Blog Poll #17 could get interesting...it asks, "What Would You Like to See Next?" in reference to what game you would like to see me record next.
I will say right now, I may or may not do what is decided in the poll. I had a few in mind, and then figured what the heck..I want to know what YOU would like to see.
Note that I do not list Skylanders 3DS...I think it would likely win in a land slide at this point...I am not ruling out recording it...in fact, once this poll closes, I might take the top 3-4 and toss in Skylanders 3DS to see how it fairs. The big issue is I will have to record it with a camera, there is no way for me to capture 3DS gameplay. Not only is that awkward, but there could be moments where you see more of a glare than the gameplay etc. But we will cross that bridge when we get there.
Here is a quick run down on the 10 nominees:
Kirby's Epic Yarn: I've done 2P up to maybe level 2...so it would basically be a blind playthrough...it is fun, has unique graphics, and I know several of you are fans of the series.
Mario Kart Wii: This is something I intended to already have done...some of my first posted videos were hand held cameras filming victory scenes on MKWii. I just played it again this past weekend for the first time in months.
Mario Strikers Charged: Something different, and something a few might enjoy. I've played 2P, WiFi, and solo matches...should be easy to get back i the groove.
Nerf N-Strike. I ordered this in right before Skylanders came. I've heard it is horrible, but I got it for $15 or so...This would be totally blind and from what I hear the game goes pretty quick.
Paper Mario: A friend downloaded this and had me help on a level...it is a classic and will never get old. It would be 99% Blind.
Skyward Sword: I got it on release day and have yet to really play it. A friend and I went thru the opening scene and got to where we are looking for the missing Loftwing...which is probably about 0.25% complete...consider it a BLIND playthrough. I think this game will be a lot of fun, bu some hard core Zelda fans might not like the blind approach.
Super Mario All Stars (Wii): Pure Nostalgia. I know this would prob get the fewest hits/views, but man I'd enjoy it. This is what I grew up with...and now it has remastered graphics and you can SAVE your progress. You have no clue what life was like as a gamer back in the day...got to World 8? Screw it up and you are done my friend. Bed time? Leave the console on overnight and you'll wake up to a buzz at 3 AM from your frozen console. Oh the memories...the agonizing memories...
Super Mario World: Possibly my favorite game and most certainly one of legendary status. I haven't played it in about 2 years, but I once knew the terrain like the back of my hand. I was the 7 year old that everyone had come over to "find the other exit" etc. I could literally play this game 20 years from now and it would be like the early 90s...good times!
Wii Sports Resort: Island Flyover: I love this segment of the game. I would basically come in on a new save file and go for all the stamps. This game is one of the reasons I wanted to start recording/uploading.
Wii Sports Resort: Swordplay: I would start this with the Swordplay Showdown...quite frankly because it is awesome. Where else can you slice and dice your way thru thousands of Miis? I am not sure if I'd record the other modes, but does it matter? Showdown is where it is at!
Well that about wraps it up...a little snip-it on each of the nominees if it helps you decide. I'm a big fan of walkthrus, but in all honesty, I also like recording "blind" playthroughs. There is something about a new game and experiencing it all first hand as you see it unfold. You might look like an idiot once a few people have played or get nasty comments from time to time saying "#*&@$ noob!" but who cares? Everyone was new to it at some point in time. In fact, if I am doing a blind playthrough, or really want to enjoy a game, I do not watch any gameplay footage (unless it is needed).
I do preview gameplay before making a purchase on some stuff, but I enjoy the "new" aspect as it can only be had once.
Well, go ahead and cast your votes...this poll will close Mach 6th, 2012 at 11:59 PM CST. Remember, I may not play the winner...I could play last place, something totally different, or go right down the list...It just all depends how it pans out.
Thanks for voting and let me know what you want to see the most!
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Blog Poll #16: Which Version of Spyro is Your Favorite?
Blog Poll #16 tackles the tough question of "Which Version of Spyro is Your Favorite?" I can see this one being really tight or a blowout...
This one was on the agenda, but also goes out as a special request poll to SkylanderGirl87...I guess brilliant minds think alike :-)
Spyro, in regular form, is of course the famed dragon that had a host of games where he was the primary character, not just 1 of 32. He came with virtually all Starter Packs (Wii, PS3, XBOX, PC/MAC) so he is widely available and owned by most.
Dark Spyro is possibly less owned than Legendary Spyro (thanks to the recent re-release of the TRU Exclusive Triple Pack) and is only available (outside the second hand market) in the 3DS Starter Pack.
Legendary Spyro is highly sought after and boasts increased stats.
This should make for a pretty interesting race...will people vote on what they've got, what they want, aesthetics, value, or simply personal preference? We'll have to wait and see. I'm looking forward to knowing how this one pans out!
The poll will close March 6th, 2012 at 11:59 PM CST!
This one was on the agenda, but also goes out as a special request poll to SkylanderGirl87...I guess brilliant minds think alike :-)
Spyro, in regular form, is of course the famed dragon that had a host of games where he was the primary character, not just 1 of 32. He came with virtually all Starter Packs (Wii, PS3, XBOX, PC/MAC) so he is widely available and owned by most.
Dark Spyro is possibly less owned than Legendary Spyro (thanks to the recent re-release of the TRU Exclusive Triple Pack) and is only available (outside the second hand market) in the 3DS Starter Pack.
Legendary Spyro is highly sought after and boasts increased stats.
