Final Fantasy XIII, XIII-2, LR - SJBMCPRS Diagnosis

I'll admit I'm not the biggest fan of the Final Fantasy series, I'm more of the average gamer who enjoys a good story and spend considerable hours making the characters of the game stronger and better to my preference. Take Fable III for instance; I'd have the Queen be generally adored by all, but she wouldn't be as 'good' as possible, and I try to match the hair and attire to that of another character from a different game. I live with a mental understanding and image of characters that I imagined and interpret them into the games I play. The SJBMCPRS is an abbreviation of the fictional characters in my life as well as definitions for the type of mood or capacity I'm in at any moment at time.


That's not strange at all and reasonably okay, right...?




The Final Fantasy main series of games are no different, and though my favourites by far are X and X-2, I generally find something enjoyable about another numbered entity (i.e. VIII). Lately it has been harder to find redeeming qualities in the more recent Final Fantasy titles such as XII. I don't want to offend but to me personally I prefer simpler character development schemes like the Sphere Grid in FFX or the Materia in FFVII, and straight up good vs. bad battles that don't involved moving around in the heat of a battle.


With XIII however....(multiple sighs) ...What the Atari 5200 broken nightmare piece of MGS2 Raiden sh** f***ing Hell!!!!???!!!!!! 
Okay, I overreacted there, a little ...maybe. Truth is XIII is an okay game, like 6/10, BUT there so many things wrong with it that makes it hateful that it fails to live to the high expectations; and honestly there were high expectations amongst fans. What really makes me go red in the face and want to use Skull Bash on the developers at Square Enix is that instead of fixing what was wrong with XIII, Square Enix decided to make to sequels which created more problems, but I'll get onto XIII-2 and LR in a moment...(sinister laughter in the background).


With XIII it is as obvious as the Sun in the solar system in incinerating hot that it is easier then previous titles; there is an automatic command where the characters will assume the most effective chain of commands for foes and allies, if Hope is against several Flans for instance, the automatic command system will automate commands using Fire element due to the Flan's weakness after at least one (1) previous battle encounter, or use of a Libra command beforehand, when an ally is low on HP; a character using the Medic Paradigm will cast Cure spells via the automated command system. Using the automatic command, the player can essentially press A/X button twice and repeat until the battle in concluded. It is straight forward, and helps when farming CP or battling foes that are easy, but the battle system in this regard removes a sense of strategy and efficient logic required from the player to choose the correct command as quickly as possible; tougher foes in XIII will invite a little bit more difficulty, but otherwise the challenge that comes from battle is depleted. What makes battles even easier and thus deplete the challenge of a battle encounter is the fact that the active party is fully healed for every battle encounter, even after a gruelling struggle where two (2) characters are poisoned, the HP is rejuvenated and poison or any negative status effect is removed for the subsequent battle. Why have Potions, Antidotes and Phoenix Down in the game then if most of the time you won't need them?!


Commands such as Thundara are no longer as costly to use as in previous FF titles due to the fact that commands in XIII series do not have point values which upon use would reduce the amount of MP a character has left. Say for example in Final Fantasy X you are utilising Yuna and want to cast Blizzaga which costs 16MP to cast, once used the depletion of Yuna's MP means that commands like Blizzaga or high costing commands won't be usable if the MP is lower then the commands casting cost. Only the use of an Ether based item or Save Sphere can rejuvenate HP and MP thus allowing the use of higher costing MP commands once more. While this element of a battle system could be annoying in tough situations, it encourages the player to strategize and plan turns accordingly which means the player is more involved. While the XIII series is not the only FF title to do without MP, it is apparent of how easy battles are in comparison to that of FFX. Oh sure commands such as Blizzaga in the XIII series are longer to cast attacks thus cutting the amount of commands in a chain to perform in a turn as a consequence, but with the relaxed and automated battle system in place, the lack of effort needed is as a result makes battles in the XIII series flat. Oh and get this; you only command the leader of the active party, your allies are controlled by the AI, and if the leader falls, its game over, even though the other active party members are still active and could use spells or Phoenix Down to revive the fallen leader! If the leader goes down, its game over, end of story (but you can retry immediately from the start of the battle) . That's a really saggy amount of bulls*** right there!


The next problem in FFXIII is the playable cast; there mostly unappealing and forgettable. I hate cocky characters in general which means I hate Snow, I really hate him! As soon as I was introduced to Snow, I wanted to let Snow die both in battles and in the FMVs, I envisioned Resident Evil 4 and its numerous possible ways of killing the protagonists (mainly Leon); that would be so satisfying in FFXIII, I would buy the game all over again just to see the RE4 or SAW inspired death scenes of Snow and the rest of the cast! :)
The rest of the playable cast are tolerable but are sorely lacking,


I wanted to like Lightning because she's cynical and hits Snow, and I admired the surrogate mother like bond between her and Hope; seriously I thought there would be some kind of romance between Lightning and Hope to equal the already established Serah and Snow relationship. Alas Lightning is all but ruined in the sequels and has to borrow on the strength of previous Final Fantasy characters to have any kind of appeal in Lightning Returns. Its a pity considering Lightning is plastered all over the XIII series, Dissidia 012 Duodecim and fantasised to the point of masturbation at Square Enix, they practically love a character who gives nothing back except ruined potential.


Hope is perhaps the most enjoyable character out of the whole series, sure he's whiny at first but he is crucial in battles and his is the character that evolves the most. By the end of FFXIII, Hope is a powerful warlock in the body of a 14 year old who can bring down foes far larger than him. Although not playable in XIII-2 Hope is matured, and stronger character overall. In Lightning Returns however...(sigh) ...just what the f*** were Square Enix thinking?!


