Oblivion Journal: Entry II

Day Ate

I was woken up up by some creeper in a hood last night, said something about joining a club called the Black Hand. Seems kind of sketchy, but all I have to do to join is murder someone, so I'll sleep on it.

I had to talk a dreadfully unattractive woman out of a book about cults today. Luckily I didn't have to use my masculine wilds. Then later I went on a wonderful romp through the sewers with my new friend whats-his-name, who was kind enough to take out his sword and point out exactly where an enemy was he wanted me to kill.

After we disbanded a local cult whats-his-name left me to wander the sewers by myself. I'm sure nothing bad will come of this.

I seem to be stuck in between two gates, no matter, nothing will dampen my spirits or resolve!

I had to kill myself, my resolve is intact, though my spirit is a bit soggy... Back to questing!

Day Nein

Deja vu, had to tear through the same cult. Now I have all the books I need to unravel the mystery of the Blue Oyster Cult! The code was easy enough to break, pro tip: IT'S THE GIANT RED LETTERS... Now to make sense of it all...

It says something about a Green Emperor, so I guess I have to head to the Green Road! Off I go toward the Inn of Ill Omen, sounds like a quaint Bed and Breakfast.

Day Tin

I arrived at the Inn and the keeper told me about a man named Rufio in the basement... why does that name sound so familiar...

Now I remember, I was woken from my sleep several nights ago by a strange man in a hood who told me to kill Rufio! Wouldn't want to disappoint my fans!

After talking to Rufio it sounds like he has a sickness, and his symptoms include killing girls. The remedy? Take two arrows and call me in the morning... from hell.

Day Heleven

That strange hooded man woke me up again, surely he has come to reward me for my righteous deed of slaying the evil Rufio.

Turns out I'm now a member of the Black Hand, a fairly crazy cult in its own right.

Tried to kill the guy, I knocked him down, but he got up again, I'm never gonna keep him down. Luckily despite just sitting through a lecture about NEVER betraying the black hand he seemed pretty cool with the whole "attempted murder" thing. Maybe this cult won't be so bad after all!

Now what was I doing again... oh that's right! Cult Hunting!

Day Twelveth

I'm begining to think my original idea to check the Green Road was altogether wrong... Time to go back to the big city!

Finally made it back and found Green Emperor Way! Now, all I have to do is stand in this spot for 12 hours. Piece of Cake.

Day Fourteenth (for superstitious purposes)

Well that went by fast, and now I have a waypoint again! Off the find the cult!

Well I found them and was greeted with open arms, they want to make me a member! I let them take all my stuff, doesn't matter, they couldn't take away my deadliest weapons of all, my Ten Finger Furies.

So I was made a part of some blood letting ceremony, they didn't specify how much blood to let so I might have gone a bit over board. As soon as I got the Silver Dagger I killed everyone in the room (except the sacrifice, who ran away). I think they might not let me back in this club... Shame... No matter! I got the book I needed, now off to Cloud Ruler Temple!

Day fifteen

Apparently I need to pay more attention, I was supposed to grab an amulet or something. Whatever, I didn't hear anything about an amulet. I'm too handsome to pay attention to these peasants.

Well now I get to go spy hunting, time to hop on my steed and ride.

I rode straight down the face of the mountain and the spy was kind enough to be waiting for me at the bottom! One arrow later the spy problem was dealt with. Check and mate.

Aha! There is another Spy to find! Back to spy hunting.

Again, the spy was kind enough to be waiting at the bottom of the hill, I am the ultimate spy hunter!

Oblivion Journal: First Entry

I recently got Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (5th anniversary edition for PS3, if you were wondering) and I'm only a few hours in. That said, this game is going to take many many hours. So instead of doing a summary of my experience at the end, I figured I would try something a bit different with Oblivion. I am going to be keeping a journal of sorts from the perspective of my brave avatar, so prepare yourself for the adventure and ridiculousness of Mattimus the Quiet.

Day Oneth

I'm in a dungeon! Not sure how... or why... also I think I might have changed genders over night, this may warrant further investigation. I heard the sultry voice of one Captain Jean-Luc Picard in a dream, today is going to be a good day!

The Emperor himself paid me a visit in my cell! I knew today would be good! I followed him around for a bit to listen to his voice, but then he died... shame really.

Day Two by two

I'm not in a dungeon! The Emperor sent me on a quest, so questing I will go. I saw a small encampment so I thought I would check it out. Upon investigation I discovered that people there really don't like interruptions, but I knew I could handle the situation with Diplomacy.

After a few stabs from Diplomacy the situation was handled and I was 3 gold pieces richer. Bam.

