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![]() ![]() The latter comes from puzzles, most of which are light and come down to scanning the environment for visual clues. With you cast as the central monster, and a sympathetic one at that, Layers of Fear has to go elsewhere for both challenge and jump scares. This is the story of a man failing to live up to his responsibilities and lashing out. But on the whole it works, lending the narrative and the character a weight of realism. Sometimes this breaks into banality with clumsy nonsense suited to a high-school poet. There are hints of it throughout from deranged messages on the walls to a scrawled drawing of a sad face hidden on a child's toy. The shock came from understanding how ordinary most monsters seem on the outside. But there was just a normal man staring back at me. Shortly after, I found a mirror and gazed on my own reflection, expecting to see a monstrous figure or some other scare. Later, a disembodied voice whispered "you deserve this, all of it," and it felt like I did. After a short time I found myself appalled enough by my own avatar to start mouthing questions at it: what did you do? What did you do? It's down to the player's imagination to colour in the substantial blanks with nightmares of their choice. Many of these show how commonplace your life once was, illustrating how ordinary most monsters must look from the outside. Scraps of text found throughout the house build a fragmentary backstory. Soon it becomes clear that your past contains ghastly secrets, alcoholism and insanity being two of the more palatable ones. "You realise that there is one active monster in the game, and it's the one behind the keyboard." It creates a unique and disturbing environment to explore. The visual style has clear nods to surrealist painters such as Bacon and Goya. Walls bear distorted versions of classical masterpieces. ![]() There is paint daubed liberally over the environment, smears of jarring colours running over the furniture and floors. The time period is perhaps purposefully unclear, but seems to be mid-20th century. Beyond that you must wander the sizeable halls in first-person view, working out for yourself what to do and how to do it. Your only instruction at the start is to "finish it". You play as a painter, who has returned to their house and studio to complete their masterwork. Cruelty, cursing, alcoholism, and jump scares make this the kind of game the very young and faint of heart should avoid but gamers who enjoy being scared are in for a wild ride.What every good horror yarn needs is a unique spin, and Layers of Fear delivers that, quite literally, through artistry. At the same time, a truly dark and affecting story is told of one family's terrible destruction. Lighting, sound, and door placement nudge you along while expertly placed visual cues set you up for jump-out-of-your-skin scares. Soon, you're trapped in a seemingly endless maze where rooms change before your eyes and every closed door fills you with dread. Things start spooky as a violent nighttime thunderstorm rages outside and get increasingly frightening as the house starts to shift and change. The artist's mental state is reflected in the somber, low-lit environments, melancholy piano music, and heartbeat-like cadence of his lurching footsteps. Limping from room to room (the painter's bad leg is indicated in first-person view by a mildly swaying camera) he rummages through drawers, cabinets and closets, trying to understand his role in his own personal tragedy. Upon official release, it will have even more content.) The game takes place inside a 19th-century mansion belonging to a once-successful painter who's lost his wife and child. (Note: this review is of an Early Release version. If your child has frequent nightmares or is not accustomed to the horror genre yet, wait a few years or test the game out yourself, first.ĭare to take on the role of a mentally disturbed artist and a familiar premise - exploring a spooky old house - and you're in for one of the most unique and unforgettable interactive horror experiences you've ever had. I was a little hesitant to let my kid play it due to it maybe scaring her a little too much, but it turned out fine. The game even frightened me a little bit when me and my husband played it the first time around. There is light drinking and some swearing in the game. The game is first person, about a mystery surrounding a murder, and the player is left to explore a haunted house. One minute you walk into a room, turn around and the door is gone behind you, or the hallways continue in an endless loop. Baby dolls creepily smacking their heads repetitively against things, disturbing (though not inappropriate) paintings, creepy noises and lights going out, etc. There are some jump scares, but the game is mostly psychologically disturbing. It really depends on how your child handles horror. If cancelled less than 48 hours prior or “no show” you will forfeit the full price of the Catalina Island zipline tour package. Catalina Zip line availability varies by time of year or day of the week with additional availability usually in the summer.