Amy

This one still needs some attention but this is a first draft. I welcome any and all comments. I hope you all enjoy!!

Amy

By: Damon Cooper

We had been up all night

and made our way to the top

of the parking garage across from

my apartment. The sun had

just begun to rise above the skyline

as we sat with our arms wrapped

around each other. Her porcelain

skin and vibrant blonde hair glowed

in the waning moonlight as we sat

and talked about our lives before

we met one another. I brushed

my nose across her cheek and noticed

her staring back at me. Her deep

blue eyes had to have noticed

the knot in my throat cause at that

moment, I realized something.

I realized that I couldn’t live

the rest of my life without her.

“Kiss me,” Were the only words

that left my mouth. Her lips

touched with mine and we kissed

until morning claimed us and

called us home.

DMC: Devil May Cry Review

DMC: Devil May Cry Review (XBOX 360)

By: Damon Cooper

It’s been a long time since players were thrust into the demonic world of Dante and the hordes he hacks and slashes his way through. But the silver haired demon slayer is not the same face we remember. Taken up by a new studio, with Capcom’s blessing, Ninja Theory has made sure Dante’s look is the biggest source of controversy in this reboot of the DMC franchise. Does it still hold the challenge and flair the franchise is known for? Yes and no. But DMC does deliver on a fantastic ride through limbo that’s well worth giving it a chance.

A New DMC, A New Story

DMC: Devil May Cry is about Dante realizing his potential and bringing down the Demon King, Mundus, the demon responsible for killing his Angel mother, Eva, and imprisoning his Demon father, Sparda, for all eternity. After a much more revealing and mature opening sequence, we find ourselves looking at a bare bodied Dante as he is woken up by Kat, a newcomer to the franchise and member of The Order. Dante has been living his life destroying demons that get in his way and leaving a path of death and destruction behind him. Kat is there to warn Dante of the demon hunting him and after an awesome fight through an amusement park he is acquainted with The Order and its leader, Virgil. Virgil reveals the Order has been combating the influence of the Demon King, Mundus, who has the world controlled through media and debt. He also tells Dante that is a Nephilim, the offspring of an angel and demon. Those who know the franchise have a solid idea of what’s coming but for those who don’t, I won’t spoil anything further except that there is so much commentary on the world we live in that players won’t help but chuckle at some of the correlations between our media and the game’s.

Players will spend the majority of the game in Limbo, a twisted view of the world occupied by the demons that run rampant. In Limbo corridors extend, walls twist and subliminal messages are revealed on billboards and signs. It’s here that the game really shines with some of the most fun levels I’ve ever played in a DMC title. Corrupted city streets, an insane trek through a soda factory, an electro pop nightclub gone haywire and probably the biggest slap in the face to the Fox News network ever. DMC delivers on great arenas that are a lot of fun to traverse.

Ninja Theory put a lot of time and effort into making sure this was a more story driven experience than in past DMC’s. Their experience in motion capture and storytelling is a testament to their skill as developers and this is a much more intimate look at Dante. I found the new Dante to be just as funny as ever but not quite the stylish cocky one we remember. His punkish flair is the driving force behind his brash behavior and nonchalant attitude after the world is revealed to be in control by Mundus. With a soundtrack deserving of a DMC title and great voice acting combined with awesome motion capture and storytelling, this is shaping up to be a great reboot of the franchise.

Destroy All Demons

We all know the reason for picking up DMC is for the combat. While most can bitch and moan about the aesthetic differences between the new Dante and what they remember, those who are smart enough to appreciate a good game will look past that and remember it’s all about the gameplay! And I’m very pleased to tell you that DMC delivers in a big way.

Given the Rebellion by his father, Sparda, Dante dispenses pain in great style and this will be the weapon of choice when dealing with most of the demon hordes. With a total of five melee weapons and three firearms to acquire throughout the game, players have a huge arsenal at their disposal to dispose of the demons that flood their path. Combos are easy to rack up and switching between weapons is as simple as hitting the d-pad. New to the series are the angelic and demonic weapons that Dante is imbued with. Holding down the right trigger will turn the beloved Rebellion into the Arbiter, a demonic axe with great power but slow swings. Holding down the left trigger will turn Rebellion into the Osiris, an angelic scythe that is weak but fast and great for dealing with groups of demons. In later levels and difficulties players will have to use the demonic weapons and angelic weapons to destroy certain enemy types that are only hurt with a specific type of weapon. This can become a burden and disrupt to overall flow of combat from being a breeze of destruction, to a stop and hit strategic takedown.

Those familiar with the series know that along with decimating demons with flair is the precursor to growing the style meter. The coveted SSS ranking is still the draw to the combat but is much easier to pull off. Where a player had to constantly keep up with a dropping style counter by switching up the weapons and combos, this meter will not drop a rank unless hit with some type of damage, thus making the all important SSS much easier to get this time around. It should be stated that simply button mashing will not raise the style counter nearly as fast as utilizing the entire arsenal at Dante’s disposal. Also aiding in combat is a style points name and point total for the different moves the player pulls off. I found the firearms to be all but useless in this outing except for juggling and the occasional break of an enemy’s defense.

I don’t consider this a letdown, but the boss fights were the obvious wait and counter affair. Though, they were extremely fun fights and awesome to look at. A fight with a demonic news anchor that’s a cross between Lawnmower Man and the Matrix will be the highlight to most. Overall the combat in this new DMC is extremely fun and easy to pull off, delivering a very frenetic brawler.

