Quake: 20th Birthday & Retrospective

Welcome back, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

So way back in January, Duke Nukem 3d celebrated it’s 20th birthday. It’s legacy is a testament to it’s simplistic gameplay, looks, and it’s titular hero. Today celebrates another icon among 90s shooters. A title that brought new & innovative changes. A title that allowed a wave of creativity and change, and a title that is still celebrated by it’s fans. It introduced things that modern FPS games now seem to take for granted, and now it seems to be ignored by the establishment.

So get your trusty axe that doesn’t really do much, don your beaten-up battle armor, and enjoy a glimpse into the glory days of Quake!

Quake (1996)(Full Game)

Let’s begin this list with the star of the show. Released for DOS on June 22, 1996, the development for Quake was quite the venture. It was originally conceived as a follow-up to the Commander Keen series of games (Called The Fight for Justice), featuring a character named, ironically enough, named Quake. He would be the strongest & most dangerous person on the continent, as he would be armed with thunderbolts & a regeneration ring. The game was intended as a full-color side-scrolling RPG, but it wasn’t made in the end.

The RPG idea would be held on. Shortly after the release of Doom 2, Quake was given as a name to the game that Id was working on. The earliest information that came out stated that the character would be a “Thor-like” individual, wielding a giant hammer that would knock back enemies. The levels were originally designed in Aztec style, but the choice was dropped a few months into the project. There were also supposed to be more RPG elements, but due to time constraints, not to mention John Carmack working on the game’s engine & a TCP/IP networking model for the game itself. Instead, Id would embrace a gameplay style taken from Doom & it’s sequel. In the end, the game that players would eventually receive was what the group ended up making.....and nobody would have it any other way.

Best aspect? Let’s start off with the graphics! Up until this point, FPS games were 2d games based on sprites (Duke Nukem 3d is a partial exception), and graphics really weren’t pushing any boundaries. Then came along Quake, and everything changed. Gone was the usage of sprites, and in it’s place was the usage of polygons. This allowed for better use of lighting & textures, and there was a higher usage of angles. Weapons, enemies, and levels had a degree of detail that was essentially unheard of in the mid 90s. No-one had ever seen anything like this, and thus it brought in the age of 3d gaming across many platforms.

Secondly, the gameplay was FPS at it’s purest. No ducking behind cover to regain health, no cutscenes & quicktime events, etc. All this game is to get to point A to point B, solving small puzzles, looking for keys, and blowing apart some of the most flavorful enemies ever seen in a FPS game. It does get a little repetitive, but each of the 4 episodes were their own separate thing, and thus were different experiences (Enemies also became repetitive, but the configuration within each level is always a surprise). There’s even a 5th mini-episode.......but I can’t spoil that. You’ll just have to play the game to find out.

Lastly, Quake’s multiplayer was out of this world! While Doom & Duke Nukem 3d certainly had fantastic online gameplay, it was Quake that revolutionized it. It was just as fast as it’s singleplayer, and the opportunity to test your skills against another human foe was something everybody wanted to try. The mod community continued this, as they brought it new levels, game modes, and even skins. All you could do to differentiate your character from someone else was to change the color, but thanks to inventive fans, you could change into just about anything.

Worst aspect? Age. Much as I enjoyed it back in 1996, and still have fun playing it today, I can’t deny that Quake is a relic of it’s time. You can immediately tell when this game comes from due to it’s graphics, the gameplay comes from a (now) long-lost age, the bare bones story is incredibly laughable, and it’s popularity has waned when compared to more modern shooters (Good, bad, & indifferent). It’s fans still hold it close to their hearts, and perhaps more modern gamers look at it with curiosity & wonder, but it’s simply an old dinosaur at this point.

In a move that was typical back in the day, Quake got some extra content in the form of expansions packs. On February 28, 1997 the first pack (Scourge of Armagon) was released, and just a month later on March the 31st, Dissolution of Eternity came out to store shelves. Both expansions played along with the story from the main game, while simultaneously adding new & fresh content. Between the two, I always liked Dissolution of Eternity more. The time-travel aspect of the story always drew me into the world that the expansion pack created, not to mention the out-there monsters, items, and weapon upgrades (Lava Nails anyone?). It also doesn’t help that it contains one of my favorite levels in all of video gaming.

Curse of Osiris (Part 1)

Curse of Osiris (Part 2)

Quake. A classic from the 90s, and a title that cemented the popularity & legacy of first-person shooters, and mark the next stage in the genre’s evolution. For any of you modern gamers who want to have a glimpse into the past, this is a great game to start with. Recommended to the 10th degree. Next game!

Quake II (1997)(Full Game)

Perhaps the biggest irony of this game...is that it wasn’t supposed to have the “Quake” name in the first place!!!

Id had developed this game far removed from the original world that Quake took place in. Instead of a supernatural fantasy-style setting, this game took place on the sci-fi world of Stroggos, where humanity was fighting back against the cybernetic forces known as the Strogg (Original name, I know). Because of this new setting, they never even conceived the thought of putting this title in the Quake franchise, as it was supposed to be it’s own thing. However, due to the original Quake still being popular in 1997 (Thanks to advancements & fan support), and due to names the group thought up were taken by other game companies, they decided to put this new fangled game into the Quake family. So, on December 9, 1997, Quake 2 was released to eager fans, who thoroughly devoured it & highly praised the new Quake entry, and it’s still supported by said fans to this day.

Best aspect? For starters, the story is much more developed than the one found in Quake. It’s still very bare bones, but the fact that they put a little more time in, means there’s a little more substance. As you traverse the episodes, there does appear to be a sense of urgency to win the war. The radio chatter of the military, coupled with the bodies of fellow marines found throughout many of the levels (and in prison & biological facilities), gives Quake II a little more depth than it’s predecessor. This also ties into Q2's graphics & sound: while things aren’t massively improved, there definitely is a better look to everything. Textures & lighting come across as mildly more organic & real (At the time, at least), weapons & enemies look a little menacing, and the sounds are a little more crisp. It’s not a big leap, but things definitely are more advanced than before.

