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A Gaming Diary
Saints Row 2 (360)
Dec 30th
Very much fun. Hours pass very quickly. I unlocked a pimp suit for successful “ho-ing” and a new type of pistol for appearing on reality TV show “Fuzz”.
And I also got my second Achievement last night, for singing along to the radio. Um, okay.
Chinese Checkers (iPod)
Dec 30th
Does what it says with no issues, but it turns out I don’t like Chinese Checkers much.
Oh.
Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City (Wii)
Dec 30th
We have a new resident, Melba. She’s a koala. Seems nice enough, but couldn’t really talk to her as she was unpacking. And Nook’s was shut yesterday, so couldn’t really do much of anything.
Saints Row 2 (360)
Dec 29th
Technically dodgy, graphically a bit poor, buggier than it should be (I had to do the first tutorial mission twice because the first time I tried my AI companion got stuck and couldn’t move), etc.
However, it’s also very, very fun. It’s a packed sandbox of fun and frolics. The first few hours are just constant discovery. Things you do in GTA games for fun trigger little diversions. I went into aim mode and pointed my gun at a pedestrian to see what would happen. I expected them to swear at me or run off, instead I triggered a little mugging mini game, where you have to keep your gun aimed at a person until they drop their money. I hijacked a car with a passenger, which started a little hostage-taking mini game. Just lots and lots of small things like that.
In the original Saints Row there was always this awful feeling that the developers just might be trying to take things seriously, now there’s no doubt that everything’s being played for laughs.
And I created a character who’s a heavily-bearded, morbidly obese English chap, which adds to the fun. Especially when I’m wearing my lovely green and pink tube top.
Stingy with the Achievements, though. In five or so hours of play I’ve managed to get five points.
Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City (Wii)
Dec 29th
On Christmas Eve I got some presents from Jingle. (For the first and possibly only time I put my Wii’s clock into the future as we were going to be away over Christmas. I’ve never done that before, but I wanted to finally see Jingle. I feel a bit bad, but not as bad as I expected.)
Other than that, it’s been business as usual. Chatting to animal chums, digging up gyroids and fossils, all that.
Crystal Defenders (iPod)
Dec 23rd
First impressions suggest this a fun tower defence game. Controls are a bit of a pain, but the game pauses to let you set down units and do upgrades between waves, so it doesn’t really matter. Doesn’t seem anything much wrong with it that could break things, so if you want a tower defence game set in Ivalice on your iPod, go buy with my blessing.
Reversi (iPod)
Dec 23rd
Now I’ve played for a bit I can now win Novice level every time I play, but not always by as much as I should do. It’s heartening to see myself get better, though.
Lode Runner (iPod)
Dec 23rd
Played two or three levels in the car while my wife went and did secret shopping. Controls weren’t an issue most of the time, things only getting bad when I lost my sense of where my thumb was. I think a lot of the problems I put down to the controls are actually down to the game being quite fussy about where you can stand to dig holes.
Anyway, I think I’m now ready to give this my stamp of approval. If you’re interested, go buy.
Animal Crossing: Let’s Go To The City (Wii)
Dec 23rd
Only had time for a quick go last night. I made a bad snowman.
World of Goo (Wii)
Dec 22nd
Fun physics-based puzzler. Like a more arcade-style Armadillo Run, or a good Elefunk. Sort of. It’s charming, fun, addictive and cheap. My first WiiWare purchase – and a great one.
