I Got Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited - Buh-bye, Life!

It's no secret that I'm a huge Elder Scrolls fan. I still play Skyrim to this day, and it never gets old. So you could only imagine how happy I was when I heard about Elder Scrolls Online. Granted, I'm not much of a PC gamer, so I held off an waited for it to come out on the PlayStation 4. I was so excited to play it as soon as I could, but to my dismay I came across a thread online that talked about how the North American servers were too congested and not working, so I figured, "You know what, I'll just wait, that way I can play it with no issues!" I waited a day or two later to put it in the PS4 and immerse myself into the Elder Scrolls universe all over again. I slowly unwrapped the game, eager to play it and waste my life away. I placed it into my PS4, and waited for the prompt to install it into my system... until my dear PS4 decided to inform that I would need at least 21GB to install the game... I adore PlayStation Plus...but what it does to my hard drive is horrid. So I only had one choice: I needed a bigger hard drive.  

Off to Best Buy it was to get an external to save all of my data onto, and to get a new internal hard drive for my PS4. I got my Sony baby a nice 2TB hard drive, which should be more than enough for Elder Scrolls Online and my future PS Plus PS4 games. Hey, go big or go home, right? 

After the time consuming process of backing up save and game data, and replacing my hard drive, I was finally able to play my game! I went through the process of creating my character, a High Elf of course, and started my journey into the very depths of Tamriel. 

Off the bat, you see just how glorious the graphics are! After grinding on Skyrim for the past 3 years and being accustomed to its graphics, this was spectacular. I played through the first part of the game, my escape from Soul Shriven in Coldharbour. After escaping from there, and making my way to another area in the game, I truly came to realize just how majestic these graphics were. There is more detail than you could imagine on this game! I stepped away for a brief moment to make myself some lunch, and I heard a loud crash of thunder... I almost thought it was happening outside, until I glanced at the television and saw rain pouring down and lightning flashing on the screen! This game is pretty awesome, and I'm barely just out of the shallow end of the pool that is Elder Scrolls Online... I can't wait to see what transpires in the deeper ends of the hypothetical ESO pool! 

As I journey further, I will keep you posted on my journey, much as I do with my Adventures in Skyrim blog... only... this is my Adventures in Tamriel Unlimited!! We're about to see just how 'unlimited' it truly is! 

~.::Peace, Love, & Video Games::.~

Majora's Mask 3D Is Soon to Release - A Stroll Down Gamer Memory Lane

With the remake for Majora's Mask right around the corner (In two days!!!!! *squees*), I only thought it'd be proper to pay homage to one of the games that made my childhood and helped swerve me in the right direction to become a core gamer, game blogger, and gamer journalist.

I received my Nintendo 64 when I was around 9 or 10 (The system released back in 1996) and the first games I got for it was Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Before then, I had already had a taste for the Legend of Zelda titles as I had played the NES original and A Link to the Past on the SNES previously. Ocarina of Time was like a whole new experience for me in gaming, while still being similar to it's predecessors. Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda game, and it did not disappoint. So imagine my thoughts when Majora's Mask released. OH MY GOD. Still to this day I hail Majora's Mask as one of the best Zelda games that has been released. It's like the cult favorite of the series, either you hate it, or you love it - For me, it was the latter of the two.
It basically picked up where Ocarina o Time left off, where Zelda returned Link to his childhood. The game is dark, yet bright and hopeful at the same time, something few games can pull off. And I know many out there that played it and did not like it was because of the three-day time frame that was implemented. For me, that was something that added appeal to me. It made it more edgy, making the player more anxious in how they played, leaving sweat upon your brow as you hoped and prayed you'd finish this dungeon before your three days were up and you have to revert back to the dawn of the first day. I LOVED IT! It's a mechanic that has never been implemented in another Zelda title since.
And all of the masks you could collect...so many masks!!! That was also a very fun element that added whimsy and challenge to the game. I of course completed the game with every mask I could find, because when I play a Zelda game, I go the distance and do everything there is possible to do in the game.
Just talking about this game gets me super hyped for it's remake for the Nintendo 3DS. I know they made some changes to the game, but being the hardcore Legend of Zelda fan that I am, I just hope they didn't make it easier or dumb it down in any way. I love the challenge of all the puzzles and the craziness...I just hope that 'challenge' is still there in the 3DS version.
Expect a full-on review of the 3DS remake from me in due time, where in the review I will be comparing it to the original, and laying out the pros and cons.
Till next time, lovelies~
Nightingale, out!

.::Peace, Love, & Video Games::.

Catching Up To Do!

