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T-Hybrid

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Blog Entries posted by T-Hybrid

  1. T-Hybrid

    Feedback Friday

    By T-Hybrid,

    Okay, maybe I skitted the line of good taste with that last entry...but I assure you it was all in the name of honest fun. I have a few more Draft choices to present, and with Brawl now being delayed till February I'll have to consider a few more potential candidates.
     
    But that's not what today's entry is about. Today is all about you, the reader. I got lax on the entries for a while, but have come back with a few morsels here and there. What do you guys all think? Do I need to give the Haven's bouncer a break for a bit? Or maybe I need to up the quality of the Fantasy Brawl Draft.
     
    I promise I'm working on getting an actual picture up here, as that's been a popular request for quite a few years here at BZP. I didn't realize until only recently that I had gone through four years of college and only managed to be in a few dozen pictures. But that's why I'm taking a break over the next few days to let you guys tell me what I can do to continue making your experience at the Haven a pleasant one.
  2. T-Hybrid

    Feedback Welcomed!

    By T-Hybrid,

    I've always wondered what goes on in the head of a blog viewer, especially when it comes time for ratings. Normally, I'm not one who pays much attention to the ratings of the various blogs. But in the case of the Haven...I can't help but be curious. So that's why I've decided to ask you, the reader, to share with me your thoughts on this little piece of code I call home.
     
    Is it the deco? The mood? Do I need to blog more? What kinds of topics do you find more interesting than others? One thing that should be important to a blogger is that his readers actually care about what he/she is writing. So today's entry will be short and sweet.
     
    What do you guys think?
  3. T-Hybrid

    Feel The Burn

    By T-Hybrid,

    I didn't resolve to do anything this year, but a coworker has convinced me to start going to the local community center after work. I'm not fat, and I don't get winded on stairs...but as you can probably guess I live a pretty stationary lifestyle. I've tried in the past to do some working out, but it's never stuck.
     
    The idea behind having at least two people is they'll each keep the other motivated, and since I know nothing about what makes a good workout, he's able to give me tips and make sure I'm doing the exercises right. The downside....OW! Since I'm just starting out, my muscles aren't used to the weights. I'm not overloading, but wowza. I lifted Friday and my left arm STILL can't straighten out. But I've been told it's nothing to worry about, so I'm not going to.
     
    Hopefully this will turn out well. I've been slimming down since I got off the campus meal plan (buffet style = bad), but I'm still sorta pudgy. I'm not going to hulk out or anything, I just want to get to a consistent healthy tone.
     
    If I start lifting cars over my head, I'll post photos.
  4. T-Hybrid

    Final Fantasy: 5 Or 6?

    By T-Hybrid,

    A month or so ago was the release of Final Fantasy V on the Game Boy Advance, yesterday was the release of Final Fantasy VI. So to put it shortly, I can't make up my mind. I haven't played either, and both come with high recommendations from people I've talked to.
     
    The job system in FFV sounds interesting, as the RPGs I've played thusfar have typically stuck with the traditional style of leveling and skill aquistion. However, FFVI is heralded as one of the best (in an almost dead heat with FFVII depending on who you talk to).
     
    I was planning on going out to buy one of them last night, but found myself so discombobulated by the whole thing that I just froze on the couch admist a swirling number of questions. So I ask you for any advice you can give. There are some philosophizers who say that you've already given up free will when you ask for advice, but at this point I'm really indifferent. I want to play a new Final Fantasy, I just can't decide which one.
  5. T-Hybrid
    In the time I've been writing entries here in the Haven, you've probably noticed that I haven't said much about sports. In the past few years, some have probably come to know me as a pretty dedicated Twins fan. So, with football season right around the corner (as the Vikings don't play until tomorrow), it shouldn't be shocking that my focus is still on the MLB.
     
    And why is that? Well, because in the past few months, the Minnesota Twins have been on fire. And not the bad kind of fire that burns and causes suffering (you know, the Kyle Lohse kind), but the good kind that involves wins and lots of pretty runs.
     
