Iron Man 2 Poster Revealed!

Two words: HOLY SHIT.

Devon's Top 15 Video Games (of My Life)

I just finished reading Game Informer's Top 200 issue, on stands now, (you can see all the different variations of the cover here) where they listed what they deemed to be the Top 200 games of all time. Now, while my own personal choices show up here and there on the list, I was really more surprised than anything to see what order Game Informer had most of these games in. Suffice to say, when their Top 3 games are all 20+ years old, I start to wonder just what the point of this list was. Did they write it for themselves, based off their own personal beliefs and ideas, or did they write the list simply to pander to the hoard of self-proclaimed gamers who buy up most of their issues? End result: I didn't personally feel like I agreed with their rankings, so naturally like any other blogger, I decided to just do my own. Now, before I start the countdown, I want to preface it by saying that YES, I know a lot of you won't agree with my rankings either, and I wouldn't expect you to. These picks are based solely on what I believe to be is the fundamental root of a gamer's enjoyment. Excitement + Time spent playing + memories. So, without further ado, I present to you oh humble reader, my personal Top 15 games I have ever played.

15. Kid Chameleon (Sega Genesis)
Kid Chameleon (known as Chameleon Kid in Japan) is a platform game released for the Mega Drive/Genesis. The premise of the game is that the main character, Kid Chameleon, can use masks to change into different characters in order to use different abilities. I remember when my cousins got a Sega Genesis one year for Christmas, and when they weren't busy playing Sonic, I was absorbed in Kid Chameleon. The game boasts over 100 levels, and had NO SAVE FEATURE. So, I think part of the reason I remember this game is that when I first started playing it, I could never get past the 10th or so level, because I'd have to stop playing. Next time, I had to start all over. I tried to leave the Sega on once so I could come back to it, but when I returned I was distraught to find the cartridge replaced with that damn Sonic. I don't remember if I ever even beat this game... but I sure as hell had fun playing it.

14. Phantasmagoria (PC)
Phantasmagoria is a CD-ROM horror-themed video game created by Sierra On-line for the DOS and Windows platforms, and later for the Sega Saturn in Japan. The game was released in 1995 and was followed by a sequel, Phantasmagoria: A Puzzle of Flesh released in 1996. I'll go on the record and say it right now: I was way too damned young to be playing this game when it came out. I mean, I was 10, and the game features not only a rape, but 5 very, very graphic murder scenes. If you've played the game, you may remember how it resembled a shoddy hidden camera at times, and therefore looked quite real. I know I'll never forget the scene of the 4th wife being force fed cow innards through a funnel. The story was deep, the ending was climactic and exciting, and Phantasmagoria went in to the books as another success for Roberta Williams and the Sierra crew. Speaking of which....

13. King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder! (PC)
King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder! is a 1990 adventure game released by Sierra. Released in November 1990, it featured a significant improvement in graphics (achieved through the introduction of VGA into the series). It was also the first King's Quest installment to replace the typing user interface with a point-and-click user interface. In 1991, it was released on CD-ROM with Voice acting included. For me, it's really hard to include only a couple of the King's Quest games on my list, because they were the predominant video game played throughout my childhood. My first memory of a video game is of my entire family, at get-together or holiday, all huddled around my Uncle's IBM PC, playing the original games. As I grew up, the games were passed on to me, and by the time I was a pre-teen I had them all on a sweet 2 disc collector's edition, that included some VGA remakes of the original 2 games. King's Quest V, however, was the one that really got me excited and in to playing the games. My Uncle had bought it new, and we played it together, and that was where my love affair with the series began. It continued with...

12. King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow (PC)
King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow is the sixth installment in the King's Quest series of adventure games produced by Sierra Entertainment. Written by Roberta Williams and Jane Jensen, KQVI is widely recognized as the high point in the series for its in-depth plot, landmark 3D graphic introduction movie (created by Kronos Digital Entertainment), and professional voice acting. King's Quest VI was the game that really, truly brought me in to the fold as a fan of the series. Literally from the moment you begin the game you're immersed in this beautiful world full of characters and creatures. I'll never forget the first time I came up from the beach, took a left in to town, and heard the old hobo shout "OLD LAMPS FOR NEW, OLD LAMPS... FOR NEW." If you know me, ask me to do my impression. I've been told it's quite good, haha. I spent all the free time I had playing this game (pretty sure I had to bust out a manual to finish it) and last spring I managed to get my hands on a copy for WinXP, and I breezed right through it. It was crazy how 16 years later I still remembered what to do. One thing is for sure, the team lead by Roberta and Ken Williams at Sierra helped me to become the fan of adventure games I am today.

