Benvahkiin's Top 5 SNES Games!

So, my the last time I talked about video games was my top 5 favourite consoles. Now I'm going to review my top 5 games for my number 1 console. This is going to be from my very limited collection consisting of only 13 games currently. I will make a new "Top 5 (maybe 10) SNES Games" every 6 months while my game library expands. So, in alphabetical order (by end label), here are my top 5 SNES games. Enjoy!

Number 5: Castlevania IV; I was first introduced to the Castlevania series through Castlevania: Adventure on the GameBoy. So, naturally I went into Castlevania IV with expectations of the GameBoy game. I was incredibly surprised when I played and I found it completely amazing. It is a timeless platformer and in my opinion, the best Castlevania ever.

Number 4: Donkey Kong Country; Yeah everyone knows about it, the game that made the Super Nintendo pull ahead of the Sega Genesis. It's pre-rendered graphics made the game look absolutely amazing for its time. The controls are tight and it has a great difficulty level. Also, the music is near flawless.

Number 3: LoZ LTTP; Pfft, screw 3D Zelda games, this is by far my favourite Zelda game ever made. I find the 3D games to be alright, but not quite my thing. The 2D era treated me much better. With an excellent story line, amazing graphics, awesome music (my favourite being the Darkworld music), and some good little secrets to find and solve.

Number 2: Super Mario All Stars; This game has all three of my possibly favourite Mario games ever (second only to Super Mario Sunshine) and one hard as shit sequel that us North Americans never got. With improved graphics and music, this game is a masterpiece to the Mario series.

Number 1: Super Mario World; This is game makes me incredibly happy. I played this 24/7 as a young child on my sisters GameBoy Advance and then later on my Super Nintendo. This game is possibly as revolutionary as Mario 3 was to the NES. I absolutely love it. The music becomes an instant classic as soon as you hear it. The game has an incredibly happy feel the entire time you play. MEMORIES ARE GOOOD.

Honorable Mentions: Starfaax, Earth Defense Force, and Gradius III.

Coke vs. Pepsi

That's right. A tech blogger is writing about soft drinks. Why? Because I drink A LOT of them when I'm gaming, or doing anything for that matter. Well, down to business.

Recently there have been many festivals in Calgary that have had the Pepsi Challenge. It got me thinking which I like more. There are many variables however, like warm vs. cold, or different flavours. For right now I'm just going to talk about the originals, both cold.

Well, to put it simply, I prefer Pepsi. It hasn't always been that way though. Up until a year or two ago I would get mad at anyone who perfered Pepsi, as the only time I would really drink soft drinks was with my Uncle, who loves Coke. I then started developing my own taste for things and grew to like Pepsi more. The taste is sweeter and the drink is usually more carbonated. When it's warm though, it tastes pretty rotten.

If I was to talk about overall company's I would have to go with Coke. The other products that Coke vs. Pepsi do are definately in Coke's favour. Like 7 up vs. Sprite or C plus vs. Fanta.

It really just depends on my mood I guess. But, that's my opinion.

Benvahkiin

Benvahkiin's Top 5 TV Shows of 2012!

Well, seeing as 2012 will be coming to an end in the next few months, there probably won't be many new shows out anymore. I will be listing my top 5 favourite shows of 2012. The only guideline is that they are still making episodes. So let's get started!

Number 5: Futurama - The only cartoon on my list! I chose Futurama over The Simpsons mainly because I enjoy the characters more on Futurama. I feel closer to them, rather than any of the Simpsons.

Number 4: Breaking Bad - I only started watching this about a month ago, but I can't stop watching it! In someway I find the characters so relatable and you grow so close to them, even after the pilot. It's takes action, suspense, and a little comedy, throws it all together and mixes it perfectly.

Number 3: Big Bang Theory - Despite all the inaccurate references ("Sword of Azeroth") I really enjoy the show and can actually imagine the show as reality. I am proud of being a geek because of this. It shows the other side of our people, even though it is in a dramatized, rather unlikely way.