Secondly, Quake II’s gameplay remains largely the same as that of the original Quake. It’s still a fast-paced run & gun style game, where your main goal is to get from point A to B, and kill everything that’s in front of you. The big difference is how it’s structured: while still a fast game, there’s more of a mission structure to everything. Through out each level, there’s a primary objective, and sometimes a secondary one as well. The primary objective is needed to advance the level, while the secondary objective is essentially optional. Every once in a while you got a little backtracking to do (Levels are often interconnected because of primary objectives), but in a way I don’t mind. It’s a little annoying, but it’s interesting to see how Id connected the levels together, and thus creates something of a more epic adventure.

Finally, Quake II has some of the best multiplayer in all of FPS gaming. Me & my Dad roared throughout the various levels, skins, and mods. We put so many holes in the way, swiss cheese has to look away. No levels exemplifies this more than The Edge: perhaps one of the most iconic levels in multiplayer gaming, The Edge is a arena where only the strongest warriors can fight. It’s got something for everybody. Small hallways for up-close combatants, high ledges for more cautious gunman, and wide areas where everybody can dive in for a bloody free-for-all. Definitely a fun time!

The Edge (Gameplay)

Worst aspect? As with Quake, age is this game’s biggest detriment. Pretty much everything I said when I was talking about this above I can repeat here: dated graphics, weak story, etc. In Q2's defense, I always felt that this game aged better than it’s precursor. Graphics are improved, the story is better (But still weak), and it’s popularity has managed to rise up & down with less frequency. It might be an old title, but it still has a few hairs on it’s head.

Like the original game, Quake 2 had two expansions released for it: Quake 2: The Reckoning by Xatrix Entertainment on May 31, 1998, and Ground Zero on August 31 in the same year by Rogue Entertainment. Both of these two developers might be familiar to FPS games of the 90s, as Xatrix was the group that made the obscure Redneck Rampage (As well as one of it’s expansions), and Rogue Entertainment were the ones that made Dissolution of Eternity a year after the original Quake. As with the original expansions, The Reckoning & Ground Zero expanded upon the main story, introducing new enemies, weapons, and locales to run & gun through. Between these two, I enjoy Ground Zero a little more than The Reckoning. While I find myself struggling a little to remember the both of these, I seem to remember GZ a little more. Maybe it’s because of it’s more exotic enemy/weapon additions, or because of it’s more unique levels, I’m not sure. Point is, Ground Zero seems to pop into my head more than The Reckoning does, but The Reckoning does peek in from time-to-time.

I should make mention of two unofficial expansions for Quake II. More specifically, I wanted to talk about the PC Gamer flavored mini-episodes. For anyone even remotely familiar with the magazine (Especially their 90s incarnation), they’ll immediately recognize the mascot, Coconut Monkey. To give a brief synopsis for those unfamiliar, he was a perky individual that was developing his own game (Gravy Trader), but he couldn’t do much else, because as he would say, “But I have to hands”. Anyways, two little episodes stared the nutty primate: Coconut Monkey in Paradise Lost, & Coconut Monkey in Dry Gulch. They were really just 1 large level, divided into little sub-levels, but they were a lot of fun to play! I honestly couldn’t decide which one I appreciated, as they both had nice quirks that really stuck with me. If you’re curious to see what they looked like & played, check out the links below.

Coconut Monkey in Paradise Lost

Coconut Monkey in Dry Gulch (Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3)

Quake II. A big improvement upon the foundation that Quake established, while at the same time creating it’s own unique world & story. If you prefer pure Science Fiction over Sci-Fi/Fantasy, then this will be for you. Next game!

Quake III Arena (1999)(Gameplay)

And here we come to the oddball of the Quake franchise. Released on December 2, 1999, Quake 3 Arena deviated massively from the previous two entries. As it’s been previously stated in Quake & Quake 2, the stories themselves weren’t the strongest out there, and because of this Id took it out of the game completely (With one exception), and decided to focus squarely on it’s multiplayer component. However, it wasn’t without some issues, most notably a leak. In early March of 99, a internal hardware vendor (IHV for short) was leaked out by ATI, a graphics company. This leak was composed of 1 level & working weaponry, but some textures weren’t available along with other issues (2 weapons didn’t make it in, along with some sounds). Despite this leak, fans absolutely enjoyed the final product when it came out in early December, and still has a cult following to this day.
   
Best aspect? For one thing, the graphics! While Quake & Quake 2 definitely revolutionized the FPS genre with their appearances, by the late 90s other games (FPS or not) were pushing the boundaries of how things would look. Textures were very detailed for it’s time, some surfaces were reflective, there was some interesting lighting effects going on, and there was even some small water & liquid effects added. Levels were gritty, atmosphere was moody & bleak, the characters looked like individuals that would kill you in a dark alleyway, and the weapons looked & felt like implements of destruction outlawed by the Geneva Convention. It’s pretty impressive as to what the Id Tech 3 engine was capable off back in 1999.

Secondly, and just as importantly, is the multiplayer focus. From the nearly the very beginning, Id’s goal was to create a first-person-shooter that would take multiplayer by the balls, and it definitely succeeds. Gameplay is fast & furious, as you’re trying the dodge past your foes’s own attacks, and snag a weapon that’ll take them out in turn. Your battles against your opponents take place over a variety of dark, grimy, and bleak levels. There’s fog, lava, and all other sorts of obstacles placed on the battlefield. One misstep during a firefight, and the level itself might take you out. Definitely want to stay on your toes!

