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Rose (201 KP) rated Assassin's Creed: Origins in Video Games
Nov 28, 2017
Beautiful visuals (1 more)
Engaging story
This may actually beat AC: Syndicate for my second favorite Assassin's Creed game, the first being AC: Brotherhood.
The visuals are beautiful, in both day and night.
As per usual, I'm far more interested in exploring the world and doing side quests than running through the main story, but when I do, I get sucked right in: I need to know what happens next... until I get the itch to go exploring again or another side quest catches my eye.
I like the inclusion of taming certain animals and having them be additional dps when fighting. It's really cool knowing that a huge lion has your back when you're taking out a group of bandits. Though I am disappointed that they don't seem to follow you into caves or are still waiting outside when you emerge from clearing out a bandit infestation.
I'm very impressed at the schedule of extra quests and events such as fighting various gods like Anubis and Sobek, as well as the upcoming history to lay out the groundwork for the brotherhood in an expansion next year.
All of these are going to keep me very entertained for quite a while.
The visuals are beautiful, in both day and night.
As per usual, I'm far more interested in exploring the world and doing side quests than running through the main story, but when I do, I get sucked right in: I need to know what happens next... until I get the itch to go exploring again or another side quest catches my eye.
I like the inclusion of taming certain animals and having them be additional dps when fighting. It's really cool knowing that a huge lion has your back when you're taking out a group of bandits. Though I am disappointed that they don't seem to follow you into caves or are still waiting outside when you emerge from clearing out a bandit infestation.
I'm very impressed at the schedule of extra quests and events such as fighting various gods like Anubis and Sobek, as well as the upcoming history to lay out the groundwork for the brotherhood in an expansion next year.
All of these are going to keep me very entertained for quite a while.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Buried Giant in Books
Jan 3, 2018
An unusual melancholic adventure
Beautifully written with a typical Kazuo Ishiguro unreliable narrator, this novel however, is not about self-delusion this time. It's a collective memory loss, a post-Arthurian quest that questions the value of remembering. It is written as a fable so the style may appear stilted and formal, and it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but I found the plot beguiling.
Ishiguro ventures in the Tolkien-world of medieval fantasy in which an elderly couple, who seem to be suffering a fog of memory loss, attempt to reconnect with their son by journeying across the lands. On their way, they face dangers from opposing forces, that try to hinder their progress.
This is a powerful treatment of memories, the passage of time and the enduring love of a couple living many years together. Nothing is over-stated, even the moments of high drama. A strange collection of characters but all of them wholly believable. Overall, this book rewards patience and reflection, a devastating portrayal of love in old age and it's a fantastic metaphor for the way nations forget/remember traumatic events.
Ishiguro ventures in the Tolkien-world of medieval fantasy in which an elderly couple, who seem to be suffering a fog of memory loss, attempt to reconnect with their son by journeying across the lands. On their way, they face dangers from opposing forces, that try to hinder their progress.
This is a powerful treatment of memories, the passage of time and the enduring love of a couple living many years together. Nothing is over-stated, even the moments of high drama. A strange collection of characters but all of them wholly believable. Overall, this book rewards patience and reflection, a devastating portrayal of love in old age and it's a fantastic metaphor for the way nations forget/remember traumatic events.
Phillip McSween (751 KP) rated I Declare War (2013) in Movies
Jan 4, 2018
Not Bad
I Declare War is the first film I chose in my quest to watch 365 films in 2018. It won't go down as a classic, but rather a film you're glad you watched at least once. Honestly, had it been a film about anything else, it could've been a classic. The subject matter made it hard to stay intrigued. You're entertained sure, but in the back of your mind, you're constantly reminding yourself that this is kids playing a game. With no real stakes. In the woods.
That's the plot, guys. A game of War played with fake weapons by kids in the woods. There were some funny moments that gave me a chuckle. One quote in particular caught me off guard: "God is so gay." Hilarious. I also thought writer Jason Lapeyre did an excellent job of capturing the fun blend between reality and pretend and how blurred those lines can be when kids use their imaginations. Friendships get tested in the spirit of competition. We all know how much kids hate to lose.
Decent, not classic. Even better, you can check it out on Vudu right now for free. I give it a 70.
That's the plot, guys. A game of War played with fake weapons by kids in the woods. There were some funny moments that gave me a chuckle. One quote in particular caught me off guard: "God is so gay." Hilarious. I also thought writer Jason Lapeyre did an excellent job of capturing the fun blend between reality and pretend and how blurred those lines can be when kids use their imaginations. Friendships get tested in the spirit of competition. We all know how much kids hate to lose.
