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Kyoshi Frost Wolf

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  1. Kyoshi Frost Wolf
    Want just a quick summary? Head to the Final Verdict for that and my rating!
    The Wolf Among Us
    Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, iOS, PC, PS Vita
    Genre: Interactive Story
    Publisher/Developer: Telltale Games
    ESRB: M

    After the monster hit that Telltale Games had achieved with The Walking Dead, it was clear that they had brought a new life for the interactive story genre of games. With this new resurgence underway and TWD season 2 in development at the time, Telltale teamed up with Warner Bros. to bring us a new game in this genre based in the comic book world known as Fables. With this combo, The Wolf Among Us was born and it brought brutality, intrigue, and another amazing experience. The Wolf Among Us serves as a prequel to the Fables comic book series.
     
    The Wolf Among Us is an episodic, interactive story game and it has you playing as Bigby Wolf (AKA The Big Bad Wolf) as the Sheriff of Fabletown, a community in New York City for Fables, fairytale beings that had been run out of their homelands. Here they have to deal with the horrors of poverty, debt, and violence that fills the world all while trying to live good lives, well, some of them at least. Bigby is here to try and keep order amongst the chaos. The game uses a very well done cel-shaded graphical style that lets the color and the world stick into your mind.
     

    The graphical style really helps to set in the mood right away
     
    The gameplay of TWAU is different than most games and is more of an interactive movie than the traditional video game. You watch the story unfold and in many parts, you move Bigby around, exploring the environment around you, interacting with objects and characters, and progressing the story. While doing so, you are given choices on what to make Bigby say in many conversations or even to have him not say anything at all. The way you interact with other characters with these choices can give you different reactions and can even change how these characters react to you later on in the story. There also many moments, like during fights, where you do quick time events by pressing certain buttons at certain times. Though these kind of things are hated by some, they work very well with this type of gameplay and how it still feels exhilarating. It helps keep you engaged in the game's story. The gameplay is definitely linear in a lot of ways and in a lot of other ways is simple, but it helps to engross you into the world and keep the storyflow. This is not a traditional game by any means and that is a good thing.
     

    The story deals with some pretty heavy subjects
     
    The story here, to put it bluntly, is so remarkably well done and is easily the best thing about this game. The entire game has a sense of mystery and intrigue as well as a depressive mood that feels very much like the real world. This game definitely is dark and bleak in many ways, but it has a script and characters that all have their own personalities and it is a treat to see how these 'fairytale' beings are portrayed and how they interact in this world. The story, despite magic and faiytale creatures being involved, feels very down to earth and it really helps to further the atmosphere that it creates. The game is also very mature, dealing with dark issues and it has a lot of strong language, some very brutal scenes of violence and other things that definitely earns the M rating that it has. Having something like this done well and done in a great and immersive story really is a surprise. It never feels cheap. This story is so atmospheric and engaging that I have played through the whole game AND have watched it played through by others at least 5 more times and each time, I got completely engrossed in the characters and the story. It is that good. The ability to alter the story by making choices helps this even more, even if your choices don't always change something. The voice acting is also top notch and really helps to make these characters all feel unique. It also features, in my opinion, one of the best antagonists ever in any form of media. The characters here are so unique and so well acted that many times you will find yourself questioning their motives or maybe seeing their side on a heavy situation. There were quite a few characters I did not like much at first that I ended up becoming sympathetic for by the end. Good writing? Definitely.
     

    ​You may recognize some things here
     
    With a game like this, I really found it hard to find any major flaws. It is definitely not in the same category as most games so it is spared from the potential of classic flaws so it is judged on its own merits. The game does have some quirks. The game has the potential to be a bit glitchy at parts. Animations can be a bit glitchy at certain parts and very rarely the game might glitch and prevent your progress or even crash the game, but these are very rare from my experience and are fixed by restarting the game. The only other flaw really is that, some of your choices that really feel like they should make an impact, surprisingly don't. There are also much smaller choices that really don't affect the overall story or anything else for that matter, it is more for the at the moment interactions between the characters. For the most part this did not bother as the story is so top notch that even if it was not interactive at all, I would still love it entirely. The interactivity of it helps to make it more engaging and personal though.
     
    Final Verdict:
     
    Thank you for reading this week's Turbo Review! This is definitely a games a recommend, just go into it with a different mindset.
     
