Pride & Prejudice director Joe Wright serves up a somewhat uneven film in The Soloist, based on L.A. Times' reporter Steve Lopez (Robert Downey Jr.) and his relationship with homeless musical prodigy Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx).
The acting is pretty good; Ayers' delight over a gifted cello brought tears to my eyes. The music is incredible - listening to Beethoven's 3rd Symphony in surround sound was truly awesome. But overall there seems to be a few things out of place.
During the scene with Beethoven's 3rd the audience is treated to a Fantasia-esque spectacle of light, color and motion. Obviously, it's supposed to represent what Ayers feels or sees when he experiences music, but it's the only scene in the movie where it happens, and after the first ten seconds, it gets pretty boring and doesn't have as much of an emotional impact like when Lopez watches Ayers play in the street tunnel. It just doesn't fit.
We don't find out that Lopez's editor is also his ex-wife until halfway through the film. I would think that would be useful information. Also the urine gags were unnecessary.
There are a few scenes which explain Ayers backstory, but fall short of actually explaining how he ended up homeless in L.A. Much of Ayers' story seems whitewashed for cinema; I found out later online that Ayers did attempt treatment for his mental illness (it's suggested schizophrenia in the film) and underwent shock therapy. This was never covered in the film.
Like other films whose characters are based on real-life people, the ending is left fairly unsatisfying and open-ended. It just seems to end with a "look how much good we did!" message. I think they should have either went for the pretentious-newspaper-guy-makes-a-scoop story, or the homeless-guy-gets-discovered-and-redeemed story. I'm never quite sure what kind of point the film is trying to make.
Joe Wright is known for his extra-long shots, but I don't recall one being in this film. It may have been during the homeless riot scene, but I'm not sure.
On the other hand, it was nice as an Angelino to recognize parts of downtown on the big screen. This would be an enjoyable rental, unless you *really* want to hear Beethoven in the theater. It's a high quality recording. I enjoyed the film, and if it didn't feel directed-by-committee it probably would have been a lot better.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Wet Laundry
I'm moving in a week, and this morning I woke up early so I could do laundry and really get most of my packing done. At my current apartment complex they use card-operated laundry machines; washing machines cost $1.25, and the dryers $1.00. It takes 38 minutes to wash a load of laundry, and the dryers give you 60 minutes even though they run hot and it probably takes only 45 minutes to dry clothes. The dryers also have the neat feature that if you stop the cycle part way, the clock still ticks down even though the dryer isn't drying anything.
I had a lot of laundry to do and I decided to not be greedy and take up the whole bank of washers and dryers. I only used two washers and one dryer the whole morning.
For my last load I had bed and kitchen linens to wash and dry. There was only 20 minutes left on the dryer when I loaded the linens, so I put the last dollar from my laundry card on the dryer to add another hour.
When I returned 45 minutes later, someone had pulled my laundry out and dumped it on the dryer next to the one I was using. They didn't even have the courtesy to make sure nothing ended up on the floor. Then they put their own laundry into the machine I paid for and restarted it.
Normally I would have only been slightly peeved that some anonymous impatient person would move my laundry (especially if the dryer was still on cycle), but my linens were still damp! Arg!
What bad karma did I do to bring this on?
So I stopped the dryer. I figure I paid for the time, I should get to see how it's spent.
I had a lot of laundry to do and I decided to not be greedy and take up the whole bank of washers and dryers. I only used two washers and one dryer the whole morning.
For my last load I had bed and kitchen linens to wash and dry. There was only 20 minutes left on the dryer when I loaded the linens, so I put the last dollar from my laundry card on the dryer to add another hour.
When I returned 45 minutes later, someone had pulled my laundry out and dumped it on the dryer next to the one I was using. They didn't even have the courtesy to make sure nothing ended up on the floor. Then they put their own laundry into the machine I paid for and restarted it.
