Top 10 Love Stories on TV

Hey everyone! This week I am doing this special Top 10 article in honour of the series finale of How I Met Your Mother next week. How I Met Your Mother has been a sitcom that revolves around one thing: finding your one true love. So in response, I am doing the Top 10 Love Stories on TV.

Please note: I do not watch very much TV nor do I watch older shows, so this list will be very limited. However, I do believe some of these love stories deserve to be on here regardless.

Number 10

Doug and Carrie

The King of Queens

Doug and Carrie's relationship was not always the best. With early disapprovals of her father and later dilemmas, resulting in a separation, Doug and Carrie never truly had it easy. Even so, they pushed through all the obstacles and eventually ended up with each other. 

Number 9

Sabrina and Harvey

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Throughout the entire series, it was clear that Sabrina and Harvey were soul mates. But despite repeated attempts at dating, it seemed that everything was trying to keep them apart. In the series finale, Sabrina ultimately leaves the altar from her almost husband and takes off on a motorcycle with Harvey, finally admitting what destiny was pushing for the entire series.

Number 8

Niles and Daphne

Frasier

I do not actually watch Frasier, but this couple was requested by Riley. As I do not watch the show, I do not have an explanation for you, but I'm sure they have a great love story.

Number 7

Eric and Donna

That 70's Show

Eric and Donna were always that teenage couple out to have fun and experience the world around them. While their ambitions kept them apart on multiple occasions, they ultimately pushed passed it and were even able to maintain a long-distance relationship once Eric moved away. 

Number 6

Monica and Chandler

Friends

At the start of the series, I'm sure very few would have expected this couple to go such a long way. Chandler and Monica are literally complete opposites, yet somehow, they were able to maintain one of the most stable and loving relationships on television. They are a true example of how love works in mysterious ways, but always prevails.

Number 5

Ted and Robin

How I Met Your Mother

You are probably thinking that this is an odd one, considering that Ted and Robin do not end up with one another. However, this list is not the Top 10 Best Couples, it is the Top 10 Best Love Stories, and Ted and Robin are essential parts of one another's love stories. The entire show is about Ted's relationship with Robin. Everything he has gone through, all the pain and heartbreak, has all stemmed because Ted could not let Robin go. Ted could not settle for anything less than the best, and Robin was always the best. The universe, the fans and Ted all want Robin to be the Mother, but the fact of the matter is, she is not Ted's soulmate. No matter how much we love her, or he loves her, they are not meant to be. That is why this love story is so great, because the only person who could ever make Ted move on from Robin will be his soulmate. 

Number 4

Rachel and Finn

Glee

Love stories do not always have a happy ending. Although this couple was planned on being endgame, the tragic death of Cory Monteith forced a more realistic love story: that sometimes we lose the ones who we love. The story of Rachel and Finn quickly turned from a sweet, high school sweetheart story into a tragic one. Rachel, despite how much she loved Finn, will never end up with him. As Rachel described in his Tribute episode, Finn was "her person," and she cannot see life without him. This is what makes this love story unlike any other on TV, because it is unfortunately realistic. Even though you plan to love someone your whole life, they might not be there for its entirety, and even though they are gone, you will never stop loving them, because even death cannot truly stand in the way of love.

Number 3

Fry and Leela

Futurama

This one may come as a huge surprise to many, mostly because Futurama is a dedicated comedy. However, the one time Futurama strays from comedy is for love. For example, the episode where Leela falls into a coma and believes Fry has died was an emotional rollarcoaster. This show, despite all its humour, could really touch a person with this love story. Even though Leela could never see it at first, Fry was always willing to do anything for her. He was always willing to be her soulmate, and she did not realize it until she almost lost him. 

Number 2

Cory and Topanga

Boy Meets World

I do not have the full story of Cory and Topanga, as I never truly watched the entirety of the series, but just from the small amount I watched, I could tell they were one of the best couples on TV. While I do not know specifics, I know that Cory and Topanga fought hard for their love, even when it seemed lost, and that by the end of the series, Boy met World, Boy saw the World and Boy chose Girl, because love is stronger than any ambition.

Number 1

Ross and Rachel

Friends

The classic TV love story. I have said this for so many of the other couples, but Rachel and Ross truly did not have it easy. They had the rockiest road of any couple on this list. Part of the reason they could never truly settle was because both were too ambitious and could never truly stop pursuing their dreams. But despite this, at the very end, Rachel was finally able to stop and wait for Ross, so that they could stop denying what they truly felt in their hearts. 

Article By:

Giuliano V.

REVIEW: Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes

Reviewed By: Giuliano V. & Riley D.

Platform: PS4, XBO

Gameplay: 9, 9

Giuliano- Ground Zeroes offers a heavily refined and fluid stealth system using the new FOX Engine. Never before has a Metal Gear game felt so much in your control. Ground Zeroes displays many levels of gameplay from driving tanks to calling in helicopters, really giving a good example of what's to come in The Phantom Pain.

Riley- Very smooth and dynamic, although the aiming seemed a bit finicky. Feels slightly different from a typical MGS. However the sheer amount of options to accomplish given objectives make up for 

any feeling of discomfort for fans of the series who take time adjusting.

