Tuesday, October 27, 2015

WWE 2K16 Review


WWE 2K15 was 2K Games first attempt at the wrestling franchise and unfortunately for all its attempts, it was mediocre at best. WWE 2K16 is not the case and is a vast improvement from its predecessor. At first the faith wasn’t high even with the pre-order incentive of playing as The Terminator but there was hope with the news that this game would have the largest roster ever. Along with the addition of the roster, there would also be additional creative options and the graphics are sharper than ever before in any WWE Game. There are some issues that keep this game from being spectacular but let’s get to the new stuff.

The biggest appeal for this year’s game is of course the superstar featured on the cover. Stone Cold Steve Austin who was arguably the most controversial and popular superstar of the Attitude Era. One of the newest additions of WWE 2K15 was 2K Showcase which features the famous storylines that broke the ceiling for an individual superstar. Stone Cold Steve Austin’s rise is the main showcase from his early days to his place in destiny as the figurehead of the Attitude Era this year. Joining Austin from the Attitude Era are other wrestlers such as Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, The Rock and of course Mr. McMahon who was Austin’s nemesis.

As far as The Terminator goes which was only obtainable by pre-ordering the game, it was all flash and nothing more. There are two options which is Arnold from the first and second films with different entrances and attires. The Terminator is more of a brawler instead of a grappler with a limited number of moves so if you want to play as him then I suggest changing the moves to make it more appealing. The likeness of Arnold is on point and the attires fit the character of each film to the last thread of clothing. The first downloadable character of this new game is nice and sharp but delivers very little enjoyment until you make the changes yourself in order to want to play him.

Joining the rest of the roster also are wrestlers from The Golden Age such as The Ultimate Warrior, SGT. Slaughter, Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair and several more. Hulk Hogan was going to be in there but unfortunately because of his racist rant that went mainstream, he was taken out. The rest of the superstars featured in this game are part of the NXT and new generation era. Superstars like Finn Balor, Eva Marie, Kevin Owen, The Ascension, Tyler Breeze and others. There are also surprise managers added on like the first lady of WWE Mrs. Elizabeth along with Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, Jimmy Hart and others. Hats off to 2K Games because they put a lot of time into the detail of these characters and thank you.

Now there are some things in the gameplay that are good and some that could’ve been left out in this game. My biggest complaint is the return of the boring mini game being the chain-wrestling technique in which when both wrestlers are healthy they’ll start a sequence of moves. I really wish there was an option to have that removed because all it seems to do is slow down the action. The other complaint is the complicated new submission mode that has resemblance of UFC’s last game. When initiated, a small circle will appear with to curves of different color and you have to integrate your bar with the other in order to make the other submit.

It’s a very challenging new mode that will take time to get used to but the mini game to kick out of the pin is the same but it’s a circle instead of a bar. A highlight will go around the circle and you have to stop it in a certain area to kick out. Other things that are the same are the match types with better graphics such as the Steel Cage, Hell in the Cell, and Extreme Rules. That being said, there are improvements with use of the weapons and the reactions of the wrestlers being struck and the wear and tear on the weapons. One of the new features which is appealing is the ability to cut your opponents entrance by pressing X or A depending on what system you have.

I’m pretty sure that’s going to be a popular action when you’re playing with someone online that you don’t like. I’m going to give this game an 8.5 out 10 because this game is far better than was predicted and the roster is impressive. The reason for this game not being perfect is the boring or challenging mini-games that kill the buzz and irrelevant movements that occur for moves to happen. The problem with sports games is when you play one then you’ve played them all so it’s really hard to surpass the old one. Overall this game is worth the buy and stays true to what the Attitude Era was about from the view of Stone Cold Steve Austin so WWE should be very proud.  

Friday, October 23, 2015

Those Lips


Those Lips

By

Anthony Labson



Full both in form and emotion.

It’s an insult to cover them

with flavored additions

that just remove from their





Natural beauty.



If touching her

with my unworthy curves

meant carried the price

of losing breath.



