Diary of a Gamer #10

I've been dreading to write this post only for the fact that I'll have to follow it up in the next few weeks with dedicated reviews and first impressions of all the games I've played over the last several months. One thing is for sure, though: I'm not making reviews for Candy Crush Saga and Bubble Witch Saga. I'll start with the basics of what's up in the gaming front.

I sold my Nintendo DS Lite along with all my DS games. I bought in college, back when it was on sale and many of my college friends were playing them. The last time I played any of my DS games were in 2011. I had 5 games unfinished. I was fine parting ways with it. I received a lot of store credit for the trade, which I used to reserve Beyond: Two Souls back in May. I wasn't sure if I wanted to play The Last of Us. It came out last month in June and many were blown away. I saw the first 20 minutes of game and that was not fun (read as sad). I'll probably get around to playing that game eventually. That and Beyond: Two Souls are the last exclusive PS3 games in 2013, if not ever.

E3 happened last month, as well. Words spoken. Shots fired. Internet exploded. Consoles ignored. Biggest backtracking in gaming history. Bigwig resigning.

Long version: Microsoft fully unveiled their plans for XBONE (Xbox One). Many reviled their DRM plans for physical copies of games and used games. Later that night, Sony fully unveiled their plans for PlayStation 4 and one-upped Microsoft's plans with a more delicious console and gaming infrastructure. The Internet goes wild. Fanboys caused so much mortar damage on gaming sites, some had to retool how they moderate site comments. Meanwhile, Nintendo's Wii U was wildly ignored. Ouya was left out and tried to crash E3. A week after that infamous slugfest, Microsoft backtracked their DRM and used games policies for XBONE. Around two weeks later, XBOX Chief resigns from Microsoft and becomes CEO of Xynga, of Farmville fame (Good to see two-weeks notice is still in practice). Both PS4 and XBONE are set to come out this holiday season. Competition is always good for innovation. Here's to gaming later this year and to the next.

I recently finished inFAMOUS. This brings me to all the games I've completed since my last major gaming post.

• Brutal Legend (PS3)
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3)
• Datura (PS3)
• Final Fantasy All the Bravest (iPhone/iPad)
• flOw (PS3)
• Flower (PS3)
• Heavy Rain (PS3)
• inFAMOUS (PS3)
• Machinarium (PS3)
• The Walking Dead: 400 Days (PS3)

Luckily, inFAMOUS 2 was available for free on PlayStation Network Plus. They offer highly-discounted games and full-games for free. I've downloaded Machinarium, Oddworld: Munch's Odyssey  LittleBigPlanet Karting, and inFAMOUS 2. Other than these, Namco released Tekken Revolution. It's a free version of a watered-down Tekken Tag Tournament 2. I'll get more into that in another review.

I think I'll get around to reviewing most of the games I've completed. As for the free games I recently downloaded I'm not sure if I have time to finish them. inFAMOUS 2 is a definite improvement over the last game, but I'm not that invested with the story of the entire series. It's the same deal with Oddworld: Munch's Odyssey. If the story is not captivating enough for me, gameplay mechanics better be great and worthwhile. inFAMOUS 2 is just the same as the first game. Munch's Odyssey is a cross between Pac-Man and a platformer: you're left collecting green eggs the entire game. The platformer side is not that good. Wonky game mechanics or bad camera angles left up to the player to maneuver is the bane of many games. This managed to have both. I'll probably just play it for the trophies.

I'm done.

Diary of a Returning Gamer #9

Apparently, gaming is serious business. How serious? Serious enough for people to be dicks about it.
So my friend randomly posted her status, asking friends if they want to help her beat "The Lion King" game from Super Nintendo this upcoming weekend.

Diary of a Returning Gamer #8

I was sure that I would retire these things when I wrote the last one in October last year. But I was in another job transition and found myself in this oh so wonderful job right now (I'm just gushing with enthusiasm). In summation, I was off the gaming grid. I neglected my PS3 and Nintendo DS games, shoved in the corner of my previously untidy bookshelf, collecting soot and dust. Not anymore. I'm a returning gamer, again.

Diary of a Returning Gamer #7

It's been a while since I'm done this post. A lot has happened since the last one. For starters, the Playstation Network broke down, leaving PS3 players unable to connect online. Sony gave out a compensation package with two free PS3 games, two free PSP games (out of 5 for both, if I remember correctly), Some freebie I don't remember, and 1 month of Playstation Plus. I didn't get the 1 month Plus subscription. I was on vacation in the Philippines and was too late to claim that one. At least I got Infamous, Wipeout HD, and two PSP games that I don't remember off the top of my head. I don't have a PSP, but I bought the Kingdom Hearts bundle for my youngest sister. I figured I'd download these games so she can have them, you know?

Diary of a Returning Gamer #6

Gaming OCD is kicking in gear. I have a bunch of games laying around that needs to be finished or completed. Here they are in no particular order:

Final Fantasy II
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All
Silent Hill (I probably won't be able to finish this game... the first game is the scariest.)
Silent Hill: Origins
Silent Hill: Homecoming
Brutal Legend
NIER
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
Final Fantasy XIII
Heavy Rain
Fallout 3
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly

I'll start knocking them down. I just bought Final Fantasy III for the DS and reserved L.A. Noire for the PS3.

Happy gaming I guess.

I'm done.

Diary of a Returning Gamer #5

Haven't written this in a while. Well here goes.

 Dancing and gaming melded together oh so nicely...