As a whole the characters in FFXIII aren't terrible (with the exception of Snow), but meaningless and forgettable. The Eidolons are good opponents but as allies to each playable character, they are entirely forgettable and frankly unnecessary. I wanted to focus on FFXIII and then move on to the sequels later but I will say this that the characters overall were better in XIII-2 then in the other two (2) games in the series. They aren't better by much but better overall (more later on that). 


Now for the meat of the pie of what holds FFXIII back so badly; the linear nature of the game. It has been disputed time and time again and its the key reason for XIII-2's existence other than to scrape more money out of the XIII story from us! Putting it bluntly; XIII is a tedious and timid adventure until chapter 11 where finally the gates to pleasure open. Okay its no Garden of Eden or Shangri-La, but it is refreshing to say the least when you are free to explore the vastness of Gran Pulse. Apart from CP farming, riding a Chocobo and trying your luck against the super bosses dotted around Gran Pulse however, there is very little to do and virtually no reason why all 64 missions have to be in Gran Pulse. Essentially the Cie'th Stones could have been distributed along the various different places in the game say from chapter three (3) and onwards. Why does the game wait until we reach chapter 11 to open up and reveal the much sought after break from the dreary and cutscene heavy linear progression? Why just Cie'th Stones? Couldn't missions come from the locals in Palumpolum or Nautilus or from PSICOM members who have yet to establish the characters you control are l'Cie? Why do previous locations like Lake Bresha, Gapra Whitewood and Palumpolum have to be inaccessible for the rest of the game once you finished the chapter featuring the location?


Honestly I didn't welcome the news of XIII-2, a sequel to XIII; it was unnecessary, XIII reaches its conclusion: Lightning and her companions fulfil their Focus, save Cocoon albeit in an altered state, Snow and Lightning are reunited with Serah, Sazh is reunited with his son Dajh, a happy ending. It was terrible but it conclusively ended, why did Square Enix decide to spin the ending in XIII to 'fit' the setting for XIII-2? Why couldn't Square Enix simply revisit XIII and adjust the gameplay so it fulfils the expectations of those who played it? Why is that a bad idea? The Pro Evolution Soccer series does this, Fifa games are just a s guilty, Volkswagen do with their cars such as the Golf. Why the Hell couldn't Square Enix simply redone XIII and retailed it as the remake instead of building a series of bad ideas based on their idiocy when making Final Fantasy XIII??!!!   


If you try hard enough, you can make sense of the setting of XIII-2 and if and when you can do that, you'll in for a treat, the game Final Fantasy XIII should've been, minus the bewildering and unnecessary time travel bulls***. In my opinion; XIII-2 is the best of the three (3) XIII games, there is freedom to take part in secondary missions and ride Chocobos once you get passed the opening segment with Lightning. There is less Snow (yay!), the main characters are better and although much is copied from FFXIII such as the battle system, it is more involving then its predecessor due to the ability to import monsters you have crystals for to be the third (3rd) member of the active party in battles. As a whole XIII-2 gives so much more and feels far more alive and worldly.


Serah is one half of the main playable characters (the other being Noel), and is far more interesting then her sister Lightning. Yes Serah is to be married to Snow which completely sucks, on the whole however Serah is more 'human' than Lightning and therefore more appealing (and not just because you can have Serah in Beachwear or alternative attires). Noel is Serah's partner as they travel through time. I don't like Noel so much because his personality isn't a million miles afar from Snows (in other words Noel believes he can save the world), but his association with Caius and his theme on the XIII-2 soundtrack: "Noel's Theme -Last Journey-" make Noel more then tolerable, especially when he realises his error in the ending and costs Serah's and Etro's life. In case I just spoiled things there for you then whoops!


What stands out the most positively in XIII-2, is newcomer Caius Ballad; the main antagonist. While his story makes as much sense as the overall story and events in the XIII series; Caius is the best Final Fantasy antagonist seen in a long time. While Sephiroth is considered the best antagonist of the entire Final Fantasy series and among the best of all gaming antagonists and for good reason, Caius is worthy of being a runner up to Sephiroth. Morally Caius isn't a bad guy though his means while understandable are considered that of evil. While Noel is self-doubting, misguided and wholesomely depressed over the loss of life, Caius is calm, cool, confident in his belief, and accepting somewhat of fate even in the face of "death". Liam O'Brien's portrayal as the voice of Caius for the English versions of XIII-2 is spot on, and there are multiple battles with Caius throughout the game which are very enjoyable.


The soundtrack for XIII-2 is unprecedented amongst the library of soundtracks of Final Fantasy games due to its use of vocal songs. While vocal songs are present particularly in the later end of the series and serves as ending background for the credits, XIII-2 uses more vocally sung tracks then any other Final Fantasy soundtrack to date. While it isn't bad, it does take some time getting used to, fortunately for me I could play music from the console's hard drive to compensate at the time because I had the Xbox 360 version of XIII-2 (stick that up on your pipe and smoke it PS3!). Additionally XIII-2 reuses tracks from XIII, which is alright and not a big deal, though it suggests laziness on part of Square Enix when you consider the soundtrack for Final Fantasy X-2 was completely original and not using tracks from X. 