11. Smackdown / Raw vs. Smackdown Series (Playstation)
Now, I have to start by saying that I no longer watch wrestling or play wrestling games, a decision made when the product on television went to crap, but back in the days that I did, every November meant one thing. I was getting Smackdown for my birthday. From the first Smackdown game on PSOne to the newer Raw vs. Smackdown games for X-Box and PS3, I would play these games until I couldn't keep my eyes open. I remember that some nights when I was having a hard time getting to sleep, I'd go in to the always awesome create-a-character mode, and eventually by the time I was working on my move list, I'd be ready to crash. Of all the annual series repeaters out there, I'd go so far as to say Smackdown works the hardest at always getting better. The folks at THQ listen to what their fans want, and each edition of the game is a little bit better than the last. I only wish the TV counterpart were as good.

10. Goldeneye 007 (N64)
GoldenEye 007 is a 1997 first-person shooter video game developed by Rare for the Nintendo 64 video game console, based on the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye. I'm pretty sure Goldeneye was the first of two games I got with my Nintendo 64 (NINTENDO 64!!!!) one Christmas, and subsequently became the only First Person Shooter game I've ever enjoyed enough to finish. I've never claimed to like FPS games, but there was just something different about how Goldeneye handled itself that still to do this day makes it the only FPS I have no qualms with playing.... and that's saying a lot.

9. Final Fantasy IX (PSOne)
Final Fantasy IX is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) as the ninth installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2000 and is the third and last numbered Final Fantasy game for Sony's PlayStation. The game introduced new features to the series, such as the "Active Time Event", "Mognet", and a revamped equipment and skill system. Of the three Final Fantasy games to come out on PSOne, this one took a turn away from humanized characters, and instead showed us a misty world, called Gaia, where the people were slightly more cartoonish and animated. The game had a fantastic plot and at the time some really eye-popping graphics. This was another game that I played for hours and hours (I believe it was 4 discs long) and in the end I definitely had a sense of accomplishment. This game is definitely on my list of PSOne games I'd like the chance to play again.

8. Dragon Age: Origins (X-Box 360)
Dragon Age: Origins (also known as Dragon Age) is a computer role-playing game developed by BioWare's Edmonton studio. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2009. I just finished playing Dragon Age like a week ago, maybe two weeks ago, and I've still got the itch to play it more. Fortunately, DA:O offers 8 different story paths you can take during play, so I would have to say I will most definitely be playing it again, and again, and again. Featuring some of the best voice acting I've heard in games, an incredible land full of interesting people and astonishing creatures, and one helluva finale... Dragon Age: Origins left me excited about the future of the title, as well as wanting to spend more time with this one. I think any developer would be glad to hear that said about their game.

7. Final Fantasy VIII (PSOne)
Final Fantasy VIII is a console role-playing game released for the PlayStation in 1999 and for Windows-based personal computers in 2000. It was developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) as the Final Fantasy series' eighth title, doing away with magic point-based spell-casting and the first title to consistently use realistically proportioned characters. You'll be surprised to find that Final Fantasy VII isn't on this list, and you can blame Final Fantasy VIII for that. Final Fantasy VIII was the first of the titles I played, and by the time I was finished I was so spoiled by it, that I could not ever find a way to get in to FFVII. I tried, I really did, but I just couldn't ever get the hang of VII after playing VIII. So essentially, I thought FFVIII was so good that it ruined anything that came before it.

