A Gaming Diary
DS
Pokemon Platinum (DS)
Apr 21st
Having some trouble with the third gym. Don’t have anything very good against ghost types.
Civilization Revolution (DS)
Apr 20th
Finished off the game I was playing. It was only on Chieftan, so after a while I just decided to get a domination victory and proceeded to wipe everyone else off the map with ease. It’s awkward to control and I find it impossible to keep a mental map of what exactly the world looks like, but it’s certainly more playable than I thought.
Pokemon Platinum (DS)
Apr 20th
I love it when you have exactly the right Pokemon for a gym. After setting up a secret base underground I went to the second gym and breezed through it, only using one Pokemon the whole time. Had some trouble in Team Galactic headquarters after that, but I’ve got through it now.
Civilization Revolution (DS)
Apr 19th
I played this when I got it at launch, but didn’t get on with it at all, due mainly to an interface I could just not get my head around.
I thought I’d try it again, though, just in case I’d been wrong. I think I’ve come to terms with the interface now – I’m using the buttons as much as possible now – but I’m still not convinced. You just can’t see much of the map at a time and the units are hard to tell apart.
Still, impressions are better than they were first time I tried, so there’s definitely hope.
Pokemon Platinum (DS)
Apr 19th
I’ve put in ten hours now. I’ve liberated the windworks from the evil Team Galactic and have fought my way through Eterna Forest. I guess I’ve got a gym to do next. I hope I’m strong enough – I’ve been doing a lot of quite tedious levelling up. At least, though, my Abra finally evolved into something useful.
Pokemon Platinum (DS)
Apr 16th
I defeated the first gym leader, hooray! The first time I tried he brought out a Crandios that could kill all my Pokemon in one hit, so I levelled up my Psyduck to level twelve, then spammed Water Gun at him. Killed his three Pokemon in five turns, no trouble.
It’s super effective!
Pokemon Platinum (DS)
Apr 13th
I know, I know. I’ve played through Diamond and this is pretty much the same game again, with some different gyms and a few wifi additions and other bits and bobs, so why play it again? Well, I was wondering the same thing, but I think the answer is quite simple: it’s Pokemon.
I wasn’t quite feeling it until last night when I caught an Abra. He’s utterly useless in a battle, but his Teleport move seems like it’ll be very useful outside of battle, so I think I’ll treat him like a Magikarp and hope he gets some decent moves before too long.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS)
Mar 30th
Finished the story over the weekend. The missions stayed fun and never got to hard, possibly because I was spending all my drug-dealing profits on guns. Lots of guns.
I didn’t stop playing now the story’s over, though. I dealt some more drugs – finally getting rid of one hundred ecstasy tablets I’d had for several days. Then I found the car dealership again and bought myself a tank and went on a fairly short rampage in it. Got a six star wanted level for the first time. I didn’t survive, but dying’s no real problem. (It’s getting Busted that hurts, as you lose all your drugs and weapons.) I’ve done about a third of the stunt jumps now, so lots more to find. I’ve hardly touched the ambulance and taxi missions. And I got attacked by a tooled-up gang of prostitutes who had finally had enough of being killed for their money after providing their services. All very meta.
A truly excellent game and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the seventeen hours or so I’ve put in. I just wish there was even more, despite it being one of the most generous games on the DS.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS)
Mar 26th
Three more story missions done. All three great fun. No annoyances, boredom or unfairness.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (DS)
Mar 25th
My goodness, but this is great. This lunchtime I did a couple of story missions (sniper rifle!), some drug dealing and worked as a taxi driver for a bit. It’s just so, so good.
