Jump to content

Ektris

Premier Outstanding BZP Citizens
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    2,692

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    2

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Ektris

  1. Ektris

    Missing

    By Ektris,

    I sometimes really miss this community. And others I used to be involved in as part of the larger BIONICLE/LEGO fandom.
     
    So I occasionally peak in, see how things are going... Generally without comment, and usually leaving a little more saddened by not feeling connected to it anymore and that things in general are really rather... quiet. Which I suppose makes sense when the focal point and passion of the fandom is dead again.
     
    But man, what passion... I dedicated so much of my formative years to this, as did so many others. They're great memories. And I am glad to see some still chugging away at it and newer folks still somehow discovering it.
     
    I'm not sure what made this visit different. Anywhere I'm present online now, I more often than not just lurk and not contribute. Quite the contrast to how I used to be. Just don't have the time and energy to. So a mix of nostalgia, boredom, sorrow, and maybe a touch of hope. Reflecting a lot, I suppose. I know it's not going to change anything and I'm not really back - not even sure I'll respond to anything here. I just really, really wanted to say...
     
    Hi.
     
    And I miss you all.
     
    Those who will read this and those who have long since moved on before I did.
     
    And thank you for all those memories.
     
    ~|ET|~
  2. Ektris
    A Song of Ice and Fire: A Dance with Dragons
    Transformers Titans Return Blurr
    Transformers Titans Return Skullsmasher
    Really don't know how much longer I'm going to keep this up. Just whenever I post elsewhere I feel the need to here as well since I've never missed a month... Kept me coming back to this place every once in a while at the very least.
     
    Anyway, didn't get much. Wanted more but just couldn't find many TR in stores.
     
    ~|ET|~
  3. Ektris
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Ghost Ore Damashii (w/first run bonus Yurusen)
    S.H. Figuarts Pikachu
    Just Cause 3
    LEGO Disney minifigure collection Genie
    LEGO Disney minifigure collection Aladdin
    Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
    Transformers Combiner Wars Deluxe Groove
    S.H. Figuarts Mace Windu
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Specter Ore Damashii (w/first run bonus Specter, Edison, Nobunaga, Tutankhamen, and Kanon Eyecons)
    Had everything ready to go to post at the end of the month despite all the traveling I did, but then got back home today and had a few packages waiting for me. So I retook things and still screwed up and left things out lol. Didn't feel like setting up again at that point, sooo three pics it is.
     
    Pikachu kinda just sucks.
     
    Ghost and Specter are another two solid Kamen Rider Figuarts. Nothing too outlandish about them, but how they accomplished the hoods (should've done one with the hood up part) is cool.
     
    Mace looks fantastic.
     
    Finally we can affordably get deluxe Groove, yes! Looks cool.
     
    Just Cause 3 has been fun but feels like it's missing something from the last game. It's a bit too structured in its approach to chaos, if that makes any sense.
     
    And now Aladdin and Genie... My first blind bagged minifigs. I quickly learned I'm simply horrible at feeling for these. Fortunately an incredibly nice couple helped me feel bags and their picks were spot on. Think some of my back ups might have been close, but oh well. Thanks you guys! Very pleased with these. As is my wife (wait what?) so that's good haha. Looking forward to a possible series two with hopefully more characters tickling my fancy.
     
    ~|ET|~
  4. Ektris
    I just want to start off by saying that I really do feel that this was quite a fun game.
     
    I finished the campaign for Rise of the Tomb Raider around 2 AM yesterday (it was the weekend, okay...), but do still have plenty of content to get through before I shelf this title. I want to go collect everything, and I'm very nearly there now... but have suffered from a known widespread glitch not counting some things so I fear I may need to play again 100% to get the achievements to pop. Plus I've not even looked at any of the Twitch-integrated features, which actually means I may try my hand at streaming soon! Not required, but might be fun. And I plan to buy the DLC. But I beat the story, so that's "game complete" for most and good enough to write this heh.
     
    My favorite part was definitely the exploration of tombs and crypts. The puzzles were fun, the environments fun to explore, and the worldbuilding involved with most was great. I listened to every single audio log. The history imparted by them was fascinating.
     
    In contrast, I couldn't get that invested in the main story's characters. Jacob was interesting - pegged his identity instantly thanks to a clue from an audio log I picked up not too long beforehand - but the others... Meh. I had no attachment to Ana. If they had maybe introduced her in 2013's Tomb Raider, I'd care more about her betrayel... But I just didn't. I disliked her for it, and her sickness made me a little sympathetic, but none of those were strong feelings. While writing this I just performed a quick search and apparently there is a running comic book title filling the gaps between the games?? I imagine those would've helped some... But don't feel it should be necessary. Oh and Konstantin just screamed generic angry bad guy the whole time. Poor misguided fool.
     
    I didn't really mind any of that though. Except when stuck in the proper levels where my explorative urges were restricted. I still had fun and never felt stuck for long. Even playing on savior mode where you don't regenerate health and supplies are more scarce, not many combat encounters really took me too long. Mostly because that wonderful bow is still ridiculously overpowered.
     
    If you want to play this game, stop first. Next, go play its predecessor. That was an amazing game. Then play this one. Rise of the Tomb Raider is great as well, although I did feel less invested. Just want to recommend this rebooted series as a whole, since I feel it's much stronger that way.
     