Ģ person minimum required to book this tour. The Catalina Island Zipline Eco tour is offered from all Anaheim Resort hotels and select Los Angeles area hotels. Single zip line riders must not exceed 240 lbs (weight limit is strictly enforced). Combined weight of tandem riders must not exceed 240 lbs. ![]() Children between the ages of 5-9 must ride tandem with another participant that is at least 18 years of age and who will act as the child’s guardian for the length of the tour. Those weighing less than 80 lbs must ride tandem with another participant of the zip line tour. Zipline Eco Tour participants must be at least 10 years of age and weigh at least 80 lbs. This incredible zip line experience on Catalina Island will forever change your idea of what a tour should be!! Sign up for a Catalina Island Zipline Eco Tour today!Ĭatalina Zip Line Age Requirements / Tandem Rules / Weight Restrictions ![]() Eventually exiting at Descanso Beach, your Catalina zipline journey will last approximately 2 hours but your memories are sure to last a lifetime. There’s one Catalina zipline run that is 1,100 lineal feet long! At each zip line station, your hosts will give you a presentation on some of the unique and interesting aspects of Catalina Island, its history, wildlife, and the areas of the island you are traveling through. You will travel close to three quarters of a mile over five consecutive zip lines at heights of 300 feet above the Descanso Canyon floor at speeds pushing 45mph. Then experience the wonders of a Catalina Island zipline with our ZIP LINE ECO TOUR. BUY CATALINA ISLAND ZIP-LINE TICKETS Propel down 5 separate zip lines dropping from 600 feet above sea level with one run that is 1100 lineal feet long all. Ziplining in California all starts with a Karmel Shuttle to Long Beach then a Catalina Express cruise to the island.Ĭatalina Express, known for having the smoothest and fastest fleet to the island, provides the one hour scenic transfer. Visit one of Southern California’s favorite tourist attractions and book a zipline tour today. ![]() Spend a day ziplining in Paradise with a Catalina Island zipline Eco tour! A Catalina zipline adventure awaits. Located 22 miles off the coast of Southern California, Catalina Island is picture perfect and a world away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. 13Ī polysomnogram (PSG) and a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) can assist in the diagnosis of narcolepsy without cataplexy ( TABLE 1). 13 Of course, narcolepsy will not be diagnosed if any other medical or mental disorders account for the symptoms. 13 Narcolepsy without cataplexy consists of a patient complaint of excessive sleepiness or sudden muscle weakness, along with associated features, including sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, automatic behaviors, or disrupted major sleep episodes. Narcolepsy with cataplexy is defined as cataplexy along with recurrent daytime naps or lapses into sleep that occur almost daily for at least 3 months. The diagnostic criteria show that there are two kinds of narcolepsy-narcolepsy with cataplexy and narcolepsy without cataplexy. 12 Trib2-specific antibodies destroy hyprocretin neurons, which eventually result in hyprocretin deficiency. In a recent study by Cvetkovic-Lopes et al, it was discovered that transcript encoding Tribbles homolog 2 (Trib2) is an autoantigen in narcolepsy. Most narcoleptic patients without cataplexy have normal cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of orexin A, whereas >90% of narcoleptic subjects with cataplexy have undetectable orexin A in their CSF. 10,11 Orexin was identified as the major sleep-modulating neurotransmitter, responsible not only for sleep but also for appetite and metabolism. The discovery of hypocretin-1 and -2, also known as orexin A and B, respectively, gave rise to the hypothesis that narcolepsy is caused by a selective early hypocretin neuron loss occurring within and around the lateral area in the hypothalamus however, the exact cause of the neuronal loss in narcolepsy is still unknown. 3,8 Carrying HLA-DQB1*0602 indicates that individuals are predisposed to narcolepsy, but this factor is not enough on its own to diagnose someone with the disease, since it is found in about 12% to 38% of nonnarcoleptics. Several studies have shown a high predominance of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR2, specifically HLA-DQB1*0602, which is found in 95% of narcoleptics with cataplexy and in 41% of narcoleptics without cataplexy, indicating narcolepsy may be an autoimmune disease. 5 An additional 1.7% to 5% of relatives had narcolepsy without cataplexy. Ohayon and Okun found that narcolepsy possibly has a genetic component, since the risks for narcolepsy with cataplexy are 2.8% to 5.6% in first-degree relatives. 