complete this dungeon, which isn't ideal for players who are otherwise pre-occupied with real life.

The Team
Odin (Main) is arguably the best magic-class gumball. The Eternal ability enhances any spell being cast by 40% and extends effects by an additional round. When chosen for use as a main or link gumball, it provides a Electrostatic Field scroll every two floors. If used as a main, it also gives a free Timestill at the start of the run.

Three-Eye King (Soul-Link 1) provides the Sky Eye active skill, which damages all on-screen enemies based on the attack stat and reduces the defense by a considerable amount, allowing for devastating follow-up attacks. Even more important is that it carries the Oriental Paper Cutting when entering the dungeon. This single use item summons Howling, a pet often exploited for its scaling health and attack stats coupled with life leech and decent dodge rating.

Merchant's (Soul-Link 2) skill is Trading Master, which passively adds three more items to all Treasure and Scroll shops within the dungeon on top of a 25% discount. This allows for an easier time finding useful equipment and spells throughout the dungeon run.

Equipment
Bring the Necklace of Legendary Mage +6, as well as the Werewolf Potion.

Strategy
Upon entering the dungeon, focus on maxing out Treasure Seeker and Magic Apprentice. At this point, EP can be saved up for future use.

Buy all Disrupting Rays and Earthquakes from the scroll shops you come across. Similarly, purchase all Burned Parchment scrolls and Orc Livers from the Depot, prioritising them in that order.

For Treasure shops, try to buy pieces of the Noble Suit and the Hunter's Suit which will help in filling out the titles needed for the run. It's not really required, but try to buy Destroyer's Slate, Belt of Electric Arc and White Pearl if they come up. This helps in boosting some of the buff spells later on.

Do not disenchant treasure until the Blacksmith title has been maxed out.

For the Arena matches until F55, use Bless followed by Sky Eye to defeat the opponent and clear the audience easily. For bosses until F50, use Electrostatic Field, followed by Sky Eye and Lightning Bolt to beat them.

On F25, fill in the titles in this order: White Mage (1*), Priest (1*), Air Master (3*), Legendary Mage (0*). This should help in clearing bosses and Arena matches until the the rest of the build is complete.

The next goal is to forge (or find) an Earth Spell Book using Holy Blacksmith. Fill in the Venture title as follows: Explorationist (1*), Blacksmith (3*). As soon as the Blacksmith title has been maxed, start disenchanting unused treasure for extra EP and Quenching Essence. Continue titles towards Royal Blacksmith (1*) and Holy Blacksmith (3* HP). Before F60, there should be enough Quenching Essence for the Earth Spell book. Equip it at this point to amass Earthquake scrolls.

If all goes well, there should be enough EP to fill in the Melee titles: Novice Warrior (1*), Knight (3*). Legendary Mage (3* HP, 3* Power) should be maxed as well before F60.

The titles above should provide Howling with a decent HP pool to last until F95. He should be summoned using the Werewolf potion trick to maximise stats. Typically, Howling should have 1200 HP and 1400 Attack (for Bless) or 2400 Attack (for Blade of Ruin).

At this point, EP can be freely spent. I always fill in the rest of Legendary Mage for free Timestills and extended spell duration, then focus on boosting HP from then on.

Howling should be able to clear everything easily with minimal help. The next checkpoint is the F80 boss. To defeat it, cast Timestill - which should last for ten turns - followed by Electrostatic Field, Disrupting Ray and spells of choice for an easy win. If there are more than five Burned parchments in inventory, these can be used in place of spells to one-shot the boss.

Watch Howling's HP on the next floors as the enemies will start hitting considerably harder. If he enters a floor with low HP, cast Earthquake to speed-clear the floor without enemy counterattacks. This trick should allow for fast-clearing floors all the way to F95 (or beyond).

At the F85 Arena match, Timestill should last for a whopping 23 turns.

At the F90 boss, cast Timestill, Electrostatic Field, Disrupting Ray and Burned Parchments for another easy win.

At the final Arena match in F95, cast Timestill and throw everything at the Spartan gumball. Clearing this will provide fragments, as well as upgrade the Champion's Certificate to give 100,000 gold upon exiting the dungeon. Hoorah!

Pros
This setup revolves around reliability, ease of living and speed.

The Titles provide a lot of safety nets, and allows for runs to be completed even in the (likely) scenario that Blade of Ruin does not drop before needing to summon Howling.

The setup also eliminates a lot of RNG-related factors that other builds may have.

Cons
The largest setback is the fact that Three-Eye King is not only an event gumball, but he has only been available once so far during the week of the Chinese Lunar New Year. So far there are no indications of the event returning until next year, but my theory is that the event would return on October in time for the Golden Week.

Odin is a gem-only gumball, but should be one of the first purchases with the many free gems that the game provides. It might be expensive to max his stats as well, but it's well worth it.

Final Thoughts
This is the quickest way I've found so far to farming the Arena for easy gold. With practice, it is possible to beat the dungeon in around 20 minutes without relying on luck. The biggest challenge is the availability of the Three-Eye King, but it should come back around in a few months time (as per the developer's hint).

Enjoy!

Beef and Ale Stew

There's something about the rainy season that makes people gravitate towards heartier dishes. Whether it's braving the increasingly common floods on the way home from work or just wanting to cook something passive on a cold weekend day, one can't go wrong with this dish.

Ingredients
700g beef short ribs, cut into small chunks
a few tablespoons of flour
1/4 bar of butter
2 large onions, cut into quarters
2 whole pieces of garlic, crushed and peeled
200g tomato paste
1 bottle of preferred beer
half a liter of water, or substitute with another bottle of beer
1 beef bouillon cube
2 large potatoes, cut into eights
2 - 3 carrots, cubed
Worcestershire sauce

In a large bowl, coat the beef with flour.

On a large pot, melt the butter in medium heat. Add the beef in batches, ensuring that they are lightly seared. Once the beef's surface start to turn brown, immediately remove from the pot and place on a separate plate to allow it to rest.

Back to the large pot, add the garlic followed by the onions and cook slightly. Add the potatoes and carrots, and cook for about 2 - 3 minutes.

