Review: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Two things initially got me very excited for the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. First, it was released only for the Wii and required a Wii MotionPlus controller, which meant maximum flailing about the living room on my part. Second, I read that in the official timeline released by Nintendo (it's about time, no pun intended) Skyward Sword is the first, and will represent the origin story for all other Zelda titles to date. To me that meant the story was likely way epic, and given the series' history of mixing a great story with lighthearted fun, I was extremely optimistic. Besides, it's hard to screw up a Zelda game. They stick to a formula that works, and they do their best to nail it.

Tell me you're not just a little bit cised right now.

Being one of the bigger nerds of all time, I asked my fiancée to get me Skyward Sword for Christmas. I figured it was a good gift idea, being that I would buy it anyway, and I was struggling for anything else I needed at the time. It was the perfect plan, but for the fact that we had Christmas with her extended family and I had to explain to them why I asked for a video game. I should have just said, "I'm a man-child," gotten in my car and driven home, never to return. Sometime shortly after New Year's (after I finished up Final Fantasy XIII) I dove right in to Skyward Sword.

More after the jump...

What is this I don't even: Part 1

What the fuck is this haircut, and why is it suddenly everywhere on television?

What is this I don't even

Florida Panthers at Washington Capitals: 7 February 2012

My buddy had an extra ticket to Tuesday's Panthers game in DC, so I jumped on it. Terrific night to go to the Verizon Center. The crowds at the Iron Horse, our pre-game bar, were pretty light. So we could catch up without jockeying between jersey fouls for a beer. Once the game started, it was a study on everything that could go right for the Caps:

• the starting line of Chimera-Perreault-Semin scored right off the bat
• Vokoun was sharp all night
• Clemmensen was not
• Ovechkin power play goal, yes please
• Alzner and Carlson played well when paired together
• Laich won 87.5% of his faceoffs essentially playing on one leg

It wasn't perfect - allowing 42 shots against can't be explained away by holding a lead for 59 minutes - but it's always nice to see a dominating win. Games at the VC are always enjoyable, and the win obviously makes it more so. Plus, the barbecue place on the 200 level was outstanding, those braided pretzels are to die for.

One thing that stuck out to me is how well both Chimera and Johansson skate. You see it on television, and you notice. But seeing it live is something else altogether. With Chimera extended through the 2013-14 season, it's easy to see how those two can make up the majority of a dangerous third line moving forward. Of course for that to happen, Nick Backstrom needs to come back healthy and effective as the first line center, and general manager George McPhee must bring in a legitimate second line center. Where have I heard that latter part before? Oh right, each of the last three summers.

Still not optimistic about this team's playoff chances (if they make it) but it was refreshing to see a complete sixty-minute game from the Caps, especially while Backstrom and Green are still on the shelf.

Review: Final Fantasy XIII

In anticipation of Final Fantasy XIII-2's U.S. release at the end of January, I just finished replaying Final Fantasy XIII. First, I wanted to get the Treasure Hunter and Ultimate Hero trophies (because online achievements matter!).

Proof.

But I also wanted to re-familiarize myself with both the story and the battle system. After doing so, it seemed like the perfect time to offer up a review. Actually, not the perfect time, considering it was first released over two years ago, but I digress.

The first time I played through the game, I remember not really liking the story in general. Right off the bat, Square Enix and XIII director Motomu Toriyama break the "Robert Jordan Rule," which is of course if you make up more than three words at the beginning of a story, you're going to lose a lot of people, and the story had better be pretty damn good. The first few cutscenes were throwing fal'Cie, l'Cie, and Cie'th around quite a bit, and frankly becoming a l'Cie doesn't sound so bad. Not to nitpick, but the most crucial part of any game's story is communicating where you are, what you're doing, and why you're doing it. And given the gameplay restrictions inherent in the early chapters, going to the well of "saving the world," and rescuing some girl the audience knows nothing about from becoming encased in carbonite crystal isn't exactly a great or original motivation. As the story progresses, and our protagonists are off to stop the evil gods and/or organizations, there is still an uncertainty about why, or how the group will accomplish their halfhearted goals. During the mid stages of the game, most of the main characters grow and become more dynamic, but some of them continue to play one note throughout, and the supporting characters offer little distraction. By the time we definitely know what were doing (only because we're told so in James Bond, villain-reveals-all-and-splits fashion) and we're ready to do it, there are only two chapters left and it's basically LIGHTNING AND FANG SMASH to the last boss.

"This is only the first time we've met. I'll tell you my exact plan next time."

More after the jump...