I'm back into gaming mode. On weekends, Friday and Saturday nights, I hang out with my Pump it Up friends. It's been like this for the past year. I've mentioned before I'm one of the only dedicated freestylers to this game among our friends. Everybody else just goes into BEAST Mode doing 7-10+ steps per second rounds, stepper style. Over the past 9 months, I've been incorporating shuffling, or rocking as it was previously called in oldskool style, into my freestyle routines. The hard thing is that most of the great freestyle songs are slower than 140-160 BPM (beats per minute). Of the ones that are within that range, the step charts are too fast to shuffle into. I'd look like this:

I made this GIF myself.

Then again, I haven't looked deep enough into all the songs. Maybe I'll find a good song within range, give or take 10 BPMS, shuffling tune, incorporate my freestyle routines and post a video. I'll keep it posted. I've sprained my ankle two months ago. Still recovering. Then there's the shoulder injury. Also in recovery.
Besides this, I'm playing God of War III and Heavy Rain. Also, Maplestory. I play in moderation now and don't do those 10-15 hour gaming sprints. New challenges awaits....

I'm done.

Diary of a Returning Gamer #4

This is the first time in a long, long time where I'm juggling multiple games at the same time. From NIER, to Brutal Legend, to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 2 (which I restarted playing so I can gather all military intelligence from the get-go), to Heavy Rain, to Silent Hill: Homecoming, this point and click mystery game called Letters From Nowhere (for the PC), and Fallout 3. This doesn't even include Facebook and puzzle games I play from time to time and online flash games from various sites like Newgrounds and Miniclip.

There are still a bunch of games I have set my sights on: Final Fantasy XIII, God of War 3, and Fallout: New Vegas to name a few. We'll see how much I can obliterate of the games I currently have until I can sink my teeth on to the new ones.

I'm done.

Diary of a Returning Gamer #3

I've been slacking off with Brutal Legend. I need to play that game uninterrupted. Meanwhile, I've stepped up my game with Pump it Up. The latest version, Pump it Up Fiesta has, by far, the best playlists of any versions of the game. The fact that you can upgrade the game via USB is a great addition. Also, in future updates, you can use your own stepcharts for certain songs.

If you're lucky enough to be here Maryland in Arundel Mills Mall on Friday and Saturday nights, you'll be seeing me light up the room with this game with my friends. I've been playing dance rhythm games since Dance Dance Revolution. That's about 8 years. We joke around that this is a second job for us.

Whenever we play, these are the questions that most people ask:

Do you have this game at home?

Did you memorize the game?

What are the arrows on the screen?

And this rare question... did you make this game?


What my friends and I do with this game is serious. I'm the only "freestyler" in the group and it takes a lot of work coming up with dance routines while stepping on the arrows at the same time. It's also a good workout.

I'm currently practicing and thinking of a routine for one song. Hope it goes well.

I'm done.

Diary of a Returning Gamer #2

Every since I went back into my gaming schedule, I've noticed a few things different than how I used to game. Even though I never really abandoned gaming, it's been a while.

The high point of my constant gaming was during high school. During that time, I was pulling B+/A- minus averages in school for my honors classes, all the while playing role playing games and the like. For most of the Final Fantasy games, I easily surpassed over 100 hours. Final Fantasy 7, 8 , 10, 10-2, where 100+ hours spent on each. Final Fantasy 8 was less than 40 hours shy of the 200 hour mark. The last RPG I fully played was Final Fantasy 12. I didn't get everything, but I played it during college.

• Right now, I have no set schedule for gaming. Back then I would start playing after I finish my homework and reading or vice versa. Maybe it's because I'm in the workforce and I can do pretty much what I want. I could play for 8 hour straight on weekends and I'll probably end up completing that game
• Another thing: the achievement system and trophy system has made a huge impact on how people game. Heck, even I used to play like that in high school. If I haven't collected or accomplished everything a game has to offer, it's not complete and I don't move on to the next un-played game until then.
• I had my trusty PSM (Playstation Magazine) with their game reviews, previews, mini strategy guides, codes, etc. I have two boxes containing 5-6 years worth of PSM. The Official Playstation Magazine (OPM) tanked. PSM was the only Playstation dedicated magazine left in the market. Sony caved and bought the magazine and it became the new official magazine called "Playstation: the Official Magazine." I stopped subscribing in the midway through my college years. I had the internet to give me hints for games.
• I used to buy strategy guides for most of my big games... mainly role playing games. The last strategy guide I bought was the Fallout 3 strategy guide. However, I bought it just for the novelty of having it. I get all my hints online when I really need it. Having a strategy guide is best when you want to complete everything in a game. Right now, I'm not as obsessive-compulsive about that. The last time I did that was for Final Fantasy 12. I flaked out after almost a year and used gameshark to maximize all the stats to beat the tough bosses. Even then, there's a boss in the game with 50 million HP. The cool thing about this boss battle is that you can enter and exit the arena anytime you want. Any damage done to the boss is kept until you return. I didn't bother with this... I went ahead and completed the game only to be greeted by a lackluster ending sequence. The last great Final Fantasy with a Fantastic ending was Final Fantasy 10-2. They just don't make them like they used to.

That's pretty much what I could think of right now. Until then.

I'm done.

Diary of a Returning Gamer #1

The last time I played lots of great games was back in 2008: Metal Gear Solid 4, Fallout 3, Soul Calibur 4, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Maplestory (addicting as heck), etc.

Then around March-May 2009, my gaming just started to decline and I stopped playing most of my games. Pretty much abandoned them. I played Farmville and Mafia Wars on Facebook, but I don't really consider them full games. They're more like side-quests or a very long mini-games. It's ironic that my co-worker, the person that I got hooked on Fallout 3 is now the one pestering me if I completed Fallout 3 or any other game for that matter. From May 2009 to January 2010, the PS3, Wii, and DS Lite are collecting dust. We would play Rock Band once in a while when my sister comes to visit the house.