PixlBit

About a month ago, I purchased Diablo 3 for the PS3. I believe this was the first time the title went down to $40 at Walmart (and I assume, most retail outlets). While I wasn't going to get to it for a while, I felt better with it in my collection. Now that I recently beat Assassin's Creed IV (more on that later), I was able to start up a game with a Barbarian Friday night. I played for 4 hours. Last night, I played for 5 hours. I'm no stranger to the series (I own Diablo II for PC) but this is such a damn good game. I worked late last night and most of the time I just wanted to finish so I could go back home and play some more. 

Now, I'm aware of the quality of the PC version and the reception to the Reaper of Souls expansion. I'm also aware that the PS3 version (and 360) probably won't receive the expansion, while PS4 definitely will (Xbox One possible). For those of you with a capable pc/laptop or a next-gen system, good for you. You've got another reason to enjoy those machines. For me, I'm not in a good financial position to purchase either a PS4 or a PC. I don't always need the new hotness. When it comes to gaming, I always have one foot in the past. My budget won't have it any other way. For those who are in my position and are on the fence about the PS3/360 version, it is so worth your time. For me this hits the sweet spot. It looks and plays beautifully. The way the controls were mapped to the buttons are perfect. It reminds me of the Torchlight port for the 360.

And if you play it on PSN and want someone to play with, send me a friend invite or invite me regardless. I would love to play with some like-minded people. I would've bought the 360 version but no copies were available. 

As I said earlier, I finished Assassin's Creed IV's story mode. All the main quests, the assassin's contracts. Found every chest, every animus fragment, every Mayan stone. I'd say the one thing I know I haven't done is take on any legendary ships or dabble in multiplayer. Anyone enjoy multiplayer on this game?

A week ago, XLA had a big sale on some DLC so I snatched up all the DLC for Skyrim and Fallout 3. I even picked up Harley Quinn's Revenge for Batman: Arkham City so I'll have an excuse to get back into that game. I've got my work cut out for me, gaming wise.

Some movie watching on the weekends in the past month, some of which are my first visits to a cineplex since the year started (fuck you, winter):
Captain America: The Winter Soldier: briefly, possibly the best Marvel film. So good in every way. They cracked the damn code on this one.
The Grand Budapest Hotel: Wes Anderson's latest about the misadventures of an unusual caretaker of a hotel in a fictional European country circa WWI. Great cast (Ralph Fiennes in the rare comedic role) and Anderson's trademark touches (visual style, attention to detail, huge ensemble, carefully picked music choices) made this a pleasure.
The Raid 2: My most anticipated film of the first quarter didn't disappoint in the slightest. Gareth Evan's follow-up to The Raid: Redemption evolved from basic Die Hard-like plot (done with smarts, style, intensity, invention and heart of course) to full-blown crime epic. A captivating story about corruption, deception and gang warfare that wisely spends an hour setting up everything before bringing on the action. As the situations get worse for the hero, the intensity and gruesomeness of those scenes (this is easily one of the most violent films ever made) kept piling up. By the end, when Iko Uwais's Rama is making his Game of Death-style takedown of the baddies one-by-one, I was cheering. This hasn't taken the box office by storm but who cares? It got made and I got to see it and I feel so enriched for having done so.
Nebraska: One of 2013's best films and one of the best films about old people. Beautifully photographed in black and white, well-acted and written. Seek it out.
The Counselor: One of 2013's lesser films and completely baffling. There are films that have everything on the surface and those with an ample amount of mystery. There are films that work (or don't) depending on what you bring to them and what you take away from them. The Counselor doesn't care what you bring or what you take away. It's not interested in "entertaining" you. As a drug deal goes bad and a bunch of people die (or fret about being killed), the film just proceeds on its own schedule, it's world continuing to spin. I'm not saying its a badly made film but I can't recommend it to anyone. What would be my reasons? I can't think of any.

Anyway, that's it for me. Gotta get some sleep. I plan to spend this week working, catching up on tv, seeing some rented films and squeezing in Diablo 3 whenever I can. Everyone enjoy this coming week!