Finally, the last great thing about Quake III Arena was it’s mod & map community! Back in the day, I can’t tell you how many skins my Father downloaded, not to mention levels. Some of the levels were small & compact, but others were large & impressive. My favorite custom map took place in a backyard, where the player was shrunken down like Honey I Shrunk The Kids. There were nooks & crannies all over to hide in, but there were wide open spaces to have some particularly awesome gunfights. Skins were all over the place, some of them more grandiose that others, with my personal favorite being able to play as Johnny Bravo. Do the monkey with me!

Worst aspect? Strangely enough, I find that the lack of singleplayer to be Quake III’s biggest issue. I completely understand what this game’s purpose was, and it success perfectly, but at the same time Id crafted a really unique world, with a story that would have lend itself to a singleplayer quite well. It’s ironic that I’m complaining about this, as there’s technically a singleplayer available to play, with a weak story sewn in, but it’s really just bot matches among the various levels, which are split up into “episodes”. It’s hallow, but a singleplayer is there to use.

Ironically, Quake III was an exception to Q 1 & 2 for the fact that there was only 1 expansion of sorts released. Quake III: Team Arena was release on December 19, 2000, and was geared far more towards team multiplayer, as evident by the variety of team-based game modes. I really don’t remember this expansion much, but I definitely recall reading a review of it in PC Gamer, and the reviewer gave it 32 out of 100 (If I remember correctly. Although, I’ve seen ratings go from 69 to almost 74 out of 100). As such, I really can’t describe anything from this expansion, as I barely remember plaything the thing. One aspect I do remember is the updated Q3 graphics, which paved the way for a wave of Q3-powered games (Return to Castle Wolfenstein immediately comes to mind). Improved graphics, better textures, you name it.

Quake III Arena. An oddity within the Quake franchise, but a pleasant oddity. If you want a full-blown multiplayer experience, one in which the community is still surprisingly strong, then this game is for you. Next!

Quake 4 (2005)(Full Game)

So now we come full circle with this title, Quake 4. Released on October 18, 2005, Q4 marked the first time that a Quake game was not developed by Id Software. Okay, maybe not completely developed. While Id did provide the Id Tech 4 engine, and did some preliminary work, the game would ultimately be completed by Raven Software. The reason for this is quite simple: a new game was underway at Id, and because of a new graphics engine that was being made for it, the group simply couldn’t do both at the same time. Because of this, Id handed Quake 4 over to their longtime allies at Raven so they could work on their new project, while Raven would finish up what Id started. The end result is the game you see before you, and while it was more fluctuated in terms of ratings, it was generally considered to be a good game by a majority of fans.

Best aspect? For being the first game outside Doom 3 to utilize the then new Id Tech 4 engine, it does a damn good with it! The Stroggos homeworld has never felt more alive, and it’s inhabitants fell more real than any other entity in the Quake universe. The usage of lighting & textures makes all of the levels feel far more alive, and even the humans forces you fight alongside are more realistic than the blocky figures of yore. The various Strogg forces have received new looks, as they’re far more menacing than their now rather cartoonish original forms. Some original enemies have even been altered (The Iron Maiden can now levitate & teleport short distances, and can unleash a short-ranged scream to disorient the player), and new Strogg are introduced to shake things up from the original cast. Nothing like a cyber-dog trying to rip your face off & teleporting more enemies in!

The weapons are another plus. In addition to looking pretty badass, it’s a rogue’s gallery from across Quake’s history. There’s plenty of guns from Q2 (Which makes sense), but the classic Nailgun makes an appearance, as well as the Thunderbolt (Renamed the Lightning Gun). Hell, even a modified version of the BFG9000 shows up, only this time it’s called the Dark Matter Gun, and it shoots slow-moving black holes that can suck up targets, then detonate in a wide area. In a funky twist, the game upgrades some of the weapons as you traverse the battlefield, with the Lightning Gun being able to bounce to other targets, and the Nailgun became equipped with a scope that can lock-on targets when zoomed in. You’ll need these upgrades, as the Strogg will be getting stronger as you go deeper into the game, and you’ll need every advantage you can get!

One final positive for Quake 4 comes from the singleplayer. More specifically, the Stroggification sequence. It was always hinted at in Quake 2, sometimes even glanced at briefly, but never really shown or implied. The kiddy gloves finally came off with this game: about halfway through the player is captured by the Strogg, and is placed in one of their many genetic facilities when humans are harvested & transformed. You are strapped down to a table, and one guy in front of you is strapped down as well. The two of you are moved through this facility, and you watch what the poor unfortunate sap in front of you goes through before you suffer the same fate. If you have a strong stomach, check it out below.

Stroggification Sequence

Worst aspect? The main story is perhaps the biggest issue. It’s very obvious that they’re trying really hard to do something with it’s setting & characters, but it doesn’t really do anything. As such, the effort becomes rather pointless, since Quake 4 is trying to get you to feel for the characters & what they go through, and fails pretty damn hard. Even your own character is given a background, but it’s just a waste of time. It’s a shame, as you hear things from other NPCs about you, but nothing’s really done.

My only other gripe with Quake 4, as it seems to be with some of the other games, is age. Despite being just a little over a decade old, Q4 feels much older than a decade. Something about the gameplay comes across as very dated, despite the new look & feel of everything. Even the multiplayer comes off as dated, with the rehashing of The Edge from Q2's multiplayer and the Gauntlet melee weapon from Quake 3. It might not have everything in common with Quake 1 & 2, but it’s not trying to do anything new & original either. Even when you become Stroggified, all it does is increase health & armor by 25 points, you’re able to understand some of the Strogg language, and in one brief level you’re criticized for becoming the enemy (But nothing happens after). Simply put, Quake 4 feels much more of a relic that Quake 1, 2, and even 3 are. 

Quake 4. A title that’s simultaneously dated yet classic. If you’re look for a fun (but flawed) extension of the Quake 2 universe, this game is for you!