Alas what harms the game's reputation is two (2) really, really, really bad choices that cause an otherwise superb RPG to stink. Firstly the setting and plot; making the game take place in multiple leaps in time via time travelling through the Historia Crux is simply baffling, it takes me feel mentally nauseous in the same way Resident Evil Darkside Chronicles gameplay makes me physically nauseous. Its completely and utterly unnecessary, it would've been fair less complicated and XIII-2 would've been far better if XIII-2 occurred in only one timeline; you don't need the Historia Crux to travel to different locations in the game!


Putting it simply; Valhalla could simply be Hell beneath Gran Pulse, Lightning could've been pulled into Valhalla by the Goddess Etro who wrongfully entered Valhalla and requires Lightning to take Etro's soul in her place as Etro is hunted down and killed by Caius so that he can save Yeul. Thus Lightning becomes the guardian of Etro's soul, and Caius next target. While battling Caius, Lightning comes to the realisation that she cannot defeat Caius or stop the growth of Valhalla on her own, but she can't leave Valhalla and risk greater risk of Valhalla's possession upon Gran Pulse and Cocoon. After numerous battles, Lighting is weakened and therefore hides to evade Caius. There in the depths of Valhalla, Lightning spots Noel who is wrongfully imprisoned in Valhalla and frees him using her newly gained power, Lightning asks Noel to return with help from Serah and Hope and so on so that Caius can be defeated for good and Valhalla's ascend towards Gran Pulse and Cocoon stopped. Even with her newly gained power from Etro's soul, Lightning is only able to hold off Caius and survive from the possession of Valhalla. Noel finds Serah but must travel to parts of Gran Pulse and Cocoon to free Snow, Sazh, Hope, Vanille and Fang from imprisonment and possession of Valhalla in order to gain enough power to defeat Caius and stop the possession of Valhalla. The decisions and time though taken could effect how much of Lighting's remaining power and Etro's soul is left for the final battle, as well as how much Valhalla has possessed Gran Pulse and Cocoon, thus making the final battle harder. Depending on the outcome, the good or bad ending will occur and that brings an end to Final Fantasy XIII-2 with no need for an extension or yet another sequel.


Holy s***! Did I just write down a plot which would've been far better for XIII-2 and would've stopped the terrible Lightning Returns game from existing?! I think I did, but then it just goes to show that anyone could have made a more comprehensible setting for XIII-2 and proves just how asinine and baffling the story Square Enix made truly is. Alas anything said about XIII-2 is now with hindsight and cannot change the fate of the XIII series. Damnit!


What is worse then the befuddling plot and setting in XIII-2 however is the use of downloadable content. Content like bonus weapons, outfits/attires, super boss battles or casino games seen in the episode: "Sazh's Story Heads Or Tails?" would have been fine, though unnecessary to completing the game. But when you have to pay for an extension to the XIII-2 ending called "Another Beginning Lighting's Story: Requiem of the Goddess", that's when you know Square Enix f***ed up again! Take from me who was stupid enough to download this extra ending which connects XIII-2 to Lightning Returns loosely; this is totally appalling and just shows how greedy Square Enix and the game developers are. Honestly your better off watching this extra episode on YouTube, and even though you might feel cheated by Square Enix for writing another ending that's on the XIII-2 game itself, you can be relieved that you didn't pay yet more money for this s***! The inclusion of DLC used to obtain the 'true' ending of XIII-2 ought to condemn XIII-2 and Square Enix to Hell! But it doesn't because overall XIII-2 is a decent game, the game FFXIII should have been and ultimately Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is the game that deserves in Hell.  


Following the disappointments of XIII and XIII-2, I didn't purchase Lightning Returns, I rented it instead because I knew of s***strom that awaited. I'll admit I was prepared to forgo my gut instincts because it was later revealed that the Summoner's garment that Yuna wears in FFX would be available through the purchase of Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remaster and later further garments will be included such as the Gunner Dressphere for Yuna in FFX-2. I brought Final Fantasy X/X-2 Remaster on the PS3 because its only available on Sony consoles and I do not own a Vita yet, but I got this collaboration because FFX and FFX-2 are truly fantastic games and I love them to bits. Lightning Returns can return to the Hell it came from, next door to the Atari 2600 E.T. game. Okay, Lightning Returns isn't so bad that its comparable to the likes of E.T. or Superman 64, but its one of the worst, if not THE worst Final Fantasy title I've come across. 


Visually LR:FFXIII is fine but it isn't as pretty compared to XIII-2 or the world of Spira in FFX and FFX-2 made ten (10) years prior and recently remastered. The soundtrack is LR's best redeeming quality, particularly the piano ballads, that said every main Final Fantasy I've come across has piano ballads. The three (3) things that really make LR terrible and makes me want to Skull Bash Square Enix developers are as following:


The plot: Seriously, how can you make a story and setting more baffling, unnecessary and ridiculous as XIII-2's? By having the equally pointless and unrewarding plot in LR, that's how! This time around you control Lightning, just Lightning; no monsters you can turn loyal, or even AI controlled characters as in FFXIII... If you've played Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII, you'll get the idea of how a singular character functions and battles in a Final Fantasy title. Except its worse than Crisis Core, its involves Lightning which by now has been plastered and mentioned by Square Enix so much over the years so much that now she's as bland as toilet paper, oh wait Lightning was as bland as toilet paper in XIII-2 and continued on LR. We know from playing FFXIII why Lightning is the way she is, and XIII-2 and LR continue with the soldier like approach, except now in LR we see Lightning's "humour" and "true"feelings hidden away, come to life. I'm sorry but the plot behind this game makes as much sense as seeing Lightning tell a joke or shed tears or expose her flesh in absurd Garbs; it simply doesn't work. Your supposed to perform various missions before the time runs out and life in the world of LR comes to an end, only to turn on your handler and beat the supposed God of Gods. The ending belongs in a Disney film aimed for children, not a game which is trying to make you think about how you would live your life knowing that Armageddon is a few days away.  The last scene is anticlimactic to say the least, frankly watching and trying to understand the game as it all unfolds to its conclusion is a migraine waiting to happen.


