Michael Gray

Last year I did a review of the first episode of Skins Season 5. Trouble is I didn’t get any further than that. It’s been the most popular search term on my blog so with the new season upon us I thought I’d take another crack at it. Just for you Skins fans!

As always be wary of spoilers, make sure you watch the first episode (and season 5 at that too) before reading this review.

So what has happened to our lovely bunch of characters over the course of last season? Well Rich got his hair cut. Oh and I guess he got married to Grace. Franky has come out of her tom boy phase and is now openly feminine and heterosexual, and has a thing going on with Matty. Nick is no longer with Mini or Liv. And of course we have our roaming bachelor; Alo.

This is a ‘Everyone’ episode, meaning the focus is on the group, as per usual for the first and last episodes of a season. We open in Morocco. To start with I felt a bit nervous, reminding me of the time the first generation of Skins took a trip to Russia. Fortunately this episode wasn’t as camp and unbelievable.

Everyone is having a grand old time on their dirt bikes. There’s a few complaints but it’s all in good fun. Maybe too much fun. Before you turn off your viewing device in disgust at their happiness, just you hang in there, real drama is about to unfurl!

The gang turn up at Alo’s promised land to find an abandoned villa with an empty swimming pool. Rich is relegated to a mattress on the roof due to a shortage of bedrooms.

Franky and Matty eventually arrive, but Franky’s not in a good mood. I remember feeling sorry for Franky last season, but here she’s being a downright bitch. Matty doesn’t know what’s going on. Poor, poor Matty.

That night Alo follows the sound of music to find a raving party at a nearby villa. Luke, another Britonian, stares at Franky dancing alone amongst the crowd. Franky tells Matty how she’s bored of him. Then she comes upon Luke on the balcony and the two share an intimate dance.

The next morning a little unexpectedly (but not if you saw a few hints in the Alo episode last season) Mini tells Alo to put away his porn and try the real thing. The happy go lucky Alo, doesn’t turn down her request, and the two sleep together.

The gang rejoice as Mini has discovered the secret to fill up the swimming pool. Their fun is disrupted when Luke and his pal show up. Again Luke stares at Franky. He says that he’s been using this villa to stash his weed but they work out an arrangement. He invites the gang to his beach party (Two parties in a row? A bit party animal this Luke is huh?).

While the gang are at the beach party a few of Luke’s crew is back at their villa recovering his weed. They’re just taking back their weed right? Nothing to be concerned about right?

Luke doesn’t give up his obsession with Franky. He takes her aside and eloquently persuades her to run away with him. Luke’s mate tells Matty that in order to get Franky back he needs to drive the weed to Marrakech — be their drug mule.

Matty sits in the drug-loaded car and watches Franky take off in Luke’s car. After learning that Luke is no good Liv hops in the car with Grace and Matty, and convinces Matty to drive. An epic car chase begins… until a truck (it’s always a truck), makes Matty swerve, and off the road they go. As the car hurtles over the side of the road, I feel sick in the pit of my stomach. A tear rolls down my cheek. I can feel that someone is going to die. And so can Rich.

It turns out Grace is the unlucky victim. As we might’ve guessed from Rich’s gut feeling back at the beach party. We’re left only guessing until we find Grace is not dead, but in hospital with a coma (season finale of Skins anyone?) and the rest of the gang is in their first day of school at Roundview College — all rather miserable. Even Doug, deputy headmaster, doesn’t lighten the mood. Grace’s dad, Headmaster David Blood, is of course taking a leave of absence. Matty is nowhere to be found since the accident. And for good reason too, despite injuring one of his friends he is under suspicion for the drugs found in the destroyed vehicle.

How Grace got to the hospital in Bristol is anyone’s guess. It seems a bit strange to cart her overseas on a plane with the rest of the group.  I would’ve thought that she’d be better off in a hospital in Morocco. But maybe that’s just me.

Nick is a bit upset that Matty hasn’t tried to call him. He soon receives a call from Matty but doesn’t pick up. I’m not quite sure of the logic behind that one, but we can all be pig-headed at times can’t we?

Rich attempts to see Grace but the nurse will not let him. He hands her a CD, mentioning that he and Alo had put it together. We hear the enchanting chorus from Grace as she lies motionless in her hospital bed. End scene.

I had my doubts during the start of the episode. I almost thought I had grown out ofSkins. That it was no longer for me. But in the end it all paid off. Skins is back. It’s amazing. And I cannot wait for the show to start focusing on individual characters again. It’s what makes the show so unique.

I hear that there’s a new addition to the cast this season so that should be interesting. I hope that doesn’t mean something bad for Grace. Don’t freak out or anything, that’s just speculation on my behalf. I love Grace too *Sniff, sniff*.

The preview for next episode shows it’s all about Rich. Join me next time for another review / recap (that is if I manage to keep this up!).

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.