Bioshock Infinite

Hey there my imaginary followers(seriously I don't expect anyone to even glance at this blog now, after my months long absence). I am back with another game review(I post after months and that too a video game review.... sure its going to get a lot of hits). The game in question here is another installment in the heavily acclaimed Bioshock series but does it stand up to it's predecessors?

First of all Bioshock Infinite has nothing to do with Bioshock I or II (although there is a brief cameo by rapture...... I am not saying more.) It's not a sequel to the earlier games and therefore gives a different feel and yes a sense of curiosity. Also I will be referring to the first Bioshock game so all of you who haven't played it please check out it's wiki page. Lets get to the statistics then:

Plot: Bioshock Infinite has a well defined plot and it lays the foundation for this game. The plot makes it more interesting to play and also keeps you thinking at every point. Though the events fold out rather slow in the starting, the plot grips a smooth pace afterwards. The game is set in a fictional city of Columbia which is suspended in the sky(after the ocean depths it had to be the skies) in 1912. You play Booker Dewitt, a war veteran and alcoholic gambling bum who is knee deep in debt and the lenders breathing down his neck. His only chance of escape- go to Columbia and bring back a girl named Elizabeth to a duo who promise to clean his debt off in return. Sounds easy only that it's not. Little does Booker know who Elizabeth actually is and what she is capable of.
            However as the game progresses the plot takes many twists and reveals many secrets and theories, which takes you back to the history of Columbia, history of Booker and the history of the duo who promise to clean Booker's debt. The ending is the highlight of the plot. If I may put, the plot is marvelous.

Presentation: I must say that I am a bit disappointed with the presentation. The opening is vague which is brilliant and helps in the plot. However some of the key elements in the plot were brought in rather haste. Like in Bioshock, the way the lead character gets the plasmids one by one compliments the game's plot. However in Infinite you get some vigors(these are the plasmids of Bioshock infinite) just like that. Even then the presentation is solid. The look and feel is adequate and the ending is brilliant I give it a 9.

Graphics: Like it's predecessors, Bioshock Infinite has brilliant graphics. If you have a decent graphics card you can enjoy this game fully. The game has been presented as a steam punk 1900's America. It looks good with all the little details added, straight from the attire of the city folk to the architecture of the buildings. Nothing much to say here. It receives a 10.

Gameplay: The most important part of any game. And Bioshock infinite scores perfect A in this section. Although it's plot is different it plays exactly like Bioshock 1 and 2. You have all these cool weapons accompanied by vigors which give you special powers. There are a total of 8 vigors and how you use it all up to you. There are so many ways you can take out a hoard of enemies in this game. Different vigor combinations, long range-short range tactics, you can play any way you want.
            However the uniqueness to the gameplay is brought by three new elements which were not there in Bioshock 1 or 2. Number 1 is the girl you are here to rescue: Elizabeth. You will get to rescue Elizabeth early in the game, the hard part is to escape out of Columbia. Elizabeth is a gifted individual who can manipulate space and time. Called "tears" in the game, these are basically rifts in reality which Elizabeth can open. So in an area you can have several rifts which can call different object from parallel realities to your world for your use. These can include gun automation, medical kits, salt kits(for recharging vigors), cover, decoy etc. She is also responsible for reviving you if you die and bring you back to the exact same point where you had fallen, however you will lose money in this process. In short Elizabeth does not only bring variations in game play she also is a life saver. Also her "tear tearing" capability (I sometimes overdo myself) is an important part of the plot.
           The second element is skyline. These are sky tracks which are used for transportation in Columbia. Booker can also use these skyline using a tool called "Skyhook" (it's a hook that fastens on your hand used for riding skylines. Such an original name) in certain areas to traverse through an reach high or low points depending on need. Booker can alter his speed and direction on the skyline, attack while riding the skyline and deliver devastating blows by jumping from the skyline onto an enemy. He can use the skyline to keep changing position and work out different strategies to counter a situation.
           The last one though is not a very important gameplay element but it helps. In Infinite you can also have different attire/gear to wear. There are four categories: Hat, Vest, Pants and Boots. Each gear will give you a certain ability for example killing an enemy will sometimes give you salt. So use the best combination of gear while engaging enemies. you can also change your gear mid-fight from your inventory.

Now I normally don't give away tips in a review but I will let you know of some important combat tips:

1. You can upgrade your vigors but only a few, it requires a lot of money. So choose wisely. If you ask me, your best companions will be "Possession", "Shock-Jockey", "Murder of Crows" and "Return to Sender".