The gameplay: As mentioned with the reference to Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII; LR utilises one (1) playable character: Lightning who has access to the doomed world as the final days count down to Armageddon. It attempts to be linear and allow freedom for the player, what kind of freedom however is it when there's a freakin' countdown going on? In terms of offering a world for the player to explore at his/her leisure, there are better games that do that without reminding you of the plot, FFX-2 and XIII-2 are Final Fantasy games that do a better job and they are older Final Fantasy titles. As far as battles are concerned the now familiar system as seen in XIII and XIII-2 returns for the one (1) character preference. It works fine but why the hell does the commands and character information need to look like cat vomit and take that much screen space? The on-screen button prompts are back and as annoying as ever, supposedly everything is done to give more vibrancy and control to the player; but if I want lively and colourfulness gameplay, I'll play FFX-2 which does a lot what LR is trying to accomplice but way better, and then I'll watch the over the top FMVs in Metal Gear Solid The Twin Snakes. The biggest problem I have in terms of gameplay is the now redundant battling and CP farming; unlike it predecessors where your characters earn CP through battle completion; LR rewards the necessary points for levelling up Lightning through the completion of missions. This means battles are a waste of time and the secondary missions that no one wants to do are essentially mandatory if you want a good chance of completing the game. Serious bulls*** right there!!      


Very quickly it drives me up the wall when they can't make up their minds with the cover of the game. Its completely silly to rage this argument but it is one of those things that I really get irritated by. Now up to my knowledge; all major Final Fantasy entries have a white background and the logo at the centre of the cover. Now I live in the UK so that's the design I've seen in all previous Final Fantasy games and accepted, even older FF titles that didn't have this cover style later incorporated the same design (just look on Google Play and look up the available Final Fantasy main series titles to see what I mean). So why the 20,000 volt electric chair f*** is FFXIII different?! Sure it uses the logo and a white background as in the previous titles' covers, but with FFXIII it includes Lightning. It baffles me when this isn't duplicated for XIII-2 which uses the standard cover art design as in previous entities (I know there is a paper sleeve available with the same style as in FFXIII's standard cover but underneath the sleeve its vintage Final Fantasy style). So when it comes to Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XII; the cover is completely different. WHY THE F*** Would the do that!!?!


Because of the title "Lightning Returns" it creates a headache for me trying to maintain an order of my games; I have my X360 games in alphabetical and age order with Forza Motorsport 4 first because its got the lowest age rating and the letter 'F' comes before 'M' as in Monopoly on the X360. FFXIII and XIII-2 sit side by side because the age rating is the same and '2' follows the first (1st) Final Fantasy XIII. But because LR is part of the XIII series do I sit it the right of XIII-2 and break the order I've maintained for years, or do I list it behind Halo 4 and Halo Reach because 'L' comes after 'H' and LR is rated 16+ like Halo 4 and Reach? I guess I'm glad I only rented the game instead of buying it and having to have this problem. Its as ridiculous as the cover art problem I know but that's how I am.  


True story: I had £40 credit on my Game card and therefore could have LR without losing any money in my bank account on the day LR came out in store. I knew however how bad it was so I rented it instead just to see for myself how bad and disappointing it is which only cost me a five pound note for a week. After the first (1st) day I knew first hand it was poor and knew I wouldn't get the game to own. Come March 7th I spend that £40 credit on South Park The Stick Of Truth for the X360 and its surprisingly good and far better then LR. Obsidian Entertainment; a development company that I never heard of made a better RPG then Square Enix's developers...  


The last of the three (3) major complaints I have with LR is with its existence. This game is the best and worst example that I can find that defines the term "unnecessary evil". Seriously FFXIII didn't need a sequel so why have yet another sequel of a game that wasn't necessary? Money £$$£ That's why LR exists. If LR was at least as okay as FFXIII was then I could forgive Square Enix for the bringing another XIII game into fruition; but LR is not an "okay" game, it truly is deplorable! 4.5/10 is the kindest score I'd give it if I were reviewing LR on IGN or any other games outlet, but I'm not. I'm just simply unloading all my bull*** I have about the XIII series.


While its not the worst game in the world, its definitely an insult to us gamers and the gaming world; we as people have come far from the stories of how man first made fire and Stonehenge, we can communicate to the world with Tweets and other means, and explore gaming possibilities through headsets and motion control. Games like GTA V, Call Of Duty and so on redefine what is possible with each new instalment and do so almost flawlessly; so why therefore can a game that belongs to the legendary Final Fantasy series, made with brilliant minds, passion and technology...be so shamefully bad???!!


But at least now you'll be thinking "its finally over", but I don't buy that for a second! Like it or not Square Enix will milk the XIII series as much as they can in order to get gamers and fans to cough up the money, and then in 2020 rumours will circulate about a Final Fantasy XIII 10th Anniversary and as a result comes a remastered edition. Final Fantasy X has a remastered edition along with X-2, and now there's going to be a remastered Halo 2 by the end of this year. Now these games are fantastic and deserve the remastered treatment, but realising this you grind your teeth angrily knowing the XIII won't go away and unless the FFXIII Remastered fixes everything that was wrong in the first place, its going to be yet another bitch-slap to those who just want A FFVII remake.      


