Smash!

In 2005, SCEA released one bad mother of a game called God of War, representing what was their liberal yet convincing take on Greek mythology. This game would later receive ranting and raving reviews from all of the gaming industry scene. I personally have a natural affinity for such nerdy ventures as video games and the like, so it amazes me that it took me almost 3 years to finally purchase and play this game for myself. Before I go any farther, I must admit that the rest of this post will mostly be verbal nerdgasmic fun.
Now, normally, one would write a review about a game to rant about how it excels in every aspect imaginable, but I realize that whoever reads the P.Pole on any kind of regular basis is probably not a nerd and will have lost interest in the topic at hand about two sentences ago. Nevertheless, I'm going to do a brief summary of this game (not unlike a review) minus any quantitative (haha, that's a dirty word) judgements--I'm not qualified to decide whether the noise the minotaur makes as it dies is quite worth 5 nail clippings out of 5 or not.
God of War has a story revolving around a man's insatiable thirst for power. There are a hell of spoilers in here, but I doubt anyone reading this will care or be the type to play games anyway. I just want to discuss the story a bit, so if discussing video games sounds too nerdy for you, treat it as if I were doing a movie review or something.
I found the pacing and flow of the game were quite brilliantly done. I found myself sitting there and gaming my time away (hours at a time) not because I had nothing better to do (I did have other things to do, believe it or not) but just because I was so thoroughly engrossed in the matter at hand. This is one area where I do believe the gaming industry has a serious upper hand over the television or film industries as entertainment substitutes. Video games, by definition, involve their audiences. I don't consider myself someone particularly easy to fascinate and I don't consider myself picky either. From smashing monsters to solving puzzles to scaling cliffs, Kratos (the tragic hero of GoW) does it all. Never did I find myself tired of repetition or annoying tasks (like having to speak with every single person in the town before one damn bartender will give me a quest... if you're giving me a "WTF?!" look, it's a video game/RPG nuance).
The plot of God of War is basically this: Kratos, a mortal man, is saved by Ares (the god of war according to Greek myth) from his enemies, and becomes his servant/weapon. After pillaging a village with his loyal army in the name of Ares, Kratos enters the village's temple and massacres everyone in it. Only after killing a woman and a girl does he realize that these were his own wife and daughter (see? spoilers). This, of course, was planned by Ares who wanted Kratos to become the strongest warrior ever, to "become Death itself." Bad move. Kratos vows that from that day forward, his only enemy would be the one who saved his ass ages ago, Ares the God of War.
As you can see, this Kratos character must be one messed up guy, a real "product of the system" if you will. I will. I'm telling you, this character is a beast. He spends most of his journey amputating limbs, breaking bones, smashing skulls, busting spines, gouging eyes, and basically eviscerating everything between him and vengeance for his wife and kid. Isn't that sweet? Well if that isn't, the graphics showing him doing it are. Having two blades on chains helps this process of not-so-systematically destroying stuff. Freaking awesome.
So after having beat this game twice (once on normal difficulty and once on hard), I reassure you, this behemoth of a game is just as amazing as people have said. If you ever need anything to get you to bed, this game's not going to do it. What it will do is give you a place to be as violent, gory, and disgustingly brutal as you want. Oh, and enjoy the wonderfully tragic story behind Kratos. Lovely stuff, really. My favourite part about this game must be upgrading my swords to max level about 10 minutes into a new game and exploding everything else in the remainder of the game (yeah, I'm one of those gamers....).

PENIS

That's right, Post Exam-Nuisance Isolation Syndrome. That's what I have got right now, because as of 11:06 am today, I was done my exams/midterms and well on my way to lots of gaming to make up for lost time. Let's recap on this week's mothers of tests, shall we?

