Well it has finally started. After, probably close to a month or so of effort, All Things VEEN has finally come online. Hurrah. This site has been built as an extra-curricular project for myself over the holidays, but also where I can submit my own game reviews as well as opinions on other matters. Ah the internet, where even an idiot like myself can get online and rant and rave. Although I do hope to hope to be more interesting than most. I would like to quickly thank Chris Stevens, who developed the look of my site. I did have an attempt of it myself and was happy to run with it. However he said we was bored so I thought I would take advantage of his design expertise and this was the result, which was much better than anything else I could possibly do. Damn lack of design skills. You can take a look at his site, http://www.rawr-designs.com if you are interested, he does a bit of interesting stuff with the file server program, HFS. He also created the music flash player that I wil be using on here. So check it out. And thanks again. With that I believe I will end this first post. Enjoy the mp3, it is audio taken from House M.D when he plays the piano with a savant, which I find to be quite beautiful.

Straight off, I am a Naruto fan, so when I first heard about this game, I knew I must have it. After having played and finished the game, I was left wanting so much more.

The game follows the anime episode by episode, starting from the demon fox being sealed within Naruto going on through the main events until Naruto does battle with Gaara during the Chunin exams, which is where it disappointingly stops. I was expecting the game to go through until the final battle with Sasuke at the Valley of the End and not having this was exceptionally disappointing. You do not even get to touch the Rasengan. Also by limiting the material to 80 episodes, they have really reduced the time of the game. It only took me about 6 hours to finish the main storyline and all side missions and about 10 to get most of the in game collectables.

The gameplay itself is excellent. This game is a cross between fighting and RPG with each style distinctly used. Running around Konoha and surrounding lands, you take control of Naruto in the third person RPG style. The combat takes the view of your standard fighter game with combos and the like. The RPG element I felt failed as the you could not do all that much to improve or diversfy your character. The only real choice you had was through scrolls that could be purchased but this does not help much. Most people at the end of the game would end up with pretty much the same character. The fighting element I felt was much better executed, with one annoyance, the replacement techinque. Those familiar with the show know what I am talking about but for those who, it simply means the character will take something from the environment, usually a tree trunk and replace it for themselves while they hide. During the fighting portion of the game, this can be unbelievably annoying when you are trying to execute a six hit combo and midway through they simply replace themselves out it. It is great fun when you do it, but far more irritating when they do it. But other than that, the fighting is well executed. All the characters can use their well known techniques and you can adapt to other characters fairly quickly.

The game does include an online element in which you can fight other players around the world which is always nice, but again the replacement technique comes along and ruins it. The computer doing the move every so often was one thing but humans can be such a pain. Around two thirds of the matches I have played have turned into replacement battles in which you vainly hope to hit something before he replaces himself out of the way. The limited characters are also somewhat annoying but there have been hints of additional characters.

The game itself is a must for all Naruto fans, but for those who are not particularly keen on the entity could give this game a miss pretty easily.

I give a 3.5 / 5

After waking up at 10am, deciding it was too early and going back to sleep until 1pm in the afternoon, I jumped onto World of Warcraft for a bit. Did some kara and long story short, I picked up Back: Ruby Drape of the Mysticant for myself which was very nice. Kinda the high point, not much else to do over the hols after finishing Mass Effect and not having the $$$ to acquire Super Mario Galaxy. Ah well, it shall be mine eventually.

There are very few games, I feel, that can be picked up several months after being played and can still be a challenge and enjoyable. Fight Night:Round 3 is one of these games.

Fight Night was a part of the original games that I picked up when I bought the XBOX 360, and I had finished it several years ago.

Tonight I loaded up the game, selected my career player and then decided to fight someone two weight classes above my own. This is a ridiculously large challenge and I have rarely won it. This is due to the damage I enflict being relativly minimal, and his being much much larger. After 12 rounds of tough boxing, I eventually won on points for the second time ever. Normally I get knocked out around the 10th or 11th round, so it was a very nice change despite the late hour.

Despite the age of the game, if you have not played it, pick it up. You will enjoy it.

It has been a very good year for gaming and I for one, have very much enjoyed it. After reading Gamespy Top Ten, I found myself wondering what games I would choose for the top games of the year. I came up with.

5. Crackdown (Xbox 360).
Ah this game was so much for me. I had heard about it for a long time before it was released and finally playing it was so very enjoyable.
4. Portal (PC)
Despite the game having a ridiculously short play time, it is more than worthy of making my top five. Never have I had more fun solving some of the most crazy puzzles ever created.
3.World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (PC)
If this was a top five compiled by game play time, this game would win hands down. However it is not. This game, whilst certainly very enjoyable and something which I continue to play, it just did not give me the same buzz and thrill that came with the top two.
2. Mass Effect (XBOX 360)
Ah Mass Effect. Everyone knew that I went completely gaga over this game, and with good reason. As a fan of the KOTOR series, both of which I proudly completed, this is one of the rare games that just shines. The only reason, repeat, the ONLY reason, that this game is in the second position is because the side quests were minutely annoying. Its a fine line between one and two in my world
1. Bioshock (XBOX 360)
This game like Mass Effect easily drew my away from my comp and to the 360 for some hard gaming action. Brilliant storyline combined with well designed gameplay, weapons and let us not forget the PLASMIDS!!.

Now this list is my personal top five, and will not include games I have not played, which is why it mostly contains XBOX and PC games, this is what I play on so there ya go. Although had I had the chance to play it before the year is out, Super Mario Galaxy would have certainly made the list considering the great reviews about it.

Hear is to 2008, and the great games it may bring to us.

The day began with my own mother ringing me up at 8:15am in the morning reminding me she was coming over in 45 minutes to pick me and my brother up and drag us out to the Xmas family gathering.

I generally hate family gatherings in general. People who I do not speak to except for events such as Xmas etc all gather together to talk about what they have done since we all met the last time. I just find what most people have to say... well boring really, I cannot put it another way, and boring irritates me.

After all that, I was able to enjoy what was left of my day, generally relaxing with a few games. Also watched the latest episode of Top Gear. I only recently got into this show and I am quite annoyed with myself for not getting into any earlier. Now I am NO car enthusiast. I have no real idea how it works and should it ever break down, I would be opening the bonnet in the vain hope there would be a giant on/off switch that had flicked to the off position. But nevertheless I thoroughly enjoy Top Gear. The concept of three brits abusing each other while discussing cars is a brilliant one. It is very well put together, thought out program with enough stupidty for anyone to enjoy.

And with that I am done with this post. I do wish, despite my large about cynicism and negativity towards this holiday, a merry Xmas and a happy new year to everyone.