Decent, not classic. Even better, you can check it out on Vudu right now for free. I give it a 70.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow in Books
Jan 10, 2018
An interesting theory undermined by flimsy argument and unconvincing evidence
@Yuval Noah Harari once again returns with another thought-provoking anthropological book, similar to @Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, however, this time he turns his focus toward humanity's future, and our quest to upgrade humans into gods.
The implications for the developments in artificial intelligence and genetic engineering - and the combining of the two are mind-blowing and we ignore them at our peril. The same applies to the amount "the system" knows about us from how we use the internet. It is alarming how willingly we have walked down that path.
While Sapiens had a few historical tenets and facts that Harari was able to access with a clear argument, given his historian background, there was a tendency in this volume to set up unrealistic false dichotomies, and 'creatively' misinterpret belief systems in order to bolster his increasingly thin argument.
The thrust of what Harari is saying may well be true, but what I would have liked to see him do is to discuss the implications a bit more thoughtfully and, in effect, set an agenda for discussion.
The implications for the developments in artificial intelligence and genetic engineering - and the combining of the two are mind-blowing and we ignore them at our peril. The same applies to the amount "the system" knows about us from how we use the internet. It is alarming how willingly we have walked down that path.
While Sapiens had a few historical tenets and facts that Harari was able to access with a clear argument, given his historian background, there was a tendency in this volume to set up unrealistic false dichotomies, and 'creatively' misinterpret belief systems in order to bolster his increasingly thin argument.
The thrust of what Harari is saying may well be true, but what I would have liked to see him do is to discuss the implications a bit more thoughtfully and, in effect, set an agenda for discussion.
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Kubo and the Two Strings (2016) in Movies
Aug 26, 2017
Not quite in the same league as other Japanese animations
Just like those crazy Studio Ghibli films of fantastic tales and amazing creatures, Laika productions (famous for Coraline) has created a stop motion animation using Japanese folklore. Now as a fan of Ghibli, I can say that this is no way near that league although the animation is always amazing to behold.
The story is rather tragic of a boy from a magical powerful family, who has escaped with his mother as a baby, losing an eye in the process, and growing up to play an instrument that has the power to control paper. Both he and his mother are poor, livingin a cave, hiding away from this family - his father has also perished in this initial battle. However, they are found and his mother gives him her powers to escape and try and find a way of defeating her sisters and father.
It's a quest-based film, filled with perilous obstacles and while it was sad at times - I just don't think it was as heartfelt as other Japanese animations. The voices of Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron is always fantastic to hear though.
The story is rather tragic of a boy from a magical powerful family, who has escaped with his mother as a baby, losing an eye in the process, and growing up to play an instrument that has the power to control paper. Both he and his mother are poor, livingin a cave, hiding away from this family - his father has also perished in this initial battle. However, they are found and his mother gives him her powers to escape and try and find a way of defeating her sisters and father.
It's a quest-based film, filled with perilous obstacles and while it was sad at times - I just don't think it was as heartfelt as other Japanese animations. The voices of Matthew McConaughey and Charlize Theron is always fantastic to hear though.
MaryAnn (14 KP) rated The Watch on the Fencepost in Books
Mar 5, 2019
A WATCH THAT REVEALS MORE THAN JUST THE TIME . . . A mysterious gold watch propels 27-year-old Kathryn Frasier into a quest to prove her parents’ recent deaths were not an accident. Following a trail of cryptic clues, she encounters a remarkable cast of characters, including an actress with a talent for disguises, a politician with a dark secret, and a handsome businessman who shows a sudden romantic interest in Kathryn. Can she solve the mystery before she becomes the next victim?
My Thoughts: This is an excellent mystery that not only keeps the readers' interest but actually keeps them glued to the book. The amusing idea of the hunt for clues was fun for myself and I believe other readers will enjoy that also.
The readers will fall in love with the characters Kathryn and Cece, since they both have interesting personalities that the readers will enjoy.
This was a charming read a story of a young woman losing her parents, but gaining so much more as she learns to trust God and the people around her.
A great read for anyone, especially those who love a good mystery with a smidge of romance added in.
My Thoughts: This is an excellent mystery that not only keeps the readers' interest but actually keeps them glued to the book. The amusing idea of the hunt for clues was fun for myself and I believe other readers will enjoy that also.
The readers will fall in love with the characters Kathryn and Cece, since they both have interesting personalities that the readers will enjoy.
This was a charming read a story of a young woman losing her parents, but gaining so much more as she learns to trust God and the people around her.
A great read for anyone, especially those who love a good mystery with a smidge of romance added in.
