Thursday, April 15, 2010

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker OST

With the Peace Walker's launch date is on the end of April, and June for the U.S. and European markets, Konami has pleased to announced that the original soundtrack of this game is finally arrived and it gives them the first listen of the game's background music, courtesy of Akihiro Honda and the others. Complete with 28 heart-pounding tracks, you can rest assured that you and your friends can co-op in to this OST, warming yourselves up before the real deal arrives. Aside from the game BGMs, the theme song "Heaven's Divide" by Donna Burke and the bonus track "Koi no Yokushi Ryoku" by Nana Mizuki (found also on the maxi single CD) also added on this OST!

Track Listings:
1. METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER Main Theme
2. Heavens Divide (sung by Donna Burke)
3. Rain of Bane
4. Marshland
5. Clients
6. Heavy Arms
7. The Spear
8. Fearless
9. Tank Corps
10. Little Brother
11. Highland
12. Cold Principle
13. PUPA
14. Hide-out
15. Air Strike
16. Entry Gate
17. CHRYSALIS
18. COCOON
19. Mother Base
20. Dead Ahead
21. Facility
22. Take Down
23. Boot Sequence
24. Peace Walker
25. Outer Heaven
26. Uninterrupted Signal
27. Zero Allies!
28. Koi No Yokushi Ryoku (sung by Nana Mizuki, the Japanese CV of Paz Ortega Andrade)

All tracks will warm yourselves up before Peace Walker arrives in April (Japanese version) and June (English version) respectively!

Remember the tagline: SAY PEACE!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Super Junior's Super Girl song gets the Lokomoko treatment?

Episode Two of Lokomoko U (the third installment of the Lokomoko series on TV5), throws me just decent ROFLs. From the nightclub gags, another Talentadong Family sketch episode, another Tuesday and Monday episode, only this time Monday (played by Rainier) dressed as a traffic aide, a sketch about how to clean the TV (at the beginning of the sketch, we see those two men watching last week's Lokomoko U's LBM take on Girls Generation's Oh song), and at the end of Lokomoko U, a spoof of Super Junior's Super Girl song came out in the open?!

Yes, it is another one of K-Pop songs getting the "Lokomoko treatment" since Lokomoko High did to 2NE1's Fire and I Don't Care, and Super Junior's Sorry Sorry, Sorry Sorry Answer, and It's You. K-Pop songs with twisted lyrics.

Alfa Romeo Giulietta -New-

Alfa Romeo marks the return of the legendary Giulietta name (produced in the 1950's and ended in the 60's, resurrected in the '70s, but terminated again in the 80's) and this time, it is not a sedan, a coupe, or a convertible like how their grandparents remembered. The new Giulietta is now a 5-door hatchback, dedicated to terminate other competitive hatchbacks such as the Opel Astra, Volkswagen Golf, and the Renault Megane.



2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta


Replacing the decade-old Alfa 147 was a hard thing to do for the new Giulietta, but resurrecting a "more than 5-decade-old name" was essentially a manly act to follow for Alfa Romeo. Previously known as the Milano from the spy shots, the new Giulietta is a light shining in the light for hatchback lovers from across the European continent. With the exterior posing Alfa Romeo's new design language found at the 8C super sports car, and the MiTo compact, the Giulietta was the hatchback made as a "reward of the goddess.” When a customer peeks at the new Giulietta's side, it confuses them by thinking it is a 3-door hatchback, but honestly, this is a 5-door hatchback. It is because of the secret rear doors (seen on the GM Daewoo Matiz Creative and the upcoming Nissan Juke crossover) equipped as a surprise.



2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta


The Giulietta's interior is packed with the race-inspired cockpit that gives drivers an edge-of-the-seat fun that feels like they are racing the streets in the racecar, which in reality, they were seating on a normal production car.



2011 Alfa Romeo Giulietta interior


There are several engines to choose from to give the Giulietta some chances to brink into the roads, ranging from the entry-level 1.4 TB, 1.6L MultiJet diesel, 2.0L MultiJet diesel, 1.4 TB MultiAir, and the high-end 1750 TBi (available only at the Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde). With these engines available as of press time, you can rest assured that finding which engine suitable for the Giuletta is a tough-but-easy act to follow.

