Life tips: Planning for trips

Hey Ale-gators!

First up, I'm sorry I haven't been writing anything lately but I've been working hard on radio shows, book writing and planning a visit to the amazing place that is Nottingham! Hence why I thought I'd write this little Life Tips post for you to enjoy and plan with!

THE LIST:

1: Plan out your trip as best as you can.

learn the local area and find attractions that take your fancy before you go, I know we all love that little bit of randomness but if you really want to enjoy yourself have a look online at some of the things you can do! If you look in the right places you can find some really awesome things to do in the local community!

2: look at the best travel prices and decide what is best for you.

It's all well and good going by the train but if like myself money is something you don't have a huge abundance of then sometimes it's just not logical to go that way, so it's always good to look at various means of travel, For me to get to Nottingham for my trip it would cost me roughly £250 on the train (for a return) which is hugely expensive! With a little hunting around I found out I could get there for about £45 pound (return) via National Express coaches, while this means it's a 6 hour 15 mins trip it also means I get some time to see London and also saves me £205 pounds! Which I think we can all agree is quite a saving (til we find a pub that is) and although it takes a while to get there it'll be a fun trip if you have the right travelling buddy! which brings me to my next point!

3: go with people who make you happy to be around.

Now this one is one of the most important! when hitting the road for a long period of time it's good to have yourself at least one amazing buddy along for the ride... For me that person is my Best buddy Robin:

Now this guy is what the word Legend was created for, He's my best friend, He's also like my brother, I've known him about Ten years now and every day is a new adventure when you hang out with Robin, you can pretty much guarantee that you are going to have a hilarious time when you see him, We went to college together which is where we really got into trouble for some of the random things we did, So it's great to be having him along for the ride to Nottingham!

4: pack accordingly to the place you are going.

This one is just common sense, you wouldn't take sandals to the northpole and you wouldn't take a ski suit to the sahara desert!

This is where Step 1 and Step 4 kind of intertwine because if you know something about what you plan to do you'll know exactly what to pack for the trip, now do you plan on going clubbing in the evening? or going out to a nice dinner? chilling by the pool or going for a hike? these are all thing's you need to think about when packing, how many pairs of shoes will you need to take? I am personally taking three pairs, trainers for comfort, my sneakers for when I wanna look fashionable, and my formal shoes for going out in the evening, as you can see I like to cover all bases!

5: know all the numbers you might require in an emergency.

This one is important if you are going to another country, you never know when you might need the emergency services!

6: make sure you have adequate money for the trip.

Do I really need to go in-depth on this one? everyone knows that you should always make sure that you have enough for a holiday so you can get home if your plans fall through! also the pub is rather expensive so spend carefully!

7: Have fun.

now comes the best part, go forth and frolic! you'll have a lot more fun if you look for it by exploring! that's the biggest piece of advice i can give you, just look around, be a tourist, and have a fantastic time! 

Right, now I've done my part I'm off to go finish packing for Nottingham! I'll be Vlogging on the way there and when I get there, so keep an eye over on the twitter and Youtube so you'll see it, looks to be a fun time!

Catch you later Ale-Gators xx

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Heavy Rain..... with weather this bad... you'll think you are in Britain.

Hey there guys!

Today i'm reviewing something that has become one of my favorite games:

Yes that's right! Quantic Dream's very own Heavy Rain! Now I have written about what I can without spoiler alerts so I've had to be vague in places, but I believe this information I'm giving you will get you wanting to play the game!

Let's begin:

Heavy Rain is a cinematic psychological thriller from game developer Quantic Dream exclusively for the PlayStation 3. Dealing with a range of adult themes, the game revolves around a sophisticated plot and strong narrative threads that explore a complex moral proposition. You assume the role of multiple characters with very different backgrounds, motivations, and skills in a world where each player decision affects what will follow.

The game focuses on four different characters; Ethan Mars, a father and main protagonist; Scott Shelby, a private eye; Norman Jayden, an FBI agent and finally Madison Paige, a photojournalist. They are very different characters and do not know each other at the game's point, but are all connected in the sense that they all have interest in the game's main antagonist, the Origami Killer.

