Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/266187048?client_source=feed&format=rss
airhead atherosclerosis steven tyler tropic thunder carnie wilson missing reese witherspoon pregnant
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Paper Mario: Sticker Star Review | Video Game Blog, Video Games ...
Genre: Role Playing Game
Platform: 3DS
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: November 11th 2012
Among all the games starring Mario, the Paper Mario series is one of the most unique not only for Nintendo, but in console gaming, not only for its peculiar presentation but also for how the games are played, often taking advantage of the paper-thin appearance to create original gameplay mechanics. Developer Intelligent Systems has always managed to make every game a fresh experience, sticking to some basic elements and constantly expanding them with a new take in each and every game. Did Intelligent Systems once again deliver or is the 3DS entry of the series as thin as its characters?
Stickers in the Mushroom Kingdom
Paper Mario: Sticker Star is a Mario game so you can probably guess the general premise: Peach gets kidnapped. Again. Bowser is certainly to commend for his dedication, even though his evil plans always get thwarted by our beloved plumber. ?This time, together with taking Peach away from the annual Sticker Fest in the Mushroom Kingdom, Bowser steals the Sticker Comet that passes over the Kingdom every year, scattering its fragments all over the world. ?The ?Stickers? spin on the usual Mario plot is used to justify the main objective of the game: gathering stickers!
Like in the other Paper Mario games, the plot is simply hilarious, full of comical moments, references to previous entries and small easter eggs with an excellent writing.
Funny times also come from the characters and objects behaviors which underline the fact that they?re made of papers: koopas fold before getting into their shells, blocks get divided into 6 pieces when hit by Mario?s hammer and so on. All the quirks of the series are present in Sticker Star and they look as great as they did before: it?s like one of those child?s book getting beautifully animated. And thanks to the 3DS capabilities the paper effect looks better than ever: I don?t usually have the 3D slider to the max when playing 3DS games but in Sticker Star it was right at the max for the whole time. Music wise, the game doesn?t stray far from the usual Mario tunes: they serve their purpose well and are quite catchy, if not somewhat generic sometimes.
Collector?s mania
Stickers have a central role during gameplay in both exploration and combat phases. The game plays like the other Paper Mario games: the game is divided into stages, each containing a fragment of the comet, usually obtained after a boss battle. While traveling players will have to solve puzzle and riddles with the help of the stickers and engage the usual array of Mario?s enemies like Goombas, Koopas and so on. The Battle system goes back to the roots of the first Paper Mario games: gone is the real time system used in Super Paper Mario. The way the game sets itself apart from the old games is the total absence of RPG management mechanics: no experience points, no stats, no leveling. The battles are fought through the use of stickers: each sticker can only be used a single time and once activated you?ll be able to use one of the many abilities like jumping, using the hammer, throwing fireballs and so on. Without experience points, gold coins become one of the most important things in the game since they?re used to buy new stickers and even to trigger a special slot machine which allows for extra attacks during the same turn.
Performing the attacks follows the tried Mario RPGs formula in having to press buttons at the right time for increased damage and it?s something that keeps the player engaged even during common encounters, avoiding the typical boredom coming from standard turn based battle systems. ?The new system, however, has some flaws: there?s no real reason to fight common enemies since the golden coin rewards is usually really modest and you have to save stickers as much as you can. Unfortunately, this isn?t the only balancing problem in the game.
Look, scissors on the grass fields!
Even though the colorful presentation seems aimed at attracting all kinds of gamers, Sticker Star is not the most accessible game you can find: there?s almost no in-game explanation on how the game mechanics work. It?s up to the player understanding how battle and puzzle solving works and a newcomer may feel a bit confused in the beginning. It?s right during puzzle solving moments that the game shows some more problems: most of the times they?re tied to the new ability to create items by applying stickers. The main problem is that these stickers are scattered all over the world for no logical reason: you may reach a puzzle that needs a specific sticker to be solved and this sticker could be hidden in a totally different stage!? It?s simply frustrating sometimes and it?s an useless gimmick to lengthen the game time; also the puzzles are simply boring because you have to use that specific sticker for that specific puzzles: they could have required more creativity to solve but Intelligent Systems opted for a more ?on rails? approach.
The same can be said about boss battles: most of the times they require a very specific strategy to be beaten, a strategy requiring another particular sticker! This trial and error approach only manages to make everything more frustrating and it?s a real shame because everything else in the game is simply well crafted and enjoyable, so much that players will be easily inclined to forgive and forget these balancing problems.
Final Thoughts
Paper Mario: Sticker Star is a good entry of the series: I found the game better than Super Paper Mario but still not as good as Paper Mario: The Thousand Years Door which is my favorite Paper Mario game. It?s a charming game that makes the presentation and a simple yet fun storytelling its best features. A more balanced gameplay would have made it quite a bit better experience; still Intelligent System truly deserves praise for trying a new direction which just needs a few more tweaks to be really flawless. Paper Mario fans will really like Sticker Star since it has everything that makes Paper Mario games fun; newcomers may feel a little confused at first for the lack of tutorials and explanations but once they grasp everything, they?re gonna have love the game as well
PROS
- Great presentation
- Great 3D effect
- Simple story with excellent execution and pacing
- Great writing
- Good game length
CONS
- Lacking in-game explanations
- Too much trial and error in boss battles
- Sometimes frustrating puzzles
- Sudden difficulty spikes
Rating:?
