Michael Gray

A short story.

It’s her. I can’t bare to look at her anymore, but I do it anyway. I notice everything about her. The way her wrist bangles jingle as she walks. The way her hair falls over her shoulders. I know it’s wrong. I know it can never be. But I still get that feeling. Is it sex drive? Loneliness? Love? I don’t know. I’ve never felt this way about anyone. But knowing me and my limited experience, that’s not much of an accomplishment.

When she talks to me, I hear more than just words. I hear the sincerity and the kindness behind them. Her voice is silky as she speaks my name, and her laugh is as warm as the sun.

We’re friends.

But I want something more.

At least part of me does. I try to tell myself to forget it. Believe me I’ve tried. But the thoughts don’t stop coming. When I’m home doing chores, I think of her. When I go to sleep, I think of her. Wherever I am, whatever I’m doing, she will pop right into my head. I know it’s an obsession, but I just can’t quiet my mind. I tell myself it’s infatuation, hormones… But it doesn’t help. I’m slave to the idea that one day we could be together.

It’ll never happen.

She doesn’t see me that way, and I just can’t let go. Even if Hell froze over and I found someone else these feelings might never go away. Perhaps it’s best to leave, just run away, put her out of my mind completely. Or then there’s the opposite approach. Risk the friendship. Tell her you like-like her. We all know that never goes down well — unless it does.

There I go again, putting false hope into my stupid little monkey brain. I am not experienced at this, at feeling this way. Though if we didn’t have these feelings there would be no procreation. The human race would die out. These feelings are meant to drive someone towards making a move, not drive them crazy with inaction.

There she goes again wearing that gorgeous dress, though of course I’d never say anything. Or compliment her on her looks. I’m such a gentleman I will avoid staring at her. But despite my pride I can’t help but take sneak peeks. I scold myself for it, but something else is controlling my eyes. I am slave.

It’s not just her looks mind you. In fact I hardly ever noticed her beauty before she started paying attention to me. I guess that’s it then. The classic fall in love with someone who pays the slightest bit of attention to you because you’re such a pathetic loser routine.

I can’t wait to see her. But then I can switch just like that. I get annoyed at her just as easily as I fall for her. When she talks about other guys and ex-lovers, it hurts. I don’t exist. I’m way down here, not up with the good looking men and potential suitors. I am just a lowly interpreter for the entire male population.

I would do anything for her, you know the old line. I would tell myself I’d be the best damn boyfriend in existence. That I would excel in leaps and bounds in my kindness, adoration, and understanding. But I know that’s not true. Relationships are hard, especially ones of the romantic variety. Not that I’d know of course. But I’ve heard enough stories to know even the good guy can fall from the grace.

Quick, she’s on her way over. I bring up my hand in a sad, hesitant wave, and quickly drop it back to my side. She motions to the footpath and together we walk down the bustling city street. Unconsciously she pushes her hair back behind her ears whilst moaning about her new boyfriend. I just grin and walk alongside her. Like a doofus.

As posted on ButtonMasher.

When Uncharted 2 came out in late 2009 many of us, myself included, praised the game beyond measure. In fact it was most likely our game of the year. It was always going to be tough act to follow, but this is Naughty Dog we’re talking about here. 

And pull it off they did. Uncharted 3 features the same whiz-bang graphics, narration, and action. But for some reason it just wasn’t as memorable. Perhaps other great games overshadowed it last year. Or maybe threequels have a disadvantage, now that things aren’t as shiny and new as they once were…

Single Player

Nathan Drake, like Indiana Jones before him, is up to no good again, trying to solve another of Sir Francis Drake’s uncharted voyages (see what I did there?). It’s another globe trotting adventure, taking Drake and friends across London, France, Syria, and Yemen.

The story doesn’t pull an Uncharted 2. Instead of starting off near the end of the story, it’s pretty much linear time from the get go — excluding the flashbacks to Drake’s childhood. Running around as lil’ Drake is quite a strange experience, and yet as a spry wee thing he’s a little more believable than big Drake at climbing up drainpipes.

Sully, Chloe, and Elena all make appearances. Plus a new British chap, Cutter, who is a welcome add to the mix with all his quips and a new accent. The big bad of the day is British born Katherine Marlowe. A rich and powerful lady.

There’s no doubt that Uncharted is amazing when it comes to dialogue and characters. The plot itself leaves much to be desired however. But as an imitation of a big budget action flick I suppose I can’t complain.

At it’s core Uncharted is a third-person shooter. Though some folks thought the controls were worse I didn’t find any problems with it. Guns fire, bullets hit, men go down.

I did notice that the mêlée combat has been improved. The introductory fight scene in a dingy London bar shows this off rather well. Besides the standard 1-2 punch, Drake will grab an object in his vicinity and use it as a weapon, whether that’s a beer bottle or a fridge door.

As much as it sounds strange I’m saying this, at times Uncharted 3 could go over the top. There are moments where everything feels so unbelievable. I know it’s supposed to be a videogame, but it really pulls you out of the experience when you’re questioning the laws of physics and the plausibility of things. Running over the exploding rooftop of the Chateau springs to mind. Though the cargo plane sequence did turn out pretty awesome. 

The action continues to build and build until you’re not really in control any longer and it just happens to you. And Drake will never miss a handhold — he may slip and act dramatically but as long as you keep moving you’ll be fine. This takes a lot of the suspense away. With the port level at least I felt like I had some agency. It felt a little more open worldy.