 CHARACTERS:

Ethan Mars:

Ethan Mars is one of the three main protagonists in Heavy Rain and is overall the central character of the game, and is also one of the four playable characters (the other three being Scott Shelby, Norman Jayden and Madison Paige). Up until 2009, Ethan lived an idyllic and happy life as a successful architect alongside his loving wife Grace Mars and his two sons, Jason and Shaun Mars. However, Ethan's life took the first of two tragic turns when his son Jason was killed. Heavy Rain, set two years later in 2011, focuses on Ethan during the kidnapping of his second son, Shaun Mars.

It is Shaun Mars's disappearance that causes Ethan's life to take a darker turn, and causes him to be sent into more worry. Fortunately, the kidnapper of Shaun  has not killed Shaun and is holding him captive. He is given Ethan a phone that has a hangman with various blank lines. These underlines are actually unknown letters; by completing Trials sent from the killer, Ethan will get a set number of letters. This is what shapes the game's central question, "How far are you prepared to go to save your son?" These trials become increasingly difficult and morally taxing, and Ethan logically reasons against all five of them in his thoughts.

Scott Shelby:

A former police lieutenant, Scott is now a private detective and retired cop. Over the course of the game, his primary goal is to find evidence about Origami Killer. Scott's partner throughout the game is Lauren Winter.

Shelby suffers from asthma as illustrated throughout the game (though is dexterous enough to cope with an armed robber at a convenience store and survive a shoot-out with several men). Depending on the player's choices, Scott has the potential to a kindle a relationship with Lauren Winter. It is also revealed when Lauren offers him a cigarette, Scott tells her, "No thanks, I quit," informing the player that he used to be a smoker.

Scott's persona consists of being quiet, organized, vigilant, and highly introverted, hardly ever talking about himself to others. Being someone who listens to others, methodical in work, straight-eyed, determined, and able to cope under pressure makes Scott Shelby an effective private investigator, allowing him to assess human behavior and perceive clues other people may miss.

His previous employment before becoming a P.I. was that of a police lieutenant for the local police force. As shown when Shelby is brought in for questioning, it seems that he once knew Carter Blake whilst working as a cop, and that they appear to have a friendly relationship because of it.

Norman Jayden:

Norman specializes in conducting forensic investigations with an experimental device called ARI (Added Reality Interface). ARI's main hardware component is a pair of sunglasses, which acts as a type of transparent display. When looking at a crime scene through ARI's interface, relevant data and analysis is superimposed on the image of the crime scene above the relevant clues. Norman uses ARI to highlight relevant clues within a specified 'pulse' radius. Norman also wears ARI's other hardware component, a glove, which allows him to interact with the virtual data displayed through the glasses. By simultaneously using these two items, ARI catalogues all the data and cross-references it with relevant databases, analyses it, and geo-locates it where applicable. ARI also has a recording feature that works as a video camera. When being worn, it records what the wearer of the sunglasses sees and stores it in it's databases for future reference. Norman constantly reviews his clues and data that he has collected via ARI.

With the local cops resentful of both his methods and his very presence, he struggles to piece together the evidence before it becomes too late for the next victim of the Origami Killer.

Norman is addicted to Triptocaine, known as Tripto, a blue substance in a vial. Triptocaine is drug Norman uses which was given to him from the distributors of his ARI glasses to combat the glasses' side effects, and it is currently unknown (and never entirely explained in the narration or otherwise) whether he is using it to counter-balance side-effects of overusing the ARI, or for some other purpose. Additionally, the true source of the symptoms (nosebleeds, paleness of complexion, internal pain, dizziness, bloodshot eyes, tremors, ect.) Norman experiences are left rather ambiguous. Whether these symptoms are caused by the ARI or triptocaine, speculation is left up to individuals. Throughout the game, the player has the choice of whether to be complicit in Norman's addiction or steer him away from it in various circumstances as he tries to solve the case of the Origami Killer. However, twice in the game Jayden will take Triptocaine without the player's decision.