Add the beef, ensuring that the contents are mixed equally. After 2 to 3 minutes, add the beer into the pot. Bubbles may form from the carbonation, which will eventually settle after a few minutes.

Bring to high heat, then carefully pour in the water (but avoid filling to the brim) followed by the beef bouillon. Add the Worcestershire sauce to taste - I probably used a third of the bottle in this batch. Finally, add the tomato paste into the stew and bring to a boil.

Once the stew starts boiling, reduce to low heat to avoid overflowing. Cover the pot but leave a small gap to allow evaporation. Cook for another 1.5 - 2 hours until beef is tender, then serve.

Enjoy!

Shakshuka

Rhetorical question - is it weird that my latest post after a long drought of updates is a recipe?

Whatever.

This is a recipe for shakshuka, a North African dish that I've been meaning to cook for a long time. Hearty and warm, it's excellent for cold, rainy nights. It's excellent for any time of the day, really.

Ingredients
2 whole pieces of garlic, minced
2 onions, sliced thinly
700 - 1,000g of crushed tomatoes
2 green bell peppers, sliced
1 tablespoon of chili garlic (or your spice of choice)
6 eggs
200g of button mushrooms (optional)
salt

Heat oil on a large, flat pan. Add garlic and allow them to brown slightly. Toss in the onions, cook until onions are slightly sweet then add the bell peppers.

Once the bell peppers are slightly cooked, add the button mushrooms. Cook for 1 minute, then add the chili garlic. Stir well for another minute, then add the crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer on low to medium heat.

After the water has slightly reduced, add salt to taste and continue stirring. Crack the eggs over the surface area of the stew, allowing the simmering tomatoes to gently cook then. If not using a cast iron pan, distribute the heat manually by moving the flame under each egg to slowly cook them. Add salt as desired.

Once raw egg whites are no longer visible (or is minimal), turn off the flame and cover the pan. Ideally, the yolks should remain runny.

Portion on plates, then serve with toast.

Enjoy!

Conquering Masungi

The Web.  © Almary de Ocampo

For all its fragile beauty, there are very few things that would make one feel insignificant as the majesty of nature. This was my main takeaway from a weekend trip with friends to the Masungi Georeserve, a conservation area hidden away in the rainforests of Rizal.

Torn from beneath the sea by volcanic activity about sixty million years ago, Masungi Georeserve features limestone features jutting out the forest throughout its vast territory, most of which are reachable within four hours' worth of trekking (and picture-taking, for those so inclined).

Limestone Formations. © Almary de Ocampo

The trek began at a base site, which was essentially a garden which had a few covered areas for briefings and debriefings. We were introduced by the park staff to the ranger who was assigned to guide us through the rainforest and we were reminded of a few rules for the trip.

Masungi was a dying landscape as recently as 1999 and was restored with a great deal of effort over a decade by some very passionate individuals. The reserve opened to the public late last year in an effort to raise consciousness for its continued preservation (despite some significant struggles that threatened its existence only a few months ago), thus most likely ensuring its place amongst the better nature retreats easily accessible from Manila.

Scarier than you think. © Almary de Ocampo

A lot of the views are spectacular and (literally) breathtaking, such as the famous sapot (spider web) and the duyan (hammock), where everyone is suspended several hundred feet in mid-air over rocks or the forest canopy overlooking the park.

Duyan. © Almary de Ocampo

Masungi is laid out like a Dark Souls level - most of the landmarks visible in the distance were reachable on foot, and it was really cool to make mental notes (of personal achievement) as we reached each feature we saw just hours prior.

Nanay, one of the two major 'peaks' (along with Tatay). © Almary de Ocampo

It was a relatively easy trek, as the trails have been clearly marked (although there was a good amount of 'alternate' routes that the rangers warn newcomers about) and a path was painstakingly laid out through the rainforest for both trekkers and folks who just wished to retreat into nature.

While not as physically demanding as the 'easy' peaks like Pico de Loro, Masungi requires a decent level of fitness during the trek. In addition to the rainforest trail, we had to climb up (and down) several rope cargo nets as well as walk (and crawl) through caves - of which some of the crevices were rather small - to move forward.

Yungib ni Ruben. © Almary de Ocampo

The park was a combination of both natural wonders and human engineering. A lot of the artificial landmarks were built by hand over a long period of time, such as the duyan (which took three people ninety days to build) and what I could only describe as a 'rest station that was held up by a hanging bridge over the forest'. It's a testament to the engineers' and rangers' passion to help to raise public awareness for the reserve.

No, seriously. © Almary de Ocampo

I've been to several treks and one of the biggest things I've noticed was that there was not a single piece of litter throughout the trail - something that I was consciously trying to find. The park rangers were adamant that we should leave the place just as it was when we arrived, and the fact that they didn't sell any souvenirs reinforced the idea that they were doing what they did for a singular cause and they were not running the park for profit.

Masungi Georeserve's primary goal was to raise awareness for natural conservation and sustainable eco-tourism, and I believe that they were spot on in providing people with an opportunity to commune with the natural world. It was a gentle reminder that we humans are all but fleeting travelers through this life, and the world will continue to exist long after we move on.

Lame. © Almary de Ocampo

The Fine Print
They charge PhP 1,400 for a minimum group of seven, with a group of fifteen as the largest batch they'll take. Book in advance through their website, as it could take weeks (or even months) for a slot to open up. The cost includes the services of the park ranges (who'll also serve as the guide), as well as a liter of water and a sandwich (and some refreshments) at the end of the trek.

Safety gear will be provided along with a knapsack to carry things around. I'd recommend bringing only the essentials, but I think bringing extra water would be a good idea as the physical activity could lead to some mild dehydration despite the shade from the forest canopy.

I'm not sure if they'd provide ponchos in case it rains. It actually did pour down when we got there, but thankfully the weather cleared up before we were scheduled to start.

The trek isn't as hard as it seemed (despite the pictures) and overall, I'd say it was definitely well worth the price.

