So I started Deus Ex: Human Revolution last night, and played a bit more today because I am still unemployed and I was waiting for laundry to finish, and I had this feeling that I couldn't place. It was good! Something I hadn't felt in a long time.
And I just now placed it.
It reminded me of playing the first Deus Ex.
This is meant in the best way possible. It's not as good, and I do have some qualms with some of what the game does. The cover mechanic is really finicky, and without upgrades I have trouble telling what enemies are doing, et cetera. But this is minor.
I was reminded of playing the opening areas of Deus Ex, one of the most beloved games of all time.
I love the leveling mechanics, and hope for something as deep in ME3. I love the inventory screen, and wish that it was everything that Bioshock had and something that Bioshock Infinite will have. I love the return to the cyberpunk future, and the depiction of a world that William Gibson would have written, that this is the world that Neuromancer would happen in, and that it's just far enough in the future to be futuristic but not yet so far as to be unrecognizable. (On a related note, I hate that cyberpunk as a genre hasn't really had serious book that i'm aware of since the 80's. Way to be asleep at the wheel.) I love that green isn't the color used to hint at technology and future, but that yellow is.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love the hell out of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. It's fun.
Also, the stuff offered in this post in this post is still for sale. Please to be buying, kthx! Prices are all negotiable. I just want to offload stuff/make some monies.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
On Blogger
So I've had this blog for a little over two months at this point, rather erratic posting schedule aside, so I think I'm slowly getting used to this blogger thing. Enough thatbi think I can go into my feelings with regards to it as a blogging software anyway.
And honestly, truly honestly?
I wish I didn't have to use it.
It sounds bad, I know. But author, I can hear you thinking to yourself, why then do you subject yourself to something you don't like?
Because shut up I reply, rather testy that you would dare to break into my thought process with your incredibly rude question.
After a bit of a cool off period on my end, because frankly such an outburst is, well, maybe not unwarranted, but rather rude, and I'm a better host than that, so I suppose I should offer slightly more than that. On the whole, then, Blogger is a halfway decent blogging software. If you don't want to bother with much HTML (And who does?), then it'll do pretty much all the heavy lifting for you.
There are some downsides though. For example, whenever I copy/paste a line of whatever using my Mac, it decides to bring in some weird code that completely screws up the formatting. For example, look at my sales post I made yesterday. See those blue backgrounds behind the words?
I didn't code that specially to make those stand out. I only left it in because I liked the way it looked. Honestly, the code for that entry is ugly as hell. So's the code for the Super Metroid entry too.
Beyond that though, without a lot of work, the actual blog does not look good. Mine, visually, is passable, and that's by and large because I made a lot of work using the template editor, and I have been entirely too lazy to go in and edit the actual HTML. One of these days.
But yeah. I wouldn't really suggest it if you want a lot of control over your blogging. I'm not going to continue using whenever I get around to finding out how I can purchase www.scanvisor.com I'm going to go ahead and switch to WordPress. For the time being though?
That'll do Blogger, that'll do.
And honestly, truly honestly?
I wish I didn't have to use it.
It sounds bad, I know. But author, I can hear you thinking to yourself, why then do you subject yourself to something you don't like?
Because shut up I reply, rather testy that you would dare to break into my thought process with your incredibly rude question.
After a bit of a cool off period on my end, because frankly such an outburst is, well, maybe not unwarranted, but rather rude, and I'm a better host than that, so I suppose I should offer slightly more than that. On the whole, then, Blogger is a halfway decent blogging software. If you don't want to bother with much HTML (And who does?), then it'll do pretty much all the heavy lifting for you.
There are some downsides though. For example, whenever I copy/paste a line of whatever using my Mac, it decides to bring in some weird code that completely screws up the formatting. For example, look at my sales post I made yesterday. See those blue backgrounds behind the words?
I didn't code that specially to make those stand out. I only left it in because I liked the way it looked. Honestly, the code for that entry is ugly as hell. So's the code for the Super Metroid entry too.
Beyond that though, without a lot of work, the actual blog does not look good. Mine, visually, is passable, and that's by and large because I made a lot of work using the template editor, and I have been entirely too lazy to go in and edit the actual HTML. One of these days.
But yeah. I wouldn't really suggest it if you want a lot of control over your blogging. I'm not going to continue using whenever I get around to finding out how I can purchase www.scanvisor.com I'm going to go ahead and switch to WordPress. For the time being though?
