Dragon Age: Origins Review

Authors note: This may be my last post for awhile, as I'd like to refocus my efforts in finding a better job.

It finally happened. I have dreamed for this day for so long, and it finally happened. I played a game that did justice to the classic PC RPG of my youth, and that game is Dragon Age Origins. There are plenty of numerical scores out there, and more insightful reviews than perhaps I could write myself. Suffice it to say, this game is an instant classic. This is one of those rare games, that make all the hassles we put up with as PC gamers, entirely worth it. This is the game that reaffirms my passion for this hobby. It's that good, and if you're even a light RPG fan, you need to at least try this game.

The graphics and special effects, especially given the game's relatively low system requirements, are breathtaking. The details that went into the visuals are simply amazing, and really adds to the immersion. The animation is among, if not the best, I've ever seen in a game. If you study the characters closely, everything about the way they move, and their facial expressions, is so lifelike, its almost like watching a live action movie.

The cinematic cutscenes are simply stunning to watch. The siege of the Darkspawn against the Ostagar fortress is like something out of one of the Lord of the Rings films. I'm pretty jaded, and most games don't really affect me emotionally. But watching the defenders fight against an unending horde of monsters, against all odds, was riveting! The dark, grim fantasy world that makes up the game's setting is depicted perfectly. The world really lives and breathes around you, with very convincing environments and cultures.

Fighting the undead army at Redcliffe. It's like Left 4 Dead - Medieval Style

The gameplay is amazing, truly capturing the nuances and depth that you'd expect from a pen & paper RPG. To be honest, it isn't quite as deep as what you might find in Baldur's Gate 2. It's been streamlined and modernized for the tastes (and intellectual capacity) of the average gamer. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Character development and strategic options are as robust and far reaching as you can find in an RPG on the market today. But you don't have to take a college level course in RPG mechanics to know what to do. However, a little trial and error may be necessary to find the best personal play style for you.

Don't go into the light!

The story is as ambitious and epic as the game itself. The characters are all very unique and developed. You'll learn more about them as you progress through the story, and maybe even get romantically involved with some of them. I'm still trying to get a handle on the fully realized plot that propels you through the epic adventure. But the gist of it is this: An event known as the blight as occurred in the world of Ferelden. A God has gone crazy and unleashed a horde of bloodthirsty monsters known as the Darkspawn. The world's best chance against them are the Grey Wardens, elite warriors from all races and fields of expertise, banded together to resist the horde.

Unfortunately, the Darkspawn aren't the only problem. It's an unstable world, with political factions and various peoples vying for power. It will be up to you and your group to unite Ferelden and race a mighty army to fight back the blight.

I can't say enough good things about this game. If you really want to appreciate it, you have to play it yourself. Merely describing it doesn't do this game justice. It would be no exaggeration to say it is a masterpiece. I'm probably biased, as I absolutely love these kind of games, and there are far too few of them. If anyone has wanted a new Baldur's Gate, or a better version of the more recent Neverwinter Nights series, this is it. But be warned, this game can be hard, even on normal version. This is not your average clickfest. You will be tested, you will be pushed to your limits, and the AI will punish your stupidity. This is a thinking gamer's RPG. Fast reflexes, are secondary to tactical thinking and you'll need to do a lot of it. If you're not careful this game will kick your ass, but it's so damn good you'll come back for more. I know I have!

The Nintendo DSi LL

Now Big Macs aren't the only thing you can super size.

Is it me, or are companies running out of ideas? When a company like Sony or Nintendo keep recycling their products, I get worried. Either they're short of creativity, or short on money. Now, I heard that this particular model is being aimed at the elderly. But how large a percentage of the DS using population do they represent? If this is the reason they're making this version of the DSi, I guess that's cool. But it still seems a little fishy.

If it were me, why stop at making a bigger screen that would be easy on the older eyes? I would take it even farther. You'd have to, to prove that it isn't just another money grab. So here's how I'd expand on the older person's DSi.

1. Add a pill storage. Make a small tray that can be inserted into the DS that will store the user's medications for safe keeping. Have an alert system that will temporarily pause the game to notify the user of when it's time to take their meds.