So that was a look into the franchise known as Quake. Definitely a series of it’s time, but a series in which it still remains strong, and one in which the fans are still in love with today. For modern gamers who want a glimpse into the past, or older gamers who want a taste of nostalgia, Quake is the series for you! I’ll see you all next month for part 2 of the Summer of Thrash, when we’ll take a listen......to the sadistic sounds of Sodom. See you then!





***
Although there was one more entry into the Quake series (Enemy Territory: Quake Wars), I never touched it back in 2007, and thus I don’t count it in this post, despite it being part of the franchise. Also, if you want a interesting look into this franchise (Many of the facts I used were from this), check out the link below:

RetroAhoy: Quake

If you’d like to read about the history of this franchise, then check out what Wikipedia has to say about it below:

Quake Series (Wikipedia)

Album Review: Megadeth's Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!

Original Cover

Re-Release

Greetings fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

So last we took a look at Motörhead iconic 1979 hit, Overkill. The album that would help define what Thrash Metal (not to mention Speed Metal) is, it’s enduring legacy has withstood the test of time. Not long after this classic record, bands all over the world donned the mantle of Thrash Metal, and creating some of the most head-banging albums out there. In the United States, this resulted in what would become the “Big 4” of Thrash Metal. One such band, Metallica, has already appeared twice on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog, and you already know my opinions on that band. Today’s review will cover another cog in that giant machine, and the band in question...is Megadeth!

Ah Megadeth. If you’ll recall from my top 10 singers & bands post from way back in 2014, you remember that I put this band in the “Honorable Mentions” section. Right alongside Metallica no less. Much like the previously mentioned band, Megadeth’s career has definitely shifted over the course of time, not to mention the frontman of the band, Dave Mustaine. He’s become quite wonky in recent years, but you won’t have to worry about anything bad with today’s album review, as it’s certainly a fine release. So grow your hair so long it covers your face & goes past your shoulders, and take a look at a review for Megadeth’s first ever release, Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! Let the review begin!

Background
During the earlier days of Metallica, Dave Mustaine was the lead guitarist for the band. However, drinking, substance abuse, violent behavior, and coming to blows with James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich, he was soon fired from the band. A short 2 months later, he & David Ellefson (Bassist) formed Megadeth in Los Angeles, California. Desiring revenge from getting kicked out of Metallica, he wanted his band to be far more heavier & faster than his former compatriots, and Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! embodies this. Given a mere $8000 to record the debut album, with a $4000 dollar bonus later on, the band decided to spend most of the album money on drugs, liquor, & food, and because of this the band fired their producer, and produced the album themselves. So, on June 12th, 1985, Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! was release to the world for all to listen, getting good reviews in the process.

It should be noted that Dave Mustaine was not originally going to be the singer of Megadeth. The band was looking for one, but after almost 6 months, Dave stepped up and became the lead singer, while also serving as the band's primary lyricist, main songwriter and co-lead and rhythm guitarist.

Basic Description
What Kill em All was to Metallica, this album is to Megadeth!

I’m not joking. Despite Dave Mustaine wanting revenge, and trying to be more than what Metallica was at the time, the two albums are quite similar. Highly rooted in Thrash, fast & intense, amateur recording, etc. I’m not saying this is an insult. Quite the opposite, in fact! While the two bands didn’t want anything to do with each other, each one’s first album has really stood the test of time. Kill em All added to the foundation of Thrash, and Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! did so as well. Sometimes, vengeance can create...more than it can destroy.

Best Track
Much like Kill em All, pretty much everything on Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! is 100% pure 80s Thrash. Despite the dated audio quality (More on this below), you have a classic record in your hand, and one that’s pretty damn fast to boot! With perhaps a moment or two within a couple tracks, the music on here is more on the speedier side of Thrash Metal. Wanting to get back at his former bandmates in Metallica, Dave & the rest of the band went for speed & intensity for Megadeth’s first release. It really shows, as none of them seem to take it easy. Even when it slows down for those few moments I talked about a second ago, the band is coming at you with the force of a thousand sledgehammers. Once you’re done listening to this CD, check your head to see if it’s cracked & bleeding!

Worst Track
Really the only bad thing about this album is the dated audio quality. You can definitely tell it’s age, and while the re-issue is definitely touched up, the dated quality of the whole release can still be heard. If there was one bad thing about this album, it would be this.

However, if I wanted to be a little picky, I would chose Chosen Ones as the worst track of this album, but even then it’s still a great song! Dave & the boys are giving it all they got, and the end result is damn good. The reason why I’m some might be picky is because of the run time. At just 2 minutes & 56 seconds, Chosen Ones seems to go by so fast, you may have to listen to it a second, maybe even a third time, to absorb everything going through your still. Still a great song, but maybe a little too fast.

Chosen Ones

Other
If you’d like to listen to this album before you purchase it, check out the link below.

Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!

Overall Impression & Rating
As I said earlier, Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! is the start of a fine career for Megadeth. It might sound a little dated, but it’s another example of the power of Thrash Metal back in the 80s. As with Kill em All, this album is still talked about fondly to this very day, as it’s enduring legacy keep it alive here in 2016. If you’re turned off by Metallica’s reputation, the maybe Megadeth’s first will be more up your alley.

Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good! gets a 9 out of 10.

So this concludes part 1 of the Summer of Thrash. The beginnings of this sub-genre of Heavy Metal was most certainly a creative time in music, and the foundation that was built has stayed around, letting others put their own structures on it. We’ll take a look at one such Thrash band from Europe next month, but before that we’ve got another 20-year anniversary within the gaming community later this month, and it might just make you.....quake? See you then.

Food For Thought/Thought for Food No. 2: Pulse Shooting, Homophobia, Islamophobia, and Politics

Welcome, fellow Otaku & Metalheads, to an unfortunate Food for Though/Thought for Food.