Nige625 (8 KP) rated Ticket to Ride in Tabletop Games
May 9, 2019
Excellent game
Wonderful game. Collect rail truck cards of the colours you require, but don't leave it too long, there are only a very limited number of tracks available to link your cities. If someone beats you to a track, you will need to try to find another (usually longer) route to fulfil your quest. This game keeps you on your toes, as you will need to keep a tight eye on your opponents in case they can scupper you. Points make prizes. A great stand alone game with many expansions available. My advice? Stick to the base game and maybe a couple of expansions later. Don't get too carried away. The base game is great as is. Plays nicely 2-4 players. No excess concentration needed, so a good social game to chat and eat snacks over! Once you have played this a couple of times instead of going out, it has paid for itself and you have it forever more! Well worth the price. Good quality, good value for money. Enjoy! Nige
Sam Hill (23 KP) rated Loony Quest in Tabletop Games
Jun 21, 2019
Looney Quest is an odd game. You, and the other players, look at a game level, hen have a timed period to scribble a possible route onto a piece of acetate hitting trying to hit good things and miss traps/bombs/enemies. After he timed period you put your acetate over the level map and tot up your score.
Now the ideal market for this is younger kids, who want to participate and like scribbling on acetate, but the sheer quantity of token types and variety of effects is staggering and the kid young enough to like the scribbling is less keen on understanding what all these status effects mean.
Those of us old enough to click with all the token types, aree also going to find trying to draw what you remember to be a safe route achieving your targets dull.
Meanwhile the components are...ok, the tokens are nice thick card, but the acetate is a pain and (like most acetate screens) doesn't clean as easily as would be ideal, but the level maps are quite flimsy. If you try and replay it more than a couple of times they're going to get worn out fast.
Now the ideal market for this is younger kids, who want to participate and like scribbling on acetate, but the sheer quantity of token types and variety of effects is staggering and the kid young enough to like the scribbling is less keen on understanding what all these status effects mean.
Those of us old enough to click with all the token types, aree also going to find trying to draw what you remember to be a safe route achieving your targets dull.
Meanwhile the components are...ok, the tokens are nice thick card, but the acetate is a pain and (like most acetate screens) doesn't clean as easily as would be ideal, but the level maps are quite flimsy. If you try and replay it more than a couple of times they're going to get worn out fast.
Cori June (3033 KP) rated Dragondoom (Mithgar book #5) in Books
Aug 10, 2019
Continuing in my quest to read this series in chronological order, this is a good book to enter into the land of Mithgar. A multiple POV book. It is a "love story" (it says so in the forward" but it is really subtle about it. The story starts in the middle and goes between the past and the present or near present. About hatred, greed, racism, even foolhardy pride. Yes, it actually has dragon's as well as stone giants. Also, if you get the 2002 edition you will get a glossary (it has spoilers), translation of words and phrases, and a partial calendar (again spoilers), so it's kind of cool seeing what the translation of the native languages.
Now that I'm older then when I first read this I admit I at times read it in a melodramatic way. but still a good read if a little long winded at times. The main characters are the Warrior woman Elyn and Dwarf Thork, with Elyn's twin Elgo as a not quite main but very important character.
This book had love, war, quests, and well almost everything. A fun read.
Now that I'm older then when I first read this I admit I at times read it in a melodramatic way. but still a good read if a little long winded at times. The main characters are the Warrior woman Elyn and Dwarf Thork, with Elyn's twin Elgo as a not quite main but very important character.
This book had love, war, quests, and well almost everything. A fun read.
Versusyours (757 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
Dec 13, 2019
Pop culture (2 more)
Nostalgia drips from the page
Future true story
Modern retro
Coming to this book from the movie was a mistake but not a bigger one than reading this then watching the movie.
In a strangely possible future that sees the real world being second to virtual world of the Oasis, Wade Watts finds himself orphaned and obsessed with the 80s and all levels of geek and pop trivia. This obsession grows as he along with millions of others are undertaking a quest to control the virtual world and basically be the king of both worlds. Many movies, computer games, songs and even breakfast cereals are dissected in great detail and this attention to detail makes the book for me and is where it had me hooked. If you love nostalgia then this book will be a dream of not then it could be too much.
The story is packed with twists and turns with the obligatory love interest make this book fun, interesting and gripping in equal measure.
Book then movie, I need to learn to remember that one of these days
In a strangely possible future that sees the real world being second to virtual world of the Oasis, Wade Watts finds himself orphaned and obsessed with the 80s and all levels of geek and pop trivia. This obsession grows as he along with millions of others are undertaking a quest to control the virtual world and basically be the king of both worlds. Many movies, computer games, songs and even breakfast cereals are dissected in great detail and this attention to detail makes the book for me and is where it had me hooked. If you love nostalgia then this book will be a dream of not then it could be too much.
The story is packed with twists and turns with the obligatory love interest make this book fun, interesting and gripping in equal measure.
Book then movie, I need to learn to remember that one of these days