• Chemistry 3U7 (Zupo):
• This one was written in an obscure science department classroom (as opposed to the cafe). I finished the exam awhile before the end of the allotted time, and spent 10 minutes checking over my papers. The photo-ionization question threw me at first, but I described the process without actually naming it directly (I was mostly guessing in the dark here) when I went back to it at the end. Other than that, I had no real problems with this one. Straightforward, like Shivon agreed to, after the exam was over.
• Physics 3U1 (Malik):
• This exam was all the way out in Mississauga, and it took a total of 1 hour of travel (30 min there and another 30 min back). I went in a bit tired from the chemistry exam and had awhile to relax and play Fire Emblem on my GBA (yeah, I'm a geek, so be it). I was confident that nothing would really phase me on this one as physics seems to be mostly just math. Plus, I was allowed a formula sheet so it was expected to be mostly plug-and-play action (that's right! I said it!). To be honest, this exam gave me enough trouble for me to take a note of. I came upon a few words that were not in my scientific vocabulary (i.e. rarefaction) and so some questions (i.e. the one about rarefactions) I completely didn't get. That's what I get for not knowing about the chapter we never did. Virtual school, it's over between us. You duped me into picking you with your fresh ideas and whatnots, but in the end you turned out to be a clumsy, annoying, hassle of a way to learn. We're through, you and I. I don't even know you anymore, you've changed so much. Or maybe it was me that changed. Either way, you suck. And not the good suck either.
• Math (Functions and Relations + Algebra Geometry) 3U7 (Yeganegi):
• It's good to note that when I was returning my textbook for this course 15 min before the start of the exam, I spoke briefly with my now-former math teacher for the past 3 years. I've already been over this (and probably won't go too much into detail again, lest you think I've got a weird crush on my teacher or something): she's said that she won't be teaching grade 12 math/the rest of grade 11 math. I thought it was worth a question anyway so I asked her whether she was really not teaching grade 12 math, and she replied, "Bye Carl. I'll see you around." That weirded me out because it just seemed so strange the way it sounded in my head. Either way, she asked whether I was going to kill this exam and I said, "I'd like to hope so..." and with that, I headed to the cafe and played some more Fire Emblem before joining my IB crew (yes, we have a "crew") at the doors. The actual exam was quite straightforward and I only had problems with one question involving arithmetic series. And this was a serious problem: I forgot the formula. After 5 min of struggling to remember, I figured it'd be better to keep my momentum going and just move on to finish the rest of the exam. After doing so, I checked all my other work before I attempted this question again. Luckily, I had a small fortune of time to burn so I spent another 20 min (right up to the end of the 1.5 hours) working furiously to remember/create the working formula. I ended up getting it, realizing it was wrong, correcting it, realizing that was wrong too, and then finally getting the right formula + answer. I felt pretty good after persisting and actually succeeding--I wonder why I don't do that more often. All in all an interesting exam.
• Biology 3U7 (Thorne):
• My bio teacher is wacky. She's very... I can't place it. She's got the energy of a ditz, but the self-control of a master-water bender... Anyway, I was in all honesty unprepared for this exam. I really should have spent my time yesterday studying instead of playing God of War (from 11:30 am to 5 or 6 pm, and then more after dinner too)... Well, I got what I deserved as this exam was by far the hardest of my four. I had real trouble on the blank filling and diagram labeling sections. I also had a hard time with naming certain processes and their triggers/etc. The only part I'm pretty sure I got decently on was the multiple choice section, and that's a shame. As for the rest of the exam, it's up for grabs. This is what I get with a mix of the exam being written by the other biology teacher (Zupo, my chemistry teacher) and me not studying the right things. It's not true that I didn't study. I just didn't study the diagrams (which made up a large part of the exam) very much/at all... While walking to the bus stop, my friend agreed with me that it was hard. She had studied about as much as I did, only she wasn't gaming, but had spent most of yesterday sleeping because of a headache. That's the same thing as gaming all day, really.

