Tag Archives: top 5

Being the resident movie guy at Giga, I made the latest episode of my YouTube show about my top five favorite films of 2016–including a few I didn’t review for your favorite geeky e-zine!

“But I Digress…”
Hosted by Nathan Marchand

I’m a little late to the party with this one, but in this episode, I discuss my top five favorite films of 2015. I even get a visit from Nerdimus Prime–who is suddenly *not* an alternate mode for me. Weird.

Symptoms include weakness, joint cheap cialis 20mg and back pain together with height loss, an unsteady gait, Kyphosis or Dowager’s hump etc. It is mandatory to avoid intake generic india levitra try here of alcohol. Some men ejaculate semen before viagra cheap price his or her satisfaction in lovemaking. A safe treatment with this reputed drug requires an ideal dosage, but it davidfraymusic.com uk cialis may vary from one patient to another. Does my list match yours? What were your favorite films from the past year?

Please comment, subscribe, and share!

www.NathanJSMarchand.com

Nathan’s YouTube Channel.

Game File, Games and Software

Alex’s Top 5 Horror Games

October 20, 2014 Alex McCumbers

For the past month or so, I have been on a huge horror-game kick. I’ve been seeking out all the titles I missed out on, simply because either I was too scared to play them or too confused by the control schemes. This has led me to buy some of the classics: Resident Evil: Code Veronica, Silent Hill 2, and Dino Crisis. Even though I haven’t beaten any of these yet, I’m having the best time playing them.

Playing this genre piqued my interest in the history of survival horror games. Turns out, much of the survival horror genre can be accredited to Shinji Mikami, one of the minds behind the original Resident Evil. This guy defined a whole genre. Soon after Resident Evil’s success, not only were there sequels, but other games followed that style and control scheme. Developers started pushing the genre, creating terrifying games like Silent Hill and Fatal Frame.

Now Mikami is back with a vengeance. With Tango Gameworks and Bethesda, he has probably created another masterpiece known as Evil Within. Judging by the trailers, screenshots, and what little I have played of the game, I can already tell that this game is going to be awesome.

In honor of this release (but mostly because I’m on this kick), let me share with you my personal Top 5 Horror Games. Know that I haven’t played everything and that I’ve avoided the genre for a while now, but these are the titles that stand out to me.

Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation)

Don’t question it, just follow me on this. As a child, I was afraid of most horror monsters, mostly vampires. However, there is one particular ’90s movie monster who disturbed me to no end, Chucky. It’s not like I’ve actually seen the movies, but the trailers that played while my dad watched wrestling were traumatizing. Since then, I’ve had a fear of dolls, which leads me to why my favorite Final Fantasy game also scared the crap out of me.

Not long after the forest scene, the party arrivs at a simple mountain town. Zidane and his pals soon discover a dark secret. Turns out, the Queen of Alexandria is making an army of black mages. They look like fat scarecrows that throw fire magic around, but they are described as dolls. The narrative leading up to this moment is creepy. There are sounds coming from the only well in the village and then Vivi vanishes. Towards the end of the dungeon, I found an assembly line of the things being created. That’s when I turned off my PlayStation, crawled into bed, and proceeded to have nightmares.

It took a few days, and daylight, before I could play it again.

House of the Dead 3 (Xbox)

This title is mostly just a fun little arcade game. There are few scares in it, but there is a hefty amount of gore. Players use a lightgun to blast away zombies and monsters, all while having to put up with terrible voice acting. Seriously, it’s like after Resident Evil came out, all horror games had to have bad voice acting too. Granted it’s hilarious, so at least there’s that. I remember playing this game with a friend on his Xbox. We hooked up two gun controllers and shot up a staggering pile of zombies. The best part is having infinite lives. That, and after he got bored of playing, he handed me the other gun.

Dual-wielding light guns, while yelling because the moment is so awesome, will forever be ingrained into my memory.

P.T.