Number 2: Cougar Town - I was actually introduced to this show when Abed (Danny Pudi) talked about it being his favourite show. I wasn't sure if it was a real show, so I looked it up and started watching it. I'm not quite sure why I love the show, but I just absolutely love it. Can't wait for season 4!!

Finally, Number 1!! Community - I love this show. It's hard to express in words, but I love it!!! The comedy is perfect for me. That's all I really have to say.

Extra Stuff: If you haven't seen any of these shows, I recommend watching them immediately. Some may not like them, but it is all personal preference.

Benvahkiin

My Favourite Consoles

As noted on my profile, I'm only 14 years old, which means I grew up playing Gamecube and PS2. I own every nintendo console currently with the exception of the virtual boy. I have also owned others and working towards a nice Dreamcast/ Genesis. I have played A LOT of games and many different consoles. I will be listing my top 5 favourite consoles of all time and maybe later I will do my top 5 or 10 games for each of them.

Benvahkiin's Top 5 Favourite Consoles

5: N64 - I love the various gems on the n64 like Ocarina of Time and Mario 64, but it never played a large role in my life. I still love playing it, I just have no nostalgia value in it.

4: PS2 - This is one of my favourite consoles and helped me get into gaming. I played lots of racing games on it despite the dislike I have for them now. 

3: NES - I wish I had more of a connection with my NES. I love it and have played hundreds of hours worth of games on it, but it just doesn't feel like MY type of console. Sorry NES.

2: Gamecube - I still play this console a lot. I have some of the fondest memories with this system. I played this with my sisters all the time and we still love playing it. Super Mario Sunshine is still a big one we play, trying to collect all the stars possible. Unfortunately not many people had an absolute love for this console like I did, which is unfortunate.

1: SNES - Yeah, its a little less than 7 years older than me, yet I have the strongest connection with it. The music is perfect in nearly all the games, the graphics are amazing, and Nintendo and other quality 3rd party game makers really put time and effort into making the games. Between the great console wars I chose the SNES because of games like Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario World, Super Metroid, and Super Castlevania 4. 

Benvahkiin

7990 News & Updates!

Hey! I know it's been a very long time since my last post. I just haven't felt like writing about anything. Now with a rumor or two floating around I decided to talk about the 7990, AMD's retaliation at Nvidia's 690! I will also have my views on whether or not I would buy it. Enjoy!

Well, what is the 7990? It is 2 7970 cores stuck into 1 giant easily over heated card. A big draw back about AMD's card is that it has a tiny fan in the middle (at least with the 6990) that hardly cools the card. There's also the fact that these 2 cores come factory Under clocked to assist with its massive power requirements and to cut down on heat.

Something else is the whole hype on 6gb of GDDR5 RAM.... Who the hell cares?! Think about the 580, it was and still (sort of) is the best card you could/can buy and it only had 1.5gb of RAM. I hope most builders realise this, but to the odd idiot that has way too much money to spend on his first build. You can save 100+ simoleons on 2x crossfire 7970's which run cooler and faster.

Personally, if I was given the choice between a 7990 and 2 7970's, I would take the 7970's. It really is up to you, but that is just my opinion. I'll be back some time when I feel like it again.

Benvahkiin

Good Bye For 6 days!

Hello there, I know I haven't really posted anything awesome lately, and this is no different. I am just putting out an update to say i won't be posting anything for the next 6 days... Probably. I am going on a school trip and will maybe have time for some quick updates, but no big reviews. When I get back I will continue my reviews again.

Benvahkiin

The Mouse Pad Myth

According to most people at my school, you need a $40 Razer mouse pad if you ever want to be good at gaming... What?! I use a $3 mouse pad I got from Walmart and there's nothing wrong with it at all. In fact, It even outlived my old Logitech mouse of 3 years! Honestly, making it "50x more responsive to movement" is just a marketing gimmick. Also, who cares if you have a 9'x5' mouse pad, unless your mouse moves at under 100 DPI, the size makes no difference. It legitimately makes me angry when I see Razer and Steel Series marketing their $50 mouse pads. Although it is technically just an opinion, I think that "professional" mouse pads are a complete scam.

