NCR: Mario Strikers Charged (camwhore ftl) (840 hits)
Category: Computers & InternetLabels: camwhore, NCR
Rating: 0.33 on 39 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by NintendoCzar The Reviewer (View user info) at 2007-09-26 03:35:17 EDT
Yeah, well, here's an actual review I wrote (not for you yucks, but I digress). Sure, it took thought, not much, so minus TWO die away. Anyway, I'm posting it simply because I realized I hadn't posted a review here before, and since that's all the rage now, thought I'd be pseudo-topical.
So enjoy. Or don't.
NintendoCzar Reviews... MARIO STRIKERS CHARGED
From the opening scene, you are thrust into Mario's soccer world, a world that is much more engaging than our own. Mario Strikers Charged is a truly a testament of how a sequel should be done. It builds on everything that Super Mario Strikers introduced so effectively, I feel like I am playing a game from an entirely different developer. Unlike other sports titles, which pump out yearly iterations and find little to improve, Next Level Games took the original game, dissected it, kept the spine and rebuilt it, going as far as to add online capabilities. There is not one area of the game that lacks depth, but there are parts that lack polish.
Mario Strikers Charged is billed as a soccer game with an extreme twist. Players can pummel opponents, use super-sized items, and soccer multiple points at once. Teammates no longer fall under a general "species" category, allowing players to freely choose from the NUMBER OF TEAMMATES characters available. Much like the Mario Kart series, the winner of a match can be influenced by character selection. Unlike Mario Kart, Mario Strikers Charged relies too heavily on that idea, since some have deke moves that allow them not only to avoid the players on the field, but also the goalie. For example, Toad has the amazing ability to jump, meaning that if the move is timed correctly, he can jump over the goalie and walk in for an easy point. Another example is Dry Bones, who can disappear instantly and reappear inside the goal.
It's these types of moves that will turn off casual and novice gamers; by the same token, they're also the types of moves that will ignite the curiosity of traditional gamers to try and figure out how to best squeeze out an easy point. Fortunately, the execution of these moves much more difficult than they read. Players will need to pass the ball between teammates in order to charge the ball before the given examples will work effectively, meaning opponents will still have a chance to defend against the ball.
Unlike in Super Mario Strikers where smacking the opposing team was performed by an pressing a button, the Wii's motion sensitive abilities are put to use. Players can attack their opponents by motioning the Wii remote left or right. Weapon cycling is also handled in this manner, with players motioning the Nunchuck to cycle through items. These new controls seem natural, but at times can cause problems, especially during an intense match, where moving your controller is the last thing you're concentrating on. In these situations, I found myself just pressing the 'B' button until it launched the weapon I was looking for. While Next Level vastly improved the characters, the weapons weren't given any improvements at all. They still feel cheap and ineffective, especially when compared to how powerful the characters were made. Each team captain has a special ability item tailored to that specific character, along with a signature MegaStrike animation. Mario and Luigi can turn "Super" and stomp across the field, while Wario can get "gas" and fart around the field, stunning other players (even his own). The problem with special items is that some characters have abilities that are clearly more useful than others. I won't spoil which, but one character can actually transport players off the field, meaning that they can pull off a MegaStrike unopposed. A MegaStrike is a powerful move that can preformed by holding down the shoot button. When preformed, players can shoot multiple balls for multiple points at the goalie. Thankfully, MegaStrikes aren't guaranteed like Super Strikes were in the first game. If players fail to reach an opponent who is trying to power-up their MegaStrike, they can shake the Wii remote, making it more difficult for the opponent to nail a powerful Megastrike. In addition, the new "goalie control" puts the player in a first person view as the goalie, where they can attempt to block the shots, which come at a pace that depends on the offensive player's button timing. The animated sequence that accompanies each captain's MegaStrike is interesting, augmenting the impressive art direction that the developer took.