2. Include a countdown timer to the user's retirement, so that they know how much longer until they can quit their job and spend their pensions on more Nintendo products.

3. Include a sound amplifier for the hard of hearing.

4. Have a map that lists nearby hospitals and pharmacies in case of medical emergencies.

Bonus Stage #2: Things I Hate About the Internet

The bonus stage in Mortal Kombat, in which you competed with an opponent to see how many planks of wood you could break. This proved that the tournament competitors could serve a productive purpose - when they're not extracting various body parts with their bare hands for fun.

There are so many things to love about the net. But this post isn't going to be about that. It's finally time to get some things off my chest. These are the things about the internet that have continually pissed me off, and so now I feel like I have to vent about it. And you're fortunate it enough to get to read about it.

Please type the letters and numbers above to verify your account.

This is total and utter BS, and I'm freakin' sick of it. When you enter your name and password to log into a website, but you have to enter in distorted letters and/or numbers to verify. What a complete waste of my time. I'll hit the reload button several times before something comes up that's halfway legible. The letters, numbers, words or phrases are so bent out of shape, twisted, or unfocused as to make it almost impossible to get on the first try.

I understand this is to keep out bots, hackers and the like, but do I have to be bothered with this? I say come up with a better way or make the verification images clearer. I'm sick of unintentional mini-games like this.

"I understand you only want to check what the weather is going to be for this week, but we just need you to complete a five minute registration process."

I'm sick and damn tired of needing to register an account with every other website I come across to get some simple information, or even make a forum post. If I'm going to manage my finances online, require an account, if I'm going to buy something with my credit card, require an account. Fine, those are understandable. But sometimes I think it goes too far. I think some webmasters like to do this because it's a power trip. To have that information, to give or take away someone's access at a whim, or to just to prove to themselves they know how to do it. Give me a break. Am I so interesting that everyone wants to know who I am? What am I missing about myself that is so compelling?

My virus scanner found 1,356 problems! We'll fix them for you - for a price.

I hate the many applications available out there that claim they'll do something for free. We'll fix your computer's registry for free! We'll boost your PC's ram for free! We'll find viruses and malware for free! Or they'll invite you to download their application without any mention as to whether or not it will cost anything at all. Maybe its naive on my part, but a company should up front and honest about their software.

You download something, all the while thinking its freeware. When you finally take the time and trouble to get it running, you see a register button, or a subscription offer, or some such nonsense. Playing with a person's emotions, making them think you're gonna solve their computer problems, and not doing it until the user forks over 39.99, is just low. GTFO.

Dishonorable Mentions

1. Pop-ups

2. Spam

3. Spam in a foreign language

4. Commercials. I hate commercials. If I had my way I would ban all commercials, everywhere, period. Except maybe print advertisements. I understand that companies have to advertise, but when it gets to the point that it invades every facet of a person's life, enough is enough. If you're product is truly good, or necessary, you don't need to advertise, people will know about and buy it. If someone wants a service or product, they'll do the work to find it. If I'm wrong, I don't want to be right.

Games for Halloween

http://www.videogamecritic.net/halloween.htm

Here's a rundown of various horror themed games to have a look at, while I figure out how to save my PC.

Technology Sucks

Been having a lot of PC problems lately. It's been a real downer, especially after the hopes I had for the games coming out and Windows 7. Life as usual. Will try to review some games that actually work.

Left 4 Dead 2 Demo Available on Steam

Check out Steam for the playable demo of Left 4 Dead 2. The posts may be kind of short until November, when I'll hopefully have more to write about.

I decided to forgive Valve for their minor transgression. Releasing a sequel too early, without supporting the original game as promised was not good. But what Infinity Ward did with Modern Warfare 2 is far, far worse.

Dingoo Review

I've been pretty busy lately, setting my PC up with Windows 7 for example. And obsessing over the Dingoo A320! There's something thrilling about seeing your favorite games from the past on a mobile device. I had so many roms put onto this thing it was insane. If you're going to get snowed in this winter, or if you're going to get dropped on a desert island, get this thing.

I wish I could write a fully detailed review, but I doubt its necessary. There has been enough coverage and enough critiques of the product to pretty much cover it. But I can still give my initial impressions and recount my personal experience with it.

