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    Best posts made by Brannox

    • YOUR Desire Index

      After reading the EZA Desire Index thread, I thought I would take the initiative and create the thread about where we stand with our desire index. Here's what I was thinking: We each give our own index of games. From those, a communal list, which will be listed in this specific post will be the "Master Index" of our game desires. After a lot of life, this thread has now taken on a different look than how it started. So just leave a list and see where your games appear! Please note: I retain the right to determine any Unannounced game's inclusion to the Master Index on a case by case basis.

      As it stands, the FINAL STANDINGS for the EZA Forum Desire Index is as follows:

      NINETEEN Total Entries and 91 Games:

      Seventeen Entries:

      1. Cyberpunk 2077

      Fifteen Entries

      1. The Last of Us Part II

      Thirteen Entries:

      1. Resident Evil 2 Remake
      2. Kingdom Hearts III
      3. Ghost of Tsushima

      Twelve Entries:

      1. Final Fantasy VII: Remake

      Eleven Entries:

      1. Dreams
      2. Death Stranding

      Ten Entries:

      1. Control
      2. Beyond Good & Evil 2

      Nine Entries:

      1. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
      2. Devil May Cry 5
      3. Shenmue III

      Seven Entries:

      1. Metroid Prime 4

      Six Entries:

      1. Anthem
      2. Halo: Infinite

      Five entries:

      1. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
      2. Gears 5
      3. Metro: Exodus

      Four entries:

      1. The Elder Scrolls VI
      2. DOOM: Eternal
      3. Ori and the Will of the Wisps
      4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
      5. Judgment
      6. Wolfenstein: Youngblood
      7. Babylon’s Fall
      8. Bayonetta 3
      9. Skull & Bones

      Three entries:

      1. Metal Wolf Chaos XD
      2. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
      3. Catherine: Full Body
      4. Team Sonic Racing
      5. The Outer Worlds
      6. Gears Tactics
      7. Onimusha: Warlords
      8. Man of Medan
      9. Crackdown 3
      10. Jump Force

      Two entries:

      1. Ooblets
      2. Trails of Cold Steel 3
      3. Psychonauts 2
      4. Biomutant
      5. Ace Combat 7
      6. Project Re: Fantasy
      7. Shin Megami Tensei V
      8. Pokemon for Switch
      9. CTR: Nitro Fueled
      10. Age of Empires IV
      11. Days Gone
      12. Rage 2
      13. Nioh 2
      14. Starfield
      15. Trials Rising

      One entry:

      1. Brave Earth: Prologue
      2. Battlefleet: Gothic Armada 2
      3. Trials of Cold Steel 4
      4. Playdead's Project
      5. 13 Sentinels Aegis Rim
      6. Rocksteady's Project
      7. Etrian Odyssey Nexus
      8. Ion Maiden
      9. Yoshii's: Crafted World
      10. Blackroom
      11. Gran Blue Fantasy Project Re: Link
      12. The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe Edition
      13. Somerville
      14. Gears Pop
      15. Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
      16. Phoenix Point
      17. The Pathless
      18. Daemon X Machina
      19. Battletoads for Xbox One
      20. Code Vein
      21. My Friend Pedro
      22. Sukeban's Project
      23. Shin Yakuza
      24. System Shock: Remake
      25. Desperados
      26. The Last Night
      27. MediEval Remake
      28. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
      29. Dragon: Marked for Death
      30. The Sinking City
      31. In the Valley of Gods
      32. Total War: Three Kingdoms
      33. The Artful Escape
      34. Carrion
      35. WiLD
      36. Hellpoint
      37. UnDungeon
      38. Age of Wonders: Planetfall
      posted in Hall of Fame
      Brannox
    • RE: Bosman Plays A Link to the Past

      Ok. This is without a doubt going to be the stopgap for Mr. Huber on contract formulation. But in all seriousness, this shouldn't be a divisive thing to anyone in the community. To all those out there who are upset or as I have read in this thread, those threatening unsubs and support pulls please keep this in mind: EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING about the entirety of this situation is 100% FUN AND GAMES. The betting special is a game, the contract is about a game, the stream is of a game. And ALL of it is in good FUN, whether it is at Mr. Huber's expense or those here in the community that can't take a joke. Do I like the trolling, or any trolling for that matter? Not really. Do I believe Mr. Bosman has no honor? For the most part. But at the end of the day, in no way should anybody be upset at this situation. I MUST give credit to Mr. Bosman for his undeniable expert level skill in weaseling his way out of a bet and to that I end I can only applaud. That and the fact he can do it with a completely straight face. HOWEVER, in the spirit of good fun I just wanted to throw out there: I SO hope Mr. Huber permanently keeps possession of the Schlosser Cup (I hope that's how it's spelled). So at PSX, Mr. Huber needs a contract where someone from Easy Allies must be physically present in the same room as Mr. Bosman to witness him doing something he absolutely DESPISES. Doesn't need to, nor should it be, another LTTP stream, but if there is something that Mr. Bosman doesn't like for whatever reason, it gives the bets weight, which makes them pointless to have to begin with (Thus why I believe he has no honor). Another potential could be to tarnish something Mr. Bosman holds dear, like him disparaging Tetris in some way, or forcing him to break media blackout on a game could be a good (although not necessarily as satisfying for us) way to really irk him. Sorry for such a long comment so allow me to end, once again in the name of good fun to say: All of us "Stupid Huber fans" really can't wait to see Mr. Bosman truly get undone in some way. At least we're all Allies and we can agree that Video Games, and EZA are all awesome. Thanks for reading.

      posted in Shows
      Brannox
    • RE: Plea for the return of Love & Respect

      This thread has been a real good read. Allow me to leave a few responses to common themes instead of tagging 10 people:

      I was part of another forum for a good bit of time until serious toxicity started to become more rampant. I took a break from that forum for about a month but then I decided to dip my toes back in as it were. I then shortly afterwards found a thread that was quite profane and sentiment was HIGHLY opinionated in being ANTI the very group the forum was a part of. At that point, I decided to leave that community except for the people I became friends with beforehand. I don't ever want to deal with those kinds of people.

