Some Sweet Cosplays, pt. 2

Okay, so since I made my first post on video game cosplays, many months ago, I have developed a sort of guilty pleasure involving the subject. While I've never really cosplayed, myself, it's not too unusual for me to get caught up in looking at other people's cosplays on deviantART, sometimes for an hour at a time. So without further ado, I present you: Some Sweet Cosplays, pt. 2.

This one just cracks me up. Not only are the costumes themselves very well-done, but those of you who are familiar with Team Fortress 2 and have seen the "Meet the Spy" video know that the Scout's mom is, apparently, quite the catch. So here, we have a hilarious and unmistakable demonstration of just that. It's title? "Dat Ass". Photo and cosplay done by PANCAKEScosplay on deviantART.com where you can find lots more cosplay goodness in their gallery, including more delightful TF2 ones.

I think it's safe to say that I have a certain, uh, fascination with the Splicers from the BioShock games. But that's not all that makes this cosplay so great, to me. The costumes are exquisite and the photography is spot-on, AND the setting looks like it came straight from Rapture, like a real-life scene from the game. And after all, isn't the recreation of beloved nerdoms what cosplay is all about? Photo uploaded by Dids-91 on deviantART. The rest of her BioShock cosplays can be viewed here.

In my opinion, some of the best cosplays on the internet are ones from the Final Fantasy series. The games themselves are an impressive demonstration of interesting character design, so it's no wonder that so many people are inspired to recreate their favorite Final Fantasy heroes and villains. This one of Lightning and Serrah from Final Fantasy XIII is one of favorites, for obvious reasons...great costumes, great photo, great emotions. Photo uploaded by RainerTachibana.


Those of you who have played Fallout 3 can appreciate the awesomeness of this Lone Wanderer cosplay by Frauette. I don't think I've ever seen a better Lone Wanderer costume. I mean, with her Pip-Boy 300 and everything, she looks like she just came from Vault 101! The setting in the photo is perfect and a common sight for players in the game, making the whole thing all the more delightful. Be sure to check out the other Fallout 3 cosplay photos in her gallery, as well.



I've liked this one for a long time. If you've played Final Fantasy IX, then you should recognize Kuja (in his Trance form) as cosplayed by Demented-Kid (she's got lots of other neat Kuja cosplays, as well). What impresses me the most is the hair--or rather, feathers. I've seen lots of people attempt it, but few seem to be able to pull it off...let alone this good. Aside from that, the makeup and costume are all fabulous, too.


That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have more neat cosplays to share in the future, though, so keep your eyes peeled.

BioShock Review

Once I again, I was late to the party with BioShock, but it was an absolutely amazing experience, nonetheless. I don't think that I've enjoyed a single-player game as much as I enjoyed BioShock in years. Everything about this video game is simply exceptional and aside from the fact that I think it's pure genious, it's just a darn fun game...and not one you'll likely soon forget.

When it comes down to whether or not a game leaves a lasting impression on me, mood is a critical factor and rest assured, this stellar first-person shooter has plenty of it. Set in Rapture, an underwater city that was once an anarchical utopia ("No Gods or Kings. Only Man."), BioShock entices the player with intrigue, motivates them with horror and suspense, and rewards them with the continuous discovery of this eerily beautiful and ruined world. Once the game sinks its hooks into you, simultaneously filling you with unease and delight, you can't help but want to cozy up into it and hope that it never ends. As long as you don't mind a duely M-rated game, I would recommend BioShock to just about anyone.

In BioShock, you play as Jack, who at first seems like a simple enough protagonist, but by the end of the game, we learn that there is much more to him than the earlier parts of the game let on. After his plane crashes somewhere in the Atlantic, Jack finds himself caught up in Rapture, struggling just to survive, let alone escape. Guided through the vast city by a number of mysterious characters--all of whom have their own motives--via radio broadcast, the player faces constant adversity from what's left of Rapture's citizens.

