Crash Bandicoot future article, Gen Rex: Part 2

Casper High (This is the Link)

WEBSiTE UPDATE: _{Revised summary and review for "Prisoners Of Love".}



Selling Stuff
Still: neoyi.deviantart.com/journal/3…


The Rise and Fall of Crash Bandicoot

So I managed to find some time and read through Pitchfork's The Rise and Fall of Final Fantasy. The articles were well-written and a hilarious (His interpretation of how the crew of FF8 conceptualized the game is nothing short of knee-jerking funny) look at one man's opinion as he plays all the FF games (from 1 to 13 plus Mystic Quest and X-2) and his take on each game. It's a very interesting article (well, articles), especially given he's been exposed to the FF series since its original incarnation way back in the 80's.

So I finished reading through all of them (and agreeing with a few of his points) and I wondered, "Wow! I wanna do something like that. Write articles on a video game series I know and love and flaunt my knowledge over it." Then I realized, what game series DO I know? More specifically, what game series do I want to do that I've known and played since it's original inception? And did I grew up with it that the franchise has a profound impact on me? I pondered long and hard, then partied, then got drunk, then ran around in circles, then tried to balance a yard stick on my nose, until it hit me.

Crash Bandicoot.

A series that first originated on the first Playstation back in 1996. I got into it only a year later, so my requirements still count. I really want to do this: play through all the Crash games, then talk about each one and how I feel for them. This would mean playing the...ugh...newer Crash games, but damn, I think I just want an excuse to gush and talk about how I think the very first Crash game is visually and artistic beautiful. Not sure when or if I wanna do it, but I wanna try sometime.


Generator Rex, Second Impressions: Part Two
Four episodes in. How is it fairing now? My current feel for the fourth (and as of this writing, the newest) episode and the general opinion I have for the overall show. Copied and pasted from a forum I go to (with minor alterations):

MAJOR SPOILERS

Wow, that was...fast. Noah's secret is revealed to Rex in just the fourth episode. The series is already getting the plot and potential story arcs moving, what with the love interest being introduced last episode. But I can't help but feel they're going too fast in revealing all these nooks and crannies that usually takes far longer to accomplish. TavalyaRa drove an excellent point when we were chatting a week ago about how Generator Rex could be the type of show that waste no time dragging plot points and character developments. However, I can't help but get the nagging feeling that if they reveal so many surprises and answers too early in the run, there's the fear that the rest of the episodes later on will fall into (potentially boring) filler.

However, the fourth did give hints of greater things to come: Holiday's mutant sister, the question why Noah took White Knight's offer, and if there will be any trust issues between the two buddies. So I'll give it that. In fact, the way I'm seeing it so far is that for every little explanation they do conclude - whether it'd be premature or not - they counter with another mind-boggling question. Circe and Rex already gave each other hints that yeah, they're so into each other as well as a kindred spirit due to their similar EVO powers, yet conflict continues because she ends up with the big bad regardless. Six has had a couple revelation that Rex is not just a tool for Providence, but a young teenage kid who needs his space and normality, an ongoing plot that hasn't reached its conclusion. And so forth. This is a good thing. I think the elements are jumping the gun when other series have taken a more relaxed pace, but if they keep feeding me more story potentials to keep the show interesting, the better. So far, they at least have managed to find a good balance from the results.

However, I feel Rex's reaction, though very appropriate, is a little hard to take in when the past three episodes didn't really emphasize that that him and Noah were super special, awesome buddies. The first episode had the most chemistry because they were both introduced and emphasized (and I suppose that would be the arguable justification of Rex's hurt feelings here), but episode two merely had Noah looking for something for him and the third focused on Rex's new love interest with Noah primarily in the background (oh, and something about volley ball). I would have at least preferred one central episode of the two of them getting into some EVO situation, emphasizing their friendship and trust, THEN hitting Rex with this bombshell. But again, maybe the writers were leaning off any buddy-buddy emphasis from the beginning episode.

Otherwise, it's a decent episode. The beginning with the old lady was amusing and I like the nice continuity of Rex's powers going nowhere when his emotions get the better of him, but the show, to me, hasn't found its legging yet. It's still following thresholds of action genre cliches. The first episode was introduction and setting up the general story. The second built on that and explored the main character's personality further, complete with an Aesop, if not a reverse where it's the adult who learns it, but a life lesson regardless. And the third gives us the obligatory love interest.

Fortunately, it's still early and it hasn't done anything to make me think it's a bad show, but it hasn't done anything to make it beyond forgettable status among a sea of teen superhero genre the past decade has frequently employed. At this point, depending on how it goes: I either wanna review this show during its halfway point or the end of the first season. We'll see.

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QUOTE OF THE JOURNAL
Sokka: AAAH! SNEAK ATTACK! *smacked by rock*
Aang: Sokka, sneak attack doesn't work if you yell it out loud.

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REQUESTS: Nope.
TRADES: No
B-Day Pics: Nothing Yet
COMMISSION: Always. Go see link below for more info.
GIFT ARTS: Nothing Yet

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2. COMMISSIONS
Commission info. Help this starving artist, please! Yes, I know they're expensive, but hey, I need the moolah, too, ya know! Needs to be updated, will lower prices.

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1. Chess Piece FAQ
A basic information journal where you can learn about my fancomic Chess Piece, including small character and world guide, as well as a question section for frequently asked questions. It hasn't been updated in a while and some of the contents may be outdated, but it's best for newcomers to learn the basic.

2. Chess Piece Pages
Where I place the pages of my CP fancomic in one journal for easy viewing. This doesn't contain every page of CP and really only holds the newest issue. If you want to read the whole thing, see below. Updated constantly with new pages.

3. Chess Piece in TV Tropes
Because I'm a bored egomaniac. (The actual page now, not the DA journal which is now deleted).

4. Complete Archive
Where I posted every single CP pages. Good for newbies who are new to the series and wants to read from the beginning to current. I always update with the newest pages.