It's been quite some time since I've written a blog post. I really need to stay on top of this more! I've recently become Managing Editor over at Gaming Precision, so I've been pretty busy busy. All the writing I do nowadays is work related. My poetry and story writing has taken a backseat in life, just as it seems this blog has as well.
I've dived deeper into my retro gaming obsession as of late. I bought a Retron 3, and along with it got me some third-party controllers, because frankly the two that come with it are the worst controllers to ever exist. I also got The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, as the Retron 3 plays SNES, NES, and Sega Genesis games. I also got Crystalis, one of my all-time favorite titles for the NES. I still need to find time to sit back and savor one of those titles...with everything I do in my daily life, I hardly have time. It's funny, I make extra money to buy games and fund my habit, yet I'm so busy making the extra money to fund my habit, that I don't have time to even relish in my habit! Gotta love double-edged swords like that.
I've also been playing FFX/X-2 HD Remaster, which is utterly beautiful in my opinion....colors are brighter, lines sharper, I love it! I've also been playing around with the original Final Fantasy on my PSP Go...When I get a chance, that is!

Animal Crossing: New Leaf, More Addicting Than Drugs!!

Ever since I finally got my hands on Animal crossing: New Leaf for the Nintendo 3DS, I haven't been able to quit...

Animal Crossing for the 3DS was one of those games that I just couldn't wait for it to come out. Unfortunately, funds didn't allow me to get it the day of it's release, June 6th of this year. Finally, on July 1st I was able to pick up this lovely little bundle of joy.

The last AC game that I had played prior to AC:NL was the AC game for the Nintendo GameCube. I cannot begin to tell you how many hours of joy that damned game gave me. I'm a huge fan of games like Harvest Moon and the Sims, so this game was right up my alley.

I have yet to be disappointed with AC:NL. Everyday, something new happens, or someone new moves into my little town. Honestly, the one and only disappointment I've had thus far is the lack of friends to play with on the game and have come visit my towns, and allow me to visit theirs. At the end of this blog I will post my friend code, any of you who wish to play with me, comment you friend code below, and I will add you in a heart-beat! Yay for visitors who may or may not grace my tiny town of UnRealm with their awesomeness!!!

For those of you who have not purchased this game and is still playing around with the idea...

DO IT! GO AND DO IT NOW!!!

If you are a fan of the franchise, I promise you won't get let down. Play it, tell me what you think! :D

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Adventures of a Gamer-Geek in a Mommy's World

 Since I was a child, I was a gamer. While most 8-9 year olds were playing with Barbie and Ken, I was busy mastering Legend of Zelda and beating the living hell outta Mother Brain on Super Metroid. All my best memories growing up, sadly, are revolved around my gaming. It defined me, and made me who I am today. Quite a few years later, and now I'm the proud mommy of two very young lil' girls. This gamer geek misses her gaming time!

 I remember back in the day, pulling all nighters just because I didn't want to turn off Ocarina of Time. Now, I have a bedtime. Endless hours of gaming? Well, my hours of gaming are endless, so to speak...But most of that game's time is spend on pause due to me being super-mommy and feeding, bathing and raising two precious babies. And in no way am I complaining...I love my daughters more than any game. I just miss the feeling of getting lost in another world, putting yourself in a universe unlike anything you could ever imagine. But I get my chances from time to time...such as the girls' nap times, or after they've gone to bed, or that rare case when they're actually enjoying each others' company and playing together. Fact is, you can still be the greatest mommy ever, and still keep up with your gamer geek status. I'd go crazy if it weren't for my games. While some moms think they need to get away from their kids and go out drinking and dancing, that's all fine and dandy FOR THOSE MOTHERS. As for me, I'm much too happy to sit back with good music, and a great game in immerse myself in. Sit and play, relax, and drift away into a new world that has been waiting to welcome me with open arms ever since I left GameStop after my purchase.

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Nostalgia Gaming

Earlier I was playing around on my new desktop computer to see what this baby was capable of, when I came across something incredible—Websites to play old school GameBoy games & NES games!!! Gameboy games: www.playr.org & the NES games: www.NESForever.com OMG! I could hardly contain my excitement. I went right into searching for games I cherished as a child…the first few being all the Legend of Zelda games for the GameBoy…I found Oracle of Ages, Oracle of Seasons, & Link’s Awakening. Soon after I started on NESForever.com…I was determined to find a game I played as a child and never got to complete. The name of the game is Crystalis…An RPG, in the realms of Final Fantasy meets Legend of Zelda, the old-school ones of course. And BAM! There it was… I was so happy to have found this game after so many years. I kid you not, I had tears in my eyes!!! Seriously! That game meant a lot to me as a child, and playing it…well, just took me to a happier plane of existence. Like to play games online? Love old-school Nintendo games? I strongly recommend these websites to you…I now am in search of one similar to these, but for SNES, or Super Nintendo.