First, I want to go over the price. At a mere $100, you get more out of the box than you would have to buy the N:DS or PSP. This goes to show you how powerful and awesome the independent electronics companies can be. You get earbuds, a TV-out cable, a USB cable, a wall charger, and the unit itself. For the features, open source capabilities and convenience of the Dingoo, the price is so right. Get a mini-SD card to expand its 4 gigabyte memory capacity and you've got everything you need.



Above is a youtube clip of the Dingoo working on a TV set. This was by far the best feature for me. It's not perfect (maybe it was the TV I was running it on), but the fact that the option is there to run it on a big screen is awesome.

Loading roms onto the Dingoo is remarkably easy. All you have to do is connect it to your PC via the USB cable and drag and drop the desired rom files into their respective emulation folders. The sound quality is pretty decent, both from the small bottom speakers and through headphones. The screen is noticeably smaller than those of the PSP and the DS, but still not too bad. However, if you're playing a game with particular small text, you may want to hook it up to a TV monitor.

In addition to being an awesome portable gaming device, the Dingoo can also play video, music, display text, has a microphone, and can act as an image viewer, oh yeah, and as if that wasn't enough, its a radio too. If you're looking for a cheap, all-in-one device, its hard not to recommend the Dingoo. Its a perfect multimedia device for someone on a budget. Its light, compact, yet sturdy. The product is currently available on thinkgeek.com

Dragon Age: Origins

I am so looking forward to this game. More info on it later. But for now, check out the tactical RPG based on it, located here: http://www.dragonagejourneys.com/

The A320 Dingoo

Roms and I go way back. I probably started playing them around middle school. If you can get past the questionable legality of them, they're a great way to get in touch with the old days. And I'm about to do that with a portable emulator. I can't wait! I've heard pretty good things about the A320 Dingoo, a multimedia device from China. At just under $100 on thinkgeek I had to pick it up.

Marvel VS Capcom on a mobile device, that's what I'm talkin' about!

With a multitude of incredible features, and the homebrew community around the device, I'm a little skeptical about how its all going to work out. But curiosity can often get the best of me, so it looks like I'm gonna find out. Reading up on the specs, features and reviews on the Dingoo has really piqued my interest. It makes me wish I knew about this gadget sooner. I can't help but feel like an idiot to have spent so much time and money on things like the PSP and Nintendo DS. Now both handhelds are appreciable, but the Dingoo, with its open source platform and astonishingly low price, should set a new standard.

What the Dingoo can do for the price is simply incredible, and it should shame Nintendo and Sony. If a Chinese company can make a profit with the Dingoo, why are we paying so much more for the bigger name products, that are fanatic about DRM and finding ways to continually make money of its user base? The answer of course, is obvious. Its for the money. But perhaps a more appropriate question would be, why do we put up with it? We need to do more to support products like the Dingoo and the GP2X Wiz.

Price of the Dingoo: $100. Price to play all these GBA games on it: $0.

I don't know about you, but I'm stick of what the various game companies have been doing. Take for example, the PSP Go, or the Nintendo DSi. Sure, both systems have things to offer, but they're still largely recycled versions of their predecessors. Considering what you pay for them, there can be serious limitations. Portable emulators should be more deserving of our time and attention for the nostalgia factor alone. Not to mention the various things that the dedicated communities can offer to enhance the products.

I can't wait to get my hands on the Dingoo, I only hope it works and that it's worth it. I'm going to need it if I'm going to survive the boredom of the winter months. The Dingoo can emulate (to varying degrees of quality) the NES, SNES, Sega, GBA, NEO-GEO and Capcom 1 & 2 arcade machines. So yeah, looks like I'm gonna have a lot more to do.

Why Do They Hate Us?

Offense: Only dedicated servers for Modern Warfare 2

Offense: Will release L4D2 after just one year of the first game. Didn't live up to the promise to regularly update and support the first.

Offense: Buys out smaller developers, finds ways to ruin beloved franchises. The Wal-Mart of video games. Read into how they treat their employees...

