Posts tagged Eminem

Needless to say this week I spent quite a bit of money on entertainment last week — a new X-Box 360 video game and a CD by one of my top five artists.

I bought the highly-anticipated UFC: Undisputed 2009 and Eminem’s sixth studio album “Relapse.” I will post a short review of each of them after my initial thoughts, but let me be the first to say, that money right now is tight. However, I saved up for these two things, in anticipation that last week was going to be a hefty price to pay. The total cost of these two items without tax is equivalent to $70 dollars, but I avoided some cost by trading in some old games that I don’t play anymore for the video game.

After I did the calculations, it came down to around $74, and that’s a lot of gas and food, but sometimes you just gotta spend a little bit of money to keep yourself sane.

So without further ado, here are the short reviews about each of the products I bought.

UFC Undisputed 2009

I’ve always loved Mixed Martial Arts and waited for a video game to come out. The time finally came when THQ announced that it was making a game, I thought to myself, “YES!” I remember playing the Pride FC game that THQ previously produced and I enjoyed it better than most of the crap UFC was giving the fans. The only gripe was, that it was too simple, and really didn’t encapsulate the entire feel of an MMA bound. Quite frankly, it felt like a WWE Smackdown game without the flashy moves and such.

THQ’s second effort at a MMA game was a smash hit. Fans of the sport bought the game and praised it, and I agree with most of it. There are so many good things about the game, that it really over takes the bad. The fighters for the most part are realistic, though there isn’t a southpaw option — a problem for a person like me since creating an accurate portrayal of myself would require a southpaw stance, and playing as Rich Franklin loses a great deal of appeal.

The best part — and most frustrating at times — is the ground game. It’s intricate nature will drive impatient gamers insane. Thankfully for them, stand up is fairly easy to understand. I am still learning and won’t dare challenge the online ranks until I actually figure out how to fully incorporate transition reversals.

For the most part, I have no MAJOR complaints, other than a few cosmetic things like adding the Harley Davidson prep circle and fighter strengths, aging fighters in career mode (a complicated coding issue I’m sure) and longer than seven years in the career mode. It’s a great effort, and I was impressed and I’m still hooked on playing it a full week into owning the game.

Paul’s score (one a 1-5 scale): 4 out of 5

Eminem — “Relapse”

Oh, how I missed Eminem. Since his un-Shady like performance on “Encore” I’ve been waiting for a new CD from Mr. Mathers, and with “Relapse,” he produces a solid effort. It’s close to “The Eminem Show,” but light years behind “The Marshall Mathers LP” and “The Slim Shady LP.”

The CD returns Em to what he is known for — violence, bashing people and drug use. Amazing? Not really. Some have called it the same “song and dance,” but the lyrical content isn’t the only thing I’m analyzing when I’m listening to it. The beats and melodies are good, not the best, but not the worst that Dre and Em have produced. I’ve been a fan of Eminem’s since “The Slim Shady LP,” and tend to ignore his “hate speech” — and I have to put that in quotes because I look at it from a different perspective as others do.

Given that I wasn’t able to finish “Encore” from cover to cover, “Relapse” is a nice return to an album that I’m familiar with. Though some think his nasal, infused raps are getting tedious. I’m still not annoyed by it, though I would like Em return to rapping in his true voice rather than the “Slim Shady” alter ego that appears.

Overall, “Relapse” ranks behind the second, third and fourth albums, but ahead of the first and latest one. Hopefully, Relapse 2 serves to be a little better.

Paul’s Score: 3.5 out of 5.

Eminem’s — 3 am Music Video