As you can tell by the title, today’s FoT/ToF covers the incredibly recent shooting at the Pulse Nightclub down in Orlando, which was highly frequently visited by the LGBT community in that area. On.....well, in fact today at 2 A.M., 29-year old Omar Mateen walked into the club, and proceeded to kill up to 50 people, while at the same time wounding 53 more. A standoff with the police insured for 3 hours, until they finally charged in with a armored vehicle, killing Mateen in the process. This shooting has been labeled as one of, if not, the worst mass shooting in United States shooting, and news outlets are pouring all over with information about the shooter. Here’s just two pieces I’ve been reading.

http://www.local10.com/news/muslim-community-condemns-orlando-attack-calls-for-blood-donations

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/12/us/orlando-nightclub-shooting/

Okay, before I go off (Cause trust me, I need to vent before my heart explodes), let me just say this: my heart goes out to the victims of pulse. The one’s that are no longer with us, and the one’s that have been wounded by this madman. The victims are people just like us, despite what some people may say (I’ll get to that in a second). If you have even just a second, please send money down there. Send blood. Hell, if you can afford it, find a way to fly down there & help out in some way. This is especially sad for me because I have some friends & acquaintances who are within the LGBT, and attacks like this just continue to twist the knife. I can only hope that said friends & acquaintances are doing okay, and if any of them read this, please let me know if you need an ear to listen to.

With that out of the way, let’s get to the venting. Right away as this story unfolded, preachers & western religious folk wormed their way out of the woodwork, saying that this was an act of God, a case of divine retribution, etc. Don’t believe me? Check this shit out below!

http://www.newslo.com/pat-robertson-orlando-shooting-gods-punishment-scotus-sex-marriage-ruling/

First off...Pat...shut the fuck up! Any other religious folk, whether you’re a religious leader or not...shut the fuck up! For once in your life, put your hate & ignorance aside, and realize this: people who are gay, lesbian, and bi-sexual have been around since time immemorial. They’ve been around since the time of Christ, and they’re still here today. No amount of hate, ignorance, and bullshit that you shovel upon the masses can change this, much as you might delusionaly hope it will. In this circumstance, you’re not needed in this tragedy. Leave this to the real religious folk. Leave it to the ones who truly love Jesus, and who truly care for their fellow man. They’re the ones that can help with this situation, not you!

Secondly, let’s talk about Islam. As you can see by the 1st link above (and other links you’ll find), Omar Mateen had ties to the faith, and theoretically was attempting to join ISIS in the process. On top of that, Omar’s father came out, and practically pleaded with reporters & people that this wasn’t about religion, and it was the result of his son seeing two men kiss in front of him. For starters, Omar, you’re a major tool! With the state of Islam in this country already as shaky as it is, people like you just continue to ruin it’s reputation. You allow your inadequacies, not to mention your cherry-picking of your own faith, to continue damaging it’s reputation. A faith that has been horribly ruined & scarred by those outside of it, and those within. Secondly, for anyone out there who continues to be blind about Islam, who keep labeling it as a religion of hate...just stop! You know fucking nothing about it. I don’t care if you’re a Republican/Conservative or a Democrat/Liberal, or even if you aren’t affiliated with any political allegiance, it doesn’t matter. You’re a tool who continues to drink the kool-aid, doing your own brand of cherry-picking in the process. Maybe learn about the faith for once, and then you’ll see that Islam is far more that what the terrorists have done, and what our system & news have done with it as well.

Finally, let’s get a little bit of politics in. I was laughing like a hyena when Kevin Sorbo was going on about this on his Facebook page, saying that Obama was using this as a means to go on about gun control & other things. Kevin, I’ll go off on you another day, but for right now, I’m just going to go on that sentiment. It’s amazing that the Republicans/Conservatives (And maybe some Democrats/Liberals) still go off on Obama like this. It’s not just the politicians & news outlets that do this: Dave Mustaine from Megadeth seemed to have a brain aneurism back in 2012 shortly after the Dark Knight Rising theater shooting, basically saying that he staged the shooting to deceive people int wanting stronger gun laws.

Look, even though I voted for him twice (I admit it), but I can’t deny that he’s been a major target of rumors & falseness. There has never been a single, solitary shred of evidence that Obama has done even a sliver of what people have been trying to saddle him with. Even if he was, he would be far more subtle that what his detractors label him as.

My final thought: throw your religion, political allegiance, and ignorance aside (If you can). Think of these victims as people, and treat them as such. They have to deal with enough hate as it is!

So that has been my second Food for Thought/Thought for Food. I’m still furious, but maybe I’ll calm down a little. In the meantime, get ready for tomorrow, as the Summer of Thrash will march on through this sea of tragedy & hate!

Album Review - Motörhead's Overkill

Welcome back, fellow Otaku & Metalheads, to the Summer of Thrash!

So last week I got introductions & a tribute to Heroes of the Storm done, and now it’s time to get into the meat of this festival. With part 1 of this festival, we’re taking a look at the origins of Thrash Metal. It’s the late 70s, and Heavy Metal has just barely come onto the scene. Bands like Led Zeppelin formed the prototype of Heavy Metal’s sound, and Black Sabbath created the mood & attitude of the genre, but there was one band that would push boundaries & shape new subgenres, creating the blueprints for Speed & Thrash Metal. One band that would last for almost 40 years, and create a legacy that will last until the apocalypse. That band......is Motörhead.

That’s right, today we’re blessed by the presence of the legendary Motörhead. I fully admit I intended to cover this iconic band much sooner here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog, but with the death of Lemmy Kilmister late last December, not to mention the passing of Phil “Philty Animal” Taylor a month prior to Lemmy’s, I thought it would have been in bad taste to talk about them. However, enough time has passed, and now I feel the time is right to review a classic Motörhead album. So pour yourself a Jack & Coke, light up a cigarette, and check out my review for the band’s 1979 classic Overkill. Let the thrashing begin!