Madison Paige:

Madison is a young journalist living alone in the city. Suffering from crippling insomnia and nightmares, she often finds herself checking into local motels for the night-- the only place she can relax and sleep in.

It's stated during the game that she was born on May 3rd 1984, making her 27 years old during the events of the game which is set in October 2011. She does explain to Ethan, however, that she grew up with several brothers and would always be the one to tend to their injuries whenever they got into trouble. She also states she has had insomnia since she was a little girl. If Madison goes to the warehouse alone in "The Old Warehouse" chapter, she may tell the Origami Killer (who she knew at the time to have had a troubled past with their parents) that there is nothing harder than not being loved by one's parents, suggesting she may have had a bad relationship with her father or mother.

The Origami Killer:

Prior to Shaun's abduction, eight criminal cases are suspected to have been committed by the Origami Killer between the years 2009 and 2011. All victims were young boys between 9-13 years of age, each killed in the same fashion: by being drowned in rainwater.

Each body is found on some type of wasteland, always adjacent to train tracks, between 3-5 days after they are abducted, six hours post-mortem, showing that the person who orchestrated these events did not kill his victims right after abduction. Instead, the killer waits until a set of certain criteria has been filled. Every victim was kidnapped within a public place at the time of abduction and with little or no defensive wounds on their body, implying that the victims knew or trusted the person that took them.

Like many serial killers, the Origami Killer has a certain trademark which he leaves upon his victims. All victims were found with an origami figure in the right hand, the origin of the killer's title, and an orchid on his chest. The victims also have their faces completely covered in mud, which FBI profiler, Norman Jayden suspects is evident that the killer himself has no personal hostility towards the victims. He also interprets the orchid and origami figure to be gifts.

Game-play:

So... I've been playing this game for like a week nonstop trying to get all the endings possible from the game, now i was lucky to get the super nice ending on the first play through so it made up for the 12 hours of pain, heartbreak and sadness, most people would have stopped there but not me.... I seem to like the emotional pain that comes from psychological thrillers, I must get that from my mum, well here i am so far, I've been playing this game as the Playstation Move edition, with it's normal controller interface so you have to do the movements with the sticks which is actually a really interesting idea and I've been enjoying it, you have to move the sticks in the corresponding directions to do things like pick up cups or view case files, it's quite engaging rather then having constant button pressing, I'd suggest the Move version to people who enjoy the idea of deeper gameplay.

Now the graphics are amazing and the rain really helps with building the atmosphere, after a short time you forget that it's a game, you feel for the characters and the story-line, which is rich and very well written thanks to David Cage, who is an actual genius, he creates this living, breathing world that teems with tiny details that can help to make the game a success or a failure, some games forget that sometimes, they pass over small details for climatic endings, not Heavy Rain... the team behind the game should just take a few minutes... that's right guys, just take some time to bask in the glory of your game! 

Out of all the games that i have ever played, Heavy Rain takes the crown on everything from story-line to soundtrack, I would recommend this to anyone who wants to see what gaming is all about! sometimes it's not about nonstop action or witty one liners, Heavy Rain plays more like an interactive Noir film, and that's what gaming should be, an amazingly in-depth experience, with compelling characters and a story-line that hits you right in the feels...

I hope you have enjoyed the review guys! I will be reviewing more in-depth via game-play videos over on the YouTube page when i have a new computer, as always thank you for reading guys and i'll see you next time!

Alex xx

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Mens Style blog number 1!

Well Hellooo Ale-Gators!

First of all HAPPY NEW YEAR! so it's 2015 and It's the beginning of the biggest year for me and it's time for my first Mens style post!




Now I may not be the most up to date on fashion but I think I have a pretty good personal style going on, with me Less is more, not going over the top with your colours (believe me it happens way too much) so if you want to avoid looking like Simon from the inbetweeners always think your outfit out Lads...

Now I think we should start at the most important look first.....