      As for EZA Twitch chat, I can't ever catch livestreams that interest me live, so I watch the archives via Twitch. And when I do, the chat is ALWAYS closed. This is more to focus on the Allies, but a small part of not having the best experiences. But from what I remember, it isn't terrible on average, just incorrigible during major events.

      As for being here on the forums, this and the Community Comments video is where I interact with others on a somewhat consistent basis. Even then, that video is just a way to say what the month has meant to me and move on, but I really enjoy listening to my fellow Allies' thoughts about whatever they decided to post about for that month (Spoilers: I'm SO SORRY for May's video).

      While my reputation for a couple of people has been a maniacal overlord forcing people to kill their babies, I stand by that being a great avenue to learn about people's tastes and I enjoyed reading the conversations that took place there.

      In terms of others' opinions, I try to be as open as I can. To provide a couple of examples, the Community threads that are currently sitting in the Hall of Fame subforum are my favorite, as the conversations there were civil, fun, and I got to learn, read and see the passion we all have for whatever was being discussed. Another is this year's E3 conference ranking. Personally, I feel Nintendo had the best and Bethesda the worst. And I'm POSITIVE there is complete disagreement about that. That's cool! I love talking about that kind of thing, so I HOPE people disagree with me about that stuff, as it provides excellent talking points and because out here off of the computer I don't have an avenue to discuss gaming, this place is a wonderful outlet.

      With that being said, there have been very few times I HAVE gotten into disagreement here that has proceeded beyond what I hope for ("I don't like [my interest here]!" "Oh, why?" [sees reasons] "Ok, here is why your points, WHICH ARE VALID AND I AM NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU, don't bother me as much or why I FEEL they are actually positives.") After my response, there is IMMEDIATELY one to some effect of "You're wrong/that opinion is garbage/what you think doesn't matter." Even when I try to stay level headed, in the split-moment of feeling attacked, I want to believe in the best of others, not having to defend myself. If there IS an escalation, I try to simultaneously de-escalate any tempers while clearing any potential confusion that has occurred.

      That only stings when there is a break down of being clear: I NEVER try to change another's opinion, only know what's different from mine, why, and understand it. If I see something I disagree with, if it's minor or I'm COMPLETELY against it, my response is the same: I respectfully disagree. The MOMENT ANYONE claims, at any time for any reason a person's OPINION is wrong, and any other colorful word you want to place here, THAT is a personal attack, gets nowhere productive, becomes the catalyst for the incendiary cesspools of hate that is unwelcome, and above all else targets the person who says the opinion is bad as someone not worth interacting with.

      Yes, over the course of my time in this forum, I have come to recognize some as people I'm not sure I would interact with well, but I try to be polite, courteous, and 1/2 of the brand: respectful. Disagreement is a given, but its how we choose to act in the moment someone disagrees with us that makes us examples to follow, or the very trolls we despise.

      I love it here. This forum 99% of the time I've been here has had nothing but positive returns. Even though my interaction may be small, it is nonetheless the kind I have wanted.

      So whether you think I'm alright, have no opinion of me, don't like me for whatever reason, or outright hate my guts, Love and Respect to one and all

      posted in General Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA Community Top 25 Best of 2000!

      I am thoroughly surprised FF IX beat out Majora's Mask. I thought FOR SURE it would be the other way around...

      In any event, in regards to Majora's Mask it is the one game on my list that I did not play, but it IS the one game I want to. Of all the Zeldas that I haven't, none call to me like Majora's Mask (For reference, I've only played Wind Waker [Like it a lot] and A Link to the Past [It's... fine]) Because I've never owned an N64 (due to circumstances that still aggravate me to this day) and me resolute in not buying a system for a single game, no exceptions (Sorry 3DS), this and Ocarina will forever sit atop the pile of shame.

      As for Final Fantasy IX, this is the most recent Final Fantasy I've played for the first time. When it was rereleased for the PS4, I downloaded it and after some time, I finally got around to playing. I've been averse to playing games based off others' praise (Final Fantasy VI burned me pretty bad) and the style of the game never really spoke to me, but I decided to give it a shot.

      And I'm happy I did.

      Whlie the reliance on stealing is an annoyance, and the story REALLY gets away from itself down the stretch, FF IX is not only a solid FF game, but personally speaking, the best game to come out of 2000. I enjoy Tetra Master and some scenes are really captivating (Like when arriving at Freya's home and the burning of Alexandria).

      FF IX, in my personal FF rankings, now sits in between the "Love" and "Like" categories. (For reference, said rankings are: 7, 10, 12, 4 | 1, 9 | 15, 2 | 6 | 8, 13 with not having played 3, 5, 11, and 14).

      As a quick overall summary of my list:

      1.) Final Fantasy IX
      2.) Pokemon Gold/Silver
      3.) Spyro: Year of the Dragon
      4.) Crash Bash
      HM.) The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

      You know it's coming so here we go: Shout-outs to: @Exist-2-Inspire, @Sazime, @tokeeffe9, @Enzo88, @jipostus, @Crepe, @naltmank, @Ringedwithtile, @FF7Cloud, @TokyoSlim, @Lotias, @SunPraiser, @Hidz, @A7X458, @ACardAttack, and @Sheria for lauding Final Fantasy IX!

      And finally, I always wanted to end my last summary post with a massive thank you to @Axel for putting these together and the work that goes into them. You do a fantastic job!

      Now, I can't wait for the next one! (Which most likely will be the 2018 list)

      posted in Hall of Fame
      Brannox
    • RE: More activity & more people

      Just seeing this thread I wanted to add my two (or twenty) cents on the subject:

      While new people and topics are welcome, personally speaking, it's about what this place offers and how each person values.

      Yes, I spend a vast majority of my time in the Gaming section (sometimes hopping into Shows for a couple of things like keeping Trailer Jones updated and talking about the newest Top 10 or Hall of Greats), I only really will post for three reasons:

      1.) Updates and curation - If I create a post, (especially ones with lists), I want to make sure I stay on top of it, keep it up to date, and see if anyone really comments on what I have to say. Kill Your Babies, Selective Creation, Desire Index, Madness Brackets.... these things help me interact more, plus I try to bring something fun (At least I hope they are...).