Ol' Faithful

Benvahkiin

Happy Father's Day!

Happy father's day to every father out there! I will post something later today.

Razer Nostromo Review

Hey! Sorry I have been gone for a few weeks. I have just been studying for finals and what not. Anyways, today I will be reviewing the Razer Nostromo (formerly known as the Belkin N52te). As you can probably tell by now, I'm a Razer fan boy. Well, lets get on with then review!

What I like about it:
- Very ergonomic. This thing just melts into your hand like butter. It fell amazing.
- Good software for buttons. Most of the buttons are extremely easy to reach and the software for the macros is second to none.
- Blue back lighting. I love this blue back lighting. I have it every where on my PC setup. It just looks really sharp.
- Great braided cable. Again with Razer's braided cables. I feel like it will never break.

Some honorable mentions are the D pad which is amazingly comfortable, and the build quality. Again it is built for the abuse of a hardcore gamer.

What I don't like about it:
- Awkward buttons. Most of these are placed perfectly, but some are just incredibly odd to get to. I only feel this way about the "space bar" and scroll wheel are both very awkward to reach to. It's probably just because I have small hands though...
- Palm logo doesn't light up. Yeah, this is not a big issue for many people, but it lights up on my Blackwidow and my Naga... Why doesn't this one?

My rating:
Gaming use: 9/10
Everyday use: 5/10
Software: 10/10
Overall feel and quality: 10/10

Final score: 9.5/10 *note* I didn't count the "5/10" for everyday use because that's not what this is built for. Just disregard it really.

Benvahkiin

EVGA 580 Video Card

I have had this video card for about 4 months now. I have been any game I own at full graphics. It is very quiet and stays very cool when OC'd at full load.

What I like about it:
- Very fast. This is an obvious advantage.
- Good stock cooling. Keeps it cool when I game.
- Easily over clockable. You can OC high and it can handle it no problem.

What I don't like:
- If you have a small case it probably won't fit.

My rating:
Gaming use: 10/10
Sound level: 10/10
Overall quality: 9.5/10

Final Score:  9.7/10

Benvahkiin

Steel Series Siberia V2

This is a great headset. It has 50mm drivers which produce great bass. They are also extremely comfortable. I have had them for a little under a month now and I would say that they outrank any other headset out there.

What I like about it:
- Great sound. With the 50mm drivers, this headset produces some of the best sound in the market. The mic also has a great sound.
- Retractable mic. This is a great feature. I travel a lot so I like using a great headset without having a massive mic hanging on the side of my head.
- Very pleasing aesthetics. This headset comes in many different colours. I have the black version, but you can also get many others along with special editions like Diablo 3.
- Pretty cheap. $80 for an amazing headset? OMG!
- Very long cord. I don't have a use for the long cord, but it's nice if your monitor is far away from your actual PC.

I didn't mention the USB sound card because it is not really worth mentioning. It works well though.

What I don't like about it:
- Top headband. This one is just personal. I have a pretty small head, so when I wear this just to listen to music or something the headband protrudes out about 2 cm.

My Rating:
Sound quality: 10/10
Gaming use: 10/10
Everyday use: 9.8/10
Aesthetics: 9/10
Overall quality: 10/10

Final Score: 9.5/10


Benvahkiin

Cyborg R.A.T. 9 Mouse

This is my second mouse review! I don't actually own this mouse, but I have owned the R.A.T. 7 and have been borrowing my friends R.A.T. 9 for about 4 days. It is has adjustable weight and is rather big in size. For the time I have used it I wasn't a real fan.

