Sonic: The Good, The Meh, And The Ugly.

Ahhh, Sonic. Where to even start? Sonic was my first 'favorite' gaming series, I think. The Sega Genesis was the first console I ever owned, and Sonic 2 was my first game. That started a love for the series that hasn't subsided to this day.

Ah, the memories.

I spent countless hours playing Sonic 2, and attempting to collect every ring and chaos emerald surely attributed to starting me down the road to poor vision. The game never really got old to my brother and I, and we came up with all sorts of ridiculous ideas from playing it so much. The one that sticks with me the most is the dance we created in the sixth zone, Mystic Cave. If you've played the game, and you can remember the music, just imagine Sonic, Tails, or Knuckles looking up and bobbing down with the music. Ahh, the memories. Next to mind comes the Genesis freezing in the later levels and us yelling and screaming at it. Good times.

Sonic 3 eventually rolled in with it's mind-blowing opening sequence(hey, it was at the time) and the introduction of Knuckles. With Sonic 3 came an addiction possibly even greater than what Sonic 2 offered. The largest reason for this was the introduction of the multi-faceted multiplayer. Sure, there was multiplayer in Sonic 2, but it wasn't nearly this competative. The heated battles caused by the Time Trial mode was my big introduction to competative gaming. My brother and I were always up in arms about who was the best at each level, even though I ended up losing some because I would always rep a slower Tails in the face of his Sonic. However, I would throw down some Knuckles or a bit of Sonic when the situation was serious enough. The single player action was just as great, too. It was definitely easier than Sonic 2 was, but I welcomed that with open arms at the time(the end boss in Sonic 2 kicked my ass...a lot). I don't want to say it was a pushover, because it wasn't, but it didn't take all that long until I was ripping through it with ease. Also, one strange habit I came into with Sonic 3 was to make up my own lyrics for each song. And, to give you an idea of how much I played it, I still remember a lot of the lyrics to this day. Yeah, I'm a huge geek.

Originally meant to be one long, epic adventure, Sonic 3 and S&K was split into two due to time constraints.

Sonic and Knuckles dropped soon after with its attachable tech and neverending glory. Not only was it another great addition to the series, but it let players attach Sonic 3, and even Sonic 2, for a ton of new gameplay options. The only gripe I have with Sonic and Knuckles, and I'm sure many other Sonic fans feel me on this, is how incredibly annoying the second act of Sandopolis Zone was. I eventually made my way through it, but it's one of those times when you think the dev. team put it in just so it wouldn't get a perfect score. It was my childhood version of the skeleton archers from Ninja Gaiden. Aside from that, S&K was spectacular. From the one-on-one fight with Knuckles in Hidden Palace to the showdown with Mecha Sonic in Sky Sanctuary, S&K delivered an amazing game with an incredibly epic feel.

I'd also like to include the original Sonic title so no one has to leave me a comment asking why I left it out. I didn't get the chance to play the original until sometime after I had played the second, and while it was still really good, it just never held up against the other additions since it lacked the spin dash.

At this point of the post you're probably wondering exactly where I'm taking this. Hopefully everything you've read so far has gotten the point across that I've been a fan of the series since time immemorial. Since his glory days on the Genesis, Mario's one-time competitor has really had his ups and downs, leading to the series less-than-stellar standing with many gamers today. The reason for this is Sega's willingness to release a plethora of games in the Sonic universe without giving them a proper polishing. Or, you know, adding a core gameplay system that functions properly.

For example, Shadow The Hedgehog and Sonic Riders were released four months apart. Four. When two games suck that bad you really need to spread them out, but it seems that Sega was in the mood to throw a real shit-fest. They decided to really expose their fetish for it this past fall with the release of Sonic The Hedgehog on the 360. The title implied something big for the series, and I know I wasn't the only one excited before it released. Now, to be fair, I haven't played any of those three titles myself, and I'm just going by how they scored. However, they all scored extremely poor, and any redeeming points they could've had seemed to be outweighed by a number of negative aspects.

Sonic Team used to be synonymous with quality, but their reputation has suffered quite a bit the last few years. I think some of that has to do with some team members leaving, and the fact that they merged with United Game Artists a few years back, so their line-up is a bit different these days. Here's a quick comparison of what made them legendary, and what has really dealt a blow to that status.

- Sonic The Hedgehog(1991)
- Sonic The Hedgehog 2(1992
- Sonic The Hedgehog CD(1993)
- Sonic The Hedgehog 3(1994)
- Sonic And Knuckles(1994)
- NiGHTS Into Dreams(1996)
- Sonic Adventure(1998)
- Phantasy Star Online(2000)

Compare that to this.

