Round 1: Match 2: Fat Man vs Super Sheep

Weapon - Fat Man
Game - Fallout 3
Seed - 8
Scouting Report - Have you ever dreamed of shooting a mini nuke? Well this is the weapon for you. Ammo may be limited and the cost through the roof, but the effects of the Fat Man are devastating.  Great at taking out multiple enemies with only one shot.  Just be sure to be far enough away so you don't blow yourself up.

Weapon - Super Sheep
Game - Worms
Seed - 9
Scouting Report - The Super Sheep is basically a seeker missile in sheep form.  It can fly by pressing the fire button.  While in flight you control the flight path using the normal worms controls. Pressing the fire button a second time causes the sheep to detonate.  Great for attacking enemies in those hard to reach places.  Just be sure to watch where you are going.  The Super Sheep also detonates on impact!

Vote in the comments and in the poll.  You'll get votes for both.

Bo Jackson wins!

In the first match of the tournament Bo Jackson is the first weapon to advance.  The final tally came in at 12 votes for Bo Jackson and 5 votes for the Bionic Arm.  It was almost as lopsided as Bo Jackson against anyone in Tecmo Super Bowl.  Bo knows winning, but who will he face in the second round?

The poll is now up for the 2nd match Fat Man vs Super Sheep.  The post will also be up around 5 PM. Once again just a reminded to vote on the poll and in the comments section to get your opinion counted twice!  Also be sure to tell people to come check out the tournament.

Match 1: Bo Jackson vs Bionic Arm

Weapon - Bo Jackson
Game - Tecmo Super Bowl
Seed - 1
Scouting Report - Bo Jackson was put in to Tecmo Super Bowl to do one thing.  Run faster and more agile than any other player in the game.  If he got the ball, your best option as a defender was to backpedal.  If you didn't, he'd be past you already.  To the doubters that say "He isn't a weapon!", watch this video and notice how thoroughly he beats 11 members of the opposing team for an entire quarter.

Weapon - Bionic Arm
Game - Bionic Commando
Seed - 16
Scouting Report - Bionic Commando is a platformer unlike all others.  You can't jump. Instead, you're given an arm that acts as a grappling hook, item collector, and eternal sign of being a badass.  Since you shoot a pea shooter for much of Bionic Commando, the Bionic Arm becomes a weapon that also makes you agile and elusive on the battlefield.

Vote in the comments and in the poll.  You'll get votes for both.

Tournament of Weapons - Opening Brackets!

Here it is, we took a lot of suggestions and did a lot of research.  Here's our opening brackets.

The basic rules are this.  We post a matchup, you vote on it.  You can vote in the comments AND in the poll's.  If you do both, your vote will be counted twice.  We'll try and do a matchup every day or two.

This should be a lot of fun.

#1: Super Mario World

And here it is... Super Mario World is my favorite game of all time.

I read quite a few gaming blogs.  Halfway through writing my list, I read some excellent advice from a blogger.  He said that you should try and keep the word "fun" out of your descriptions of games.  He explained that fun is the most subjective word that can be used to explain a game's appeal.  Everyone has a different opinion on what makes something fun.

I started following that advice at that moment.  I have to abandon that advice now.

Super Mario World is the most fun game I've ever played.

#2: Final Fantasy VI

First off, for those who don't know how it works...

Final Fantasy 6 originally released in the United States as Final Fantasy 3.  This happened because FF2, 3, and 4 only released in Japan, so FF5 and FF6 released in the US as FF2 and FF3.  That's why the box art says Final Fantasy III.

So anyways, my favorite RPG of all time is Final Fantasy VI.

#3: Phantom Dust

"What's Phantom Dust?" you might ask.  I've had to describe this game to multiple people because it's fantastic and I talk a lot, but it's an underground game.

Phantom Dust is what happens if you mix a third person action game with an excellent setting, some stirring plot, excellent multiplayer, and deck building.  I love deck building.  If you've been a fan of deck building games or collectible card games in the past, play this game.

The easier way of describing Phantom Dust is this.  Phantom Dust is what would happen if you brought Magic: The Gathering to life.

#4: Halo 3

Did anyone not know that this one was coming?

I'm pretty positive that this is the last gimmie pick on my list.  The final 3 aren't going to be everyone's guesses at my personal favorites, but this one's easy.

Halo 3 is my favorite shooter of all time.