    ~|ET|~
  5. Ektris
    I've voiced complaints about Nendoroids often enough elsewhere that I find it a little weird at times to think of how I've started getting some and keeping track of a few future releases. But there are just now some where the aesthetic absolutely works for me, and Kirby is deifnitely one of them. I don't even look at this and see a chibi superderformed abomination they make too many of. It's just... Kirby! And that's why he's awesome. Plus his limbs are magnetic, making him very fun to play with. Couldn't resist taking some pictures right after getting him.
     









     
    ~|ET|~
  7. Ektris

    My D&D Characters

    By Ektris,

    Around this time last year I think, my friends roped me in to playing Dungeons & Dragons. I hadn't played for about 6 years, and even when I did previously I never got too into it nor really understood what I was doing. So it was more or less a new experience for me. Especially since it's all done over Skype.
     
    Anywho, here's the guys I've played since then:
    Rhikorin - A tiefling cleric of Trithereon, he is a stubborn ex-soldier intent on meting out his own sense of retribution after years of mistreatment by those he saved in the line of duty.
    Criton - This noble Illuskan monk tries to help all those in need, sending those willing to his monastery to study under his master. Unbeknownst to him, Criton is in fact the top recruiter of a reverse pyramid scheme that requires all of its students to relinquish their gold and trains them to loathe material possessions.
    J'hon Cinah - Half orc, half wood elf, half shark, all muscle. J'hon Cinah is the top competitor at (and a slave of) the traveling gladiatorial troupe World Warrior Entertainment. Adept with the longsword and trident, the current champion has never been felled in battle and never gives up.
     
    ~|ET|~
  8. Ektris
    Kylo Ren





    Until yesterday I'd say this was the best Toys Kylo Ren in this scale out there, but with the MAFEX revealed (and coming with a Driver head and melted Vader helmet..) I'm not too sure now. Though that's not coming out until the end of the year so for now it's still at the top in my opinion.
     
    But yeah I love this guy.
     
    First Order Stormtrooper




    Probably should have removed the window before taking these, but didn't realize how funky they were turning out until I was done and at that point I didn't feel like doing it all over again heh. Yes I got lazy. Probably because it was the last of a large group I did that today.
     
    ~|ET|~
  9. Ektris

    Funky - January Haul

    By Ektris,

    BIONICLE Villain Pack
    Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India (Digital download)
    S.H. Figuarts Obi-Wan Kenobi (Episode I)
    Funko Legacy Dovahkiin
    Funko Legacy Daedric Warrior
    S.H. Figuarts Hatake Kakashi
    LEGO Dimensions Doctor Who Cyberman Fun Pack
    I sort of got back into getting BIONICLE this month. Thanks to a tip on the BZP Facebook page, found a pretty good deal on eBay so decided not to pass it up and got the villain pack. I kind of want... a lot now. Just for that base. It's cool displaying the masks on it, although yeah the stand itself is bad. Very pretty mask too. Still don't know when I'll get into my 2015 backlog and start 2016... March is looking to be a light month in regards to my pre-orders hmm..
     
    Still haven't gotten any of the big games I've been wanting, but I realized there's nothing coming out for a good long while that I do want. So now I'm in no rush and just going to enjoy what I have first. Which is why I spent all month playing Majora's Mask. And now the next installment of Assassin's Creed Chronicles. I sure wish they had announced there would be a physical release when China was released, because I honestly would have waited until then. But since I already have China and don't want to just re-buy that (since it's literally the price of all three, no discount for waiting or getting them bundled, which is pretty lame), I figured I'd just get the rest downloaded to. Meh.
     
    Finally got the Funko Legacy Skyrim figures I'd been putting off. Still can't believe it took this long to get action figures based off of Skyrim. Everything I've read about the Funko Legacy line of toys is... not great. At all. Particularly their Game of Thrones toys. The Skyrim ones are generally acknowledged as an improvement and so far I don't have issues with them falling apart or breaking. My Dovahkiin did come out of the package with a warped leg that really bugs me though I'm hesitant to fix, having not done that before and not wanting to screw it up. But they look great, have decent ranges of articulation, and I just think they're pretty cool.
     
    Bandai's continuing to pump out prequel Figuarts and I love it. Obi-Wan's pretty good. Nothing exceptional I feel (though how they handled the robes is pretty cool... so many parts of it move) but nothing bad either. Just need a Gui-Gon now. Kakashi may be the best Naruto release yet if only for accessories. Still think the face options could be improved, but it's a lot better than the dismal amount we got with Sasuke. And they're using a new style of hips on him that is alright. Does allow a good range of movement.
     
    Oh and I couldn't pass on the sale last week on the Dimensions Fun Packs. So of course I got the Doctor Who one. Love the Cyberman minifig and honestly think it's pretty cool to have a couple different builds of a Dalek now. Still no plans to get the game, but in terms of toys-to-life they're pretty great in the toy department. Which makes sense. Since they're LEGO.
     
    ~|ET|~
  10. Ektris
    Going to try and cover the games as I play them this year. No clue how long that will last haha.
     
    But first up in 2016 is The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, the first game I played this year and the first one I beat. I've now played four games in The Legend of Zelda! While the previous three were all very different, this one did feel like more of the same. Which it obviously should have, being a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time. That's not a bad thing in the least, though. In fact it made getting into the game very easy, since there wasn't a whole lot unfamiliar. Except, of course, the masks.
     