- Sonic Heroes(2003)
- The Rub Rabbits(2005)
- Shadow The Hedgehog(2005)
- Sonic Riders(2006)
- Phantasy Star Universe(2006)
- Puyo Pop Fever 2(2006)
- Sonic The Hedgehog(2006)

As you can see, the newer titles don't exactly stack up to the earlier releases in the least. They're not all bad, but they aren't spectacular, either. Also, noticeably absent from the newer titles is Sonic Rush, which is definitely the best Sonic title released in several years. Rush, along the the Advance titles, was developed by the Osaka-based Dimps.

Sonic Team showed that it was possible to stick our blue hero into 3D and make it work.

Sonic Team hasn't really done anything positive with the franchise since Sonic Adventure 2 in 2001. This is where the pressure comes in. The Sonic Franchise is in need of a revival to show that it's capable of delivering another good 3D title. Due out on February 27 for the Wii is Sonic And The Secret Rings.

Secret Rings looks extremely promising so far, and one screen doesn't really do it justice.

Rings has a fixed camera that looks like it will avoid one of the big problems that has plagued recent Sonic titles. Also, all the video I've seen so far show off a great sense of speed that controls quite well(the Wiimote is held sideways during play). The arabian nights motiff adds a unique sense of style as well, letting it stand out from its brethren. While I don't want to get my hopes up too high in case things don't turn out as well as they look, it's hard not to geek in anticipation.

Sega really needs Rings to be succesful, and so far it looks like they're on the right track for the first time in a few years. Nostalgia is hitting hard at this point, so I think it's time to dust off the Genesis and show off my skills.

Also, I highly recommend any long-time fans of Sonic check out Hedgehog Heaven and Project Chaos, remixes of the soundtracks from Sonic 2, Sonic 3, and S&K. The original soundtracks owned, and I wasn't alone in that opinion.

"Innocence Has A Power Evil Cannot Imagine."

Go see it. Now. Pan's Labyrinth was one of the most emotional, amazing movies I've seen in a long time, and I can't recommend it enough. Rarely am I that enraptured with a movie, cringing and holding my breath throughout. I don't know what else to say because I don't want to ruin it for everyone, so I'll stop at that. If you have the chance to see it and don't, you're really missing out.



I'm on a roll. I saw Pan's Labyrinth on Saturday, and I just watched The Illusionist tonight. Both were awesome. Edward Norton's performance as Eisenheim was great, bringing incredible intensity to the screen. I honestly can't even remember at what point it was in theaters, and I'm really glad I got the chance to see it now.

It's surely fitting, so I'll end things with a bit of lyrical content.

"As an outcast I paced defeat
Seeking comfort in this painful retreat
Made an oracle against my will
Word spread of miraculous skills

Premonitions call my name
I once doubted them all when they came
Now I embrace it and I'll never be the same

Transfixed in the desert sands
Take a look at my once empty hand
See the rose that appears so real
Just like the one you saw in your dreams

Those who call me avatar
Know not what they're looking for
They just feed their flames with miracles
Just so you know
If you bathe within my light
You diminish your own might
The illusionist in everyone"

"The Illusionist" ~ Scar Symmetry

2007 - Basically The Second Coming.

As I have a lot fun doing a best of at the end of each year, it's also fun to compile a list of what I'm most looking forward to for the next year. This list isn't necessarily going to be what I think the best games are going to be, but rather what I'm most looking forward to(though it's the same thing in some cases). Also, this isn't in any particular order, as trying to determine one is more trouble than it's worth, and I'd end up seating certain titles lower just because they haven't been shown off to the public too much yet.

Games Of 2007

1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots - PS3



My most anticipated game is for a console that I won't even own by the time it's released. Yeah, I'm not doing this in order, but as this is definitely my most anticipated game at the moment I figured I'd list it first. MGS4 is shaping up to be everything and more than I could have ever asked for from the story successor to MGS2. Though MGS3 was incredible, I've been waiting for the story to continue ever since I first saw the credits roll in MGS2 just over five years ago. Every trailer has left me breathless and with more questions, just like Kojima intended. I just hope I'll get to play it somewhere after it's released.

2. Halo 3 - Xbox 360



The first trailer, shown during the final E3 last year, was the perfect way to really kick off the hype. Every time a new video or piece of information is released I just get more and more excited. Here's to hoping that Bungie can outdo themselves with the final installment in the trilogy. At least we know it won't end with a whimper.