In contrast Uncharted 3 does use quiet (non-shooting) bits really effectively. Simply walking around an environment and taking everything in does break up the constant shooting and dodging of explosions.

The game is beautiful. No doubt about that. Naughty Dog managed to step up in this department, from Uncharted 2, an already gorgeous game. The tech to create the rippling sand dunes, the impact of water, and fire spreading is just amazing. Watch that wallpaper curl!

Multiplayer

I enjoyed Uncharted 2’s multiplayer. The mix of climbing and gunplay felt like something entirely new. It was not just another shooter. The offering is expanded upon here, adding Call of Duty style perks, customization and all that jazz. Split-screen & LAN support is also a nice wee gesture.

The maps are well varied, taking place around levels from the campaign whether that’s a city of high-rises, a subway, or a middle eastern village. The cinematic set pieces are something altogether new and inspired from the single-player mayhem. It still feels like they could be refined a little, but it’s a pretty interesting concept I’d like to see expanded upon if there were to be another Uncharted game (I’m holding out for Naughty Dog’s Uncharted kart racer). By set pieces I mean like a fight between several moving trains, a plane taking off down a runway, or a crumbling floor in a chateau. You will also find plenty of zip lines and turrets for more environment interaction.

You have your typical standard fare of modes: Deathmatch, King of the Hill etc. But there’s also a mode or two that feels rather new. Co-op Hunter Arena is half-horde, half-capture-the-flag. You face off against a nasty bunch of AI baddies but to make things interesting two of the henchmen are controlled by two human players. As the round progresses and you rack up kills you can select better equipped henchmen, one of the heavy armoured dudes or maybe even a sniper.

The co-op missions have a lot to be desired. They feel like dumbed-down single player missions with really the only focus being the shooting. I would have appreciated some puzzle solving or at least something to make the co-op, well… co-op. Areas from Uncharted 2 are re-used, and old enemies who should really be dead are brought back from the grave. There are a few cinematic pieces such as climbing a Syrian tower and shooting baddies off the top, but they are few and far between.

Closing Comments

Crash Bandicoot 2, Jak II… Naughty Dog’s sequels always left a big mark on me. The third game in a series would always be great, maybe even perfected. But their middle games are the ones that innovate, the ones that surprise and leave you at the credits still clutching your controller, mouth agape.

Uncharted 3 is a fantastic game, but then again we’ve seen it all before. It’s just not as fresh and exciting as the one before it. Despite these things, it’s still an amazing campaign, and the multiplayer is truly great fun.

In a similar fashion to last year I came up with twelve goals for myself for the year of 2012 — which may or may not be our last days on Earth.

As I complete certain goals I will try to update this post with a triumphant line straight through the goal in question, and a paragraph or so on my experience. What I learned, unlearned, or how I triumphed with just dumb luck.

And don’t slag me off for being a tired old mothball for structuring my life. This is fun & rewarding dammit!

• Pass the Restricted Driver’s Licence Test.
  This goal carries on from last year (and loosely seven or so years). I gave up after the first try and for that I’m more ashamed than failing in the first place. Time to get behind the wheel, loosen up and just do it.
• Go on a date.
  Whatever the type — Classic, Blind, Online, Speed… But I have to try, even if it is the scariest thing on this damn list.
• Remove all clutter.
  I started this last year but my progress dropped off a bit. Well, completely. To embrace living with less stuff, especially when most of it is just clutter, I want to make digital copies of things I can’t bear to part with, and force myself to chuck or donate the rest.
• Buy a car.
  Once I have the licence things will get a lot easier (and more expensive) with a car. I won’t have to bike in drenched clothes and a heavy backpack just to get to the other side of town. Plus, the freedom. Oh the freedom. Between the hours of 5 and 10 of course.
• Write a novel.
  Encouraged by Stephen King’s book On Writing, I’m actually rather excited to spend my time creating a world over many, many, many pages. My first draft will likely take me a good few months, and I will learn first hand whether or not I have what it takes to write full-length fiction.
• Write a film screenplay.
  Towards the end of 2011 I found myself falling into screenwriting. Like the novel, but of course not like the novel at all, it will push my skills to the very limits. And here’s to it being something other than your standard Hollywood fluff.
• Publish a short stories collection.
  Hopefully with some more stories too by this stage, I will try my hand, and maybe even a foot, at digital publishing.
• Flat with a friend.
  Thanks to last year’s goal I’ve moved out of home and I’m now flatting. But it’s a little lonely and I could do with a good friend or two to play Rock Band & Battleship.
• Finish the Oxfam Trailwalk.
  I’ve wanted to do this for years, and seeing as I’m now out of school and have an athletic bunch of friends to boot; this year, it’s time.
• Go clubbing.
  Me? Dancing? Fuhgeddaboudit! But a certain liquid must be consumed to at least entertain the possibility.
• Meditate daily.
  I’ve toyed with self improvement, zen, minimalism and all sorts. But I just can’t find the time to sit in the quiet, to relax and be one with the world. I want to make this a part of my daily routine, just like my exercise and writing.
• CHANCE.
  This space is reserved because sometimes you just can’t plan your accomplishments. They end up finding you. And uh, I couldn’t think of a twelfth thing…