    What seemed impossible back in April and May has now become a surprising possibility. The Twins are in the playoff hunt, and are currently controlling their own destiny at the moment. To paint a more accurate picture of the complete 180 that they pulled, take a look at this graphic:
     

    I figured June 17th would be a good date to use as a starting point, since it was also the first day I started blogging. On the right is the standings as of the end of today's games. The Twins have surged to within striking distance of the Divison Title, and are currently in the driver's seat of the Wild Card. I don't know what to expect in the next few weeks. Detroit and Chicago still have four games left against each other, while the Twins play Chicago in the final three games of the year. This adds up to create one heck of a conclusion to what originally was a yawner of a season.
     
    Can Joe Mauer finish the season as the league's leading hitter, or will Derek Jeter's recent streak be enough to put him at the top? Will Johan Santana claim his second Cy Young award? Who is going to be the league MVP...Jermaine Dye, Justin Morneau?
     
    There are a ton of stories building up, and though I may not like how things wind up in October...I'm still going to thank the team for putting on a show in the closing months of what started as a fiasco.
     
    Go Twins!
  6. T-Hybrid
    Bringing to a close the events of this week, I went out to Best Buy and picked up a copy of Final Fantasy VI on the GBA. I had recieved some coupons in the mail, and when I stopped in they only had VI (and only one copy). Having heard it was hard to find either game, I decided it'd be a good idea to get it while it was there. I get paid next week, which will help take some of the sting of the alternator costs. Until then, I can bury myself in the adventures of Terra et. al.
     
    Thanks for the advice, especially from Omi...who's probably the best resource for FF knowledge I know.
  7. T-Hybrid

    Full Throttle

    By T-Hybrid,

    I went to a Twins game, and on the way out they were handing out free cans of Full Throttle. It's an energy drink I guess. So tonight, having run short on pop I grabbed it out of the fridge.
     
    I'm drinking it right now, and I can tell from the taste that it's pure sugar plus some caffine. Mostly because I'm vibrating in my chair at the moment. Excuse me for a second, I'm about to phase through my keyboard...
     
     
    ...
     
     
    Okay, it was probably a bad idea to drink one of these at this hour. I have a feeling by midnight I'm going to be reduced to a heap on the couch. It's tasty, but I dunno if these things are for me.
  8. T-Hybrid

    Fun With Plastic Money

    By T-Hybrid,

    For my birthday, I got a Best Buy gift card (of indeterminate value). I also recieved one for about $40 when I returned a game (I had opened it, and the only way they'd give me a refund was as store credit, I accepted). Then I got one for $20 from a friend as a thank you for watching their cats while they on a trip. So the other day I picked up Mario Galaxy from Toys R Us. Part of the deal is that I got a $25 gift card. So now I'm sitting on about $80 worth of gift cards. And that's without the one that I got that I'm not sure how much it is.
     
    This Saturday I'm taking my car in to have a remote starter installed. I live in Minnesota, and it can get cold. Considering the cost per month of a stall here, it's a better value for me to put the starter in. It'll be useful when I'm getting out of work in the evening, as well as when exiting restaurants, malls, and any other place where there could sometimes be a bit of a walk.
     
    I'm going to use the BB cards to pay off the cost of installation (I was supposed to use the first one towards the initial part, but I forgot it at home when I picked it up), and then the rest is fun money. The only hitch with all of it is that the TRU card is only valid until the end of the year. So I have to take a gamble that something I'm getting now isn't coming as a gift. Or I wait till after Christmas and track down something worth getting in 5 days.
     
    Thankfully I usually keep a handful of items off my list for just these types of situations. I have a number of movies, games, and other random items that I can pick up without throwing my gift list all outta whack. It's rough having a birthday and Christmas so close together, my sister has it worse though. Just under two weeks between her birthday and Christmas. Though she sometimes gets *big* gifts that count as both. Last year it was an iPod... So I guess it evens out.
  9. T-Hybrid

    Gaming Under Fire

    By T-Hybrid,

    Unless you've been under a rock the last few days, you know the story of the week...and probably the year right now. I'm not going into details because of the nature of this forum, but needless to say it's a tragedy the likes of which you don't want to see ever happen.
     