6. Fable 2 (X-Box 360)
Fable II is an action role-playing game developed by Lionhead and published by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox 360. The sequel to Fable and Fable: The Lost Chapters, it was originally announced in 2006 and released in October 2008. I can't imagine that I haven't spent more time playing this game than any other. I know it to be fact... between my two complete games, I've probably clocked in around 80 hours on this game, which to me, says a lot about the game itself. That's more than enough value for what I paid for it. Fable 2 is probably the most customizable and enjoyable adventure game out for X-Box 360. You can get married, have kids, own properties, own businesses, and even become King of the land. The story is packed and really satisfying. The graphics are gorgeous, and the gameplay itself is just plain fun.

5. Batman: Arkham Asylum (X-Box 360)
Batman: Arkham Asylum is an action-adventure stealth video game based on DC Comics' Batman for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. It was developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Eidos Interactive in conjunction with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Comics. The end of summer was ruled by one thing for me, and that one thing was Batman: Arkham Asylum. FINALLY a good, fun, well designed Batman game. This was something myself and I'm sure many other Batman fans had been waiting a long time for. It would be hard for me to covey my love for this game in a couple sentences, fortunately I reviewed it.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Gamecube)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is an action-adventure game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development, and published by Nintendo for the Wii and GameCube video game consoles. It is the thirteenth installment in The Legend of Zelda series. I should start by saying that I own the Gamecube version of this game, and would have it no other way. I'm sure it's all fine and dandy on the Wii, but I like my Zelda from a seated position, not jumping and slashing around my living room. Twilight Princess plays a lot like Ocarina of Time, which at points makes it feel like a sequel, when in truth it's a complete stand alone game. The game was hailed by 1UP.com, CVG, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Game Informer, GamesRadar, IGN, The Washington Post and numerous other publications as the greatest Zelda game ever made, and won many Game of the Year awards, which were all deserved. It truly is a remarkable game and has one of the best stories I've ever played through, but it doesn't compare to...

3. The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time (N64)
The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time is an action-adventure video game developed by Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis and Development division for the Nintendo 64 video game console. Originally developed for the Nintendo 64DD peripheral, the game was instead released on a 256-megabit cartridge, which was the largest-capacity cartridge Nintendo produced at that time. Ocarina of Time has been regarded by many critics and fans as one of the greatest video games of all time, and I would have to agree. This would be the other game I got along with my Nintendo 64 that one Christmas, and from the moment I opened the box I didn't stop playing until I had finished. Thankfully I was on Christmas break and could do this! For the first time fans of the Zelda franchise were able to see and play in a completely three dimensional version of Hyrule. The game had such an interesting element, in that you could only do certain things as an adult Link, or as a child Link, and it was up to you to know when to travel in time in order to accomplish your tasks. Fans of the games are still to this day arguing over which temple was easiest or which was hardest (Water temple what?). Long story short, this was the game that revolutionized the way we played Zelda, and therefore instantly became a classic.

2. Chrono Cross (PSOne)
Chrono Cross is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Sony PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Chrono Trigger, which was released in 1995 for the SNES. I never played Chrono Trigger, and I didn't care either, because for 41 minutes and 45 seconds, I was wrapped up in this game. Over the course of 3 days on Christmas break, while visiting family in Arkansas, I sat glued to the television in the spare bedroom playing this game. I stopped only to eat, sleep, and open presents. Hands down, if there were just one PSOne game I could play over, it would be this game. I'd even buy a PSOne right now to play this game again, and after writing all this, I may just do that. You play the character Serge, a teenager who gets transported to an alternate dimension where he's been dead for 10 years. The game had a total of 45 different people you could have in your party throughout the game, though you'd have to do several play-throughs to try them all. The story is long and features a lot of twists and turns. I'm pretty sure this is the only game to ever make me shed a tear. Chrono Cross has never gotten enough publicity that I was aware of. I don't know, maybe it's just me...

...and that brings me to my number one favorite game of all time, a game that truly changed my perception of video games and what they could bring to my life... and that game is....

1. Final Fantasy X (Playstation 2)
Final Fantasy X is a console role-playing game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) as the tenth title in the Final Fantasy series. It was released in 2001 for Sony's PlayStation 2. The game marks the Final Fantasy series' transition from entirely pre-rendered backdrops to fully three-dimensional areas, and is also the first in the series to feature voice acting. Final Fantasy X replaces the Active Time Battle (ATB) system with a new Conditional Turn-Based Battle (CTB) system, and uses a new leveling system called the "Sphere Grid". Set in the fantasy world of Spira, the game's story centers around a group of adventurers and their quest to defeat a rampaging monster known as "Sin". The player character is Tidus, a blitzball star who finds himself in Spira after his home city of Zanarkand is destroyed by Sin. During the game, Tidus, along with several others, aids the summoner Yuna on her pilgrimage to destroy Sin.