7.5 out of 10
Article from Gamersyndrome.com
Related posts:
- Paper Mario: Sticker Star new trailer unveiled
- Paper Mario Pop-Up Diner Will Celebrate Sticker Star?s Release
- Win a 3DS XL, Paper Mario: Sticker Star, Trophy and More in Nintendo Competition
- Further Details on Paper Mario Sticker Star Emerge
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii: Review
Source: http://gamersyndrome.com/2012/videogame-reviews/paper-mario-sticker-star-review/
spice mike starr ufc 141 fight card gli joseph gordon levitt katy perry russell brand mark hurd
Fitness Video Profits For Personal Trainers, Coaches, Body Builders ...
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
If you?re an in demand boot camp instructor, personal trainer or coach then you probably have your share of charisma and personality.
I?m going to let you in on a little secret and share a free tool that will help you blow up your worldwide audience, help you get more clients, more opportunities and help you earn revenue.
If you?re in the fitness industry, it?s your duty to help as many people as possible get in shape and lead healthier lives.
As someone interested in fitness and in creating financial freedom, you should be using every tool available to you to accomplish this.
This is not the typical how to upload videos to YouTube crap!? This is something much, much bigger that you will not hear the marketing ?gurus? talk about.? Because they do not know what the hell I?m talking about?
Not only has it helped my training business, but I am now a Youtube Partner and make income, that is continuously growing, just from posting my fitness videos on a regular basis.
I?ve found it to be the GREATEST investment for my business and it?s so easy to use and understand? I think it?s a ?must buy? for EVERY fitness trainer, competitor, or coach out there!
note ? Clifta Coulter Perez is not an actress and has not been paid for her testimonial. Clifta?s testimonial is a real example based upon her actual experience..
With the help of my Fitness Video Profits course, the ultimate prize could be that YOU might become the next well known fitness celebrity or household name!
Or you might just be satisfied with making a few hundred bucks a month or a few thousand bucks a month ? EVERY month with your YouTube channel.
I want to keep the price as low as possible during the initial offering.? Please don?t underestimate this product and this offer!? The price will definitely go up to $97 or more before too long.? Take advantage now!
P.S. I?ve been a member of YouTube since 2006. Take advantage of the experience that I?ve gained. You can spend your days researching, experimenting, etc or you can invest $37.00 and get the information now! Don?t hesitate. Let?s get started right now.
Immediately after ordering Fitness Video Profits, I understand that I?ll receive instant access to a password-protected site so I can access everything immediately. Once in the password-protected site, I?ll immediately be able to access all 20 of the videos along with any bonuses that make up Fitness Video Profits! I understand that no physical products will be shipped to me.
Yes, I understand that I have an 8-Week, 100% Money Back Guarantee. If I?m not completely satisfied with the information that I get from this video series, and I feel that? Read more?
No related posts.
real housewives of orange county bloom energy franklin graham jambalaya taylor swift and zac efron basketball wives manny ramirez
'Les Miserables': Anne Hathaway And Hugh Jackman On The Upcoming Film
Hugh Jackman spoke with Anne Hathaway about the upcoming 'Les Miserables' movie.
EW.com:
Les Miserables fans can be forgiven for not wanting to wait ?One Day More.?
The big-screen musical is coming to theaters 25 years after the debut of the Tony-winning Broadway show, 150 years after Victor Hugo penned his epic novel, and 180 years after the Paris uprising that inspired the story.
Read the whole story at EW.com
"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });selena lamichael james lamichael james derrick rose acl earthquake los angeles unemployment
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Congo fires army chief after rebel seizure of Goma
SAKE, Congo (AP) ? Congo's president has suspended the army's chief of staff, following the publication of a United Nations report which reveals that Gen. Gabriel Amisi oversaw a criminal network selling arms to rebels in the country's troubled east.
The firing of the general indicates that Congo is finally getting tough on its notoriously dysfunctional and internally divided army. It comes as an eight-month-old rebel group, made up of soldiers who defected from the army, pushed beyond Goma, the bustling regional capital of eastern Congo, which fell to the fighters earlier this week.
On Friday, M23 rebels patrolled the town of Sake, the next town on the road south from Goma. They manned checkpoints, drank vodka in local bars and let the corpses of Congolese soldiers rot in the streets. One of the soldier's bodies bore an execution-style bullet wound to the temple.
The rebellion is led by soldiers who defected from the Congolese army. Before their recent defection, their commanders benefited from a privileged relationship with Congo's government, despite mounting evidence of their complicity in grave abuses. The leader of the M23 is believed to be Gen. Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
Tens of thousands of civilians could be seen fleeing along a 10-kilometer (6-mile) stretch of the road to Goma, carrying mattresses and cooking pots on their heads, as well as live chickens, goats, and babies bundled on their backs. The town of Sake was nearly deserted. A lone father returned to his empty house. He had fled on Thursday when the shooting erupted, but lost track of his four children in the scramble to get out of town. The youngest are just 2 and 4 years old, he said.
