All posts by duckofindeed

I like to work on art and writing and was inspired by video games and movies and other such things. I love when I find creative stories and characters, and I try to make my own. So far, I've been unsuccessful, but I'm trying.

Games That Inspire Adult Tantrums

Several posts ago, I wrote about how many video games seem to be getting easier now than in the past.  This made me think of games on the other side of the spectrum.  Not really difficult games, though, as you’d expect.  Difficult games can be good for those who like a challenge.  But, what I had in mind was games that were difficult in a bad way.  Some of us like a challenge, while others prefer games that are simpler and more relaxing.  But, I would have trouble believing anyone enjoys games that are just, well, ridiculous and unfair.  That make you toss your controller across the room and tug out all your silky locks.  And scream completely new profanities at the images on the scream that made you behave this way.  You know those kinds of games, don’t you?  Don’t feel ashamed if a game has reduced you to insanity one time or another.  It happens.  But, boy, do I despise those kinds of games.

“Donkey Kong Country Returns” is one game that automatically springs to mind.  While the old Super Nintendo “Donkey Kong Country” games could be pretty hard, they never inspired such absolute loathing as this game.  This game has moments of fun.  It looks beautiful.  But, I hate it.  I just hate it so much.  It is ridiculously hard sometimes.  You know that Super Guide I mentioned in an earlier post, that completes the level for you if it’s too hard?  While it’s silly to have a game that plays itself, I do understand why they added it.  Because some levels can’t be completed using the skills readily available to us carbon-based life forms.  But, I have a tip for you, game developers.  DON’T make the levels so hard that they can’t be completed using the skills readily available to us carbon-based life forms in the first place!  What a radical notion! Continue reading Games That Inspire Adult Tantrums

100 Theme Challenge No. 6: Break Away

(The Duck currently has a bunch of posts started but incomplete.  My brain is feeling lethargic today.  So I am posting below a recent post from my own blog until I get these posts done.  I have been writing different topics from the 100 theme challenge, and this is #6.  Behold!)

Okay, today’s 100 theme challenge topic is Break Away.  What in the world is that supposed to even mean?  When I think of those two words, I think of, well, breaking something.  Or possibly being in the grips of a kidnapper and breaking out of their hands with your swift, ninja skills!  Which luckily has not happened to me, but that is strangely on my mind when I think of this topic.  But, neither of those are good topics.  I don’t break things, and as I said, I haven’t had to “break away” from a kidnapper.  Or a duck-napper, either. Continue reading 100 Theme Challenge No. 6: Break Away

The Duck’s Personal Trials and Joys of Multiplayer Gaming

I am a solitary gamer.  I hardly ever do any multiplayer, and I have never done any online multiplayer gaming (except PC gaming once playing “Runescape” on an old computer that froze every two seconds).  Just never wanted to, plus no way am I paying to use XBox Live.  You raise the price of each game by $10, then, expect me to pay for multiplayer?  I think not!  Good day, sir!  I said good day!  But, I have done the old-fashioned multiplayer on occasion, and I did enjoy it the times I wasn’t humiliated by my opponent.  And there are times when I prefer playing against people over playing against the computer.  And so this post shall compare the duck’s positive and negative experiences with playing alone and with others. Continue reading The Duck’s Personal Trials and Joys of Multiplayer Gaming

Are Games Getting Too Easy?

Seriously, are they?  Over the years, I’ve been noticing that an increasing number of new games take less and less effort to beat nowadays.  I never have to wonder if I’ll be able to beat a new game or not.  In the past, I had many games sitting around that I needed to return to and finish.  Now, it is quite uncommon for me to start a game without being able to finish it.  When the rare game comes along that I can’t beat on my first playthrough, I’m rather surprised.  Such things never happen anymore.

I remember games definitely used to be much harder.  Back when I was playing a bunch of Super Nintendo games for the first time, I couldn’t beat any of them.  Finally, I got through “Donkey Kong Country 3”, but the second game stopped me near the end, at the stressful Castle Crush level, while the first game of the series stopped me earlier still at world number three.  It took quite some time before I was good enough to beat those games.  And to this day, I can’t beat any old “Mario” games except for “Super Mario World”, with help.  I have not beaten one game on the “Super Mario All-Stars” collection.  Not one.  Even “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past” was hard, and it wasn’t even part of the platformer genre that used to cause me so much grief.  You remember that big worm centipede boss thing where you have to hit the tail, and it keeps pushing you off the platform, forcing you to start the battle over again?  Yeah. Continue reading Are Games Getting Too Easy?

Comparing “Jak and Daxter” and “Ratchet and Clank”: Two Series Everyone Must Play

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about two of my favorite series, both of which are often compared to each other, the PlayStation exclusive series “Jak and Daxter” and “Ratchet and Clank”.  From what I can tell, these series always seem to be related to each other, likely because their developers, Naughty Dog and Insomniac respectively, have worked with each other throughout the years.  (Ever heard of the games combining “Crash Bandicoot” and “Spyro the Dragon”?)  I absolutely adore both of these series, as they are a lot of fun, while also combining great characters and interesting stories, along with absolutely fantastic voice acting, and I thought I’d discuss how these two series compare to each other in several different categories.  But first, a quick summary of each series.

The “Jak and Daxter” series started off as a fantasy platformer in “The Precursor Legacy”.  Here we meet our heroes, Jak and Daxter.  The game shows how Daxter, originally a bucktoothed human, fell into Dark Eco and got turned into an ottsel (half otter, half weasel).  Then, it follows their adventures to try to get Dax turned back to normal.  It was a great game, consisting of exploring interesting locations, meeting funny characters, and collecting a bunch of Precursor Orbs and Power Cells to progress through the huge, open world of the game.  The game emphasized the use of Eco, a substance Jak can channel, that could do different things depending on the color.  Then, the series drastically changed in “Jak II”, with our heroes going a couple hundred years into the future.  Ever since, the series has become more serious and dark, while still retaining a great sense of humor.  There is more emphasis on guns and less on Eco, though Light and Dark Eco now play greater roles in the story. Continue reading Comparing “Jak and Daxter” and “Ratchet and Clank”: Two Series Everyone Must Play

The Duck Discusses the GCN, PS2, and XBox Generation: Part 3-The Second Station of Play

And now we come to part three of my posts on the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and XBox generation of consoles.  I saved my favorite one for last, the PS2.  Not only is it my favorite console of that generation, but it is my favorite console of all time.  This was actually my very first non-Nintendo console, and the only thing I regret is not buying it sooner.  The PS2 has some of my favorite series, including “Jak and Daxter”, “Kingdom Hearts”, and “Ratchet and Clank”, along with “Final Fantasy” (which is not my top favorite, but I still like it a great deal, as well).  This console seemed to just have a great collection of really fun, really unique games, and I fell in love with it pretty fast.  Now I shall list the very many pros and the very few cons (if there are any) of the PS2. Continue reading The Duck Discusses the GCN, PS2, and XBox Generation: Part 3-The Second Station of Play

The Duck Discusses the GCN, PS2, and XBox Generation: Part 2-The Box

Hello, the Duck is back to discuss the next console of the GCN, XBox, and PS2 generation, the hefty, yet powerful XBox.  This console was the very first video game console made by Microsoft and so the brand is a relative newcomer.  While the console, by virtue of its newness, did not feature classic series that had been around for a while like other consoles, it still gained quite a following, probably helped greatly by the fact that it had the extremely popular “Halo” series.  And now I present you with a little list of pros and cons of the XBox.  (I used Wikipedia for a little extra information.) Continue reading The Duck Discusses the GCN, PS2, and XBox Generation: Part 2-The Box