3. Bioshock - Xbox 360, PC



Talking about it doesn't do much good, as I'm of the opinion that one needs to really see what Irrational has created to understand just how amazing it's shaping up to be. It's incredibly atmospheric, and both the gameplay and story sound fantastic and really original.

4. Assassin's Creed - Xbox 360, PS3



I've been looking forward to this ever since I saw the first teaser. The crowd interaction and maneuverability alone have pretty much sold me on it. I'm not really doubting the action at this point, and the fact that that Ubisoft has been really uptight about some of the story elements has me excited.

5. Mass Effect - Xbox 360



I have no previous experience with Bioware's console games, but it looks like this will be a good place to start. Part one of what can only be a really, really long trilogy, some aspects of the game have been really, really impressive. Also, considering Bioware's track record, it's practically guaranteed to be an awesome time.

6. God Of War II - PS2



Even after hearing all the hype and praise, I didn't play the original until far after it was released, and I was floored when I did. Aside from the acursed towers that are hated by everyone who played the game, it was great. That's a small complaint, anyway. They weren't even as bad as the skeleton archers from Ninja Gaiden. The sequel seems to be bringing back everything good from the original and really upping everything. I can't wait to kill more innocents.

7. Super Mario Galaxy - Wii



Finally. I, along with the other plumber-loving gamers in the world, have been patiently awaiting for a more traditional sequel to Super Mario 64 for years, as Sunshine has never really appealed to me. Galaxy, however, sends me into a state of euphoria everytime I get another glimpse of it. To use entire planets as stepping stones is just awesome. Please, God, let this fall come quickly.

8. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption - Wii



While there hasn't been much info. released in the past couple months, it's still hard for me not to get excited over MP3. I'm a huge Metroid fan, and I loved the first two Prime titles. Retro Studios is basically incapable of doing anything wrong in my mind, except for the fact that they added long-winded fetch quests to the ends of both games. The new actions that have been implemented on the Wii look really immersive, and all other news so far has been pretty positive. Also, I'm glad to see Retro mixing things up some. Corruption will feature a stacking beam system like the Metroids of yore, and players will actually be able to travel to different planets via the ship. The only thing I'm worried about at this point is the dialogue. I love the silent, lonely feel of Metroid games. It plays a huge part in adding to the atmosphere when there isn't any spoken dialogue to break things up. To be fair, I'm also more than willing to have some faith in Retro to hold things down in that department. Also, Jennifer Hale is a fantastic voice actress, and I think she's more than capable of doing a good job. Also, I say a prayer each night at my Metroid shrine in hopes that MP3 will actually see a release by mid-summer.

"Oh great Chozo gods
Return thy armored saint by mid-year
So she may smite Ridley yet again

Oh money-loving Nintendo
Deliver us power ups by mid-summer
So we might bomb jump once more

Thy will be done
Space pirates be torn a new one
On Earth as it is on Zebes

Amen"

9. Super Smash Bros. Brawl - Wii



Never in my life did I expect to see the above fight taking place. Two great, if not my favorite, video game characters taking it to each other. I'm a big fan of the first two installments, and I can't begin to count the hours I've spent with them. With the release of Brawl this year I'll honestly need very little else to play. And if we actually do get a nice, online play setup, all will be right in the world. In the meantime I'm hopefully awaiting the announcement of a few more new characters. Nintendo needs to work out a deal to get Sonic in, if only to appease me(and the tons of other fans clamoring for it).

10. Lunar Knights - DS



A random screenshot doesn't too much for a DS game, so in case anyone is unfamiliar with LK, I recommend checking it out. I spent a good deal of last year anticipating it, only to have it eventually pushed back into '07. I can't complain much, though. It looks extremely promising, and it's great to see it putting both screens to good use. Instead of requiring actual sunlight like the Boktai series did, Lunar Knights instead uses the top screen to simulate a variety of weather conditions, letting games stay couped up in their rooms.

While I only listed ten titles here, there are many, many other games coming out this year with plenty of potential. Mike listed a number of games that I didn't, so feel free to check out his blog and see what else is dropping this year.

Best Of 2006.

Yeah, I'm lazy. What can I say? However, I wanted to make a best of 2006 list, and this is the best place to put it. My list is going to be broken down into multiple sections, and I'd list them ahead of time if I was even sure what they were all going to be. And....we're off!

Top 5 Video Games

To make things easier for me I'm only going to include games that I actually had the time to finish.