The pure genius behind the idea of P.T. is astounding. Not only was it a complete mystery, but Hideo Kojima published it under a fake studio name. Unfortunately, I wasn’t one of the millions who was purely surprised. I learned about this game from my favorite YouTube gaming show Game Grumps. Yet, when I finally sat down to play it, the horror was real.

Ever since Amnesia became a hit, several horror games have chosen to have the player completely defenseless. P.T. uses that helplessness to pull true fear from their players. It is less of a game and more of an interactive short film. Most players don’t know how they “beat” this game, even more, I assume, stopped playing due to the many heart attacks I’m sure they experienced. Me, I share this game with friends and film it for my YouTube show, Forever Classic.

What’s even better than a short, focused horror experience? The fact that this game was a secret teaser for an upcoming revival of the Silent Hill franchise. The amount of talent behind this project is amazing. Not only will Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid) be behind the wheel, but also Guillermo Del Toro (Pacific Rim) and Norman Reedus (Walking Dead).

I can’t wait for Silent Hills’ release, but to be honest I’ll probably never finish it. I’d never thought I would look forward to wearing Depends. . .
Spam is a problem that faces most people with email addresses today. commander viagra http://davidfraymusic.com/david-fray-steps-in-to-perform-alongside-the-st-paul-chamber-orchestra/ Men, bearing with this concern are not capable to uphold the cGMP mechanism for maintenance generic viagra online & running an erection. Less stamina and improper erections are often side effects of unhealthy sexual problems like erectile dysfunction, premature levitra properien ejaculations and impotence. Factors that can increase the level of risk are poor viagra 25mg prix diet, low activity level and more weight than usual around the waist.

BioShock

Speaking of demos, I first learned of BioShock through Xbox Live. The demo was essentially the first bit of the game. Those who have played it know that this one grabs you by the jewels from the first scene. I remember my friends teasing me about it, saying that the game wasn’t scary. I love media of all types, so I have a tendency to suspend my disbelief for everything. Some people will look at a horror game and say, look how silly the monster is, but I become that character and the fear is real.

One of BioShock’s biggest strengths was definitely its atmosphere. Rapture holds a lot of dark secrets, making the player want to discover them, but these same secrets are often morally puzzling and disturbing. Players have to choose to save or kill the Little Sisters, gaming’s most adorable evil. Also, the player is alone. There are no shop keepers or other characters to help you out, it’s kill or be killed.

Even to this day, I consider the first BioShock to be the best in the franchise. It drew me in and consumed me for a week or so. I’ve always wanted that same feeling, but few games have done that since.

Resident Evil 4

If I hadn’t borrowed Resident Evil 4, and if it hadn’t been seriously recommended by a friend, I never would’ve played horror games. For me, this is the absolute peak of the genre and anyone looking for a place to start may as well start with the best. I have played this game more times than I can count. I know all the secrets, all the weapons, and all the history. While I may know less than I boast, I love learning everything about it.

Resident Evil 4 is a third person survival horror game, which originally appeared on the GameCube. Yep, the same purple box that had Super Mario Sunshine and Animal Crossing was the first to have the newest Resident Evil of the time. I actually didn’t get to play it until it came out on PS2. The mission is simple, save the President’s brain-dead daughter from a grisly fate at the hands of cultists infected with bio weapons.

Even though the main character, Leon, gets to use powerful weaponry, ammo is scarce and placing shots well becomes a key way to survive. He uses these guns to put down angry Spanish farmers, Tolkien-esque trolls, and ugly fish. Several of the later enemies proved to scare me the most, like the Regenerators and the Verdugos. However, one moment in particular made me quit playing for a while.

As my friend suggested, I played this game exclusively at night with the volume cranked up. I was doing fine at first; I only died once or twice, usually to quick time events. Eventually, I was tasked with getting a key to a church. Getting the key wasn’t too bad, but coming back was awful. It started to rain, obscuring poor Leon’s vision. I walked across the rickety bridge with no obstruction, where before there had been farmers. Just before reaching the church, I came across a dog.