    But almost as tragic as the event itself was the kneejerk reaction of the media as a whole. Rather than report on the events with the facts provided, they decided to start playing the blame game. Was it the school's fault? Did local authorities mess up? Or, as is the case with any tragedy of this nature, were video games to blame?
     
    It seems these days that blaming the entertainment industry has become the popular means of sluffing blame off of any except the person who committed the atrocity themselves. It doesn't matter how many people in the world are able to play games, watch movies or TV shows, or listen to music without flying off the handle and doing something terrible...if one "kid" does something, it immediately becomes the target of fingerpointing.
     
    I surf around the 'Net, and one of the gaming blogs I frequent (don't know if I can name it here since it has discussion boards of sort) posted what I thought was a very interesting letter of sorts for gamers to present to their friends and family following this tragedy. Because I'm unsure if I can link to it, I will instead repost it here. If you wish to know where it came from, you may contact me via PM. Or if a Blog Leader gives me the okay I'll add it to this post.
     

    I'd like to have been able to come up with something as eloquent as this myself, but I saw this prior to writing my entry today. And I decided that after seeing this, anything I would've written would've only been built off of these statements anyway. So during this time of recovery, while we search for answers, remember that it's important to know the facts before reaching out to place blame.
     
    And remember that regardless of who committs a crime, it doesn't mean that all people of a certain type are suddenly just as capable. That kind of distrust and suspicion will never lead to anything but paranoia.
  10. T-Hybrid

    Go Twins!

    By T-Hybrid,

    The Minnesota Twins are playing pretty well, and tomorrow I make my first trip to their new home at Target Field. It's been raining off and on all week...so hopefully it holds out. I'm even debuting my new Justin Morneau jersey when I go there. If things work out, I should have some pictures!
  12. T-Hybrid

    Gone Campin'

    By T-Hybrid,

    Well, not yet anyway. I've got feelers out as to what's going on the Saturday before the Wii comes out (Nov. 18th). Fates almost conspired, giving me a job interview on the 17th. But since I'm not interested in the PS3, it won't be a problem.
     
    Gamestop will supposedly be offering a bundle soon that includes a Wii, extra controller, six games and a bunch of stuff I don't want all for "under $699." Go ahead and grab this one up, I'm really not interested in spending that much quite yet.
     
    My best bet now is to pitch a tent outside one of the local department stores and hope for the best. If what I've been hearing is accurate, most stores are getting between 8-10 systems on launch day. So I'll have to scout whichever line is the shortest and take my chances with it. All I can say is thank the stars its a weekend launch, otherwise I'd be missing a bit of work/school to do this.
     
    But hey, it's a new thing for me...gotta try everything once right?
  13. T-Hybrid
    "But T," you'll say. "There was never a Volume 1!" And yes, that's very true. But I figured there's been so many instances of stupid advertising that I've left the first volume on the shelf, in honor of all those campaigns that have come before.
     
    Today's topic comes hot on the heels of breaking news today. Boston officials were put on edge this afternoon when a number of small "devices" were found around the city. Working carefully, it was discovered that these devices were not active, and quite benign in nature.
     
    It was later discovered, much to my personal chagrin that they were intentionally left there by employees of a certain broadcast company advertising a latenight program. More shockingly, there were similar devices left in cities such as New York and Atlanta. And according to reports, they had been there for a number of days prior to their discovery.
     
    Why am I displeased? It's because I cannot stand viral marketing. Though they have apologized and claimed to not have any harmful intent with the use of these devices, I have a gut feeling that they knew just what they were doing when they laid out this campaign. What better way these days to get a moment in the spotlight than to dig up a controversy. Considering the nature of the 24-hour news monster, it's not surprising how easily one can accomplish such a feat.
     