That'll do Blogger, that'll do.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
In Which I Try to Sell Some Possessions
Hey folks! I've found myself in a bit of trouble financially speaking, and while it's not incredibly dire, I'm not exactly wanting to mooch off my parents more than I already have. So while I'm still in the process of sending out numerous applications, I figured I'd sell off some of my possessions to help ease some of my bills for a short while.
Very short while. But anyway!
Each of the games have been cared for excellently, and the two board games haven't been played very much at all. They're both excellent games, I just don't really have a gaming group anymore, and I don't really like them enough to keep them on.
If this seems like a cop-out post, it probably is. Whoops!
Gamecube
Tales of Symphonia - $15 (No instruction manual)
Nintendo DS
The Dark Spire - $20 (Case and game only)
Dragon Quest IX - $20
Golden Sun DS - $20
Contact - $15
Wii
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core - $20
Playstation 3
Bioshock 2 - $25 (Some slight sticker residue on the case)
Red Dead Redemption* - $25
Dragon Age Origins* - $25
LA Noire* - $25
X-Box 360
Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds - $25
* contains all the DLC that came included with the games, none of which has been redeemed.
Board Games
Pandemic - $35
Letters from White Chapel - $35
I know some of the people on my Facebooks, and if you see this, I can all but promise that you will like those two games. They are excellent examples of modern board gaming, and loads of fun for the right person. So right, if you want any of these items, shoot an e-mail to NuZGundam.Eric[at]Gmail.com and we can hash out a deal.
Thanks!
Very short while. But anyway!
Each of the games have been cared for excellently, and the two board games haven't been played very much at all. They're both excellent games, I just don't really have a gaming group anymore, and I don't really like them enough to keep them on.
If this seems like a cop-out post, it probably is. Whoops!
Gamecube
Tales of Symphonia - $15 (No instruction manual)
Nintendo DS
The Dark Spire - $20 (Case and game only)
Dragon Quest IX - $20
Golden Sun DS - $20
Contact - $15
Wii
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core - $20
Playstation 3
Bioshock 2 - $25 (Some slight sticker residue on the case)
Red Dead Redemption* - $25
Dragon Age Origins* - $25
LA Noire* - $25
X-Box 360
Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds - $25
* contains all the DLC that came included with the games, none of which has been redeemed.
Board Games
Pandemic - $35
Letters from White Chapel - $35
I know some of the people on my Facebooks, and if you see this, I can all but promise that you will like those two games. They are excellent examples of modern board gaming, and loads of fun for the right person. So right, if you want any of these items, shoot an e-mail to NuZGundam.Eric[at]Gmail.com and we can hash out a deal.
Thanks!
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Desert Island 10: Super Metroid
Let's say I wind up on a deserted island in the middle of the ocean somewhere. Say some all powerful imp did this to me. And he let me keep ten games for the rest of my miserable life. These are those ten games.
Super Metroid - Nintendo R&D1, 1994
The Basics
Dude, it's Super Metroid.
No, really, Super Metroid.
But then just saying that isn't really all that explanatory if you, say, are completely ignorant of just how awesome Super Metroid is. And if that's the case, perhaps a history lesson on the origin of Super Metroid would be useful.
The original Metroid was a title on the original NES, one of the original silver box games on the system. It was a sci-fi exploratory game, where the protagonist Samus Aran was presented with a planet. The player is first introduced to the game by being brought down an elevator to a landing, and presented with a flat hallway. There are two ways to go, right and left. Where do you go?
Now, if you know anything, you have to head left to get the first power up, the Morph Ball, which will let you explore more later. That kind of thinking at the time, though, was anathema at the time. Players were used to games more like Mario, where the only goal was to go to the right as fast as possible without dying. However, the player in Metroid is eventually presented with a differently colored door that their blaster cannot open. Now, if the player is thinking logically, they know that they have nowhere else to go but left. And so they're introduced to Metroid. It's not a fast, twitch based game like Mario. It's a slow game. It's meant to be more explored and memorized than just run through. And honestly, the first (and second) game aren't very good. But they are important milestones. Suddenly, games weren't monodirectional. Suddenly developers had more space to play with.
Super Metroid is Metroid. Literally, even. The entire map of Brinstar is reproduced in Super Metroid, along with an additional area. There are more, bigger bosses, and Samus is given more and better weaponry to fight them with. What's more, the addition of Samus' walljump and the use of her equipment (notably the speed booster) as aids for exploration rather than combat emphasize the role of exploration. Super Metroid is all about finding a path through Brinstar, not necessarily about blowing everything up.