"We heard shots from the hills," said Timothe Mashamba. "We fled, but now I have returned. I lost my four children when we fled and haven't found them. I am waiting for them here. I can't leave. They won't know where to find me."
The president of neighboring Uganda was acting as a go-between for the two sides, and on Friday, one of the leaders of M23, Bishop Jean-Marie Runiga was in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, for talks, said deputy rebel spokesman Amani Kabasha. Earlier in the week, both Congolese President Joseph Kabila, and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is accused of arming the rebels, met in Uganda for an attempted mediation.
The two presidents agreed on certain principles and were now discussing them with M23, said the rebel spokesman.
"They (Kagame, Kabila) took decisions in Kampala and now they want to talk to Bishop Runiga about them. Joseph Kabila said in his communique that he would talk to us, and that is what we want," said the rebel spokesman.
Congo's troubled east has been plagued by decades of violence, and the latest rebellion is a reincarnation of a previous conflict. The rebel group that took Goma dubs itself the M23, a reference to the March 23, 2009 peace deal that paved the way for fighters from a now-defunct rebel group to join the army. Charging that the peace accord was not implemented, soldiers defected from the Congo army in April to form the M23. Both the M23 and the previous rebel group, known as the CNDP, are widely believed to be backed by neighboring Rwanda, which has fought two wars against its much-larger neighbor.
Numerous reports by the United Nations Group of Experts have shown the extent of Rwandan infiltration in the rebel groups based in Congo, as well as in Congo's armed forces, but it wasn't until the release of the most recent findings that Congo took decisive action.
A statement released by the Office of Congo's' President Joseph Kabila said that the U.N. report published on Nov. 21 made clear that Amisi's behavior was contrary to the rules of military behavior. "The President of the Republic has decided to suspend him immediately of all his functions, while an investigation is ongoing," the statement said.
___
Associated Press writers Rukmini Callimachi in Dakar, Senegal and Saleh Mwanamilongo in Washington contributed to this report.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/congo-fires-army-chief-rebel-seizure-goma-104138697.html
earth day timothy leary jonathan frid pujols watchmen hitch justin beiber
Everything You Need to Know About Black Friday and Cyber Monday
Here's Your Black Friday Survival Toolkit
Will you be braving the crowds and parking lot traffic to score exclusive deals on this year's biggest day for in-store shopping? If so, you'll need a strategy and some tools to arm yourself against Black Friday shopping insanity. More ?
Give the Gift of Better Apps This Year
As you're trying to come up with great gifts for the holidays, software likely isn't the first thing that comes to mind. It can make a great gift for the right person, though, especially when they're not willing to shell out the cash themselves (as so few people are for good software). More ?
Give the Gift of Better Gadgets This Year
Who says gadgets can't make for a personal gift? No matter what your giftee's passion is-music, cooking, tech, or DIY projects-we've got great gadget gifts for every person at every price range. More ?
Give the Gift of Better Organization This Year
We're all about efficiency, and nothing makes life easier than a bit of organization. If you have a friend that could use a bit more order in their life, here are our favorite organizational gifts for home, work, and travel. More ?
Give the Gift of Home-Built Computers This Year
Know someone whose PC is feeling a little old? Build them a new one custom-fitted to their needs. Whether it's a tiny PC dedicated to playing media, a Hackintosh meant to save you money, or a beastly gaming machine, these builds will guide you to a brand new PC (or just a few upgrades for an existing one). More ?
All the Black Friday Deals: 2012
It's the biggest shopping day of the year. There are tons of deals-and not-really-deals-out there. So we combed through every one we could find, and ranked them all. More ?
How to Make a Black Friday Plan Ahead of Time and Save Yourself Some Money
Black Friday is great for getting good deals, but if you're the type that's susceptible to impulse buys, it can be a trap that actually causes you to spend more. More ?
How to Quickly Tell if a Deal Is Really a Deal on Black Friday
Black Friday deals can be amazing, but just as often, they feature a marked up retail price to make it look like they're discounted more than they are. More ?
Why Black Friday May Not Be the Best Time to Shop for Bargains
Black Friday is at the end of this week, and while there will certainly be bargains at some of your favorite retailers, they may not be the best, and they may not even be worth shopping for. More ?
The Facts Behind 14 Black Friday Myths
The team at dealnews wants to help you get the best possible price for what you want to buy, and to keep you from getting hoodwinked while you're shopping. More ?
Be a Better Shopper: How to Save Money, Make Quick Decisions, and Write Good Reviews
If you're as addicted to the internet as I am, then chances are you spend a lot of money buying things online. It might also mean that, like me, you waste time debating between two products, or hunting down the perfect deal. More ?
patricia heaton arsenic and old lace leslie varez ward solar storms uganda the parent trap
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)