    Those were an interesting mechanic. A few were just a pain to acquire - I did do a 100% run - while some were just plain useless. Besides the transformations, I used the Bunny Hood and Blast Mask the most. The Bunny Hood was just great. Loved being able to move faster once I acquired it. The transformations were really fun to use too. Now that was an exciting change. Rolling around as a Goron was a blast. I like that each didn't feel totally useless after you completed their corresponding jungles. It all just depended on how you wanted to play and where you wanted to explore, which was cool.
     
    Unfortunately, I do have to admit that I absolutely required a guide. I don't think I could have completed the game 100% without one. Certainly beat it in time (which reminds me I should go try and beat Majora without using Fierce Deity because that was too easy), but not fully. I don't know how much easier the remake was compared to the original; there were parts, notably boss battles, where I felt it might have been too simple. But I'm not sure. I got through the swamp and mountain, including getting most things in those areas, on my own. But before I went to the ocean I decided to go back and get the dungeon faeries and it was just all downhill from there... Used a guide probably too much. I tried to do the puzzles on my own, but was still constantly referencing for hidden items. Plus all those side quests for masks... Like Anju and Kafei ugh...
     
    I still liked the game. The time crunch was very annoying at times, but I know it's part of what made the game different and don't hate it. After learning the inverted song of time it was hardly an issue anyway. I just can't help but feel a little guilty about how I ended up playing it.
     
    Totally another solid game in the series and has me looking forward to more. I'll be playing Twilight Princess next, but who knows what others I might end up checking out this year.
     
    ~|ET|~
  11. Ektris
    Last but absolutely not least, are the three collections I'm probably into most.
     
    Star Wars



    Figuarts were the game changer here. My interest in Hasbro's Black Series line is fizzling, mostly because the figures just seem to keep getting worse from my subjective point of view. But they're still doing things I don't expect Bandai to get to (Rebels figures, Revan) so I probably won't stop. But man, these Figuarts are some of the best action figures I've got. They're great. And unlike Hasbro, Bandai's not afraid to tackle the prequels.
     
    I didn't take any dedicate pictures of my books, because I totally do not want to move the loads of things covering them. But if you've followed along with these, you've seen them plenty in the background. I've still got a lot. But the notable thing is I've now started getting new canon books while still expanding my Legends collection. The latter of which I do still hope to finish one day.
     
    Transformers







    The changes here were big. And by "big" I mean physical. Because it was pretty much all combiners and leader class figures. Plus I spread stuff out a bit and moved my Masterpieces from the mantle, so it still looks pretty packed in there. A lot is coming out this year I'm interested in (Oooh Masterpiece Optimus Primal you are looking beautiful), so not expecting to slow down much here.
     
    BIONICLE











    Wide shots: Left | Middle | Right
     
    With BIONICLE returning last year, you'd think I'd have a lot of changes here right? You'd be right! ...But not quite in the way predicted. I don't know what happened. The skull guys didn't interst me nearly enough to want to pick them all up (Poor Skull Basher heh). Maybe it was the lacking story that couldn't keep me as invested as when the return was announced. It should be well known how into the old lore I was. I just don't know... But I do still want to try and pick the rest up at some point. And start the 2016 line soon, since those creatures do look cool.
     
    The bigger changes are still completely past years. The things I'm happiest to have gotten last year are some 2001 Rahi. Only missing the Manas now. Plus I have all of the Stars now. Oh and duh... Got a WMKK. That's really cool.
     
    ~|ET|~
  12. Ektris
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Knuckle Kurumi Arms
    S.H. Figuarts Battle Droid
    S.H. Figuarts Clone Trooper Phase 1
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Kurokage Mastubokkuri Arms
    Transformers Combiner Wars Shockwave
    Funko Pop! BB-8
    LEGO Ideas Doctor Who
    The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D
    A Song of Ice and Fire: A Feast for Crows
    Star Wars: A New Dawn
    Doctor Who Monopoly
    Doctor Who t-shirt (not pictured)
    Star Wars clock
    Nintendo Amiibo Lucas
    S.H. Figuarts First Order Stormtrooper
    S.H. Figuarts Kylo Ren
    (BB-8 through the clock are from Christmas.)
     
    Figuarts dominated my purchases this month, with Star Wars being very prominent throughout everything really. But let's talk Kamen Rider first. With Knuckle and Kurokage in my hands, I finally have all Gaim Riders!! Yes! There's still Lord Baron to look forward to, but otherwise I'm done and I freaking love looking at them all together.
     
    The Star Wars Figuarts are a mixed bag of mostly good. The one I don't like is the Clone Trooper. While it looks great, it suffers immensely in the articulation department. Hips are as rubbish as the Stormtrooper's (I'm serious when I say they may be the worst I've had from a Figuart) and I just can't seem to get him to hold his gun closer to his body. Thankfully the First Order Stormtrooper absolutely blows them out of the water. The hips in particular are great; they're a brand new design for the entire line and I think are only the second Figuart to use something like it. I haven't had as much time to mess with it, but it's great. Kylo Ren I also only picked up yesterday, but so far I'm liking him. Not much to say there other than he's cool. The real standout - which is odd even to me - is the Battle Droid. Wow. This Battle Droid... is perfect. Anything I want to do, it can, and looks great doing so.
     
