A Gaming Diary
Archive for March, 2006
Galactic Civilizations 2
Mar 5th
So, the human race finally invents the hyperdrive and travels out into the stars. A few planets are colonized. Contact is made with other races, all of whom seem content to let me get on with things at my own pace.
(I turned them down to beginner difficulty.)
All the habitable worlds in the (small) galaxy are now taken. There’s nowhere else to go. I’ve researched weapons and built some smal fighters that I designed myself. I couldn’t make them symmetrical, unfortunately, so they don’t look sleek or slick, but they’ve got some sort of charm.
Anyway, I’ve got to the stage now where I don’t really know what to do. I’m trying to build up my influence at the moment, but I’m tiching to try out my fighters, too. So I’m researching Planetary Invasion so I can take over some planets. Trouble is, I’ve been playing as a good civilisation, so going to war unprovoked isn’t really in character.
They key word in that last sentence? Civilisation. Or, rather, Civilization, because that what play GalCiv2 makes me want to play. It’s not that GalCiv2 is bad – far from it – but Civilization has a familiarity that GalCiv2 doesn’t. (Yes, I played GalCiv, but this sequel is very different and being all in space, doesn’t have the intuitiveness of Civ.) But Civ4 would need installing and GalCiv2 is already installed and I’m lazy. And after a few games I’m sure I’ll get used to it.
To be honest, putting the difficulty level on braindead might not be the best idea, because it leaves everything up to me. If I had a threat to fight that might focus me.
Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
Mar 5th
So I left Ginis and wandered around until I found myself in Khuul, a rubbish little fishing village that seems to have slumped into the sea. Wandered into a shack and killed the owner for no reason. No idea why I did that at all. He wasn’t doing my any harm. Sometimes I worry myself, I must say.
Down on a jetty someone offered to give me a lift to the island of Solstheim. I was a bit worried as that’s a big new island that was added in the Bloodmoon expansion pack and thus is meant for high level characters. Not sure that level twelve Nord Knight counts. Thought I’d give it a go, though. After the boat arrived I wandered off into the wilderness, getting quite worried when a wolf ran at me. When I killed him in one hit I became less worried, I must say. Found a Barrow, which I picked my way around in the dark, because I wanted my shield out and you can’t carry a shield and a torch at the same time. I killed all the nasty things inside and then lit my torch to look around. Found a big new axe that’s dead good, but it’s a two-handed axe, meaning I can’t use a shield at all if I want to use it. Hmm. I’ll have to think about that.
After leaving the Barrow I wandered back to the large fort where the boat dropped me off. Huge maze-like place. However, as I’m an agent in the Imperial Guard everyone’s either deferential or friendly and I can use the beds, which is nice. The Captain of the place greeted me warmly and asked me to find out why the morale of the men in the fort is dropping so much. Seems to be a lack of alcohol, but I’ve not quite got to the bottom of it yet.
Marble Blast Ultra
Mar 4th
I was doing a level called “Under Construction” or something. It was hard. Too hard. I was trying over and over and over and over again. After abour twenty minutes I realised it was depressing me. I mean, my mood had crashed. I was depressed. Life just seemed to be worthless, everything good seemed to be fading away… So I turned off and I feel better already. I’ve never had a game do that to me before. I am very, very tired and deliberately staying up late tonight, so I guess I was in a very suggestible state of mind. But, really, that was horrible, just horrible.
Ridge Racer 6
Mar 4th
Eight more races one.
Two more cars unlocked.
It’s fun, but there’s still too much of it.
Xbox 360
Mar 4th
Started the 360 up when I got up to see if there were any new demos out. There weren’t, so I sent a disgusted message to my friend El Pollo, who was doing the same thing. We exchanged a few messages and then decided to play Joust. Had a few co-op games, which were great fun. We killed each other by mistake quite often. It was my fault, mostly. Oh dear. Still, got a new achievement out of it.
Then we tried Mutant Storm, but that doesn’t actually have Live multiplayer, so that was out.
Started up Gauntlet, which really isn’t much fun any more, even with two players.
And then El Pollo had to go out, so I had a quick go of Zuma and died too quickly.
And all before 9am!
Zuma
Mar 3rd
Tried Gauntlet mode for the first time.
Got 53,000 points.
Don’t really understand the rank thing. I guess you can play at a higher rank based upon your best score, or something. Not sure. The “Help” section in the game doesn’t explain it at all.
Geometry Wars 2
Mar 2nd
First time in ages.
First game, 219,000. Not bad, not bad at all.
Then 95,000. Oh.
Then 216,000. Okay.
Then 115,000. Rubbish, again.
Ridge Racer 6
Mar 2nd
God, there’s a lot to it.
Had a good hour or more of fun, fun, fun and then checked how much was left of the basic route… I’ve hardly scratched the service.
Far be it from me to complain about a game having too much content, but it is a little dispiriting at times.
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones
Mar 2nd
Well, Gameloft sent me a text message yesterday offering me The Two Thrones for £1.50, so how could I refuse? Didn’t play it yesterday, but started it up on the bus this morning. It’s very similar to The Warrior Within, in that it’s a 2D platformer with context-sensitive special moves, such as wall running, and button-bashing combat. It’s a good time-waster, though it probably won’t last long.