#5: Pokemon Red/Blue

Sure, it's a franchise geared towards kids.  We all know it.  But those who have played it also know that it's a furiously addicting RPG with a very deep elemental system to it.

#6: Mario Kart 64

Those who know me can probably guess at two remaining games on this list.  This is one of the two.  Is there a gamer that hasn't had some great times with this game?

Doubtful.

#7: The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

I've never understood why this game isn't regarded as a classic.  There are a great features that make this game stand out among the franchise's counterparts.  To each their own, I guess.  To me, Wind Waker is the finest Zelda game ever made.

#8: Final Fantasy Tactics

Squaresoft (back in the days when they'd actually freaking experiment with new game ideas) decided to try their hand at a boardgame-like RPG.  The results were fantastic.

Portal 2 Impressions

First, let's just get the cliche joke out of the way.  My feelings for Portal 2 are this.

This was a triumph.

There, now we can move on.

#9: Rock Band 2

Here’s the only music game on my list.

#10: Secret of Mana

Woot.  The top 10 starts out with a freaking bang.

#11: Super Smash Brothers

Here's the top rated fighting game on my list.  Super Smash Brothers was (and is) a unique fighting game and a great mashup of various Nintendo brand characters.

People who know me understand that I'm not a gigantic fan of fighting games.  However, Super Smash Bros was a new kind of fighter.  There was no health bar.  There was a scaling damage rating that influenced how far your character flew.  There was no honor.  It was a 2-4 player scrum on stages that fought you as much as your opponents did.  There was no structure.  Random items rained from the sky that could turn the stage of a battle quickly.

Smash Bros was best played in groups where hooting and hollering was loud and constant.  There was always some rivalry to experience or character to hate... for example, Pikachu.  That little Thunder-Bolting rodent can spend his entire afterlife in the underworld for all I care.  Alright, I don't hate him that much, but my sister Audrey made me despise that thunder rat whenever she used it.  Grrrr.

Despite the gimmick of having your favorite Nintendo characters fight each other, it's an extremely polished and perfect fighting game with true balance.

Go Ness.

Classic Video Game Poll

Super Nintendo!

So after the last poll you have voted that you would like us to play a classic game here and there and post about it.  For the next poll you will be able to decide what classic game BluePai, myself, or both of us play.  I figured this time around we will have you choose a game from the SNES.

3 out of the 4 choices have been on Bluepai's list so far.  So please feel free to vote for the game you think we should play next.  Also if there is a SNES game that is not on the poll fell free to post a comment and maybe it will be played down the road as well.

Tournament of Weapons!!!

With BluePai's top 50 list getting so close to the top 10 there will only be a few more days for entries into the tournament of weapons!  So please feel free to comment if you thought of a last minute weapon that you woul dlike on the list.  More details to come as soon as we have the list completed...

#12: Mass Effect 2

Here's another great example of how to properly reboot the gameplay of a franchise.

#13: Plants vs Zombies

Alright.  First question.  Have you played this game yet?  If the answer is no, then go buy it now, play it and then come back for some reminiscing.

#14: Fallout 3

What an excellent reboot for a franchise.

What should we post more about?



Voting is over on the last poll here at The Orion Project.  Even though there was not an overwhelming amount of people who voted we did have a winner.  It looks like we will try and post more along with playing more classic video games. Since the voting was close I am sure that we will also post about the options that were close as well.  

This was going to be the last poll that we had until the Tournament of Weapons. However, in light of BluePai and myself playing Minecraft again, his top 50 has slowed a bit along with my posts.  To tide you over I will be posting a new poll.  I have no idea what it will be yet.  Maybe what we should build next in Minecraft. 

Just a reminder that once BluePai finishes his top 50 we will be starting the Tournament of Weapons.  Along with that, when the time comes to post my top 50 I have made the decision that I am only going to do 25 games.  Why would I do this?  Well frankly I have not played as many games as BluePai and would not be doing my list justice by listing games just to list them. 

#15: Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

This game.  Ever dreamed of being a jedi or a sith?  Well, Knights of the Old Republic lets you make that important decision and revolutionized the RPG genre.

#16: Resident Evil 4

This game is starting the run.  The next 16 games are all fantastic.  They're polished, they're revolutionary, and they're perfect.  I looked at these 16 games and I had an extremely hard time figuring out where to place them.  So, please understand that while I may rate one game higher or lower than another, these are all perfect games in my mind.