    Lucas I ordered from AmiAmi to be sent with my December order as a very last minute thing before it shipped since he randomly came back in stock. At least now I don't have to worry about him next month and can take an Amiibo break for a while until the next two come out. I think I like him more than Ness's Amiibo to be honest. Shockwave was the first Transformer I picked up in a long while and I love the little guy. Just such a good figure. Finally, I really need to find a place to display my Pop! vinyls now with BB-8 joining the party. That was an early Christmas gift from my fiancée and I simply adore it. Plus he's a bobblehead, which is super fun.
     
    Got some new forms of media entertainment for the first time in a while. Was holding off on a few purchases explicitly for the holidays, so I'll probably be getting the rest of those soon now. Anyways, got another A Song of Ice and Fire book that I'll get to eventually. Good news is I'm almost done with other book so I can start reading the one before it soon haha. Also have my second new canon Star Wars book, which I only realized as I started to write this that it's the same size as all of the others........ When Tarkin wasn't and I swear copies of A New Dawn I saw in the bookstore before were the same as it..... So much for that excitement I had over the easily noticeable split between Legends and canon on my shelves haha. Oh, and I got Majora's Mask like I figured. I've only played it a little but wow I can see this one taking me a good long while.
     
    I didn't make a dedicated Christmas haul post this year since I really just didn't feel like it. But the miscellaneous things remaining in my list come from there. The clock I included because it's cool; it came from my sister, as well as the silverware I mentioned elsewhere that she'd be getting me. Sorry, no pictures of that. I also didn't think to take pictures of the Doctor Who Monopoly or t-shirt, and they're still in the process of being shipped to Texas right now. But they, and the Ideas Doctor Who set (also in the mail so haven't built it yet but ohhh how I want to!), came from my fiancée's side of the family. There was definitely a noticeable theme there haha.
     
    So yeah. That's this month and thus 2015 over. I plan to do a collection update once my Christmas packages arrive so I can include those things. A lot has changed since just May.
     
    ~|ET|~
  13. Ektris
    So ends my year in gaming. Episodic titles were really the standouts, with one in particular really standing out among all those even just released this year: Life is Strange.
     
    Life is Strange stars Max, a young girl attending high school in her home town of Arcadia Bay, Oregon, having returned there after several years away, and discovers one day that she has the power to rewind time. It should be obvious already how that will transition into a tale of love, drugs, murder, and rampant photography, right? No? Well, I guess you should play the game then!
     
    Seriously, I do urge you to check this out. So much so that I don't even want to talk much about the plot here because I want you to experience it firsthand (unless anyone would like to, in which case comment away, but please do use spoiler tags). I will say that, from where it started, I never expected it to end the way it did nor go down many of the paths it took. There were significant psychological issues shown here, and I was honestly a little disturbed at times. But it was such a fun ride, one my fiancée and I enjoyed together.
     
    The mechanic that makes Life is Strange different from other point-and-click adventures is the rewind ability. You could use it to choose better dialogue options (maybe you made a mistake and upset somebody you didn't want to, or they let slip something that might have been more useful earlier in a conversation to lead it to where you wanted) or stop simple events from happening by intervening. I feel that it was handled well; Max wasn't an all-powerful Time Lord bending time to her will. In fact, she barely had control over it and you weren't able to use it in some critical moments because of that.
     
    Probably the only thing that I disliked about the game was the ending - and that's not even much of a "dislike." The game just unfortunately fell into the trap of your choices not really mattering. You basically have two endings, and I chose the less destructive of the two. But that didn't mean your adventure went to waste, because you still have your memories of the week and... Well, that's starting to get into spoiler territory, but it just wasn't generally a bad ending to me. I'd totally understand why somebody might disagree though.
     
    What made this game were the characters. There were so many, perfectly capturing, sometimes rather annoyingly, a lot of familiar personality types you could probably easily associate with somebody you know in real life. They weren't caricatures, but certainly diverse and made for some interesting interactions. Plus some were just plain fun people.
     
    Dontnod Entertainment did something really great here. Just in terms of making a game that looks good and functioned well, but also with an episodic game that generally had a good release schedule. Every episode had plenty of content to boot.
     
    Life is Strange may well be my game of the year. This somewhat mundane slice of life simulator turned into a deeper mystery thriller that I loved every step of the way.
     
    ~|ET|~
  14. Ektris
    Before the finale, I wanted to at least list all of the other stuff.
    Halo: The Master Chief CollectionHalo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
    Halo 2
    Halo 3
    Halo 3: ODST
    Halo 4
    Halo 4: Spartan Ops

    [*]Assassin's Creed Rogue
    [*]Assassin's Creed Unity: Dead Kings
    [*]Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag (Xbox One)
    [*]Assassin's Creed Syndicate: Jack the Ripper (Came out right after I wrote the entry on the game..)
    [*]Super Smash Bros. WiiU
    [*]Forza Horizon 2: Fast & Furious (Gotta get dem Achievements yo)
    [*]#IDARB
    [*]Threes!
    [*]Project Spark
    [*]Worms Battlegrounds
    [*]Smite (Xbox One)
    [*]Microsoft Solitaire Collection
    [*]Microsoft Majong (These are here because why not lol.)

    As well as a couple mobile games and of course continued occasional training in Omega Ruby.
     
    Of those, I put a ton of hours into MCC just from sheer content and achievement hunting and Smite. Really, really got back into that after it came to console; became somewhat decent with a few gods too when I was just garbage during the original PC beta. Just wish the friends I played with then would have moved to console with me (a few even have Xbox Ones, but oh well).
     