2. If you are playing on difficult setting, the enemies are going to be hard and you will die a lot. Use as much tactics as possible and try not to die a lot, it wastes a lot of money. I learnt it the hard way. I could have upgraded my weapons and vigors with that amount.

3. Do not in any case, remember my words, never agitate a "Boy of Silence" or engage a "Handyman" head on. You will regret it. Sneak past a boy of silence and try to keep your distance from the handyman. Though it is primarily a tank type enemy and uses heavy melee attacks, it can throw stuff at you, electrocute skylines which will damage you if you are riding them and can also shoot lightening bolts. So plan accordingly and always shoot for its heart that is encased in glass on his chest.

4. Never engage the siren in close quarters. Use a sniper rifle. Or you can use Return to sender continuously but make sure you have salts nearby.

So my final word: I would have given more points but as I can't I give it a 10 in gameplay.

Sound: The music is good. Just like Bioshock 1 and 2 songs from the old ages are used to give feel to the world. It feels just right. Also the music becomes fast paced when the enemies emerge and fades away when an area is cleared. However, the music according to me does not play a big role in your experience. I give it 9.

Appeal and Replayability: The game has a lasting appeal. It is fast paced, every moment is purely enjoyable. The game can be played again and again just to use different combat tactics. After completing the game you will be both contented and sad. I give it a 9.5 here.

Verdict: This game is brilliant. I can be a bit partial cause I loved the earlier game(s)(well Bioshock 2 was not that bad, it just felt like a big daddy mod of Bioshock) However, even if you remove the fact that I am being a 2K fanatic here, Bioshock gives you all that you expect from a FPS. Although the game has its short comings, it is enjoyable. I am playing it a second time now. So go on ahead and get a copy (by whatever means necessary ;) )

P.S: Post your comment and let me know what you feel about this post and the blog in general. Just this one time get your lazy ass off the couch and write a line or two dammit. It will help me to improve this blog or shut it out altogether.
Good night guys and happy gaming :)

Ghar ki Lakshmi

Sach kehte hain log, ghar ki Lakshmi hun main,

Pita ki laadli, maa ki saheli hun main.

Kabhi maa ki kokh mein ghuti, kabhi janane ke baad mitti mein mili hun main,

Kabhi chote ki dekh rekh mein, kabhi bade ki zaroorat ke liye shiksha se vanchit rahi hun main,

Sach kehte hain log, ghar ki Lakshmi hun main.

Kabhi chote kapdon ke kaaran, kabhi sirf aurat hone se haivanon ka shikaar hui hun,

Auron ko chchodo apne swajanon ke bistar tak pe sajai gayi hun main,

Sach kehte hain log, ghar ki Lakshmi hun main.

Kabhi pita ke rinn ke liye tehseeldaar se byaahi gayi,

Jo kabhi kisi se prem kar baithi toh bhai ki shaan ke khatir tukde hui hun main

Sach kehte hain log, ghar ki Lakshmi hun main.

Kabhi pati ki mardaangi ka saboot, kabhi uski maut ke shoke pe agni bhent chadhi hun main,

Kabhi beta janane ke liye satayi gayi, kabhi sirf T.V fridge ke liye jali hun main,

Sach kehte hain log, ghar ki Lakshmi hun main.

Jo vidhva hui toh ekaant ka jeevan, jo fir mehendi racha li toh vaishya kehlayi gayi hun main,

Yugon se sone chandi ki tarah istemaal hi toh hui hun main,

Sach kehte hain log, ghar ki Lakshmi hun main,

Pita ki laadli, maa ki saheli hun main.

You Are Hired!!

Let me ask you a question…… what is the first thing that an engineering student thinks of when he reaches the final year of college???? Yup…… job, naukri, joli, dhandha…..well there are many words, but only one motive- the prospect of earning money. What it would be like to get some moolah without any strings attached? Nobody to give details to (not exactly, but for a moment it feels like so)? It always gives us goose bumps. And for us final years, the ordeal started on 31^st October with TCS.

    Now I can only tell you about my experience with the recruitment, but to certain extent we engineers share a common mentality regarding placements. For example- Like when we heard that TCS is coming, everybody (almost) had the same feeling: “TCS is just my backup plan…..I aim for a core industry”, but I tell you, TCS is actually a life saver for most engineers. They come here and recruit people as if they are buying cattle. There is a lore that circulates in engineering colleges that once TCS (it changes with who tells the story, sometimes TCS becomes Infosys) came to a college and announced to the students: “ There is a truck standing outside, anyone with more than 60% aggregate and max 2 backs, board it”. Well, its utter rubbish but it makes a good story. It gives a hope to future engineers that at least TCS will not disappoint them. However, this time the situation almost changed.