So what have I learned over the past few days? Well, studying helps. So does worrying. Of course, you've got to have the two in mediated amounts. Just check out my exam hives here (which prove my stress):

1. Chemistry/Physics Hives I
2. Chemistry/Physics Hives II
3. Math Hives I
4. Math Hives II

Gross, no? I had been half worried and half uncaring about "those lumpy itchy things" all over my skin for a few months until it really flared up at retreat. That was pretty gross. So gross, in fact, that Andy was scared when he saw the patch on my neck. Pretty disgusting... but so cool! It's like a Mystery Men power... I asked my doctor about it and it's apparently due to stress, lack of sleep, romantic affiliations/complications, or any (un)healthy mix of the above. Either way, my exams are over and... so why does my leg still itch?!

I've been totally demolishing God of War for the past two days (I'm not done the game but I can't wait to get my hands on the second one!) and I must admit, it's one of the best games of its genre (action/ adventure/ puzzle solving) I've played to date (which is not too many). It plays so smoothly, is challenging yet just easy enough to really get into it for hours on end. The controls are responsive and the way Kratos flings those Blades of Chaos around, you'd think they were part of him (which they actually kinda are... if you get into the story). Very good stuff. The graphics are amazing and the CGs are awe-inspiring. Time to kill some more mythical Greek baddies (more on Kratos and his adventures later).

It takes years to know.

It takes a crane to build a crane.
It takes two floors to make a story.
It takes an egg to make a hen;
It takes a hen to make an egg.
There is no end to what I'm saying...

It takes a thought to make a word.
And it takes some words to make an action.
It takes some work to make it work.
It takes some good to make it hurt;
It takes some bad for satisfaction.

It takes a night to make it dawn,
And it takes a day to make you yawn, brother.
And it takes some old to make you young.
It takes some cold to know the sun:
It takes the one to have the other.

And it takes no time to fall in love,
But it takes you years to know what love is!
It takes some fears to make you trust;
It takes those tears to make it rust.
It takes the dust to have it polished.

It takes some silence to make sound.
It takes a loss before you've found it.
And it takes a road to go nowhere;
It takes a toll to make you care.
It takes a hole to make a mountain.
- Jason Mraz, Life is Wonderful

info @ the P.Pole 01.22.07

This week is the start of exam season for most of us in the TDSB and surrounding areas, and so (yes, you guessed it):

4 exams this week:

• Chemistry 3U7 (IB) Midterm: 01.24.07 (Cafe @ 1200-1400)
  
• The first one up also happens to be my favourite of the bunch, taught by Mr. Zupo. So far I've been doing decently in this course and I almost don't even notice Zupo's robotic speaking style--first brought to my attention by my good friend Kishon. This first semester's been full of mostly TAs teaching, so related tests and quizzes were relatively easier. One of the greatest things about this class is the fact that Zupo likes to party as much as we do, so we ended up having one party for each TA's farewell, as well as one for the Christmas Holidays. I'm feeling confident about this one and I shouldn't have any problem doing decently.
• Physics 3U1 Final: 01.24.07 (Burnhamthorpe CI @ 1600-1800)
• The second batter up is the one I'm most apprehensive about, as this was a course "taught" over virtual school. It also sits poised to start a mere 2 hours after the end of my first, expected to be taxing, chemistry midterm. If you have any sense of where Burnhamthorpe CI is, it's located a bit farther west than Kipling Station. That's right. I'm going to hitch a ride with a friend from school to this hellishly distant location so that I can write an exam about the five units of grade 11 physics, two of which our teacher thinks we have covered but have never actually so much as touched. Luckily, I am allowed a formula sheet and so I shouldn't do too bad. I could potentially rack up free points for writing just the formulas under each question where they are needed... I think I'll do that...
• Math 3U7 (IB) Final: 01.25.07 (Cafe @ 0900-1030)
• On the day immediately following what should be a hardcore day of Chemistry and Physics, I get a break with my Functions and Relations (and some Algebra Geometry) final exam. Ms. Yeganegi is the hostess of this little course of competition and she's been a great teacher for the past 3 years (all of my high school math career). I was sad to find out that my math course next semester would not be taught by her, as she is by default a chemistry teacher who teaches math as a second option--that's not to say she doesn't know her stuff, by the way. It turns out that she won't be teaching Calculus or Algebra Geometry/Discrete/whatever at the higher level so I won't be having her as a teacher anymore. Math is one of my stronger areas of study and I'm going in with a very lofty average. I still want to maintain that--which was a hassle to achieve in the first place--and so I'll be hitting up the review sheets Wednesday night for sure. Since I'm in grade 11 now, I think I'm going to take things a bit more seriously, since some of these marks will probably be used for university applications...
• Biology 3U7 (IB) Midterm: 01.26.07 (Rm. 202 @ 0900-1100)
• The last one to step up to the plate is the oh so lovable biology class, taught quite casually by Ms. Thorne. This class has been none too difficult (also mostly because of the strong presence of TAs during the former half of the semester). My suspicions about my affection for this field of study have been confirmed by the midway mark of this course. I like this course. It's fascinating to see life at work. This midterm should not be too hard if I take some time to review what we've done so far and can reproduce that onto my exam paper. Nothing too special about this course, except that Thorne gets pseudo-vertigo, not unlike Buster's "girl"friend. Mm, girlfriend. *miam miam*
  