To Anxiety and Beyond

They say that video game addiction is pure escapism - that there's something about real life that makes one spend hours upon hours avoiding it.

Maybe I'm still trying to figure out what I'm mentally running from - or maybe it's something I already know deep down and I'm just in denial trying to shield myself from realizing it. If there's anything I know with absolute certainty, it's that I'm in desperate need for a change.

What change that is, of course, is still up in the air (although I have a pretty good idea of what it probably is).

We spent a couple of days in my happy place recently - doing stuff like picking grapes, going to the beach and other whatnot that my younger self would have foolishly taken for granted. In that brief weekend, I felt a sense of relief I haven't felt in months. There was a mixture of fleeting sadness and disdain at the end of the trip because there was a real life we had to go back to. Perhaps the longing for an escape has grown into its own vice - a vice that I don't see myself trying to fight.

I've been waking up much earlier for the past few days (and dreaded the sheer notion that I'll need to will myself awake weeks beforehand). I've also been playing a lot less video games for a while now, for what that's worth. Maybe it's because my time for meaningful (or senseless) conversations, much needed sleep and winding-down-stuff have been cut drastically that I can't fit in some things anymore. In that time, I've learned how to play D&D (another thing my younger self would have scoffed at). I've cooked an awesome batch of hotpot. I've been trying to get myself started on doing a few crafts again.

People need little victories every now and then.

It's that pathological itch for learning rearing its familiar head again. "That's a good thing", someone once told me, or rather, someone told themselves while we were in a conversation. Without much choice in the matter, I agreed.

I feel like I'm at a different level of anxiety lately - the kind that ties the stomach in knots every waking moment and makes one reconsider their life choices. I remember a story about one of my college friends. Shortly after we graduated, he got a job at a call center, called it quits after mere days and returned to school to take a second degree in the medical field. He never looked back, and back then I wondered why anyone would make such a mistake in life.

These days, I know that it was I who was wrong. Four years are nothing compared to the rest of one's lifetime.

There are two more important things I've learned so far since then.

First, life is too short for us let our mistakes run too long. More importantly, life is long enough to allow us to correct them and live the rest committing more meaningful ones.

Thoughts After Lent

Basically me, over the Lenten weekend.

Like most years, the past weekend was spent at home.

We usually maintained a silent vigil as the rest of the household went off to the province, giving us much needed time for reflection over life in general.

I got a few things done over the past few days like repairing my debased Mage Knight miniatures (which I've put off for years) and managing to get enough exotic ingredients for a hotpot (like taro seafood balls, enoki and shiitake) amidst a silent city (which was extremely delicious).

It was nice that some of my favorite hangouts in Banawe were open (and barely crowded). I noticed that the servers were unusually cheerful (which is something I should try to be more of these days).

Besides that, all I did was sleep.

Maybe it's my body trying to greedily lap up the hours of lost sleep from living in a city with nightmarish traffic. Maybe it's my mind trying to comprehend the incomprehensible complexities that make up our lives. Maybe its the exhaustion from trying to discern what is important and, well, what things can be discarded as unnecessary burdens in a life meant to be lived.

Four days are not long enough to get shit together, but I guess it's enough for a start. The world will always keep moving despite what I think of it (and no, life is not as fair as movies make it out to be), and I guess it's an injustice to myself to not do anything about it.

Like I said, mine is a life meant to be lived and that's what I'm going to do.

The Story So Far (As I've Been Absent Lately)

Heya!

I'm still alive (mostly) and well (mostly), although I must admit that there might have been a couple of things that I've neglected lately.

Sadly, those things will have to be neglected (again) for the near future - and by near future I mean for another month, because I'll be joining NaNoWriMo again this year in the hopes of bagging a third win and another pretty book in my (future) bookshelf. I'll probably be pantsing most of this year's novel, which means I'll probably be more grumpy and brooding than usual (and I do apologize in advance for that).

Anyhow, the things that have happened for the past two months (in no particular order) are:

• watched a musical (and somehow got free seat upgrades)
• went to Art In Island and scored some strange photos
• spent a few days in Cambodia to visit temples, trek a couple of mountains
• finished the King's Fall raid, sending Oryx's dead ass hurtling towards Saturn
• ate a lobster roll

I promise to write about a couple of these after the insanity that is November.

Lastly, my 2014 NaNoWriMo entry, Domino, is now up for sale in Amazon (paperback) and Lulu (hardcover). It's crazy pricey (although it's the websites who mostly control the prices) - but at 382 pages, I hope it's worth it in all its nigh-unrevised glory. And yes, this is a shameless plug. I'm sorry.

Later!

Zod and the Expendables: An Injustice Mobile Multiplayer Team

Raven Prime. Stupid Raven Prime.

This event-only card is probably one of my most hated ones out there, tied only by the equally annoying Killer Frost Regime (which is a different nightmare altogether).

Very few characters in Injustice are as centralizing as this blue crone. Her ability to swap health bars against her unfortunate enemies when she takes too much damage is often enough to turn the tables against unprepared players. To be able to do it twice is almost unfair.

Combined with her sick passive ability, Raven's specials deal a surprisingly huge amount of damage and sets her as potential nightmare match-ups even against the most seasoned players.

The Team
If this team has a motto, it would be: Slow and steady wins the race. The team starts out by playing defensively, and seeks to abuse Zod Prime's often overlooked ability by putting it in a combo with Aquaman's second special skill. Combined with opportunities to deal a huge amount of burst damage and absorb the brunt of enemy special attacks, this is a solid team to use in multiplayer.

Aquaman Prime
Aquaman's goal in this team is simple - to quickly charge up enough power to use his second special skill, Atlantean Hero, while dealing chip damage against opponents. The first two equipment slots contain power generators to allow Aquaman to churn out as many heroes as quickly as possible. To ensure his own longevity, a level two healing gear is placed onto the third equipment slot.

It's interesting to know that the Atlantean Hero actually deals more basic attack damage than Aquaman himself, but his primary goal is to serve as sacrificial fodder to power up Zod Prime (as well as to sponge enemy special attacks and Raven's stupid ability).

