The Last Templar

Greetings, the Last Templar was written by Raymond Khoury who also developed a sequel named The Templar Salvation. It has two stories which are interlinked with each other, one being set in the times of the Templar and the other in modern day New York. The Templar’s are in the novel for only a short time in comparison with the current adventure.

The plot begins in the New York Metropolitaon Museum which is holding a special exhibition of artefacts that have never been seen by the public. Archaeologist Tess Chaykin visits on the opening night when the museum is attacked by four horsemen dressed as Knights Templar, an organisation that had fallen several thousand years beforehand.

The leader of the thieves steels a rather unordinary device that appears to lack the high quality of the other items. After the raid an FBI agent called Sean Reilly investigates the crime.  Once the archaeologist, Tess is able to help reach an expert in the Knights Templar named Bill Vance, she herself becomes personally involved in the case. During the following days, three of the horsemen are killed by an assassin who goes by the name of Plunkett and is also seeking out the organiser as well as the device he stole.

Overall it is a solid book but towards the end it does become rather dull before it picks up slightly at the climax. Also, several theories were suggested as to what the device did and the one that the writer had chosen became less appealing after the massive build up throughout the novel. It is a decent adventure but it isn’t a classic. The eighth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.

Plot=7/10

Characters=7/10

Wording=8/10

Overall=7/10

Quote of the day

Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mister Cowboy?

Hans Gruber

Die Hard

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2

Greetings, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2 is the second game in the Modern Warfare trilogy. Players take up new character roles as the S.A.S soldier Roach, Ranger Ramirez and CIA agent Allen. Some members of the original cast are in the sequel, for instance Soap has a prominent role in the plot. I found as with the first game, that the British individuals such as Ghost or Roach are more charismatic, have more distinct personalities and therefore more likeable than their American allies.

The story begins with a CIA operative known as Joseph Allen going under cover as a Russian terrorist with one of the main antagonists, Makarov to expose him. This leads to a mission, which can be skipped, where the terrorists and the infiltrator kill innocent passengers at a Russian airport. However Makarov knows of the agent’s identity and kills him at the scene of the crime. This incident forces Russia and America to be at war with each other.

It is quite a short game in terms of campaign but it relies heavily on its online gaming, which contains various activities to play through, such as free for all and capture the flag. There is also another element of game play, called Special Ops and requires the player to play through various maps not related to the plot. The third game promises to be a brilliant one or so the conclusion of Modern Warfare 2 implies. The seventh chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.

Plot=8/10

Characters=8/10

Graphics=9/10

Overall=8/10

Quote of the day

See ya in another life brotha.

Desmond

Lost

The adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

Greetings and welcome to the first blog update of 2012. The Tintin film is based on three books of the original Belgian comic book. I knew relatively little about it except its Belgian origins and two of the main characters, Tintin and his canine companion, Snowy. I didn’t even realise that the people behind it were directors, musicians and actors that I liked due to their earlier performances, such as John Williams and his work in Star Wars. The movie is beautifully animated down to the last detail, and uses motion capture to portray the actor’s expression. This is one of the reasons I really enjoyed it.

The story follows a young reporter Tintin and his dog, who buy a model of a ship named the Unicorn. Shortly after the purchase a man by the name of Ivan Sakharine attempts to buy the ship off the journalist but the main character refuses and brings it home. At his residence Snowy chases a neighbouring cat around and accidentally destroys the mast of the ship which reveals a scroll of paper which hold the secrets of the Unicorn. The plot itself is very well thought out as well as intricate but is amusing and it links the characters together nicely.

Tintin is a great movie and was definitely one of the best of 2011 as all parts of it were carried out excellently. It is an imaginative and also whimsical film. I would encourage anyone to watch it even if they don’t know anything about Tintin. The sixth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.

Plot=9/10

Characters=10/10

Special effects=10/10

Overall=9/10

Quote of the day

Good news first. The world's in great shape. We've got a civil war in Russia, government loyalists against Ultranationalist rebels, and 15,000 nukes at stake.

Gaz

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Happy New Year, 2011 review

Greetings, this is the last update for Falcon’s blog this year and so I am holding a short review of 2011. Over the course of it, this year has been perhaps one of the most memorable years in recent times, natural disasters such as the Japanese flood, revolutions spreading across the world including protests in the United Kingdom, deaths of celebrities and dictators, as well as a Royal wedding of William and Kate.

For me personally, it was my first time in Dublin and I touched an 800 year old corpse of a Knights Templar...supposedly. In entertainment there was a vast range of brilliant films including the King’s Speech, Sherlock homes: A game of thrones and Super 8. Hopefully 2012 will be as great a year as 2011 was. Finally I wish everyone a Happy New Year! The fifth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.

Quote of the day

Do you have any...self-respect?

Sam

Sam and Max: Season one

FRA Christmas special 2011

Greetings, in this blog update the adventures of Fletch and Roman are back with their Christmas special of 2011. I hope you enjoy it. The fifth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is not up at Warehouse 17 but it will be back in the New Year. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The adventures of Fletch and Roman Christmas Special 2011 

Narrator: Hello again, Christmas is almost here yet again… unfortunately so is the Fletch and Roman Christmas Special of 2011. If you make it through this strange festive story I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Roman: Greetings and welcome to a seasonal story full of things most Christmassy. It’s about elves, trees and snow…ehh… okay… I am improvising. Just be thankful it isn’t Fletches turn again. Isn’t that right Fletch?

Fletch: (Muffled response)Hmm?

Roman looks at Fletch chewing on a decoration of a gingerbread house covered with snow.

Roman: Spit that out!... It’s plastic!

Fletch removes gingerbread house

Fletch: Say what you will, the fact is it is still better than your cooking.