    Until next week,
     
    Turbo out!
  2. Kyoshi Frost Wolf
    Want just a quick summary? Head to the Final Verdict for that and my rating!
    Pokemon Pinball
    Platform: Gameboy Color
    Genre: Arcade
    Publisher/Developer: Nintendo/Jupiter

    After the release of Pokemon Red and Blue and the premiere of the anime, the popularity of the franchise was skyrocketed into the mainstream. Pokemon got a board game, a card game, merchandise, everything! It even made it into other genres, such as puzzle games and....pinball?! Yeah, pinball, and it was good!
    Pokemon Pinball is, of course, a pinball game with a Pokemon theme, being themed after the Red and Blue games. It features two tables, Red and Blue. This is clearly a small number but the unique designs for both and the adventure aspects of the game really hold it up.
    The standard gameplay is what you would expect from something with pinball in the title. You control two flippers to hit a ball, which here is a Pokeball (Squee!). You hit it to get it to hit different point scoring structures on the table. For being a 2D handheld game, the pinball itself actually feels like it does have some decent physics. The ball has some speed and bounce to it when it hits obstacles. Make no mistake, the core pinball here is actually well done and the developers did a good job. I do not remember any major glitches, though I do remember a small one where the ball would slightly go through an obstacle but this was rare.

    Gotta catch em all....in pinball!
    Here comes the really fun part. While pinballing (Is that a word?), you do the standard pinball stuff, collect points and complete little objectives for bonus scores. Here though, you are actually doing things that you would do in the actual Pokemon games! As you play, you will eventually travel to other towns from the games, and even run into Pokemon! This happens once certain conditions are met and then you must hit the proper obstacles to get the image of the Pokemon full. It is random on which one it is, in true Pokemon fashion. Then, you must hit the Pokemon 3-4 times to catch it. Catching Pokemon is actually really fun here and it provides huge score bonuses at the end. The more you catch, the more points you get! Gotta catch em all...to get that high score! This adventure gameplay is the best part of the game and captures the essence of the original games well, which is impressive for pinball. Of course, it being pinball, there is of course a part of luck associated. It can be a bit frustrating when you are doing good only to have the outlanes ruin your good streak.
    \
    The two awesome tables! If only there were more somehow.
    Another aspect that is well done is the visual and sound area. The two tables have a unique look and have different Pokemon as the obstacles, like Voltorbs for bumpers on the Red table or Cloyster on the Blue table. It lends itself well to the overall theme without being overly cluttered. The kickbacks are even Pikachus! (Squee! Again) The music and sound are both great too. The music is very lively, even when losing a ball, though that is still frustrating. The sound effects are also good with great noises for the bumpers and spinners on each table. Overall the sound is good, however there is some slight glitchiness when multiple things happen. The music tends to cut off when hitting bumpers or when the kickback actives. Any other musical hits precede the regular music. This is not a major issue, but an issue nonetheless. This is the GBC after all. Also, the classic jingle for when you catch a Pokemon is oh so satisfying here. There is also a full sound test which is a nice touch.

    So much Pokemon here...
    Really, the only huge flaw that the game has is the lack of content. As I said, there are only two tables and while they are well done, like anything, it can get old after a while. This game is best played in short bursts. There is a Pokedex here which is another great touch, this keeps track of all Pokemon that you have captured. This is a perfect example of a good portable game, as it is great to bust out for a bit when you are bored.
    Final Verdict:
    Thanks for reading this week's Turbo Review! If you enjoyed it, you can follow this blog to be notified whenever a new review is posted!
     

    Until next week,
    Turbo out!
  3. Kyoshi Frost Wolf
    Welcome back to Turbo Highlights! Today, I will be sharing a particular Youtuber that has personality, humor, and is just plain Awesometacular. This is JeremeyJahns.

    JeremyJahns is an excellent movie and video game reviewer, movie reviews are the bulk of his content. The way he reviews has this very charming style where he is very expressive with his voice and body motions. He has this natural charisma that makes him a joy to watch and listen to. Even then, he feels very 'down to earth' as they say. With his reviews, I have never felt that he is just this critic that is unrelatable. He is more like someone that you could easily hang out with and have a chat, maybe about movies or something. Yeah, I can picture that. When I can picture that, it is always a plus in my book.

    Here is his Aladdin review. This alone shows that he is a pretty cool dude.
    Plus, when he reviews games or movies, he always is specific without getting nitpicky. He knows how to look past things that really aren't important or give proper credit where credit is due. Because of this his reviews are never overbearingly long. They usually range from 3-7 minutes.

    You can learn more about Jeremy with this Q&A
    Does he only do reviews though? Nope. He has also made videos on other subjects, usually news related but these are not terribly common. As well as this he makes videos about movie or gaming news, like his videos from PAX and whatnot.
    The icing on the cake here is his rating system. In his Q&A, Jeremy said that he has never really liked the idea of rating systems, so what he wanted to do was make one that was his own and unique. I'd say he has done that well. I will keep those as a surprise though. This goes along well with his personality.
    Here is his channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/JeremyJahns
    Thank you for reading this Turbo highlight. I hope you enjoyed it.
  4. Kyoshi Frost Wolf
    Hello all and welcome back to Turbo Highlights! This time, we are looking at a Youtube channel that is all about the beloved game series....POKEMON!