    I hope that those involved get more than a slap on the wrist for this. Considering that there are usually some serious consequences for causing a commotion such as this. I didn't watch the show much before this. Odds are I probably won't go back at all now.
  14. T-Hybrid

    Hail To The King

    By T-Hybrid,

    Diddy Kong annoucned for Brawl, bringing the total to 8 new characters (Snake and Metaknight were both confirmed in the original trailer). To put things in perspetivce, Melee added 14 new characters to the roster going from the 64 to the Cube. But of those, only three were officially annouced prior to release (Bowser, Zelda, and Ice Climbers).
     
    Now, Nintendo's not going to reveal everything before the game comes out. Which means there are going to be more new characters hidden in the game. So that's where the fun begins. I've got a strong hunch about a few characters, and a few I threw in to have fun with it. So while Nintendo's revealing their characters, I'm going to try my hand.
     


    K. Rool
    Franchise: Donkey Kong
    First Appearance: Donkey Kong Country as "King K. Rool" (SNES)
    Why?: Melee introduced Bowser, Ganondorf, and Mewtwo. These were the first "villians" to enter the world of Super Smash Bros, and have now been joined by Metaknight. This gives even Kirby a rival of sorts to go with Mario, Link, and Pikachu. With the addition of Diddy Kong, it's become clear that Rare isn't exactly holding back from letting Nintendo use characters from the DKC series. When you look back at Donkey Kong's long gaming career, the only real villian that stands out is K. Rool. He's been a king, a pirate, and a doctor. He even dabbled in boxing long enough to get a light dropped on him by a jetpack wearing chimp. If Nintendo truly wants to add a deeper single player experience, it's important to give DK a villian he can confront on his way to the end.
    Appearance: Here's where it gets interesting. K. Rool has had three very different appearances over the DKC series. In order to best represent this, I would dress him in his pirate's jacket and crown. On his back would be the helicopter pack. Sure, it wouldn't look much like any one appearance, but it'd pay homage to his many jobs through the years. I'd even debate giving him boxing gloves, the joke being that K. Rool didn't quite know how to prepare, so he brought it all.
    Moveset: I lied, this is more interesting. His Up+B special would of course involve his copter, which would propell him upward and damage enemies from below. His blunderbuss would be involved as well, most likely as a standard B attack. I don't know how to get the crown toss from DKC involved, but I'm sure the designers could come up with something clever. If you include the boxing gloves, the gun could be shifted to Toward+B (similar to Samus' missles) while B would trigger a windup punch. If you consider the final boss of DK64 was set up like a boxing match, this would be a perfect parallel.
    Final Smash: This was the easiest one to think up. He'd of course have to call out KAOS for one last go. With lasers, rockets, and boxing glove arms KAOS would sweep in and rough up the place while K. Rool sat back and posed (once again referencing DK64's final fight). This posing would also be his taunt.
     
    Well, that's my first go. Don't know if I'll do more. But this is the one I've been wanting since the original Smash Bros. Will it happen? I only hope so. With that said, anybody have any characters they'd like to see?
  15. T-Hybrid
    Or really early, if you go by the Chinese New Year. But since I don't know what that is I can't exactly say I did it on purpose. Any interesting resolutions? I'm going to try and stick with mine from last year, which was to keep working out and trying to get/stay in shape. I was impressed by my ability to lose some weight and put on some muscle in 2008. Hopefully I can keep it up in 2009.
     
    Even though I did go from 5 times a week to only 3...
  16. T-Hybrid
    It's Mother's Day once again. Remember to take today off from your normal routine to go do something she enjoys. Movie, lunch, come up with something.
     
    Me? Well, I'm going to have to make due with a phone call. My mom's up in Colorado, so it'd be a bit of a toughie to do anything else. And hopefully you don't require a specific day to be put away in order to let your moms know how much you appreciate what they've done for you.
  17. T-Hybrid

    Happy New Year!

