Tag Archives: Review

A&E, Jacob Baumann

Bioshock Infinite separates itself from modern games

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By Jacob Baumann

A little over five years have passed since gamers were first introduced to the horrors of the underwater city of Rapture, and now the third installment has been released. When I first heard the announcement for Bioshock Infinite back in 2011, I was ecstatic, and after seeing its demo at E3, I was even more so.

Although the game has seen countless delays, I feel that they were well worth the wait. I applaud the developers, Irrational Games, and the publisher, 2K Games, for allowing this game to acquire the polish that it rightfully deserved.
Nowadays, games are constantly churned out with thrown together stories, programming, and pointless DLC. Bioshock Infinite defies all of those characteristics. The man behind Irrational Games deserves the most praise for what this new title accomplishes, and his name is Ken Levine.

Not only did he create the wonder that is Bioshock Infinite, but he developed the whole idea of the series. He is only of the best storytellers in the business, and he thought that the game wasn’t ready for production and delayed it. Obviously, he had to get it approved, but who wouldn’t listen to someone who created the multiple “game of the year” award winning Bioshock.

Moving onto the game itself, from the moment your eyes gaze at the wonder that is before you, it is impossible to be drawn away. The game immerses you into the storyline so quickly and with such force, it takes your breath away. All I could imagine was the quality games of my childhood, where the passion the developers could be seen and this game ranks itself up with those.

Nostalgia is something that also comes to mind, because although it doesn’t appear like a Bioshock game, but it feels like one.

In game you play a middle aged man by the name of Booker DeWitt, and although his past is sketchy, he is easy to become attached to. He was contracted to find the girl and repay his debt. The game is set in 1912 in a world in the sky called Columbia. The mysterious city of Columbia has the theme of the Chicago World’s Fair that occurred in 1893, and in my opinion the game’s interpretation is spot on.

I was distracted by the attention to detail the game provided, and would catch myself listening to a barber shop quartet instead of following the task at hand. The graphics in this game are impeccable, especially because I was playing it on PC in the highest detail. It may not be Crysis 3, but it is exceptionally good for being such a story driven game.

The visual experience on the aging consoles will not come close to my experience, but for this game graphics mean nothing. The Unreal 3 Engine is great and games like Call of Duty will be outdone by Bioshock’s graphics, but that’s not saying a whole lot. Overall, the quality of the visuals will be great for all platforms.

Gameplay is always important, and this game draws upon action that made the series great to begin with. The weapons are fantastic, and the sound engine provides an equally pleasant experience.

Another important character in the game is Elizabeth, and she is always by your side. Elizabeth provides the emotional characteristics that missing form games today. She drives the game forward, and it took me back to my experience with the first Bioshock. The AI for Elizabeth must be fairly sophisticated, because it was almost like I was playing with a friend and not a computer operated player.

While strolling through the streets of Columbia, I felt as though I was in Disney World making my way down Main Street USA. It is beyond fascinating how this game is able to include history into its story. In Columbia, people seem to worship our founding fathers, but not in the way you might imagine. How the game manages to deal with concepts like religion and racism really speaks to the care that was given to its development. Game creators shouldn’t be afraid to tackle these issues, because they are more thought provoking and meaningful than Michael Bay style fighting cinematics.

If you do pick up this game, take your time with it. Also, there is no need to play the other two games to pick up on Bioshock Infinite, but I highly recommend them. There is no reason to run through game just to say you beat it, because that destroys what the game was for. Exploration and becoming involved in the story is what games are for, not going for achievements or kill streaks, and this game capitalizes on that through its tremendous story-telling ability.