With Vehicle Dynamics Control, Dynamic Steering Torque, electronic differential, and the Alfa DNA selector added, the Giulietta is built for safety and performance enhancing purposes. Once more, it strives to obtain a 5-star rating in the Euro NCAP, meaning only the safest Italian ride is definitely the smartest.

My thoughts about the Giulietta:
Alfa Romeo, if you were back in our Philippine fleet, one of us can try your seductive power of the Giulietta. If I meant to say this phrase, maybe Filipinos like us to wish that Alfa Romeo will return to our shores with a new distributor so we can try this awesome hatchback on the streets of EDSA. Despite all this, the legendary Giuletta name makes a comeback in hatchback form, and most rivals will be unhappy to see the new Giulietta in action. Will the Giulietta become the next big thing for Alfa Romeo?

[STILL] Still more bad case of Toyota's mass recall



While Toyota is going 2012-like or Armageddon-like, there is something that this Japanese automaker still meeting its end of the drivers' lives (from the mass hybrid recalls, unintended speeding acceleration, some blame-it-to-the-cosmic-rays, and more suffering from the world's top automaker).
I found something on the news that the U.S. version of the recent Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, known as the Lexus GX, met its poor conditions, according to North America's Consumer Reports.




Wonder how U.S. Toyota/Lexus dealers decided not to sell the new GX. Maybe the case of SUV rolling cause that makes the GX avoided by consumers until further notice. 

Because of its weight, SUVs tend to rollover because irresponsible drivers think they can drift their SUVs on sharp turns, but no...

YOU CAN'T DRIFT YOUR HEAVY SUV!

Trust everyone. All SUV aficionados need to learn how to drive a SUV effectively without a bad case of rollover and other accidents, especially owners of the new Prado.


Imagine if I was driving a Toyota, then the accelerator was stuck, I'm gonna open its sunroof, open my Fulton recovery system, and whoosh! I'm getting out of the near-accident Toyota! (Note: I put Fulton recovery system on the blog, because in Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, you can recruit knocked-downed but breathing troops with the use of Fulton recovery system. Use it and whoosh!)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Compare Peace Walker to Monster Hunter Freedom Unite

While we wait for Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker to arrive in Asia this April 29, US in June 8, Europe in June 17, and U.K. in June 18, we found some alternative co-op game others want to recommend it to others...
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Box Front

Capcom's Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite (日本名:モンスターハンターポータブル2nd G) for the PSP allows players work together as a team and use an array of weapons to take down monstrous foes. Of course, this game allows you to play by yourself or play with a friend.

Now what happens when two worlds collide?


Since April 7, the day when the final specs of MGSPW were released, Konami teamed up with Capcom (famous for Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Mega Man, and Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney games) to see how Peace Walker is better than Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. Of course, playing yourself or with a friend is much more exciting to take down giant monsters with your MGS weapons.

(Geez, better buy this Monster Hunter game and see how solo or co-op is best works for me)

My comment: One word which makes Peace Walker and MH: Freedom Unite have in common: cooperation. Team work pays off.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Kia K5 (Optima Mk.III)

Previously on November 2009, Kia Motors unveiled the majestic premium sedan, which is rumored to replace the Opirus, known as the K7. (Also known as the Cadenza in other markets) The K7 sedan made an appearance on KBS' action drama that was recently ended a few months ago titled IRIS, starring Lee Byung-Hun. (The promo video made car and K-drama addicts amused) This month, while we are waiting for ABS-CBN to take the distribution rights for this action drama, Kia unveiled another kind of K-machine that is the Lotze's replacement machine and it will be on sale the same date as Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker debuts Asia-wide and soon in the world market as the third-generation Optima. For the big bosses in South Korea, welcome to the world of K5.

2011 Kia K5

In case someone forgot how the naming occurred since the K7, this K-alphanumeric naming on new cars was part of Kia's new naming scheme, inspired from Citroen and Audi, to giving this Korean brand a taste of the West. The "K" stands for Kia Motors, the brand's birthplace (Korea), activeness (kinetic), and sense of judgment. (Kratos) With Kia's new "tiger nose" grille, as seen on present Kia models, including the Sportage R, the K5 achieved a sexier design thanks to the mastermind of Kia design himself, Peter Schreyer. When attaining its feistier form, the K5 is extremely glamorous from the front and the rear view is very attractive to the consumers. The latest Hyundai Sonata cannot stand a chance to the K5's form that is the most seductive medium sedan for adults.

