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75 Things: Beat Super Mario Bros. 2 (S(NES)

Sep 11

admingames, retrospective Mario, nintendo, SMB2, Super Mario 2 3 Comments

I’m continuing along with my quest to beat every Mario in order. I’ve reached my 3rd installment in the series – Super Mario Bros. 2. Technically, this is the third game in the series, but it was the second game released in the United States. This little gem of a game was released on October 10, 1988 in America. For the sake of entertainment value, I played this game on the All-Stars package. Like the lost levels, the game feels much less dated when playing it in all of its 16-bit goodness.

This game is less like any other game in the Mario series because it originally wasn’t even a Mario game. It was a game called Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic (DDP). in Japan. Those clever executives at Nintendo thought us Americans couldnt handle the challenge of the lost levels.  They were probably right, seeing as the true sequel was a pain in the ass, but this game became a classic in it’s own right.

Unlike the other games in the series, before each level you get to choose one of four characters.  You get to play as either Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess.  Each character has their own individual strengths and weaknesses depending on what level you’re playing.

The premise of the game, and excuse for the variation, is that Mario has entered a ‘dream world.’ and is under a curse from the evil toad king Wart.  In order to wake up, Mario (or the other three characters) must play through the seven different worlds.  

Overall, this is a pretty fun game, but gets repetitive fairly quickly.  It was reminiscent to play through this game one final time.  I enjoyed the ice levels, hated the desert levels, and was pretty indifferent about the other levels.  

Playing through this game brought back a lot of childhood memories, specifically when I reached Mouser.  I remember watching the cartoons as a kid and hating this character more than anything.  It was nice, though brief, to relive kicking his ass one more time. 

I say one more time because although playing through this game was relatively enjoyable, I don’t really see myself taking the plunge into this particular adventure again.  It was always my least favorite game in the franchise and so far.

I’ve finally gotten past my least favorite games in the series.  I have a feeling things are about to start speeding up on this here blog!

75 things to do before you die – 10 – Learn an instrument

Sep 05

admin75 things 75 things, guitar, instrument, piano No Comments

I think everyone should have a couple talents that make them unique from everyone else.  I want to learn how to play an instrument… actually either guitar or piano to be exact.  

When I was younger, I took piano lessons for about 10 minutes and got bored.  When I started college, I bought a cheap acoustic guitar and learned a few songs through tabs.  (Tabs are a way for music illiterate people to actually play music.)

I can play songs like wonderwall and wish you were here, but I can’t read music and I sure as hell can’t really ‘play guitar.’  

I really think learning how to play one of these two instruments would be a difficult but fantastic task.  I think it would also be very rewarding and therapeutic.

Music is one of my passions.  I always have my ipod with me in case I have a few minutes to listen to a song to reflect on how I’m feeling.  Wouldn’t it be fantastic if I could actually play a song to reflect instead of listen to the music through my headphones.  

Now the fun part.  As an expansion for my 75 things series of blogs I am working on, I will include a short list of how I intend to actually to each item on the list.

How I will accomplish this goal:

1. Decide what instrument to play – That’s a coin-flip.  I am leaning towards guitar, because I am more familiar with the instrument and it would be easier to get ahold of one.
2. Find a Teacher – I don’t just want to learn to play from tabs.  I want an actual teacher that can teach me the chords, proper placements, etc.  I’m sure craigslist will be a valuable resource for this
3. Go to Lessons –  I have a bad habit of losing interest quickly. This will be the most difficult part.  If I can continue to go, I will be unstoppable.
4. Practice – practice, practice, practice.  Without practice, I will not get any better, even if I do take lessons.

75 things to do before you die – 9 – Get in a Fight

Aug 28

admin75 things 75 things, fight, fight club, mma No Comments

75 things to do before you die – 9 – Get in a Fight

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want to get into an ultra-violent send someone to jail or the hospital brawl, but I do want to get into one good fight.  Having been in a fraternity, I’ve been in a few scraps here and there, but most of it was just talking crap back and fourth until the situation DE-escalated. 

In Dallas, it seems like everyone has a big mouth and a big attitude.  Everyone likes to run around with their entourage and talk a big game.  Just once, I’d like to take a cold hard swing at one of those jackasses and put him on the floor.  I am always the cool-headed friend if anyone I know gets in a fight. I always worry about the implications of what could happen if one of my friends were to fight. 

More than likely, in any case I have experienced, my friends and I are the ones with more to lose.  We are the young professionals with college degrees.  Most of the guys trying to cause a confrontation probably are dropouts looking for their next adventure. But wouldn’t it be fun.. just once..  to get in a scrap?  Probably, but there is a safer way to do it.

I think every person should get into one good fight.  Just to measure themselves up.  Who knows, maybe take some MMA or Boxing classes and fight in a controlled enviroment.  It doesnt necessarily mean you have to get into a bar fight.  There are plenty of other forms of fighting outside of street brawls.  Everyone should try it out. In a gym of course.