And that's it! Note that my exam week lasts from approximately this Wednesday (starting at noon) until next Friday, give or take an exam review day, and I'm done by this Friday. This means I essentially get 1/2 a Christmas Holiday's worth of time to break in my new games (namely FF XII and God of War). I'm also open to random fits of hanging out, so if I have any friends left out there, we can arrange something.

We are building a religion.

I had a freaky-ass dream last night and it got me thinking. This song's got nothing really to do with that, but have a lark and a listen. I know my updates have been scarce lately. I promise to get back on it (haha) after exam season's over. Time to go duel some monsters.

We are building a religion: we are building it bigger.
We are widening the corridors, and adding more lanes.
We are building a religion: a limited edition.
We are now accepting callers, for the pendant key chains.

To resist it is useless; it is useless to resist it.
His cigarette is burning, hut he never seems to ash.
He is grooming his poodle. He is living comfort eagle.
You can meet at his location, but you better come with cash.

Now his hat is on backwards. He can show you his tattoos.
He is in the music business. He is calling you "Dude!"

Now "today" is tomorrow, and "tomorrow" today.
And yesterday is weaving in and out.
And the filthy white lines that the airplane leaves behind,
Are drifting right in front of the waining of the moon.

He is handling the money. He's serving the food.
He knows about your party. He is calling you "Dude!"

Now do you believe in the one big sign?
The doublewide shine on the boot-heels of your prime?

Doesn't matter if you're skinny. Doesn't matter if you're fat.
You can dress up like a sultan in your onion-head hat.

We are building a religion: we are making a brand.
We're the only ones to turn to when your castles turn to sand.
Take a bite of this apple, Mr. Corporate Events.
Take a walk through the jungle of cardboard shanties and tents.

Some people drink Pepsi. Some people drink Coke.
The wacky morning deejay says, "Democracy's a joke!"
He says, "Now do you believe in the one big song?"
He's now accepting callers who would like to sing along.

She says, "Do you believe in the one true edge,
By fastening your safety belts and stepping towards the ledge?"
He is handling the money. He is serving the food.
He is now accepting callers. He is calling me "Dude!"

Now do you believe in the one big sign?
The doublewide shine on the boot-heels of your prime?