Because of the XIII series, I have doubts for FFXV, a game that was being developed at the same time as XIII-2 and LR:FFXIII. Owning X & X-2 Remaster, a game based on previous FF titles only makes my doubts stronger. FFX-2 showed that a direct sequel can be made and it wouldn't stink up its predecessor or be a 'cash-in opportunity' and its inclusion in the remastering just goes to show the significance of the Final Fantasy X series. I like to think that the XIII will be remembered not just for the bad mistakes made and serve as reminders for the future Final Fantasy games to come. Then again, I am a pessimist so I won't be filling my lungs with anticipation until I try FFXV for myself.  


Until next time, see ya!                     

Law and Punishment for Crimes - SJBMCPRS Diagnosis

Before I get into my explanation of how law and punishment for crimes ought to be handled, I should warn everyone that what is discussed on the SJBMCPRS Report is purely opinion from me, a person who doesn't socialise, is paranoid, suffers from mild forms of Asperger's and OCD, and has at times "extreme" and "bizarre" perspectives. I have a tendency to accept things through a black and white perspective; while I can and do look at things from different angles, my attempts of interpreting myself to other people is somewhat blunt and single dimensioned. I simply determine whether something is good or not, with no regard for ethnics or beliefs.


Want an example? Alright; I don't understand why people deem wind farms as eyesores and prefer to preserve the countryside and green fields at best as possible. Why? What's the point? Its just fuc***g nature and wasted potential! As people on this Earth we have a growing consumption and as long as people remain, the more and more our consumption will be. We have growing populations all around the world and need places to live and ways to obtain energy like water and electricity to fulfil our needs as people. I don't know if people have noticed or not but nature can be bloody unmerciful at times! Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, land slides and so on... What happens when a natural disasters occurs? Death, famine, suffering and so on. Is that side of nature likable? What is an unfortunate eyesore is the devastation of land and lives by such disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Compare to that; a wind turbine isn't an eyesore, so what's the bigi about having wind farms dotted around the UK when it yields "clean energy" on green fields or out at the sea like the Scroby Sands Wind Farm? I live in Dorset and I can tell you that there are plenty of opportunities for wind farm development or other energy sources. Just look at the sea on the right hand side of the Ferrybridge as you come from Weymouth, there is an ideal sight for renewable and "clean energy" development. I don't care if it endangers wildlife or is unsightly to other people; call it a necessary evil if you lie, but I underline "necessary" because we will as people inevitably need more and more energy provisions as we consume more and more overtime.


Got that? Good, that's an example of how I think and see the world, I'm not forensic in my approach or have considered the enormity of cost and repercussions to instigate such a development because its unnecessary. Finance is readily available whether people want to believe it or not and though there may well be several wrongs involved, we are far from saints. Speaking of which...


As I grew up, I began to learn several things that make the world what it is, and question why. Why are there people deemed as evil? Why are politics useless, and why people stick pineapple on pizza? Overtime I have accepted that things are the way they are, just like how people are all different, but still I questioned the reasoning and logic behind some of the more baffling specifics. Such as why is Euthanasia such a terrible thing? Or the ridiculousness of the so called "justice system". Apparently there are ethnical reasons and rights that get in the way of the two things I mentioned above.


WELL THAT'S A TON OF BIBLICAL BULL***T RIGHT THERE!!!!


I think by now you figured out that I don't believe in "God" or follow any beliefs. I have no problem with people who do follow "God" or believe in certain ways, and I certainly don't try to challenge "the Lord Almighty" or people's beliefs, but it is absurd to me when ethnics and rights and morality get in the way of the best possible outcome. Take euthanasia for example, while there are different classifications of euthanasia for humans such as voluntary, non-voluntary, involuntary and so on, the empathises is looked upon as

“a deliberate intervention undertaken with the express intention of ending a life, to relieve intractable suffering" according to The British House of Lords Select Committee on Medical Ethics. Both Euthanasia and assisted suicide is illegal under UK law and any commencing of ending one's life is defined as murder/homicide or manslaughter. And yet modern history is filled with noteworthy exceptions and cases where a person validly chooses to have their life ended. You would think that if someone who is suffering can responsibly decide and choose to have their life ended; then there would be no reason to prohibit that person to having their last wish granted. Surely if one makes the conscious decision to have their life ended like in suicide, then politics, religious policies, ethnics, law and morality wouldn't matter. Stupidly however when the act of Euthanasia requires another person to assist the person who chooses to die, say a doctor or a loved one, it is taboo and unlawful in the UK and other parts of the world. While I agree ending another person's life is effectively murder, it shouldn't be penalized and forbidden wherever in the world if people rightly and consciously choose to end their lives and require another's hand in the act. Those who go above the law and ethnical bull***t for the greater good and wish of the person pleading for their live to end shouldn't be discriminated for their actions as long as it is abiding to the rights of those who undertake. 