Fans of Resident Evil 4 will know that you can save a dog from a bear trap that will later help you in a boss fight. I wasn’t that afraid of dogs up until this point.

A low growl sounded from the dog. At first I was glad to see my puppy friend, but then it leaped at me. I watched as the beast tore at Leon’s throat in horror. After the initial shock I frantically tried to push it back by mashing the onscreen commands. It stood there afterwards, staring at me. I emptied a full clip of my sub-machine gun into the thing, having little to no effect. Ripping out of the beast’s back were tentacles that struck out at me. This depleted my health and Leon fell with a sigh.

This moment not only scared me half to death, but forced me to quit for the night. Since then, if I come across a dog in a horror game, I shoot first and ask questions later. Resident Evil 4 will always be one of my favorite games of all time.

There’s a reason I chose to make this list a Top 5 instead of a Top 10. I simply haven’t played that many horror games. That’s why you should leave your favorite horror game in the comments below. Who knows, you may see an article here at Giga or a video on Forever Classic. Either way, I love this genre, so lead me on a path to discover the best.

If you like to watch other people get scared, check out my latest video on Forever Classic.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI3V4WKN21A&w=640&h=360]

Game File, Games and Software

Alex’s Top 5 Obscure Games

July 14, 2014 Alex McCumbers 1 Comment

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc0JYLO6m78&w=420&h=315]

5). Forgotten Worlds (Arcade, Multiple other consoles)

Capcom and arcade machines go together like bread and butter. However, Forgotten Worlds is a game that’s rarely mentioned except amongst die hard shooter fans. It has everything that makes shooters great: power-ups, tons of enemies, and massive bosses. What makes this game stand out is its controls. Players spin to shoot in eight directions while the level scrolls, all while being able to move around the stage. Not only that, but two players could play on the same screen! Couple this with cheesy voice acting and you’ve got a hidden gem.

The reason this game is so low on this list is due to the characters appearing in other Capcom projects. They try to toot their own horn as much as possible. For example, the Unknown Soldiers were helper characters in the first Marvel VS Capcom. These characters also appear in Namco X Capcom alongside a few soundtracks.

If you can find the Turbo Grafx version or the Capcom Classics Collection, pick it up. Hopefully Forgotten Worlds can be a little less forgotten.

Probably nothing PG my friend... — Probably nothing PG my friend…

4). Goemon’s Great Adventure (N64)

Sure, 2.5D platformers are fairly common, especially in the last three years with Nintendo releasing games like Donkey Kong Country Returns and the New Super Mario Bros. This style was rather rare on the N64, but a couple games did pull it off. One of the best was Goemon’s Great Adventure, a game that was a part of the Mystical Ninja series. It allowed two players to explore at the same time and had a rough difficulty. Players could choose one of four characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The whole game is themed with classic Japanese mythology, giving the game tons of charm from the get go.

To add more variety and wackiness, each stage ended in a giant robot battle. These first-person battles are a blast to play and they remain challenging. Overall, the game is hard to beat, fun to play with friends, and odd enough to feel unique and new. I definitely recommend finding it.

Now if only there could be a revival of this series, we could all enjoy quirky Japanese ninjas.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE_4Q5aBenM&w=560&h=315]

3). Little Nemo: The Dream Master (NES)

Little Nemo started out as a beloved comic series, which later became an animated film. Then, Capcom got a hold of it and used their super platforming powers to make a great game. This game is beyond hard, forcing players to search every nook and cranny of the level to find keys to open a door to the next level. Enemies are abundant and spawn constantly, but luckily Nemo has the power of candy, which he uses to coerce animals out of their skin. These gross suits become Nemo’s power as each animal provides different bonuses such as a high-jumping frog to a violent gorilla.