I miss the good old days. It was an innocent time, when PC gaming was still an almost underground activity. No corporate giants, no multi-million dollar budgets, no army sized development teams. The original studios were driven not just by profit, but by passion, creativity and a willingness to take risks. The explosion in popularity of electronic entertainment has cost the hobby its very soul.

When something becomes all about the money, nothing else matters. Not quality control, consumer demands or end user convenience. We've entered a dark age in computer gaming in which we have become desperate peasants suffering at the whims of feudal lords who can dictate to us how we play our games. It's wrong, and something is going to have to happen.

Modern Warfare 2, no custom servers, clan matches, and the PC version costs as much as the console version. What a load of crap.

I don't know if its simple greed, desperation (considering the economy) or cold hearted business practices by people who probably never handled a game controller in their life. But it seems to be that companies are getting increasingly selfish, overly protective and simply wrong headed when it comes to what we the players, should want. In all their arrogance, ignorance or both, they know they have us where they want us.

They can do pretty much whatever they want, realizing that the consumer has very little power to change it. Most won't care, they'll simply put up with it. Those that do will be left with a near unwinnable battle against corporate juggernauts, or contemplate giving up their beloved hobby.

Congratulations, you just bought the Terran campaign for SC II. When you're done feel free to purchase the rest of the game, in two more parts. What's next, will we pay for each individual mission? Or maybe for individual faction units? Go ahead, we can take it. Tell us how you're gonna screw us next.

I tip my hat to those who organized the L4D 2 boycott, and those who organized the petition against Infinity Ward for their misguided decision regarding CoD Modern Warfare 2. Admittedly, I will probably get L4D 2, but only because I need another FPS, and MW 2 is no longer an option for me. How much you want to bet we'll be seeing L4D 3 in another year?

Spore originally had a 3 install limit. Because EA thought it would be too extreme to require background checks, retina scans and a full body cavity search every time you logged onto the game.

As a lifelong and passionate gamer, it saddens me to see where the industry is going. Everything from draconian anti-Piracy measures, to catering to the casual crowd (I have nothing against casual gamers, but why does that mean almost every game has to be necessarily dumbed down for mass consumption? Again, studios catering to the many, while ignoring the needs of the devoted few. In fact, the very gamers that probably made them what they are today.) to raising the price of PC games, to chopping games up into segments and dishing them out to us bit by bit, for a price of course.

Why? Why couldn't things have stayed the way they were? I'm old enough to remember the industry, the gaming scene, before all this turned into the overly commercialized, soulless, overgrown monstrosity that it has become. Maybe its hard to express in words what it used to mean to be a gamer, and what companies and their products used to mean. It something you had to have been there for, to have experienced for yourself. To have lived in the heyday of titles like Civilization, Master of Orion, the King's Quest series, Wing Commander, X-Com, to name a few.

Maybe its just nostalgia, or maybe there really was a golden age that has long sinced passed us by. An age that was ruled over by fair and gentle kings, sharing their wealth and riches with all their philanthropic generosity. What we have now is akin to a gilded age, where arrogant, apathetic lords toss coins from their stage coaches to beggars. We went from the PC gaming equivalent of classical music such as from Mozart, to meaningless pop crap from "artists" like Britney Spears. We went from a gaming Renaissance era to some 1984ish Orwellian dystopia.

"Yes, my plan went perfectly! All those suckers who subscribed to Tabula Rasa gave me the money I needed to fly into space. So long suckers!"

Richard Gariott, a modern day Nero. The Roman emperor fiddled as his city burned. Gariott flew into space while his failed sci-fi MMO Tabula Rasa shut down. Nice, feel free not to come back to Earth.

We live in a paradoxical time. The PC and videogame industries are expanding at an unprecedented rate, each raking in billions. Never has the hobby been so prolific, accepted and popular. But is this really what we want? The more it expands, the more powerful it gets, the more soul and essence it will lose. And its a tragedy. While I don't think we can beat the giants, there is a way to fight back.

Find and support independent developers. Companies that have no choice but to listen to their players to survive. Arcen Games, Stardock, Introversion Software.

If you consider yourself a veteran gamer who remembers what it was like before all this BS, we must rethink the hobby. We must find other ways to enjoy what we love, without enabling the callous software giants. This is a call to action, a time to take a stand. Gamers of the world unite!