I grew up with three (3) elderly relatives, and as time went on their lives disintegrated. Maneuverability, eyesight, hearing, speaking, memory, sense, and capability all falter as the human body ages and weakens. Strokes are significantly more likely in the elderly and are just as damming to the health and life quality of an elderly person as it is for a younger person. My dad's mother suffered from a stroke and lost significant maneuverability and ability to hear, see and take care of herself. As a result she lived in a nursing home for the rest of her life, and though still able to walk and get about to trips to Hastings and so on, it would be impossible without various aids such as a "rollator", wheelchair, powered lifting chairs and bed, and caring people to assist. When all eyesight was gone; her quality of life was unbearable. In due time she died. Being a witness to her life failing until the date of her death taught me about the cruelness of being no longer able to life satisfactory or comfortably. With this it amazed me that there were many, many elderly people who are going through the same cycle of dying and suffering, and yet the law was and still is as stubborn as a rock the size of a house guarded with barbed wire and guards. I wouldn't want to deny a person's rational desire to have their life ended if it meant prolonged suffering and difficulty for the person and family or loved ones. As I speak another elderly relative of mine had suffered from two (2) considerable strokes four (4) or so years ago which as drastically effected their life. Although now able to get outside the house to attend to the garden with her beloved husband or go out for lunch at a restaurant, doing so requires being in a wheelchair at all times, paralyzed entirely on one side, incapable of speaking cohesively, and incapable of doing anything without nurses assisting. Following the first stroke and knowing of the hardship following her recovery, my mother's adopted mother signed for a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate). Although her husband intervened and thus they still live together, the decline in life quality continues and will result in the inevitable in due time.

Knowing that there are people suffering whether they are elderly, middle aged, or younger, who rationally choose to have their life ended but are denied by law, ethnics and so on is inexcusable. While there are countries in the world that do not have the same attitude to euthanasia and assisted suicide as the UK, it is terrible and hard going having to travel so far to another country and at significant expense. Some who choose to have their live ended want to die in their homes, surrounded by their loved ones within the UK. Who and why would people want to deny that? Is personal feelings and obligations to policies and ethnics really that much more important than a person's last wish?

Personally I would change the law and legalize Euthanasia if I could. I wouldn't listen to religious or politics or ethnics, and adopt a policy that allows anyone aged ninety (90) or more to choose to have their lives ended at no cost. I'm not trying to be indiscriminate to elderly people in particular, its just at the honorable age of ninety (90) the life quality will expectedly worsen and life would become less enjoyable. Giving those who are ninety (90) the choice allows clarity and a means to avoid suffering in years to come. I would even go so far to legally arrange specialist doctors to offer their hand in the act of Euthanasia and assisted suicide for those who choose to have their life ended, elderly or not provided the supposed patient fits a criteria of inability, depression and ability to rationally come to the conclusion of having their life ended.

It may sound "extreme" and despicable even, but its undeniable that there are legitimate cases where people want to have their life ended to bring an end to suffering and complications of any nature. Religion, politics, ethnics, and so on are merely labels in my opinion, and yet sadly prevent people from choosing to end their life. The reality is however that while people may choose to value such labels and beliefs to be most important; it is without a doubt that "people have a right to self-determination, and thus should be allowed to choose their own fate".

...Or at least for those who have not committed horrible crimes.

Another ludicrous logic is that people who have offended in the worst kinds of actions such as mass murder, child assault, rape and so on still have rights. I argue very strongly that those who offend in such a manner not only abused their rights by committing the offence in the first place but discard the rights of others. Thus when an offender who killed people is sentenced for whatever sentence, the offender is stripped of all his/her human rights and cannot earn them back ever. What is monstrously insane is that offenders who have life sentences still have rights and are entitled to such comforts such as TV, independence from other offenders, and are routinely checked upon and fed to ensure that they live out their sentence, a sentence by the way that seems to not mean "life" with parole and bail opportunities years after being sentenced. There are schemes and policies for offenders that will aid those who finished their sentences so that they can supposedly return to normal life with others.

The absurd luxuries these offenders get costs money and resources. In order for offenders to fulfil their sentence, they must be fed and allowed to live a suitably comfortable manner. Picture therefore the offender Ian Huntley who has a life sentence of which he must undergo 40 years minimum, For all the atrocities Ian committed, he has to be kept safe and alive throughout his duration, which means food, water and transport, which costs money and resources that should belong to the public. What's more the claims of this offender created further unrest in the public:

"On 14 September 2005, Huntley was scalded with boiling water when another inmate attacked him, a prison service spokesman said that due to the nature of high-security prisoners, "it's impossible to prevent incidents of this nature occasionally happening", but Huntley alleged that the prison authorities failed in their duty of care towards him, and launched a claim for £15,000 compensation. Huntley was reportedly awarded £2,500 in legal aid". "On 21 March 2010, Huntley was taken to hospital and later Huntley applied for a £20,000 compensation pay out for his injuries".

Seriously this bull***t has to stop! Strip the serious offenders of all their human rights, strip them of their entitlements and absurd luxuries which they do not deserve, allow the offenders to suffer, and when it comes to life sentences, bring back the death penalty so that the atrocious human beings are permanently removed from the world of the living. Its absurd knowing that the public has to effectively pay to have an offender like Ian Huntley and countless others to live out their sentences. Its worse though when people who don't deserve to live following their committed offences are still known to the public at large and still pose threat. The way these atrocious offenders should be treated is like garbage, with no rights, no aids, and then killed via lethal injection or otherwise. Prisons are overflowing allegedly and cost the public and services lots of money, time and resources to manage prisons and maintain safety amongst the inmates and staff. Screw that! If the offender is as guilty as sin then they should be executed promptly. Offenders like Ian Huntley don't deserve sympathy or rights or to live; the less offenders there are, the more public spending can be used within the public.

While my theories are "extreme" to say the least, can it really be said the alternatives that are in place today are for the better? Agree or disagree, the matters I've raised in this post are in fact issues that are discussed and go on restlessly day after day in the UK and apply to other parts of the world. It should be noted that although public opinion is divided and may well be TV static noise to those politics in charge, a voice in unison is a powerful force and may yet bring about the changes that need to be addressed.

