Nothing Is True Everything Is Permitted

Assassin's Creed - PlayStation 3 

This was the first game I have played of assassins I've read all the books but when I have attempted to play previously I couldn't get the hang of the controls, so I got better and I felt it was time.

You play the game I Altair he was disgraced and has to earn back his weapons and his rank. The game introduces the basis of the controls and the creed very well. It is very simple and once you get the hang of it the controls really are not very difficult. You have socially acceptable controls such as walking but then you have running jumping sprinting as your second set. The combat system is impeccable I really enjoyed fighting you had to have good timing, you could do a stealth kill, throw knives or a takedown. 

There are plenty of enemies to keep you entertained and because of the combat system you could take on 9-10 at once and still live to tell the tale.

This game takes place in several places. Masuaf, Acre, Damascus, Jerusalem and Asruf.
Masuaf is where the headquarters are with Al Mualim he is your masters who tasks you with killing 9 enemies of the creed. Now the one thing is game is lacking is diversity. The places are different definitely however, in everyone one you do the same things, the same beggars are there and you kill a target. There is no variant it doesn't matter how you kill your target the sequence is the same. 

What this game would have benefited from is variety, they could have made some missions stealth or at least made the target mission different (which I am told they improve upon later in the franchise)
They don't give a huge amount of depth to Altair which again I hear this gets improved upon.

What concerns me is when this game came out before the 'oh well they improve' I'm not so sure I would get a second game without a guarantee it was going to be a least slightly different. 

I enjoyed the places (bar Acre) and the game was good in the sense that it taught you how to play, the mechanics of the game which is good in a first game because I hadn't played any of them so I needed the hand holding. However, I did get bored and this is one thing I despise from a game or any other entertainment outlook. It should not be boring the game was just the same over and over again. There was no motivation to collect the flags as you didn't get anything for them. 

Overall, I would give this game a 4/10 it was fine as a starter but I hope they get a lot better in the series.

It's Just Another Dinosaur

Jurassic World - Film 

Now don't get me wrong I love the Jurassic park franchise and Jurassic world was no exception!

The dinosaurs looked unbelievably real especially their skin, especially at the end when you get treated to the sight of the T-Rex from previous movies which you can tell by the marks on the scales. 

The actors/actresses were very good...  The kids weren't the worst I've seen in films
BUT despite how much I love the films I cannot get my head around the concept anymore after the first time this happened they bred dinosaurs and one went ape shit why would you continue to keep trying it's an absolutely ridiculous concept and in this one when they genetically modify one why?!? Why in Gods name would you genetically modify a killing machine! 

Now looking past the concept this one was different than the others in that the park has been open for a few years now. Chris Pratt and his pack of raptors frankly they made my night! The fight at the end was absolutely epic and you actually got to see it this time.
BUT (a little rant) why do filmmakers see the need when something is cool is happening to show the humans running for their life if you're gonna make a film about dinosaurs show the freaking dinosaurs! (rant over)

I personally did not think this was Pratt's best performance but the film has a lot of enjoyable elements and there are some chuckle out loud moments.

This is definitely one of the better remakes I have seen in a long time but...  Change the story line!!!!
8/10

PS2 game for a PS3

Okami - Playstation 3 

Well have you seen it? There is no way to describe the artwork that is this game. It is unique, it is beautiful. It is spectacular. The artwork in this game is something to admire, it makes the game its own and different.

The story of Okami is beautiful, interesting and full of life and colour. The story follows Okami Amaterasu as she learns her brush techniques back which she lost. The story is intricate and full of live, there are many different side stories that help build up the main story. It follows Okami as she learns her thirteen celestial brush techniques and defeating evil on their way.

Okami Amaterasu is the main character in the story with her faithful companion Issun the wandering artist. Despite Okami never actually speaking in the game she is a symbol of hope, loyalty and courage for the player. By the end of the game you feel like you are the mother of them all.

Issun, Okami faithful companion, is a wandering artist know as a Ponkle. He follows Okami as he wants to learn the brush techniques. Issun does all the talking for Okami interacting with other characters. Issun makes you laugh, makes you cry and makes you care. He has a thing for the ladies and is helpful during gameplay.

The gameplay is unique in Okami. The combat style is different with the brush techniques which provide a wide range from bombs, to power slash to water and fire. With all of these it makes combat fun and enjoyable, it made me want to go into the arenas not run away from them.

The map is extensive with caves, forests and islands to explore the techniques allow you to explore in high areas and secret caverns. The world is beautiful with the blossoming trees, the grass that grows as you run and the sea and rivers that are flowing throughout the world.

