Dr. Rated-R

This is a bit of a time sink but it's worth it because it's one of the scariest stories I've ever heard. Clear out some time, curl up in the dark somewhere, and give it a listen if you wanna be thoroughly creeped out. It's an allegedly true story that an English teacher from Texas named Ed Hermanski would tell his students every year, and this is an actual recording of one of those retellings. It really gets under your skin because he's an excellent storyteller and the reactions from the class really help get you into the right mindset. I can't recommend it enough! Every friend I've sent it to online or listened to it with in person has been freaked the fuck out by it and, well, y'know, 'tis the season and all... Also: can I just say that I really love this thread? Good call, Kirkles. We need more quality spooky/spoopy Halloween content 'round these parts.

Kirkles! Last time I lurked this thread I was convinced I must be EWB's lone Game Grumps fan. I was so happy when I came back in here and saw the D Club, of all things. 😂 On a mildly related note, my favorite Game Grumps Animated of all time:

I'm upset with myself because I left "literally any time the Hammer Bros turn up in any Mario game ever" off of my list. So yeah. That too. Hate the damn Hammer Bros.

The Fade in Dragon Age: Origins. Sooooo tedious. I hated it so much that I have to make sure I've installed the Skip The Fade mod before every playthrough. Anything with a plane in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Especially Zero's RC plane. The blue sphere minigame every sixteen seconds in Sonic Mania. Caves in any Pokemon game. Because Zubat. Dungeons in Persona 3 and 4 because they go on and on and on and everything is exactly the same. Persona 5's dungeons rock, though.

The cuts aren't bad but everyone knows kyky pic packs don't use drop shadows.

This is such a sad story. I'm very fond of grunge/grunge-ish music and Weiland was definitely one of the best vocalists from that era. I love pretty much all of his STP stuff, a fair few Velvet Revolver tracks, and I've got a soft spot in my heart for his inconsistent but occasionally great solo music. Hell, in the past I've even confessed a (somewhat kitschy, I'll admit) fondness for his Christmas album. When Scott Weiland had it together his was a powerful, anthemic rock and roll voice that will always be one of my favorites. He was one of my first conduits away from run of the mill radio pop as a kid and it's absolutely gutting to know that because of his struggles the world probably never got to hear him live up to his full potential. His music wasn't universally great but there were flashes of an amazing singer songwriter in every iteration of his career. I was so happy when STP reunited a few years ago. The reunion album wasn't their best work but I definitely enjoyed it. I suspect I'll like it even more now because from everything I'd read or watched he seemed to be in a good place at that point. And then whatever happened happened and things just spiraled out of control from there. That video of him a few months ago stumbling over the lyrics to Vasoline was heart breaking and it sucks knowing that moments like that are the ones some people will remember him for the most. The dude was a hell of a singer and I hope that his fans and the band mates he had fallen out with will remember him not for his demons but for things like this: Rest in peace, Scott Weiland. 48 is far too young.

If you don't mind older stuff, check out The Changeling (1980), Burnt Offerings, The Haunting (1963), and The Innocents. They're some of my favorite ghost films and some of my favorite mindfuck films. Rose Red is great too, but it's a miniseries so you're probably looking at a few days on that one. Can't go wrong with the previous suggestions of 1408, Session 9, or Poltergeist either, if you guys haven't seen those. The Conjuring is pretty much a greatest hits album for ghost movies directed by (in my opinion) the best horror-centric director working today so if one or both of you have avoided it then I'd definitely watch it, like, first. It's great. And regarding The Innkeepers, you may wanna give another of Ti West's films, House of the Devil, a shot if you haven't. Not a ghost movie, but it does have an awesome spooky house that feels like it belongs in one. And some creepy evil satanists, which is always good in my estimation. Fantastic movie.

I've pretty much graduated to TEW at this point but this skin looks so good that I'm probably gonna fire up EWR for a bit for some nostalgia. Awesome job as usual, Idol. Now get that damn Attitude Era skin for 2013 done already.

You'll pick up on the reversal timing. They tend to tinker with that particular mechanic every year but I always acclimate to it just fine after playing a few matches...

I have Nintendo's DS version of Tetris and it is just phenomenal. It has the basic Tetris in it but also adds challenge modes (complete goals within a time limit or get a load of blocks dropped on you) and some fun variations. I still find myself playing it if I need to just have some fun for a few minutes. Absolutely. Prior to picking up the 2DS a couple of months back, my DS never left my bedroom, just sat at my bedside with Tetris in it for about four years. Every time I had five or ten minutes to kill I'd pick it up and have a couple of games. It's as good a version as there has ever been. Couldn't agree more. With a game like Tetris you'd think any old version would do, really, but they just went so far above and beyond what was needed with Tetris DS that any other iteration just feels inferior. I love everything about that game. The Nintendo-y look and sounds, the extra game modes, the block-storing feature, the minor delay when blocks land that makes it possible to play the game at lightning fast speeds. Incredible game. It's so fun that I used to play it like daily and got so freakishly good that I'd almost never lose before maxing out the line count at 999.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles In Time on SNES still feels like the best beat 'em up game of all time to me. It's wonderful. Also great is the Genesis-exclusive sequel, The Hyperstone Heist, which isn't quite as polished but is still fantastic because it's so much more challenging than Turtles In Time. As two player co-op experiences go you can't get much better than those two. For slightly newer stuff, Banjo-Kazooie absolutely stands the test of time. I think it's probably the best 3D platformer of its generation, in hindsight. Super Mario 64 feels awkward and doesn't control very well, especially when you compare it to the Super Mario Galaxy games. But Banjo, aside from the dated graphics and textures and such, feels about as good as most modern titles. And the world it's set in is so unique; it's a bummer that there's no proper current-gen Banjo game. I really need to revisit both the first one and Banjo-Tooie again soon.

For anyone who can't seem to beat the streak and just wants the unlockable Undertaker attires: stay outside so he can't pin or submit you, get the sledgehammer from the ring apron next to the entrance ramp, and use it to beat him senseless. It never breaks so it's perfect for this. Between sledgehammer shots and the occasional taunt you can build up your signature really quickly. Two or three signature/finisher combos on the outside and he's ready to be pinned. Just make sure you store two finishers before you toss him back in the ring because he's almost definitely gonna do that stupid lights out comeback thing as soon as you hit a finisher on the inside. Use your resiliency to survive that debacle and then use your other stored finish and pin him -- but stay away from his fucking legs when you pin him because Hell's Gate counter. It's cheap as hell, but after I beat it fairly for the first time after like four tries I was a bit burned out and didn't feel like stressing over it for the sake of unlockables. By the time I unlocked the last one I was able to do it in like three minutes. Just thought I'd throw it out there since some of you are having trouble.

Are the Nash and Hall season pass exclusives available to download now? Or are they not available until when the nWo pack releases later this month?

There's an amazing Curtis Axel CAW up on PS3 community creations. It absolutely nails his stupid fucking fringe and has his usual confused, deer-in-headlights, what-the-fuck-am-I-doing-here facial expression down pat.

The game was pretty much finished with development by the time the Cesaro Swing stuff started so the swing he has is one that was already in the game and only spins like twice. That said I fully expect some kind of awesome gimmicky Cesaro Swing next year. It'd make a great comeback move if they space out the quick time event properly.