Those looking for a challenge should start the game on its hardest available difficulty right out of the gate. Although this was a fantastic experience, its difficulty was not something I found to be over the top. I completed the normal, Demon Hunter, difficulty in about seven hours with no deaths and I’m an experienced DMC player.

A Game Worth Playing

DMC: Devil May Cry may not be the best in the series but it definitely ranks up there with the best action games on the market. This is a game deserving of a buy and I highly recommend it to anyone that is a fan of combo driven brawlers. With great replay value with seven, yes seven, different difficulties and collectables to find, there is no reason not to play through the game at least three times. I give DMC: Devil May Cry a 9/10.

Suspektz101

Red, White and Black

I remember when my grandmother told me about the life

blacks had long before my time and I’ve learned

the facts of that life throughout my years growing

as a man. I can never forget the pain in her eyes

that spoke louder than any written text book.

She told me about how she had to watch her people

beaten in the streets as they fought for equality.

She retold her account of watching Martin Luther

King Jr. tell our people about a dream that led

to prosperity. Faith and belief in Dr. King were her

only anchors to hope. That hope is what caused her to

envy yet admire him. Because he would get millions

to follow his word to the end of the world if it meant

freedom awaited. But now my heart holds the tears

of millions as I watched as the first African American

was elected the President of the United States.

The cameras panned the crowds of thousands

of Americans of all races in Chicago where Barack

Obama addressed the people but only one race

had tears of suffering and pain being flushed

away in their eyes. I cried as I listened to the future

President speak with power and purpose because

it meant that nothing could stop me from becoming

what was never possible when my grandmother was

a young girl. I’ve found a beacon of light

out of the darkness surrounding the history of

this great country. I’ve found the heart of a never ending

movement that will drive to the end of time, screaming,

yes we can.

Suspektz101

Follow your Heart/Mind

Sadly our world is filled to the brim with merciless killers and despicable people. There isn't much you can do to change the world, but I'm damn sure gonna live my life to the fullest. I ask you all this one question, when does the heart take precedence over the mind?

Meaning, when do you let your heart lead your decision making process, even when you know your mind is telling you the most logical path? Does it matter? Is it even worth going with your heart? It seems as though we don't live as human beings anymore, but as robots. Robots programmed to repeat the same routine day after day.

Well you're more than welcome to, I'll pass on that and live a little bit more enlightened. I welcome you to join me.

Suspektz101

My Soul Has a Beat

America's Best Dance Crew is back!!

Now I can't really convey just how much I love this show and just how much I love to dance. When I see someone or a group get down and really hit me inside and I can't help but start moving, best feeling in the world. I love dancing, I love the way it makes me feel and I love the way it can catch the eyes of people that would never look at you.

I don't claim to be the best at all, in fact if I could learn some serious moves or be a part of real crew, I would. It would take time to get to the level that these crews are on the show but I know I could make it.

Dance can free your body from any burden and stress. But you have to believe it, you have to know that without a doubt the moves that come through you are yours. I believe in my soul's rhythm and every time a beat drops and my heart starts thumping I can't wait to let it out.

I can only hope you have found something as pure.

suspektz101

Overcome

Good Evening,

Now I know it's late tonight my fellow bloggers but I'm beginning to feel that I want to blog every night if I can. If only just to spread some peace and love to those who want to listen.

Tonight I came home from work feeling pretty good. For those of you that don't know me, I work in the electronics department of a Walmart in Springfield Mo where I go to school. To be honest I'm not very happy with my job. I love electronics and tech, but the job really isn't the best workplace around. But tonight was a good night at work. No headaches, no backstabbing associates believing that the electronics department is full of lazy know it all jackasses. I came home in a good mood and I decided that Netflix would be a fitting end to the night. I chose to watch a stand up comedian, Steve Harvey. This man is as funny as he is spiritual and tonight I felt that the love and God is always with me.

A reminder that if you ever feel at fault, that if you ever feel the weight of the world is too much, that if you ever feel alone against the struggle... That YOU are stronger, that YOU can overcome every challenge, that YOU can succeed. YOU have to believe it or YOU will fail. Remember that the next time you feel a little on the down side and see if it doesn't make you feel better.

Peace, love and unity.
Suspektz101

The Perfect Solution

Anyone ever have that feeling of finding the perfect solution to a problem?

I feel like I've been enlightened. Tonight in my scientific writing class we discussed our readings as usual and I had an epiphany. We were discussing the placebo effect and how the mind can make the body believe anything. I had known about this for years but I never put it to good use! It was all I needed to spin my head in the right direction.

Now I know that strictly believing something will make it true, I'm no fool. But it damn sure helps make the nights go by faster. I challenge anyone who reads this to apply that mindset. Make something crushing become less daunting and see just how strong you can be. I know my strength has faulted before and it possibly still can and will. But I won't be defeated and I will get back to living my life with clarity and a peaceful soul. You can quote me on that.

Life is as good as you make it. Sorry if it comes off as cliche, but live with no regrets. Get over the pain and make a new choice that will bring you love and happiness. Love your family, your friends and all those in between cause you can never give or receive too much love and respect. I'm an optimistic man. I still believe in the absolute good in people, so goodnight to all of you who feel that the world doesn't care because if you can take one thing away from me, it's that I care.

Peace, love and unity.