I don't even know where to start with this game. It's epic in every sense of the word. The story is incredible, the art design is beautiful, the characters are so life-like it's ridiculous. The cut scenes are breath taking. The action is so much fun. The Blitzball minigame is addictive and a helluva lotta fun to play. This was also the first Final Fantasy game to not feature a map for when you travel around the world. In this game, all towns and locations are linear, and you travel by foot or airship from one to the other. This allows for real time battles in the field that you actually have the option to run away from. This theme would repeat itself in Final Fantasy X-2 (the first ever direct sequel to a Final Fantasy game) as well as in Final Fantast XII. The thing that gets this game to the top of my list is hands down the story. Never in any other game have I felt as passionate about the mission I am playing as I did in this game. The revolutionized gameplay made it so easy to completely immerse yourself in the plot, and when the game's climactic finish came to a close, I felt like a chapter of MY life had just ended. It's just that good. I could go on for an hour about this game, but at this point I've already spent over 3 just writing this article.

I hope reading this makes you want to get in to gaming, or back in to gaming, or whatever. Go out and see if you can get your hands on these games if you haven't played them, since that's really the whole point of this. If you played these games, and agree, or even disagree with my assessment, please sound off in the comments and let me know. I'm interested to hear what others think about this subject. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have Assassin's Creed 2 to be playing.

Credit: GameInformer for the cover, and Wikipedia for the game intros.

Video Game Review: Assassin's Creed 2

Set in 15th century Italy, Assassin's Creed 2 picks up right where AC1 left off. You resume the role of Desmond Cooper, a man trapped in a facility that uses computers to place people back in time, to help shape the future. This time around, Desmond is placed inside his ancestor, Ezio Auditore. Ezio, the son of Italian nobility. He is a man whose family and life is demolished before the player's eyes as events force him to become an assassin who scours Italy for conspiracy clues and rightful victims of his vengeance.

When playing Assassin's Creed 2 you'll pretty much figure out from the get-go that Ubisoft listened to fans of the first games, as they have put a ton of work in to the gameplay and control mechanics. Gone are the glitches and bugs that made it much more difficult to pull off a kill. Ezio is more likely to sway and drop to his knees than he is to fall. You can free-run for minutes without ever having to stop, or at least once you get used to the landscape... which isn't easy to do, considering how huge everything is. The scale with which the developers modeled these classic Italian cities is astonishing. Venice, in particular, is a real marvel. The city is alive, colorful, and bustling at every corner. Fortunately, unlike the last game, Ezio is not harmed by water, so you will have fun diving and hiding in the canals. Adding even more excitement and fun to the mix, is how AC2 includes a bevy of real historical characters and events. You'll find a close ally in Leonardo DaVinci as well as the Medici family. It's fun to see what role Ezio plays in shaping history, or rather what role you play.

The story of Ezio is only briefly interrupted by the story of Desmond. Caught in the battle between Templars and Assassins he must make choices that will mold his own future, as well as the past. Suffice to say, there's a lot going on in this game, but it's very easy to keep up with. The action is great, and a lot of fun. You get a nice selections of weapons and armor, and the ability to customize and change up your appearance is fun. Ezio is left a Villa, and throughout the game the Villa will make money deposited to Ezio. As you go along, you can make upgrades to buildings in the surrounding village, as well as purchase art from all over the region to make it more attractive. Each city has a set of tailors, blacksmiths, and art dealers. Also, you'll find Doctors on almost every corner, who will not only heal you on the spot, but will also supply you with medicine you can take along with you. Each city's tailor has a variet of dyes you can buy for your clothing. The selection the blacksmiths carry progresses as you do throughout the game.