San Japan Review

So came home from San Japan yesterday...SO MUCH FUN! I had forgotten how much I enjoy a good anime convention. Great cosplays, lots of activities, it was great! This particular convention was held in San Antonio Texas at the hotel, the Grand Hyatt. The hotel was great, offering discounts on rooms to those there attending the con. For the most part staff was good, though, there were a few that were rather rude and I would've liked to slap if given the chance >:[ Anyway, back to the cosplays! Some of the best cosplays I've seen in a while. Gave me the boost I needed to want to get back into cosplaying more than what I am. I've already planned out a few that I'd like to work on in the future for future cons I will be attending. The rave was tons of fun! Awesome show put on by the DJ Arch-Angel and go-go dancers. All in all, awesome con, I will def attend in the future :)

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Skyrim/DawnGuard review

   Skyrim…? SKYRIM!!! First off, Bethesda, being the incredible company that it is, has graced us with their presence in the past with many great games. One of my personal favorite series of games from them being the Elder Scrolls. I've played a few of the previous games, Oblivion being one of them, but by far, Skyrim is my favorite. When I feel like taking a break, just merely walking around in the game, taking in the breath-taking landscapes in the game are enough to let me escape from the ‘real world‘ for a few moments, and submerge me into the great world known as Skyrim.
   Just recently I downloaded DawnGuard, the first of the downloadable content to be released for the game. I’ve began the mission, and so far, I am not disappointed! Best Microsoft points I’ve spent. It adds a whole other story line, and it is a great one at that. Though I am not completely finished with the mission, I am in awe over it.
   In this new mission, you are introduced to a different species of vampires, that are a lot stronger than the regular vamps you’ve faced in the past on Skyrim. They are ruled by the vampire lord, Harkon. It’s his passion to see the world shrouded in eternal darkness. And come to find out, that can be accomplished by his obtaining certain Elder Scrolls. First, you will meet the DawnGuard, the small group of  people in Skyrim that are out to stop Harkon from having his dream of eclipsing the sun forever come true. They give you a mission that leads you finally to Harkon, the vampire lord. Upon first meeting Harkon, you are faced with the choice to become a vampire lord like him, or face his wrath if you choose to stay in alligance with the dawnguard. I myself chose to become a vampire lord, and let me tell you, it is fun! Hovering above the ground, resurrecting the dead to serve under you, and feeding off the living, what more could a fan of vampires ask for?
    Later on you discover a whole new side of Skyrim, the Soul Cairn. Think of it as the underworld of Skyrim, where all souls retreat after they’ve met their demise. The world itself is beautiful in a cryptic and dark way, but nonetheless, still quite beautiful. And if you can find them, you come across a few side missions while in the Soul Cairn. One in particular that upon completing, you gain a new conjuration, a skeletal horse, engulfed in blue flames named Arvak. You can summon him at anytime, and upon doing so, you have a new means of traveling across the vast land. It’s a lot faster than traveling by foot. Now, if you’ve just recently purchased this game, and haven’t leveled up too much, keep in mind that even though you’ve downloaded the DawnGuard expansion, you cannot begin the mission till you’ve reached at least a level 10.
   And that’s that. Skyrim is a great game for those who love a good time-consuming rpg, The graphics, the story, the gameplay…all of it is enjoyable for most gamers. I’d highly recommend this game to any adventure/rpg gamer who wishes for a game that upon total completion, will take about 150-300 hours. Hour of your life, well spent.
 

The Legend of Zelda

Greatest series from Nintendo in my opinion. A game I grew up with, and feel it grew up with me. There's never been another series that's had the impact TLoZ has had on me. I've played all the games from the series, except the the Philip's CDi ones (which pretty much all Zelda fans hardly recognize as actual TLoZ games). To pick a favorite would be like picking a favorite child: You just can't choose. It feels wrong to have to choose! Most challenging I would have to say goes to Majora's mask. Given the fact of having to complete all these things in three days is quite nerve-racking...but oh so much fun. Most memorable would have to be Ocarina of Time. Incredible story, such depth and beauty. And each level more challenging than the last. Brilliant. And a lot of people didn't care much for Wind Waker, but I thought it was quite charming. Regardless of the chartoon-ish like graphics, it was still a good game. Least favorites would have to be the ones created for the Nintendo DS, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. They had their moments, but not my two favorites from the series. And I cannot say enough about Twilight Princess...that game, to this day, I will play over and over again. Beautifully done, from graphics to storyline. Sounds strange to say,but that game truely impacted me greatly. I smile just thinking about playing it! I own it for both the Wii and the GameCube. Both formats great in my opinion. And last, but most certainly not least, Skyward Sword. I am in the final battle as we speak. The grandiose face-off against the evil Demise. This game is so fantastic, I almost cannot bring myself to finish it! I just don't ever want this adventure to end...tho I know it must be done sooner than not. I can't wait until the next TLoZ game is released, both for the WiiU, or the 3DS. Either way, I'm getting them all! And the WiiU is as good as mine by next year *fingers crossed*. So, my gamer-dears...what is YOUR favorite TLoZ game?? Which one meant the most to YOU?? Which had the best story/graphics/etc?? Please share, I am all ears. /)^3^(\