Why It's Here
IT'S SUPER METROID.
But fine, that's not a compelling argument. So I'll just say this then:
It is one of, if not the best, designed games of all time. And if not that, then it's certainly the best designed map based around it's main characters' skillset of all time. See also: One of the best of all time.
The trick with a Metroidvania is creating a good, cohesive map with a lot of secrets that isn't too big, too small, too full of enemies, or too barren. The problem with a lot of the later Castlevanias (AKA Igavanias) is that they all fall prey to one of these follies. Symphony of the Night is absolutely massive, and is really great for about half the game, but the reverse castle is a ridiculously boring expanse that has nothing in it, and by the time you get to it you are completely invulnerable to all but the most dangerous boss. Circle of the Moon is actually surprisingly small, and Order of Ecclesia somehow hits all of these problems at the same time.
Super Metroid, conveniently, does not have this problem. In fact, it's got the perfect carrot-on-a-stick system set up. No room takes more than ten minutes to traverse, and each area is diverse with just enough enemies to give the player some challenge while moving through. As the player moves on, they constantly find new pieces of equipment to make exploration easier and open up new areas. So the player is always seeing something new and awesome.
But here's the thing, any game can do this. The way this is described makes it seem as linear as a Mario game. And that could definitely be said of the original Metroid and its first sequel. Super Metroid isn't like that at all, all thanks to one move: The Walljump. While it's never mentioned officially in the game (the most explanation the player receives for it is in a really evil wall, where you have to watch tiny monkey things pull off the move). The Walljump requires no special equipment. It can be done literally anywhere. And it's the most important move Samus has.
Using it allows her to sequence break, to skip certain power-ups and bosses that are normally in the sequence. This is done to add to the challenge, to get faster times, whatever. It's also been key to Super Metroid's longevity. My first playthrough of the game took me about 10 hours, because I was taking my time/got lost/couldn't find my way.
Compare, then, to the fastest time in the Speed Demo Archives: 32 minutes. Now, that's a half hour that doesn't make use of (too many) glitches. There is constant improvement.
And honestly, that's why it makes the list. Sure, it's one of the best designed games of all time, but then so is Alien vs Predator (Arcade), at least with regards to side-scrolling beat 'em ups. But there is constant room for improvement, and I'm more than willing to try for it with a short game such as this. Who knows, maybe I too could get my time under a half hour.
Assuming unlimited free time.
On a beach.
With unlimited power.
And a good TV for it.
And my not getting bored.
It's Super Metroid.
The Basics
Dude, it's Super Metroid.
No, really, Super Metroid.
But then just saying that isn't really all that explanatory if you, say, are completely ignorant of just how awesome Super Metroid is. And if that's the case, perhaps a history lesson on the origin of Super Metroid would be useful.
The original Metroid was a title on the original NES, one of the original silver box games on the system. It was a sci-fi exploratory game, where the protagonist Samus Aran was presented with a planet. The player is first introduced to the game by being brought down an elevator to a landing, and presented with a flat hallway. There are two ways to go, right and left. Where do you go?
Now, if you know anything, you have to head left to get the first power up, the Morph Ball, which will let you explore more later. That kind of thinking at the time, though, was anathema at the time. Players were used to games more like Mario, where the only goal was to go to the right as fast as possible without dying. However, the player in Metroid is eventually presented with a differently colored door that their blaster cannot open. Now, if the player is thinking logically, they know that they have nowhere else to go but left. And so they're introduced to Metroid. It's not a fast, twitch based game like Mario. It's a slow game. It's meant to be more explored and memorized than just run through. And honestly, the first (and second) game aren't very good. But they are important milestones. Suddenly, games weren't monodirectional. Suddenly developers had more space to play with.
Super Metroid is Metroid. Literally, even. The entire map of Brinstar is reproduced in Super Metroid, along with an additional area. There are more, bigger bosses, and Samus is given more and better weaponry to fight them with. What's more, the addition of Samus' walljump and the use of her equipment (notably the speed booster) as aids for exploration rather than combat emphasize the role of exploration. Super Metroid is all about finding a path through Brinstar, not necessarily about blowing everything up.
Why It's Here
IT'S SUPER METROID.