  TCS had recruited around 90 people from our college in the previous year which was a small number as compared to other colleges. So this time TCS was given the first slot with the condition that it would at least recruit 200 students from the college. TCS was also asked to accredit the college with a B-grade. Those who don’t know about this grading system, every college in India has a specific grade. Those at the top are the A- grade and successively degrading colleges are graded B, C etc. Ours had a C-grade and so TCS was asked to accredit us to B-grade through a monitoring process (it was actually just an interaction between the TCS officials and the students, they asked some GK questions regarding TCS). The advantage of being a B-grade college? We receive our joining letters faster than the C-grade college students and the top students could attend the interviews directly, no aptitude test for them. Luckily we did get the accreditation. And as the day of the recruitment neared, my anxiety grew louder.

The recruitment was conducted in 2 days and had two phases: A written aptitude test and a series of interviews. The 75% scorers were given a choice to attend the interviews when the rest had their tests or they could attend the interviews the other day like the rest of us. Being the cream of the crop has its advantages. However in reality many of these geniuses were forced to take the interview the first day citing reasons of scarcity of time. Well if you have to interview around 260 students and that too with technical, HR and MR (I didn’t even knew what it meant), one day is seriously not enough. Talking about the test, it was not very tough. Given the fact that every student had at least 20 sample papers of TCS aptitude test patterns and the test was composed mostly of questions from these patterns, it was not very difficult to crack it. I too was one of the lucky ones to get through but alas some of my friends couldn’t make it. Luck does play its role. The next morning came the judgment day.

 I had seen some of my friends take the interview the previous day and hearing their experience had given me some confidence. The moment I entered the interview location (a.k.a auditorium); I started feeling like a sheep. It looked like a production line in a sheep rearing factory. There were four rows of desks, each row having 4 officials. Students seated in front of them attempting to answer their quirky questions, like little sheep being shaved off their wool. Some half shaven sheep sat to my right side in an array of chairs. I was escorted directly to this lady who sat with eyes filled with both boredom and expectation. I was prepared, or at least I thought so. I had donned a tie after 4 years (one of the only two people in the whole crowd). So obviously I was a prime target of both gossip and mockery. But I didn’t mind. My CV was ready with all the necessary certificates in a neat folder. I greeted the lady and took my seat, after that everything went downhill. First, she didn’t want the folder, actually she didn’t even wanted to see the certificates, just the CV. Second, no matter how confident you are, your first interview will be the toughest; cause just being fluent in English won’t help you. The moment the first question is fired, everything in your brain jumbles up.

 As she started asking questions it became difficult for me to read her emotions. Was she angry, happy, disgusted or mocking at my replies, I couldn’t tell? (True mark of an interviewer) She would smile at times and sometimes she would stare at me as if I was the dumbest person she had ever seen. She asked me stuff that I hadn’t even heard during my engineering. I tried to cheer up the situation with a smile but was met with cold eyes and more ridicule. She finally had pity on me and ended the interview. I was then asked to join the group of the half shaven sheep, waiting for the next round of interview. I sat beside one of my friends from EEE and he told me that he had been waiting since noon for his second round of interview; it was 2:30 then. I got a bit more anxious. But to my surprise, I was called within 10 minutes for my HR. The official this time was a mean looking pot bellied man. I was waiting for questions like “Where do you live?” “What are your strengths?” etc, but I was met with more technical questions. This guy certainly looked unhappy with me. He even ended my interview within 10 minutes while other students were questioned for an average of 30. I didn’t know if I was lucky or smitten. I returned to another chair where this other student asked me my branch. He was trying to make logic of why different students were being called at different intervals. His conclusion, TCS wanted the CSE guys first. I thought maybe he was right, and waited anxiously for the next and final round. But as time passed, other student were being called, even those who sat for their second round after me, while I remained fixed on my spot. Even the logic guy was called. As the hours passed, the number of officials decreased and my heart started to sink. I was not the only one who wasn’t called; there were students who hadn’t even gotten to the second round yet. So now, I became the logic guy. My conclusion…… we were out. But as luck plays its role, a few students were called for their final round and I was among them. It was the MR round and it went smoothly. I was asked to wait for the results.