Assassin's Creed 2 boasts 200 side quests you will have to complete before getting that 100% achievement. These are comprised mostly of assassination contracts, codex pages, courier jobs, races, and assassin's tombs. The assassin's tombs really stand out as something you'll enjoy. Throughout the game there are 12 assassin's tombs. 6 of them contain special keys that unlock armor hidden in your Villa (Altair's armor, actually) while the other 6 contain large treasures. These are the places you really get to have fun with the free-run technology. Most of them will have you climbing, running, swinging, and climbing some more before you get your loot.

Overall, Assassin's Creed 2 took a great idea and premise from the first game (it's a direct sequel) and made it much, much better. The average play time clocks in between 15 and 20 hours, depending on how much time you spend on sidequests. I believe you can get through it in about 10 hours if you just stick to the story... but you'll have no fun doing that. Assassin's Creed 2 is available now, and would make a great Christmas present! Check it out! Played Assassin's Creed 2 yet? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Happy Thanksgiving from Heybuddyreviews

With Thanksgiving being tomorrow, it only seemed appropriate to post this trailer. Many of us were fortunate to see Grindhouse in theaters. For those that didn't, you missed out on an amazing theater experience that has yet to be recaptured on DVD.

Currently, most of the fake trailers that played during the screening are only available online. Eli Roth's Thanksgiving trailer was one of my favorites.


Anyways, enjoy your holiday, and be safe in your travels.

Movie Review: Twilight: New Moon

The second installment in Stephanie Meyer’s popular vampire re-imagining, now directed by Chris Weitz (About a Boy, The Golden Compass), is only slightly better than the first film. In New Moon, Bella’s has nightmares of growing older as her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, never ages. During a birthday party at Edward’s house (a house hold of vampire’s) Bella accidently cuts her finger (a possible nod to Bram Stoker’s original story). Her finger bleeds, and the Cullen’s find it hard to resist her. Edward soon fears that she is in harm’s way by being with them, so he abandons her. With Edward gone, Bella finds it difficult to carry on a normal life. The loss of Edward is not just emotionally painful but also physically as well. Bella soon finds that by continuously endangering herself, she will have visions of Edward. With Edward gone, Bella’s long time friend Jacob moves closer. A relationship develops, but Jacob also has a secret much like Edward. And with Bella not completely over Edward, a love triangle ensues.

Much of the audience seemed to love the film, and comments were made about how more true to the source New Moon is. In comparison to the first film, New Moon is certainly more cinematic in its screen space and color pallet. There are a lot more reds. Bella is given a shade of complexion to balance against Edward. The first one was also really corny and cheese at times, and that has been brought down a lot in the new film. The story telling has defiantly gotten better.

However, that still doesn’t make for a great film. It seems that New Moon is like The Watchmen, a film adaptation that is so committed to the original source that movie strangles itself and isn’t allowed to breath. The dialogue scenes are very dry in New Moon. The camera doesn’t step back to give breathing room for the actors, and the blocking is the standard wide, medium, close-up – but the camera never falls back to wide. If you think that I am being too critical, please realize that this is an important element in visual story telling. Take note of the dialogue scenes in The Dark Knight and you’ll see an array of camera angel combinations, that are not always the over the shoulder and reverse shots.

One of the better, and more romantic, moments in New Moon is a scene were Jacob and Bella (who are just friends) exit a movie theater. In a wide shot, Jacob (ever so slightly) grabs Bella’s hand, just like any boy would try to do when on a date with a girl. Immediately, a quiver from every girl in the audience shot across the room. However, almost nothing happened in the overly tight and claustrophobic shots of near kisses with the same two characters. Now, this is just the dialogue stuff. In any other scene of the film, the camera is working the screen pallet and does a great job of illustrating long passages of time and slowing down some Werewolf/Vampire fighting scene almost replicating 300.

Though, this movie is a step above the first one, I felt that the first one was a lot more romantic. The romance in this film is nearly dead for the better part of the movie, and barely comes back near the end, like a last minute field goal to win the game. It made me wonder, if perhaps a female director (like before) would have be better at the helm when telling a story about a young girl, from a young girls perspective, and written by a woman. This is one film where I think that more of the poetic narration from the novels should have been have translated to the film. There are small amounts of voice over in this film, and it actually serves its purpose well and could have been implemented more.