Normally I would have only been slightly peeved that some anonymous impatient person would move my laundry (especially if the dryer was still on cycle), but my linens were still damp! Arg!
What bad karma did I do to bring this on?
So I stopped the dryer. I figure I paid for the time, I should get to see how it's spent.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Elevation
A few months ago, Roger Ebert wrote about the emotion Elevation - the feeling of having witnessed something good. He cited a Slate article that described President Obama's success in evoking elevation in people who watch his speeches.
The internet has been buzzing about Susan Boyle's performance of "I Dreamed A Dream" on Britain's Got Talent auditions. It does not surprise me in the least that her rendition is soul stirring and uplifting. She goes on stage, and she's not much to look at. Her dress is unflattering and her hair is unkempt. She sasses the judges with a working-woman's accent. It's obvious the audience thinks she's a joke.
Until she sings. And then the joke is on everyone else. Everyone realizes they just saw something remarkable. I think Simon lied, but that's just me. :)
For the record, I doubt a story like this would happen in the United States. I think our entertainment industry is much too shallow.
Susan could not have picked a better song to invoke elevation in her audience. It's a song of a broken dream, and still wanting it even though it will not come to pass. The 10th Anniversary Les Miserables version always makes me feel. . . something. The anguish and frustration in Fantine's voice always invokes so many feelings in me. Yet she still sounds defiant; indomitable.
Susan took this song of a broken dream and made it hers. She made Fantine's anguish her own, and proved to Great Britain that she deserved her spot in Britain's Got Talent more than her competitors.
I could go on and say something about how we only expect conventionally pretty people to be good at stuff, but I think that's for a different post.
Speaking of Les Miserables, the best example of a song from that musical that invokes elevation in me every time is Do You Hear The People Sing? Wow. The encore arrangement is more powerful in terms of impact, but I prefer the original lyrics.
The internet has been buzzing about Susan Boyle's performance of "I Dreamed A Dream" on Britain's Got Talent auditions. It does not surprise me in the least that her rendition is soul stirring and uplifting. She goes on stage, and she's not much to look at. Her dress is unflattering and her hair is unkempt. She sasses the judges with a working-woman's accent. It's obvious the audience thinks she's a joke.
Until she sings. And then the joke is on everyone else. Everyone realizes they just saw something remarkable. I think Simon lied, but that's just me. :)
For the record, I doubt a story like this would happen in the United States. I think our entertainment industry is much too shallow.
Susan could not have picked a better song to invoke elevation in her audience. It's a song of a broken dream, and still wanting it even though it will not come to pass. The 10th Anniversary Les Miserables version always makes me feel. . . something. The anguish and frustration in Fantine's voice always invokes so many feelings in me. Yet she still sounds defiant; indomitable.
Susan took this song of a broken dream and made it hers. She made Fantine's anguish her own, and proved to Great Britain that she deserved her spot in Britain's Got Talent more than her competitors.
I could go on and say something about how we only expect conventionally pretty people to be good at stuff, but I think that's for a different post.
Speaking of Les Miserables, the best example of a song from that musical that invokes elevation in me every time is Do You Hear The People Sing? Wow. The encore arrangement is more powerful in terms of impact, but I prefer the original lyrics.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Part 3
I need to keep better track of this!
So let's see. . . .I've played through the Goron Mines, and now am collecting the last set of Tears of Light.
Between then and now, there was the first on-horseback battle (which was a pain until I figured it out) and a part of the map that is traversed by flying, which is definitely new to me.
Link on Epona is just awesome. If Link is attacked, he can be thrown off. It's much more realistic than in Ocarina of Time. The shot of Link and Epona after the jousting match was really neat.
Those big black dudes that look like they're the Heartless from Kingdom Hearts are a pain. Not really difficult to defeat, but the music and the fact you can't just run away irritate me a lot. Plus sometimes they don't cooperate the way I want them to. ;)
I'm getting really confused about where to go in order to collect all the Tears of Light; mostly because they're scattered over several large maps and it's not entirely clear to me how to get from point A to point B sometimes.
