Game review: Jane's Realty

The Jane's Hotel series has yet another sequel. This time, in Jane's Realty, Jane is helping her husband run a real estate business. While it is completely different from the first two games, is it any good? In short, not really. The first two "Jane" games were time management, hotel-themed games where you were assisting customers with their wants. I'm not even sure I could classify this one as a time management game. There are no customers for you to serve but each level does have a few goals. At the start of each level, you need to purchase land and build both an electric and a water company. From there, you can start to build houses but you can only build so many before you need to upgrade the companies. Of course, all of this requires money, which you can only get by renting the houses you build. Needless to say, I didn't get far in the game before this stopped me in my tracks. I couldn't raise enough money to finish all of my goals so I couldn't pass the level. I've played the level five different times and I still can't figure out the key to passing it. And I'm not even halfway through the game!

In all honesty, Realore Studios should take Jane back to the time management game. She can move up from the hotel business. Give her a casino business perhaps. Or, if they really want to keep her in the realty business, take a tip from Build-A-Lot or even Build in Time. The key time management elements need to rule the game.

Game review: Ranch Rush

I found myself falling desperately in love with the Farm Frenzy series so I've been trying other farm games to see how they stack up. Ranch Rush is quite different from Farm Frenzy. Instead of caring for a ton of animals, you are caring for a few animals and a lot of crops. While I enjoyed the beginning levels of the games, the higher levels felt like they needed something more. The problem is that the crops and animals all need to be "harvested" quickly and your character just doesn't move fast enough to do everything. Perhaps this is fixed in an even higher level of the game but I couldn't bring myself to go past the hour demo. It was an entertaining hour at least.

Music review: Prince - The Most Beautiful Girl In The World

Artist: Prince (OK, he was the symbol at the time)Album: The Gold Experience Release date: 9/26/95 Video link: on MySpace TV

Lyrics: Could U be the most beautiful girl in the world? It's plain 2 see U're the reason that God made a girl When the day turns into the last day of all time I can say I hope U are in these arms of mine And when the night falls before that day I will cry I will cry tears of joy cuz after U all one can do is die, oh

Could U be the most beautiful girl in the world? Could U be? It's plain 2 see U're the reason that God made a girl Oh, yes U are

How can I get through days when I can't get through hours? I can try but when I do I see U and I'm devoured, oh yes Who'd allow, who'd allow a face 2 be soft as a flower? Oh I could bow (bow down) and feel proud in the light of this power Oh yes, oh

Could U be (could U be) the most beautiful girl in the world? Could U be? It's plain 2 see U're the reason that God made a girl Oh, yes U are

And if the stars ever fell one by one from the sky I know Mars could not be, uh, 2 far behind Cuz baby, this kind of beauty has got no reason 2 ever be shy Cuz honey, this kind of beauty is the kind that comes from inside

Could U be (could U be) the most beautiful girl in the world? So beautiful, beautiful It's plain 2 see (plain 2 see) U're the reason that God made a girl

Oh yeah! (Oh, yes U are) Girl (Could U be?) U must be ... oh yeah! (Could U be?) U're the reason ... oh yeah (Could) {x3} About the song: I don't think Prince has ever failed me. He is an amazing artist, no matter what he wants to call himself. I think any girl would love to have this song played for them. There really isn't anything else I can say about it. An amazingly romantic song despite the almost-completely falsetto voice it is sung in.

Game review: Build In Time

Build In Time is a building time management game along the lines of the awesome Build-a-Lot series. Unlike other games, this game takes you through a couple of decades, year by year. It makes the game slightly more interesting as you watch the clothes and houses change little by little. I did have fun playing this game but it wasn't nearly as much fun as Build-a-Lot. Here, I seemed to waste a lot of time painting the houses and putting up accessories such as flowerbeds or basketball hoops. And instead of catering to a mayor's whims, you are building houses that the homeowners are asking for. So you never really know what is coming up next. If anything, I would use this as a beginner's game on my way to Build-a-Lot.

Game review: First Class Flurry

Every little girl dreams of being a flight attendant when she grows up, right? Well, maybe not so much but now you can try your hand at the job without actually leaving your computer with First Class Flurry.You need to fulfill all of your passengers needs to the best of your ability. I really wanted to like this game. However, there are a lot of problems with it. Since it takes place on an airplane, there isn't a lot of room in the passenger area to move. Yet there is a full kitchen in the back so you can make them elaborate meals. Doesn't that seem wrong? This game would have been a lot better if it played a little more like an actual flight than some fantasy land flight. Otherwise, it's just an OK game.

Game review: Wedding Dash 2: Rings Around The World

Way back in September, I talked about Wedding Dash, a time management game from the creators of Diner Dash. Wedding Dash 2: Rings Around The World has finally debuted. While the game play is exactly the same, this time Quinn is traveling around the world to plan everyone's weddings. A photographer has also been added so now guests can request to have their picture taken. The speed problems have been resolved, which makes the sequel a lot more fun compared to the original. Even with the few added chores, such as chasing birds away from the reception and making sure one of the guests doesn't choke, I never felt like it was impossible to complete a level. It's the perfect level of difficulty. I'd easily recommend this over the original game.

Game reviews: Fitness Frenzy

In Fitness Frenzy, you play Vicki. She has recently gotten herself into shape and she wants to share the joy of exercising with everyone. So she opens her own gym. You need to help all of your members find a good routine, learn how to use the equipment and cheer them on when they need it. Of course, sometimes the equipment gets sweaty so you'll need to wipe it down occasionally too. I know this sounds like a terrible game but I actually found it to be quite fun. It's a basic time management game so you aren't actually using the exercise equipment, just pointing people in the right direction. You'll find yourself addicted in no time!