    Sounds exciting? It is. Pokemon is a very fun series of games and this is, in my opinion, one of the best Pokemon related channels on Youtube. It is called TheNationalDex, hosted by Pokékellz and Alex, whom always has a different subtitle. Every week on TND they pick a Pokemon and discuss it in depth, explaining its origins, facts about and myths about them, and so much more. Not only is this really fun to learn about the different Pokemon and how they came to be, there is a surprising amount of educational content present as well. Each week, they have a ridiculously awesome segment that is always informative and it centers around a specific subject, like a how mythology and Pokemon collide and other neato subjects. After they tell all about the Pokemon, they go into very in depth Battle Strategy for that Pokemon, giving you some fun advice on training them.
     

    Here is episode 2 of The Dex, Gengar! Watch and learn, a lot.
     
    As well as this weekly show, they also have the Mini Dex hosted by Rival Jimmy, which quickly goes over a Pokemon that might not be as popular as others. These are very short and a nice diversion if you want something quick to watch.
     

    Here is the Mini Dex for those wanting a quick treat.
     
    As well as these two shows they also have weekly shows where they battle different teams of Pokemon usually centered around a theme. Reptiles vs. Mammals? That's a thing. They also do a weekly Podcast where they discuss all sorts of Pokemon related subjects and even have viewer mail. Yay viewer interactivity!
     
    These shows as well as the wonderful hosts and special guests make for a great way to learn more about a game series you may love. While some of the comedy may seem cheesy, to me, that is apart of the charm.
     
    I highly recommend you check out their channel if you are a fan of Pokemon at all. It is a fun and informative way to indulge in this wonderful game series.
     
    Here is there channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7gnV9U47_yawcpfOUnipSw
     
    Thank you for reading this Turbo Highlight!
     
    Until next time,
     
    Turbo out!
  5. Kyoshi Frost Wolf
    Want just a quick summary of the game and my rating? Check out the spoiler below!
    The Sims 3
    Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
    Genre: Strategic Life Simulation
    Publisher/Developer: Electronic Arts/The Sims Studio
    *This is a review for the original Sims 3 on Xbox 360. It does not include The Sims 3 Pets or any PC expansions.

    Ever since I played the original Sims on the PS2 (Yep, played it on that first) and later on the PC, I have always had a special place for The Sims. For me it was originally one of those relaxation games. As time went on the series really felt like it was going further and further away from its roots without actually improving them though and the Sims 2 on consoles was a complete disaster. Turbo Review for that one? Maybe. Then, comes along The Sims 3, which I purchased for consoles. My expectations were very low but I had a little bit of hope that it would be great again. That tiny bit of hope did wonders. The PC might be superior in many ways but for a console effort, The Sims Studio pulled off something really good.
    Upon entering the game with a blandish menu you get some very nice music that sounds like it always had belonged in the series. More on that later. Then a first slight gripe pops up, EA Online. You need an online pass to access some pretty basic features, such as the Workshop where you upload and access custom design from other players. This, was not the best first impression. It does not hinder the overall game, but it was an annoyance to see. This pass might be free at this point, I cannot remember actually. Be sure to check that if you pick up the game.

    Upon entering the actual game though, you are immediately tasked with making your first Sims so you can put them in a lot within the city. There is no real story mode to speak of, its just get in the game and do whatever you wish, which I actually prefer. Creating your Sims is very simple as it has always been but now you get far more options than any previous console Sims game. You can change the hair, face, clothing, clothing for specific events, such as the wonderful event of sleeping, make-up, and more. Here you can also write a biography for your Sim and select personality traits for them, which there are plenty to choose from to make good combinations. This helps your Sims easily stand out from each other and it is one of the best features. You also choose a Lifetime Wish here. Wishes are random objectives that will pop up a lot from your Sims, which upon completion, increase your Sims mood and gives you Lifetime Happiness points, which can be spent on different rewards. There are also plenty of challenges to complete which once you complete you earn different points for different rewards, like new furniture, clothing, and more. Some might say that the game lacks features in the overall modes since there is literally only one, but I found plenty to do as there are numerous locations to explore, people to meet, and all of this can be done at your leisure.