So let's see. . . .I've played through the Goron Mines, and now am collecting the last set of Tears of Light.
Between then and now, there was the first on-horseback battle (which was a pain until I figured it out) and a part of the map that is traversed by flying, which is definitely new to me.
Link on Epona is just awesome. If Link is attacked, he can be thrown off. It's much more realistic than in Ocarina of Time. The shot of Link and Epona after the jousting match was really neat.
Those big black dudes that look like they're the Heartless from Kingdom Hearts are a pain. Not really difficult to defeat, but the music and the fact you can't just run away irritate me a lot. Plus sometimes they don't cooperate the way I want them to. ;)
I'm getting really confused about where to go in order to collect all the Tears of Light; mostly because they're scattered over several large maps and it's not entirely clear to me how to get from point A to point B sometimes.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Seal Beach 5K 2009 Race Report
I did really well this year! 33:29 - A PR for me!
I accidentally stayed up much later than I wanted to the night before, and thought "oh well, I'll just take this easy and not worry about it".
Every year some guys associated with the Orange County Sheriff's department run this 5K in formation, with someone calling out cadences. This year I decided to run behind them for several reasons: I know their pace will be consistent (even though I wouldn't be able to keep up), they call out cadences which make running easier, and they leave a big wake behind them so you have plenty of room to run without people getting in your way.
I was able to keep up with them through the first mile, and then started trailing during the second. By the time I got to the water station I stopped for water and pretty much lost them completely.
When I passed the mile 2 marker there was a volunteer calling out times, and I was shocked when I thought about what my possible time could be if I pushed myself. I always have a lot of self-doubt and it's hard for me to push through the end of races, and the thought of getting a PR when I hadn't trained and didn't get a lot of sleep was really motivating.
At the last K marker I thought I might have a chance at besting my PR I made at this race last year (35:33), but I had no idea I'd shave two whole minutes off. I guess I underestimated how long it took me to cross the starting line!
The crowd support at this race was awesome like it is every year. There are a lot of volunteers and they had lots of post-race orange slices and bananas for runners.
I really recommend this race for beginners. There is ample parking off of Marina and the course is relatively flat and easy. The crowd support is great too!
I accidentally stayed up much later than I wanted to the night before, and thought "oh well, I'll just take this easy and not worry about it".
Every year some guys associated with the Orange County Sheriff's department run this 5K in formation, with someone calling out cadences. This year I decided to run behind them for several reasons: I know their pace will be consistent (even though I wouldn't be able to keep up), they call out cadences which make running easier, and they leave a big wake behind them so you have plenty of room to run without people getting in your way.
I was able to keep up with them through the first mile, and then started trailing during the second. By the time I got to the water station I stopped for water and pretty much lost them completely.
When I passed the mile 2 marker there was a volunteer calling out times, and I was shocked when I thought about what my possible time could be if I pushed myself. I always have a lot of self-doubt and it's hard for me to push through the end of races, and the thought of getting a PR when I hadn't trained and didn't get a lot of sleep was really motivating.
At the last K marker I thought I might have a chance at besting my PR I made at this race last year (35:33), but I had no idea I'd shave two whole minutes off. I guess I underestimated how long it took me to cross the starting line!
The crowd support at this race was awesome like it is every year. There are a lot of volunteers and they had lots of post-race orange slices and bananas for runners.
I really recommend this race for beginners. There is ample parking off of Marina and the course is relatively flat and easy. The crowd support is great too!
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Part 2
OK, turns out what I thought was the entry point to the Forest Temple was not. Or that it was, but there was a whole bunch of stuff to cover before I could even go into the Forest Temple.
Now I've played through the Forest Temple.
Between last time and now, you've seen Link transform into a wolf, met Midna, get turned back into human (Hylian?) form, and worked through the Forest Temple.