    By T-Hybrid,

    Welcome one and all to 2011! We hope you enjoy your next 365 days here! With a new year comes new goals, mine this year?
    Get to 190 lbs., 10% body fat within 2-3 months. And keep it off. Complete a half-marathon. Increase awesomeness by 25% That last one is more of a joke, but I still think it's fun to add. Cause the goal ever year is to make it better than the last right? So what do you guys have in store for 2011?
  18. T-Hybrid

    Happy Thanksgiving!

    By T-Hybrid,

    Hopefully you didn't stuff yourself too full of turkey and other goodness today. Enjoy the rest of the evening, and if you're one of those who will brave the holiday shoppers tomorrow, good luck.
     
    I suggest bringing a bat.
  19. T-Hybrid

    Hay....low?

    By T-Hybrid,

    I've been hearing rumbilngs about this Halo game that's supposedly coming out tomorrow. Anybody know anything about it? I mean, you'd think they'd have been talking about this a bit more than they have lately. It just sorta snuck up on us all.
     
    But I guess I'm kinda glad. I mean, it's apparently the 3rd game in the series. So it's good their letting it ride on the reputation of the previous games and not trying to build it up as some revolution in gaming.
     
    Because honestly...what's the point of overhyping a game?
  20. T-Hybrid
    I don't know if anybody else has been following the ads in the paper this week, but things have been getting busy when it comes to DVD releases. I would guess most people were aware that the original Star Wars trilogy was released on DVD today. This is important because it's the original theatrical versions that were out before Lucas decided CGI was more important than story. But that's just the tip of the iceburg.
     
    Also out today, Fullmetal Alchemist: Conqueror of Shamabala. I'm a huge fan of FMA, and have been trying to track down the movie since I heard about it last year. Well, it was finally dubbed and brought over to the US (apparently it was shown in a few theaters too). From what I've been told, it's the true conclusion to the story, which is good...because that story was too exciting to leave hanging.
     
    So you're probably sitting there going, "Wow! That's a lot of DVDs." Here's the best part. That's just the four I bought. Seventy bucks later, and I'm still left with a handful of great DVDs that I just can't afford.
     
    Why? Well, apparently Best Buy got it's shipment of Voltron: Vol 1 early. So that's out there. Yes, Voltron, the giant robot made up of five equally robotic lions. They've finally begun releasing the series on DVD. The next set comes out in November I think.
     
    But oh man...there's even more! Target has several excellent DVD sales this week. This sale includes severe price cuts on American Dad: Season 1, The Producers (2005), 24: Season 1, and Firefly: The Complete Series. Fortunately my dad wanted LOST: Season 2 (which came out last week), so I'm borrowing that. And I've watched all of 24, but season 1 was so great that I think it's something I'd want to watch again.
     
    Combined with the DVDs I've wanted for a while: Mystery Science Theater 3000 (10 volumes), Pinky and the Brain: Vol. 1, and DBZ Movie 12: Fusion Reborn....I'm probably breaking over $700 in DVDs. Though admittedly, most of that is in the MST3K collections.
     
    ...Have I ever mentioned that being poor stinks?
  21. T-Hybrid

    High Alert

    By T-Hybrid,

    T-Hybrid has locked himself away in a secluded location. He has asked his guest writer to take up the reigns for the time being.
     
    As the little note said, T's gone into hiding. The last Harry Potter book's hittin stores in a week and he's doing his best to keep off the internet. Every day I hear more and more about "spoiler" this and "who dies" that. And so here I am standing outside the New Haven making sure the riff raff doesn't get in and ruin everything for him.
     
    I don't know how long he expects me to do this, but he can be stubborn when he's looking forward to something. You should've seen him when somebody ruined the ending to Matrix: Revolutions. He wouldn't shut up about that. "Who the heck puts Matrix spoilers in a Pokemon thread?" he yelled. Still liked the movie, but you could tell he was crushed.
     