Score: 9/10

Available on: PC, Xbox 360, and PS3

A&E, Jacob Baumann

Imagine Dragons’ album places them among the top new artists

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By Jacob Baumann
Although Imagine Dragons gained mainstream success at the end of last year, their debut album, Night Visions (Deluxe Edition), was not released until Feb. 12.
The band has been on the Las Vegas music scene since 2008, and the best way I can describe their sound is rock mixed with British pop.  The vocal delivery and use of electronics is where the British pop portion can be discovered, and the pounding drums and guitars is where the rock part can derived.  Somehow a bit of a folky style manages to sneak its way into this album, so the only category this group can be put in is indie.
In the early part of 2012, Imagine Dragons released their first EP since they were signed to a record label, Continued Silence, to positive reviews and acclaim out West.  I’ll be honest and say I dismissed it when I first heard the track “Round and Round,” which just happened to be one of the worst songs on the EP, but I am seriously glad that I went back and listened to it.
“Radioactive” is a perfect of example of the benefits technology can bring to the music industry.  The use of synth, voice effects, and the pounding drums on the song are almost hypnotic.  The voice of lead singer Dan Reynolds is very intense throughout the track, but the sound being produced behind his voice is where the power is delivered with even more strength.
For some reason I overlooked “Tiptoe” when I first listened to it, but it is just as powerful as the rest of the songs on the album.  After listening to these first two tracks, I fell in love with the band’s style.  The power that rises from the drums, guitars, and synth really make for a unique experience that can’t be found anywhere outside this group.  The vocals are bit more clear on this track, and the song is possesses a lighter tone.
Probably the most well-known track on the album, “It’s Time,” has been the band’s most successful single from the entire LP and for good reason.  However, this is not my favorite track on the album.  This track is a bit poppy for my taste, but it is enjoyable to listen to.  The instrumentation in this song is similar to folk rock, but the lyrics and vocals give it a more mainstream feel.  Honestly, every band who wants success needs a song like this.  It sounds mainstream, but the rest of their material is very different from it.  Fans of this song will go onto to listen more of their work, and find out if they like them or not.
The fourth track of Imagine Dragons album, Night Visions, is possibly my favorite song they have to offer.  It is less aggressive than the other tracks and has a more emotional feel to it.  The vocal delivery made this song for me, because it seemed so sincere and from the heart.  It discusses how being human cannot be altered, and that mistakes will always happen.  I thought it was really interesting to hear someone sing about something that most people are afraid to admit, mistakes.
When I first heard “On Top of the World,” my first thought was summertime.  This would be the perfect soundtrack for having fun with family and friends outside in beautiful weather.  Every time I listen to this track my spirits are lifted, because I know that even when times are rough I know that I will come out on top somehow.  With that being said, the song may be pretty but it is kind of plain and useless.  Songs like this and “Round and Round” are there for the sake of having a simple tune.
Everything in “Amsterdam” but the vocals scream The Killers, which is not surprising, because the group spawned from  the same place as The Killers and they looked up to them. This song brings up a common theme throughout the album, and that is coming up short of what you hope to accomplish.  The song isn’t really that special, but it is very emotional and lyrically very well executed.
“Hear Me” is a very strange track in comparison to the first six tracks, mainly due to the change up in the vocal delivery and guitar sounds. The song slowly builds up as it progresses to the chorus, and when it reaches its peak it is very powerful. This track is often overlooked, and I’m not sure why.  It is different, but that’s what makes it special. It demonstrates that the group is capable of more than just “Radioactive” and “It’s Time.”
“Every Night” is most definitely the worst track of the entire album.  The lyrics are poor in my opinion, and it doesn’t seem too offer anything.  The song does show off lead singer Dan Reynold’s vocal range and some brilliant guitar playing, but it drags down the album.  It is repetitive, like most modern music, and it felt as though it was there just because they needed another track.
Yet another gem that this album brings to the table, “Bleeding Out” is in my top 5 from the LP.   The song is emotional and slightly intense.  The electronic noises along with clapping throughout the song make it all the more enjoyable to listen to. The emotion journey that this song discusses can be interpreted in many ways. I think of it as someone who has reached a low point in their lives, and wants the person they love to be at the same low as themselves.  The lyrics are really quite underrated and are often overlooked by the everyday listener, so I highly suggest you give this track a listen.
“Underdog” is a bit generic, and it would probably do fair well for mainstream music lovers.  The other songs contain some dubstep-esque sounds, but this just overuses it.  I would personally have thrown out this track, but that’s just me.
Overall, I would have to rate Night Visions a 3.5/5, and it probably the best album to come out of 2012-13 and possibly my new favorite group.  Although a four is a really high score for me, I feel that this group has a lot of potential.  My only worry is that they will start making more and simple songs to satisfy the general public, and this is where most bands fall off the wagon.  I just hope Imagine Dragons continues with work of this quality and not sell out to what fame and riches might bring them.
A&E, Alyssa Book

Picoult publishes another thought-provoking novel

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By Alyssa Book

Jodi Picoult has published 18 books, each dealing with topics that can pull on the heartstrings of people and end with a twist the reader will never see coming.  All of her books have IMG_1757intrigued me, leaving me thinking about controversial issues and letting me interpret the ending of the story with my own conclusions. I was lucky enough to stumble across The Pact, a book that is now in the collection of my favorite reads.