Link's wolf form looks pretty impressive on the screen, and the animations are good. The "wolf sense" functions as another way to hide stuff on the map, and toggling between the two isn't hard. I'm a bit annoyed with the spin-attack counterpart, mainly in that it feels like it takes forever to execute. Embarrassingly, I died two or three times in the Faron Woods section where you're stuck with three Twilight goblin things before I figured it out.
This section of the game sets up most of the story and the long cut-scenes are really good.
The game feels to me like it's prepared the player very well for the first temple, which I like a lot. In previous Zelda games I feel woefully inadequate for the first few dungeons/temples. At this point you should have a lantern, sword, shield, and two bottles. I haven't found any fairy fountains yet, but there's a fairy in one of the pots at the Forest Temple entrance.
The difficulty level in the Forest Temple seemed a bit easy to me, but I also spent a lot of time just trying to figure stuff out (I got kind of stuck because I *really* wanted to get what turned out to be the Boss Key before I had the item I needed to get it with). You follow monkeys around the first half of the temple, and their beckoning caused me to miss getting the temple map, which is in plain sight in the first main room.
The miniboss and boss of the temple were pretty easy to defeat, although I thought the miniboss (a butt-slapping monkey) was harder than the real boss.
There are a couple heart pieces hidden around in treasure chests. This is new to me because I'm used to finding them "in the open" but in creative places. So don't leave any treasure chest unopened, even though some of them have minor rupee treasures to be found. I left the Forest Temple with almost 200 extra rupees that I didn't have when I started it.
This game really has sucked me in. I wanted to only play for an hour or two but I ended up staying up way past my bedtime.
Now I've played through the Forest Temple.
Between last time and now, you've seen Link transform into a wolf, met Midna, get turned back into human (Hylian?) form, and worked through the Forest Temple.
Link's wolf form looks pretty impressive on the screen, and the animations are good. The "wolf sense" functions as another way to hide stuff on the map, and toggling between the two isn't hard. I'm a bit annoyed with the spin-attack counterpart, mainly in that it feels like it takes forever to execute. Embarrassingly, I died two or three times in the Faron Woods section where you're stuck with three Twilight goblin things before I figured it out.
This section of the game sets up most of the story and the long cut-scenes are really good.
The game feels to me like it's prepared the player very well for the first temple, which I like a lot. In previous Zelda games I feel woefully inadequate for the first few dungeons/temples. At this point you should have a lantern, sword, shield, and two bottles. I haven't found any fairy fountains yet, but there's a fairy in one of the pots at the Forest Temple entrance.
The difficulty level in the Forest Temple seemed a bit easy to me, but I also spent a lot of time just trying to figure stuff out (I got kind of stuck because I *really* wanted to get what turned out to be the Boss Key before I had the item I needed to get it with). You follow monkeys around the first half of the temple, and their beckoning caused me to miss getting the temple map, which is in plain sight in the first main room.
The miniboss and boss of the temple were pretty easy to defeat, although I thought the miniboss (a butt-slapping monkey) was harder than the real boss.
There are a couple heart pieces hidden around in treasure chests. This is new to me because I'm used to finding them "in the open" but in creative places. So don't leave any treasure chest unopened, even though some of them have minor rupee treasures to be found. I left the Forest Temple with almost 200 extra rupees that I didn't have when I started it.
This game really has sucked me in. I wanted to only play for an hour or two but I ended up staying up way past my bedtime.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess - Part 1
I know I've talked about it before, but I really enjoy playing the Zelda games. There's something about the adventure combined with puzzle solving and its own created mythology that really attracts me. At any rate, it's a good formula for a game.
The Water Temple in Ocarina of Time never fails to baffle me. I still need to dig out a strategy guide for it. And Majora's Mask was so confusing to me that I never finished it. Something about the three-day repeat that I could never wrap my head around. For those who haven't played Majora's Mask, you repeat the same three-days, Groundhog Day-style, throughout the game.
