Top 10 Green Characters

Happy St. Patrick's Day! In honour of such, here are the Top 10 Green Characters!

Number 10

Green Arrow

Number 9

Oscar the Grouch

Number 8

Yoshi

Number 7

Master Chief

Number 6

Luigi

Number 5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Number 4

The Hulk

Number 3

Yoda

Number 2

Link

Number 1

Kermit the Frog

Article By:

Giuliano V.

Throwback Reviews: Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII

Reviewed By: Giuliano V.

Platform: PS1

Gameplay: 8

Final Fantasy VII is your typical JRPG and plays rather smoothly. For the most part, the gameplay is a fantastic turn-based system, however, there are so rough patches in the gameplay. First and foremost, the display during battles can get frustrating, as sometimes the action menu can cover your character's health bar or barrier bar, making it difficult to keep track of the state of your party. There are also quite a few pointless mini-games throughout the game. One of the biggest problems is that there are instances late in the game where you are forced to use party members whom may not be levelled up, as they have been at the back of your team almost the entire game. This can get frustrating when you have Materia set up perfectly to match a specific team, and then have to alter your set-up simply to accommodate a forced character. But other than this, Final Fantasy VII has some solid gameplay.

Story: 10

There is a reason Final Fantasy VII is hailed as one of the best stories in gaming history. The story follows a cast of fantastic characters (save for a select few) who all receive a great deal of development and action, even when they are not in your main party. Even characters who do not appear in the game, like Zack Fair, instantly become iconic in your mind. The game takes you on a rollarcoaster of emotions as it makes you fall in love with the kind and sweet Tifa and Aerith in their love triangle with Cloud, making it difficult to actually decide who should end up with him. Sephiroth, while not the greatest JRPG villain, does a fine job of opposing the party and is able to pose as a menacing figure throughout the entire of the game. While Yuffie and Vincent do not receive much focus in the main narrative, they are still well-enough made characters that you can like them without actually knowing much about them. All in all, Final Fantasy VII is a timeless tale that really feels like a journey for the player.

Sound: 9

Final Fantasy VII has some fantastic tracks. While some are tunes from the past, other ones are entirely new, like One-Winged Angel, which is an epic final boss track. However, there are a few tunes that are not only short, but annoying. The two I am specifically referring to are the tunes played on mountains, which can quickly become annoying, especially when those levels tend to be long, and the soundtrack to the Gold Saucer, which literally makes me want to kill myself. These two horrible tracks are enough to bring the rating for the game's sound down an entire point, but not enough to hinder an otherwise fantastic soundtrack.

Presentation: 8.5

Final Fantasy VII is hailed as one of the most visually impressive games for its time, but honestly, I don't entirely see it. The landscapes and level design are beautiful, and most of the enemy designs and battle models are detailed, but aside from that, I was not as impressed as I was told I would be. The cutscenes were hit or miss, some of them being fantastic graphics-wise while others included ugly character models of Aerith or other characters. Also, the in-game sprites are horrendously ugly and are a huge step down from Super Mario 64, which was the previous "visually-impressive" game of this generation. But even ugly character models cannot take away from those beautiful and colourful environments throughout the game.

Lasting Appeal: 9

The story takes roughly 30 hours to beat, which is a good amount of time for an RPG of this scale. There are also loads of side-missions that can help you further understand characters within the game, giving incentive to actually do them. There is no New Game+, but the game is such a fantastic experience, that I truly believe many would replay the game just to reexperience the story.

Final Verdict: 9.1 / 10

Final Fantasy VII has always been hailed as one of the greatest games of all-time, and while I will probably get ripped on for saying this, I must make it clear. As a game, Final Fantasy VII is nothing special and I do not believe it is the best gameplay-wise in its series. However, the story and characters of Final Fantasy VII are one of a kind, and I will say that Final Fantasy VII is one of the greatest story experiences in gaming history, and should be hailed as such. 

There may have been a negative vibe coming from this review, but don't get me wrong, I absolutely loved the game. I just may not have liked it as much as the fanbase does. But Final Fantasy VII is definitely a game I wish I had played earlier, and it is an essential game to add to any gamer's library.

Article By:

Giuliano V.

Throwback Reviews: Final Fantasy IX

Final Fantasy IX

Reviewed By: Giuliano V.