Game review: Mystery Stories: Island of Hope

Mystery Stories: Island of Hope is a hidden object game based on a Caribbean vacation. Natives claim a missing casket is from a curse while you, Michelle, think otherwise. You set out to prove your claim. For the most part, this is a typical hidden object game. However, there are a few things to change it up. In some levels, only one object will be shown to you. You have 30 seconds to find this object before the list moves onto the next object. I think this is the best way to challenge someone who plays a lot of hidden object games.

Another change is that some levels have audio clues. While I can understand why someone would want to make an audio hidden object game, I prefer to play games without their sounds as I listen to my own songs. So, in order to play these levels, I need to shut off my audio and turn the sounds back on in the game. It's not a ton of work but it would have been nice to have been warned of this beforehand.

As much as the audio level annoyed me, I found the rest of the game to be quite enjoyable. This is a wonderful game for the more experienced hidden object player. Unfortunately, this means that someone who doesn't play these games a lot may find this too difficult. Play at your own risk.

Music review: Madonna - Rescue Me

Artist: MadonnaAlbum: The Immaculate Collection Release date: 2/27/91 Video link: Via YouTube

Lyrics: I'm talking, I'm talking I believe in the power of love I'm singing, I'm singing I believe that you can rescue me

With you I'm not a little girl, with you I'm not a man When all the hurt inside of me comes out, you understand You see that I'm ferocious, you see that I am weak You see that I am silly, and pretentious and a freak

But I don't feel too strange for you Don't know exactly what you do I think when love is pure you try To understand the reasons why And I prefer this mystery It cancels out my misery And gives me hope that there could be A person that loves me

Chorus:

Rescue me [rescue me, it's hard to believe] Your love has given me hope Rescue me [rescue me, it's hard to believe] I'm drowning, baby throw out your rope

With you I'm not a fascist, can't play you like a toy And when I need to dominate, you're not my little boy You see that I am hungry for a life of understanding And you forgive my angry little heart when she's demanding You bring me to my knees while I'm scratching out the eyes Of a world I want to conquer, and deliver, and despise And right while I am kneeling there I suddenly begin to care And understand that there could be A person that loves me

(chorus)

Love is understanding It's hard to believe life can be so demanding I'm sending out an S.O.S. Stop me from drowning baby I'll do the rest

Rescue me (echo) Your love has given me hope [your love has given me hope] Rescue me (echo) I'm drowning, baby throw out your rope [baby throw out your rope] (repeat)

Ooh ahh, ooh ahh, love is understanding Ooh ahh, ooh ahh, love is understanding

Love is understanding It's hard to believe life can be so demanding I'm sending out an S.O.S. Rescue me, rescue me

It's not my business to decide How good you are for me How valuable you are And what the world can see Only that you try to understand me And have the courage to love me for me

(Background vocals, continuously for remainder of song:) [I believe in the power, I believe you can rescue me]

I believe [I believe in the power] I believe that you can rescue me (repeat)

I'm singing I believe I believe that you can rescue me I'm singing, I'm singing, I'm singing I believe that you can rescue me

I'm talking, I'm talking I believe in the power of love (repeat)

I'm singing, I'm singing, I believe I believe that you can rescue me

Hey hey, hey hey R.E.S.C.U.E. me Only you can rescue me Hey hey, hey... [I believe you can rescue me] [I believe in the power] [I believe you can rescue me] About the song: I think this is the first song that features Madonna speaking instead of talking or whispering. The music video for it features footage from her Who's That Girl tour, which was about 4 years prior to the release of the album. Originally Madonna didn't want this song released as a single. However, some radio stations played it anyway and it reached the top 5 in airplay. The single wasn't released until the song was already popular.

Despite the spoken verses, the song is still a pretty decent dance song. It brings back memories of the early days of Madonna when she was really popular in dance clubs. Yet it still has the feeling of Vogue, where it's an updated feel of the 80s dance club music.

JDorama review: Zettai Kareshi

Title: Zettai Kareshi Also Known As: Absolute Boyfriend Broadcast date: 4/15/08 - 6/24/08 Genre: Romantic comedy Number of episodes: 11 Cast: Hayami Mokomichi, Mizushima Hiro, Aibu Saki Plot: Riika (Aibu Saki) is terrible at love. One day, she finds herself strapped with a free trial for a new love robot, Night (Hayami Mokomichi). Despite Night's absolute devotion to her, Riika finds herself falling in love with her boss, Soshi (Mizushima Hiro). Which will Riika choose? What is good: Much like Ghost in the Shell, it has a "what does it mean to be human" theme wrapped up in the romance storyline. What is bad: How come Night can't willingly destroy property but he can go around telling everyone he's a robot even though Riika was explicitly told not to tell anyone? Letter rating: A- Overall: As a drama, I found it to be excellent. I was even crying during the final episode. However, that doesn't mean it doesn't have problems. The robotic sound effects that Night makes when he blinks or turns his head get somewhat annoying after awhile. We know that he is a robot. We don't need to be reminded. We do need some continuity though. Why doesn't everyone else hear Night's blinking noise? Also, Riika is told very explicitly that Night is a secret and she is not to tell anyone that he is a robot. So what does Night do? Blab it to everyone. Even if no one believes him, why wouldn't he be programmed to not say he's a robot?

If you look past those few small problems, the show really is good. The actors do an excellent job, especially Hayami Mokomichi. This would be a great show for any romantic comedy fan.