I was excited when Twilight Princess was released, as it featured Teenage/Adult Link and a darker storyline than previous Zelda games. But it was only recently that I was able to secure a copy for myself - the Gamecube version, since I'm a purist and think Link *should* be left-handed! (They completely flipped the game's visuals for the Wii version) I'm sure the Zelda game they are developing exclusively for the Wii will feature a right-handed Link, but while I have the opportunity to play a left-handed Link, I'm going to!
So this series of posts will be my impressions on playing the game through - hopefully without having to rely on a walkthrough. I'll try to make my comments so they don't overly spoil the game if you haven't played through it yet.
Many people have compared the visuals to an upgraded version of the visuals in the N64 games, and that I will have to agree. While textures and characters are more smooth and detailed, and seem more realistic in their anime way, it's quite obvious that Ocarina of Time served as a parent to Twilight Princess, in more ways than one. It's not necessarily a bad thing.
I really like that there are generally no load times while you are inside buildings. This feature really helps with game immersion. There are some load times between maps and if you enter/exit a building, but it's not that bad.
The controls are also similar to Ocarina of Time, adapted for the Gamecube controls. I'm not sure I like the generic controller that I bought (through a deception of the retailer) so I might get a genuine Nintendo controller and see if I like that better.
The first part of the game immediately puts you into the storyline with a view of pre-hero Link, which I think seems more natural than previous games. Story-wise it seems kind of lame that Link was just sitting around waiting to get the call to become a hero, who then has to do all these little primer quests. The mini-quests that are supposed to serve as the primer for game controls are integrated in the storyline, as opposed to "do this strange side-game whose point is only to show you how to use your new item".
Maybe I've played enough Zelda games to realize what you're supposed to be doing to complete the mini-quests, but I thought some people might get a little confused in the mini-quests that happen in the village (so what if your cat ran off?!? what do I care?). If you get lost when you get there, just talk to everyone, and know that the three tasks that the villagers are talking about can be done without moving to a different map.
So far it seems the characters are less annoying than they were in Ocarina of Time. So let's hope that holds. Maybe that just comes with the general tone of the game.
It took me about an hour and twenty minutes from start to the entrance of the forest temple, which seems about right to me, considering I talked to everyone on the map several times and backtracked a map or two to make sure I was on the right path. Someone who isn't as meticulous or has played the game through before could probably get to this point in an hour. Already I've been introduced to Link, the village he comes from, had a primer on swordplay, slingshot-aiming, horseback riding, and killed some easy baddies and worked through some small puzzles.
I'm already very excited about the game and I look forward to playing through the rest!
The Water Temple in Ocarina of Time never fails to baffle me. I still need to dig out a strategy guide for it. And Majora's Mask was so confusing to me that I never finished it. Something about the three-day repeat that I could never wrap my head around. For those who haven't played Majora's Mask, you repeat the same three-days, Groundhog Day-style, throughout the game.
I was excited when Twilight Princess was released, as it featured Teenage/Adult Link and a darker storyline than previous Zelda games. But it was only recently that I was able to secure a copy for myself - the Gamecube version, since I'm a purist and think Link *should* be left-handed! (They completely flipped the game's visuals for the Wii version) I'm sure the Zelda game they are developing exclusively for the Wii will feature a right-handed Link, but while I have the opportunity to play a left-handed Link, I'm going to!
So this series of posts will be my impressions on playing the game through - hopefully without having to rely on a walkthrough. I'll try to make my comments so they don't overly spoil the game if you haven't played through it yet.
Many people have compared the visuals to an upgraded version of the visuals in the N64 games, and that I will have to agree. While textures and characters are more smooth and detailed, and seem more realistic in their anime way, it's quite obvious that Ocarina of Time served as a parent to Twilight Princess, in more ways than one. It's not necessarily a bad thing.