This should make for a pretty interesting race...will people vote on what they've got, what they want, aesthetics, value, or simply personal preference? We'll have to wait and see. I'm looking forward to knowing how this one pans out!
The poll will close March 6th, 2012 at 11:59 PM CST!
Blog Poll #15: Magic Element Upgrade Paths
Hey Everyone,
Last week I opened up a special request poll for Daphney on Twitter regarding Double Trouble's Upgrade Path...she is actually going to select the winning path when the poll closes (2 days). Since that was on the board, I figured it was only right to start in on "what upgrade path your prefer..." for the rest of the Magic Element Skylanders.
So there you go...those 3 polls (Spyro, Voodood, and Wrecking Ball) will basically constitute the make up of this poll...I will include Double Trouble's results here as well.
This series of polls will be open 5 days so act quick to cast your pick! Once closed, I'll go down the line by Element based on the order you selected in an earlier poll.
Last week I opened up a special request poll for Daphney on Twitter regarding Double Trouble's Upgrade Path...she is actually going to select the winning path when the poll closes (2 days). Since that was on the board, I figured it was only right to start in on "what upgrade path your prefer..." for the rest of the Magic Element Skylanders.
So there you go...those 3 polls (Spyro, Voodood, and Wrecking Ball) will basically constitute the make up of this poll...I will include Double Trouble's results here as well.
This series of polls will be open 5 days so act quick to cast your pick! Once closed, I'll go down the line by Element based on the order you selected in an earlier poll.
Blog Poll #14 Results: Who is Your Favorite Gold Skylander?
Blog Poll #14, "Who is Your Favorite Gold Skylander?" wrapped up with 106 votes, 1 more than the Silver Poll. This one was very close, with a mere 12 votes separating 1st and 3rd Place! Let's take a look:
1. Chop Chop 41 Votes (38%)
2. Flameslinger 36 Votes (33%)
3. Drill Sergeant 29 Votes (27%)
Man, what a race! Chop Chop once again came out on top (Favorite Undead Element and Favorite Legendary)!! He must have used an upgraded shield to fend of Flameslinger. His 41votes in this close poll nearly matched the top vote total from the much more wide open Silver poll. Whatever it is, Chop Chop is a strong contender in seemingly any poll. I think the fact he crosses an element of a knight, with a skeleton, and just so happens to have great upgrades along with stellar defense (rare) helps propel him to the top.
Flameslinger must have had that last arrow meet Chop Chop's sheild as he finished 5 votes back. Flameslinger is a great character, nearly beat Sunburn in the Fire Element Poll, and blasted Eruptor, our Silver Winner, out of the water in that same poll. I think part of that is due to there only being 3 Fire Element Skylanders out. There are still a lot of people without Ignitor, and the speed of Flameslinger gives him an edge over Eruptor.
Drill Sergeant was at the back of the pack, again where I expected him. I do want to point out he was close. He was only 12 back of Chop Chop and 7 behind Flameslinger. Those are solid numbers for a character who hasn't gotten a lot of love. His early status as a Walmart/Sam's Club Exclusive, made him sought after and very hard to find. With activision rescinding on that mark and releasing single packs he has been easier to come by...the Triple Pack really seems to be what folks go for...as it packages DS, Whirlwind (counterpart of DS via Target exclusive), and of course the new Wave 3 Double Trouble. He is a solid character, but I would bet most Portal Masters have not put him thru the paces like Chop Chop and Flameslinger.
All in all, this Gold Medal was earned by Chop Chop! Thanks to everyone who voted!
1. Chop Chop 41 Votes (38%)
2. Flameslinger 36 Votes (33%)
3. Drill Sergeant 29 Votes (27%)
Man, what a race! Chop Chop once again came out on top (Favorite Undead Element and Favorite Legendary)!! He must have used an upgraded shield to fend of Flameslinger. His 41votes in this close poll nearly matched the top vote total from the much more wide open Silver poll. Whatever it is, Chop Chop is a strong contender in seemingly any poll. I think the fact he crosses an element of a knight, with a skeleton, and just so happens to have great upgrades along with stellar defense (rare) helps propel him to the top.
Flameslinger must have had that last arrow meet Chop Chop's sheild as he finished 5 votes back. Flameslinger is a great character, nearly beat Sunburn in the Fire Element Poll, and blasted Eruptor, our Silver Winner, out of the water in that same poll. I think part of that is due to there only being 3 Fire Element Skylanders out. There are still a lot of people without Ignitor, and the speed of Flameslinger gives him an edge over Eruptor.
Drill Sergeant was at the back of the pack, again where I expected him. I do want to point out he was close. He was only 12 back of Chop Chop and 7 behind Flameslinger. Those are solid numbers for a character who hasn't gotten a lot of love. His early status as a Walmart/Sam's Club Exclusive, made him sought after and very hard to find. With activision rescinding on that mark and releasing single packs he has been easier to come by...the Triple Pack really seems to be what folks go for...as it packages DS, Whirlwind (counterpart of DS via Target exclusive), and of course the new Wave 3 Double Trouble. He is a solid character, but I would bet most Portal Masters have not put him thru the paces like Chop Chop and Flameslinger.
All in all, this Gold Medal was earned by Chop Chop! Thanks to everyone who voted!
Blog Poll #13 Results: Who is Your Favorite "Silver" Skylander?