I would gladly welcome asphyxia.



Why would a pair of curves

be worth a precious gift?

Because having life and living it

are two different things.



To have been blessed by them is a miracle.



There are a million others

so why are these above all?

The answer is quiet simple

and yet, very powerful.

These lips belong to the woman I love.

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

New Age Rebels Available for Free Today!

Nations rise and fall but it's the people who live in that time that decide whether a civilization becomes the phoenix or submits to the raven. This is a novel based on what one man can do when a culture gets so desperate after depending on a pattern that's done nothing but lead them to stray. With ideas so radical, he is willing to tear apart the fundamentals on which the United States was founded for his ambitions. He sells the dream for a new United States that is owned and not free but is once again strong. However the president soon finds nothing happens without resistance.

Men and women of the former United States military decide to stand against the president and his corrupt agenda. Branded as rebels by a bias media and seen as traitors by the government, they quickly assemble another army from fellow soldiers and officers. With the threat of another civil war rising, a new deal is formed that would keep the country united but only as a formality. The rebels are allowed to live in selected states and uphold the old traditions as long as obligations are met by both parties.

Everything went according to plan for a brief time and the country moved after the events of The Great Division. The country moved on while everyone in the Restricted Zones kept to themselves and moved on with their own ways. Now something threatens the peace and starts a chain of destruction that is leading the country to another civil war. Certain individuals from opposite sides realize the danger and decide to act to uncover a conspiracy. United by a common belief, they must rush to save lives and a country they both love.

http://www.amazon.com/New-Age-Rebels-Anthony-Labson-ebook/dp/B0152IQZAI/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1442940972&sr=8-1&keywords=New+age+rebels

Saturday, October 10, 2015

New Flash meets Green

The Flash and Arrow returned this weekend with much anticipation for the speedster’s second season and the archer’s fourth. Both started off in similar fashion with the seasons beginning months after the actions of their finales. Both shows have been advertising big returns and special appearances for weeks now and so far there hasn’t been any disappointments. The last season of Arrow left people with an “ehh” feeling and the cliffhanger of The Flash left people wanting the second season to hurry up. Now they're back and this is what's happening so far and what we know.
Quick follow up, Arrow ended with Oliver leaving the city with Felicity to start a new life while leaving his sister Thea and friends behind to care for the city. The season kicked off with the now retired Oliver Queen who is brought back due to overwhelming factions crippling the newly renovated Star City. A faction dedicated to the destruction of the city solely for the purpose of rebuilding it in the image of their leader. The only thing more dangerous than this faction is Oliver’s inner struggle to resist his desire to become what he feels he must be in order to protect the city and build bridges he burned in the last season. There is also the famous flashbacks that Oliver has that further explain how he acquired all of his skills and knowledge of warfare.

It was a welcomed sight when you see how all the characters have progressed especially with Thea assuming her role as Red Arrow or Speedy while fighting her own demons. The newest addition to the show is Neal McDonough who plays the antagonist Damien Darhk. A character introduced in the last season who has a more anarchist attitude and a methodical plan for the destruction of Star City. The show gives off a familiar excitement that was somewhat lacking in the previous season with the foreshadowing element introduced at the end of the premiere. It was a strong return for Arrow that made up for the weak ending of season three while The Flash kicked off in very morbid fashion.

Another quick follow up, The Flash found out who killed his mother and disrupted time in order to save her but instead chose to leave it alone and it created a black hole over Central City. The show starts off with Barry Allen alone and fighting crime on his own after the events of the finale and the sacrifices that were made to save Central City. With crime being at an all-time low and life is progressing for everyone else, Barry seems to be the only one scarred with pain. Pain that is soon amplified with the arrival of a new villain played by former WWE superstar, Edge. When Iris and everyone see that Barry is on a one way ticket to the grave, they struggle to get back into his life before he gets himself killed.