    You should see the plan he's got to get in and out of Target the day it comes out. See, the book launches at midnight worldwide. That means the UK's gonna be gettin it a good 5 hours before the States. And he can't find any place that's open at midnight (that's not also holding off until 2am to sell the book). So instead he's got his reservation at Target, and he's going to be wishing to find a way to teleport pretty soon. All I can say is if this gets ruined, I don't think even I'm gonna be able to cool T-Boss off.
     
    So pardon the big guy's rudeness if he doesn't say much over the next few weeks. He's essentially fallen off the Internet for the time being.
  22. T-Hybrid

    House Party!

    By T-Hybrid,

    It was a pleasent surprise to log on Sunday night and find that the Haven had been named Blog of the Week. And because I'm such a super guy, I'm passing the fun right on to you! That's right, for one day only...it's a Hybrid House Party!

    Since they're currently taking a break from being in the storyline, I've managed to get the Nuva to make an appearance. Kopaka pretty much knocked everybody down on his way to the DJ table. Lewa's currently showing off his rendition of the worm, and Pohatu is apparently trying to convince us all that it doesn't take a Mask of Life to bring Disco back from the dead.

    Tahu and Gali.....I haven't seen them around. I think they're off doing the things couples do. Walks in the park, moonlit picnics, you know the usual. Meanwhile, Macku is in the corner worrying about Hewkii, while Onua tries to cheer her up with his best beatboxing. It's quite impressive really.

    I don't know if Takanuva is going to show up. He's been having Ussanui troubles as of late, and you know how it is with vehicles. It sometimes cost more to fix it than it's worth. On the other hand, Makuta is apparently on his way, and I heard he's bringing Tic Tac Throw. Gotta love a party that has Tic Tac Throw.

    The rest of the guests will be arriving throughout the night, so make sure you stop by and say hey. I'll be tending the bar tonight, with all the pixie sticks and other niceties you've come to expect from my parties. If the Manas out front gives you any trouble, just drop my name...they'll step aside.
  23. T-Hybrid
    Olda, Nuva, Metru, Hordika, Hagah...
     
    Since 2001, we Bionicle fans have been introduced to five generations of heroes. Each with their own quirks, designs, and stories. And now, in 2006, we're introduced to the future of Bionicle: The Inika.
     
    But with so many heroes, and so many designs, just where do the Inika fit into the grand history of the toyline? Well, many who have recieved their Inika over the past few weeks have taken to ranking, and though I usually don't like actually trying to rank my favorites of various things (just look over my posts in any "Top #" discussion to see what I'm talking about), I felt it would be a great blogging exercise to actually try and do a Countdown.
     
    So, without further ado, I present:
     
    Torhu's Toa Countdown
     
    #6: The Nuva
    If the Nuva had been introduced during the 2006 storyline, it's quite possible they'd have been built just like the Inika we have today. Instead, we saw the classic Olda sets transformed into these armored heros. But why would I rank the Nuva at the bottom, below even the designs they replaced? Because looking back, it was the Nuva that began the trend of reducing the unique elements between canister figures. The Nuva each had the same armor, and essentially identical designs. Yes, we had to suffer through the Bohrok, but it takes a second go to actually begin a trend. And that's why I put the Nuva at the bottom of the Toa hierarchy.
     
    #5: The Metru
    Holy cow, what a difference time makes! I remember seeing pictures of these and thinking LEGO had done it. They had brought Bionicle into the era of action figures. With articulation at every major joint (except the waist, but I'm not complaining), the Metru were able to stand in every pose I could think up. And with a variety of weapons (including a clever Kanoka launcher/jetpack), the characters promised a new direction in the storyline. However, they were about as identical as two sets could be. Take off the Kanohi and the weapons...and which Toa are you looking at? I had no idea, and it quickly turned me off of the sets.
     