What I like about it:
- Interchangeable palm rest. It really doesn't do much, but it makes it a little more comfortable to use.
- Weight system. I didn't find it useful, but a cool ad-on none the less.
- Wireless. The battery lasts for a decent amount of time, it also comes with 2 batteries.
- On the go DPI adjust. Kinda helpful... I guess.

I didn't mention the adjustable thumb plate or the pinkie rests. They are both kind of useless. Actually, I used the pinkie grips a lot because they feel pretty nice.

What I don't like about it:
- Price. $160 for a semi-decent mouse? I don't think so.
- Wireless. Yup, it's a positive and negative. I hate wireless gaming peripherals... I don't want to change batteries in the middle of a game. It ruins the immersion for me.
- Programmable button placement. I don't want to have to move my entire hand just to make an SCV.
- Aesthetics. Not a big deal, but it doesn't look as good as the Cyborg V. 7 keyboard for example, which had interesting LED's.
- Breaks very easily. You can break this mouse from dropping it from a desk onto carpet. No joke.

My rating:
Gaming functionality: 8/10
Everyday use: 7.5/10
Aesthetics: 8/10
Ease of use: 9/10
Overall quality: 7/10

Final Score: 7.5/10

Benvahkiin

Razer Naga (2011)

I'm back again for my 2nd review! Today I will be reviewing another Razer product. The Razer Naga. It is an MMO mouse with 17 buttons (14 of which are programmable) and that signature Razer back light. I have used this mouse for a 8 months and have loved every second of it.

What I like about it:
- 14 programmable buttons. I play TONS of MMO's and having 14 programmable buttons at your finger tips is simply amazing.
- Back lighting. I love the back lighting on this mouse because it goes with my keyboard, monitor, and computer. It makes this mouse very aesthetically pleasing.
- 5600 DPI. I enjoy having a very high DPI because I am very used to the high setting of it. It helps me in many games like Diablo 3 where I have to mouse my mouse around the screen a lot.
- Comfortable. This mouse just melts into my hand. Like a good pair of shoes makes you feel way better, it's the same with a good mouse.

I also really enjoy the braided cable. It is standard on all Razer products, and that is alright with me!

What I don't like:
- Num pad placement. It is awkward to reach any button past 6. It does feel really awesome to just rest your fingers on the num pad due to the cushioning feel of the buttons.

My rating:
Gaming functionality: 10/10
Everyday Use: 10/10
Aesthetics: 10/10
Ease of use: 9/10
Overall quality: 10/10

Final Score: 9.5/10


Benvahkiin

Razer Blackwidow Ultimate Keyboard

Hello internet. This is my first tech review. Well, today i'm going to review what it says in the title. I have used this keyboard for about a week now, here is my view on the Razer Blackwidow Ultimate.

What I like about it:
- Mechanical keys. This one is obvious, but the sound of hitting the keys with a mechanical keyboard is unmatched. I love that sound. *click* *click* *click*.
- The miniscule weight of the keystrokes. I can game for hours and my fingers never get tired or sore.
- The back lighting. Although there is 5 levels of brightness, I only use the highest.Each key is individually back lit which makes it very appealing to the eyes.
- Braided Cables. This may not be important for many of you, but I like the extra effort put into the quality of the cord. I could take a chainsaw to it and that cord would probably be fine.
- Clean look. This keyboard looks so slick. Although the glossy black finish is a finger print magnet, that nice piano black paired with the beautiful lighting makes this keyboard one sexy beast.


There is some other great things about the keyboard I didn't mention like the amazing build quality ,macro buttons, and "gaming mode". The macro buttons are pretty standard and come on, its Razer, the build quality is second to none. The gaming mode is really nothing special, it just disables the Windows key. Still very helpful though!


What I don't like:
- Dual use function keys. It's not that big of a deal, but come on. small little media keys above the function keys would be so easy.


My rating:
Gaming functionality: 10/10
Everyday use: 9.8/10 (dual use function keys -__- )
Aesthetics: 10/10
Ease of use: 10/10
Overall quality: 10/10


Final score: 9.99/10

Benvahkiin