6 The incidence of narcolepsy with cataplexy is estimated at 0.74 per 100,000 person-years, while narcolepsy with or without cataplexy is at 1.37 per 100,000 person-years. The prevalence of narcolepsy with cataplexy is estimated to be 25 to 50 per 100,000 people, while narcolepsy without cataplexy is estimated higher (56 per 100,000 people). 5 It is moderately more predominant in men than in women. The onset of narcolepsy typically begins in the teenage years and young adulthood, and then persists for life. Individuals with narcolepsy are often obese, with a higher than normal body mass index (BMI), probably due to low metabolic rate. Hypnopompic hallucinations are similar, but happen upon awakening. They involve abnormal visual and vivid auditory hallucinations. Hypnagogic hallucinations typically occur while falling asleep. Some patients may experience hypnagogic and hypnopompic hallucinations. 2,3 The patient’s consciousness during the episode differentiates sleep paralysis from sleep attacks. ![]() It is often a frightening experience, where patients cannot move their body or speak, although they are conscious of their surroundings. This is a brief episode involving the loss of voluntary muscle tone that usually happens immediately upon awakening or going to sleep. 1 Another symptom of narcolepsy is sleep paralysis. It is stimulated by emotions, such as laughter, anger, or surprise. Involuntary, sudden lapses into unconsciousness are called sleep attacks.Ĭataplexy, a symptom exclusive to narcolepsy, is a strong loss of bilateral muscle tone that can last from a few seconds up to 30 minutes. Disproportionate amounts of sleepiness are also experienced during the day and can last from seconds to minutes. Narcoleptic patients often complain of sleep deprivation, constant fatigue, insomnia, and fragmented nighttime sleep. 2 Experiencing all four symptoms is not required for a narcolepsy diagnosis. 1 Four main symptoms are associated with narcolepsy: cataplexy, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations. Narcolepsy is an incurable neurologic sleep disorder characterized by an abnormality in onset and offset of rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. ‘Titanic’ is a song that reminds me of so many different kinds of songs that Juice Wrld has made. Really, really runnin’ out of patience… ‘Conversations’ is a hard-ass Trap song which is very nice to listen to, and it gives us a very clear glimpse into how Juice Wrld was feeling at the time he made this song. This sentiment is described very well by the chorus: The devil hit my phone, he wanna talk. On ‘Conversations,’ Juice Wrld is singing about all of the pain and anguish he goes through every day and how he lets his demons(drugs and alcohol) take over so he can feel okay. Juice Wrld is known for his very unique singing voice that is sort of strained but covers a ton of range, and the melody of ‘Conversations’ highlights the best things about his voice super well. Even though Juice Wrld is not really known for making music with this kind of instrumental(he typically opts for more chill and slow and atmospheric and cloudy melodies as opposed to something to tough and dark), he absolutely kills it with his vocal performance on this track and sounds so natural on it. It is the kind of heavy instrumental that would expect to hear from Florida rappers like Denzel Curry or Kodak Black, with some super trippy synths that remind me a lot of some of Travis Scott’s biggest hits. This track was produced by OMGRonny, and it has the typical elements that would make one assume this that he had something to do with this beat i.e., a super trippy and dark feeling to the melody and an absolutely banging bassline. Out of all the songs on the album that have an instrumental that can be considered strictly Hip Hop, the instrumental for the song ‘Conversations’ has got to be my favorite. A couple of Honorable Mentions for me from this record that did not make the list are ‘Bad Energy,’ ‘Screw Juice,’ and ‘Blood On My Jeans.’ RIP Juice Wrld. This album has quite a few hits, and there is a reason it is dominating the top 10 on Spotify’s streaming charts right now, so let me know if you agree with my choices in the comments below and tell me about other songs that you liked from this record that I did not mention. With all of that being said, here is a list of my favorite songs from Juice Wrld’s new record Legends Never Die. Unfortunately, Juice Wrld passed away on December 8, 2019, and he will never be able to see all of the success and love that he deserved to see. Juice Wrld was one of the most popular rising stars in the rap game, and his second album was very highly anticipated. It is almost like his voice was made for the exact type of music he was making there was a reason so many artists still try to sound like him. Juice Wrld’s voice fits the Emo-Trap genre almost too perfectly. He was one of the artists