Background
An improvement over their first self-titled album, things would be a little difficult for Motörhead. Getting signed to Bronze Records, their first task was to do a cover of Richard “Chuck” Berry’s classic Louie Louie, along with a new song (Tear ya Down). The band promoted the single, and actually had some moderate success. That said, Gerry Bron of Bronze Records had this to say during the Ace of Spades episode of Classic Albums:

“..The first time I heard Motörhead was when I listened to a single that I put out without hearing, which is "Louie Louie," and when I heard it I was absolutely horrified. I thought it was the worst record I've ever heard, so it was a bit of a shock. The bigger shock was, having put out a record I thought was terrible, it went straight into the charts at #72. But I actually put the record out as a favour..”

Ironically, there were enough sales of the single , that it got Motörhead onto their first appearance on the BBC Television series, Top of the Pops. It actually gave Bronze Records enough confidence to bring the band back into the studio to make a second album. In Overkill: The Untold Story of Motörhead, “Fast” Eddie Clark has this to say:

“..We had so many false starts and disappointments by the time Overkill came around in 1978 we had stored up a lot of energy and ideas – and we were just waiting for the opportunity to show what we could do. Also we had a great following, and we always felt we owed the fans who had been with us from the beginning..”

And thus Overkill was born! Released on March 24, 1979, Overkill was at Roadhouse Studios, and was co-produced by legendary producer Jimmy Miller, who worked previously work with the equally legendary Rolling Stones & Traffic. Overkill was also iconic for it’s title track, as Phil Taylor used a double-bass drum for the song. As he said in the documentary The Guts and the Glory:

“..I always wanted to play two bass drums but I always said to myself, 'No, I'm not gonna be one of these wankers who goes on stage and has two bass drums and never even fuckin' plays 'em'. Not until I can play 'em. So I got this other bass drum and I used to get to rehearsals a couple of hours before the other guys and just practice, you know, just sit there going (mimes kicking with both feet) like running, or something like that...I was actually playing that riff, just trying to get my coordination right, when Eddie and Lemmy walked in, and I was just about to stop and they went, 'No, don't stop! Keep going!'...And that was how Overkill got written..”

Basic Description
Solid Gold!!

Spearheading the emergence of Heavy Metal as a viable musical style, not to mention creating the platform for Speed & Thrash Metal to jump off of into the pool, Overkill has withstood the test of time as a classic metal album. Lemmy, Phil, and Eddie Clark brought their a-game when creating the music on this record, and they had an energy that could only have be made by them. Heavy Metal was kinda seen as a joke by some of the more “proper” music fans of the late 70s, but when Overkill went through their ears, they certainly changed their tune. There wasn’t anything like Motörhead then, and there won’t be anything like them again.

Best Track
Is it wrong that I kinda listen to this album because of the title track?

Okay, all joking aside, I honestly can’t pick any one individual song off of Overkill to be the best song on this record. All 10 tracks off of the original recording of this album are flawless. If you want a little Thrash, go for the title track. You like a little blues with your metal? Try out Capricorn & Limb from Limb! Want some speed? Go right over to Tear ya Down, and be sure to not trip & crack your skull! There is something for everyone on this record, and it’s quality is so good, that it formed the basis for their first triumvirate of incredible albums. I can’t go into detail about that just yet, but suffice it to say, you’ll be engulfed by Overkill & how good it is!

Worst Track
Again.....Nothing! Nada! Zip! Zilch! This whole album from top to bottom is perfect in everyway. The vocal work, instrumentation, and even the blusy atmosphere across the entire album, never falters in anyway! Not many modern albums (Metal or otherwise) can do this, and to accomplish such a feat back when metal was still in it’s infancy, is truly remarkable.

Other
If you want to listen to this metallic icon, check out the link below. Chances are, you’ll buy this after just the first two songs. Just a heads up: this is the 1996 re-release. It’s got 5 additional tracks, one of which is a cover of the 1950s classic Louie Louie. If you want just the pure experience, listen to the first 10 songs. If not, just dive off the deep end into this album!

Motörhead: Overkill

Overall Impression & Rating
Overkill is a gem from the days of when Heavy Metal was still wearing diapers. The genre was still trying to find an identity, but with a band like Motörhead, you know that the face of Heavy Metal is gonna come out looking gorgeous. Despite being close to 40 years old, Overkill still manages to sound fresh, and it’s quality easily eclipses many (but not all) modern metal bands. If you want to listen to a shining relic from the past, then Overkill is the album for you!

Overkill gets a 10 out of 10.

And thus the Summer of Thrash truly begins, with a titan of metal at the helm. However, Motörhead wasn’t the only band to shape the face of Thrash, so join me next week, when another of the big four decides to pay a visit. See you them!

Food For Thought/Thought for Food No. 1: Cosplay is Not Consent

Hey there fellow Otaku & Metalheads.

I stated in my original statement about the Heavy Metal Otaku blog that I didn’t really want the harshness of reality to be on here. Sure, I’ve commented upon the death of someone, and perhaps an act of terrorism, but I wanted my reviews to be an escape. A way for people to have fun, and not think about how bad life can. In recent memory, I thought that, perhaps talking about real life once in a while can help. Perhaps by talking about real life, maybe we can learn something, and fix what’s wrong in the process. I’ve dubbed this post series Food for Thought/Thought for Food, wherein I’ll be talking about more real things, whether in geek culture, pop culture in general, or more real life stuff.

A fair warning: chances are I’ll be using more...colorful language from time to time. Not only that, I might trample on something personal that you hold deal. It may be accidental, it may be on purpose. Sometimes when you’re doing a little remodeling, you got to get some demolition done to make it look a little better. That said, let me get my first Food for Thought/Thought for Food out there!