But fine, that's not a compelling argument. So I'll just say this then:
It is one of, if not the best, designed games of all time. And if not that, then it's certainly the best designed map based around it's main characters' skillset of all time. See also: One of the best of all time.
The trick with a Metroidvania is creating a good, cohesive map with a lot of secrets that isn't too big, too small, too full of enemies, or too barren. The problem with a lot of the later Castlevanias (AKA Igavanias) is that they all fall prey to one of these follies. Symphony of the Night is absolutely massive, and is really great for about half the game, but the reverse castle is a ridiculously boring expanse that has nothing in it, and by the time you get to it you are completely invulnerable to all but the most dangerous boss. Circle of the Moon is actually surprisingly small, and Order of Ecclesia somehow hits all of these problems at the same time.
Super Metroid, conveniently, does not have this problem. In fact, it's got the perfect carrot-on-a-stick system set up. No room takes more than ten minutes to traverse, and each area is diverse with just enough enemies to give the player some challenge while moving through. As the player moves on, they constantly find new pieces of equipment to make exploration easier and open up new areas. So the player is always seeing something new and awesome.
But here's the thing, any game can do this. The way this is described makes it seem as linear as a Mario game. And that could definitely be said of the original Metroid and its first sequel. Super Metroid isn't like that at all, all thanks to one move: The Walljump. While it's never mentioned officially in the game (the most explanation the player receives for it is in a really evil wall, where you have to watch tiny monkey things pull off the move). The Walljump requires no special equipment. It can be done literally anywhere. And it's the most important move Samus has.
Using it allows her to sequence break, to skip certain power-ups and bosses that are normally in the sequence. This is done to add to the challenge, to get faster times, whatever. It's also been key to Super Metroid's longevity. My first playthrough of the game took me about 10 hours, because I was taking my time/got lost/couldn't find my way.
Compare, then, to the fastest time in the Speed Demo Archives: 32 minutes. Now, that's a half hour that doesn't make use of (too many) glitches. There is constant improvement.
And honestly, that's why it makes the list. Sure, it's one of the best designed games of all time, but then so is Alien vs Predator (Arcade), at least with regards to side-scrolling beat 'em ups. But there is constant room for improvement, and I'm more than willing to try for it with a short game such as this. Who knows, maybe I too could get my time under a half hour.
Assuming unlimited free time.
On a beach.
With unlimited power.
And a good TV for it.
And my not getting bored.
It's Super Metroid.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
A Vacation in Westeros: End of Book 1, Part 2
Previous part right here.
So right, as a quick recap, I like most of the Starks! But wait, there's more!
Bran Stark
Right, so, remember when I said not much happened with Arya? Even less happened to Bran. His chapters were by and large dedicated to history and establishing the world as a larger place. He also picked up a trusty carrier (Hodor) and a wilding who is rather superstitious. Also there are implications that MAGIC is a real thing, and it's not like Bran can do anything else. Perhaps he will be a MAGIC man. Probably not.
Also, while I complained about Sansa as a stupid young girl, I could really levy the same complaints against Bran as being a boring, singular character with one note. That said, he actually has a reason to complain (Kid lost control of his legs in a tragic accident he doesn't remember), there were other characters doing things around him all the time (Robb at first, then his younger brother Rickon), they weren't taken up with long examples of how the Lannisters are terrible (Seriously, we get it, they suck), and his chapters were shorter on average. So right, not the best, but pretty far from bad.
Jon Snow
After Ghost found the corpses of the now ex-rangers, they brought them back to the Wall for examination, which proved to be a grave mis-error. They are not corpses, not now. They are Wights. Or Zombies. Or whatthefuckever. Jon gets in a fight with them in order to save the commander. The commander, pleased that he wasn't dead, gives Jon a bastard sword (GET IT). After trying to join his family, he is dragged back by his friends, and then learns that he will set out beyond the wall for MASSIVE ADVENTURE.
Of all the POV characters, Jon is probably the most stereotypical one. He's a young boy, disillusioned with his current lot in life, who goes off to a dangerous and unknown location for MASSIVE ADVENTURE and self-discovery. It's all quite charming. And it's not badly written. But it's also not terribly original. Plus it, like Dany's stuff, seems separated from pretty much everything else. It's supposed to, mind you, so that it can set up a different threat that faces the Westeros countries. In this case, it's the Wights, and other mystical enemies. They're perfectly serviceable chapters, and they will accumulate for future books, I'm. Aside from the heroes' story though, it's pretty boring.