      2.) Community efforts - Things like the GOTY threads (shoutout to @Axel), top characters, etc. Things that I want to participate in and see the outcomes of. I also consider the E3 threads I make along these lines, because it's that special time of year we can talk what we hope for, and what happens.

      3.) Personally interesting topics - These are the fewest because most topics I've posted about before have been done multiple times, and its kind of pointless to revisit them. Things like "Favorite Achievements/Trophies", "Rank the games in your favorite series", and very particular specific game threads (and only then if I've already played said games. God of War and Horizon come to mind). The reason why I stay out of "What are you playing?" and "That's News" topic is it being much too broad. If they were a little more focused, I might jump in.

      While I may not post everyday, I always come here at least once to see if either anything new has been posted/created OR if I got a response for anything I've posted/updated.

      On the subject of what to do to entice people? Outside of putting out shoutouts in things such as the Monthly Q&A, Community Showcase, and Cup of Jones, there isn't anything. These forums have been here now almost three years and at this point, while (speaking only for me), I'll continue from time to time to do things like having the Desire Index in the CS, or make mention of the Kill Your Babies/E3 threads, I have no expectation my small little calls saying this place is great is going to sway anyone.

      BUT.

      I like what we have. This is not to mean to be exclusionary. I just feel that the people who post here, WANT to be here, and those who don't no longer frequent. Sure, as I just mentioned, only occupying a specific spot here does limit my exposure, and subsequently introduce bias, but in this ENTIRE forums history, I had ONE bad interaction. ONE. And with a poster who I don't see around here anymore (and I wasn't the only one to have issues with said person). My point: To (and for) me, this has been 99.99% positive and honestly? That makes this place comfortable. We all pretty much have a good idea of who we all are from what, where, and how we post.

      Most of the Allies won't come here. There's no incentive, and they're too busy. As Jones has said SEVERAL times via Cup of Jones: This place was primarily built for us to congregate, not them, AND it ties what the Allies want to do. And they want to focus on their work with shows, streams, and coverage.

      To conclude: While it would be great for new faces and topic ideas to show, we've got a good thing here. If anyone has read all of this, thanks a ton. Sorry for the wall of text.

      Love & Respect

      posted in Comments & Feedback
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA Forum Hall of Greats (September 2021)

      Hello fellow forum friends! As we come together to celebrate and recognize what we collectively consider what games are Greats™, I’ve decided to bring all the games from list of my favorites of all time, meaning I’m starting our first ceremony by nominating my favorite game ever:

      Final Fantasy VII

      While it’s been stated to the point of cliché how Final Fantasy, and VII in particular, popularized JRPGs to a Western audience, my presentation will center on how it impacted me with various aspects of what makes VII special.

      First up: The story. Stories and narratives are difficult things to properly pull off in games, whether it may be a failure of bad writing, unappealing characters, terrible storytelling, convoluted devices, tropes, and the like, but VII is exceptional in all these categories and more. From the opening moments of seeing a mysterious girl praying over a dim light in the darkness to seeing smash cuts of a train where the characters jump out to carry out a bombing, the opening grabs you in a way that compels you to move forward and see what will happen next, and this feeling never leaves. Initially, the story of a small band of rebels taking on the world’s largest corporation in its quest of eco-terrorism is unique enough, but how it transforms into something greater, fighting for the planet against what is arguably one of the most well-known villains, not just from Final Fantasy but gaming as whole in Sephiroth, is captivating.

      And this story wouldn’t be great if not for the cast of characters along the way. Your main party of nine is an eclectic ragtag group, but each stand on their own for their indelible personalities. Obviously, there’s Cloud, which you play as for the majority of the game and his growth of being a standoff-ish jerk looking for his paycheck in the beginning to eventually becoming someone who cares deeply for his friends is a progression that never gets old. Barret, with his gun-arm and loud persona immediately establishes a presence of a man who fights for what he believes in. Aerith, with innocence and an occasional teasing quip showcases her to be one of the most beloved characters out there. Tifa, who, through her need to keep her friendship with Cloud strong out of the fear of losing the last of everything Shinra (and ultimately Sephrioth) took from her makes you root for her to succeed and be happy. I could go on, but just know I feel as strongly about Red XIII, Yuffie, Cait Sith, Vincent, and Cid, plus all of the supporting cast as well.

      But games live and die by their gameplay, and VII’s is a system that’s easy to learn and provides you different ways to outfit your team. Sure, the battle system can just be, “Select Attack, pick enemy, execute, and repeat,” but the depth materia gives you opens up a world of possibilities. From magic to abilities, having each skill be a single orb to equip on your weapon and/or armor allows for anyone to use anything (though it would be in your best benefit giving Aerith and Red magic materia, for example, in light of their inherit magic stats being stronger than other party members). Having these skills gain experience alongside your team with each battle ensures you’re always working towards getting stronger in one way or another. And for putting in the effort of maxing out a materia, a new copy is created for you, rewarding you with a replacement if you need to sell your maxed out version for a pretty payday. Plus, with the limited number of spaces each character will have dependent on what weapons and armor are equipped, you have to be strategic in creating a loadout that balances your playstyle and making sure whomever you’re fighting with is prepared with the materia on hand.

      Limit Breaks, earned by both defeating a set number of enemies AND using particular Limits a certain number of times, are spectacles that will help you out in a pinch. Summons are just as incredible, with some of the most satisfying attacks in the game coming from the rarest and most powerful of them all (Hello Knights of the Round and the trio of Bahamuts). Yet, gameplay is more than battles though. Sidequests and mini-games are fun distractions whether you’re on a motorcycle or snowboard, the battle arena’s various modifiers, catching, raising, and racing Chocobos, all of these and more provide excellent rewards for your effort.

      Probably my favorite part about my favorite game has to be the soundtrack. There are very, VERY few songs that I don’t think are exceptional, but even then, those that aren’t are still really good. If I had to pick my absolute favorites, it would have to be Still More Fighting, Valley of the Fallen Star, and Cid's Theme. Of course, there’s so many more, like the themes for Aerith, Shinra, and the Overworld, The Highwind Takes to the Skies, and obviously, One Winged Angel just to name a FEW. For a game with no VO (understandable for its time), it’s crucial to have excellent music and sound effects, and VII delivers on every front.

