Crackerwax

Halo 3 feels much more like the original Halo did, the sense of freedom you get from being able to rip up gun emplacements and carry them or deploy shields where you want is immense. Add to that the number of different ways to progress through each level and you end up with a thoroughly convincing world.

The sheer amount of stuff you can do in this game is astonishing and rather unusually it doesn’t feel tacked on, it just adds to the atmosphere.

I know I said yesterday that the graphics weren’t really that much of a step up, well I was wrong. The further you get into the game the better they get. Not only that but the number of enemies on screen at once and the number of effects going on is fantastic, you really do get the sense that you’re in the middle of an invasion.

The Arbiter from Halo 2 is still present and thankfully from what I hear you never have to play as him. That was one of Halo 2’s major failings and Metal Gear Solid 2’s while I’m at it, I’ll never forgive Hideo Kojima for making me play as Raiden.

Fucking about with the players sense of identity is a big no-no in my book and so far I’ve felt very much that the fate of the world really is in my hands and that I am Master Chief. Little details abound to convince you of your status as the world’s saviour.

The character of Master Chief really is made to feel larger than life in every situation, marines talk about you in hushed reverential tones and the grunts shit themselves when they see you. It all adds up to a solid sense of immersion.

The Cortana part of the plot is interesting too, I’m looking forward to finding out where her part in the story is. At the minute I can only guess that 343 Guilty Spark will be involved somewhere down the line but for once I’m actually interested in a game’s plot!

I get the feeling too that once I’ve completed the campaign I’m going to get more than my money’s worth out of the online multi-player stuff. It’s a really good game, there’s no mistaking that, but only time will tell if its truly a classic.

A lot’s been written about Amy Winehouse over the past few months. Tales of drug abuse, beatings, alcoholism, arguments and all manner of other dreadful things. Many’s the newspaper that’s featured articles droning on about how close to dying she is and that somebody should do something about it before it’s too late.

Bollocks. Keep it up I say.

Artists since time immemorial have fought inner demons, Amy Winehouse is no exception to this. Just because she’s young, gifted and jewish doesn’t mean she can’t have a raging junk habit does it?

The problem with the modern media is that it, rather hypocritically in my eyes, moralises about drug use and how very, very bad it is. Piffle. It’s nothing new and you’re never going to stop it.

Let’s take a look at jazz and soul musicians in particular, after all this is what Winehouse models her self on, and let’s see exactly what’s happened over the decades to the various proponents of the art.

• Billie Holiday
  Well known drug addict, died of cirrhosis of the liver.
• Nina Simone
  A raging alcoholic, who once shot her neighbour’s son because his laughing disturbed her concentration.
• Charlie Parker
  Died of pneumonia and a bleeding ulcer, a death that was hastened by his drug and alcohol abuse.
• Bix Beiderbecke
  Alcoholic, drank himself to death on bootleg gin.
• Miles Davis
  Drug addict, eventually overcame it. Then died anyway.

My point is that none of this is new, artistic types have been taking drugs, drinking too much and fighting forever. The only difference now is that the public has a morbid fascination with celebrity tittle-tattle that is catered for by newspapers, television shows, magazines, websites and a host of other media. A picture of Amy Winehouse covered in blood, stumbling out of a London hotel at half three in the morning isn’t going to do any of these media outlets any harm is it?

Add to this the fact that today’s view of drug and alcohol use is much more liberal than it was even twenty years ago, it’s clear to see that the desire of the record companies and agents to cover up their star’s rampant benders just isn’t there. In fact it might even be considered to carry a little kudos with The Kids if they are seen to be living on the edge.

We need to put it into perspective, she isn’t doing anyone any harm, she might be living a life that’s a bit short on meaning but by fuck I bet it isn’t short on experience. And isn’t that what being an artist is all about; conveying your life experience to others through your art? Compare these lyrics:

For you I was a flame,
Love is a losing game
Five story fire as you came,
Love is losing game

One I wish I never played,
Oh, what a mess we made
And now the final frame,
Love is a losing game

And:

As time goes by I probably will
Meet a girl and fall in love
Then I’ll get married have a wife and a child
And they’ll be my turtle doves

But until then I’ll be a bachelor boy
And that’s the way I’ll stay
Happy to be a bachelor boy
Until my dying days

Which would you rather listen to, a young woman singing about regret at having loved and lost or a twat in a suit crooning about maybe marrying someone. Possibly. Someday. Maybe. If he could get over his Christian guilt at being gay.

I’ll leave you with this Keith Richards quote.

‘I’ve never had a problem with drugs. I’ve had problems with the police.’

Quite.