Even though the game is brutally difficult, I always find myself coming back to it. Dig out your gray boxes and slap in the cartridge, because this one is worth it.

For those afraid of spiders and Pete, I apologize.

2). Magical Quest Starring Mickey Mouse (SNES)

Alright, I’m guilty of loving the early years of Capcom and this list is loaded with Capcom love, but these games were buried in Megaman sequels and Resident Evil spin-offs. During the golden age of gaming, or the lifecycle of the NES, SNES, and such, Capcom turned almost everything they touched into gold. Nowadays, a Disney game is plagued with repetitiveness, lazy design, or marketing schemes involving toys. Capcom made several amazing Disney games, but Magical Quest was the one I actually played as a kid.

My cousin and I both owned a SNES. I lucked into borrowing his copy and after playing the hell out of it, we got together and played the game together for even more fun. Mickey has all the staples a video game hero should have. He can jump and throw things with the best of them, yet his greatest power is his ability to stop time to change clothes. Each costume has its own abilities which can sometimes lead to secrets and easier ways to beat enemies. Bosses are awesome, difficult, and all share a common theme. They all have Pete’s face, which sounds creepy, but actually works.

Even to this day, when I go to my cousin’s house, we sit and play Magical Quest. It’s just that awesome. Recently, I discovered the game had a few sequels and we’ve been hunting them down like crazy. We’re also planning to get the newest remake of Castle of Illusion, but have yet to buy it.

If you like Disney and video games, you deserve to play Magical Quest.

Our internet drug store makes it sure that the person has an excellent love making session. viagra free shipping The kamagra oral jelly is used for the treatment of erection failure hurdle. discount generic cialis The bench, after going through the CBI report, said that many additional chargesheets will have to be filed by the sildenafil without prescription agency could be taken into cognisance. In a very healthy private, glucose is normally absorbed inside the various cells within the body of the patient or in a lab and infused into the patient. viagra cialis

Nothing says awesome like torn skin, sunglasses, and a broken title.

Honorable Mentions

Before I declare my absolute favorite obscure game, let me mention a few games worth looking into that almost made the cut.

Little Samson (NES)

Shatterhand (NES)

Soul Reaver (PSONE, Dreamcast, PC)

Lost Vikings (SNES)

Super Mario RPG (SNES)

Now, each of these games are awesome in their own ways. Some of them are so rare that their almost not worth mentioning and others include characters that received other titles. However, there is one game that trumps them all. A game so good, I sobbed a bit when it froze and I’ve spent money on getting it professionally repaired.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ9Rn8GCJ5M&w=560&h=315]

1). Radiata Stories (PS2)

The RPG genre is my favorite. These games typically take a lot of hours to complete with complex characters, monsters, and stories. Some of the best games ever made were RPGs and it’s a shame Radiata Stories didn’t get the attention it deserved. The game did well in Japan, but was jaded in the states by Final Fantasy XII and Dragon Quest VIII. It came out at the end of the PS2’s life and I actually bought it on a complete whim. That day I discovered over a hundred characters, references to Star Ocean, and a combat system that let the player create their own combos. This combined with the beautiful art style set up one of my favorite games.

The plot is fairly simple (following common tropes), but what set it apart was the humor. There are some gut-busting scenes between the characters. Basically, there’s a war going on between the humans and the more monstrous races of the world, which eventually leads the player to choose a side. The plot then switches to that perspective, with its own special characters to unlock.

I also enjoyed all the different costumes and weapons Jack Russell (the main character) could equip. He can use four different styles: sword, great sword, spears, and axes. Each style has unlockable attacks and changes the gameplay enough to keep the combat interesting. However, the best thing about Radiata Stories is the amount of team members.

There are 176 characters to add to the friends list, including dwarves, knights, orcs, and even characters from other games including Valkyrie from Valkyrie Profile. After beating the game, players can also start over with all their skills and friends list members, allowing players to try other choices and play styles.