    One more entry left and it's for a game I simply adored. Stay tuned!
     
    ~|ET|~
  15. Ektris

    The Force Awakens

    By Ektris,

    Star Wars: The Force Awakens was a beautiful movie.
     
    I just got back from it, so I still need to digest a lot. There's so much I want to talk about already, but I want to keep this short by saying it's great, it's a wonderful addition to this franchise, and you need to go see it as soon as you can.
     
    Also I may have cried. Just... twice. Maybe thrice. Definitely during the opening crawl, so that was a great start (heh).
     
    ~|ET|~
  16. Ektris
    This title I may not have started this year (I actually started it when I got my WiiU in July of 2014... and then promptly forgot about it), but I played the bulk of and finished the game during it.
     
    The Wind Waker is only my third time experiencing the Legend of Zelda series. To say it was different from the others I've played would be quite the understatement.
     
    As far as gameplay is concerned, no it wasn't all that unfamiliar. Besides navigation, which honestly became quite laborious. I think it's one of the reasons I stopped playing it for so long; I had just gotten disinterested in sailing around what seemed to be a fairly empty sea. I did get used to it and found some fun in it upon revisiting. Man, that fetch quest at the end where you have to just sail to random places was just not that great though.
     
    What makes Wind Waker stand out is of course its art style. I rather liked it. Definitely different, but not in a bad way. This was a brighter world than the last Zelda title I played, and there was just something about the character designs I found endearing.
     
    Also, Tetra was pretty cool.
     
    I do want to delve into this series more, and this HD remake made that pretty easy. So if you're like me, have a WiiU and haven't played this before, it's totally worth it (even if I did get it for free heh).
     
    ~|ET|~
  17. Ektris
    I must admit that this isn't quite what I had in mind when I joined the chorus requesting that the Assassin's Creed franchise go east. Nonetheless, they did listen, and so I felt compelled to give Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China a try.
     
    I'm not sure that I've played a game quite like this before, and maybe that's why I found it more than a little challenging at times. It has a heavy reliance on stealth and combat is not something you (or at least I) excel at, which means it was quite the turnaround from where the series has been going in the main series. It took me a while to get used to, and by the end I still don't feel as if I was any good at the combat. The necessity to be as stealthy as possible really makes you have to think about your actions before executing them, which I did generally like. I just messed up quite a lot haha.
     
    My problem with the story is... was there one? I feel like we got more characterization and story out of Embers for Shau than here. It was just brief moments of dialogue in-between levels about getting revenge on those who destroyed the Brotherhood in China, which you do... Yay I guess.
     
    Overall this was a neat game, but not one I think I'd recommend for casual fans. It was pretty difficult and just didn't feel important to play at all. I'll still probably be getting the India and Russia variations when they come out though, being the completionist that I am.
     
    Still debating on how much more I want to cover in this series. There doesn't seem to have been much interest in it, which is pretty disappointing. There's really only one more game that I absolutely want to discuss (not just talk in a soapbox..), but there's still a few titles that I finished this year that I could write about.
     
    ~|ET|~
  18. Ektris
    This is it. This is actually the game that I've been wanting to talk about since I played it months ago, so why not just start with it?
     
    Many friends whom I've gamed with before have probably heard of my disinterest for turn-based RPGs. There's no particular reason for it either. I've not even played a whole lot of them (particularly the heavy hitters like Final Fantasy), excluding Pokemon if one wants to count it. I'm just always saying I don't like them. Maybe it's the pacing or the grinding, but whenever I hear of or talk about one there's usually the voice in my head saying I probably wouldn't like it that much. It's generally an irrational disdain, but meh, people like what they like and don't like what they don't like for entertainment. Don't always have to justify it. With that in mind, I don't really remember why I gave Child of Light a look. Easy Achievements and being free at the time most likely.
     
    I sure am glad I did.
     
    I absolutely loved this game! The art style was wonderful, exploring the world was fun but not too difficult, and combat not as much of a bore as I feared.
     
    Let's talk about that last one first. It's all time-based which kept battles generally faster paced. I think that helped. Skill trees took time to iron out (meaning except for Aurora I stuck with the comanions I got later in the game once I got them because I knew what I was doing at that point and might have made mistakes earlier one leaving some weaker), but everyone had a clear role in the party that made strategizing easier. I really, really liked the mechanics Igniculus introduced and used him extensively. You probably have to. The timing and using him did mean you had to constantly be watching all characters and enemies to make sure you succeed, which personally helped in keeping me interested.
     
    The story is not anything earthshatteringly deep or complex. It's simple, but that doesn't hurt the game. I'd say it benefits from it, by making it easy to get attached to and root for the members of your party as they struggle against the clearly evil hold your stepmother has over the world. There were definitely some touching moments thrown in there with Aurora's family, and conversely Norah's betrayel definitely stung. I hadn't been expecting that at all, so really felt the hurt.
     
    The art is probably what won me over most in Child of Light. The entier game genuinely felt like I was reading an older classic fairy tale. I think it's great. There's a definite whimisical flair to everything, with enough twist to the darkness to make a clear divide from the light. It made me feel nostalgic for those old stories, so kudos there Ubisoft.
     
    Child of Light is a short, inexpensive, and incredibly fun game. I liked it a lot more than expected going into it. Of all the games I played this year, even amongst the AAA titles, it really stands out as one of my favorites.
     