This movie by no means sucks, but it isn’t that great either. It is a step above the first film, but not by much.

Grade: C+

Bye Bye Oprah?

(CNN) -- Oprah Winfrey will announce on Friday's "Oprah Winfrey Show" that she is ending her talk show, said a spokesman for Winfrey's Harpo Productions.

Harpo spokesman Don Halcombe told CNN the final show will air in September 2011.

Movie Review: Up in the Air

Following the success of Jason Reitman’s Thank You for Smoking and Juno, comes Up in the Air. Here, George Clooney plays Ryan Bingham, a man whose job it is to fly around the country and fire people. Bingham, spends almost every day of the year doing this. He loves to fly, travel, and emjoys the airport so much he considers it home. Bingham carries little baggage, i.e. wife, family, house. Etc. In fact he hosts seminars to help people remove baggage from their lives. Vera Farmiga (The Departed) plays Alex, a sexy and energetic traveler, who like Bingham has little baggage in her life. Bingham and Alex soon develope a long distance relationship that for both of them, works just fine. Then along, comes Anna Kendrick (Twilight), fresh out of college and proposes to Bingham’s employers that with today’s internet and video streaming technology there is no need to fly everyone around the nation in order to fire people face to face. But rather, this can do it online in one central location. The company then decides to ground Bingham, and for a man who loves to be up in the air as much as him, being grounded is the worst possible scenario. The irony of the film is that in today’s economy where businesses are cutting back employers by the hundreds, Bingham’s company is flourishing.

The Script is really well put together and the dialogue is spot on. Suffice to say, I absolutely loved this film. Clooney embodies his character very well and Vera Farmiga is both sexy and smart. The chemistry for the two characters is perfect, and I thought the film was highly romantic. Then to top it off, Anna Kendrick delivers an above and beyond performance. Her work in the Twilight series is only a fraction of the talent that is seen in this film. She could easily be nominated for her performance, and with the Best Picture category allowing ten spots, I see this film making it into that category as well.

What I also love about this film is how it is about adults, and they act like adults without being subject to over the hill status. Recently, film like Ghost of Girlfriends Past have adults falling in love, but their actions are goofy and over the top. They act like immature kids, instead of spontaneous adults. Those films become corny and boring. Up in the Air doesn’t have that, and instead is both romantic and humanistic.

However, this film isn’t cleverly funny at every line of dialogue like Juno. Not to say that this film isn’t funny, but it is not the general mood of the film. People expecting Thank You for Smoking and Juno, may be disappointed. But what the film offers is something fresh and new from Reitman, and hopefully he continues to explore new terrain as his career continues.

Again, I loved the film. One of my favorite this year. I saw an early advanced screening, and I hope to see it again in theaters. It opens on Christmas day.

Grade: A

New Music Review: "Them Crooked Vultures"

If you haven't heard of the band Them Crooked Vultures yet you are missing out on a good time. For those who don't know the band members are Dave Grohl, Joshua Homme and John Paul Jones. With a line up like this the term super-group has been thrown around in the media and among fans out there. Let me just tell you that this group is beyond that. You can tell each artist's contribution to the album. Lyrically and musically it sounds a lot like Homme's other band Queens of the Stone Age but if you listen closer you can hear the influences of John Paul Jones in Zeppelin style riffs and his relentless bass playing. The drumming by Grohl is reminiscent of his raw energy that Nirvana was known for. Grohl is a hard working musician and talented enough to play any instrument but his drumming is unparallelled. When you listen to tracks such as Elephants or Reptiles you feel as if the song is somewhat familiar to you. They have the feeling of Led Zeppelin songs but still feel unique and fresh. This album is not just the same old stuff from washed up musicians as we've heard from past super-groups. Audioslave was a fantastic group and as good as their first album was they didn't sound like a group until their last release.

By contrast, Them Crooked Vultures sounds like a band that has been playing together for more than a decade. In a time where many bands sound similar it is refreshing to hear something that is its own monster and not a rip off of other bands. Listen to the first track No One Loves Me & Neither Do I. The timing change is amazing and the song has a definite groove that makes you want to jam out anywhere.