Tyrion Lannister
After surviving his time in the Aerie, Tyrion and Bronn pick up some brigands in the path back to Westeros proper and joins up with Tywin Lannister's army. Shagga threatens to chop off the manhood of many a Westerosan, and Tyrion survives his first major battle. At the end, he is told to go to Casterly Rock to maintain control over Joffrey.
Tyrion was an absolute joy to read. Snarky, world traveling adventures probably made him my favorite character of all. I cannot complain, and I cannot suggest his chapters more highly. They're that strong, and I have nothing else to say on him.
So I want to take this time to discuss the Lannisters, specifically the power they currently weild. Tywin's got a massive army, and is one of the most renowned commanders in the world, plus he's apparently a tactical genius. His grandson, Joffrey Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne of Westeros, where more men can be rustled up, and is the king, which is nothing to sneeze at. Basically, Lannisters control all the meaningful sources of power.
And yet, I would argue that the Lannisters are in the worst position at the end of the book. Jaime Lannister, the kingslayer, is currently held by the Starks, who will not give him up ever. While Joffrey sits on the throne, Robert Baratheon's younger brother has made a claim at the throne, whilst his other brother is off doing something secretive. The Northern kingdoms have all seceded at this point, leaving the Lannisters that much poorer. Plus Tywin's army faces two other forces, which may not be equal, but still aren't good. Joffrey himself is a rather insane king, and so will not have the people's support should push come to shove. And, if that weren't enough, the Lannister homestead has all of its supply routes blocked by other, enemy provinces. AND, in addition to all of that, Dany Targaryen has decided that maybe she should take back Westeros. Basically, everything that could go wrong for the Lannisters has. Not even the Starks are all that bad off, and they lost their patriarch.
Dany Targaryen
Kahl Drogo died! So Dany brought him back! Only he was in a persistant vegetative state, so his khalriders left him. Then, on his burial pyre, Dany hatched three dragons. Because why not!
Everything I said about Jon applies to Dany as well. She exists in these early chapters to establish a threat. Only instead of something else being the threat established, her chapters establish herself as the greatest thing to happen. The dragons are back, and they're going to hit Westeros with the power of a sledgehammer.
Oh, and it was nice watching Dany find her own self-worth away from her stupidly abusive brother. Sometimes authors do let us have nice things!
Overall
I think I can pretty safely say that A Game of Thrones is not for everyone. For one, it's a fairly depressing book. While each of the characters has their own individual victories, the overall tone is a downward trend for the nation as a whole. What's more, a lot of time is taken up showing the machinations and innerworkings of the upper classes. I like it! And there are fantasy trappings, especially in Jon's chapters. And likeable characters.
But this is very much a book for fantasy lovers. What's more, it's a book for a specific subset of fantasy lovers. Everyone should try it out, but not everyone will like it. Honestly, I ate this up. I look forward to reading the later books, and especially trying to get my hands on the HBO series somehow. That would be interesting to see. So until next time, Westerosans! Same Scan Visor place, same Scan Visor time!
So right, as a quick recap, I like most of the Starks! But wait, there's more!
Bran Stark
Right, so, remember when I said not much happened with Arya? Even less happened to Bran. His chapters were by and large dedicated to history and establishing the world as a larger place. He also picked up a trusty carrier (Hodor) and a wilding who is rather superstitious. Also there are implications that MAGIC is a real thing, and it's not like Bran can do anything else. Perhaps he will be a MAGIC man. Probably not.
Also, while I complained about Sansa as a stupid young girl, I could really levy the same complaints against Bran as being a boring, singular character with one note. That said, he actually has a reason to complain (Kid lost control of his legs in a tragic accident he doesn't remember), there were other characters doing things around him all the time (Robb at first, then his younger brother Rickon), they weren't taken up with long examples of how the Lannisters are terrible (Seriously, we get it, they suck), and his chapters were shorter on average. So right, not the best, but pretty far from bad.
Jon Snow
After Ghost found the corpses of the now ex-rangers, they brought them back to the Wall for examination, which proved to be a grave mis-error. They are not corpses, not now. They are Wights. Or Zombies. Or whatthefuckever. Jon gets in a fight with them in order to save the commander. The commander, pleased that he wasn't dead, gives Jon a bastard sword (GET IT). After trying to join his family, he is dragged back by his friends, and then learns that he will set out beyond the wall for MASSIVE ADVENTURE.