    ~|ET|~
  19. Ektris
    Nintendo Amiibo Mii Gunner
    Nintendo Amiibo Mii Brawler
    Nintendo Amiibo Mii Swordfighter
    Nintendo Amiibo Mewtwo
    Nintendo Amiibo Falco
    Nendoroid N (with Reshiram)
    One year later and the Smash Amiibo roster is complete! ...Before post-release announced DLC. Very satisfied to have them all together, even if the journey is not quite done yet. The Miis are admittedly the weakest of the entire line in my opinion, but that's not really unexpected since there's not much to them. The imposing pose for Mewtwo and detail on Falco are both top notch though.
     
    N and Reshiram came in as a surprise release this month (10 days before the Japanese release even). N's cool. Love his character, so I had to get him. That Reshiram really steals the show just like Garchomp before it. It was a bit of a pain to put together because the pegs on the legs are actually bigger than the holes in the body. But he looks so great.
     
    ~|ET|~
  20. Ektris
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Agito Ground Form (Shinkocchou Seihou Version)
    S.H. Figuarts Iron Man Mark 45
    S.H. Figuarts Luke Skywalker (Episode VI)
    Figma Lucina
    BIONICLE Protector of Fire
    BIONICLE Skull Basher
    Star Wars: Tarkin
    Star Wars: Honor Among Thieves
    Star Wars: Razor's Edge
    Nintendo Amiibo Bowser Jr.
    Nintendo Amiibo Zero Suit Samus
    Nintendo Amiibo Ganondorf
    Nintendo Amiibo Olimar
    Nintendo Amiibo Dr. Mario
    LEGO Ideas The Big Bang Theory
    Nintendo Amiibo Duck Hunt
    Nintendo Amiibo Mr. Game & Watch
    Nintendo Amiibo R.O.B. (NES)
    S.H. Figuarts Thor
    S.H. Figuarts Darth Maul
    Tried something new with the big group shot this month. Think it came out a lot better.
     
    The last big Smash Amiibo drop has come and gone. (And the last big one I'll likely be into at all assuming they don't do non-card Pokémon... Nintendo, please don't do non-card Pokémon!) A bit of a frustrating one since I was worried about missing so many pre-orders, but I got everything in the end without much fuss. And the only one I didn't get at MSRP was Bowser Jr. because I didn't feel like trying to go to Toys R Us first thing in the morning. Overall I think this was a really solid wave. Cool stuff like R.O.B. and beautifully detailed ones like Ganondorf made it great.
     
    Force Friday was a big highlight this month for many, but for me it was a rather mellow day. I was all set and ready to go out hunting for new Black Series figures and hoping I found something without participating in the initial morning rush, but then the day before Bandai revealed they were doing a Figuart of Kylo Ren available for pre-order that very night, so I no longer wanted anything form Hasbro haha. I did go and get some books just to see displays, but that was about it. I'm still fleshing out my Legends content, now with the last written books for it, but have also ventured into new canon. I kind of like that they paperbacks aren't in trade paperback size. It helps distinguish the divide on the shelf heh. Don't know when I'll get around to reading any of these though, I've been so bad at reading...
     
    Luke and Iron Man are two amazing Figuarts. I'm so glad I never bothered with the Hasbro Episode VI Luke because this one is perfect. Maul and Thor I only just opened moments before taking this picture, so haven't done anything at all with them, but they don't seem too bad. Except Thor's face, ugh. Lucina's nice to finally have, buuut... I don't know. I like her, but something just feels weird when I'm handling her.
     
    Fiiiinally back on the BIONICLE train. Still holding out hoping that the gold Skull Grinder mask pack makes its way stateside similarly to the transparent orange Mask of Fire, so I have something to order and get it from. But we've not heard a single thing about it, which is disheartening. Anywho, Skull Basher is a really cool set.
     
    Not pictured is the Ideas The Big Bang Theory set, half because it's on my mantle and I didn't feel like taking it down and half because it's technically my fiancée's. I got it for her as a birthday present and we built it during the season premiere, coincidentally the same day (thank goodness because that was a horrible episode, gave me something to get distracted with). I say "we" but it was mostly her. And she had a lot of fun! Which in turn made me really happy to see and be able to share my hobby.
     
    ~|ET|~
  21. Ektris

    RTX Time!

    By Ektris,

    Wow, it's here already! Almost don't even feel ready.. And I'm absolutely exhausted tonight.
     
    Picked up two friends at the airport today and then we went and got our badges. I'm really excited to attend, but at the same time worried about how much I'll enjoy it. And nervous. Never went to anything this big (well... sporting events I guess). It almost seems overwhelming being split between three locations to boot.
     
    But I desperately need this vacation. So I'm staying optimistic it'll be great.
     
    Plus, I got in the autograph session I wanted! (Which... Not a fan of how they did it, but I understand the reasoning.) I'll be seeing Geoff and Ryan on Sunday. Hoping to get my Let's Play Live t-shirt signed by them.
     
