PLAY

Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin (DS) – It’s very good and I’m now enjoying the two-character mechanics more than I was initially, but I’m finding the bosses deeply annoying. I’ve not found a fun one yet, but I’ve found several whose difficulty is way out of line with the rest of the game and I’ve had to make some cash and stock up on potions and tonics to get past them.

Naked War (PC) – I won a game a few days ago! Yay! I’ve got a couple of games on the go right now, but I’m winding down for Christmas. I’ll probably be firing off some more challenges in the new year.

Assault Heroes (360) – It’s a shooter and it’s clean and crisp and very playable without being particularly inspiring. Not sure yet if I should have paid 800 points for it, but I when I got to the end of the demo I really wanted more.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (WII) – Got a good few hours in yesterday, after about a week off. I made a fair amount of progress, but got stuck on one boss for an hour or so before tripping over the solution. I’m currently in the, I think, third dungeon and I am utterly, completely, super-glue stuck. Still, RGB cable arrived this morning so maybe next time I play I’ll see something I missed.

Gunstar Heroes (WII) – I love this game. Since last playing it, though, I seem to have lost any skills I once had, as I haven’t managed to get past the Pink Roader yet.

Alien Crush (WII) – Argh! It’s a great pinball game and well worth a download, but on my first ever go I got 1,750,000 points and since then my best has been 1,112,000. I hate it when my first go at a game is my best ever.

Bonk’s Adventure (WII) – I’ve got to level 2-6, but that’s my best. It’s really, really difficult. Or I’m rubbish. Or both. I’ll keep trying, though it may be years before I make any progress.

Super Mario 64 (WII) – Played quite a lot of this. I’ve lost my cap and I can’t get it back. It fell down into quicksand when I tried to steal it back from the talons of the big bird. I’m sad. I love my cap. Also: this game is much more difficult than it was back in ’96 or ’97 or whenever it was I first played it.

WANT

Friday The 13th (360/DS) – I’ve recently been watching all the Friday The 13th films and I’ve been wondering how they could be turned into a game. (Yes, I know about the Spectrum version.) Should you be Jason, or run from Jason, or what? Anyway, inspiration hit in bed last night after The New Blood and my wife and I sketched out a plan for a game. You prepare a camp/house (depending on level), populate it with teen stereotypes and then trigger the arrival of Jason. You then control your characters RTS-style in order to either get them killed as quickly as possible, survive as long as possible, or disable Jason, thus winning the level. Setting time records unlock extras, such as lovely fluffy teddy-bear suit for Jason. Characters have “Jason attraction” circles round them that increase when they indulge in drug taking, skinny dipping or pre-marital sex. And stuff. It’s The Sims, with a Sim City-style disaster, with a movie-based level structure. Sort of. And if the interface worked and it could be balanced properly it could be brilliant. I want it very much.

BIN

Donkey Kong (WII) – Meh, I think. Either the NES version is a bit rubbish or I just don’t like Donkey Kong as much as I think I do. I know it’s missing a level, but the levels that are there don’t feel as fun as I remember. I still love the “jumping over barrels” sound, though.

Roboblitz (360) – Found it impressive for the size, but clunky and dull. Turned it off before completing the demo, which isn’t a good sign.

Getting old and worse at games. Bah.