A Gaming Diary
Archive for August, 2008
Galaga (360)
Aug 27th
Not sure why I played this. It hates me and I’m not overly fond of it.
Should probably have played the Galaga Legions demo again instead.
Fable 2 Pub Games Demo (360)
Aug 26th
I decided to play this, given I got sent a code to download it and all.
I entered a Spinner tournament, which consisted of pressing the A button one hundred times. Not in a rhythm, not with any timing, just whenever I felt like it I could press A. Once I’d done that a hundred times and the random numbers had been generated the tournament was over. As it happens, luck was with me and I won some money and a special apple pie for Fable 2.
I mean, what?
Bionic Commando Rearmed (360)
Aug 26th
Completed!
Okay, so it’s only on Easy and I haven’t found many secrets or done the tunnels or the vast majority of the challenge levels… but, still, completed!
The last level is incredibly long and difficult – even with what I assume are added platforms for Easy mode – but I got there in the end.
Fantastic game. I plan to play it more, but I’m not sure I could ever finish it on Normal mode. However, I may try.
Bangai-O Spirits (DS)
Aug 26th
I finished the Treasure’s Best levels last night – hooray! The last one, level 27, The World, took me quite a while. I spent ages experimenting with different weapon loads, then once I’d settled on a good combo it took me a fair few goes to actually beat the stage. I really loved it. An excellent balance between thinking and shooting. Quite possibly my favourite level so far. And it’s so simple – just you, six big enemies and a fully destructible representation of the world in the middle.
I just love the game. I’ve put hours and hours into it now and I’ve enjoyed it immensely. I may find that the Treasure’s Best section had the best levels in it, but I hope not. If the other levels can keep me going as these have, I’ll be very happy indeed.
It’s a wonderful game. It’s odd how half the people that play it love it and the other half hate it. I guess there’s just a clicking point that some people reach and others don’t. Or something. It’s very strange. I’m just glad I’m in the “love it” camp.
Bionic Commando Rearmed (360)
Aug 26th
I think I’m over half-way through this now, but if I have the time I’d love to run through it on Normal once I’ve finished Easy. And I’ve only done two challenge levels.
Apparently, this has been a big success for a downloadable title and it fully deserves it. More games should have this much care, polish and understanding pumped into their development.
I enjoyed Braid, but it was just a good game – Bionic Commando takes that extra step into something special, for me.
Bangaio-O Spirits (DS)
Aug 24th
Level seventeen, name of MIP, done!
Now on to level eighteen, MIP2.
Oh, how I love this game.
I sigh happily when I think of it.
Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)
Aug 24th
My wife’s new town, Arkham, seems to be built on magical treasure-generating land. She keeps digging up shirts, furniture, etc. Oddly, new digging spots only seem to appear when I’m visiting…
Weird.
Bionic Commando Rearmed (360)
Aug 24th
Got stuck for a fair while on a secret bit of a level which was very hard indeed, but since then I’ve been more or less sailing through the game. The bosses are especially easy, which is nice. I know I’m playing on Easy mode, but it’s nice that it actually is.
It’s really, really good, this. I’m very impressed.
It’s pretty much the perfect remake, I think, taking the original and modernising it with skill, not a sledgehammer.
Bionic Commando Rearmed (360)
Aug 23rd
This how good this is.
When I finished the first level, instead of going to the next one, I decided to play through it again, boss and all, because it was just so much fun. (And I was hoping I might find one or two secrets, but I didn’t.)
I’m playing on “Easy”, which seems to translate into “Mostly Possible”, and I am having a great time.
TIP: The Advanced Tutorial and gun upgrades found in level 00 are both very, very useful.
Soul Calibur IV (360)
Aug 23rd
I played this for a long time today. I enjoyed myself. I found it difficult to stop playing. I played with different characters, in different modes. I spent a fair while editing a character. It was good.
But I’m just not getting better. I’m not improving one little bit. I have my skill level and it seems to be completely fixed. It makes the whole experience feel a bit empty, fun as it is.