One just needs to glance at Super Mario Strikers to appreciate the work Next Level has done with graphical interface of Mario Strikers Charged. The character animations are more involved and entertaining, making the replays more of a reward than an uncoordinated mess. The fans are fully-realized polygons, which give a better atmosphere than before, and are complimented by beautifully detailed levels full of Mario references. The developer also gave the levels from Super Mario Strikers a much-needed facelift and included them in the game, though you'll rarely find yourself on those fields. The newer ones not only look better, but most have special hazards that make them more engaging and also are more in line with the Mario universe. The only portion of the game that's not overwhelmingly improved is the music. It seems like Next Level was too busy focusing on everything else to give this area a makeover, but I personally have no problems with that -- it's much easier to put on an iPod than it is to ignore lackluster graphics or gameplay. Voiceovers are also much better, simply because they stay at a minimum.
So how does all of this translate online? Overall, the online play is good, and the same as a traditional VS. match, with some minor tweaks. The biggest change is, regardless of how far you've progressed in the game, all levels and characters are unlocked online, leaving players' skills as the only possible source of advantage. There are two modes available for online play: Ranked Matches (which works like a sports 'Season' mode) and Friend Matches. The "Season" mode ranks players based on the points they've accrued, and everyone is reset to zero at the end of each week. Points are earned by completing a full match, and even if you lose, you'll get a point for each goal you made as well as an additional sympathy point. This encourages players to play through the entire series, rather than reset their system when faced with a loss. The other mode, Friend Matches, which do not contribute to point totals, let players register their friends and invite them to a match. This mode allows players to set the games preferences, such as level and length, but restricts players to registering only friends in their country. This restriction applies to both modes, but isn't a big issue; Players will usually be able to find someone to play a majority of the time, though the skill level of their opponents may vary.
Finally, there are a few extra modes available, such as the "Strikers 101" tutorial mode, but they add little to the game itself. I don't feel that Charged needs a full mini-game section, but these extras do pale in comparison to the side activities added in games such as Mario Power Tennis. In addition, unless you want to unlock unnecessary items and game cheats, there's no real reason to bother with the "Striker Challenges" mode.
In the end, the entire package is one complete game and well worth its price, something I could not say Super Mario Strikers. There is only one appropriate way to describe this sequel compared to that title: Super Mario Strikers was the demo, and Mario Strikers Charged is the finished game.
Pros & cons
+ Mario sports the way it should be: Deep, online, and fun to play right out of the box.
- Semi-steep learning curve. Too many "cheap" moves that take kicking the soccer ball out of the equation.
Ratings (scale: 0.0 - 10.0)
Graphics: 8.5 Simply impressive when comparing them to the GameCube iteration. Aptly named, Next Level has taken the crowds, character animations, and even the menu graphics to the next level.
Play control: 8.0 Overall good. Formerly simple to perform attacks are now assigned to unnatural movements of the Wii remote, but the goalie control (what little there is) works well using the remote's pointer.
Gameplay: 9.0 Despite the fact that they can be used against you, the unique strategies that can be used with each character results in a pretty even playing field. The action is engaging, exciting, and quite excellent.
Replay value: 9.0 Once you go through the cups, there are still plenty of matches to be found online, and the season resets weekly, giving you more incentive to keep coming back for more.
Sound: 7.0 Not too impressive, but the voice acting is kept to a minimum and never feels forced. The music provides little atmosphere. Where's my custom soundtrack option?!
Final score: 8.3 Mario Strikers Charged is indeed a proper sequel to a game many deemed incomplete and broken. There is little wrong with this title, and what is wrong isn't exactly wrong, just too extreme or overshadowed (such as the music) by the more fanatical aspects. Fortunately, unlike its predecessor, this title takes a lot of cues from Mario's other sports outings and makes a perfect complement to those titles.
And now, some promotional shit I did for Nintendo. Enjoy.
User Reviews
Submitted by Progr3ss (user info) at 2007-09-29 09:39:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Don't +2 yourself.
Submitted by oapa (user info) at 2007-09-27 05:36:32 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-09-26 19:46:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nerdtastic.
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Nerdtastic.
Submitted by NintendoCzar (user info) at 2007-09-27 04:33:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Easy there, killer. Don't break a controller with another one of your tantrums.
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*sigh*
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-09-27 01:41:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:42:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by NintendoCzar (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:05:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:02:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Stop giving yourself +2s. It does nothing other than make you look like a pretentious cunt.