However, after this the twist happened. I didn’t know what happened first, but this is what I heard. As the remaining students were being interviewed, the TCS guys backed out of their words and told the placement cell that they were only taking 130 students as they didn’t find the level of students here par with what they wanted. But our placement cell officer came to our rescue and negotiated with TCS. Actually what I heard was that he told them: “You had pleaded for the first slot and we gave it to you only on the promise that you will take 200 students. I better see that ‘2’ in your final recruitment list.” And all of a sudden the remaining students were interviewed in frenzy, taking 4-5 students together at a time. Students who had been rejected the previous day were being called. Even students who had left after losing hope and waiting for hours were called again. Students came out running, some even in casuals. Everybody tried to help each other. I saw one of my friends exchange his formals with another student so that he can sit in the interview. It ended eventually and all of us stood outside waiting anxiously for the results. Though there were students who had a greater chance of getting placed than the others, but everyone was in silent prayers. At last everyone was called back into the auditorium and the results were announced. I couldn’t believe my ears, I was selected and I did a little jig instantly. As the TCS official finished reading the list, the final count was 200 GEC Thrissur students. The auditorium broke into cheers and claps. Though there were few who weren’t selected, but everyone participated in the celebrations. Handshakes and hugs were being offered everywhere. The loud chants of “party” and “treat” filled the air. Although everyone was terribly tired, I could see faces brightly lit up as they informed their loved ones of the news. I too informed my folks about the placement and at that moment I realized that it was not the prospect of having fun with self earned money that makes it special but the sense of achieving something after 3 years of hard work and the pride and happiness that you sense in your parents voice is what makes it a memorable moment.

A few of my friends didn’t get placed that day but as more companies came in more got placed. And there are still many to come. I too sat in three other placements after that. I was rejected by two companies while the third has called me for an interview at Bangalore. I was not dejected by the rejection; it only gave me confidence to do better the next time. Because that is how it goes. You are never sure if you can clear a hurdle or not, but giving your best to it, that is how you face any challenge.             

izhaar

a little shayari for the V-day(I am sorry my mallu friends, I can only write shayari in hindi/urdu)

Aaj yeh khayaal zehen mein aaya,

Ki kyun tumse kabhi na keh paaya.

Jab jazbaat the dil mein barson se,

Toh kyun kiya itna waqt zaaya.

Tab is dil ne aawaz di mujhko,

Kaha ki na kar gila mat ho pareshaan.

Mat soch ikraar ya inkaar ki baatein,

Kyunki ishq mein nahi kuch aasaan.

Sachchi muhabbat hai agar tujhe,

Toh jawaab mein khushi kya dhundhta hai?

Kar guman is baat ka ki,

Teri har dhadkan pe naam uska likha hai............

Engineering Student VS The Exam

I recently gave my 6th semester exams(Yeah.......my university really sucks) and it sank like the Titanic. However, I noticed a number of peculiarities associated with exams(engineering exams in particular). It was not the first time I noticed them, but rather I was reminded of them by the disaster that the exams brought upon me. I finally decided to mention some of them here:

1. The exam will always come as an unexpected guest. At least that's what happens in our university. We are told a date, we start to study(I mean we excluding me) and then it gets postponed a month. So you get relaxed but whoopah!!! there it is, rescheduled to some earlier date. This might happen twice or thrice for a single exam.

2. You would never have enough leave to prepare for the exams. I am talking about the average student(read: students like vj). Be it a day of leave or a whole week, the true engineer would always start at the last hour.

3. What you have been taught in class, what comes in the question papers and what you answer in the answer sheets have no relation whatsoever.

4. During the exam, everyone except you would be doing great.

5. The portions you leave, thinking that they are not important, would be asked for sure.

6. Another point associated with the above one: If there are two topics which could be asked for an essay question and you are given choice in such questions, then if you leave one topic and prepare the other one, the essay will always be a two part question with one part being from the topic you left, in both the choices. (Happens with me aaaaaaaalllllll the time).

7. You would be the only one the invigilator watches constantly, the rest could cheat behind her back like eating a pie.

8. A practical subject would have a fully theoretical paper while the theoretical one would have only practical questions.

9. All the previous year question papers would have repeated questions but never yours.

10. And finally, never expect anything from the exams........ the paper that you think was the best would have the least marks while that which went horribly wrong would be your best scored subject.

If you have anything else to add, please do so. Raise your voice against the atrocities towards engineering students!!!!

LIMBO

OK, here it is finally. My first game review. I always used to give my (unwanted) opinion about various games to my friends(being a self proclaimed gamer has some duties like annoying friends with your "expertise"), but never have I written a full review. It might be a bit difficult for non-gamers to understand some of the terms but I will try to keep the language as simple as possible. So let us start but before that let me say this : THIS GAME IS AWESOME.