Interestingly, we had 1 fewer vote on the Silver poll than the Gold poll...I guess all that glitters is likely gold. Nonetheless, this was a pretty intense competition and had what I would say is a surprising result:
1. Eruptor 46 Votes (43%)
2. Dino-Rang 36 Votes (34%)
3. Boomer 26 Votes (21%)
I honestly thought this would have gone to Dino-Rang (maybe it is because I happen to have a silver Dino-Rang (only silver btw)), or just a gut feeling, but Eruptor won by a credible 10 votes.
Eruptor is a great characer, but was absolutely slaughtered in the Fire Element Poll (15 of 136 Votes to be exact)...that type of a performance translated in my mind to probably edging out Boomer. For whatever reason, folks seem to be enamored with Silver Eruptor as he gained over 3x the number of votes!
Dino-Rang did finish last place in the Earth Element Poll, but he did so with 27 votes, 1 behind Bash and just 9 behind 2nd Place Prism Break. I've heard a lot of people complain about Dino-Rang, but I think he is a great Skylander and have no issue with his Boomerangs. I also think he is very well presented in both aesthetics and initial appeal.
Boomer brought up the rear, and that was just as I expected. I wouldn't say he is the most hated Skylander, but he seems to be the least liked and that has been obvious with his odd presence as the only Skylander at most stores for weeks, lol. I'm not sure he will ever shake that perception in all honesty. That said, it is very much an undeserved reputation...he upgrades well and offers a nice balance of defense and projectile attacks...Perhaps people are coming around to him after all this time.
Thanks to everyone who voted...the closing of this poll will open up another!
1. Eruptor 46 Votes (43%)
2. Dino-Rang 36 Votes (34%)
3. Boomer 26 Votes (21%)
I honestly thought this would have gone to Dino-Rang (maybe it is because I happen to have a silver Dino-Rang (only silver btw)), or just a gut feeling, but Eruptor won by a credible 10 votes.
Eruptor is a great characer, but was absolutely slaughtered in the Fire Element Poll (15 of 136 Votes to be exact)...that type of a performance translated in my mind to probably edging out Boomer. For whatever reason, folks seem to be enamored with Silver Eruptor as he gained over 3x the number of votes!
Dino-Rang did finish last place in the Earth Element Poll, but he did so with 27 votes, 1 behind Bash and just 9 behind 2nd Place Prism Break. I've heard a lot of people complain about Dino-Rang, but I think he is a great Skylander and have no issue with his Boomerangs. I also think he is very well presented in both aesthetics and initial appeal.
Boomer brought up the rear, and that was just as I expected. I wouldn't say he is the most hated Skylander, but he seems to be the least liked and that has been obvious with his odd presence as the only Skylander at most stores for weeks, lol. I'm not sure he will ever shake that perception in all honesty. That said, it is very much an undeserved reputation...he upgrades well and offers a nice balance of defense and projectile attacks...Perhaps people are coming around to him after all this time.
Thanks to everyone who voted...the closing of this poll will open up another!
Blog Poll #12 Results: Who is Your Favorite Legendary Skylander?
Blog Poll #12, "Who is Your Favorite Legendary Skylander?" had a very impressive 114 votes, garnering a bit more attention than the respective "Gold" and "Silver" polls. The results were not quite like I had foreseen, let's take a look:
1. Legendary Trigger Happy 46 Votes (40%)
2. Legendary Chop Chop 32 Votes (28%)
3. Legendary Spyro 26 Votes (22%)
4. Legendary Bash 10 Votes (8%)
Once again, a character who is unreleased/released in very few locations took first place with a pretty decisive margin (14 votes). I only know of a 2 readers who have LTH at the moment. Apparently a few Canadian stores have released him, as did a few in the northeastern US. I did read today that a few people who ordered him on ebay (presumably from an insider who promised to ship upon obtaining) have come up with him. I figured he would make things close, but not run away with it like this.
Chop Chop fans showed up in force bringing him to what I will call an upset victory over Spyro. I honestly figured Spyro would be first or second. Chop Chop came in 6 votes ahead of the title's namesake...not bad! Chop Chop is clearly one of the favorite characters amongst readers...who can forget his dominating performance in the Undead Element Poll?!
Spyro was a surprise 3rd Place finisher. I saw him as #1 or #2, depending on if folks went Chop Chop or Trigger Happy. I have ot wonder if part of the lower than expected finish has to do with his stand alone Dark version? Nonetheless, numbers don't like.
Bash, the lovable rock and roller, got off to a rocky start and never recovered. He garnered only 10 votes, but that is somewhat expected given he finished 3rd in the Earth Element Poll. He is a great character, but clearly outclassed by his peers in this grouping.
Thanks again to everyone who voted. I sure hope we can all manage to track down Legendary Trigger Happy! Remember, these are all Toys'R'US Exclusives (which Activision abides by), so you have to get them there or will likely pay a premium on the black market. Most TRU stores have started a "1 per customer" rule, so hopefully that will prevent a few, foul spirits from clearing the shelf of this soon to be sought after character.
Legendaries, unlike Gold and Silver Skylanders, actually appear "blue and gold" in the game AND have slightly bumped up stats.
I have yet to see or hear of him locally. Most believed he would be released with great fan fare around the time of Dragon's Peak (Easter)...clearly, a few select locations either can't read directions, or there is a very funky shipping patter, or the rest of us all live in an area where the local TRU Manager will likely be rolling to wok in a fancy new car in the not to distant future.
Thanks to everyone who voted...this will open up the next poll, "What is Your Favorite Version of Spyro?"
