A Gaming Diary
DS
The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass (DS)
Oct 28th
I’m a few hours in now and certain aspects of the game are harder to enjoy than others. By “certain aspects”, I obviously mean “The Temple of the Ocean King.” It’s timed, it’s repetitive and it can be hideously annoying at times. I’ve just forced myself through it again and I’m not looking forward to going back.
Now, though, there’s a boss fight before I can reach Goron Island. Luckily, bosses so far have been something the game’s done right, so it shouldn’t be too painful. (Unless my touch screen messes up again – yesterday I seemed to spend more time in the calibration screen than in the game.)
The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass (DS)
Oct 26th
This doesn’t make my head hurt, despite my illness.
Typing, however, does, so I can’t give this the write-up it deserves. Suffice to say, this is absolutely marvellous and everything about it seems to work perfectly. Glorious.
Race Driver: Create & Race (DS)
Oct 3rd
Just had a very quick go on this sat at my desk. Went straight to the track creator, made a track, tested it, saved it. All very easy to do, though I did keep overwriting bits I’d already laid down and having to redo sections. Only place I could easily find to race it was in Simulation mode, so I did that. Handling felt a lot weightier than in the testing mode. I got a couple of cautions for careless driving, but easily pulled away from the pack.
Graphics are DS-nasty, with pixels and pop-up galore, but they’re pretty clear and are nice and smooth, which is more important than eye candy.
It definitely seems to be the best car-based racing game on the DS by a mile, based on this quick go, but I’m not sure based on this if it can compete with my favourite PSP racers – the PSP version of TOCA is awesome, then there’s OutRun, Sega Rally, Ridge Racers, etc. – but the track designer gives it a different kind of appeal. It’s amazing how much the (pretty random) track I made felt like a proper race track. It’s really very well done indeed and could give this real long-term appeal for me.
Animal Crossing: Wild World (DS)
Jul 24th
Last night I had my first ever lost connection during local wireless play. Odd, as my DS was only a foot ot so away from the other DS. Anyway, I got back in and everything was okay after that. Visited Vatican for the first time in ages and ages – hardly any of my old friends still live there. Agent S and Kid Kat seem like good additions, though.
In other news, my own town, Venture, is now pretty much weed-free after my months of neglect.
Mr Driller: Drill Spirits (DS)
Jul 24th
No nearer to the 1,500m mark. In fact, my skills were very weak and I don’t think I made 650m this session.
Mr Driller: Drill Spirits (DS)
Jul 8th
Hooray! Well, it ate my day, but I’ve finished the 1000m stage. The 1500m stage hasn’t fallen yet, my best being 1075m.
Yes, but this is definitely worth a place in my all time top ten.
Mr Driller: Drill Spirits (DS)
Jul 8th
It’s still got it. Nothing was holding my attention last night, until I fell back to this old favourite. Tried the 1000m challenge that I’ve never completed and didn’t do too badly, but couldn’t get there.
Sega Presents Touch Darts (DS)
Jun 29th
It’s very good, but it wears thin after a while. About half an hour at a time is my limit, before throwing darts starts to get very, very boring. Doesn’t help that it’s so incredibly easy right now. I’m not very good, but the computer players are just awful right now. Must unlock the higher difficulties.
Sega Presents Touch Darts (DS)
Jun 25th
It’s the first day of Retro Week, so I started off with this, as you can’t get much more retro than darts… Okay, okay, I had new game excitement and forgot it was Retro Week. My wife’s been playing this and raving about it and I got to have a go today and it’s really good. It’s just darts, yes, but it’s good just darts. Won a couple of tournaments and then played some single-DS multiplayer against the wife. I won 2-1. Go me!
Now, hopefully, the rest of this week will feature real retro games, at least until Friday when I see what I’ve got left in the trading pile that I can swap for all the new releases coming out this week. And there are loads of them. Resident Evil 4, The Darkness, Overlord, Harry Potter… gulp!
Chocobo Tales (DS)
Jun 22nd
Yes, I played a video game for the first time in days. Didn’t play for long, but I beat a boss, progressed the story and played some mini games.