1. Gears Of War - Xbox 360

While my number one and two picks could virtually be a tie, I had to seperate them for the sake of this list, and I could probably change my mind on a whim. I gave it the nudge to number one because it has such high replay value in my mind. The campaign mode doesn't take too long to complete, and you instantly want to jump back in as soon as it ends.

2. The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess

I just finished it a couple days ago, and I can't even begin to imagine how much extra stuff I've skipped over. I haven't even gone fishing yet(aside from what's required to complete the story)!

3. Bleach DS: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei

I spent a ton of time playing it by myself, and that requires fairly addicting gameplay considering the genre. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel's release in February.

4. New Super Mario Bros.

We finally got a new 2D Mario game, and it was a blast. It turned out to be pretty easy, but still incredibly fun. I also ended spending a ton of time with it as I tried to collect the big coins in each stage, though I ultimately gave up at the beginning of the sixth world.

5. Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence

The only reason this isn't higher on my list is because it's a technically not a new game, but a re-release with alterations and online play. This is the release the game originally deserved, but wasn't given to fans until early last year. Regardless, it was fantastic. The secondary camera is what the core game really needed, and it truly made the experience complete for me. Also, though I don't consider it when judging the game, the pre-order bonus for it was possibly the best ever, though Castlevania: Portrait Of Ruin's cluster of awesome freebies sure gives it a run.

Honorable Mentions:

Castlevania: Portrait Of Ruin

While it wasn't as good as 2005's Dawn Of Sorrow, PoR still managed to provide plenty of enjoyment, but in the end it didn't quite living up to everything I was hoping for. It had some uninspired bosses and repetitive level design(some of the later portrait's resembled earlier ones). To be fair, it also had some extremely cool boss fights that helped make up for the lackluster ones, and it did feature some really cool level design in certain areas. Also, I felt there was some trouble in the new, two-character system. Having to enter the main menu every time I wanted switch spells with Charlotte became a pretty big annoyance after a while, as it was something I found myself doing fairly often. I still had a lot of fun with the game, and I appreciate Iga and co. trying to keep things fresh by adding the separate level design element, but I prefer the open-ended, large environment found in previous titles(starting with SoTN).

Tetris DS

I don't think I ever need another version of Tetris. It has the classic gameplay along with several new modes, and features Wi-Fi play. It's become a pretty big time sink for me, and it's hard to get away from considering you can just take it with you for whenever you have a few free minutes.

Some other titles that I've really been enjoying, especially FFXII, weren't included because I'm not finished with them yet, as I stated earlier. I have a pretty good feel for FFXII so far, as I'm just about 30 hrs. in, but I'll reserve judgement for when I actually finish it.

So, onward to the rest of the list.

Top Movies

It's honestly pretty difficult to remember all the new movies I saw this year, so I'm bound to leave something out.

1. Casino Royale

I've been a fan of Bond films for longer than I can remember, so I'm generally pretty psyched everytime a new one is released. However, my interest waned somewhat after the lackluster Die Another Day. I thought Brosnan played a pretty good Bond, but the plot sucked, and the film was disappointing in most aspects. After Daniel Craig was announced as the next bond, and that the next film would be based on Ian Flemming's Casino Royale,(with some updating) my interest started perking again. Any hopes I had been harboring were completely blown away when it hit theaters. Not only was it a good film, but easily one of the best Bond films I'd ever seen. Daniel Craig is perfect for the role, bringing back a more rugged, yet sophisticated Bond.

2. V For Vendetta

While I haven't read the graphic novel,(though I did finally obtain a copy) V was movie brilliance. It had me on edge the entire time with it's great main cast, dialogue, and intriguing story. Hugo Weaving really caught viewer's attentions everytime he spoke, helping, along with the rest of the cast, to make a great comic-to-movie experience.

3. Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

I don't think I need to say too much here, as pretty much everyone saw it. It was pretty much what I was expecting,(though the story sure surprised) which isn't a bad thing at all. And anyone who saw it should understand why I'm really, really anticipating the sequel.

Top 10 Albums

1. Tyr - Ragnarok
2. Bal-Sagoth - The Cthonic Chronicles
3. Amon Amarth - With Oden On Our Side
4. Scar Symmetry - Pitch Black Progress
5. Dragonforce - Inhuman Rampage
6. The Faceless - Akeldama
7. Kalmah - The Black Waltz
8. Disarmonia Mundi - Mind Tricks
9. Diablo Swing Orchestra - The Butcher's Ballroom
10. Torchbearer - Warnaments

Honorable Mentions

Rhapsody Of Fire - Triumph Or Agony
Sleep Terror - Probing Tranquility

Up next are my picks for 2007.