life, and a little more

Video Game Metal? Yeah, works for me!

Mar 10

metalman777audio, music instrumental, metal, music, power glove, video games No Comments

What inspires men to write music? A beautiful woman? A lost love? Inner turmoil? Mega Man?

Yes, Mega Man! and Super Mario Bros and Sonic the Hedgehog! Before you laugh and stop reading, Powerglove has created a fantastic shredding metal album based on the theme songs of classic video games! The song list is below:

1. “So Sexy Robotnik” (Sonic 2)
2. “Mario Minor” (Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World)
[audio=https://dl-web.getdropbox.com/get/Music/02%20Mario%20Minor.mp3?w=1c3f7200]

3. “Fight On” (Killer Instinct)
4. “Vanquish the Horrible Night” (Castlevania 2, Castlevania 3)
5. “Blasting the Hornet” (Mega Man X3)
6. “The Duck Grinder” (Duck Hunt)
7. “Power, Wisdom, Courage” (The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time)
[audio=https://dl-web.getdropbox.com/get/Music/07%20Power%2C%20Wisdom%2C%20Courage.mp3?w=28e7fc07]
8. “Omnishred (We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Sword)” (Final Fantasy VII)
9. “Holy Orders (Be Quick and Just Shred)” (Guilty Gear X)
10.”Metal Kombat for the Mortal Man” (Mortal Kombat, Mega Man 2)
11.”Red Wings Over Baron” (Final Fantasy IV)

If you are about 35 or so, then you have played every one of these video games on your Nintendo or Sega. Listening to the soaring guitars of Power, Wisdom, Courage (The Legend of Zelda) almost made me weep! (remembering the all the time I spent playing that game!)

If you were like me and played these games while listening to the newest tape of Metallica or Anthrax, then this album is sooooo for you.

Powerglove shreds! This is a freakin’ heavy instrumental album. Closest thing I can think of would be Jeff Loomis’ solo album.

If you love heavy shredding instrumental metal like the above mentioned Jeff Loomis, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and the like, then you’ll love Powerglove!!

Worms: A Space Oddity – Not A Necessity

Jul 02

metalman777Wii, videos video games, Wii, Worms: A Space Oddity No Comments

Summer is a great time to waste time playing video games.  I’ve been playing ‘em since I was knee high to a grass hopper and I’ll be playing ‘em in the old folks home.

One such game I’ve played over the years is the Worms series of games from Team17 Software.  These were quirky turn-based games where you controlled a small group of worms who’s sole mission was to blow up other teams of worms using bizarre and crazy weopons.

Admittedly, it has been some years since I’ve played this game, but I remember playing it fondly.  So it was to my surprise to see Worms: A Space Oddity released for the Wii gaming system.  I rented it from Blockbuster, telling my kids that they’d love it and love me even more for getting it for them.

We get home and start it up and right away I knew this game was not gonna be so good.  The interface was very clunky and way overcrowded.  I have a 60″ big screen tv and it was very hard to see what we were supposed to do in order to get the game started.

Once we did start the game, it was very tough to see your worms, even on a big screen!  All of the quirky fun weapons of old have been narrowed down to 10 different weapons that are boring to use after just a few turns.

I played about 2 or 3 times and that was all I could take.  I’m so glad I rented this game and didn’t impulse buy it!  If I were an official reviewer, I’d give it about 3 outta 10 stars. 

But if you wanna check it out yourself, watch the trailer below.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xxYuZliRO8]

Mario Kart Wii is Wonderful!

May 24

metalman777Wii Mario Kart Wii, video games, Wii No Comments

We’ve had Mario Kart Wii for a couple of weeks now, but it just isn’t getting old!  We’ve owned all the Mario Kart manifestations, going all the way back to the Nintendo 64!  I have to say that the Wii version is the best and mostest funnest!!

The graphics are gorgeous, but it is the gameplay that is the funnest.  I won’t bore you with specifics and details, as you can find them here (the Mario Wiki).

The race tracks are fun, and some are fiendishly hard.  All of the tracks from previous versions of the game are available, from N64 to Game Cube to the Game Boy!  While you are racing, you can make jumps and have your character do a trick by shaking the Wiimote.  This gives you an extra speed boost when you hit the ground.  And it makes the gameplay just that much more fun!

The two modes of play make a return. You can race or battle, but now you have to do both with 12 characters.  You and a buddy just can’t race or battle each other.  I have to say that is my biggest disappointment with Mario Kart Wii.  The AI is ruthless too…you can be in first place and !!bingo bango!! you’ve dropped back into twelfth in .5 seconds flat!  I’ve been zapped with lightning, hit by a red shell, hit by a green shell, and slipped on a banana all at the same time!  Talk about wanting to curse like a pirate!!

You can do Ghost Time Trials, in one player mode, where you can just race against one computer opponent.  That is fun, but again, that darn AI is hard as heck to beat. 

As you race and win, characters and vehicles are unlocked.  According to the cheater websites, I sure have a long way to go before I unlock most everything!

When it comes to Battle Mode, I’m still undecided.  It used to be fun to battle up to 4 friends and blow each other up and laugh and giggle.  Mario Kart Wii forces you to play in a twelve character battle, with huge arenas to chase down the enemy.  The battlegrounds are fun, but just too big.  I can go an entire battle without really seeing anybody else.

[UPDATE 6-11-08:  MY 9 YEAR OLD SON FOUND OUT HOW TO TURN OFF THE AI!!  THERE IS A "RULES" ICON ON THE UPPER RIGHT SCREEN WHEN YOU PICK YOUR CHARACTERS.  FROM THERE YOU CAN TURN OFF THE COMPUTER! HAPPY RACING!]

Online play is a snap.  Just log into the the Nintendo WFC and bam! you are ready to play.  Adding friends is as easy as inputing a friend code.  My kids get a kick out of playing with people in Japan and Germany or Canada.  There is no chat feature or any other way to interact with other players, so it is safe for kids to just jump in and play.

I do have to say that Mario Kart Wii is super addicting…much more so than Super Smash Bros Brawl.  The game play doesn’t get stale, especially with the online play feature.  Now, if I could actually win some races against my stinky kids I’d be a happy man!

If you can save to get this game, it is totally worth it!  Leave a comment with your friend code and I’ll send you mine!  I need to beat somebody!