Platform: PS1

Gameplay: 8.5

Final Fantasy IX is your typical Final Fantasy styled game. The combat is a mix of turn-based and real-time combat with the use of an active-time mechanic that only allows you to pick your attack once your ATB gauge fills. However, time does stop when you are choosing your Magic or your Items, so enemies won't just attack you while you're scrolling through the menus. Most of the fights follow the same structure, but many of the boss battles require strategy and a keen eye. There are also several mini-games throughout the game, some great and some not so great. There was a particular portion of the game where there was a forced mini-game immediately following a boss battle, with a timer that would result in a game over. I found this particularly unfair, as the boss battle prior was quite tough and I did not want to have to rebattle him due to losing a mini-game. Another part of the gameplay I particularly disliked was the fact that throughout the game, they constantly force you to either use or lose party members, forcing you to use party members who may be underleveled because you do not use them often. This causes for some parts of the game to be ridiculously difficult. While it isn't the greatest RPG gameplay out there, Final Fantasy IX does have some great JRPG-styled combat that will entertain any fan of the genre.

Story: 9.5

For the most part, Final Fantasy IX has a beautiful and well-written story that is consistent throughout the entire game. The story mainly follows the three main characters: Zidane, Dagger and Vivi as they all try to discover their origins and what they particularly want out of life. The antagonists, Kuja and Garland, are given a great enough amount of depth that you can both hate and love them at the same time. Most of the story also involves metaphors from the "plays" that Tantalus puts on at the beginning and end of the game allowing for one to understand the tone of the game right from the beginning until the very end. The ending of the game was quite touching and a great way to give closure to all the characters. However, there is one aspect of Final Fantasy IX's story that is too horrible to not mention. While most of the party characters have some great depth and personalities, one party character by the name of Quina is the most unnecessary and absolutely horrendous party character I have ever obtained in any RPG. Quina, while intended to be the "comic-relief," takes a backseat to the much funnier Steiner and in the end, is simply a hindrance and annoyance. His character also does not match the tone of the game, and while this would be okay for a supporting character, it is downright unacceptable for a party member. Thankfully, they only force you to use Quina a couple times in the game. But other than that, Final Fantasy IX was truly an awe-inspiring performance.

Sound: 10

It is no surprise that a Final Fantasy game contains unbelievable music. The series is full of fantastic tracks, and this one is the same. It borrows some of the iconic tunes from past entries while also introducing fantastic themes like Dagger's Theme and Kuja's Theme that really convey the mood that is supposed to be present during the events. 

Presentation: 9

The graphics of the game are quite good for its time. While the character models may be a little lacking, most of the enemies, bosses and environments are wonderfully designed with loads of detail. The cutscenes are also quite visually fantastic and push the limits of the hardware. My one problem with the presentation is that many of the levels are too similar. There are way too many forest and castle ruin areas in the game and it begins to become redundant. However, it is a small negative in the mix of this otherwise fantastic game.

Lasting Appeal: 8.5

If you avoid any side missions and simply stick to the main plot, the game should clock you in at roughly 30 hours of gameplay. Doing everything in the game could take you well over 50 hours, which means you will be devoting a lot of time if you really enjoy this game. However, aside from liking the way the game plays, there is no real reason to replay it, as there is no New Game+ mode and there is also no variation in the ending. But I feel like this game is such a great game that many would go back and replay it just to re-experience the story.

Final Verdict: 9.3 / 10

Final Fantasy is another fantastic JRPG on the PS1. It is definitely one of the most underrated Final Fantasy titles and if you haven't checked it out, I'd definitely recommend giving it a try. Although I have only played a few titles in the franchise, Final Fantasy IX is easily my favourite so far and at the low price of $10 on the PS Store, it is definitely worth a purchase if you are looking for a game to play.

Article By:

Giuliano V.

Top 10 Nintendo Spin-Offs

Nintendo has a long history with tons of successful franchises. While many of these franchises are original, many of Nintendo's greatest titles and franchises are actually spin-offs of some of their main titles.

Before I begin this list, I would like to define to you what I would not consider a spin-off. Games such as the Metroid Prime series or the Four Swords series are simply "sub series" within their franchises, so games such as this, which are set within the main universe but have small gameplay changes will not be considered a spin-off on this list.

In addition, Super Smash Bros. is also not considered a spin-off, because it is a collaboration of all of Nintendo's franchises, rather than a spinning off of one.

Now that we have that out of the way, please enjoy the Top 10 Nintendo Spin-Offs.

Number 10

Wario Land (series)

Parent Franchise: Super Mario

Wario Land was a game that put the Super Mario villain, Wario, into a protagonist role. However, Wario Land is very unique among most Nintendo platforming games, because rather than the goal being to save something, the goal is simply to gain money. In fact, Wario is generally perceived as the "bad guy" in most of the Wario Land games, stopping people who actually have somewhat good intentions for the world, but get in the way of Wario's greed. 