      The last thing I want to touch on is how it looks. Up front: Yes, I understand the polygonal character models when you’re running around and talking to others can be a bit much. But beyond that, VII still looks fantastic, with the many, Many, MANY beautifully illustrated and painted 2D backgrounds, and I would argue the battle models in actual fights are really good as they’re more detailed and correctly proportioned. While I personally have never minded or thought the character models look bad, I DO get where people may view that as a turnoff, but in the grand scheme, I think everything else more than makes up for it.

      There’s a reason Final Fantasy VII is getting remade and has multiple spin-offs, old and coming soon. It’s that phenomenal.

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA Forum Hall of Greats (May 2022)

      Hello all! For this third ceremony of our Hall of Greats, I bring a game I feel many critics and fans alike consider the best of its franchise:

      Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

      Uncharted receives a lot of complaints for a variety of things: “Ludonarrative Dissonance!” “There’s no stakes when climbing!” “Gunplay is terrible!” “Drake is a boring and uncompelling wiseass!” and many others. But for me, as a massive fan, I feel A Thief’s End is the series’ best in response to these areas and more. For this presentation, I want to talk about gameplay, graphics, characters, and story.

      To start with gameplay, I feel it can be broken down into two areas: Combat and exploration. For combat, the guns and grenades are better refined and interesting to use as opposed to the rest of the franchise for two reasons: Weapon variety and improved settings. There’s quite a suite of armaments in Uncharted 4, from assault rifles, shotguns, handguns, grenade launchers, etc., and each feels different from anything else. Plus, thanks to Uncharted 4’s Aim Assist for those who want to have their weapons snap to enemies (and even hyper focus on a specific body part) and unlockable cheats (one-shot kills, infinite ammo, and others), it allows anyone to tailor the combat just how they want it.

      But what’s fantastic about A Thief’s End’s combat is (my perception), there’s actually fewer “large” combat encounters than any other Uncharted (with maybe the exception of Lost Legacy). This allows for a greater emphasis on puzzle solving, exploration, and character development. In addition, with the introduction of the awareness icons and tall grass/foliage, it makes stealth more viable and productive to tackle groups of enemies than ever before in Uncharted.

      Exploration is at its most freeing thanks to the most open level design (again, 2nd to Lost Legacy’s one “open-world” esque area) and the ability to drive a vehicle at several points in the adventure. Sure, the main collectibles are still Treasures and Journal drawings (which in their own right are all varied and interesting little artifacts/pictures), but roaming around the wilds of Madagascar in a jeep or getting around small islands in a boat to find small caves, wells, shacks, and other points of interest with excellent environmental storytelling give the world itself more life and character, especially considering the dynamic conversation system.

      Graphically speaking, even six years later at the time of writing, Uncharted 4 looks phenomenal. I still remember being absolutely blown away when in the first chapter of the game having to sneak by a nun, I found a piece of paper and the game allowed me to “wave” it in real-time. The fluidity of the animations in books, magazines, documents, and other interactable items, plus the overall art design, character models, stunning landscapes, and captivating views when looking at various horizons lends this to being one of the most beautiful games to date.

      And while Uncharted is about treasure-hunting in long-forgotten ruins and getting into shootouts with mercenaries, for me, Uncharted is so much more about its narrative and dynamics with all of its main characters. Uncharted 4 is one of those rare games where long-time fans and new players alike can enjoy the story throughout (though I argue it’s still more beneficial to have played the prior games to have the additional context). By the time Uncharted 4 starts, Nathan Drake is not in the treasure hunting business, but it’s still a part of him that he can’t ever really let go, which is best exemplified in Chapter 4.

      I want to take a moment to gush about this chapter, as it’s my favorite in the whole game. There’s no combat (unless you want to count the imaginary shootout in the attic), and it’s all about the tone, the setting of Nate’s and Elena’s house, the homage to past Uncharteds, Nate and Elena’s dynamic at that time, and it all culminating in one of the most delightful Easter Eggs (which this game has a few, but it’s the only one you can’t miss). The amount of detail put into the house, from bathrooms being a mess, laundry needing to be finished, office desks being disheveled, and notes/pictures on the refrigerator all give the house a completely believable “lived in” space that leaves me fully immersed every time I play. It allows for the two main characters to really shine and it’s a segment I greatly appreciate.

      This isn’t to say this is the only great character moment in the game. Sam is an excellent opposite to Nathan, stoking the bad influences to hunt for Henry Avery’s treasure. I absolutely LOVE the fact you

      play a lie of the prison break with Hector Alcazar

      and he’s a perfect example to Nathan of what happens when he becomes too dedicated to the lifestyle. How the obsession of finding the lost treasure and making mega-millions isn’t truly worth it. This is best exemplified when the crew of Nate, Sam, and Sully return to the hotel after all the craziness of King’s Bay and Elena is there, catching Nate in his lie.

      Elena is easily the BEST character, as EVERY scene she’s in is the storytelling at its strongest, from the aforementioned house and hotel, to the conversations she and Nate have in Libertalia. The difficult talk on the elevator, plus the long silence in the jeep afterwards as you drive to your next destination... Sublime. By the time I reached the epilogue, how the game and the larger narrative of the franchise wraps up so beautifully, makes me swell with bittersweet emotion every time I play.

      The McGuffin you’re chasing is also my favorite, because there’s no surreal aspect to it. It’s all about greed undoing the “pirate utopia” for all who sought true freedom from oversight.

      Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End is an incredible game, with the “Uncharted formula” perfected. Compelling characters, refined gameplay, and being stunning looking all combine to be worthy of the title, “Great.”

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA community Top 50 Videogame Characters!

      Good lord, leave for a couple of hours and come back to find chaos...

      Vincent Valentine - AWESOME!!!!! It's endlessly funny that he was just on the cusp of the list because of error. THANK YOU to whomever made the catch! As evidenced by me placing him second overall, I really find Vincent fascinating. I won't drone on and on about why I love him so, but the bio given is a nice summation of his chronology in Final Fantasy VII. He's super cool. @SabotageTheTruth The highest of fives.