1. Legendary Trigger Happy 46 Votes (40%)
2. Legendary Chop Chop 32 Votes (28%)
3. Legendary Spyro 26 Votes (22%)
4. Legendary Bash 10 Votes (8%)
Once again, a character who is unreleased/released in very few locations took first place with a pretty decisive margin (14 votes). I only know of a 2 readers who have LTH at the moment. Apparently a few Canadian stores have released him, as did a few in the northeastern US. I did read today that a few people who ordered him on ebay (presumably from an insider who promised to ship upon obtaining) have come up with him. I figured he would make things close, but not run away with it like this.
Chop Chop fans showed up in force bringing him to what I will call an upset victory over Spyro. I honestly figured Spyro would be first or second. Chop Chop came in 6 votes ahead of the title's namesake...not bad! Chop Chop is clearly one of the favorite characters amongst readers...who can forget his dominating performance in the Undead Element Poll?!
Spyro was a surprise 3rd Place finisher. I saw him as #1 or #2, depending on if folks went Chop Chop or Trigger Happy. I have ot wonder if part of the lower than expected finish has to do with his stand alone Dark version? Nonetheless, numbers don't like.
Bash, the lovable rock and roller, got off to a rocky start and never recovered. He garnered only 10 votes, but that is somewhat expected given he finished 3rd in the Earth Element Poll. He is a great character, but clearly outclassed by his peers in this grouping.
Thanks again to everyone who voted. I sure hope we can all manage to track down Legendary Trigger Happy! Remember, these are all Toys'R'US Exclusives (which Activision abides by), so you have to get them there or will likely pay a premium on the black market. Most TRU stores have started a "1 per customer" rule, so hopefully that will prevent a few, foul spirits from clearing the shelf of this soon to be sought after character.
Legendaries, unlike Gold and Silver Skylanders, actually appear "blue and gold" in the game AND have slightly bumped up stats.
I have yet to see or hear of him locally. Most believed he would be released with great fan fare around the time of Dragon's Peak (Easter)...clearly, a few select locations either can't read directions, or there is a very funky shipping patter, or the rest of us all live in an area where the local TRU Manager will likely be rolling to wok in a fancy new car in the not to distant future.
Thanks to everyone who voted...this will open up the next poll, "What is Your Favorite Version of Spyro?"
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure Chapter 22: The Lair of Kaos, Final Boss Battle, and End Credits
I figured these two videos were well worthy of a stand along blog post...
In all honesty, I sort of wish I had done every level with a blog post...kind of like I did with Wii Fit Plus...I just like the text side of things I guess. This level, particularly getting to Kaos, wasn't too bad, but deals an amazing quantity of XP. I am actually planning on taking some new Skylanders (No upgrades) thru the paces here and see what they can do in terms of "levelling up."
I had really wanted to get a few Skylanders up to Level 26 on Heroics (note that is entirely separate from "Level 10" that your health maxes out at) and then fully upgraded etc. The fact of the matter is that would have taken an insane amount of time and I didn't want to keep folks waiting for this...
I wish there would have been a "dark" version of all the Skylanders to contend with, but that is a minor complaint. If you look past the "weapon master glitch" this is truly a great game. I know it is geared towards kids, but I don't care. I'm in my late 20s and loved the game. The options you have in terms of selecting a Skylander etc really make the game have a lot of replay imo.
I am about to make these 2 videos go live on YouTube, but wanted to post it here on the blog...which I prefer over all other mediums. So, enjoy...I'll make them "public" and post them to Facebook and Twitter shortly.
I kind of had to kill the audio early on Part 77 during the credits. The last thing I wanted was to loose my commentary on the boss fight with Kaos because I was waiting to make a closing comment. The audio on Part 77 is a little behind, but not enough to make a huge difference. The boss fight goes on for quite some time, so be prepared for that!
I let the camera roll all the way thru the credits and to the final cut scene with the gang at the Core of Light. Flynn's commentary at the end is great and anytime you go from 0-100 on a game, I like to have the end stuff captured.
I am by no means done with Skylanders. There is still Dragon's Peak and a few more characters to colllect. I might also record the time goals...we'll wait and see. I definitely recommend you check out Skylanders and give it a shot...the game is a lot of fun and has stake in a very promising future!
In all honesty, I sort of wish I had done every level with a blog post...kind of like I did with Wii Fit Plus...I just like the text side of things I guess. This level, particularly getting to Kaos, wasn't too bad, but deals an amazing quantity of XP. I am actually planning on taking some new Skylanders (No upgrades) thru the paces here and see what they can do in terms of "levelling up."
I had really wanted to get a few Skylanders up to Level 26 on Heroics (note that is entirely separate from "Level 10" that your health maxes out at) and then fully upgraded etc. The fact of the matter is that would have taken an insane amount of time and I didn't want to keep folks waiting for this...
I wish there would have been a "dark" version of all the Skylanders to contend with, but that is a minor complaint. If you look past the "weapon master glitch" this is truly a great game. I know it is geared towards kids, but I don't care. I'm in my late 20s and loved the game. The options you have in terms of selecting a Skylander etc really make the game have a lot of replay imo.
I am about to make these 2 videos go live on YouTube, but wanted to post it here on the blog...which I prefer over all other mediums. So, enjoy...I'll make them "public" and post them to Facebook and Twitter shortly.
Skylanders: Spryro's Adventure Part 76: Chapter 22: Lair of Kaos Part 1 of 2
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure Part 77: Chapter 22 Lair of Kaos Part 2 of 2
I kind of had to kill the audio early on Part 77 during the credits. The last thing I wanted was to loose my commentary on the boss fight with Kaos because I was waiting to make a closing comment. The audio on Part 77 is a little behind, but not enough to make a huge difference. The boss fight goes on for quite some time, so be prepared for that!