I have quite a few friends that are starting to train in multiple forms of MMA.  For those interested in possibly starting to train, here is a list of the popular types of fighting styles

• Bujinkan
• Budo
• Taijutsu
• Tae Kwon Do
• Chung Do Kwan
• Muay Thai, Judo
• Brazilian Jujitsu
• Hapkido
• Aikido
• Maharlika Kuntaw.

Now go get yourself a membership and learn!

75 Things: Beat Super Mario Bros: Lost Levels ((S)NES)

Aug 26

admingames, retrospective Lost Levels, Mario, SMB 5 Comments

I beat the first mario, but it was a pain in the butt.  The graphics were dated and it was over all just a miserable experience.  But seeing as I put it on the 75 things i need to do before I die, I had to continue. 

Here’s my experience with The Lost Levels

I never knew playing through every mario would already be so difficult.. and I’m only through the second one.  I need to start off by saying that playing The Lost Levels via Super Mario All-Stars was a great idea.  Granted, I don’t have the original cartridge, but the updated graphics relative to my play through Super Mario Bros. was huge.  I may go back and try to play the original via All-Stars just because it is so much more enjoyable.  the 16-bit era truly did usher in a new era of videogame development.  In Fact, I will play the rest of the games through All-Stars that are available (SMB2 and SMB3).

Back to the game, The Lost Levelsis a freaking difficult game.  It is much harder than the original, dont let anyone tell you otherwise.  From the wind on the clifftops, to the poison mushrooms, and REVERSE WARPS, this game took the original and amped up the pain in your ass difficulty.  But, I had a lot of fun.  I don’t know why I had such a better time with this mario than the original.  Was it the updated graphics alone?  I don’t think so.  I think the game was just too damn difficult for me in my youth.  I would die quickly and lose patience and interest. Now that I am older and wiser, I think I have more tolerance for the monstrosity that is The Lost Levels. 

Touching on my ‘memories’ of playing this game as a kid, the only memory I really have of this game is what a bitch it really was.  I hated this game more than anything, so it was nice to come back and give it a big F-U.

I really am glad I stuck with this idea and went back and took the time to appreciate this very difficult, yet satisfying game in the lore of the Mario Universe.

Two down!!

75 Things: Beat Super Mario Bros (NES)

Aug 19

admingames, retrospective games, Mario, retro 3 Comments

As part of my blog, I am coming up with 75 things that I want to do before I die. I think everyone should try doing this. It’s a good tool to help you find out what you really want to do with the little time we all have on this blue planet. I know its lame, but one of the things I wanted to do is beat every Mario game in order.  I assumed it would be a lot of fun and would also trigger some childhood memories I had while playing these games years before. 

Obviously, I had to start at the beginning, Super Mario Bros. (Super Mario Bros. Wiki). 

Now a little about this game.  It came out in the United States on October 18th, 1985.  I was three years old.  I am now 26!  To say that this game is dated is an understatement.  I know some Fanboys will still argue that the original Super Mario Bros.is the best game of all time.  I have to disagree wholeheartedly.  While I understand the impact the original Mario game had on the entire video game industry, the evolution past the original is pleasant and necessary.  Don’t get me wrong.  When I first booted up the game and stomped my first goomba, I felt a little piece of my childhood come to the forefront of my emotions, but the nostalgia soon faded and the primitive aspects of the game were all I could focus on.

I suppose if I had played the game through Super Mario All-Stars (SNES).  It may have been more bearable, I may try it out for a few minutes tonight and see if it can keep my interest. 

I did play through the game, but the only fond memories I had were during level 1-1 and 1-2.  I wanted to attempt to get through the game without using any of the warps, but by the end of 1-2 I was ready to speed my way through the rest of the game.  By the time I reached the warp zone in 4-2, I was having to convince myself not to just turn off the game.  I really was truly sad that the game that brought me so much joy as a child had dated so bad.  I guess playing through New Super Mario Bros. (DS) last year didn’t help the aging of this classic game.

While I am glad I took the time to play through the original on my journey through the mushroom kingdom, I am glad that I finally passed the most primitive game in the series.  The future looks bright as I continue my adventure through these Classic Mario games.

One down!

75 things to do before you die – 8 – Beat every Mario in order

Aug 14

admin75 things, games 75 things, Mario, video games 1 Comment

8.  Beat every Mario video game in order.

Mario is the quintessential Video Game of all time.  There were games before him, but when the plump little plumber with a red hat jumped on his first goomba, the video game world changed.  Mario is the video game industry.  Anyone who knows what a video game is will undoubtedly reference Mario. 

