I find that I am growing tired of games with extremely long names. Laura Jones and the Gates of Good and Evil is an example of this trend. And I'm sure there will be many more Laura Jones games in the future. Anyway, you play Laura Jones, the daughter of an adventuring duo. You need to track down the six keys in order to open the Portal to the Gates. While it is still a hidden object game, there are some small changes in it. Instead of trying to find a huge list of items, there are levels where you are just tracking down a certain number of paw prints or jewels or something. They've also added a variety of mini-games where you need to do things like catching certain fish for a cat. I don't know if these make the game any more enjoyable. It ended up as an OK game but nothing I'd want to spend a ton of time on.
Music review: Everclear - Father of Mine
Artist: Everclear
Members: Art Alexakis (vocals, guitar), Greg Eklund (drums), Craig Montoya (bass, vocals)
Album: So Much for the Afterglow
Release date: 10/7/97
Video link: Via YouTube
Lyrics: Father of mine Tell me where have you been You know I just closed my eyes My whole world disappeared Father of mine Take me Back to the day When I was still your golden boy Back before you went away
I remember blue skies Walking the block I loved it when you held me high I loved to hear you talk You would take me to the movie You would take me to the beach You would take me to a place inside That is so hard to reach
Father of mine Tell me where did you go You had the world inside your hand But you did not seem to know Father of mine Tell me what do you see When you look Back at your wasted life And you don't see me
I was ten years old Doing all that I could It wasn't easy for me To be a scared white boy In a black neighborhood Sometimes you would send me a birthday card With a five dollar bill I never understood you then And I guess I never will
Daddy gave me a name My dad he gave me a name Then he walked away Daddy gave me a name Then he walked away My daddy gave me a name
Daddy gave me a name Daddy gave me a name Then he walked away Daddy gave me a name Then he walked away My daddy gave me a name
Father of mine Tell me where have you been I just closed my eyes And the world disappeared Father of mine Tell me how do you sleep With the children you abandoned And the wife I saw you beat
I will never be safe I will never be sane I will always be weird inside I will always be lame Now I'm a grown man With a child of my own And I swear I'm not going to let her know All the pain I have known
Daddy gave me a name Then he walked away My dad gave me a name Then he walked away My daddy gave me a name Then he walked away My daddy gave me a name Then he walked away Then he walked away Then he walked away About the song: I always cry when this song plays. It's an autobiographical song about Art's father abandoning the family when Art was a boy. While I know that deadbeat dads aren't uncommon, I think the part that always tugs at my heartstrings is the "Now I'm a grown man/With a child of my own/And I swear I'm not going to let her know/All the pain I have known" verse. It's wonderful to hear someone breaking the vicious circle that usually happens when someone who has a crappy childhood becomes a parent. Even though this is a sad and depressing song, that last verse does give you hope for the future.
Game review: The Secret of Margrave Manor
The Secret of Margrave Manor is a rather uninspired hidden object game. You play Edwina Margrave, a woman searching for her lost grandfather. The only thing that makes the game different is that the objects move every time you enter the room. So it isn't possible for you to memorize where something is located. However, that doesn't make the game particularly interesting. Maybe if they threw in some extra puzzles, this would be a slightly more than a typical hidden object game.
Game review: The Sultan's Labyrinth
The Sultan's Labyrinth is a hidden object game where the goal is to find an appropriate suitor for the Sultan's daughter. Each prince must solve a number of puzzles in order to prove his worthiness. To be completely honest, I didn't play this game. My daughter did. I watched. However, she had no problems with any of the puzzles. The hidden object pieces were mostly based on matching the shadows with the objects and there were puzzles where you had to put shaped pieces together to make a larger shape. None of the puzzles were very difficult but they were still interesting and fun. All in all, a good game.
Music review: BoA - Rock With You
Artist: BoA
Album: Love & Honesty
Release date: 1/15/04
Video link: Via YouTube
English translation: Hey, hey get it up You try this Gonna make you hot Yeah, yeah pump it up Do you wanna rock with me?
Hey, hey get it up You try this Taste my rock and roll Stand up get it up...
Uh-huh
Unlock your heart and listen… Ride out these unfair times skilfully It’s against my principles to believe rumours
I’ll walk with you even though no one else believes in you Even though the situation is still serious So that you don’t run away Before you get the message…
Hey, hey give me your love We can never go back! Yeah yeah! We’ll enjoy even the impossible This warmth that is yours without a doubt Makes me love you more Now I’ve found myself
I want to know more about you Gonna rock with you…right now
Hey, hey get it up You try this Taste my rock and roll Stand up get it up...
Turn up the volume on the stereo And when the night eventually comes, turn back time I want to show you That I’m the only one who understands That you’re just pretending not to be sad So that you don’t try to deny the person you are
Hey, hey give me your love I want to keep dancing with you Yeah yeah! Life will always change From this day, that’s totally because of you A totally new history is beginning
I feel like if I don’t pay proper attention to you you’ll go away So I’m gonna rock with you…right now
I’ll walk with you even though no one else believes in you Even though the situation is still serious So that you don’t run away Before you get the message…
Hey, hey give me your love We can never go back! Yeah yeah! We’ll enjoy even the impossible This warmth that is yours without a doubt Makes me love you more Now I’ve found myself
Hey, hey give me your love I want to keep dancing with you Yeah yeah! Life will always change From this day, that’s totally because of you A totally new history is beginning
I want to know more about you Gonna rock with you…right now About the song: BoA got a little more rock and roll with this song. While her songs are almost always good, they frequently have a typical pop sound. Rock With You relies more on drums, synthesizers and a throbbing bass. The result is a great dance song with the added benefit of BoA's strong vocals.