Day the Third

I picked up an arrow and now I can't move... This is troubling... I made my way to meet some guy named Jaufree, who is supposed to know where to find one of the Emperor's love children. He gave me the information I needed, so I continued on my merry way. I felt a horse would be the best way to travel so I hopped on one at the local stable.

... Turns out I stole the horse. The owner and a guard chased me several miles but I eventually out ran them (sans horse). I'm sure since I returned the horse and the whole thing was a misunderstanding that this will have no negative connotations in the future. None whatsoever.

Day-to-be Four

I went to hell today, that was interesting. Well, technically it was Oblivion, but it's like hell. I also ripped the hearts out of several guards. When in Rome!

I found Martin the Bastard! He doesn't like it when I call him that but I think it's hilarious, so the little bastard will just have to deal with it.

We helped bring a castle town out from the control of demons. During which I accidentally struck down a guard, but he got in the way of my arrow so I'm sure my friends won't mind. After all, it was an accident in the heat of battle.

Whoa, turns out they do mind, I had to kill all of my friends... oh well, fresh slate! and Martin doesn't seem to mind!

Day ofeth Five

Martin, Jaufree and Myself are now headed toward the head quarters of the Blades. I think I see a fellow horsemen up ahead, I'll stop and give greetings.

Turns out it was a guard who only wanted to arrest me, hardly seems fair... So I killed him. Martin objected, but I knocked him out again and then he was fine. It's nice to know your friends have reset buttons.

We finally reached the Blades HQ but we can't get in without Jaufree and he is missing. Now I have to go find his lazy ass. Went into then out of a building, then back to the HQ and Jaufree was there! I also missed something important apparently, but I don't care, I'm far to handsome. Besides! I have a new quest! Time to head to the big city!

Dayeth the Six

Met some new friends on the road! Had to kill them though, they started it.

I made it to the big city! A guard is ahead, I shall ask his friendly muscular frame for directions!

They arrested me! No idea why, I think I smell bullshit... well any way, I'll just sleep off my sentence and everything will be fine.

Day Sev

I made it out of prison, I feel slower, dumber and weaker, but better for the experience... and now I can't move... This is slightly troubling.

To be continued...

Bioshock Me Once, Shame on You. Bioshock Me Twice...

***SPOILERS AHEAD, ye be warned

I hold the original Bioshock on a very high pedestal. Its approach toward deconstruction of a linear narrative was, in a word, phenomenal. I was near giddy when I heard the good people at 2k were planning a return trip to that underwater paradise (lost) Rapture. Then the news broke that you would be playing as a Big Daddy, and in my mind from then on it seemed much more like a cash grab then a fully fleshed out sequel.

Honestly, that is what it feels like most of the time. It just doesn't seem like a story that anyone really wanted to tell. Bioshock was a big enough hit that they had to make a sequel, so they started with the idea (gimmick) that you would play as a Big Daddy. From there they made a decent story to wrap reason around exactly what you're doing in Rapture.

They just went in the wrong direction with Bioshock 2. The reason Rapture was so captivating in the first was due to the mystery. Seeing a mans dreams and ideals be destroyed by human nature was riveting. Almost all that effect is lost in Bioshock 2. Ironically, they started with the right idea. The opening cinematic shows Rapture as it was before it went to hell in a hand basket. The rest of the game I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted to be playing that game. I wanted to see Rapture in all its glory, talk to normal people, watch someone record an audio diary.

Apparently the only thing to do in Rapture is record your thoughts

This is still a Bioshock game though, and at its core it delivers with a finely crafted twist. The entire game you are chasing after your Little Sister, who was taken from you by Sophia :amb, the new villian. While the first game took the path of slavery vs freedom, Bioshock 2 leans toward the act of choice. Namely that the choices you make don't really effect you. You can be a nice, mean, or neutral Big Daddy, but what you won't realize till the end of the game is that your actions were never meant to shape you, they were shaping who Eleanor (your "Daughter") would become. In the end that is all that really matters about the game, and as a person standing at the precipice (read: several years away from) of parenthood, I found the message quite resonating. Who you are is not as important for yourself, not in the long run. When you have children, who you are can directly effect who they become.

So Bioshock 2 wasn't so bad after all. It didn't quite have the same impact as the first, but it did better than most. Lamb's anti-Ryan persona makes for a terrific antagonist, and filling in some of the blanks from the first game (even though done through audio diary) was a great touch. Also, there is a very cool scene toward the end where you play as a Little Sister, and you see Rapture through their eyes, very interesting stuff. If you were a fan of the first Bioshock I'd highly recommend it... If you haven't already played it... At the very least it can well stem the tide before Bioshock Infinite, which lets face it, looks AMAZING!

New subject matter for Infinite... Can't wait!