Roman: I’m ignoring you. Anyway this story is about an actor who is fed up with receiving non-speaking, extra roles as an elf in Christmas movies…despite being of average height.

Fletch: I wish you had a non-speaking role.

Roman: Sigh. It was close to Christmas when the actor by the name of Prince Goggleston decided to act upon this.

(Into story)

Prince Goggleston: When will people realize my acting talents so I receive a real role? I’ve had enough of the elf costumes. They don’t even fit me.

Top Hat walks on by and insults Prince Goggleston

Top Hat: Perhaps you could lean to act!

Prince Goggleston: Maybe…well…nah… it would be easier to ruin everyone’s Christmas instead. The question is how? …I guess I could create a crap show about a talking microwave and his clumsy friend who haven nonsensical adventures. That would never work everyone would love it, back to the drawing board.

After some plotting Prince Goggleston runs to the public post office.

Prince Goggleston: Strike! They are not paying us enough. I want a dental plan that insures more than one tooth.

Gobb and his rubber duck are the only ones in the office.

Gobb: That’s a brilliant idea…oh wait…I don’t work here anymore I was just sending letters. I guess I could protest anyway, it’s not like I have anything else planned… no one invites me to their parties.

After Prince Goggleston has done the same to the local shops.

Prince Goggleston: Excellent that will stop any last minute shopping…but my Christmas rampage doesn’t feel complete.

Prince Goggleston over hears Dr Mosan instructing Robot Santa and Dr Granso on how to dismantle a failed experiment.

Prince Goggleston: What is that?

Dr Mosan: A failed attempt at a homemade Christmas tree that doubles as a missile, apparently no government wants to destroy enemy targets in the spirit of Christmas. Not even the Russians would buy one. It is far superior than the missiles they have…and it has bells on it. Oh well, let’s go collect the tools necessary to dismantle it.

When the three walk away Prince Goggleston steals the Christmas tree missile.

Prince Goggleston: I am I going too far in blowing up the town centre…No, it has pretty bells on it. I would be mad not to steal it.

Health Guy inspects the Christmas tree missile during Prince Goggleston’s act of theft.

Health Guy: That looks like an unstable Christmas tree, at least the label claiming it as explosive would suggest it is and it is my job as health and safety guy to thoroughly inspect it.

Prince Goggleston: I’ll give you £40 to go away,

Health Guy: 55

Prince Googleston: 45

Health Guy: 30…final offer.

Prince Goggleston: Deal!

Health Guy: Excellent…No wait…I meant to say £50! Come back!

Prince Goggleston walks away and attempts to set up the missile, accidentally firing it into the air where it explodes.

Prince Goggleston: No! My revenge scheme, ruined by myself! How humiliating.

Dr Mosan walks up to him, hunting for the missile.

Dr Mosan: Oh… you set it off like a firework to spread the holiday cheer. For a minute there I thought you were going to destroy the town to teach society a lesson for only casting you as an elf in Christmas movies.

Prince Goggleston: What?! Oh yes…I wasn’t planning to ruin everyone’s Christmas. Those strikes are also nothing to do with me.

Dr Mosan: Those strikes didn’t last very long, there was only one single protestor named Gobb who was thrown out of the post office. Anyway since it’s nearly Christmas and I haven’t bought you a present I have decided to let you advertise my Christmas tree missiles dressed up in a Santa suit. It’s not as if your bad acting will take away from the sales anyway. Not if no one is buying them.

Prince Goggleston: Yes! I finally have a speaking role and as Santa too.

A bell from the Christmas tree rocket falls from the sky and knocks Prince Goggleston unconscious.

Dr Mosan: Huh…I guess it doesn’t need to be explosive to damage someone.

(Out of story)

Roman: Well that’s what happens when you improvise, a mad story about an actor and a Christmas tree missile. What did you think of…Fletch spit that out!

Fletch is nibbling on a plastic candy cane before pulling it out.

Fletch: Mmm…plastic!

Roman: If you that hungry you can eat a Christmas pudding.

Fletch: I’d sooner eat sprouts! Those weird little flatulence inducing vegetables.

Roman and Fletch: Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year!

Quote of the day

My speech! Here's my Christmas speech. Ahem. "Thank you all, and Merry Christmas."

Fozziwig

The Muppet Christmas Carol

Mafia 2

Greetings, Mafia 2 follows the adventures of Vito Scaletta and his best friend Joe Barbaro. The game is set in the middle of the 1940’s to the early 1950’s.  It starts near the end of the Second World War when Joe attempts to retire Vito from the war by faking documents to a false injury. His connections work and Scalletta leaves the conflict. However the two both start committing crimes, the main character Vito, steals to help his mother and sister pay of their debt. His father was killed before the events of the game and was the one who left his family in considerable debt. Eventually the need for money drives Vito to do more daring jobs for Mafia leaders.

The storyline itself, is more complicated than the original as there are three families who have major roles in the plot. It has similar styles to Mafia, including friendship and betrayal.  However it still contains likeable characters and a thrilling experience in terms of story as well as action scenes, much like the original. The game has improved the fighting and driving controls, which in the first one I thought was a little ridged in the beginning. A lot of driving takes place which means that there are plenty of old songs spread over three radio stations to listen to. I found it helped make some of the travelling to destinations situations less tedious.

Overall, it is a great game and one that I would thoroughly recommend. It adds a worthwhile title to the Mafia series and well lived up to the expectation that it was held up in high regard to. Despite this, you may want to complete its predecessor first as there is a twist from the original in the second game. The fourth chapter of Team X Paranormal Division is up at Warehouse 17.

Plot=8/10

Characters=9/10

Graphics=9/10

Overall=8/10

Quote of the day

Dreams feel real while we're in them. It's only when we wake up that we realize something was actually strange.

Cobb

Inception