All in all, Radiata Stories is another RPG that deserves a sequel or re-release. There is a short manga series, but a new game is sorely needed. I loved the playfulness of the story and quirky characters. Find a PS2, spend the money to get a new copy, and enjoy Japanese Role-Playing at its finest.

Square-Enix games deserve a break every now and again.

You can watch me and my friends play a few of these games on Forever Classic. NOTE: I’m extremely silly in these videos and I have a fairly foul mouth, just be warned.

Goemon’s Great Adventure:

Little Nemo:

Film/Television/Broadcast/Radio, GIGAvision, Movies/TV, Pop Culture

Top 5 ’80s Cartoons

March 4, 2014 Nathan Joseph Sitton Marchand 2 Comments

The 1980s was the decade of big hair and even bigger on-screen heroes. While Rambo, Rocky and RoboCop dominated at the box office, there were just as many larger-than-life heroes on the small screen, often in animated form. The ’80s was, for many Gen-Xers and Millennials, the renaissance of cartoons. They were full of colorful characters, exciting adventures and daring creativity. Many of them still hold up today.

So, here are my top five best ’80s cartoons.

#5: DuckTales (1987-1990)

Inspired by the Uncle Scrooge comic books created by the famous Carl Banks, this Disney show had something for everyone. It followed the adventures of Scrooge McDuck, the richest duck in the world, and his grandnephews: Huey, Dewey, and Louie. The supporting cast included characters like Scrooge’s pilot Launchpad McQuack (who later becomes a superhero sidekick in Darkwing Duck) and the inventor Gyro Gearloose. Even Donald Duck would make an occasional guest star appearance.

Every episode was different: time travel, mystery, or treasure hunting. Sometimes all in the same episode. The characters might squabble or let their own faults get them into trouble, but in the end, they pulled together. They would survive using their own wits. Couple that with smart scripts, superb animation and a catchy theme song, and you have a recipe for a classic cartoon.

#4: The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991)

It was inevitable that a cartoon based on the 1984 mega-hit Ghostbusters would manifest. Unlike most cartoons based on movies, this one was a direct sequel to the film (and arguably a better one than 1989’s Ghostbusters 2), showing the continuing adventures of the original ghost hunters. Produced by DiC Enterprises, it retained the humor and oddball horror of the film, often daring to explore concepts that might be considered taboo in children’s television (how many kids’ shows would dabble in Cthulhu mythos?)

What may surprise many is the sheer amount of talent in the show. J. Michael Straczynski, creator of Babylon 5, wrote many of its 147 episodes. The voice cast included Frank Welker as Slimer and Arsenio Hall as Winston. In an ironic twist, Lorenzo Music, who voiced Garfield the cat, played Peter Venkman, the character played by Bill Murray in the film. Years later, Murray voiced Garfield in two movies.

While ghosts like Slimer and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man returned, the series featured freaky and imaginative designs for its new creatures. Despite being a comedy, I’m sure these creatures were potent nightmare fuel for many ’80s kids. Regardless, this was what all movie tie-in shows should be.

#3: ThunderCats (1985-1989)

This was a show that sounds stupid on paper (super-powered cat people battling an evil super-mummy?!), but was awesome in execution. Indeed, it was one of the most unique cartoons of the ’80s or any other era. It followed the exploits of a group of humanoid cat people after they crash-land on a new planet to form a new empire, only to be accosted by the nefarious Mutants and the diabolical sorcerer Mumm-Ra.

While created by Tobin “Ted” Wolf and produced by Rankin/Bass (yes, the studio that made all those stop-motion Christmas specials), it was animated by a Japanese studio that went on to form Studio Ghibli. This gave the series a distinct look that was one part western animation and one part anime. The show also blended science fiction and fantasy, featuring magic, robots and spaceships, often in the same episodes. Couple that with an awesome soundtrack (including the most butt-kicking theme song ever), and in no time everyone was shouting, “ThunderCats, ho!”