      Tali'Zorah - Much like Wrex, Tali was such a highlight of Mass Effect, but not just 1, but over the entire trilogy. I loved how she transitioned from a Quarian on her pilgrimage to being probably one the, if not most important, of her species. Being able to romance her in ME 2 was something that was well receieved by me, because of the three female squadmates in the first game, I enjoyed her more, so having that evolve into 2 was worth it. Also, if you Renegade the hell out of 3, the end of her story arc is utterly heartbreaking. Tali was the most... for lack of a proper term... innocent of all the squad. My thanks to @Brandon_Reister and @Musou-Tensei for liking her enough to make your lists.

      Sarah Kerrigan - Never played StarCraft, but I've had a little of her backstory explained to me and if I A.) Played on PC and B.) Played strategy games in general, I would probably pick up StarCraft to really experience how she came to be. She seems to be a fascinating case study of how affecting a bad decision can be.

      Also, @Exist-2-Inspire , don't sweat it. You're doing a great job!

      posted in Hall of Fame
      Brannox
    • RE: Kill Your Babies!: Kill YOUR FINAL Babies!

      And the vote is OVER! With a resounding 13-3 decision...

      Okami is THE game above them all, winning for a third time!

      I always have wanted to thank everyone for every bit of participation, from a one-time kill to being involved the whole way through.

      But this thanks is simply for sticking with these. It's been a real treat to get to know you through your tastes and interests and over the past year, I have truly enjoyed seeing the diverse thoughts. From die hard Zelda and Persona fans, the always predictable various stances on Final Fantasy, the.... polite.... disagreement in regards to Pokemon, the opinions on what games are worthy in being the best across many categories... this has been fun.

      While I will no longer do SC or KYB! threads simply because I'm tapped out of ideas, if anyone else wants wants to make them, I look forward to being a killer... wait... that comes off wrong... nevermind.

      I'll still pop up here and there through the forums, but this long-winded thing is just to say:

      I have really appreciated the interaction.

      See ya in other threads!

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: That's News!

      @michemagius After reading the previous 25-30 ish posts I wanted to respond in saying that it bums me out you feel you shouldn't post about something you love here. I read and thoroughly enjoyed your posts and I can clearly tell Pokemon is your game series, above all others. Your passion shows, and it is appreciated.

      To add my personal input about Pokemon, I dropped out after gen 4 because it introduced many changes I really didn't like, so the first three gens are the ones for me. I'm not a competitive player and I rarely go back through those campaigns any more, but I still enjoy them when I do.

      To your point about Final Fantasy not meshing with you, speaking as my favorite franchise, I totally get that. There are entries that are in my top 10-15 games of all time. And there are some I can't stand. But I completely agree with your point and it's because of that why I like the series so much: There is almost something for everyone. And as you touched on, the same is applicable for Pokemon.

      I understand the feeling of not doing so great reading someone's personal criticisms of something you hold dear. But, it shouldn't dissuade you from continuing to champion what you care about. I love Uncharted. Some people here hate it. I'm not into Zelda. I don't think I've met a community (or members of a community) that are more passionate about the franchise, and specific entries of said franchise, than here.

      And that's cool. I will sit here and state: I do find the Legend of Zelda, for the most part, interesting.

      Did I just potentially invite several comments questioning this, a couple at least negative? Sure. But that's my personal opinion. I respect the love and adulation, the defense and reasoning, the fervor and importance any given property has with each person. Much like yourself with Pokemon.

      Which brings me to the thing I am in absolute agreement with you the most on: Simply because I may not like something in no way is indicative of SOMEONE ELSE'S talents in game creation and as a result whether or not they are "bad developers." I don't make games. Having read up some on what people put themselves through, I never want to. People who put themselves through Hell to make something which at the very least will be decent to someone WILL, 100%, be shat on because the game doesn't mesh with those criticizing it.

      So The Legend of Zelda isn't for me. And spoilers, of the three Oct. 27 games, Super Mario Odyssey is the one that's unappealing. But in absolutely no way does that mean the teams who create those experiences are bad developers. Far from it. I would argue Nintendo is one of the best with its stable of talent in creating unique games that, as far as I have seen, never fail on a technical level.

      In conclusion, whether you do decide to cease discussing Pokemon, I appreciate the dedication you have for it and am happy to have read as much as I have of your knowledge on it. My apologies also for the long post as well. Personal opinion based declarative statements presented as fact do that to me from time to time.

      Love and Respect, and have a wonderful day.

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: Cup of Jones Episode Guide

      Today's editorial was the single most important one in EZA's history to date. I really hope it won't be forgotten.

      posted in Shows
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA Community Top 25 Best of 2014!

      First, on Shovel Knight, I really love how in an age of many games needing to be as realistic as possible, Yacht Club went retro, and captured it better than most I've seen try. I'm very curious what their next project will be once they put aside the IP for awhile. Also, I still think it's funny I called completely forgetting to add a major title in my top five predictions and was right about it being GOTY.

      However, as for Wolfenstein, this was the ONLY game that I felt was great (everything else being good to meh, which I'll get to in a moment). I LOVE the no-apologies take on violence and was completely surprised by how much I really liked the story. I felt it dragged a little bit and by the time you go underwater is when I felt it was becoming a little too wrapped up in itself, but the overall campaign was fun. I especially enjoyed how the choice you make in the beginning changed the story and it was really interesting to see the differences.

      As is my custom, I just want to shout out all those who also voted for it so high fives to @Sazime, @A7X458, @Faaip, @bard91, @iboshow, @Axel, @TheOtherJohnP, @Fridge-man, @SunPraiser, @NeoCweeny, @PepeElToro805, and special shoutout to @bam541, @CJTreader, @jipostus, and @Hidz

      As for my list, it's reflective on how 2014 just wasn't my year:

      1.) Wolfenstein: The New Order
      2.) Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel!
      3.) Destiny
      4.) Sunset Overdrive
      HM.) Titanfall
      HM.) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

      I forgot about Titanfall when I sent my list in, but thankfully it wouldn't have mattered anyway. As I said earlier, Wolfenstein was the only "great" game for me. Borderlands was alright but nothing special. I've already commented about Destiny at its entry. Sunset Overdrive, while funny with wacky weaponry Insomniac is known for, had a little bit too much fourth wall breaking and suffers a massive pet peeve of mine: Once you complete the story, you can't start a new one unless you create a new profile. So it falls to the "Fun, but never playing" bin with Crackdown. As for Titanfall, it's strictly multiplayer, and I got it on the promise of friends playing with me. Of course, that fell through and playing it just isn't fun for me. And finally for CoD, I bought it because I enjoyed the Xbox opener for that year's E3 and along with the Master Chief Collection and Sunset Overdrive, gave me something to play when I bought my Xbox One.