    #4: The Hordika
    Okay, I have a feeling this one is going to draw some questions. When looking at people's rankings, I usually see the Hordika ranked dead last. I don't see them that way. The Hordika were an interesting experiement from the designers of LEGO. The first (and so far only) Toa to not wear Kanohi, the Hordika also incorporated the gear gimmick into the arm. Combined with the Rhotuka launcher, these were also the first Toa to boast two action features. However, the Hordika once again suffered from the lack of individuality that plauged both the Metru and Nuva. On top of that, the concept of being part-Animal was lost in the details. The Hordika had very mechanical looking feet, and their faces (though unusual) didn't draw any particular animals to mind. But I liked the action features enough to look past the similarities, and the posebility was on par with the Metru. This to me puts them above their predecessors. Well, except for one group.
     
    #3: The Olda
    With my comments regarding the Metru and Nuva, you must be curious why I'd rank the Olda over either of them. Let alone both... I'll admit when I started writing this, I had the Olda ranked dead last, with the Nuva up in this posistion. But as I wrote my explanations, I came to realize something about the Olda. As it stands, the original Toa were basic figures. Featuring no elbow, knee, or neck articulation, the Olda were more showy then functional. However, the upside of these sets were their indivduality. From Tahu's chest ball and Gali's little blue chest bump to Pohatu's upside-down torso. Every Toa had something unique about their design that helped them stand out when together on a shelf. This made the character's (and figures) memorable. And it's why I place them near the top, above even their evolved form.
     
    #2: The Inika
    This one took a lot of deliberation in my head before I was able to make an honest choice. I've already written a review of the sets, so hopefully that will help you get a feel for what I think of them on the whole. The Inika are a step back towards individuality that I hope to see continued as the generations of Toa continue to come forth from the LEGO creative team. Each Inika has the same 13 points of articulation that the Metru featured, while also going back to adding unique elements between sets. Nuparu's shoudler-mounted Zamor launcher and Hewkii's chain are the most prevalent. However, the Inika feature two different types of chest armor and two different foot designs. It's a small difference, but each Toa makes use of these pieces to bring their own style to the set. This was something that hadn't been seen in any of the regular Toa releases. It was, however, seen in a pair of very special Toa.
     
    #1: The Hagah
    Bionicle fans in the US were lucky to get their hands on both of these sets, and it's a shame that the full squad wasn't released. I have heard rumblings about the original intent for these two sets (Norik's resemblance to a certain Turaga of questionable allegiance should be mention enough of this) that explain why this was not the case, but I can't help but feel slighted. The Hagah had it all, poseability, playability, and personality. Using slightly modified Metru designs, the Hagah were also given the Rhotuka shield, which allowed the focus of the set to remain on the figure itself. Meanwhile, the two Toa were given distinct design differences. Iruini wore Metru shoulder pads and a Bohrok claw, while Norik sported a silver Dume chest plate and Nuva shoulder armor. With the clever use of previous sets to fill out the armor, I'm left wondering what LEGO designers could've done if given an opportunity to build the full team. It's this perfect blend of form and function that should earn the Hagah a special place in the collection of any Bionicle fan. And it's why they take home the #1 spot, only in my opinion of course.
     
    Though our opinions may differ when it comes to exact rankings, I'm sure one thing can be agreed upon. In the last few years, LEGO has taken big steps in the design of the Toa. With the release of the Inika behind us, and the initial feedback coming through...it's clear that they've struck gold with these new heroes. I can only look at the current generation of Toa and wonder what LEGO has in store for the future years. And I truthfully have no idea what to expect.
  24. T-Hybrid

    Husky'll Like This One

    By T-Hybrid,

    Boy, it's been a long time since Nintendo annouced any new characters for Brawl. Heck, I haven't done so in almost a month. But I haven't forgotten. As I said earlier, HH may appreciate this one!
     


