Doctor Who - New series, new species part 39

So the Doctor is back on our screens and there are a few new exciting life forms for us to discover on his travels. As ever if you want more detailed discussion of the episodes themselves as well as Who in general I'll leave you in the expert hands of the Impossible Podcast team, who you can link to by clicking the sidebar.

Dalek Puppets

I'm not 100% sure about the term, but the Tardis wiki people use it and as I'm stealing this image from them I guess it'll work fine!! I liked this twist of the Daleks converting people into sleeper agents against their will and I even thought the Dalek probes coming out of their heads was a good idea. The only thing I didn't quite like was that the agent had too much personality when in Dalek mode, casually laughing about how they used her memories jarred a little and would have been better delivered devoid of emotion - the Alaska  crewers did a better job, starting confused and turning into scary Dalek mode.

And as for Oswin that was just tragic!

In the second episode we got a load of dinosaurs and a vaguely humanish guy plus a Silurian or two but nothing that could really classify as a new species - I did like the premise though, it remided me of Planetary stories - plus we did get a cool spaceship out of it!!

Silurian Ark Ship

Kahler

In this Western style episode the production team went down the Star Trek alien route featuring the 'basically human with a strange marking on the face' species type that so often encountered the Enterprise. This species seem to all feature distinctive green markings on their face, but on outward appearance are all basically human. However I suppose it did make sense for him to be more easily accepted by the townsfolk if he did basically look human.

The Kahler were a very technologically advanced race capable of building incredible forms of technology. At some point in their history they became embroiled in a catastrophic war that lead to the creation of cyborgs, mutilated beings that served to overpower their enemies. However, the cyborgs then turned on their masters and hunted down the men that made them into monsters.

More soon, probably Mass Effect

Mass Effect 3: Utukku

More Mass Effect 3 - here's the vid.

Here are the War Assets from this mission

* The following are War Assets gained on Utukke and the surrounding systems

Grunt (He is recovering from the mission but eager to get back into action!)

Aralakh Company (Due to the events of the mission most of Aralakh company was wiped out, reducing their effective strength)

Rachni Workers (The Rachni Queen sent skilled Rachni workers to assist building the Crucible - not quite the Rachni fleet I'd been hoping for but it was cool to see them nonetheless)

One of the Krogan squad sent to Utukke was Char, the Krogan who was reciting poetry to his love on Illium - later Shepard has the sad task of delivering his final love sonnet to his wife on the Citadel. 

Mass Effect 3: Sur'Kesh

Yes it's another video post as I carry on through my playthrough of Mass Effect 3 - but anyway I'll let the video do the talking.

 

As usual I'll update you on the War Assets found during and around these missions

 

 

* The following are War Assets gained on Sur'Kesh

 

Major Kirrahe (has support of the Special Tasks Group and will aid Shepard even with disaproval of Salarians)

 

* The following are War Assets gained while on Sanctum and exploring the surrounding systems

 

Javelin Missiles (a supply of these missiles are fitted to the cruisers defending the Crucible

Cerberus Research Data (the reaper technology Cerberus was studying again goes to the Crucible project)

 

Data picked up on these missions include improved Biotic Amps which go toward strengthening soldiers and adapted medi-gel which bolsters the Hanar fleet.

 

* The following are War Assets earned through the multpilayer missions

 

N7 Special Ops soldiers (the N7 is an unofficial title but these soldiers have volunteered to join the war effort)

 

My first character Dafydd Ellis - a human Adept weilding deadly biotic powers has completed his missions and has become part of the war effort - I'll update you as and when my other characters join - you unlock characters at random through reward packs - I'm hoping for a vorcha!

 

 



Mass Effect 3: Eden Prime and the Jon Grissom Academy

Yes it's more  Mass Effect 3 for you as I continue Shepard's adventures throughout this game. In this post I'll cover the From Ashes DLC as well as one of the main storyline missions from the game. After the vid I'll also post up a list of the War Assests earned so far up to this point and update it every post as best I can.

