Of The Neverhood

Alright I've beat around the bush for long enough. One of my biggest passions in life is video games. Whilst I don't have much time nowadays I still enjoy sitting down and spending a few hours getting lost in the worlds.

A couple of my favourites include The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Bioshock, GTA: Vice City, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Portal, Chibi-Robo!, Crackdown and Tetris. However my favourite game ever is the seldom heard of The Neverhood Chronicles and really it boggles the mind as to why such a gem got buried over the years when everyone I've ever met who plays abosultely loves it with a passion (except for those dicks at gamespot)
The Neverhood comes from the now almost extinct Point and Click Adventure genre (although Zack and Wiki was great). The Neverhood uses unique puzzles to pull into the game as you explore The Neverhood and what has happened to it (God I sound like a marketting person).

The thing about the Neverhood is that it is just an immense joy to play. It's sufficiently puzzling but doesnt quite get on your (however it is one of very few games that requires you to take notes). I love the Neverhood so much that it is one of the few games that I have ever been able to complete multiple times (and in one sitting!!) along with Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. Maybe it's because of it's length.

The Neverhood looks incredible and was probably even more so when it was released. Whilst it isn't the hi-def tour-de-force that games like Crysis and Gears of War are, why it looks incredible is in it's unique look and art-style. The entire game is made out of clay (or klay) and it really shows throughout with a real handmade look to the game world. This coupled with Terry S. Taylor's music gives the game an incredibly earthy feel. Infact Terry Taylor's soundtrack makes the game, whilst it is based of Douglas Tennapel's ideas (albeit freaking genious ideas), Terry Taylor really makes the Neverhood come to life. I would go as far to say that The Neverhood soundtrack is the greatest soundtrack is the greatest soundtrack from all videogames!! Terry Taylor's music has gone to influence other musicians such as Jonathan Coulton who wrote "Still Alive" (he actually credits "Li'l Bonus Room from The Neverhood's sequel Skullmonkeys as a great influence on the song).

The Neverhood is also genuinley funny. Many of the cutscenes have made me laugh out loud which is why I've included a selection below (allow they probably won't make much sense out of context):

Willie's Story


Battle of Robot Bil


Weasel Chase


Pulling of the Pin


Bad Ending


Good Ending + Credits


The Other Ending


Finally I'd like to thank the God's for making it so that there will soon be a Neverhood film (which will hopefully bring new found interest in the game)

Of Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is freaking sweet. Watched all 7 episodes a little while and fell in love (although not as much as I am in love with Lost, Veronica Mars or Dexter.) Here's the best scene from the series (at least so far)


Also loving the second season pick up

Of Nothing

Felt that after a month I should post something so I'm posting now. Really this is about nothing however I might as well have a rant while I'm at it. My rant will actually be about nothing or at least the concept of nothing.

Seriously what is nothing? There can't be nothing! There is always something there has to be. Something doesnt come from nothing which therefore means there is always something, even if the something is incredibly small and insignificant. At least its there and is something. Nothing on the other hand is pointless. No one wants nothing they always want something. This something doesnt have to be a physical something, just the abstract concept of a something but even then for that to work there has to be something to actually have this abstract concept of something. Be it gratification, love, depression, regret, pain. None of these things are physical somethings but they're somethings which have been created by other somethings (namely us). Time is something and so is space which means that there is always something even if space is a vacum and time is merely a concept which we use to see how late we are to do something. These two things must have always existed (time didn't just start because it felt like it did) or otherwise there really would be nothing, in which case I wouldn't be writing this as I would be nothing as the nothingness that was without time and space wouldn't be able to make me into something.

So what does this mean? Don't use the word nothing. Put a space between it and say no thing at least that implies that what you are looking for is not there rather than there being nothing (no time, space, abstract ideas, atoms, molecules etc).

Nothing = 13 times
Something = 18 times

Of Birthdays

Well twas my birthday on Tuesday (yes go April Fools Day) and the thing that I wanted did not arrive from America (goddamn you Royal Mail) so I've been relegated to wait a few more days till my present does arrive.
2008 = still a crap year.
Randomly here are a couple of films I'm excited for:

1) The Neverhood
Loved the game, will love the movie
2) The Wrestler
Love Darren Aronofsky. Period.
3) Watchmen
Loved 300 and loved the graphic novel
4) The Fall
Loved the trailer
5) Redbelt
Also loved the trailer

Redbelt Trailer:


The Fall Trailer:

Of Spring

Well it's spring. Um thats it, I'm neutral on all seasons so theres no point on elaborating on anything. I do like the rain though, but coming from England means that theres always rain, so it doesnt really matter what the season is.
Although I can say that so far my year has been pretty bad. Started off quite badly then got a bit better through late January and early February, but since then 2008 has just gotten progressively worse with no sign of it getting better.
I'd better get these feelings down for my novel (currently at 0 pages :D)

Of Novels Which May Someday Be Written

Two updates in one day I must be mad. Well no I just couldnt be bothered to edit the last post. I said a while ago that I might start writting a novel, and now that my coursework is out of the way why not start now?

!!!WARNING!!!
Due to extreme amounts of depression the novel is most likely to be incredibly depressing as well and may feature some mutilation, of whom I will not say. All depends on whether or not they realise it was them that caused the depression in the first place.

Of Stuff

Right ok first off. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS LOST IS BACK!!!!!! So we've had the first five episodes of season 4 and it just keeps getting better and better. Daniel is by far the best new character and it seems the writers agree as he got a meaty part in The Constant (awesome episode that follows on from Flashes Before Your Eyes) and looks to be even bigger next week. Cant wait :)

Now for Veronica Mars. I love this show. If I were to redo my list of top 10 tv shows this would be on it definately in the top 3. Maybe even top 2? Sorry Dexter but dissapointing finales do not impress me (ask Heroes and Doctor Who). Well I'd better get back and finish watching it. Only one more season to go :(

And finally Darren Aronofsky, the best director in the world. Period. I love The Fountain. I love Pi. I love Requiem for Dream. Please Mr. Arronofsky, don't stop making films as I will watch them no matter (although the wrestle biopic probably wont be as interesting as his other films).

Sorry no random humour for today. However I do have funny links.
xkcd for all your levitating squirrel needs
Yahtzee homesite of one of the funniest people on the internet.
Ashens video from another of the funniest people on the net