    Midna
    Franchise: The Legend of Zelda
    First Appearance: Twilight Princess (NGC/Wii)
    Why?: In her one appearance in the Zelda universe, Midna has already established herself as a strong supporting character. She had more personality than Navi and Tatl combined, and did more than the shout "Hey!" and "Listen!" until gamers wanted to gouge out their ears. Standing her ground against enormous odds, she showed no fear, and served a key role in Link's fight to save Hyrule. Midna has an electric personality, and is a welcome change from the traditional Princess roles that Peach and Zelda typically fill.
    Appearance: There are a few looks Midna could take on. I personally prefer her more widely known one. I'd even go so far as to seperate her from Wolf Link so that she could shine as her own character (you know Nintendo would label it "Wolf Link! (w/ Midna)"). There'd be an alternate appearance, but I don't know if I should go into that one. It could be quite spoilerific.
    Moveset: Midna would move by floating, simliar to Mewtwo. Her attacks would be energy based, including the ability to throw a charged ball of twlight energy. She'd also be able ot use the hand on her head to grab and throw her enemies, or to latch onto nearby platforms. I'd also find it fun to be able to summon various objects from inside her head to throw at enemies. He recovery move would see her breaking up into particles similar to how twilight beings teleport, and then reconstitute nearby. In a way, it'd be like a cross of Mewtwo and Zelda.
    Final Smash: I like the idea of Midna using the Fused Shadows to turn into the massive beast that ends up becoming a key turning point in Links endevors. I would probably make it controllable by the player, giving them the ability to stampede throughout the level hurling energy bolts. (Think of it like Giga Bowser in that respect).
     
    This is a shorter entry, as I can't go into more about Midna without ruining some aspects of the game. But as I said, it'd be a pretty cool blend of Mewtwo and Zelda. I wouldn't mind also seeing Wolf Link, but again...it'd be cooler for Midna to strike out on her own.
  25. T-Hybrid
    I wasn't a big fan of the new fighting system introduced in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. Though I've been a fan of the fighting genre, it's usually been as a button masher. That is with the exception of Bloody Roar, where my skills with Xion are significantly honed (especially in the 4th installment, where Career Mode can be abused to make him significantly broken).
     
    However, when my roommate brought home MK: Armaggedon, the idea of a custom character feature was highly intriquing. The downside of this though was that most of the fun stuff (the more unique clothing and moves) were all "locked" and could only be made available by spending Koins earned in the main game. Desperate to actually dig deep into this system, I started the Konquest mode. It's been a few days now, and I'm hooked. Though I don't quite get the Kombat system (aerial fighting...) being able to custom build my own fighter and moveset helps to get a feel for how it works.. And I'm finding this has helped me get accustomed to playing as the "real" characters.
     
    Though I've refined his look to the point that I like, I've still got to pin down the types of moves I want to use. There's a certain style I'm going for, and it's been tough to build around that while still making the moves look believable. Also, I've got to come up with a more clever Bio than the one I've written (yes, you get to write your character's bio too). I can't decide if I want to take it seriously, or just have fun and write a joke entry.
     
    I'm on the fence between:
     
    "Hybrid arrived at the tournament having heard promises of punch and pie. Upon hearing that this had been a lie, he set out to put an end to those who had decieved him. But by the time he had defeated the last of the 62 kombatants, Hybrid had forgotten what it was he had been fighting for. Armed now with the powers of a god, Hybrid relaxed in his chambers and conjured his own punch and pie treat. It was the finest meal he had ever eaten."
     
    or
     
    "For Hybrid, the Mortal Kombat tournament had been a means of testing the limits of his power. But as he fought his way through the army of kombatants, he came to realize that these would not be the right group to do so. Now, with Blaze defeated and Hybrid empowered with the strength of a god, Hybrid was faced with only one solution. Using the full extent of his new power, Hybrid turned back time to when he arrived at the scene of the battle. He would once again challenge the finest warriors in all the realms, but this time he would do while using only one hand..."
     
    The first one would remain as is if I went with it, while the second most likely would be written a bit here or there. I like the idea of just fighting for the sake of fighting, but I might change things so that instead of turning back time he challenges the Elder Gods who have watched over the Tournament. I dunno, it's something I'm probably putting too much thought into.
     
    But in summation, MK:A = Fun.
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