Of all the POV characters, Jon is probably the most stereotypical one. He's a young boy, disillusioned with his current lot in life, who goes off to a dangerous and unknown location for MASSIVE ADVENTURE and self-discovery. It's all quite charming. And it's not badly written. But it's also not terribly original. Plus it, like Dany's stuff, seems separated from pretty much everything else. It's supposed to, mind you, so that it can set up a different threat that faces the Westeros countries. In this case, it's the Wights, and other mystical enemies. They're perfectly serviceable chapters, and they will accumulate for future books, I'm. Aside from the heroes' story though, it's pretty boring.
Tyrion Lannister
After surviving his time in the Aerie, Tyrion and Bronn pick up some brigands in the path back to Westeros proper and joins up with Tywin Lannister's army. Shagga threatens to chop off the manhood of many a Westerosan, and Tyrion survives his first major battle. At the end, he is told to go to Casterly Rock to maintain control over Joffrey.
Tyrion was an absolute joy to read. Snarky, world traveling adventures probably made him my favorite character of all. I cannot complain, and I cannot suggest his chapters more highly. They're that strong, and I have nothing else to say on him.
So I want to take this time to discuss the Lannisters, specifically the power they currently weild. Tywin's got a massive army, and is one of the most renowned commanders in the world, plus he's apparently a tactical genius. His grandson, Joffrey Lannister, sits on the Iron Throne of Westeros, where more men can be rustled up, and is the king, which is nothing to sneeze at. Basically, Lannisters control all the meaningful sources of power.
And yet, I would argue that the Lannisters are in the worst position at the end of the book. Jaime Lannister, the kingslayer, is currently held by the Starks, who will not give him up ever. While Joffrey sits on the throne, Robert Baratheon's younger brother has made a claim at the throne, whilst his other brother is off doing something secretive. The Northern kingdoms have all seceded at this point, leaving the Lannisters that much poorer. Plus Tywin's army faces two other forces, which may not be equal, but still aren't good. Joffrey himself is a rather insane king, and so will not have the people's support should push come to shove. And, if that weren't enough, the Lannister homestead has all of its supply routes blocked by other, enemy provinces. AND, in addition to all of that, Dany Targaryen has decided that maybe she should take back Westeros. Basically, everything that could go wrong for the Lannisters has. Not even the Starks are all that bad off, and they lost their patriarch.
Dany Targaryen
Kahl Drogo died! So Dany brought him back! Only he was in a persistant vegetative state, so his khalriders left him. Then, on his burial pyre, Dany hatched three dragons. Because why not!
Everything I said about Jon applies to Dany as well. She exists in these early chapters to establish a threat. Only instead of something else being the threat established, her chapters establish herself as the greatest thing to happen. The dragons are back, and they're going to hit Westeros with the power of a sledgehammer.
Oh, and it was nice watching Dany find her own self-worth away from her stupidly abusive brother. Sometimes authors do let us have nice things!
Overall
I think I can pretty safely say that A Game of Thrones is not for everyone. For one, it's a fairly depressing book. While each of the characters has their own individual victories, the overall tone is a downward trend for the nation as a whole. What's more, a lot of time is taken up showing the machinations and innerworkings of the upper classes. I like it! And there are fantasy trappings, especially in Jon's chapters. And likeable characters.
But this is very much a book for fantasy lovers. What's more, it's a book for a specific subset of fantasy lovers. Everyone should try it out, but not everyone will like it. Honestly, I ate this up. I look forward to reading the later books, and especially trying to get my hands on the HBO series somehow. That would be interesting to see. So until next time, Westerosans! Same Scan Visor place, same Scan Visor time!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
A Vacation in Westeros: End of Book 1, Part 1
Whoops, let my birthday vacation go on a bit too long. My bad! Here's the conclusion to Book 1 of the Song of Fire and Ice: The Book: The Summarizing Blog Posts: The Game.
Day 3, Day 12, Day 18, and Day 24.
And rather than do what I've done previously, now that I'm done, I'll sum up what was left of each individual character's stories and my thoughts with regards to that character.
Will
What, you don't remember Will? It's ok, neither did I! He's the poor sop who got his life choked short by the first appearance of the Wights waaaaaaaay back in the prologue. Dude was cool though. I like rogue-y characters. I'll miss him.