Zod Prime
Zod's ability, Phantom Zone Survivor, increases his damage by a whopping 20% per knocked-out teammate and heals him as well. Summoned characters count towards this boost and gives his ability a potential for abuse.

Zod's role is to deal a lot of damage once Aquaman has boosted him up a few levels and tag out if he has absorbed a bit of damage to allow his teammates to power him up and heal him. This is critical to the team's success - knowing when to switch Zod is such a huge momentum push especially if he's been able to fire off unblocked combos against the opponents. Don't be too overconfident in racking up those ten thousand damage basic attacks - take the time to slowly pick apart the opponent especially if they have a few specials stored away.

Zod does not need power generation gear. Instead, he should be equipped with things that increase his basic damage and critical hit rate. I opted to add healing gear that paired well with this (such as the Knife Collection) as it helps Zod absorb more hits before opting to switch out of battle.

While his Kryptonian Rifle is the special attack of choice, his Ground Blast should not be overlooked. After a few boosts, it deals an absurd amount of burst damage even if blocked and would serve as a good push against enemies who just won't die such as Godfall Superman.

Harlequin (Animated)
As always, Harley serves as an invaluable support character. Equipped with power generators and healing gear, she can always quickly pop in and provide healing, allowing hear teammates to get back on their feet in case they take too many hits. Being able to deal unblockable damage also has its moments, and is often a time saver.

Sum of the Parts
I think this team is one of the most easily playable teams in terms of skill level. There's plenty of room for mistakes as two of the characters are able to provide support while slowly picking apart the opponent while a powerhouse waits in the folds to deal the finishing blows.

Deranged Amazons: An Injustice Mobile Multiplayer Team

So I've been playing quite a bit of Injustice Mobile's multiplayer since it was released a few months ago.

To be quite honest, the game's multiplayer component isn't beginner friendly. The game is just too easy to hack (as could be easily seen from the weekly leaderboards) but that isn't to say being competitive is impossible. In fact, playing with bronze characters is pretty much a given during the first few weeks. I used a team of Nightwing, Lex Luthor and Green Arrow myself to be able to build up resources - and I was able to reach at least the top two or three percent of the weekly rankings.

Currently, there isn't any metagame to speak of - majority of the top-end teams use predictable characters, most of which favor brute force over utility and synergy. Such teams are incredibly flashy but they do not lend themselves well on the defense, which in itself is a good source of ladder points.

Off the top of my head, five of the more commonly used fighters are:

Batman (Arkham Origins)
This fighter is one of the most expensive, and is well worth its weight in gold. His passive provides him with two charged bars which allows him to use Winged Avenger. Timed right, it could very quickly turn a battle to a three-against-two match.

Shazam
Billy Batson's alter ego is the rarest card that could be obtained from the gold packs. Averaging at around one in fifty packs, that's about five million credits per card. There's good reason for this. Shazam has the highest stat total in the game and his passive ability, Lightning Fury, is a game changer. It allows him to use Bolt of Zeus and Roaring Strike for any number of times in twelve seconds after firing off The Power of SHAZAM. Timed correctly, it often spells doom for the opposing team.

Darkseid
Like the previous two, Darkseid possesses ridiculous stat totals. His passive ability, however, is nothing to write home about. It's best for training bronze cards and not much else. Still, Darkseid is a regular sight when fighting opposing teams.

Deathstroke (Arkham Origins)
This card is one of the more dangerous ones out there. Controlled by a human player, Deathstroke is a decent fighter that is able to deal excellent damage with his special moves. On defense, however, the AI manages to exploit his passive ability - Elite Soldier - to devastating effect. This dangerous skill allows Point Blank to deal ridiculous amounts of damage, and will often put players who lack caution at an extreme disadvantage.

Doomsday
An old favorite, Doomsday has just become more dangerous in the advent of version 2.0. His passive skill, Hero Killer, has always been a pain to deal with because it restores half of Doomsday's already formidable hit points whenever he knocks out an opponent. His second special move, Earth Shake, has received a very significant buff (which players assume is a bug) and deals much more damage than what is listed on the character sheet.

As it is, the multiplayer landscape is difficult, but not impossible. With gears put into the equation, battles often turn into long battles of attrition - not an ideal thing when it comes to mobile games.

My Team
Hence, my choice of characters have been decided by three factors: team synergy, speed and fighting styles that allow basic moves to transition into special attacks.

Wonder Woman (Red Son)
Red Son teams are the original badasses. They always mean trouble since their passive abilities grow stronger for every other Red Son character in the team. Their value doesn't diminish individually, as could be seen by using this powerhouse in the team. RSWW is my team's primary bruiser.

Her passive ability, Red Son Power, provides 15% power generation and enables the team to charge up their special moves faster. Geared up with the Nth Metal Morningstar (70% basic attack, 25% stun chance), Promethium Longsword (70% basic attack, 45% critical chance) and Venom Injection System (22% health, 22% heal on special 1), she's able to absorb a ton of punishment and dish out even more.

Wonder Woman (600)
Yet another Amazon, WW600 serves as the backup in case things go wrong for RSWW. I geared her with Knife Collection (70% basic attack, 22% heal on special 1), Powered Eskrima Sticks (70% basic attack, 45% crit) and Mark of Lady Shiva (50% basic attack, 40% crit) which hopefully allows her to mop up where RSWW left off.

The best thing about this limited edition card is her passive ability, Amazonian Fury (30% damage boost, 30% power generation), which is one of the best in the game when used correctly.

Harley Quinn (Animated)
All things considered, Harley is probably the game's best support character with her passive ability, Deranged Cheerleader (20% damage boost, 20% power generation). She also has one of the most overlooked level 2 special move (Bag-o-Tricks) which provides one of three effects - a pinch of healing, a damage buff and a powerful unblockable attack (which has saved my team on more than one occasion).

Sadly, I'm not yet completely sold on gearing options, so my Harley is packed with a ton of healing and basic damage gear - Mutated Bone Spikes, Netherrealm Kama and Lazarus Formula.