    ~|ET|~
  22. Ektris
    Nintendo Amiibo Black Pit
    BIONICLE 7117 Gresh
    BIONICLE 7135 Takanuva
    BIONICLE 7136 Skrall
    Transformers Combiner Wars Blades
    Transformers Combiner Wars First Aid
    Transformers Combiner Wars Rook
    Transformers Combiner Wars Streetwise
    BIONICLE SDCC Transparent Neon Green Skull Scorpio Mask
    Nintendo Amiibo Palutena
    S.H. Figuarts Yoshi
    S.H. Figuarts Captain America
    S.H. Figuarts Hulk
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Marika Peach Energy Arms
    Yayyy, I finished the Stars! ...In spite of how not great they are! But I don't have to worry about them anymore, so maybe will move on to finishing 2015 now. Especially with the second wave releasing and having acquired that SDCC mask. Which is very pretty and I'm not pleased with how much I spent for it. Which I can't say for...
     
    Ugh, Amiibo. I jumped the gun when it was announced that Dark Pit would be a Best Buy exclusive and bought a Japanese Black Pit that day. Unfortunately I did so after the prices had risen a little bit, thinking they probably wouldn't drop back. I was wrong. So I do definitely really regret what I spent. On the brighter side, I got a Palutena from Amazon despite her exclusivity! She was pretty easy to get even though I didn't think she would be at all. So not bad there. And she looks great.
     
    I also finished Defensor. Since two of these are just remolds and one just a repaint, they Protectobot limbs aren't that exciting.. Except Rook. Rook is all sorts of awesome. Even if he gets swapped out for a Groove should Hasbro release him, I won't be mad I have him.
     
    Then there's the Figuarts. Oh Bandai and Bluefin... Yoshi's domestic release finally, finally happened. And Bluefin, in my opinion, really did something I don't like with it. A lot of the Japanese retailers gave out a 1-Up Mushroom and effect parts with Yoshi. Bluefin decided to give those away at SDCC instead. Maybe they didn't have enough so they thought it was the best way to handle it, but I do wish I had gotten one or that they would have at least communicated to us that we wouldn't. Because two months of silence on Yoshi until he magically shipped was more than enough time for the info of the mushroom's existence to spread and thus expect to receive one as well. :/ Anywho... Next wave of Marvel stuff hit as well. Cap impressed me a lot solely just for being able to put his shield on his back, unlike the Figma. Love his look. And Hulk is magnificent! He's so hefty and wonderfully poseable. Finally Marika is the next step in finishing Gaim. Finally Gaim's only female Rider is here, with some much needed color diversity.
     
    ~|ET|~
  23. Ektris
    Transformers Combiner Wars Hot Spot
    Nintendo Amiibo Jigglypuff
    Nintendo Amiibo Ness
    Nintendo Amiibo Greninja
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Raia
    S.H. Figuarts Mashin Chaser (w/first run bonus Midnight Shadow tire)
    Transformers Combiner Wars Groove
    Transformers Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus
    S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Kamen Rider Kuuga
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Ryugen Yomi Yomotsuheguri Arms
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Mach (w/first run bonus Funky Spike tire)
    Figma Solid Snake MGS2 ver.
    Meh. I don't really feel like talking much. And last month I had wanted to rant so much about the Drive SHFs and their first run bonuses... I even got two in this month when I only expected one to reinforce the point! So let's get started anyways. But basically, all accessories that Drive could have are coming as first run bonuses or packaged in with other figures and he got none himself. Even the bikes have the effect parts to go with the tires I got this month. So to complete the Midnight Shadow look, I also need to get Mashin Chaser's bike. Same with Funky Spike and Mach. It's annoying and I really, really don't like that Bandai did it that way (especially if you didn't get preorders, because now you have to rely on secondhand sellers and there is no guarantee whatsoever you'll get these accessories with them), but not much you can really do so meh...
     
    Raia's nice. First Ryuki Figuart because Amazon had a random sale on some for around $7. It was cool. Snake's also nice. Not sure why I got him besides "he was in Smash once!"... Actually, no, that's it. So I don't really have any attachment to him. He at least looks pretty great. Same with Kuuga, but I at least started his show and like the alternate one in Decade heh. Ryugen brings me one step closer to finishing the Gaim cast (and I have three more preordered and one older release I still really want... plus want them to release Lord Baron). Despite not caring for its use in the show, the Yomi suit is pretty cool with its tattered loincloth and the Overlord weapons it comes with are awesome.
     
    Oh yeah, stragglers from Smash Amiibo wave 4 came in. Actually forgot about them really before I went back through the list haha.
     
    Hot Spot is one great Voyager, even ignoring that it's part of a combiner. Just a great figure. Not actually that mad I'll be getting the mold again as Onslaught because it's just really good. Groove I got because I don't expect to get the Deluxe Groove TakaraTomy made released stateside by Hasbro, but even if it does I like what it adds to Defensor's chest so will probably use two of him. And Ultra Magnus... Oh Ultra Magnus. I really want to love you, but you can't hold your weapons at all, as a hammer or split as guns. It's very annoying. Yet you look fantastic in both modes and you come with a Minimus Ambus! So I'll say even just the latter far outweighs any cons and yeah I totally love ya.
     
    Still no BIONICLE... just been lazy getting the '15 sets. I was so excited for the Toa and got the Protectors I really wanted and haven't gotten any more for no reason. Skull sets might fix that desire maybe? I had also been working on a deal to get the rest of the Stars, but that stalled for now.
     