The music in the game is beautiful to listen to, each combat and fight comes with the music. Its simple nothing too complicated for the game. The little tunes that play when you complete a fight and kill enemies make you feel satisfied.

10/10

There is nothing wrong in this game. The gameplay is unique and fun, the story is long, varied and with plenty of side missions to keep you occupied. A PS2 game that has been redone for the better!

Thriller at it's Best

Triptych – Karin Slaughter

Triptych, now this new!

In 1985 a brutal rape and murder took place, John Shelley was the accused and was in prison for his last bit of childhood and the beginning of his adult life. Now he is out and remaining under the radar with his surprise visits from his parole officer. That is until he finds out someone is using his identity – for what? That’s what he needs to find out!

Gone are the characters from the Grant County series and say hello to our new characters for the Will Trent series!

Special Agent Will Trent, Trent is our loveable new character. He is severely dyslexic but he takes it in his stride. He has been chosen to be a part of Amanda Wagner (who you may remember from Indelible) new team. He offers his services to Atlanta police detective Michael Ormewood when faced with a string of rapes and now a murder. He is a sweet character who you can’t help but love.

Angie Polaski, Angie is a vie cop who seems to have her claws hooked in Will. They have known each other since being children in the orphanage and she offers up information regarding Will and his past. It’s safe to say that while you love Will, you hate Angie for what she does. She is a good cop and you do feel sorry for her considering her job but she doesn’t make it easy to like her.

John Shelley, John is our victim here; he was put in prison and a young age for the killing of Mary Alice a childhood friend. He has finally got out and wants nothing more than to live under the radar. He’s got himself and a job and an apartment (albeit crappy), he spots Robin a prostitute who becomes the apple of his eye. You cannot help but feel sorry for John; he is like the sweet, young, lost boy that you imagine being the nerd in the class. But John is far from giving up when he finds out someone is trying to ruin his life (again) You begin to relate to John while he goes through his old court cases and tries to proof his innocence.

Slaughter has stuck to what she knows but has changed it up just a little. Similar to Indelible the story flits between past and present. She involves different characters but does what she does best and brings them all together at the end.

Triptych is the first in the Will Trent series, and it introduces the series extremely well. You get to learn about Will and his past and read an interesting story along the way.

This book is a very readable read! Being the first in the series it can be difficult as things need to be explained but it can’t be boring. Slaughter introduces Will and Angie in this first book extremely well with a complex and interesting story to go alongside.

Verdict

My verdict for this book is better than good; it is a very strong start to the series with a good introduction to the characters and robust story to go alongside. The characters are likeable and a nice change from the Grant County series characters. The story was interesting with a lot of twists and turns. The best part of the book was the going back and forth between past and present, Slaughter knows her strengths and she plays to them.

7/10 

A tough read indeed!

Kisscut – Karin Slaughter

Kisscut is the second in Slaughter’s Grant County series. It starts with chief of police Jeffrey Tolliver shooting a troubled teenager. Her death leads to a twisted plot that will turn even some of the stronger stomachs. The plot thickens even more when secondary characters come into play with an intricate tale to tell!

Sara Linton, is our beloved main character once again as she investigates the death of the teenager shot and how this leads to further issues and plot twists. She is a strong woman character that is highly independent. She has accepted Jeffrey’s advances to an extent and you see a more personal side of Sara.

Jeffrey Tolliver, Tolliver is the chief of police in Grant is struggling in this book as he is riddled with guilt. He desperately investigates what was wrong with the victim and how he could have helped or even saved her. He is intuitive and leads a strong investigation; he also has a strong personality to match. 

Lena Adams, after the first book Lena struggles with her inner demons, after having lost her sister and becoming a victim she is seen to be tormented. Despite this, Slaughter still does not incur any sympathy for the character, she is hard-headed and strong that’s for sure but extremely unlikeable that despite what happened to her previously, no feelings are wasted on her. Her chapters are the dullest moments of the book. This is then made worse when she meets Mark a young, troubled boy, with Mark a strange, weird feeling is put on you while reading the sections with the interaction of these two characters, despite all the killing etc. it is these moments that make you feel uncomfortable.   

Once again Slaughter writes a mean crime novel. She sticks to what she knows and embraces the brutality of the self-mutilation and abuse that occurs in the small town. Once more it is difficult to realise the bad guys until towards the end she throws in many twists and turn which make it difficult to pick up which makes you think about the story and the characters which is refreshing the crime genre.

Kisscut is the second in Slaughters Grant County series and leads on very well from the first. The relationship between Sara and Jeffrey develops from the first book and the story is extremely intricate compared with the first.