Number 9

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (series)

Parent Franchise: Pokemon

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon is a Pokemon game that finally stars the Pokemon. In this series, you play as a human who has somehow turned into a Pokemon. The Pokemon you become is determined by a personality quiz at the start of the game. Throughout the game, you go across the vast game world rescuing helpless Pokemon from dungeons whilst recruiting new Pokemon to your cause. The stories in the game are generally good and the gameplay is quite fun. It gives a whole new meaning to "Gotta Catch 'em All!"

Number 8

Yoshi's Island (series)

Parent Franchise: Super Mario

Yet another character introduced in the Super Mario franchise that was so popular he got his own game. Yoshi's Island is a sort of a prequel to the Super Mario franchise, telling the story of how the many Yoshis of Yoshi's Island fought to save Mario & Luigi from Bowser when they were just infants. Yoshi's Island is arguably a better platformer than Super Mario, and its creation was a fantastic idea.

Number 7

Luigi's Mansion (series)

Parent Franchise: Super Mario

Luigi's Mansion came as a huge surprise to many Nintendo fans. While Nintendo had tons of spin-offs from the Mario franchise, they surprisingly never had one that focussed on Luigi. Luigi's Mansion was the answer to this. Luigi finally got put in the starring role and got to save Mario, defending him from some of Mario's scariest enemies: the Boos. The game was so well loved, that it even received a sequel last year, developing a new franchise that made Luigi his own unique character from Mario.

Number 6

WarioWare (series)

Parent Franchise: Wario Land

WarioWare is actually a spin-off of a spin-off. It is a spin-off of the Wario Land series that I mentioned earlier on this list. WarioWare is a unique type of party game, giving the player a long sequence of five-second games to complete, trying not to miss any of the objectives. WarioWare was a huge hit, giving some fun, fast-paced gameplay with a wide-range of fantastic characters. Wario's greed took a whole new level, and WarioWare has become one of the most loved franchises in Nintendo history.

Number 5

Mario Kart (series)

Parent Franchise: Super Mario

Do not quote me on this, but I believe Mario Kart was the first racing video game to feature characters from other games. While people loved seeing Mario jump around the Mushroom Kingdom, they absolutely adored seeing Mario and his friends get competitive on the track. Mario Kart continues to be one of the best-selling and most-competetive series Nintendo owns, constantly providing endless fun for all who play.

Number 4

Paper Mario (series)

Parent Franchise: Super Mario

Anyone who first heard of Paper Mario back when it was announced probably thought it was the stupidest idea ever. Why make a Mario game where everything is paper? Well, Paper Mario turned out to be a fantastic RPG series that is somewhat of a cult-favorite among Nintendo fans. While it's latest entry wasn't so hot, the series has a legacy of fantastic stories, characters and environments that no other Nintendo franchise, even the main series Mario games, can truly reproduce.

Number 3

Mario Party (series)

Parent Franchise: Super Mario

A game where Mario characters compete to be the best at games. Absolutely brilliant. The Mario Party series is one of the most fun, competitive and absolutely chaotic Nintendo franchises out there, and truly brings out the worst in the Mario franchise. No matter how poorly designed the games are, Mario Party tends to be fun if you play it with friends. Trust me, these games never get old, and you will always find new ways of yelling and screaming at your friends in every single game you play.

Number 2

Diddy Kong Racing 

Parent Franchise: Donkey Kong

Diddy Kong Racing is one of the best-kart racing games ever created, and for a good reason! Not only does it put Diddy Kong in his second starring role, but it also introduces a fun new world and cast of characters that make the experience all the better. Unlike Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing is actually an adventure-based racing game, fit with its own story, unique battle games and bosses. 

Number 1

Pokemon Snap

Parent Franchise: Pokemon

If you had an N64, you likely played this game at some point and thought it was the best thing ever. Honestly, who came up with this idea? The whole point of the game is to take pictures of Pokemon. It sounds extremely boring in concept, but in actuality, it is the single greatest Nintendo spin-off title ever created. The game gives a whole new outlook on the Pokemon series as a whole, and actually lets the player feel like they are part of the game. No matter how many times you have played the game, every time you rediscover one of the many "secrets,"you are always exciting. There are so many fun ways to enjoy Pokemon, but Pokemon Snap was simply the pinnacle.

Article By:

Giuliano V.

Top 25 South Park Characters

In celebration of the release of South Park: The Stick of Truth this coming Tuesday, we have compiled a list of who we believe are the Top 25 South Park characters.