I really like that there are generally no load times while you are inside buildings. This feature really helps with game immersion. There are some load times between maps and if you enter/exit a building, but it's not that bad.
The controls are also similar to Ocarina of Time, adapted for the Gamecube controls. I'm not sure I like the generic controller that I bought (through a deception of the retailer) so I might get a genuine Nintendo controller and see if I like that better.
The first part of the game immediately puts you into the storyline with a view of pre-hero Link, which I think seems more natural than previous games. Story-wise it seems kind of lame that Link was just sitting around waiting to get the call to become a hero, who then has to do all these little primer quests. The mini-quests that are supposed to serve as the primer for game controls are integrated in the storyline, as opposed to "do this strange side-game whose point is only to show you how to use your new item".
Maybe I've played enough Zelda games to realize what you're supposed to be doing to complete the mini-quests, but I thought some people might get a little confused in the mini-quests that happen in the village (so what if your cat ran off?!? what do I care?). If you get lost when you get there, just talk to everyone, and know that the three tasks that the villagers are talking about can be done without moving to a different map.
So far it seems the characters are less annoying than they were in Ocarina of Time. So let's hope that holds. Maybe that just comes with the general tone of the game.
It took me about an hour and twenty minutes from start to the entrance of the forest temple, which seems about right to me, considering I talked to everyone on the map several times and backtracked a map or two to make sure I was on the right path. Someone who isn't as meticulous or has played the game through before could probably get to this point in an hour. Already I've been introduced to Link, the village he comes from, had a primer on swordplay, slingshot-aiming, horseback riding, and killed some easy baddies and worked through some small puzzles.
I'm already very excited about the game and I look forward to playing through the rest!
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Nintendo Wii - First Impression
I received my Nintendo Wii last night and have proven to myself yet again how little impulse control I have. At least I waited until I was done studying to dig it out. It was pretty easy to setup - the only thing that wasn't intuitive and required the manual was when I was trying to sync my Wii Remote to it. Turning the Wii on is like that first time when you logged onto the internet and realized your whole world had changed. I felt like the 'less-advanced' people who come into contact with Picard and the Enterprise, and their world has suddenly become a lot larger. For someone in a technologically-advanced field, I feel really behind!
The Wii I bought came with Wii Play, and even though I really wanted to play some Gamecube Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, I also didn't have a lot of time and I really wanted to try out the Wii Remote.
Back when the Wii launched there were stations set up in amusement parks and other "touristy" places. You could go there and test out the Wii interface on one of the Wiis set up with big screen TVs. But like the tester model of game consoles at Best Buy and Wal-Mart they were usually broken. So Link could only turn left and you couldn't swing your sword. Not really a great way to be introduced to something so revolutionary.
If you want to unlock all the games on Wii Play and save your progress you'll need to make a Mii. A Mii is a cartoony player avatar that saves/tracks progress in some games and also participates in internet-related capability that I haven't figured out yet. The Mii creation process is similar to creating a new Sim in The Sims 2 except it's not nearly as customizable. You can control some aspects of the appearance but not all.
So now I have a cartoon version of me. Yay. Now let's play some Wii Play.
Wii Play is a handful of minigames that makes a good primer on using the Wii Remote. When you first start the game you only have access to the Shooting Range game; to unlock the other games you simply have to play through the game that precedes it. There is no score you have to beat in order to unlock the next game, although if you score high enough you win a medal. Then when you go back to the Wii home page you see that the game has left you a note congratulating you on the medal and a "helpful" hint on the game.
Shooting Range - This is Duck Hunt 2.0, with targets, clay pigeons, and soda cans.
Find Mii - I was doing all right on this game until I got to the level where I had to find two identical Miis in a moving crowd.
Table Tennis - Virtual Ping Pong. Try to get to 100 volleys.