As you can tell by the title, today’s first FoT/ToF is about something we’ve seen on the internet: Cosplay is Not Consent. You’ve seen the stories, you’ve probably heard from a friend or two, and maybe you have seen a picture or two. Women cosplayers getting harassed by guys, and even a small few men getting harassed by girls/women, this is seriously a dark issue. Sexuality has always been around in cosplay, whether people want to hear that or not. There had been women dressing up as more evocative characters, and men donning the outfits of male characters (or female if they crossdress) since the dawn of cosplay. In recent years, however, things have taken a bad turn. Both Women & Men are being looked at more sexually because of their costumes, and certain individuals are getting too close for comfort.

There have been stories from some con-goers about getting ask inappropriate questions, getting molested, or worse, getting raped because of their costume! I had a friend come out of the closet in February of last year about getting raped at a convention back in 2014, and (as far as I know) hasn’t gone back to one because of PTSD. Because of this, conventions & cosplay groups have stepped up their game, and have begun a campaign of “Cosplay is not Concent”. In fact, New York Comic Con has begun putting up signs like these around their con space.

Now that’s quite reasonable. A few simple words, and that’s that. However, even this isn’t enough for some people. Take a look at what some jerk online did! Just a heads up, you might want a barf bag for this.

On my personal facebook page, I ranted about the both of these, and I was furious while doing so. The cosplay community wasn’t like this for my first two cons: this way all the way back in 2009, and while the art of cosplay was certainly popular, it wasn’t completely in the mainstream. I didn’t see any perverts, and the girls & women didn’t seem threatened. Flash forward to now, and it seems like a day can’t pass without some issue in the cosplay community. To see what some of this community is turning into, and I weep like God when Lucifer was cast into Hell.

So in a strange way, I also seem to weep when I see signs like the ones at New York Comic Con. We as a community shouldn’t have to be told this. Issues within cosplay are ever so slowly being turned into PSAs that seem to talk down to people, and Cosplay is not Consent is perhaps spearheading this. I’ll admit that perhaps I’m being a little judgemental, but I’m not necessarily the only person thinking this: I’ve seen comments on a couple posts having similar discussions like the one I have here, and the sentiment is the same. An awful problem, but perhaps we’re hearing about it too much & being talked down to in a sense.

My advice is this: just be respectful. Don’t add anymore fuel to the fire, as there’s been enough already poured on as it is. We should know what boundaries are in this day & age.

So this was my first Food for Thought/Thought for Food. I don’t know how often I’ll be doing this series, as the idea just came to me on a whim. Whenever something comes my way, and it sparks something in my brain, maybe I’ll say something about it. In the meantime, we’ve got more of the Summer of Thrash to enjoy!

My Top 10 Heroes of the Storm Characters

Hi there, fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Although the Summer of Thrash has started here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog, today’s a special anniversary. One year ago today, Heroes of the Storm was introduced to the public, and changed the MOAB genre. Taking what makes MOABs fun, and pulling out what makes the game style irritating, Heroes of the Storm is an entertaining game that anybody can learn. Perhaps it’s biggest strength lies in it’s cast of characters. Spread out across 4 different class types (Warrior, Assassin, Specialist, Support), Blizzard has taken individuals from across all their franchises, and put them into a brawl-for-all that doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is easy to learn.

So to celebrate the 1-year anniversary of this game’s release, I’m gonna put down my top 10 favorite Heroes of the Storm characters. Normally I would put an honorable mention section on this list, and given the fact that there’s 50-plus characters, I could have easily done so. However, I wanted this to be a more “Pure” kind of list, and as such I’m not putting one on here. With that out of the way, here are my top 10 favorite Heroes of the Storm characters.

Also, blame my friend Amanda for getting me into this game.

10) Murky (Trailer) & Abathur (Video)

I start off this list with two of the most annoying characters in Heroes of the Storm. Murky, the Baby Murloc (Yes, that’s his description), and Abathur, the Evolution Master of the Swarm. These two couldn’t be more opposite: Murky likes to get in close, and Abathur prefers to stay out of combat. However, what makes them annoying is their skills. Murky practically can’t die, as he can come back to life just 5 seconds later from his egg, and Abathur can lay toxic nests all over the map in places where you least expect it, not to mention bond with another hero to channel his power. Despite their annoyance, the two can actually be quite strong, provided you know how the two work. For me, they’re not my favorite to use, but once in a while......they’re all right in my book.

9) Anub’arak (Trailer)

There are two kinds of warriors in this game, tanks & bruisers. Tanks are the kind of warrior that go in swinging, soaking up damage, and taking out as many targets as possible. Bruisers are somewhat different: they charge in just like tanks, but for a bruiser it’s more to do with disrupting the other side. Anub’arak is the best example of a bruiser-style warrior: large & beefy, but requires a little more thinking when it comes to fighting the enemy. You’ll definitely want to target weaker foes when playing this insectile lord, as they’ll go down more quickly than a larger opponent. It’s always a lot of fun when you can take out a group, especially with the right build. 

8) The Lost Vikings (Trailer)

The only character (Characters, actually) to not belong to any Blizzard brand, The Lost Vikings were more of an impulse buy for me. I hadn’t seen them on the free rotation for a long time, and I bought them, simply due to frustration. They’re actually a tricky character to play, as they’re actually 3 characters in one. There’s Olaf the Stout, a rather large man with a shield. Baelog the Fierce, with swords on his back that he throws. Finally, there’s Eric the Swift, a small man with a slingshot, and is faster than his two companions. You can either play all 3 on their own, or group them together to take down a target quickly. Definitely one of the more challenging heroes available, but also one of the most satisfying!

7) E.T.C. (Video)

A giant cow person, playing an axe guitar & using it as a weapon, who also wields the power of Heavy Metal music.......I’m sold!!