K, now on to the game.

#17: Burnout 3: Takedown

Freaking Burnout.

#18: Chromehounds

Meet Chromehounds.  It contains my favorite multiplayer in a game... ever.  The single player was crud, that's why it's down so far on the list.  But the multiplayer component to the game is absolutely unique and fantastic.

Mass Effect: Ilos

May Contain Spoilers!

The next couple of posts from me will be what happens at the end of Mass Effect.  As well as informing you what happens in the game, I will let you know the choices that I made that change the outcome of different scenes.  There will be spoilers and if you do not want to know what happens I suggest holding off on reading these posts.

#19: MVP Baseball 2005

The last of EA's MLB games was its best, without a doubt.  MVP Baseball 05 brought all of the polished gameplay of the previous years while including 2 fantastic minigames and a time-sucking owner's mode.

It took the monotony of a 162-game season and made additions to get you through it.

Final Poll Before the Tournament of Weapons

It looks like we have a few different types of gamers that are avid readers of The Orion Project.  The poll results show that we have gamers who try to get a few hours in a week and yet some who can't get enough hours in.  Which ever your preference we are here to provide informative video game banter and overall fun reading about video games. 

We here at Orion Project are going to have one more poll before we start the tournament.  We would like to thank everyone who once again voted.  By voting it gives us a good idea of things we post.  However, this next poll will really tell us what you would like to see.

The next poll will be about what YOU want to see us talk/post about.  It could be reviews of new games that have just came out.  Or even reviews of games that have been out that we have or have not played yet.  How about hearing us talk about crazy moments that we encounter in video games?  I know there would be a few stories from Halo's multi-player.

Would you like us to post about previews for games that are not out yet?  Granted, we are not to the status of getting games before they are out, but we would be able to blog about various opinions on games. What about the Indie games that are out that you have never heard of? We can make suggestions on what games would be worth your time and worth your money.

Finally we would have Classic Games.  With this we would go back 15 years and reminisce about games that we played growing up.  We may even play the game again and post about the things that made this game great.

Pleas feel free to discuss in the comment section and be sure to make you voice heard in the poll!  It can be found on the right of the page.

#20: Castle Crashers

Many of you will be saying things like:

• What's Castle Crashers
• Really, this game?
• Above [insert game here]?

Next Game?! Round 2

It is official... Mass Effect has officially been completed! 

I will be posting a blog sometime within a day or two with what I encountered in the last part of Mass Effect.  Along with that post I will let you know how the game unfolded in the final conversations.  Yes Leah, I will inform you what I decided to do on Feros.

Now onto what this post is really about.  What should I play next?!  I am at the mercy of your opinion.  I will list the games that I have previously posted along with adding Mass Effect 2.  Let me know if you think I should play Mass Effect 2, or if I should play something else and come back to Mass Effect in the future.

I will most likely not be starting this new game for a week or two.  I will probably play some multi player Halo for a bit.  The following games are what I will be playing next:

Crysis 2
Homefront
Dragon Age
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Mass Effect
*Mass Effect 2
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Splinter Cell: Conviction

*(New addition to the list)

I look forward to seeing everyone's responses to this.  Let me know if there is a game that is not on my list that you think I should play as well.  Other than playing Halo I will leave what games I play up to you!  So my video game fate is in your hands! Choose wisely....

#21: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is the second of three Zelda games on my list.  Yes, in my opinion, it's better than Ocarina.  Sue me (please don't, I'm poor).

#22: Super Mario RPG

The last in a run of extremely quality JRPG's over 10 games of the list, Mario RPG was fan-freaking-tastic.  It was accessible, balanced, varied, funny, and fun, all at once.

#23: Final Fantasy XI

Ahh yes, my first MMO.

Final Fantasy XI was out for one to two years before World of Warcraft.  It was never as popular or accessible, but it still remains my favorite MMO of all time.

Exclusive Story - New Class in World of Warcraft

In a first for the Orion Project, we've acquired information from a reliable source in Activision/Blizzard!

#24: Chrono Trigger

The run of excellent Japanese RPG's continues with Chrono Trigger.

#25: Halo

It should come as no surprise to people that know me that Halo is on this list again.  The franchise has popularized console shooters and Halo: Combat Evolved started it all.