There's no need to ask directions if you ever lose your mind.
We're behind you, we're behind you, and let us please remind you:
We can send a car to find you, if you ever lose your way.
- Cake, Comfort Eagle

info @ the P.Pole 01.14.07

5 titles I'm hoping to buy sooner or later:

• "God of War I & II" for the PS2 (I've been meaning to get this and it's right up one of my alleys, so I can't say why I haven't yet)
  
• "Me and My Katamari" for the PSP (everything I've heard about it is amazing)
  
• " Winning Eleven 11" for the PS2 (when it comes out)
• "Half-Life 2" for the PC (I've already got the machine for it, might as well)
  
• "Metal Gear Solid 4" for the PS3 (here's a good excuse to get a PS3)

So it's been awhile now since the releases of Nintendo's Wii and Sony's PS3. I must admit right off the bat that I'm a Playstation fanboy. It was my first console and still my favourite series of consoles. If you've been speaking to me about video games, you'll know what I think/thought about the Wii. It's childish, mostly a novelty, etc... Of course, it does have its merits (like getting my arm to ache from a mere half an hour of gaming) and is quite nicely packaged. Yet, part of me has the gut feeling that the Wii just won't last as a serious gaming console. Sure, it's popular now for its low price and somewhat interesting gameplay, but when it comes down to it, its got no lasting intrigue (at least not for me). I really can't see myself parking my ass down to play a hardcore RPG or FPS with the Wii. I also can't see myself playing a next-gen Final Fantasy title or Metal Gear Solid title on it either.
The PS3, though pricey, is looking pretty stacked. Sure, it's been slow out of the gates so far, but once we start seeing some price drops and heavy-hitter titles being released, we're all going to see the PS3 whoop some next-gen gaming ass. It's more powerful than the Wii by far, and runs on disks that can store 5 times the information as the Xbox 360's. That's 5x more gaming goodness, be it graphics, map size, length, whatever. I think it's safe to say that the PS3 is the most stacked of the next-gen consoles, and time will prove that it payed off for Sony to wait that extra year or so before releasing and for customers to cough up that extra couple hundred. Trust me, in a few years, we're going to see Sony swimming in cash from intelligent gamers and fanboys like me.

info @ the P.Pole 01.10.07

Everyone having a blast? It's 2007 and school's been off to a decent start. I know I haven't been posting much lately, and that's partly due to the fact that I got a kick ass journal for Christmas that I've been jotting in from time to time. I do intend to write here more often, and I will, once I free up some time to sit and really think about what I'm going to write.

5 snacks I'd love to have right now:

• a steak (or just a cow)
  
• a cinnamon roll made by Moyee (delicious!)
• a plate of curry beef brisket on rice (more from cow)
  
• a steaming dish of food for thought
• a Mars bar (all that chocolaty goodness... melting in my mouth...)
• (may the previous entry be stricken from the records) an iPhone (oh delicious Apple, you've done it again)
  

So I enjoy discussions, what can I say. And cows, don't forget those. If you haven't caught on, I've been pretty burned lately, so don't mind if I'm a bit random/burnt at times. Everything is going swimmingly, minus the anxiety.

Sweetness

Nowadays I find myself saying the word "Sweet!" a lot more than usual (which was almost never). Something is wrong with me. Here's the first tune of the year.

If you're listening,
Sing it back.
String from your tether unwinds,
Up and outward (but only) to bind.
I was spinning free,
With a little sweet and simple numbing me.

Are you listening?
Sing it back.
So tell me, what do I need
When words lose their meaning?
I was spinning free,
With a little sweet and simple numbing me.

Yeah, stumble until you crawl,
Sinking into sweet uncertainty.

If you're listening...

Are you listening?
Sing it back.
And I'm still running away:
I won't play your hide and seek game.
I was spinning free,
With a little sweet and simple numbing me.

What a dizzy dance.
This sweetness will not be concerned with me.
No the sweetness will not be concerned with me.
No this sweetness will not be concerned with me.
- Jimmy Eat World, Sweetness

Ichiban

Here's to a brand new year. I've never been one to keep up with the news, so my memory of the past year's "big" events really isn't that great, so I won't even attempt a recap of last year. Instead, the P.Pole's got new banners/pretties to ring in the new year. Have fun. I'm really burned right now: the holidays have gotten to me and I can't come up with anything constructive/intelligible at the moment. So everyone have a nice day and new year. Goodnight.