2011 Kia K5 interior

While the exterior is mostly rated M for mature, the K5's interior is rated E for everyone. It looks similar to the upcoming Volvo S60, but honestly, Mr. Schreyer put a lot of hard work deciding how the inside of the K5 looks like and how will this interior attracts men from their bossy ages. With the heated steering wheel, found on the K7, added to warm the driver's cold hands, the K5 adds a new feature called Biocare seats. These new seats summon some fresh air every time when you seat inside. This seating feature is similar to the Sportage R.

2011 Kia K5

The K5's packaging is truly rated XXX for excellence, exceptional, and experience. It has the K7's welcome system that allows the car to open by itself once the owner is approaching the K5. It even has the active eco assist to increase fuel efficiency when cruising on the long and winding road. In addition, paddle shifters are added on the K5 for agile shifting on the run, giving this medium sedan the thrill of the sports car. For safety, the K5 has a list of features such as the lane departure warning system, side airbags, and vehicle dynamics control. The K5 has two different engine variants to choose from;a 2.0L engine with the power output of 165PS and the fuel economy of 13.0km/L and the high-end GDI 2.4L (found on the YF Sonata) with added 36PS of power output and the same fuel economy of 13.0km/L.

My thoughts about the K5:
Slated for Korean launch the same day as Peace Walker arrives this April 29, and soon in the world market, the K5 is not only the Korean medium sedan that is coming to us, only the desire for revenge that tickle a driver's vanity. Actually, I like the rear view of the K5 because it is more of a charm than the YF Sonata is. The present-generation Samsung SM5 seems primitive to tickle one's vanity, but this machine is burning with passion of becoming the top of the Korean medium sedan battle. This car is rated M for majestic.


Photo: Kia Motors America (U.S. Spec Version shown, Korean specification car may vary)

Friday, April 9, 2010

Heavens Divide / Koi No Yokushi Ryoku

This is the Metal Gear series' first character song CD made for those who want to experience both the Peace Walker theme song and the series' first character song made possible by Nana Mizuki, the Japanese CV of Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker's leading lady, Paz Ortega Andrade. This Maxi Single CD was out since Wednesday, April 7, the day when the final specifications of MGSPW were out, preparing for Asia's April 29 release and international version's June release.

Two words to describe this maxi single CD; tender but powerful. The first track in this maxi single CD, Heavens Divide, sung by Donna Burke, is sounded more like Calling to the Night, the ending theme from Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops, but the tone is relaxing at first and energetic all the way to the end of the song. That is why, I consider the song, Heavens Divide, as one of my favorite video game songs in my life. Take note that this song will be included in the Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker OST, coming next week. And now, after talking about Heavens Divide, it is now time to talk about the series' first character song. (Yay!)

The song, Koi No Yokushi Ryoku (which means love's deterrence in Japanese), adds something not only for MGS fans, but fans of Nana Mizuki, the popular seiyuu behind Fate Testarossa from Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha series, Moka Akashiya from Rosario+Vampire, Colette from Tales of Symphonia, and Hinata Hyuuga from Naruto series. It follows the same way as Heavens Divide, tender at first and energetic all the way. You might consider why because it sounded like one of Nana Mizuki's songs such as Phantom Minds, Trickster, Silent Bible, and others, because this is truly addicting in the ears of fans considering the number seven as their favorite number. (Because "nana" is seven in Japanese) It is just like what others said, Nana Mizuki's voice is too sexy for Paz Ortega Andrade. For those who want to hear this massive treat from Peace Walker, this maxi single CD is recommended not just for Metal Gear fans, but for the fans of Nana Mizuki as well. (I'm sure when the English-speaking members of S.C. Nana Net, the Nana Mizuki fan club, reading this blog, he or she will jump through the music store to buy this CD and listen it over and over until its nap time)

THIS TRULY THE BEST SONG YOU WON'T FIND IT ANYWHERE ELSE!

I'LL GIVE KOI NO YOKUSHI RYOKU A MASSIVE THUMBS-UP, SEVEN TIMES IN A ROW! YAY!


Limited Edition: There is a limited edition of this Maxi Single CD. It features an alternate cover of Paz Ortega Andrade (voiced by Nana Mizuki in the Japanese version of MGSPW and Tara Strong in the international version of MGSPW) which others find it amusing.