JDorama review: Honey and Clover (TV)
Title: Honey & Clover
Broadcast dates: 1/8/08 - 3/18/08
Genre: Romance, Slice of Life
Cast: Narumi Riko, Ikuta Toma, Harada Natsuki, Mukai Osamu, Narimiya Hiroki
Plot: A group of art students try to make sense of life and love.
What is good: The characters seem a bit more human this time around.
What is bad: The first half of the show is still pretty boring plot-wise.
Letter rating: B -
Overall: I've now watched the anime version, the movie version and the TV version of this franchise. Of those three, the television series is definitely the best version. I believe that is because the writers gave a little more humanity and depth to the characters. Ikuta Toma, who played Takemoto Yuta, is a great comedic actor. As such, he was able to make all the crappy things that happen to his character seem a bit less apocalyptic but the big changes still had a big impact. Also, Narumi Riko's Hagu has a lot less creepy than any of the other versions. I'm not sure how she did it but she took a very creepy, little-girl-looking character and transformed her into a shy woman who is plopped into a strange new world. So, while I'm still not a huge Honey and Clover fan, I'd definitely watch this version more than once.
Game review: Camp Funshine: Carrie the Caregiver 3
Ah, Carrie. How she has grown. First she was a babysitter. Then she was a preschool teacher. Now she is a camp counselor. The gameplay is the same as the other two. Drop the waiting kids to their seats, bring them the things they need, hang their finished project (in this case, tie-dyed shirts) to dry. The most complicated part of the game is trying to get everything done before the kids get angry.
I found this version to be more enjoyable than the preschool version. The things you were asked to deliver to the children made sense. You weren't asked to do things that they could do themselves. There are also some slight additions to the game. Some of the tables have two seats. Those tables require two people to be seated before they will start the project. If you don't have two children available, you can pull another counselor in to help the child. I didn't find it particularly necessary though. You know that those tables need two children so you just try to wait until you have two children. Otherwise, sit them at the one-person tables. Not a difficult task.
This series isn't my favorite time management game but this particular one isn't terrible. I wouldn't plan on wasting a lot of time on it though.
Game review: James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet
There are quite a few murder mystery games out there. And there are a lot of hidden object games as well. James Patterson's Women's Murder Club: Death in Scarlet combines the two. You play a trio of women who work together to solve some of the city's murders. You'll do detective world, forensic work and a bit of research as well. While I knew this would be a hidden object game, I didn't expect the puzzles from the forensic and research sections. Luckily, these additions are extremely fun. They aren't difficult, like other games try to make their additions. Instead, you look forward to each section of the entire game. I can't wait for the next chapter in this game!
Music review: Barenaked Ladies - Down To Earth
Artist: Barenaked Ladies
Members: Steven Page (guitar), Ed Robertson (vocals, guitar), Tyler Stewart (drums), Jim Creegan (bass), Kevin Hearn (piano)
Album: Barenaked Ladies Are Me/Barenaked Ladies are Men
Video link: Via YouTube
Lyrics: Some people are just all show Well, I don't mind that if the show is worth watching But it's all bark and no tree What's more ironic than a hippie in Versace? It's all peace and love and limousines You got the right message, but the wrong intentions How can you be touchy-feely when you've lost touch? I think it's time we had a little intervention with you
Hey now, wake up And lose the makeup She makes you wanna know her When you don't know what it's worth Now you really wanna show her How she's just so down to Earth (via satellite)
There's no better friends than the, the kind you pay If they don't balance, great - then the door will keep revolving It's a tight circle of the chosen few Well, how'd you manage that with the recipe involving Just a pinch of sweetness and a cup of angst? Mix it all up - you're the all-purpose flour Though it looks delicious, something smells bad I don't think I'd last a half an hour with you
Hey now, wake up And lose the makeup She makes you wanna know her When you don't know what it's worth Now you really wanna show her How she's just so down to Earth (via satellite)
What's it like to love you When there's no one else above you And no one gets to know you? Well, who'll be there to show you (via satellite)?
It's like making love to a TV It's kinda novel, but it's miles away from satisfying Your hangers-on say it's a great deal But what you're selling, there's no chance in hell that I'll be buying
Hey now, wake up And lose the makeup She makes you wanna know her When you don't know what it's worth Now you really wanna show her How she's just so down to Earth She makes you wanna know her When you don't know what it's worth Now you really wanna show her How she's just so down to Earth (via satellite) About the song: The more I listen to this album, the more I love it. This is a song about fake people...most likely celebrities like Paris Hilton since the guys like writing about current events and the people involved in them. These are people who pretend to be 'normal' yet act the complete opposite. Such a great song.
Game review: The Clumsys
My daughter asked to play a hidden object game with me. I picked The Clumsys based solely on the fact that it looked like The Scruffs, which she enjoyed. I am sad to say that the two games aren't alike at all, except for the fact that they are both hidden object games. In The Clumsys, you travel through time trying to find and clean up after some wayward children. However, the first puzzles in each era are "Find what doesn't belong" games. That means you have to have enough knowledge to know that there weren't motor vehicles in ancient Greece or that man hadn't walked on the Moon during Charles Lindbergh's time. It really requires too much historical knowledge for the average person to really enjoy playing this. It is an interesting idea - it just doesn't work very well.