Limbo is a puzzle platform game developed by danish independent developer "Playdead". The game was released for the Xbox live arcade in July 2010. I read about it in a newspaper and then checked it out online. From that time Limbo became one more reason for me to buy an Xbox with my first salary. But to my great surprise, the game was re-released for the PC platform on august 2 and I downloaded it right away(Rich gamers should not make faces,cause I don't get 9$ to buy a game). The Xbox game had already won a number of accolades and the PC game didn't disappoint a bit either.

Plot : There is not much of a story in Limbo cause none was provided by the developers either. This however adds a touch of mystery to the game. At the end it leaves you terribly confused and anxious to know what you were doing in the entire game, and start proposing your own theories about the plot. You would end up playing the game again and again just to get some clue to support your hypothesis. I ended up searching the whole internet to get a satisfying story for Limbo and I did find one. The game basically features you as a faceless boy( maybe 8 or 10 years old, it's hard to tell) who wakes up in the woods and then starts an adventure to find a girl(probably his sister). You would have to pass through different areas of the world and would be challenged by a number of puzzles that you would have to solve in order to advance. Its the ending that makes you pull out your hair(play it and you will know)

Presentation : Limbo has no tutorials, no cut scenes, no text, no dialogues and yet you will connect to the game instantly. The presentation is unique, there is no concrete starting, neither is there a firm ending to the game. This increases your enthusiasm to play Limbo...........when nothing is known, its upto you to solve the mystery. Limbo will knock your socks off. I give it a 9.5 for presentation.

Graphics : Frankly I never play a game for its graphic exuberance, all that matters to me is the gameplay. Believe me, I would still rank Half-Life way above Crysis 1 or 2(Those who have played HL and Crysis series know what I am talking about, those who don't get it check out the videos of these games and you would understand). But the graphics of this game just made me drool in awe. Its nothing as jazzy as Bioshock or Crysis, in fact it's just charcoal and black ink on a brightly lit canvas. Yes the whole game is black and white only and above that, its just a side scroller, but the way it has been presented is simply marvelous. The level of detail( only in the sense that its just black ink) is unmatched by even some hotshot big budget titles. Limbo is a dark and bitter game. The whole world in Limbo seems gloomy which though is what playdead wanted to show. A quest where their is no surety of success but death is present in ample. The only thing that brings optimism into the plot are the white butterflies that flutter around in the world. The world created by playdead is gorgeous with different areas such as the woods and and a city to give you maximum variety in gameplay. The game although is full of gore(and every animation is very satisfying indeed) and that's why rated teen( I guess watching a little boy being decapitated by a saw or being impaled into spikes is not everyone's cup of tea). For graphics I give it a 9.5.

Gameplay : As I said earlier,the first thing I look in a game is the gameplay and Limbo makes me do the cha-cha-cha with joy. The gameplay is simple yet strong. Solve puzzles using your wits and the environment around you and you can proceed. Sounds easy?? Well its not. You will die or get stuck so many times in Limbo that you would want to kill yourself in real life as well. However, the game has been built like that, you learn by dying, and you can continue as much as you want. About the simplicity of the gameplay...........there are just 5 controls at your disposal - 4 movement keys plus one for interaction. What more, you can't crouch, the down arrow will be used only a few times in the game. The puzzles are interesting and would make you use your top floor to the max. The environment in Limbo is ruthless and brutal, ready to kill you at every point. From giant spiders to machine guns.... you get a piece of everything. Its a short game as well, you can complete it within an hour if you are a pro. I give it a 10 in gameplay.

Sound : There is not much audio effects in Limbo, no background score either. Being a horror genre, one would expect some horrifying sound effects. But Limbo is no dead space, its motive is not to spook you but to make you realize the graveness of the danger the boy is in. Removing the background score and minimizing the sound effects, in fact does the trick. The buzzing of the saw hidden in darkness and the cracking of electric hoardings over a silent background intensifies the experience, you can't expect more than this. In sound its 9.

Appeal and Replayability : Every minute of the game is pure fun. There is no slogging, the game moves at a constant engaging pace. You would never feel bored at any point of the game. As far as replayability is concerned, though some sites would tell you that that it has high replay value, I would say that once played, Limbo would seem redundant the next time, cause you know the solution to all the puzzles. If for anything, you can replay Limbo to get all achievements, but that too is for gamers who have bought the game and who want to show off their stats in the Limbo community. Other than that its a one time pleasure like a scoop of Ice-cream. 9 here.

Verdict : THIS GAME IS AWESOME ( deja vu anyone??) Listen to me, you need to play this game, gamer or no gamer. Its a short game but hey its an indie game and its brilliant. Go play it. Non-gamers, start your gaming life with this game.

P.S : If anyone wants it, please ask me.

The land of lungi