I let the camera roll all the way thru the credits and to the final cut scene with the gang at the Core of Light. Flynn's commentary at the end is great and anytime you go from 0-100 on a game, I like to have the end stuff captured.
I am by no means done with Skylanders. There is still Dragon's Peak and a few more characters to colllect. I might also record the time goals...we'll wait and see. I definitely recommend you check out Skylanders and give it a shot...the game is a lot of fun and has stake in a very promising future!
BOOM! ACES! CAKE! Skylands is Saved!
Yep, you read right.
I was torn between taking a few Skylanders up to Level 26 on Heroics (huge benefit in gameplay) and then upgrading them OR playing Kaos right now.
I got Terrafin up to Level 26 on the Heroics, and while working on my next pick, Ghost Roaster, realized he was too far upgraded to have an easy time passing the Heroics...Drobot's Challenge "Save the Purple Chompies" is a night mare...I got to where I could do it with tons of time left, but Ghost Roaster's Pain Chain would take out the green ones, but their ghosts would then take out the purple chompies...the only way around it is to reset him (which I don't really want to do).
I then did a few more with Slam Bam, and then some slower characters like Eruptor and Stump Smash...I had trouble with Eruptor on Drobot and Double Trouble's HCs and then Stump Smash had a heck of at time (although I got close 3 times...like down to 1 troll left close) with not breaking the vases etc.
That prompted me to call it good, prevent mutiny amongst the Skylander subscribers, and just take on Kaos.
It actually went very well...I"ll have to replay his Lair to pick up the Treasure Chests (it is structured that way), but aside from that it was crystal smooth. I'm actually going to enter it and the battle with new characters and ones I haven't used much (Double Trouble, Cynder, Wrecking Ball etc) and they should all leave well on their way to Level 10...the XP in Chapter 22 is at times insane.
The battle wasn't really too hard...I wish there would have been more minions (dark versions of Ignitor, Voodood, Terrafin, etc...I'm not sure what the logic was in selecting which characters Kaos has dark versions of, but I digress).
Kaos is defeated, Eon deemed being warped to Africa as a fitting punishment, and we are now ready to work towards the Level 26 on Heroics goal without any undue pressure etc.
I'll likely spend time the next few weeks taking some of my favorite characters through the Heroic Challenges and then earning cash to upgrade with...
I might record one of them (likely a Legendary) going from "stock" to Level 26 on the Heroics...I wish I would have recorded Terrafin doing it because he totally dominated them...I rarely had to attempt a HC twice as he progressed.
But yeah, I have Part 76 edited and 77 is currently being processed by my software...It is 4:36 AM and I'm not going to load them on to YouTube tonight/this morning...I'll get some sleep, hopefully a lot of it, and then upload them tomorrow afternoon..
I will do my best to get Dragon's Peak, unbox it, and record the gameplay...that will give me incentive to tackle the time goals after all as the Accolades will finally be available to complete.
Should I come across any of the coming releases, I'll pick them up, unbox, and then record their Heroic Challenges etc, just like my standard format has been all along.
So with that said, Kaos is defeated, but my playthrough and uploads are far from over!
I will look into a new playthrough, and I have honestly tossed around Skyward Sword, but I feel like the diehard Zelda fans would kill me for doing a blind playthrough on it...Who knows, I might go retro NES, pull out some racing action on PS2, or do something off the wall...we'll wait and see.
I have also debated trying to record 3DS footage of Skylanders, but it would be insanely difficult and tedious to complete...
Again, right now the goal is to just wrap up Skylanders and go from there...It is a great game and I have had a lot of fun playing thru it and helping others out and getting insights from other fans of the game. I wish Dragon's Peak was already out, lol. I'm looking forward to that, the new characters, and of course Giants...which I will record the same way as Spyro's Adventure.
Well, hopefully that wasn't too rambly...it is really late and I am very tired.
CAKE!
I was torn between taking a few Skylanders up to Level 26 on Heroics (huge benefit in gameplay) and then upgrading them OR playing Kaos right now.
I got Terrafin up to Level 26 on the Heroics, and while working on my next pick, Ghost Roaster, realized he was too far upgraded to have an easy time passing the Heroics...Drobot's Challenge "Save the Purple Chompies" is a night mare...I got to where I could do it with tons of time left, but Ghost Roaster's Pain Chain would take out the green ones, but their ghosts would then take out the purple chompies...the only way around it is to reset him (which I don't really want to do).
I then did a few more with Slam Bam, and then some slower characters like Eruptor and Stump Smash...I had trouble with Eruptor on Drobot and Double Trouble's HCs and then Stump Smash had a heck of at time (although I got close 3 times...like down to 1 troll left close) with not breaking the vases etc.
That prompted me to call it good, prevent mutiny amongst the Skylander subscribers, and just take on Kaos.
It actually went very well...I"ll have to replay his Lair to pick up the Treasure Chests (it is structured that way), but aside from that it was crystal smooth. I'm actually going to enter it and the battle with new characters and ones I haven't used much (Double Trouble, Cynder, Wrecking Ball etc) and they should all leave well on their way to Level 10...the XP in Chapter 22 is at times insane.
The battle wasn't really too hard...I wish there would have been more minions (dark versions of Ignitor, Voodood, Terrafin, etc...I'm not sure what the logic was in selecting which characters Kaos has dark versions of, but I digress).