Speak out and speak freely, after all we all have rights. Until next time, see ya!                      

Soul Calibur V & VI - SJBMCPRS Diagnosis

I'll admit right off the bat that Soul Calibur V is far from a bad game. It's very nice graphically, and the fluidity of the gameplay is excellent. I'd give it a 6.6/10 if I was writing on behalf of IGN and reviewing the game, but I'm not reviewing the game for IGN or any other organisation, and I'm not going to go Angry Video Game Nerd on this game either (by the way AVGN and Cinemassacre are fantastic and hilarious and a great service to teach us not to play terrible games, accessories etc. Check it out!).


What I will do is spew out my opinion of what is wrong with Soul Calibur V, and how the series can improve for the next instalment, if there is to be another instalment that isn't a free to play, pay to win, micro-transaction heavy piece of donkey turd the size of Italy! (Seriously its bad and so is Tekken Revolution because both games require payment upfront to open up characters, stages and so on that should be already there in the game ready to play!)


Personal note: I despise games where micros-transactions are necessary to get the most of the game. In some games it is tolerable because it is merely an option to overcome levelling up or earning experience the old fashioned way (though that says a lot about the laziness of gamers who pay to access shortcuts). DLC can be good if utilised correctly, but it can easily be used as a lazy business initiative to earn a few £ or $ by offering additional weapons and costumes that aren't necessary like in Final Fantasy XIII-2 for instance. The system in Tekken Revolution however is just like in other games of this nature where characters like Nina Williams and the many others require a token like payment or direct payments of each character via the PlayStation Store. Games like these are inexcusable in my opinion. Want a great Tekken game which won't cost an arm and a leg? Get Tekken Tag Tournament 2, seriously its tremendous and you can do everything and more in TTT2 which you may otherwise pay for in Tekken Revolution.   


Anyway, Soul Calibur V isn't bad though compare it to Soul Calibur IV (which is my favourite in the series), it is VERY HOLLOW. You can create your own fighters in V like you can in III and IV, but unlike III and V; you can use your created characters in the campaign/story mode (in Soul Calibur III you don't have a choice, you HAVE TO). In IV you can use your created fighters in Arcade mode, Training, Multiplayer, Online, and Tower of Lost Souls mode. Plus the garments, accessories and weapons you equip on fighters affect HP, Attack, Defence, and have values which can allow you to equip abilities like Invisible and Soul Gauge Vamp which can be used in most modes to aid your quest, or achieve achievements/trophies. In V however, created fighters are merely for multiplayer online and offline and there is a lack of initiative for creating a fighter in the first place. There are no attribute features or abilities to choose for the created fighter like there is in IV. What you create is for visual purposes and preference only, there is no substance which is a shame because there is tellingly a good empathise put into the creation mode.


The actual fighting and swordplay in V is as solid as it is in IV, in fact I'd say in V it is silky smooth and leaves IV trailing falling behind. But again even in the core experience of Soul Calibur V there is telling hollowness. Garments and weapons are merely visual and have no real difference which means you can't have extra HP or greater Defence value in a fight. In IV garments will eventually break off depending on how much the specific part of the opponent is head (i.e. if you strike for the head, the equipment like a hat will break under the force). In V the garments will break, but all at once and almost only when a powerful attack finishes off the opponent for the KO. Its not really a big deal but it lacks purpose in V like it does IV. Critical finishes are back but are nowhere near as satisfying or dynamic, or easy to pull of as they were in IV. In terms of difficulty, V can give you a real challenge in  the form of Legendary Souls mode; but in order to unlock Legendary Souls mode you have to complete the Story mode which is truly terrible and baffling. Even if you get past the terrible Story mode, the difficulty settings can practically make you want to punch a hole through your TV with your fist, it is barbaric and with no attributes or abilities to help you, it is cruel to say the least. I actually managed to clear Arcade mode on the hardest setting but it honestly took me the time of 95'56'76 to do it. Maybe I'm not very good at Soul Calibur V but if it takes over 20 minutes to beat just one fighter on a harder setting then I could be infuriating myself over nothing while something else is happening like playing with a friend in Grand Theft Auto V, or the dinner is burning and you forget because you are so bloody pissed off by the opponent fighter on the screen.


The main roster of fighters are tolerable, but I really miss the variety and significance from the characters in previous instalments like Taki, Seong Mi-na, Yun-Seong, and Zasalamel to name a few. There are veteran fighters like Ivy, Voldo, and Nightmare and so on, but the new cast are mostly replacements for previous fighters like Natsu adopts Taki's fighting style and place in Soul Calibur V. These fighter changes and replacements wouldn't be so bad if there was a bigger roster of UNIQUE FIGHTERS and stories behind the new characters, but none of those desires are there to shield us from the disappointment. There are three, yes 3 characters that borrow and use the fighting styles of other fighters, 2 of which are new to the series and are rubbish, but the third one is none other then Kilik, who by the way is the same Kilik from the first Soul Calibur game. WHAT THE HELL?! Does the game explain why Kilik has become yet another mimic? NO it doesn't. Does it give back stories of the roster of fighters? NO, not even text on the screen like there was in Soul Calibur IV! Forget about viewing the fighters endings because there aren't any! Don't you think we would've like to have known more about the fighters, especially our favourite characters, or seen what happens if the said fighter gets his or hers hands on Soul Calibur or Soul Edge?! F*** YES!! But no there's no details other than V is set 17 years after IV and the little clues the game offers for you to work everything out. Seriously I had to look up the fighters on the internet to get the stories behind the new and old characters. How else am I (SPOILER ALERT) to realise that Kilik and Xianghua had an illegal affair and the daughter of Xianghua; Lexia has a estranged relative known as Xiba who always thinks about food? Patroklos has an additional form like his sister Pyrrha, why? Because later in the Story mode Patroklos becomes Alpha Patroklos, uses a similar fighting style to Setsuka, and becomes a cliché saviour after being such a snobbish arrogant moron in his original form. Pyrrha and her Omega form are far more playable and relatable, but other new characters like Z.W.E.I. and Viola are utterly forgettable and wasteful. Ezio from Assassins Creed is an interesting newcomer but pales in comparison to previous guest fighters like Link, Heihachi, Yoda and Darth Vader. Frankly the roster problems in V outweigh the terribleness of the Story mode.