War Assets

* The following are War Assets earned at the Start of the game

The Alliance 1st, 3rd and 5th fleets (the 2nd was sacrificed battling the Reapers at Earth so the other fleets could withdraw)

The Alliance Engineering Corps (largely dedicated to building the Crucible weapon)

The 103rd Marine Division

SpecOps Team Delta

Normandy SR-2

Mineral Resources (your resources from the previous game are used for the war effort)

Diana Allers (her news broadcasts gain support for the Alliance)

* The following are War Assets earned on Palaven and by scouting the nearby systems

The Turian 79th Flotilla

It is also possible to earn fuel and credits by scouting systems

* The following are War Assets earned by completing assignments on the Citadel

Spectre Unit (A team of Spectres assembled by Jondum Bau to assist Shephard)

Hanar and Drell forces (A small fleet and elite assassins contributed in gratitude for saving Kahje)

Terminus Fleet (Assembled under Aria T'loak this fleet combines the might of the Blood Pack with their vorcha troops and Eclipse with a host of mechs and special forces units - Blue Suns are not yet committed)

* The following are War Assets earned on Eden Prime and the surrounding planets

Alliance Cruiser Shanghai (notable for successfully evacuating an entire colony with 0 casualties)

Alliance Naval Exploration Flotilla 

Eden Prime Support (they have overthrown Cerberus and are committed to supporting the Alliance)

* The following are War Assets earned while rescuing the Grissom Academy students

Jack (she leads a team of biotic students from Grissom Academy)

Grissom Academy students (Shephard assigned them to supporting the 103rd marines in a defensive role)

Kahlee Sanders (she takes technically gifted students from the Academy to work on the Crucible)

I forgot to mention that David Archer, rescued from the Cerberus Overlord programme in Mass Effect 2 is present on the station after Shepard freed him. He went with Kahlee to work on the Crucible project. 

And that's it! I'll continue to update War Assets as I go - I'm away for a few days but there'll be more Mass Effect before you know it!!

Blogga's Wall - June/ July '12

 

Here's what went up on my wall in the months of June and July. 

1) Kinect Star Wars

 

I bought this game with some trepidation but it has proved to be quite fun. The Kinect control isn't the best and it doesn't always follow what actions I'm doing but the various modes offer plenty of fun. The campaign is actually pretty decent and the other modews likes podracing, rancor rampage and dancing are a good laugh too.

2) Knight Errant: Escape #1

 A new series of Knight Errant is underway from Dark Horse with Kerra now infiltrating the ranks of Odion's Sith troops on a mission of her own to save her parents. Very exciting but the downside was that the issue lacks the encounter with the beastie shown on the cover, hopefully it will show up later in the series though.

3) The Amazing Spider-man

I really enjoyed this re-boot of the Spider-Man series with Andrew Garfield managing to create a very convincing Peter Parker who is both the wisecracking hero and awkward teenager in one. The tension with the mystery concerning his father's death is a key part of this movie and future ones in the series. Rhys Ifans (who went to the same school as me!!) was fantastic in the role of the Lizard.

4) The Dark Knight Rises

 
  A Nolan Batman film is of course going to be nothing less than spectacular and with Tom Hardy playing a marvelous interpretation of Bane and Anne Hathaway playing a very convincing Catwoman it delivered on all fronts. I can't say much without giving away the storyline, but if you read this blog I'm almost certain you will have seen this movie by now anyway!!

Next: More Mass Effect!!

SF at the movies - August '12

Well in time to make a change, this is the rundown of the sci-fi on the big screen this month.

The Watch





Total Recall


Have fun watching!!

Mass Effect 3: The Citadel and Palaven

I'm back discussing more of my playthrough of Mass Effect 3!! This post should really be called the Citadel, Palaven and back again as that's just what Shepard does in this early adventure. Anyway - here's the video.

It may have sounded like I swore in that video but I was just the result of me changing my mind mid-sentence honestly!!! 

There are also various people who need help - scientists trying to get better biotic amps or improve the power grid on the citadel, even Barla Von still working for the Shadow Broker not realising his boss in on Shepard's crew now! There are also plenty of conversations to listen into reflecting the effect of the war on everyone - plus a hilarious interactive advert for the Blasto 6 movie!!!

Oh and I did forget to say that Aria's on the Citadel due to the Cerberus invasion of Omega in the Mass Effect: Invasion comic series, but she has some impressive sway, even getting the Asari Councillor to help her pass customs!!

More Mass Effect soon!