Kaos is defeated, Eon deemed being warped to Africa as a fitting punishment, and we are now ready to work towards the Level 26 on Heroics goal without any undue pressure etc.
I'll likely spend time the next few weeks taking some of my favorite characters through the Heroic Challenges and then earning cash to upgrade with...
I might record one of them (likely a Legendary) going from "stock" to Level 26 on the Heroics...I wish I would have recorded Terrafin doing it because he totally dominated them...I rarely had to attempt a HC twice as he progressed.
But yeah, I have Part 76 edited and 77 is currently being processed by my software...It is 4:36 AM and I'm not going to load them on to YouTube tonight/this morning...I'll get some sleep, hopefully a lot of it, and then upload them tomorrow afternoon..
I will do my best to get Dragon's Peak, unbox it, and record the gameplay...that will give me incentive to tackle the time goals after all as the Accolades will finally be available to complete.
Should I come across any of the coming releases, I'll pick them up, unbox, and then record their Heroic Challenges etc, just like my standard format has been all along.
So with that said, Kaos is defeated, but my playthrough and uploads are far from over!
I will look into a new playthrough, and I have honestly tossed around Skyward Sword, but I feel like the diehard Zelda fans would kill me for doing a blind playthrough on it...Who knows, I might go retro NES, pull out some racing action on PS2, or do something off the wall...we'll wait and see.
I have also debated trying to record 3DS footage of Skylanders, but it would be insanely difficult and tedious to complete...
Again, right now the goal is to just wrap up Skylanders and go from there...It is a great game and I have had a lot of fun playing thru it and helping others out and getting insights from other fans of the game. I wish Dragon's Peak was already out, lol. I'm looking forward to that, the new characters, and of course Giants...which I will record the same way as Spyro's Adventure.
Well, hopefully that wasn't too rambly...it is really late and I am very tired.
CAKE!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Wiisdom Blog Poll #15: Double Trouble's Upgrade Path
Blog Poll #15, "What Upgrade Path Do You Prefer for Double Trouble?" is a special request. I'll cycle thru all the Skylanders eventually, but for now we will kick this off with Double Trouble.
I'm sure most of you have tracked him down, or are diligently working towards doing so.
That said, which of his upgrade paths do you prefer?
-Channelerer
-Conjuror
The poll is open for a week, so cast your vote now...it is located below the Twitter Feed on the RH Side of the blog.
I'm sure most of you have tracked him down, or are diligently working towards doing so.
That said, which of his upgrade paths do you prefer?
-Channelerer
-Conjuror
The poll is open for a week, so cast your vote now...it is located below the Twitter Feed on the RH Side of the blog.
Skylanders Update 2-23-2012 and Street Pass "Inaction"
Well, I made my weekly pilgrimage into town tonight.
I use to run around more often, but the local stores were either raided by the pirates of ebay, or just don't have stock (cough, have employees holding stuff back to hock themselves, cough). Since I've got everything I am not as vigilant...I would like to find an Empire of Ice for a friend, but I think it will have to be ordered online.
I have to say it is pretty strange that Toys'R'Us in my area has NEVER had Empire of Ice. In addition to me not seeing it, I ask (usually 2 employees) every time I'm in and have never known of it to be in the store. Tonight there wasn't anyone too nice or that into Skylanders, but the answer of "I have no way of knowing that" basically meant I was better off just leaving than asking them to check...the store really wasn't crowded tonight. I believe most people raid things in the morning and afternoon, which for me isn't an option because I'm at work.
I'm sure most of you know activision and tru are "buddy-buddy" and plan to continue "exclusives" with Giants this fall and even have the 30 day window on Dragon's Peak. I have to wonder, since I've never seen Empire of Ice at my local tru: A): Does someone in the back just hold onto them for "friends" or to hock online, or B): Has activision just not shipped them any?
Toys'R'Us was way behind GameStop, Walmart, and Target in terms of listing it online...And honestly, people on the east coast were buying Empire of Ice about 6 weeks ago (January 12th if I remember right). It seems very odd to me...which is why I'm again asking if anyone has bought or seen Empire of Ice at their Toys'R'Us and if so, what state or region of the country do you live in?
That aside, what YOU probably care about is what they had...
Well there were NO Legendary Triple Packs, NO Pirate Seas APs, and NO Darklight Crypt APs like there were last week. For the first time at this store I saw the Whirlwind+Double Trouble+Drill Sergeant Triple Pack. They also had the Stealth Elf Triple Pack and Stump Smash Triple Pack (I took a picture, but apparently my phone decided not to store it...sorry).
As far as singles there was Chop Chop, Drill Sergeant, and Flame Slinger....oh, and Whirlwind:
Target had absolutely nothing, but did have a nice selection of Starter Packs for a change:
It was cold, especially with the 50 mph N wind so I didn't even try Walmart or Gamestop.
And on a side note, I ran all over town with my 3DS and got ZERO Street Pass tags. I'm not exactly trying to social network my way into anything, but I would like to have a nice arsenal to help with Find Mii. Alas, a guy can dream. You do always wonder if there is some really awesome chick your age with a 3DS trying to do the same thing, haha. If I do get any tags it will likely be from the 6-12 year old bracket...
Prices on the Legendary Triple Pack have dropped from $200+ just a few weeks ago to about $50 online. The prices for singles has come down a lot too. I think activision is finally shipping out enough to subdue the market a bit...which is good...I don't want anyone having to pay more than retail for any figure in particular. Cynder still seems to be the toughest to find.