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Last I checked, I could do whatever the fuck I want. Stop trying to point out shit that doesn't need pointing out, it makes you smell like a pretentious cunt.
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Easy there, killer. Don't break a controller with another one of your tantrums.
Submitted by NintendoCzar (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:29:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by PhillipTheGreat (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:16:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I LOVE THIS FUCKING GAME!
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I wonder if I had just said that, and then posted a picture of me (not) as Mario, if this would have gotten a higher rating.
Oh well.
Submitted by PhillipTheGreat (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:16:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I LOVE THIS FUCKING GAME!
Submitted by NintendoCzar (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:05:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:02:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Stop giving yourself +2s. It does nothing other than make you look like a pretentious cunt.
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Last I checked, I could do whatever the fuck I want. Stop trying to point out shit that doesn't need pointing out, it makes you smell like a pretentious cunt.
Submitted by maiorano84 (user info) at 2007-09-27 00:02:04 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Stop giving yourself +2s. It does nothing other than make you look like a pretentious cunt.
Personally, I never could get into Mario Strikers. I was HUGE into SSX Tricky and SSX 3, though. Blur and On Tour both blew.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2007-09-26 20:17:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2007-09-26 18:10:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
See, I used to be in "great shape" in high school, when I played football. But, the only reason I put that much effort (as in lifting weights and what-not, didn't run on my own time because practice was 5 days a week, four hour practices, with lots of conditioning) into my...body I guess, was so I could be a better player and not get hurt. I ended up getting hurt anyway...but that's another story.
As for now, as long as I don't have to struggle to wear a size 32, I don't care if I can run a certain distance in a certain amount of time or lift a certain amount of weight. I do a lot of walking at school, and eat fairly healthy, it's just enough so that I fluctuate from 5'11 160-170 lbs.
So, from my point of view, I don't respect people who lift weights just to look good. I'm not saying you do that, I mean, you have to understand, drunk me is easily angered by things, sober me is far more easy going. Anyways, I could never let myself get that big, just because I grew up as the skinny kid, and it's just so foreign to me. But, I'm not going to place so much importance in physical appearance that I actually lose respect for people who don't give a shit, that's fucking retarded, drunk or sober.
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im just the opposite. i used to be fat and useless, even though i was a swimmer and played football, baseball, and water polo in high school. then i broke my collarbone, shoulderblade, and arm in three consecutive years in football (from 8th grade to 10th) and have had back spasms for years resulting from the shoulderblade. my baseball coach accused me of being the slowest player in the history of our athletic conference. so i got in shape for my senior year, lost a bunch of weight the wrong way, and separated my shoulder playing water polo. went to college on a swimming scholarship and reinjured the shoulder and lost the schollie. then i worked hard to get in shape the right way. havent gotten hurt in three years since. so, i know the importance of being in shape.
i also dont respect people who lift just to look good, but it wasn't by accident that my love life got so much better after i got in shape.
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-09-26 19:46:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Nerdtastic.
Submitted by J_Man (user info) at 2007-09-26 19:36:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
yeah that game is fun good post
Submitted by YELLOW-MAN (user info) at 2007-09-26 19:36:16 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2007-09-26 18:21:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Also, I thought this was someone posting a super fat picture of themselves or something (I just read the reviews, since I was curious what the hell I was on about last night), hence the "could never let myself get that big" line...
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2007-09-26 18:10:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
See, I used to be in "great shape" in high school, when I played football. But, the only reason I put that much effort (as in lifting weights and what-not, didn't run on my own time because practice was 5 days a week, four hour practices, with lots of conditioning) into my...body I guess, was so I could be a better player and not get hurt. I ended up getting hurt anyway...but that's another story.
As for now, as long as I don't have to struggle to wear a size 32, I don't care if I can run a certain distance in a certain amount of time or lift a certain amount of weight. I do a lot of walking at school, and eat fairly healthy, it's just enough so that I fluctuate from 5'11 160-170 lbs.
So, from my point of view, I don't respect people who lift weights just to look good. I'm not saying you do that, I mean, you have to understand, drunk me is easily angered by things, sober me is far more easy going. Anyways, I could never let myself get that big, just because I grew up as the skinny kid, and it's just so foreign to me. But, I'm not going to place so much importance in physical appearance that I actually lose respect for people who don't give a shit, that's fucking retarded, drunk or sober.
