Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (PS4)

The hype. The theatrics. Does Black Ops 4 live up to it all? That's likely the question going through the minds of those who are on the fence about buying into the new experience. With a team based multiplayer returning with 8 game types centered around a new specialist team based combat system, a Battle Royale mode that was meant to be a contender to Fortnite, and a Zombies mode that looked to be more serious than ever one would think there was proper effort put into the construction, and creation of these online only experiences. Unfortunately corners were cut, and that which seemed promising ended up feeling more like a gimmick than a properly fleshed out Call of Duty experience. A mixed bag of tricks that were thrown at the gamer with the obvious intention of having at least one of the three modes be enjoyable to them. While I found the main multiplayer alright, Blackout less than so, and Zombies good I can't help, but wonder what Treyarch was thinking.

The Assassin's Creed Odyssey Dilemma

Where do we draw the line? The line between influence, greed, and escapism? Do we allow gaming studios such as Ubisoft to continue nickeling and diming us over prestigious in-game tools/content? Do we allow their cultural, and political agendas to slip by in the guise of a "good game"? I ask all this as it should be asked. For if things like this go unchecked, and unchallenged who's to say someone, one day, will not choose to use this entertainment medium as pure propaganda to push undeniably harmful ideas, or at the very least ideas that are not widely accepted.

In the case of Ubisoft's latest entry in the Assassin's Creed growing lineage, or series (if you will) the developer does not shy away from stating that they are a culturally and sexually diverse development studio. They do not shy away from boldly displaying paid for store options at the main menu either. The boldness of these prideful agenda, and business based consumer directed broadcasts only serves as a red flag to what would otherwise be a decent action/stealth adventure. Why developers choose to step in the horse sh*t that is political correctness is beyond me. It is blatant audience targeting for agenda sake, and nothing less. A recently exposed Ubioft employee leak regarding diversity training in their ranks further points to this as being truth.

Fighting Ex Layer - A Retrospective Review

Arika's return to the forefront of fighting games was perhaps one of the most hyped moments in the FGC in recent history. Possibly over hyped. Their game, "Fighting Ex Layer", brought back fan favorite characters from a once dead 3D fighting game series, and attempted to do something new within a 2.5D fighting game frame. The mechanics, which were mostly unique to the new experience, did not hold the gamers' attention for long though, or at least not seemingly so. The online as of late is pretty much dead in the water. At the heart of the game, and perhaps what turned people away, was a deck based system known as GOUGI in which players could earn buffs, and abilities that would add an advantage if requirements were met during battle. The timed, and limited perks weren't game breaking per say, but they did play into that initial April Fools Day announcement that sparked the game actually being released in full. By that I mean it incorporated a sort of absurdity that normally would not be a part of a tournament friendly fighter as it threw the rules right out the window with what equates to cheats.

The Meaning of Life, A Gift From Me & My Grandmother To You

In my mourning, in the passing of my beloved Grandmother life finally made sense. It took the hardest low hitting moment of my entire existence for me to finally realize what's truly important. We, as humans, complicate things unnecessarily. We truly do. We hang onto that which only serves to enslave us. The hate, the anger, the sadness, the worry, and the fear. We let it become our focus, and in doing so lose our freedom. True freedom. We don't realize that this world and life, in it's entirety, is what keeps us wanting, and longing for something better or something else. All the while if we only let it go, all that binds us to those Earthly desires, we could be free. We could be happy. As long as what we seek is of this world though it will only serve to enslave us to this plane of being. Let it go. Let the cards fall where they may, and realize that in passing life itself is not what's really going to matter in the end. What will matter is the peace that follows the realization that life is simply a conditioning of the soul. That every emotion we feel along the way, every idea that passes through our mind, and everything we do in response can either loosen our restraints, or keep us bound to the things that will not last. The things that are not important.

It is my privilege and honor to pass unto you, my friends, the meaning of life. Do with it as you will. Your life is your journey, and only you can make the decision to let go of that which keeps you from what is truly important. Peace be with you always.