Sum of the Parts
Outside of a rather slow Red Son team, it's pretty hard to find a team this stacked. With 65% power generation and a 50% damage boost, opposing teams should go down very quickly due to heavy basic attacks and frequent shield throws (which are often unblocked when chained from basic attacks).

I've cracked the top percentile of the leaderboards every time I used this team (and I don't play that often, sometimes only about three to four times a day in chunks of ten minutes or so).

Battles are quick and painless, and it allows the player to play very competitively without investing too much time - and that it always a good thing.

Later!

Scramblers in Darkness

NOTE: This is chapter nine of my NaNoWriMo entry, A Scoundrel's Missives. I don't know, but I think it still feels cohesive when torn away from the rest of the story. Enjoy!

I was awakened by someone’s vigorous shaking and the sound of Valdin’s raving filled my head. I struggled to regain my senses, having no idea how long I was asleep. I asked my companions what happened, and the dwemer replied that we had to hurry and try to return to the gate as quickly as we possibly could.

Confused and still not able to get the sleep off my tired eyes, I asked what the reason for the urgency was. Valdin hushed me and whispered that we had to start moving silently back the way we came. He added that we hold our torches ready as soon as we returned to the lower chambers.

Perhaps it was my incessant barrage of questions that annoyed them while he tried to walk as quickly as possible, so Ruso covered my mouth with his hand and tensely asked me to stop speaking and start listening.

I complied, and at first I could not hear anything besides the shuffling of our feet nor see anything beyond the soft blue glow of the growths along the rocks.

It was then that I heard some distant sounds, not unlike the scrambling of hundreds, if not thousands of feet. The sounds faintly but steadily grew louder in intensity and I realized that the noises came from almost every direction behind us – from the walls, the ceiling and from the ground itself. After a few tense moments that seemed like an eternity we reached the ledges and Valdin softly said that it was time we lit our torches. Hurriedly, they tried to light mine first – something that thankfully did not take too long.

As my torch began to emit a healthy blaze and my immediate surroundings became a bit more recognizable, I fancied a quick stare at the hallway from which we came from.

I was horrified by what I saw.

Hundreds of creatures, humanoid in appearance, stared back at us from the darkness. They were very pale in complexion and covered in mottled welts, as if their skin has never met warmth in their entire lives. The ones on the ground stood hunched, while the others somehow managed to cling to the walls and the ceilings as if their limbs were sticky enough to scale them. What was most unnerving were the creatures’ eyes – dead, milky-white eyes, almost whiter than their skin, stared back at us from the darkness.

An ear-splitting shriek broke our stare down. Ruso started screaming that I started to head down as quickly as possible, while he and Valdin prepared to follow after me. I did not need to be told twice, as I hurriedly clambered my way to the steep ledges into the tombs below.

A deafening sound thundered from above, followed by Valdin cursing and hurriedly climbing down after us. As I hit the ground, Ruso followed shortly behind.

Valdin was only halfway through and, as he noticed the creatures rapidly gaining on him, he rapidly weighed his options and let go of his grip. It seemed like an eternity before he hit the ground on his arm, and he screamed in agony mere moments after the impact. I hurriedly helped Valdin up as the first of the creatures leaped at us with Ruso catching it in mid-air with a swing of his mace, screaming for us to immediately run down the tombs into the gate’s direction and never look back – assuring that he would be following us closely.

The run towards the Gate and into Aeolon felt like forever. My pack was heavy and the straps started digging into my shoulders, adding to the agony of the already exhausting run. Valdin followed close behind clutching his arm, although I could not see nor hear any sign of our friend Ruso.

It was as if everything moved in slow motion. My legs seemed to cry out in pain and I felt my body throbbing with panic as the corridor seemed to stretch on forever, with the Gate, our only source of salvation, moving away from us.

After what seemed like an eternity, I managed to jump through the Gate back into Aeolon. I had not yet raised my head when a blinding light struck the Gate, followed by darkness and silence.

Overthinking : The Faces of The Old Republic

"Perhaps you were expecting some surprise, for me to reveal a secret that had eluded you, something that would change your perspective of events, shatter you to your core. There is no great revelation, no great secret. There is only you."
- Darth Traya

A couple of weeks back, I've been suffering from a lack of an hour or so of sleep due to contemplating on how to get Dark Side points back for my Jedi Consular, Darth Ftaghn.

To give a little background, I was up late at night in the middle of the work week playing a rather old game called Knights of the Old Republic: The Sith Lords (or KOTOR, as I'll identify it from now on). Granted, I was not up as late as I would have been were I a few years younger (not that my health wouldn't allow it nowadays) - but that's a different story altogether.

Like some of the games I've reviewed some time ago, KOTOR is a product of Bioware albeit set in the beloved Star Wars universe (a few thousand years before the movies' events occurred). I won't write about whether Bioware's writing has gone uphill or otherwise over the years (because I'm not an English major qualified for that), but KOTOR was made with the same essence as Dragon Age and Mass Effect: roleplaying at its finest where a character's (and their companions') fate are ultimately affected by moral choices.

What I could say, however, is that the Star Wars franchise lends itself well to the rules of the genre as evidenced by two titles (and an MMO) borne out of the troubled KOTOR series. Despite the many bugs and other quirks (which fans have taken upon themselves to fix due to LucasArts' inaction), KOTOR is one of those rare titles that seemed ageless in the extremely competitive arena of video games.

The mythology of the franchise's central concept, the all-encompassing Force, is one that has left fans enamored not just in the films but also in the rich expanded universe. While the divide between the Light and Dark side is more finely seen in the films, the freedom to interpret the force independently makes other media just as interesting, if not more so, than the six-part (or soon to be nine-part) epic.

KOTOR borrows a lot of its gameplay systems from another classic of gaming: the revered Dungeons and Dragons franchise. One of these systems is the character alignment chart which is often used to this day to loosely define how characters behave in relation to the situations that surround them. In a nutshell, each alignment consists of two qualities. First is a character's disposition towards the laws of society (Lawful, Neutral and Chaotic) followed by their general moral standing (Good, Neutral and Evil) making a total of nine different alignments.