Yes you heard me right, the roster is worse than the terribleness of the Story mode in Soul Calibur V. The reason I say that is because you only need to attempt the Story mode once and forget about its terribleness as soon as its over, whereas the roster problem is more central to Soul Calibur V. Where do I start with the Story mode...? Honestly I wish I had never explored what little and meaninglessness there is with the Story mode. But I had to for the achievements and to unlock Legendary Souls mode so I can unlock Algol who by the way has been stripped of his significance from IV. The core story of Story mode should've been a CG Movie like Blood Vengeance, and then buried next to Saddam Hussein! Patroklos is just terrible from start to finish and actually gets worse when he becomes Alpha Patroklos. Throughout the 20 chapters of Story mode, you are buried alive by atrocious attitude and stupidity of Patroklos battling what he says are "Malfested", a term Namco want you to fall in love with by having it said so many, many times (5 minutes of the cut scenes in Soul Calibur V's Story mode on YouTube will have you wanting to nuke the person who came up with the term "Malfested"!). The supporting cast are anything but; they serve as figures giving us unnecessary dialogue, and 2 of them cannot be played or used during Story mode, they are Viola and Siegfried. Yes Siegfried, the badass wielding SoulCalibur and constant thorn in Nightmare's and Soul Edge's path is nothing more than an opponent and dialogue! Tira aids Pyrrha and serves Nightmare, and in typical cliché fashion good overcomes bad...(yawn). The Story mode is playable and serves as the means of unlocking a good percentage of the game's unlockable material, but as soon as its over you will stay clear of it, and as soon as you do that you'll realise just how wasteful all the effort of making Soul Calibur V is.


If more empathise was made on the rest of Soul Calibur V and less on the Story mode, it would have been a better game full stop. Instead as a whole Soul Calibur V is nothing more then an "okay" fighting game "malfested" in its attempt to be different. There are plenty of reviews out there that will provide greater detail and alternative games instead of Soul Calibur V. Fortunately I was wise enough to still have Soul Calibur III and IV in my collection to go back to when I got fed up with V, and even what I purchased V, it only cost me £5.03 via the Xbox Live Gold promotion. For those who feel or felt similar to me in regards to V, I feel bad for those who brought this game when its was first released at full price.


So, how can the Soul series redeem itself for its 6th main instalment? Here's an idea: Call the next Soul Calibur main instalment "Soul Calibur VI: Paradox of Destiny" and come up with a main antagonist influenced by Soul Edge to alter the events of time before Siegfried shatters Soul Edge as seen in the intro of Soul Calibur V, 17 years before the events of V. Similar to Algol in IV or Zasalamel in III, the said antagonist requires the combined power of Soul Calibur and Soul Edge to gain complete control and alter his/hers fate which would be chronological in the time after Siegfried shattered Soul Edge 17 years prior to V. Without the combined power of both swords, the said antagonist is stuck in limbo and if he fails then the timeline goes unaltered; the antagonist dies and chronologically the series will resume until it reaches the events in V. This way the classic fighters from previous instalments can continue in their timeline after IV before the next generation featured in V. Wanting to destroy Soul Edge and atone for his sins; Siegfried can serve as the main protagonist once more, with more allies like Sophitia who desperately want to free her children Patroklos and Pyrrha from the wrath and consumption of Soul Edge. Nightmare would be clashing with Siegfried in order to shatter Soul Calibur and infill the world in darkness. Tira would serve Soul Edge in order to continue feeding off potential hosts. Raphael and Amy may seek to use the 2 swords to form a permanent stoppage of time so that their own world will last for an eternity. Other characters may continue with their desires to acquire one or the other swords for their own needs.


I have no ideas for who could be guest characters in VI, though the possibilities are in the many I'm sure. As long as gameplay evolves fluidly and graphically superior and reintroduces features like the abilities and attributes present in IV and stage conditions such as the sand and ice stages present in II, then there shouldn't be any complaints. Perhaps a tag team function should be implemented to create a fresh gameplay experience for the Soul series as seen in Dead Or Alive and Tekken Tag Tournament. I assume the creation suite, Arcade mode and Online multiplayer will feature in VI. Potentially these suggestions aren't farfetched and doable and could restore some faith in the Soul series after the lacklustre Soul Calibur V. 


What do you think? If you have a suggestion or wish to express your thoughts then please do whichever way you deem effective. Feedback will help mould future instalments of the games we love to play. Soul Calibur VI is as good as inevitable, what it becomes however could depend on how much creative input comes from us gamers, so speak out and look forward to more sword wielding melee in the near future.


Until next time, see ya!