The Three Piece Suit:

Mine is a very snazzy looking five button three piece suit that is brilliantly made for a VERY decent price! I use it for all kinds of events, Weddings, high profile parties(stifle your laughing it does happen!), Interviews, Meeting, The Works! and seeing as I got the whole suit (Including shoes) for the low price of £70 and I'm so happy with it, I'd say it's a fantastic buy! it doesn't feel cheap and nasty but very well made and came in exactly the right sizes that I ordered it was a bloody good bargain! Now you can't get this style any more but why would you want to copy? there's loads of suits and outfits on VERY so you can make your own style! I love being different from others! if the world had more individuals then it would be a better place!

Clubbing look: 

OK so this look is a lot like the last one just minus the suit jacket and trousers! I like to have that smart look when I go clubbing so I often wear a Waistcoat with some black Chinos, normally with a slightly unbuttoned shirt so I am still comfortable to move around, I then normally will have my Black 3/4 coat on over the top until I get into the club/bar I am going to for the evening.

Workout gear:

For working out I refuse to allow myself to look too lazy, normally if I am heading for a long work out I'll wear a beanie, a vest, a hooded Jacket and jogging trousers (the only time you will ever catch me in them). there's not really much to say about this look as it's one that is designed for when i exercise... Except that I find the more you "make it yours" as in how comfortable you are wearing it because it's what you have chosen, is a huge helping hand with the actual exercise as you feel better in yourself and feel more comfortable to push your self further!

The Band outfits:

Now these can be many and various between the bands you are in... i will list off my main ones here:

, I'll label them by Band Name as I've had different styles for each band! then You can decide which one suits best! lets begin!

DARK SANITY:

Now, when Dark Sanity came around We were aiming for a Rap/Rock band and as One of the rappers I had to dress accordingly, normally for the band I would be rocking a snap back of some sort as well as matching sunglasses, with a black hoody, I will admit that I was not a huge fan of this look but You do what You have to! I liked to wear sleeveless shirts for drumming and hot practice sessions, normally with a standard pair of jeans, Converse topped off this look with a personal twist! I also had my hair and beard kept short, I kind of got used to this style for band practice, I decided after I joined Sound Proof that I would change My style again!

SOUNDPROOF:

When SoundProof started we were a kind of covers band, covering everything from Fall out boy to Frank Sinatra(hence the suits). so our look had to emulate that in anyway possible, so we wore clothes to a style that we could customise, I personally liked the suits we wore at the time, I kept my hair short for a time with a goatee then I decided to grow both my beard and my hair, I was with SoundProof for around three years, slowly changing My style, until the band split up due to uni commitments of some of Our members.

SOLO WORK:

 After SoundProof split up I decided to start going solo, it was then I realised I had complete freedom with my style! I'll admit that I felt quite awesome being able to dress however I wanted for band work, aswel as public appearances while I was a radio presenter, I found that people were more relaxed with the fact I was laid back, I was happy with how I looked and felt, I am a fan of the rock style, I mean I LOVE it!

The standard style at this point was a long sleeved shirt, skinny jeans (preferably black) braces, black hoody and either a denim or a leather jacket, as I said, Rock style is the best!

THE RISE:

 And now We have the newest endeavor, The Rise was a band I started with Michael Thomas, We were a Rock/rap group who also did covers, the whole idea of the band was that we had different personalities when We were on stage, Mine was Dark noble, a mysterious figure who played Bass and Rapped, I wore a silver and black mask and I mostly wore My solo work style, as it fitted with the style We were going for!

 for public appearances(like gigs) I would wear the mask and hoody, as part of Our shows we were supposed to remain anonymous, unfortunately as I moved to the midlands and other band members had other commitments We were left with no choice but to end the band and go Our separate ways....

For Now....

Anyway Guys! i hope you have enjoyed this little look into my life and how i represent myself to the outside world! if you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave them below! remember to hit the links and follow me on various mediums!

Bloglovin' : https://www.bloglovin.com/darknoble 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarkNobleTeam

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DSPDARKNOBLE

Thanks for reading guys! I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year!!!!

Lots of love Ale-Gators

From the team <3

DESTINY OFFICIAL REVIEW!!!!

Ok guys so here we are! the Official Dark Noble Destiny Review!!