Number 25

Ms. Choksondik

Number 24

Tweek Tweak

Number 23

Grandpa Marvin Marsh

Number 22

Al Gore

Number 21

Big Gay Al

Number 20

Santa Claus

Number 19 

Stan Marsh

Number 18

The Woodland Critters

Number 17

Dr. Alphonse Mephesto & Kevin

Number 16

Kenny McCormick

Number 15

Tuong Lu Kim

Number 14

Mr. Slave

Number 13

Stephen Stotch

Number 12

Towelie

Number 11

Timmy

Number 10

Jimbo & Ned

Number 9

Chef

Number 8

Mr. Hankey

Number 7

Officer Barbrady

Number 6

Mr. Mackey

Number 5

Kyle Broflovski

Number 4

Leopold "Butters" Stotch

Number 3

Eric Cartman

Number 2

Randy Marsh

Number 1

Mr./Ms. Garrison

Article By:

Giuliano V.

Matteo C.

Gino C.

Riley D.

Ten Pokemon That Would Be Really Useful in Reality

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if we had Pokemon? I have. In fact, there are some Pokemon that would make life so much better in so many different ways. Here are ten Pokemon who would provide solutions to many of the problems found in the real world.

1. Chansey

Do you live in a country other than Canada that doesn't cover your health care? Do you suffer from terminal diseases, hypothermia or severe burns? Are you currently dying of poisoning or have you been pushed into a deep coma? Well guess what? Chansey is the answer to all of these problems. If everyone in the world owned a Chansey, there would be no need for medicine or doctors. Chansey can cure just about anything. Unfortunately, this would leave many doctors without a job, but if it means saving the lives of many, who cares!

2. Musharna

Let's be honest: most of us think we have insomnia. We are unable to sleep at night and then are dead in the morning, causing us to sleep through our "important" classes. Well here is the solution! Musharna can make sure we go to sleep when we want, not when our body decides to. And as an added bonus, we can basically dream about whatever we want! Cool, huh?

3. Abra

Crap, my alarm went off an hour late and now I have to be at my exam in TWO MINUTES! If only I had something that could instantly teleport me from Point A to Point B. Abra would be the solution to this! No more leaving early to anticipate traffic. No more cars. No more public transit. Abra is good for one thing in the Pokemon universe: teleporting, and while it serves next to no purpose there, it would be literally one of the most useful things here! That is...if we can keep those damn Abras from teleporting away from us!'

4. Gengar

Unfortunately, this world has a major problem and it is called Bullying. While the media tells us to band together and stand up for ourselves, wear pink, tell an adult or some of that other crap that doesn't actually stop bullying, Gengar would be the perfect solution to this. If a bully messes with you, they are in for some real payback. You send this motherf*cker to their house to give them nightmares that will torment and destroy them slowly, making them wish they never messed with someone who REALLY knows how to make someone's life a living hell. You f*ck with me and Gengar is gonna f*ck the shit out of you.

5. Castform

"Hey guys, let's go to the beach for a fun day in the...oh crap, it started to rain." "I sure hope this snow continues so class gets cancelled...oh crap, the Sun came out on the worst day possible!" Say goodbye to weathering woes like this with Castform! You now control the weather, and you can MAKE SURE it suits your needs. Of course, not everyone can have a Castform, just you. You dictate the weather. Make sure it fits your needs and screw everybody else because they aren't as cool as you because you have a Castform.

6. Jirachi

Make a wish! Jirachi grants one wish to whomever comes across it, so why not make it count? You can wish for anything! World peace...true love...the never-ending torment of those who silently judge your every move...whatever you want!

7. Garbodor

Yes, Garbador is perhaps the shittiest Pokemon every created, both figuratively and literally. However, in our world, Garbodor would solve a MAJOR problem. Did you know that Garbodor eats garbage? He EATS it. No more mountains of garbage that we have to ship out to sea or bury beneath the Earth's crust. Instead, we just feed it to a bunch of these guys and voila! Gone!.............but then again, we'd have a bunch of living trash monsters walking around....so maybe that isn't such a good idea after all.

8. Celebi

Crap! I wish I didn't hook up with that disgusting 800 pound mustachio chick last night. Wait...that was a dude cosplaying as Wario? Dude! How drunk was I? Thank god you have a Celebi at your disposal that can bring you back in time to Falcon Punch yourself out before you make that mistake. Seriously, you will never make a bad decision in your life again!......except for when you cause multiple time rifts that destroy the very fabric of reality itself...but hey, it's better than hooking up with an overweight donkey named Morris.

9. Delibird

We've all wanted this since we were children! A real life Santa Claus! Christmas would actually become something magical and exciting again, instead of just a time where you're forced to sit in a room with the family members you see twice a year as you desperately try to stay awake until midnight so you can all hug and say "Merry Christmas" before going back to bed. But you better be on the Nice List, because Delibird doesn't give coal to the bad kids...he gives bombs...so basically, if you aren't nice, all you and your family are going to get for Christmas is a horrific and fiery death!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

10. Ditto

Need I say more?

Article By:

Giuliano V.