Two-Zero-One-One

On 11/25/2015 at 03:00 AM by KnightDriver

It be 2011. Wah happan? I dunno, just a few things. . . Here's one favorite that I experienced that year, and then one I want to experience now for each media type.

MUSIC

Favorite heard that year: Iced Earth's Dystopia. This was another fine album from the metal meisters who seem to specialize in rapid fire triplets that make me think of galloping horses. That same sound is in such songs as Led Zeppelin's Achilles Last Stand and Iron Maiden's Powerslave. I can't get enough of it. When I discovered Iced Earth through the Brutal Legend video game soundtrack (their song Pure Evil) I couldn't believe someone else loved that sound too. To think, a whole band obsessed with triplets like I am; who want to hear the sound of stampeding horses like I do - IN EVERY SONG! Wow. I had to follow them.

Most Want to hear now: Mastodon's The Hunter. I thought I had this album since I'd been following them from their Leviathan album. I guess I missed this one. I'll be getting it tomorrow one way or another; got to have more metal in my 2011 playlist for sure.

GAMES

Favorite played that year: Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes on XBLA. I had played this on DS when it came out December 2010. I took a chance on it since I liked the trailer, and found I loved it. When it came to XBLA in late Spring 2011, I quickly bought it and played it all over again. Boy, I wish there were more action/puzzle games like this. Capybara Games created their own action/puzzle mechanic that was new and really fun. I'm crazy to play their Superbrothers: Sword & Sorcery game on iOS/PC. Not so much Super Time Force, but their soon-to-be-released Below has me very interested.

Most want to play now: Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. This was the first Skylanders game, and ever since it came out, I've wanted to play it. Those figure designs are just cool, and who doesn't love Diablo-lite gameplay. My only issue with it is, like most Lego games, it only has local co-op. Come on guys! Couch co-op is for parents and kids, or husbands and wives, or other family combinations. I'm just not going to get my gamer friend to play same-screen co-op anymore. That was pre-internet console days. Anywho. I got to get this and get some figures.

BOOKS

Read then: Halo: Cryptum by Greg Bear, at the beginning of the year, and Halo: Glasslands by Karen Traviss at the end of the year. The Greg Bear books were some of the most complex Halo books written. His Forerunner Trilogy is some serious hard scifi. I was in heaven. Karen Traviss' Halo books were more dialog rich and less dense, but fun nonetheless.

Most want to read now: Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer. All about memory. I recall the author being on the New York Times Book Review podcast talking about memory competitions and how he entered the biggest one to learn the techniques of memory wizards. It should be a fascinating read. I just ordered it from the library on audio. It'll be my next book when I finish with Madame Bovery.

FILM/TV

Favorite then: Your Highness. Now, I'm not a stoner, but I like these stoner flicks (Half Baked was another one I liked). This one had a fantasy angle to boot and Danny McBride, who also co-wrote the script. It has a great cast of James Franco, Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel and Justin Theroux. James Franco was expecially good as McBride's brother. This movie just hit all my funny bones. I could, like a four year old, watch it over and over while I played with my Skylanders figurines.

Most want to see now: From Up on Poppy Hill. A Studio Ghibli film. I want to see all their films. That animation art of theirs is so gorgeous and the stories are so moving and subtle. I can't get enough.

And that's my 2011. What did you like that year?

Cary Woodham

11/25/2015 at 03:45 AM

I'm glad I've been able to review all of the Skylanders games. It's been a real honor. With all the 'toys to life' games out there now, I still think Skylanders gets it 'most right.'

My Game of the Year in 2011 was Okamiden. All the fun of the original Okami on a handheld, and it starred a puppy! Who could NOT like that?

Other 2011 highlights on my list were:

Ghost Trick (DS)

Solatorobo (DS)

Super Mario 3-D Land (3DS)

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)

BloodRayne Betrayal (360)

Kirby Mass Attack (DS)

Kirby's Return to Dreamland (Wii)

Sonic Generations (360)

Mario Sports Mix (Wii)

Go Vacation (Wii)

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (360)

Portal 2 (360)

--Cary

KnightDriver

11/26/2015 at 02:18 AM

I was so excited for Okamiden when it came out. I liked it, but I still wished it was on console. I went back to it earlier this year and got farther, but still got stuck on one boss battle. I'm going ot finish it sometime.

11/26/2015 at 08:06 AM

If I can beat it, I know you can, too!

11/27/2015 at 12:15 AM

Ug, there was some boss on the top of a spiral tower thingy that drove me nutzo. I'll try it again though for sure.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

11/25/2015 at 08:59 AM

I played that Might and Magic game. There were things I liked about it, but mostly it just wasn't my style. I respected it though.

I still haven't seen your highness. I like James Franco, haters be damned.

11/26/2015 at 02:37 AM

The trailer actually highlights most of the sex jokes in the movie, but what I thought best was the relationship between Franco and McBride. Franco tried to be so helpful to his bumbling brother. It just cracked me up.

Super Step Contributing Writer

11/25/2015 at 02:30 PM

I read Madame Bovary for my World Lit class ... that year, I believe since I was a Sophomore in college.

No, scratch that, I'd have been a Sophomore in Fall 2009. I'll get back to you on 2011. lol

11/26/2015 at 02:49 AM

I keep wanting to call the book Madame Bovine.

11/26/2015 at 10:34 AM

LOL. I think there is a parody called that somewhere, or an actual character Madame Bovine as a reference or spoof in something.

11/27/2015 at 12:40 AM

Apparently it is a minor character in the movie Meet the Feebles.

goaztecs

12/01/2015 at 03:47 PM

I had to use a little bit of Google to figure out what was going on in 2011, and one of my favorite games from this time was NFS The Run and Uncharted 3. I borrowed these from my cousin because I wasn't buying a lot of games new and I played through both of them (took a bout maybe a week for each game)

One of the favorite show was easily Happy Endings. That was such a good show, and it was a shame it was cancelled.

I liked the concept when Spyro was released but the the whole collecting all the figures got in the way. I eventually tried a bit with Infinity and again with Dimensions, but I still can't justify Skylanders.

12/02/2015 at 04:14 PM

I think I was still using Gamefly in 2011 to rent games. It was fun, but I didn't like not having control over what I got next. Eventually I stopped and just looked for sales and cheap stuff. I noticed recently the libraries have games now. I'm considering that.

PixlBit