I have still never seen a Cynder or Empire of Ice at a local store for what it is worth.
I'll have a few more updates to post tonight or early this weekend related to gameplay etc.
I use to run around more often, but the local stores were either raided by the pirates of ebay, or just don't have stock (cough, have employees holding stuff back to hock themselves, cough). Since I've got everything I am not as vigilant...I would like to find an Empire of Ice for a friend, but I think it will have to be ordered online.
I have to say it is pretty strange that Toys'R'Us in my area has NEVER had Empire of Ice. In addition to me not seeing it, I ask (usually 2 employees) every time I'm in and have never known of it to be in the store. Tonight there wasn't anyone too nice or that into Skylanders, but the answer of "I have no way of knowing that" basically meant I was better off just leaving than asking them to check...the store really wasn't crowded tonight. I believe most people raid things in the morning and afternoon, which for me isn't an option because I'm at work.
I'm sure most of you know activision and tru are "buddy-buddy" and plan to continue "exclusives" with Giants this fall and even have the 30 day window on Dragon's Peak. I have to wonder, since I've never seen Empire of Ice at my local tru: A): Does someone in the back just hold onto them for "friends" or to hock online, or B): Has activision just not shipped them any?
Toys'R'Us was way behind GameStop, Walmart, and Target in terms of listing it online...And honestly, people on the east coast were buying Empire of Ice about 6 weeks ago (January 12th if I remember right). It seems very odd to me...which is why I'm again asking if anyone has bought or seen Empire of Ice at their Toys'R'Us and if so, what state or region of the country do you live in?
That aside, what YOU probably care about is what they had...
Well there were NO Legendary Triple Packs, NO Pirate Seas APs, and NO Darklight Crypt APs like there were last week. For the first time at this store I saw the Whirlwind+Double Trouble+Drill Sergeant Triple Pack. They also had the Stealth Elf Triple Pack and Stump Smash Triple Pack (I took a picture, but apparently my phone decided not to store it...sorry).
As far as singles there was Chop Chop, Drill Sergeant, and Flame Slinger....oh, and Whirlwind:
Target had absolutely nothing, but did have a nice selection of Starter Packs for a change:
It was cold, especially with the 50 mph N wind so I didn't even try Walmart or Gamestop.
And on a side note, I ran all over town with my 3DS and got ZERO Street Pass tags. I'm not exactly trying to social network my way into anything, but I would like to have a nice arsenal to help with Find Mii. Alas, a guy can dream. You do always wonder if there is some really awesome chick your age with a 3DS trying to do the same thing, haha. If I do get any tags it will likely be from the 6-12 year old bracket...
Prices on the Legendary Triple Pack have dropped from $200+ just a few weeks ago to about $50 online. The prices for singles has come down a lot too. I think activision is finally shipping out enough to subdue the market a bit...which is good...I don't want anyone having to pay more than retail for any figure in particular. Cynder still seems to be the toughest to find.
I have still never seen a Cynder or Empire of Ice at a local store for what it is worth.
I'll have a few more updates to post tonight or early this weekend related to gameplay etc.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Skylanders Stock Update 2-16-2012
Well, this is a few days later than I intended to post, but oh well.
My local stores have been desolate. The Drobots and Prism Breaks adorning the racks were even getting picked up. When I ran to town, Target had....NOTHING.
Walmart had this sign:
Which just really ticks me off given the fact Whrilwind is on it...Sadly, Target didn't have a sign promoting Drill Sergeant. I still call BS on activision for this "exclusive" status. They seem to comprehend what that means when they release "exclusives" like this metallic Cynder to those attending the big toy conventions:
Note the "exclusive" sticker...just like Whirlwind and Drill Sergeant Single Packs used to wear. They really need to be reprimanded for this shady tactic.
Not vesting too much time in that, Toys'R'Us finally had some new stuff. And I see why. You can't read it well in the picture, but all those "handmade" signs that look like an employee was tasked with printing from Microsoft Paint read, "All Skylanders, Limit 1 per Customer." I guess they FINALLY got the clue that the ladies who come in the store and buy up all the Skylanders probably don't have 250 nieces and nephews. I'm sure if not for that policy change the racks would have been desolate.
But alas, a welcome sight...one which newcomers often doubted me on:
Not only are there racks of Dark Light Crypt and Pirate Seas (which have been out since Day 1 btw), there are FOUR ROWS STOCKED DEEP OF THE LEGENDARY TRIPLE PACKS.
I didn't even bother to buy one (I got 3 back on the first release, again primarly based on their "exclusive" status...and realax, one was for me to use, one was for a gift, and the other was just to keep boxed in case they were ever worth something). This game is going to be so expensive to "complete" I didn't feel like shelling out another $25...especially when I got the same triple pack for $19.99 back in October.
But, nonetheless the stock returned...
The real kicker though is this...
My local Toys'R'Us has still not gotten ANY Wave 3 Skylanders or Empire of Ice. I have a few employees I trust and 2 that I trust and know are familiar with the game etc. It blows my mind how activision is handling this...I assure you they are simply structuring shipments and what not to do their best to keep they hype going all the way until Wham-Shell precedes Skylanders Giants.
The entire process is actually starting to take away from the game. I don't mind having a hard time tracking down Silver/Gold/Blue Skylanders...but when casual players feel like they need to shell out $50 to some scalper nested in the coves of ebay I start to get a sour taste in my mouth.