#2: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1983-1986)
levitra prescription on line These sessions also increases independence amongst these children and he/she feels at power with all other kids. That is the reason; view here now buy cheap cialis Sildenafil citrate will act on the heart and opens the blood vessels. Additionally, its effect last for approximately 4-6 hours, which give plenty of time to a couple to have satisfying intercourse. discount viagra uk What viagra sans prescription is so special about this brand of Freeze Dried Acai also increases energy and is a Healthy diet, exercise along with a little of Mother Nature’s touch.

Hasbro’s G.I. Joe action figures had been around since the 1960s, but for most people it was this show that introduced them to the “real American hero.” This series produced by Sunbow and Marvel Entertainment took that one character and made him into an entire army of special ops soldiers. The concept is simple, as the theme song explains.

It was the penultimate boys’ show, what with being steeped in ’80s action movie tropes and full of corny one-liners. It was action-packed with plenty of explosions, but rarely did anyone ever get hurt—that was part of the show’s charm. Not to mention the villains, who seemed to overshadow the heroes. Everyone remembers the incompetent Cobra Commander, the metal-faced Destro, and Slavic-sounding Baroness. They were as much a threat to each other as they were to the Joes!

The show ended in 1986 after the release of G.I. Joe: The Movie, but a sequel series produced by DiC ran from 1989-1991. Unfortunately, while it arguably had the better theme song, the show itself couldn’t compete with the original. “Yo Joe!”

#1: Transformers (1984-1987)

Why is this show, another Hasbro toy-based series created by Sunbow, at the top of the list? Because it created the most successful franchise of any other ’80s cartoon.

First, it’s based on toys that embody the trifecta of everything boys love (cars, robots, and puzzles). Second, it created an expansive science fiction mythology for why the heroic Autobots and evil Decepticons are constantly warring against each other. Third, it has iconic characters on both sides, not the least of which being the Autobots’ leader, Optimus Prime. For many children of divorce in the ’80s, Prime was a surrogate father. Fourth, incredible voice actors, including Peter Cullen (Prime), Frank Welker (Megatron and others) and Chris Latta (Starscream). Fifth, it was a gutsy show. In the (in)famous Transformers: The Movie, the series revamped itself for its final two seasons, killing characters, introducing new ones, and opting for darker stories. While it would prove to be the show’s downfall, it was still a bold move.

Transformers spawned several sequel series both in Japan and the U.S., most notably The Headmasters and Beast Wars: Transformers, respectively. New series, toys, comics and blockbuster films set in new continuities have been produced constantly for 30 years. Despite all these revamps, the core concept remains the same: the eternal struggle between good and evil—except featuring giant robots.

Honorable Mentions:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987-1996)

This show, based on one of the quirkiest comics ever, was undeniably the most popular cartoon in the late ’80s. It ran for 10 seasons, making it the longest-running animated series of all time until it was eclipsed by The Simpsons. That, however, is why it didn’t make the list: the majority of its episodes aired in the 1990s. It ended up being more indicative of that decade. Still, the Heroes in a half shell have their place in pop culture.

Defenders of the Earth (1986-1987)

Before Bruce Timm’s Justice League series, there was this show. Several lesser-known but iconic superheroes—Flash Gordon, the Phantom, and Mandrake the Magician—join forces to battle the machinations of Ming the Merciless. Their team included Mandrake’s assistant, Lothar, and the team members’ kids. What most people don’t know is comic book legend Stan Lee served as the show’s story editor and wrote the lyrics to its catchy theme song. It’s well-worth tracking down on DVD.

Did your favorite show make my list? Which shows do you think should be included?

GIGA: GeekMagazine

Tag Archives: top 5

But I Digress… Episode 34: My Top 5 Favorite Films of 2015

Alex’s Top 5 Horror Games

Alex’s Top 5 Obscure Games

Top 5 ’80s Cartoons