Pose Mii - This was the most annoying of the games. Using a couple buttons, you can cycle through several different poses. Bubbles drop from the top of the screen, with a silhouette outlined inside the bubble. The goal is to align your Mii on the bubble with the same pose and rotation. I just couldn't figure out how to match up the pose and rotate the Mii fast enough for the game.
Laser Hockey - This is just like Pong with an Air Hockey theme and Neon.
Fishing - It took me a little bit to get the hang of this game, but it's pretty relaxing. Just drop the hook in and wait for a fish to bite. You can guide your hook over to fish you want to catch, and they usually bite.
Billiards - 3-D Pool. Pretty fun, and a lot easier than Pool in real life. You can use the A button to get a top-down view, and the grey line really helps you line up your shot.
Charge! - I had a lot of fun with this game. Your Mii rides a cow, and the goal is to mow down scarecrows and get to the finish line in under two minutes. It took a few tries to figure out the right movement for "jump".
Tanks! - Blow up the other tanks on the screen. It's fun. :)
I don't think I'll play too much more of this, unless I want to kill 5 minutes by mowing down some scarecrows or something. But it was a good primer on using the Wii Remote and I look forward to seeing how other games utilize (or not) the interface.
The Wii I bought came with Wii Play, and even though I really wanted to play some Gamecube Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, I also didn't have a lot of time and I really wanted to try out the Wii Remote.
Back when the Wii launched there were stations set up in amusement parks and other "touristy" places. You could go there and test out the Wii interface on one of the Wiis set up with big screen TVs. But like the tester model of game consoles at Best Buy and Wal-Mart they were usually broken. So Link could only turn left and you couldn't swing your sword. Not really a great way to be introduced to something so revolutionary.
If you want to unlock all the games on Wii Play and save your progress you'll need to make a Mii. A Mii is a cartoony player avatar that saves/tracks progress in some games and also participates in internet-related capability that I haven't figured out yet. The Mii creation process is similar to creating a new Sim in The Sims 2 except it's not nearly as customizable. You can control some aspects of the appearance but not all.
So now I have a cartoon version of me. Yay. Now let's play some Wii Play.
Wii Play is a handful of minigames that makes a good primer on using the Wii Remote. When you first start the game you only have access to the Shooting Range game; to unlock the other games you simply have to play through the game that precedes it. There is no score you have to beat in order to unlock the next game, although if you score high enough you win a medal. Then when you go back to the Wii home page you see that the game has left you a note congratulating you on the medal and a "helpful" hint on the game.
Shooting Range - This is Duck Hunt 2.0, with targets, clay pigeons, and soda cans.
Find Mii - I was doing all right on this game until I got to the level where I had to find two identical Miis in a moving crowd.
Table Tennis - Virtual Ping Pong. Try to get to 100 volleys.
Pose Mii - This was the most annoying of the games. Using a couple buttons, you can cycle through several different poses. Bubbles drop from the top of the screen, with a silhouette outlined inside the bubble. The goal is to align your Mii on the bubble with the same pose and rotation. I just couldn't figure out how to match up the pose and rotate the Mii fast enough for the game.
Laser Hockey - This is just like Pong with an Air Hockey theme and Neon.
Fishing - It took me a little bit to get the hang of this game, but it's pretty relaxing. Just drop the hook in and wait for a fish to bite. You can guide your hook over to fish you want to catch, and they usually bite.
Billiards - 3-D Pool. Pretty fun, and a lot easier than Pool in real life. You can use the A button to get a top-down view, and the grey line really helps you line up your shot.
Charge! - I had a lot of fun with this game. Your Mii rides a cow, and the goal is to mow down scarecrows and get to the finish line in under two minutes. It took a few tries to figure out the right movement for "jump".
Tanks! - Blow up the other tanks on the screen. It's fun. :)
I don't think I'll play too much more of this, unless I want to kill 5 minutes by mowing down some scarecrows or something. But it was a good primer on using the Wii Remote and I look forward to seeing how other games utilize (or not) the interface.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
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