I've been receiving messages about this almost constantly so I thought I would bite the bullet and review it, I am using information that We have known for a while aswel as what I have found out from playing the game!

I will be reviewing each class and overall gameplay in different sections! I hope You guys enjoy it and find it Helpful.

STORY:

Many generations ago (shortly after present day), the emergence of a gargantuan construct known only as "the Traveler" ignited a Golden Age of technology and exploration for humanity. Initially the Traveler settled on Mars, where it shared its knowledge and technology with humanity, and a city grew around it. With the assistance of the Traveler and its enigmatic technology, humanity tripled its lifespan, terraformed planets and moons, and expanded its civilization beyond Earth and throughout much of the solar system.

The Golden Age would last for centuries, but human civilization fell victim to a cataclysm of extraordinary magnitude, known as the Collapse. A malicious entity known as The Darkness, an ancient enemy of the Traveler, waged a campaign of destruction against civilization. Few managed to survive the devastation. Forced to withdraw to Earth, mankind's homeworld, the embattled sphere made its final stand, where it sacrificed itself to save the remnants of humanity. The Traveler is now silent and dormant, while those who survived united to build The City beneath it, establishing the last bastion of civilization in the solar system. A powerful defensive aura remains projected over the City by the Traveler.

The City has come under attack throughout the years, mysterious alien species probing its defenses for weaknesses. You are one of an army of warriors known as Guardians that call the City home, individuals that have taken a stand to reclaim what has been taken from us. Guardians have harnessed the Traveler's energy to create powerful abilities that allow them powerful offensive attacks, defensive counters, and increased mobility. Guardians seek to uncover the mysteries of humanity's downfall and reclaim what has been taken from them. These exploits lead them to rediscover and reclaim old worlds, once part of mankind's civilization but now occupied by deadly extraterrestrial species and threatened by the return of the Darkness.

The Guardians are all that stand between the dark forces that seek to destroy civilization and those who take refuge within the City. It is their duty to rebuild from the ashes of defeat, to ignite the once great flame of human civilization, and be the light that shines through the darkness. Their failure would mean the destruction of the human race.

PLAYER CHARACTER: GUARDIANS

The Guardians are the player characters of Destiny. They are a standing army of specialized soldiers tasked with the defense of the last city on Earth. They are also responsible for exploring the remnants of human society abandoned throughout the solar system and investigating the remains of their Golden Age of exploration. Guardians wage a vicious armed conflict against a myriad of extraterrestrial species who pose an immediate threat to the survival of humanity. The greatest source of the Guardian's power lies in their ability to harness the energy of The Traveler and use it as a weapon against their opponents.

When creating their character, players may choose to make their Guardian one of three species. Species is a purely cosmetic choice for players, affecting only appearance and not gameplay.

• Human
• Exo
• Awoken

From left to right: Warlock, Hunter, and Titan.

Players choose to play as one of several different player classes.  Though each player class in Destiny has a distinct appearance, dress, and skill set, player classes are designed to be balanced, with no class intended to be clearly better overall than any other. A player may choose to be any class, regardless of species, but each class can only access certain armor, subclasses, and abilities. Weapons are not class-restricted; any class can use any weapon.

• Hunter: "Hunters once prowled the wilderness and wastelands, taking big risks for even bigger rewards. You're no outlaw (at least, not anymore) but making your own luck has always meant bending the rules."                                                                                                                  Hunters were once survivors that roamed the wastelands and wilderness making their own luck. Through manipulation of the Traveler's energies, Hunters learned how to survive in the wild. This heritage has led to their characteristic tendency of bending the rules to suit their particular situation. Being the trailblazers among Guardian classes, Hunters serve as invaluable scouts when surveying hostile and dangerous territory combining their trademark daring and ingenuity. Some fear them as being too dangerous, but their bravery has led to many discoveries dating back to the Golden Age.
• 
  