that wanted to fuse Emo-Rock music and Pop-Punk music with Atmospheric and Cloudy trap music. ![]() Juice Wrld had a very cool and very beautiful singing voice that was filled with so much emotion, and a lot of his music talked about problems and insecurities that a lot of his biggest fans could relate to on a very personal level. His sound was so popular, in fact, that quite a few new Hip Hop artists have been heavily influenced by Juice Wrld, even though he really only popped onto the scene 3 or 4 years ago. Similar to Pop Smoke(he is who I wrote about last week), Juice Wrld was an artist who had a sound and style that was completely his own and was becoming super catchy and popular. From Mac Miller to Pop Smoke to Juice Wrld, the music industry has lost some of its brightest, most talented, and most unique stars currently in the business over the last year or so. Obviously, Juice Wrld’s Legends Never Die is the best and most relevant record to come out in the last week so I have to say something about it, but I can’t lie and say it isn’t tough to write about such talented artists who should still be here with us today. ![]() ![]() It truly is quite a bit of a bummer to have to write about music made by an artist who recently passed away for the second week in a row. ![]() In fact, the modern furniture and tasteful decorations give this place an undeniably luxurious appeal.īecause of its clientele and general mood, the Skylark does have a dress code, so come dressed for an upscale setting and enjoy some of the most luxurious views of New York! The ambiance is comfortable and cozy without falling into hominess. Chances are you'll find something you like. Though not known for its food, the Skylark does offer high-quality bar bites, so don't worry about going hungry. Whether you're lucky enough to be invited to said private events or you're just visiting for the night, rest assured that you'll enjoy an extensive collection of drinks, including the rooftop bar's signature cocktails, all of them made with fresh ingredients. What happens during the weekends? You may ask. Skylark rooftop is open only during the weekdays, which makes it a preferred spot for office workers and partiers alike, so make sure to come in early or make reservations. This classic cocktail lounge can be found near Times Square, and thanks to its location on the 30th floor, it provides stunning views of the entire city, with the Empire State, Hudson River and Times Square standing at the forefront. Cloud thematic parties are legendary, so make sure to attend if you have the chance! Cloud also has a private cigar lounge, stylish decorations, comfortable lounge sofas, and one of the best ambiances you can find in New York. Cloud rooftop bar has great drinks alongside the views, and the food doesn't fall behind, as it has a small but delicious menu that changes according to the season. Signature cocktails, fine wines, craft beers, and even champagne, the St. ![]() Cloud has both indoor and outdoor seating, which makes a great place to visit no matter the season (though summers are particularly fun). Located at the five star Knickerbocker Hotel, it offers excellent views to Times Square while simultaneously providing you with a relaxed and comfortable place to rest and enjoy the sights.Īn exclusive and well-known bar, the St. Cloud Rooftop is a great place to visit at any point during the afternoon and night. Both cool, cozy and amazing!įinally, keep in mind that as the to-go spot in NYC, prices can be quite high, so be prepared to spend.Ī place full of personality, the St. If you're in NYC during winter, make sure to drop by and check out the rooftop igloos covering the terrace. Just make sure to arrive on time, as the terrace operates on a first-come, first-served model. If you're planning to sit indoors, make a reservation beforehand, as the place can get packed if you're planning to party outside, though, no reservation is needed. Set on the 54th floor of Hyatt Centric Times Square, the rooftop bar comes with indoor and outdoor seating, both offering great views of the city, and a comfortable lounge area that you're sure to love. Some of which you won't be able to find elsewhere. The superb view it offers of New York's skyline, coupled with its delightful drink menu, makes Bar 54 an obligated stop for those looking for a night to remember!