Slaughter does it again with her story and this book is worth the read just for that. If gore and hard times are what you are looking for this book should make your list.

My verdict for this book is average but definitely better than the first; the story is once again the best part of the book which I admit is the most important but for the book to be good the characters also need to be interesting which once again Lena Adams ruins. The story is more intricate and hard-hitting than the first with the involvement of the abuse so if you have a weak stomach this is not a book you want to read. Slaughter has progressed from the first book and I hope this progression continues as she is going in the right direction!

5/10 

Permanent ...Indelible

Indelible – Karin Slaughter

Indelible, the forth and best one so far. Indelible explores a different story with past and present meet. The story goes back twelve years when Sara and Jeffrey are getting to know each other. Jeffrey takes Sara to his home town where nothing seems to go right. Their one night turns into a full blown murder with Jeffrey’s best friend being the murderer. The story goes back and forth between the past and the present when a hostage situation occurs in the police station. 

This time we are taken back to a time when Sara and Jeffrey are just getting to know each other, they are still the main focus of the story but we are introduced to many new characters such as Nell, Possum and Richard all from Jeffrey’s past. You find out a lot more about Jeffrey from this book as we explore his past and how this is now affecting him twelve years down the line.

There are many strong characters in the book which are mostly secondary; the common characters are back such as Frank, Brad and Lena but as small roles when compared with the main story line.

In this book Slaughter has taken a different approach with going back and forth between past and present, and it is a welcome change. Her writing and story remain strong with it being clear that we will not know who the culprit is until she wants us to. She gives us an insight into the main dynamics of Jeffrey and his relationships which is also welcome as not much is known about him.

In a way Indelible takes a step back, it is the forth in the Grant County Series and yet it goes back to the past before the first book is set. Not much is made in the form of story progression as she explores how the past is affecting the present. Sara and Jeffrey get closer and an incident at the police station pushes them closer together. More knowledge is known about Jeffrey and his past which progresses his character in the story.

This book is definitely readable! The story is interesting, you learn more about the characters and unlike before ALL chapters are interesting to read. She brings in new characters and personalities which bring welcome change to the series.

My verdict for this book is even better! Slaughter has definitely progressed since the first book. Her writing style is different in this book than the previous three but in this case it is not a bad thing. She is evidently strong at intricate stories but tying them all together in a nice neat bow. With us finding out more about the characters and being able to go into the past and present brings a welcome relief and change to the series. It is interesting, strong and well-written; Slaughter has outdone herself with this one!

7/10 

Karin Slaughter no no Karen Rose

Have you seen her? – Karen Rose

Have you seen her? Is the second book written by Karen Rose. The story follows a widower Special Agent Steven Thatcher as he investigates a serial murderer. As far as crime books go Karen Rose is among the top writers. The story involving the investigation is strong; interesting and surprisingly hard to guess who did it. There is also the backstory of Special Agent Thatcher and his son’s teacher Jenna Marshall, this gives the book some gossip to follow making it more light hearted to read. The story about the serial killer from the past re emerging is intriguing to the reader and the whole investigation is interesting to follow. 

Special Agent Steven Thatcher is the main hero of the story. He is the lead investigator on a serial killer case which hits close to home. He has an interesting back story relating to his family with his three sons Nicky, Matt and Brad. He is an excellent investigator, the flaw in Steven thatcher’s story is how he acts. We as readers understand that after the history he had this could put some bumps in his road however, no-one wants to read about a guy making stupid mistakes.

Jenna Marshall, she is our heroine in the story. Dr Marshall is Thatcher’s eldest sons Brad, teacher. Similar to thatcher she has an interesting back story to read about alongside the turmoil she faces during the book. She helps ground Thatcher when he is in the middle of his investigation. She is a strong female character showing emotion but also strength. She is an admirable character that many females like myself can relate to.

There are strong secondary characters such as Thatcher’s aunt Helen who plays the matchmaker, Thatcher’s sons and even Dr Marshall dogs add to the story. With all of the secondary characters Rose creates a variety among the different back stories and how they relate back to his investigation.

 As it stands there are no issues with Karen Rose’s in terms of grammar or competency.

The book is written as third person looking onto the investigation. The script is broken up by date and time which makes it easy to follow the events that are happening throughout the story. This is a common aspect in Rose’s books and one that breaks up the long chapters.

Karen Rose is one of the strongest crime writers out there. In no way is the book a romance suspense book, yes there is some romance involved but the main story is about a serial killer. The book is a strong example of a good crime investigation story; it keeps your interest and is well written.

7/10

This book is a strong story with strong characters and anyone who likes a good crime story should definitely buy!