October 10th, 2010

Castlevania Lords of Shadow (PS3): Just a few more levels. I'm getting pretty good at timed-blocking, which is making the game a lot easier. My biggest complaints so far is that it really doesn't feel all that much like Castlevania, despite being beautiful, and that it's VERY structured.

Even the old-school Castlevanias, left to right movement, did a better jump of covering up the structure, but that's not all that big a deal. It's still a ton of fun.

My conclusion is that these sort of games are essentially mini-game reliant, they keep you interested and entertained through numerous mini-games to vary things up. You've got the core battle system, then you're riding a horse, then you're balancing across rails, then you're riding a tamed spider or creature and use their abilities to access areas you couldn't, then you're sawing your way through an obstacle, then you're climbing up a boss, then you're engaging in various quick-time-events.

And it works great, don't get me wrong, but that's essentially what these games are.

Comic Jumper (360): I tried the demo, liked it, and ended up buying the full game right there. It was actually a review downing the game that sold me on it. Despite being all about finding the "deeper meaning" in games, said blogger decryed the game as unfunny and not-politically-correct. Naturally, that pretension made me decide I *needed* to play the game, and lo and behold, it's pretty darn funny.

Difficult, too! I'm only on the second level. I'm pretty excited to see some of the other worlds, particularly the manga-inspired stages!

Dead Rising 2 (360): Just played some more Terror is Reality online. Pretty fun, and I'm decent at some of the games. I unlocked a Champions Jacket and actually came in first overall on one of my runs, as well as have several hundred thousand for my main game. Sweet.

October 5th, 2010

Dead Rising 2 (360): So I took down the first boss and went into Overtime! He wasn't too bad. After it turned out my pink chainsaw was worthless (he kept disarming it like anything else), I used my Sniper Rifle and shot him at point blank a few times, then simply dropped 'bows on him.

Overtime was a bit of a let down. Whereas DR1's OT was *epic*, 2's was simply running around, grabbing a few items, then taking on a fairly easy (but fun) final boss. Someone on the GameFAQs boards mentioned they considered the upcoming "Case West" to be the true OT, and I'm expecting that'll be the case!

The final verdict? Better than the first game. I liked the original's overtime, storyline and picture taking, however, gameplay-wise the sequel fixed most of what was wrong with the original.

Final Fantasy XI (PC): Hit up Jeuno since there was no Swarm attack coming, putting up some of Ham's old, low level stuff up for AH and NPCing various crap I had on me. I did give a group of five a quick Mea port: at first I was ignoring them because the guy kept spamming the shout, then one of his friends sent me a tell. He then upped his price, to which I shouted back, "Wait, if he keeps going up, should I wait a lil longer before offering to port them?"

His next shout dropped from 7k to 1k, and he said, "Oops, too late!"

I gave them the port for free.

September 26th, 2010

Last home game of the season at Comerica Park! Tigers win, yay!

Etrian Odyssey III (DS): Not much, made Megumi, this time as a Monk. The new class system is so confusing!

September 25th, 2010

A couple MST3K's, some World's Dumbest, not a bad day!

Etrian Odyssey III (DS): Fired it up, and didn't play! So weird with their classes, I gotta look at EO I&II and Class of Heroes and decide who all will translate as what.

Final Fantasy XI (PC): Stood around Whitegate for a bit, ported and repatted home, fed the bird, and that's about it!

September 24th, 2010

Etrian Odyssey III (DS): Whoa, an artbook, and it's cool! Guess that explains the weird packaging. Turns out it covers all three games, which is great, because I don't feel like I'm missing out on something, hehehe.

Whoa, all new classes! I made Charles as a Hoplite, thinking they sounded like Defenders, but other than that, I'm lost! I stopped after that, 'cause I'll need to check out the previous two games to see what characters will transfer over as what.

Final Fantasy XI (PC): Attempted Bastok 7-2 again and found out they were true hearing when I attempted to sneak around back, whoops! From there, I hit up Campaign, and after a bit Tamberly joined up. Eventually I got my Wings, yay.

Hit up Clearite's tactics pearl quest in Promy-Mea, then headed off to Whitegate. Not bad!

September 23rd, 2010

Final Fantasy XI (PC): Did a chunk of Campaign today, then teamed up with Div for some pages in Ro'Maeve. Good stuff, but not a very good day for games. Just wasn't feelin' it!

Sonic Adventure DX (360): Made it through the Carnival area as Sonic, then played around a bit as Amy, just did her first level. Fun stuff! I really do like Amy's gameplay, but people don't seem overly thrilled with it on the GameFAQs boards, hmm...

September 20th, 2010

Final Fantasy XI (PC): Time to level the White Mage job so I'm not gimped when playing Dragoon! After a mishap with an IT goblin forced Clearite and myself to teleport, we ended up in Altepa and decided to stay. Clearite finished up her mobs before I could hit L41, and shortly Tamberly showed up as a Warrior to help me finish up that level for the day. Not bad, not bad at all!

Valkyria Chronicles II (PSP): Not much, got a Vanquish and Skies of Arcadia sticker from the Lotter Insiders, and did a single mission. Eventually I'll go back and cheap my way through that main March story mission, ehhehe. It's nice right now just to unlock various characters scenes...