Īlongside the expected wine, beer, and liquor selection, the Bar 54 also offers signature cocktails crafted with skill and fresh ingredients. In case the words "Centric Times Square" haven't tipped you off, this rooftop bar is smack in the heart of New York City, and happens to also be one of the highest bars in town. ![]() The player holding the Soviet flag in Cooperative gameplay. It was the most destructive conflict in human history." Once finished the credits will roll, which at the beginning says the game is dedicated to the veterans of WWII who sacrificed their lives for the preservation of liberty. This is followed by a video containing President Harry Truman's voice mentioning the German surrender in Europe, the bombing of Hiroshima, and General MacArthur's speech following the Japanese surrender, and finally Treyarch's summary of the war, which states " 60 million lives were lost as a result of World War 2. The National Anthem of the Soviet Union is played during the end of the mission. Keep moving forward once Reznov cuts the Nazi flag's ropes, and the player plants the Soviet flag, ending the mission. Reznov then carries the player forward a bit, assuring the player that he will make it, since Petrenko has cheated death before. Once there a dying German soldier will pop up out of hiding, and shoot Petrenko almost fatally with a Walther P38, only to be cut twice then impaled in the back by a machete-wielding Reznov. ![]() Take the flag and move towards the Nazi Flagpole. The soldier holding the flag will be killed, but do not fear, a missile strike (presumably from the trucks in the beginning of " Heart of the Reich") will take out the Germans that shot the flag bearer. Once all the remaining Germans are killed, follow Reznov to the front entrance. It is advised that the player takes cover and use any remaining grenades the player has or go to the small cubicles at the left side as the player can flank the Germans. The Rocket soldiers should be dealt with quickly, as they will likely deliver a "1-2 Punch" and dispose of the player quickly. Also accounting for multiple enemies shooting at the player from close range. ![]() The Panzerschrecks will likely be the most dangerous enemies as it will take two hits to kill you, if not one. The Machine gunner can be killed by a Mosin-Nagant or a PTRS-41 if aimed well enough. Added on to the fact that there are grenades constantly being lobbed at you, multiple Panzerschreck toting enemies with height advantages, and a fortified MG42 at the far end of the defenses. The final battle's difficulty is due to the fact that there is very little cover on the roof, and many enemies encountered on the same level as the player are wielding STG-44s and MP40s, which can be devastating at close range. Once they are neutralized, proceed upstairs to the roof, which will bring the final and hardest battle of the mission. Once the player does, two Russians will try and force open a door held by Germans, and Reznov will assist them, once the door is broken down, go through, a small party of Germans will be waiting. A last objective in this room requires the player to find a Panzerschreck and use it to shoot down the Reichsadler (huge eagle symbol) on the front wall of the room, destroying the most prominent symbol of the Third Reich, as well as the remaining SS underneath. If ammunition runs short go downstairs and grab weapons from the Germans, such as STG-44s, MP40s, or Gewehr 43s. Shoot the Germans with the Panzerschrecks first, as though most of the soldiers will not notice you, some may do so. ![]() There are several PTRS-41s around the area, so to conserve ammo, do not waste ammo by taking all the sniper rifles with lots of reserve ammo left. Use what the player learned in " Vendetta" and shoot the fuel tanks of flamethrower wielding Germans to blow them up. Near the door upstairs is a PTRS-41 rifle, and upstairs in the balcony there are 3 more. Sergeant Reznov will tell the player to go upstairs and provide cover fire. Continue to the parliament room with plenty of Germans taking cover. The player will see some scenes of Russians fighting and then killing Germans inside the rooms that they barricaded themselves in. Then the player must proceed up the stairs to encounter more SS soldiers.Įliminate them all then proceed down the hall. The player must first enter the lobby of the Reichstag, eliminating all of the German forces inside. In this sequel to " Heart of the Reich", the player fights inside the Reichstag, a building in which the player's final fight takes place. ![]() You should consider all variables that matter to you, including things like which bonus powers you have or plan to choose. We've left our suggestions of the best advanced weapon training choices below - but please just use them as a guide, not the be-all, end-all. For instance, if you're not much of a shooter gamer, the sniper might not be attractive to you. For one, it'll depend heavily on your class - but it'll also depend deeply on your play style and what you're comfortable with. The first and most important thing to note here is to say that just like choosing a class, there is no absolute answer to the best advanced weapon training in Mass Effect 2. Mass Effect 2 Advanced Weapon Training: which is the best option? Once it pops, you'll have a tough decision to make. This choice is given to the player around halfway into the Mass Effect 2 mission order, during a mandatory mission to board a Collector Vessel. In this instance, you'll gain access to an all-new and exclusive weapon in that class. ![]() You