This enables characters to be more dynamically represented in a system that relies on numbers and allows them be represented in various shades of gray as opposed to a simple black-and-white dichotomy. The alignment chart allows interesting characters to exist in a roleplaying concept - a gritty space marine willing to cut corners and ensure victory regardless of the cost (Renegade Shepard), godlike entities with very little concern for the welfare of the insignificant worlds they destroy for sustenance (Galactus, who seems to be Pure Neutral) and warlords seeking to crush insurgency in a seemingly destitute empire (Darth Vader, who is Lawful Evil).

Hence, Darth Ftaghn.

It's amazing to see how good writing defines games, and how KOTOR managed to prevent the story from becoming an unrecognizable mess even if I didn't exactly play it according to what a Sith Lord would do.

Telos on its way to restoration. Dantooine safe from the mercenary armies seeking to strip it of its spoils. Nar Shaddaa bathed in the blood of gangs. A coup on Onderon, backed by the ruthless Mandalorians. Korriban's dark secrets explored.

And five Jedi Masters - Atris, Vrook Lamar, Zez-Kai Ell, Kavar and Lonna Vash - were killed in a vendetta that stretched across the galaxy like a wound in the Force.

Ftaghn was a brutally just character, but his heart beat with the whispers of vengeance and thus he was led to the Dark Side leaving behind a trail of blood of those who had stood in his way. Perhaps he has saved more lives than he has taken, and it is this paradox that makes Knights of the Old Republic such an excellent game.

Homemade Italian-Style Spaghetti

Ingredients:
half clove of garlic, crushed and diced
1 white onion, halved and diced
1 large can (24 pieces) of vienna sausages, sliced into quarters
1 large can (approx. 850 grams) of peeled tomatoes
a handful of basil, chopped
2 tablespoons of brown sugar
lots of pepper (to taste)
250 grams of angelhair pasta

There's a saying in cooking pasta about the fact that it's all in the sauce. Or so they say.

This is the first time I've done one of these (and it's been a while since I cooked something fancier than eggs), so bear with me. I got the idea from my Romanian colleague who happens to have a knack for cooking. The nice thing about cooking is that it isn't an exact science (like baking), so adjustments can be made here and there.

Heat some oil. Saute the garlic for a few seconds, and add the white onion shortly afterwards.

Once garlic has turned into a very light shade of brown, add the vienna sausages. Cook them very quickly (for around a minute). Make sure that everything is mixed constantly as we don't want the garlic to get burned and we want the onions to be caramelized to add some sweetness and bite to the dish.

Add the tomatoes. Canned tomatoes are often already pre-packed with tomato sauce, so I didn't have to worry about adding anything else to thicken it. As everything slowly simmers to a boil, we might notice that the tomatoes start to break down, turning into a nice sauce. Mix in the basil just before it comes to a boil. Add pepper and sugar to taste and cook for around five to ten more minutes.

Serve over pasta, cooked al dente. Remember to add a lot of salt to the water to bring out the taste of the pasta.

Enjoy!

Zachary "Jick" Johnson's Sea Monkees

Note: As promised, the battle logs for my final showdown with Dad Sea Monkee in Kingdom of Loathing (cleaned up for easier reading). Excellent writing, and I could really say that the thirteen ascensions over two months were worth it.

Easily navigating the intense currents atop your trusty seahorse Purplie Gloaming, you crest an undersea ridge and discover, spread out beneath you, a magnificent Mer-kin City!

Strange. The temple door is unattended. You'd think there'd be guards.

You step through the doors. The water inside holds the stillness of untold ages.

Past the door there is a wooden table. On the table there is a bowl of fruit.

"Of course there is," you think to yourself. "Of course there is."

You peel the banana. The banana is your skin. You twist the stem from the pear. The pear is the scales on your eyes. You stomp the apple. The apple is Peanut. I'm sorry, Peanut. Next time, kiddo. Next time will be different, I promise.

You step through the door into a silent room with featureless white walls. In the center there sits a massive machine, the source of the noise. Pipes lead from the machine to ports on the blackened walls, pumping strange liquids into and out of the tank.

In the tank, floating, almost peacefully, is Dad. His eyes are open but vacant. In them you see your reflection, standing in a tiny room. White. Silent. Black. Deafening.

The room is the machine occupies the room contains the machine contains the room describes the machine creates the room is the machine.

You shake your head and look above the tank, at the window into space. Rotting forms swim in the darkness, each more bloated than the last. Space warps, slowly revealing 48-dimensional monstrosities.

No. Look again. There is nothing. Is your grasp on reality betraying you? As if on cue, 17-sided triangles materialize and then disappear. So impossible that your head throbs.

You have to end this.

You smell the decaying flesh of an ancient carcass, as big as a thousand thousand suns. You conjure up a rotten egg and hurl it at your opponent. You summon a whirling tornado of toys. A distant nebula's shape is painfully suggestive. You squeegee some oil from your nose and flick it skywards.A bolt of grease strikes your opponent. A baleful eye stares at you from the depths of space. You raise your right hand in the air and conjure an immense fireball. It makes your right hand red, like Nick Cave's right hand. You spin in a circle, conjuring up a cyclone of frost. The cyclone hits your opponent, leaving it as cold as ice. The chill of infinity coats your face in frost. The heat of a dying star scorches your bung. You raise your hands in the air and conjure an immense fireball in each of them. That's a hot pair of balls you've got there! The chill of infinity coats your arse in frost. You call for backup, and a zombie emerges from the ground nearby.

Some critical part has burned out. The window is now one-way. You look behind the machine and find where it's plugged into the wall. Amazing that all this was powered by a single 110 circuit.

You unplug the machine. Dad's eyes close. There is a flash, and you are back in front of the Temple.

You were hoping maybe he'd thank you.

Modular KoLMafia Farming Script v3

Unlike the two previous scripts (found here and here), I'm including an all-new script for KolMafia farming in Kingdom of Loathing below.

At the recommendation of a fellow countryman in /trade, I switched over from a Fairychaun (which in my case was an ADD) to one of those extremely overpriced stocking mimics. NPZR-style farming takes a bit of planning, but I'd have to admit that it's at least two to three times more effective than castle farming - and I've barely optimized my setup.