      And finally, another massive thank you to @Axel for putting this together! These are always fun, regardless if I played anything of note and I'm looking forward to the next one if you choose to keep doing these!

      Great lists everyone!

      posted in Hall of Fame
      Brannox
    • RE: The Video Game March Madness Bracket

      And now we have OUR CHAMPION!!!

      After a 13-10 vote, 6.) Mass Effect 2 emerges victorious! Let's take a look at all the games it beat to get here:

      11.) Madden 2003
      3.) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
      10.) The Last of Us
      1.) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
      2.) Super Mario Galaxy
      11.) Portal 2

      Quite an impressive list of games! And let's not forgot its last opponent, Portal 2, as it had an excellent run as well, but fell 3 votes short.

      ......

      ......

      Wanna do another one?

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: The IGN Greatest Video Game Character Bracket... Our Votes

      And we have our winner! In a dominating 9-2 decision, the Greatest Video Game Character of All Time as voted by you (from an outsourced bracket of course)...

      Samus Aran!

      Looking back, her path to glory was an interesting one. As a reminder, here's who she defeated to stand alone:

      Chun-Li
      Raiden (Mortal Kombat)
      Luigi
      Mega Man
      Bayonetta
      and now Glados

      On a final note, thank you to every person who voted and/or commented! I greatly appreciate you choosing to participate and humor me in seeing what the collective voting would be. Until the next thread!

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA Community Top 20 Best of 2009!

      While I get why many consider this their favorite of the franchise, I prefer others more (The reboot, Tools of Destruction, and the original), but that doesn't mean I'm not very high on it (hence my second place vote). The franchise may have had quite a few games before this, but the PS3 is where it really hit its stride. There's so much about this game I love:

      • The juggling of multiple antagonists between Vorselon, Nefarious, and eventually Azimuth.
      • While I enjoy the dynamic between the titular two the best when they're together, this proved each can have unique and engaging gameplay and scenarios independent of one another.
      • The exploration of each system, flying to planets to find puzzling platform sections for Gold Bolts, Zoni, and side quests from NPCs, is freeing. There are so many planets across the franchise I really enjoy, but it's nice not having a linear path to explore every now and then.
      • The story is really solid, seeing Clank come into his own, how his origins was more than coming off the assembly line in the first game, and the heartbreaking fate of Orvus. Plus, again, Nefarious.

      Sadly, this would also be the last really good/great game of the series for awhile with the weird experiments that were All 4 One and Full Frontal Assault. Thankfully Into the Nexus and the Reboot proved the formula is still fantastic.

      Overall, this is a great game, and if it wasn't for My Blaster Runs Hot, I would have the Platinum. I'm VERY excited for Rift Apart, and I'm eagerly going back to another full series replay heading into its release (If they would give a release date. But I'm happier waiting as long as they continue taking their time and put out a fantastic game).

      As always, shoutouts to @DemonPirate, @NeoCweeny, @Sazime, @Nimbat1003, @JDINCINERATOR, and @Capnbobamous!

      posted in Hall of Fame
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA Community Top 20 Best of 2020!

      Simply put, DOOM: Eternal is great and surprisingly there's a LOT more to it than I thought there would be. While the reboot was proudly about getting you into the fight immediately, its pretty linear in its level design, and letting what narrative is there be limited to codex entries made it feel like the franchise was coming back, but was setting up for more, which is what Eternal would be.

      How Eternal just expands on its predecessor in every way, going above and beyond, is staggering. Levels feeling more open with a greater emphasis on verticality and momentum (Hello meat hook) really drills into you on staying on the move. Granted, the demons themselves do a great enough job doing that on their own. I actually really like the juggle of deciding what to use with what you need between health, armor, and ammo. Although even on lesser difficulties it's still a challenge, which can make the latter few environments feels more and more like a slog, ESPECIALLY the bosses.

      But the gamey aspects are just delightful; the secrets like the cheat codes being floppy disks and the awesome records of the music you can listen to is a nice touch. Speaking of which, the Fortress of DOOM is perhaps the most unexpected but still delightful surprise. Running around a hub that's a love letter to the Slayer, DOOM, and the greater id history is, to use a Huber-ism, so cozy. A prison of demons to test your skills any time, a portal to launch you back to environments you've been to, and his room.... So. Freaking. Cool.

      And speaking of the music, it RULES. I love just rocking out while slaughtering any demon that crosses my path. While I don't fully understand the technical details about the controversy, it's a bummer there was a falling out between Mick Gordon and id. It stands out to me because of how good the score is, but whatever the reason it's a shame. Real solid stuff.

      Initially it was third on my list before switching it with a game I think has a chance to be in our top five because said game had tech issues the first time I played it, but when I got my Series X, ran flawlessly on another runback. Still being my fourth place vote, Eternal is very good.

      However, I do have some things I wish weren't in the game: By going all out on a very complicated story, it didn't feel truly necessary to not only contextualize why you're doing what you're doing (DOOM has never really been that way), but there are a LOT of cutscenes. Which is very surprising as the reboot had like, four or five in the whole game. Here, it feels like there's at least two or three PER MISSION. A lot of the lore and background is still in Codex pages and in the descriptions of everything from weapons to demons, but still, it's a bit of world building.

      &$#^. The. Maruder. I HATE those guys. Now, I like how there is an optimal weapon or strategy for most of the demons, but these guys are the WORST. Between them and taking on Tyrants or Barons of Hell, give me the big boys. Also, the Archvile can suck it too. Aaaahhhhhh they make everything so much more complicated.