The plot centers around two teenagers who have been destined to be together since birth. Chris Hart and Emily Gold are the two main characters in this mysterious tale. With their parents being best friends and houses only yards away from each other, separation has never been an option. That is why the plot twist, which surprisingly unfolds on the first two pages, is so shocking.

A phone call at 3 a.m. tells the Harts and the Golds that one of their children is dead, while the other might have pulled the trigger. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat from the time you read the first sentence.

Was this really a suicide pact gone wrong, or a murder that went just right? This is the question that occupies your mind throughout the whole novel. A trial, parents’ interpretations, and evidence from the crime scene help you lead to decide who is innocent and who is really good at lying.

What I liked about the book was the mystery. Picoult presents the details of the murder and lays them out in a trial, and lets the reader form their own verdict throughout the book. Even when I finished the last page and shut the book for good, I was questioning what actually happened the night the victim died and if the verdict was correct. I think that takes a skilled author to keep the reader questioning their judgement and not spelling out the correct answer, instead letting the reader put together the clues for themselves.

Something that might frustrate the reader is the use of different protagonist telling the story. This feature can sometimes make it confusing and you really have to focus on who is speaking and what their point of view os on the trail. Switching off narrators does create some confusion.

I really enjoyed the book and never found a moment lacking suspense. The book is appropriate for all genders, although I would not recommend anyone to read it that is not in high school because of the topics it covers. The Pact is a book that captures you from the first sentence, and its meaning holds on to you forever.

A&E, Derek Hanke

Top five gaming apps reviewed

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By Derek Hanke

These are the top five apps in the iTunes app store for this week:

  1. Extreme Road Trip 2
  2. Fix-it Felix Jr.
  3. WordSearch Unlimited Free
  4. Flow Free
  5. Bike Race Free


Extreme Road Trip 2

Road trips have never before been this exciting.
Ranking first in the iTunes app store this week, Extreme Road Trip 2 will keep a player thoroughly entertained from the second they pick it up to the moment they set it down. This app, created by Roofdog Games, leaves little to be desired.
Starting off driving a compact, gamers ride in one of multiple different environments. The premise of the game is simple: collect as many coins as possible and get as far as possible before running out of gas.
As players collect coins, they are presented with the opportunity to buy new cars, giving the game a level of replayability. Extreme Road Trip 2 automatically sets new goals for players, giving them something to strive for when they come back to play again.
Extreme Road Trip 2 does almost everything right: it keeps players entertained, has smooth and easy to understand controls that don’t confuse gamers, and provides a soundtrack that livens up the gaming experience. The only drawback to it is that while the environmental backdrop of the driving course changes, the course itself never changes, leaving new courses to be desired.
Compared to other popular racing games in the app store such as Bike Race Free and Jet Pack Joyrides, Extreme Road Trip 2 sizes up. With its customizability and enthralling gaming experience, it offers a feeling of depth not seen very often in games on the app store.
Definitely worth a download, Extreme Road Trip 2 will take riders where no road trip has taken them before and gets a 9 out of 10.

Fix-it Felix Jr.

Trying to put a spin on the eight-bit games of the past, Disney has offered gamers an experience that is neither memorable nor classic.
Fix-it Felix Jr. leaves much to be desired. While coupling with popularity of the movie “Wreck-it Ralph,” it has managed to reach the position of second in the app store. This app follows the movie-to-game tradition of being a poor gaming rendition of a semi-popular Disney movie.
As Fix-it Felix, a player’s job is to repair the broken windows left behind by Wreck-it Ralph all while he is throwing boxes at the player. There is no plot and the experience is very repetitive.
A positive to Fix-it Felix is that it has a nostalgic feel to gamers and easy controls, but gamers have evolved since the time of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and expect more from games now. Negatives include low replayability, a boring soundtrack, and low immersion for gamers. This game does not have the depth or plotline needed to immerse a player
If a gamer decides to purchase the full version of Fix-it Felix (Wreck-it Ralph), they may find it to be more entertaining, but only because it comes as part of a package deal with two other games. Also, players could get more bang for their buck if they were to actually go and purchase some real eight-bit classics such as Pitfall or Space Invaders.
An eight-bit gamers are sure to forget, Fix-it Felix accomplishes little, leaves much to be desired and receives a 3 out of 10.