Okay, A little more of an explanation. A little after the time that my friend Amanda introduced me to this game, I was intrigued by some of the more exotic heroes in Hots.......E.T.C. was not one of them. My first impressions of this game were because of this warrior of metal, and just outlandish he was. For god’s sake, he can stage dive a group of enemies, or he can start jamming to force the other side to dance! How can you not like a character such as E.T.C.? However, as fun as he was, another character surpassed him....

6) Zagara (Trailer)

Around the same time as I acquired E.T.C. (Might have been the same day), I snagged Zagara, the Broodmother of the Swarm. Zagara embodies the properties of the Swarm: ruthlessness, cunning, & ferocity. Despite being a ranged character, she can bombard fortifications with hydralisks, banelings, and roaches, not to mention devour enemy heroes with a monstrous mouth. She can even slither around the battlefield through nydus worms, appearing where she’s least expected. Zagara was one of the other characters that influenced my view of this game, and thus became an immediate acquisition.

5) Tracer (Spotlight & Trailer)

It only makes sense that the first ever character from Overwatch makes it on this list. Tracer can be a tricky character to play: her kit requires a little learning, she’s rather squishy (Even at higher levels), and new players may die often when first playing her. However, when you grasp at what she can do, you’ll find that Tracer’s quite powerful. Just go over to the Heroes of the Storm general discussion forum, and you’ll see plenty of angry posts about her, saying she’s too OP, etc. Ignore that: Tracer has a lot of power behind her, but if she’s overextended, she die almost immediately, and because of this is quite balanced. She’s even got her bubbly attitude straight from Overwatch, perhaps more so. If you want a fun character, Tracer’s your girl. Speaking of fun.....

4) Lili (Trailer)

Adorable panda girl, check. Bubbly personality, check. Fun kit, check!

Truth be told, I almost had another tie here. It would have been Lili & Lt. Morales here at the number 4 spot, but as I thought about it, I decided that just the niece of Chen Stormstout deserves to be here. Unlike Lt. Morales, Lili can heal herself as well as her allies, and actually can hold her own if she has to. Much like Lt. Morales she has some offensive abilities, but there’s a little more versatility to how Lili can damage the enemy. If worse comes to worse, you can simply out-cute the enemy with Lili. With how adorable she is, it’s amazing that the individuals of the nexus haven’t had heart attacks!

3) Xul (Spotlight)

When Xul was first hinted at a few months ago, a wave of nostalgia came over a good portion of the Hots player base. Many of us were big Diablo 2 fans way back when (Myself included), and seeing one of the iconic classes come to the Nexus, made us smile. When he finally arrived back in early March, I immediately picked him up, and was happy with who I acquired. More effective than a majority of the specialists in the game, Xul can push a lane & fight up-close with the best of the them, and oozes D2 nostalgia as he does his job. Definitely a character you need to pick up!

2) Cho’Gall (Spotlight & Trailer)

Out of all the characters introduced into Heroes of the Storm, none are more unique than Cho’Gall. Despite raising a stink among a chunk of the fanbase, this guy (Or guys) is silly & stupid fun. Unlike all the other heroes out there, you’ve got to have a friend to tag along as Cho or Gall, as you can’t play either of them solo. When you’re in a game, you & your partner have to be highly coordinated, or if you’re my friend & I, play Cho’Gall like you are Beavus & Butthead. I can’t explain much more, other than Blizzard made a unique character/s in this two-headed ogre.

1) The Butcher (Spotlight & Trailer)

Hey Amanda, are you surprised by this one?

I don’t hide my love for this character. With perhaps one of the greatest character trailers ever made, it brought back a lot of what made The Butcher so great in the original Diablo (A lot of people thought he was lacking something in D3), and I’ve always been fond of demons in fantasy. Playwise, despite being an Assassin, I can go toe-to-toe with just about any of the other heroes. Despite being squishy, I can just brand my target, and slice off some health with each attack. As I’m wandering the battlefield, harvesting fresh meat, I’m slowly gaining strength. Then, when it’s time, I unleash my full fury, crashing down my massive cleaver, and roasting them alive with a blast from the furnace! Simple characters are sometimes the best, and The Butcher stand above them all.

So these were my top 10 Heroes of the Storm characters. As more heroes come out, chances are I might change the list, but it’ll be a while. In the meantime, let’s get it on with some Thrash Metal, so next week we’ll be looking at one of the founding fathers of the genre. See you then!

Special Announcement: Summer of Thrash

Hello, fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome........to the summer of Thrash!!!!!!

From the month of June, all the way to August, I’ll be devoting time to one of the must iconic sub-genres of Heavy Metal. Since it’s arrival in the early 80s, Thrash Metal has gained a Genghis Khan sized horde of fans, and even in this modern time still has plenty of devoted followers (Including yours truly). Influenced by the speed of Punk & bands that would form the bedrock of Metal, Thrash is a genre that’s fast, catchy, and most definitely heavy!

So, for this most metallic of celebrations here on the Heavy Metal Otaku blog, this will be a little different. To spoil things a little, June will be devoted to the earliest days of Thrash Metal, when it was just an oddball among a new genre of music. Back on topic: for each month during this celebration, I’ll be doing two album reviews for each part, and they’ll both be focused on a particular Thrash theme. I’ve still got my standard reviews & such I’ll put out during this time, but because of the nature of this special event, I’m really going to limit myself so I can concentrate more on the theme in question. As such, I’m only got to put about 1 normal review up each month, although June will have two special posts up. In fact, the first of these special posts will be up tomorrow, and it’ll be celebrating my number 1 game of 2015 (Hint Hint). In the meantime, put on your leather coats & ragged jeans, cause for three months, this blog will be thrashing like never before. See you next week, when we’ll look at a Thrash release from one of the most iconic founders of the genre.