Playing the game helps a bit, and I am hoping more stores adopt the "1 per customer" rule to prevent these pirates from influencing so many of us to resort to buying their plundered loot.
I really enjoy the game, and am looking forward to wrapping it up, but the prospect of chasing tail and burning hours of time and cash on gas to put around town for the next wave of releases doesn't really interest me as much as it once did. It was fun for awhile, but the same antics grow old quick when you begin to view them as more of a patter of choice than chance.
I still plan to pick up all 37 Skylanders, but I sure as heck won't give more than retail for any of them. I don't have that kind of money or time. Maybe by the time Giants comes out I will have regained the enthusiasm behind it all, but that remains to be seen...a large part of it will have to do with the "frenzy" and how it pans out.
Nonetheless, I've been busy...I just got 3 New Polls opened up on the blog and I hope to play Pirate Seas and Dark Light Crypt on my "new" Save File to see how the progress looks...I'll then record Chapter 22 and call it good until new Skylanders or Dragon's Peak is available. I might progress with getting some favorites up on their Heroic Challenges, or simply start recording a new game.
See you on the flipside...
My local stores have been desolate. The Drobots and Prism Breaks adorning the racks were even getting picked up. When I ran to town, Target had....NOTHING.
Walmart had this sign:
Note the "exclusive" sticker...just like Whirlwind and Drill Sergeant Single Packs used to wear. They really need to be reprimanded for this shady tactic.
Not vesting too much time in that, Toys'R'Us finally had some new stuff. And I see why. You can't read it well in the picture, but all those "handmade" signs that look like an employee was tasked with printing from Microsoft Paint read, "All Skylanders, Limit 1 per Customer." I guess they FINALLY got the clue that the ladies who come in the store and buy up all the Skylanders probably don't have 250 nieces and nephews. I'm sure if not for that policy change the racks would have been desolate.
But alas, a welcome sight...one which newcomers often doubted me on:
Not only are there racks of Dark Light Crypt and Pirate Seas (which have been out since Day 1 btw), there are FOUR ROWS STOCKED DEEP OF THE LEGENDARY TRIPLE PACKS.
I didn't even bother to buy one (I got 3 back on the first release, again primarly based on their "exclusive" status...and realax, one was for me to use, one was for a gift, and the other was just to keep boxed in case they were ever worth something). This game is going to be so expensive to "complete" I didn't feel like shelling out another $25...especially when I got the same triple pack for $19.99 back in October.
But, nonetheless the stock returned...
The real kicker though is this...
My local Toys'R'Us has still not gotten ANY Wave 3 Skylanders or Empire of Ice. I have a few employees I trust and 2 that I trust and know are familiar with the game etc. It blows my mind how activision is handling this...I assure you they are simply structuring shipments and what not to do their best to keep they hype going all the way until Wham-Shell precedes Skylanders Giants.
The entire process is actually starting to take away from the game. I don't mind having a hard time tracking down Silver/Gold/Blue Skylanders...but when casual players feel like they need to shell out $50 to some scalper nested in the coves of ebay I start to get a sour taste in my mouth.
Playing the game helps a bit, and I am hoping more stores adopt the "1 per customer" rule to prevent these pirates from influencing so many of us to resort to buying their plundered loot.
I really enjoy the game, and am looking forward to wrapping it up, but the prospect of chasing tail and burning hours of time and cash on gas to put around town for the next wave of releases doesn't really interest me as much as it once did. It was fun for awhile, but the same antics grow old quick when you begin to view them as more of a patter of choice than chance.
I still plan to pick up all 37 Skylanders, but I sure as heck won't give more than retail for any of them. I don't have that kind of money or time. Maybe by the time Giants comes out I will have regained the enthusiasm behind it all, but that remains to be seen...a large part of it will have to do with the "frenzy" and how it pans out.
Nonetheless, I've been busy...I just got 3 New Polls opened up on the blog and I hope to play Pirate Seas and Dark Light Crypt on my "new" Save File to see how the progress looks...I'll then record Chapter 22 and call it good until new Skylanders or Dragon's Peak is available. I might progress with getting some favorites up on their Heroic Challenges, or simply start recording a new game.
See you on the flipside...
Blog Poll #14: Who is Your Favorite Gold Skylander?
Following suit to the "silver" Skylanders, Activision and Toys for Bob released another round of three, very hard to find and super collectible "gold" Skylanders. Unlike the "Legendary Skylanders," which appear in the game as they do in hand, the gold Skylanders are simply a solid gold colored Skylander that would wear the same skin for gameplay as its' regular counterpart. So, which is your favorite "gold" Skylander?
-Chop Chop
-Drill Sergeant
-Flameslinger
This poll will run until Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 11:59 PM.
-The poll is located just below the Twitter Feed on the RH Side of the blog.
-Chop Chop
-Drill Sergeant
-Flameslinger
This poll will run until Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 11:59 PM.
-The poll is located just below the Twitter Feed on the RH Side of the blog.
Blog Poll #13: Who is Your Favorite "Silver" Skylander?
As you know, the first special release/limited run Skylanders made available to the general public were a few "silver" Skylanders. These are solid silver in color, but have no special skin for in-game play, making them largely just a collectible. So which is your favortie "silver" Skylander?
-Boomer
-Dino-Rang
-Eruptor
This poll will run until Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 11:59 PM.
-It is located just below the Twitter Feed on the RH Side of the blog.
-Boomer
-Dino-Rang
-Eruptor
This poll will run until Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 11:59 PM.
-It is located just below the Twitter Feed on the RH Side of the blog.
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