• Titan: "You hail from a long line of heroes, forged from strength and sacrifice. Our enemies may be deadly and merciless, but so are you."                                                                                            The first Titans built and defended The Wall that protects The City. Their heritage is rooted in strength, sacrifice, and mercilessness.
  Titans can be distinguished by their heavy, full-body armor and swept-back helmets. The Titan's unique armor piece is a badge, a piece of cloth worn on the right hip intended to show their allegiance, lineage, or achievements.
• Warlock: "Warlocks have long studied the Traveler, mastering some of its arcane energies. Its true purpose still remains a great mystery, but discovering truth has always driven you into the unknown."                                                                                                                                    Warlocks have long studied The Traveler, which gives rise to their ability to harness some of its powers. As the warlock advances through levels his arcane power strengthens. In appearance, Warlocks can be distinguished by their rounded helmets and long coats. As with the other player classes, in addition to head, chest, arm, and leg armor, they have a special fifth armor slot that is unique to their class and further helps to distinguish them from their brethren in arms. The Warlock's unique armor is a bond(armband) worn on the upper-left arm.

Any species may choose to be any player class.

Guardians also have access to a Ghost, an artificially intelligent flying robot that can assist the Guardian in tactical situations.

GAMEPLAY:

Bungie has emphasized that the universe of Destiny will be "alive." Events may happen in-game that are not necessarily controlled or planned by the developer, which will help to create a dynamic developing experience for Bungie and a dynamic playing experience for gamers. The game's style has been described as a first-person shooter that will incorporate massively multiplayer online game (MMO) elements, but Bungie has avoided defining Destiny as a traditional MMO game. Instead, the game has been referred to as a "shared-world shooter," as it lacks many of the characteristics of a traditional MMO game. For instance, rather than players being able to see and interact with all other players in the game or on a particular server (as is the case in many conventional MMO games) Destiny will include on-the-fly matchmaking that will allow players to see and interact only with other players with whom they are "matched" by the game. 

In the end, what you get out of Destiny depends a fair amount on what you’re prepared to put in. The race to level twenty is over quickly, but only those prepared to grind after that for faction and light points will see the game’s most exotic kit and unlock it’s greatest challenges (the mighty, attritional six-player Raid only unlocks when you hit level 26 and requires exceptional kit to beat).

Similarly, simply playing through the campaign suggests a story that makes very little sense - only delving into the lore-filled Grimoire cards, unlocked as you progress, reveals the intricacies of the lore Bungie has created, and that’s far from ideal.

So for a game as massively marketed as this, Destiny perhaps isn’t for everyone, and those who are hoping only for an epic Halo-style campaign may be disappointed that that delicate balance of focus and grandeur isn’t quite matched in Destiny’s story machines.

But in every other way Destiny is Halo, but Halo on a bigger, far more multiplayer level, and with the addictive quest for loot of a game such as Diablo. For many gamers, including this one, that’s an utterly irresistible combination. For me.... well..... I'm still playing it daily and loving every moment!

I hope You guys have enjoyed the Review and will leave a comment or something below so I can add more about things You wanna know!

Review: Resident Evil 3: Nemesis

With the gruesome T-Virus finally dormant, Jill Valentine has resigned from S.T.A.R.S. and is going to leave what's left of Raccoon City. Much to her dismay, her exit has been delayed by the same flesh-eating zombies that plagued her counterparts in the first two games! This time, however, the undead are augmented by bloodthirsty hunters, evil hellhounds, and other terrors of the night. As Jill, you'll meet up with a lot of new faces, and some old ones too. Carlos Olivera, for example, is an Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service Agent that seems to want to help you out; whether you trust him or not is up to you. Each time you meet up with an enemy, you can either confront it or evade it, but your choices all add up in this immersing tale of terror. Of course, you do have some pretty powerful ammo to back you up, and the game even lets you combine weapons to make your own firepower. The third installment in the popular RESIDENT EVIL series, this one boasts improved graphics, sound, and overall gameplay. Hidden at the end of the adventure is a bonus Mercenaries game but you'll be lucky if you live to see it.

Release Date: November 11, 1999

Genre: Third-Person Action

Publisher: Capcom

Developer: Capcom

The first half of the game occurs 24 hours prior to Resident Evil 2 and the second half takes place two days after. The storyline expands upon the settings and events of the t-Virus outbreak in Raccoon City, and concludes with the fate of the city and its infected population.