can, however, also choose a weapon type that your class already has access to. You might even find that after a few hours your advanced weapon training choice ends up your favorite and best weapon in ME2. Being prompted to choose specialization here is the closest thing to choosing a specialization in the original Mass Effect. This is a great way to deal with some of the deficiencies of several of the classes in Mass Effect 2 by giving them a weapon that covers an area of weakness, you can help raise your choice of class up to the point where it's one of the best classes in ME2. Firstly, if your class doesn't already have access to the weapon you choose, you'll be given the chance to use that weapon at last. ![]() Essentially, this option will do two things. Players must follow suit if able otherwise may discard any card. If cards are faced in the pack, the dealer reshuffles, offers it for the cut and re-deals.Įldest hand leads to the first trick. If cards are misdealt, the deal passes to the left. The deck is shuffled by the dealer, cut by the player to the right, and then dealt clockwise beginning with eldest hand, the player left of the dealer, until each player has thirteen cards. Players draw a fixed number of chips, typically 25 or 50, which may or may not have a monetary value. A standard 52-card pack of English pattern cards is used, cards ranking from ace (high) down to the two. The aim is to avoid taking any cards of the heart suit in tricks. The game is usually played by four players, but three to six can be accommodated (see below). ![]() The following rules are based on those published in The Standard Hoyle of 1887. ![]() The game has increased in popularity through Internet gaming sites which, however, usually offer the Black Lady variant while still calling it Hearts, whereas most books maintain the distinction between the two games. Meanwhile, in Britain the game of Black Maria, with its additional penalty cards in the suit of spades, emerged in 1939 and, both it and another offshoot, Omnibus Hearts, are "sufficiently different and popular to justify descriptions as separate games." Today this feature is a common element of modern Black Lady. The slam is known as "shooting the moon" and first appeared in Britain in 1939 in a variant of Hearts called Hitting the Moon. In the 1920s, the J ♦ variation (ten positive points) was introduced, and sometime later the scoring was reversed so that penalty points were expressed as positive instead of negative. To begin with, Black Lady did not have the option of "shooting the moon" that came later. ![]() This new variant has since become the standard game of the Hearts group in America where it is often, somewhat confusingly, also called "Hearts". In 1909, the Q ♠ was added as the highest penalty card in a variant called either Discard Hearts, after the new feature of passing unwanted cards to other players after the deal, or Black Lady, after the nickname for the Q ♠. The second scoring scheme was: Ace 5, King 4, Queen 3, Jack 2 and all pips 1 chip each. The first was the precursor to Spot Hearts whereby the cards of the heart suit cost the following in chips: Ace 14, King 13, Queen 12, Jack 11 and pip cards their face value. Two scoring variants were mentioned under the name 'Double or Eagle Game'. The basic format has changed little since. It was a no-trump, trick-taking game for four players using a full pack of cards, the aim being to avoid taking any hearts in tricks. It described Hearts as "a most pleasant game, highly provocative of laughter". Hearts itself emerged in the United States during the 1880s, The Standard Hoyle of 1887 reporting that it had only been played there for "the last five years" and was "probably of German origin". A similar game called "Four Jacks" centred around avoiding any trick containing a Jack, which were worth one penalty point, and J ♠ worth two. In this game, a penalty point was awarded for each trick won, plus additional points for taking J ♥ or Q ♥ in tricks. The game of Hearts probably originated with Reversis, which became popular around 1750 in Spain. The original game of Hearts is still current but has been overtaken in popularity by Black Lady in the United States and Black Maria in Great Britain. The game is a member of the Whist group of trick-taking games (which also includes Bridge and Spades), but is unusual among Whist variants in that it is a trick-avoidance game players avoid winning certain penalty cards in tricks, usually by avoiding winning tricks altogether. It was first recorded in America in the 1880s and has many variants, some of which are also referred to as "Hearts", especially the games of Black Lady and Black Maria. Hearts is an "evasion-type" trick-taking playing card game for four players, although most variations can accommodate between three and six players. Notes: Hearts, while not trump, award one penalty point each, hence the game's name. 52-card (51 or 54 for 3 or 6 players, 50 for 5) |