Eddard Stark
Arguably the protagonist of this book, Eddard had things pretty bad by the end of it. And by pretty I mean probably worse than all except one of the POV characters. After Eddard was captured, his role as a player was pretty much over. Sure, he (theoretically) still had some power, but he was shoved in a dark, dark dungeon with no visitors and no other contact. Varys came down and offered to save him, and Cersei seemed to be offering the same deal. Fat lot of good that did though. After Eddard falsely admitted to committing treason, Joffrey decided that this was a great time to use his brain and had Papa Stark put to the sword. Stark's own sword, even. So Eddard ends A Game of Thrones lost his body, got covered with tar, and stuck on a spike.
Honestly though? I'm kind of glad. I loved Eddard as a character, and I think one could make a fairly good argument that he's the most fully realized of the bunch. However, were he still alive, he'd become a huge focal point of other characters. He would easily take control of the Night Watch had he taken the Black, and thus he'd be smart enough to establish a good defense against whatever is out there or to attack with his forces Lannister lands. Had he decided to return to Winterfell instead and take up the sword against the Lannister, he'd become the unargued leader of the northern forces, and he'd probably be able to get the support of most of the great houses. Him being alive would be too easy for any meaningful conflict. At least until Dany arrived. Still, I never not enjoyed an Eddard chapter, even to the end.
Catelyn Stark
After losing Tyrion, Catelyn joined her son Robb with the great Northern armies and acted as his consul without being too overpowering, so the rest of her book is spent playing the diplomat. She proves invaluable in getting permission for the army to cross over into the Southron lands behind Tywin Lannister, where they were then able to capture Jaime Lannister and smash his army by Riverrun. This proves to be one of the most important victories of the book, as it demoralizes the remains of the Lannister forces and grants credence to Robb's claim to power. She is the only POV character present for Robb's acceptance of the King of the North title.
Remember when I said I loved politics way back when? Yeah. Catelyn chapters were like cake to me. Delicious, delicious cake. Aside from Tyrion (whose chapters were even better), no other character politics as much or as effectively as she does. Plus, she got to travel around to some places that we wouldn't have had excuses to see otherwise, such as the Aerie. Sure, it's out of the way, but we also got to see what happened to the previous Hand's remaining family (Craaaaaazy pants are now worn exclusively there), and we got some fun world building (a castle built so high up that their cells don't require walls? Amazing.) Catelyn's chapters are full of some of the best reasons to love Fantasy literature. Full stop.
Arya Stark
Arya managed to escape the Purge of the Starks from the seat of the king, but not get out of the city. She sees her dad killed, and nearly flips her shit, until one of the Night Watch saves her life by giving her a haircut.
Arya's story.... Ok, of the Stark siblings I may have liked hers the best, but it's really boring. From the moment she names her direwolf (Nymeria, the name of a warrior queen, as we are told that very sentence), it's pretty clear exactly where she will end up. Sure, it's cool we see her training. Sure, her teacher was really, really cool. But nothing really interesting was done with her. In fact, the one time Martin bothered to wrap her up in the big plot, he then summarily dropped it for all other mentions of her. She could go on to do awesome stuff in future books though. The path has been laid to lead to her being an avenger upon the Lannisters. I fully look forward to when she dances her saber through their skulls.
Sansa Stark
I hate Sansa. She hung out during the Purge of the Starks, kept safe by Cersei to use as a bargaining chip. Then she tries to get her family to not fight against the Lannisters. Then she realizes her folly as Joffrey shows his true colors and acts like a royal rapist.
Sansa's all about the loss of innocence. The problem with that, though, is that she doesn't lose her innocence until her last chapter. Beyond that, though? She ignores what's clear and obvious in front of her in exchange for her romantic ideals about how court life is. She doesn't play the game, she is only ever a pawn. And when Joffrey, the only real "winner" of the book claims his prize? She suddenly realizes she's been played. I hated reading each and every one of her chapters, and I couldn't even relish when bad things happened to her because she was just a naive kid rather than an idiot. I dunno, I'm not sure if Martin really wanted anything more with her. If he did, he sure as shit failed.
So right, this has gotten a bit long, hasn't it. Conclusion to be posted tomorrow, I suppose.
Day 3, Day 12, Day 18, and Day 24.
And rather than do what I've done previously, now that I'm done, I'll sum up what was left of each individual character's stories and my thoughts with regards to that character.