A new feature to gameplay is the Nemesis, an experimental type of Tyrant (an upgrade to the previous game's T-103) programmed by Umbrella to hunt down and kill the remaining STARS members. He can run, use a rocket launcher as a weapon, dodge incoming fire, and is capable of pursuing the player from one area to the next. Nemesis is encountered multiple times throughout the game as a recurring boss. A variety of encounters are possible, with some being mandatory, and some varying in nature and location based on choices made by the player. Even if defeated in combat, Nemesis will inevitably continue pursuit of Jill.

In a departure from series' conventions, the player cannot choose between two playable characters from the beginning. Instead, Jill is the sole selectable character, with another character named Carlos also being controllable for a brief portion of the main game.

Resident Evil 3 incorporates a dodge move that allows the player to quickly avoid enemy attacks. Stair climbing is also streamlined: whereas in previous Resident Evil titles characters were required to press the action button to ascend or descend a staircase, Resident Evil 3 allows the player to use a staircase by walking directly onto it. The "quick 180 degree turn" was introduced in this game, and has become a mainstay of the series.

The game also features an ammunition creation system, in which new ammunition can be created from different varieties of gunpowder and the use of a cartridge reloading tool, or by combining gunpowder directly with standard grenade rounds to generate different types of rounds for the grenade launcher. For the first time in the series, explosive objects are now present in certain areas. Taking the form of oil drums on the ground or bundles of an unspecified explosive material affixed to a wall, firing on these objects causes them to explode, damaging or destroying nearby enemies. The game also incorporates a randomization feature that varies the placement of items and enemies. Puzzles are either completely randomized or have their solutions selected from a pre-determined list.

At certain points in the game, the player will enter Live Selection Mode, in which they are prompted to choose between one of two possible actions. The choice of action affects the direction of the game and story, including which ending the player receives. Each selection has a time limit, with the consequence for going over the limit being either Jill taking damage or instant death.

There is an unlockable minigame titled "The Mercenaries - Operation: Mad Jackal". The player can choose from Carlos, Mikhail, or Nicholai, the three UBCS members that appear in the main game. Each character possesses a different inventory, causing drastically different strategies for survival with each character. The objective of the game is ostensibly to run from the cable car to the warehouse office (two locations in the main game) within a limited amount of time; however, the starting time limit given is insufficient to actually perform this task directly, and the player must continuously receive time bonuses by performing certain actions in order to complete the mission. Eliminating enemies yields a time bonus, with increasing bonuses for multiple kills in a short time span. There are also six hostages to be saved, with each hostage saved rewarding the player with additional ammunition or healing items, as well as a time bonus. Additionally, six "hidden areas" of the map reward the player with an increasing time bonus for each one found.

Upon completing the main game, the player is rewarded with a number of alternate costumes for Jill, with more costumes being awarded for a higher ranked completion of the main game. Also unlockable are eight "Epilogue Files", each detailing the activities of a different character following the events of the game. The Epilogue Files are unlocked individually and sequentially at the end of each successful playthrough of the main game.

Review: Resident Evil 2

originally released for the PlayStation. Resident Evil was Developed by Capcom as the second installment in the Resident Evil series, its story takes place two months after the events of the first game, Resident Evil. It is set in Raccoon City, a community whose residents have been transformed into zombies by the T-virus, a biological weapon developed by the pharmaceutical company Umbrella. In their escape from the city, the two protagonists, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, encounter other survivors, and are confronted by William Birkin, the mutated creator of the even more powerful G-virus.

The gameplay of Resident Evil 2 is virtually the same as the gameplay of the first one, and features a mix of combat, exploration, and puzzle solving. Players move via a series of pre-determined camera angles and control their character with 'tank controls', much like most survival horror games of the era. Combat as such is rather rudimentary, as players simply aim their weapon with R1 and shoot with X (default PS1 controls). They can aim up or down this way as well, though with the assistance of auto-aim (which can be turned off) combat is a relatively simple affair. To make up for it, however, ammunition is scarce, and thusly forces players to choose between whether it's worth engaging in combat or attempting to flee.