I'm aiming to complete at least thirteen more ascension runs by next year to grab some long overdue shinies from the Sea. With that, I should be able to farm with a ridiculously heavy mimic.

As far as combat macros go, I'm currently using a thirty-turn setup which is not exactly the most optimal nowadays (thanks to the Candyblast nerf).

Fun times ahead.

Anyhow, the new script below:

--start of farming.cli
01_farm_bfast.cli
02_farm_adventuretime.cli
03_farm_lootsell.cli
04_farm_itemdump.cli
05_farm_nightcap.cli
--end of farming.cli

--start of 01_farm_bfast.cli
/daily
breakfast
buy milk of magnesium
use milk of magnesium

ash buy ($coinmaster[lunar], 3, $item[moon pie] );
eat 3 moon pie

cast 2 ode
buy 1 mon tiki
ash buy ($coinmaster[lunar], 3, $item[wreck] );
drink 1 mon tiki
drink 3 wreck

buy 4 groose grease
use 3 groose grease

buy 1 mojo filter
use 1 mojo filter
use 1 groose grease

fold heli

/outfit Hwavy
use BittyCar MeatCar
equip heli
//buy 15 transpond
use * transpond
use * punctual
--end of 01_farm_bfast.cli

--start of 02_farm_adventuretime.cli
 adv * Shield Generator
--end of 02_farm_adventuretime.cli

--start of 03_farm_lootsell.cli
autosell * magi-pack
autosell * medi-pack
--end of 03_farm_lootsell.cli

--start of 04_farm_itemdump.cli
send * DRINK ME potion to 1361553
send * bag of GORF to 1361553
send * bag of GORP to 1361553
send * bag of QWOP to 1361553
send * bejeweled cufflinks to 1361553
send * black candy heart to 1361553
send * black-and-blue light to 1361553
send * blue plasma ball to 1361553
send * blue striped oyster egg to 1361553
send * Camp Scout pup tent to 1361553
send * cheap studded belt to 1361553
send * Crimbo candied pecan to 1361553
send * Crimbo Candy Cookbook to 1361553
send * Crimbo fudge to 1361553
send * Crimbo peppermint bark to 1361553
send * CSA all-purpose soap to 1361553
send * CSA bravery badge to 1361553
send * CSA cheerfulness ration to 1361553
send * CSA obedience grenade to 1361553
send * CSA scoutmaster's "water" to 1361553
send * designer handbag to 1361553
send * flavored foot massage oil to 1361553
send * foam dart to 1361553
send * garish pinky ring to 1361553
send * giant designer sunglasses to 1361553
send * Jack-in-the-box to 1361553
send * lavender striped oyster egg to 1361553
send * lost key to 1361553
send * Loudmouth Larry Lamprey to 1361553
send * orange-frosted astral cupcake to 1361553
send * peanut brittle shield to 1361553
send * personal massager to 1361553
send * personalized coffee mug to 1361553
send * phish stick to 1361553
send * puce paisley oyster egg to 1361553
send * Red Rover BB gun to 1361553
send * red-and-green sweater to 1361553
send * stick-on eyebrow piercing to 1361553
send * stuffed Baron von Ratsworth to 1361553
send * stuffed crazy bastard sword to 1361553
send * stuffed key to 1361553
send * stuffed martini to 1361553
send * stuffed Meat to 1361553
send * stuffed mink to 1361553
send * stuffed monocle to 1361553
send * stuffed teddy butler to 1361553
send * stuffed tin of caviar to 1361553
send * stuffed treasure chest to 1361553
send * whoopie cushion to 1361553
send * yellow candy heart to 1361553
send * bucket of wine to 1361553
--end of 04_farm_itemdump.cli

--start of 05_farm_nightcap.cli
cast ode
ash buy ($coinmaster[lunar], 1, $item[wreck] );
overdrink wreck
/cast 15 party

fold moondi
/outfit time set
create 3 potion of punctual companionship

print ("All done, mon!")
--end of 05_farm_nightcap.cli

Adieu, PS3!

Last week, our PS3 finally died.

It was probably the first thing I bought when I first got a job a few years ago so I guess it's safe to say I've gotten a lot of value out of the old machine.

In remembrance of the seventh generation of consoles dying out very soon, I've listed the most notable games I've had the pleasure of playing.

MMA Games
I don't really bother with many sports games. As a former classmate once told me, there was no reason to play a video game of a sport if you could play the real thing. Hence my first game, bundled with the console when I bought it, was UFC 2009 Undisputed. It was nearing the height of MMA popularity during those times, especially when Brock Lesnar drew ridiculous pay-per-view numbers from his legion of prowrestling fans. I was hooked when my brother showed me the game in a mall back then.

My favorite, however, would have to be EA Sports MMA. Why? Because it had Fedor Emelianenko, then considered to be the top heavyweight on the planet, in the same vein as prowrestling's Sting due to the fact that they never set foot in the biggest promotion of their respective fields. I liked the game because the graphics were better (at the time), the controls were slick and the combat was brutal.

A Lighthouse, A Man and A City
While the second and third games were amazing in their own rights, the first Bioshock game would be my favorite. It was the first time that I saw a developer get water physics correct in a video game. Rapture was as original a setting as one could get - and the creative combat mechanics were merely secondary to an engrossing science fiction story revolving around Ayn Rand's objectivism philosophy.

The Cintamani
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the first game I borrowed from a college classmate. Out of the three PS3 titles of this series, Uncharted 2 has been the most immersive. Don't get me wrong, all three games are amazing but there is just something about the second title that seemed like a genuine, awe-inspiring Indiana Jones adventure from start to finish - from Istanbul to a temple city in Nepal to an expedition into the Himalayas and the city of Shambhala beyond, it is nothing short of awesome.

Origami Killer
To say that Heavy Rain is merely a game full of quicktime actions would be entirely correct - but it would be seeing the glass as half-empty. This game is truly unique in that it is a video game that plays exactly like a movie, whose sequences would be affected by how good, bad or deliberate it is played. It has all the trappings of a crime drama - a killer broken by a tragic past, a sense of urgency for the protagonists and a sick reveal at the climax. What's not to like?