Submitted by ilikesteak (user info) at 2007-09-26 18:09:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Played the game. It sucked, just like mario hockey, baseball, log rolling, unicycling on a tightrope, check balancing, indigenous tribesman's guide to the city, how to tell if your anus has become prolapsed, and jumprope.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2007-09-26 17:26:13 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2007-09-26 12:06:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by ShapeShifter (user info) at 2007-09-26 04:15:59 PDT (#)
Ranking: -2
3 something to be something, below. I don't know how much you weigh, haiku and that was a joke. I do think, however, that there is more things going on in life than video games and I haven't picked one up in over a year. I got a handjob last night which is much better than a video game...my joystick?
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Oh, of course there's more important things than video games, but drunk me gets pissed off when people seem to only talk about how good looking they are in their reviews, or how much money they have.
My girlfriend's period is over, that means I get to have sex tonight. You know what I'm gonna do when I get home from school, and am waiting for her to get home from work?
Play videogames.
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hahaha...i played madden between classes today. i used to be in clans on socom and age of empires. i am a video gamer. my family has 3 (THREE!) PS3's. there's nothing wrong with video games. its when it's all you do that it becomes a problem. i dont care about the social consequences, which are huge, but more the health consequences, as i alluded to.
as for myself, the last time i mentioned what great shape im in was in a reply about food...something about how im surprised im in good shape despite my horrible diet. that isn't really bragging. anyway, i laugh at your reply because im not in truly fantastic shape right now. i have the most fucked to hell schedule you can imagine with a million and one obligations. the things i have had to cut out are water polo and ROTC. i dont have time for a job, so i cant afford a gym pass. i still play football and volleyball and frisbee and such almost every day when i have time, but its not really enough for me. i feel slow and weak and lethargic. i get tired quickly and sweat too much. i get frustrated because i FEEL unathletic. but im not. i am still in very good shape, and it's when i consider all of this that i wonder how people like this guy feel, physically. it is completely unfathomable to me. his posture is bad and his calves scream of somebody who spends a lot of time on his heels. this all leads to replies like, "you have the physique of a video game addict. i hope that works out well for you in the future."
these are the things i think about.
i have a hard time respecting people who lack the self respect to keep in shape.
but hey, it's your life.
Submitted by RyuFu (user info) at 2007-09-26 15:53:44 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I want to be your friend. Like, in real life and everything. My roommates and I are Wii-heads.
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haiku - "My girlfriend's period is over, that means I get to have sex tonight"
Why does her period prevent sex? Go for it, man!
Submitted by rorrim (user info) at 2007-09-26 13:55:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2007-09-26 12:16:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by ShapeShifter (user info) at 2007-09-26 04:15:59 PDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I don't know how much you weigh, haiku
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I could send naked pictures, and you can guess, if you want.
You'll have to give me time to take them, for some reason there aren't any naked pictures of me lying around. That should change.
Submitted by NintendoCzar (user info) at 2007-09-26 12:11:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Just lay off the "take-a-photo-of-yourself-to-prove-how-much-of-a-fan-you-are-and-win-this-game" crap. You didn't really do any promo for Nintendo did you? What was the prize? Pokemon Pearl?
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Does it really matter what I say at this point?
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2007-09-26 12:06:01 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by ShapeShifter (user info) at 2007-09-26 04:15:59 PDT (#)
Ranking: -2
3 something to be something, below. I don't know how much you weigh, haiku and that was a joke. I do think, however, that there is more things going on in life than video games and I haven't picked one up in over a year. I got a handjob last night which is much better than a video game...my joystick?
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Oh, of course there's more important things than video games, but drunk me gets pissed off when people seem to only talk about how good looking they are in their reviews, or how much money they have.
My girlfriend's period is over, that means I get to have sex tonight. You know what I'm gonna do when I get home from school, and am waiting for her to get home from work?
Play videogames.
probably.
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2007-09-26 10:26:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by ShapeShifter (user info) at 2007-09-26 07:15:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
3 something to be something, below. I don't know how much you weigh, haiku and that was a joke. I do think, however, that there is more things going on in life than video games and I haven't picked one up in over a year. I got a handjob last night which is much better than a video game...my joystick?