    ~|ET|~
  24. Ektris
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Drive Type Speed w/first run bonus Max Flare tire
    S.H. Figuarts Iron Man Mark 43
    S.H. Figuarts Stormtrooper
    S.H. Figuarts Darth Vader w/first run bonus Episode VI display stand
    Star Wars Black Series Bossk
    Nintendo Amiibo Captain Falcon
    Nintendo Amiibo Villager
    Transformers Combiner Wars Brake-neck
    Transformers Combiner Wars Quickslinger
    Nintendo Amiibo Pit
    Nintendo Amiibo Charizard
    Nintendo Amiibo Wario
    Nintendo Amiibo Pac-Man
    Nintendo Amiibo Robin
    Nintendo Amiibo Lucina
    S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Gridon Donguri Arms
    Tamashii items that were late last month arrived literally the first day of this month haha. And they were all I got until literally the last day, when a Gridon from Mandarake showed up this afternoon. Which I'm glad to finally have. Just need to get lucky with a Kurokage at a decent price and I'll be caught up with what I want from Gaim, with still plenty more releasing in the future though. But Drive's already started showing up too, and he's... okay. Incredibly barebones package because literally anything he could have as an accessory is being thrown in with other stuff, but we'll save that rant for next month when it becomes relevant to who'll be showing up then. Also, finally have an Iron Man armor SHF. I really should've gotten in on these sooner because it looks so great. Just wish stands came standard with all of them, because there's so much I'd like to do that requires one.
     
    Bossk is one of few recent Black Series releases I've actually wanted and he's a pretty fun addition. Just had too much fun playing with him talking thanks to his moveable jaw lol. The SHF Stormtrooper is precisely what I expected and in my opinion is better than the Black Series offering, which I have some comparison pics of I should have posted here too. Oops. He presents something interesting for SHFs, alongside Drive, with redesigned boxes. They're making smaller ones for figures that have few accessories and I really, really appreciate that space-wise. Finally, the big man himself - Darth Vader. This figure is phenomenal. There isn't a single thing I don't like about him. So glad I held out for him instead of springing for the BS one. He's just perfect.
     
    The real big guy is that stand he's on, though. Dear lord that stand. Pictures did not convey how big it would be, nor how simply ginormous the box would be for it. Too bad I don't have anywhere to display it..
     
    Congratulations, Hasbro! You found a way to make me buy repaints! >_< Combiners, ugh... I still like Alpha Bravo and Offroad, but it just felt so good completing the "proper" teams I couldn't resist.
     
    Made a huge dent in Amiibo this month. So huge, in fact, that I've completed waves 1 through 4 of Smash Amiibo! Only 5/8 of wave 4 made it in before today, but the three exclusives are on their way (Greninja from overseas though so he'll be taking a while). All of them are pretty darn good looking. I'm especially glad to finally have a Villager because I do enjoy playing him in Smash; shame there's noticeable missing paint on his bangs.
     
    ~|ET|~
  25. Ektris
    Transformers Combiner Wars Air Raid
    Transformers Combiner Wars Breakdown
    Transformers Combiner Wars Dead End
    Transformers Combiner Wars Offroad
    Star Wars Black Series Chewbacca
    8549 Tarakava
    8584 Hewkii
    8548 Nui-Jaga
    Black Akaku
    Black Hau
    Blue Akaku
    Brown Miru
    Brown Pakari
    Green Kakama
    Green Pakari
    Red Akaku
    White Hau
    Blue Krana Vu
    Orange Krana Vu
    Orange Krana Yo
    S.H. Figuarts Alphamon
    The last of my HTS preorders came in, so I'm done with Transformers for a little bit. Is what I would say if wave 3 weren't already popping up somehow. I don't expect them to hit the US for at least another month though, so no big deal there. But hey, I have completed Superion and Menasor! Those two are awesome. Hasbro has seriously hit it out of the park strong with Combiner Wars. Maybe I'll take some pictures of them separately.
     
    RAHI! MASKS! What is this, 2001?! Oh man, building the Rahi was an absolute blast! This wasn't my first experience with the Nui-Jaga; I had a friend with them as a kid. But it was with the Tarakava. I also took the time to build the Kahu and Tarakava-Nui just for fun. The strangeness of the latter truly cannot be appreciated until you make it yourself. The Tarakava themselves are just weird lol. It was just fun. To top it off, Hewkii completes 2003, and I added a load of masks to the collection. One day...
     
    In our random bits category, Alphamon has arrived finally, plus I got my hands on a Chewbacca from HTS at long, long last. Chewbacca's a solid release for the Black Series. So much of the latest waves have just not interested me, so I've come to realize I'm not actually too upset that stores have legitimately just stopped putting out new stock of them. But Chewie I needed, for sure. And Alphamon is a real beauty. I'd probably still rate Imperialdramon above him, but in terms of the Digimon releases he is easily one of the best.
     
    Missing is this month's AmiAmi order (complete with awesome SHF Star Wars!) due to shenanigans. While the order was originally meant to include two Figmas, those got delayed until June. And I'm actually quite thankful for that because the order was incredibly expensive with them. As it is, it still was, because the first run bonus with Vader is huge and brought shipping up to around $35-$40... You'll see. But that's still in transit because AmiAmi didn't update anyone's orders like usual and I had to reach out to them to ask for it to be done, because the delayed items held up the rest from shipping even though they were in stock. Still took them more time to ship out then it should have even after they fixed my orders.. So they're in transit now, but should have arrived already if not for the aforementioned shenanigans and unintentional delays in shipping.
     
    ~|ET|~
×
×
  • Create New...