Now, dont get me wrong, I have played every Mario game already.  I’ve beaten most of them too.  But I think it would be an interesting to go through each MAJORMario game and beat them in order.  Each level or situation has always jogged memories of my childhood in different ways.  Whether its a memory of a friend I use to know, or playing the sky level in Super Mario 3 at my Grandparents house, I think it will be interesting to experience to use these video games as a tool to reminisce on my life.

It will also be interesting to experience the changes in graphics and the engines first hand one after the other.

If I’m not too lazy, after beating each game I will post a little blog with some of my  memories from my childhood that I thought about while playing.

My plan is to play through every major Super Mario release (not including the Gameboy games).  I will go in chronological order based on intended release.

Here’s the list:

• Super Mario Brothers (NES)
• Super Mario Brothers – Lost Levels ((S)NES)
• Super Mario Bros. 2 (NES)
• Super Mario Brothers 3 (NES)
• Super Mario World (SNES)
• Super Mario World 2 (SNES)
• Super Mario 64 (N64)
• Super Mario Sunshine (Gamecube)
• New Super Mario Brothers (DS)
• Super Mario Galaxy

The reason i’m leaving the Gameboy games off is because the first one IMHO really sucked, and I never played any of the later ones.  As a retrospective it would be pointless to think about games I dont remember.

Who really knows how this is going to go?  I just think it will be fun to play the games again and maybe get to know myself a little better.

I plan to start playing through the Mario games this weekend. Hell I may play Super Mario Brothers tonight.

75 things to do before you die – 7 – Drive a sports car down Highway 1

Aug 13

admin75 things 75 things, california, cars, highway 1 No Comments

7. Drive a sports car down Highway 1

A few years ago, me and a few buddies went out to California.  His parents were living in San Fransisco, so we jacked their BMW X5 and drove down the coast to Los Angeles.  This was one of the most beautiful trips I’ve honestly ever taken.  There was just one problem. We went out the night before and got absolutely smashed.  The ups, downs, and constant curves made the majority of the trip very unpleasant.  In fact, I believe more than one person in our car had to stop so they could throw up. 

I would love to do this trip again, this time without a hang over.. and possibly a beautiful girl.  The most important thing would be a nice sports car that could hug the turns and hills.  I think it would be an absolutely amazing experience to do this at least one more time in my life.  I think everyone should try it at least once. 

Hopefully, one day before I get too much older, I will grace the pacific ocean with some high-speed travels down California Highway 1.

75 things to do before you die – 6 – Play in the WSOP

Aug 12

admin75 things 75 things, Main Event, Vegas, wsop No Comments

6.  Play in the World Series of Poker

Obviously, not everyone would be interested in partaking in the WSOP, but I would love it.  I’m a good poker player, not a great poker player.  I’ve won 3 tournaments around the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex and tied for first once.  To me, poker is one of my favorite things to do.  I love trying to read, bluff, ad re-read people.  Everything about the game entertains me. 

Anyway, one of my buddies Ryan Milisits recentely entered the Main Event.  He is a much much much better poker player than I am, but I still think it would be fun to just go and soak in the atmosphere.  It must be a pretty incredible event.  One day, I hope to enter the WSOP and see how lucky I can get against the rest of the world.

wsop 2008 Final Table

75 things to do before you die – 5 – lose weight

Aug 04

admin75 things 75 things, health No Comments

5.  lose weight

I wouldnt say I’m fat.  I would definitely say that I am out of shape.  For my health and my lovelife, I think it’s time to start cutting back on the booze and start hitting the gym.  Over all, I just want to be a healthier person. I turned 26 this weekend.  It’s time to start focusing on the important things in life.  the college frat boy days have come to a timely end. I’m not sure what my plan of action is going to be in terms of the weight loss, but I plan to get a wii fit, and also start going to the gym as much as possible.

I plan to start keeping track of my weight on here.

As of this morning I weight 193.  that is up 4 pounds from my recent low of 189.  Gotta get back on it

75 things I want to do before I die – 4 – Publish a short story

Jul 28

admin75 things 75 things, Enders Game, Orson Scott Card No Comments

4.  Publish a short story

In high school, I down right loathed reading.  I hated books.  I hated anything that had to do with them.  There was no way you could ever get me interested in anything that didnt have pictures.  My junior year, things changed.  I was introduced to a book that would change my perspective on reading.  Hell, to be blunt, this book literally changed my life.  After reading this book, my interest in reading completely flip flopped.  I had never read anything that made me feel like I knew the character.  I actually felt what the character was going through in every aspect of his life.  The book was Ender’s Game. 

To this day, I still read Ender’s Gameat least once a year.  I’ve read all the sequels and spin-offs including the entire Ender’s Shadow series. I cant get enough Orson Scott Card’s portrayal of our possible future.  I actually also follow Card closely and frequent his website www.ornery.com.  His method of writing is unlike any author i’ve read.  It is simplistic, but paints vivid pictures and messages. 

Right now, I dont have time or skill to write a short story, but Card has inspired me to open up my imagination and create a story to share with the world.