Grade: A

New Music Review: Adam Lambert's "For Your Entertainment"

A few weeks ago the world caught their first glimpse of the artwork for the debut album from Adam Lambert, titled "For Your Entertainment." This week we finally get our hands and ears on the music! Oddly enough, Amazon lists the album as being released on November 23rd, but a few Best Buys seemed to have it on sale yesterday. Bestbuy.com on the other hand lists the 23rd... so who knows. Regardless, Hey Buddy Reviews got a hand on an advance copy and I am more than happy to give a run down of the tracks... some hot, some not.

The album, to say the least, is a mixture of musical genres and thematic overtures, cascading from one song to the next, each one a little bit different than the last. With "For Your Entertainment", Adam has channeled the likes of David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, and maybe even Lady Gaga, while still staying true to himself and his artistic view. It's clear from the opening lines of the album that these songs are unabashedly Adam, regardless of the input from a slew of big-name producers. The liner notes read like a veritable who's who in the industry, including Lady GaGa, Greg Wells, Max Martin, Linda Perry, RedOne, Ryan Tedder, Sam Sparro, Kara DioGuardi and Pink. The album features 'Soaked', written by Matthew Bellamy of the band Muse and 'Music Again' written by Justin Hawkins from The Darkness. Lambert also co-wrote four of the songs on the album: 'Strut', 'Aftermath', 'Pick U Up' and 'Broken Open'. The album also includes the hit single 'Time For Miracles' from the new movie 2012.

Like most album, there are a few songs that one could take or leave, and this is true of "For Your Entertainment" as well, but even the take it or leave it songs aren't THAT bad. I think a lot of it has to do with the expectations I had going in. I really expected this to be an up-beat non stop dance-a-thon, but what I got instead was, like I mentioned before, a mixture of things. There's something for everyone. Club hits, classic rock inspired ballads, and even weird experimental electronica. I'm pretty sure the sitar from Idol makes a reappearance.

Choice songs:

"If I Had You": Okay, this song... this is the repeater, and when I say that I mean this is the one that as soon as it's over you hit the back button and start it all over. It sounds like a club hit of the 80s mixed with modern electronic and a little glam rock thrown in. If this song isn't a single, I'll be shocked.

"Pick U Up": This one is the one you'll be singing along with at the top of your lungs, or at least that's how it is for me.. ;/

"Music Again": The first song on the album, written by Justin Hawkins, who you may know from the now defunct band The Darkness, is a falsetto happy head-banger that really sets the appropriate tone for the album. Within one or two listens you'll already be hooked on the chorus, and when the song is all over you'll be wanting more, which I suppose is how most album openers should be.

"For Your Entertainment": The title song and first single from the album is that club hit everyone was expecting. It's light, it's fun, and it's sexy. What more could you want? Well, it's also catchy, clever, and it makes it hard to sit still while playing.

"Sleepwalker": This song just further convinces me that anything Ryan Tedder puts his hand to turns to gold. Sleepwalker slows things down a bit, and sounds like what you'd expect of Tedder. It's catchy for sure, there's no doubt about that. It's kind of ethereal, and almost magical sounding. It's hard to describe.

The rest of the album is really good too, so don't think it's just these few that are. I'm on the 3rd listen through this morning while writing this, and I'll say this: Upon first listen yesterday I was a bit quick to tweet my disappointment, but after a couple more listens, and setting the track listing to it's proper order in my iPod, the album really did grow on me. You can stream the entire album right now on Myspace, or maybe if you're lucky you can find a Best Buy selling it. "For Your Entertainment" officially goes on sale November 23rd.

Video Game Preview: Final Fantasy XIII

First, before anything else, watch THIS video:



Now, wipe that single tear that just ran down your cheek away. Wow! So we finally get a US and European street date for Final Fantasy XIII, and it's March, 9th, 2010! That's not so bad, in fact it's a lot earlier than everyone was expecting. Here's a short preview of what's to come!

We now know that "under the rule of the Sanctum, the sky city of Cocoon knew a long and prosperous peace, but the Fal'Cie from the "lowerworld" of Pulse awaken from their slumber and curse humans, turning them into the I'Cie, the magic-wielding servants of the fal-Cie. Those branded with the mark of a I'Cie have to fulfill their Focus or "face a fate harsher than death itself." "After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins," according to the press release. "We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise – FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations," said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc.

"Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010."

I've played every Final Fantasy game there has been, but honestly I don't think I have ever been so excited for one. I mean, I was pretty damn excited for Final Fantasy X... but did you watch that video?? The scenes running across the fields or riding the Chocobo... just wow. Even more exciting is that Square Enix has gone even further this time, re-rendering the mouths from the original version, so that they sync up with the English voices coming out of them. For the first time ever they have an all American cast doing the voicework, and have even gone as far as to sign a deal with JRecords star Leona Lewis, to use her song "My Hands" as the official theme for the game. It's a decent enough song... I'm interested to see how it plays in to the game. Oh, and did I mention the game ships on 3 discs?? EPIC! So there it is readers, Final Fantasy has a US release date and it's sooner than expected. Thoughts? Reactions? Let us know what you think in the comments section!

Movie Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats

The Men Who Stare at Goats, which opened last Friday, stars Ewan McGregor as a semi-washed up reporter who meets Lyn Cassady (played by George Clooney), a psychic soldier who is a drifting reminisce of a government program whereby the soldiers were trained to fight psychically with their minds. Jeff Bridges plays his former commander, Bill Django, a hippy who experimented with blending hallucinogenic tripping into the US Army, and has one of the better performances and gags in the movie.

On the surface the film isn’t that bad. The concept, inspired by true events, is a good starting point for political and armed force satire. There are quite a few funny parts and a bit or two that are hilarious.

Unfortunately, it is not enough, and really the film does not have enough drive and substance to carry an entire film. Which is surprising to say, because based on the trailer the film looks original and exciting, but it isn’t. The pacing is a little off and the narrative is a little scraggily. There is also, probably, one of the worst voice over narrations in American cinema.

Voice over narrations (V.O.) are either both amazing and well done (Goodfellas, Casino, Adaptation) or they strangle the narrative (Paparazzi, or the original cut of Blade Runner) and are often only there because the film is poorly constructed and in post-production a V.O. was added in an attempt to better the film. In The Men Who Stare at Goat, the V.O. hurts the film considerably.

The film is a really a let down. From the trailer, the movie appears to be exciting and slightly original (the title certainly alludes to something crafty and original). However the film is more rote then originated, and in the end falls short, not just of expectation, but also of being a decent film.

Grade C -

Video Game Review: Dragon Age Origins (X-Box 360)

I know a lot of people this week are going to be hunkered down playing Modern Warfare 2, but for those of us who like our wars set in medieval times, we have the awesome new RPG epic from Bioware, Dragon Age. Set in the ancient land of Ferelden, Dragon Age: Origins has you assume one of 6 roles, each with it's own unique backstory and opening segment. You're given the opportunity to customize your character right off the bat, making him whatever you want, from Dwarf to Elf to Mage to Human.. each with varying classes and fighting styles.

The story overall is excellent, rich, and very deep. Each different character type has it's own beginning, but the stories all merge in or around the same place. However, within Dragon Age you make your own decisions and with every decision you make you must face the consequences. If your companions don't agree, they will let it be known, and if you push them far enough they will leave your side and abandon you in your travels. You can have up to 3 companions at a time, and they are interchangeable from your camp site. I have to recommend keeping a mage for healing benefits and at times a good rogue to pick locks and steal. Just keep in mind that all of your actions, in one way or another, have consequences, some good, some not so good.

Like most RPGs you level up via experience points, and these can be obtained by killing villains, completing tasks, and having conversations that pertain to the game. All of that aside, the real fun in Dragon Age comes from the epic (I know, I know) story line and the great battle system. It looks a little worse on X-Box than it does on PS3 or PC, but X-Box has low loading times and from what I've read less glitches... but I mean, it's X-Box so whatever. It's just better.

Bottom line, I've put almost 18 hours in to the game so far (I can't freaking put it down) and I haven't even licked what's to come. If you're looking for a good story, fun play, and wait for it.... EPIC battles (I'm talking to you, Dragons) then this is a game you should pick up. Dragon Age: Origins is out everywhere for X-Box, PS3 and PC. Check it out!