HoI 3 Highlights Part 2

Australian troops surrendering at Sydney

Remnants of the Australian army hold out on New Guinea, but the war has already been won by the Empire. Our losses were heavy, but we managed to defeat the enemy that invaded the home islands. After the transports were sunk, it was the beginning of the end.

The Australians make their last stand at Canberra, but resistance is futile.
Hmm, what shall we do with the land down under?


Make it part of the rising sun of course!

The Russo-Japanese Alliance went on to take over New Zealand, Vichy France, Siam and Yemen. Remarkably, the alliance had managed to stay out of any major war with either the Axis or Allies. Strangely enough, the Allies were utterly defeated, leaving only the Comintern and the Axis left by the end of the game. The Axis had a slight lead on the victory points, but I was pretty happy with what I had been able to accomplish.

Most of the naval forces were used as a defensive parameter around the home islands. They were mostly effective at keeping out any transports, except for when they screwed up and let the Australian army land in northern Japan. Had they been able to bulk up their troop numbers they may have given me a serious run for my money. But having the USSR on your side helps :-D

I emphasized special forces training (although I'm not sure how that played into the campaign), as well as large infantry movements and light infantry technology. I was able to get pretty far without any major armor or artillery. Strategic bombers definitely helped, and of course my awesome carriers.

With the combined might of Soviet Russia and the Japanese Empire, the South-east Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere is realized. The allies are defeated, and most are absorbed into the Axis. The balance of power rests in the Comintern and Axis. Its a dangerous world, being carved up between two aggressive ideologies, in a new sort of cold war. Actually kind of scary if you think about it o.o

Disclaimer: No offense intended to any of the nations my empire liberated from their despotic oppressors. It's just a game. Although I like Japan, what they did in the '40s was not cool. But at least they made it up to us with anime and video games.

HoI 3 Highlights Part 1

War was declared on Australia, and the invasion begins on New Guinea. My glorious Zero fighter pilots strafe Australian troops from below. The feeble enemy air force attempts to attack my Soviet made tank destroyers, but it will be futile.

The Battle of Yap

The Australians got lucky and slipped through my invasion forces. But they won't get much farther...or could they?

Naturally, we won the battle. But something seems amiss....

Damn them! The attack on Yap was merely a decoy to send an invasion of their own! They managed to slip past the fleet and take northern Japan. This grave insult to our sacred land will be severely punished!
While the battle rages on our homeland, the vengeful Japanese navy strikes back. The Battle of Halifax Bay will be remembered as a day of glory! It was a massacre of transports, whole armies sent to the bottom! For the Emperor!

Stay tuned for the thrilling conclusion

Hearts of Iron 3 Highlights

It turns out I may be a little better at geopolitical strategy games than I thought. I actually managed my way through a full game of Hearts of Iron 3. A full length AAR would be a daunting, lengthy project. So instead, I'm going to write several posts highlighting the most interesting moments. Where opportunity arises, I may inject some humor or badly photoshopped pics describing the epic war.

In this game's alternate universe, Japan decides to ally with the USSR. After promising not to make any more incursions into China, the U.S. agrees to continue supplying Japan with its desperately needed resources. As the world inches closer toward war, Japan becomes increasingly concerned about possible Soviet aggression. Fearing an invasion by the USSR if they sided with the Axis, moves are put into place to transition the country to a communist government.

The worshiped and revered Emperor manages to influence several powerful, leftist political groups. With their combined pull, they achieve a bloodless coup and become a member of the Comintern. They also succeed in uniting the Japanese Navy and Army, which up until that point had been at odds with each other. In order to appease several militant parties, the Emperor promises to wage an aggressive war that would bring the Southeast Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere to fruition. With the U.S. and Japan on good terms, the Pearl Harbor attack is never carried out. America remains isolationist and distanced from international politics. The Axis powers are gathering to wage all out war on the Allies. Japan initiates its war under the rationale that it is to safeguard southeast Asia from Axis and Allied aggression. The USSR with its massive land forces, protect Japan from most of Europe, while Japan's formidable navy fortifies Russia's eastern shores.

The pieces are put in place for World War II! Banzai!