There's the Splicers, whose minds and bodies have been wrecked by excessive modifications to their genetic makeup, leaving them violent and insane. They're also probably my favorite "common" antagonists of any video game, ever. Not only does fighting against the many varieties of Splicers throughout the game pose a fun challenge for the player, but they're also legitimate video game characters with an unmistakable depth to them; not just a random gameplay component like so many other games' bad guys. Then, of course, there are the iconic Big Daddies and the seaslug-possessed Little Sisters that they guard with their lives. These creepy little girls wander the city, extracting ADAM from corpses. If the player succeeds at killing a Big Daddy, he or she must then decide whether to save the Little Sister or "harvest" her for more ADAM. ADAM, in addition to plasmids (commercially-sold DNA-altering potions), essentially gives a person super powers. Therefore, more ADAM means Jack can become more powerful. However, harvesting a Little Sister also makes you a bad person and changes the outcome of the game. These are the sort of choices that the player must make.

As if that wasn't enough excitement, the player is constantly being threatened and pursued by Rapture's founder, Andrew Ryan, who would like nothing more than to have you "eliminated". He also bears strikingly similar philosophical views to those of Ayn Rand, and I think it's safe to say that BioShock is a response of sorts to Rand's fictional works. This is just yet another thing that makes the game so compelling and unique.

While adventuring through the city, the player may pick up a number of audio diaries. These recordings tell the stories of Rapture and its citizens, helping the player understand the city's fascinating history. Even still, greater secrets await Jack as the player nears the game's end and discovers the true meaning behind his arrival in Rapture.

All images are (presumably) the property of 2K Games.

Some Very Awesome Video Game Soundtracks

When it comes to entertainment, there are usually two things that catch my attention: the aesthetic and the soundtrack. This is true of movies, TV shows, and especially, video games. The way a game looks is an obvious determining factor in its appeal, but I cannot tell you how many times I have been compelled to buy a game simply because of the music playing in its trailer. Every good game needs a soundtrack that helps set the mood and immerse the player in the game's setting. However, over the years, there have only been a handful that have truly moved and inspired me, so for this post, I thought I'd share some of them with you and say what I think makes them so great.

Shadow of the Colossus

Despite being a cult classic of sorts, everyone knew that this game was going to be epic the moment it was announced. The objective of the game was simple enough: journey across a dreamy and mysterious land on your trusty steed in search of colossal beings...once you find them, climb them and kill 'em dead. While the thrill of taking one of these huge things down (and I mean HUGE) is undeniable, you can't help but feel a sense of remorse for destroying something so magnificent. All of this is and more is portrayed perfectly in Shadow of the Colossus's ethereal and grandiose soundtrack.

The Kingdom Hearts series
It's no secret that I love this game. I still remember the first time that I saw a trailer for it on TV. I had read bits and pieces about it in gaming magazines, but none of that could hold a candle to the trailer. The moment that I heard Hikaru Utada's "Simple and Clean", I knew that I must acquire this game as soon as possible. And that's not the only thing that makes the OST so awesome. Among its dozens of tracks, listeners will feel nostalgia, excitement, fear, and longing, all of which beautifully compliment the memorable adventure that is Kingdom Hearts.

Fallout 3/Fallout: New Vegas
Made up of a satisfying blend of already existing oldie classics and original instrumental tracks, the music of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas not only acts as a fantastic backdrop for the game's retro, post-apocalyptic, out-west setting, but gives players the delightful feeling of ominous adveturousness, which is--I believe--what Fallout is all about. Fallout 3's soundtrack was impressive, no doubt, but I think that New Vegas's takes the cake.

BioShock/BioShock 2

Set in the 1960's, BioShock and BioShock 2's soundtracks have a retro feel to them, similar to Fallout 3/New Vegas. However, what makes BioShock and it's sequel so special is the games' use of mood. Everything from the story to the game's art sets out to create a world of horror, beauty, and loss, and the OST is no exception. Players and listeners alike will find the game's music unsettling, but at the same time, will want to loose themselves in it, and that's what makes BioShock and BioShock 2's soundtracks so fantastic.

The Final Fantasy series

When I think of expert story-telling in video games, the Final Fantasy series is the first thing that comes to mind. Distinct characters, mind-blowing worlds, and intricate plot-lines are what make these games such a success, but the games' soundtracks add another whole new layer of depth. These OSTs are fully capable of telling the games' stories, in and of themselves. With each new title, fans are reminded that no combination of feelings is too complex to be perfectly captured in this series's amazing soundtracks.

I would love to hear which video games you think have excellent soundtracks in a comment below.