    Once in the game itself, the building features are also the best that the series has to offer, on consoles at least. You get plenty of options to build that perfect house for your newly created...creations. You can build up to 3 stories, make pools, balconies, have differently themed rooms, and plenty more. Want a neato outdoor porch area with a swimming pool and an HDTV right next to it? You can do that. Building has always been half the fun in this series and it is no different here. One of the newest features in the series, which I mentioned earlier, is the Workshop. here you can paint specific parts of your furniture, choose materials, patterns, and the colors for those patterns. Remember that HDTV you put next to your pool? Make it more natural looking with a wood texture! This is a simple yet remarkably clever feature that allows you to further personalize your household. I once made table and chair set after the Mane 6 color schemes. Sounds neat? It was. Another great thing is the options for your Sims. As per series standard, you can have your Sims make money in several ways, but a job was always the best option before. Now, you can either do that or make money in many different ways. Paintings which eventually can get you a bunch of money, fishing, growing friggin money trees, there are plenty of options and I loved this freedom of choice.
    Everything else with your Sims is what you would expect from this series with some small but new tricks. Your sims have an overall mood which is dictated by the several attributes, which fall over time and you have to keep those up in various ways. Series staple there. however, there is one new thing. Moodlets. These are mood enhancers that appear once your sims do certain things, like eating. If they eat a good meal, boom, their hunger bar goes up but they also get a nifty positive moodlet that enhances their mood for a set time. There are also negative moodlets as well, so be on the lookout. You can also have your Sims get into relationships, get married, have a baby, have the baby grow up over time, there is a lot to do here. You can also dictate how fast your Sims age or you can disable that all together, again, more freedom of choice which is wonderful. One gripe I have here, there is no proper family tree. All it shows you are Sims that are currently living, not any past relatives if they had passed away. This is a small gripe but I would have loved a proper lineage tree.
    The music in the game is actually very nice. The build/buy modes offer very upbeat tracks that do such a wonderful job setting the atmosphere. It all feels strangely uplifting and sounds like it always belonged here. While I do miss the wonderful Piano music from the original, this does the series justice in a different way. Of course, there is always custom soundtracks that you could use.
    Lastly, the graphics are the best that the series has seen on consoles of course. Everything has that Sims charm to it, especially the Sims themselves who are very expressive. The game runs very well on the Xbox 360 (With installation, which I recommend) but there were some moments of slowdown in the PS3 version. nothing gamebreaking at all, but it is there a bit.
    Final Verdict:
  6. Kyoshi Frost Wolf
    Hello and welcome to Turbo Highlights! Number secondly.
     
    Today, I will be sharing a song with you. A rather good song. I was browsing through Youtube a few days ago, trying to find a totally different song. I happened to click on this on randomly, not know what to expect. It definitely is done in a different style than the song I was looking for, but now I am so glad I listened to it.
     
    The song is called Du Bist Mehr, German for 'You are more', by Markus Siebert. Clearly this is a love song but the overall tone and sound of the song is so wonderful and quite uplifting. Even if I cannot understand 99% of it without a translation, it has a truly positive atmosphere that transcends language. That's the power of good music.
     
    So without further ado, here is Du Bist Mehr by Markus Siebert;
     
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq2H6cYhTaE
     
     
    Thanks for checking out the second Turbo Highlights, I hope you enjoyed it.
  7. Kyoshi Frost Wolf
    If you are reading this, wow. Secondly, welcome to the first installment of a new, simple series that I will be doing. Basically, it will be like this; I will make a blog post sharing a particular song or songs that I enjoy and it will be hear for the discovery of others. I think I listen to a decent amount of obscure music but mainly I just want to share music that I feel is really enjoyable.
     
    With that said, here is the first one I will be sharing. This is Escape to Follow by Imatem.
     

     
     
    Discuss it below if you wish. Hopefully you enjoy it. I will be making future posts so if you are interested, keep track.
  8. Kyoshi Frost Wolf
    This was uploaded six months ago yet I just found it yesterday. As any fans might know, Tarja Turunen, the original vocalist for Nightwish, was kicked out of the group years ago. She was replaced by Annette Olzon and she stay with them for a long while. She recently left the group and she is currently replaced ex-After Forever vocalist, Floor Jansen. I was never interested in Nightwish's new music after Tarja was booted. I just felt that they could not capture the amazing atmosphere from before. Sacrament of Wilderness, Nemo, Ghost Love Score, these are masterpieces made with Tarja, so I was still weary will Floor as a replacement, though I am unsure if she is the new staple replacement.
     
    Well, my doubts have been shattered. My favorite song from the group, Ghost Love Score, was performed WITH Floor months ago and in a nutshell, she destroys.
     

     
    I now hope that Toumas is smart and keeps her around. She has the vocal range of Tarja and the energy of Annette, perfect mix. This performance surprised me beyond belief.
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