Game Preview: Borderlands

One of the hardest things for a gamer to do is wait for an upcoming title. Truly good games are released far and few between. It's not like cinema, where there is usually at least one film a week that might be worth seeing. A gamer can wait for years for a title to come out that they know has a pretty high chance of kicking ass. Just look at how long we've waited for StarCraft 2.

Borderlands, is one such game that will literally be painful to wait for. I can safely say that October has been one of the slowest moving months in recent memory. That may be partially my fault, as I just can't stop thinking about how incredible this FPS/RPG hybrid looks like it could be.

Wait don't shoot! He's just trying to return your wrench!

The closest equivalent to Borderlands I can think of is in Left 4 Dead. Both games are four player, co-op experiences. From watching the video footage, I can tell that some serious teamwork will probably be required for this game. What sets Borderlands apart from L4D however, is it sci-fi setting, and the fact that it has a randomly generated weapon system. For me, this is by far the most compelling feature of the game. With a nearly inexhaustible supply of weapons, I have to imagine this extends the title's replayability immensely.

Added to this is the integration of RPG elements. This includes over a hundred quests, a leveling system and item shops. Like Diablo, a lot of the game world will be randomly generated, such as levels and objects. In fact, Borderlands could be the perfect game to play while we wait for D3.

Mad Max extras make cameo appearances in Borderlands

The basic story for Borderlands is like this: Several colony ships are sent to a distant planet called Pandora. Its rumored to have vast deposits of resources that could make the colonists rich. But in some cruel practical joke, once the travelers arrive to the planet, there is only a desolate landscape. Those that have the means leave the world, and those that don't are forced to fend for themselves.

However, there is a silver lining. Several sites of an ancient civilization were found, containing remnants of an alien technology. The mother lode of these extraterrestrial findings lie in a structure called the vault. Unfortunately, no one has been able to excavate it without being wiped out in the process. To make matters worse, dangerous creatures are coming out of hibernation to terrorize the planet. Presumably, its your job to fight your way through the various hostilities and hope to unlock the vault's secrets.

The L4D characters have nothing on these guys...

Borderlands is one of those games that just seem to contain everything I could possibly want in one package. And that's why I'm hoping I'm going to be able to enjoy it. Sci-fi setting, massive replayability, virtually unlimited weapons, RPG elements, post-apocalyptic/wild west ambiance, unique characters, all crammed into one package. This is an irresistible buy, and I can't wait for this eternally long month to near its end so I can finally freakin' play it. Borderlands is due out on Oct. 26th for the PC.

My New Favorite Video Game Character

Claptrap is awesome. Now I want Borderlands all the more badly. I highly recommend you watch his web series.

I will plan on writing a preview to this most anticipated game shortly.

Memorable Gaming Moment #3: The Ending of Fallout 3

Fallout 3 is one of my favorite PC RPGs ever. I consider myself a fan of the Fallout franchise, having played the original two games, as well as Fallout: Tactics. I'm not huge on the post-apocalyptic genre, but the Fallout games did it so well that its by far the most compelling take on the theme. The mixture of comedy with the dark atmosphere of a ruined world is an interesting combination to say the least.


The changes that would be made to the third installment of the series would be pretty controversial, but still worked in its own way. I wouldn't hold it against a Fallout fan to dismiss Bethesda's direction they took Fallout in, but Fallout 3 still deserves praise, if only for bringing the Fallout franchise back into the spotlight. Its tough to see such a classic property fade away, as we've seen with series such as X-Com or Tribes.

The last major battle, running up to the shocking conclusion of the game, was one of the most action packed, suspenseful, emotional roller coasters of my gaming life. Running through a total war zone to get to my missing father sparked something in me. It underscored why I love this hobby so much, and showed how emotionally intense a game can be. It doesn't hurt that you're being backed up by a giant mech. I love giant robots, put one in a game, and I'm already halfway to liking it.


So anyway, I play so many games that my fondest memories are often blurs, quick flashes of climactic, heart stopping moments. Racing down the ruined city, lunging into the thick of battle with my friends and the Brotherhood of steel. That was such an incredible experience. It wasn't just the excitement of the conflict coming to its boiling point, but thinking back on everything I had gone through to get to that so far. Every fight, every encounter, every completed quest, culminated in this one cinematic, all out skirmish, and it was awesome. It felt like I had been dropped into a Hollywood movie or something.