Story: 7, 8

Giuliano- The story is a good introduction to The Phantom Pain, but offers very little in terms of content. However, hidden audio logs add to the main mystery and are somewhat of a saving grace for the very short story.

Riley- While extremely short, it ended well and will give players reason to be excited for The Phantom Pain. The cassette tapes give greater insight, merely finishing the main mission would be doing oneself injustice.

Sound: 8, 7.5

Giuliano- While Kiefer Sutherland was not a bad voice-actor, David Hayter is extremely missed, as he was such a large part of what made the games so iconic. However, the music of the game, especially in the Deja Vu extra mission, were both nostalgic and fantastic. 

Riley- While the voice-acting is still far above-average, the lack of Hayter leaves a void that Keifer attempts admirably but does not entirely fill. The score is again superb, albeit lacking in variety.

Presentation: 9, 9

Giuliano- The game is easily one of the best looking games out right now, especially on the next-gen. While the one map in the game is designed extremely well, it is filled with generic soldiers that only change in the bonus mission. Once again, lack of variety is the problem rather than inherent faults. 

Riley- The graphics were incredible, despite being on X1 and the open world design is a revolutionary step in the MGS series. Omega Base is a very worthwhile environment to explore with something new to discover with every playthrough.

Lasting Appeal: 6, 7

Giuliano- The actual main mission of the game can last your anywhere between fifteen minutes and two hours, depending on how lost you get. While there are a few side ops and a bonus mission, most will find that they do not have an actual incentive to play them. However, the game is highly repayable, as it is fun to make new objectives for yourself, but a two hour game can only last you so long if you are not a diehard Metal Gear Solid fan. 

Riley- For fans of the series, Ground Zeroes can easily be played for tens of hours without becoming bland, however an MGS layman might not be so engrossed. The extra ops and collectible, along with the emphasis on discovery and creative thinking create a veritable sandbox of stealth that can be enjoyed from anywhere between 15 minutes to 30 hours and beyond.

Final Verdict: 8 / 10

Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is a great taste of what is to come in The Phantom Pain. While suffering from length issues, one must remember that Ground Zeroes is intended as a prologue, which is why it is being offered from $20-$30. If you are a fan of the series, you will get countless hours out of the game, but if you are not, you will probably not get your money's worth. Either way, the only way to describe Ground Zeroes is "short, but sweet."

Top 10 Nintendo Females

Nintendo has a long history of strong characters, many of which are female. Today we will be giving you the Top 10 Nintendo Females.

Number 10

Ashley

from WarioWare

Number 9

Princess Peach

from Super Mario

Number 8

Palutena

from Kid Icarus

Number 7

Krystal

from Star Fox

Number 6

Cynthia

from Pokemon

Number 5

Rosalina

from Super Mario

Number 4

Lucina

from Fire Emblem

Number 3

Princess Zelda

from The Legend of Zelda

Number 2

Midna

from The Legend of Zelda

Number 1

Samus Aran

from Metroid

List By:
Giuliano V.
Matteo C.
Justin D.
Riley D.

Top 10 Most Memorable Metal Gear Solid Moments

To celebrate the release of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes today, we have compiled a Top 10 list revolving the best moments in the series history. Please enjoy.

WARNING: MAJOR METAL GEAR SOLID SERIES SPOILERS FOLLOW!

Number 10

I Am Lightning

Metal Gear Solid 4

The penultimate moment of Metal Gear Solid 4 where Raiden returns from the dead to save Snake.

Number 9
The Return to Shadow Moses

Metal Gear Solid 4

That feeling of nostalgia when the graphics revert back to PSOne and you find yourself in the familiar terrain of Shadow Moses Island.

Number 8
The Traitor
Metal Gear Solid 2

When Ocelot finally reveals that he was behind the events of Metal Gear Solid 2 as an agent of the mysterious Patriots.

Number 7
The Power of Psycho Mantis
Metal Gear Solid

When Psycho Mantis is so powerful that he can vibrate your controller and read your memory card, acting as the first indication that he can use your console's accessories against you.

Number 6
The Handshake
Metal Gear Solid 2

The ultimate symbol of Snake and Otacon's friendship: a totally badass handshake.

Number 5
The Eternal Rivalry
Metal Gear Solid 4

The final battle of Metal Gear Solid 4 between Snake and Ocelot, serving as a reminder of the eternal rivalry that existed in both Snake and Liquid and also Big Boss and Ocelot. 

Number 4
The Death of a Patriot
Metal Gear Solid 3

The symbolic and beautiful death of Big Boss' mentor.

Number 3
Gray Fox's Final Stand
Metal Gear Solid

Gray Fox's ultimate sacrifice to save Snake.

Number 2
Two Snakes Share a Smoke
Metal Gear Solid 4

Even though it was not until the end, the Father Snake was finally able to share something with his son.

Number 1
A True Patriot
Metal Gear Solid 3

Big Boss' salute of respect and farewell his mentor, who sacrificed everything for her country. 

Article By:

Giuliano V.

Riley D.

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.