      Something else that Eternal could've done without is Battlemode. I like the idea, but it's fundamental design is kind of broken if you're the Slayer and going up against a coordinated duo of demons, as the Demons could easily outwit one player. The one time I tried it, I was lucky in going up against a couple of Marauders that didn't appear to know each other. The map had a teleporter DIRECTLY behind the spawn points, and in a game that is best of SEVEN rounds, I would spawn, turn around, go through the teleporter, and unload and not ONCE did the other two players realize where I came from every time. Not a good map and by focusing all my attention on one person who was desperately running away, it was clear I wasn't going to take enough damage from one person while the other was doing his best to escape. Battlemode needs players who LOVE it for it to both thrive and be interesting, otherwise, it doesn't provide the variety the campaign offers with the various combinations of demons.

      While not really a part of the initial package, I do want to briefly touch on the DLC: The Ancient Gods. Part 1 is massively difficult, but still doable and a little uninspired with where it goes only until the very, VERY end. Part 2 tones it down on the challenge just a little, but goes BONKERS with the story, and it's actually incredibly important to the overall DOOM universe, which is WEIRD. But each introduces a mechanic not found anywhere else in the other DLC OR the main campaign, which is kind of off.

      All told, I enjoyed my time with DOOM: Eternal, but I'm curious as to what id is going to do next. Mechanically, they have the FPS genre refined in a pure sense, but it stumps me how they'll top this. And as I said a couple of games above, shoutout to the crossover fan art with Animal Crossing!

      Speaking of shoutouts, I won't tag everybody who voted for it because that's a lot of names and I don't want to clog up anyone's notifications, but high-five to all my fellow Slayers who voted for DOOM: Eternal!

      posted in Hall of Fame
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA Forum Hall of Greats (January 2022)

      For this second ceremony, I’m NOT expecting my pick to get votes for several reasons, not the least of which is it’s from the SAME FRANCHISE as my first nominee. But I promise, I won’t bring a game from said series for a very long time.

      I nominate my third favorite game ever: Final Fantasy X. More specifically the NORTH AMERICAN PS2 version.

      To start, I MUST focus on the strongest aspect: The battle system. Whenever I’ve heard “Turn-based,” I’ve found it odd many games adopt a timer for combat. Not here. Take as long as you want to strategize and plan. Having the ENTIRE turn order on the left side, showing both characters and enemies, provides tactical depth most other turn-based systems don’t offer. Plus, unlike selecting party members you want via save points, FFX allows you to swap in any character in any battle.

      Always being able to execute multiple strategies never gets old, because as you progress, more possibilities open up. Summoning Aeons, throwing items, and unleashing ultimate attacks called Overdrives, the combat is simple, but immensely deep. This is further enhanced when FFX allows for something no other Final Fantasy has done prior or since (to my knowledge): Customize your weapons and armor with stats and abilities. Once you permanently have Rikku, as long as you have the necessary materials, you can give every character’s equipment things like elemental properties, stat increases, immunities, and in-battle abilities like double Overdrive growth or the First Strike in every fight just to name a tiny fraction.

      The soundtrack is wonderful and memorable both in and out of game. Besaid Island and The Sight of Spira are tunes which are so relaxing. Revealed Truth is emotional, carrying one of the most critical reveals. Auron's Theme is epic by communicating his character with measured pace. The range of FFX’s songs is a testament to the diverse emotions you feel while you listen.

      And how the game makes me feel is a massive reason why I’m bringing it. The characters grow in meaningful ways, tackling heavy themes and undertaking captivating events. Every party member has unique quirks and challenges they overcome in their own way. To give one example, Auron, who is my favorite game character ever, is a badass that cuts down anything in his path with one arm, and he fails at protecting his closest friends. His subsequent vow to see their children succeed where they couldn’t hits me hard. As they face harsh truths and deal with death in intense ways, the overarching themes of not taking religion at face value, how prejudices born from that and other factors are complete bullshit, and to push on in the face of adversity to make the world a better place has always stuck with me. The story is excellent beginning to end, but one lengthy segment is absolutely outstanding with FANTASTIC pacing:

      Destroy a mechanized tank on top of frozen Lake Macalania
      ! Reach the nearby temple, but discover Seymour Guado is corrupt and committed patricide.
      ! Confront and kill Seymour and his Aeon, Anima
      ! Escape the Guado, but fall beneath the lake and land on top of Sin.
      ! Wake up face down in an Oasis in the middle of a desert known as Bikanel Island
      ! Find your party members across the sands and reach the Al Bhed’s Home, which is under attack by the Guado and the religious authority Yevon.
      ! Learn what happens to Summoners during the Final Summoning.
      ! Escape on an airship you unknowingly excavated near the start of the game.
      ! While regrouping, discover Yuna was kidnapped at Home and is being married to Seymour in Bevelle.
      ! Stowaways attack and you fight a giant dragon named Evrae from atop the airship.
      ! Crash (and fight your way up to) the wedding.
      ! Escape after Yuna intentionally falls backward off the top what seems like Bevelle’s largest tower, saving herself by calling the Aeon Valefor.
      ! Be captured and split into two parties, one being underwater and fights an undead version of Evrae while the other is in a small maze culminating in a three on three Aeon fight with former ally and fellow Summoner Issaru.
      ! Everyone reunites, but is confronted by Seymour who kills fellow Yevon Maester and head of the Warrior Monks, Kinoc.
      ! Defeat Seymour a second time and escape.

      I'm nominating the North American PS2 version because other versions have egregious grinding and superbosses, which unnecessarily pad-out side-quests and endgame. Example: Dark Valefor is at Besaid Village, which holds items for Auron and Valefor, plus the opportunity to speak with Valefor in the temple, and is INFURATING without either spending DOZENS of hours grinding OR using Yojimbo’s Zanmato.

      Dark Aeons aside, side-quests are (mostly) fun. Blitzball is engaging and strategic, especially when you get the best move and recruit the best players possible before even playing a match. Finding all the Ultimate Weapons and the Celestial Items is cool, except for three instances: Chasing Butterflies if you struggle with colors, Racing Chocobos because the Chocobo controls like it’s drunk, and most angering, Dodging Lighting. You must dodge 200 CONSECUTIVE, not CUMULATIVE, lighting strikes with split-second reflex timing. It’s the worst design decision in FFX. However, capturing monsters, chasing Cactuars, finding Aeons, and more all incentivize revisiting many areas.