The story is largely portrayed via cutscenes, both in-game and CG, however there are also a number of Files (diaries, memos ect.) players can collect. These will often provide additional insight into the goings on across the overall narrative, but some are more vital as they will provide information pertaining to solving puzzles or maybe hinting as to where to go next.

Like the original Resident Evil, there are two playable characters to choose from -- Leon S. Kennedy, and Claire Redfield, sister of Chris Redfield. However unlike the original, the two characters do in fact coincide and have varying storylines from one another, whereas both Chris & Jill's were essentially the same minus a few details.

As such, mechanically-speaking the two characters are now practically identical to one another. They both can withstand the same degree of damage and have the same maximum inventory slots. The story itself dictates the differences, as it'll take each in slightly different directions of the Raccoon Police Department, and they each feature their own set of unique puzzles to solve, weapons to collect, and characters to meet.

Beyond those sequences, players will also be forced to take control of Ada on two occasions for story purposes. She controls exactly like Leon and Claire, and has available her HP Browning pistol and a single first aid spray. However her weapon stance is different from both characters, and it gives her an increase in firing rate with her pistol.Leon's story will bring him into contact with femme-fatale, Ada Wong. Claiming to be a civilian on the search for her boyfriend, she will provide assistance to Leon throughout the game. On two occasions she will follow as an invincible AI companion for a short time, armed with a HP browning pistol. Alongside being invincible, she has infinite ammo (though must at least reload when necessary) and will help kill any enemies the two encounter through their travels.

Claire too has a playable supporting character, however her's is the twelve year old Sherry Birkin. Like Ada, she too will function both as a friendly NPC and as a playable character. However because she is only twelve, she has no means of attack available. When following as an NPC, players cannot run off too far otherwise Sherry will crouch down and cower, awaiting Claire's return. When standing still Sherry and Claire will hold hands, though they will let go once Claire starts moving again.

As a playable character she once again has no means of attack (she does at least have a first aid spray) and must attempt to avoid enemies. Though because of her small stature, zombies at least will not be able to bite her and will only attempt to vomit acid on her instead, which does considerably less damage. As well as having no means of attack, Sherry has a slower running speed than all the other characters in the game.

For the PS1 version their stories are restricted to their own disc--one for Leon, one for Claire--however most physical ports since then have compiled them onto one.

Resident Evil 2 featured four different scenarios; the first two were labelled as Leon A and Claire B scenarios, where Leon entered the police station through the front entrance and Claire through the back door. The second two scenarios, labelled as Claire A and Leon B, had the roles reversed with the plotline slightly altered. Each scenario provided a different experience such as meeting with Robert Kendo and Marvin Branagh on Scenario A, and being stalked by the T-103 'Mr. X' Tyrant during Scenario B.

Players first only have access to Leon & Claire's A Scenario, though upon completing either will then be asked to create a new save slot for the alternate character's B Scenario.

There are a handful of player choices that can carry over from A Scenario to B. As either character, they will eventually stumble upon a minipack and submachine gun. The A Scenario character can choose to take it with them, or they could instead leave it for the B Scenario character to collect instead. There is also a room located within the Umbrella Lab near the end of the game that requires two hand print IDs to open. As such, it can only be opened once both Scenario characters have registered their hand print and then placed their hand on the scanner, allowing the B Scenario character to its contents.

They are the two most notable crossovers, though there are smaller effects as well, such as leaving the zombified Marvin Branagh alive in Scenario A, which will then have him continue to persist in the alternate character's B Scenario.

Since Resident Evil 2 featured several different combinations of events and endings, it was for a time left ambiguous as to which ordering was the true version. However it was eventually confirmed by Capcom via the official Resident Evil timeline in Resident Evil 5 that the canon order is the Claire A & Leon B telling.

During Claire's B Scenario, there is only one segment of the game where players must control Sherry, as opposed to two in the A Scenario.

 I hope you have found this review helpful, i enjoyed writing it aswel as playing Resident Evil 2!