Archive for December 2008
Puzzlin’ Evidence
A “Professor Layton and the Curious Village” Review
This game might be rated ‘E’ for everyone, but this isn’t a simple puzzler to give a 5 year old, or even a 10 year old. The storyline is very simplistic- the ‘twist’ can be spotted within the first hour or two of gameplay. You play as the titular Layton and his assistant Luke, going to the village of St. Mystere in search of hidden treasure. While playing through the game, composed of smaller puzzles, the plot is driven by the search for answers to several larger ‘mysteries’, which can be figured out dozens of chapters in advance by anyone who isn’t a small child. Still, the explination for some of the smaller of these mysteries seem arbitrary and a bit hand-wavey. Despite it’s basicness, it is still serves it’s function well, and the beautiful graphics and real, fully voiced animation sequences (few in nature but high in quality) more then make up for it.
The meat of the game is it’s brainteasers. Did I say brainteasers? I meant braintorturers. (This is where the not-for-10-year-olds part comes in.) The difficulty level varies wildly, and the ‘picarat’ rating system doesn’t always match up to the puzzles actual dificulty. They cover a wide variety of puzzle types, from block-sliders to logic, and your relative difficulty with them will be based entirely on how well you do with each type. Be aware that the in game hints (which cost one of a limited number of well hidden coins) are only helpful on the 2nd and 3rd hints- the 1st simply restates the instructions slightly differently, stressing the key words. A few of the puzzles are very difficult because of the entirely random nature of the answer (#67 “The Chocolate Code” comes to mind), which leads me to think that it was originally a sensible Japanese problem, which had to be entirely reworked to even halfway make sense in English. With 120 genuinely challenging puzzles and 15+ bonus puzzles, you really do get your moneys worth for the game.
This walk-through has all of the in game hints, so if you get stuck you don’t have to use up one of your hint coins. More guides and solutions can be found here. This is a more thorough review by IGN. The official site has examples of the graphics and more information about the game, including the online downloadable play.
Here’s hoping the new year brings the games sequals!…or at least consistent puzzle updates from Nintendo.
(Also, thank you mother, for buying me this game! I lessthenthree you thiiiiiiiiis much equal close paren)
A Not So White Christmas
Pretty much what Christmas is like in Houston
Alas, no snow. Again.
Christmas night I wasn’t bundled up around a cozy fire, wrapped in blankets, drinking hot chocolate. No, definitely no. Me, I was sweating up a storm in shorts and a T-shirt, on a trampoline. Yep, no snow.
Christmas day was around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 20 % chance of rain, not snow. Well, so much for dreaming of a white Christmas.
Yeah, Houston Texas is not the place to go for a snow vacation.
I’m dreaming of a not so white Christmas. Just like the ones I used to know. Where the palm trees sway. And children play, in the green lawn.
If you can’t get the real thing watch the movie- White Christmas.
What are your chances for a white Christmas?
Want to get away for a White Christmas find out the top 10 snow vacation spots.
Merry Christmas!
Not a snow man, a sand man
Pink Floyd: Albums
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P I N K F L O Y D P I N K F L O Y D P I N K F L O Y D P I N K F L O Y D P I N K F L O Y D P I N K F L O Y D P I N K F L O Y D P I N K F L O Y D
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Artwork/Title |
Description |
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The Piper at the Gates of Dawn |
(1967) |
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Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/PinkFloyd-album-piperatthegatesofdawn_300.jpg |
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn was Pink Floyd’s first album and the only album made under Syd Barrett’s Leadership. (Though he made contributions to A Saucerful of Secrets.) It is considered one of the most influential albums made because of its influence of psychedelic rock. The Albums lyrics were about space, and other things. |
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A Saucerful of Secrets |
(1968) |
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Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/54/Saucerful_of_secrets2.jpg |
A Saucer Of Secrets was Pink Floyd’s second album. Where style changed to progressive rock. During the making off this album Syd became fore unstable and David Gilmour had joined the band. It is also the only album by Pink Floyd with all the members in it. |
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Soundtrack from the Film More |
(1969) |
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Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/40/MoreCover.jpg |
This was Pink Floyds first full-length soundtrack. This album was made without Syd. |
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Ummagumma |
(1969) |
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Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/16/PinkFloyd-album-ummagummastudio-300.jpg |
Ummaguma is a progressive rock album containing live material, and songs from the members of the band. The live part of their disc was recorded at the Mothers Club. |
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Atom Heart Mother |
(1970) |
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Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2e/AtomHeartMotherCover.jpeg |
Atom Heart Mother was also a progressive rock album. It ever reached number 1 in the UK charts. |
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Meddle (1971) |
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Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/MeddleCover.jpeg |
Meddle was another one of Pink Floyd’s progressive rock album. Meddle is thought of by most of the Pink Floyd fans, the best album recorded with out Syd. |
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Obscured by Clouds |
(1972) |
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Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/Obs-235.jpg |
Obscured by Clouds is one of Pink Floyd’s rock album which was based on the soundtrack for La Vallee. This album was the first album by Pink Floyd to feature a VCS 3 synthesizer, and also had electric drums. |
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The Dark Side of the Moon |
(1973) |
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3b/Dark_Side_of_the_Moon.png |
Dark Side of the Moon is thought of as the bands most successful album, and their defining work and is thought of as one of the most influential albums of all time. This album "explores the nature of human experiences" (Wikipedia.) Roger Waters is thought of as the author to the lyrics of the album. There was another band Medicine Head who were going to release a album under the same name but their album failed so Pink Floyd didn’t have to call their album Eclipse: A Piece for Assorted Lunatics. |
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Wish You Were Here |
(1975) |
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Wish You Were Here was another one of Pink Floyds concept albums, and is another one of Pink Floyds best albums. This album pays tribute to Syd who left the band after their first album. He even showed up to their studio while they were recording with out telling them and not having seen any of the members of the bands for 5 years. |
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Animals |
(1977) |
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Animals another one of their Concept Animals reached #2 in the UK, and #3 in the US and reached gold certification. It is similar to |
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The Wall |
(1979) |
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The Wall was Pink Floyd’s rock opera that was a double album. It was presented live, and was later made into a film. The album is about being separated from people around you. The Wall is recognized as one of the greatest albums of all time. |
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The Final Cut |
(1983) |
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This album was the last one with Roger Waters in it. This album also did have Wright in it after he had been sacked by Rogers. Most people recognize this as more of a Roger Waters solo album. |
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A Momentary Lapse of Reason |
(1987) |
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This was the first album made without Roger Waters. Richard Wright was also let back into the band. |
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A Division Bell |
(1994) |
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The Division Bell was the last album made by what was left of Pink Floyd. The album also made Double Platinum in the U.S. |
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