One thing that sticks out in my mind particularly, is the way that I had been fighting alongside Sticky. For those that don't know, he's this annoying kid that can follow you around unless you know how to get him to leave, or stop repeating his stupid stories. My charm was high enough to get him to stay quiet, and so I kept him in my group. I had gotten used to the guy. He wasn't annoying me anymore, and he provided extra firepower. I had hoped that he would survive to the bitter end with me. I was closing in the objective when I heard this big explosion. I turned around and sadly, Sticky was dead. I couldn't believe it, it was one of the saddest things I had seen in a video game. I don't know if I was that emotionally affected since Aeris died in Final Fantasy 7.


But I had to forge ahead, I eventually managed to save Washington D.C. (or what was left of it), and watched the controversial ending, which also contributed to the memorability of the event. I hope I'll have many more moments to come in games like Dragon Age.

Memorable Gaming Moment #2: The Uber Archers

Rome: Total War was my first positive experience with a Total War game. I was too young to have known about Shogun: Total War. I had attempted to play Medieval: Total War with some limited success. Unfortunately, the software wasn't very stable, and I crashed it more often than I played it. Rome: Total War came out in my early college years, and it looked stunning. I had to give it a chance, and I was glad I did.

One of my favorite things about the Total War games was how much they resemble the days when we would play with toy soldiers. Moving all those units around like so many action figures, looking down on them like some God as they fight to the death for your amusement. Its the ultimate power trip. Additionally, there are all the little, but important command decisions you can make.


I have absolutely no interest in sports, and I'm awed by the encyclopedic knowledge that fans have for their favorite teams an athletes. Whereas they relish in pouring over statistics and sports careers, I can obsess over which Generals to send to their doo-, I mean missions. Should I send my drunkard prince-general? Or should I use the newly adopted Captain and raise him to a higher rank? It was satisfying to play with these unique units, just as much as it was to put soldiers through hell and watch them come out that much stronger. A unit of archer auxilia was one such group, and their famous exploits leads to my 2nd most memorable gaming moment.


This was a long time ago, and I wish I could remember more details. What I do remember, was that I was engaged in a major battle. It was one of those heated engagements where you're constantly checking on each unit, racing to coordinate everyone so that you can turn the tide and ensure victory. Every warrior is in the fight, its man to man, blow for blow. One dead soldier could tip the balance. You watch helplessly, your fate in the hands of your men as they struggle to stay alive. I was so caught up in the action, that I didn't notice a group of enemy infantry was closing in on my prized archers, with the highest attainable experience level.

I loved these guys, I had watched them survive a dozen battles unscathed. Archers are just great for pelting your enemy nonstop. Unfortunately (or not) depending on how you look at it, the AI could be pretty lame brained. Much to my amusement, I'd watch as the enemy soldiers stood rigid, simply allowing themselves to be downed by volleys of arrows, until the archers ran out. Anyway, when I went back to check on my bowmen, I noticed they had been rushed by melee soldiers. I was horrified. Noooooo!


If you're familiar with strategy games, archers are horrible in close combat, and it stands to reason. They have virtually no armor, little in the way of non-ranged weapons, maybe a knife if they're lucky. Well that's just what they had, and they were going up against armored, sword bearing (I think) warriors. I feared I had lost them. But I watched on, and noticed how relentlessly they fought back. And much to my surprise and astonishment, they actually overpowered the soldiers!

I couldn't believe it! Cloth wearing, knife wielding archers, who on principle, should be slaughtered if stupid enough to go head to head with a man-at-arms, beat the close combat unit. That was awesome. Nothing like that had ever happened to be in a strategy game before. It just went to show what badasses they were. They weren't going to let themselves be beat by sword wielding grunts.

Unfortunately, most of the archers did die in the fighting. But they still routed the enemy, and the unit was still in play after the battle was over. I don't know if I used them much after that, and I don't think they ever got back up to full strength. But in that game's particular universe, they were heroes of legendary proportions.