WordSearch Unlimited Free

No longer confined to newspapers, a classic gaming experience has been brought to the app store.
WordSearch Unlimited Free, produced by VirtueSoft, provides a new spin on word searches that is bound to keep word searchers and even a couple of their friends entertained in their spare time and ranks third in the app store.
While other apps only give players randomized word sets or a limited number of categories to choose their words from, it gives them 10 categories and eight words per that change almost every time.
Another great feature of this app lies in its ability to change the style and background of the search to any of 11 different combinations, and even more if a gamer decides to upload their own images.
WordSearch has several good qualities: it has an 11×11 search board that makes finding words the perfect difficulty for most searchers, its customization options allow for a measure of personalization to the app, and the randomized playing board allows for endless hours of playtime. The only negatives to this app is that only one difficulty is provided in the free version, and there are a few adds included.
This app is generally better than other free word search apps because of its better qualities listed above. Other apps are stuck in one format, do not have other categories or customizable backgrounds.
Going from paper to retina definitely has its benefits; WordSearch Unlimited Free is recommended for word searchers everywhere and places 7 out of 10 on the ranking scale and is recommended for download if you are a word searcher at heart.

Flow Free

Connecting pipes has become so fun it has dripped its way into our hearts.
Placing fourth in the iTunes countdown today is Flow Free, a puzzle game that gets harder as players progress through one of its 150 levels.
The goal of the game is to connect all the dots using all the space given on playing spaces that range from 5×5 to 9×9. There are thirty levels per set and anywhere from five to nine pairs of dots.
A feature Flow Free has going for it is that is is almost completely unique to the iTunes app store. It has virtually zero competition from similar apps because it is the best at what it does. It also has time records, so a player can go back and try to beat their own or other’s records at a set. The only negative to Flow Free is the lack of soundtrack for the game, leaving gamers with an empty feeling when playing it.
As mentioned before, Flow Free has basically no competition from other apps due to the fact that little to no other apps exist that compare to it. If one were to come around that had a soundtrack, then it might be considered better. Since there isn’t one out there like that, however, it’s not an issue.
Mind-boggling and addicting, Flow Free has done its job and gets a 7 out of 10.

Bike Race Free

Navigating a difficult obstacle course on a dirt bike is as rewarding to a player as a lab rat finding cheese.
Fifth and final in the top five on the iTunes app store is Bike Race Free, a challenging game that can make or break gamers with it’s tedious but rewarding levels.
Gamers are given three level packs to start off with, but can unlock more as they progress through levels and play multiplayer matches with others via the internet. Players navigate these courses by tilting their iPhones/iPads forward or backward and giving the dirt bike gas by pressing on the screen.
Luckily for gamers, there are infinite numbers of retries so that when they fail (and they will fail), they can try again until they complete the course. There is a multiplayer component to this game which adds even more depth. A player can compete with others online by trying to get the best time on courses all the while their opponent does the same.
This game makes up for not having a soundtrack by implementing realistic dirt bike noises. Strengths of Bike Race Free are its unlockable bikers, challenging but rewarding levels, and multiplayer mode; all of these give Bike Race Free a high measure of replayability and sharability.
Who knew dirt biking on a dangerous life-threatening obstacle course could be such a thrill? Bike Race Free comes with high recommendations for download and gets an 8 out of 10.

A&E, Beth Brunmeier

Main Stage successfully puts on American classic

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By Beth Brunmeier

“Please enjoy The Music Man!” The voice rings out across the crowded auditorium filled with restless people, and as the lights dim, the timpani signals the pit orchestra to begin playing.

These were the opening moment of The Music Man, FC’s latest theater production. The beginning overture was played beautifully by the pit orchestra, who continued to play at the same level throughout the entire play.

The Music Man is about a con man who goes by the name Harold Hill. He sells instruments, and so when he arrives in a small Iowa town, he creates the need for a boys’ band in the town. To do this, he has to promise to lead the band himself, even though he does not, “know one note from another.” However, he cannot leave until after four weeks when the marching uniforms arrive and he can pocket the cash.

During those four weeks he begins to develop feelings towards the town librarian and music teacher.

For the most part, the play was fantastically done. The acting was commendable, even by the younger children. All of the characters were believable in their respective roles.

The dancing was also impressive, considering there were several large dance numbers that included what felt like the entire cast in the performance.

The songs were hit and miss for me because even though they were performed very well, some of them are taken very fast and I could not understand the words. The inability to understand characters at times is probably one of my only personal criticisms of the play.

Nevertheless, I especially loved the barbershop quartet, and the town’s librarian, played by sophomore Madeline Coffey, sounded like an angel. The mayor’s wife and her dance group were hilarious.

The ending seemed a bit abrupt and just very ridiculous, but all in all it was another fantastic production by our theater department, and should definitely be seen by fans of classic American musicals.

Meanwhile, I think I will have “Seventy-Six Trombones” stuck in my head for the next week.