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A Gaming Diary
Little Big Planet (PS3)
Dec 4th
You’ve got to love the PS3. I got Little Big Planet as an early Christmas present and rushed home giddy with excitement. I tidied up the bedroom, made dinner, did the washing up and then was ready to play the game. I believe I even clapped my hands in childish glee as the PS3 sucked in the disc.
And then there was a required update to the game, which took twenty minutes to download and install. And then, before I could get online, I had to update the PS3 system software, which took a further fifteen minutes.
That can’t be right, can it? We’re not really going to put up with this crap, are we?
Yes. We are. We’ll put up with it because, well, we don’t have much choice.
And also because, when you get something like Little Big Planet, it’s worth it.
If you boil Little Big Planet down to core gameplay it’s a 2D platformer. Physics-based, like a lot of stuff is these days. But it’s the most charming, lovely, happy game I’ve played in ages. The Sackboys are wonderful creations, full of personality. Stephen Fry’s voiceover is a like a warm, fuzzy hug. The music is happy, jolly loveliness. The world looks almost photorealistic (if you had a rubbish camera) yet unreal and videogamey to the max. Just jumping around randomly is a joy. It’s full of secrets and stickers to find away from the main paths through the levels. It’s one of those games that makes you smile and laugh in delight. It’s one of those games that has your wife begging to play. It’s one of those games.
And it’s true to its roots, being very frustrating at times. Some jumps are very difficult. It’s possible to mess around enough to break puzzles and have to leave the level and come back. And stuff my wife collected with me in co-op disappeared from her collection. But, hey, it’s a game. Maybe one day I shall be back expressing a hate and loathing for the game as I fail to complete a late level for the fiftieth time. But I don’t think I’ll fall out of love for long.
And if the pre-made levels get frustrating, there a million others out there. I tried out a level called Castling made by someone on the rllmuk forum and it was wonderful. I was in awe of the fact that somebody had made it at home. It was tricky and I failed to finish it before bed time, but I’ve hearted it and will play it again later.
And, by the way, my Sackboy is currently and Elizabethan astronaut.
Asphalt 4: Elite Racing (iPod)
Dec 3rd
Haven’t played this much. Just a few quick races. Initial impressions suggest, however, that this is the worst thing you could possibly ever spend £3.99 on. I never felt in control at all – using click wheel and accelerometer controls – and yet won every race. And it’s horrifically ugly.
Further impressions will follow when I can suppress my gag reflex long enough to play…
Okay, I’ve played some more.
It is utterly terrible. I settled on the seemingly random tilt controls and I managed to complete 15% of the Career in about ten minutes. It borrows liberally from modern EA racing games – there’s customisation, illegal street racing, takedowns and, er, girls to call.
There are no redeeming features whatsoever, unless you count simply it being a 3D game on an iPod Nano as something to be applauded. And if you’re one of those people, then you’re an idiot.
Rubbish.
Trouble is, though, that I can see myself playing it quite a lot despite everything. I want to be back playing it right now.
If I work out why, I’ll let you know.
Pinball FX (360)
Dec 3rd
Haven’t played this in ages, but the urge took me last night. Played the Buccaneer table for a bit, then downloaded the Street Fighter 2 table, which is a lot less busy. Disappointing at first, but I soon found myself enjoying it. One day I’ll actually work out how these tables work, instead of just throwing the balls at targets and ramps that look interesting.
And how comes sometimes lights stay on between balls and sometimes they don’t?
Fracture Demo (360)
Dec 3rd
Looks nice, in that standard shiny HD way that’s everywhere these days. Controls work. Is reasonably fun to play. I enjoyed raising and lowering terrain. Didn’t so much enjoy having to fire six hundred bullets from a pea shooter at every enemy.
Seems utterly average, really, but not in an especially bad way. If a copy landed in my 360 I think I’d have fun playing it, but I don’t think I’m going go out and get a copy, unless I see it for £4.97 or something.
Football Manager Handheld 2009 (PSP)
Dec 2nd
Been away for a couple days for a funeral. Fair amount of PSP time. We won the league and got promoted to League Two. Over the summer most of my good players got poached again, leaving me with no players who could play on the right of midfield. I had to spend too much on rubbish-looking players just to fill gaps, but we won our first game of the season. Just.
Football Manager Handheld 2009 (PSP)
Nov 29th
Down in second, new injuries in bad places, out of the FA Cup after a terrible display against Oldham, things looking grim.
Next game, against first-place York at home.
Didn’t hold out much hope, but in an incredible match that saw each side have a player sent off, we won 7-2. Now we’re top of the table again. Hurrah!
Lego Indiana Jones (360)
Nov 29th
Made a start on The Last Crusade today, doing the first two or three levels, which were excellent.
Pain (PS3)
Nov 29th
The good news is that the new level – a movie studio backlot – is really good. Much better than the Abusement Park level.
I spent at least two hours playing the game today. It just eats time. I wish it felt a little more skill-based, though.
Pain (PS3)
Nov 29th
Why do I bother? I saw there was a new level for Pain, so I paid my £3.99 and waited while the 37MB downloaded and installed. Didn’t take too long, but when I started Pain it said I had to download another 211MB update before I could play the game. No choice, it was mandatory.
So here I am, sitting on the sofa, waiting for a huge bloody patch to download. Unlike other downloads, you even set this to download in the background while you do other stuff.
Will I actually get to play the game today? Who knows?
GTI Club+ Demo (PS3)
Nov 29th
I unlocked a police car colour scheme!
Demos with unlockables and which save your best times are to be encouraged, I feel.