La Resistance
Assassin's Creed has fallen out of favor from me (although I'll still buy Black Flag when the PS4 version rolls out). Even if it didn't, The Saboteur would still be my favorite sandbox game. The setting is France during the height of World War 2 and the developers made excellent use of color to highlight the sense of oppression as the player moves across Nazi-controlled areas - trying to free the region via the sabotage of key targets (whether these are structures, key personnel or just general acts of disturbing the peace). Sleazy nightclubs, unsafe back alleys and the imposing visage of the Eiffel Tower add to the game's atmosphere.

Vice
Technology is always in the forefront of many game developers but the vast majority merely use it to make their games prettier at the cost of gameplay length. For L.A. Noire, it is the exact opposite - they harnessed the technology (in the form of very detailed facial motion capture) and turned it into the game's highlight. In this game, players would have to closely observe NPC facial cues especially during interrogations to correctly deduce clues which would help solve crimes. In other words, it's mostly guesswork for most people. Personally, the game's highlight is the casting of John Noble as corrupt real estate tycoon Leland Monroe - and they got everything to a frighteningly realistic level. Good times.

Clandestine Operations
I've had my fair share of excellent roleplaying games in the vein of Dragon Age and Mass Effect, but my choice by far would have to be Alpha Protocol. Widely considered to be a technical failure due to its seemingly evident lack of polish, I feel that Alpha Protocol's concept was a resounding success. It's a sad fact that a lot of critics attack the game with such harsh reviews - I myself found it to be perfectly playable. It's a game where every single choice actually has repercussions and building up my own 007 was a test in weighing options while planning ahead at the same time. I appreciate action games where violence is merely an option - and Alpha Protocol delivers.

Prepare to Die
Games these days have mostly fallen on the easy end of the spectrum and difficulty is defined by a slider that pits players against overwhelming odds instead of being tests of skill. Demon's Souls would be an exception. This game's difficulty is nothing short of sadistic but it lets the player know that from the very start. It's one of those games where losing can't be blamed on the game being unfair but is instead a testament to how far a player must go before they reach the required level of skill. Also, the Tower of Latria is the epitome of gloomy dungeons - something that I won't easily forget. I would have to admit something though - the only reason I didn't give up on this game is the regeneration mechanic of some pieces of equipment. And yes, that's why I don't like Dark Souls. Even I have a limit.

Always Be Batman
Don't get me wrong, Arkham Asylum was an amazing game in its own right but Batman: Arkham City pushed the limits of a Batman game. The developers made full use of the gritty version of Batman (a la Christopher Nolan) and drew from the title's extremely deep rogue's gallery comprising of seventy years' worth of lore. I don't know how this year's Origins would live up to its predecessors, to be honest.

The Transhumans
It's no secret that one of my favorite PC games is the original Deus Ex. Hence, I was excited when the third game (which is ironically the sequel for the entire series), Deus Ex: Human Revolution, was released a couple of years ago. Like all the other games in the series, Human Revolution highlights player options as its main selling point - where one often has multiple paths to accomplish their goals (or skip them entirely). I think it's a very difficult feat to realize a futuristic dystopia in video games (hence the popularity of zombie apocalypse-themed games as an alternative) but Deus Ex gets it done with extremely detailed world building. There are a lot of things tucked away in unseen corners of the game which have been placed there by the developers with the knowledge that a vast majority of players would never notice them in the first place. It is this level of detail that makes each playthrough unique and each experience worthwhile.

Dead Island
Let's face it: games revolving around the zombie apocalypse theme are starred by superhuman survivors. While realism is a steep demand for these games, I think 2011's Dead Island comes closest to depicting a more realistic zombie outbreak. Weapons have to be created and repaired, players have to scrounge for supplies and most importantly, they run out of breath. It could be very difficult at times and there were plenty of situations where flight was way more important than a fight response - it's these times when Dead Island shines the most.

Into The Heart of Darkness
Spec Ops: The Line is the ultimate antithesis to video games. Its narrative is mentally and morally exhausting and this is amplified by the near-monotonous drone of enemies to defeat - perhaps in the most generic ways possible. Yet somehow, Spec Ops managed to get to the player's head and have them thinking about the consequences of their actions in a way that was never seen before. Everything has a subliminal message - from the enemy chitchat while the players remain undetected to the load screens themselves - and this culminates in perhaps one for the most disturbing endings in video game history.

Swan Songs
The Last of Us, as I've said before, is perhaps a most fitting crowning jewel for the PS3. It sits on the end of the narrative spectrum opposite of nonlinear games like Deus Ex and Dragon Age. However, this is not a weak point. Rather than feeling railroaded, we were shown a story that was told the way it was supposed to be told - and in that vein we were shown that it was still possible to be attached to video game characters whose stories were not weaved by the players.

I guess that's about it. I'm excited for the possibilities that the PS4 could bring, and I'm looking on getting a 3DS sometime next year - that Pokemon game looks better than it ever was.

Later!

Homemade Hotpot

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. minced garlic
hotpot mix (prawn balls, dimsum, squid rolls and veggie balls - sold separately or prepackaged)
crab sticks
bok choy
enoki mushrooms (optional)
Tom Yum paste
soy sauce
chili garlic

Note: This recipe is from the dad, with my comments in italics.

Fill a pot up to a little less than three quarters full of water. Bring to a simmer and add two chicken cubes and a couple tablespoons of minced garlic. As an alternative (and I've tried this before), the chicken cubes could be substituted with chicken bones, preferably the back portions of the chicken. Just chop them up and toss them in the broth before turning on the stove - and add a little salt.

Add two tablespoons of Tom Yum paste for that extra kick.

Once it starts to boil, add in the hotpot mix.

After full boil, add the vegetables. Once the vegatables are cooked (or half cooked - your call), add the crab sticks on top before switching off the stove.

Serve hot with soy sauce and chili garlic as the dip.

Enjoy!