The ending left with Barry finding out about a new enemy that he knows nothing about and is surprised by a gift from an unlikely sender. It started out dark but quickly found its way back to the familiar elements that made this show a hit in its first season. There are more surprises coming along the way and coming from a wrestling fan’s point of view, it was great to see Edge back on the screen. It’s obvious from both shows that we’ll be seeing another team up sometime in the near future and there will be arrivals of beloved heroes and villains along the way. All leading up to CW’s next DC adaption Legends of Tomorrow, it’s clear that this is going to be a long season and both had a great send off.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Poem Dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness

What’s Worth Kneeling For?
By
Anthony Labson

I’m full of pride.
I can’t run from a fight
and I won’t shame my name.
I’ll stand ready to die.

I don’t flinch for a blade
and I don’t fear the sound of a bullet.
A knife is just a tool for use or trade
and a gun is nothing without a digit.

I’ve fought enemies
and I’ve even fought a friend.
The fighting never reached its end
and I would think at times I had an injury.
I’ve never really had a reason to fight
but I never could back down.
Now more than ever all I can wear is a frown
because my love is fading from my sight.
She is the best of me
but we didn’t catch her disease in time.
The other life in her heart is mine
So if she goes then I’ll cease to be. 
If finally bending my knees saves her
then I do it proudly with no dishonor.
My life without her would just be horror.
I never thought my greatest enemy would be cancer.

Thursday, October 1, 2015

How Much Will It Take?


I’m not against guns because one person’s sword is another person’s shield but I have one question to ask and it should be taken seriously. It’s a question that I’ve been wondering for the past couple of years now and that question is, “What is it going to take?” What is it going to take to make people in the United States realize that there is something wrong with our views on mental health? There was a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College located in Roseburg, Oregon. Several people are confirmed dead including the shooter while 20 others are wounded and currently hospitalized.



People are already talking about stricter gun control laws which is typical considering the situation and as usual, nothing is getting done. A couple of years ago, Gabrielle Giffords who was a member of Congress for Arizona was shot in the head by a deranged individual and survived. In Aurora, Colorado, a maniac armed to the teeth walked into a theater during a midnight show of The Dark Knight Rises and murdered over 20 people. On December 14th, 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School, a psychopath walked in and executed 20 innocent children and four adults. If the sight of dead children doesn’t make you think there’s something wrong with society then what will?



We’ve been talking about gun control for decades and nothing happens but that’s not the issue because if someone wants to commit murder, a gun isn’t the only option. There are several different ways that person can do it. I have no doubt that there are countless sites that can show you how to make whatever you’re looking for which is disturbing in itself if you really think about it. So why is the United States only focused on one method of killing? Certain people think it’s too easy to get guns in this country and others think the laws are strict enough but nobody is asking, “Why do people want these guns?”



Instead of focusing on the weapon, focus on the hand that controls that weapon and why it’s being used in the first place. We need to teach people to focus on the signs that someone may be a danger and report them in order to prevent these incidents. The shooter at Umpqua ranted about doing something terrible before it happened and we just found out about it. The shooter of the theater in Aurora claimed that he was “The Joker” from Batman. If you’re wondering why I’m not mentioning their names is because the last thing I’m going to do is recognize the madmen.



If someone goes into a store and is buying a rifle with a scope because they live in the country around a forest and animals then I’m going to go with the belief that it’s for hunting purposes. If someone is buying a small handgun to carry around because they live in a bad neighborhood then I’m going to believe it’s for protection. But if you walk into someone’s house and that person has a whole armory in a suburb then maybe that should raise a red flag right there. Now maybe that person just likes to collects guns or maybe he might be planning something. I don’t know and what’s worse is nobody seems to know what to do because unfortunately, this happens way too much.



This country has become accustomed to hearing about gun violence so much that we’ve become almost numb to it. Every day we hear about someone getting gunned down because of some reason but I don’t blame the gun any more then I would blame a truck because the driver was drunk. I blame the driver because just like the murderers mentioned above, they all weren’t in the right state of mind and someone should’ve paid attention to the signs. We need to start paying attention to the people around us because that one call could be the difference between help or homicide. Too much has been taken already.