Will
What, you don't remember Will? It's ok, neither did I! He's the poor sop who got his life choked short by the first appearance of the Wights waaaaaaaay back in the prologue. Dude was cool though. I like rogue-y characters. I'll miss him.
Eddard Stark
Arguably the protagonist of this book, Eddard had things pretty bad by the end of it. And by pretty I mean probably worse than all except one of the POV characters. After Eddard was captured, his role as a player was pretty much over. Sure, he (theoretically) still had some power, but he was shoved in a dark, dark dungeon with no visitors and no other contact. Varys came down and offered to save him, and Cersei seemed to be offering the same deal. Fat lot of good that did though. After Eddard falsely admitted to committing treason, Joffrey decided that this was a great time to use his brain and had Papa Stark put to the sword. Stark's own sword, even. So Eddard ends A Game of Thrones lost his body, got covered with tar, and stuck on a spike.
Honestly though? I'm kind of glad. I loved Eddard as a character, and I think one could make a fairly good argument that he's the most fully realized of the bunch. However, were he still alive, he'd become a huge focal point of other characters. He would easily take control of the Night Watch had he taken the Black, and thus he'd be smart enough to establish a good defense against whatever is out there or to attack with his forces Lannister lands. Had he decided to return to Winterfell instead and take up the sword against the Lannister, he'd become the unargued leader of the northern forces, and he'd probably be able to get the support of most of the great houses. Him being alive would be too easy for any meaningful conflict. At least until Dany arrived. Still, I never not enjoyed an Eddard chapter, even to the end.
Catelyn Stark
After losing Tyrion, Catelyn joined her son Robb with the great Northern armies and acted as his consul without being too overpowering, so the rest of her book is spent playing the diplomat. She proves invaluable in getting permission for the army to cross over into the Southron lands behind Tywin Lannister, where they were then able to capture Jaime Lannister and smash his army by Riverrun. This proves to be one of the most important victories of the book, as it demoralizes the remains of the Lannister forces and grants credence to Robb's claim to power. She is the only POV character present for Robb's acceptance of the King of the North title.
Remember when I said I loved politics way back when? Yeah. Catelyn chapters were like cake to me. Delicious, delicious cake. Aside from Tyrion (whose chapters were even better), no other character politics as much or as effectively as she does. Plus, she got to travel around to some places that we wouldn't have had excuses to see otherwise, such as the Aerie. Sure, it's out of the way, but we also got to see what happened to the previous Hand's remaining family (Craaaaaazy pants are now worn exclusively there), and we got some fun world building (a castle built so high up that their cells don't require walls? Amazing.) Catelyn's chapters are full of some of the best reasons to love Fantasy literature. Full stop.
Arya Stark
Arya managed to escape the Purge of the Starks from the seat of the king, but not get out of the city. She sees her dad killed, and nearly flips her shit, until one of the Night Watch saves her life by giving her a haircut.
Arya's story.... Ok, of the Stark siblings I may have liked hers the best, but it's really boring. From the moment she names her direwolf (Nymeria, the name of a warrior queen, as we are told that very sentence), it's pretty clear exactly where she will end up. Sure, it's cool we see her training. Sure, her teacher was really, really cool. But nothing really interesting was done with her. In fact, the one time Martin bothered to wrap her up in the big plot, he then summarily dropped it for all other mentions of her. She could go on to do awesome stuff in future books though. The path has been laid to lead to her being an avenger upon the Lannisters. I fully look forward to when she dances her saber through their skulls.
Sansa Stark
I hate Sansa. She hung out during the Purge of the Starks, kept safe by Cersei to use as a bargaining chip. Then she tries to get her family to not fight against the Lannisters. Then she realizes her folly as Joffrey shows his true colors and acts like a royal rapist.
Sansa's all about the loss of innocence. The problem with that, though, is that she doesn't lose her innocence until her last chapter. Beyond that, though? She ignores what's clear and obvious in front of her in exchange for her romantic ideals about how court life is. She doesn't play the game, she is only ever a pawn. And when Joffrey, the only real "winner" of the book claims his prize? She suddenly realizes she's been played. I hated reading each and every one of her chapters, and I couldn't even relish when bad things happened to her because she was just a naive kid rather than an idiot. I dunno, I'm not sure if Martin really wanted anything more with her. If he did, he sure as shit failed.
So right, this has gotten a bit long, hasn't it. Conclusion to be posted tomorrow, I suppose.
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