      While my biggest gripes are the Dark Aeons causing excessive endgame grinding plus the aforementioned mini-games for Celestial Items, I also acknowledge something many dislike: The voice acting. Personally, the actors do a good job, even with moments where the delivery feels off. And yes, the laughing scene is INTENTIONALLY bad because that’s the point. James Arnold Taylor, Tidus’s voice actor, has said during recording, the producers explained it’s supposed to be awkward and terrible when he asked.

      Regardless, Final Fantasy X is EXCELLENT. An impactful journey from beginning to end and an EASY recommendation as a starting point for those looking to get into the franchise.

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: The EZA Community Top 20 Best of 2006!

      Gears making the top 3 is fantastic. This is, by far, my favorite Xbox franchise bar none. When I was gifted a 360 for my 17th birthday, I went to my local GameStop and they were having a buy 2 get 1 free sale. I had grabbed SoulCalibur IV (because Yoda) and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter (more my dad's thing than me), but when browsing the shelves, I saw this and remembered, "Hey, it's that game with the chainsaw on the weapon. Looks cool."

      And I had no idea what I was getting into.

      To say it grabbed me is an understatement. I fell in love with the premise and world, the hopelessness of overcoming monstrosities that feel like they've already won, and the very first thing that happens is your character is getting busted out of a practically destroyed and completely abandoned prison. I was captivated from the start and compelled until the very end.

      I grew to hate Berserkers, Kryll, and General RAAM. While they're sparse throughout the campaign, each time they were a problem was harrowing. The gameplay to this day is still incredible. Staying in cover, flanking while grubs are focused on teammates, then sneak behind to obliterate them with a Gnasher shot or even better, chainsawing them into bloody, gorey bits with appropriate blood-splatter never. EVER. Gets. Old.

      My favorite Acts are 3 and 1, as Act 3 has the least amount of combat, but it's all about VIBES as you traverse through a run down factory to get underground, culminating in both a MASSIVE boss fight and clearing out a pump station. Act 1 is a great introduction and I really enjoyed the urban locales. Act 2's reliance on Kryll is tense but can be frustrating. Act 4 going through the academy eventually winding up at the house is probably my least favorite, from defending the front of the house, the countdown timer at the end, and the layout of the house in general. And because I played the 360 version, I found out MUCH later there was an Act in between Act 4 and what I got as Act 5. So it took until the Ultimate Edition for me to fight the Brumak, something PC players had done in the original launch. To this day I still don't know why they ripped out this Act for 360. And as far as the train, well, it's neat, but there's some things about the Act I find annoying like being locked in a car with waves of wretches, fighting the Reavers, and of course RAAM.

      I really don't like how the Multiplayer didn't have a bot option (and wasn't introduced in Ultimate Edition either), but of the little I played, there were some maps I liked and others I didn't. But Ultimate Edition is THE version to play, so while I'll never go back to the original, I'll still own the physical copy as it's a cherished possession and spawned a collection of seven games, eight books, and a few shirts/hats. And yes. I admit it. I own a pair of COG tags.

      As always, shoutouts to @JDINCINERATOR, @Shoulderguy, @kindiman, @Phbz, @brunojoey, @Axel, and @Bigdude1!!!

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: Ally Introductions

      Following the template in order:

      Brandon Gann
      South East of the U.S.
      I'm currently a grad student pursuing a master's in Mass Communications
      Non gaming hobbies include anything Star Wars, I throughly enjoy playing pool/billiards (whichever you prefer to call it) and listening to music.
      Console History - Inherited my father's NES, owned my own Playstation One when I was 5, Had a Gameboy Color, Advance, Advance SP, was given a PS2 for Christmas, given a GameCube the next year. Currently own: PS2, DS, PSP, Xbox 360, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox One, PS4.
      Champion of: Final Fantasy VII as it is my favorite game, but there are so many more games I really enjoy.
      PSN: Phoenix-Flyer_7 (I've never went online except to access PS Store)
      Not a streamer
      XBL: LocustHunter17
      Twitch: Same as here! Brannox (But again, I don't stream. Only there for chat).
      Twitter: @GamesGann
      Username info: I'm a big Kingdom Hearts fan so I gave my first name a modified Organization XIII treatment.

      If there is anything any Ally wishes to know or just wants to say "Hi!" please send along a message here, in Twitch chat, over Twitter, or on Xbox Live (the last one is the least dependable but I don't want to hinder any avenue for contact).

      posted in General Discussion
      Brannox
    • RE: Kill Your Babies!: PSP Edition

      Ok, lets just rip off this duct tape shall we? X-D

      @SabotageTheTruth If I remember correctly, after a healthy chat about that, it was decided that, while nonsensical to normal logic, it was and is and will continue to be, a vaild reason for playing. As far as outrage, let's just say that 1.) We all learn from each other and try to understand other people's views. 2.) That was a HUGE list you killed from, not a PSP list in which there is a far more narrow focus. 3.) Bioshock dying doesn't phase me. Killing off Crisis Core does (How my heart hurts you wretched hive of scum and villainy :-) ). And 4.) Really appreciate the exaggeration. That's really funny. And you forgot to say you were being blacklisted off the Internet :joy:

      @BlazingBahamut This is such a blast. Hurts every time when I game I like dies, but that comes with the territory.

      @TokyoSlim Now you know how I feel! And YOU'RE the one who killed off MY top contender!! ;-)

      NOW onto the main portion of the post:

      After surprising kills and forever-lasting blood feuds beginning (KIDDING!!), we've got our final two, and like most of the time, there between two entries no one really saw coming:

      Jeanne d'Are
      Ys Seven

      Please vote for the one you want to win by clicking the link below. I'm giving this 24 hours, so the winner will be decided at 1 p.m. EST tomorrow (Sunday). Thanks to everyone who kills and posts! You make this a lot of fun!..... Even though SOME of you (not naming names :-P ) are just crazy.

      http://www.strawpoll.me/11434160

      posted in Gaming Discussion
      Brannox