Jill giving you a handjob does not count.
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2007-09-26 10:04:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
I doubt it would do any good to suggest that you go outside and play the actual game, so I won't.
Submitted by Wompom (user info) at 2007-09-26 09:01:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
I would've read it, because I like all things Mario, but the pic is overwhelmingly gay.
Submitted by DirtyHarry (user info) at 2007-09-26 08:52:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
All children, except one, grow up.
Submitted by Empathetic (user info) at 2007-09-26 08:24:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
no
Submitted by Progr3ss (user info) at 2007-09-26 07:50:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Shapeshifter = AsshOly
Submitted by ShapeShifter (user info) at 2007-09-26 07:15:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
3 something to be something, below. I don't know how much you weigh, haiku and that was a joke. I do think, however, that there is more things going on in life than video games and I haven't picked one up in over a year. I got a handjob last night which is much better than a video game...my joystick?
Submitted by haikumikoo (user info) at 2007-09-26 05:33:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2007-09-26 01:02:52 PDT (#)
Ranking: 0
you have the physique of a video game addict. i hope that works out well for you in the future.\
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I like video games, I'm in decent enough shape, comma splice, shut the fuck up.
The important part is, shut the fuck up. No one cares that you're in good shape. Seriously, I see your reviews every so often, and it seems like every fucking one of them you talk about what great shape you're in. Why is this information relevant on the internet? I'm never going to meet you in real life, what the fuck do I care if you have visible muscles? I don't. Why do you even talk about what kind of shape you're in...are you trying to impress these people? Who are "these people" anyway?
I honestly just don't understand the point.
Submitted by Progr3ss (user info) at 2007-09-26 05:09:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
"and soccer multiple points at once."
My brain hurts reading this line.
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On another point I bought Strikers and I have to say that without the online section this would be a seriously lacking game, and the online gameplay is sketchy at best. Take for example, if your winning and making your opponent cry, he'll turn his Wii off. Then you don't receive the points.
There is virtually no depth to the game. After you beat the first two cups, you have to play the most fucked up version of difficult ever conceived, which usually results in you losing the finals series 2-1. And the "mini-games" took me twenty minutes to beat... *sigh*
Still it's a bit of fun playing your mates online.
Alright review too, I guess. Just lay off the "take-a-photo-of-yourself-to-prove-how-much-of-a-fan-you-are-and-win-this-game" crap. You didn't really do any promo for Nintendo did you? What was the prize? Pokemon Pearl?
Submitted by orphelia (user info) at 2007-09-26 04:18:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Get some sunshine, sweety.
Submitted by NintendoCzar (user info) at 2007-09-26 04:07:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2007-09-26 04:02:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
you have the physique of a video game addict. i hope that works out well for you in the future.
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If you're calling me fat, that's okay, at this point I'm satisfied to know that only ugly, blind, or ugly blind chicks are going to fuck me. I've had my pie in the past, and now it's time I eat shit and die.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2007-09-26 04:02:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
you have the physique of a video game addict. i hope that works out well for you in the future.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-09-26 03:54:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
It seems as though we both are gorgeous though, we could be the El Dude brothers.
see what I mean
Submitted by NintendoCzar (user info) at 2007-09-26 03:49:10 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by DeMoNiC (user info) at 2007-09-26 03:47:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
+1 for content.. Other then that, I HAVE to ask the question of how often you actually see sunlight. Sunlight inside Marios world doesn't count.
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Yes sir, unfortunately, I have to leave to buy games, don't I?
http://www.youtube.com/superjessemario <- plus, some of my vids take place outside. Shit, I'm gonna regret posting that link....I know it.
Submitted by DeMoNiC (user info) at 2007-09-26 03:47:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
+1 for content.. Other then that, I HAVE to ask the question of how often you actually see sunlight. Sunlight inside Marios world doesn't count.
Submitted by NintendoCzar (user info) at 2007-09-26 03:42:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-09-26 03:40:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You absolute freak.
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I know, this review is way to fucken long. Oh well.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-09-26 03:40:21 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You absoloute freak.